When You're Above Average

If your dreams outweigh those around you
If your style and grace seem to make everyone upset
If you're never satisfied with 'just enough'
If you're constantly yearning to upgrade your life
If you've ever wondered why no one understands you
If you're watching people make choices you stopped making 10 years ago
If you can't find the right crowd to fit into
If you're constantly thinking, 'No one gets it'
If you find yourself wanting to move to another country
If you think you must be from another planet
If you are bored with socializing and prefer the company of your own thoughts
If the men you meet are usually not up to par
If your biggest dream isn't getting married
If people consistently describe you as 'refreshing'
If you can't figure out what to do next but you know you must do 'something'
If you you're wondering what the meaning of life is
If you have let go of the beliefs you inherited
If you have stepped outside of the box and you like it there
If you aren't afraid to be foolish for your dream

You are ABOVE AVERAGE!

Relax. There's not much company because you belong in the major leagues.

It's coming.

Relax.

There is a place for you.

Relax.

There is nothing wrong with you.

You'll get there.

Keep walking.

Fearlessly.

~Te-Erika

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One Question About The State Of The Union Address

The government should do for people only what they can not do better for themselves and no more. ~Obama in the State of the Union address

After watching The State Of the Union Address by President Obama last night, this one statement haunted me. This comment was met with a rousing round of applause and a standing ovation. On the surface, it seems that President Obama's words are handing back personal responsibility to the individual but then again, they don't.

Do for people only what they can not do better for themselves?

What does this statement imply to you?

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How To Make A Decision Without All The Facts

There are those times when you know something has to change. The change needs to come RIGHT NOW and you know that now is the time. In order for you to have the life you really want, sometimes a decision needs to be made quickly when you do not have all the facts.

Here's how.


Listen to your intuition
There is a soft, yet insistent voice that 'sounds' just like yours. You hear it all the time but you think you are talking to yourself. This voice is a voice of reason. It is confident. It whispers instructions. It is never fearful or derogatory. It tells you the truth and offers guidance. You fear it because it sometimes instructs you to do things that are not logical.

It is very important to listen to this advice that goes against your logic. Your logic is based on your past experiences and intellectual knowledge and those don't dictate the immense possibilities of your future. If your intuition says "Leave" Do it.


Go with what feels good
If you're happy and you know it, go with that.
If you're happy and you know it, go with that.
If you're happy and you know it then your smile will surely show it.
If you're happy and you know it, go with that.


Decide what you want and go after that
What do you WANT to happen? No, we're not paying any attention to your worst fears or what your parents warned you might happen. What do you want? What will make your heart sing? What if the best possible outcome were to come to pass? What would you have to do to make it happen?

There. Go that way.

Remember, no matter what happens, you can always try again. No failure is permanent and there is a building lesson to be learned from every decision made. Go ahead and learn the lessons necessary to build your wisdom and skill set so that you will easily bounce back from all of life's transitions.

For My Savvy Sisters: Can you recall a time when you made a decision without all of the facts and it turned out to benefit you?

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EDITORIAL: Keystone XL Pipeline Revisited

By Christina Fermin
Politics & Society Columnist

Obama rejected the Keystone XL Pipeline that would go through environmentally sensitive lands, a victory declared by environmentalists. Political pundits have been taking swings at Obama, even after Republicans gave President Obama a small window to review the pipeline which they wanted approved. The most interesting thing I see come out of this debate is that Republicans are pushing for the pipeline to get built on the basis that it will boost the economy, create jobs and get America one step closer to energy independence. Let’s take a look at these claims more closely.

It has long been known that there is not one single sector that runs the economic engine we call the American economy. While petroleum may be at the basis of that engine, it is not the sole contributing factor. A pipeline running from Canada down to Texas is not going to restart the American economy and for anyone to claim this is silly. The only thing this is going to boost is more environmentally destructive behavior while we reward companies for ruining the environment and let them know that it’s okay to scar the Earth, pump poison into our waters and atmosphere and push carbon emissions instead of curbing them.

The other major claim I hear from political pundits is that the Keystone XL Pipeline will create jobs. While this may be partially true, it will create jobs for a small amount of time, creating maybe a few hundred jobs permanently. After building the pipeline in a few years, many of those jobs will be gone. Instead of pushing something so destructive and temporary, why not fuel and fund an alternative energy economy? Pour money into research, education and renewable energy. This will create far more jobs than any pipeline or gas drilling, it will also educate people to work these jobs and the research will be most valuable. This could be the golden ticket America needs to restart our economic engine. The versatility of a ‘green’ economy can begin the path towards energy independence and a whole new market of things that are Made in America!

If America really ever wants to be energy independent we need to look towards renewable energy. In the last few years there have been scientific breakthroughs when it comes to solar energy. Wind energy still needs more research and funding, but wind energy has come a long ways too. If we can find a way to harness geothermal energy in a cost efficient way there is an unlimited supply of energy, not to mention the energy we can harness from the ocean. The best part is that this is all free energy, that will not cause environmental destruction and it will not taint the air we breathe or the water we drink. Aside from renewable energy, American can start investing in alternatives to plastic, Styrofoam, water desalination, converting waste to energy. Some of these programs have already begun to happen, but if the Federal government took more interest and leadership in these things we could give it the boost it needs to turn our economy around, while also providing a model for the rest of the world to jump on board.

I applaud President Obama for standing poised in the face of political pressure and opposition. While TransCanada does have an opportunity to reapply for the permit to build the Keystone Pipeline with an alternate route that does not touch the ecological sensitive areas, I do hope that he makes an effort to do what he promised and get America moving in the right direction. As for you, you should put political pressure on your elected officials and deny any new destructive permitting that tries to get past your area or the nation.

If we are save Humanity from our own implosion we need to be at the front lines fighting these battles and demanding these things. Without pressure from the people the status quo will remain, this is an issue where both parties need to come together instead of fighting one another. Step outside the box and look at it from another perspective, we can create a better place and a better world.

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.

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Announcing The Winner of the $100 Shell Gas Card

Jennifer Johnson in Smiths Grove, Kentucky

Ms. Johnson, we do hope you enjoy $100 of free gas courtesy of MySavvySisters.Com!

There are more great surprises and give-aways to be won! Send an email to mysavvysisters[at]aweber.com to SUBSCRIBE!

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Reader Mail: We Have The Right To Forgive Ourselves

Hello Te-Erika,

My name is Rev. Brenita Mitchell. I am a workshop specialist currently working with men and women with HIV/AIDS and recovering substance abusers. I recently facilitated a workshop with women living with the virus.

I created a role-play with a court scene that features a women named beautiful who was accused of having unprotected sex and costing the state and tax payers money. She plead guilty, and awaited her sentence. Finally, the jurors gave Beautiful a sentence of "forgiveness."



I wrote out the words to your self-forgiveness meditation on youtube (I cited your information) and had the women playing Beautiful read it when the judge asked her was there something she wanted to say. Well, the women playing Beautiful could hardly get through it without other participants holding her up. I just want to tell you that the words, deeply blessed all the women in the workshop, and tears poured out as Beautiful read them.

Thank you for writing such inspirational words. Funny, you just never know what God will use to bless, and God used your gift of words to bless a group of women that needed to know they have the right to forgive themselves and live a life free from shame, guilt and self-disgust. Thank you for sharing your gift for writing, and may God continue to bless and shine God's light on the work of your hands.

Blessings and Peace,

Rev. Brenita

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From The Publisher: Help Stop SOPA

If you visited our site yesterday, January 18th you may have been surprised to notice that our url redirected you toa website that shared information about a bill that is in front of Congress called SOPA. SOPA is an acronym for Stop Internet Piracy Act and on the surface it seems to be a good idea for those who create movies, music and other intellectual property because it would protect them from thieves who steal their creative work and profit from it.

However, the details of this plan move beyond the protection of intellectual and creative property. The details of this proposed bill call for any website that could possibly allow the infringement of a copyright to be closed down. This means that any website, including our favorite sites like Youtube, could be permanently shut down simply for creating the space that may possibly allow someone to infringe on someone else's copyright.

This hurts the dissemination of information and creativity that the internet thrives on. Just imagine how our advances in communication will be reverted back in time. We have all learned to adjust to the changes that the internet brought into our lives and many have learned to profit from them. If this bill passes, we will all have to go back to reading newspapers and waiting for someone to tell us the world news instead of watching and reading as our internet friends report it as it happens.

To help stop this bill you can visit AmericanCensorship.Org.

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Te-Erika's Blog: The Internet Is In My Hand

Ooooh Weeeee!!

My phone died this weekend.

RIP. =(

I was soo sad because my phone was the ish, baby! I have Metro PCS and I love it because it's only $40 a month and whenever my phone dropped and broke into pieces all I had to do was put it back together again and it worked! I loved my phone!

But I guess its true that nothing is permanent so after a year of having the BEST PHONE EVER I had to buy a new phone and I decided to go ahead and buy my very first smart phone.

$50 a month! Geesh! That's a bit much but guess what? It is sooo worth it because I now have THE INTERNET IN MY HAND.

Wooooow!

Like, they might just have to fire me at work because the internet AKA my BFF for life is right in my hands and I can't stop checking it.

I can watch Youtube videos!

I can check ALL my email accounts!

I can actually SEE the pictures people send me!

I can't believe I have been missing out for so long. I'm in love all over again.

I have the Samsung Admire. Ok, I know it's not the iPhone but hold up, I am an entrepreneur and I invest my money wisely so whatever, but THIS phone. OMG! I can do everything!

Now, if only it came with a pair of strong hands to rub on me and a vibrator.

A girl can only wish!

LOVE IT!

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EDITORIAL: I Have A Dream Too

By Christina Fermin
Politics & Society Columnist

Today we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a revolutionary of his time. Dr. King is famous for his well known ‘I have a dream’ speech that spoke of equality and justice. If you have not heard his speech or do not know more than that famous line, I suggest you take 15 minutes and listen to his visionary speech (here). During that time Dr. King was fighting against oppression, intolerance and hate against blacks. Today we live his dream and we can celebrate equality amongst minorities, especially blacks. While we today live closer to Dr. King’s dream than we did in 1963, we still have ceilings to break and hurdles to go through.

Today I have a new dream that I would like to share with you. A dream that I hope will stir something deep inside of you and open you up to the possibilities. I dream that we the people will stand to rise against the machine that represses us. I dream of equality amongst all people in the world to rise and stand up against injustice, repression and intolerance. I dream that the people will stand up to corporations that the supreme court has judged to be people. I dream that the banks will be brought to their knees and the people will gain their homes back and the illegal debt that we are held to will be deemed illegal and unconstitutional and all debt will be wiped clean.

I have a vision, that one day free energy will be released and the truth about life outside of planet Earth will be revealed. In this vision I see a world that cooperates rather than competes with one another. I see the drums of war being retired and all our children returning home to their moms, dads, husband, wives and children. I envision an age of peace, cooperation and joy. One day there will no longer be separation of classes, capitalism will deemed unsustainable and money will be seen as a means of oppression. Rather than work to stay alive, people will be allowed to live and dream and let live. Freedom will reign throughout the Earth and our age of glory will finally arrive.

In this vision, I see technology and the people cleaning up the Earth, restoring the forests and wetlands. Replenishing the oceans and renewing our drinking water. I see a century of destruction being reversed as best we can and the power of real technology being released, not to help us destroy the Earth, but the help in curbing climate change and greenhouse gases. I envision all of us to treat one another and all the species of this great planet with respect, love and equality. I envision starvation and human suffering to be unacceptable and something of the past. One day the truth about the few who rule will be brought to light and the robber-barons will be brought to justice.

I envision this dream everyday. I pray that the people will wake up and realize who the oppressors are. One day it will be realized that the American dream isn’t really a dream, its a fantasy that plays on capitalism surviving. The real dream lies within the individual to realize their potential in carrying out this dream. I dream that one day, televisions will be shut off, people will one day not go to work and instead, the people will go marching. Marching straight to the White House, Parliament, the Castles and corporate headquarters and shout: Your time is finished, we are here to establish peace, tranquility, equality, justice and the rights that you have denied. Will you take part in this dream?


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.

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3 Ways To Overcome Late Night Anxiety

It's the middle of the night. You can't sleep. You're being tormented by evil thoughts.

Every single critical word that has ever been uttered to you is replying itself over and over in your mind. The most hurtful words are the ones you've said to yourself. You're trying to rest, to stop the fluttering of your heart and to calm your mind but even those images that appear after your consciousness fades is alarming. It seems as though your entire being is being overtaken by demons intent on torturing you with threat of permanent failure and self disgust.

What can you do when the late night anxiety attacks become overwhelming?

1. Call the crisis hotline. You are in an emotional crisis when your problems seem bigger than any solution and your brain is pressing you to fix everything at once. It is during this emotional state that many consider taking action to end their lives and their problems once and for all. You do not have to allow things to progress this far. There are crisis hotlines available 24 hours a day to talk you through any emotional downturn.

Use them.


2. Stand up to the tormenting thoughts. Your negative thoughts are powerful. For some reason, the promise of failure and humiliation far outweighs the possibility of abundance and favor. These thoughts which can be viewed as demonic thoughts are not as powerful as you are. You can stand up to these thoughts if you are emotionally healthy by recognizing each thought and searching for an exception.

If the demonic thought is- No one ever likes me. I never get a second date.

Take a moment to remember the ONE time where this thought simply wasn't true. There are exceptions to every rule and you WILL find one.

Stand up to the thought by saying: That is not true. Bill liked me in 10th grade, in fact he loved me. I am loveable.

Find the exception to each demonic thought and say, "No, this isn't true."


3. Allow the turmoil to play out. This is the most difficult method to try to tame your anxiety attack because during the darkest hours of the night, the minutes roll by slowly and if you are not strong enough emotionally you will feel forced to take action to stop the thoughts which will become physically hurtful to you.

Our stressful thoughts of anxiety become physically debilitating and to ease the physical pain, we seek relief from drugs, alcohol or other self abusive methods.

If you can learn to ride the wave of the anxiety attack, understanding that it is just that, a wave. It is a moment in time. It is not permanent. It is not a defining moment in your life. It is not the end of your story.

Your thought at this moment do not dictate your future. These thoughts are a last ditch attempt to persuade you that you are not worthy to have the life of your dreams. The only time you will experience the images and thoughts you are having during your anxiety attack is right now.

These scenes, worries and fears will never play out in your real life.

Relax. This is the warped part of your movie where you get to see the alternate ending that will not come true. These anxious thoughts are not real. They are fiction. They are entertaining. They will pass.

This will be over soon.

Allow each thought to float in and to float out. Feel the emotion behind each scenario that is causing you anxiety. All of these feelings and thought will end. You will be even more clear when they do. You will be okay. These thoughts do not define you. These fearful scenes do not define your life. This is not real. This is a passing moment.

It will be over soon. Wait and see.

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Te-Erika's Blog: Trying To Make It Happen

Hey.

I thought I'd take a little time out to share what it's like to run and organize the 'leading empowerment website for women.'

~sigh~ I love that tagline.

Anyway. It is my pleasure to spend the majority of my waking hours brainstorming ideas and then writing the creative, inspiring content you read everyday. I also enjoy researching awesome women on the internet and emailing them to ask them to be profiled so that you can learn how they made a success of themselves. When I'm not doing that, I am marketing The Rebuild Your Life Project through sending emails and making phone calls to anyone I can think of that may support this endeavor.

Last week I called the President of The United States to invite him to visit me at my restaurant and allow me to share about the Rebuild Your Life Project. I also called his advisor to invite her. I invite them both by email as well. I have reached out to the music artists whose music I used on my videos to invite them to publicly support this project and I have reached out to the people I believe would care about what I did.

So far, no one has written me back or even acknowledged me. I believe in The Rebuild Your Life Project. I believe it is important for women to know about what I did. When you watch the 95 videos you will be amazed that one person set out to achieve a goal, didn't hit it exactly, but persevered through and came out the other side alive. I became homeless on purpose. I overcame my biggest fear.

I'm a different person. I'm harder. I'm not as friendly. I don't care as much about others. I'm more stoic about life. I'm not as caring as I once was because I realized through this project that some people don't want or NEED saving. Some people, even though it seems that they need help, don't want your help.

I'm not into forcing my idea of an acceptable lifestyle on anyone, but for those who would like a hand up- I want to be there. The videos I made are that hand up. Along with the money I give away and the counseling I do, I am a one woman force for empowerment. I'd love to expand my team to include more writers and developers and board members but that will all come in time, I guess. For now, it's just me and my faithful writers who contribute to the site.

I do get some sort of joy out of all of this work yet, I am ready to move on to the next phase in life and I'm wondering if I am the thing that is holding me back. When I'm at work, I see the emotional involvement of those on my team and I try to get there too but it's difficult. I love serving, but its not my life, not like those guys. They're so cute. They take everything so seriously and are so into the restaurant lifestyle because it is important to them. I watch them and I wish I had finally found that place in life. I find myself watching the clock lately, waiting to go home and write. This isn't a good sign. Usually I am delighted to serve. I feel like my mind is somewhere else when I'm at work and I feel guilty about it.

Maybe this website and non profit is that 'place' for me. I do think of it night and day. When I'm daydreaming at work, I'm thinking about the next article I can write or the next resource I can give away to make a woman's life easier. I dream of promoting women's businesses and holding conferences and honoring women for their efforts at changing their lives and the lives of others.

I love women.

In a non sexual way of course.

I'm not perfect but I'm trying to make this into my career but it's hard because, well, I think I must be getting in my own way.

Today I read a quote by Rumi that blew my socks off. I made this image for it.

I decided that it's time to make a big move, a crazy one. I started planning for it too.

I swear, I'm always taking a risk and it seems that they never pay off. If my dreams come true, I will be the owner of the leading resource and news website for women. I will have the ear of every woman in the world. I will be the woman that every woman reaches out to for help and to learn what is going on in the world.

I want to be that woman, who creates change for women everywhere. I want to build neighborhoods and affordable housing, create jobs, enlist the help of women everywhere to join together. I want to help people find love within themselves and to be more mature and less fearful.

I want to say I'm sorry for all the times I have done wrong by giving more than anyone has ever given.

And, I want my sons to know that anything is within their reach.

But it's all a dream. Right now I'm sitting in my room with a bag of Oreos beside me. I'm trying not to eat them all but they look so tempting.

I have my bills paid a month in advance already. This feels good but I know that I can do more if I had the chance to make money doing what I'm really good at doing.

Oh, I have a friend. He's a man. An older man. Yeah, kind of like the one I met during the time I was homeless except this one has not expressed any kind of attraction to me. I have begun to think of him a lot because he likes to listen to my ideas.

When I told him that I want to meet with the President he said, "That's a good idea, let me see if I can make a phone call for you."

He always does that. He listens and he cares and he helps if he can. No, he's not trying to sleep with me. I can't imagine that he would even desire that. I don't know what he wants actually but I can hear the delight in his voice when I'm excited and I tell him about a new marketing technique that I've tried.

"You're amazing," he says to me.

Yeah. I am.

He's right.

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Compilation: The Best of Shit People Say Videos

January 2012 jumped off with a BANG as the latest internet video meme swept the world. It started with a video called Shit Girls Say, which was quickly followed by Shit Black Girls Say.

Then every person with a camera and an internet connection set out to paint a picture of what their culture, language or peer group says and does.

These are our pick for the best of Shit PEOPLE Say Videos.

#1 Shit Girls Say



#2 Shit Black Girls Say


#3 Shit White Girls Say to Black Girls


#4 Shit Jamaicans Say


#5 Shit Black Dads Say


#6 Shit Haters Say


#7 Shit Straight Girls Say to Lesbians


#8 Shit Spanish Girls Say


#9 Shit Niggas Say


#10 Shit New York City Guys Say



#11 Shit Single Girls Say



#12 Shit Girls Say To Gay Guys



#13 Shit New Age People Say



#14 Shit Bougie Black Girls Say





For My Savvy Sisters: Did I miss one? Which videos are the funniest to you and your friends?

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