by Torrie Oglesby | Oct 25, 2015 | Learn + Grow
It’s 2015 and women are anything but one dimensional. We have stay-at-home moms that homeschool and stay-at-home moms who don’t. We have moms running multi-million dollar companies and moms going back to school to get the degree they’ve always wanted. We have women who are getting their masters and running a startup and women who breaking norms in film and television and the arts as a whole. We have women who make money off of YouTube. Women are so amazing to me. What we do, how much we do, how we do what we do and our ability to just do it, truly astonishes me. We live in the age of #GIRLBOSSES and its inspiring and overwhelming all at once. I’m personally, a mother of two, a writer and editor for STRONG and I run my own blog. I’m constantly taking off a hat and swapping it in for the next one. In a world that seems like we can have it all, can we actually really have it all?
My answer is yes, however, it’s not an easy yes.
You see, I wouldn’t want to be a woman in any other time period in history other than right now. At the same time, sometimes I wonder how easy it must of have been when women didn’t have the options to work, go to school or build companies. They didn’t have to balance it all, but they are the reason I take balancing it all so seriously. I think of all the women who had dreams like mine, visions like mine, and goals like mine yet weren’t able to perform those goals or see their visions come to pass because the times didn’t allow them to. That’s why we must fight hard and stubbornly, to have it all. We must give every aspect of our lives attention and nurture our business, children, husbands, and whatever else we have going on exactly with care. We must give everything in our lives time and when it is time to turn off business mode and enter into mommy mode we must do it, unapologetically.
Yes, YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL, but it’s not an easy yes. It’s a yes that we have to fight for. A yes that requires attention and nurture. Balance. I believe in you! Don’t stop working on your dream, don’t stop being the best mother you can be, don’t stop making date nights with your husband, and don’t stop kicking butt in school or at work! Do it all with spunk, humility, happiness and boldness. Continue to fight for it all and have it all for the women who came before us and the girls who are looking to us. We can do it.
With love and smiles,
Torrie.
by Nadya Logan | Oct 20, 2015 | Faith + Expressions
If you ask the average citizen to define the word “wellness”, they may associate it with a person’s physical or nutritional well-being, and although they aren’t completely wrong, they do not have a understanding of what the word wellness means to in its entirety.
According to the American Heritage Medical Dictionary, Wellness is “the condition of good physical, mental and emotional health, especially when maintained by an appropriate diet, exercise, and other lifestyle modifications.”
Despite being serious in nature, mental health is generally overshadowed in society. Many people will write off symptoms as the victim being “overdramatic” or “a hypochondriac”, and many more don’t even recognize mental health as a real issue.
But according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “nearly 44 million adults experience mental illnesses in a given year”.
The first week of October (Oct.4-10) is Mental Illness Awareness Week, and in honor of the week I want to introduce you to a powerful campaign that is at the heart of this week.
#IAmStigmaFree is an initiative coined by the National Alliance on Mental Illness that promotes mental health education, “seeing the person not the illness”, and taking action against mental illness.
But it doesn’t stop there.
By pledging to be stigmafree, you will be a member of a movement to turn stigma into hope.
You will begin to challenge social stereotypes, become educated on what it means to be mentally ill, and encourage others to become aware that mental illness is equally important to other illnesses.
If you interested in Mental Illness Awareness Week or the #IAmStigmaFree campaign, visit: https://www.nami.org/miaw
XOXO,
Nadya
by Khojdeshia Denise | Oct 20, 2015 | Learn + Grow
Hey You,
If you’re anything like me, you’re a little shocked that it’s already mid-October! Seriously, where did this year go? As the Autumn leaves change, I’m reminded yet again, “time flies when you’re chasing PURPOSE.” This year flew past and has been life-changing, and yet there’s still much to be done! When I look at my “To Do List” for this year, I feel proud and a little overwhelmed surveying what I’ve accomplished and what’s left to be done. However, instead of getting flustered and feeling rushed, I took some time to pause over the last couple weeks to assess what I’ve completed and prioritize the tasks that remain. This way, I know what deserves my immediate attention and energy.
In addition to prioritizing my remaining tasks, I also make a conscious effort to look at my goals and desires realistically. What can actually be done in these last few months? What can I set aside to tackle at the top of 2016? For some, this may be difficult or disappointing, but I’m learning to go with the flow and let things develop organically. Instead of being upset about what’s incomplete, I suggest using your energy to complete the tasks that are most pressing. There’s no need to be hard on yourself as long as you’re consistently and diligently working towards your goals. Trust they’ll be complete in the time they are meant. At this place in my life, I’m praying more and more for God’s DIVINE TIMING, because I never want to move outside of His will. The results are NEVER favorable and the hassle of getting back on track is just not worth it.
As you review where you are at this point in your life and this year, be loving and kind to yourself. Instead of considering the opinions of others and what anyone else is doing, be considerate of what you need to do first! These are your goals, plans, dreams, and visions! Remember: You are responsible for ALL you do and become. Use your energy wisely! You reap what you sow and if you want a great return, you have to put in a great investment. YOU are worth it!
LIGHT and LOVE,
Khojdeshia Denise
by Torrie Oglesby | Oct 20, 2015 | Learn + Grow
This week’s #GIRLBOSS: Kennesha Buycks
What makes her #GIRLBOSS certified: She is the creator of Restoration House Interiors, a mommy of 4 beautiful children, and a daughter of Christ working overtime to give Him all the glory with everything she puts her hand to. Through her platform she encourages and reminds women that who they are matters and what Christ wants to do through us matters even more!
You were made to do something amazing here. Don’t doubt it for a moment. Who you are matters. Your story matters. Your message matters.
-Kennesha Buycks
- Speak Your Truth
A lot of people sugar coat things on Instagram or only show you the best parts of their days, but Kennesha speaks and shares her truth with no apologies and it’s absolutely refreshing. Through posts about her hair or posts about her day she is always honest and transparent!
- Make a SELFIE a SELF REFLECTION
When Kennesha takes a selfie she makes sure to make it something that effects everyone. It’s not just her gorgeous face and a silly caption, but a moving caption and a thoughtful one that makes you reflect on yourself as well. Even with a selfie, she manages to turn our eyes inward and upward.
- Always create
Kennesha’s feed is filled with moments of creating! She’s an interior designer so it’s who she is. She creates beauty with her food, her hair, her clothes, her designs, her decoration and not to mention her beautiful family!
by Altimese Nichole | Oct 20, 2015 | Learn + Grow
Through life, it’s so easy to look at another person’s life, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter handle believing that their life is perfect or without life’s blemishes. We forget that life happens to everyone and although social media is great for connecting us- it is also great at masking the true reality in our lives.
Looking at someone, we never know what others are going through. We could see someone daily with a smile on their face and they are the same person crying their sorrows at night. Before placing judgment, criticizing, or sparking jealousy in your heart, always remember that you have no idea the real journey of walking in the other person’s shoes. It’s not always greener on the other side.
Imagine if everyone focused on their own portions in life:
If we focused on our relationship with God.
If we focused on our marriages.
If we focused on nurturing our children.
If we focused on our friendships.
If we focused on our health.
If we focused on our families.
If we simply focus on our own lives, we wouldn’t have time to judge, critic, or condemn another. Additionally, we would realize that our grass could be so beautiful, full, and healthy with a bit of nurture, time, and intentional care.
Don’t leave your grass unattended to because you’re so busy looking at others. Attend to your own portion, and make it lovely.
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