Tag: self love

10 Ways to Live Your Life to the Fullest

SA Smith

I was at a funeral the other day of a dear friend’s daughter and child. After many tears, the clergy stood to read us the eulogy. He told us of a poem by Linda Ellis called “The Dash”. He spoke of the date of birth and the date of death, Read more

SA Smith

SA Smith has always loved the magical life. She is the bestselling Amazon author of FOREVER, her four part young adult paranormal romance series. She is an advocate for women of all shapes and sizes. Believing that we are all enough just as we are, and needing to spread that word far and wide. Having been diagnosed with CRPS over 12 years ago, SA also uses her writing to increase social awareness of the disease. Writing is her passion. She often tells friends that writing is a journey for her. It’s like spending time with friends. "I just follow my characters along on their adventures, like a fly on the wall, and see where they take me." SA currently lives in Florida with her best friend/husband and their one son.

I See You

Leslie Lippa

I see you looking at me when you think I’m not looking. Always whispering, and judging, and letting me know that you know I’m not good enough. Just when I think I have finally gotten everyone fooled, I see your little pink nose sticking out – all up in my Read more

Leslie Lippa

I am a 50-something-year-old lover of hippos, books, and the beach. I currently work at the Greensboro Fire Department in North Carolina in Public Relations. I wrote this piece in 2014 while struggling to climb out of the depths of despair after losing my mother to a long battle with cancer. My momma and I shared a special bond over the beach, and I recently added a tattoo in her handwriting of a line from the last note she wrote me - "the beach calls and I sure understand that. Love, Mom". I had the opportunity to attend “Summer Camp at the Barn”, a week-long writing workshop at the Highlights Foundation this past July and was honored to work with Megan McDonald, of the Judy Moody series and the renowned Peter Jacoby. I shared my essay with the other authors at the camp and was encouraged to send it out into the world.

“Hey Dude, Your Junk Looks Dangerous!”

Dave Pasquel

I hate using the public restroom at the airport. Whether it’s the urinal or the stall, no amount of hand-washing is enough to satisfy my germaphobia. However, after traveling nearly every week for the past ten years, I’ve been forced to give in to nature’s whims – but only in dire emergencies. After all, Read more

La Joie de Vivre!

Michel Bordeau

A few weeks after the Paris massacre of Friday, November the 13, 2015, I got my first tattoo. It’s the Eiffel tower centered inside the peace sign and wrapped at the top are the words, Joie de vivre ! (joy of life!), a French phrase that speaks of our healthy Read more

Michel Bordeau

My name is Michel Bordeau, aka Area Frenchman. I am a Therapist and an Education Coach in private practice in Atlanta. Born in France, I have spent half my life in the US. I am culturally French and academically American, so you can safely assume that I know a thing or two about love (gender respectful, validating, unconditional, non-threatening) and the pleasures of life (many friends, much cheese, little w(h)ine). When I don't blog about mansplaining, teen assertiveness, guru shaming, toxic work environments and toxic people, motherhood, mindful parenting, immigrant entrepreneurs, bipolar disorder and body dysmorphic disorder, I dedicate my time speaking about the lessons I have learned as a therapist and a coach. I am the host of Le Kindness Couch on Youtube. I created this channel to demonstrate that today's therapeutic modalities are kind, validating, and solution-focused. We don't read mind or blame your mom for everything.

Phenomenal Beauty: Burned and Thriving

Yadira Carranza

I was 9-months-old when my life turned upside down. It was  a couple of days before Christmas when a fire started on the first floor of the apartment building my family and I lived in. My mother was pregnant again and worried for our safety. She decided to go thru Read more

Yadira Carranza

Yadira G Carranza was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. The middle daughter of a blended family, she was 9 months of age when she suffered major burns to her body. Despite this, she was able to thrive. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in El Sereno, California. She was in the Academic Decathlon from 1992-1994, Student Body Vice President in 1993 and Historian in 1994. In 1996, she had her first son Gabriel. In 2000, she relocated to Zacatecas, Mexico where she studied Business Management. In 2004, she married Marco Méndez. In 2006, she graduated from April Love Makeup Academy. In 2014, she became a Notary Public. In 2015, she became a GlossiGirl model.

The Pursuit of Perfection is Bullsh*t

Julie Anderson

Living life in front of the lens has its perks, namely access to incredible beauty magicians.High fashion artists, makeup and hair stylists, as well as fashion stylists are the wizards behind the curtain.  I have relied on them for many years. They taught me how pluck, tuck, plump and properly Read more

Julie Anderson

Julie Anderson is the Creator and Publisher of Feminine Collective. Julie was inspired to create this safe place for women to share their secrets, desires, triumphs and pain as the antithesis of what mainstream media offers women today. In her column Pursuit of Perfection, she explores the importance of rectifying the balance of inner and outer beauty through essays, poems and articles on self-esteem, shame, family, and self- acceptance.

How Letting Go of Shame Set Me Free

Julie Anderson

All of us know it, the feeling of a sinking heart, the blush of the cheeks and the crushing blow of embarrassment. We are so ashamed. For some of us the tendrils of the debauched emotion of shame can morph into anger or depression, sometimes both. Shame has been a Read more

Julie Anderson

Julie Anderson is the Creator and Publisher of Feminine Collective. Julie was inspired to create this safe place for women to share their secrets, desires, triumphs and pain as the antithesis of what mainstream media offers women today. In her column Pursuit of Perfection, she explores the importance of rectifying the balance of inner and outer beauty through essays, poems and articles on self-esteem, shame, family, and self- acceptance.

I Think My Obsession Made You Feel Bad About Your Body

Ashley Carroll

I’ve written countless words that have made their way onto the internet in a multitude of public to quasi-private forums. I’ve blogged for long stretches in three separate places. I’ve nurtured the social media outlets. I engage in as many safe-enough spaces for me to represent the most authentic view Read more

Ashley Carroll

Ashley Carroll is currently on a stress-induced break. She is a mom of two, a wife, a government employee (bridging bureaucracy and the domestic violence field), food and fitness enthusiast & health advocate. She has a significant traumatic history as a younger person in the mental health system. She has spent almost a decade negotiating her unique journey through "recovery." Ashley is using this time to make peace with carbs (and her body). She is a huge fan of Brene Brown. She hopes to foster a connection with like-minded, truth-telling women. She has become obsessed with astrology, and the need to let go of perfectionism and the fear that's limited her previously. Ashley is embracing vulnerability by doing things that scare the shit out of her like writing a bio in the third person. Or writing at all. Ashley posts lots of pictures and words about day-to-day life #risingstrong (if you will). You can find her right now on Instagram @robust_ly