Hang In There, Kid

By Dr. Joyce W. Teal

Hang In There, Kid is Book 2 of The Don't Sweat It, Kid Trilogy. It is targeted for adolescents between the ages of 11 through 17. It consists of three volumes that are loaded with information and scenarios that are designed to provoke thought and effect positive changes in adolencents' behavior and way of thinking about ordinary occurrences and experiences in their lives. In these books, they will find easy solutions to some of their most recurring problems and stress-provoking situations.
As a young person entering or going through adolescence, there have been or will be times during this phase of your life when you will have to make decisions that can potentially change or set the course for the rest of your life. Don’t Sweat It, Kid has been written for you. It can help you to make these important decisions,
and it can help you to make them in a way that will be advantageous to you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 4, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483513072

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Introduction

Those who cross their bridges before they arrive at them pay the toll twice.

Adolescence is not an easy phase in life. But it is a temporary one. As a young person making the journey through this phase of your life, never lose sight of the fact that it is temporary. It will not last forever. It will one day seem so insignificant to your existence. It will one day be something that you will reflect upon and laugh about. This being the case, don’t sweat the small stuff, and most of the things that you allow to stress you out and cause you heartfelt pain definitely fits the category of small stuff. Don’t create pseudo emergencies that can cause you and the people who love you big problems when all it is is small stuff. The only drama associated with most of our daily encounters are the dramas we, ourselves, create.

Whenever you must deal with bad news, like the death of a beloved grandparent or a the fact that you didn’t make the cut, know that you choose your own reactions to these situations. There is nothing that you can do about the death of a beloved grandparent; accept that as one of the sad realities in your life. If, however, you didn’t make the cut this time, whether for the basketball team, football team, cheerleaders’ squad, or any of the other numerous activities in which you could be involved, know that the choices you make will determine, to a very large degree, your own peace of mind and level of stress.

Isuggest that you do not add to the stress that you feel or that of others by creating unnecessary drama. During times such as these, help yourself and the other people who care about you to get through them and to get past them by taking the time to think before you react. When you do, you’ll find that you are strong and that you can cope with difficult situations without falling apart and without causing unnecessary stress to yourself and others. Just remember, Don’t Sweat It, Kid . In the grand scheme of things, it’s really not all that important!

You can be a happy, well-adjusted young person if you make up your mind that you will not let the small stuff in your life drive you crazy. Whenever things happen that are unpleasant, and know that unpleasant things happen in everybody’s life, make a genuine effort to keep them in perspective. Determine that you will not create unnecessary drama but will accept the this too shall pass, and get on with the business of living your pleasant life in spite of the infrequent occurrences of unpleasantness. Do not believe, as Chicken Little, that the sky is falling, whenever you are faced with one of life’s difficulties or unpleasant situations. I hasten to assure you that it isn’t!

34.

Show Your Gratitude

When someone does something nice for you, show your gratitude. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Be willing to let your parents know that you appreciate the sacrifices they make for you. You don’t have to spend every moment that you are in their presence thanking them, but it certainly won’t hurt you to say thanks once in awhile, and you just might be pleasantly surprised with the response you get from them.

Don’t sweat it if you feel a bit awkward the first few times you say, "Thanks Mom" or "thanks, Dad. I really appreciate that C.D. player, or "Thanks, that latest compact disc you got me is the bomb!" If you will take advantage of the opportunity to show your appreciation, in other words, if you cultivate an attitude of gratitude, the awkwardness that you felt initially will disappear completely.

Think about the last time you