Baseball, a Book, and Back-to-School

Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope this week has been good to you. I can’t believe we are almost to the month of August! Here in Knoxville, we have just 11 days until school starts. I will have a senior, a sophomore, and a fifth-grader this year…how is that even possible? 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.

Quote of the week: “The person seeking to learn wins what the person seeking to impress loses.” –Angela Jiang

Book of the week: This week I’m throwing you a curveball and offering a book for you to consider instead of a movie. I want to recommend a title by a sweet friend of mine, Rhonda Sciortino, whom I had the privilege of meeting in Los Angeles two years ago. Her book 30 Days to Happiness: Daily Meditations and Actions for Finding Joy Within Yourself shares the best ways to change how you view your world. Rhonda spreads warmth and love on every page. I think you will really enjoy this book.

Joke of the week: What do cakes and baseball teams have in common? They both need a good batter.

Nugget of Wisdom for the week: I wanted to take this moment and talk about expressing gratitude in day-to-day activities. I’m sure you’re wondering what I mean by that. Well, one thing I always try to do is make sure that I tell people when they are doing a good job. For example, this week my family had an appointment at the county clerk’s office to apply for passports. The seven of us took up the time slots from 8:15 a.m. through to lunch time on the schedule. My husband is VERY efficient, so he had all of the needed papers and documents beforehand, which meant that the clerk had very little work to do on her end. Knowing that she frequently deals with folks who get a little cranky or downright mad, I had asked what her favorite treat was so I could surprise her with something she enjoyed. She told me it wasn’t necessary to give her anything. Well, I decided to give her a gift anyway. She broke down in tears, asked me for a hug, and said no one had ever given her anything before. Something so small meant the world to a person who frequently has a stressful job. Take the time to inject a little positivity into the life of someone today. You could thank a custodian for keeping things looking clean and fresh. Thank the cashier at the gas station for taking care of everyone. You may be the ONLY person to ever do so.

Have a great week. Remember, you are most awesome and YOU ROCK!

Marion Rhines is a foster-turned-adoptive parent. She lives in Knoxville, Tenn., with her husband and five children. She has written and published two children’s books as well as two foster-care-themed novels. She has a Facebook blog, Tips from the FLIP Side, and enjoys working with children of all ages.

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