Happy Friday, RISERS! It’s hard to believe that we’ve already gone through 10 days in June. I thought that I’d be taking a break from school for the summer, but then I was asked to finish summer school as a teaching assistant. I am almost through the first week. I really enjoy getting to know students in a smaller setting. I hope that any surprises your summer brings will be good ones and that you’ll enjoy the upcoming weekend!
Quote of the week: “Whatever affects one directly affects us all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.” –Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Song of the week: This week, I want to introduce you to the song Something to Believe In by Poison. We all want to pursue things that cause us to feel connected to others and that make us feel important. No matter what our background is, we typically want and need to believe the best about others, even though the reality is that both people and things can let us down. Read a little further to get the second half of this thought in the Nugget section.
Joke of the week: Do you work at Starbucks? ’Cause I like you a latte.
Nugget of Wisdom for the week: To believe in something requires action and positivity. It is often easier to think ourselves to a new feeling than to make our way to a new behavior or habit. While feelings are important, we must balance them with logic and action. 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. When we step forward to help and protect others who don’t have as much privilege as ourselves, we can go a long way.
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.
