Any time you think something is off-kilter within your body, you need to listen to yourself. It is better to go to the doctor and find out it’s nothing than to ignore the issue and later realize it’s serious.
The next few weeks will be a great time to reconnect with your friends who were not easy to communicate with during the summer. It is also a wonderful time to meet new people.
As the new school year begins, whether you are in high school or will pursue higher learning in a trade school, community college, or university, don’t be afraid to make time to do something fun.
Dating is how you get to know different types of people to see if they are compatible with you. So, don’t think you must have all of the answers now.
Murphy’s Law definitely contains an element of truth. How you respond to situations that are not ideal (and certainly not planned) will determine how you get through them.
I’m deeply grateful for the vigilance of trained lifeguards. They do a great job of keeping those water-crazy people of all ages safe as they have fun every day.
I have to say that for me, this week has been a challenge. I think I have too many things going on.
Fathers don’t need to be blood related. They just must love you, accept you as you are, and encourage you to shoot for your dreams.
We need to do the “next right thing.” I believe that we as a people want to do better as soon as we know better.
We need to calmly pick up the pieces of our “bad day” and know that we can make the proverbial lemonade out of lemons.
While military life isn’t for everyone, I want to thank not only the servicemen and women in our country, but also their families. They make many sacrifices when their loved ones are not home.
Since it is the end of the school year, this week I want to encourage you to pick one or two friends—fellow students, or just acquaintances—and commit to reaching out to them over the summer.
Your mom will always be your mother, no matter how many other mother figures you have in your life. As a mother myself, I can testify that raising children is not for the faint-hearted.
I hope you’ll savor the last bit of school year with your friends and teachers. I will certainly miss my colleagues and the students over the summer.
If you have things in your life that you want to change, focus on only one at a time. If you try to change too many things at once, any failure to meet the desired outcome will cause frustration.
Of all the spectator sports, I love baseball the best. It’s interesting, I understand it, and I know how many players are on each team and what they do.
With a smartphone and a connection to the internet, more people can access therapists from the comfort of their homes.
We all have things we do because we want to fit in with our peers, but then there is a part of us that yearns to be different. We long to do that one thing to make us stand above the others.
Don’t take on things that you don’t believe you need to be doing. It does great harm to your body, mind, and even your emotional well-being.
Does your child have trouble falling asleep and sleeping through the night? Do your kids’ sleep issues keep you from getting the rest you need to function well?
Learn how making lists and setting priorities can help us become as effective with our time as possible and feel great as we complete important tasks.
When you think of a superhero, the attributes of confidence, success, and accomplishments come to mind. This has a lot to do with the way they present themselves.
You may be intrigued by a field of study that is exciting but also scary to you. Don’t hold yourself back from an opportunity just because of fear.
Your dreams motivate you to get out there and make a difference in the world. You’ve got this.
No one deserves ridicule for thinking for themselves. … We should be encouraging one another, not tearing each other down.
We know that effective communication combines both verbal and nonverbal aspects. Sometimes our body language can send signals that conflict with the words we say out loud.
Lately, I keep having thoughts that we shouldn’t have said “yes,” and that if we hadn’t become foster parents, then things would be different, calmer, and more peaceful. I wouldn’t lose my cool ALL of the time.
Even if, like me, you see areas where you feel like you are failing, be sure to acknowledge your success and not just your failures.
I want to encourage you to take a look at the family that surrounds you. Each person is special and has a great deal to contribute.
Whatever you are working toward, I wish you much luck and hope the journey brings you satisfaction.
2021 has taught me to never give up on my dreams, no matter what they are or what others think about them.
I hope the holiday will be a good one for you, and more than any present you receive, know that YOU are the gift the world needs.
No matter how you express it, you were created with a special something that makes you truly unique. When you figure out what that talent is and use it to make yourself and others happy, you are fulfilling your purpose.
This week I want to talk about becoming self-reliant, which means doing as many things for yourself—by yourself—as possible…
Even though his mother declined his request to go overnight with his peers, he walked away from the conversation with confidence. Knowing what he could do to make the request a reality, he overcame his anxiety of asking for independence.
We should never stop dreaming, and we need to give ourselves permission to shoot for the moon.
Max is one of the most popular names for a male pet, and I have lobbied to name several of our animals Max, only to be outvoted. So, what did I do?
Unfortunately, people can end up bleeding in a lot of situations—whether a car accident, a mass shooting, or a knife injury in the kitchen. If more people knew how to respond to these situations, many lives could be saved…
This week I want to encourage you to be thankful for the people in your life. When Thanksgiving Day comes and you gather with friends or family, hug those around you one more time. Listen to the familiar stories one more time.
Be confident in who you are and what you can accomplish, but also know that your self-esteem isn’t tied to your present belief about yourself.
The older I get, the more I realize that I don’t need things. I’d rather have experiences with people, and I want to make sure they know that I appreciate them and am thankful for their presence in my life.
We have finally made it to that long-awaited October holiday, Halloween. Sunday night is sure to be a lot of fun. I hope your family enjoys the traditions you’ve created for this fall celebration.
The wisdom I wish to impart to you this week is about advocating for your own health needs. … You know your own body, and it’s important to speak up if something seems abnormal.
My “tank empty” warning light came on 13 miles from the next turn of my trip, where I knew for certain I could find fuel. I had no idea if I had enough reserve gas in the tank to make it to the closest gas station…
What I want you to see is that if everyone in the world would pick just ONE THING that matters to them and then would step in and help, the world would be a kinder place.
(The presenter for this teen workshop was Lieutenant Daniel Francis, who has been working for 15 years in the Chattanooga Police Department. He is also an instructor for basic self-defense.) The very best way to protect your personal safety is to develop the following four strategies: (1) risk awareness, (2) risk reduction, (3) risk recognition, and (4) …
The way we communicate is very important, because it gives other people one of their first impressions of us and is a key tool for building healthy relationships. Our communication skills demonstrate the level of respect we have for ourselves, our friends, our family, and others we meet.
This is the time of year when a person is at great risk of being overcommitted. I want to encourage you to either use the calendar in your phone or a physical planner and block out dates for fun activities, as well as time for just taking care of you.
The teen years are among the most challenging in life, because you feel pressed from all sides to know “right now” who you are and what you want to become.
(In our teen workshop on personal risk management, Nick Bosco explained the often-confusing lingo of insurance policies and premiums. With prior careers in engineering and telecommunications, he says that owning a Farmers Insurance agency in Chattanooga for the past seven years is the most rewarding job he’s ever had.)
Why is it that I can imagine myself exercising to be more healthy…but NEVER do it? If I were to put as much energy into walking my dogs as I do writing my next scene, I would be much farther ahead in my weight loss goals.
You want to surround yourselves with people who don’t always think like you, but instead challenge you to be your better self. You also want to be strong enough in your own thoughts and opinions that others don’t bowl you over and keep you from your own individuality.
(This is a recap of an interactive teen workshop by Arianne Brigner, LPC-MHSP, who provides comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy to teens and adults in the Chattanooga area. A therapist for 17 years, she loves to help clients learn to tolerate uncomfortable emotions that can lead to self-harm, drinking, drugs, suicide, and other impulsive behaviors.) Learning to deal …
How to Deal With Emotions That Can Lead to Self-Harm and Suicide Read More »
Happy Friday, RISERS! This is a holiday weekend, so I hope you’ll find a bit of rest from your labors. I have been very blessed to be able to do work that I enjoy. It still gets challenging from time to time, but that’s okay, because if we never had any challenges with our jobs, …
Now, with Fall quickly approaching, it’s a great time to put good intentions into action. Let’s get outside and ENJOY!
This adult workshop shares practical ways to help your child(ren) have a successful school year. Most foster kids are behind in school due to the trauma they have experienced, and COVID-19 has compounded these issues. Try these 25 simple strategies to help your teens become the best they can be.
Many of you are trying to decide what career field to go into as you get ready to graduate from high school and move to college. Don’t believe anyone who tries to tell you that you aren’t supposed to enjoy your career, or that you’ll be stuck in a dull nine-to-five existence and hate it…
It doesn’t seem possible that we are almost to the middle of August already. Next comes the beginning of high school and college football games, falling leaves, and cooler weather…
Early experiences literally shape how the brain gets built, establishing either a sturdy or a fragile foundation for the development and behavior that follows. A strong foundation in the early years increases the probability of positive outcomes. Learn about how this may affect you and how you can help make your brain stronger.
What doors can we open, if we open the door for creativity and chasing our dreams? Hope. People living instead of just existing…
Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope that this week has been good to you and that you’ll have a safe, enjoyable weekend. Sleep in late…take a nap…eat one treat that makes you happy.
In this parent workshop, Love’s Arm advocacy team members Mimi Nikkel and Brandon Culpepper addressed the important topic of sex trafficking. They shared how parents can recognize the signs of human trafficking, help their children establish a healthy sexual identity, and teach their kids SMARTS.
I hope you have made the most of your summer vacation, and if you are going back to school, I hope it will be your best year yet. With the weekend almost here, just sit back and relax and do that one thing that makes you happy.
What are your capabilities? What is that fire in you dying to escape? Everyone has a great amount of potential, and so many hold it back.
The following recap highlights a teen workshop presented by Kimberly W. Cohen of New Season addiction and recovery center. She has worked with families since 2001, addressing issues such as teen addiction, trauma, suicide, loss of family, and foster care placement. She is also the mother of five children and five grandchildren.
You must take some risks to get the huge rewards, but don’t be afraid to try. Sometimes the most awesome things come from that one moment of bravery where you dare to do something you’ve never done before.
A healthy brain can solve problems, feel happy, be creative, and improve the overall health of the body. To keep your brain healthy, you need three basic things: oxygen, nutrients, and practice.
The movie I want to recommend this week is Racing Stripes. Yes, that is the story about a zebra who thinks he’s a horse. This movie is special because…
While this world is crazy, be sure to be intentional with your work, your friends, and above all, yourself. Don’t get caught up in the “have-tos” of your daily life. …
Over the years in my counseling practice, I noticed that the majority of teenagers would refuse to tell their parents about their innermost feelings. The thought of having to express themselves after experiencing depression, bullying, loneliness, suicide, or sadness felt overwhelming. As one teenager explained, “it seems to be too much of a hassle” to …
People fear what they lack understanding of, because it is unknown territory. People fear the unknown more than anything and usually try to stick with things they know, because it is comfortable and predictable with a safety net.
(In this teen workshop, Love’s Arm advocacy team members Mimi Nikkel and Brandon Culpepper addressed the important topic of sex trafficking. In the process of explaining how to be safe online and protect yourself against predators, they discussed five different subjects: who you are, what you like, “no” is a good word, sex does not define you, and stupid smartphones.)
Happy Friday, RISERS! I can’t believe we are heading into a holiday weekend. Sunday is the Fourth of July, and that means…
Good and bad people don’t really exist. We are all both good and bad, because we are human. You can’t know good without the bad, and vice versa; you must choose based on the desires of your heart and what you truly want.
(This recap features Denise Johnson, a high school English teacher who led a teen workshop on writing.)
When you impact the life of a child in a positive or negative way, you are creating the hearts, hands, voices, and minds of tomorrow. Do you want to leave a lasting impression on this Earth that is positive or negative?
Happy Friday, RISERS! I want to thank you for the opportunity to interact with you and look forward to catching you right here every week.
(This workshop recap features advice from Jessica Perkins, a preschool worker—who has been in the education system for as long as she can remember—and a mom of four.) Babysitting may seem like it’s all “fun and games,” but the job includes more responsibilities than you might think. I want to share a dozen and one …
What would I tell my teenage self? Dream bigger. Shoot higher. Shine brighter. Embrace being different, unique, and special. Own the beauty in you. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that something else is more important than that fear. Chase your dreams!! The only true failure is never trying at all. …
(This recap is from a parent workshop by Cara Morales, who works with teens, couples, and families in difficult seasons of life, such as divorce or bereavement. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, professional clinical counselor, and parenting coach who has worked extensively to help high school students overcome depression, anxiety, self-harm behaviors, …
(This workshop recap is from a recent teen workshop by Robin Turnipseed, a former high school teacher who is now a mother of two, a writer, and the owner of Placementofprettythings.com. She shared several useful tips and tricks on managing time—and self—and how this can lead to a more successful life.)
Keep these tips in mind to help you work toward resolution when confronted with conflict!
Mami’s life has shown me how great an impact one person can have regardless of age, race, or income.
The internet can be used for good, like sharing creative things like your artwork,
writing, etc. but keeping in mind the darker things about it and staying safe with the information you share to other people.
Yes, it’s hard but we can do
hard things. You’ve done hard things before too.
The best thing about online work is that it is easy to stay organized and to have what you need when you need it.
We are excited to share this recap of a recent Parent Workshop we hosted, led by the Shepherds of Men!
Public speaking is something that makes many people nervous, but it helps us improve our communication skills, interview for jobs, stand up to bullies, and even increase our self-esteem!
These ideas may be simple, but they’re profound. Put these to work in your own life and
watch the success appear before you!
It can be scary to think about just how easily our children might encounter predators online.
Your words can bring your children life and strength during these perilous times.
Students are not receiving the accountability and support they are used to. Couple this with the stress that students are facing and this combination makes it even harder for them to learn.
Thinking about budgeting and saving money can be overwhelming, so we have gathered our favorite budget tips to get you started!
While everyone has been impacted by Covid-19, students have taken an especially hard hit with the loss of routine, peer interaction, educational opportunity, and social milestones.
Life since we choose to foster and adopt has been just like we expected….. Said no foster or adoptive parent ever!
The moment we told that someone to place our home study on these children, we knew we would be delving into the depths of the sea with them, because giving up on them was not an option.
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