Creative Healing Through Writing and Art
Anger
Disbelief
Pain
Sorrow
Madness
Ridiculous
A waste of life at seventeen. Fear and ignorance created a hate crime that did not have to be. Trayvon Martin taken away by George Zimmerman because his skin was too dark. Where is justice? Why are criminal charges not being set?
http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-17-year-old-trayvon-martin
My heart goes out to his family and friends.
I found this girl empowerment program through a connection of a connection. Isn’t that how it usually goes? Word of mouth is still the best marketing available. Confidence to Greatness, http://www.confidencetogreatness.org is a empowerment program for young women. Their vision “..inspires teenage girls to increase their confidence in order to transform communities.” This is what we need more of. We cannot just teach self esteem, we have to give people a purpose to use it.
Ruby Taylor, a school social worker, started this program in 2007 because she was “..heartbroken by the pain hurt and lack of confidence..” she saw around her. Her program creates scholarships and funds start ups for teenage girls in urban communities. Please pass this inspirational program along to your family and friends.
What wonderful empowerment program do you like? Please share it below. It does not have to be for any particular group of people.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
I was tagged by Gorgeousocity in this fun game…. Okay so I changed the rules a bit because I am so busy and you might be too. I replaced the rule to do 11 blogs and 11 questions with 3 blogs and 3 questions. I am still answering all 11 questions since she took the time to write them out. So you can change the number again if you want.
What is your favourite color? Bluegreen
Where do you live? California, USA
What makes you happiest? Laughing
What inspires you? Risk Takers
What it is your favourite movie of all time? Mulan
What impressed you about it? It was a girl fighting for her right to choose her own destiny
What do you think are the most important qualities in a person? Compassion
What’s your favourite subject to read about? World changers
Second favourite subject? Science
Third favourite subject? Art
What do you do for fun? Go outside and do something
Rules:
Here are 3 of my fave blogs:
http://spellcheckaholic.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/watch-what-you-say/
http://janeclaypool.com/2012/02/20/asleep-at-the-wheel/
http://marthaskitchenkorner.blogspot.com/2011/11/invest-in-women-leah-oviedo-author.html
Here are your questions:
1)Why are you so awesome?
2)What makes you strong?
3)How will you change the world in a positive way?
Thanks for playing tag!
According to the Huffington Post (and about a dozen other news outlets), Sandra Fluke is not so quick to except the apology from Rush Limbaugh for calling he a “slut” and “prostitute” among other insinuations. I have to agree that his apology seems a bit phony.
www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/05/sandra-fluke-addresses-ru_n_1321357.html
Usually I can except an apology and move on. I don’t like to dwell on negativity or live in the past. However an apology that comes from pressure instead of remorse is pointless. When you are quick to take back something you so vehemently stood for, than it can easily be called into question that you are lying. If you really want an apology to carry weight it works best if you take action to back it up.
It’s okay to tell that person that you don’t accept their apology. If you feel wronged and you cannot let go, that is your choice. If people tell you that you should continue to be angry and you want to move on, it is okay. You and only you can decide what to fight for and when to move on.
When are you able to let go? When do you feel that it is better to continue to argue?
🙂
I shouldn’t be promoting other fundraisers while I am working on my own, but Jasmine Grey is making an important documentary and I want to support her. Besides, since when do I do what sane people do. Hahaha!
She has reached her her goal, but if she can make more she will be able to do even more with her documentary like add an animation about how AVM happens. This would give people a better understanding of what happens to those affected. I have donated a copy of my ebook, Word Art and Affirmations to her campaign. There are 17 more days to donate. Follow her campaign here: http://www.indiegogo.com/More-Than-Skin-Deep
I hope this inspires you to do a selfless act for someone else today.
Brace yourself. This is not a happy story.
I just read a sad story of a 17 year old named George who lived in a tree after he was sent away by his aunt. She had been acting like a mother to him and one day she apparently she put him on a bus from Missouri to San Francisco to a FAKE address. She says he was “out of control” and wanted him gone.
This story was reported by Samantah Wender and Geoff Martz on http://abcnews.go.com/US/teens-trouble-homeless-youth-lived-tree/story?id=12779365#.T01nu4ePWqh
I just can’t imagine making a choice like this. To send a child far away across the country where you have no idea of their safety is beyond me. I can see putting a child in the foster system or asking another relative to care for them, but not just abandoning one. Homeless teens whether run aways or cast offs, generally have no trust of adults. This is a good example of WHY that happens.
Can you imagine what it must be like to be as young as 13 and living on the streets? Sleeping in trees, under freeways, or in parks? Homeless youth is not just something that happens once in a while. Check out the staggering statistics of youth on the streets at http://invisibleyouthnetwork1.community.officelive.com/RunawayandHomelessYouth.aspx Suicide, abuse, rape and assault are the everyday realities of homeless youth.
Last year I volunteered at a 5k walk for my local homeless youth shelter. It was a great experience. My favorite part was hearing the success stories of teens who had gone to the shelter and received help. This shelter provides beds, clothes, breakfast and dinner, transportation to school, GED help and job search assistance. Every youth that stays in the emergency shelter goes to school. They are even given a chance to return to the the school they left. Bus fare or rides are provided. What they do there is above and beyond. It is also the only youth shelter in the area.
There is no reason for you to not get involved in your community. Take the initiative and show the world that for every aunt mentioned above there are many more compassionate caring people. If you want to help homeless youth visit, http://invisibleyouthnetwork1.community.officelive.com/VolunteerOpportunities.aspx.
If you want to find other opportunities in your community check out www.VolunteerMatch.org.
THANK YOU FOR READING. NOW GO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
What we desire is usually good for us because we are all unique and what we want is relevant to our self, experiences and beliefs. The main problem seems to arise when our desires become unbalanced and then so does our life.
A popular example these days is the fairy tale debate. Do we want girls growing up into women who wait for and rely on Prince Charming to save them? Is it healthy to not fend for yourself? On the other hand are we telling them they have to be so strong they should never let a man help or support them? Should we teach our children to sick to stereotypical roles in life or should we teach them dissent. Personally, I lean towards a lot of dissent and the crushing of stereotypes. Other people lean towards assigned roles. That is fine. We are human and have free will to believe differently then anyone. I will not tell people what they should teach their kids. All I will do is give you another point of view and encourage you to ask questions instead of simply accepting everything as is. What you take away from my words are up to you.
I enjoyed princess stories and the accompanying films as a kid. I am fine with them still being around for future generations because they are fun. It’s the all encompassing addiction society has with girls being pretty little princesses who are oh so devoted to their prince that gets on my last nerve. I was both a tomboy building forts in the woods and interested in cute outfits and playing house. I loved (and still love) math and science as much as cooking and sewing. I love pretend as much as the real world.
For boys it seems to be crassness that is cherished. Swear words are so cute when said by a 8 year old. Burping extra loud and scratching their crotch is an obvious way to be manly. Then of course there is the unequal treatment of women. Even in children’s movies boys are encouraged to see women as objects of lust or in domestic roles. They constantly see men ogling women, calling them dirty words and focusing on the size of their breasts. I don’t want my 10 year old thinking that a woman is only as worthy as her cup size.
Let us teach our children instead that there are a variety of roles they can play. Tell them that being a real man is not based on the size of your fist or how many women you have sex with. Tell them that girls can be presidents, rescuers and moms when they grow up. Make sure they know that how we look does not equal how good or bad we are. Encourage friendships with the opposite gender at a young age. Lastly let them know that it is up to them to teach their children about how many choices we all have.
Balance is the word of the day people! BALANCE!
Blanca Vergara is one of my favorite entrepreneurs. She focuses on the “heart centered” economy instead of one based on greed and power. If you are just getting by and want to replace that with passion for your business this blog is for you.
She is an entrepreneur, author speaker and mom. She holds an MBA, is a certified coach and is fluent in English, Spanish and Dutch. She quit her high paying position at a global company to create a career where her focus is to first be happy and second create profit. This is exactly the kind of attitude that has helped me realize that my true career is writing, art and empowering others. If you want a business that is full of honesty, authenticity, transparency, integrity and empathy check her out and subscribe to her blog. I hope you get as much from Blanca as I have. She has a lot of knowledge to share.
She has joined the 500 Blog-Raiser Challenge to empower young women with her post, http://www.blancavergara.com/morethanjustagirl/ Please stop by and leave her a thank you comment for empowering young women.
If you want to join the challenge click on the banner ad ion the right sidebar of my blog.
🙂
The action of asking is quite powerful. Once you know what you want, ask for it and you will most likely get it. If you don’t get what you want then you will learn something new. At the very least you will learn that person you asked is not the right fit for what you need.
I was quite reserved about asking anyone for help as a child and young woman. It took me years to learn that I could ask for help and it did not mean I was weak or incompetent. Asking the right questions has improved my life. I learned to ask for help, guidance and instructions instead of hoping I was doing things the right way. It keeps me from failing with important things and becoming overwhelmed. Once I overcame my fear of asking I learned to listen. Really it works better the other way around, but this is my story. Listening is a key action to take so that you will know the right questions to ask. The more I grow and the more often I listen and wait to speak the more I learn. I am amazed that it took me this long to figure this out because it is really quite simple. It seems I learned to not listen to myself, but to listen to others telling me that if I do this and that everything will be fine and I do not need to question anything else. I suppose being the youngest of 5 kids this was a natural trait to learn. Silly me!
Sometimes I forget to listen and I start asking questions that do one of three things. Not listening before I ask leads me in circles, frustrates the person I ask or causes people to lose interest in me.
If you would like to learn how to listen you can try what I did. Focus on the other person. If my mind starts wandering I repeat in my head everything they say until I am once again engaged in what they are saying. When I am in a meeting or about to meet a new person I tell myself that it is important to listen and to pay attention.
I do not doodle. I do not scratch my head, play with my pencil or daydream. When I fidget I begin to focus on that action instead of whoever is speaking. So move distractions away from you. If you need to take notes, write down key points and set your pencil down until your next note. Do not hold onto your pencil.
Eye contact is also very important. When I keep eye contact with the person who is speaking than it is easier for me to listen because I am keeping my attention on them. If you are not used to using much eye contact, then just make eye contact occasionally until it is simply as natural as breathing. Mentally remind yourself or write down to look people in the eye.
Once you have got listening down you will find it easier to ask the right questions. Think before you speak and don’t rush yourself. Articulate your words so that you do not talk to fast and end up mumbling. It is good to state your questions in a clear voice. Don’t be too loud. Use your inside voice, unless you are in a noisy location. I have a terrible habit of mumbling or talking too low. These days I notice when I do this and instantly remind myself to slow down and speak clearly.
Have a game plan. Think about what you want to ask before you meet that person.
What exactly do you need to ask for? Don’t beat around the bush, come right out and state what you need. This will give you a better response. Other questions to ask yourself are as follows. What skills do you have that will help you? What are you capable of giving to get what you want? What can you offer the other person in return?
A few weeks ago I asked a blogger I admire if I could write a guest post. She was responsive and I was invited to write a guest post on self defense on her blog, Marinagraphy. You can see my post here: http://marinagraphy.com/importance-fighting-back/ I was thrilled to have this chance to share my work with more people on a blog I respect and enjoy reading.
I asked over the internet, but still I took the initiative to ASK! I did not listen to her but I carefully read what she wrote in response and made sure the article I sent her was in line with what she needed for her blog. Taking your time to read carefully is important. Have you ever replied to an email, post or new contact to quickly and than realized you had messed up? Sometimes you can delete a post, but sometimes you can’t. Take your time. Listen. Ask.
I hope you find this post useful.
🙂
It is true that what we focus on controls our life. I used to want to be rich. I would try anything to make money. I just knew that a million dollars was always around the corner. I didn’t have a focus though. I was so busy trying the next big thing, the easiest way, the path of least work or working on something I wasn’t interested in that I was all over the place.
When we focus, we accomplish goals. Think of when you were in school and had to write a book report. You probably got a better grade and felt real accomplishment when you focused and didn’t just throw something together that looked good. Look, it isn’t rocket science. When we focus on what we want we succeed. Those genius kids that go to college at 16, the world famous cello player, the presidents of countries and Fortune 500 companies did not get that far by chance. They focused on what they loved, on what mattered to them and they got it.
So when you feel like giving up, when you hit that wall. Rearrange your focus. Think about what works. Are you wasting your time trying to do everything? Do you have a to-do list a mile long? Put your focus only on what will help you, not everything under the sun.
I am telling you this from personal experience. After 3 decades, I finally learned to focus on what works instead of everything. Here is an affirmation for you.
My focus is straight.
I will work smartly on this action.
My attention will stay right where it belongs.
I am focused!
🙂
Individual Empowerment 