Claire is a happy young girl with great talent and a people pleaser. She has beautiful true friends that support her and others who keep putting her down. Christine acts out of insecurity and puts Claire down. At that moment, Claire handled it well, but later that day, thoughts flooded her mind - I am not good enough. She recognized the truth and had a decision to make.

My message to moms, guardians, and teachers:

Sadly, what happened to Claire happens to all of us in our lifetime. There will always be someone ugly to you, belittles you, and tries to manipulate you in some way or other. How many of us fall victim to this because we are not aware of our sphere of influence?

The Life Skill hidden in this story is the Sphere of Influence.

Influence is the capacity to affect the character, development, or behavior of someone or something or the effect itself. The Sphere of Influence is what you can control, what influences you and others. Lastly, what is out of your control?

Inside Claire's Reflection, you will find:

The Life Skill Lesson - Nobody can make you do anything. You always have a choice. Not making a choice is a choice. If somebody says they did not have a choice, it is only because of too much pressure on you so that you submit to what they want. 11 Questions & Answers A graphical representation of The Sphere of Influence Practical way to apply the skill - What to do when you feel overwhelmed, anxious or stressed about a situation or someone's behavior towards you. Ask yourself these three questions.

Find them in the book. Enjoy the journey.