Morning Inspiration

GREAT morning everyone!!! Happy Monday! For some of you this means the start of your work week and for others, like me, it may mean the beginning of another school week. Since I know how especially difficult it can be to get back on task after the weekend especially if you were lazy the whole weekend here's a treat....Click here. Still need encouragement? Thats what I'm here for. Keep reading...you wont be sorry!

Don't you wish I was YOUR puppy?!

Fact of the matter is, there is no hip world, there is no straight world. There's a world, you see, which has people in it who believe in a variety of different things. Everybody believes in something and everybody, by virtue of the fact that they believe in something, use that something to support their own existence.-Frank Zappa

What do you believe in?  Magic?
                                         Luck?
                                         Love?
                                         God?
                                         Evil never wins?
Nice guys finish last?  

Did I leave anything out? ahhhh yes YOURSELF!! Do you truly believe in yourself? I don't mean believing in yourself as in "I believe I am a good driver" or even "I believe I am a a great writer" but do you TRULY and unconditionally believe in yourself? Do you believe you can make your dreams a reality? I hope the answer to these questions are all affirmative. If not, leave a comment, pull up a chair and lets chat asap!

Regardless of what you believe in it is important that you believe in something. If you're still soul searching not sure what you believe in start with believing in yourself. Regardless of your religious or political affiliations, your core belief system should start with YOU. Believe in your greatness! Believe you were born with the tools you need to become the best version of YOU!

What do you want to accomplish that you have not done yet? 

Want to run a marathon? Believe you have the dedication and perseverance to train for and complete the race.   

Want to become financially savvy? Become vigilante about your credit ratings and take control of your financial status. 

Want to find a comparable mate? Open your mind and emphasize the things that make you an attractive mate. By the same token, reflect on the pieces of YOU that are sources of conflict.
Want to get out and experience new things? Get dressed and leave your residence! 

Believing in yourself is a TRUE investment of your physical and mental energy. You will battle fake people and fair-weather friends. You will battle naysayers and bandwagoners. Battling such things will deplete your energy and may cause you to question yourself occasionally. The bright side? If you TRULY believe in yourself your hard work and dedication WILL pay off. Focus on your own strengths without regard to how fair-weather friends perceive them. Maintain faith within your inner circle and continue to strive for greatness.



Remember to always trust and push yourself. You are capable of much more than you believe you are.

Today's song choice: Gwen Stefani-Hollaback Girl

Spread Love!!!

Freedom Friday

Greetings and blessings everyone! I came across something interesting this week and thought I'd share it. Since this is outside of what I usually post, I decided to call it "Freedom Friday" because I'm "free" to post whatever I feel like posting. Hate it or love it. I might do it again next week or I might not.

What is this interesting thing?? NEW MUSIC!  You all should know by now even if you don't care so the thought of new music makes me very happy. I'm even happier to share it with you. Click here to check out one of my favorite tracks from up and coming artist Ms. Kia called "Ms. Go Getta."

Want more of Ms. Kia? Click here to download her entire mixtape.

Thanks for the love this week peeps! 

Have a great weekend! 

Morning Inspiration

GREAT morning everyone! TGIF! 

"I believe life is to be lived, not worked, enjoyed, not agonized, loved, not hated."-Leland Bartlett

A few months ago I saw a movie where one character asked the other, "What are you doing? Are you living or are you existing?" The question resonated with me. Although it seems like an obvious difference, before hearing the question I had not stopped to think about which one I was doing. I challenge you to ask yourself whether you're living or just existing? When you LIVE you take advantage of every opportunity to learn something new or experience something out of the ordinary. When you LIVE you dont make excuses, you make things happen. When you LIVE you dont simply take up space, you are a commodity. As you would imagine, EXISTING is the opposite of living. When you EXIST you are a liability and not an asset. When you simply EXIST, your presence drains the energy of those around you. 


The bottom line is life is too short NOT to enjoy it. At this point, enjoying life should be your only option. Even in the face of tragic events you can't control, you should look to maximize every opportunity to enjoy your life. 


Something donned on me yesterday: The more I learn the more I realize I dont know. The  more I experience the more I realize I have not experienced. A year and a half ago I didn't know what it mean to stand on a frozen lake. I also didnt realize that I could have missed out on knowing what it meant to do so. Since then I have embraced my adventurous side while also continuing to push myself in other ways. Now when I am asked to do something adventurous I jump on the opportunity. I encourage all of you to do the same. Need some ideas? Rent an ATV. Go horseback riding. Go kayaking. Google "adventure trips" 




I'm asking you once again, are you LIVING or EXISTING? 




Today's song choice: Janet Jackson-Rhythm Nation




Love!!!






PS.. Stay tuned because later today I'm going to post the very first "Freedom Friday" jam packed with music, news, etc. 

Morning Inspiration

GREAT morning everyone! TGIF! 

"I believe life is to be lived, not worked, enjoyed, not agonized, loved, not hated."-Leland Bartlett

A few months ago I saw a movie where one character asked the other, "What are you doing? Are you living or are you existing?" The question resonated with me. Although it seems like an obvious difference, before hearing the question I had not stopped to think about which one I was doing. I challenge you to ask yourself whether you're living or just existing? When you LIVE you take advantage of every opportunity to learn something new or experience something out of the ordinary. When you LIVE you dont make excuses, you make things happen. When you LIVE you dont simply take up space, you are a commodity. As you would imagine, EXISTING is the opposite of living. When you EXIST you are a liability and not an asset. When you simply EXIST, your presence drains the energy of those around you. 


The bottom line is life is too short NOT to enjoy it. At this point, enjoying life should be your only option. Even in the face of tragic events you can't control, you should look to maximize every opportunity to enjoy your life. 


Something donned on me yesterday: The more I learn the more I realize I dont know. The  more I experience the more I realize I have not experienced. A year and a half ago I didn't know what it mean to stand on a frozen lake. I also didnt realize that I could have missed out on knowing what it meant to do so. Since then I have embraced my adventurous side while also continuing to push myself in other ways. Now when I am asked to do something adventurous I jump on the opportunity. I encourage all of you to do the same. Need some ideas? Rent an ATV. Go horseback riding. Go kayaking. Google "adventure trips" 




I'm asking you once again, are you LIVING or EXISTING? 




Today's song choice: Janet Jackson-Rhythm Nation




Love!!!






PS.. Stay tuned because later today I'm going to post the very first "Freedom Friday!" 

Taking a day off...

Work required me to be out of the office this morning and away from my computer. I apologize about the inconvenience. Regular posting will resume tomorrow...

Daily Inspiration from HUSL Today

GREAT morning beautiful people!!! Happy Hump Day!

Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work. -H.L. Hunt

Is it that simple? How far are you willing to go to get what you want? A measure of how badly we really want something is how far we are willing to go to see it happen. It could mean traveling 1000 miles or it could mean stepping way out of your comfort zone. Sometimes getting what you want means ticking someone off in the process. Everything you are doing now should be a means to an end. You choose the means and their necessity and effectiveness are relative. YOU decide if something is necessary. YOU decide if something was effective. Do not falter or give up when the first person tells you no. Stand up tall and brainstorm alternative ways to make things happen. Is that person the single gatekeeper? Does that person have a boss? Is there a second gatekeeper? Instead of allowing someone else's decision to impact your journey, make the decision to forge your own path. People will try to discourage you. People wont always understand your dream. Recognize that you are not living for these "people," you are living for YOU! Tune out negativity and tune into your own spirit. If you listen to the nay-sayers and allow negative people to throw you into a tizzy and you will forever wonder "what if?"

If life is a game then it must follow that there will be winners and losers right? 2 teams can't win the Superbowl. Will you touch the Lombardi trophy of life?!

SN: Can we get at least ONE snow day in the district??

Today's song choice: Anthony Hamilton-The Point of it All. 

Love!!

Daily Inspiration from HUSL Today

GREAT Morning beautiful ladies and handsome gentlemen! Happy Tuesday!

Always continue the climb. It is possible for you to do whatever you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are willing to work with a power that is greater than ourselves to do it. -Ella Wheeler Wilcox 


I like to look at situations as though I am climbing an incredibly intricate set of steps.  The stairs are modeled after a spiral design with a small platform at different increments.  I use the "platform" as an opportunity to revel in my accomplishments and celebrate them. The platforms are short because I do not want to spend too much time enjoying the achievement that I lose focus. In the beginning, the steps and the platforms (rest stops) are closer together. With each new accomplishment I imagine myself reaching the top of one set of steps. With each new venture I imagine myself starting on another staircase. As I progress towards the middle, the steps and the platforms become farther apart as my goals become more challenging and take longer to achieve. Looking at life this way allows me to always stay on my toes and continue to push myself. Even when I have accomplished something major, I celebrate for a while and then begin to climb another staircase. The higher I climb, the more motivated I become to reach the top. The great part about a staircase is that you can look back to see how far you have come. Another random fact about me: One of my biggest fears is becoming complacent. While this analogy may not work for everyone, I challenge all of you to continue pushing yourself. I cannot stress this enough. I want all of you to become the best person you can possibly become. Even when you have accomplished something others think is a major feat, continue to push yourself. You may have reached the pinnacle of your career but what is your personal life like? You may have everything you ever desired in terms of a family but have you reached your full potential professionally? Even if you believe your personal and professional lives are in order there is always room for improvement. My father once told me the secret to staying young is to always strive to learn something new. Moreover, the secret to learning something new is to continuously push yourself.

No one is perfect and that means there is always room for improvement.

SN: If no one has already done so, I want to congratulate you on making it past Monday! I dont know about you all, but my Monday was exceedingly and unnecessarily loooooonnnng!

Today's song choice: Kanye West-Flashing Lights

Love!!

Daily Inspiration from HUSL Today

GREAT morning everyone. Happy Monday!!

"If you are dealing with fears and insecurities from old head programs, have compassion for yourself. Just love your insecurities, fears and resentments. Release and forgive them as they come up. Judging, beating or repressing insecurities just gives them power. Then you have a pattern that never gets resolved. Recognize that your real security is built from your relationship with your own heart." -Sara Paddison, The Hidden Power of the Heart

This past weekend I went on an amazing ski adventure with some of my closest friends. The only problem with the trip was two things: (1) It was 7 degrees NOT taking into account the windchill and (2) I'm TERRIFIED of heights. Another thing you should know about me: I have become good at masking my fears. I don't think anyone noticed how PETRIFIED I was to ride the ski lift. In spite of my fear, I stood in line with sweaty palms and bravely boarded once I realized there was no turning back.

While it is physically demanding, I find skiing to be relaxing and invigorating. I saw it as another opportunity to step outside of the box and challenge myself. The only part I dreaded was having to board a ski lift to return to the top of the mountain. The first few times up, I made sure to ride the lift with a partner to ease my fears and it worked. As luck would have it, during my penultimate trip down the slopes there were 3 of us and I was ahead of my friends in the ski lift line so I chose to ride alone. While on said ski lift, I made the ultimate mistake-I took my eyes off of the horizon and looked DOWN! My heart began to beat very fast as I continued to tell myself I was NOT afraid. I looked around for assurance that everything would be ok and realized I was panicking. I began to breathe slowly to calm myself down. It was while I was dangling in the air suspended by a cord & holding on to a metal bar that I realized my fear was self-created. It existed only in my mind and only for as long as I allowed it to exist.

More when you read the rest...

Daily Inspiration from HUSL Today

Great Morning everyone!!!! Happy Friday!!!

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.  ~Douglas Page ls

I'm gearing up for a weekend with my best friends and I'm very excited! This post is dedicated to my friends, all of whom have become part of my extended family. I hope you all are blessed with the joy of genuine friendships. If you do not feel like you have them, take advantage of this weekend to go out and meet new people!

 You can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends.

Peace & Love...


SN: Happy Birthday to my oldest neice D.A.H. I love you!!! (yes she will read this)

Daily Inspiration from HUSL Today

GREAT Morning everyone! Happy "almost Friday!"

“Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves” - E. Joseph Cossman

I have said it before and I will say it a million times-YOU define what success looks like.  Although I understand for some business models, success is measured according to the success/failure of other businesses but that is not what I am referring to. What do you consider success? Steve Harvey once said if he never sold over 500,000 copies of his book but he got the opportunity to go on Oprah's talk show he would consider himself a success. Steve Harvey is a comedian by trade who decided to write a relationship book after giving in to requests by his fans to do so. He has a syndicated radio show that airs in major markets daily from 6am-10am. Based on this information, I am sure his definition of success for his book is different from other people who have written books. In case you're wondering, Steve was on the Oprah show and he sold well over 500,000 copies AND he got a deal to write another book which is also selling well. Some authors aim to be on the New York Times Best Seller list while others aim for a coveted spot in Oprah's book club and others still aim to sell a certain number of copies. The same goes for people in business, in school and in their personal lives.  Do not aim to have a "better" situation than someone else, aim to improve your own situation. Aim to be better daughters, fathers, sons, mothers, coworkers and supervisors. The competition for business profits is with others; the competition to reach your full potential in life is with yourself.

If you measure your success based on what someone else believes makes you successful, its time to change your metric system.

Today's Song Choice: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly-Before I let go

SN: Happy 2nd Inaugural Anniversary Mr. President!! I was there and the experience was truly UNFORGETTABLE!

Love!!

Daily Inspiration from HUSL Today

GREAT morning beautiful people! Happy Hump Day!!

"There is no such thing as can't, only won't. If you're qualified, all it takes is a burning desire to accomplish, to make a change. Go forward, go backward. Whatever it takes! But you can't blame other people or society in general. It all comes from your mind. When we do the impossible we realize we are special people." --Jan Ashford

Have you ever accomplished something others said you couldn't and SHOCKED yourself?  OR better yet, have you ever accomplished something that along the way you doubted whether it could be done? If your answer to these questions is negative, you arent pushing yourself enough (or maybe you arent easily amused). If your answers are in the affirmative then I would say you are on the right path or you're very sure of yourself. There is a special satisfaction that comes from pushing yourself an extra mile.  There is much to be said about pushing your limits physically and mentally and the satisfaction that comes form doing so.

I know many of you made "New Year's Resolutions" and some of you may have already given up on them. You may have resolved to save money but reverted to your old ways and taken advantage of all the MLK day sales. You may have resolved to lose weight or adopt a healthier lifestyle but you fell prey to restaurant week specials. What you have done is fallen off of the path, nothing more. Do not count these shortcomings as failures. No man is an island. If you have trouble sticking to your resolutions, break them down and turn them into more obtainable short term goals. Hence, instead of saying you will eat healthier, say you will eat 2 pieces of fruit a day. Instead of saying you will save thousands of dollars, save a few dollars a day by bringing your lunch twice a week and packing snacks. Build upon your short term goals and increase your goals incrementally until you get where you would like to be. Give yourself a new timeline and do your best to stick to it. Always remember, God doesnt always call the qualified, he qualifies the called. With that said, you may have been placed in a situation where you do not believe you can finish what you started but there is ALWAYS a way. You may not finish exactly how you planned, but you will never know what you are capable of if you quit prematurely. You do not know everything about everything and you are not expected to. When it appears you have reached a dead end, take a moment to assess the situation. Go backwards and retrace your steps to see where you may have slipped up. Do not be afraid to admit your mistakes, its in our nature to make them! In fact I encourage all of you to actively seek out blotches in your track record so you can turn them into a lesson learned.

Today's song choice: Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey-When you Believe.

LOVE!

 
P.S. Excuse me if I sound a little bit "salty" today. I got word of a visit from Michelle Obama at our school today, swindled my way into a ticket and then I couldnt get out of work...yep I'm salty.

Tuesday Trailblazers

Bernard Shaw

Bernard Shaw is an American journalist and former news anchor for CNN from 1980 until his retirement in March 2001. Shaw was born on May 22, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois.  

"Mr. Cronkite, I have to talk to you. I have to be a journalist. And I have to find out how I do that."

In the 1960s as a  21-year-old corporal in the Marines stationed in Hawaii, Shaw took advantage of the opportunity to speak with one of his heroes(who became a long time friend)-Walter Cronkite. Shaw served in the Marines until 1963 when he enrolled at the University of Illinois at Chicago from 1963-1968. Shaw began his broadcasting career as an anchor and reporter for WNUS in Chicago. He then worked as a reporter for the Westinghouse Broadcasting Company in Chicago, moving later to Washington as the White House correspondent. Shaw worked as a correspondent in the Washington Bureau of CBS News from 1971 to 1977. In 1977, Shaw moved to ABC News as Latin American correspondent and bureau chief before becoming the Capitol Hill Senior Correspondent. He left ABC in 1980 to move to CNN as its Principal Anchor.


Shaw is widely known for the question he posed to Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Michael Dukakis at his second Presidential debate with George H. W. Bush during the 1988 election, which Shaw was moderating. Knowing that Dukakis opposed the death penalty, Shaw asked Dukakis "Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?" To which the Governor responded, "No, I don't, Bernard. And I think you know that I have opposed the death penalty all of my life..." Click here for the footage.

"Whoa! The skies over Baghdad have been illuminated. This is thunder. This is lightning. This is death. This is hell."

He is perhaps mainly remembered for his reporting on the 1991 Gulf War. Reporting with CNN correspondents John Holliman and Peter Arnett from the Al-Rashid Hotel in Baghdad, he found shelter under a desk as he reported cruise missiles flying past his window. He also made frequent trips back and forth from the hotel's bomb shelter. While describing the situation in Baghdad, he famously stated "Clearly I've never been there, but this feels like we're in the center of hell." Check the video below for part of one of his broadcasts.




He moderated the October 2000 vice-presidential debate between Dick Cheney and Joe Lieberman. Shaw co-anchored CNN's Inside Politics from 1992 until he retired from CNN in 2001. In 2001, CNN aired a farewell tribute to Shaw. You can view the transcript here. He has occasionally appeared on CNN, including in May 2005 when a plane flew into restricted air space in Washington, D.C.


I must acknowledge that the "color" of newscasts has changed since Shaw reported on the Gulf War back in 1991 and I think its a shame. It baffles me that networks *cough cough* can claim to deliver "fair and balanced" news without a diverse staff. Blacks continue to rarely get the big stories, the prime-time slots, or headline their own shows. I understand that you do not have to be diverse to deliver accurate news, but there is something to be said about the importance of having a staff similar to the people you're reporting on.  I digress...

Talented Generation Salutes Bernard Shaw!!!

Daily Inspiration from HUSL Today

GREAT morning everyone! I apologize about the delay, I "overslept" and was swamped this morning when I arrived to work. Moving on...I know I need more than a little motivation after the restful 3 day weekend I enjoyed. I give you today's inspiration...

"All life demands struggle. Those who have everything given to them become lazy, selfish, and insensitive to the real values of life. The very striving and hard work that we so constantly try to avoid is the major building block in the person we are today." -Pope Paul VI

I used to wake up some mornings and ask God why I wasnt born with a silver spoon in my mouth. By silver spoon I mean born into wealth. Why did I wish this? My family wasn't poor but we weren't rich either. Essentially, I wished I was born into a family that could afford for me to never have to work a day in my life. I was resisting growing up and I believed if I was born to a wealthy family I could remain a "kid" for longer than normal. Age aint nothin but a number, right?
I didnt want to go to work.
I didnt want to go to school.
I didnt want to face the responsibilities of becoming an adult.
So far the only answer that has ever consumed my spirit is that I wouldnt be the person I am today if I was born with a "silver spoon." I probably would not be as determined and driven as I am. I probably would not be as satisfied as I am. I probably would have missed out on wonderful opportunities and missed meeting wonderful people.  I believe my "ah ha" moment came after the third millionaire confessed that she envied my spirit and my ability to relate to almost everyone. She complained that her socioeconomic status made it difficult for her to relate to regular people and was blunt about her negative experiences with people in her "circle." Stick with me, theres a point. I have learned not to envy people who I believe have a better life than I have had based on exterior appearances. Expensive cars, houses and clothes can easily be used to cover up deeply rooted problems. Lesson learned: you never know what a person has done to get what they have. 

I am proud to proclaim that my struggles have molded me. As a woman I have learned to love my frame and as an African American I have learned to love my skin color. I say I "learned" because my love for myself has been a journey as is every quest to embrace self love. I internalized my kind of beauty and so should you.

I encourage all of you to accept the hand you were dealt and to play the best d*mned hand possible. Dont be lazy and complain, be proactive and proclaim victory! I could finish this off by telling you everything happens for a reason, and God doesnt make mistakes and its up to you to shape your future but I'm sure you all know that.

BTW its restaurant week in DC. Does that excite anyone else?!! *fat girl moment*

Today's song choice: Kanye West-Heard 'Em Say

LOVE!!!

Bear with me...

The terrible weather slowed me down a bit today...I'll post today's inspiration around lunch!

In the mean time SMILE and stay POSITIVE!

Love!

Daily Inspiration from HUSL Today

GREAT morning everyone!! Happy Friday!

"The leaders I met, whatever walk of life they were from, whatever institutions they were presiding over, always referred back to the same failure - something that happened to them that was personally difficult, even traumatic, something that made them feel that desperate sense of hitting bottom--as something they thought was almost a necessity. It's as if at that moment the iron entered their soul; that moment created the resilience that leaders need." -Warren Bennis

Today's message is simple: traumatic events that dont kill you will make you stronger. I know you have heard this a million times before and so have I, but recent tribulations have given me a new outlook on what this really means. Sometimes we dont understand the benefits of the battle until the dark clouds are gone, the sun is shining again and we realize we have lived thru it. If you have survived terrible things, you are meant to emerge from them as a Phoenix arises from its own ashes. You are not meant to use those moments as a crutch. You are not meant to use those moments as an excuse for being down on your luck. Harness the power of those moments and use them to make you into a better person. As a survivor, you know more about your personal limits and your inner strength. Think of obstacles as exercises for your character. The more obstacles you overcome, the more your character will be "fit" for unexpected challenges. If you believe you have taken on more than your fair share of challenges, consider it a blessing instead of a curse. Continue to train yourself to welcome challenges and learn to work well even when you're in boiling water. Strong leaders need to experience adversity in order to appreciate "the good life."If you are in the midst of a battle now, I encourage you to continue to fight through it. I cannot say how long the battle will last or why it presented itself, but I can guarantee that if you survive it you will be a stronger person.

Have a great 3 day weekend folks!!

Today's song choice: Sade-Sweetest Taboo.

Daily Inspiration from HUSL Today

GREAT morning everyone!

"We can either watch life from the sidelines, or actively participate. Either we let self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy prevent us from realizing our potential, or embrace the fact that when we turn our attention away from ourselves, our potential is limitless." - Christopher Reeve

Like many of you, I am my own biggest critic. Last evening I was thinking of the ways this impacts my life and I came to one conclusion: it both helps and hinders me. It helps me because I have my own expectations of excellence and my standards are higher than the standards anyone else could ever set for me. This means I often exceed the expectations of others and it allows me to push myself towards excellence in everything I do. It hinders me because I get so critical of my own abilities that I end up doubting myself and holding myself back. I have now become more mindful of my actions and I can consciously change my behaviors.  I said all that to say this: Do not become your own worst enemy! The moment you begin to doubt yourself, change your thought process! Do not allow your self-doubt to hinder you. Its time to become proactive about who you want to be. Take an assessment of everything you consider a weakness and WORK to make it a strength.
Dont think you're a good writer? Write more!
Don't think you're a good public speaker? Speak in public more.
Dont think you're great at math? Do math more and help a kid with their math homework!

Become an active participant in your life and live it up. Anytime you start to feel like there is something you cant do, get up and make it happen! YOU are the one who has to take control of your life. Imagine yourself as the head coach of your own team and YOU must lead your team to the championship!

Love!!

Haiti-One Year Later

Its no longer on the front page of newspapers.
Its no longer the "lead in" for the nightly news.
Its no longer covered as heavily.
The major pushes for donations have stopped.
Resources have dried up.
Cholera outbreaks have claimed the lives of over 3500 Haitian people.
The people still suffer.
Families still mourn the loss of loved ones.


Prior to today, I really struggled with finding a "unique" way to honor the people of Haiti without mimicking the things other websites, blogs, etc. were already doing. It finally donned on me this morning that my focus on wanting to be "unique" was selfish. This day is not about me, or my blog, its about paying my respects to a great people. As one with Haitian friends all of whom I consider part of my extended family, I am ashamed of my self-centeredness. We all have our moments.

The island nation is still fighting the devastation caused by the quake, which killed over 230,000 Haitian people, and by some estimates left some 1.5 million people home. Additionally, the subsequent Cholera outbreak has claimed the lives of 3500 so far and the numbers are still climbing. All things considered, there is but one word that could describe the people of Haiti: Resilient. Resilience is the ability to work with adversity in such a way that one comes through it unharmed or even better for the experience. I found this little blurb about what the word means: "Resilience means facing life’s difficulties with courage and patience – refusing to give up. It is the quality of character that allows a person or group of people rebound from misfortune, hardships and traumas.  Resilience is rooted in a tenacity of spirit—a determination to embrace all that makes life worth living even in the face of overwhelming odds. When we have a clear sense of identity and purpose, we are more resilient, because we can hold fast to our vision of a better future.  Much of our resilience comes from community—from the relationships that allow us to lean on each other for support when we need it."


They have suffered from one tragedy after another but have remained hopeful for better days. Their spirit is inspiring.  What really breaks my heart when traumatic events occur is that after a certain amount of time we stop talking about it. The media stops covering it and we stop checking on the people who were affected. We stop asking people how they are coping with their loss. Its almost as if we believe that as time progresses and people stop talking about something then it MUST have gotten better.

I intentionally allowed the "Haiti needs your help" app to remain high on this blog in hopes that it would remind people that Haiti still needs us. The great thing about anniversary is that people are once again talking about Haiti. My hope is that the conversations turn into generous donations.

Read on for stories I've found so far about the anniversary...

Daily Inspiration from HUSL Today

GREAT morning ladies and gentlemen!! Today is the first anniversary of the day the earthquake devastated Haiti. In honor of the risilience and grace of the people of Haiti, this post and all posts for the remainder of the day are dedication to them. With that said, today's quotes are intended to inspire everyone to be resilient in the face of adversity:

"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

"People who soar are those who refuse to sit back, sigh and wish things would change. They neither complain of their lot nor passively dream of some distant ship coming in. Rather, they visualize in their minds that they are not quitters; they will not allow life's circumstances to push them down and hold them under." -Charles Swindoll

"There exist some evils so terrible and some misfortunes so horrible that we dare not think of them, whilst their very aspect makes us shudder; but if they happen to fall on us, we find ourselves stronger than we imagined, we grapple with our ill luck, and behave better than we expected we should." -Jean de La Bruyere

 

Love!!!

 

Keep the people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers today and everyday.

Tuesday Trailblazers!!!

Michel Martin

In our inaugural edition of "Tuesday Trailblazers," I decided to give the spotlight to someone whose excellence in journalism has earned her many loyal fans-Michel Martin. She is the host and developer of Tell Me More, the one-hour daily NPR news and talk show that made its national premiere on April 30, 2007, on public radio stations around the country. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Martin graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College at Harvard University in 1980 and has done graduate work at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. In her show's development stages,  Martin served as contributor and substitute host for NPR newsmagazines and talk shows, including Talk of the Nation and News & Notes.


Before she joined the NPR family, Martin worked for several other news sources including the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, PBS and ABC. Martin covered state and local politics for the Washington Post and national politics and policy at the Wall Street Journal, where she was White House correspondent. She was a regular panelist on the PBS series Washington Week and a contributor to NOW with Bill Moyers. 


During her stint at ABC from 1992-2006, she served as correspondent for Nightline from 1996 to 2006, reporting on such subjects as the Congressional budget battles, the U.S. embassy bombings in Africa, racial profiling and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. At ABC, she also contributed to numerous programs and specials, including the network's award-winning coverage of September 11, a documentary on the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas controversy, a critically acclaimed AIDS special and reports for the ongoing series "America in Black and White." Martin reported for the ABC newsmagazine Day One, winning an Emmy for her coverage of the international campaign to ban the use of landmines, and was a regular panelist onThis Week with George Stephanopoulos. She also hosted the 13-episode series Life 360, an innovative program partnership between Oregon Public Broadcasting and Nightline incorporating documentary film, performance and personal narrative; it aired on public television stations across the country.


More when you read the rest...

Daily Inspiration from HUSL Today

GREAT morning everyone! Happy Tuesday!! Pop Quiz: How many of you watched the BCS Championship last evening? If you missed it, google it or something because it was one of the best football games I have watched in a long while. Ok back to business...below is today's quote:

“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.”-Albert Pine

Now that the holidays are over we are all going back to our "normal lives" of tight schedules, tight deadlines and even tighter jeans (I know I'm not the only one that gained holiday weight!). While you may no longer see commercials encouraging you to donate to St. Judes and there is no longer a volunteer standing outside of your grocery store ringing a bell, there are still people in need. The children in need of care at St. Judes dont disappear after New Years and neither do the people who utilize the services of the Salvation Army. Although you may not hear about it as much, the people of Haiti are still in need as well. I encourage you all to make a commitment to give of yourself to someone in need today. While the media paints a picture of a person in need  as one with tattered clothing and a shopping cart filled with their prized possessions, everyone in need does not fit that profile. Old proverbs and general wisdom sayings tells us that looks can be deceiving as one's appearance does not always reveal his/her struggles. For example:
A woman who is overwhelmed by a new baby.
A man who is mourning the loss of his father.
A child who tells you their father was recently deployed.
A soldier who recently returned to the states and is adjusting to life as a civilian.

More when you read the rest...

Daily Inspiration from HUSL Today

GREAT morning beautiful people!! Did you miss me a little while I was gone? I missed you all! Back to business...

“The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings.” -David Weinbaum

After a brief hiatus I am admittedly nervous about my first post of the new year. I vented to a friend about how nervous I was about thinking of something to post. My friend said "Well girl, all you have to do is start typing and your fingers will do the rest." That conversation inspired me to remind you all that every journey begins with the first step. Once you take the first step it is IMPERATIVE that you continue "stepping." The first step will turn into another and another and before you know it you will have walked a mile. Pretty soon the miles will multiply and you will look back on your journey in awe of how far you have come. Proceed to progress and never be afraid of change because without change there is no progress.

Go ahead, strap up your boots and take the first step!

Today's song choice: Katy Perry-Firework. Love this song!

Love!