by STRONG | Jul 2, 2015 | Learn + Grow
“I’m sorry, I’m not sorry.” There was a commercial by Pantene about women saying sorry in situations where there was no need to apologize. That made me think, how often do women say sorry when we have no need to be? For instance, if you are in a meeting and a man may interject his point of view at any time he will never apologize for such. Yet, typically if you speak up in a meeting, you may apologize if a person looked like they were about to speak and you cut them off briefly. Or if they spoke at the same time you were about to say something then you may apologize. Why is that? What you need to say may be equally important, yet we as women learn it is rude to speak when someone else is speaking, so we apologize.
I think the biggest thing I’ve ever apologized for and watered down was my ambition. Being a woman and being overly ambitious seems to be looked down upon. Isn’t it possible to be an effective and amazing employee and your home life as a mother not suffer? Why shouldn’t we be able to aspire to do it all without apologizing that our goals and standards are high. We have apologized for shooting too high, aiming low, or kinda sorta stay in the middle. However, there should be no sorries given for high ambition. Sorry, I’m not sorry.
Is there a such thing as being overly ambitious? Can a person, more specifically a woman, be too ambitious? And if we are, is that wrong? Do we get labeled differently if we shoot for the stars, moon, and the sun? Are we just to shrink back because the world tells us we should? Sorry, I am not sorry that I love to learn and do as much as I can. My time on this earth is short, why not leave a legacy that will be told through the ages? I am sorry, I am not sorry that I have a goal to do such an ambitious task.
I do not want to be rude with my lack of apologies, but I will rather properly utilize the word sorry. We all should properly utilize the word sorry. The definition of sorry means that one is sympathetic of misfortune or in a pitiful state. Most times as women when we say sorry, we are doing it in a way to seek permission to do something. I know I have done this numerous times at work. I will walk up to a group of men clogging the hall and say sorry as I break up their impromptu hallway meeting. What do I need to be sorry for? Me walking through was not rude to them, yet it is so natural to apologize as if my presence created an issue. Well you know what, sorry, I am not sorry anymore.
We are not suppose to sit back and never give our input. It is not a terrible thing if we use our voice and speak up. There is nothing wrong with asking questions or providing answers. There is room enough in this world for women to lead and shine without apologizing for it. Absolutely nothing is wrong with speaking up, being ambitious, learning or asking questions. If you say sorry to seek approval or ask permission, then break that habit. Use the word sorry in appropriate settings. If you spill someone’s drink by accident, say you are sorry once and offer them a new one. That would be an appropriate usage of the word “sorry”. One must question the person, male or female, that is threatened by a lady’s presence. That lady should not have to apologize for being where she is intended to be. That would be an example of the wrong thing to be sorry about.
Apologizing when it is not necessary actually hurts our self esteem. In some way or another we feel we are not good enough, our voice does not matter, and that should warrant an apology. This should not be the case. Our voice does matter, our confidence rises when we do not apologize for something we did not do wrong. The more we speak up actually, the stronger our confidence becomes.
So what can you say, “sorry, I am not sorry” about now? Have you been apologizing because you received a promotion instead of celebrating it? Or perhaps you take care of your children and you did not clean the house so you have been unreasonably hard on yourself? Did you shrink back when you know you should have spoken up? Well today is the day and there is no moment better than now to stop apologizing for things you did not do wrong. Do not apologize for being a human, and most of all do not apologize because you are a woman. That Pantene commercial made a great point, there is no need to say sorry if you did no wrong.
Stand with me in no longer being sorry.
by STRONG | Jul 2, 2015 | Learn + Grow
Hello everyone! My name is Shanicia Boswell, owner & founder of Yeyo’s Organic Body Products. I lost my job back in 2013 and became a full time stay at home mom. Even though I loved being home with my daughter, a part of me felt defeated because of my job loss. As someone who has worked her entire life, I had started to identify with my employment status. I’ve been making organic body butters and soaps for my daughter’s eczema since she was born. One day a friend asked why didn’t I go into business for myself and the rest is history! We are a new company and not only do we pride ourselves in providing organic skincare, we also work to raise money for different charities. Find out more about our products and our mission by following us @yeyosorganics and checking out our website: www.yeyosorganics.com. Thank you!
Connect w/ Shanice:
Yeyo@yeyosorganics.com
Social media:
Instagram
by STRONG | Jul 2, 2015 | Learn + Grow
My name is Brandi from thikandkurly.com. My brand is all about natural hair, healthy living, lifestyle motivation and women’s empowerment. Follow my journey at www.youtube.com/thikandkurly. Be sure to check me out on all social networks @thikandkurly.
by STRONG | Jul 2, 2015 | Learn + Grow
Katie-Marie, Baltimore native is the owner of Over Accessorized, a non-profit organization that supports other non-profit organizations with creative fundraising ideas and marketing tactics. Katie-Marie defines Over Accessorized as “The accessory in which you carry, an illness, a burden a disease. It’s dressed up because we carry it with us; it’s a part of our testimony which was created to destroy us.” But what was created to destroy you, will never define you.
Overaccessorized Girls Night Out is the LARGEST GNO in Baltimore
Under Over Accessorized Katie-Marie has created the largest shopping day party in Baltimore, MD. She “ghost” markets and writes for over 10 social media pages, counsels small businesses on creative marketing and is an active volunteer in her community. This year she co-created Kickball for a Kick A** Cause, a small group in Baltimore which has made it their goal to supply children with school uniforms, feed the homeless and aid those in need.
“I could talk about all of the things in life I have accomplished, but it doesn’t make me feel accomplished. I will feel accomplished when I have poured all of my gifts into the world and die empty, giving back all that God has given me; that is when I will feel accomplished.”
Katie-Marie is led by the vision God has given her with complete conviction.
—
Connect w/ Katie Marie
Instagram: @karriedaway & overaccessorized_gno
www.overaccessorized.org
by Nadya Logan | Jul 2, 2015 | Lifestyle+Culture
As people become more aware of their health, new tips, ads, and products are revealed daily. To this day nothing is uniformed and each method is criss-crossed to the point what is factual and what is fiction.
Fiction: Low-carb/high-protein/no-fat diets are optimal for weight reduction.
•The truth is that you have to eat fewer calories to lose weight. Fat, out of all the macronutrients, contains the most calories per gram. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that 20 to 35% of dietary calories come from fat, 10 to 35 should come from protein, and 45 to 65% should come from carbohydrates.
Fiction: Eating late at night will cause you to gain weight.
•Generally, people who consume a lot of food late at night tend to eat more calorie-dense foods which is nothing but eating lots of calories, leading to weight gain. Whether you eat early in the morning, in the middle of the afternoon, or late in the evening—it will not cause you to put on more weight than what is normal for what you ate and any activity that you have done.
Fiction: Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight.
•Skipping one meal is not what harms you. Skipping one meal and compensating for your lost is what hurts you.
Fiction: Rapid weight loss can be maintained.
•Many diets advertise that by following their steps you can lose ten or more pounds a week. While this may be true, and you may lose that weight, it will come back and a little extra. Why? With these restrictive diets a large portion of the weight that you lose comes from water and lean tissue, leading to the eventual weight gain after you get off of it.
Fiction: You have to stop eating your favorite foods to lose weight.
• There is only one friend that is mandatory if you want to successfully lose weight and keep the weight off: Moderation. A healthy lifestyle allows for any food under the sun as long as it’s eaten in moderation! With moderation and permanent changes that include healthy eating plans and lots of physical activity, you can what you want, when you want.
The Truth: Effort and commitment is going to be a big part in losing weight and achieving all of your goals. You are going to have to make permanent changes in your lifestyle and you are going to feel discouraged at times, but do not give up. Get up and get moving and surround yourself in support at all times. Your journey may be hard, but it will be worth it.
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