Successful Survivors Foundation, Inc.

08/15/2026

Do you know the difference between PEACE KEEPING and PEACE MAKING?

It's NOT truly virtuous behavior if we're just avoiding conflict.

This is the 4th in the Counterfeit Virtues series: Will you do just about anything to avoid conflict?

When keeping the peace does more harm than good. The fourth in the series of Counterfeit Virtues articles.

08/15/2026

08/14/2026

I've been writing about fake people in my counterfeit virtues series. Why? because I can't stand fake people.

It all started with trying to explain to kids that traffickers and predators usually aren't scary people. They start out with FAKE caring, FAKE compliments, FAKE friendship, FAKE FAKE FAKE. And after they've gained your trust, BOOM they've got you. They put a little something in your water and you're awake but compliant and the camera starts rolling. Then it's too late.

I realized that lots of us fall for fake people. They appear to be friendly, kind, generous, and then when they get what they want, or they realize they're never going to get what they want from you, BOOM, they drop you. Then you realize that they were never really a friend at all.

So, here's the third in my Counterfeit Virtues series of articles to help us all spot fake virtues and live our own lives with truly authentic virtues.

When keeping the peace does more harm than good. The fourth in the series of Counterfeit Virtues articles.

08/08/2026

I asked chatgpt to create a note that the present me could share with the little girl me. I uploaded one of the few photos I have of myself as a child and a recent photo. This is what odd gave me…

Sweet little girl, I see you.

I see the little girl you were before you understood things that children should never have had to understand.

Come here. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.

You are safe with me now.

I’m grown up now, and I came back for you.

You don’t have to figure everything out. You don’t have to watch for what might happen next. You don’t have to make yourself small, stay quiet, be good enough, or somehow earn the right to be loved and protected.

You were always worth protecting.

None of the things that happened around you determined your value. You were precious before anyone treated you as though you weren’t.

I wish I could reach through this photograph, pick you up, hold you against my chest and tell you, “I’ve got you. You’re not facing this alone anymore.”

I would let you cry as long as you needed to cry.

I would let you be angry.

I would let you ask why.

I would let you play.

I would let you be exactly what you were supposed to be—a little girl.

You never needed to be tougher. You needed someone trustworthy to protect you.

I am that person for you now.

Look at me, sweetheart. We made it.

There is a whole life waiting for you that you cannot possibly imagine from where you are standing.

You will grow up.

You will have a voice.

You will have choices.

You will build a life that belongs to you.

You will laugh—a lot.

You will love and be loved.

You will discover that what happened to you is part of your story, but it is not the author of your story.

And one day, that frightened little girl will become a woman capable of standing in the doorway of her own life with her head up and her arms open.

That woman is me.

And I will never abandon you.

When you are frightened, come find me.

When you feel alone, come sit beside me.

When something reminds you of the past, you don’t have to go back there by yourself. Take my hand.

We live here now. Not there.

It is 2026.

You are no longer trapped in childhood.

You have a voice.

You have choices.

You can leave.

You can say no.

You can ask for help.

You can rest.

You can lock the door.

You can choose who comes close to you.

You are safe.

And there is something else I want you to know.

God saw you when you thought no one saw you.

He knew your name before anybody wounded your heart. Your suffering was never evidence that He had forgotten you.

The little girl in these photographs was never invisible to Him.

And sweetheart, look what He did with you.

He did not waste your life.

He brought you through.

So you can stop waiting for someone to rescue you now.

I’m here.

God is here.

You’re home.

You are loved.

You are wanted.

You are precious.

You are allowed to be happy.

And you are safe.

I’ve got you now.

We live here now. Not there.

08/08/2026

If you’re a people-pleaser, please read this and take it into your heart. It could be a lifeline to keep you from drowning.



https://rhondasciortino.substack.com/p/counterfeit-virtues-people-pleasing?r=4r9bk3&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

08/07/2026

I don’t have the bandwidth for phony people. Do you?

https://open.substack.com/pub/rhondasciortino/p/counterfeit-virtues-the-nicest-person?r=4r9bk3&utm_medium=ios

08/02/2026

In my work of educating and empowering kids to understand the tricks that traffickers use to lure them in to a life of exploitation, the biggest challenge is getting them to understand that most traffickers and predators aren’t scary looking men who abduct them.

They are friendly people who can look like you or I, who pretend to care about them, who notice the good things about them, who compliment them, and do things for them. People who groom kids to sexually abuse them often don’t look evil, they look good.

While trying to think of ways to help kids discern good people from bad, I realized that WE ALL NEED TO DISCERN GOOD PEOPLE FROM BAD. There are scammers and fraudsters everywhere, many of whom are "nice" to us right up until the time we tell them no.

Many of us can recognize obvious scam calls and emails. It is much more difficult to distinguish counterfeit virtues from authentic ones in relationships because the unhealthy behavior arrives disguised as an admirable quality.

This is the first in a series of articles that I hope will help us all discern intent and motives of others as well as ourselves.

https://open.substack.com/pub/rhondasciortino/p/the-most-dangerous-deceptions-do?r=4r9bk3&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

08/01/2026

Welcome to part five of our "Setting Yourself Up for Success" series!

To truly excel, it's essential to keep growing. Stay curious, continually learn new skills, and embrace feedback as a gift. By nurturing a growth mindset, you open yourself up to endless possibilities and pave the way for personal and professional development.

What new skill are you currently working on, or how do you embrace feedback? Share your growth journey in the comments below. Don't miss part six as we continue our path to success!

07/31/2026

Each of us was created for a specific purpose. You have the specific personality traits, talents, abilities and character traits that are needed to fulfill your purpose. If you ask God for His perfect will for your life and then pay attention to what He leads you to do, you’ll walk right into His plans… and there is no place more joyful than that.

07/29/2026

If you think AI can replace you, this is for YOU!

Artificial intelligence can help us understand information, but it will never replace the wisdom that comes from God.