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~The*Dear~Abby*Double~Inspiring the uninspired
28 marzo A Forrest Gump fill in the _____Most of you have heard the famous words,
 
whether the movie Forrest Gump was a must see drama for you or not. But how many of you will be able to fill in the blank for the following by adding a pinch of your own flavour to it?? Remember now, no copy cats allowed.
Life is like a ________________, you never know what you're going to get.
20 marzo "The Secret" is not as hush hush as the name impliesIf you've recently reached a plateau in your life and don't know how you can make a life-altering decision for yourself, The Secret written by Rhonda Byrne is the perfect book choice for you to read. Originally developed into a film by the author herself, this newly written collection of
Thanks to some of the most prominent people who date back centuries in history: Plato, Galileo, Beethoven, Edison, Carnegie, Einstein and many other inventors, theologians, scientists and great thinkers - not to mention the author uncovering life's many mysteries in this book, millions now have the chance to flourish from the inside out.
I highly encourage you go out and buy the book when you have a moment to yourself. By doing so, you will conveniently have a great guide to refer to when you're feeling down and ultimately turn your world downside up! 07 marzo A St. Patrick's Day fill in the _______For every other Wednesday, your job as bloggers and bloggists will be to fill in the blank for a famous quote or idiom that I randomly throw at ya. The word you choose will have to be something that is 100% original, 100% your own. No copying off your fellow bloggers, alright??
On your marks, get set......GO!!!
Kiss me, I'm _____________!
01 marzo The Oprah Winfrey Academy for Girls- need I say more??Actually I do. You see, this is not just your typical prep boarding school for girls. As far as my dictionary is concerned, it is not only "the" school for any South African girl living in adverse circumstances, but a contagious cause that should have our world reaching beyond the confines of themselves to make a much richer global empowerment someday. I say this with complete certainty because as I watched the Oprah Winfrey Primetime SpecialBuilding a Dream that aired three days ago on ABC and saw the faces of ten beautiful, vivacious and intelligent, fluent English speaking girls open up about their lives on camera, I could not help but feel a sense of gratitude to each of them for living their powerful, courageous and poignant journeys with utmost integrity. To backtrack a bit in case you have been rather "snailish"
On January 2 Oprah cut the red ribbon and generously opened her doors to 152 accepted female applicants (girls ages 12 or 13) for her $40 million Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls located south of Johannesburg in a small town called Henley-on-Klip, with get this- 100% free tuition!! "These girls deserve to be surrounded by beauty, and beauty does inspire," Winfrey said. "I wanted this to be a place of honor for them because these girls have never been treated with kindness. They've never been told they are pretty or have wonderful dimples. I wanted to hear those things as a child." The academy includes 28 buildings over a stretch of 20 hectares (52 acres) of land, with all the sophisticated startings to a brighter future- new computers, hi-tech classrooms, spacious and comfortable study areas, a gorgeous dining hall, luxurious dormitory rooms, etc. If you haven't had a real good look at the beautiful school yet click here. It's to die for! Girls from diversified impoverished backgrounds (or with family incomes that could not surpass $800/month) joined together like sisters from some of South Africa's most dangerous communities. Although only 152 of them could be selected, over 3,000 applications poured in, which- to their surprise- guaranteed them an interview with Oprah as part of the evaluation process. Eventually the school is expected to accommodate 450 girls (Grades 7-12) four years from now. Breathing life into Oprah's dream that took her 5 years to execute, these young ladies deserve the chance to have their talent, strength and leadership qualities recognized. That's why I cannot escape the urge to write about them as they have literally changed my perspective on life in many respects. Here's a little sneak peak into the lives of 5 remarkable adolescents Oprah honorably refers to as her "dream girls". Thando
13-year-old Thando is a very bright and very hardworking scholar who has big aspirations to become an star actress and a powerful conviction that South Africa is in need of a female president. Unfortunately, life was never as glamorous for her as the title of her future career choice implies. With her mom being currently unemployed, Thando's grandmother covers all her school expenses by working as a housekeeper of a white family, leaving them both in deep financial debt. Her relationship with both her parents is estranged. "My grandmother is my inspiration," Thando says as she tries hard to fight back her tears, "She does everything- she borrows money from her friends, she struggles to pay my school fees, and she gets into financial trouble. Sometimes I think it's all because of me." Lesego
Lesego, also 13 years-old, is an avid learner who is very fond of mathematics and already a strong leader for her peers. After class she teaches poetry, telling others powerfully evoking messages such as, "You are an individual. Act like an individual. Don't try to blend in. Blend out." Living with her father in a humble home that has a caved-in roof due to the excess of rain and no indoor plumbing, Lesego doesn't look at her life as unfortunate. Lesego has been through greater hurdles, including the betrayal she has had to endure since her mom abandoned her at age 4 not to mention her dad's constant struggle to take care of her ever since. Still yet, she is bursting with energy, one day hoping she will change the world as well as her own life. Sade and Megan
Sade and Megan are sisters who share an inseparable bond that cannot compare to any other. Every night leading up to the opening of the academy they have prayed for one another, desperately hoping that they would both get in. Although they define themselves as complete opposites of one another, the two of them have shared a special relationship that has only grown into something stronger than crazy glue since they both have witnessed their father shoot their mother and then immediately after, himself (when Megan was 6 and Sade only 5). The girls don't have any resentments against their parents' abusive relationship as they proudly display their parents picture on their fridge door. As Sade explains, "I'm not angry at my father 'cause I know God has a reason. Just remember the good times, not the bad." Zodwa
At 12-years-old, Zodwa has already experienced one of the most devastating struggles the average American typically experiences in their late adulthood- the death of a parent. Last year, her mother was stricken with one of the most commonly widespread diseases of their country- HIV- and later died after it developed into AIDS. Although she lives with her loving grandparents, there is not a day that goes by when Zodwa doesn't miss her mom deeply. Especially when she walks the streets of Alexandra , one of the poorest and dangerous communities in South Africa, just to attend school regularly. Education is so important to her that she will force herself to overcome her everyday fears of walking past men carrying guns, knives, drugs, even grabbing her and asking for sex just to see her dreams of an improved lifestyle come to life. "I just wish I could get out of this environment," says this unbelievably brave girl. "I want to be a leader. I want to be an example. I want to get into Med school you know. It's all I've wanted with my life."
If you didn't have the chance to watch the full episode on February 26th, not to worry! These gripping stories will be retold on Saturday, March 3rd at 9 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. CT on ABC so don't miss it. Turn it into a family affair and after watching be sure to place a comment below by stating what part of Oprah's primetime special impacted you the most. 11 febbraio Scarecrows and tin men and lions, OH MY!!Imagine it's already Valentine's Day, you're a single lady who is ready to get all dolled up, exert your most sexy, confident self and go out on a dream date with a guy you think may be right for you. Untillllll...the two of you start dating for awhile and even though you have completely fallen for him, you find out that there is one major catch that at first you were oblivious to. Metaphorically, if you had to choose only one of the following guys to stay with, what type would you most likely take a chance on and why? What path will you take as you follow the yellow brick road??
A)
B)
C)
 To everyone!!! 14 dicembre Tis the season to blow most of your moolah BIG goodbye kisses In today's over-commercialized economy, it's not very hard to see how our society has been conditioned to make money the forefront of everyday living, especially during the holidays. Majority of infamous Christmas trends have substituted the kind act of giving from the heart into the form of giving that only comes from the depency and convenience of c
 ash.  Christmas is no longer about going the extra mile to spend quality time with the ones we love or forcing ourselves to think outside the box when it comes to expressing what people TRULY mean to us. With all the advertising Christmas has received in terms of buying the "perfect" gift for people we consider to be important, we have automatically been taught from a very young age that gift giving is a generous deed that doesn't go unnoticed nor unappreciated. In certain circumstances we realize this is true. Money is a key component in donating to specific charities like the Salvation Army and Food Bank, putting a roof over the less fortunates heads and feeding the homeless. But too much, too fast, in a world where it is naturally assumed that bigger is better, and we find ourselves ignoring the REAL meaning behind Christmas. It's not the genorisity of perfect gift giving that is crucial to maintaining a vibrant Christmas for all to enjoy. It's celebrating the lives of people around us by giving in ways that don't necessarily involve the use of money to buy happiness or love. Sometimes giving from the heart speaks louder than giving from the wallet.
 So as much as the media's illusory portrayal has good intentions behind advertising the gift giving spirit of Christmas, it has hidden the beautiful significance of Christmas in many ways. For instance, if you ever watched the Oprah Winfrey or Dr. Phil Christmas specials (not to pick on these globally adored TV giants in any way of course because they have done a lot of good for many people) and noticed how the audience's reaction varies on the size and expense of the gift being advertised, you'll see that it is not always consistently enthused. A camera? YAY!! A plasma TV?? Even better!!   A car???  I think I'm in heaven!! A Christmas soundtrack? Uhhhh....I guess I could applaude. So although the idea of being given free gifts sound nice, don't you also think it's a little hypocritical for these international celebrities to emphasize the importance of being grateful for what we're given in life throughout the whole year and yet they contradict those powerful messages by giving materialized goods that are not a necessity top recognition during the Christmas season? As much as we hate to face it it's shows like these that contribute to not just American's spoildness but the spoildness of many people around the world.So if that were to change, if we were to imagine ourselves in the shoes of somebody who has almost no money or anything material wise and we weren't able to afford any Christmas presents, even if it were for just a second, what would be the first thing you'd do in terms of giving from the heart? How would you clearly show Christmas wasn't all about the money and that it was more about thinking of creative ways of making others feel special (even if it isn't someone you know personally)? Your thoughts please.
And if I don't have the opportunity to write another blog on here during the month of December 26 novembre First comes love then comes... ...marriage.
Having not yet reached that stage in my life (and being nowhere near ready to make such a HUGE decision), it would be unfair of me to try to write an educated opinion about what marriage is really about. So instead, I have decided to write about the impact of young marriage as this is an issue that has come up frequently with people around my own age.
But first, let me ask you something. Do you think it's unjust to say that people who decide to marry between the ages of 15 and 23 are making an irrational decision that will negatively affect them for the rest of their lives together? That they take the concept of marriage too lightly? That because they are so young that they are somehow blinded towards what they're really "rushing" themselves into? That they don't know who they are yet, therefore their daily power struggles with themselves will majorly conflict with their marriage in the long run? And in turn, a path to divorce will ensue?
To me, this seems like a possibility however I do believe that it's a misconception that young people lack a sense of identity when taking on a huge step such as this. They may not have had the time required to fulfill life's numerous experiences, achievements and promises th
I mean, take me for instance. I'm only 20, I'm single, a full-time student and yes, I still live at home. And although for the most part I know who I am, I also know I am nowhere ready to make such a major commitment as marriage at this time. There are still at lot of "firsts" for me to take on such as a first car, first apartment, first credit card, first university degree, first "real job"... If I already find it challenging to keep up with myself in everything I do, how on earth could I possibly be at ease with keeping up with someone else on a daily basis? Only after I work more independly for a few years and I finally find myself in a longterm, loving relationship will I find out how the real world works and then maybe, just maybe will my feelings change. But right now, there is still a platform waiting for me to build. The same one I had said one had to build on first in order to sustain themselves and develop the right mind set to make their future marriage successful.
One thing I constantly tell myself when I am tempted to act on impulse that will perhaps help you from doing something you might later regret: ALWAYS remember what is most important to you and don't allow anyone to influence your decisions. It's not to say you are unreasonably stubborn but you must ALWAYS do what you feel in your heart and head are the right thing for you to do. Once the feeling that resides in your heart matches with what you think in your head, there is no way you cannot feel 100% sure you are making the right decision. It's only when we naturally have doubt without any explanation or reason that it's wise to think about what impact a decision such as marriage will have on us for the rest of our lives.
Marriage may be something that is taken lightly these days but it doesn't have to be that way. You have the power to make that slight difference that will save your future today! :)
28 settembre Continually ClimbingI call it my "Fabulous Fridays". You may call it a much needed break from the week's work. Either way, I have decided that I'd spice up these blog postings a bit by posting something fun or inspirational every last Friday of each month. (something that'll be completely separate from my online opinion). Whether it be a story I've read, a meaningful poem, a hilarious joke, a recipe, picture or song lyrics, I figure there will be many smiles to be had once these are shared. This Friday...Maya Angelou. Not only is she a source of inspiration for us all, but her gift with words is so deeply felt through her writing. Here's a poem that I found very motivational while I was surfing online. Feel free to share what you think of it and what it means to you by posting a comment below.
26 settembre An individual's intelligence: Can it really be measured?If there's one word I prefer not hearing it's the word stupid. Same thing goes for any synonyms or inferences related to it for everyone has at least one aspect of themselves that outshines someone else's talents, knowledge or strengths.
If you think about it, there's no such thing as a "completely dumb person". People may make unwise decisions, ask questions majority of us would consider "common sense", be mentally challenged or miserably flunk a course but that doesn't necessarily make them "stupid". With everyone's flaws comes potential. And with potential comes a wonderful platform on which to build success. The key is to focus on these prime areas with consistent determination, passion and sheer faith.
Even if a person truly believes they have nothing outstanding to offer the world, someone else, believe it or not, DOES. They may not have found their niche just yet, but it's there. If they're determined enough, they'll develop the skills necessary for their best suited interests. And sometimes when they least expect it, their main talent falls onto their lap and their whole life's identity gradually reveals itself to them.
Now there are lots of complex tests that try to measure a person's intelligence as accurately as possible. The infamous one being the IQ (Intelligence Quotient) test developed in France by Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon.
 Originally intended to test if a child was mentally "retarded" over a century ago, the modern IQ test has now expanded to various forms of mental ability such as verbal, mathematical, spatial, memory and reasoning. When "pre-testing" a sample of the broader population, results obtained usually show that majority of people have an IQ between 90 and 110. Because majority of society's problem solving mentality contrived in this test is average, we get a classic, "bell-shaped" curve as shown below. Even something as a challenge of opinions could be classified as measuring people's intelligence. Some people are able to deliver their standpoints with poise, others are outspoken, while some choose to carry a bluntness through everyday conversation. Based on delivery, wording, tone, content and standpoint, a person can have a way of portraying themselves in an intelligent or unintelligent manner. It just depends on what tactic they decide to use.
The examples above demonstrate only a small portion of life's many "smart tests" thrown our way. But the important thing to realize through this is that just like beauty, smarts come in all shapes, all sizes, all colours, all faces in our universe. Just because you cannot see it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
*For more info on measuring intelligence, read BBC's Science and Nature Hot Topics*
02 settembre Never say never, huh? Well...think againLet's face it. Not all of us remain calm and assertive on weekends as this long one might prove. Many of us with the coming of age (or for most of us who are already of age) have jobs to attend to, important events to experience, university/college projects to work on, exam preparations to blow our brains for, people to meet, errands to run, families to raise, relationships to work on, major dilemmas to sort through on our own two feet. Not all of us are capable of taking some time out of our chaotic schedules to kick back at home and pamper ourselves with a little TLC even though well deserved. Keeping our cool is not always easy...(well OBVIOUSLY!!). On the other hand what is easy is mouth rolling some negative thoughts with.."Ooh I can't...", "I would never be able to..." or "So and so can do this a whole lot better than me". Would you quit labeling yourself self-esteem deprived already? STOP IT! Even I'm getting so exhausted just thinking about it that what this calls for is a long, relaxing vacation  ...mhmmmmm...that's what I'm talking about baby. Just me and my luggage away from you.  LOL...Or if that fails miserably you can order me a nice, tall martini please. Yup, that should do the trick.  K, I'll be totally serious for a moment now. Remember when I said in my 2nd blog that if one chooses to complain about something that he/she must always look at those less fortunate than them and have a constant belief in themselves? Well now I'm telling you to use that message to block all those ugly thoughts you have traveling your way. If that doesn't help, here's a little list I compiled of the top ten NEVERS I think are useful to live by on a day-to-day basis. Please, add on your own "NEVER" to this list. Teach me and many others a new thing or two. And question: who said it was a NEVER to say NEVER, huh? I don't know about you, but it sure works for me.  1. NEVER look at the mistakes you've made as regrets. Instead, use those experiences as tools to help you become a person to be proud of. 2. NEVER perceive losses as failures but the push to success. 3. NEVER underestimate your power, potential and positive attributes. Everyone has the capability to rise above if they know what their strengths are and what ways they can improve it. 4. NEVER hide yourself in a closet because you'd rather save yourself the embarrassment of people finding out the "dark truth" about the real you. It's much better to face it head-on so that you grow up to understand that life is not all about preserving a pretend perfect image to the world. I mean think about it. If you're mopping about with trivial thoughts floating in mind, can't you see how that puts an emphasis on the word ME? Rather than swapping your depressed state with a vibrant one, how are people ever to positively reflect off your behaviour? Yeah, that's right. THEY WON'T. So stop being selfish and realize there's a bigger reality out there than yours. Start thinking of ways you can improve society by doing what you do best. In good time, you will begin to see others around you developing a brighter perception of how you know deep down inside you CAN be. 5. NEVER let something that first seems insanely difficult, new or drastic defeat you. ALWAYS be glad to rise to the occasion for you never know where it may take you someday. If you give it your all and you still weren't able to master it, at least you can proudly say you still came out with a winner's attitude. 6. NEVER lash out towards those who have supported you through everything even though you may be feeling 100% disposable. It just makes you look worse than who you are striving to one day be. 7. NEVER change anything about yourself if it's something that will FOREVER be a part of you or is already positive (e.g.- height, b-day, genetics, giving spirit, successful athlete, etc.) These things are a waste of time to fight over so rather than erase these qualities permanently, learn to embrace them by doing whatever it takes to repair your distorted perception. And if you must change something about yourself, as in a negative attribute, than figure out what steps you would need to initiate in order to make that happen for yourself. 8. NEVER let others bring you down. Don't allow them to tell you you're impossible, incapable, unworthy or unintelligent. By doing so, you only stoop down to their levels by placing yourself in the sewer they feel themselves in. 9. NEVER let an opportunity pass you by. You don't want to be kicking yourself for not taking advantage of something that you find out years later you could have done successfully. 10. NEVER dismiss being true to you. Do what makes you feel right and not what makes you feel accepted. Respect from others ONLY develops after respect for yourself evolves. |
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