Category: Empowering Discussions

Empowering Discussions

Looking at Aging With Stars in My Eyes

Impower You

I love this article about menopause in Ode magazine. It brings up a good point about how we as a society tend to look at youth as the goal and getting older as last place.  The writer shares how we have become so vain about our “packaging” and how we forget that age is a wonderful part of life because we learn and grow and appreciate life more.

Two of my favorite parts of this article are these: “All the while, we’re missing out on an enlightening journey, one that’s vital for anyone who wants to grow as a human being. Let’s talk about this side of the story: getting older as an experience that can be personally valuable to each and every one of us.” and “I didn’t fear the physical aging; I come from a family of strong women who look good well into old age. I also try to keep myself healthy through vitamins, walking, strength training and nutrition.”

Enjoy the full article by Hanny Roskamp at http://odewire.com/234079/the-meaning-of-menopause.html

Personally I look forward to no longer having a period each month or worrying about birth control. If I could choose to start menopause now I would.

Empowering Discussions

Live Your Life Like…

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I have always found the saying “Live each day as if it were your last” to be inspirational, but a bit too pressure filled. My “before it is too late” list is too long.  So I switched it around to “Live each day as if it were your first.”  Because first days are full of wonder, curiosity, excitement, nerves, all sorts of possibilities and unlimited opportunities.

Just think of your first day at school, first day at a new job,  first date, first competition, first game of the season, first trip to a new country or first child.   Not every school was joyful, not every job great, and not every date worth remembering. Still the excitement of not knowing and wondering is always something that piques my interest.   The bottom line is we must live a life that makes each of our unique selves happy.

How do you want to live each day? The same? Different?  

Leave a comment below or repost this article on your blog.

Empowering Discussions

For all you Graduates and Grads to be!

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Last night I read two amazing blog posts from recent college grads.  Both of these are women who in the face of a bad economy are taking actions to push their life forward instead of simply complain about their bad fortune. The blogs are posted in Project Eve and can be read at the following links:

“College Graduate Conundrum” by Heidi Idrovo

http://projecteve.com/profiles/blogs/the-college-graduate-conundrum

“My Post Grad Experience and Landing Freelance Writing Jobs” by Emilia Minero

http://projecteve.com/profiles/blogs/my-post-grad-experience-and-landing-freelance-writing-jobs

What was your experience with being a college graduate? Leave a comment!

For me it was overwhelming and scary, but in a much better economy than today. I am thankful those days are behind me. Now I know there is always a different path to take that will get me to my destination.

Empowering Discussions

A Yardstick of Quality

Impower You

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”  Steve Jobs,  Apple Computers.

This quote sticks with me because it rings so true. I see so many people living in ignorance and poverty because the only excellence they see is the pretend world of movies and TV.   How do some rise above this attitude and “move up”  out of ghettos and abuse when others never try?

People are a riddle to me and knowing that is what keeps me from getting mad at every little bad pass, rude remark or angry confrontation.  How can you judge someone who has had a completely different story as yourself?  The next time you get mad because someone is slacking off or repeatedly being a jerk consider the possibility that is they way they were raised. Then you can decide whether to give them tools to better themselves or to simply walk away.

It is always YOUR choice to excel. What length of quality will YOU be?

🙂

Empowering Discussions

Found My Groove

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I was asked to write a guest post a few weeks ago.  It took me a while to figure out what to write about since the topic was open.  I started writing a few times, but just could not get into any of the topics I chose. Finally while reading about the human ego, inspiration hit and my fingers flew across the keys. I found my groove and the article came out great.  I hope you will enjoy it!

“Need a little inspiration? Are you searching for answers?  Look inside yourself already! Embrace your true self and learn about who YOU are. There you will find inspiration and answers to those burning questions.

Psychologists have a term called ‘ego development’ which explains that we mature and evolve over our lifespan as we become more self aware. I take this to mean that if we can accept ourselves than we can grow and be our own guide….”
🙂
Empowering Discussions

Thanks for the VERY Inspiring Blogger award.

Impower You

What a great week. I am wrapping up my fundraiser, had a visit from my nephew, spent a day at the beach, laughed a lot and was given the VERY Inspiring BLogger award by Paula’s Pontifications.

As a nominee I  will share seven (7) unknown things about myself with my readers.  Then award six (6) bloggers the Very Inspiring Blogger Award.

1)I believe it is mean and weird to enslave an animal, even as a pet. 2)I love photos of hippies in the 70’s protesting war. 3)My pajama bottoms are striped. 4)I am currently reading the book,  ‘A Positive View of LGBTQ; Embracing Identity and Cultivating Well-Being’ by Ellen D.B. Riggle and Sharon S. Rostosky. 5)I generally walk 6 miles or more a day. 6)I’d love to build and use a freeze ray like in the movie ‘Despicable ME’. 7)I love graffiti.

Here are six of the most inspiring blogs I regularly read.

1) Finding My Worth, http://findingmyworth.wordpress.com/

2) Women Against Restricting Reproductive Rights, http://womenarrr.org/

3) Healing Heart, Life After Rape, http://krishannah.wordpress.com/

4) I Am Not Defined, http://iamnotdefined.wordpress.com/

5) Site for Creative Alternatives, http://1solutionfocusedcoaching.com/

6) Helping Women Helps the World, http://hwhtw.wordpress.com/

Empowering Discussions, Self Defense

Guns Suck

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Yea yea yeah, there are plenty of great arguments FOR guns. People use them to protect, they can save lives, blah blah blah. If there is one thing we can learn from the untimely death of Trayvon Martin it is how much guns suck. Don’t even leave a comment telling me how you think guns are great. It wont be published. Usually I like to hear different points of views, but not today.  You can have whatever opinion you want. That is your right, just keep it to yourself this one time. I am not going to sit here and tell you that you have no right to own a gun. You have a right to believe what you want. I just want you all to know how much I think GUNS SUCK!

For every kid that was hit by a stray bullet as they walked down the street, for every war that claims lives both innocent and guilty, for every friend that stuck a gun to his head and ended his life, for every wife or partner killed,  for every wasted life there is pain. Guns are a PERMANENT solution. You can take back words. You can apologize for yelling. You can heal from a bruise. BUT when a fatal gunshot takes a life, there is no chance, no forgiveness, no hope because guns kill without mercy.

What if  George didn’t have a gun?  Could they have still come to blows? Yes.  Could one of them ended up in the hospital? Yes. Could Trayvon still be alive? YES!

Aside from the disgusting tragedy of how we treat people based on their skin color, the worst part is knowing that the moment he squeezed that trigger lives were destroyed, families wept and a community was ripped apart across the lines of right and wrong. he probably felt like a big man with that gun. It gave him a false sense of control over the situation. It made him think he was invincible and nobody would mess with him. He probably thought I will show this kid who is boss. Only he knows for sure, but these are thoughts people tend to have when they are in possession of a weapon.

Nothing will bring Trayvon back.  It could be 16 years later as one of his friends types a tragedy similar to this on their blog that it all comes back. Their own sad memory of a violent loss from the past will come slamming back into their hearts breaking their resolve, releasing pain so that heavy they can barely see through their tears to continue typing at all. So yes I stick with my unwavering belief that guns suck.

I pray, hope and imagine a world where guns, bombs, landmines and war do not exist. I see a world where arguments, fights and problems are solved without weapons.  What one thing would YOU get rid of from OUR world? What do YOU think sucks?

Empowering Discussions

Good Health and Empowerment Go Hand In Hand

Impower You

Today we have the pleasure of a guest post by Scully at Large.  I asked him to write an update about his new life routine and how being healthy has improved his state of mind. Let’s all remember that exercise and nutrition are an important part of empowering ourselves. When we are overweight, out of shape and eating foods that are body can’t handle we are not in full control.  We feel sick, have allergic reactions and are not as strong as we can be. This post is a reminder that it takes work to stay healthy, but if you stick with a routine you will succeed. Enjoy.

Approximately six months ago I made some positive changes in my life. These changes was recommended to me by a nutritionist. I know six months isn’t really a long, long period of time, but I would like to let you know how I’m doing, and what I’ve been doing.

At this stage in my life. After six months of practicing the recommendations of my family friend the nutritionist, I am in a great place. I didn’t think that I would be in this place, at this point and time, six months ago. Right now I’m in the best mental and physical shape of my life! I am attributing my high self-esteem, my mental and physical health, to my unwavering dedication to my fitness routine, my good eating habits, and my steadfast practice of getting a good night’s rest, every night!

I exercise five days a week. My exercise routine is dominated by weight training. One day I will exercise with weights only. The next day I will go bike riding or I will go jogging. I practice eating right everyday, by making sure that I’m getting proper nutrition.

This is what my exercise routine is like:

On Mondays I do weight training for approximately two, and one half hours.

On Tuesdays I ride my bike for approximately one, and one half hour.

On Wednesdays I do weight training for approximately two, and one half hours.

Thursdays are my jogging day. I will jog for approximately one hour. Sometimes I’ll put in a little more time.

Fridays it’s back to working-out with weights for approximately two, and one half hours.

In regards to my eating habits;  I try my best at all times to make sure that some of the foods that I eat are loaded with carbohydrates. I don’t eat any meat. Eating a lot of fish is a big part of my diet. I juice all the vegetables and most of the fruits that I consume. Raw vegetables are very potent. If you’re having any problems sleeping, don’t juice your vegetables, it will only make your sleeping problems a lot worse! I drink a lot of protein shakes and I also drink a lot of water.

Those are the things that I’ve been doing for the last six months. And it has gotten me into the best shape of my life! Exercising regularly, and eating right is very addictive. I don’t know if anything that’s addictive, is a good thing to do. But I love doing it! And I’ll recommend exercising regularly, eating right, (proper nutrition) and getting a good night’s rest to everyone!

… Continue to follow Scully’s blog at http://scullynne.blogspot.com/

Empowering Discussions

Random Posts to Share

Impower You

Here are some posts I enjoyed the past few days.

Yes We Can Do Nonviolent Protest…: http://lifestyle30.wordpress.com/2012/03/22/media-think-yes-we-can-do-non-violent-protest-images-and-articles-from-around-the-web-trayvonmartin-million-hoodie-march/

Mr. Thomoas Edison Speaks: http://gorgeousocity.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/mr-thomas-edison-speaks/

A Great Mental Freedom: http://subhanzein.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/a-great-mental-freedom/

The Dog Ate My Homework and other BS: http://auroramorealist.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/blame-2/

For an Ageless Glow Do Yoga: http://paularenee.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/for-an-ageless-glow-do-yoga/

Pro Choice Tshirt on Zazzle: http://womenarrr.org/2012/03/24/pro-choice-t-shirt-on-zazzle-com/

10 Italian Feminists You Should Know: http://lachristagreco.com/2012/03/23/10-italian-feminists-you-should-know/

 

 

Empowering Discussions

Drop In

Impower You

This post is dedicated to Annabanana and all other wild, strong willed adventurers.

High School drop outs have a bad reputation. It’s “oh so obvious” to society that if a person drops out of school they are a “failure”.  Pffft! You say drop out of school, I say drop in to life. Sure there are those that give up and never try, but I know many people that have dropped school so they could get a GED and move on with their lives. Some people go on to college, some start their own business and some take off on adventures.

We do not have an education system that teaches people to be creative and seek knowledge. We have a system that produces batches of patriotic worker bees who can memorize well. I was so bored in school,  I decided that if school was so boring, college would be the same or worse. It took a year of working boring low pay jobs to change my mind about attending college. So finally, I got an Associates degree and I am happy I did. The bottom line is most of our success is dependent on how we react, the choices we make and whether or not we decide to learn on our own. Now I know that sitting in a classroom memorizing rules doesn’t work for me. I learn much better when I can work creatively and at my own pace. I learned that failure is just a fork in the road that takes you in a different direction. It’s not all bad.

Do you think having a GED would stop you from becoming a governor, a famous actor, a business owner or an Olympic medalist? Think again.  http://www.k12academics.com/academic-testing/ged-testing/famous-ged-recipients

There is a huge difference between giving up and going against the crowd to get where you want to be. When have you decided a different path was better than following the crowd?