Beauty
My heart broke for Reshma when I read her story. Imagine walking out your front door. Your older sisters estranged husband and two other men attack you. They push you down to the ground and pour sulfuric acid on your face causing extensive damage. Your sister tries to help and suffers burns on both of her arms.
When something like this happens you ask yourself why? Reshma asked what could she do to help others. What could she do to bring awareness to the public, so that sulfuric acid is no longer sold in the makeup department for the price of a lipstick.
She is known as #BraveBeauty because she is bravely bringing attention to these horrible crimes that happens in India, Bangladesh and Cambodia. She is putting a face to the crime. The crime seems to be only against women. Some are liking it to rape. In her case the family thinks it was related to how pretty she was before she was maimed. I believe that she is showing the world that the real beauty is what is inside.
They have created a petition to change this because every day a woman in India is being attacked in this way. Last year 309 acid attacks were registered in India. Activists say that hundreds go unreported. The video in this attached link was produced by the group Make Love Not Scars and the hashtag #EndAcidSale.
See more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/10/world/asia/with-red-lipstick-indian-acid-attack-victim-makes-a-bold-statement.html?_r=0
Choose
It really is all about what you choose to see, and I choose to contribute to something bigger than I am and because of that choice, I am doing all of the rest. What is the one line you see here that you choose?
Strength
We all know those special people in our lives that make the challenges that come into their lives look simple. They seem to thrive when the speed bumps in life make their appearance. I know that I come from a line of strong women. My mom weathered a lot of struggles in her life, and while she may have been wounded a few times, she was never broken. I love being a woman who is willing to not only bring my light out into the world, but bring the matches to light others flames too.
In history we have Margaret of Anjou, Joan of Arc, and Deborah in the bible. Deborah was a prophetess, a judge or ruler and a warrior. Joan of Arc and Margaret of Anjou road at the head of armies with their banners striking terror into the hearts of their enemies. We also have the mythology of Goddesses such as Athena, Diana, Hella, Isis etc…, who were powerful warriors.
There are so many song lyrics that speak about being a strong woman. From Helen Reddings song “I Am Woman”
“Oh yes, I am wise
But it’s wisdom born of pain
Yes, I’ve paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong
(Strong)
I am invincible
(Invincible)
I am woman”
to Kelly Clarkson’s, “Stronger”
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone
What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn’t mean I’m over cause you’re gone”
To Katy Perry’s “Roar”
“I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
‘Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar”
So here’s to not playing small. Here is to every woman in the world being brave, roaring out into the world and being invincible Here is to not just bringing a light into the world. Here is to bringing enough matches to light our world on fire.
To it not being okay that we find drowned babies in the ocean sand because they were fleeing war and oppression in a boat that couldn’t make it to freedom. That it is not okay for another child to go to bed hungry tonight. To it not being okay that we are burying children because they had no access to medical care. Let’s all of us take a stand and shift and change our entire world into a safe place to raise happy healthy children.
Wonderful
This reminds me of one of my favorite philosopher/speakers Jim Rohn. I find myself always asking in my mind, “Isn’t this interesting? I wonder what happens next?”
It allows me to not get into drama and trauma, and stay outside of the emotional vortex that is created in any disagreement.
I think that I am amending this comment to: “Isn’t that interesting? I wonder what wonderful thing is about to happen?” I love to keep it positive. It makes for a fun filled life with lots of laughter. And I have been reading a lot lately about people who live a long life have a lot of laughter in their life.
It doesn’t pay to be so serious that everything is a job and a chore to be done. Whistle while you are working works in the fairy tales. I just need to learn how to whistle – never could get the sound to come out right. And yes, I tried just putting my lips together and blow. LOL
Believe
I love this – the pattern of the tree within the leaf from the tree it came from, and small pieces of leaves cut out from the larger piece 
As above, so below
As within, so without
Forgiveness
Forgiveness in Greek literally means, “untying a knot” so that both perpertrator and victim are free from hurt or shame. So an act of forgiveness is actually a mutual liberation. Both sides are forever changed by it. It doesn’t replace justice, but it does move us beyond the feeling that retribution is enough (which it isn’t since we can never get back what has been lost). Forgiveness grants both parties to be equal again and paves the way for atonement.
Faith
Faith is the ability to live as though everything we live through is for our highest learning.
Faith
REMEMBER you are here for a DIVINE PURPOSE. Know that you are here to magnify the glory of the divine by delivering value to others through your talents, gifts & incredible business, it makes the day to day “I have no idea how this is going to turn out” issues seem less important. You put your FAITH in your divine birthright and work from FAITH. You don’t coast, you work from faith.
Beliefs
If we look at our internal belief system as a computer program that runs our life, we would realize that periodically we need to upgrade our beliefs in order to realize our true potential. We all want to live a full passionate life and make our dreams come true. What new features are your going to upgrade your beliefs with this year?