Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope this week has been good to you. Today puts us nine days from Halloween. There’s still plenty of time to watch your favorite scary movies and television shows. We are getting plump pumpkins to carve and picking out costumes for the big night. Speaking of pumpkins…our family has a tradition of having a carving contest. Our wonderful neighbor judges the pumpkins. One year our daughter, Olivia, either didn’t want to carve a pumpkin or forgot. She placed an index card on the table with the name of her pumpkin on it. It was “The Invisible Pumpkin.” Our neighbor gave her an award for the most creative pumpkin.
Quote of the week: “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” –Mark Twain
Movie of the week: This week I want to suggest a film called The Raven. It is the fifth in a series of eight movies by director Roger Corman that feature the short-story genius of Edgar Allan Poe. The 1963 version starring Vincent Price is comedic and has other great actors including Peter Lorre, Boris Karloff, and a very young Jack Nicholson. If you’re like me, as you watch it you’ll wonder how many science fiction screenwriters “borrowed” ideas from this movie. I can think of a few. Anyway, I hope you like it!
Joke of the week: What’s it like to be kissed by a vampire? It’s a pain in the neck.
Nugget of Wisdom for the week: The wisdom I wish to impart to you this week is about advocating for your own health needs. Last week I mentioned that my mom was supposed to have stents put into her heart. Well, she didn’t have surgery this week after all, which was a total blessing. It turns out that the problem is likely with her blood and not specifically her heart. My mom was told that as a result of a blood transfusion she had several years ago, she has half the amount of blood in her body that a person is supposed to have to be healthy.
We all tend to take good health for granted…until we suddenly have problems or concerns. When that happens, it’s crucial to form a balanced partnership with your healthcare provider(s). Clearly, doctors are educated and have the experience needed to help patients get better. But they can’t do their jobs without the important information that only you can share. You know your own body, and it’s important to speak up if something seems abnormal.
Make it your responsibility to keep track of troubling symptoms or patterns, and report those to your healthcare provider. When you see a doctor for ANYTHING, write down all important details and ask for clarification if you don’t understand the terminology or instructions. If your physician suggests treatment that doesn’t seem logical, ask for a second opinion. Invite a trusted friend or family member to attend a consultation with you. If you still aren’t sure, keep doing research and asking for informed opinions. There is only one of you, so be good to yourself and stay healthy.
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.
