Happy Friday, RISERS! I hope this week has been good to you. I know that I often comment on time, but it’s unimaginable to me that we are already at the halfway point of September. How is that possible? We are days away from officially being able to celebrate all things autumn. I hope this weekend to write a few additional chapters in my novel, which is set in the fall season.
I have said before that the cool thing about writing this blog is adding something different every now and then. I want to add a “Happy Birthday” section to celebrate everyone who turned another year older this week. If you’re in this group, be sure to have a slice of cake, buy yourself a little something, and know that the world needs your kind of you.
Quote of the Week: “Life is a chess match. Every decision that you make has a consequence to it.” –P. K. Subban
Song of the Week: This week’s song is “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi. I was a teenager in high school when this rock band first burst onto the music scene. I remember being at marching band camp when their album Slippery When Wet hit the charts. Thirteen years later, in May 2000, this gem was released.
The message of the song is about living your life on your terms. One line of the lyrics refers to a Frank Sinatra song popularized decades before: “Like Frankie said, ‘I did it my way.’” No one can make your decisions for you. Sure, people can give you their advice, but ultimately, the final say on what to do is yours.
Joke of the Week: I heard that you should always look into a mirror before making a big decision…it helps you reflect.
Nugget of Wisdom of the Week: This week’s wisdom is about making decisions when you have realized your limitations. I know we have covered this topic recently, but my blog ideas pop up based on the kind of week, or weeks, I have been having. In this case, I have come to the painful realization that I cannot fix everything and am not meant to do so. (Let’s be honest, don’t we all subconsciously think of ourselves as a low-key version of Superman or Wonder Woman?) I suppose that no one ever likes to admit they have come to the end of their abilities.
I once did a study of a book called The Red Sea Rules, which takes principles from the biblical story of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and applies them to real life. One of the chapters I’ll never forget dealt with the “paralysis of analysis.” This type of paralysis comes when you have thought about making a decision for so long that you are literally stuck and need that little push.
Remember back when we talked about using the Benjamin Franklin method of making decisions—creating a “pros” and “cons” list? Well, once you have done that and made a thoughtful decision, be confident in your reasoning as you start to move in that direction. Where we often trip up is by thinking that we have made a mistake and second-guessing ourselves. If we encounter an obstacle, we begin to wonder, “Did I make the right choice?”
Sometimes the best thing to do when you are unsure about your decision is do the next logical step. If you have sought counsel, evaluated all of your options, and made a choice, then hold tight and trust that you are where you should be. You don’t want to make a knee-jerk reaction that might be detrimental later on.
Recipe of the Week: I don’t know what these are officially called, so I’ve named this recipe Meatball Surprise.
What you’ll need:
1 box of large shell pasta, cooked and drained
1 bag of meatballs (any flavor will work)
1 jar of pasta sauce
1 bag of shredded cheese (whichever kind you like best for meatballs)
Italian seasoning, to taste
cupcake pan
Cook pasta shells, drain, and set to the side. Take one large shell that you have turned inside out (so that it looks like a little bowl) and place it into a lightly greased cupcake pan. Once all 12 cups are filled, take a meatball and put one in each shell. Now, take a spoonful of pasta sauce and cover the meatballs. Next, sprinkle each meatball with the desired amount of cheese. Dust with the Italian seasoning. You will bake these in an oven for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. These will make a perfect snack for a big game. Enjoy!
Shout-Out of the Week: This week I want to give a shout-out to everyone who gives 100% every day. Thanks for getting up and doing what needs to be done, even when your to-do list includes a lot of hard things that aren’t fun…caregiving for your family, having the difficult but necessary conversation at work, asking for help to solve a problem at school, protecting those who have less power and privilege than you do, or anything that fits the hard category. You’ve got this!
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.