Author: Impower You

Healing through art & therapy! I used to be depressed and codependent with very low self worth and many unhealthy habits. But several years ago I started the healing process and am sharing what I learned with gratitude and hope for each of us. Peace & hugs, Leah
Empowering Discussions

WWYD? What Will You Do?

Impower You

I was browsing Care2.com and found some inspiring and disturbing articles.

INSPIRED! A breath of fresh air or at least fresher than before will be felt now that the EPA “announced new protections from mercury pollution from power plants on Wednesday, December 21, 2011″. 

As a proponent of clean air, land and water this makes me happy. It is a step in the right direction. As long as we use electricity from toxic substances there will be pollution. One day I would love a world where everything is sustainable and the planet is clean. It will probably not happen until  my great great great grandchildren are here, but I am willing to speak my voice and take actions to ensure a clean future does happen. Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/success-epa-announces-new-protection-from-mercury-pollution.html#ixzz1kyGlSDPT Pass on the good news.

DISTURBING! Should we go back to hanging people?  Well not literally, we can just shoot them up with  poison and watch them die. At least that is what Larry Pittman wants to do. “If murderers (and I would include abortionists, rapists, and kidnappers, as well) are actually executed, it will at least have the deterrent effect upon them.”

I cannot ever put murderers, rapists and abortionists  in the same category. Rape is about control and violence.  Murder, unless in self defense, is a violent cruel act. Abortion is about personal choice and or life saving decisions for mothers.  Of all the pressing problems of our world, what a woman does with her body is not part of it. Impowered people do not tell other people what to do with their bodies.  http://www.care2.com/causes/north-carolina-gop-public-hanging-for-abortionists.html#ixzz1kyEasOhv Decide for yourself.

What I love about Care2.com is that you can be a part of a better world.  Sign petitions, send letters to senators, call your politicians, start a movement!  Do whatever you can to make a positive difference.

Impowered people take positive actions that create positive outcomes.

Impowered people find peaceful non-violent solutions.

Will you share an article about something that inspired you and or disturbed you?  Forget WWJD. WWYD? (What Will You Do?)

(@_@)

Empowering Discussions

The Odd Couple

Impower You

The Odd Couple is the newest partner in our 5oo Blog-Raiser Challenge. This blog covers topics of “marriage, family and all that goes with that.”  Ron and Shawn are married and write the blog together. What experience do they have?  The best kind. They have been married TWENTY-SEVEN years and raised three children.  Whether you are looking for basic or sizzling advice this is the blog for you.

I love their post about sharing and receiving. They talk about how the power of helping others can strengthen your own relationships. As someone who highly values volunteer work and giving to those in need I completely agree with them. Check it out for yourself, http://theoddcoupleblog.com/give-marriage-receive

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Can you help us get to 500 and join our blograiser? You will also be part of our goal of empowering young women with resources and information. Check out this post for more information: https://writewhatuknow.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/the-500-blog-raiser-challenge/

Empowering Discussions

Gorgeous Gems

Impower You

Thanks to GorgeousoCity blog for joining my blog challenge.  This blogger is ‘Sharing Gems of Gorgeousness’ by writing about beauty and skincare – particularly of the natural and organic variety. This former beauty editor took the jump from working for someone else to creating independence with her own business.  One of my favorite posts is about eidble beauty oil by Bay of Plenty.  You simply enjoy a yummy spoonful of this oil and it replenishes your skin from the inside out.

 She also has solid advice like her wonderfully honest post on our quest for perfection.  She talks about a film by Jean Kilbournde and the prevelance of photoshop in the beauty/fashion industry. It’s great advice without being judgemental.

So visit this blog and subscribe to the updates so you don’t miss out on a new and healthy beauty products. http://gorgeousocity.wordpress.com/2012/01/29/empowering-young-women

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Can you help us get to 500 and join our blograiser? You will also be part of our goal of empowering young women with resources and information. Check out this post for more information: https://writewhatuknow.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/the-500-blog-raiser-challenge/

Empowering Discussions

Simply Stated, A Social Media Superstar!

Impower You

A big thank you to BCB Social Media for joining the 500 Blog-Raiser Challenge. 

If you are looking for strategies and tools that actually work for social media marketing than follow this blog. The articles are well written so everything is easy to understand.

I loved the post about using third party apps that can save you time, but can also waste time or keep people from seeing all your info. BCB covers so many topics like social media news, sneaky social media tricks, third party app integration and how to get the best out of each one, books for business, other business resources and so on.

BCB is operated by sisters Lily and Patricia.  Their goal is to make social media services available to small businesses on a budget.  Stop by their blog today and see what you can learn!  Start here: http://bcbsmedia.com/blograiser

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Can you help us get to 500 and join our blograiser? You will also be part of our goal of empowering young women with resources and information. Check out this post for more information: https://writewhatuknow.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/the-500-blog-raiser-challenge/

Writing

Versatile Blogger Award

Impower You

Thanks to Finding My Worth for nominating me in the Versatile Blogger Award.  I am full of appreciation and gratitude at this moment. This is so awesome! I love that a wonderful, caring and open community of bloggers has come to my attention. There is so much to learn and so many people to meet. 

The Versatile Blogger Award has the following rules:

  1. Post a picture of the award
  2. Thank the award giver
  3. Share 7 random facts about yourself
  4. Nominate 15 other bloggers about this and tell them so

Hmmm, my life is so random the hardest part will be picking just seven facts!

1. I find insects, spiders and snakes much cuter than puppies and kittens.

2. I made the outline of a giant bird out of rocks at the beach today.

3.  I broke my ankle by slipping off a curb last year.

4. I still like shaved ice even though I know that food dye is not healthy.

5. I am currently reading “Recovery of Your Inner Child” by Lucia Cappacchnie.

6. Last week a little girl painted my nails pink and navy.

7. I love to climb trees.

15 blogs that you have to check out!

Healing Heart- Life After Rape, an incredible journey one woman shares to heal from the wounds of rape.

Craven Creativity, A creative soul learning how to maintain inspiration despite living with chronic pain. Hoping to inspire others through bits and pieces of my life’s narrative and through sharing my artistic endeavors, past and present.

Intrepid Epicurian, Going after life with a passport in one hand and a fork in the other.

Your Everything Services, Freelance writer, Ghostwriter,  Article Expert and Article Marketing Consultant.

Bookend: A Teen Book Review Blog,  book reviewing and recommendation blog for teenagers

The Secrets of Success Blog, Blog and Radio show for Women Entrepreneurs with author Deb Bailey.

Hippie Liberal Mama,  Politics, news, humor and plenty of liberalism.

Barbaraelka,  Wonderous photos and writings.

Photobotos, http:///photobotos.com One amazing photo everyday.

The Gappuccino g caffe,  A fun lifestyle blog with varied topics.

Commander In Chic,  Fashion and lifestyle.  A fun light read.

Indulge – Travel, adventure and new experiences.

Feminaust,  For Australian feminists.  Quite cheeky!

Shannon Kellman Illustration, Tons of eye candy. If you love offbeat and cute art that is.

The Oxymoronic Oxymorons, A mouthful to say and a blog about life, books, art and people.

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Can you help us get to 500 and join our blograiser? You will also be part of our goal of empowering young women with resources and information. Check out this post for more information: https://writewhatuknow.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/the-500-blog-raiser-challenge/

Art, Book Reviews

Love to Shop?

Impower You

When you need a gift for  a wonderful friend or when words do not feel like enough gratitude, check out the Live Laugh Love To Shop blog and website. They have a great selection of products for just about everyone. The name is a good indication about how much fun this blog is! You will find a wide assortment of beautiful gifts.  *Most are from small business owners and solopreneurs.

There are coupons and freebies as well. I suggest subscribing to the blog to stay updated.

If you are a blogger,  join in one of their blog hops to expand tour audience and find new blogs to follow.

http://livelaughlovetoshop.blogspot.com/

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Can you help us get to 500 and join our blograiser? You will also be part of our goal of empowering young women with resources and information. Check out this post for more information: https://writewhatuknow.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/the-500-blog-raiser-challenge/

Writing

The 7×7 Award!

Impower You

I have been awarded the 7×7 Award by Craven Creativity. This blog is a creative soul learning how to maintain inspiration despite living with chronic pain. Hoping to inspire others through bits and pieces of my life’s narrative and through sharing my artistic endeavors, past and present.

It is an honor to receive this award. Thank you! I love what an open community of bloggers I have found. Everyone has so much to teach me and is so willing to share.  It is amazing. Despite all the negativity in this world, there are many more positive bright wonderful moments,  people, thoughts and actions.

The rules are to share 7  facts about myself, compile 7 links from my own blog, and award this to 7 other bloggers.

Here I go.

1. I LOVE birds.

2. One of my favorite books is Garbageland by Elizabeth Royte.

3. I sleep with a stuffed bear in my bed that is 13 years old. I just sewed it’s head back on last year. Apparently I sometimes throw the bear off the bed when I wake from bad dreams

4. I love classical and instrumental music the most.

5.I laugh so loud that it causes people stare and glare at me so much.

6. Orange is a wonderful color and my favorite fruit, but does not look good on me.

7. I put chia seeds in everything I drink!

A selection of my favorite blog posts:

500 Blog Raiser Challenge.

My Newest Video- Word Art and Affirmations

Defend Yourself

New Canvas Paintings

Don’t Rape Me

LYBD is BACK!

Oh Molly!

I pass this award along to the following blogs.  Each one is unique and a great read. I could pick more, but the rule is seven so I am sticking to it. One day I may just do a post of every blog I love!  Just because I am giving you this award does not mean you have to accept. I simply want you to know how much I enjoy your blog.

Finding My Worth, Realizing a Woman’s Worth. Follow her journey and share yours.

A Book and a Dish,  Upcoming authors, their books, reviews and favourite recipes

Al Bagocius’ Blog,  Creative packaging and business networking.  Also has offbeat topics.

Maria HIV Mejia,  A woman showing her face and destroying the stigma of Aids and HIV.

Scully@Large, Inspiration and Politics, a strange mix worth checking out.

Live Laugh Love to Shop, All about blogging, blog hops, moms and mom bloggers.

Moontalk Designs, Art and the journey of a small business.

 

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Can you help us get to 500 and join our blograiser? You will also be part of our goal of empowering young women with resources and information. Check out this post for more information: https://writewhatuknow.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/the-500-blog-raiser-challenge/

Writing

The Power of Two

Impower You

What does the power of 2 accomplish?  Anything you want.  In this case, I joined forces with Deb Lamb of Your Everything Services so that we could each expand the reach of our blogs and our brand.

Deb has posted about my book in the newsworthy category of her blog. http://youreverythingservices.com/i-am-more-than-just-a-girl  In return I am posting about her on my blog.

Her blog includes so many awesome resources for writers. Categories on her blog include article writing and marketing, motivation and inspiration,  She also has some great content from guest writers. This blog is for anyone who writes and any business owner that needs assistance in their marketing and writing needs

Deb’s is a wonderful person who is also a freelance writer,  ghostwriter, article expert and article marketing consultant.

This brings us to our 6th post!  Yay for everybody that has joined the 500 Blog-Raiser Challenge.

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Can you help us get to 500 and join our blograiser? You will also be part of our goal of empowering young women with resources and information. Check out this post for more information: https://writewhatuknow.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/the-500-blog-raiser-challenge/

Empowering Discussions, Social Action

Empowerment is Not Control or Denial

Impower You

Individual empowerment is not about telling others that they are wrong, that what they believe is not true or keeping others from being their best.  It is not about living a lie because you are scared of your own feelings and desires.

You can only empower others by being an inspiration and sharing the change in ourselves.  Telling yourself or someone else that you are wrong for your feelings, your gender, your spiritual or religious beliefs is not going to work. You can pretend to be someone else. You can fight your instincts every day, but you will spend ALL your time and energy fighting and  not accepting yourself for who you are. Why? Is it worth it to be angry, to feel unaccepted, to feel wrong all the time?

Sure rehabilitation is something that is needed in certain cases.  Violent offenders should have a chance to change, but changing someone that uses violence is not what this post is about.

The last non-empowering news link that stuck in my head was about torturing lesbians in Ecuador under the guise of curing these women.   It is disgusting and inhumane. These “clinics” that heal with sexual assault and violence are not empowering anyone by fixing them.  Being a lesbian is not a disease.  It is a way of  life for a large chunk of the population.  Luckily actions have been taken to close these horrendous torture clinics down!

http://news.change.org/stories/victory-ecuador-ministry-of-health-investigates-and-closes-ex-gay-torture-clinics

 

Are you living a lie?  Are you taking out your own problems on those that are different than you?  Do you know someone who does?  Start paying attention to yourself and those people.  What is the root of the problem?  Why act one way and feel the complete opposite?

 

 

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Can you help us get to 500 and join our blograiser? You will also be part of our goal of empowering young women with resources and information. Check out this post for more information: https://writewhatuknow.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/the-500-blog-raiser-challenge/

Book Reviews

WooHoo for the #5!

Impower You

I love the #5 because Scully@Large is the 5th blogger to join my blograiser challenge.  Also with two more 0’s after 5 we will have reached 500!

If you are interested in a fresh view on politics as well as need some inspiration than Scully is for you!  One of my favorite inspirational posts from Scully is about the possibilities life has to offer everyone. My favorite quote from this post is  “Don’t be so zealous that you forget to do the little things that will make accomplishing the big things as special as you want them to be.” Because I think everyone can see how easy that is to do. We get so caught up in being the best and fulfilling our dreams that we can forget the little joys that make each day brighter, even the days where we fail.  http://scullynne.blogspot.com/2012/01/infinite-possibilities-of-life.html

After you have read the blog, you can subscribe to it in the sidebar area.  This is the easiest way to keep track of your favorite blogs.

Thank you for joining our challenge Sully and helping to empower young women along the way. You rock!

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Can you help us get to 500 and join our blograiser? You will also be part of our goal of empowering young women with resources and information. Check out this post for more information: https://writewhatuknow.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/the-500-blog-raiser-challenge/