Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope this week has been good to you. I had a stressful week because I received a scary report about the need for additional testing for a medical issue. I worried all weekend and finally received the “all clear” yesterday. Not knowing if you have a health problem or not is extremely unnerving.
Quote of the week: “A healthy outside starts from the inside.” –Robert Urich
Movies of the week: This week I want to recommend a quirky movie called Joe Versus the Volcano. It stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Tom Hanks plays Joe Banks, a man who was told he was dying. He had a “brain cloud.” Thinking this was a real diagnosis, he gets talked into going on a mission to help an island with residents who are trying to appease a volcano. He is convinced that he needs to jump into the volcano and save the islanders. I won’t spoil it, but he learns to identify a toxic environment and how it can steal your productivity and convince you that you are miserable when all you need is a change in thinking or, in this case, scenery.
Joke of the week: Why did the doctor tell the nurses to be quiet when walking past the medicine cabinet? So they wouldn’t wake up the sleeping pills.
Nugget of Wisdom for the week: In light of my health scare this week, I think it’s important to repeat that we all get physically overwhelmed at times and feel fatigued. We need to make sure that we eat well, get enough rest, exercise, and drink water. But 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 man in the movie I just described lived in a toxic environment that sucked all joy from his life. He had accepted his circumstances and thought that feeling bad was his normal state. Only when he realized that the world had sunshine, blue skies, and fresh air did he see how foolish he had been. I hope you feel great and stay positive!
Have a great weekend. 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.
