Council Winter Newsletter

Message from our Executive Director

Many years ago, I had a meditation teacher who ended every class with the same Zen proverb:

“You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day. Unless you’re too busy—then you should sit for an hour.”

It drove me crazy.

But here’s the thing: research backs it up, and I’m a sucker for data. The busier we are, the more scattered our minds become, making it harder to focus. Emotionally, that can increase anxiety and leave us feeling stuck or overwhelmed. It also chips away at positive feelings like gratitude, satisfaction, and joy. Biologically, stress ramps up cortisol, disrupts sleep, fuels sugar cravings, and pushes us toward coping behaviors like shopping, late night snacks or doomscrolling.

Sound familiar? It did to me.

One thing I’ve noticed about the wellness industry is how often self-care is presented as something that requires time or money: buy the supplement, take the class, book the spa day, maybe even fly off to a retreat. None of those things are bad. But life is lived in daily rhythms made up of breath, routines, and tiny moments in between. What if self-care could happen in those moments and cost nothing at all?

Disability justice is hard work, and our team at the Council works hard. We also try to model sustainable self-care because we’re here for the long haul. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money to care for yourself. So I asked Council staff for their best free self-care tips. Here are some of the things that help us and might help you too.

Kristina – “I downloaded a stargazing app this year and it’s my favorite way to take a break at the end of the day now.”
Vanessa – “I really like to be outdoors and take a long walk while listening to a podcast. In the winter I use my walking pad if it is snowing.”
Sarah – “I like to make a cup of hot tea and give my 100+ pound lap dog Luna her daily pets and ear rubs.”
Susan – “Lately I’ve been doing a lot of box breathing. I like that it helps in the moment and can change my mindset in a very short time. I always feel calmer and more relaxed when I’m done.”
Yadiel – “I really enjoy going on long walks or drives while listening to music or podcasts.”
Carrie – “Chicken therapy! Sitting with the chickens in their pen is very therapeutic for my whole family.” (Carrie has a flock and Pip is especially good at this.)

Drop us a note and let us know what you choose this season – we just might feature you on our social media. We are wishing you a winter season of gratitude, rest, renewal and connection. Thank you for being part of our work.

In community,

Sarah Grazier

Executive Director

Next Steps in the Five-Year State Plan Process

Thank you again to everyone who joined us in November for our three Community Listening Sessions. In these sessions we shared the results of our community survey, literature review and policy scan.

Our next steps are to take the feedback we heard from these sessions and the data we collected back to the full Council to start making decisions about which priority areas, healthcare, employment, informal and formal services, education, housing, and transportation is most important to us in the next Five-Year State Plan.

Tools and Resources:

Visit our Youtube channel where our Executive Director explains the next steps and when we will be back with the community.

We published a summary of your feedback, questions and answers, and the results of the polls from the three listening sessions on our Council website.

For questions or accommodation requests, please email us at coloradoddcouncil@gmail.com.

Annual Council Celebration

Join us on Wednesday January 7th at 11:30 am for a one hour virtual celebration as we reflect on our Council achievements from 2025 and look ahead to 2026 and our Five-Year Plan.

Registration is required and can be done by using the QR code, or at this link.

For help with registration, or accommodation requests, please email us at coloradoddcouncil@gmail.com.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Upcoming Partner Trainings and Events

December 8 – Disability Law Colorado, The Arc and CCDC are co-hosting a virtual Disability Legislative Preview on December 8, at 10:00am. Registration

December 12 – Atlantis Community, Inc.’s 50th Celebration is on Friday, December 12, from 3-6pm at 201 S. Cherokee St., Denver, CO 80223! This event is free and open to the community. Please RSVP by texting or calling (720) 893-7739 or emailing cherish@atlantiscommunity.org. If you need accommodations, please let Cherish know by December 8th.

CCDC is hosting legislative advocacy trainings and a Capitol event:

December 10, 5:30-7pm – Legislative Advocacy 101
December 11th, 5:30-7:30pm – Legislative Advocacy 102
January 6, 1-3pm – Capitol Tour. Registration
January 7 and 8 – Legislative Advocacy 101 and 102 (registration coming)

Legislative Session begins on January 14th. Our Legislative Public Policy committee will meet twice per month from January to May to provide up to date information on the general session. Our meetings are open to the public and Zoom links can be found on our website calendar.

Disability Rights Advocacy Day (D-RAD) will be early 2026. Check for more information and a date soon.

Looking for more inspiration?

Here are some more research-driven ways to start the journey of self-care as we head into the new year.

Do a time audit. Just like reviewing your budget, look at how you’re spending your most precious resource: your time. Identify where you can reclaim a few moments by delegating a task, saying no to something, or shifting a routine. Those minutes matter, and you don’t get them back.
Choose one act of self-care. Pick something that takes less than five minutes and weave it into your day. Drink a glass of water when you wake up. Meditate for two minutes before getting out of bed. Take three deep breaths at every stoplight. Walk for five minutes. Once one habit sticks, consider adding another. Over time, these small practices build consistency, clarity, and calm.
Practice gratitude. Each day, name one thing you’re grateful for. Use a journal or drop notes into a jar if you want something tangible to look back on at the end of the year or on harder days. Gratitude practices strengthen social connection, build empathy, and increase overall satisfaction with daily life.
Tell someone. This one is big. Saying your intention out loud can feel scary, but it makes the change real. People who write down their goals are more likely to reach them—and those who tell someone are even more successful. Invite someone in and let them be part of your support.

On behalf of the Council staff, we wish you and yours a safe, restful, and joyful holiday season.

We look forward to reconnecting in the new year!

Council Winter Newsletter