Laurielee Mitchell

Making the Team Laurielee Mitchell

Tika has her heart set on getting a spot on the soccer team. In this story, she has many exchanges with family and friends, and they all offer her advice on how best to achieve her goal. Ultimately, through late night conversation with her beloved bear-friend Emri, she is reminded of the wisdom she carries within, and the importance of listening to your heart. She learns that promising "I'll be happy when/if" postpones the happiness we could be luxuriating in today, and that we need to be in charge of that happiness ourselves instead of giving that power to others. We know that we have innate knowledge - that feeling in our gut when all evidence points elsewhere can't be denied. We need to remember to trust in this, as well as the good advice of others. The story also touches on the concept of worry, and trying to be what others expect of us. Anyone who has ever really really wanted something will relate to this story.