Posts Tagged ‘Relationships’

Get a Workout Partner or Team – Get Better Results, Have More Fun

Thursday, February 24th, 2011
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.
From Donate Your Weight

Galvanized Facebook Friday 02-18-11 – It’s Never Too Late

Friday, February 18th, 2011
By far, the wildest thing that happened to me this week is that I had a visit with my dad. I realize that a daughter visiting her dad isn't necessarily a big deal to anyone but if you knew the history of my family, and especially if you could read my journals or hear the thoughts I had about my dad throughout my life, then it would all make more sense. To put it in context, this is only the 4th time in my entire life that I've been face to face with my father and I'm 45 years old. I started to write a little bit about the shift in our relationship about 2 years ago in this blog.  The short story is, I had no contact with my father throughout my entire upbringing.  I met him face to face for the first time when I was 20 and I spent most of my childhood alternately wanting desperately for him to come "save me" and hating his guts for leaving me.  No letters, no phone calls, no nothing...only my mind creating stories of how my dad doesn't love me. Well, that version of our relationship is old news and a new relationship is forming.  This is only possible because we both sat face to face about 3 1/2 years ago and he asked to be forgiven.  He explained himself.  He let me ask questions and tell him my side of the story.  This only took a couple of hours.  Now we spend time talking about what is going on in the present and this week, we walked to Chronic Tacos in Long Beach and sat and enjoyed each others company.  I got to show him my house and my office and he got to show me photos of the rest of the family. We have started a new relationship. This week has been huge for letting go of the past.  I got out an old trunk with journals in it from as far back as 1985.  My husband and I had a field day destroying and discarding all the journals that were filled with angst, anger, insecurity and more.  I feel like I'm operating from a clean slate.  I have to credit A Course in Miracles and many of the other studies I've done over the years that helped me to let go of the pain and fear of the past and replace it with love. If you'd like an easy way to follow A Course in Miracles, check out this site: www.the-course-in-miracles.com I came across a quote this week by Bruce Barton: ‎"Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstances." I realized that most of the time we are stronger than we think we are and sometimes we have to come close to losing something we value before we dig deep into our resources and access all the strength we have. This little gif with the cat and the bear (above) is a good reminder for me. I also enjoyed the following TED video: Beverly + Dereck Joubert: Life lessons from big cats as a demonstration of that inner "something" we can all access when something is truly important to us. Be sure to watch it to the end...it's a little disturbing at one point but then becomes very inspiring.
From ICreateReality

Toastmasters: What Can It Do For You?

Sunday, November 7th, 2010
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." Click here to find a club near you.

Wonderful People and Great Opportunities Just Keep Whizzing Right to Me

Sunday, October 31st, 2010
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. Enough is Enough Candlelight Vigil at Long Beach City College 2010 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. Enough is Enough Candleligh Vigil at Long Beach City College 2010 Enough is Enough Candleligh Vigil at Long Beach City College 2010 Enough is Enough Candleligh Vigil at Long Beach City College 2010 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.

doo

I left Conscious Kickstart and headed straight to the Rave theatre in Culver City to see Ghettophysics -Will the Real Pimps and Ho's Please Stand Up. Film director E. Raymond Brown was present at the screening and answered questions from the audience.

E. Raymond Brown

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.

Ghetto Physics Poster

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.

Enough is Enough Candleligh Vigil at Long Beach City College 2010

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.

Dell Computer

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.

Galvanized at Toastmasters

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.

Domestic Violence Resources in Long Beach

Friday, October 22nd, 2010
I am a college instructor at Long Beach City College.  I teach a class about Domestic Violence, among other things.  This week, the lesson plan came to life when a man entered the classroom, looking for his partner and trying to get her to leave class.  I told him "no, she can't leave" and he looked at me like I'd lost my mind and said "who are YOU?" Luckily, no one lost their mind or anything else.  We were fortunate to have two things on our side that day: First we had guest speaker Ismael Zepedadiaz from the Victim-Witness Assistance Program on site delivering a presentation.  Not only does Ismael look like the kind of guy you probably don't want to mess with, he also knows a lot about restraining orders, police reports and how to make sure a person who is being victimized has the resources to get their lives back on track. Secondly, we had the Long Beach Police Department on site.  There are officers assigned to the campus and they patrol it non-stop. Before class was over, a restraining order was served, a police report was made, the student got a ride home and she was hooked up with resources to help her so she does not have to return to her relationship. Perhaps you, or someone you know needs just such a hook-up.  Here are some resources that can help: Ismael Zepedadiaz works for the L.A. County District Attorney as a Victim Services Representative.  You can reach his office at 562-491-6347.  He has provided assistance to a number of my students so they could get necessary help such as counseling and even money to help soften the blow of victimization. For crime victims in Los Angeles County, there is a toll-free number to call for help: 1-877-VINE-4-LA Below is a list of domestic violence hotlines and shelters in the L.A. County area. Interval House (562) 594-4555 Rainbow     (310) 547-9343 Su Casa    (562) 402-4888 Women Shelter    (562) 437-4663 1736 Family Crisis Center  (562) 379-3620 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Domestic Violence Resources Please pass this information on to anyone who needs it.

Movies and the Mind with Motivatorman Emmanual Lopez

Friday, September 3rd, 2010
What the Bleep Do We Know?, Invention of Lying and Inception. These are a few of the movies we talked about on The Sheri and Erin Show this past Thursday. We also talked about the song "Don't Fight the Darkness" by Yacht (listen above or on YouTube). 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?" --------------- Start a Master Mind Group.comWhen 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. There's nothing cool about holding back.

What Are Your Influences?

Thursday, August 26th, 2010
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. --------------- Start a Master Mind Group.comWhen 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. There's nothing cool about holding back.

Sex and Puberty on The Sheri and Erin Show (feat. Ethel Jackson of Living from Within)

Friday, August 20th, 2010
Let's talk about sex baby! That's what Erin, Ethel and I did on this week's episode of The Sheri and Erin Show on Blog Talk Radio. Ethel's mission is to teach all girls and women about the pleasure awaiting them in their clitoris. The Sheri and Erin Show is all about enjoying life to the fullest. Since sex is something that's on everyone's mind...whether they're having any or not, we decided it's time to talk about it frankly and honestly and that's exactly what we did. So, if you want to know how to experience more pleasure in life, whether you're having sex or not, you'll want to listen to this show over and over again until you can wake up to the fact that life is here for you to enjoy it, not to suffer through it. Leave comments here or come and join The Sheri and Erin Show Facebook page. ---------- Start a Master Mind Group.comWhen 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. There's nothing cool about holding back.