Create Your Own Adventure

Are you ready to spice up your life? There's only one sure-fire way. It's a secret.

How To Find Answers To All of Life's Questions

Do you want wisdom? There are 3 ways to find it.

Review: Vicky Christina Barcelona (2008)

Vicky Christina Barcelona weaves a tale of transformation of two besties who visit Barcelona for the summer unaware that the trip will challenge their current belief systems.

Survival Series: How To Survive A First Date

If you're ready to begin dating again, you'll need to know these mental strategies to make the most of it.

Where Is My Success?

Have you been toiling away for years and don't see any rewards?

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Everyone Has A Story


I worked a double shift and I am so grateful. The early morning shifts are busy, but I don't make money on them. I miss working overnights. Next week I'll be back.

I'm tired.

I realized today that at almost 4 months of being homeless, I am now a veteran. When new people come to the shelter, they all ask the same questions about vending the newspaper, the staff, the policies. I used to ignore them but now I patiently explain things and listen to their stories.

We moved down here to find jobs but couldn't find them so that's why we're here.

I came back to South Florida to see the place I was born in and I didn't know motels would be so expensive and my money ran out.

I came down here expecting to stay with a friend but the friend ditched me and didn't even pick me up from the airport so I'm stuck.

I was running away from my husband and took the first bus I saw and ended up here in South Florida.

So many stories.

So many regular people who seemed to have run out of luck for a minute. It could be you some day. Hopefully not. Not everyone who becomes homeless stays that way. Most of the people here are all looking for a second chance at life.

Just like me.

Friday, August 5, 2011

REBUILD: Backwards Motion


"Do you want a beer?" she asked as she drove me home from work.

Shit. Why not? I took the half can of liquid and took a long swig and exhaled. My thoughts raced back to earlier in the day when I was sweating profusely in the hot sun on the bus stop after visiting the apartment that my co worker told me about which turned out to be in the projects. Nice size rooms. Very cozy but no air conditioning. In South Florida? I didn't think those places existed.

"Look at these shoes," the lady sitting next to me on the bus stop said as she showed off her white sneakers. "K Swiss. I got these from Goodwill today. It's amazing what people throw away."

Throw away.

Throw away.

Throw away.

My sun dresses.

My shoes.

My accessories.

My furniture.

My jean collection.

My hats.

My jackets.

Everything.

Gone.

Nearly 4 months ago.

For what?

To inspire.

To inspire?

How the hell am I inspiring anyone while living like this? I receive email after email from women all over the country asking ME for help with rent, with jobs, with encouragement yet, I need all of those things.

I feel like the biggest loser yet, I've been losing all my life. All of this potential and talent yet, my personality and strong stance against conformity have led me to struggle for most of my days. Food stamps. Welfare. Section 8. Me.

Oh yeah. I got a letter at work today. Child support will now be deducted from my paychecks. Ok so I called them myself so they can deduct it but it seems real now. He's still winning. But my kids are too.

These pants I'm wearing are too tight. I need some new clothes but I dare not spend any money on clothes. I have to save to move. I need underwear.

I'm serving table after table. $3. $5. $10 if I'm lucky. I walked out of work with $50 tonight. $20 a day on cabs unless I want to melt in the hot sun.

The wheels are spinning but they are spinning backwards.

I cried today. In the hot sun. On the bus stop. In front of strangers.

I regret it. I regret it. I regret it.

I regret it.

Why the hell did I do this? This ain't no way to live.

Who the hell am I inspiring? Surely not me.

What the hell am I doing here?

A youtube viewer wrote me an email. The words still haunt me.

"All those years you were searching for someone to guide you, you were searching for yourself."

Yes. Yes.

I listen to my intuition now but it's not leading me to a comfortable place. The fears that this is all that I deserve in life overwhelm me. It's what I know yet, my insides churn with the belief that I am supposed to live abundantly with the world as my oyster.

No oysters over here. Just beenie weenies and beans. Cheap cigarettes and sweaty nights on the patio.

I trust no one.

No one is on my side. Everyone is against me. I have no one to admire or look up to. The more I meet leaders, the more disgusted I am by leadership. I'm not a leader. I'm a mess.

I'm moving backwards and I'm sorry. Money's coming in slow on the swing shift.

$3. $5. $10 if I'm lucky.

And tonight's the kind of night where, I have a few swigs of a beer and I cry myself to sleep because tomorrow I have to get up and face it all again.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

REBUILD: Just Thinking

I just got back from working the swing shift at Denny's. The swing shift sucks because there are no customers until around 9pm so the rest of the time you're just doing sidework, hoping someone will come in.

I generally make around $45 during the swing shift which sucks because I take the cab there and back and that's $20 right there. Thank goodness I like the people I work with or I'd be so upset. I wish they'd put me back on the overnight shift but when you're in the restaurant business, you work whenever they need you. I really like my managers too. Especially my GM. He really cares about the people there. He's respectful.

I got a text message from one of the guys at the shelter. He left for about a month, trying to make it on his own in an apartment but he ended up right back here. This is a cycle for most of the people here. For some reason they can't seem to be consistent with taking care of themselves. I would argue that its their drug habits or mental capacities but sometimes I think it's just, if you know there is something to fall back on- the shelter- you tend not to grind as hard as you can.

Anyway, he sent me a text message saying he's setting up my bed for me. I smiled. He means that he is laying out my mat on the floor and making sure I have blankets. That's sweet. He knows I like to sleep on the patio near the outlet so that I can be on my laptop until I fall asleep. Most of the men here are like that. They make corny jokes and tell me I'm pretty. They share whatever they have with me and I have met some good people here.

I've also met some assholes but hey, those are the ones I chose to be around so I blame myself.

Today was cool. I woke up at 5am like we always have to and sometimes I go to the beach until I get sleepy again but today I just sat here like everyone else who isn't physically capable of going out to vend the newspaper. I hate sitting still. I have to do something with myself in every minute or I feel like I'm wasting my life. I really don't understand how for some people, just hanging around is cool. I don't watch TV so I can't waste time doing that. I study a LOT. I used to study more. Any chance I get to learn something new about philosophy I do.

I really enjoy reading channeled material from Abraham and other people who claim to hear messages from more highly evolved beings. I think it's interesting and very helpful and yes, I do believe these messages to be beneficial. I don't question them or think they're of the DEVIL. I don't believe in the devil. The devil is the negative mind state that holds you back from believing in your own power to shape your life.

Today at work a girl told me about her new apartment. To move in all she needed was $555. No deposit, just the first month's rent and she says she likes it a lot. I think I'm going to go for it- that is- after I finish saving that amount. I have almost $300 to my name after I had to pay the shelter back for bonding me out of jail so everyday I'm hustling. I'd hope to have 2 months of rent before I move in so that I won't be pressed but we'll see what happens.

Today I was studying imperialism. The opposite of imperialism is nationalism although I don't see that as the true opposite. To me, the opposite of imperialism is a system set up where the PEOPLE govern themselves in small mini societies. I'm not sure that will work though. At least the people I'm surrounded by now, all have trouble governing themselves.

I don't have any answers, all I know is I want to help people to love themselves more and reach enlightenment so that they won't feel bad about who they are. I used to hate myself so much but it's really because I had all of these expectations from life and they weren't happening as fast as I wanted them to so I chalked it up to me not being deserving or capable and that lessened by sense of self worth.

I'm working on that. AND I'm working on being more compassionate. I love to help people but I draw a line at people who hurt me. If you hurt me on purpose then I say, "F&&& YOU!" and I never speak to you again. That's not right. Well, according to the Dala Lama. We should be compassionate towards ALL people, regardless of how they treat us.

Anyone's interactions with you is really a reflection of how they feel about themselves anyway. We take shit so personally when really nothing anyone OUTSIDE of you does, has anything to do with you. They are just releasing the energy they have stored inside and it comes out in word or deeds. If they hate themselves, they will spew hate at you. If they feel less than you, they will criticize you. If they feel like they are losing in life, they will steal or try to sabotage your success.

No truly happy person will try to bring drama and strife into your life. That's kind of why I'm not into prosecuting the man who raped me. I do blame myself for getting into that situation but at at the same time I know he was wrong for having sex with me when I said STOP- No! But I took the time to send him positive energy and I wished for his success. I know that sounds stupid but I don't think he's a bad person and I don't wish jail time for him or pain for his life. I'm over it.

The bright spot in my life right now is my job AND this older man I've been seeing. He's so different. I can't believe that I haven't successfully pushed him away yet. There seem to be a lot of difference like:

1) He doesn't call me just to talk.
2) He's so busy that I rarely see him because he does a lot of community work.
3) He's quiet.
4) He doesn't try to sleep with me.

I like him in a way, but maybe I'm more intrigued by him because he's so different and weird. Yesterday I spent time with him. He took me to lunch at this buffet and I loved it. Then he took me to the beach and let me talk and talk and talk. He's 20 years older than I am so I KNOW he has stories to share but he doesn't really talk, he just listens and smiles at me.

He called me, "Baby." I laughed. That was cute. His eyes light up when he sees me. I love that. He's also a caretaker, meaning, I have no worries when I'm with him. I think he'd chew my food if I needed it.

"Are you happy in life?" I asked him.

He was thoughtful before he replied, "Yes and No. There are some things I wish were different. Happiness is a journey."

"Happiness is a CHOICE!" I said emphatically. "You can choose happiness at any moment by the thoughts you choose to dwell on."

"I'm with you right now and that makes me happy," he said.

Smooth. So smooth. The older ladies should be jumping at being with him. He always says and does the right thing.

"Rap is irrelevant," I declared as he switched the radio station to Hip hop while we were cruising down Sheridan on our way to the beach.

"I said that 5 years ago," he said, casually changing lanes and stealing glances at me in the passenger seat.

"Yeah but I can't just say rap is irrelevant without adding something that IS relevant. It's stupid to make a criticism without a solution," I said.

"Well, talk about the economy," he suggested.

"The economy is a mind state," I told him.

"Well talk about imperialism," he said.

"What's that?"

"Something for you to look up."

So I did. And then engaged in an awesome conversation with Christina Fermin, one of the editorial writers for My Savvy Sisters. She is so freaking smart in all the ways I am not and I appreciate knowing her because she makes me more well rounded. My news coordinator Berlyne is like that too. I live in a bubble of philosophy and inspiration so without having them I wouldn't be knowledgable about the state of the world at all.

Anyway, it's after 2am and I need to get some sleep before the 5am wake up call.

Later.

Your World News Report - August 4, 2011


Berlyne Julmis

News Coordinator

Manuel Noriega Being Extradited to Panama

Manuel Noriega the former Panamanian military leader will be extradited from France to Panama. Noriega is currently serving a seven year sentence in French prison for money laundering charges—Noriega also served a 20 year prison sentence for drug trafficking in U.S. prison before being extradited to France last year. Noriega is wanted for human rights violations during his ruling in Panama in the 1980’s. Panamanian courts have already convicted in absentia where he was found guilty of three human rights charges each contained a twenty year sentence. Noriega is now 77 years old and has a month to file an appeal in French courts against is extradition to Panama. According to Noriega’s attorney an appeal will not be file--Noriega wants to return to Panama.

READ MORE

33 Dead in Ecuador after Consuming Poisoned Alcohol

33 people dead in Ecuador after consuming bootleg liquor containing methanol. 103 people were hospitalized and treated after consuming the bootleg liquor--more than 200 people are in hospitals in for alcohol poisoning throughout the country. Authorities banned the selling of alcohol for three days to check and confiscate alcohol supplies containing methanol—28 barrels were seized in Los Rios containing the illegal substance. Ecuadorean health officials have stated two glass of the contaminated substance is proven to be deadly. Authorities are warning anyone who is experiencing symptoms of nausea, abdominal cramps, blurred vision, profuse sweating and loss of consciousness to seek medical attention immediately.

READ MORE

Tropical Storm Emily attacks Haiti and Threatens Florida

Tropical Storm Emily stalls over Hispaniola and traveling southwest of Haiti. After a massive earthquake, cholera outbreak, and famine throughout the country Emily threatens to do more damage with massive winds and heavy rains. U.N. officials have already deployed aid to help flooding and storm ravaged areas--supplies from Panama are on standby to be flown in when needed. Haitian government officials issued an alert to residents warning of heavy rains and possible mudslides. Approximately 360 evacuation sites were identified in Port-au-Prince where people can seek shelter -- Tropical Storm Emily may weaken as it threatens the east coast of Florida where it may hit land form by Saturday.

READ MORE

FAA Shutdown as Congress on Vacation

President Obama is urging congress to come back after going on summer recess after passing law to raise the debt ceiling. President Obama and Ray LaHood the Secretary of Transportation is requesting congress to pass a temporary funding for the Florida Aviation Administration. Nearly 4,000 are temporarily unemployed and more than 200 airport construction projects have been halted due congress not passing funding to release money to the FAA. If the government fails to comeback to pass temporarily mandate to release funding the government will lose $30 million a day in taxes of uncollected of federal taxes--more than a billion dollar will be lost if congress wait until September to pass the bill. The FAA has been shut down for more than a week.

READ MORE

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

REBUILD: Material Success Means Nothing


Today I woke up around 4am. At the homeless shelter there is a 5am wake up call. By the time 5am rolled around, my stomach was growling and all I wished for was a bowl of cereal.

If you have a refrigerator with food in it, you are extremely blessed. Breakfast is served at the shelter at 7am and if you don't have snacks you will go hungry until they feed you.

This made me think of all the people in the world who have homes of their own who are depressed and sad about life. It seems so incredible to me that I used to be the same way. I was sitting up in my own home with money in the bank and a car to drive and I hated myself for so long. I kept these expectations for my life that I hadn't met yet as my marker for success, yet the attainment of those material things are what I long for right now.

This leads me to believe, or rather confirms my new belief that material success isn't the proper gauge for life success. It doesn't matter. Happiness comes from within. It is not influenced by any outside circumstances or achievements.

It can't be if I can manage to smile and laugh in THIS situation yet so many others who are far better off financially are killing themselves mentally because they have but they want MORE.

Disconnect material success from happiness. Learning to achieve the bliss of gratitude for Be~ing is the only way to truly enjoy this existence.

REBUILD: You Make The Rules

"I always lose."

"No one ever loves me."

"When it comes to work, I always get the worst shifts."

"I have bad luck."

All of these rules, are rules YOU decide for your life.

Let's change them.

Watch the video below.


Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Thoughts On Friendships & Love






Written By Te-Erika

The true love of your life can come in many forms. It could be your children, your siblings or a romantic partner. In order to identify it you can ask yourself, "Who or what makes my heart sing like a first kiss?" There you go. That's love.

When friends give you advice, it's because they love you. Even when it's 'not so good' advice, it's still great to have the type of friend who is willing to listen and offer the advice in the first place.

Sometimes a break up between friends is the best way to learn to appreciate them.

Love can be experienced at any time. There is no reason to feel that you have to wait until you meet your goals. Love will find you, no matter how much you try to hide.

Honest people appreciate honesty. People who play games appreciate mind games. Decide which one you appreciate and you'll figure out why certain relationships never 'worked out'. Then go and be at peace.

Try being a fool for love, it makes the BEST stories!

Those who have the courage to be their REAL selves are the ones who experience sincere love.

Love your romantic interest the same way you would love your best friend. Don't pressure them, bully them or give them ultimatums. Let go of controlling who they are and how they love you and decide to love them anyway.



Your friends will appreciate the special gifts you give them just as much as they appreciate tokens of love from their romantic partner. Shower your friends with love too.

Love is a decision and not an emotion.

Date as though you're not seeking anything.

A friend is a person who wants to know every detail of your story.

Love isn't limited in number. We were created to share love. You can love more than one person at once.

Love isn't a competition. If you truly love someone, you want them to win.

You know you love someone if you can imagine changing their diapers when they're old.

You're not unlucky at love, you just haven't met the person who deserves you yet.

There's nothing wrong with being the first to say 'I Love You'. The person who deserves to hear it will be blown away by your courage.

You don't have to TRY at love. When it happens, there won't be anything you can do to stop it.

Real love isn't confined by gender. You feel it. You know it. Go with that.

Sometimes you meet people who provide 'clues' to recognize your special someone. No relationship is a total loss because now you know what you like. Look for more of that in everyone you meet. It will lead you to your soul mate.

Most bonds are formed during traumatic situations. Recognize those who cry with you or rush to your rescue. In those eyes, you will experience true love.

Friends are people who know which value meal you like the best.



Love is when you hop in the car headed to your local diner at 3am wearing your pajamas just because your special someone wanted a milkshake.

Love has never been hidden from you. It is just waiting for you to recognize it. It's right there.

Someone who loves you, thinks the way you smell before you take a shower is "cute."

Make a list of all of your flaws. You will be loved anyway. I promise.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Your Future Depends on Multiple Streams of Income


At some point, every woman has to start over in life. It won't take the worst case scenario to make it happen. You may move to a new city, get a divorce or even change careers.

The process of rebuilding is not something to be afraid of. It is a natural part of your transition from one season of your life to another.

To ease the financial strains of rebuilding it is wise to understand that your job should never be your sole source of income. With a hustler mentality, a mentality that drives you to create multiple streams of income, your transition into your new life will be made much easier.

To set yourself up for your future success, it would be wise to:

1. Invest in your company's 401K. If your company offers this savings plan, use it. It doesn't matter if you don't see yourself staying with that company until you retire, it is a good way to save.

2. Learn how to perform a service with your hands. If for some reason, this society reverts back to a rudimentary way of doing things, for instance, all of the computer systems crash and we go back to a system of bartering, you won't be at a loss. Learn how to cut hair, cook or fix plumbing. Gain skills as a nail technician or my personal favorite- a waitress. Every city has needs for these type of services. No matter where you go, you will find work.

3. Create a product- What is it that you can do better than anyone else? Turn that into a product to sell. Forget about credentials or degrees or someone qualifying you. If you know you can do it, go DO IT. Keep doing it. Qualify yourself through experience.

4. Glamorize who you are. Whatever your situation, you should start sharing it. No one goes through unique experiences so there is someone out there who can learn as you learn. Even if you believe your life is one unlucky experience after the next, share what you have learned through these experiences through a book, a blog or a seminar and develop yourself as a brand. Your misfortune could create your fortune.

5. Investment properties. If you can manage during the upswings in life, buy properties as investments. When things shift, as they always do, you'll have income to fall back on if it means you have to rent or sell your properties.

It is essential that NEVER allow your job to be your only source of income. This creates the illusion that your job is the source of your well being. It is not.

My Savvy Sister of The Week- Sandi Amorello

Sandi Amorello is THE woman to watch, helping women to break out of their shells and recapture their perfection by embracing their inner rebel.

Sandi is the creator of GirlScoutDropout.Com, a website that celebrates women who do not follow the status quo. Her mission embodies the spirit of MySavvySisters and we are delighted to profile her as My Savvy Sister of the Week.


1) What kind of women are you targeting with your website/movement?

I'd love to connect women who are obviously already proud of their non-conformity and have a great sense of humor about life...but my real mission is to reach women who have been holding back or even totally hiding their inner rebelliousness and spirit. Maybe they feel a bit embarrassed about it, or are unsure of how to let their genuine wonderfulness shine in the world. I've always been proud of my non-conformity, but some women don't embrace that part of themselves. I'd love to help provide the community of support and encouragement they need, in order for it to be unleashed...to be set free. I want women everywhere to celebrate who they are!

2) What are 3 clear signs you may be rebellious?

If you often feel that you don't quite fit in with the status quo, often have dreams, aspirations and plans that other people (even friends and family) think are "crazy"...and know in your heart that the American idea of "success" isn't YOUR idea of success...you are probably a rebel! :)

3) Why is it important to embrace your rebellious nature?

I think that each of us has an inner "knowing" about who we are, and what we are capable of becoming and achieving.

No one else knows us better than we know ourselves. If we don't embrace our true nature, and our rebellious spirit, we are denying the world our true gifts. If we are afraid to be who we are, we can't inspire others to be who THEY are. And we all lose out.

4) How do you learn to function within society when you know you don't fit in and you can't seem to find a place for yourself to prosper due to everyone expecting you to follow the rules or walking away from you when you won't follow the rules?

I have found that the times I have been most successful are always the times when I have listened to my inner voice, and ignored the advice and negativity of others. Of course, it's important to have people to advise and help us, as we make our way in the world. We need money, clothing, food and shelter to survive. But having lost my husband, and having been left heartbroken and devastated, with three young children to raise, I know that I can survive anything. And I can live with very little, if need be. As long as I'm being true to myself, and following my heart, I know there is some universal energy that will conspire to help me on my path. I know this to be true, because people constantly cross my path to help me whenever I am following my heart. I'm not imaging it- I have actual experience with this. :)

I always ask myself, "What is the worst thing that could happen." If the answer isn't "death"...or "terminal cancer"...I go ahead and keep pursing my dream.

5) Who are some of the women YOU admire and why?

Like many of us, I admire well-known women like Eleanor Roosevelt, Katharine Hepburn and Helen Gurly Brown, for their individuality, spirit and determination. But the women I truly admire are those who aren't "famous"...but who continue to laugh and smile and shine their inner light, even in the face of tragedy, and the myriad of challenges life throws our way. To me, these "ordinary" women are truly extraordinary, and epitomize strength, courage, grace, fortitude and optimism. If you're not still laughing, you're not still living.

6) Why choose to be a Girl Scout Drop Out?

Becoming a Girl Scout Dropout is a way to be part of a fun, quirky community of women who truly embrace their inner rebel, or who might be looking for inspiration so they, too, can feel fearless, and follow their dreams. Because it was very important to me that no one be excluded, especially due to finances, so we've set up GSD so you can join us on Facebook for free, or buy a membership "welcome kit" and enjoy some of our great stuff. Everyone is welcome, because everyone has something important to share. And who doesn't needs to laugh more often?

For more information about becoming a Girl Scout DropOut, please visit http://www.girlscoutdropout.com

EDITORIAL: Mountain Top Removal Mining

By Christina Fermin
Politics & Society ColumnistLink
When I first decided to write about Mountain Top Removal (MTR), I was reminded about it in a documentary I watched recently called Dirt! The Movie (can you URL to the website http://www.dirtthemovie.org/). What I did not expect was the heart wrenching stories that I would read as a direct result of MTR. It was so overwhelming that it literally took me days to read through the material and get the facts. Often times I was so emotional and angry that this practice is allowed, that I hope I can convey what I read in those pieces of information onto here. The effects of MTR go beyond destroying mountains, forests, wildlife and water. Communities are left to suffer the after effects which can lasts for decades, if not centuries, and those that suffer the most are the children who carry the burden and health effects of MTR.

For those who are not familiar with Mountain Top Removal Mining, it is a coal extraction process which requires the complete removal of mountain peaks through a process of clearing all top soil and vegetation; blasting of the tops of mountains by millions of pounds of explosives; digging with a very large machine 20 stories high which has been used to replace hundreds of jobs. Once all this is done, the coal goes through to processing so that it can be cleaned before being shipped where the coal is cleaned using over ten different types of toxic chemicals producing coal sludge which more often then not the companies involved house them in large pools that contaminates ground water and the land itself; while everything else gets dumped into valleys and streams. Then comes reclamation which is used to stabilize and revegetate the region, which because state agencies are in bed with energy companies, the energy companies usually don’t do more than spraying of seeds so that grasslands can form where there once stood mountains and thick dense forests.

Mountain Top Removal happens in the Appalachian mountains in mainly Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia. This region is a hotspot for biodiversity and the nation’s drinking water. The Appalachian mountains are even older than those of the Himalayans, and what takes thousands of millions of years to form and grow gets blasted in a matter of days. Today over 2,300 square miles (the area the size of Delaware) of the appalachian forests have been destroyed and over 1,500 miles of streams have been contaminated due to MTR. In the communities where MTR has been permitted poverty and unemployment remains very high, trying to get business to come into a community that has been destroyed by MTR is difficult because of all the health issues and pollution that can occur near a MTR site. Not to mention that the coal extracted from the process often gets shipped across the country to be used in states which MTR occurs.

The effects of MTR are grossly underestimated, recently a panel of scientist completed a study and what they found is grounds enough to make the practice illegal. MTR has killed off fish, decimated the fish populations and now they are endangered of being killed off completely. When testing the rivers and streams, toxic levels were well above normal, in many cases over twice the limit they should be. 40-70% of the wells by or near a MTR site have been contaminated. In 2004 a 3 year old boy was killed by a large boulder that came barreling down a hill into the family home because of MTR. Flyrock, which happens as a result of the blasting, damages property, homes and injuries residence. Flash floods happens as a result of the natural landscape being transformed so that it can no longer hold in the water as the forests did in the past. In communities where MTR sites are close by, these communities have suffered high mortality rates, high cancer rates, diabetes and heart disease.

So what can you do? Most importantly write to your Congress person, have them support the Clean Water Protection Act and Support the Appalachia Restore Act. Write to your energy companies condoning the practice; companies like Massey Energy, Arch Coal, Alpha Natural Resources, International Coal Group and Teco Energy. Also write to the companies financing MTR; companies include Bank of America, Citigroup, Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, PNC Bank, UBS, and Wells Fargo. Also as a mode of protest, remove your money from those banks, I find Credit Unions convenient, nice and the money stays within my community. Before more of our precious natural resources are destroyed I urge you to write to all the above mentioned, as well as President Obama, House Speaker John Boehnor, and Senate Majority leader Harry Reid. Stopping this now is key, before any more unintended consequences can occur and before it’s too late. This is our civil duty, to speak against the injustice and the misdeeds of those who think they can, because they have the power and the money.

Peace & Love,
Christina

About the Columnist
With a bachelors degree in political science from Florida Atlantic University, Christina Fermin has always cultivated her love for history, politics, sociology, ancient knowledge and teachings, the outdoors, the ocean and the environment.Christina strives to make our world better by helping us all create a new reality and understanding of all taking place here and now.

I urge you to visit these websites for more information and action alerts:
http://appvoices.org/
http://ilovemountains.org/index.php
http://mountainjustice.org/index.php
http://www.grist.org/article/reece

REBUILD: I Don't Like Him Like That




So I'm in a dilemma.

I met up with an old guyfriend a week or so ago after I had been praying and visualizing that I would meet a friend who would invite me to get rest at their house and it would be comfortable and nice and I would be welcome to hang out whenever I wanted to. I really needed it.

I know that all of my wishes come true so usually after I make a wish I try to look out for its manifestation. Somehow, some signals must have crossed in my inner alarm because when I met that man who offered me exactly what I had been praying for, it turned into him pushing himself on me sexually.

I dealt with that issue and immediately after I ran into an old friend from undergrad. He was actually the FIRST friend I made at college and he was by my side as I became adjusted to being on my own. He and I were the friends with benefits type of relationship back then and when I saw him again he said he still had those same feelings about me.

Before I knew it, he was offering to pick me up from work and let me hang out with him at his place. I accepted because I really, REALLY wanted to rest. I got lots of rest because of him and everyday he calls me wanting to see me. He picks me up from work which saves me cab fare and takes me out to eat and I enjoy his company because he's intelligent.

I do enjoy his company it's just, I don't like him like that.

I don't like it when he wants to cuddle. I don't like it when he tries to kiss me or touch me. I've explained this to him plenty of times and he says he understands. He thinks I'm just afraid to let go. I told him that I have sex when I want, I'm not a priss but I just don't like him like that.

I love going to his house, watching TV, having him drive me around. I appreciate that so much because it's exactly what I prayed for except, I don't like it when he tries to touch me.

I could keep going to his house and enjoying what I need- REST and someone to be sweet to me, but I'm not sure that's fair to him. Although I keep telling him that I don't like him like that, he keeps on trying to touch me.

"I'm not attracted to you," I told him. "I'm attracted to someone else. I don't feel anything when you touch me and I don't like it."

He's quiet for a minute before replying, "Well, where is he?" He asked and then paused. "I'm glad you came over, Tee."

Then he wants to cuddle.

I don't want to.

I don't like him like that.

He's not disgusting. He has awesome conversation and he's very level headed which I like. He's not a bitch, meaning he doesn't gossip, complain or lash out in his emotions. I love that about him. That's very rare in men.

But I have absolutely no attraction to him.

"I know you don't see yourself being with me," he said. "But I know you like chillin with me."

"I do, I just don't like it when you touch me," I explained for the thousandth time.

~sigh~

So here it is. I have what I want but its not HOW I want it.

How much do I sacrifice to get the REST and RELAXATION I need?

Do I allow him to keep TRYING and TRYING and me becoming anxious just to have some quiet time after work?

It's not so bad at the homeless shelter. I love almost everyone there and people are sweet to me, it's just, I need some ME time and some quiet sometimes.

I appreciate this guyfriend but I don't like him like that and he won't stop trying to touch me.

What would you do?



***Edit
He wanted to see me again tonite so I let him come. I felt so awful about the prospect of him touching me that I told him I can't see him anymore. This means less rest for me but more peace of mind, I guess.

Damn. Why couldn't he want to be a FRIEND?

Share

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More

 
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...