At yesterday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Walter Alcorn highlighted the work of “one of the more prominent authors in the Hunter Mill District,” distributing copies of a book written and illustrated by Lake Anne Elementary School fourth-grader Amaya Samba.

The small booklet, titled My Mindful Minis, was created by Samba to help children and adults manage stress and anxiety.

"It’s a great book to help us deal with anxiety and stress," Supervisor Alcorn told his colleagues during the meeting. "I know we’re in stressful jobs from time to time, but I’ve already found this useful. And I wanted to share it with everyone on the Board."

Samba initially designed the compact booklet as a personal tool to navigate her own anxiety. Recognizing that her coping strategies could benefit others, she decided to publish and sell the booklet. According to its introduction, “My Mindful Minis are cozy reminders used to calm down and cheer yourself up! The book is small so you can bring it with you anywhere or keep it in your backpack."

The guide features words of encouragement alongside breathing and sensory grounding exercises, such as the "five senses" technique. During a recent meeting with Supervisor Alcorn and her mother, Amaya explained how the exercise works: "It can help you relax and see stuff around you: five things of what you see; four things of what you can feel; three things of what you hear; two things of what you can smell and one thing of what you can taste."

Amaya used her work to give back, as Alcorn stated at the meeting. She donated $500 from her book sales to the South Lakes Food Pantry. While Samba didn’t initially have a plan for what to do with the sales proceeds, she knew that her Lake Anne Elementary students relied on the pantry’s services, especially when schools were closed during the pandemic.

Supervisor Alcorn praised and thanked her for her community spirit. “She’s made an amazing impact on the community.”

Anyone interested in purchasing their own copy of My Mindful Minis can request one by email.