Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope you’ve had a good week. I’m not sure how the weather has been for you, but here in Knoxville, it’s been more like spring than winter. I wonder if that groundhog tricked us after all? Although Valentine’s Day is on Tuesday, and it’s usually a day for couples, I hope you feel loved and appreciated this weekend. There is so much heartbreak in the world. I hope you feel something better.
Quote of the week: “Your flaws are perfect for the heart that’s meant to love you.” –Trent Shelton
Song of the week: I am having a bit of difficulty coming up with just one song to reflect my sentiments for Valentine’s Day, so I’ll mention two songs. The first song is “God Only Knows” by the Beach Boys. I have always been a BB fan, with this song being one of my favorites. The music is fantastic, and the lyrics are moving. The second song is “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede. I love this song so much that I used it as a flirty song in one of my novels. Weirdly enough, I grew up hearing the B.J. Thomas version of the song, but this one became my new preferred version when I heard it while watching Guardians of the Galaxy.
Joke of the week: Do you work at Starbucks, ’cause I like you a latte.
Nugget of Wisdom of the week: I want to cover the idea of decluttering your personal space—not only in the sense of physical clutter, but also in terms of surrounding yourself with the wrong people and/or thoughts.
A workspace that is conducive to high performance looks different for everyone. For some people, it means having everything they need on their desk, with no unnecessary items. Other people may have a desk looks cluttered because the piles are not tidy, but amazingly, they can tell you exactly where something is if you ask them.
Clutter means having items in your workspace that add no value to what you are doing. Empty soda cans/water bottles/to-go coffee cups, snack bags, and candy wrappers do not make desirable decorations on any desk, at school or at home. Junk mail and catalogs for things you will never purchase should be recycled immediately. Throw away pens that are out of ink, markers that are dried up, and the 200-plus papers from last semester that you will never need again.
When it comes to tidiness and organization, everyone has a different system…and that’s okay. Set up your area in the best way that creates effortless productivity. Add a splash of your personality, and make it an inviting space to get your important work accomplished.
Now, for the aspect of people clutter. We talked before about making sure that our friends and acquaintances are a positive influence on our sense of well-being. What good is it to be surrounded by lots of people, if they leave us feeling drained and stressed out? Sometimes the prickly people in our lives might include an employer or a teacher or even a family member, which can make it difficult to get very far away from them. As much as possible, be discreet and tactfully find a way to surround yourself only with those who are a positive force in your life. Don’t be rude and dismissive, but slowly pull back and limit your exposure to negative energies.
Likewise, negative thoughts can clutter our minds, often giving us a false sense of who we really are. Don’t dwell on what you think are your liabilities (or wish that you could be someone else). The world needs you just the way you are, flaws and all. I’ve often wished I had a different set of skills, but then I wouldn’t be me and have the opportunity to give others the best I have to offer. We all can become more than we presently are, but we don’t need to change just to please others. As we have heard before, the world changes its mind every day, so just be the best you possible.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.