Pier 34 Foundation

09/13/2025

When the world feels heavy, it can be hard to know what to do with the weight. But sometimes the most powerful steps are the simplest ones:

✨ Limit your intake – Staying informed matters, but constant news can fuel anxiety. Give yourself permission to step back.
✨ Anchor in routine – Small daily rituals—watering plants, cooking a family meal, reading aloud—remind us that life still has order and meaning.
✨ Reach out – Share a text, phone call, or meal with someone else. Grief and fear shrink when carried together.
✨ Ground yourself – Step outside, breathe deeply, pray, or journal. Let your mind find stillness when the world feels loud.
✨ Give hope a job – Do something small but good: plant a seed, bake bread, write an encouraging note. These acts remind us that healing and growth are still possible.

💡 Lifehack takeaway: You can’t control the storm, but you can tend to the light in your own home—and that light helps others find their way too.

09/13/2025

🕊️ At Pier 34, we believe in raising children to live with both courage and compassion. In a world full of disagreements, our homes can be the first place kids learn that standing firm in their beliefs never requires harming others.

When we teach our children it’s okay to disagree—and also to respond with kindness and respect—we’re giving them tools that will last a lifetime.

✨ Family is where these lessons begin.

09/12/2025

🎉 Fall is here & OKC is alive with things to do! Here are some family-friendly events this September you won’t want to miss:
• Frontier City Food & Brew Festival – rides, food, music 🍔🎶 
• Oklahoma State Fair – classic fun: rides, rodeo, eats & entertainment 🎡 
• Scissortail Park Concert Series – free orchestral music under the stars 🌟 
• Orr Family Farm Fall Festival – pumpkin patch, barnyard animals, light trails & more autumn magic 🍂 
• Legends Concert with the OKC Philharmonic – a beautiful night of classical masterpieces 🎼 

Grab your calendar, round up the fam, and let’s make this fall unforgettable! 🍁

Explore the top events and activities happening in Oklahoma City this September. From live music and cultural festivals to outdoor adventures, find the best things to do this month.

09/12/2025

✨ Thoughtful Thursday ✨

Sometimes the heaviest burdens we carry are not the ones people can see, but the ones tucked quietly inside our hearts and minds.

Today, pause for a moment of reflection:
• What’s one thought weighing on you that you can release?
• What’s one truth you can hold onto that brings peace instead of pressure?

You don’t have to solve everything at once. Healing, growth, and rest often come in small, steady steps.

💡 Reminder: You are not defined by what you’re carrying—your worth is steady, your value is unshaken.

Take a breath, let go of what isn’t yours to hold, and walk lighter into the rest of your week. 🌿

09/10/2025

Science Tuesday: AI, Mental Health, and Relationships

Artificial intelligence is becoming part of our everyday lives—whether through social media, work, or even apps designed to support mental health. But with new opportunities come new risks.
• Connection vs. Disconnection: AI tools can help people feel heard, but they can also replace real human interaction if we’re not careful. Relationships—family, friends, and community—remain the most protective factor for mental health.
• Stress and Induced Psychosis: Studies show that overstimulation (too much screen time, lack of sleep, or constant digital noise) can sometimes trigger psychosis-like symptoms in vulnerable people. For those already struggling with mental health, heavy AI-driven environments might add new pressures.
• Hope in Balance: Technology itself isn’t the enemy. Used wisely, AI can support therapy, track mood, or remind us to practice self-care. But it should never replace real human connection, rest, or spiritual grounding.

Takeaway: As AI advances, we need to balance innovation with humanity. Protect your relationships, prioritize rest, and remember that healing happens best when technology serves people—not the other way around.

09/08/2025

✨ Motivation Monday ✨

As a new week begins, remember: small, steady steps forward matter more than giant leaps you can’t sustain. Whether your goal is healing, growth, or simply making it through the day—progress counts.

Take a deep breath, remind yourself that you are capable, and let today be the start of something meaningful. 🌱

For those leaning on faith, hold onto this truth: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

For those walking a different path, let this thought guide you: “Every sunrise is proof that we can begin again.”

You are not behind. You are right where you need to be. 💛

09/07/2025

🌿 Self-Care Sunday | Pier 34 🌿

Sunday is a reminder to pause and breathe. For many, it’s a day of worship and quiet reflection. For others, it’s simply a chance to reset and find peace before a new week begins.

Take time today to:
• Rest your body.
• Quiet your mind.
• Nourish your spirit — through prayer, gratitude, or simply stillness.

Peace is a gift we can all lean into, no matter where we find it. 💙

09/06/2025

💙 Family Friday 💙

Not every family moment looks like a magazine picture. Some weeks it’s late bills on the counter, kids arguing in the backseat, or a quiet heaviness no one can quite name. And yet—family is still where love shows up in the middle of the mess.

This weekend, instead of aiming for “perfect,” try aiming for present:
• Sit on the porch together, even if the dishes are undone.
• Share a story from your childhood, even if it makes you tear up.
• Say “I love you” out loud, even if the words feel a little rusty.

Family isn’t about polished moments. It’s about being there, especially when life feels unsteady. 🌿

💬 What’s one simple way you plan to be present with your loved ones today?

09/05/2025

Join the fun with OKC Parks at our FREE youth fishing derby this Saturday! Kids ages 5-15 receive a free rod, reel, tackle, and bait while supplies last. Come learn how to cast, tie knots, and more at Edwards Park! Registration isn't required, but it is helpful: https://ow.ly/v3U350WOnLw

09/04/2025

✨ Thoughtful Thursday ✨

Some people seem to thrive on conflict, and it can leave us weary. But peace is not the absence of arguments — it’s the presence of God’s steady Spirit within us.

When words fly and tempers flare, we have a choice: to be pulled into the storm or to stand anchored in calm. Scripture reminds us: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18)

Today, let this be your gentle reminder: you don’t have to join every battle you’re invited to. Sometimes the most powerful response is quiet strength, a softened word, or even silence.

🕊️ Peace is not weakness. It’s wisdom.
🕊️ Peace is not avoidance. It’s choosing what’s worth your energy.
🕊️ Peace is not passive. It’s active trust in the God who fights for you.

Carry that peace into your relationships today — and watch how it changes the atmosphere, starting with your own heart. 💙

— Pier 34