As a new school year begins, you  will have important choices to make everyday.  Some decisions will take you down a path that may cause you to stumble; the way may be dark and dangerous.  Other choices will help you stay on the road toward your dreams. 

We all make mistakes along the way.  When that happens we need to evaluate our role, learn, and move forward.  Take responsibility for your actions; correct your mistakes. Beating yourself up for making a poor choice will not change the past  We can learn from our mistakes and we can choose to make better choices today. 

Everyone’s path in life is different, thank goodness.  Wouldn’t life be boring if we were all the same?  You will need to find your own way. Don’t waste your energy judging someone else.  Use that energy to take care of yourself or being helpful to others.

Ask the positive adults in your life and good friends to help you make your decisions.  Those adult may have already been in a similar situation and you can learn from their experiences and mistakes.  Don’t allow others, who do not have your best interest in mind, have power over your decisions.

Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and Lion in the Wizard of Oz had to learn; they had the power all along.  Find your power and use your  power for good!

Kathi Ackerman, MSW, LGSW, LADC