“Happiness is the only thing that doubles when you share it” — Mental Health Theme Weekend at the Boarding School

It’s raining. The Steinmühle is shrouded in a gray haze; it’s wet and cold. The sun rarely peeks out from behind the clouds. That makes it all the more important to take good care of your well-being during this gloomy time of year.

And that is exactly what the educational team and the Steinmühlen student body did during the mental health-themed weekend. These themed weekends take place regularly at the boarding school and are becoming increasingly popular among the boarding school community. In preparation, the educational team conducts extensive research on the respective topics and develops a customized program for Steinmühle. Creative, athletic, and playful activities are designed to help students develop an awareness of their mental well-being. The methods they learn can provide support during stressful everyday situations or challenging life phases. The theme of this weekend was “happiness.”

“Happiness is the only thing that doubles when you share it.”
Albert Schweitzer, physician and philosopher (1875–1965)

“What is happiness?” “Am I happy?” “How can I become happy?” “What can I do to feel happier?” These are big questions that certainly cannot be fully answered in a single weekend and that often require a personal approach. But the educational team did everything they could to provide the students with valuable insights and strategies for everyday life. To this end, the boarding school invited two experts whose workshops made the weekend exciting and varied.

“Communication That Brings Happiness” by Elke Behrendt

“Hi everyone, I’m Elke.” With her approachable manner and her strong, positive presence, Elke Behrendt made an immediate good impression and left people eager to learn more. Elke Behrendt is an independent skills trainer who provides high-quality coaching. She supports companies and individuals very successfully and with a great deal of passion. “With my authenticity, passion, empathy, and experience, I champion the ‘opportunities’ that arise amid constantly changing social and economic conditions. Breaking new ground and encouraging others to do the same is what drives me.”

Elke Behrendt also wants to encourage the students at Steinmühlen: “Being happy is a conscious decision you can make.” With this simple statement, the trainer highlights that a happier life is possible through one’s own positive efforts. In her workshops, she gave the students some amazing tips on how to create a more positive overall situation simply through communication.

“Healthy Snacks That Make You Happy”

Sunday kicked off with a session led by nutritionist Stephanie Hartlieb. She led a workshop in which she first discussed the topic of nutrition and explained which foods can lead to greater well-being and which can lead to less. Theory was followed by practice, and the students made their own healthy snacks that could hold their own against chips and chocolate. Everyone was amazed at how quickly and easily delicious snacks could be prepared.

In addition to the workshops, there were other activities on the topic of happiness, which were well received. In the end, everyone agreed: It was a successful themed weekend that will linger in some people’s minds for a long time to come.