Sharing is Caring...

My last post was about the changes that life affects in us.

I wonder how many of us can relate with THIS part of our lives.

This is a lesson in sharing from the people who know best:

Do you share?  Even when no one asks you to?

Do you help when you see someone else in need (even when you don't know the reason)?

Constant Origami...

You should totally check out this post called The Glorious Unfolding, no matter what age you are.  It is thought-inspiring on many levels.  The commentary from readers is refreshing, encouraging, friendly, and honest.  I think we can all relate.

We are constant origami.  We are a body that is folded and unfolded and refolded and bent and creased and slowly we become what we already were but sometimes in a different shape than we set out thinking we would become.  Fascinating.

Are you who you thought you'd be?  Who you want to be?

I wonder if my younger self would be proud of me.  I wonder if she'd find me boring or if she'd tell me that I still haven't done what I've set out to do yet and ask me when I was thinking I might do something about it.  Have a conversation with your younger self one of these days (if you can remember him/her).  Let me know how it goes :)

Holy Powerful Woman, Batman!

...or should I say batwoman?!

Prepare yourself.  It is not about whether each statement is wrong or right, it's about women having the power to make those choices for themselves.  It is a reminder to men that we ALL can make these choices.  It is a reminder to elders that we are not all traditional, but we can choose to be if we'd like to.  It's a reminder to young women that their choices are their power and that they can use them to do good or to do harm; choose wisely.  It is also a reminder to all that we are each our own person.  Being a woman means having the choice to be an individual.

Making the choices that make us unique.

Choosing.

Dr. Seuss Knows Best

A follow up to Kid President's message to you everyday heroes:

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It's not.

-The Lorax, Dr. Seuss

That Hero is You

In case you:

were wondering,
were upset,
are sad,
feel hopeless,
want change,
have something,
need something,
want something,
see something that isn't right,
know something is right and needs attention,
are reading this right now...

This is for you. 

-from Kid President (and me)

 You're a hero. Act like it.

Make your contribution today!

<3 Ellen DeGeneres. Thanks for the photo, ATTN:!
Posted by Upworthy on Viernes, 27 de marzo de 2015

On a lighter, more rebellious, note...

We all have a little rebel in us...

some of us more than others...

and some of us better at documenting it!

Here's mine (double trouble):

photo credit: ML                                

Is your little rebel photogenic??

Share it in the comments!!

Women. Menstruation. Read it.

Read this article then come back.

Her words are awesome because, even though I admittedly am not generally thinking about what she is mentioning, she's TOTALLY right!! And when I actually DO think about it, it IS offensive and wrong that women are treated as dirty and unclean when they have their periods. Even the word makes people angry sometimes and sparks remarks like "gross" and "I don't need to hear about this... LALALA" (and by "people, I generally mean men, because the other half of the planet is USED to it). But the media hypes over-sexualized versions of women (and men) half naked (FULLY naked)...and while that's natural, too, so is a period.  

period. period. period. menstruation.  

GOSH. Now go check out the site for that girl's project and share this post.

This is real life. And it's natural. And it is why human LIFE can exist (unless you don't believe in the science of procreation in which case you have some other major issue which you should probably come back to my blog for some help on).  

Science exists. Women exist. Periods exist...

all of these things so that humanity can exist.  

Deal with it.

*drops mic*

Little Polka Dot Bikinis...and the cultural norm

I couldn't have said it better! I just saw this incredible blog post by a girl named Jenny Trout basically taking on whatever came her way as a heavy woman who wanted to (and DID) wear a bikini to the beach (albeit freezing cold at a lake)! She's to the point, hilarious, and completely honest. I love it because it translates beyond the "fat vs. skinny" societal crazy and really attacks the cultural norms that we've come to accept and even uphold despite the fact that the "cultural norm" actually isn't quite normal at all! As she mentions, we have begun upholding this idea of "this is perfect, and everything else is not" when the reality is most of us don't fit those "standards" that we have been accepting and projecting.

 So, good on you, Jenny Trout! Thanks for reminding us that what's culturally normal is exactly what we are and that being ourselves, and being comfortable in our own skin (and whatever clothes we choose to wear) is of the utmost importance! 

Get inspired, people! Believe in you!

When You're "Happy" You Just Gotta' Dance!

They say "dance like no one's watching."

They say "be your own person."

They say "You can do anything you set your mind to."

They say "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

This kid at the basketball game, though?

A star is born.
Posted by What The Flicka? on Miércoles, 25 de marzo de 2015

He's all of that and more!

Hope you're "happy" from that 2 minute clip of awesome!

Blind Devotion

One version of love in action.

Man remains legend: Chinua Achebe

If you don't like someone's story, 

write your own. 

- Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe is world reknowned for his book Things Fall Apart.  His dedication to HIS story, and the story of HIS Nigeria brought him to become a political activist through literature.  His stories, poems, and essays challenge us to think and to at least recognize the systems in place within and around us, if not to change them.  He believed in the power of the individual voice, but desired that humanity work together as a unified whole.  Achebe understood a fierce hierarchy and power-struggle that he was able to view from multiple perspectives, and wisely penned in Things Fall Apart: 

There is no story that is not true, [...] The world has no end, and what is good among one people is an abomination with others.

Still, Achebe was able to express his story and his personal viewpoint in a direct and eloquent way.

We cannot trample upon the humanity of others without devaluing our own. The Igbo, always practical, put it concretely in their proverb Onye ji onye n'ani ji onwe ya: 'He who will hold another down in the mud must stay in the mud to keep him down.'

- Chinua Achebe

A year after he passed, at the age of 82, Achebe remains a staple in education systems not only for his style but for his content.  

Write your story.  Become a legend.  Remain a legend.  The truth counts.

Remember Chinua Achebe.

10 Things to do for Happiness

No one knows the exact formula for happiness, not the unhappy nor the happiest of people.  Sometimes we chase it, sometimes we are it...but "it" doesn't seem to have a time or place or situation where it can assuredly be found, nor can it undoubtedly be cast out...and so...what are some things that will bring us CLOSER to achieving/receiving/being "happy?"

Check out this quick read of 10 things...from Elite

Keeping it real: Stenography and Nigel Hayes

When you enjoy what you do, life is a game!  At least we can say that's true for some of the delightful college basketball players of Wisconsin (go Badgers)!  I especially appreciate when all-stars not only show their comic side, but also their intellectual and genuine demeanors.  Nigel Hayes is one such athlete, who, along with teammates, went out of his way to meet and greet and pester the stenographer (person who types for the closed captioning option on your TV to allow you to read what is being said) from the NCAA Division I basketball tournament.  After they met her, he went out of his way to make sure she wasn't just some words on a screen:

Pretty awesome!  Thanks for keeping it real!

International Day of Happiness!

A very special Happy Friday all!!

Today is the 4th annual International Day of Happiness (as established by the United Nations in 2012)!

What a cool day and extra reason to celebrate this Friday, all day!

Thank you to the  Kingdom  of Bhutan for pushing their happiness initiative to a global scale!  No whatnot thete and be happy today...better yet; make an effort to make someone ELSE happy today!

Welcome to D's House

Do the right thing.  Treat others with kindness.  Love this.

Here's the 24-Hour follow up:

Yay Humans!

People are Awesome: No Barriers

Each of us face barriers when we go out into the world every day.  Some of them are physical, some mental and emotional.  Samsung created a way to reduce barriers for hearing impaired people and in the process, they show all of us what type of difference reducing barriers between ourselves and those around us can make for everyone involved.

This is just one barrier that can be broken down using some heartfelt intention to make the world better along with some good technology and skilled workers.  I love when big companies do things that make the world better.

Love Has No Labels

#Lovehasnolabels.  

Love thy neighbor.  

We were given three great gifts: faith hope and love...

and the greatest is LOVE.

Love above all.

Love is blind.

Love is love.