Happy Friday, RISERS! I don’t know about you, but this week I’ve felt like I’m flying by the seat of my pants. I don’t think my life would be normal unless I was in the middle of something all the time. If you are busy, I hope your endeavors go the way you plan. Be sure to get your October fix this month…cool campfire weather, hot apple cider, and the Halloween episodes of your favorite TV shows.
Quote of the week: “The clear light that belongs to October was making the landscape radiant.” –Florence Bone
Television Show of the week: If you’re not already a fan, I want to introduce you to the show MacGyver—the ORIGINAL MacGyver. No offense to the remake, but Richard Dean Anderson will always be Angus MacGyver. Every year, my husband and I watch two of the best Halloween episodes in the series: “The Secrets of the Parker House” and “Halloween Knights.” In the Parker House episode, MacGyver goes with Penny Parker to see the house she inherited from her aunt, who mysteriously disappeared. “Halloween Knights” partners MacGyver with his archenemy, Murdoch, to rescue Murdoch’s sister. I believe the series includes a couple other Halloween episodes, but they don’t rank as well as these two. I’m definitely dating myself, but I had a poster of the Swiss Army-knife-wielding, duct-tape-carrying MacGyver in my room as a teenager. The shows may be corny, but they are fun to watch.
Joke of the week: How does a vampire start a letter? Tomb it may concern…
Nugget of Wisdom for the week: When I was a teenager, I didn’t think much about “making a difference” in the world, because so much of the world was ahead of me. My parents divorced when I was 15 years old, then both remarried. Right after getting engaged at age 19, Darrin, my future husband, decided to join the U.S. Army. After we got married the next year, I moved with him to California, where he was in language school. Other military folks lived in our apartment building. The neighbors on one side of us had a new baby, and both parents were soldiers, so I offered to babysit. We eventually moved to Texas, and the same thing happened there. Friends of ours who moved with us had a baby, so I babysat again, until the mom eventually got out of the Army to be with her child. Although I tried to help whenever possible, I still didn’t think I was doing any great thing. Now that I’m older, I realize that doing things for others had always been a part of who I am.
What I struggle with now is finding too many places where I could “make a difference,” so that it gets overwhelming and depressing. 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. Not everyone likes small children. Instead, you may love animals and be able to help walk a dog who lives with a senior citizen. Whatever cause is on your heart, jump in with both feet and do whatever you can to be of assistance. I always like getting cards and gifts from others, but the feeling I get knowing that I’ve helped someone who may never have had anyone care for them…that is priceless. You’ve got this; go make a difference.
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.
