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Nicola BLATCHFORD Mick CATON Bonita MAHER Anneka MITCHELL Brittany SMITH
BRAVE magazine
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“Brave to Be Kind”
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“Building us Better”
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“Step by Step”
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“Wanderlust”
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“A Woman in a Mans World”
In a Man’s WORLD FICTION . TECH . FITNESS . TRAVEL . FOOD
That’s Brave
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Brave Enough to be Kind By BONITA MAHER
There are as many types of bravery as there are types of people. As a concept, however, it can be summarised as having the strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty. What bravery isn’t, however, is
corrupt authority in the face of retaliation
stupidity. Because while driving
from that authority, it takes strength
blindfolded is certainly dangerous, scary,
to challenge conventions, and it takes
and difficult, it’s also dumb as hell.
fortitude to be kind to people even if in
The bravest decisions are made when
the end they turn out to be untrustworthy.
one really considers and understands the
Life is full of dangerous, terrifying, and
risks, but then decides to follow through
difficult obstacles, and to face them
despite them.
requires strength. That is bravery.
One might need courage to expose a
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You can’t change fear. It’s possible to try: to distract yourself, to run from it, or to hide it with anger. But trying not to be afraid never works in the long run.
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Changing your actions to reflect compassion, gratitude, and kindness is a good way to be brave.
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Bravery in the face of fear is being afraid, but doing what you need to do anyway.
fundamentally two forces or emotions Step one of being brave: acknowledge
that drive our decisions – love and
the fear. Whatever you’re afraid of,
fear. Love has its many manifestations:
be it public speaking (glossophobia),
compassion, gratitude, kindness, and
or commitment (gamophobia), or
joy. Fear often manifests in cynicism,
long words (hippopotomonstroses-
anger, jealousy, and anxiety.”
quipedaliophobia), the first step is
Step two: change how that fear is
recognizing it.
influencing your actions. As such, if
As Vivek Murthy, former U.S. surgeon
you act angry out of fear, all that is
general, says in a National Geographic
visible is the anger. As Patrick Ness
interview:
writes in the book ‘A Monster Calls’:
“I have long believed that there are
“What you think is not important. It is only important what you do.”
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I
spoke to ‘Interviewee A’. They used to be a police officer, and later, a police prosecutor.
Here’s what they said about bravery.
Bravery in the face of danger is acting instinctively: because if you stop to think about it, you won’t do it. I spoke to interviewee A, an ex-
“House fires, particularly. Fire
police officer. They say, there are
is really… scary stuff. And your
two types of bravery. The kind you
altruistic values evaporate very
do instinctively, without thinking, like
quickly the closer you get to a
pulling someone out of a flooding
house that’s 2000 degress Celsius.
car, or out of a burning building. And
Going into a burning house that’s full
second kind: the kind you sit down
of thick black smoke – if you thought
and think about before you do it, and
about it you wouldn’t do it. But just
realise that if you do you aren’t getting
the physicality of a fire is incredibly
out of it unharmed. Interviewee A says
loud. Incredibly hot. And in floods,
that in their opinion, the latter kind are
the water’s incredibly cold, and
the real brave people.
incredibly fast, and incredibly strong.”
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“Now I’ve been in both. But I don’t think that compares to what it takes, to stand on your principles. Where it’s not an instantaneous thing, it’s something that goes over a long period of time.”
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A favorite quote of mine comes from a talk given by the voice actor for Optimus Prime, in auditioning for the 1980s cartoon. It is an old Celtic proverb that says: “True greatness knows gentleness”. Being kind takes bravery. Be brave. “I auditioned like everybody else. I was
... "Well, if you're going to be a hero,
told it was a hero, and I was told it was
be a real hero. Don't be a Hollywood
a truck. I was living with my brother Larry
stereotypical thing with the yelling and
at the time. He had returned from service
screaming."
as a Marine in Vietnam, and I told him
He said, "Be strong enough to be
one day I was going out to audition for a
gentle." And Larry was that way.
truck.
I had no idea what the script was going to
And he says, "A truck?"
be. But in effect, the lines just came out,
And I said, "Yeah, but he's a hero truck."
and I just did my brother, Larry.”
"This is really good, Pete, yeah," he said
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Horoscopes:
As a fire sign, Aries,
This is a time for you to
your motivations and
remove toxic influences
inspirations drive you
from your life, Taurus.
to accomplish amazing
As an Earth sign, you are
things. However, you do
at your best when you are
have to remember to find
well grounded in positive
your chill sometimes. In
influences. In general,
general, however, what’s
Taurus, don’t let your
important for you, Aries, is
fears or percieved flaws
to keep living your life.
hold you back. Believe in yourself.
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Balance is important
As a Water sign, you are
in all areas of your life,
passionate and assertive,
Libra. Are you eating well?
and you like to be right.
Sleeping normal hours?
However, your natural
Getting a good amount of
dislike of passive people,
exercise? As an Air sign,
combines with your fierce
you’re naturally intelligent,
personality, may cause you
and enjoy good books,
to accidentally hurt others
discussions, and mental
feelings, Scorpio. Make
stimuli. In general, Libra,
sure to be good to your
try to be less indecisive.
friends, as friendship is
Do what you think is right!
very important for you.
Working is good,
You’re an inspiration,
As powerful as lions are,
Virgo, you need to be less
overwork is not.
Cancer, really you are.
they’re still cute. You are
critical of yourself, and
Performing heroics at the
Ignore the haters! As a
also cute and powerful,
worry less about things.
last minute is impressive,
Water sign, your emotions
Leo! As a Fire sign, you
As an Earth sign you
and characteristic of an Air
might feel overpowering
have innate strength and
are strong in character,
sign, but my god can you
at times, but it’s important
passion. Focus on the
and enjoy conservative
stop trying to destroy your
to remember that while
relationships you have with
practicality in everyday
body already! Please rest,
your feelings are valid and
others in your life, and
life. In particular, your
Gemini! In general, set
real, so are other peoples.
appreciate them. Treasure
fashion sense is amazing.
aside some time to take
Be kind!
what you have, Leo.
Honestly you just don’t get
care of yourself.
enough appreciation and respect. You go, Virgo.
Saggitarius, as a Fire
Change doesn’t come as
Aquarius becomes bored
Pisces, you are the
sign you are by nature
easily to you, Capricorn,
without mental exercise,
most in tune with your
a direct person, if a bit
but it’s important all
and as an air sign, you
emotions of the signs.
aloof. Try getting off your
the same. Try to be
are often annoyed by
On top of this, as a Water
high horse once in a while.
more relaxed in moving
people who disagree
sign, your emotions are
In general, you have a
from one perspective to
with you. Don’t take it
often very powerful.
great sense of humour,
another. As an Earth sign,
personally! You are by
What’s important for you,
and enjoy your freedom.
you are focused on the
nature an adaptable
Pisces, is that you let
Watch out for closing
material world, and are
person, so solving
yourself feel! Set aside
yourself off from others,
able to get the most out of
problems comes easier
time in your day to day life
however. Try being more
it. Your responsibility and
to you than others. Take
to let your emotions flow.
confident.
practicality is admirable.
some time to recharge.
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A better us Science has progressed in leaps and
replace lost limbs and organs with easily
bounds during the past decade and
produced machine components cannot be
performance-enhancing cybernetics
overstated. However, as with any advance
becomes ever closer to physical reality.
there will come a temptation to use it
While prosthetics and bionic limbs are
for personal gain. Want to run faster and
considered common in today’s societies,
never tire - swap out those organic legs
the advent of science fiction-like meldings
and lungs for some chrome and silicone.
of machine and man are still in
But, what happens to those athletes who
the trial stage.
want to race au naturale? How does a human outrun a cyborg?
There are obvious advantages to cybernetics, the life-saving ability to
The answer: it doesn’t.
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If your neighbour’s child has a learning chip in their brain allowing them perfect recall, how is your own child ever going to score well against them in exams? Stand side-by-side for a job interview and never even get a look in without a performance-enhancing chip in your own brain.
...Built by us We already see this happening in
how is your own child ever going to score
professional sports today with the use
well against them in exams? Stand side-by-
of performance-enhancing drugs (PED).
side for a job interview and never even get
In order to compete with drug-takers
a look in without a chip in your own brain.
once clean athletes must dive into the
The real winners of these situations will be
murky waters of PED themselves, further
the developers of cyber enhancements. A
enforcing the need for others
cascading tally of new users who seek to
to follow suit.
compete with their rivals and older models
It is not just athletics this will occur. If your
needing to upgrade to stay ahead will
neighbour’s child has a learning chip in
ensure corporations’ coffers remain full
their brain allowing them perfect recall,
well into the future.
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“An AI would be capable of either improving itself or producing more advanced AIs... a dramatic advancement could happen essentially overnight.”
Artificial intelligence: Consciousness evolved, or our doom determined By CAMERON COWARD
In both of these scenarios, a common
www.hackaday.com
theme is that of a technological singularity arises from the creation of true artificial
Whenever artificial intelligence is
intelligence. A technological singularity
discussed, two major issues always come
is defined as a period of exponential
up: how will it affect humanity, and how
advancement happening in a very short
should it we treat it? Works of fiction are
amount of time. The idea is that an AI
always a good indicator of the thoughts
would be capable of either improving
and feelings the general population has,
itself, or producing more advanced AIs.
and examples of these questions abound
Because this would happen quickly, a
in science fiction.
dramatic advancements could happen essentially overnight, resulting in an AI far
Will a sufficiently advanced AI try to
more advanced than what was originally
eliminate humanity, a la Skynet? Or, will AI
created by humanity. This might mean
need to be afforded rights and protection
we’d end up with a super intelligent
to avoid atrocities like those envisioned in
malevolent AI, or an AI which was
A.I. Artificial Intelligence?
conscious and deserving of rights.
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As we step beyond our mortal limits, we must reflect on what we have lost “We are not all equals. We are not born equals, we certainly do not live our lives as equals, and, with potentially limitless life for those with the knowledge, we may not even be allowed to die as equals.�
Without adversity, will we strive for enlightenment or indulge in decadence? Bio-engineering, cybernetics, artificial
Humanity has proven one thing
intelligence, all developed to make us
throughout the ages - it excells at
faster, higher, stronger and better.
strife and exploitation. Every scientific
But is it?
advancement in history has led to increased human suffering. From the sticks and stones we used to make our warming
Looking to the future, would gaining the
fires to the incredible source of energy
ability to enhance our bodies, our senses,
unleashed by splitting atomic bonds, each
our minds, give us the freedom to awaken
advance has quickly been turned to the
our spirituality and ideals of community,
tools of war and bondage.
or would it only draw us deeper into depravity as every idle whim becomes fulfilled at the click of a button?
Would this time be any different?
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Allowing the immediate gratification of
gatekeepers would, as it always had, be a
every need and want would be unlikely to
matter of course by those with the power
offer humans the freedom to develop their
to do so.
humanity. We are not all equal. We are not born Just as in the past, those with advanced
equal, we certainly do not live our lives as
knowledge and tools will use the same for
equals, and, with potentially limitless life
personal gain.
for those with the knowledge, we may not even be allowed to die as equals.
Witholding life-saving medications, organ replacements, even living-wage jobs from
Technology could either close this gap, or
those without something to offer the
tear it asunder.
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Bravery Bravery is the admirable quality of being able to confront frightening things. It takes bravery for a knight to battle a dragon, but it also takes bravery for a shy child to walk into a new classroom. You can also call bravery courage or valor. Firefighters are often acknowledged for their bravery, but everyday people also act with bravery if they confront their fears. Even though you’re scared when you jump out of the plane with your skydiving instructor, the fact that you’re doing it at all takes real bravery.
It also takes bravery to pet a friend’s German shepherd, especially if you are afraid of dogs. The earliest meaning of bravery was closer to bravado: “daring, defiance, and boasting.”
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Bravery is all there is By WILLIAM MASONIS
When darkness falls and finds us all alone, When the heart becomes a small grey stone ... Bravery is all there is.
When thunder shakes the windowpanes, When those we love lie wracked with pain ... Bravery is all there is.
Bravery concedes its fear; Does not attempt to hide its tears. Bravery is born of holding calm, In quietly, doggedly, carrying on.
When reason fails to light the dark, When the answer is a question mark ... Bravery is all there is.
When justice seeks to rule in vain, When sorrow sweeps the roiling brain ... Bravery is all there is.
Bravery trembles while it stands, Accepts what it cannot command. Bravery bears its burdens well, Looks not to see if others tell.
Be brave then, Mystery asks of us; Face the unknown with silent trust For at the End, there is only this: Bravery is all there is.
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Step by Step A letter to the seven year-old me by NICOLA BLATCHFORD
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D
ear seven year-old me...
You don’t know it yet, but after this lap with your dad around the local Aussie bush, you’ll be hooked. Running will be your escape from any worries that could possibly fill your young, fragile, but inspired mind. You’ll be the girl who goes away on
Your coach will up your training, you’ll
weekends to run through the trails of
make sacrifices the average teenager
remote Australia. You’ll leave school
would never make, and at times you’ll feel
early once a week and drive four hours
as though it may all be for nothing. Your
to Sydney and home for a twenty-minute
sights of the Junior World Championships
race. You’ll be the girl who looks forward
will get further and further away when,
to beating the boys in the Year 3 beep
at age 16, you develop an overuse injury
test, and Christmas will be made when you
in your calf muscle. You’ll try natural
open a box to a fresh pair of Asics runners.
remedies and massages and stop your training runs at 15 minutes for months,
You’ll experience a high you never
when eventually, you’ll have three
thought possible when, in your first
operations within two years.
year of high school, you make it on the state junior team to compete at the
This is when the fire will really start to
Australian Schools Championships. The
burn. You’ll realise that running isn’t just
team comradery and spirit will have
what you’ve been doing to compete,
you talking about it for months, and
running is what you’ve been doing
you’ll never want to spend your school
because you can’t not. It’s part of you.
holidays doing anything else.
And it will be this way for life.
You’ll be hooked. Your heart will be in it.
When the recovery is over the dreams will
You’ll feel a love for the sport you didn’t
start to come true. In your last years of
think was possible, and like anything
high-school, you’ll compete for Australia
involving love, you’ll expose yourself
in the Czech Republic. In your first year
to some of the most gut-wrenching
of University, you’ll compete in Bulgaria,
heartbreak you could ever imagine.
and the next year in Norway. The people
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you’ll meet, the places you’ll visit, and
and you’ll feel on top of the world when
the lessons you’ll learn about yourself
you keep achieving your dreams.
and the world will give you the bravery
You’ll get faster, stronger, and achieve
to pack up life in Australia and move to
things in your first year of Senior
Sweden with the dream of living and
Elites that you never dreamed of.
training with one of the biggest and
You’ll compete against New Zealand
most successful clubs in the world.
in the Oceania Cup and spend your 21st Birthday competing at the World
The eight-month experience overseas will
University Championships in Hungary.
be with you forever. You’ll come home
You’ll feel disappointment when the
with a new approach to training and life,
races don’t go your way, but you’ll be
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“Running will teach you that your limits are much farther away than you think they are.”
left with nothing but motivation and the
But then will come your biggest downfall.
confidence that one day, the big dream of
Illness. It will strike you hard and fast,
the World Championships is within reach.
for no reason at all. And it will test you like you have never been tested before.
At 22, things will really feel as though
You’ll spend three months on antibiotics.
they are all coming together. You’ll
You’ll have four operations in ten weeks.
have perfected the time management
You’ll have no immune system, have no
between social life, training, study and
opportunity to leave the house, and will
work. You’ll feel a high every time you
experience set-back after set back.
run and achieve a new personal best, and you’ll start rubbing shoulders with
There will be no distraction. You’ll think of
some of the people that have inspired
running, the fitness you’re losing, and the
you through life so far.
distance that’s growing between you and
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your dream every second of every day.
has taught you. It lies in the friends
You’ll be months away from finishing your
you’ve made, in the pasta dinners, in your
degree, and for the first time in life, you’ll
punctuality, and in your heart.
have no idea what your future holds and what dreams you’ll be left to achieve.
Running will teach you bravery. That your
When the good news finally comes and
limits are much, much farther away than
your health is on its way back on track,
you think they are. Running will teach
things will have changed. You’ll step
you how to fall down over and over and
outside for your first walk sobbing from
over, then stand back up with a desire to
the emotion of feeling the way you do.
succeed. It will teach you resilience, and it
Forty minutes later you’ll still be sobbing,
will teach you not only how to cope with
but this time from the happiness of once
heartbreak, but that it can heal your heart
again being able to move, step after step,
like nothing else.
how you’ve always wanted to. Most importantly, running will teach you Running is no longer about competing.
how to practice gratitude. Gratitude for
It’s not about the painful speed sessions,
the fact that you’re even a fraction of a
the early morning activations or the long
percent better than you were the day
distance runs in the burning heat. You’ll
before, for friends and family that are
realise running is your happiness. It will
supporting you, for the fact that you’re
be your personal therapist, your drug
still able to be active and competitive,
of choice, your silence in a noisy room.
and most importantly, for all that you
Running will make you feel more alive
have gained from running.
than you’ve ever felt anywhere else. Fifteen years from now, you’ll sit down at You’ll realize that your identity as a runner
your computer, unsure of how running will
lies so much deeper than in the physical
fit into your future, and feel the need to
act of running itself. It lies in the work
write an ode to the sport that has given
ethic, values, and life lessons that running
you so much.
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Caught up in the
WANDERLUST by ANNEKA MITCHELL
https://saltysoulsexperience.com/el-salvador/ Two years.
empower others with the Salty
It’s been two years now that
Souls project. feel blessed by
I’ve been living with no fixed
the life I live, truly. As far as
address (mostly in places
I can remember, when living
where there is no postal ser-
in Montreal, I always had this
vice anyways).
strange, inexplicable feeling
Two years of nomadism, spent
that I didn’t totally fit in.
living in 10 different countries. I can’t help but be reflective
I’ve tried, you know, to play
today…
the game, to blend in. But still I always felt slightly off.
For the past few months, as I go to bed at night, I always
Breaking free and walking
find myself excited about the
away from the conventional
next day. And I wake up stoked
path, literally felt like being
that I am having another shot
reborn as an adult, and dis-
at life. Another good 24 hours
covering that there were more
to experience this beautiful
people like me on the other
world, to catch a better wave,
side was a true revelation.For
to learn a few new Spanish
that reason, I’ve learned, that
words, to meet new people, to
I’ll never find ONE ultimate
laugh at the sky, to create
perfect place to settle down.
awesome experiences that
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No town will ever be made of ALL & EVERYONE… I’ve also learned that it is the places that choose you, and not the other way around. I had never imagined that I would fall so deeply in love with El Salvador, i didn’t see it coming. We chose to establish our first Salty destination here for various reasons, only for a month at first…
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Next thing I know, I’ve now been spending
thoughts!” There is no right or wrong. I have
most of my year here! Saying adios amigos
to remember that the definition of what you
and leaving this place forever now feels
should or should not be doing is nothing but a
unconceivable, it would literally break my
creation of the mind.
heart. Now, if you are wondering, yes, I still get
The same mind that is brilliant, daring, ad-
scared sometimes that this whole path I’ve
venturous, creative, but can also trick you and
chose is complete madness.
limit you in so many ways.
That maybe I should think about settling
I’ve learned that true friendship continues to
down. Get a mortgage, a man, a barbe-
grow even over the longest distance and that
cue, a pregnancy and start thinking where i
the people that are meant to stay in your life
would like to send my children to school.
will always gravitate back into it.
But then, you know what? I’m like “fuck off,
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I’ve learned that it is really hard to let go of some-
Scared that i will forever stay caught up in the wander-
one that you REALLY wish they could stay in your
lust, never finding the perfect place to call home. The
gravitational circle. But everybody crosses your
place that will make me want to stay and settle in for
path for a reason and perhaps, their mission with
good. I want something intense, deep, and true. I want
you have been completed. If not, you will cross
something to wake up for. I want something and some-
again.I’ve learned that it is worth speaking our
body that I can look forward to.One thing that I am
heart, telling people that we care and how we feel.
proud of is that I didn’t let fear stop in my life. I am lucky
Daring to be vulnerable… to be human.
to have friends and family who pushed me towards the uncertain and unclear path for me to find happiness.
I’ve learned that the world keeps spinning with or without us… The only thing that will never change,
Deep down, I always knew that going away and travel-
is the fact that things always change. We can’t stop
ling was what I needed, but I was scared. Scared shitless
the motion of life, but that’s okay because we are
to get out of this little cocoon that I had created. I
spinning too. I’ve learned that you are never gonna
confounded comfort and happiness, and I believe a lot
catch an epic wave just by looking at it. You need
of people do. Way too many people.
to get out there and make shit happen. Same goes for anything epic in life.
Happiness is the key word here. It might be frightening to make the jump and get out your comfort zone, but
I’ve learned that things are never just more greeny
when your guts and instincts tell you that at the end
and easy in the other person’s garden: everybody
of the road you will be happy, do it. Don’t overthink it,
is dealing with their own challenges and fears.
just do it. It is so damn easy to find excuses along the way to quit. Sometimes, it feels like the whole world is
A few weeks ago, I was tagged in this photo, and it
against your ideas, your passion, or your projects. If you
made me smile. Knowing that I can send this vibe
still have this feeling at the bottom of your heart that it
of being fearless is touching, comforting. Comfort-
will make you happy, simply do it. Try it.
ing because ‘fearless’ is not the way I see myself. I can believe I am a brave person from looking back at all the decisions and the challenges that I have overcome in the past. I know I can be courageous
‘Surf Girl Magazine’ had an interesting way of describing
because time and time again I have jumped into
fear by saying that “there is a theory that fear is non-ex-
new adventures without asking myself too many
istent and is just a human translation of excitement.”
questions.
We should use this emotion of fear in order to transfer it in a greater energy. Understand the causes of this fear
But ‘fearless’? Completely without fear? No. This
and face it instead of running away from it. If it scares
would definitely not appear on my resume.I am
the shit out of you and excites you at the same time, it
scared a lot of things actually.
probably means you should do it. You don’t have to be
Scared of not finding the project that will make my
fearless to become limitless. What you need is learning
soul vibrate long-term.
to make those butterflies in your belly fly in formation.
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CHOCOLATE PAVLOVA INGREDIENTS - 1 1/2 cups (330g) caster sugar - 6 Egg whites - 2 tablespoons cocoa powder - 500g strawberries - 300ml double cream
1:20 Prep - 1:00 Cook - 6 Servings - Easy by ANNEKA MITCHELL
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METHOD 1. Preheat oven to 120C. Line a baking tray
4. Bake for 1 hour or until meringue is dry to
with baking paper. Reserve 2 tsp of the sugar
the touch. Turn off oven. Cool in oven, with door ajar, for 1 hour or until completely cool.
2. Use an electric mixer to whisk the egg whites in a clean, dry bowl until stiff peaks
5. Meanwhile, slice strawberries, leaving some
form. Gradually add the remaining sugar, 1
whole. Combine with reserved sugar in a me-
tablespoon at a time, whisking well after each
dium bowl. Set aside for 10 mins or until the
addition. Continue whisking for 5 mins or until
juices are released.
the sugar completely dissolves. 6. Carefully transfer the pavlova to a serving 3. Sift cocoa powder over the meringue mix-
plate. Top with the cream and strawberry
ture. Use a large metal spoon to gently fold to
mixture.
create a swirled effect. Spoon onto the lined tray. Shape into a 20cm-diameter dome.
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Here’s to strong women May we know them May we be them May we raise them - unknown
Men aren’t from Mars & woman aren’t
“It is not at all unusual for men to be
from Venus. A new study has revealed
empathic and women to be good at math
the seismic news that men and women
— characteristics that some research has
are categorically the same. “The common
associated with the other sex”, explained
belief that men are from Mars and women
Carothers. “Sex is not nearly as confining
are from Venus is really wrong, we are
a category as stereotypes and even some
all from planet Earth”, said Harry Reis,
academic studies would have us believe.”
professor of psychology. They looked at previous studies, analysing 122 different
Dr Kellie Burns, a gender expert from
characteristics such as fear of success,
the University of Sydney welcomed
intimacy and empathy in 13,301 individuals.
the new research as an important step
They found that on the whole, men and
in challenging ideas around gender.
women did not fall into different groups.
research confirms something we already
Men are from Mars, & Woman are from Venus But there is resounding evidence that
disconnect them from their common
our culture, society, norms, expectations,
humanity and cause problems in
customs and ideologies play the most
relationships. I find that it is not unusual
significant role in shaping the
for women to underestimate the depth of
gender order.”
mens’ emotions and the degree of their vulnerability, particularly in relationships, which can cause a lot of misunderstanding
many individuals still buy into the notion
and unnecessary disconnection. It is also
that men are from Mars and women
not unusual to have conversations in
are from Venus to the detriment of
therapy about the universality of basic
their relationships. “I do find that men
human psychological needs, and men and
and women often fall into the trap of
women can be surprised to discover their
stereotyping each other, which can
shared experience in this regard.”
41
A WOMAN
In a Man’s WORLD
That’s Brave
43
To the Boys, Her Role Is Simple.
Teammate By ADAM HIMMELSBACH
tough. As the star point guard for the
www.nytimes.com
South Plantation girls’ basketball team, she has had a broken nose, a torn labrum,
South Plantation High School’s third-
dislocated fingers and a concussion.
string quarterback was warming up on the sideline “We’d be warming up, and people
DiMeglio had proved herself to the
would stop over and wait for her to throw
other players during spring and summer
to see if she could play,” the
workouts, so when she officially joined the
Paladins’ starting quarterback, John
team, it was met with a respectful shrug.
Franklin, said. “And then they’d walk away
She has her own changing area in the girls’
like, ‘Oh, they have a girl, and she’s
locker room, and at the seven-on-seven
for real’. ”
camp last summer, she shared a room with the cheerleading coach. Otherwise,
Even though DiMeglio was playing against
she is one of the guys, and they are
boys, there was no tackling, no need
protective of her.
for her to leave her comfort zone. If the quarterback still had the ball four seconds
This year, DiMeglio and several teammates
after it was snapped, the play was ruled a
traveled to a rival high school to watch a
sack. But DiMeglio’s performance gave her
scrimmage. Some students from the other
confidence to take the next step.
high school approached the team.
Her parents were leery of seeing her get
“They were kind of making comments
tackled. Gatewood assured them DiMeglio
about how they heard we had a girl
would line up in the shotgun formation
quarterback,” said wide receiver Hordly
rather than under center, so she would
Seide, who has a scholarship offer from
have more time and space to elude a hit.
Memphis. “We were just like, ‘Yeah, she’s
And DiMeglio reminded them she was
standing right here.”
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BRAVE november 2017