Day 13: I Am Wiped Out

Today I went out vending with the number one vendor here at the shelter. Vending means selling the Homeless Voice newspaper although there's no real set price. People can give as much as they'd like or they can get one for free if they want.

I hear there's a firm competition with the vendors here. Every day you come home from work someone asks, "How much did you bring in?"

It's annoying to me because I am not competitive but for others, it's their pride and joy. Vending is not as easy as it looks. The ones who bring in the big bucks have a specific strategy for selling. Others just stand around and hope someone gives.

I use my personality like I did when I was a waitress and I usually make good money. A percentage of the money we collect is given back to us so the more you work, the more money you can put away in savings. I hear if you don't have a bank account, the shelter will save the money for you.

I couldn't work the entire day. It was way too hot and my arm was hurting from all the change I collected during the morning. My legs were burning and so were my lips. My shoulder was in pain too. I felt like a wimp as I watched my "co workers" fly up and down the median all day long as though they had no problem. They were all considerably older than I am and I felt like such a punk for quitting early because I couldn't take the sun beaming down on me anymore.

The lead vendor is around 50 years old. I'll call her Kelly. Kelly says she has been living at the shelter for 3 years after kicking an addiction to crack.

She said the shelter saved her and gave her something productive to do with her time. Instead of using her intelligence and street skills to get more money for drugs, she now saves and enjoys her life as a vendor bringing in nearly $400 a day.

She said she hit rock bottom when she was living on the streets and a police officer picked her and her husband up and brought her here.

She said she and her husband used to own their own home but the addiction got the best of them and they began selling everything to get more drugs. They even sold their home.

But all of those memories are fading away now and Kelly is much better.

I'm tired. I had to wash up in the bathroom tonight and now I'm sitting on my mat. I'm sure I'm about to go to sleep at any time but it's still very loud on the patio where I sleep.

Oh! Good news!

Two of the vendors came to me today to say that they had received large donations from people who said they saw me on the news and wanted to give.

"This one guy said you were awesome!" someone told me. "He chased me down to ask me about you and to give a donation."

Isn't that awesome?!!!

I did meet a man while I was donating today who screamed out, "You're the lady from the news!"

I smiled and walked over to his car and he gave me $2.

I would write more but my body is aching and I am tired.

I really can't wait until this project is over. I fantasize daily about sleeping in a bed again.

A big bed. With clean sheets. A nice hot shower.

My sons.

My laptop.

You know, the best things life has to offer.

I can't wait.

Read More

REBUILD: Grateful for the Shelter

This is a homeless shelter.

As much as I have complaints about not having privacy or being comfortable I can not really complain because I am grateful to be here. It could be worse. I could be under the expressway.

Here I get 3 meals a day. I am gaining weight because of eating so much. Here the cigarettes are priced very low and I am able to earn money as a vendor. The people here are friendly for the most part and they share what they have.

Since being here I have seen people be kicked out and days later I see them wandering the street looking hungry and sad. The man I featured in my documentary episode 15 was kicked out today. He says it was because he bought a needle for another resident and the resident snitched. Others say it is because he won't stop drinking. There is a no drinking and no drug policy here. If you are caught under the influence you must leave immediately.

In most cases the owner will allow the person to come back after a few days and they DO come back in off the street.

I am grateful to be here. They treat me well and I am safe. I eat ec

Today I actually looked forward to seeing some of the people here. I hang out with one guy, his name is Chris. He follows me to videotape my stories and some others like Habib, which is not his real name but he looks Indian although he is dominican and guayanese. We sit around and talk when I'm not writing.

Tonight its 10pm and no one has gone to bed yet. The shelter is full. They are not allowing anyone else in. A family came to stay but they had to turn them away. Dinner was so good tonight. We had steak and potatoes and corn and cake.

That food was sooo good that EVERYONE was licking their lips afterwards. I was too! Everyday is not a nightmare but everyday is eventful.

I walked to the park to take a nap today, just to get away. I was frustrated because none of the businesses I'm calling are calling me back and I have no idea how I'm going to get 30 businesses.

I tried to shake off the frustration of the project by taking a nap but I woke up to a police officer in my face telling me that I can't sleep there. Annoyed I moved to another spot and filmed this video.



Then I walked back to the shelter, the only place that welcomes me.

Read More

Day 11: I Am Not Mentally Ill

I spent 3 years in graduate school studying to become a counselor. I didn't choose to study mental health counseling because I didn't like the idea of pathology and categorizing people with mental illnesses that to me, were just a different way of thinking and viewing and interacting with the world.

I loved my program, well, the things we studied and the assignments. The part I didn't love was the actual JOB- the sitting in an office part. It made me sick literally. I didn't like interacting with the professors or the administration either. That part scared me- the thought of finishing the program, becoming a counselor for decades and ending up like them in that kind of environment. I'm glad that fear is behind me.

Now that I am here at this shelter, I have encountered actual mentally ill people and it startled me quite a bit. I hated that label 'mentally ill' only because most people who don't understand me call me mentally ill. Maybe I was mentally ill at some point because I battled with depression, suicidal thoughts and feelings of hatred for myself.

These feelings stemmed from the fact that I knew I had so much to offer the world and I was frustrated because I couldn't figure out how to give it. I didn't take the traditional path of taking a job and staying at that job until I got a promotion because I just couldn't keep a job like that. Either my bosses hated me because I wouldn't play the office politics game and feel the fear they want me to feel or I got bored and wanted to move on.

Many people said this was selfish and made me unstable. I remember when I left my job as a secretary of a private school to work at a PR firm my parents were upset with me. "You had it MADE!" they said. "You could have stayed there forever and been okay."

Forever?

Who wants to work a job FOREVER?

Not me!

The thought of it makes me feel anxious and upset.

That's not me!

I am happiest when I am interviewing and writing and celebrating people. I am happiest when I am teaching good habits and exploring people's lives and attitudes. I prosper and have longevity when I do those things, everything else falls away.

I am good at most things. Let me stop lieing, I am GREAT at most things but if it's not fulfilling to me I don't like doing it for long.

I'm not mentally ill, I just see the world differently. Being a BOSS sounds like a better idea to me than retiring from someone's company. I don't understand the FEAR people have of their bosses or losing their jobs or having their bosses dislike them. I don't feel that anyone can hold me back from what is supposed to be mine. I don't have the attitude that most have about life. I don't believe in competition. I don't think I have to fight for anything in life. I feel that I have to show up and do my best and whatever is supposed to be mine will be handed to me. If it's not handed to me then it wasn't meant for me. That's how I feel.

I'm not mentally ill.

I'm just different from most.

I'm hoping my differences will be appreciated one day. I'm hoping they will allow me to eat well and sleep comfortably one day soon.

I'm hoping that my differences, will make a difference one day.

Read More

Confession: I'm Smarter Than My Supervisor

Sometimes My Savvy Sisters aren't perfect. Sometimes My Savvy Sisters break the rules. Sometimes, we need a confessional to release the guilt. This is just the place for it too.

Confession: I'm smarter than my supervisor.

I am way smarter than my supervisor. She breaks down crying whenever there is a crisis and I cover for her. I feel sorry for her so I don't say anything to anyone. I can't wait to leave here.

For My Savvy Sisters: Do you have something you need to confess? Submit your confession to confessions@mysavvysisters.com and we'll post your confession anonymously. Don't worry, we don't judge and we will never tell.

Read More

Get Rid of Your Bad Mood: Start Your Day Over

It's been a rough day hasn't it?

One thing after another after another has affected your spirit and you can't seem to raise yourself up out of your funk.

There is one thing you can do-

Start Your Day Over

Pretend at this moment that you just woke up and you have the ability to start your day over fresh.

POOF!

It's done.

It happened.

Everything that upset you "yesterday" can only affect you today if you allow it to. If the remnants of that disappointment still lingers you can decide what you can do about it and make that first move or decide to let it go and move forward with the rest of your responsibilities.

It's your CHOICE to stay in a bad mood. It's your CHOICE to continue to replay those negative memories over and over again.

You are CHOOSING to feel badly because somehow you like feeling that way.

Choose BETTER thoughts to think RIGHT NOW.

What makes you smile?

What problems have you solved recently?

What can you be proud of today?

Choose your FOCUS and CHANGE YOUR MOOD.

Read More

Creating A New Beginning

It’s time. You’re ready. You can begin today. In order to move forward from the mess of your past you must choose a new beginning. For different people this will mean different things but the process to initiating this important goal is the same for everyone.

Forgive Yourself

There were certain choices you made that you weren’t so proud of. It may be that you have characteristics that you wish you could change or maybe you hurt someone or yourself and you have been riddled with guilt ever since. It is very important that you take this moment to …forgive yourself. You do not have to get it right every time. Life is a learning process. You are allowed to get it wrong sometimes. You are allowed to grow and evolve into a more mature person. That mistake you thought you made, wasn’t your last chance to get it right. Do it again. Make a different decision. It’s okay. You are still okay. You have another chance. Forgive yourself.

Decide That Everything Is A Good Thing

Your perception of events and circumstances is truly up to you. You give definition to what is deemed ‘good’ or ‘bad’. You define it. You decide that (insert situation) is a BAD situation. You can also decide that (insert circumstance) is a GOOD circumstance. It is all in your perception of your life. Do you believe that you have the best future ahead of you and today is just a building block toward that? If you don’t believe that, you may start now. Every belief is a choice. If you believe you are doomed forever, you will be. Decide that everything that happens is a GOOD thing. For all you know, that job loss may be setting you up to march into your brightest destiny. In fact, IT IS! I promise you. Nothing that happens permanently damages your future. You can still create the best life for yourself through ANY situation. Everything that happens and has happened in your past…is a GOOD thing. You can STOP being a victim of life if you choose. How can you be a victim if everything is a good thing? Make your choice today.

Create Miracles Everyday

There are certain people who go through life believing that everything is an omen of death and destruction. They lead very limited existences, dodging intimacy with others, searching for validation for their destructive beliefs. They find it in everything too. Their car breaks down and they break down with it. A treasured friend walks out of their life and they immediately believe they are un loveable. If it is so easy to believe in omens of disaster, you can certainly believe that everything is a miracle and search for your personal miracles everyday. Miracles don’t have to be equated with parting the red sea or a tree growing in the desert. Miracles are the blessings you receive when you need them. Miracles happen in each smiling face you encounter, in each act of love you share. Your entire life is a miracle. You wake up. You use your body. You think, speak and hope. Who put all of those functions together? Your ability to breathe is a miracle. Your life is a miracle. Look out for them, everyday in everything. Honor them in every way you can. Understand that you create more miracles by acknowledging the ones that are already there.

You have a certain kind of magic within you. You may now go forth as a new person, with a new perspective and change your destiny.

Read More

EDITORIAL: Seeking A Cap & Gown

By Erika Martin

Education Columnist

Getting a high school diploma at the age of 34 can be daunting for some. Others see it as a exciting challenge. For me, it was the challenge and satisfaction that I was looking for, along with being able to get something that was denied to me when I was in my teens.

When I was 14 years old, my parents pulled me and my siblings out of public school to home-school us. It was not done for educational reasons, but for strange and conservative religious reasons. I finished all of my schooling through the 12th grade, but because of my parents' religious beliefs, they didn't believe that women should go on to get a higher education or that they should work outside the home. They stopped reporting to the state and keeping a portfolio of my schoolwork at the beginning of my senior year so anything I would have done would not have been recognized by the state. In giving my sister and me homemade diplomas and denying us state recognized high school diplomas, it perpetuated their beliefs that a woman's place was in the home.

I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason and that things happen in the right timing. As I have come through my own spiritual journey and healing from my spiritually abusive past, as well as battling depression, this year has been the awakening for dreams that were unrealized. The timing and the desire for my high school diploma lined up and I knew that it was something I needed to pursue this year. So much about this year has been about reclaiming things that were taken away from me. My high school diploma has been one of those.

Over the years, I have come to find that I have a deep passion to see women freed from oppressive and abusive situations. Throughout my years of depression and finally working with a therapist to process my past, I realized that I wanted to go into the field of psychology. I knew that I would need a GED or high school diploma to be able to pursue a higher education in this field and this is what started my journey for my diploma.

People have asked me why I chose to pursue a high school diploma instead of a GED. For me, the high school diploma was a bigger challenge than the GED program. Where the GED has only a preliminary test and a final test, the high school diploma program has 5 large projects that need to be completed according to state-set standards. I have always loved school work, filling in the blanks, research, etc., so this was a deciding factor for me. The biggest deciding factor, though, was that I would be able to graduate at the local high school with the Class of 2011 and I would finally get my cap and gown ceremony.

I have had people tell me that the cap and gown graduation is overrated, but when it is something that has been denied to you, it's not as overrated as one might think. It takes on a whole new meaning and feeling of satisfaction that those that have graduated during their senior year feel. I have learned not to invalidate the feelings that are behind pursuing the things I want. There is power behind those feelings and reasons for them. When the emotions are so powerful, I listen to them and let them lead me. It's no different with the feelings I have behind getting my high school diploma. Overrated as people may feel it is, it's not to me and that is what matters to me.

About the columnist:

Erika Martin was withheld from attaining her high school diploma and a higher education due to living in a spiritually abusive upbringing. She is currently working towards attaining her high school diploma and plans to pursue a degree in Psychology after graduation this June. Erika will highlight relevant news and information that relates to education as well as chronicle her journey toward her diploma.

Read More

Day 9: Meet The Homeless Voice Residents

63-year-old Peggy is a Paiyote Indian from Las Vegas. In order to prepare her and her 14 brothers for a wide range of experiences both on and off of the reservation, she was raised half of her life on the reservation and the other half as part of American culture.

Despite her father's best efforts, at 20 years old Peggy found herself in the intensive care burn unit after her husband set her and their home on fire and left her for dead. She didn't die. She survived in spirit and continues to thrive in heart.

After living for nearly 3 years at the Homeless Voice Homeless shelter Peggy says, "I wake up every morning and I take a breath. The Great Father has given me another chance to make it right."

"Whether it's 5 days, 5 hours or 5 minutes, He gave me another day and I am grateful for that," she continued. "After living here for so long I learned that I am more patient than I ever thought I was."

Peggy cautions women to take care of themselves in spirit first. "Women need to find out what makes them happy," she says. "If you're not happy within yourself you are no good to anyone else around you."

What makes Peggy most happy about life? "I'm ME!" she shouts emphatically. "I don't allow anyone else to take that away from me. Yes, I get depressed and lonely but I bring myself out of it by making someone else laugh and smile every day."

When I asked Peggy why she didn't allow her past abuse to bring her to a place of permanent despair she said, "I wasn't done with life yet."




Christopher 23, is from Hollywood, Florida and has spent 3 months at shelter. While working as a Homeless Voice vendor Chris dances, smiles and waves like he is at the party of the year. "I talk to people. I flirt with the girls," Chris said with a laugh. "I found myself out there."

Chris credits his roommate Ronnie for his ability to maintain a positive attitude. "My roommate would tell me that to find yourself out there you have to do what you do- you have to be yourself. I try to have fun, because if I don’t, I’m gonna be one sad mofo."

Chris said he wanted to kill himself a couple of times but he moved past that because he talked to the right people and he has hope for his future. Chris was raised in foster homes for the majority of his life. He said the many people who took him in contributed to his positive attitude about life.

“Me wanting to commit suicide was recent, maybe last year. I felt like I wasn’t able to do life," Chris remembered. "Just talking to people that were nice and could give me positive things to think about like the fact that I have a long life to live reminded me that there’s no reason for me to think about killing myself.”

For anyone out there whose life is in shambles and they feel like they can't go on, Chris has an encouraging word, "Why do you hate yourself? Who did what to you that makes you want to kill yourself? You’re a strong man. If I can do it, you can do it. I’ve been through rough times and I'm still standing, smiling and prospering. Being at this shelter, at what seemed like my lowest point, did that for me."

Read More

3 Things You'll Never Be Prepared For When Raising A Teenaged Son

By Brenda Hook

I never really wondered what his teen years would bring, and how things in our relationship would change. I always thought our dynamic of mother and son would always remain the same. I could have not been more wrong. I came home the other day and my 15-year-old son was in his room talking on the phone to a girl. I knew it was a girl because when he heard me come in, he quickly got up from his desk and shut his door.

At that moment I wondered why there isn’t an instruction manual for teenage boys? Being a single mother, I sure wish I had one. Here are the 3 biggest things that I was unprepared for as a mother raising a teenaged boy.

HAVING FUN

One thing you can expect for sure is that once your son’s testosterone starts flowing, he adopts a whole new idea of fun. Last year, I wanted to plan an overnight getaway for me and my son. There was a festival that I thought would be fun to go to, and we could get a hotel room for the night. Just before I was about to book the trip, I was on the phone with my girlfriend, telling her about my plans. I looked up to find my son staring at me like I was crazy. "No way!" he said. "I am not going." My feelings were a little hurt, but it was then I realized that this would just not be fun for him and decided not to go. I have to realize that his idea of fun is going to the mall with his friends, not hanging out with his mama at an apple butter festival.

MOM DOESN’T KNOW ANYTHING

Over the past 6 months, I find myself constantly questioning my intelligence because my son actually thinks I'm an idiot. In fact, he calls me out regularly for several things and talking slang is one of them. Yes son, I do know that 'be' is not a verb. Yes son, I do know what proper English sounds like, and no son, I do not talk to my boss like that. Thanks for pointing that out!

He thinks I have no idea how to properly drive a vehicle or work a cell phone, and of course, I know absolutely nothing about life and to him, I am a complete moron when it comes to what is actually 'cool' these days. I have found that the best way to approach this is to understand that even as a parent, you don't know everything, and if you keep your ears you might even learn a little something from your teenager!

HE HAS HIS OWN STYLE

While I encourage my son’s individuality, I don’t always agree with some of his fashionisto ideas. I have always preferred a preppy or athletic style with a nice fade haircut, so you could probably imagine my reluctance to let him have a mohawk a few summers ago and the grunge look after that, but nothing could have prepared me for him to speak the two words that I thought I would never hear him utter- skinny jeans. Actually, since he is so slim, they look more like regular jeans, thank goodness. But it’s the style, and more importantly, it’s what he chooses to wear and it’s just easier to support it than it is to create a battle over it as this for sure won’t matter 5 years from now.

Sometimes peer pressure and hormones can get the best of your son and the best thing you can do for your son is to know this is all a growing process. A good mom will understand this and watch him grow.

A great mom will grow and evolve with him.

Read More

How to Train (Motivate) Your Man

By Te-Erika Patterson

Originally posted on www.Alphanista.com

Regardless of his personality type, regardless of his race, regardless of his financial status there are really only TWO different types of men that exist; dominant and submissive. If you want to pull your man towards his best life and push him to be on his best behavior at all times, all you have to do is recognize which type of man you have and then train him.

The Dominant Man

The dominant man is recognized by his confidence in his abilities and the way he makes decisions without needing a consensus. He trusts his own judgment and expects you to respect and trust him too. To motivate this man to be his best, take good care of you and his empire you need to:

· Consistently adore him

· Pamper him

· Respect and support his decisions

· Remind him that he is a King

· Make his home his paradise

· Stay sexy and eager to please

· Feed him

· Be his biggest cheerleader

The dominant man will appreciate a woman who is submissive and plays a role that completely caters to his needs and wants in life. He will probably have a big bark, yelling out orders and throwing his weight around but he does still love you. He exercises his authority aggressively both in the office and at home and it makes him feel like more of a man to have his lady looking sexy and consistently ready to please, without an attitude or objection.

The Submissive Man

The submissive man is recognized by his constant need for reassurance. He needs your approval before he does anything and he adores affection and being petted. He doesn’t really know how to be dominant and he doesn’t want to be. He needs a woman to make him be a better man by:

· Questioning his decision making

· Making him earn home cooked meals

· Rationing out sex as a reward for good behavior

· Punishing him by making him sleep on the couch (or kicking him out the house)

· Belittling him by reminding him that his life would be nothing without you

· Never giving oral sex unless it is your anniversary or he does something outstanding

· Consistently threatening to leave him if he does not meet your expectations

· Constantly critiquing his efforts

The submissive man will appreciate a woman who treats him like a dog because this delights him. Somewhere along the line he was trained to believe that this behavior is indicative of a real woman. He loves a woman with an attitude and would reject any woman who adores him. He has no clue how to be a better man on his own so he needs your aggressive guidance and fully appreciates it.

For More Information on this endeavor, try reading the ebook How To Train Your Man.

Read More

Your World News Report - April 19, 2011

Berlyne Julmis
News Coordinator


A New Castro, A New Era

President Raul Castro has announced new leaders for Cuba’s Communist Party and for the first time in more than a decade Fidel Castro will not be a member. President Castro declared communist leaders should be restricted to two 5-year terms. President Raul Castro is open to discussions and negotiations with the U.S. President Raul Castro in his speech said "The party leadership was in need of renewal and should subject itself to severe self-criticism." Former President Fidel Castro has officially resigned from the Communist Party.
READ MORE


Nigerian Elections Spark Violence

Results from the Nigerian Presidential Elections spark a rage of violence in the country causing many to flee. Churches, cars, and homes were incinerated in Kaduna and Kano--authorities was forced to levy a curfew. Many lives have been lost and many were injured due to the rise of violence. Supporters of Muhammadu Buhari the losing candidate claims the election was fixed. Current President Goodluck Jonathan has once again won the election and is calling for the violence the end.
READ MORE



Texas Wild Fires Blaze

Wild fires continue to burn out of control in Texas. Governor Rick Perry of Texas has requested a Major Disaster Declaration for state in his letter to President Obama. Governor Perry said 252 countries are threatened by the wildfires. Many residents have been forced to evacuate and have lost their homes. Smaller fires are igniting; officials have announced that they are being contained. Many firefighters, local and state officials, and volunteers have committed to help cease the wildfires. North of San Angelo Texas 150,000 acre of land is burning—total of one million acres have been affected by raging fires.
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/04/10/texas.wildfires/index.html

Murder Witnessed on Webcam

Qian Liu was a 23 year old International student who studied English at York University in Toronto Canada was murdered while her boyfriend in China watched her struggle with an assailant at her door. The victim was found ten hours later by police after her boyfriend contacted Qian’s family in Benign who then contacted the Canadian Consulate. The assailant took the laptop and webcam that Qian was using to chat with her boyfriend during the early hours on Friday morning. The assailant is described as a white male between 20 to 30 years of age, 175 to 200 pounds, medium length hair.

READ MORE

Read More

Day 8: Smiling Through

Today was a very long day but I awoke with a smile thinking about how much money I'd come home with after a long day of vending the Homeless Voice Newspaper. Basically, we just take donations for the paper (or the cards they print).

I walk out onto the median with a big jug of water and my bag lunch and my plastic jug for donations and then I walk up to cars in the turning lane and ask for donations. Most people donate but some don't. It's not devastating to get a No because there are 8 other cars right behind it and from each red light SOMEBODY is going to give.

Honestly, after turning in my money today and the shelter taking their cut, I came away with $70 for my pocket. It's almost as much as I made from a full shift of waitressing and all I had to do was smile and wave. I like it just as much. I meet so many people and chat with them and poke fun at them. They laugh and sometimes say, "I'm glad I met you."

That's JUST what used to happen when I was a waitress, except I don't have to deal with carrying 25lb trays. It's hot out there though. I can take as many breaks as I want to, but I rarely do because I like seeing who is in each car and guessing what their relationships are. Whether they are young or old or they give a nickel or $5 I love smiling at them and making them smile back.

OMG! I went up to a car today and it was an old college friend. She looked at me and said, "Te-Erika!" I laughed and showed her my bucket. She put $5 in and we caught up until the light changed. She's married now and has a baby- all the things she always wanted but never thought she could have. I am so happy for her!

Being at this shelter is definitely opening my eyes to a lot of things. My heart grows warm when entire families enter the shelter. Last night two little girls came in with their mother. They smiled and waved at me. In the back a young lady lives in a trailor with her newborn. The owner of this shelter, Sean Canonie takes care of everyone.

People say so many bad things about him. I don't know why. He has dedicated his life to taking care of others and actually LIVES in a little room in the back of the shelter. He has done nothing but he nice to me. I'm actually anticipating the bad behavior. Sorry, it's a habit. I don't expect men to be nice. I curse every man out eventually- It's my tough girl routine.

Running My Savvy Sisters while I'm doing this project isn't as easy as I thought it would be. I'm lagging behing in my editorial and I'm unable to put the effort into profiling women like I was in the past. I'll get it together eventually.

The job fair is still going very slowly. I had another news report done on me today and still no one has called to donate.

I'm not nervous, just tired but I am able to add to my account by working so I'm happy about that.

Read More

Discovering Your Truths

There are certain types of individuals who might argue that certain things are TRUE and can not be denied. I like to call these type of people “happily socialized” and I am not speaking to them in this article.

For the rest of us with an open mind, TRUTH is subjective. The TRUTHS we hold fast to in our lives are mere illusions or choices that we have happily accepted.

What is the TRUTH anyway?

Is it TRUE that the sky is blue?

Is it TRUE that you will never amount to anything?

Is it TRUE that aliens do not exist?

Is it TRUE that you will not find love until you achieve a certain goal?


Let’s tackle the first one so that you will understand where I am going with this. The sky is blue because as a society we gave a name to that color. If whoever invented this language had called it something else, we would be calling it a different name too.

See…most of our TRUTHS are ideas that were planted in our heads by someone else. What makes it TRUE is our belief in that idea. What we believe, we experience.

Are you holding on to a certain TRUTH that causes you to fear disappointed, angry or fearful? If so, you must recognize that the TRUTH which is causing you so much discomfort is a TRUTH that you chose and you have permission to choose differently.

Do your religious beliefs cause you to feel weighted down by life?

Did someone tell you that you had to lose weight before you can find love?

Are you certain that you will never be able to fit comfortably into any social situation?

If you answered Yes to any of these questions, you have chosen these beliefs and you are free to change them at any time.
Change what is TRUE for your life by choosing beliefs that serve you well and promote a healthy, abundant lifestyle.

Once you change your beliefs and your TRUTHS, your life will be a reflection of those TRUTHS. Your behavior will change due to your shift in expectations and your response to your environment will shift too.

Imagine if you got rid of the TRUTH that you could never be a millionaire. If you changed your TRUTH to “I can be a millionaire and I have the skills to make it happen,” you will instantly feel supercharged and approach your goals more confidently. Your belief in this new truth will then attract the tools and skills necessary to make it happen.

Be mindful of the TRUTHS you accept for your life. Allow no one to define your TRUTHS for you, you are the captain of your ship. If a certain TRUTH does not line up with who you are or who you want to be- REJECT IT.

It’s your life.

You make the rules.

Read More

Celebrate Yourself Like A Celebrity

You don’t have to wait until your birthday to celebrate who you are. Celebrities celebrate themselves in style and so should you! Try these tips for at-home glitz and glam and watch as your star meter goes through the roof.

Host a movie premiere- When actors and actresses complete a movie project, their promotions team go all out to celebrate their success. Turn an average movie night with your friends into a night of glitz and glam.

Invite your friends over and ask them to come dressed in their hottest outfits. Purchase a red floor runner from a wedding supply shop and place it on the entrance to your home. Have two of your friends take pictures of your guests as they arrive.

Be sure to provide comfortable seating, have the latest movie picked out for your guest’s viewing pleasure and offer a variety of movie theatre snacks. After the premiere offer your guests a chance to act out their favorite scenes from their favorite movies and then party like a rockstar by playing a selection of your favorite movie soundtracks.

Write Your Love Story- When Angela Bassett married her college friend Courtney Vance, they celebrated their love by writing a book about how their friendship set a firm foundation for their marriage. Celebrate your true love by writing your romance story or contact me and I will write it for you!

Build A Gift Bag- We’ve all heard about the pricey gift bags that celebrities receive when they attend parties and events. Create a list of things that make you feel good. These things don’t have to be new, they can be items from around your house that you use everyday or even things that you were waiting to use on a special occasion.

Place these treasures in a fancy gift bag and ask your friends to do the same. Have a social at your home to share what’s in your bag and why these things are special to you.

Get Away- Maybe you can’t fly away to Monaco for a weekend retreat but you can get away buy booking a hotel room in another part of town. Plan an itinerary of things you’ve never done in your own city, bring a good friend, a camera, sport your sunglasses or wear a disguise while you discover the fun things your town has to offer.

Don't forget to do wild and crazy things like hang your underwear on the balcony of your hotel room or demand a new set of fresh towels every hour. Everyone in the hotel will wonder who you are!

Pamper Yourself- If you can’t afford an afternoon at the spa, substitute that experience for a few hours at the beauty salon or barber shop. Get a manicure, spa pedicure, and a new haircut. Imitate the 'do' of your favorite superstar and don't forget to leave a BIG TIP!

Read More

When Raising Your Child

A child who lives with Criticism
Learns to condemn

A child who lives with Hostility
Learns to fight

A child who lives with ridicule
Learns to be shy

A child who lives with shame
Learns to feel guilty

A child who lives with tolerance
Learns to be patient

A child who lives with encouragement
Learns confidence

A child who lives with Praise
Learns to appreciate

A child who lives with fairness
Learns justice

A child who lives with security
Learns faith

A child who lives with approval
Learns to like their self

A child who lives with acceptance & friendship
Learns to find love in the world

- Dorothy Law Nolte - (modified - non-sexist version!)

Read More

5 Ways To Renew your Career

When you wake up and roll your eyes before getting out of bed, annoyed by the thought that you have to go to work, it is a clear signal that it is time for a rebirth. My Savvy Sisters aren’t stagnant for long. Everything has its season and when your mood begins to change to one of discontentment concerning your career it is definitely time for a new approach. Try one of these tips to give your career a re boost.

Offer an Extension – For every mundane task there is a way to twirk it that will bring much needed value. If you are a teacher, offer to teach a new course that complements what you are teaching. If you are a sales person try offering a new product. If you have written a book, develop a website that explores the characters and extends the storyline. Every career is multi faceted and there is always an option to offer more than what you have been giving.

Upgrade- If you are tired of what you are doing then it may be time to go after that promotion or find a new company. A new position will not only boost your resume and star power, but it will also bring with the excitement of new challenges and new and interesting people.

Revitalize Your Hobby – There’s something that you do in your spare time that makes your soul tingle. Turn that into a profitable business by either offering courses on how to do it or doing it for others while they pay you. You’ve been practicing it enough. You don’t need any more credentials. You can do it. Start now. You could probably write a book about it and that’s actually a great idea!

Start Over – For My Savvy Sisters who know they can create success in any area they choose it may be time to fly the coop and try something totally new. It’s no problem to start at the bottom again in a new career because you’ve gained enough experience to quickly catapult you to the top. Try the career you’ve been fantasizing about. If you are financially set and can afford to take the risk, go ahead and be a waitress if that idea tickles you. Go back to school and get a few psychology degrees if everyone tells you that you should be a therapist. Move to a new city. The prospects are limitless. It’s not about power and prestige once you’ve already attained it; it’s about living out ALL of your dreams. Go ahead and have fun with it!

Bring Love Into The Equation- So maybe you can’t change jobs right now and that’s okay too. How about spicing up your career by developing a new love interest that is centered around your career. If you are an accountant you can ask yourself, “Who owns the biggest accounting firm in my area? Is he single?” If you are going to date you should always date someone who can teach you something that will add value to your career goals. Go out and mingle with the people you admire. Rub elbows with men who already own their own businesses. Fall in love with someone who will help raise your stock. Go ahead. He’s waiting.

For My Savvy Sisters: Have you ever had to reinvent your career? How did you do it?

Read More

Runaway Fuel Prices

I went to the gas station the other day and spent close to $4 per gallon. My tank was not empty but it cost about $50 to fill up my tank that was at about 1/4 tank empty. Typically that’s what it costs to fill it up when it is empty, but I have not allowed it to get empty because I am afraid of what the price will look like. My car has needed some repairs so I have been using my partners SUV, and the truck is a gas guzzler.

If you are like me then you have a budget you have to abide by every week to ensure you have enough money for bills, food, gas and extras in that order. When the price of gas goes up it strains the checking account and you have to cut corners. With gas prices at about $4 per gallon, ongoing conflict in the middle east and wars in oil producing countries it does not seem like the price of gas will be dropping down any time soon. The prices are running up and they are not slowing down.

Since the price of gas has risen the price of everything else has risen. Food prices are at an all time high and warnings are coming from the UN, EU and FDA about possible civil unrest. When looking at the uprisings in the middle east the price of food is usually a contributing factor. Summer time is coming and demand will be up again as I am sure it will be another hot year, we may even see gas hit $5 per gallon. At $5 per gallon I do not think I will be driving anywhere but to where I need to go.

So what can we do? Fighting these companies almost seems hopeless because of the behemoth size they are. I purpose boycotting the largest gas station chains here in the US; ExxonMobil, Shell and Chevron. As convenient and plentiful these gas stations are, they are usually the most expensive when you compare them to other gas stations. Since the Gulf oil disaster that took place in April of 2010 I do not purchase from BP, so as difficult as you may think this is, it’s not. I have not purchased fuel from either of these gas stations in many years and instead have relied on others such as RaceTrac and Hess which is almost always cheaper than ExxonMobil, Shell, BP or Chevron.

You can also drive less, use public transportation, walk or ride a bike, carpool with friends and family, car share and when purchasing a car, look at the fuel economy. You can also demand the end to all wars, demand better fuel efficiency or better yet, demand renewable energy from congress. We could have began reducing our oil dependency many years ago but people were too greedy and the powers that be manipulated the market and now we are in dire straits. So take action, change your habits, because the only way to change them is to start with you.

Peace & Harmony,

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.

Read More

Day 7: Adjusting & Moving Forward

I'm a little bit sticky, kinda smelly and very cranky right now. I just spent 8 hours in the hot sun working as a Homeless Voice vendor which basically means, asking for donations.

I learned that we are not called panhandlers because we have to sign a contract to become independent contractors and we have to pay a portion of the donations to the shelter in exchange for our living expenses. There are no lazy people here. If you don't "work" as a vendor, you don't get to stay.



I did well. In fact, I did GREAT for my first time out the gate. I was a bit nervous to do well because I have the (mis)fortune of doing well at everything that I do and once the person I'm working for notices that then they will do anything to keep me aboard even sabotage any success I may have which may lead me away from their company. That annoys me and I find myself working less than my potential at times because of it.

I am learning so much about the homeless population. Most of it will surprise you simply because I'm finding that although a lot of the homeless have bad attitudes and perspectives on life, this isn't a bad lifestyle to live.

At this shelter the residents are taken care of and we eat THREE hot meals a day. That astounds me because before coming here I NEVER ate 3 meals a day. Although there are no couches to lounge around on and there is a set bedtime and wake up time I'm really not struggling to eat or laugh.

The homeless population seem to be a bitter bunch that blame others for their situations but honestly, I have never met more giving and sweet people. What little they have, they ALWAYS share. ALWAYS.

I have been completely catered to and taken care of since I've been here. No man actually tries to hit on me, although at times they flirt. I don't feel unsafe at all. It's cool being able to meet someone new everyday and get to know them and their lives.

I dream of sleeping in a bed though. I dream of frolicking in my underwear with no bra on and taking a vacation with my sons. My spirits are often lifted when I make a new video or learn something that will help women to overcome their fear of homelessness. I am using this Project to help me get through this because I look at my situation as an assignment and not my destiny or my misfortune.

I would really love a nice hot shower and the ability to lounge around the house. I can't believe I gave that all up. For what?

I really hope I hear from women who say that my journey has inspired them and allowed them to release their fears.

I do hope this isn't all for nothing.

Read More