This week, don’t forget to protect your most precious resource - You! Your mind and body need replenishing on a regular basis. Take at least as much care of you as you do of your car, house, family and career. Think about it. You take your car for regular tune-ups and oil changes, you change light bulbs and replace air filters, but do you remember to recharge your own batteries?
Make a commitment this week to take time to do something you enjoy. Don’t worry about what you “should” be doing. Do what makes you feel replenished and motivated. Whether it be exercise, lunch with a friend, a trip to the movies or a quiet afternoon with a good novel, you need to take time out for yourself. The renewed energy you feel will make all other aspects of your life more enjoyable and you’ll probably be more efficient at handling the tasks you ”should” handle. Not only that, when you enjoy your life and take care of yourself, you are less likely to overeat and will have more energy for exercise and other important things in life.
Working out alone can be an oasis of solitude on a busy day, but maybe you are beginning to feel bored with your exercise routine. If so, try exercising or walking with a friend.
Exercise companions add a social element to any routine. Ask a friend to be your workout partner or check out Meetup.com to find fellow exercisers in your area. You won’t skip a workout if someone is waiting on you. Plus, you might just give it that extra push when someone you know is watching. Most of all, it is great to have the support of someone who cares cheering you.
Several revolutionary, elite trainers such as Jaiya Figueras of Your Next Victory.com are using the team concept to add motivation to group workouts. If you need a boost in your motivation, try working out with a trainer who employs the group concept.
I am a warrior in training. This includes workouts with Jaiya Figueras of Your Next Victory on the Bluff at Long Beach. What better way to mentally train for warrior status than to rock out to this tune and let it sink into your bones.
I try to record a lot of movement in this video because it is symbolic of how the music moves me and the energy that bounces around inside of me when I hear it. If you’d like to see me moving instead of the record cover, you can check out my latest birthday video where my husband captures me hula hooping, jumping on the trampoline and lip-synching to punk rock. My outfit is the equivalent of “drag queen” style with inspiration from Phyllis Diller, Lily Tomlin and Joan Rivers. Check it out on YouTube>>>
Recently I have joined forces with Jaiya Figueras of Your Next Victory. In addition to our warrior workouts on the bluff in Long Beach, we have recorded some video about how trauma and exercise are related. I wrote a blog about it titled Why do people break down and cry when they exercise? I think it will be a real eye-opener for some people who just think they’re “lazy” because they can’t seem to ever get motivated to exercise.
What motivates me is music. Here’s a link to a few of my workout playlists. Enjoy and dare to activate your inner-warrior.
When you think about it, every musical act you know of is using the Master Mind principle whether they realize it or not. They are joining together as a team with a combined vision. You can use the same principle and make some truly rockin’ things happen in your life.
Do you have a creative project you want to complete? Do you want to find a purpose for your life?
If so, I invite you to come over to my brand new page called Start a Master Mind Group.com. I’m offering 4 freebies to get you started so you can get a sense of what the Master Mind is all about.
Cynthia Lamb, spiritual counselor delivered a powerful speech at Agape Toastmasters describing some of the benefits she’s enjoyed as a result of her 2 years of membership.
Cynthia started her speaking experience with lots of “ahs” and “ums” in a manner she describes as “all filler, no content”. After using the manuals provided by Toastmasters she learned to be a competent leader and communicator. Toastmasters gave her the courage to pursue her larger goal which is to share a message of spiritual healing through forgiveness with an International audience.
She recently appeared on a panel of experts lead by Blog Talk Radio host, Michelle Ann Johnson titled “Conscious Kickstart” and did a very powerful presentation which included a guided process for forgiveness. She is kind enough to make this available to the world via this YouTube Video. If you need to heal a broken heart for any reason, you owe it to yourself to check this out.
Cynthia Lamb recently earned the highest award Toastmasters offers: Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) and to do it in 2 years is an exceptional feat.
Agape Toastmasters is that kind of place. I joined 2 years ago and I was shaky and hesitant in my first few speeches. I would get so nervous that sometimes I was practically incapacitated for an entire day. But with practice and support, I became stronger and stronger.
I have used the supportive, creative environment to work out some ideas for a character, (my alter ego) Gal Vanized. When I started Toastmasters I had 7 years of experience as a college instructor under my belt. Somehow I had convinced myself or been pressured to believe that I had to “tone it down” and “be professional”. Which meant that pink wigs and punk rock gigs were out of the question.
To that I say, Why?
And this semester I’ve used music videos in my Introduction to Victimology class to highlight some of the songs that describe the abuse of power and control in our society that leads to crime and therefore victims.
I got bold enough one night to put on the pink wig in my Introduction to Domestic Violence class and tell my story of running away from an abuse filled home to find a better life. What Toastmasters did for me is give me the courage to say what I want to say, how I want to say it.
What will Toastmasters do for you? You’ll never know unless you check it out for yourself. Toastmasters is an International, non-profit organization. “The mission of a Toastmasters club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every individual member has the opportunity to develop oral communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.”
I just got back from Master Mind group and I took a look at the photos my camera has saved from the last 9 days. Let’s just say my life is a whirlwind of good things. This blog is an excuse for me to post the awesome photos that represent the past 9 days of my life and maybe to tell a little bit about each photo. This is a week I want to remember.
On Friday, October 22 I was asked to speak at a candlelight memorial for Omar Brown, former Long Beach City College student who was shot and killed in an allegedly gang-related fight. Although the event itself, and the need for it is a tragedy, the positive aspect is that the Long Beach City College community took quick action and pulled together an event to show support and to speak out against violence.
The event was hosted by the Associated Student Body and I want to give a “shout out” to Pamela Marshall for doing a great job pulling everything together. Also great to see Anita Gibbins of the Women and Men’s Resource Center and Sabrina Sanders, Interim Dean of Student Affairs.
I was honored that I was asked to speak and I was proud to speak about peace and love, two topics I am passionate about. Below is a photo gallery of the event. I gave my students extra credit for attending and asked them to hold up Get Galvanized signs during my speech so I would have the courage to pull it off. To see my speech on YouTube, click here.
Just less than two days later I was able to join with Cynthia Lamb at an event called Conscious Kickstart – The Future of Alternative Health. The event was organized by Blog Talk Radio host, Michelle Ann Johnson and featured a panel of leaders in the alternative healing profession. It really did give my Consciousness a Kickstart.
One of the powerful points in the day was when Cynthia Lamb guided participants in a journey to Forgiveness. She helped remind participants that we are all “spirit in a body” and we are all worthy. Here is a video of the process that you can use to forgive and heal:
Later in the day, Sound Shrine was there with a Didgeridoo. Evan played the instrument right next to me as I was sitting on the floor and I was definitely feelin’ the vibes.
After the show, I was able to speak with E. Raymond Brown privately and we posed for a few pictures. The film was very honest, entertaining and thought-provoking. You can probably expect to hear more about this film in the coming months. Last I heard, it was in the top 3rd highest grossing film at the Rave and it has been extended for theatre play one week.
Click here to go to the Rave Theatre page and see if its still playing. The more people who go, the more press and promotion the movie will receive which means more people will see it all across the nation and around the world. The message in his movie is important and timely, because it shines light on the self-destructive power dynamics that run our world.
Overall I left the theatre with this take home message: we need to wake up and realize who’s really in power and we need to step into our own power if we want to survive and thrive. We cannot allow ourselves to be passive victims to the politics of corporate greed.
On Wednesday, I was so galvanized by the events of the week that I took two steps of action toward things that are important and valuable to me. I went to Long Beach City College and taped a short interview with Urban Voodoo about community action and being a part of the solution. I was able to submit the video to 562CityLife in response to their call for the “10 most ‘Real’ people in Long Beach.” To see the video interview, click on the picture below.
Immediately after taping the interview, I went to teach my Domestic Violence class and decided to give my students a little surprise that was out of the ordinary. Lately, we’ve been talking about the importance of esteeming yourself and not holding back because of fear of rejection or criticism. We talked about the standing true to your values and to your Self.
I figured the best way to get the message across was to be real myself, to not hold back, and to lead by example. So, I took 7 minutes out of class time, put on a pink wig (to help me get in touch with my 16-year-old inner punk rocker) and told the story of how I ran away from an abusive household and why I’m proud that I did. If you’d like to see the speech on YouTube, click on the picture below.
Thursday was the day my new computer came via UPS. What this means, is that it will be even easier for me to pump out more YouTube videos and to do the work that feels like my purpose (sharing empowering information) in a faster, more efficient way.
The week ended with another great meeting at Agape Toastmasters. I was the Toastmaster of the day and since it was October 28, I decided to blame it all on Halloween and go for the gusto. I chose the theme “Alter Ego Extreme” and I dressed in Galvanized gear.
I did my best to act like a rockstar the entire meeting and I definitely accomplished my goal of parading my Alter Ego for all to see. I had a great reaction and I made so many people smile and laugh. It was wonderful. I definitely felt Galvanized.
Call me crazy, (it wouldn’t be the first time I heard it), but I’ve got to tell you something. I know the reason why I’ve got the guts and stamina to do the things I do. It’s because I’m surrounded by people who love and support me (including my Master Mind group) and that is by design. I made that choice. I believe anyone can create the life they want but some people need a little bit of support from people outside their normal social and family circle.
If you need some support, you might want to check out Master Minding. I’m having a sale this month as part of my 20 days to create your reality celebration. It ends on my birthday, November 20. I will be offering the entire I Create Reality package along with the entire Start a Master Mind package for the price of one. The information and support you’ll receive in this bundle of products will definitely give you the strength and courage to live your own life. Check it out. Because there’s nothing cool about holding back.
This episode is all about movies and the mind. Our guest was the one and only Motivatorman Emmanual Lopez. Once you listen to this episode, you’ll be asking yourself, “Are my thoughts “reality” or do I create my reality with my thoughts?”
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When you think about it, every musical act you know of is using the Master Mind principle whether they realize it or not. They are joining together as a team with a combined vision. You can use the same principle and make some truly rockin’ things happen in your life.
Do you have a creative project you want to complete? Do you want to find a purpose for your life?
If so, I invite you to come over to my brand new page called Start a Master Mind Group.com. I’m offering 4 freebies to get you started so you can get a sense of what the Master Mind is all about.
Every musical act has influences. The Beastie Boys and A Tribe Called Quest influenced each other. Punk bands from the U.K. influenced garage bands in Southern California and vice versa. Reggae and dub influenced each other.
What are your influences? That’s what we talked about in Helping and Listening Skills this week. We came up with a great list and I liked it so much I took a picture of it.
I asked the students to tell me about the things that influence them. What do they value? Why do they do what they do; love what they love? This is the list they came up with:
Parents
Environment
-Friends
-Neighborhood
-Peers
-Religion
Culture
Schools
Food/Nutrition
Media
Mental Illness
Life Experience
-Observation
Socio-Economic Status ($$$)
Books
Music
Relationships
Friendships
Family
-Uncles
-Aunts
-Brothers
-Sisters
-etc.
Role Model
-Coach
-Minister
-Teacher
Law
Government
Health
Medication/Drugs
Language
Sleep
Fashion
Freedom
Travel
Pets
Sex
Arts
-Pictures
-Painting
-Dance
Entertainment
Perception
The point I want to make in this class is that you cannot know any of these things about yourself or anyone else unless you first learn how to listen.
A great Master Mind group is one that’s committed to honoring and respecting each other and that includes listening unconditionally and without judgment. It is honoring a person to trust that they know what’s best for their own life.
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When you think about it, every musical act you know of is using the Master Mind principle whether they realize it or not. They are joining together as a team with a combined vision. You can use the same principle and make some truly rockin’ things happen in your life.
Do you have a creative project you want to complete? Do you want to find a purpose for your life?
If so, I invite you to come over to my brand new page called Start a Master Mind Group.com. I’m offering 4 freebies to get you started so you can get a sense of what the Master Mind is all about.
I just downloaded The Struggle by Urban Voodoo. It’s a song about the struggle of growing up in a chaotic, abusive environment and trying to break free.
There are many people who want to be a positive force in this world but find themselves bogged down by depression and anxiety that is directly related to living a life of trauma. It is important for us to support the adult children who want to uplift the youth of today if we ever hope to break these destructive cycles.
If you are bold enough to admit that abuse happens and that it leaves a lasting impact. If you are bold enough to support the children and not the adults who abuse them, spend 99 cents on this single. Go to: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/urbanvoodoo
