It was the summer of 2018, hot even by NYC standards. I lived in Washington Heights, a residential neighborhood in the northern portion of the New York City’s borough of Manhattan, amidst the world’s most thriving metropolis. My story begins on one of those hot days.

It doesn’t start with me, but begins with a sixteen-year-old boy coming back from a doctor's appointment, who being a minor at the time, was accompanied by his grandfather. Looking around as he walked, he noticed everything, the neighborhood kids running around, splashing through the sprinklers, and spraying each other with their water guns, coping with the summer heat. Over to the next block was a line in front of the ice cream truck, kids with their parents pointing out the ice cream bars they wanted. We all have our coping mechanisms.

The young boy turned to his grandfather, “Pop, I need a job. However, I don’t need just any job, I need a job I love.”

“Well, you’re great with kids. You know your mother and brother work with kids for the Department of Education. Working with kids is in your genes.”

“You’re right, but what do I do with that?”

The grandfather didn’t reply. Instead, as they walked up the avenue he pointed to an elementary school, where they observed a playground of about a hundred energetic kids, with some running around while others were sitting, chatting as they ate popsicles on this hot sunny day.

“Why don’t you ask them if they are hiring?” suggested the grandfather.

The boy didn’t hesitate, walking into the playground behind the school, glancing around at the little kids in gray and black shirts within the enclosure. As he looked more closely, he could see more kids at the back of the playground, in groups, playing chess. These were not casual chess games, but obviously advanced, with children as young as six making impressive moves under the pressure of a clock. He watched in awe.

Amongst the chess players was a tall figure, and the boy mustered the courage to approach him. “Hey...I was wondering how I can apply?”

“Well, the head director is right over there. You can ask him.” His finger was pointing at a another tall figure with dark hair, wearing a black shirt with a logo at the top right, “I C N.”

The boy approached him. “Excuse me---.” The figure turned around. “Are there any positions open? I’m looking for a job.”

The man smiled and responded, “Here is my e-mail. Shoot me an e-mail and we can talk.”

The boy expressed his gratitude and promised to make contact. The boy’s name is Tyler.

Tyler e-mailed the man as soon as he got home and anxiously waited for a response. When the response came, it wasn’t just any response. It was an invitation to be interviewed for a position. Tyler went to the interview with great excitement and expectation.

The man showed him around the classrooms of the school, sitting him down in one of them for an interview, quickly getting to the point. “You know what, I am going to give you a shot. How do you feel about working without pay?”

Tyler looked up, his enthusiasm not dampened. He was excited just to be offered a position, and so he cheerfully replied, “Sure!”

The man chuckled before responding, “I was just joking. We’ll pay you.”

Tyler laughed with the man, not realizing then just how much he would come to love the job, the very wish of his heart which he had expressed to his grandfather.

Tyler is now celebrating his second year working for Impact Coaching Network, ICN for short.

CHAPTER 2: JOB HUNTING

Tyler is a very good friend of mine. I met him in a park close to our high schools; we attended different schools.

It was the summer of 2019 and I was desperately seeking a job. The summer before I had worked serving overpriced ice cream to little kids on the Upper East Side, not quite stealing candy from kids but close, maybe just from their parents. It had been a month since I finished my junior year of high school and I was eager to find work that would give me a sense of purpose, maybe even the euphoria that I found in my last job.

I had spent late nights applying to numerous jobs, becoming familiar with the “I regret to inform you…” e-mails. Tyler, who was settled into his job with ICN, was becoming used to my familiar rant, “Why hasn't anyone hired me yet? This is so frustrating!”

We were walking from P.S. 33, an elementary school located in Chelsea where ICN held their yearly summer camp. “Well, finding a job is really difficult, it takes time and patience,” Tyler tried to console me. I was having none of it, and tuned him out, even annoyed by his smiling face, bearing a smugness from having just put in a hard and satisfying day of work with ICN, and me? I felt guilt ridden, coming from home after eating my fifth meal of the day. He didn’t understand, he couldn’t understand.

Ignoring my cold response, he continued, “Many employers don’t realize what they are losing when they reject you. You’re hardworking, smart, kind…”. His voice blended with the street sounds as I remained wrapped in my own thoughts, thinking that the only productive thing I had done this summer was to see how many movies I could binge watch in bed.

Another two weeks would pass and my desperation for work intensified. I felt more discouraged, even ready to give up. With two weeks left in the summer, hopes of euphoria were replaced with despair. Later that day I went to visit Tyler at his job with ICN at P. S. 33, with my thoughts on my failed summer. In front of the school, I texted Tyler, “I’m outside. Are you ready to go to the pier?”

While I waited for a response, I took a deep breath, trying not to look so glommed out because of my current situation. I paced back and forth, my anxiety growing. My self absorption was interrupted by the pinging of my phone. “Hey, I’m really sorry but I have to do late pick-up today. You can come inside though, my supervisor said you’re allowed to wait in the playground.”

After five more minutes of pacing back and forth, arguing with myself whether I should go inside or not, I finally relented. Inside were about twenty kids, half of them running around playing basketball or soccer, the other half pressing for checkmate in their chess match ups. I sat down on a bench to wait. A young, curly haired woman approached me, “So who are you here to pick up?”

Laughing, I said, “Tyler.”

“You must be Tyler’s friend,” she joined me in my laughter and my subtle dig at my friend Tyler, pretending I was his guardian.

We introduced ourselves. Her name was Nashali, Nash for short, and we started to talk, with me sharing my job woes. Just then two guys approached us, asking me, “Whose babysitter are you?” I once again laughed, again replying, “Tyler’s.”

We waited together, with time passing. There were only four kids left, sitting on the playground and tired out. “So why don’t you apply here?” Nash asked me. I was surprised by her question, the thought never entering my head. “Why did I never apply here?” I asked myself.

“You know, the head director will be here on Friday if you want to ask for a position.”

I nodded my head in acknowledgment, “Count me in.”

CHAPTER 3: SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY

“So, do you have any experience with kids?” Russ Makofsky, the head director of ICN asked me.

It had been three days since Nash had told me that the head director would be here to interview me. I was beside myself with anxiety. I had walked up the stairs of P.S. 33, following Russ, careful not to trip in my nervousness. The summer heat and my anxiety had the best of me, my hands sweating, and sweat trickling down my back, making me very self-conscious.

We walked into a dark classroom, welcomed by a big rug and an array of small tables and chairs, stretching towards the back, declaring that we had arrived in the abode of ‘little people.’ We sat at one of the tables that contained Russ’s laptop and an assortment of papers.

My mind was racing. I could hear myself recounting my past work experiences, as Russ patiently listened. I estimated I had been to twenty different job interviews that summer but I was the most nervous about this one. My leg was twitching, up and down, and my mouth was dry, and I played with the ring on my right ring finger.

Russ ignored my nervousness. “So, here is my e-mail. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to offer you a summer position since our summer program will end in two weeks---”. My heart was racing. This was it, this is when he tells me he can’t offer me a job because I don’t have enough experience or because I’m too young. My mind was also racing, trying to catch up with my heart. I wasn’t sure which was faster. “---but I will be able to offer you a fall position.”

It felt like Frozone from the movie, Incredibles, had just frozen everything around me. My heart was racing, but now for a different reason.

“Thank you so much, Russ. I greatly appreciate this opportunity.” I got up, my legs shaking, this time from excitement, my nervousness having evaporated. I practically ran out of the classroom, eager to tell my best friend, Tyler, the news.

CHAPTER 4: MOVING FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER

Fast forward to March of 2020. I had been working at ICN for six months, my job was to assist the coaches at four different elementary schools Monday through Friday after school. I handed out snacks to the kids before every chess lesson, I cleaned up the cafeteria after the kids had snack time, I set up the chess boards for the kids while the coaches taught their lessons, I helped bring the kids down if they were being picked up, and so on.

My favorite activity was helping the kids while they played their chess games. I worked with kindergarteners; they were adorable! Everything they did, especially their chess rookie mistakes, grabbed at my heartstrings. This job impacted me like no other. After a long, stressful and irritating day at high school, I would go into work seeing my favorite chess kids ready to learn some chess knowledge, automatically making me feel better. Senior year was very stressful for me; college visits and decisions, the irritating process of financial aid, the tension of getting good grades, and the list goes on. It felt like senior year was chasing me down, Mike Myers style, everyday. Working with the kids each day after school felt like I was entering a safe house, a place Mike couldn’t intrude.

Working at ICN has definitely changed my perspective of teachers and how remarkable their job is, especially to consider their potential impact on a future generation. For me, to be involved in the lives of these little ones, I feel empowered to give knowledge to future grandmasters and chess coaches, as they move forward to a future with untold possibilities, some maybe even doing what I was doing, many years later. These kids, with their passion to learn and understand, fueled my own passion to be part of the process.

Every day I was inspired by what I witnessed, as I worked with different kids, with each topping the other with how hard and fast they worked. For myself, being a student from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., then a teacher from 2-5 p.m., I was experiencing the student/teacher experience from both ends, giving me insight into the struggles of both. As a student, I was aware of the importance of remaining focused under the tutelage of my teacher, and as a teacher, I was introduced to the frustrations of maintaining classroom order. Both were huge challenges.

I was in my senior year in high school, and the year I turned eighteen. It was a big deal to me. It meant entering the terrifying world of adulthood, with all of its freedoms and incumbent responsibilities. That would be in a normal world, but my eighteenth year of life was anything but normal.

CHAPTER 5: THE HARSH REALITY OF ADULTHOOD

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…” were the first words I heard on March 12. I was awakened by my mom singing to me, a plate with a banana pancake in her hand.

It was a Thursday which meant both school and work. I got ready like any other day, putting on jeans and a long sleeved shirt, putting on light makeup, and taking three bites of my pancake as I raced out the door. I was going to be late if I ate more.

I took my regular MTA commute to school, completing my eight hours of school work, and then was off by train to PS 111, located in Hell’s Kitchen, perhaps prescient of what lay ahead. It was a very ‘chill day,’ with the kids encouraged to practice their puzzles on Chesskid. I walked around, monitoring the kids, and finally sitting down. It was then one of my co-workers, Kenny, approached me, “So have you checked the news?”

This wasn't the first time I have been asked this today. Not only was it my birthday but it was also the day half of New York City shut down. The COVID-19 virus was upon us, and we were about to enter a long dark tunnel. Many people approached me asking me what I thought about the virus and if schools would still be open next week. I didn’t know. How was I to have an answer to a question that would sweep the whole world? Who knew what lay ahead? All I knew was COVID-19 welcomed me to adulthood, and I needed to grow up in a hurry! Deep within my heart was the feeling that it ‘sucked’ to face the constraints of this virus on my birthday. “Yes, I saw the news, Kenny.”

After work I headed over to the famous restaurant, Big Daddy’s, in Flatiron District. I was met by my Mom and Tyler to celebrate my birthday. Quite literally, it was only the three of us there, with no other customers. I didn’t realize the significance of this, as I was enjoying the fast service and personal attention we were receiving. The new normal had begun. My mom munched on her wings while Tyler and I tucked into our burgers and fries. We all enjoyed the milkshakes, underrated by all accounts, as we toasted my entrance into adulthood.

“I’m going to the bathroom before we leave,” I announced to my mom and Tyler. I used the bathroom but while washing my hands, I stared at myself in the mirror. “This isn’t my birthday, this isn't my birthday,” I kept repeating to myself.

I was having flashbacks of my day, especially about all the times someone had asked me, “Have you seen the news?” The question was always accompanied by a birthday wish, leaving me with a feeling I had been robbed. COVID-19 was the gift I didn’t ask for, and it was usurping my life, beginning on my birthday. Perhaps this is the irony of life. After all, entrance to adulthood begins the human journey of human responsibility, where we begin to learn that life is not about us. We learn this through the passage of life, with all of its cycles. We find partners and we learn to love our partners. We have children, and try to give them our undivided attention. In short, we face the reality that success in life is not about being ‘me centred’ but about caring for others. COVID-19 would hasten my growth along this path.

Nevertheless, my emotions were divided. I had all these things to learn and it was just my first day of adulthood. I couldn’t help feeling envious of the virus, like it was cheating me on my birthday. It had taken over, even making my birthday seem irrelevant. It was clear that the whole world’s attention was on to something bigger than each of us!

It also forced upon me a very difficult choice, would I get caught up in seeing myself as a victim, perhaps becoming very bitter in life with things not going my way, or would I see this as an opportunity, my first big step into adulthood?

My mirror gazing was not my only act of self reflection. It was as though I had stepped outside of myself, looking at my thoughts and self-concern, wondering about the way forward. At the time I could only reassure myself, thinking that it was okay because my birthday wasn’t a big deal anyways. I left the bathroom thinking that my birthday was the only thing that was going to be taken away from me that month. Little did I know.

CHAPTER 6: THE VIRUS STRIKES NYC

“COVID - 19 has taken over New York City.” This was the headline shouting from every newsletter and news channel.

New York City is very congested, so I didn’t find myself surprised that the virus spread so quickly. I’m sure many of my fellow New Yorkers can say that New York seems large on a map but tiny when walking down any street in Manhattan. If you have ever been on the A train at 7:30 a.m. you definitely know that New Yorkers are not afraid to get up close to each other.

Tap, tap, tap is all I hear from my window. It is a dark rainy day in New York City on March 20. I had woken up, still not used to being in quarantine. It felt like I had a million and one things pressing in on me but none that I actually wanted to do. I sigh as I look around my room, as if something had changed from the moment I went to sleep to when I woke up, but no, everything was the same, and yet very different.

I got up to make some coffee. I stared off at the coffee maker, its water colliding with the coffee, making a bitter, dark coffee, its aroma awakening my senses to a new day, one which I had nowhere to go or anything to really do.

It was quiet, eerie, a deafening silence that was freaking me out, very unusual for New York City. It felt like something was wrong or something bad was about to happen. No one was outside, no loud neighbors, and it was just me and my dog. Even my yappy dog was quiet, unusual as she was given to being yappy.

I grabbed the cup of coffee and sat back on my bed. It had been a week since New York City shut down and I was stuck at home with the rest of New York. I couldn’t help but overthink everything. A pandemic was happening around me, its silent tentacles threatening to encroach on my private world, causing a war in my head. I had been suffering from anxiety and depression for six years, and now this, the pandemic; it hit me hard.

I felt alone with my thoughts and there was no escape, no distractions, just the somber reality of COVID-19. I woke up everyday wondering why this had to happen, feeling I had no one to blame. I woke up everyday to see the number of cases rise and rise, hearing the public health officials with their cry to flatten the curve, but it seemed like it would only go up. I felt trapped, not only in my small Manhattan apartment but also in my small Briana brain. Many mornings I felt like my head would explode!

I wasn’t able to log into school for a week when we switched from ‘in person’ to remote learning. It felt like I was in a cave, isolated, hidden from everyone, continuing with the daily rituals of eating and sleeping, sometimes sleeping all day. I wasn’t alone in this silent maelstrom, with the whole of New York suffering with me, each in their own world, seeking to cope. Everyone was stressed, panic stricken with the sudden cessation of life as they knew it, trying to find a way forward in a city that normally didn’t sleep.

Some worked from home, some working through the pandemic as essential workers, and some losing their jobs entirely. Kids had to learn a new way of life, forced to understand that a very serious virus was spreading, and everything they enjoyed including their outside activities were suddenly taken away. Students were trying to learn how to adjust to online classes and how to connect with their friends through the virtual world. College kids were panicking, forced to pack up and leave their dorms, forced to move back in with their parents. Adults were trying to reconfigure their lives, worrying if they could work from home or have to lose their jobs entirely. No matter how young or old, New Yorkers were affected during this pandemic, being the epicenter for this virus in the whole of the USA. The news reels of bodies piling up, coffins lined up, as the virus struck our immediate neighbour, Queens, left us absolutely petrified and hurt.

I believe every New Yorker suffered from this pandemic in their own way. I suffered inside my own head, my thoughts and anxieties relentless, pursuing me, hunting me down. All my usual escape mechanisms didn’t work; I was eighteen and at home, alone all day with my depression and anxiety, the clock ticking and reminding me, hour by hour, that I existed and had to find a way through. No activity, movie or TV show could deliver me. I needed a personal motivator just to get me out of bed, get food or even take a two minute walk with my dog.

I continued to sip my coffee. It had been a week since schools closed down and I had not heard from my boss. Suddenly a thought, “Why not contact Russ? Maybe he could give me something to do?” I scrolled through, looking for Russ’s e-mail address. Again, anxiety reared its head. Maybe, like thousands of New Yorkers, I had lost my job. I felt my heart race as I stared at my bright laptop screen, searching for the words to type. “Dear Russ…” “No, too formal,” I said to myself. “Good morning Russ, I’m scared that I may have just lost my job, something I really enjoyed doing everyday and this feels like it’s never going to end…” I groaned as I deleted the entire e-mail. I collapsed my head into my hands as I continued to search for what to say. The words did come.

Good morning Russ!

I've tried texting you twice a few days ago but I never got a response back. I know you've been very busy with planning things out for the kids, trying to communicate with other coaches and your own personal business. I hope me reaching out to you through e-mail isn't a conflict. I just wanted to start off by saying I'm sorry about how the corona virus has affected this company. It's a scary, upsetting and very frustrating time but that doesn't stop ICN from pushing forward. ICN has taught me these past few days that no matter how hard times get, we keep our heads up not only for the kids but for each other as well.

I got an e-mail from Erica a few days ago about unemployment benefits. I personally reached out to her and asked how I could get benefits if I'm not on payroll. She informed me unemployment benefits are for hourly paid employees but there would be other coaching methods. A concern of mine is that I will not get any income/benefits during this time. I have been saving for college with this job and trying to help out my mom who might soon also be unemployed due to the corona virus. I was hoping you could give me some tasks or work I can do from home. If there is anything I can do, feel free to e-mail, call or text me.

Thank you and have a good day, Russ.

Briana King Rhein

I pressed the ‘send’ button and sank into my bed. Worrying was becoming my area of expertise, and the quarantine was elevating me to new levels. I was even overthinking my online schooling, how I would work from home if Russ gave me something to do, and how I would have to adapt to a whole new lifestyle on such short notice.

I turned on my TV to block out the noise of my thoughts. The deafening silence of the city that was known to never sleep, had finally been brought to its knees, as though forced to lie down and take a nap. This was the new reality.

CHAPTER 7: FINDING A WAY FORWARD

“Call me anytime.”

-----

Russell Makofsky

Program Director

Impact Coaching Network Inc.

I read those three words over and over. Hope filled me with the chance of getting my job back. I looked up his number, still hesitant once I found it. “What if he wants to call to fire me? No, no, no,” I said to myself.

I started to pace back and forth. My eyes frantically looked around my room as I couldn’t focus on any thing. After five long minutes of pacing I sat down and closed my eyes. My heart was pounding, louder than a drum, my hands damp with sweat. I took a deep breath and pressed his number.

Russ: Hey Briana. How is it going?

Briana: It’s been challenging. It’s just crazy that all of this occurred…

I started to describe my new lifestyle and all of its dysfunctionality. It was my first time describing it aloud. Listening to myself, I thought I was watching a movie. I even chuckled, thinking of all the movies that would come out of this COVID-19 crisis. Maybe mine would be one of them.

Russ: So what can you contribute to ICN? What are some of your talents?

This question caught me off guard. It had been years since someone asked me that question, and even now, I was tempted to think I had nothing to offer.

Briana: Um….

“Sugar Honey Iced Tea,” I thought to myself, for that was something I was very good at, having fine tuned its making to perfection. I couldn’t think of anything. For the first time in this quarantine my mind was empty, at least of anything constructive, but the destructive worry still lingered, pulling me into its orb and paralyzing me. Not being able to think of something, that even made me anxious. All I could think was, “This is it, this was my chance and I’m completely blowing it.”

Russ: Do you draw? Do you write?

Briana: Yes, yes, I write. In school, I wrote very good essays, even doing it as a hobby in my free time.

Russ: Great! I want you to write an e-mail to everyone at ICN everyday giving them motivation. During this time some of the coaches may be feeling a loss of inspiration but I want you to write an e-mail everyday for the coaches, so when they wake up in the morning, it will prepare them for their day.

As Russ and I worked out the details for these daily e-mails, I ran to my computer. After I hung up, I screamed, overcome with jubilation and emotion—there was a way forward in this dark tunnel!

That was the most noise I had made in a week. No longer was I captive to my anxiety—exhilaration had taken over. I danced in my room, my excitement finding release. I suddenly remembered I had work to do; I was supposed to write up the first e-mail. Quickly I jumped into bed with my laptop, and began writing what was my very first motivational e-mail but certainly not my last.

Hello,

It's been a while since I've seen everyone and I hope you're all doing well. These new times have impacted us all, sometimes it's hard to keep our heads up and stay positive.

Everyday I will reach out with some inspiring messages or good self care tricks to do. This is very important because we need to take care of ourselves, not just physically.

With that being said, here is my first self care trick of the day.

-Don't check the news today or spend less time watching the news. A problem I'm seeing with everyone (even myself) is that we're constantly checking news outlets for updates.

-Instead of checking the news, put on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc. This is a great time to binge watch that show you always wanted to but never had the time to.

-If you're not a movie/TV show type of person, I recommend picking up a book you may have at home or renting out an E-book.

Feel free to e-mail me any time if you need someone to talk to.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

CHAPTER 8: RELATING TO OTHERS

The responses were immediate.

“Thank you for that. I needed that.”

“That is so sweet of you.”

“Thank you, Briana.”

I glowed as I read them. To be honest, as I began writing that first e-mail I was very hesitant, wondering if it was such a good idea? Looking in the mirror, all I could see was a girl who had been slumped in bed for a whole week. I saw a girl who was lost, no longer in touch with reality, completely disconnected from anyone and anything. In short, I didn’t see someone who could be there for others, let alone be there for herself. It felt like my head was going through a tornado of emotions and thoughts, both positive and negative. I didn’t understand anything that was going on, one minute I was telling myself that this will never end and that we’re all doomed and the next minute I’m telling others to keep their heads up as everything was going to be okay. In my turmoil, my only release had been to crawl into bed and hope it was all a bad dream, and would eventually go away. That was how I had coped. This was different, I now had a reason to wake up, a reason to live.

And so my motivational e-mails became my way forward.

Good morning everyone!

"Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted" – Source unknown

I believe success only comes to those who put in the work into getting their success. If you wish for success, what you have wished for doesn't just show up to you the next week.

Everyone successful has had to put in the hard work to be where they are, even if you don't see the hard work they contribute. Goals are a great way to start your way to success because goals give us motivation to get it done, but if you only make a goal and not put in the hard work, you are no longer making a goal, you are making a wish.

That is the difference between a goal and a wish. A goal is something you put your mind to do. A wish is something you ask for, something to come to you. Let's remember we are all trying to accomplish goals.

After we have our goals set up, let's remember...

HARD WORK

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

It was now April 20th, a full month after my first e-mail. If transitioning from February to March was a huge leap, going from March to April was a quantum change.

I was no longer spending all my time in bed. Besides my e-mails, I was at my desk finishing up my senior year of high school, completing assignments as they came in. At my school we didn’t have virtual meetings or classes. Every morning a new assignment would be posted for each class which we would complete before the next assignment was posted the next day.

I felt unsettled, uncanny, with this new structure, and this continued until June when school was officially over. The biggest transition for me, and I’m sure many parents would agree, was making the home environment into a classroom. Before quarantine, home was a place to ‘kick back’ and relax, a place of comfort and relief whereas school was a place of learning, focus and concentration. To mix these two felt odd, maybe even impossible. With me being home alone, the distractions came fast and furious, with something coming up every ten minutes. This included the TV, useless links on my computer, my bed, my books, my phone and of course, my dog.

I can only laugh as I think back to April. I would play endlessly with my dog, all because I didn’t want to focus on my schoolwork. My dog was probably really confused as to why I was always home as I barely spent any time at home before quarantine. She was probably more confused why every time I went to work on my laptop, instead I would play with her for what felt like hours. Going back to my point, it was difficult to merge a place of learning with a place of relaxation and comfort. I wonder how the homeschoolers do it? Students on their own don’t have the resources they need and parents are stressed because their child has an attention span of a flea when it comes to remote learning. I was living and engaged both as the student and the parent; on the one hand I was trying to focus on my school assignments, and on the other, yelling at myself to focus on my school assignments. Although it was a struggle, I did make it through but that’s a story for another time. My secret, you may ask? Knowing that I would be done with high school in two months.

My dread for my online school work was offset by my love of writing motivational e-mails. Every night before I went to sleep, I would write up the e-mail and schedule, sending everything before I went to bed. This is because I have difficulty waking up, even setting as many as sixteen different alarms and STILL not waking up when I should.

My favorite part was the positive feedback I would receive when I woke up. From March to April, I would wake up without purpose, not even having the desire to get out of bed, sometimes even staying there all day. Now in April, the first thing in the morning was to look at my phone, reading my coworkers’ replies to my e-mails, saying they had been inspired. I didn’t have a moment to be depressed, and lying in bed was the last thing on my mind. As I gave them motivation with my meaningful words, they gave me motivation back with their thankful responses, inspiring me with hope.

CHAPTER 9: A LONELY GRADUATION

Two months later and I had made it, something that had begun to feel unreachable. I groaned as I got up from bed, slipping into my bright blue dress. It was my special day; high school graduation.

I put on my makeup and took special care with my hair. Even though I wasn’t going anywhere that day, I still wanted to dress up for my graduation. Something had happened to me; I had begun to care.

I sat down at my desk in my lovely blue dress, ready to participate in my virtual graduation, a Zoom meeting with all my classmates in attendance. Looking back, I hardly remember what happened, because within ten minutes, my mind had wandered off, a million miles from the meeting as it progressed. I sat there and thought about the fourteen years of school, from kindergarten all the way to my senior year of high school, and here I was at the culmination, the moment I had been waiting for these many years.

I looked up and the first thing I saw was myself. I saw my eyeshadow glittering in the light and my natural curls, hair that I had carefully braided the night before. I looked at myself and looked back down, ready to cry. Anger welled up within me, rising from my toes to the very top of my head. This wasn’t how my graduation was supposed to be, this isn’t what I waited for, all these fourteen years.

Initially I was relieved not to have to go to an actual graduation. I didn’t have to worry about ‘messing up,’ about showing up late to my own graduation, about the expensive after-graduation dinner and all the pomp and pageantry. Sadly, even with all the anxieties that would accompany my graduation in the real world, they seemed far more bearable, maybe even enjoyable than a graduation in the virtual world. This perhaps was the worst part of quarantine, this loneliness, and I felt it deeply. I was by myself as my mom had left thirty minutes before my graduation started. She had offered to take the day off but I had insisted she not do so, thinking that my own attendance was questionable, as I could see myself deciding ten minutes before hand of not even attending to see myself graduate. I didn’t want to do that to her. She promised me we would celebrate when she came home, which we did. Even the graduation celebration I had with my mom felt horrible because it felt like I didn’t really graduate.

Dreadful is a word I seldom use; I even had to look up its meaning. This was the emotion I felt for the class of 2020. If you are reading this and you are among the Class of 2020 or know someone from the Class of 2020, I have written a letter to all of you, just like my letter to my coworkers.

DEAR CLASS OF 2020,

You came into this world around the time of 9/11/2001. The world suffered, especially New York City. We saw an important landmark of ours destroyed at our feet and saw hundreds of innocent people lose their lives. We saw people scream and sob over losing someone they loved. It hurts that we now have to enter adulthood while going through multiple world crises all at once. I want to say you’re not the only one angry, you’re not the only one devastated. You deserve a better graduation, you deserve your diploma in your hands as you read your name typed onto a sand like colored paper that says you worked fourteen hard long years for this sand like paper. You deserved to have walked down that stage as people cheered for you. You deserved to hug your friends one last time before you guys parted ways. You deserved so much better even if you think you don’t. I just want to say that I’m sorry you have to move on to another huge chapter of your life during a time like this. When all of this is over, I know the class of 2020 will reunite but until then, keep your head up so your graduation cap doesn’t fall off.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

CHAPTER 10: STAYING THE COURSE

Good morning everyone.

"It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome." - William James

I would like to remind everyone this morning that positivity is key when committing to success. When we have a positive outlook when starting a goal or journey, we are more likely to have a positive outcome versus if we started with a negative mindset. Attitude determines what we consider as success because when we look at a situation with the negative lens, we are more likely to experience high expectations and lower levels of accomplishment.

Next time we tackle a challenge let us remind ourselves to take a minute to be positive because that minute will affect how you get out of it.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

This was the last letter I wrote before I started to focus on writing this book. My experience with these letters was like no other. To think it all started out with a nerve wracking phone call to my boss, to now a passion that I hope will stick with me for a very long time.

I have had many opportunities given to me because of my e-mails, like the making of the short film “Letters From Briana,” filmed and directed by Ian Phillips, and the opportunity of writing this book thanks to the man who started it, Russell Makofsky. I am thankful to him.

What I didn’t realize while writing my e-mails everyday was that I used my writing to cope with such a difficult time. I used my writing as motivation to push myself to the next day, even if I didn’t feel like pushing. To everyone reading this, if you feel hopeless or lost, use my story to help yourself find that one thing that will help you get through. The way out of despair, out of ourselves, is when we seek to help others, even in the most mundane or miniscule way. Our dark tunnel will open up, and we will find our way, and we will no longer become victims of our own frailty. It is true we are not indestructible, our human psyches fragile and susceptible to the bumps and bruises along the road of life, but just as others have reached out to help me, people like my Mom, Tyler and Nash, people like Russ who had his own very heavy load to carry, I have tried to learn this principle, and I hope I have touched you. There is a way through.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

APPENDIX: BRIANA’S LETTERS

(As originally formatted and published online)

THE INSPIRATION MUST GO ON 3.20.20

Hello.

It's been a while since I've seen everyone and I hope you're all doing well. These new times have impacted us all, sometimes it's hard to keep our heads up and stay positive.

Everyday I will reach out with some inspiring messages or good self care tricks to do. This is very important because we need to take care of ourselves, not just physically.

With that being said, here is my first self care trick of the day.

Don't check the news today or spend less time watching the news. A problem I'm seeing with everyone (even myself) is that we're constantly checking news outlets for updates. Instead of checking the news, put on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc. This is a great time to binge watch that show you always wanted to but never had the time to. If you're not a movie/TV show type of person, I recommend picking up a book you may have at home or renting out an E-book.

Feel free to email me any time if you need someone to talk to.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

3.20.2020

A LETTER FROM BRIANA 3.21.2020

Good morning everyone!

I would like to start this email off with a quote:

"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." --Henry Ford

ICN wouldn’t have the success that we have if it wasn’t for the team work we do together. Having coaches work together to make sure the kids get the chess knowledge we know they love and deserve, having Russ and Ian work together to give these kids the best chess opportunities and the helper coaches that work together to make sure the day runs smoothly for the kids and the coaches.

Let’s all give ourselves and each other pats on the backs for working together to make such a successful company called ICN.

Let’s also give the kids a pat on the back for working together as a team to bring home big trophies and wins from championships and tournaments. If it wasn’t for their teamwork as well, we wouldn’t be where we are.

Today let’s appreciate the teamwork and each other.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA 3.22.2020

Good morning everyone!

Today I would like to share a self care trick everyone should try. We all have that one person we can talk to for hours and not realize it’s been that long. Maybe we have a friend or family member that it seems like we haven’t reached out to in ages. No matter what your situation is I think everyone should pick at least one person to call or text today. During these times, it can be a bit lonely. I believe reaching out to someone you love/care about will not only make you feel better, but also the person you are reaching out to.

We should also be reaching out to each other as a family like we have been. ICN is not just a company, it’s a family. No one should feel alone as no one in ICN is alone.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA 3.23.2020

Good morning everyone!

Today I would like to do something different. I want to take a second to talk about what ICN means to me.

ICN, some may think “Impact Coaching Network”. Others may think “chess”. I think a group of individuals from different backgrounds and lifestyles coming together to make a difference in the upcoming generation.

I am going to be completely honest, when I met Russ for the first time I didn’t know much about chess. I didn’t know how to put someone in checkmate and I didn’t know any tactics. Now it has been 6 months and it feels like I can’t stop playing chess. I watch chess videos everyday, I play against Tyler every chance I get, no matter if it’s on an actual chess board or going against each other online. I have never felt so passionate about improving my skills in a particular activity until I joined the ICN team. This is the change that ICN created for me.

I believe ICN is not just about chess, it’s about the change we create in these kids and in each other.

Today let’s think about what ICN means to ourselves. If you feel to share how ICN impacted you, reply to this email. I would love to hear from each of you.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA 3.24.2020

Good afternoon everyone!

I would like to take the opportunity to let some of you express your words of encouragement to each other. It will be beneficial to hear from other voices right now. You will reply to this email with some words you would like to share with your team. I will post them in tomorrow's email.

Your email will be "A Letter From _______" . If you feel stuck on what to say, here are some prompts:

What does ICN mean to you?

How has ICN impacted you?

Some good memories you have had working for ICN

A student you had inspired/impacted or vice versa

Do not feel limited to these prompts. This is an opportunity to connect with each other during this time.

If you wish to be removed from "A Letter From Briana" at the moment, reply to this email and you will be taken off the mailing list.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA 3.25.2020

Good morning everyone!

Tyler has decided to share a few words about what ICN means to him:

"ICN to me means a really strong team; everyone working together and keeping a smile on kids faces whenever we can get the chance too. I believe ICN is about giving hope and confidence to our students and present to them an opportunity to make something of themselves."

Thank you Tyler for taking the time to share out.

Everyone still has the chance to send me an email that they would like to share to our team.

A reminder that if you would like to stop receiving these emails, respond to this one saying you would like to be removed from the mailing list.

I hope to hear from some of you soon with your words to share.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA 3.26.2020

Good morning everyone!

Today I would like to share a self-care activity I believe everyone should participate in. Let's face the truth, with us staying home these past 2 weeks we have not been staying that active. Today let us all challenge ourselves to do a physical activity.

When I say physical activity I don't entirely mean a workout. A physical activity could mean:

Yoga
Taking a walk (while remembering to practice social distancing)
Walking up and down a few flight of stairs
Stretches that will wake up the body
And lastly my personal favorite, a dance party in your living room

Don't feel limited to do any of the activities that I mentioned, they are just there for suggestions. It's VERY important to practice staying active because it will lift up our moods, helps manage stress/tension in the body, improves sleep, boosts your energy, etc.

I would love to hear how some of you stay active at home. Reply to this email with a routine you have for yourself.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA 3.27.2020

Good morning everyone!

Happy Friday. We have fought hard through another week, let's all give ourselves a pat on the back. I hope everyone tried a physical activity yesterday that made them feel good inside. I know for sure I had a good dance party in my living room.

During these times, some of us forget to laugh or even smile. I think we all deserve to have a little laugh to start our day so down below I have some chess jokes I hope all of you enjoy.

Let's not forget to laugh today because we all know laughter is the best medicine.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 03.28.20

Good morning everyone!

Today's word of the day is influence. Let's refresh our minds about what influence means:

Influence: "the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself."

Something we don't always see is the influence we create on these kids. Let's not forget these kids look up to us everyday to give them that chess knowledge they crave. Let's not forget how successful these kids are because of our influence on them.

This also works vice versa. Some of these kids could have influenced us to keep teaching kids or influenced us to change something about ourselves.

Today let's reflect on the influence we give and we receive as influence is a powerful thing that goes a long way.

"In chess, the small one can become the big one" -Gloria, Queen Of Katwe

Let's not forget we are creating future grand masters with our influence.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 03.29.20

Good morning everyone!

I hope we are all doing well and staying healthy, both physically and mentally.

Today I will be sharing a few quotes I think we should give to our students this week. Not only do we need some motivation for ourselves but we also need to provide it to the kids that are working hard everyday, increasing their rating and chess knowledge.

1. "Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out" - Robert Collier

2. "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have" - Thomas Jefferson

3. "Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do" - Pelé

4. "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success" -Edward Everett Hale

Let's not forget to motivate our students this week and appreciate the hard work they have been giving us.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 03.30.20

Good morning everyone!

As we start a new week, let's not forget the self care routines I have previously talked about:

· Doing a physical activity

· Watching the news less

· Watching a good show/movie or reading a book

· Reaching out to someone you love/care about

I can't stress enough how important it is to practice self care as it will lead a better and more relaxed mood for yourself. Let's all take a second today to do something for ourselves.

"Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what's left of you." - Katie Reed

If you have a self care routine you would like to share, let me know by replying to this email. It would be helpful for our team to know other ways to take care of ourselves.

If you would like to stop receiving these emails, reply stating you would like to be removed from the mailing list.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 03.31.20

Good morning everyone!

"Don't forget, a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated" -- H. Jackson Brown Jr.

I want to take this morning to appreciate every single person on this team for the hard work and dedication they have put in these past two weeks. It hasn't been easy during this time but we all come together to make everything run smoothly.

We now have ICN Online Community up and running on the website.

· Let's appreciate everyone that put in their effort and hard work into making that possible.

· Let's appreciate the coaches that private tutor our chess kids to help them get better.

· Let's appreciate everyone that keeps their heads up high and give out their support during these times.

· Let's appreciate all the coaches that upload videos to the ICN Youtube channel.

· Let's appreciate all the coaches that have done the daily team meeting.

Appreciation is important, so let's not forget to practice it.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.01.20

Good morning everyone!

"Always remember, your focus determines your reality" -- George Lucas

Goal is today’s word of the day. A goal is "the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result."

With goals we have something to look forward to and work towards. Today I would like everyone to make a goal for themselves. The goal can be as little as taking five minutes to make your favorite snack or as big as committing to working out or making a life changing habit.

ICN has a goal of being there for the kids to teach them chess. With this goal we work together to deliver this by giving the kids lessons, giving them Chesskid accounts, signing them up for tournaments, etc.

This is just one example out of many as to why goals set us up for success.

Goals lead us to the road we want to be on.

Let's all set a goal today.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.02.20

Good morning everyone!

"Every chess master was once a beginner." --Irving Chernev

As we set up our new beginner chess kids to become future chess geniuses and chess masters, I think it's a good time to reflect when we were all beginners ourselves.

Let's all reflect on our chess past today with the following questions:

· How long have you been playing chess?

· How long have you been working for the ICN team?

· What inspired you to become a chess player?

· Which chess game had the most impact on you and/or you remember the most?

· Is there a chess player that personally inspired you to play chess?

· Do you remember what is it was like to teach your very first chess class/chess student?

· Is there a chess student that you use to teach or still teach that has influence you?

With these questions I hope to open up some chess memories from your past that you may have forgotten or haven't dwelled on in a while. Sometimes it's good to think about the past to escape these times. Sometimes it's good to think about where you started to appreciate how far you have come.

Today is a day of looking back and feeling proud of where you are today because of your past.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.03.20

Good morning everyone!

"We don't grow when things are easy, we grow when we face challenges" --Unknown

Today I want all of us to challenge our chess students. I want us all to put them out of their comfort zone, out of where they feel confident. When we put these kids out of their comfort zone, we are putting them in the position to try something new. When we push them like this, we are pushing them to expand their knowledge and skill.

Not only should we try to challenge the kids but let's all try to push ourselves as well. Let's all push ourselves to read that book you've always wanted to read, make that recipe you've been dying to try, clean out that closet you keep saying you'll do "tomorrow", etc.

Everything new we do is because we challenged ourselves to do it.

Every new level we reach is because we challenged ourselves.

Everything we feel comfortable with now was once a challenge we overcame.

"Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory" --George S. Patton

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.04.20

Good morning everyone!

"Be present in all things and thankful for all things" --Maya Angelou

As we close up another successful week I would like everyone to take the time to be thankful for all the success we have been having.

Let's be thankful for all of the coaches coming together on Zoom and Youtube live to deliver the chess they normally would in a classroom.

· Let's be thankful for all our students coming together to continue their chess journey.

· Let's be thankful for all the parents encouraging our students to keep doing their puzzles, signing them up for tournaments, etc.

· Let's be thankful ICN isn't just chess, it's a family that looks out for each other.

Let's all be thankful today and everyday for how far we've come together and as individuals.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.06.20

Good morning everyone!

I hope everyone had a nice relaxing weekend. Now for another successful week!

"Set your goals high, and don't stop till you get there" --Bo Jackson

Let's start this week off with a goal we want to accomplish. Once we set these goals, let's not stop until we reach them.

I actually have a recipe for us all to follow. I call this the "Goal Cake":

· First preheat oven to 400 degrees

· Then you add 2 cups of determination

· Next we add 3 tablespoons of hope

· Then we add 1 cup of focus

LETS MIX ALL TOGETHER!

· Now add 3 cups of motivation

· Next add 2 cups of leadership

· Then add 6 tablespoons of (butter) stick-to-it

MIX ALL TOGETHER AGAIN!

· Put in oven at 400 degrees for 35 minutes

Voilà! You have successfully created the goal cake! I hope we all follow the recipe this week when accomplishing our goals.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.07.20

Good morning everyone!

Let me just start off by thanking every one of you for your amazing support for these emails. It feels good to hear that all of you like reading "A Letter From Briana" to start off your day.

"There are no instant experts in chess - certainly no instant masters or grandmasters.

There appears not to be on record any case (including Bobby Fischer) where a person reached grandmaster level with less than about a decade's intense preoccupation with the game.

We would estimate, very roughly, that a master has spent perhaps 10,000 to 50,000 hours staring at chess positions." - Malcom Gladwell

Today let's not forget the importance of time and determination. No one here became a chess coach overnight, no one became a grandmaster with just one day of practice.

Let's also remind the kids that. They may often feel like they are putting in hours into chess and not get the results they wish. Let's reassure them that chess is more than just a game, it's a brain challenger.

That is the true beauty of chess, it's a game that pushes you to think in more than just one move. Chess was built to push our brains.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.08.20

Good morning everyone!

"It's hard to beat a person who never gives up" - Babe Ruth

Let's remember that ICN is not a family that gives up. We push and push until we can't push anymore. Our goal everyday is to push our students to be the best chess masters they can be.

We are not quitters, we were never quitters to begin with. We are a strong community that doesn't give up when we lose, we use it as motivation. We are a community that doesn't get upset over not being number one, we just look over our mistakes and learn from them.

Let's remind the kids that sometimes it's ok to not always win, it's ok to not always not always get a chess tactic right away. What matters is that we ALL hold our heads up high and never give up.

Losers are the ones that give up. We at ICN have hardworking winners!

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.09.20

Good morning everyone!

Today I sadly will not be giving out a quote (I'm sorry to all my quote lovers out there), but instead I will be giving out a self-care activity. About a week or two ago I spoke about how self-care is VERY important, especially during this time. When we practice self-care, we become a more happy and better person, which is what I want for everyone reading this.

Today I want everyone to revisit their hobbies if you haven't so already. Hobbies are activities that we enjoy to do on our free time. They are activities that make us smile when we do them, make us feel comfort and peace.

I asked a few coaches about their hobbies and how they feel when they are participating in their hobby.

Nash, hobby: photography - "I love to view the world through a lens (literally), it brings me peace and comfort to shield myself behind the lens. It gives me perspective, it gets my creative juices flowing, the excitement of editing a photo. Each shot pulls me into a new world where I can have infinite possibilities. I get to create the stories behind my art. So what I'm basically saying is photography brings me into a new world where I'm allowed to shield myself and see all that's around me, I get to see different perspectives and I'm the artist who ultimately tells the narrative."

Nathan G., hobby: making music: - "So, how I feel when I make music is complicated. I guess the short answer about why I love it so much is that it provides me freedom, freedom of expression, freedom to be myself, freedom to search. Like every artist who does it, the idea to share it, and hope that the audience feels the same freedom, the same joy, the same love, the same sorrow, the same loneliness, the same hurt, the same experiences of ALL our humanity. Connection."

I even went ahead and interviewed myself:

Briana, hobby: reading - "When I pick up a book, I feel like I'm leaving my world to enter another. I feel like I'm leaving all my problems behind me to learn about someone else's. When I'm reading, I'm not Briana, I'm the protagonist of my novel. I can't read unless it's a paper book because no word can describe the feeling of the crisp creme paper on my fingers while I'm on the edge of my seat craving to see what happens next in my book. I love the feeling of every word I read painting an image in my head. Reading is my escape from reality, my one hour away from my busy and crazy life."

I hope these three interviews have inspired you to revisit that hobby that makes you feel happy.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.10.20

Good morning everyone!

"You may learn much more from a game you lose than a game you win." - Jose Raul Capablanca

People mistake losing as discouragement, that they failed themselves because they lost the game. Today I would like all the coaches to encourage their students to practice not being upset over a lost game.

A lost game isn't defeat, it just means that you made a mistake that you can learn from (a lot of people forget that last part). Learning from our mistakes improves us so next time we can turn that loss into a win.

Have the kids go over a game they lost or a puzzle they got wrong. Have them ask themselves "where did I go wrong?" and practice self reflection. When we do this we are showing the kids that chess is more than just winning and losing, it's about the fun and pleasure we get out of it.

Not only do I want everyone to talk to the kids about losing, but I would also encourage you to self reflect on something you felt like was a loss to you. This could be anything from messing up a recipe or even a chess game you lost yourself. I would like everyone to say to themselves, "I will not get upset over this loss, I will learn from my mistake."

Losing does not equal discouragement, losing means room to improve!

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.11.20

Good morning everyone!

Let's all take a second to wish Angel a happy birthday! Angel, you're a hardworking coach that takes no funny business from any kid. You have a big kind heart that I know everyone loves and appreciates. Today's quote is dedicated to you!

"Allow your passion to become your purpose, and it will one day become your profession." - Unknown

I want everyone to look at how far Angel has come from his passion. He started out like everyone else, with a deep love for chess. Angel practiced and practiced until he made it to the top. He is now one of the top coaches at ICN, making ICN proud and happy to have him.

Let's all look at Angel today as an example of someone that chased their dreams. Let's all look at Angel today as someone who made their passion their profession. Let's all look at Angel as a role model for the kids and ourselves.

Happy birthday Angel!

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.12.20

Good morning everyone!

Let's all take a second to wish Jenny a happy birthday! I personally don't know Jenny but from what I have heard Jenny is a hardworking determined woman. Today's quote is dedicated to you!

"Wake up with determination. Go to bed with satisfaction." - Unknown

Everyday we should all wake up with determination, with a goal we want to achieve. Everyday we should all wake up ready to take on whatever life throws at us because we are strong.

Everyday we should go to sleep feeling proud of what we have accomplished from our day. Everyday we should go to sleep satisfied with the hard work we have put into that day.

Let's look at everyday as a new reason to try again with more determination and hard work than the day before. Let's look at everyday as a chance to push ourselves until we are satisfied with the results.

Hard work and determination comes a long way so let's make sure we wake up everyday ready to push until we feel the success we want!

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.13.20

Good morning everyone!

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." - Mahatma Gandhi

I believe we all have strength inside of us, and no I'm not talking about the physical kind. We use our strength everyday to make our desires into reality. We all do this with willpower.

Willpower : "control exerted to do something or restrain impulses"

We all get out of bed everyday because we have the willpower in ourselves. We all eat, drink water, get our work done because we have the willpower in ourselves. We're all coming together to create future chess masters because we have the willpower in ourselves.

Willpower is key for reality. Without willpower we would't get up to fight another day. Everything starts with ourselves, what we want to do and want to accomplish.

Willpower is what drives us everyday to where we are. Let's not forget with willpower comes strength and with strength comes success.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.14.20

Good morning everyone!

"You'll never be bored when you try something new. There's really no limit to what you can do!" - Dr. Seuss

I encourage everyone today to try something new, something that you've never tried before. During these times it can feel like everyday has been the same day just repeating itself and that can be stressful and tiring. When we push our limits to try a new thing, it feels like breaking out of the same boring routine.

Let's encourage the kids to try a new tactic, focus on a new and challenging checkmate, etc. We should also encourage them to try something new today as they may also feel like they are falling into the same boring routine as well.

"Never be afraid to try something new, because life gets boring when you stay within the limits of what you already know." - Unknown

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.15.20

Good morning everyone!

“You get what you work for not what you wish for.” - Unknown

Let’s remind ourselves that wishes are things we want to accomplish. In order to make our wishes and dreams come true we need to work for them.

Having things we want to accomplish is the first step, making a plan and working towards it is the next.

Today let’s all make a goal that we wish to accomplish or dream of accomplishing. After that let’s make a plan to get that dream going. Finally let’s work towards this goal and plan.

“Hard work betrays none” - Hachiman Hikigaya

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA- 4.17.20

Good morning everyone!

"Life is a chess game - you don't want to waste a move" - Unknown

Like we tell the kids all the time, let's not forget about tempo. Tempo is not only about chess, it applies to life as well. Everyday is a new start, a new beginning to a journey, a new chance to start something huge. Let's not let a day go to waste doing something we don't feel happy with. Let's not waste a day feeling disappointed because we didn't achieve what we wanted.

Going back to the kids, let's talk to them about how important it is to not waste moves. Let's showcase to them how wasting moves leads to us not getting what we want (ex: losing the game).

Think of each thing you do as a move. You don't want to waste any moves because wasting them means wasting a chance to make a better move.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA- 4.18.20

Good morning everyone!

"Teamwork, coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success" - Henry Ford

As I have said many times ICN isn't just a company, it is a family. We are a family helping each other out through the good and the bad. As all the schools have school teams, we are our own team, the ICN team.

We fight TOGETHER.

We work TOGETHER.

We strive TOGETHER.

We teach TOGETHER.

We succeed TOGETHER.

No one reading this email is alone, especially not the kids. We are a community always ready to be there for each other and be the best chess team we can possibly be.

Winning together as a team will never compare to winning just by yourself. We are here for each other, and each other we will support.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA- 4.19.20

Good morning everyone!

"It is important to take time for yourself and find clarity. The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself." - Diane Von Furstenberg

Today I hope everyone takes the time to do something they consider to be self care. Self care is different for everyone, self care is something that makes you feel happy and relaxed inside. If you are feeling stuck on some self care ideas, here are some to decide on:

· a hobby you really enjoy

· some physical activity

· reading a book/watching a movie

· cooking/cleaning

· calling a loved one/reaching out to a friend

Today I want everyone to take the day for themselves. It is important we take breaks to reenergize ourselves and relax before another week fueled with hard work.

Let's focus on ourselves today.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA- 4.20.20

Good morning everyone!

"Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted" - Unknown

I believe success only comes to those who put in the work into getting their success. If you wish for success, what you have wished for doesn't just show up to you the next week.

After we have our goals set up, let's remember...

HARD WORK

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA- 4.21.20

Good morning everyone!

Instead of a quote today I have a picture. I hope this picture spreads a smile to everyone this morning while we try to push forward thorough this day ahead of us.

I want everyone to watch a funny movie/tv show that can makes them laugh. I want everyone to do an activity that makes them smile. Today I want everyone to focus on making themselves laugh or smile because sometimes the smallest thing (for example a smile) is all it takes to make you feel uplifted and happy.

"A smile a day keeps happiness your way"

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA- 4.22.20

Good morning everyone!

I have a self care activity for everyone to try today. I tried this out myself and I found it to be really helpful for bad days or stressful times. I would like to introduce the self-care jar!

A self care jar is a jar filled with self care activities that you enjoy. Whenever you are dealing with a difficult day or want to do something for yourself, you just open the jar and randomly pick out a self care activity.

Down below are some ideas of self care activities to start with:

cooking
face mask/spa treatment
reading a book
watching a movie
paint/draw
yoga/workout
watch/read something funny
play a video/board game
put on music

I want everyone to take the time for themselves not because I'm suggesting it to you, but because I want everyone to feel the best selves they can be.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.23.20

Good morning everyone!

I thought I would try something different. Down below I have links to soothing and relaxing music that I think everyone should try out this morning. Listening to calming music to start your day can promote a more relaxed and productive day. Listening to your own music is also an option but I strongly suggest listening to soothing music for a soothing day. I hope you all enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkqhHEAy1zw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEIiPNK8BFE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8NVwN0_mks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJMERK67lmQ

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.24.20

Good morning everyone!

"Friday is a day to finish your goals for the week. It is a day to celebrate that which you set out to accomplish at the beginning of the week. Well done!" - Byron Pulsifer

Happy Friday everyone. Fridays may not feel like Fridays anymore during this time but let me assure you, it's still the same. Friday is still a day of celebrating the hard work we put into the week, celebrating the time and dedication we have contributed.

We may have different ways of celebrating a long week but today do something that you only do only on special occasions and/or days. The meaning of Friday has never changed, it's still a great day to unwind and pat yourself on the back for everything you did this week.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.25.20

Good morning everyone!

Give yourself a pat on the back for another week completed. Today I would like to reward everyone with some chess jokes. Laughter is always the best medicine so enjoy!

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.26.20

Good morning everyone!

Happy Sunday! Similarly to Fridays, the meaning of Sundays has not changed. Sundays are still days meant to re-energize and relax ourselves before the week ahead of us. Sundays are still days to get housework done, cook a nice big dinner, watch a movie, take a good nap, etc.

Let's also take this Sunday to celebrate our accomplishments. I know I have said in Friday's email that Fridays are the days to celebrate the hard work we put into the week, but this Sunday I want everyone to celebrate all the hard work they've put into this WHOLE MONTH. This month has not been easy for anyone, even the people that seem like they got everything under control. That's why I would like everyone to do more than pat themselves on the back today, celebrate and appreciate yourself.

ICN has come a long way since March; we have gone digital for all our chess kids, we are giving private lessons, creating chess Youtube videos (even if we're all a little camera shy), coming together for the weekly meetings, reaching out to parents making sure they are safe and well, reaching out to each other making sure we're all doing ok and have everything we need (shoutout to Tyler), etc.

Take today to appreciate. Take today to look back at everything you've accomplished. Take today to tell yourself, "I did all of this and I'm freaking great!"

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.27.20

Good morning everyone!

"A schedule defends from chaos and whim. It is a net for catching days" - Annie Dillard

During this time it may feel like everyday is just the same day repeating itself. I want everyone to create a schedule for themselves for this week. I have tried this myself and I felt so much more in control of my day. I tried to go by my schedule as precise as I could and I got a lot more chores and work done.

Here is an example of a schedule I made for Thursday last week:

10:00 - 11:00 ~ warm up for the day (drink my cup of coffee, stretch, read, etc.)
11:00 - 1:00 ~ School work
1:00 - 2:00 ~ Lunch
2:00 - 5:00 ~ School work / personal work
6:00 - 7:00 ~ Self care / Choice activity (paint, watch a movie, workout, playing a game on my phone, arts & crafts, etc.)
7:00 - 8:00 ~ Unwind from the day (shower, start on dinner, check over the work I've done for the day, etc.)

Some people may feel like a schedule is something that doesn't sit well with them and that is 100% ok! I hope the people reading this that feel like they are losing control of their days or aren't feeling satisfied with their time try this idea to hopefully gain control and take back their days.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.28.20

Good morning everyone!

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."- George Bernard Shaw

A lot of people today believe that life is one big opportunity to find your path, to find your journey. I'm sorry to say it but those people are wrong. Life is about building that path, building that journey.

That being said I want everyone today to invest in themselves. Create a new path for yourself. Discover that new skill you thought was cool, write that blog you've always wanted to, start cooking those recipes you have saved in your notes, etc.

A lot of us wait for the right time to come. There is no better time than right now to start expanding our choices and opportunities.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.29.20

Good morning everyone!

"Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and focus on what could go right." - Unknown

Failure seems to be the biggest fear when it comes to someone trying something new or taking a risk. We as humans are so scared of failure that it stops us all together from moving forward. I think we should change this starting today.

Today is the day I want everyone to take a risk. When you take a risk or try something new, think about the success it could bring instead of focusing on the failure. When we have a positive mindset when we try new things, we are more likely to succeed when doing it.

Fear is what drags us down and that's not the purpose of fear. Fear is suppose to motivate us to do it. Today let fear drive you into doing something new and let your positivity motivate you to continue it.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 04.30.20

Good morning everyone!

"Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try." - Unknown

Today starts with you getting up out of bed. Today starts with you making that cup of coffee/tea or pouring yourself a nice glass of juice. Today starts with you logging into your computer and reading today's daily email from me. Today starts with you getting up and deciding to give today a try.

It's hard to get out of bed and tackle on your busy and sometimes stressful day. You made that hard decision, you made that choice in your head to keep going today.

Give yourself a round of applause. Give yourself a pat on the back.

If you find yourself struggling to try or push forward don't forget that accomplishments starts with you and the decisions you make. It's ok to fall down but let's not stay down.

Success has U in it. Don't forget that success doesn't start until (yo)U do.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.01.20

Good morning everyone!

"You cannot undo the moves but you can make the next step better" - Unknown

This quote applies to both chess and our daily life:

In chess we sometimes we make moves that were not the best moves out there. We tend to say to ourselves "that was a stupid move, I want to take it back." Unless the opponent’s moves results in a checkmate you shouldn't freak out. It's ok to make bad moves because you can always make it up with a better move later on in the game.

In our daily lives we tend to make mistakes, no matter how major or minor. Most of us beat ourselves up for that mistake, which results in negativity. What we may not realize in those moments is that we can make better moves to fix our mistake, better moves to continue forward.

Dwelling on past mistakes is such a waste of time when there's a whole future to think about. The past is behind us for a reason.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.02.20

Good morning everyone!

Today I encourage everyone to cook something homemade. It is Saturday and let's treat ourselves with a nice home cooked meal with some music. For some of us, cooking may relax us and feel rewarding. When you cook something, you are creating something from scratch and watching it become something huge; that's the rewarding part.

Down below I have some personal favorites that I have had fun cooking:

https://tasty.co/recipe/apple-pie-from-scratch

https://tasty.co/recipe/diy-rolled-ice-cream

https://tasty.co/recipe/cheeseburger-sliders

https://tasty.co/recipe/buffalo-chicken-toaster-quesadilla

As you can see by the links above I get my recipes from Tasty, a website created by Buzzfeed with easy and fun recipes to make at home. I recommend everyone to check out the website!

Down below I also have a series of recipes someone recommended for everyone reading this that have young ones at home:

https://www.delish.com/cooking/g31710916/kids-educational-recipes/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=socialflowTWDEL&src=socialflowTW&utm_medium=social-media

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.03.20

Good morning everyone!

Happy Sunday. Today I suggest home care for everyone. Home care is when you clean and/or fix up things in your house. Home care is considered self-care as it makes you feel relaxed and calm.

I actually spent two days ago moving my whole room around. I physically moved (with a bit of help) my bed, my dresser, my nightstands, etc. I rearranged my room, fixed my printer that has been broken for 2 months, updated the calendar on the wall with upcoming appointments and dates, etc. After all of that I felt calm and at ease with myself, I actually ended up sleeping better that night than most nights.

Some of you may have already done this during this time but in my opinion there's always a new home project waiting for you to pick up; you just have to look around.

Down below I have some links to ideas for home projects:

https://www.thespruce.com/diy-projects-4127943

https://www.housebeautiful.com/home-remodeling/diy-projects/how-to/g1624/diy-solutions-easier-life/

https://bestlifeonline.com/quarantine-home-projects/

https://www.quickenloans.com/blog/15-one-day-diy-projects-inside-outside-home

If you have a specific item in the house or room that you want to redesign or reorganize, I suggest Pinterest. If you don't know what Pinterest is, it's a social media website used to put ideas and recipes up. There are thousands and thousands of DIY (Do-It-Yourself) home projects that will satisfy your home care needs today.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.05.20

Good morning everyone!

"No one ever won a game by resigning" - Saviely Tartakower

Let's all remind ourselves today that success doesn't consist of giving up but moving forward until you have reached the finish line. People resign games when they think there are have no moves left. When it comes to our everyday lives, there is always a move to make, it's just about us actually making that move.

Today let us remind the kids to not be too quick to resign because they think they are losing. Let's remember everything is unpredictable, even our chess games.

Anything can happen at any time, don't let that stop you from moving forward.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.06.20

Good morning everyone!

"No one ever won a game by resigning" - Saviely Tartakower

Today let us remind the kids not to just so quick to resign because they think they are losing. Let's remember everything is unpredictable, even our chess games.

Anything can happen at any time, don't let that stop you from moving forward.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.07.20

Good morning everyone!

"Your current situation isn't your final destination" - Unknown

I just wanted to start off this email by saying I'm proud of everyone that has adjusted to this new normal, it wasn't easy but we did it as a team. I also wanted to say that what you're dealing with today isn't the same thing you'll be dealing with 2 months from now.

Two months ago I'm sure we didn't know where we were going to be, we didn't know the success we would have. Two months from now it will be completely different than it is today.

Let's not put too much pressure on the negative of today because tomorrow everything can be different.

A positive mindset today leads to a successful tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.08.20

Good morning everyone!

"Sometimes you will never know the VALUE of a moment, until it becomes a memory" - Dr. Seuss

We are living in today, not yesterday and not tomorrow. I want everyone to try to cherish the good in everyday, starting with today. A lot of us are reminiscing on older times when we're not putting the focus on today.

When we struggle with difficult times or we feel stressed/overwhelmed, we tend to go back to "happier times." Why do we rely on the past for happier times instead of today? I would like everyone to find a moment today where they felt happy (ex: yesterday morning I felt relaxed drinking my coffee while looking out the window),

Instead of going to your past for happiness, let's find the little things in today that bring us joy.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.09.20

Good morning everyone!

Happy Saturday! Another long and awesome week completed thanks to everyone reading this.

Since it is the weekend, I have some weekend recipes for everyone to try:

https://tasty.co/compilation/mother-s-day-breakfast-in-bed

https://tasty.co/compilation/3-ingredient-appetizers

https://tasty.co/compilation/4-easy-3-ingredient-vegetable-side-dishes

https://tasty.co/compilation/2-ingredient-sorbet-4-ways

https://tasty.co/compilation/2-ingredient-sorbet-5-ways

https://tasty.co/compilation/6-easy-chicken-meals-anyone-can-make

https://tasty.co/compilation/4-amazing-ice-cream-cakes

Since Mother's Day is tomorrow, I hope everyone celebrating can treat their mothers (or themselves) to a nice home cooked meal/dessert.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.10.20

Good morning everyone!

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take." - Cardinal Meymillod

"When you look into your mother's eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this earth" - Mitch Albom

"All that I am and hope to be, I owe to my angel mother" - Abraham Lincoln

Happy Mother's Day to everyone! I hope you can all celebrate Mother's Day with your mothers no matter if it's in person, on a video call or even through text. Today is about appreciating and showing love to your mom.

To those who aren't celebrating Mother's Day, don't feel left out! I encourage you to reach out to someone that has felt like a mother to you in that past. If you wish to celebrate yourself today, that is also ok!

I hope everyone has a happy Sunday and a great Mother's Day!

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.11.20

Good morning everyone.

I have a passage for everyone to read this morning. I hope you all enjoy.

"Anything that annoys you is teaching you patience. Anyone who abandons you is teaching you how to stand up on your own two feet. Anything that angers you is teaching you forgiveness and compassion. Anything that has power over you is teaching you how to take your power back. Anything you hate is teaching you unconditional love. Anything you fear is teaching you courage to overcome your fear.

Anything you can't control is teaching you how to let go and trust the universe." - Jackson Kiddard

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.12.20

Good morning everyone.

"Sometimes there is no next time, no timeouts and no second chances. Sometimes it's now or never." - Unknown

Never take anything for granted. Sometimes we take opportunities for granted when little do we know we'll never get that chance again. Sometimes we need to pick ourselves up and say "It is now or never!!"

Sometimes we may also take our time with the opportunities that we get, thinking that the opportunity will always be there. I'm sorry to break it to everyone that believed that but opportunities do expire if you wait too long.

Instead of saying "I'll do it tomorrow" or "I'll do it next week", say "I'm going to do it today" because there is no better time than right now.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.13.20

Good morning everyone.

"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will." - Unknown

I know there are a lot of times we might be scared or anxious to take a big step but you will never know until you take that leap. When we look forward and try our best, most likely we'll be able to succeed.

Worry is something that kills our motivation and strength to accomplish something. When we start to worry about what could go wrong, we start to lose focus of what could go right. Worrying is a something that takes the positivity out of you, so why let it have that power?

Doubts and worries are things we can't control from happening but we can control the impact they have over us.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.14.20

Good morning everyone.

"You only fail when you stop trying" - Unknown

People only consider success and failure when they try new things. When people do this they feel more disappointed than accomplished because they are trying to live up to expectations and standards. I consider success to be the effort you put out there.

When we start to give up, we are no longer succeeding. Even when we fall down, we can still get back up. Like in chess, sometimes we make a bad move but it's ok because we can make a better move later on.

No one should be calling themselves a failure when they are trying their best; they are just being too hard on themselves.

Sincerely,
Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.15.20

Good morning everyone.

I just wanted to take a moment to say happy birthday to Erica and Coach Kenny!

"Not to spoil the ending for you but...everything is going to be ok" - Unknown

I'm sure everyone reading this email has once in their life thought things weren't gonna turn out alright but looking back today you realize how you were wrong. As Erica and Kenny look back on their past today let's also reflect on ours.

Let's look back at all the times we were struggling and overcame that struggle. Let's look back at all the times we thought we have given up but we got back up on our feet. Let's look back at all the times we thought we lost everything but we actually gained more.

The past is the past but sometimes it's self powering when we look back at our past struggles and say "I overcame that."

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.16.20

Good morning everyone.

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it." - Sydney J. Harris

Many of us may feel like we don't have a minute to just sit down and relax.

This is a sign that you need to slow it down and just take a deep breath.

It is important to remember to take breaks because they help us reenergize ourselves and work more productively.

It is ok if you need a break from things. It just means you are working very hard and you need a minute before you can try even harder.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.18.20

Good morning everyone.

I have a short passage about success for everyone this morning. Hope you all enjoy.

"Most people see success as being rich and famous or powerful and influential. Others see it as being at the top of their profession and standing out from the rest. The wise see success in a more personal way; they see it as achieving the goals they have set for themselves, and then feeling pride and satisfaction in their accomplishments. True success is felt in the heart, not measured by money and power. So be true to yourself and achieve those goals you set. For success is reaching those goals and feeling proud of what you have accomplished."

I wish everyone a successful week!

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.19.20

Good morning everyone.

"Forget the past. Tomorrow is a new day, new hope and new life." - Lailah Gifty Akita

Let's all remember that each month, each week and each day is a beginning to something new. Let's take everyday as a start to a new journey. Each day when the sun rises it symbolizes a new day, a new start.

When it comes to a new beginnings I want to congratulate Erica and Creg. Congratulations on the engagement, this is your beginning to a new journey!

Everyday could be an opportunity for you to start something new, sometimes the only thing in the way is you.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.20.20

Good morning everyone.

"All great achievements take time" - Maya Anjelou

Let's remind ourselves today to be patient when it comes to achieving our goals. People tend to feel most disappointed when they thought achieving success would take a short period of time. I am here to reassure everyone that it is a waste of time to overthink why you haven't seen success yet.

Time is a valuable resource that requires patience. Sometimes we get impatient (I know we all have these moments) and we give up because we're not seeing the results we wanted in limited time.

Let's not get discouraged because sometimes our success needs a little more time than you anticipated.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.21.20

Good morning everyone.

"If the plan doesn't work, change the plan but never the goal" - Unknown

Everyone reading this has had at least one unsuccessful plan, that being you didn't plan enough or you over-planned. Sometimes we take that failure as a chance to just give up and pursue a new goal. This is the part where I tell you to slow down and take a step back.

I have said this in past emails...

Failure isn't a sign to give up, it is motivation to try even harder. If you have a dream and you try to pursue this dream but you fail, does that mean it is no longer your dream? Of course not! You get up, dust yourself off and keep going.

Quitters stop after plan A, dreamers and pursuers don't stop until they reached plan Z.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.22.20

Good morning everyone.

"The difference between the ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra" - Jimmy Johnson

Let's aim for today to be extraordinary. Let us push ourselves a little extra to do something new. During this time it can feel like everyday is an ordinary day but you are mistaken.

Each day is a chance to start new opportunities and create something huge. As I have said in past emails...

There is no better time than right now.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.23.20

Good morning everyone.

Some of us may not realize this but chess is actually very beneficial for us! Down below I have some articles about how chess has many different benefits other than being able to be brag about having the highest rating in the room:

https://woochess.com/en/blog/10-benefits-of-teaching-kids-to-play-chess

https://www.chess-site.com/articles/chess-mental-benefits/

Let these articles encourage you or someone close to you to keep improving that chess knowledge!

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.24.20

Good morning everyone.

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you" - Anne Zambott

Before the start of another successful week I want everyone to unwind and take time for yourself today. Use today as a day to relax and do something you love/makes you happy.

"It's very refreshing to go away and take a break to clear your head, and just get into something else." - Francois Nars

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.25.20

Good morning everyone.

"To those in uniform serving today and to those who have served in the past, we honor you today and everyday" - Unknown

Happy Memorial Day everyone! Today we honor our soldiers that put their life on the line for us everyday. Today we make a toast to those who protect our country and I'm not only talking about veterans. During this time don't forget to make a toast to our disguised soldiers, the essential workers.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.26.20

Good morning everyone.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit" - Aristotle

Habits are an important aspect to success. When we don't have certain habits like keeping a determined mindset or committing to your goals, we see ourselves taking longer to achieve what we want. Habits are tools to better achieve our goals. When we make a habit of something that benefits us we see growth in ourselves.

"A change in bad habits leads to a change in life" - Jenny Craig

Let's not also forget that bad habits can also weigh us down. When we work to fight habits that harm us or don't benefit us, we are don't only see an increase in victories but we see an increase in self positivity.

Don't forget habits are important tools.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 05.27.20

Good morning everyone.

Today I have a very inspirational article about the ABCs of success. Check it out down below:

https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/the-a-to-z-of-true-success.html

"You are only as strong as you allow yourself to be; never get discouraged, never give up because consistency and dedication is the key to success." - Unknown

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 06.01.20

Good morning everyone.

"Celebrate endings - for they precede new beginnings." - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Happy June first everybody! Today I wish for everyone to look back at how far we've come. We started out in March trying to put the pieces together of how we were going to survive until now, launching our summer online program with hundreds of chess champions fighting harder than ever!

Let's take a moment to celebrate every struggle and accomplishment from March to May, but let's look forward toward what June has to offer us.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 06.02.20

Good morning everyone.

"A great accomplishment shouldn't be the end of the road, just the starting point for the next leap forward." - Harvey Mackay

Every step of your journey should be a huge accomplishment that you're moving forward instead of backwards. Many people don't recognize the hard work and effort they put into something because it is not completely finished. For example, if you get half of an activity done you are more likely to dwell on the half you didn't complete instead of the half that you did.

It is important to see that working toward something is not just one big accomplishment, but instead small accomplishments that results in one big reward.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 06.03.20

Good morning everyone.

"Work harder than you did yesterday." - Alex Elle

Take everyday as an opportunity to improve by putting in more effort than the previous day. When we push ourselves little by little each day, we see that we achieve our goals and dreams quicker.

When we push ourselves it feels like we're leaving our comfort zone, which can discourage us. When we are pushing ourselves to new horizons it is important to recognize that we feel uncomfortable or uneasy because that's a sign we're doing something we aren't used to doing.

Let's take everyday to congratulate the hard work we did yesterday, focus on the hard work we're going to be putting into today and anticipate the hard work you'll put into tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 06.04.20

Good morning everyone.

Happy Thankful Thursday. Today I want everyone to be thankful for yourself and those that believed in you. Take the time to thank yourself today for the hard work you put in for yourself, even if you haven't seen your success yet. Take the time to thank those who believed in you and your work. Let's thank the kids for showing up everyday ready to learn chess.

Let's all take a second today to be thankful.

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough." - Oprah Winfrey

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 06.05.20

Good morning everyone.

"Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." - Joshua J. Marine

Today appreciate all the challenges you have faced because they help shape the person you are. Challenges help us gain strength for the future and ourselves.

"Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors." - African Proverb

Be thankful for past, present and future obstacles because we face them for a reason.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 06.08.20

Good morning everyone.

Today's quote is for our chess kids.

"Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard" - Tim Notke

Sometimes the kids may feel like they aren't getting good at chess because they don't have the chess talent their peers have. I'm here to tell them that they are wrong! If you ask any of our top chess players they will tell you that they put a lot of hard work and dedication into getting to where they are right now.

Let's encourage the kids today that things we want takes hard work. If we don't put in the hard work, we don't get the result we want and this doesn't just apply to our future chess masters.

If you want something all it takes is putting in the effort and dedication for it.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 06.09.20

Good morning everyone.

Today I have a few articles about moving forward and how to keep pushing through. During this time with everything going on we may find ourselves losing our focus on our goals as we are becoming discouraged. I hope these articles resonate with you and you find your own way to keep going forward.

https://www.lifehack.org/816187/moving-forward

https://www.verywellmind.com/forty-healthy-coping-skills-4586742

https://www.theravive.com/today/post/coping-methods-for-stressful-days-0001588.aspx

I hope everyone finds their inner peace during this time.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 06.11.20

Good morning everyone.

"No regrets in life, just lessons learned." - Unknown

Let's not let our failures discourage us and make us believe that we can't succeed. I have mentioned a quote in a previous email that went...

"You may learn more from a game you lose than a game you win" - Jose Raul Capablanca.

I am bringing this quote back to remind everyone that we all make mistakes as mistakes are inevitable. What really matters is what we do with our mistakes, do we let it eat us up inside or do we learn what we did wrong and use that knowledge to better ourselves for the future?

Obstacles and challenges are meant to make us fail sometimes, that's how we become stronger and better.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 06.15.20

Good morning everyone.

"Wake up every morning with the thought that something wonderful is about to happen." - Unknown

Everyday is a new opportunity to create something amazing. When we wake up with the mindset that we are going to work toward something incredible, we see positive outcomes in our day.

A positive mindset can change everything. A positive mindset on a bad day can make the day not seem so terrible or a positive mindset first thing in the morning can affect how our day goes. When we get into the habit of creating positivity, everything around us will seem and feel better.

This morning I hope you woke up with the thought that you are going to be putting your hard work and effort into something huge because little do you know you WILL be working towards something huge, even if you don't see it.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 06.17.20

Good morning everyone.

"It's ok to be a glow stick; sometimes we have to break before we shine." - Jadah Sellner

I'm sure most of us have heard the saying "Sometimes it has to rain before we see a rainbow." Today's quote is just a different way of phrasing that. In order to see ourselves succeed, we have to see ourselves fail. Failing and falling down is inevitable, no matter how many times you convince yourself you can do something without messing it up a few times.

I want everyone today to appreciate all their failures and breakdowns they have encountered because they are the reason we are able to shine right now. Without obstacles in our lives we wouldn't be as strong as we are today. Without a few mistakes we wouldn't have learned the lesson we have learned.

Avoiding the challenges and mistakes you encounter is a waste of time, they will teach you so much more than if you succeeded in the first place.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 06.18.20

Good morning everyone.

"Life is too short to let fear make big decisions for you." - Caleb Wojcik

Fear controls us in many ways no matter if you see it or not. When we become afraid it holds us back from going to the next step. Sometimes we have to change out of our comfortable shoes to make that big step.

It is better to live in failure than live in regret. When we fail (as I mentioned yesterday) we learn from our mistakes and get back up to try again. When we don't go for it, we dwell on what could have happened and how everything would be different.

It is better to say "I failed" instead of "I'll never know."

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 06.23.20

Good morning everyone.

"With every new door you open, you open your own heart and mind to all manner of discoveries and possibilities. Invite yourself in. New adventures await." - Margaret B. Mose

Last week I finished high school. I ended my 14 year education and now I'm on my way to college. If I am being honest with everyone reading this, it's a huge door to open. During this time it makes it even harder to open that door but I don't let that stop me. I see a door so I am going to open it.

"Doors"/opportunities are very limited in life. Sometimes when we wait a little too long, the doors get locked up and you can't go in anymore.

Test your luck with each door you open up, it will take you on a journey.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein

A LETTER FROM BRIANA - 06.24.20

Good morning everyone.

"Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up." - Brene Brown

Many people think in order to have had a good and productive day they need to go above and beyond with the things they get done. What people don't realize is that some days if you get up out of bed, you are already having a good and productive day.

Some days are going to feel miserable and you're going to feel like you didn't do enough. What you don't realize is that you already did enough by getting out of bed to start your day, everything else after that is going above and beyond.

Let us all try not to be so hard on ourselves as showing up for yourself will always be good enough.

Sincerely,

Briana King Rhein