FIND YOUR PURPOSE! REAL LIFE STORIES FROM WOMEN JUST LIKE YOU
HEALTHIER SOLUTIONS
Ignite Your Dreams!
MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS
The Mind, Body, Soul Connection
JOIN THE TRIBE
Pg. 3 - Meet The Founder
Pg. 56 - Leaving The Masquerade
Pg. 4 - What Stands Between You & Abundance? Pg. 60 - Photoshoot Weekend
Pg. 9 - Barefoot With Coffee and Pizza Pg. 14 - Let That S.H.I.T Go
Pg. 63 - Would You Want to Work With Your Spouse?
Pg. 18 - Healthier Solutions
Pg. 67 - Women in Business
Pg. 19 - Be a Monolith: Think Massive
Pg. 71 - Do It Now..Don't Wait
Pg. 24 - Tomorrow is My Best Day Yet
Pg. 76 - Love, Relationships, & Sex
Pg. 28 - Seventh Avenue Apothecary
Pg. 79 - Bare Naked Botanicals
Pg. 30 - Success Looks Different For Everyone
Pg. 80 - Fight The Good Fight
Pg. 34 - You Reap What You Sow
Pg. 83 - Broken Crayons Can Still Color
Pg. 37 - Holistic Wellness
Pg. 87 - Radical Alignment
Pg. 42 - What You Gain When You Lose
Pg. 92 - Cheers to Hydrated Skin
Pg. 45 - Finding Myself by Losing Control
Pg. 98 - Behind Every Strong Woman..
Pg. 49 - Ciao..Hola..Hello.. The Journey to Find Ourselves
Pg. 105 - Mo Cisse
Pg. 52 - Strong Getting Stronger
Pg. 109 - Credits and Notable Mentions
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Two years ago Cynthia Delaney had a vision that would bring women from around the world together to support, celebrate, and elevate each other's lives, dreams and achievements Her goal was to connect women with their passions and discover their purpose and ultimately ignite their destiny. Within 8 weeks, the vision was launched and the first ever event "Ignite Your Destiny" was announced. Women across the country came together from all backgrounds and skillsets to celebrate the vision in Tucson, Arizona at the Ritz-Carlton. From stay at home moms to health and wellness experts, coaches, and celebrities. Their stories fueled the event. Inspiring women through being real and authentic, giving them answers to how they can live a better and more fulfilled life. Hundreds of women found a home with the SMW Tribe. Women are encouraged to give purpose to their trial and give power to their personal experiences and how they can touch the lives of other women by paying it forward. This moves women to impact the world and women around them.
"Each and every one of us are capable of creating great things, united we are unstoppable ." ~ CD "I am grateful to be the founder of Self Made Woman! For years I have been searching for a project and platform to gift others with all the best information and tools available, to effectively design their lives and build a legacy for generations to come. I believe we pay it forward, as we live our lives and set examples for others! For a decade now, I have been touring the country and internationally. Speaking, coaching, training men and women on the skills and mindsets that will take them to a life of abundance! Abundance in family, business, relationships, and finances. I have worked with, CEO's, entrepreneurs, college students, employees of all backgrounds. I am so grateful to have witnessed incredible life changes for tens of thousands of people, from all ages and backgrounds. Too few people have been surrounded by the belief and mentorship to support them. Passing along my knowledge and life lessons is a blessing! Believing in others and celebrating their victories is amazing! We all need support and belief! SMW is the platform and community to help women thrive, as we expanded globally. "
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1. Be Aware Of Your Negative Beliefs About Money 2. Build Your Money Magnet Mindset with Affirmation 3. You Deserve to Become A Money Magnet 4. Love Your Bills To Become A Money Magnet 5. Rejoice in Other's Good Fortune 6. Visualize Your Abundance 7. Recognize Prosperity Everywhere You Go 8. Give More to Receive More 9. Be in the Receiving Mode 10. Practice Gratitude to become a Great Money Magnet
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90% of women will be solely responsible for their finances at some point in their lives
61% of women said they would rather discuss the details of their own death than money!
Only 41% of women said they understand their investments well, compared with 56% of men.
While women are increasingly the primary breadwinners in families, they often remain the primary caregivers as well, with less time to devote to financial planning.
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Many struggle to live a life of abundance because they have many negative beliefs about money. They are so caught up with their negative beliefs that they have no idea how to create money magnetism.
The Keys to Becoming a Money Magnet #1. BE AWARE OF YOUR NEGATIVE BELIEFS ABOUT MONEY Always remember, "Money is not the root of all evil, but lack of money is the root of all evil.” Do you know "What is stopping most people from becoming a Money Magnet?" It's their negative beliefs about money. How can you become a money magnet if you feel negative about money? Even if you could able to make a good amount of money with your negative beliefs, it won't stay or grow with you. #2. BUILD YOUR MONEY MAGNET MINDSET WITH POSITIVE AFFIRMATION As you know, in Law of Attraction "Thoughts Become Things." Your power of attracting money always depends on the beliefs you have about money. And your beliefs build upon the thoughts that you have for money. You Money Magnetism is a reflection of your thoughts of prosperity. Only thinking about prosperity is not going to make you a money magnet. Because it depends on what kind of thoughts you have. #3. YOU DESERVE TO BECOME A MONEY MAGNET “The moment you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.” Most people never get more in life because they never feel like deserving more in life. Though it sounds unrealistic, but every day I meet people who have this obstacle. So many people have big dreams but most of them feel like they don't deserve it. And when you don't feel deserving for your dreams then you get into all the traps of asking WHY, HOW and WHEN will it come true. This underserving feeling is very much attached to money. #4. LOVE YOUR BILLS TO BECOME A MONEY MAGNET Yes, you heard that right LOVE YOUR BILLS. You must be thinking, "Cynthia has gone mad, if I love my bills then I will get more bills, then how can I become a money magnet?” If you are thinking this then my friend that not how the Law of Attraction works. When I said "love your bills" , I mean I want you to be happy and grateful while paying all the bills. Because as you are going to pay all your bills then why to pay it being sad or unhappy. You can't avoid paying bills because you are buying products and services every day. And you are able to pay your bills means you have the money to pay it. But by being sad or unhappy while paying your bill you are attracting more scarcity in your life.
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The Keys to Becoming a Money Magnet #5. REJOICE IN OTHERS GOOD FORTUNE How many times you see someone living in luxury and abundance, and you feel happy for him or her? If you do so all the time, then you are already in the Money Magnet vibration. But so many people are not able to feel the same way. You are not able to feel happy for others good fortune because you have been programmed to envy others or focus on your own lack. Either way, it damages your money vibration. The best way to raise your money vibration is to rejoice in others good fortune. Whether the person is someone close to you, or a random person or a celebrity whose life you have seen on TV or Internet. Don’t try to find the negative reasons for their money, don’t try to justify why they have the fortune and not you. Or don’t feel bad that you don’t have the same. If you are witnessing their good fortune means the Universe is telling you "You too can have the same.”"You also deserve the same." So that is why rejoice in their luxury, in their rich life style and in their good fortune and say YES for it. When you say YES to their good fortune you will attract your own by doing things the way you love. #6. VISUALIZE YOUR ABUNDANCE Create a vision for your ideal life. Be clear about the life you want with all the happiness, success and abundance you deserve. And everyday take sometime to visualize your Abundant Life. In your visualization see yourself living the life of your dreams. Feel that you are a money magnet and attract money from multiple sources. Dive into the feelings of abundance everyday for few minutes and let the law of attraction works for you. “If you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hand.” While visualizing do not limit yourself. Go beyond all limitations and see the most luxurious, phenomenal and prosper life that you can imagine.
We have the power to create change #7. RECOGNIZE PROSPERITY EVERYWHERE YOU GO Recognizing prosperity is recognizing the grand creation of the Universe. Do you recognize more of prosperity or poverty? If you recognize prosperity more, then you are on money magnet vibration. But if you recognize poverty or lack more, it will be difficult for you to become a money magnet. The biggest problem with recognizing poverty more is you can’t do anything other than feeling sad. And your feeling of sadness is not going to help anyone. If you want to help people living in poverty then you have to prosper to help them better. To prosper, you must recognize prosperity first. If you go to any city around the world, you will see beautiful buildings, skyscraper, grand mansions and luxurious hotels. Even you can see beautiful roads and phenomenal engineering marvels. When you see them, become happy and recognize the prosperity that is reflecting from all these grand creations. The more you recognize prosperity, the more prosperity you will attract into your life. This is one of the simplest ways to keep you reminded that you have a choice to focus on money magnetism more than the lack. #8. GIVE MORE TO RECEIVE MORE Giving is always a magical experience to raise our vibration. But you may be thinking, “I don’t have enough for me and how can I give more?” First thing you must understand ‘Giving is not always about giving money.’ You can give your time and you can give your support also. But when you give more than what is expected in your vocation you receive more automatically. When you give your best service to your customer, you receive more from your business. When you give more in your job, you receive more success and abundance from your job. Here the key is giving with positivity, happiness and with a purpose of service. Only if these are aligned then you will receive more. But if you are giving more because someone has made you compelled to do so and you are not happy, then don’t expect to receive more. Because here giving is not a positive emotions. Only when giving is a joyful experience no matter what you are giving, you will always receive more.
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The Keys to Becoming a Money Magnet #9 BE IN THE RECEIVING MODE Be open to receive more from the Universe. When someone invite you for a lunch or dinner and wants to pay the bill, accept that offer and be in the receiving mode. When someone is offering you a surprise gift, be in the receiving mode. When you get surprise discount on a product or service, be happy and enjoy the receiving more. Whenever you are getting something as a surprise, receive it happily. Sometimes you may deny such offer, but by doing so you are not staying in the receiving mode. Every magical surprise and gift that is coming to you are a sign from the Universe that more is on the way. When you say YES to receive the things that coming from the Universe, the Law of Attraction will bring more to you. Same way even if you are receiving less sometimes then don’t focus on the lack but focus on the joy of receiving. For example your salary is not good and you feel that you deserve more. Yes, you deserve more but don’t feel lack while receiving your salary. Focus on the joy of receiving and be happy with the process of receiving. When you become happy for the salary you are receiving soon you will also the salary you desire. #10 PRACTICE GRATITUDE TO BECOME A GREAT MONEY MAGNET “Whoever has gratitude will be given more, and he or she will have an abundance. Whoever does not have gratitude, even what he or she has will be taken from him or her.” Well, we all know the most powerful force in the Universe is Gratitude. My life has changed magically over the years by practicing gratitude every day. Like me, thousands of dreamers are practicing gratitude and changing their lives. When you want to become a money magnet, you must understand that money has a relationship with gratitude. Because the thought of money either makes you feel positive or negative most of the time. If it makes you feel positive then that’s great. But if it makes you feel negative because your focus is on the lack then this is where Gratitude works like magic. “Law of attraction has a simple formula, you don’t get what you want but you get what you feel.” So even if you want to become a money magnet but whenever you think about the money you have and feel bad or negative then you will never become a money magnet. No matter how much money you have, but when you feel grateful for having it, your vibration will change. When you feel grateful your vibration will become positive and then you can attract as much as you want. That is why gratitude is such a magical power in the Universe. It can change your feelings of lack into abundance. Once you feel abundant, you will attract abundantly.
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Cynthia Delaney
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Let's just get this out in the open..cold pizza and coffee is the best breakfast! The only way it gets any better is when my husband and I eat it in bed together. Oh yes! Maybe you have
never tried it (you should) or maybe you don’t want to! That’s ok too, (but you're missing
out) lol. I’m just being me. Being real and authentic is important, it allows all of us to realize
we are not so different. We are craving real and authentic people and stories more than ever before. Women are stepping out and expressing themselves in ways that are emboldening other women to do the same. I want to start by letting you into my life. After you read the
article, you may say "She made me laugh, kept it real, or empowered me to be stronger and more confident." If I achieve any of these, the gift has been given.
If we were to hangout, you would see that I am silly, adventurous, driven
and always looking to live, not exist! I own who I am, I love who I have
become! I went through a lot of shit to find her. Haven't we all? I’m a
dreamer, I’m a visionary, I am a
sucker for a great cause, I’ve been
known as the one to leap first, and I’m
not scared to challenge the status quo.
I think outside of the box, I love to push
my own limits and I love to win! I thrive through seeing others free and happy. I am a hopeless romantic.
There is nothing quite like the sun setting on a beach with the sound of the waves and a great
glass of wine in hand. I am madly in love with my best friend and husband. His kiss still takes me to another place! His touch..well, we will save that for another article. I’m your most
honest friend. I love to be barefoot and play music in my house all day! From Andrea Bocelli, Bruno Mars, Barry White, Nina Simone, to Drake. And ... I’m absolutely the proudest mother on the planet! My son inspires the heck out of me! I have learned more from him than I will ever be able to pass along in return. I am fiercely protective of my family and the people I love. I’m passionate about women finding their purpose, exploring the world and all the
experiences it has to offer. I am on a mission to provide women around the world with the love, support and connections that will help them live the life they yearn for. I choose
gratefulness everyday, I believe life is a great adventure that too few people experience.
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How will you choose to live? How do you define yourself? Who would you be if you could change anything about yourself? If no one would judge you, who would you become? In
the midst of a confusing and competitive environment, women will sometimes add fuel to an already overwhelming fire by making rude remarks to one another. If you don’t wear
makeup, and your friend says "Are you tired? You look tired." And then you're thinking, I’m not f—ing tired! As women, we buy into this idea that we’re supposed to be "this" tall and "this" skinny. We torture ourselves, and deprive ourselves to be perfect. I’ve
experienced all of that. I bought into how the magazines or TV defined us as women, and have been smothered by it at times. The pure thought of trying to achieve the unrealistic form of a woman can ruin you.
Stay in your place, be feminine, be smart but don’t make too much noise. Be successful. Be everything to everybody. Don’t be too loud in the boardroom, don’t express anything dramatically original or different. You could risk being seen as a rebel or even a
bitch! Your opinion shouldn't be perceived as noise, your voice should be heard and
respected. Should we not be ourselves? Should we not dare to see our natural selves as beautiful? We conform and mold ourselves everyday into how others want to see us or what they are comfortable with.
Confronting yourself, really seeing her — meeting her, and accepting where she is right now, is so
important. That was one of the
hardest things for me in the beginning of my journey. I’d literally look at
myself in the mirror and say, who are
you? Who do you need to be? What am I supposed to achieve? Or believe? Did somebody write a book on this that I missed? Do I have to figure it out on my own? Am I the only one that just doesn’t get “IT”? And what is “IT”
anyway?! So, if nobody else has told
you, I will! Being honest with yourself
is one of the biggest gifts that you will ever be given.
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This may not be you want to hear, but ladies let’s keep it real! As women, we're the
hardest on ourselves, always wanting to make sure everybody else is taken care of. In the midst of striving for that perfection, that is truly unattainable, we can drive
ourselves crazy! We want and search for a healthy balance, but what is balance
anyway? We are reluctant more times than not to share what’s on our heart, what we really want, what makes us complete and truly happy. We lose ourselves when we
disconnect from the things that make us who we are. We are left with only a portion of who we truly can be. It’s a chaotic existence! Why do we do this to ourselves? The main message here is stop sabotaging yourself from the best life that you could be living!
Release yourself from all of the unrealistic expectations that you have let define you. Instead, give yourself some grace and embrace the concept of being imperfectly perfect. Then, you can become the women you have always wanted to be.
I still find myself getting caught in old patterns that don’t serve me, there’s no doubt I’ve been there more than once. I know that being true to myself, living a life that truly
fulfills me, that I’m passionate about, and that fills my heart with joy, is where I want to be. Free and happy is the message.
We’re all made for greatness! We all have a life of abundance at our fingertips.
We are all powerful beyond measure. As soon as you recognize that gift, the world and what you're capable of, becomes limitless.
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EVERY WOMAN IS
Beautiful! Here at Self Made Woman we recognize each and every woman for their individuality. True beauty is found in the confidence and expression of who you are.
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LET THAT S.H.I.T GO
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This morning I woke up lying in bed next to my 70year young mother, nestled in her warm soft bed under a thick quilt which reminded me of how brutal the ice cold, snowy mornings can be in Michigan in the winter. I was feeling like a much younger version myself as the nostalgia began to set in. Remembering how I used to feel all the security in the world, just by being cuddled under my mother. My mom was my first example of a Goddess Queen. One who lived by the beat of her own drum. She instilled in me that I could be or do or have anything I wanted. In fact, she told me that I could grow wings and fly, if I believed I could. And guess what? I believed I could. As a professional singer and entertainer, she taught me to sing and often reminds me of how when I was a baby, I’d put my mouth directly on her neck when she sang so that I could feel her vibration in real time, I guess I wanted to suck the rhythm right out of her neck. She taught me how not only to own a stage, but also how to create my own stage to own. I have come back home to take care of my mother, who has physical limitations as a result of diabetes, stroke, a recent car accident that totaled her car and was also a hidden blessing that has revealed more blockage in her bilateral vertebral artery. Basically, that means if we don’t get her health under control, she could have another stroke. She had a major stroke some years ago and her fragile body just can’t handle another one. Unfortunately, as much strength as she gave me, there’s a lot of S.H.I.T. that she never let go of in her life emotionally and as a result, these things along with certain not so healthy lifestyle choices her body has responded accordingly. Let me pause here and give you my acronym for S.H.I.T. (STUFF HINDERING you from positively IMPACTING THE Universe). Often, we can appear to have it all together while in reality we’re storing old pain, old hurts, old disappointments, old painful stories. This is the baggage that directly impacts our health because our cells are always listening and responding to everything we feel. But what happened in my mother’s case and then later in my own personal experience is that sometimes our staged faces are no more than a cover up of our suppressed unresolved emotional baggage. The S.H.I.T. we didn’t let go of, manifested itself later in the form of disease, or ‘dis-ease’. For her, it was diabetes, stroke, and extreme physical limitations. In a matter minutes, she went from regularly participating in aerobics, and well enjoying being the lead singer of her local band, to a partially paralyzed much older version of herself. One who was days prior to the brain accident, independent and free, to now needing help making her own bed and wiping her own butt. For me, on the other hand it was a near death experience with the debilitating symptoms from 9 fibroid tumors.
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Rejecting the option of surgery from 7 different doctors, I continued to struggle with symptoms for over twelve years, masking my pain and weakness for as long as I could to keep my public “stage face” intact. Not dealing with the root causes of the fibroids later landed me a stay in critical ICU with a blood count of 2.9, requiring urgent blood transfusions and medical staff who were simply amazed that I could even speak in my critical state. Hanging on to a thread of life after nearly hemorrhaging to death, I experienced the power of connecting to Source Energy (God, Spirit, The Universal Powers) whatever you choose to call it. It’s the power to allow the healing in. That sort of ‘touching the helm of His garment’ type of healing that we read about in the scriptures and surely, I was that woman with the issue of blood. It was at that point that I realized I had to let go of some past S.H.I.T. so that I could live! If we continue to live in our painful past and keep telling the same old pain story, we asphyxiate our ability to move forward and have the impact in the world that we came here for. Being on this leading edge of thought, I now understand that there is no shortage of what I truly want, there is only resistance. There is no shortage of great health and well-being, there’s no shortage of wealth and prosperity, no shortage of healthy, happy relationships, no shortage of joy, peace or fulfillment or anything that we really desire. There is only resistance, and when we learn how to align ourselves with what we really want the manifestations are inevitable – they must happen. It’s the way the world works! But we must let go of unhealthy S.H.I.T. of the past, Stuff Hindering our Impact on The Universe. Yes, I nearly died from the symptoms of fibroids and healed myself naturally, not only did I heal my womb, but my whole body, but my mind, my emotions, and my life. I am only one of many who have had the beautiful blessed experience of natural healing, but it required getting tapped in, tuned in, and turned on, to who I really am as a Goddess, a God living inside of me type of woman. As I close, I’ve listed 4-Steps I’ve used to getting into alignment with who I really am, and they will serve you as well. You can be as healthy, happy, vibrant, creative and as productive of a selfmade woman as I and many others are. Remember, we create our own experiences and you have the power to create the life you desire to live and live in a body that you love to love! The four areas to give focus on daily are: Psychology, Physiology, Creativity, and Passion. Step 1: Quiet Your Mind Everyday. Quieting your mind through 15 minutes of meditation first thing in the morning allows you to get into alignment with SOURCE ENERGY before the craziness of the day sets in. This relaxes you into flow before any negative momentum can take hold of you. It aligns your personal psychology with that of your innerguidance system. The God part of you that is there to guide you in the right direction no matter what the rest of the world is presenting to you. Step 2: Take Care of Your Earthly Space Suit. This is your physiology – your body, of which you only have one. By nature, and nurture, we tend to take care of everyone and everything else before we consider our own physical well-being. That must change, and your physiology must become a top priority. No doctor can know your body better than you, nor should they. Therefore, taking a proactive rather than reactive approach to your physical health is a must.
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Consuming more plant-based foods and beverages packed with nutrients are mandatory.
Step 3: ABC – Always Be Creating. We are creators and if we are not expressing ourselves through creative means, we are setting ourselves up for some S.H.I.T. that we don’t want. So, go ahead and write that book, record that song, paint that masterpiece, or construct that new empire that you’ve been holding inside because someone else thought you were crazy for dreaming. Step 4: Passion. Your Passion is your purpose. So many of us have racked our brains trying to figure out what it is we should be doing. What is our “so-called calling” our God given purpose. Well, I believe that our passions speak volumes into this planet. And what makes us light up inside is what we should be sharing with the world. I had struggled for years with my multi-passionate desires and felt so guilty for having more than one passion. That was because of some S.H.I.T. I needed to let go of, it was all of the other voices outside of my own dictating to me what I should be doing based on my degree, or my talent, or what they are doing. It wasn’t until I accepted the fact that I am NOT one dimensional, that I don’t just have one thing I’m passionate about, that I am a frikkin’ wild woman who is led by her womb-manness because it is in the womb that we birth worlds. I made a decision not to be driven by what is normal, but rather what comes natural for me, and that is when I aligned with my true self to be the multi-dimensional, multi-passionate entrepreneur, and Self-Made Woman that I am still becoming. Just remember, when you let that S.H.I.T. go, you will begin to Flow and Glow from Head to Toe!
Here are few excellent resources to assist you on your journey: 1. Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom – Christiane Northrup, MD
5. How Not To Die – Michael Greger, MD 6. Rawfully Kristina – YouTube
2. Food Prescription for Better Health – Baxter Montgomery, MD 3. What The Health – Documentary (YouTube) 4. Eat To Live – Joel Furhman, MD
7. Markus Rothkranz – Instructions for a New Life, Heal Yourself and YouTube videos 8. Ladies, Stop Thinking Start Shrinking – Cindy Goodson, MA, MS, CHN
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HEALTHIER SOLUTIONS The Green Goddess Smoothie · 1-2 ripe bananas (the riper the better), peeled · 1 cup frozen mango. · 1/2 pitted avocado. · 1/2 cucumber and or celery · 2 heaping tablespoons hemp and chia seeds (optional) · 1/2 cup frozen pineapple. · 1-2 big handfuls of black kale or collard greens. · 2 cups coconut water · 4-5 pitted dates - thumb of ginger and a thumb or tbsp of turmeric (optional)
Submitted by: Cindy Goodson SMW Health and Awareness Team
Activated Charcoal Anti-Acne Mask Combine a tablespoon each of activated charcoal and bentonite clay. Use apple cider vinegar to make a paste. With clean fingers spread over face and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and apply moisturizer.
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The motto “Think Massive” was brought to me just as I was beginning prep for my 3rd bikini show at my first ever Fitness Expo. My coach at the time was the Nutritional coach for the company, Monolith, and they needed help with volunteers at the booth, so I said YES. If I hadn’t found this company, these people, this manta, I truly think I wouldn’t still be competing today. Now let me go back in time so you can understand where and what mindset I was coming from. Being an athlete all my life, I have always strived for that “next big thing.” I suffered a major shoulder injury which took my dream of playing water polo for a D1 school away. I fell into a deep hole of all kinds of depression. I had a border line eating disorder, I didn’t know what to do with all my cooped up energy and I truly hated the skin that I was in. I was told by the internet to hate my body, to love it, to be okay with where I am and that I didn’t need to change. I had way too many conflicting messages and I didn’t know which one to follow! I had an unbelievable amount of energy to where I would sit up in the middle of a restless night and go on a midnight run just so I could sleep. I found that this was NOT the right way for me, my physical health, but most importantly my mental health. I took a leap of faith, and finally decided to listen to my orthopedic surgeon. I took my stubborn butt to the gym. I came from a lifestyle where I jumped into a pool at 5am almost every morning before school and then again at 3:30pm after school 365 days a year for a continuation of 10 years. A gym was as we swimmers call it, “dry land.” I had NO idea what I was doing. All I knew was that I needed to get this pit of anger that now consumed me, gone. I had never touched a free weight. I didn’t know what a squat rack was. I saw these weird looking weights that I later found out were called “kettle bells.” I thought I would never make it out alive. But I stuck it out; thank God for the internet and YouTube! I asked my phone for every single exercise that I needed to do to get the toned body every girl strives to have. I was no longer going to let the nickname that haunted me from 6th grade into college, define who I was or what I looked like. I refused to be, “Flatty Madi.” I was so much more than that. Once I started to see the physical change of how I could physically manipulate my body to the way I wanted it to look, I was hooked. About a year and a half into my gym fitness journey, I was approached by an older, but very fit gentleman. He asked me if I was on prep. These words meant absolutely nothing to me. I had no idea what he was talking about. I found out later in the conversation that he meant for a bikini show. I had always scoffed at the idea of ever doing that. I had always thought I would never reach that kind of goal. But that one conversation sparked what soon became a wildfire in my heart. The idea of competing was so intriguing to me. I could embrace my competitiveness that I was longing for in a way that would ultimately better myself as a rounded athlete.
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I became fascinated with the idea. I put my big girl pants on and sought out a coach. And before I knew it, I was officially on prep for my first ever bikini show, March of 2016. I was 5’2, about 112lbs with very little muscle. I set a goal though for myself and told myself I was going to do whatever it took to step on that stage in November. Where does Think Massive come in to play? I get asked a lot of the time, “What does it mean to Think Massive?” I have to start with defining what the name of the company comes from. A Monolith is: A large single upright block of stone, especially one shaped into or serving as a pillar or it could be a monument, a large and political, corporate, or social structure regarded as intractably indivisible and uniform. In the Monolith reference it means to stand tall, be loud and even if you stand out, be authentically you. The Think Massive manta found me when I was at one of my lowest points in my life. Just as I about to throw in the towel and walk away from the industry. I never thought I would ever find a group of likeminded people who would truly support me through my journey. What I never mentioned to most, was all the negativity and push back I got from deciding to do my first show.My friends and family would rarely support me. So many regular gym goers decided to put me and who I was in a box that is the fitness industry. Today the fitness industry isn’t authentic. It doesn’t show athletes being vulnerable. It doesn’t show the massive struggles we go through. The walls we hit. The people we lose because we put our health first versus wreaking our bodies to “have a good time.” It doesn’t show the emotional struggle we create with food. Why? Vulnerability. Vulnerability shows the side of every person that they are in fact human. They aren’t invincible like the media shows. It brings to life all the bad things that people never want to talk about, especially on social media. And I was a victim of it. I thought I had to be the perfect human, the perfect daughter, the perfect sister and the perfect role model to young women and men around me. I had a lot of self-made anxiety, stress and body image issues. I created a major love/hate relationship with food. I lost myself.It is so easy to succumb to what everyone is telling you, and to finally give up and just believe it. It’s easier to believe what you are constantly being told then to fight every day and tell yourself different. It was easier to think I would never make it because ‘Becky’ at the gym scoffed at me every time I walked in and tell me I was nothing in the locker rooms. It was easier to think I would mess up my routine on stage because ‘John’ told me I would trip up or have stage fright and run off. It was easier...it was easier...it was easier... I hit the all-time low when I couldn’t handle it anymore and cheated on my diet.
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Did it feel oh so good eating all the foods and drinks that I had been craving? 100 percent. It was glorious! I made sure of that. But, when it came to bed, and I was laying there by myself, with my thoughts, the dream of becoming a Bikini Pro came back into my mind. These people didn’t matter. Their comments should mean nothing to me. If anything, they should fuel the fire that I have and make me a better! I let people and their words physically compromise my dreams! Not to mention mentally and emotionally as well. No one, I repeat NO ONE, should ever have that kind of control over you. You are and should be the only person that has control over your mental state, your physical well-being and the way you feel.We all go through our ups and downs. I have had my fair share of them. But when it comes to your personal goals and your dreams there is no rhyme or reason people outside of you and who you are should come between that. If YOU set a goal, do it. If you have a dream, find likeminded people around you to help you along the way to make it become reality. If I have learned anything, people are waiting to be found. They want to be reached out too. You can’t sit still and wait for them to come to you. You have to be willing to put in the effort, work, sweat and tears. There are so many teachers, mentors and just good humans out there; they won’t know you need their help or support until you ask. My saving grace happened to be Monolith. The Monolith family celebrates weaknesses. They rejoice in failures and struggles. And applaud goals met! Why? Because it shows that you are not only trying to do your absolute best, but it shows that you are also human. Setting a goal and finishing it out can be one of the most satisfying feelings this world has to offer. Ever since I became a part of the family, my social media platform has changed. I talk about my goals and my struggles. I show that you have to be somewhat reasonable with goal setting by swallowing your ego, and show that humbling yourself can go a long way by throwing your pride out the door. I come from a place where I felt like the only person that would ever care about me what me, myself, and I.
"I let people and their words physically compromise my dreams. No one, I repeat, no one should every have that kind of control over you."
Women and men alike, who are single and independent and strong, tend to do this to themselves. They think that they can bare the world struggles on their shoulders and push their problems so far away they almost disappear without ever dealing with them. As an athlete, as a women, as an entrepreneur, we have to come together to create a place where not only do we cheer each other on but listen. Listen to each other’s struggles, hear their cries and support them back into the mindset of Thinking Massive. Imagine what we could accomplish if we did just that.
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Cynthia Delaney Presents:
"IGNITE YOUR DREAMS" THE TRANSFORMATIONAL ONLINE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU WILL BE TELLING ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT! - Ladies, would you dare to dream... if you knew you could not fail? - An epic self empowerment journey like nothing you've ever experienced... - Topics that focus on connecting you with your dreams, the big vision for your life. - Be empowered by women who are experts in mindset, intention, intuition, mindfulness, balance, strengthening your voice, claiming your truth, knowing you're worthy, and more...
selfmadewoman.com/events
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TOMORROW IS MY BEST DAY YET
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Why did those words come to me? Because I live them. My journey and my reaction to challenge made me a Self Made Woman. I rose from the ashes each time and grew to the next level. All my life I have reached for inspiration and growth when handed adversity. I came from poor beginnings, alcoholic parents and learned early on that they weren’t the best role models for me. Instead, I learned to use their examples as how NOT to live my life. In high school, my eyes were opened when I visited my best friend and I took in what I saw. She had wonderful parents, a wonderful home, a wonderful life … I thought, “I want this”. That visual impacted my life, and I became aware and began to embrace change. I realized the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. Who do you have in your life? Do they celebrate YOU? Do they elevate YOU? Most of my adult life was spent as a wife following a husband’s career, so I never had the opportunity to develop my own. I would register with a temporary agency and go on work assignments in each new city where we were transferred. In the late 90s, I was sent on a work assignment to United Airlines at San Francisco International Airport. After a year on my temporary job, I made the decision to end my 12-year marriage to an alcoholic. I took the first step towards taking my life back. I walked into the office of my supervisor and said “I’m getting a divorce and I need a real job”. I was elated when his response was, well, let me write a job description and let’s make your position permanent. In a couple months, a new position was posted, I was hired, and I began my own career … at 48! It was an exciting time in my life. I was being paid a great salary, so I bought a little house in Pacifica. It was located high on a cliff over the Pacific Ocean. Each day when I got out of my car after a long hard day at work, I could hear the crashing waves. I stopped and let that sound cleanse all the negativity away before entering my little sanctuary. I had also reconnected with Larry, the love of my life, that I had not seen in 14 years. Life was good. When the events of 9/11 happened, in the blink of an eye, my life was turned upside down. My employer, United Airlines, lost 2 airplanes that day. The company went back to core business and my whole department was eliminated. To make matters even worse, that summer, Silicon Valley had been laying off computer techs right and left. I quickly realized there was no job for me in the San Francisco area. So, within days, I had lost my wonderful job, I had lost my beautiful little home, and I had to file for bankruptcy. The emotional recovery was a challenge as I had just started my life over a few years back … only this time, I had nothing. My saving grace was Larry. We had been back together for 2 years now and, after lengthy discussions of all kinds of possibilities for me, we decided I would move to Southern California. He had a RV in storage there and that would give me a place to restart my life. What a restart it turned out to be! Larry had been a full-time entertainer since 1995 with his strolling musical act. In February of 2002, his spring tour was about to begin, and I had to find a job because my severance pay from United was running out.
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I thought he came to say goodbye, when I heard the words: “Are you bags packed?”… My response was, “give me 5 minutes.” Away we went on tour together. Now, talk about getting out of your comfort zone. This computer nerd became Washboard Wanda. Slowly and over the course of 6 months, I started my journey as an Entrepreneur in the music industry as we began performing together as Willy’s Washboard Jamboree. I strolled along with him and was his Playground Director making sure the children had a rhythm instrument in their hands. An important note here, we WALKED many miles every day. In the summer of 2013, we were performing in Southern California. I was on the phone with Barbara, my dear friend of 25+ years, trying to arrange a time and place to meet up. I started sharing what was going on with me. I was in a head-on collision in my 20s, now all these years later, my knees needed physical therapy. It felt like they were not strong enough to hold my weight and take my next step which forced me to reconsider the type of work I did! We talked about all kinds of things, what was I going to do and where was I going to go? Once again, I was facing major life decisions. Barbara gave me an amazing gift, she allowed me to move into her condo in LA and start my life again. In a few days, I began living in a suburb of Los Angeles. Let me tell you about LA, too many people, too many cars, awful traffic, too much crime for this country girl from Florida. I embraced my new environment, I saw that divine order was at work again in my life and I was presented what I needed, when I needed it. Do you stop and quiet your mind so you get your messages? And, are you open to them? At first, it was hard to keep my head on straight, but I pushed through and made a conscious decision each day to stay positive. Keeping a good mindset was vital to my sanity. I didn’t know anyone and my friend lived an hour away. It was also the first time in my life I’d ever lived alone. I had hours of solitude to look inside myself and contemplate my direction. But I needed help, so I began meditations and opened my mind for guidance and direction. I came to the realization that this was where I belonged at this point on my life’s journey and found peace with that. I also embarked on a quest to find out what I wanted to do with ME. Fortunately, because of my business background, I was able to get involved in our Entertainment business in other ways. I become the tour manager, logistics manager, booking director, tax specialist, and more. All things I could do from my LA office. I laugh and say, “I get to tell MY husband where to go!” Actually, as I look back, this is when the most exciting chapter of my life began. These last few years have been unbelievable, I love where I am, I love the person I’ve grown to be, and I love the possibilities that are unfolding for my future. During this life evaluation, I asked myself this question and now I ask you, What are YOUR dreams? What are your dreams for YOU? And, more important, what is holding you back?
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When the student is ready, the teacher will come. AND, this student was ready. And finally, I have a GREAT role model. I was a sponge, open and ready to grow and change. As a result, a sequence of events began to unfold. I made the decision to go to a meeting focused on empowering entrepreneurs. I felt like the information was a life changer. But was I really ready? Before I understood what was happening, my arm went up … “I’m in!” It was like a string was attached to my hand and pulled it up.The Powers-to-Be knew I needed to be here. I decided that night to dedicate the next 12 weeks to moving my life forward and I registered for the Wealth Creators Course. I met incredible entrepreneurs, made great connections, but most importantly my life will never be the same. Consider what you could do if you were to work through your fears, and you were able to overcome them, achieve your dreams, and live a life that YOU design! My message to you is, if I can, so can you. Life has given me many hurdles to jump over, and I did. One by one. I taught myself to only look forward and not put things into my backpack to weigh me down and hinder my forward progress. As I’ve shared, most of my life was spent following a husband’s career, until now! To share my story and have a positive impact on others, especially women, is so rewarding. I hope it will inspire you at whatever age you might be, to level up your life. You see, I’m 68 and proof it’s NEVER too late. So, I challenge YOU to,
Live your dreams. Let your light shine. Live without regret, and Be the best you can be, because: Tomorrow is YOUR best day yet!
Longevity with Quality of Life DnLTrends.com/WOW The Preservation of health is easier than the cure of the disease. 27.
Jessica Reisner
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Phala Pesano
Join us at selfmadewoman.com for additional audio and video interviews with incredible women from around the world!
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McKenna Lind
SUCCESS LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE
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Who would have known wanting a new bed would lead me into so many opportunities? Over $10,000 in donations to charities and thousands of pieces of handmade jewelry sold. My name is McKenna, I’m twelve years old. Some people know me as Princess McKenna, a name given to me by my dad because of my precocious nature. As far back as anyone can recall I’ve always known what I want and gone for it. Discovering an item I just had to have, when I was seven years old, grew into a jewelry business that has also helped many people and animals. Being a young entrepreneur has allowed me to experience so much that kids probably wouldn't ordinarily get the chance to experience. It has changed my life for the better. Since I started my business, five years ago, I’ve made lifelong friends and business partners, been to networking meetings, vendor events and met other kidpreneurs. I’ve donated to many charities, participated in photo shoots, discovered so many amazing products and services, learned different aspects of business and the world around me. Owning a business opens you up to thrive and be the best that you can be..
"Being a young entrepreneur has allowed me to experience so much that kids probably wouldn't ordinarily get the chance to experience."
My biggest life lesson so far has been, if you want something in life you have to work for it. When I was seven, I wanted a beautiful $750 dollar Disney Princess bed. This bed wasn't just any cartoon princess bed, it was a bed made for a princess. Adorned with rose carvings and crystal ball finials and Ribbon inlay, its was simply gorgeous. When I asked my mom for this bed, she looked at the price tag and said, well if you want this bed your going to have to work hard and pay for it yourself. Two and a half months later, I bought my bed with my newly born jewelry business, which is called Princess McKenna’s Jewelry (PMJ). I learned how to make jewelry and put the colors together. With my mom and dads help we photographed the pieces, built our social media accounts, bought business cards and booked some events. I learned to research, design and create collections. I had to find my ideal client and keep them coming back! I learned inventory and billing. I learned not everyone pays! I grew loyal followers and supporters who I love dearly all over the world as far away as Australia. We grew into “Team PMJ”.
After I accomplished my first goal, I was in a bit of a pickle, I didn’t know what to do with my business, so, my mom and I thought of using my business as a platform for donating to charities. We decided having a Facebook live auction would best serve as the method to do this. This helped raise just over $10,000 to charities over the last two years.
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We have worked with Animal charities including Wildhorse Ranch Rescue in Gilbert, Arizona, veterans charities, mobility charities, community education foundations, Scott Foundation, who work with Foster Children in Arizona, The Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona, and many more. For me, my greatest accomplishment started with a goal. Fast forward, I’m now twelve, and my goal is to inspire people of whatever age to find their sparkle or drive to have success. Imagine our world with many smart independent people who are chasing their dreams and ambitions. Especially our younger entrepreneurs starting their lives with helpful insight and skills that can prepare them for life. I hope to inspire you. Start with your need, desire, goal, or dream, create a plan, surround yourself with positive people, execute your plan day in and day out, celebrate successes. And repeat. Don’t let your age get in the way. If a seven year old can do it, you can too. Start with small goals, achievable goals.
"I missed deadlines, I’ve had jewelry that didn't sell. I've had auctions that didn't raise any money. I’ve sacrificed for my business and I've grown because of it."
Success looks different for everyone, don't imitate someone else's success, create your own. It isn't easy, you will fall along the way. You may want to give up. You might start listening to those negative people and those mean voices inside your head. Know, that it is normal to have small failures along the way. This is just a way to remind you to try something new. Believe me, I’ve experienced a lot of hardships throughout my long life on the road to success (that was a joke). I know, I’m only 12. But I have missed birthday parties and play dates, for vendor events where no one bought anything. I've stayed up late finishing my homework because a three hour auction went on an extra hour. I've spent Saturdays and Sundays making jewelry. I missed deadlines, I’ve had jewelry that didn't sell. I've had auctions that didn't raise any money. I’ve sacrificed for my business and I've grown because of it. Be strong, be courageous, and remember your why, your dream, your goal, and get it done!
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Cynthia Delaney Presents:
"IGNITE YOUR DESTINY" THE TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER! - Focused on celebrating and elevating women and their achievements. - Connecting you with other women who support each other’s passions, ambitions, and dreams. - Filled with 2 days of real life stories, experiences, and trainings that will take your life to the next level. - Be empowered by women who are experts in mindset, intention, mindfulness, balance, intuition, strengthening your voice, knowing you're worthy, and more... - Men... come support the very important women in your life
Join us Friday, October 18th - Saturday, October 19th, 2019 At the Fox Theater in Tucson, AZ selfmadewoman.com/events
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Ashley Boyett If you would have asked me ten years ago what my dreams for my future looked like, I would not have had an answer of substance. My mission was to find the next party, drink and the next fleeting moment that I would never remember the following day. While I have always been a kind spirit, my actions and moral compass have not always aligned with my greater self. I have spent more years not loving myself and neglecting my health than I have spent nurturing and caring for myself. I feel like many woman go through life not loving themselves and turning to substances of many forms to cope with pain that they feel. It was only recently in my journey that I decided to change my life. My awakening began five years ago when my partner and I discovered the movie “Fat Sick and Nearly Dead� a documentary of one man's journey consuming fruit and vegetable juices. This film touched us, inspired us and flipped a switch in our minds. At that point in time we had been drinking heavily for years and while watching this film together we both began realizing the path we were on was leading us to a dead end. That evening we scoured Craigslist for a juicer. We loaded up on tons of produce and for the next two weeks consumed nothing but juice. After the two weeks we had amazing results, we had not consumed one drop of alcohol in this time span nor craved it. These moments were an incredible blessing in our lives! The story sounds crazy to most and looking back maybe it was a little wild, but a fire was ignited in us to start caring for ourselves giving us a gut feeling that our lives meant so much more than a bottle of booze and we were off onto a journey of self discovery fueled by plants! Fast forward to today and I now have so many accomplishments to be proud of and a whole new perspective on life. My partner and I have grown together and are constantly aspiring to become our greatest versions. We slowly transitioned to veganism and have been consuming only plants for over 3 years. You will notice amazing benefits when switching over to a more healthy lifestyle. Your brain fog will clear and your mood will improve significantly, it will become easier to make better choices in your daily activities. The impact the foods we consume has on our bodies and our mental state of being is truly miraculous.
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As a teen I remember being self conscious of my weight and putting myself on diets restricting my calories and as a result would binge. Calorie restriction is promoted as a healthy way to lose weight and is an issue for so many. When you restrict calories it wrecks your metabolism, your body will first consume your muscle before it consumes fat. People rarely lose weight from calorie restriction and actually maintain the weight they lost. I have noticed eating plant foods has allowed me to feel completely satisfied at each meal with no need for calorie restriction. It is very possible to lose and maintain a healthy weight eating vegan, to do this its as simple as minimizing processed junk foods and eating whole plant foods such as potatoes, rice vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds and incorporating exercise into your life. I prefer not to use the term diet as it is a restrictive word for many people and is associated with negative feelings. When you find a way of eating that tastes good, satisfies you I see this not as a diet but a lifestyle, a diet is merely a fad that rarely lasts. When looking at statistics on cdc.gov you will find that 41 percent of women over the age of 20 years old are obese, and the leading causes of death in women is heart disease, cancer and stroke. I highly recommend the book “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell PhD. This book is extensive and backed by scientific studies on the ability a plant based lifestyle has to reverse heart disease and the power plants have to prevent cancer and numerous other benefits. Another great resource of information is the movie “Forks Over Knives.” When going into any decision in life especially one that effects your health it is important to do research and obtain knowledge. The library is a great place to find more vegan books about nutrition and recipes or if you love YouTube you may also find lots of whole food plant based recipes, knowledge and inspiration. If you are a social butterfly or think being vegan is too lonely check online in your local area or health food store bulletin board and see if you can find any vegan meet ups, there you can make friends with people who are already eating plant based. Even in the small town I lived in there were vegan meet ups! Now that you are becoming aware of the importance of fueling your body with an abundance of nutrients let me tell you about one of my favorite activities in the whole world, building a garden!
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Getting out in the yard, into the warm sunshine, digging your hands into the soil and planting your own seeds. You want vegetables and fruits to grow without being sprayed with chemical laden pesticides. You want your seeds sprouted and grown in mineral rich black gold soil that is abundant in fungus and living organisms.When you indulge and treat yourself to eating fresh home grown food you are living the way nature intended. Eight minutes after picking your produce it loses over half of the nutrients it contained. This means there is nothing more healthy than picking food straight from the plant and enjoying it. When starting a garden know your climate zone and season and please check out the free movie on YouTube “Back To Eden” for the ultimate gardening method. The expression “You Reap What You Sow” applies to so many aspects of one's life, whatever effort or lack of that you make will indeed determine what the universe is going to hand back to you. What will increase your success is fueling yourself with mineral rich foods. I hope to have planted a seed in your mind, whatever stage of life you are experiencing it is never too late to turn your life around and start taking care of yourself.You can start today, better yet right now! I would like to challenge you to start each morning with a whole foods plant based smoothie consisting of fresh ripe fruit, lots of greens and hemp seeds. Implement this for one whole month and notice the changes your body feels. As a woman you are already unstoppable, now imagine the power and love you will radiate with a nourished mind and body! You are the influence in so many others lives, from your children and family to other beautiful women. Make the choice to take care of yourself not only for you but for the whole world because you really do
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make a difference.
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Meditation for beginners is easier than you think. Try out these powerful meditation tips to start your mediation habit and see the immediate benefits today. It gives you perspective: By observing your mind, you realize you don't have to be slave to it. You realize it throws tantrums, gets grumpy, jealous, happy and sad but that it doesn't have to run you. Meditation is quite simply mental hygiene: clear out the junk, tune your talents, and get in touch with yourself. Think about it, you shower every day and clean your body, but have you ever showered your mind? As a consequence, you'll feel more clear and see thing with greater perspective. The quality of our life depends on the quality of our mind. We can't control what happens on the outside but we do have a say over the quality of our mind. No matter what's going on, if your mind is ok, everything is ok. Right now. It Keeps You Real. Once you get to know your mind, you start to own your stuff and become more authentic, maybe even humble. You realize the stories and soap operas your mind puts you through and you gain some perspective on them. You realize most of us are caught up in a mind-drama and become more compassionate towards others.
Dip into infinite awareness with Dr. Eben Alexander and Karen Newell. Alexander is a former academic neurosurgeon who experienced a huge shift in perspective after a near-death experience convinced him that consciousness stems from the spirit, not the brain. Newell, a pioneer in sound meditation and binaural beats, has spent her life exploring consciousness. Together, they teach us how to use mindfulness and meditation to engage the world with a more open mind and expansive heart.
When you think of meditation, what images come to mind? Do you imagine a monk sitting in an uncomfortable position for hours at a time? Do you get the feeling that meditation is boring and tedious? Think again! Meditation is easy, relaxing, and you don’t have to be in a monastery or on a retreat to see helpful and immediate benefits. When meditation becomes a habit, it transforms into a reliable source of peace and tranquility. What are the benefits of meditating?
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It can reduce pain, reduce blood pressure, eases symptoms of anxiety and depression, can help you quit smoking and other bad habits, can help you become more spiritual and improve your life.
We're pretty sure this isn't the first time you'll be hearing this, but we will say it anyway: Yoga is more than just a fitness routine, it's a meditative and spiritual practice, and it is a lifestyle. If you want to have a better understanding of yoga and the breadth of its practice, the best way to do this is to sign up for a yoga for beginners class. Yogis who teach yoga for beginners will tell you what you need to know about this age-old Indian practice, including how you can practice and make use of yoga in daily life. As you probably know, or have read, yoga is as physical as it is mental and spiritual. The benefits you will get from practicing even just yoga for beginners cover all areas of our being: the mind, body, and soul. Practicing yoga in daily life will help you find and achieve harmony in these three aspects of being by showing you how these elements are all interconnected and are what completes an individual's sense of being.
You may already know of the physical benefits of yoga, such as improved posture, increased lung capacity, flexibility, and increased strength in the joints and muscles. But while you do various asanas to enjoy these benefits, you are also simultaneously learning to focus on your breathing and find your inner core. One of the philosophies of yoga is that strength, focus, and spirituality are dependent on the energy that flows within your body and through your core. Once you are able to learn and master these things about your body and your being, you will learn to achieve harmony in your mind, body, and soul.
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Recommended Morning Poses Let's be honest, there will always be days when something will come up at home or at work that will disrupt your routine and demand more of your time. When this happens, you might not be able to do yoga in the hours or for a duration that you may have gotten used to. But just because you can't do a full-length yoga session doesn't mean you can't still have yoga in daily life. Setting aside even just 10 or 15 minutes of your time, before you have breakfast and leave for work, will be enough to do yoga poses. Doing so will give you better concentration and focus for the day ahead and make it easier for you to manage whatever stresses you may have to deal with throughout the day. Yoga is not a demanding discipline, there are no equipment needed, and no strict hours or duration for practicing it. If you want to do yoga and have it as a part of your daily life, here are some poses you can do.
Thunderbolt or Vajrasana The Thunderbolt pose can be done easily and is really helpful in letting you meditate and get an inner sense of calm. To do the Thunderbolt or Vajrasana pose, simply sit on the mat with your legs underneath you such that your buttocks are resting on the heels of your feet. Keep your back straight, keep your neck and shoulders relaxed, and let your palms fall to your lap as you breathe in and out. Try to shut everything out and just focus on your breathing.
The Warrior Pose This pose is one of the classic favorites taught at any yoga for beginners class, and practiced in just about any type of yoga class. There are three variations of this pose, and is more known for the physical benefits it offers to the chest, shoulders, neck, arms, back, legs, and ankles. When doing the Warrior pose, those who have just started doing yoga for beginners should be careful not to strain their calves in trying to keep their heels grounded. If it causes too much strain, you may lift your heels a little and raise it onto a folded towel.
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Downward Facing Dog This is one of the poses you always hear about; it's very popular because of the relative ease with which is can be done, and the benefits it has. Adding the Downward Facing Dog to your list of morning poses will give you that much needed stretch in your back, legs, and arms to start your day. It's very important in yoga to take your time and not rush through any poses, and the Downward Facing Dog is no exception. As you hold the pose in the bent over position, focus on your breathing and learn to relax your body.
Tap Into the Power of Your Intuition Want to learn how to go with your gut more often? Wish you were better able to listen to that little voice inside you, telling you what you should do? Listening to that little voice inside of you telling you what to do and where to go—a.k.a. your intuition—can be challenging. But how does one even begin to find this voice? There is so much noise in our own heads, let alone coming at us from the external world. Trying to find our truth while on the bus or walking through busy streets is exceedingly difficult, because the external cues that we’re being given are very often catering to the ego part of ourselves—the part that always wants more and never feels like it has enough. Also crucial when trying to work with one’s own deep wisdom is to learn how to distinguish the difference between the voice of fear and the voice of clear perception. How? One good indication that your answer is coming from a fear-based internal dialogue is that the voice of fear always comes with an agitation that can regularly manifest as a feeling of anxiety or stress. With this in mind, when contemplating some sort of decision—big or small—notice if the answer you receive also comes with a mental and/or physical vibration that makes you feel unsettled. Finally, if something appears to you as a sign, it is! Many of us have an idea that unless we see an actual burning bush or an angel comes to us in our dreams, we’re not receiving any Divine signaling. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. We are receiving messages all day every day, and it’s up to us to trust when those messages are actually telling us to go for something. The truth is that the more you trust your intuition and follow the messages you’re being given, the more your intuition will show up to guide you. Take a chance on listening to the truth that boils up inside you, and your life will begin to unfold according to your own, perfect plan.
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My story begins with the most familiar. Coffee. I have been a coffee drinker my entire adult life. Sipping on a Cafe au Lait in a rustic coffee house is about as comfortable and heavenly as it gets. However, what I could not have imagined was how a cup of herbal infused coffee would change the trajectory of my life. Who would think that could happen? Just a few years ago, I weighed over 300 lbs, and didn’t even realize that my life had spiraled out of control. I didn’t even know that my weight was in my way. Subconsciously, I suppose I chose not to think about the stress and strain that carrying around that much extra weight would have on my heart and body. Today, having now lost over 160lbs, it is what I have gained that serves as the inertia for my life. The tremendous weight that I have lost over the last several years was literally covering up my true self. The weight loss, the infusion of fitness subsequently into my life, and my now focus on living a healthier lifestyle, were only beginning steps to reinventing my life. I have raised three beautiful children, and spent the past couple of decades being there for family, friends and others. I, like many other women, had lost myself in raising a family, in career, in pursuing higher education, in volunteering, in giving back to the community and in keeping up with life in general. The herbal infused beverages helped my body to process more efficiently, restore balance and head in a direction of a more proper healthy adult weight. Every morning as I sip on my Cup o’Joe, I cannot help but feel gratitude for how my renewed life’s journey continues to unfold. How many, today, have had something in life, weight or otherwise, get so out of balance? In working towards restoring balance, life is breathed into our individual stories; our journeys. The journey which we will travel will likely be full of detours and unexpected road bumps. My journey included losing my home to a 4th of July house fire, breaking down all elements of security I had known. The exposure of my covered up vulnerability now gives me strength to shed old thoughts and paradigms and give way to a much brighter future. It has unleashed a burning passion to serve others in a new way. My desire, now, is to serve as an inspiration; to encourage others to help find their true self again. Providing encouragement and being a living example that one can engage in becoming their best self and reinvent is my mission. Sometimes it is a small shift to reinvent; sometimes changes of great magnitude. Who one allows, and what one allows, around their life table is foundational in determining the speed and extent to which an individual can reinvent. The key to one improving the status of their health takes discipline. My weight loss, the lowering of blood sugars to a normal range again, having no high blood pressure anymore are the good outcomes of good choices, action and that discipline. Women ask me all the time, “what’s the secret to your kind of transformation?” I chuckle as I really do wish I had a secret recipe I could hand them. I explain that the secret for me was not letting habits take over and the familiarity of routines set in.
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In the Spring of 2017, I engaged in a daily workout routine for the first time in my life. I could not do a push up; nor could I walk even a quarter mile without feeling breathless. Over the next year, I simply took daily steps. I got into action. By April of 2018, I found myself crossing over the Golden Gate Bridge on a gorgeous Sunday Morning in the San Francisco Half Marathon. Hearing my parents, my son, my cousin and my friend all cheering with joy as I crossed that Finish Line, a new purpose emerged within me. Over the ensuing few weeks, I was greeted with over 1,000 messages on social media, calls, texts and emails (any way a person could reach out), letting me know how inspiring it was to watch someone, who had not previously exercised a day in her life, cross that finish line! I realized that each one of those difficult steps on those hills in San Francisco that Sunday morning, were not just MY steps. They were a community of people being inspired by action. Losing weight, embarking on a journey to live a healthier life is about living with purpose now, not just surviving. My story of just surviving is not unique. Too many of us just carry on and survive. As I now live with purpose, I am able to empower women and others to recapture their power and reinvent themselves. This purpose includes helping others unbury their heads and to infuse health and wellness practices into their lives. I have a goal to inspire thousands that they CAN reinvent. One just needs to recognize that they have the POWER to do it. Did I know, or even realize, that I would begin to reclaim my health vitality by losing weight from drinking a healthier cup of coffee? Absolutely not. At any stage of their life, one holds the power to take a myriad of actions steps to reinvent their life. One never knows when or what the influence will be to start that journey of reinvention. A few years after my decision to makes changes to previous habits, I found myself on the island of Moloka’i, Hawaii. The call of the island helped reinforce to me who the person was that I was meant to be. I rediscovered that magnificent being. I learned not to be defined by any shortcomings and appreciate perfection in myself. Reinvention includes no longer withholding this gift of who you are from the universe. I owe it to myself, and to humanity, to contribute all I can to every man, woman and child who wants to discover their best self. No one should have the burden of having to search for who they are; they should just be it. If each person could roar like a lion, beat like a drum, crash like a wave, sing like a bird, croak like a gecko, be soft like a blade of grass, be brilliant like a bright red ginger flower, life would be fuller. It is not only through the sharing of your individual gifts, but the openness for people to receive these gifts that help shape the next steps of the journey. The human spirit has an endless capacity to shift and reinvent. I have lost the weight equivalent of an entire person, but have gained even more in the process! I have gained a deeper self-awareness and an actual purpose in life!
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Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Beep-beep-beep-beep. The alarm clock is buzzing I can practically feel my heart beating out of my chest. Panicked, I jump out of bed in fear of being late for my flight. Luckily, I am not a first-time flyer but rather a seasoned professional, in my humble opinion, anyway. My outfits were packed, precisely, a week ago and I have double, triple, and quadruple checked my flight times. Transportation has been strategically lined up for my trip to the airport. US dollars have been converted to foreign currency. The countdown from 120 days to takeoff has finally arrived and today is the big day. You might think that my first big Euro trip would be one of the most exciting days of my life, but, in the back of my mind I am honestly a little stressed, anxious, and worried. A million thoughts are racing through my mind, such as; did I forget my toothbrush? Will I have enough socks? Is every perfect little detail planned out to a “T”? As I board the plane, all these thoughts begin to subside as my husband reassures me that everything is okay and to relax. With a few deep breaths and a quick prayer, we are off to face the world as we know it. It is time to take on Germany, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. Have we ever been to Europe? No. Do we speak the language? No. Are we adventure lovers? Absolutely! Let’s talk about control for a minute. The most appropriate definition in this case comes from the Oxford Dictionary and defines control as “the means to maintain influence or authority over.” When I think back to the preparation for my trip to Europe, I thought a lot about control and I had the mindset that everything needed to be planned. Being that this was a “once in a lifetime” trip, I must take advantage of every opportunity. The truth is, you cannot take advantage of every opportunity if you are always trying to plan everything. What I really needed was to loosen the reigns a bit and just be. I needed to take it all in and that is exactly what I have been doing and implementing in my life ever since. For your sanity, a great resource you can create is a “Let Go” list. Just like a to-do list, a let go list is a list of things you are going to throw away to live a happier life.
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It is totally okay to get creative with this so take a trip to your nearest stationary store, pick out a piece that stands out to you, and beginning listing all of the things you would be better without! For example, you can choose to let go of stress, worry, anxiety, and fear. When you make the conscious choice to let go, and go with the flow, you will become healthier, happier, and more at peace with yourself and your circumstances. Pro Tip Number One: Stop scheduling out every single detail of your life, especially if you are on vacation. It is OKAY to be spontaneous! When everything is so structured, you begin to care more about the clock (tick tock, tick tock) and less about the beautiful moment you are experiencing in the here and the now. Do yourself a huge favor and let go a little. Rip up
Moments like these, the unplanned, spur of the moment, impulsive, spontaneous adventures create the space where you can break the chains of your schedule and begin to blossom into self-discovery.
your meticulously coordinated and well thought out to do list and choose to go with plan B, C, D, or E. Do something you have never done before because this will allow you to create memories that you will cherish for a lifetime. Talk to the locals in a community and get a true perspective on what makes a place so special. After all, you are spending hundreds or thousands of dollars to visit a new place, so make every moment count. This brings me back to a special moment in Prague, Czech Republic. Prague is where my family roots began, and I have dreamt about exploring my place of lineage since I was a child. Once I finally made it there, I was awestruck. I was standing in the
town square of the most beautiful city on the planet. A place that is untouched by time, that has inspired fairytales from around the globe. A place richly influenced with culture, incredible food, and unparalleled beauty. By speaking to the locals, I found out about a hidden gemcalled Malá Strana, or Lesser Town. Malá Strana was full of cobblestone streets, brightly painted buildings, and breathtaking views of the Vltava River. What a moment to cherish! A place that surely doesn’t require a schedule. Pro Tip Number Two: Ride public transportation whenever possible. This may seem like a simple or silly tip, but, it truly makes the biggest difference. Buses, trollies, and trains are chock-full of fascinating people who are just waiting to meet you. Individuals who take pride in their city and want to share the history, secret spots, and surprises that make a place so wonderful. In addition to this wonderful surprise, public transportation is a budget friendly alternative to a rental car, and it is more environmentally friendly.
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Unless you are traveling for business, just SAY NO to the rental car. Trollies and trains allow you to be more flexible because they usually run all day which means you can say goodbye to parking meters that only make you focus on the time. Think to yourself a little less tick-tock and little more freedom on your clock. That is what losing control can do for you. Pro Tip Number Three: Be open to changes in your schedule. It’s okay to live a little. There is nothing worse than having an event packed day with little wiggle room to breathe. This creates a rush-rush-rush mentality because the timeline of one event bleeds into the next and then you find yourself in rush hour traffic, only to be forty minutes late, hungry, and annoyed with everything. (I am speaking from personal experience). It is better to go with the flow and experience the journey as it unfolds. Showing yourself grace and indulging in self-care will go a long way when it comes to finding yourself by losing control. The moral of the story here is to let go of control and embrace the journey that we have the privilege of calling “life�. Think back for a moment to your personal favorite moments in your life. This might have been an impromptu dance party in the pouring rain, a dance with Bruno Mars at a seafood restaurant (again, real life experience), a hot cup of coffee with a loved one on a cold day, or an hour-long conversation in the car in the dead of night. Moments like these, the unplanned, spur of the moment, impulsive, spontaneous adventures create the space where you can break the chains of your schedule and begin to blossom into self-discovery. Please do not be afraid to extend your conversations, laugh a little longer and smile a little bigger. Ditch the control and gain the joy that you have been missing. Remember, life is a marathon, not a sprint. I would challenge you, ladies, to find yourself by losing control.
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Travel is much more than a vacation, it is a way to express ourselves, discover ourselves and to make an impact on humanity. Traveling inspires, challenges and brings women together from across the globe. Now women of all ages are seeking to explore the world together in order to help create positive social change, personal THE JOURNEY TO FIND OURSELVES transformation, and meaningful experiences. Women have always had an explorer's heart. Amelia Earhart and Mother Theresa have opened up our minds to the meaning of travel, adventure, and leading to the gift of self-discovery. A 2018-2019 survey of women adventure and travel enthusiasts is a treasure-trove of information, telling a wonderful story about why women like to adventure, how they define “adventure”, and what they most like to do with these opportunities to learn about other cultures, push their boundaries and meet other fascinating women along the way.
One of the questions asked was “What are the top benefits of traveling?” 2,000+ responses reveal that there are a variety of different motivations which women tap into when traveling.
ore "Finding m than similarities s between difference d all ages an women of cultures”
el f mys e s ith mer o im ation w nd t e “I lik destin laugh a in a I can ” pl e with k l peo a t
of evolution nce the of s e y “Experie e the through ” s n women o ti ra gene different
"I have m et fantas tic wome from all o n ver the w o rld, many o f wh o m I am still in touch with”
mfort “Being in the co uls” so ed of like-mind
“Freedom to be and do”
ith mw o d is and gw ger arin n h u S “ e yo thos older”
....
"Sharin g and le arning others’ from person profess al and ional su ccesse s and disapp ointme nts” “A bonding of spirits with similar interests”
i ed “Var s but a und ” kgro thread bac n o m com
“S tho har se ing yo w un isd ge om ra nd with old er”
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“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou
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Write in a Journal! When we travel, we think we will remember all the details, but in actuality so many new things are happening so quickly every day, and eventually the details will fade away. Even just taking five minutes a day to write down any major events or key memories will help to remind you of so much that you may forget over the years. Going back and reading you travel journals is a great way to relive your trip. Photos are also a great way to capture the moments, but we have to be careful not to get completely obsessed over only taking photos and not actually taking in and living in the moment.
Paris
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Travel with your own personal travel agent that you can carry around in your pocket. An app like TripCase takes all of your different reservations and travel plans, whether that’s flights, car rentals or accommodation, and incorporates them all into one, easy to use platform. It will also automatically update any changes to your trip, such as flight times. To really top it all off, it’s free!
Don't overpack. Leave room for special tokens from your trip. Especially when traveling abroad, goods are much more inexpensive. Think about ways you will want to remember your trips. Maybe a special swimsuit coverup from Greece, a hand-carved bowl from Costa Rica, or snow globe from Disneyland.
“The more I traveled, the more I realized fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.” – Shirley MacLaine 51.
STRONG GETTING STRONGER STEPHANIE INGRAM
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What is strength? How do we get stronger? What does it mean when you are told you’re a strong woman? True strength in any form isn’t an overnight process! We weren’t born strong, it’s learned and taught from our upbringing. As we grow up, we start observing strength: be it in our parents, teachers, on television etc. Beyond that we build beliefs, have thoughts, opinions and perception of what true strength is. There are a many forms of strength, physical strength is what most people think of 1st, but there is also emotional, mental and spiritual strength. For me, I find strength in incorporating all four of them. But what does it truly mean when someone says you’re a strong woman? As a divorced mom of 3, a health coach, entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast, I am still in the process of getting stronger in many ways and I know many women are! It’s like change… all of our lives are in a constant state of change, but change is good. It’s where new beginnings start, progress is a key factor in order to thrive. Without progress, you can find yourself overwhelmed and suffer emotionally. So, when someone tells you that you’re strong are they saying that solely based on what they see you do or how you talk? That may remain a mystery to me. I personally have fought an uphill battle with my inner strength. I have not felt worthy or good enough at times. I have felt at times I don’t deserve the things I want. But where does this feeling truly come from? It goes to our mindset, which manifests fear, doubts and disbeliefs. It has taken me up to this point in my life to realize how much our brain can make us weak or strong. In May of 2017, I stepped on a fitness stage which I had wanted to do since my late teenage years. I had wanted to become a bodybuilder! That didn’t start happening until I was almost 47, why? Because life took me down a different path of marriage, 3 beautiful kids and being a stay at home mom. I mention all of that because it was part of my process that has led me where I am today and how I was able to step on that stage. The growth and journey I had to go through by being a mom took strength, not only
mentally or physically but also required the wit, care, love, compassion, intuition, patience, and creativity it takes to raise them. I see that now as I write this article. I will tell you even though I wasn’t exactly where I felt I needed to be, when it came time to hit the stage, I still decided to go through with it. The mental journey that I had to go through to build my physical strength had also built up my mental strength. Building muscle just like building your mindset, doesn’t happen overnight. It takes days, months, years, even a lifetime for some. I know many women struggle with thoughts and beliefs of themselves. I am here to share that you are not alone!
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The struggle is real and tougher for some. You can and will achieve anything that you set your mind to and that you believe. It’s a choice to build yourself up daily, mentally, physically, spiritually. So how are you feeding your mind daily? Positive or negative self-talk? Learn to control your mind and you can start to control many other things in your life.I’m not saying life isn’t going to happen, but if you learn ways to help your mindset (i.e., Read books, listen to audio tapes, exercise in any form, see a therapist, meditate, pray) then that can be the first step to keeping yourself focused.Learn to set goals and not beat yourself up when things don’t go as planned. Knowing life will inevitably happen but when we learn to control our minds (with few examples that I’m suggesting) we can speed up the process. You are stronger than you think, but your mind is and always will be what limits you. One great book is by Mel Robbins called the “5 Second Rule”. It helps you get your mindset get straight by counting down to action. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, get up, get moving, get going! One great book is by Mel Robbins called the “5 Second Rule”. It helps you get your mindset get straight by counting down to
"You are stronger than you think, but your mind is and always will be what limits you."
action. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, get up, get moving, get going! Joyce Meyer’s book, “Battlefield of the Mind”, is a great book to start with, the title alone tells what it’s about and how to overcome. The concepts are practical in this book, building mental strength takes time. We all have mental struggles to overcome, we need to believe with our minds that we are all unique, special, beautiful and deserving women of everything good that life has to offer. Surround yourself with likeminded people that pour positivity and hope into your life.
You can surround yourself with positivity by downloading a meetup app and join a group that is representing things you enjoy, or if you like the exercising find a gym-buddy, or in business find a great mentor. Not “if”, but “when” you decide to build your mind and exercise that muscle, the possibilities are endless. There are always solutions and ways to become mentally stronger in every area of your life when you stay open and let go of how you think things should be or who you should be. My challenge to you is pick one thing that you’ve always wanted to do and “just do it”, you truly are the only one putting limitations on yourself. No matter what your challenges are, remember to just be you and embrace the change that will help you grow into the woman you are meant to be! “Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and twice as beautiful as you’ve ever imagined.” Dr Seuss
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JOIN THE MOVEMENT
CONNECT WITH US: CONTACT US: FACEBOOK: Self Made Woman TWITTER : @SelfMadeWoman4u INSTAGRAM : SelfMadeWoman4u www.selfmadewoman.com
info@selfmadewoman.com 855.SMW.4YOU
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Have you ever found yourself wondering if you really know yourself? I began to question myself many times as I took on life with a marriage and four children. I got lost in the everyday things we do when we have a family, I was completely unaware for so many years. My first marriage unfortunately ended in a tragic divorce after 24 years, this was a very unhealthy marriage on so many levels. It brought loss, fear, trust issues, financial burden and a broken family. My second marriage was like a fairy tale, we had been dating for almost a year, we took a missionary trip to the Dominican Republic, where we got married! Forty-four hours after he proposed I was walking down the aisle, I was so in love! This was a huge event in this town, such excitement filled the air, it was the best time of my life. We were showered with love from the community! Life was so amazing!…Or was it? We have all heard that love is blind. Looking back, I had blinders on blinders, I couldn’t see the truth that was right in front of me. I had worked so hard changing myself during and after my marriages, but I began falling into old patterns, ones that I surly didn’t want to repeat! I thought at the time I was strong and able to make the right decisions, but they too had blinders. As time went on, I became different for different people, depending on what they needed or how they saw me. I now refer to it as a mask, you know the type, like a masquerade ball. No one can see the real you, not even you! I hadn’t been myself for so many years because I became who my husband wanted me to be. At church, I became what they saw me as or what my friends needed and so on. It didn’t matter who it was, it was the mechanism, the coping skill that I had become very comfortable with. I functioned this way for many many years, not knowing or understanding who I was or that I had a choice! I believe my masks had blinders. Here’s the good news with that, there’s hope! Are you wearing a mask or do you have blinders on? Stop for a moment and really reflect! If you do, identify the mask, really look for the traits and characteristics. Are the masks different with different people? Is your voice not being heard? Do you know who you are? Do you self-sabotage? These were some of my struggles, I wouldn’t speak up for myself and that eventually lead to low self-esteem and depression. I became very fearful of making my own decisions and I NEVER gave my opinion. Only if it was asked for and usually it was everyone else’s voice, not mine! I just hid in the background.
"I started recognizing the differences between these masks, I had several of them. I would continue to be the submissive, silent, unhappy woman that didn’t know the way out." Can you relate? Time goes by and wow does it fly by fast in life! I never realized this until I turned 60, now divorced from both controlling men, I know I have left so much of my life not lived! I knew there was more to life, but we get caught up in the business of life with relationships, kids, activities and anything that keeps us from asking the questions, who am I? What do I like? What am I passionate about? What do I want for my life? When we set out to change our lives for the better, we must be conscience of the little things that can sabotage our efforts. Thinking things like “I’m too old,” “I’m too tired,” “I’m not worthy,” or “I can’t!”
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I have been told by people closest to me things that weren’t true that I BELIEVED, and it altered my life immensely. Things like “It’s your fault things didn’t work out,” or “It's too late to start over.” Beware who you listen to! I’m here to dispel the notion that we are too old, I literally started over at 50. Brand new life! I have restructured my life in every area! I was very open minded and looking for something that would help me out of where I was! I always heard the saying, “The teacher arrives when the student is ready.” Truth! I literally had to ask myself the hard questions and then I needed to make serious changes. I had to break the cycle, I didn’t want my 3 girls to go through what I did. I stepped out into theater as an actress. This was a passion of mine which lead to directing and eventually starting my own company, “The Sonoran Desert Players”. I felt real and full of life, which was all new to me! Listen it’s time, right now to grab back your life, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. We here at SMW are here to help you. We need to break the chains that bind us! No one is alone! Here are a few things that helped me: Be open! When you’re open, you invite opportunities into your life that will help you get your desired outcome. I was actively looking and along came Self Made Woman and Founder, Cynthia Delaney. It came at the right time and I have since discovered that this Tribe of women from all walks of life have created amazing opportunities for myself and so many others. We will help you regain your life. We are going to dispel those things that stop you! Fear, trust, low self-esteem! Identify the mask or blinders you’re faced with. I had a passion to help others face these masks, so I had to face my fears of public speaking! Things that helped me face my fears were directing in theater, and working with the American Red Cross instructing classes. I was shaking and could hardly speak in front of people when I started, but I conquered my fear and became the number one instructor in my county. When you take back your life, you can accomplish everything you desire. Letting go is fundamental in taking these masks off. Let go of anger, frustration, know who you are and what serves you! You can accomplish this by surrounding yourself with women that have gone through this and who support you. Believing in yourself and the process, and NEVER GIVE UP! Belief is the glue that cements your decisions to go all the way! Meditation, YouTube has many to chose from, I enjoy Dr. Joe Dispenza’s channel, and his videos about how to Heal and Rewire your brain. Beware of Self Sabotage, what are you saying to yourself? Are you telling yourself you’re too old, too tired or that you’re unworthy? Law of attraction, everything is energy and we can change our lives by our very thoughts and spoken words along with action. Write 25 Affirmations, (Ex: I am worthy - I am beautiful- I receive abundance) Put affirmations where you will see them, your bedroom, bathroom, car, etc. and read several times a day. I hope this short version of my story can give you hope, I want you to know that if I can make these changes, you can too. Join us here and take the SMW 10 DAY CHALLENGE today and break feelings of being unworthy, not having a voice! This changed my life!
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VISIT SCOTTSDALE Hotel Valley Ho - Location of SMW Cover Shoot
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PHOTOSHOOT WEEKEND
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"Recently I experienced the magic of coming together with 11 other women. I have never had the pleasure of being surrounded by that many intelligent, positive and uplifting women all at one time. The energy and power a large group of women conducts could light up the world and then some! I know this is the vision that Cynthia foresees and the Self Made Woman platform has inspired me to dig deeper into my passions and really fine tune what it is I want and desire. Teaching me not only to focus on my passions but also that I deserve to be happy and make a living doing what I love. I look forward to more learning and growing and most of all inspiring the women of the world to do the same, and it is through Self Made Woman that we will unite our souls and light our flames." - Ashley Boyett
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I have never felt more love, community, passion or purpose in one short weekend with all the founding women of Self Made Woman. The founder Cynthia Delaney, has such passion for helping, celebrating other women and their passions and paying it forward. What an an amazing opportunity to be a part of this movement and the photo shoot weekend! - Stephanie Ingram
How do you describe AWESOMENESS in ACTION, add to that AMAZING, and, we go on, and on? For me this was an experience “second to none”. Not knowing exactly what to expect, wondering who of the 12 ladies & 1 youngster you would recognize instantly vs. not, putting a face with a name, this experience was truly life changing. My favorite parts of this event are too many to itemize; however, being greeted upon my arrival at the Hotel Valley Ho by Donnis Hiskett, with a huge hug, smile, excitement & “come sit with us”, and then meeting Sherri LaClaire & Cindy Goodson was just awesome. I can’t recall ever being welcomed to any event the way all these ladies did for me. It’s one thing to communicate via text, email, video conference, etc., but to get the opportunity to meet face-to-face was just the best of the best. So much sharing, caring, love, camaraderie, and, best of all a total “no judgment zone”. The people who come into our lives are there for many different reasons. For me this was a no coincidence meeting and event. I know these ladies have become life long friends forever, and, I feel very blessed & privileged to have been a part of this event. Every one of these ladies shared and showed their real who I am and why I am me. The opportunity presented at this event to get, “glammed up”, was so much fun. There truly are no two of us alike, and, to be able to share this #MeBeingMe and #ThisIsMe moment was so freeing. My personal congratulations and many thanks to Cynthia Delaney & Abby Seaholm for all their efforts and collaboration in bringing the vision & this event together. Having done a huge amount of event planning throughout my life, this event was planned, orchestrated, organized and “cued” to the last T was crossed & the I’s dotted. No easy task and quite a challenge. - Julie Wetteland
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WOULD YOU WANT TO WORK WITH YOUR SPOUSE?
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In September of 2016, I found myself facing this question after self-starting 4 companies on my own within a decade. My spouse, Cole at the time was a successful commercial developer. He made it clear he also wanted to continue his passion and expertise for real estate. I had just finished my real estate schooling and passed the exams to become a licensed agent in the state of Utah. Something inside me told me to put my real estate license on hold and look into a free, zero investment business opportunity with an upcoming cloud-based company that had been skyrocketing with patented products. But, the question lingered... Do I want to work with my spouse? How will it affect my marriage? What are the pros and cons? What about my real estate license I recently worked so hard for? What about my multiple other businesses? I faced all these questions for myself and especially as a mother. We decided given both our personalities as entrepreneurs and our deepest priority being to continue to raise our children ourselves from home, that we had nothing to lose by joining the company as free influencers and seeing what our collaboration as a couple would blossom into. We moved forward with three promises 1) a promise to dedicate a minimum of 3 years to the business before evaluating our “success”, because no business is built overnight, we know that from experience 2) to grow our business authentically by sharing the products and never have to “sell them,” because we are confident in the benefits based on our experience 3) stay true to us always and focus on our continued self-improvement as a couple and individuals on our own journey. Well, it’s 2019 and we’re about 2.5 years into that “2016 decision” and I can confidently tell you – YES! YES! YES! I would want to work with my spouse. I absolutely cherish it on so many levels. While some of you may read this and quite literally think that’s your worst nightmare. So, let’s talk about what two years of working with my spouse has done for our marriage and what it’s like to work with your spouse. Create Together, Learn Together, Grow Together Marriage is about creating a life together, making memories right? When you work together with your spouse you are creating a stronger bond and confidence in each other, which generates daily memories of what it takes to succeed – together. After two and a half years of working with my spouse we have created a new form of success together. We found a fulfilling success and created a stronger bond as we achieved many goals hand-in-hand. Our late nights, long travels, lots of brainstorming, lots of calls and early mornings to rise and work before others blossomed our life together. We’ve gained different levels of respect from seeing what it takes to be in synergy while working together. Running a business with your spouse is a learning curve. You are not only problem solving, learning and growing your education in the business together, but also learning more about your spouse each day. Cole and I both agree we have learned a lot about one another since being in business together. We see where each of us excels and where each of us needs improvement and how far we have come. We both love learning and taking every opportunity to learn, so we may grow stronger inside and outside of our business.
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You also learn how your partner motivates, how they handle stress, tasks, other relationships, meetings, interactions, opportunities, mishaps and more. You learn their learning style. You learn their patterns. You learn more and more about their body language and skill sets. They rub off on you. You then compliment one another and begin to grow and adapt together. It’s unexplainable. It’s remarkable. It’s next level marriage bonding in my opinion. It’s exhilarating to work with your spouse. If you are not growing together, you are growing apart. That’s a fact. Not everything you do in life and daily life will involve or require your spouse. In fact, there is such thing as too much time together. However, when you challenge yourself as individuals, as a couple and within a business you will naturally grow together. We personally attribute a new form of growth within our marriage, health and relationships to taking on this new business just over two years ago. Because we work together and spend a lot of time together having similar interests, we enjoy our personal time. It’s a must. We each have our meetings, activities, trips and other businesses that we participate in as individuals. We are excellent about coordinating our schedules and communicating needs. It’s NOT easy being dual-work from home parents. Did you read that twice too? Wondering, how the heck can’t two full time parents figure it out? Tell us about it! We didn’t expect it to be so hard. The ever-changing roles of who’s “parent-role” so our two young daughters are not ignored, is quite comical. It’s flipping by the minute, the phone call, the meeting and by the hours sometimes. When you workfrom-home it’s not the glamorous picture some Instagram moms paint. But it is everything we wanted and worked so hard for. We wake up, we go to the gym, we come home and work side-by-side showing our children what entrepreneurship looks and feels like. We are starting off 2019 in typical entrepreneur fashion, celebrating our second joint-business together (since the first joint-business is going so well). You will now find us hand-in-hand working on our official Friesian-Sporthorse breeding program, Wadsworth Sporthorses debuting this spring! If you’ve ever considered working with your spouse, listen to your gut instinct. You are in control of whether it strengthens your marriage, your abundance, your goals, your life and your quality of life. My best advice is move forward with three set promises that will set you up for success. Stick to them and see where your partnership excels you. My top three suggestions to set you in the right direction are: 1. Collectively set a realistic timeline based on how long you want to dedicate to the business before determining if it’s worth continuing to grow appropriately in accordance to the time spent and investment. We set our timeline at three years for the purpose of year one being a learning curve/foundational set, year two being tremendous traction/action and year three of becoming the expert after experience sets in before evaluating. This has been a great number for us so far on all of our businesses. Consistency is the key, no matter what. Remember that. You can not half attempt to open a business, kind-of work at it and call it a failure when you never put in the actual work required based on the industry standard for your venture.
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2. Talk about what you are NOT willing to compromise based on whatever aspects of the new business that may be out of your character (not comfort zone) Every entrepreneur needs to get outside their comfort zone to hit their potential. At the end of the day an entrepreneur’s advantage is the ability to choose to surround themselves with income opportunities that they are passionate about. If your business has ideals, standards or criteria that don’t mesh with you, evaluate how you can make it your own. For us, we technically joined a sales company, but selling or being “salesy” isn’t what makes us happy nor is it our personalities. Sounds like a big problem right? Nope! We reevaluated each of our characters and problem solved. We know what makes us both happy and that is helping people feel authenticity. So our second promise was to attract sales and lead by example to help clients, versus cold sales and pushing product on clients. 3. Decide a marriage goal within the partnership in business. Our number three promise was to stay true to us (our marriage) and focused on our continued selfimprovement as individuals and as a couple, meaning zero complacency. Complacency is the killer of marriage AND business growth. For us, the free opportunity platform we joined could provide a quick (under 10 years or less) safety net residually and therefore for many, it could easily lead to complacency within the company’s potential. We promised one another no matter the amount of growth or success, we would not become complacent, but continue to lead by example and never think we have maxed out our potential, influence or reach. On the marriage side, this stands true for not being complacent in our everyday lives as individuals. Vowing to continue to push ourselves to each new level of our spiritual, mental, physical health and prosperity wellness; knowing you will always grow in these areas so long as you make time for their success too. If you resonate with me and believe the opportunity to work with your spouse is so much more of a dream than a nightmare, I want you to take a blank piece of paper out, find a quiet place and write freely. Be limitless. Be bold. Do NOT write down what you think is “possible” write down what you would write with zero boundaries. I don’t care how over-the-top it sounds or how simplified. This is your IDEAL. Be as descriptive and detailed as possible. What would a day in the life of working with your spouse look like for you. What would it feel like? Do you feel peaceful? Did you throw your alarm clock away? What does it smell like? What can you see when you look around this ideal life? Be so crystal clear that you literally vision it as if you’re watching yourself in a movie. Add an abundance of sentimental substance in there, emotion, how you want to feel as the day goes on? Lastly, add anything you do not have in your life that you desperately wish you had or feel you are lacking. Now what do you do once you’ve poured your entire limitless fantasy onto this paper or even the notepad you filled up? Let’s find out! In my experience, I have witnessed one of the biggest barriers women face in being married and an entrepreneur is their spouse. My personal opinion is most spouses don’t know the full truth of WHY their wife wants to start her own business. I believe some spouses feel they won’t be needed or depended on, some it makes them feel in control too. Maybe it’s time you invite them to join you! Maybe they feel left out? I challenge you to share this paper with your spouse and ask them if this too is the life they want to pursue. Because everything on that paper, down to every detail of waking up next to your spouse, the peace of waking up to your favorite morning routine without the rush to a 9 to 5, the smell of the ocean out your dream home window, the view of the open kitchen you can’t wait to cook in every morning all the way down to the gratitude you want to feel when you get to drive your kids to school, it’s your WHY your absolute truth on paper. Why you won’t ever give up no matter how hard any of your endeavors get. By sharing this with your spouse, now they know WHY you want to start a business and better yet, with them too. Let’s stay connected. I’d love to hear if you choose to take on the abundance and journey of working with your spouse too! God bless the self-made woman and her mission to live the life she deserves.
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11 Business Ideas You Can Start With No Money or As Little as $100 1. Virtual Assistant: If you have a phone, computer and internet you can be a virtual assistant. This is one of the hot new businesses you can start for less than $100.
2. Online Business: Provide a product(s) that people need, want, or trends are pointing to. Give it your own personal flare with marketing and a great story to back it up. Connect it to a cause. People join people and love to make a difference! Shopping with you online and days later getting a box on their doorstep is the convince most people are looking for.
3. Vlog, Blog, Course, or Membership Site: If you've got something you love to write about you can definitely earn extra money!
4. Direct Sales Representative: Companies in direct sales can pay very well for you to spread the word. It can build a substantial income and powerful residual to add to your financial streams.
5. Menu Planning: There are plenty of people who are indecisive when it comes to their meals, that's why they're willing to hire someone to plan them out. This is a low cost idea for anyone who loves food.
6. House Sitter, Pet Sitter, Dog Walker: This essentially requires no initially investment, you can stat asking your family, friends, and neighbors if they need someone to watch their house or pet while they're gone.
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11 Business Ideas You Can Start With No Money or As Little as $100 7. Homemade Gourmet Foods: Whether it's soup mixes, jellies, or chocolates, people love gourmet food. And since you already have a kitchen, you just need cooking supplies, packaging and basic marketing materials to get started. Please check with your local city requirements when starting a food preparation business.
8. Professional Organizer: We live in a materialistic world and it's easy to start getting overwhelmed by all the stuff thats consuming our homes. Some help is normally welcome! Tip: Be a great professional organizer by helping your client post and sell anything they no longer want or need. They'll appreciate the extra money and it can be a bonus for you. 9. Green Cleaning Business: There are a lot of cleaning services, offer one that is unique! The trends are to take care of our planet and more people would, but they don't know where to start. You can offer them an answer and create an elite cliental that can grow into a franchise or a company of passionate "keep the planet green" employees.
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10. Concierge Assistant: If you love to travel, find that new great restaurant or give other people a unique experience, why not get paid for it? From arranging transportation to and from the airport to booking hotels or restaurant reservations, you can provide a service that saves other people a lot of time. It puts money in your pocket and builds a cliental that you can take care of from home.
11. Affiliate Marketing: Â Basically this just means you plug other people's products or services Reach out to the companies you love and purchase from and ask them if they have affiliate links. That's all you need to get started and you will get a piece of every purchase through your affiliate link. It's all about promotion.
DO IT NOW.. DON'T WAIT JULIE WETTELAND
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This article is dedicated to the love of my life, my rock, my love at first sight guy, who I lost to Dementia in March, 2018. Throughout my life I have been truly blessed with many opportunities for personal growth, development, and, numerous & amazing life changing experiences & learnings. My objective with this writing is.....if I can help change, only one life, through this article then my objective is complete. So, “Do it now....Don’t wait”. When I think about my life and the many opportunities afforded to me, through business, associations, personal decisions, etc., I always come back to mid 1991 when my late husband Ray was offered the opportunity to retire, after 30 years of service with AT&T (Pacific Bell). At this time in our lives we had 2 children in college and all the other worldly “stuff” anyone could possibly want. Needless to say, at this time, there was a lot of “do I, don’t I” thinking going on for both of us. Bottom line, this was an unforeseen opportunity being presented, so in July, 1991 Ray retired at the age of 46. Interestingly, in December, 1991 I was offered the same retirement opportunity. Little did we know there was a reason for all of this. Today, and in hind sight, I now fully and much better, understand today, why this all happened when it did. As mentioned, with 2 children in college, we found there were many changes, in our lifestyle needing to be made and/or modified and better yet, be enhanced. Ray and his awesome Information Systems career afforded him the opportunity to do consulting and provide support to many of his clients who were in his same field of business. Me, on the other hand, and, being a closet interior designer, went on to pursue a number of different adventures for the next 2+ years. It was in mid 1993, we realized both children would be graduating from college within 2 weeks of one another in mid 1994. This is when we really got down to the serious discussions of “significant downsizing”. Needless to say, being the consummate perfectionist (sound familiar ladies?), Always wanting everything organized, in it’s place, where it belongs, neat, tidy, well appointed, etc. the journey to answer the questions of “what’s next” began, constant in the thinking, sleeping, and, very serious.
This journey was definitely not an easy one for either of us, and, the sleepless nights were many, and, in all honesty, probably more so for me than Ray. However, bottom line was, we both enjoyed traveling, so we decided to purchase a 40 foot Motor Coach. The amenities, the bells and whistles decisions were both frustrating, and, also brought a lot of fun to decide on, e.g.: cabinetry, colors, flooring, window treatments, fabrics, etc., and, ultimately, we took delivery of the coach in mid February, 1994 in the freezing cold of Bend, OR. With the coach, our new home, now a reality, the next steps were to plan and prepare to move out of our fun, entertainment style home. Now, comes the really hard part.. decide what to keep (put in storage), what to sell, what to donate, what to trash, etc. OMG, this was an agonizing process. One thing that helped reduce the
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agony was we agreed this would be a 1 year “trial” adventure.
"Well, let’s cut to the chase.....this adventure ended up being 7.5 years, of learnings, trials, tests, new friends, and, ultimately, truly a memorable chapter in our lives. The travels were extensive, the people who were our “travel buddies” became family and the experiences were not only life changing, but, also laid the groundwork for our life to come. Needless to say, CHANGE is ever present in all of our lives. In fact, it is right up there with death and taxes. We can ALL always be assured of ALL." In early 2000, we were again presented with more decision making opportunities, as we learned we would soon be adding another grandchild to our family in the later part of the year. So, with that understanding, we decided it was probably time & best to think about putting down roots “somewhere” soon. With a Son and Daughter-In-Law and 2 granddaughters in Washington state and a Daughter and Son-In-Law and a new grandchild on the way in Arizona, we decided half way between both children was the best solution. It was on our 20th wedding anniversary, we signed a contract to have a home built in Lodi, California. Yes, live-able, love-able, Lodi. Did you know Lodi is the Zinfandel wine capital of the world? This is true, and, became another truly amazing part of our lives for the next 12 years. As our lives once again were changing, literally day-to-day, hour-by-hour, we were blessed to see our dream home come to be. Ray provided “Project Management” support for all my “have to have’s, need to have’s, and, can’t live without’s”. Ray only had one “I’d like to have”, which was a wine cellar
"DO IT NOW....DON’T WAIT! As you never know what’s around the next corner. Follow your heart, your gut, and, listen to your instincts. If you have a dream, act on it."
associated with our dining room. Truth admission, this was one of the best decisions ever. The twists and turns of building a home is not for sissies. The stress is indescribable, however, in July, 2002 we were finally able to actually move into our home. Our life style in Lodi was different than our lives of the past and we had a number of adjustments to make. After having been “literally” on the road for 7 1/2 years our friends were many and different, our “travel buddies” a.k.a. family members wanted to come to visit, sight see, visit the area, experience the numerous wineries in our area, etc. So our lives were very busy. As I look back on the years from 1994 to 2002, there were so many signs and signals that I never really paid attention too. It was in mid to latter 2005, I began to notice some significant behavioral differences in Ray. Sadly, it was in early 2006, where our lives and day-to-day journey took a significant change in direction. Again, there were signs, there were instances, there were observations over the previous 3+ years, that should have been clues to what was in the offing for us. It was when Ray was formally diagnosed with “Pre Senile Dementia” things for Ray & me really began to change, immeasurably. Did we want to accept this diagnosis? NO! My next steps of trying to understand the WHY, lots of research, reading, questions, etc. for which, sadly, there were zero to very few answers and/or treatments. What we didn’t know was how hard it was going to be to not only accept the existence of this heinous, horrific, insidious, memory robbing disease, but that once again, we were faced with huge changes in our lives. Our socialization with friends, basically stopped. No more afternoons on the golf course. No more travel, as the disorientation for Ray was so very confusing and very difficult for him to bounce back from. Virtually, no more of anything. For Ray this was very frustrating and a very difficult thing to process and accept. For me, all I knew was my world was crashing down around me.
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Sadly, after, 7 years of struggling to manage (or, trying to manage) our dayto-day lives, lots of trips for medical assistance and the sad realization that this unimaginable turn in our lives was not going to ever get better, I was forced to make yet another very difficult decision to relocate our home. Choices were not easy as we didn’t enjoy the cold, wet, snowy climate in Washington State, so this was not an option. Hence, it was in late March, 2014 we moved to the Chandler, Arizona area. In retrospect, after having sworn during our years of travel I would “never” live in Arizona, it has turned out to be the best decision.
The people, the new friends, the support provided to both Ray & I during his final months and days, has been nothing short of amazing. If this move hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have become associated with this amazing Tribe, the SMW, or, been afforded this opportunity to tell our story, bottom line...”DO IT NOW....DON’T WAIT!“ As you never know what’s around the next corner. Follow your heart, your gut, and, listen to your instincts. If you have a dream, act on it. Yes, I am a spiritual being and truly believe there are NO coincidences in this life. Our journey in this life has been “pre-charted” for ALL of us. There truly is a reason for everything and nothing happens by chance. #ThisIsMe #MeBeingMe
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www.thewgp.com/smwmember
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Love, relationships &
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"For years, people have asked Bill and I how we have such a loving, honest, and affectionate relationship. After they find out how many years we've been married, they really want to know what the secret is. There is no doubt that we have found something very special. Something that people are drawn to, everyone loves a love story. But too many people believe it's not possible for them, or it doesn't really exist. We want to make it possible for everyone to believe in, because love is real. So Bill and I decided to open up our lives and start sharing some of the secrets that have gotten us through a lot of life. It is the beginning of a series where we will be diving deeper into how we've managed to keep our marriage real and alive. We invite you to join us in sharing some personal moments and our perspectives on Love, Relationships, & Sex. Enjoy!"
Join us at selfmadewoman.com for additional audio and video interviews with Bill and Cynthia Delaney!
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Kimberly Peterson Wife . Mama . Former Esthetician . Founder of Bare Naked Botanicals . "Hearing from Kimberly Peterson and her heartfelt journey will absolutely move you. Saying that everything happens for a reason is not only clearly defined by her experiences, but also her awareness of connecting her life's path to a greater purpose. Kimberly's proactive approach to health and her immense knowledge of the planet's natrual healing remedies will resonate with women around the world. She shares incredible information that will change your perspective on everyday choices we all make, to ones that better serve us and our families. Enjoy this incredible interview with Kimberly Peterson, you will definitely be healthier and happier from it!"
Join us at selfmadewoman.com for additional audio and video interviews with incredible women from around the world!
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Fight the Good Fight TIFFANY THOMSON
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My name is Tiffany Thomson, I founded Fight The Good Fight Foundation in 2010 to help survivors of rape and abuse. I worked with people but never really had the time to get the foundation off the ground due to having to support my family and life just got in the way. A year and a half ago I had an eye opening thing happen to me that really made me realize that I needed to take the leap of faith and take the steps to get it off the ground. I know so many people who have the heart to help their community or an organization dear to their heart. BUT like me, they do not have time after they work all day, have kids to tend too, or have no clue where to start to help! I read a book about Tom’s shoes and how he turned started a “for profit” that fed the “non- profit”. I loved the concept, but didn’t just want me to benefit from
the platform I created so I made it to where anyone with a mouth, computer or phone, could create a stay at home career as they contribute to an organization of their choice. Sex trafficking is my passion, but it may not be someone else’s. The eye opening experience I had was the Lord opening my eyes to the horrible epidemic of human trafficking and the lack of places for them to go after they are rescued. Our goal is to fund safe houses of many kinds. I personally donate the funds I raise to sex trafficking, but my platform is made to help many organizations. I have Campaign managers about to launch their campaigns and each one of them get to choose what they donate to. This is set up to eventually be their career. My Campaign Managers that are hired will have the peace of mind that they can contribute to society, support themselves and families, and make their own schedule. For instance animal shelters, homeless shelters, affordable drug rehabs and more are scarce. The reason behind building facilities is to help truly rehabilitate and get people back on their feet, or provide shelter. There are not enough places for those in need of help to go. The problem with that is if people do not have a support system and get the help they need then there is a bigger chance they go back to bad situations, or worse suicide or death. The campaign is called “The Build It Forward Movement”. It is a simple platform created to go viral, or people can get creative and get in front of churches, schools, individuals and more. I have a few even working on their own Youtube channels to advertise and educate for the organization they chose. The goal for 2019 is 100,000 people gifting $10.00 or more a month. That is $12 million a year! That will save many lives around the world. So far we have 53 Campaign Managers around the world! That is a short story of the Movement. I little about me and why I started the organization. I grew up very sheltered and really never had something traumatic happen to me. When I was 18 I was raped at gunpoint and unfortunately I changed overnight. I didn’t tell anyone because of fear and ended up going down a very dark road. From cheerleader, class favorite, homecoming court and having everything, to partying, drinking myself numb, bad relationships, pregnant at 19, and full of guilt and shame.
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Which continued the self destruction for many years! I got myself into a very abusive relationship and was too scared to go to my family and had nowhere to go. I felt trapped. So when I started looking more into sex trafficking my heart went out to them because I had one man make me feel like a caged animal. I can’t even imagine many people on a daily basis control my every move and not have a minute of comfort and security. Then I started researching where they would go if they were rescued.. And I was sickened at the lack of safehouses. Not only did I see the lack of safehouses but I had many friends continue alcohol and drug abuse because they didn’t get approved for free rehab or couldn’t afford it. There is a need for homeless shelters, animal shelters, affordable retirement housing and more. I still continue to help those of rape and abuse because I want to help people understand they do have a voice and I hope to keep them from going down the same road I did. After people hear my full story it seems to give them hope that they too can make it through the fire. I will spend the rest of my life building safe havens around the world to make a difference in the lives of “victims” so they can become “survivors”. If people don’t get the help they need then they live in an internal prison, but they can be free!
Learn More About Tiffany's Movement, Fight The Good Fight: www.builditforwardmovement.com
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STACY THORNTON
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One of the highlights of my elementary school years was getting that huge box of Crayola crayons. I always loved to see all the colors and the “newness” of it all. As an educator today, I guess it’s STILL something about a brand new box of crayons because my kids all have that same look I had many years ago. Now, as time goes by within every passing year, those same crayons will begin to become dull and old. The new scent will become less ebullient and the color will begin to slowly fade, some may even break. As I’m reflecting back on my life, I can honestly compare my life to those Crayola crayons (at least a few colors). Let me begin by saying, I personally think that my life has been extremely colorful for as long as I can remember. Over these past 15 years, I think I have covered every shade possible, but in particularly pink, blue and red. If you must, can I indulge you just a bit? Come along with me as I take you on my very personal, yet “colorful” life journey. Let’s start with pink. I chose this color first because pink represents femininity. It’s soft and yet powerful. Yes, pink represents a woman but not just any kind of woman. It stands for a strong woman who is a fighter. A woman who has withstood pain and brokenness. I believe that’s why the month of October we celebrate survivors- so we all “GO PINK”. That’s not coincidental, that’s because there are some strong women out there who are survivors and fighters!
Many who have beat out the very thing that tried to take their lives. In the pink stages of my life, I have certainly enjoyed being and “becoming” the woman I am. Life hasn’t always been a bed of roses, but through the trials and tribulations of life- I have managed to trust God even in those uncertain moments. I have realized that you must never allow the circumstances to harden your womanhood nor bruise your soul. I have learned that even through those tough times, one must always remain a lady. Stand tall and stand your ground. There are moments where life may bend you, but you won’t break! Ahhhh, what color do you think of when you look up and see the beautiful sky? Or better yet, get a glimpse of the open sea?the color blue. Now, we know the color blue to be associated with feelings of melancholy or lowness. Sometimes we equate this color with masculinity. In the most blissful times a woman can even associate the color blue with having a token for her wedding. In my life, the color blue has served as both a protector and as a loss. You see, I was once a married woman for exactly 15 years. I spent those years being a wife who was verbally abused, taken for granted, cheated on and put to shame often. Yes, even the most confident woman can find herself questioning who she is because of what is constantly told to her. I was married to a man who was unkind as he himself was bruised. That’s why it’s so very important to enter a covenant whole. You must balance each other out. Your spouse’s job is not to make you happy, your happiness should exude from within. You should already carry it from the inside. That’s called joy. There is so much truth to the saying that, “Hurt people...hurt people!”. It’s true. I couldn’t see the inner turmoil that my now ex-husband was facing, or spewing on me because I was too busy trying to “fix” my marriage. I was ignoring all the things that were blatant “red flags” thinking prayer and patience would solve my marital issues.
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Honestly speaking, that only added to my own misery staying in something that was detrimental to my destiny. Eventually, I made a faith move, left (separated from my ex) and regained my life back. I took a huge step that changed everything in my life by eventually filing for my divorce. For that, I’m eternally grateful. No anger, no revenge, just freedom. As my life began to shift in a different direction, mainly getting through my divorce, I began experiencing some anger, regret and rejection. How could my life be so totally different now that I’m divorced? And not to mention after only 11 months- my ex-husband gets remarried? I thoughtthat’s really UNFAIR! All I saw was red. The color red symbolizes the two strongest emotions- LOVE and HATE. Let me put out a disclaimer, I don’t hate my ex. Never, that’s not my disposition. Was I angry? Of course! However, as times has passed, we have spoken to one another since our divorce. I promised myself that I would always show him respect. Honestly, I was almost at that point in my life where I almost hated him. I was so angry that he had taken my deep love for him for granted. It was like he tore my heart right out of my chest cavity and stomped on it, repeatedly. It really hurt me. May I interject ladies, this is where therapy is so important. It really helps me process those thoughts and feelings in a healthy manner. Fast forward to now, as I now look back over that time, I am grateful today.The newness I experienced has made me better! I’m wiser! More resilient! Happier! Once I allowed forgiveness to flow in me, it got easier to forgive him. I didn’t want to be bitter, but better. As time went on, I got stronger and stronger. I began to put the pieces back together in my life. It wasn’t easy and truth be told, I’m still “recovering” from losing my home, my in- laws, his side of the family and being a divorcee. The only thing I can do now is learn to accept where I and just live my life. Acceptance is freedom. By nature, I am an outgoing, vibrant personality who lights up a room as I enter. There are some things in life that if you aren’t careful, they will knock you down. I am grateful that I can say that those things knocked me down to my lowest but I was determined to rise! My Mom and Dad didn’t raise a quitter so I had a responsibility to myself. I then realized that even through all of my brokenness, suffering and pain- I was still a resilient woman who had so much to offer! I wasn’t (and still haven’t arrived to that point) where I want to be, but I thank God I haven’t given up my “fight”. Life is a daily encounter and I’m learning how to run my race, at my own pace. At this moment, right now today, I realized that I can still make changes for the better in my life. I am a good woman and I am a rare and valuable woman. I’m a mover and a shaker. I’m a blessing to others and I bless others too. I encourage those who feel down trodden and heavy and I can lift others up in prayer. I am a great daughter, a good sister, a valuable friend and an excellent educator. I don’t say these things in a bragging manner, but I say them because I am worthy and those qualities have been given to me by God. That’s when I had this great epiphany that. Wow...even broken crayons can still color. I’m that crayon. You too can become better even if you’ve gone through a similar situation. I would advise you to seek therapy, reach out to a good friend/confidant, read a book about surviving life’s hurts and how to overcome! I offer you a challenge to become your highest self! Re-create your world of happiness and peace, I did! Reach out to me or connect with me through my social media platform, let’s WIN! My life is a blank canvas and guess what? I’m going to continue to create, inspire and dream out loud. You can do the same my friend. I’m determined to make all of my life experiences a myriad of COLOR.
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The Iconic
FOX TUCSON THEATER The Crown Jewel of Tucson
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foxtucson.com
Jacqueline Nuesch Radical Alignment
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New Year’s Eve, 2009… “So, what do you do?” my neighbour asks me. I’m a stay at home mom with no kids, I reply. A puzzled look crosses her face. Concluding that I must have misspoken, we politely move on to other topics. Narrowly dodging that bullet, I give a sigh of relief. Let me tell you about the years leading up to my choice of words regarding my gainful employment. As I approached my 30th birthday, I had reached what is commonly known as the quarter-life-crises. As a potentially “overscheduled” adolescent, my earlier years revolved around competitive athletics, music lessons, part time jobs, volunteer work and excelling at academics. By the time I got to University the stress of trying to be perfect in every area of my life was beginning to take its toll. Everything was bright and sparkly on the outside, but inside I was battling depression, an eating disorder, cutting and tendencies towards OCD. In my final year of high school, I also contracted Mononucleosis which left me with a weakened immune system, permanently fatigued. It was a struggle to make it through my first year of University and I don’t think I would have completed my degree without meeting Barbara Heggie, at the end of freshman year. It was Barb, a gifted Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner who healed me, mentored me and cared for me during this time. As a quadriplegic, Barb had devoted her life to learning how to be healthy; physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. From 1999 to 2009 she helped me learn how to do the same. Unfortunately, while I learned how to be healthy during this time, I missed the reason why. In 2009 Barb said, “Jacqueline, I think you need to take some time off”. As an entrepreneur working 80+ hours a week, I replied, don’t worry, I started taking Sunday’s off last month. She insisted, “NO, you need a break”. “Like a weekend then, or more like a week off?” I asked. “No Jacqueline, you’re not understanding, you need a year off, you need to learn how to do nothing for an entire year.” Silence… Nothing came to me as I tried to process what she had said. I spent the next few days trying to wrap my head around what she had said and wondered how I would explain to others what I was doing (or not doing for that matter). Financially I wondered how we would make ends meet as we had just moved to a new city and my husband still hadn’t lined up any work. Miraculously within 3 days of deciding to stop work, my husband managed to line up one contracting job after another in a steady stream of employment. I became a “stay at home mom with no kids” overnight, entering into one of the most challenging periods of my life I imagine what I went through at 30 is similar to what most people would experience at the age of retirement.
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A loss of identity and self-worth because everything that you thought made you you, is suddenly gone. At the time I knew a woman my age who didn’t work, had no plans to work and wasn’t in school or a mom. I hated that woman… and saw her as someone without purpose, identity or self-worth. Now I had become that woman. How would I live with myself? Barb had explicitly stated that this was not a time of doing, but a time for being. The first few months were easy enough, I was so exhausted that I slept 12 – 15 hours a day. I also grew 1 ½ inches in height during this time! The next few months were harder. Caught up on sleep I started working out again, cooking, cleaning, studying natural medicine, volunteering and spending time with family and friends. In every case this bordered on obsession as I channelled my workaholism into other areas. I think I hosted every family gathering that year! This was difficult training - teaching myself to just be. During this period, Barb suggested I start working with crystals. I looked at her and said “Barb, we’re not that crazy… are we?” To this she replied, “Why
"A healer is someone who seeks to be the light that she wishes she had in her darkest moments." - Vironika Tugaleva
don’t you start wearing crystals and see if you notice a difference.” I was doing Yoga and having a really difficult time with the classes. The problem with Yoga, is that people attend classes to release all of their “stuff”. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I was a highly empathic individual. What others were giving off, I was picking up. I would leave Yoga exhausted, angry and extremely frustrated. I wondered how this form of exercise could actually be beneficial to anyone!
Once again, I decided to heed Barb’s advice. Enter Black Tourmaline and Amethyst – the crystals I started bringing and wearing to class. What followed was a very different and totally “Yin” experience. I began to experiment with crystal essences and therapies! I went to a psychic during this time, desperate to figure out my life path and career. She told me – your life purpose is to be happy and in doing so you will teach others to be the same. Great life purpose was my sarcastic thought! Yes, but what am I really supposed to do??? One year stretched into two, and two into three. At the end of my sanity, I started yelling at God and the Universe. How dare you put me on this planet to DO NOTHING!!! That didn’t get me very far. Finally, I gave up. You win, I said. I agree to do nothing with my life and to come to terms with the fact that I will never do, be or create anything that has any value and I will learn to be happy doing it. “If this is my new reality, how on earth will I get through my life?” I asked. The answer I received was to start sharing my healing knowledge with others. I started telling people about herbs, aromatherapy, essences and other healing modalities. My words fell on deaf ears. I was speaking a language they knew nothing about… people had a hard time turning my advice into action. I changed tactics. Instead of telling people about remedies, I would start buying and giving them remedies. There was a disconnect between people receiving and actually taking the remedies and for me, still not working, it began to get expensive. I started making my own remedies and adding them to drinking water. Eureka! Problem solved – everyone drinks water. The interesting part of this story though, is that within weeks of doing so, people started coming to me for remedies and wanting to buy them! A decade later I have my own wellness studio and line of crystal healing sprays. I also distribute, German based, VitaJuwel Gemwater products across Canada. I live a soul-based existence using spiritual guidance to plan my day. When I wake up, the question I ask is, “How may I best serve today?” I know I will never stop working because I love what I do and what I create! My soul purpose is to help others do the same.
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VitaJuwel is the modern interpretation of age-old traditions. Many cultures have been vitalizing their water with gemstones for thousands of years. We have rediscovered this knowledge with a contemporary, sophisticated approach. Our mission: Natural elegance combined with holistic functionality.
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hydrated skin
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6 FACTORS THAT CAUSE DRYNESS
01. the weather 02. the sun
03. chronic skin conditions 04. overwashing
05. ingredients that are drying 06. the aging process 93.
so...
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Constantly drinking water hydrates your body from the inside out, flooding skin cells with moisture. Eat berries of all varieties, these contain skin-protecting antioxidants to strengthen the skin barrier. Incorporating foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids like salmon, tuna, olive oil, avocado, walnuts, just to name a few. These will moisturize and plump fine lines and wrinkles.
If you feel like your skin is dehydrated, avoid alcohol, watch your caffeine intake and cut off junk food. Alcohol and caffeine pull the hydration of your cells leaving your skin dry and tired looking. With junk food, it cannot provide your body with the oils and fats needed to keep your skin hydrated and glowy.
Invest in good skincare, start taking care of your skin today! Prevention is key, a dermatologist or aesthetician can recommend a skincare regimen that's right for your skin!
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“Cynthia Delaney - Thank You for another amazing Day in the 10-Day Challenge. You enlightened us and show us the way to release the BEST Self Made Women that's inside each of us. We just need to D.I.G. deep and take the action ... Walk the Walk ... to elevate ourselves. Thank you for touching each of us. And a special thanks for touching my life. YOU are incredible.” ~ Donnis Hiskett
“This is an amazing, beautiful, challenging, exciting, knowledgable, place to grow! This is a platform to be real and authentic, to love, honor and build up women, to have each other’s backs, to shape and encourage others through our experiences and through our lives. I am so honored to be a part of this incredible movement Thank you Cynthia Delaney for being who you are and being a true friend to so many.” ~ Sherri LaClaire
“We are on to something Women! We are going to WIN, we are going to pull through, we are going to attain every goal, every dream, every aspiration, everything we are equipped to do, WE are going to do it at SELF MADE WOMAN! This weekend has been truly a gift. It has been an honor and a pleasure to listen to some of the greatest minds across this country share, and impart to us their wisdom. Cynthia Delaney, I’m telling you, there is absolutely nothing else greater in this world than the gift God has given you to give other women. We are truly grateful.” ~ Stacy Thornton
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This spa-quality peel gradually releases glycolic acid overnight to target fine lines, discoloration and imperfections for smoother, brighter skin by morning. Spa strength formula with 10% glycolic acid, inspired by thousands of Bliss Spa facial peels performed by skin experts. Texture and tone is noticeably improved after just one use. $22
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An FDA-cleared facial toning device to help improve facial contour, facial tone and reduce wrinkles in as little as five minutes a day. The NuFACE Trinity facial toning device delivers professional results in the comfort of your own home. $325
When fragile skin around eyes shows crinkly dry lines and other unsightly flaws, a twice-daily dose of botanicals is just what the "Doctor" ordered to help them disappear. Formulated with cooling Cucumber, soothing Rosemary and energizing Ginseng, helps counter crow's feet, de-pouf puffs and fade dark shadows. Plus Green Tea Extract helps fight off free radical damage. Shows perfect bedside manners, night or day, under makeup or alone. Ophthalmologist tested. $41
No wash? No worries! The Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo has a super-absorbent formula that absorbs oils, dirt and impurities between washes, leaving hair feeling fresh and clean. Ta da! Your blowout is back to life! Features Original scent with notes of jasmine, sandalwood and Madagascar vanilla. $23
Luxurious daily moisturizer crafted with organic skin perfecting oils for intense moisture and a glistening youthful glow. Formulated for all skin types, the non greasy formula quickly absorbs deep into skin. An indulgent journey through fields of white sundrenched blossoms, lightly kissed by delicate pink citrus. $38
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Behind Every Strong Woman, should be a Strong Man Cheering Her On
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1. What women inspire you in your life, and why?
2. What is the most important things you have learned when it comes to female relationships?
3. Are women equal to men?
4. How do women support you and the vision for your life?
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5. What do you find attractive in a woman?
6. Is the physical appearance of a woman the most important?
7. What do you respect most about women? Why?
8. What is the biggest mystery about women?
9. Do you think love is actually real?
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10. Are you a hopeless romantic?
11. How important is family to you?
12. How important is it to succeed in life?
13. What does that mean to you? And why?
14. What is your #1 proudest moment of your life?
15. If you could describe yourself with one word, which would it be?
16. When you hear "Self Made Woman", what does that mean to you?
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17. What do you see as the most beneficial part of this movement?
18. How are you seeing women support this tribe?
19. How important it is that men support this movement?
20. How do you see SMW growing over the next 5 years?
21. What has most inspired you as you've witnessed women supporting women?
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Most of humanity is well aware of the biological value and importance of women, but very few know the value and power of a self made woman! As a man that grew up with an entrepreneur mother, five older sisters and one brother, some of which are also entrepreneurs, I know firsthand that without these strong and inspiring women, I would not be the man I am today. Growing up with my mom as an entrepreneur has truly given our family more freedom and flexibility than I have ever realized until I too became an entrepreneur. Without her small traveling fashion business we would have not been able to afford our move to the U.S from Guinea, West Africa a couple of decades ago. That immigration was another testament to the extent of sacrifices my mom was always willing to transpire for the sake of her family. My thorough understanding and appreciation for this woman never truly sank in until my recent adult years. I guess she was waiting until I was old enough to share parts of her journey with me. My perspective and knowledge of who she is has always revolved around her being my primary nurturing figure, but I never knew of her youth beginnings as a daughter, a sister, or newlywed. My most awakening day was when she shared with me the day she became a widow while pregnant at the age of 17 with my oldest sister; who never met her father. As she described that life altering day to me, how she built strength through it; my heart couldn’t help but sank into empathy for this women who went through such a tragedy at an early age.
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Fortunately as she grew from that journey, rebuilt her faith in her future, she then met my father a few years thereafter to live most of their adult years together. Through her experiences I came to really value that our circumstances do not define us, it is our interpretation of those events that shape the outcome for us. Once settled into her new life, one can conclude that my Mom has always seeing viable examples of entrepreneurship in her family because her father owned a transportation and trucking business with many cross country drivers back home in Guinea. Thereafter her giving birth to me, as her last child, she began selling clothes to her colleagues and eventually worked her way out of her secretarial job to partner with other local entrepreneur women, with whom she began traveling to other countries, including the U.S to sell and network overseas. It is that experience that eventually led to our move to the land of opportunity which has now resulted to some of my siblings and I now running our own businesses. Therefore I salute and celebrate all self made women that have chosen to consciously live a life of worthy goals and aspirations while still embracing to their femininity. Cheers to empowerment and building a legacy! Mo Cisse Founder & Creative Director www.MERAKIALLURE.com
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You're Invited! To inquire about participating in our next magazine, please contact Abby Seaholm, info@selfmadewoman.com
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THANK YOU! Photography: Joeli Artaz Photography
Location of Shoot: Hotel Valley Ho Front Cover Girls: Cynthia Delaney Abby Seaholm Stephanie Ingram Ashley Boyett Pamela Chanel David Stacy Thornton Kassandra Johnson Cindy Goodson McKenna Lind Julie Wetteland Donnis Hiskett Sherri LaClaire
Videography: Josh Weiss Oscar Rosas Makeup: Danielle Carpenter Hair: Lauren Wohlin AZ Spray Tanning: Alison Carpenter
Special mention and thanks to all of the incredible people who contributed to the amazing articles, interviews, and inspiration that has made this magazine such a gift! selfmadewoman.com
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