We're Chosen Magazine A Mother's Day Special Edition

A Mother's Day Special Edition

MAY 2022 $3.00

Yara Artis

Against All Odds Motherhood and Madness How To Find Happiness A Tribute To Mom Dear Mother Don't Worry The Curse of the Mother Daughter Resentment

WE'RE CHOSEN

Against All Odds,

By Ingrid Martin

Still I Rise!

CONTENTS 5 Editor's Note 7 A Queen's Tribute 23 Yara Artis Against All Odds 35 A Tribute To Every Mom 64 Is Motherhood Possible Without God? 68 Motherhood and Madness 70 Tired of Worrying? 5 Ways to Fight Worry 73 9 Lessons From Lord Shiva You Can Apply to Your Life

WE'RE CHOSEN MAGAZINE Our Mission: Spreading hope and love by providing a voice to the otherwise voiceless

CONTENTS 77 Life Lessons From Death 81 Learning From Life 84 How To Find Happiness 88 Love, God's, and Our's 91 Dear Mother, Don't Worry 92 The Curse of the Mother Daughter Resentment 95 Small Business Advertisements

WE'RE CHOSEN MAGAZINE Our Mission: Spreading hope and love by providing a voice to the otherwise voiceless

EDITOR'S NOTE "We are going to change the world, one person, one heart, and one mind at a time."

Elijah Ammi

"What we experience in life can either define us in a negative compacity or we can transmute that energy to help us grow and heal humanity."

As for me, I am an Alchemist, so I will always strive to convert any negative energy into positive energy to help me reach my full potential and so that I can then help others reach their full potential.

It is this principle that has helped me take the energy associated with watching my mom being brutally murdered by my father as a two-year-old and converting that toxic energy of anger, hopelessness, and rage into being a loving and compassionate advocate for humanity. I have not been able to honor and celebrate Mother's Day with my biological mother in this lifetime and as a child that haunted and traumatized me. It is with that energy that I now honor and celebrate Mother's Day with and for all mothers. It is with that same energy and passion that I dedicate this month's issue of We're Chosen Magazine as a Mother's Day Special Edition.

We cannot always control what happens to us, but we can control how we allow that to affect us and how we respond to it. It is my hope and prayer that the articles written in the We're Chosen Magazine serve as a beacon of hope, inspiration, encouragement, and love for those trying to navigate their way through and out of their darkness. And may this Mother's Day Special Edition be a brighter, more loving, and more encouraging issue.

From our team here at We're Chosen Magazine, we salute, cherish, and honor all mothers. To the mothers of this team, we hope and pray that you are proud of us and that we bring honor to you.

Namaste

WE'RE CHOSEN MAGAZINE

WE'RE CHOSEN MAGAZINE

A Mother's Queen's Tribute Day

Happy Mother's Day Mom

My grandma is one of the most important women in my life. I call her "Weta" which is a play on abuelita (grandma in Spanish). Weta and I do not speak the same language, but we understand each other perfectly.

Weta is a woman of good moral character. She lives life as all humans should, with love and without restraint.

Weta's curiosity and energy has always inspired me.

In my eyes my grandma has always had a pure heart, as if she were an angel herself. Weta does everything and anything for me and my family. She has sacrificed a lot so that we can live the lives we have now. I don't live only for myself; I live for Weta. One day, I hope I can repay her for all she has done for me and our family. As our family begins to grow so does Weta's legacy and impact on our lives.

Love Always, T.S

As a little girl, I always remember mom taking me Union Square to see the stores. There was this beautiful big church and we would go pray and light a candle along the way. She was very strong and determined. I recall when we first came to the United States and she started working immediately at a factory. She was hurt on the job; her back still hurts to this day. I vividly remember helping her bathe at only five years old. Amidst the pain, she was enduring. She taught me how to wash my panties when I was five. I grew up with my six cousins and their mom Rayda, whom I consider my second mom.

Mom always got up early for work but she always made sure that I was clean and fed before heading out to work. I didn't realize how strong she was and all of the hardships that she had to endure until I was much older. My mom taught me the importance of being humble and helping other people at a young age. I remember one time that she went to this place that helps people who need assistance with food and things. I recall that when she came back, she was so upset that no one spoke Spanish and she waas there all day waiting. They told her to go home and that broke my heart. Every time I help someone, I think about my mom and what she taught me at a very early age and I know that I am making her proud.

My mom has always talked about God to me. She is always happy, dancing, and singing to God. Even in pain, she is always dancing and praising God. I admire her energy, her love of God, and her love for her children and grandchildren. She made so many sacrifices to raise my sister and I. I praise, love, and appreciate her strength, love, and passion. She is full of integrity, kindness, love, and patience.

I love you mom for being the epitome of strength, love, passion, endurance, and integrity. You led by example! You taught me to be strong, loving, helpful, humble, to do what is right at all cost, to never be of the world but to live in it with a good heart and a clear conscious, and most importantly, you taught me to love God. I love you mom and I salute you mom. You are a True Warrior! Your devotion to God, family, and to what is righteous is the Gold Standard.

Love Always, Ingrid

Having lost my mother 50 years ago, I am grateful, honored, and humbled that you came into my life when you did. Your love and devotion to God and your family is inspiring. Thank you for being an amazing role model for your daughters. Thank you for raising such a beautiful, compassionate, intelligent, and loving daughter that I now have the honor and privilege of calling my Queen.

Thank you for opening up your home and family to me. Thank you for your prayers and blessings over my life. Mom, you have such a beautiful, gentle, loving, and nurturing spirit and I am proud to be called your son.

Love Always, Elijah

Te Amo mama (I Love you mom)

Thank you Elijah for allowing us to immortalize not only my mom but all mothers.

This is mom's legacy and our legacy forever....

Love Always, Ingrid

A Mother's Job

Never Ends

"If you think it and believe it, then you can create and achieve it."

A Mother's Love Elijah Ammi

Is Unconditional WE'RE CHOSEN MAGAZINE

A Mother's Hug

Is Empowering

Yara Artis

Against All Odds It has been said that there are gifts left behind in the pain that we experience.

The irony of the same thing that causes one to bleed, is also beautiful.

I am telling you that the best parts of Yara Artis were found in the gifts left behind in my trauma. It was found in the suicidal thoughts, sexual abuse, poverty, and etc.

These are the exact reasons that I am beautiful.

Let’s take it back to the first time I ever felt powerful and worthless at the same time. It was after experiencing sexual abuse as a young girl.

This is important to highlight, because in my childhood there are painful events that have shaped my whole adult identity.

This event helped me to understand, as a little girl, that I had something (sex) in which people wanted. Something that could make them turn evil to get it. Also, there was a complete emptiness that was left on the inside of me.

I told myself that sex was all I was worth and my innocence, which is where dreams are born, was taken. Focusing more on the physical and emotional experience of this event, I then began to view this world as a dog-eat-dog world. “Since I am here to be taken from, how about I take first.”

I understood how to exert power to dominate, because of the sexual abuse I had experienced.

If You Dream It

Then You Can Achieve It

I also understood the need for man to have power and to “feel” dominant. Life became a game of transactional deals that brought me closer to death more than you could imagine.

The residue of these negative core beliefs laid deep down in my spirit for years and tormented my soul.

I didn’t know…..

Is sex sacred or it is a tool?

Do people have values, or should I just approach life as transactional?

When I take things from you is that love?

What am I really worth?

Do you really see me or should I force you to?

Is my power in replaying out the childhood abuse unconsciously for my own redemption or is my power in following the road less traveled to release the event in order to fulfill my purpose?

These were all the questions I had to answer in my late twenties to overcome. I went back to the pain and found the gifts to light my future.

I have learned to sit with every version of Yara at every stage and accept her.

I accepted that I was broken on purpose and that there are gifts in my broken places.

This is how I beat all the odds.

Overcoming sexual abuse, addiction, poverty mindset, mental abuse living in a single-family home, and being black ironically are everything that makes my life worth it. Being able to overcome makes you a transformative being who is detached but dwelling in an observant and appreciative state and not a reactive one. My cuts, my pain is why I decided to pursue my masters and then doctoral degree in Psychology. It is the reason why I work as a therapist because I can identify pain and know how to heal pain, because I have dedicated years to healing my own pain.

Empowering The Whether I was living in the hood in my mom’s basement, working at the strip club, walking across the stage for graduation or working in corporate America, I have always known that there is greater for me, cuts and all. Even for the little steps I was proud of myself for that. I never committed to the idea that I will be the statistic. This is how you beat all odds. Never accept your circumstances as fact or law.

If you’re reading this, know that you are winning against all your odds already!

Clear the noise, detox yourself from people, places, and things, and start to make sense of your own life.

Reach out for help when you need it and know that within you, you have all of the answers.

All of my answers came while in quietness.

Be grateful for your scars and conscious of your words because your words become law.

I will always beat all odds, because I have created new laws for my life, (surrounding myself with eternal prosperity and abundance).

My mother and I have not always had the greatest of relationships, but that was designed by God. One of the pieces to transforming my life as a woman was getting to know my mother’s story/ personality and not focusing on her faults. My mom has taught me unconditional love. Thank you, Mom, for bringing me closer to my purpose and preparing me for motherhood.

I love you so much!

Authentic You

Don't Give Up

On You

Believe In

Yourself

Mother's Mother's Day Day

Is Every Day

WE'RE CHOSEN MAGAZINE

A Tribute To Every Mom

May you enjoy your beautiful flowers.

Happy Mother's Day

Is Motherhood Possible Without God?

By Lori Radun

Explore the many benefits regular spiritual practice has for your life. Discover how motherhood can be easier with a little help from God. It was breakfast time at Janet’s house. The baby was in the high chair watching her brother and sister fight over who gets the Mickey Mouse plate. The kids didn’t want cereal for breakfast, nor did they want eggs and toast. Not having much left in the house to fix, Janet was beginning to feel crabby. Why did the morning have to start like this? Janet took a deep breath, and vowed to remain patient.

Breakfast is done, and it’s time to get the chores started. Still trying to remain cheery, Janet assigns a small chore to her five year old, and another one to her eight year old. The kids are not in the mood for chores, and they drag their feet, begging to be motivated. “If we can get our chores done, we can go play miniature golf”, Janet announces to her son and daughter. “This is going to take forever”, her daughter counters. Just then the baby starts to cry. Janet has to tend to her little one, and this gives the older ones the perfect outlet for abandoning their chores. Not having the energy or the patience to deal with her children’s noncompliance, Janet wonders why she feels so out of sorts. Then suddenly, she remembers. Opting to sleep in a little this morning, Janet had skipped her morning meditation.

Is motherhood possible without God? Sure, I suppose it is, but regular spiritual practice sure makes life as a mom much easier.

There are many ways to engage in spiritual rituals, and each has its benefits. What works for one person may not be the answer for someone else, but if you find the right outlet or combination of practices, life will be more fulfilling and peaceful.

Meditation For Janet, meditation was the answer. By spending 30 minutes every morning in a quiet space listening to her meditation program, she is able to connect to God and find the peace, patience and positive energy she needs to get through her day. The purpose of meditation is to clear your mind and body of negative energy, and center your soul so you are one with God. Meditation is an excellent way to relax and unwind at the end of a busy day as well.

Prayer There is power in prayer. Have you ever had a parenting problem you couldn’t solve on your own? I have. When my older son was in middle school, he was hanging out with a group of boys in the neighborhood that were unhealthy for him. Everyday these boys would get together, and there was always yelling and arguing over something. I tried to encourage my son to find some new friends, explaining to him what a healthy friendship looks like. I talked myself blue in the face, and the fighting continued. Exasperated, I turned to prayer. I started praying for God to remove these boys from his life. I prayed for awhile, and then forgot about the situation. One day, I woke up and realized that this group of boys that were once in my son’s life, were now gone. They hadn’t moved, or even had a big blowout. God intervened and answered my prayer. Today my son hangs with a good group of kids in high school. Prayer gives you the strength to face life’s challenges, and God gives you the wisdom to make the best choices.

Journaling The other night I was talking to a friend. She was telling me about her recent spa getaway and the wonderful experiences she had pampering herself. There was one incident, during her massage, that her soul opened up and feelings of sadness tried to engulf her. Waiting until after her massage, she went back to her resort room and pulled out her journal. The letter began, “Dear God”. All the feelings of grief and sorrow poured out of her onto the piece of paper. Journaling is a release, a way to purge your mind and spirit of the thoughts and feelings that are weighing you down. The result of a good journaling experience is often clarity, resolve and refreshment.

Nature Yesterday I went out for a walk in the morning. It was a cool day, with a perfect breeze for walking. The night before it had stormed, so the clouds were still thick and actively moving across the sky. As I made my way around the ecosystem, I made eye contact with a beautiful Saint Bernard dog sitting peacefully in his yard. I noticed a big bird playing in the water. The wild flowers and grasses were swaying gently in the wind. Looking around, I was reminded of the beauty and wonder of God’s creation. Spending quiet time in nature grounds you and helps you appreciate the gifts God has given you. Nature simplifies our life, if only for a few moments.

The Arts I define the arts as anything that is created by another individual for the purpose of inspiring others. Any work of art can speak to us. Whether it’s a good book, inspirational song, or a beautiful painting, art has a way of touching our soul. By listening to, reading or admiring other works of art, we can heal, rejuvenate, and be encouraged. God speaks to us through other people. Just like others move us through their creations, we can return the same gift with our works of art. The process of creating connects us to our soul, and puts us in touch with the Master Creator.

Community Fellowship and Service Every year our church organizes an event called Operation Helping Hands. The purpose of this event is to bring the hands and feet of God into the community, and be of service to the many people that need our help. This year our family was assigned to Eastwood, low income housing units, in the city of Aurora. Our job was to paint a room inside one of the resident’s homes. Although the resident didn’t get a choice, she was blessed with a beautiful and sunny yellow paint. As we began to transform her living room, our hearts were being changed forever. There is nothing that gives greater joy than to know you are making life a little better for another individual. And an even bigger gift for me was hearing my teenager tell me how good he felt about helping this grateful family. Being a part of a community group like church, or any organization that serves mankind, reminds you that you are not alone in this world. By serving other individuals and receiving support when you need it, life becomes a little easier. God created us to be in fellowship with other people so that we can learn and grow together in love.

Regular spiritual practice is essential for one’s total emotional and physical health. We were created by God and must remain connected to God to experience the spiritual benefits He has planned for us. Where else can you get an abundant supply of unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulnessFeature Articles, gentleness and self control that is required for motherhood?

Motherhood and Madness

By Dr Dorree Lynn

Motherhood And Madness When her husband suddenly walked out on her, my friend Barbara was a very young mother of four children between the ages of two and six. Her husband had become addicted to pot and their marriage had begun to disintegrate. Barbara was a “good girl” and she had sixteen years of perfect attendance Sunday School pins to attest to this fact. She had left college to marry her childhood sweetheart, and a family was soon on the way. No money and sudden single motherhood almost threw her over the edge.

Depressed, scared and overwhelmed, she found herself filled with feelings hitherto unfelt. Her nerves were frayed, she wanted to scream and when the children screamed, she wanted to shut them up any way she could. Terrified that she would harm her children, she would lock herself in a closet until she could regain control of her feelings. I was always impressed by her ingenious solution.

Barbara had no family and no support in the neighborhood. In desperation, when she could muster the energy, she would pack all four children on a bus and visit her ailing mother for what minimal help and solace her mother could offer. Days seemed dark and there were many nights where Barbara would have just as soon not seen the next day. She had no job skills, so she went on welfare to survive. With the little money that she was able to scrounge, she found a therapist to help her. “Dorree,” she once told me, “If I could find the money to get professional help, anyone can. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise.” It was a lesson I learned well.

According to Barbara, therapy saved her life. Slowly, she began to function and the closet no longer seemed the only hope of saving herself and her kids. This event had happened many years ago, before the advent of drugs, and support groups and even religious outreach programs. Pretty much all alone, Barbara began to rebuild her life and to mother her children. Eventually she remarried.

In spite of their original hardship, two of the children blossomed, and two took many years to straighten themselves out and to grow into decent functioning men. Barbara made many mistakes along the way. But who can blame her? In my view, she deserves kudos and badges for courage and perseverance and for the knowledge that she not only needed help, but also that she managed to find it.

It is a myth that mothering is easy or always joyous. There are few women in our society who don’t know the feeling of wanting to hurt a collicky or screaming child or leave the room in order not to. Most women have the feelings and never act on them. A few, like Andrea Yates, break and go over the edge into a realm unthinkable by the majority. These women are desperate and in despair. And, if married, their husbands, are equally culpable if they turn away from what they know is going on.

Barbara has remained a close friend. Her life path is very different from mine. But, the wisdom gained from her struggles so generously shared with me, has taught me not to judge harshly. Motherhood is supposed to be the best time of our lives. For many of us, as much as we may love our children, simply, it is not.

Tired of Worrying? Here Are Five Ways to Fight Your Worry Monster

By Sara Healy

Tired of Worrying? Here are five Ways to Fight Your Worry Monster.

Have you spent a sleepless night worrying about something? It's happens to a lot of people. Worry can be a problem and is sometimes difficult to stop. Here's a tongue-in-cheek article about five ways anyone can take control over their worries.

I admit it. I am a worrier. I've decided that my worrying is due to an annoying little monster appropriately named, the Worry Monster. I have bought countless books and CDs, all of which promised to dispose of this devilish little thing. But it still pops up now and then.

Finally, I realized instead of trying to get rid of it, I needed to negotiate a compromise. I would agree to live with it, but it could NOT run my life! Learning to live with my Worry Monster was a conscious decision. I was tired of trying to prove it wrong.

Worry monsters are very sneaky. There's always a kernel of truth to what they tell you. Worry is about the possibility of something bad happening. Well, guess what? Something bad can happen and sometimes does! This is the power of Worry Monsters; the possibility that they just might be right.

In dealing with my Worry Monster, I've found that the most effective strategy is to do things that keep me in control of it. If you also struggle with a persistent Worry Monster, here are some ideas for you to consider: STOP TRYING TO KILL YOUR WORRY MONSTER I know it's so tempting. But like any monster, when you try to kill it, it will just fight back. Worry Monsters are not good for you, but you ended up with yours for a reason. It is important to figure out what it's trying to tell you.

So, really listen for the messages behind your worry. Is it that you might fail, not live up to someone's expectations, or that you might not be able to cope with something? Whatever the message is, it's important to hear and acknowledge it. Once you do this, you are on your way to quieting your Worry Monster's annoying chatter.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR WORRY MONSTER Worry Monsters hate it when you take control. It's like the alpha dog stuff. You better be sure your Worry Monster knows YOU are the alpha dog. Otherwise, it will take control and proceed to tell you everything that could go wrong in your life.

You can stop it, however, if you develop strategies for handling what might go wrong. Write these strategies down and keep them.

When your Worry Monster starts grumbling at you, just wave the strategies in its face to remind it who's in control!

LAUGH AT YOUR WORRY MONSTER Worry Monsters hate it when they hear you laughing. It just saps all their power. If one is hanging around your house, find ways to make yourself laugh.

In addition, they tend to take themselves VERY seriously. Therefore, the best thing to do is make fun of your Worry Monster. Laugh in its face. This tactic usually annoys it so much it will slink off and hide.

TALK WITH A FRIEND TO CALM YOUR WORRY MONSTER Friends can give you a different perspective. There is a caveat here: Be sure you pick people who have control over their own Worry Monsters. The last thing you need to hear is, "Oh, that's terrible! I'd be worried too!" Find someone who can listen while offering positive and constructive support.

Remember, Worry Monsters thrive on your fears; they need to keep you anxious. Good friends ease your anxiety by getting you to look at your worries in a different way. In addition, if something bad does happens, they're there to help you through it.

EXERCISE AND CHASE AWAY YOUR WORRY MONSTER Worry Monsters prefer slouching on top of your shoulders and playing with your mind. They are not fond of physical activity. Therefore, if you take a long walk with the dog, run on your treadmill, or just do jumping jacks for ten minutes, your Worry Monster will find someplace else to hang out.

Worry requires a lot of mental energy. When you exercise, your mind has to focus on the energy your body needs. Consequently, there is not much left over to feed your Worry Monster. This is a good thing. Most Worry Monsters could stand to lose a bit of weight!

I've listed five ideas that can help you manage your Worry Monster. You can use them or create your own. Have fun thinking of the ways you can stop your Worry Monster from being such a pest. You may not eliminate it from your life, but it is possible to coexist with it!

Why Do You Have To Be

In Control?

9 Lessons From Lord Shiva You Can Apply To Your Life

By Janvi Tyagi

In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is one of the most worshipped gods. He is the Supreme God among the ‘Trimurti’ who creates, protects, and changes the universe. According to Hindu Mythology, he is one of the most powerful and revered God among other Hindu Gods.

He is known as ‘MahaDev’. Shiva can be portrayed as a person smeared with ash, sitting on a tiger skin, decorated by Moon and Ganga on its head, having a third eye, holding a Trishul in one hand and a Dumroo in the other and has snakes around its neck.

Lord Shiva’s devotees are widely spread auspicious day for his pooja. Shivratri enthusiasm. Shiva had a multifarious destroyer, protector or a creator. He protector.

all over the world. Monday is considered an & Mahashivratri are celebrated with great personality where sometimes he acted as proved to be a good husband, father and

In the present day, the following lessons can be learnt from Lord Shiva & implemented in day-to-day life: 1. NON-TOLERANT TO THE EVIL: Lord Shiva was known to be very tolerant but the destroyer of evil. He supported the Devtas, and on their complaint that the rakshas was torturing them, he destroyed them. Therefore, he kept a vigil eye on all the happenings around him, and whenever he found injustice being done, he stood up to the occasion and destroyed the evil.

Hence, one should always be vigilant and stand against any misdeeds being done.

2. SELF-CONTROL Lord Shiva had full control over his ego and mind. He never felt desirous of any ambitious things. It is what made him great and Supreme. To keep his ego in control, he always kept a Trishul with him. Hence, one must control one's ego and mind and never fall prey to addictions, desires or material things. For practicing this,one must meditate in front of Lord shiva murti everyday.

3. MEDITATION: Lord Shiva is believed to be meditating for hours and months together for the universe's well being. Resultantly, he attained calmness and remained focussed always. Meditation gave him the power to deal with every situation calmly. Hence, one should keep a shiva idol in their altar to get relieved in their stressful life.

4. MATERIALISTIC HAPPINESS IS TEMPORARY: Lord Shiva was very powerful and supreme yet remained away from worldly happiness.

He knew that nothing is immortal in life, and things change with time. He did not acquire a big house and stayed in jungles. Instead of wearing expensive clothes and ornaments, he wore animal skin and had his body smeared with ashes. Hence he always remained grounded, free from desires, away from wealth and otherworldly items. Hence, one should not run after materialistic gains and instead find happiness in whatever is available around us.

5. SUPPRESSING NEGATIVITY GRACEFULLY: Lord Shiva is also called Neelkanth. Once when poison emerged out of the ocean, Shiva drank the same to save the world. Resultantly, his throat got blue. He suppressed the evil and anger and turned it into positivity for the world. Hence, one should control one’s anger and negativities and instead convert and utilise it positively.

6. RESPECTING YOUR SPOUSE: Lord Shiva always treated her wife, Parvati, with deep respect. Shiva was ‘Ardhanarishwar’, where half of him was Parvati., his ‘shakti’. He always respected Parvati and tried to do whatever he could to please her. Therefore, every human-like Lord Shiva gives due importance and respect to one’s spouse to lead a pleased and joyous life.

7. DANCE: Lord Shiva had a great art of dancing. It was his way of expression, and that was a source of fitness too. For this reason, he is known as Nataraja or the King of Dance.

His ‘Tandav’ dance is world-famous.One must practice dance as an art and as an exercise to keep oneself fit and happy.Besides it its recommend to keep a brass shiva statue at the place of dance performance.It would help you achieve balance & focus on your dance moves.

8. BEING EGOLESS & FEARLESS: Lord Shiva was very humble & egoless. Wearing serpents around his neck symbolises his power to control his ego, his fearless nature, and his ability to manipulate challenging situations to his favour. His Trishul displayed his power to control his mind and work better even in odd times. Hence, one should be fearless and egoless.

To attain success in life, one should keep mind and ego in control.

9. DO NOT BE IGNORANT: Lord Shiva had kept Goddess Ganga trapped in his hair. It represented the end of ego, ignorance and the dawn of knowledge. Lord Shiva was the very vigil of all the happenings around, and he always kept his facts rights. Moreover, he still acted very timely and wisely.Hence, one should not be ignorant and, before doing anything, should get the facts right. It will help in focussing on your targets and reaching them faster.

To sum up, Lord Shiva is an ideal to be followed in the present days. We should follow his ideologies and be a very disciplined, characterful, and a conscientious personComputer Technology Articles, away from all egos and fears.

Longevity is not promised

Live your best life

Life Lessons From Death

By Denise Ryan

Life is good at teaching us lessons - keeping us on our toes when things get too easy.

Like many of you, I called my Mom in May to wish her a happy Mother's Day. She told me she had a cold that just wouldn't go away. She had finally been to the doctor about it, and he ran some tests. Four days later we found out she had liver cancer. My mother died in two weeks.

I still can't really believe she's gone - it happened so quickly. But that's the way life is sometimes, and sometimes it takes a great shock to drive some lessons home. Think about your own life as I share some of the lessons I'm trying to learn with you.

Don't wait to live. My Mom was the hardest working person I have ever known. She put in at least 50 hours a week and on top of that worked every Saturday and some Sundays. She was an accountant and a perfectionist.

Every month the work started over. There was always more work. Her boss was a great guy - he used to encourage her not to work so hard, but my Mom was type-A, wanted to do her best. Sound familiar?

She was 65 when she died. Forget about that big retirement in the sky - all the traveling she would do, all the free time to finally rest after years of working herself to exhaustion. You have got to live today - take the trip this year - stop and enjoy your life right now - because you do not have forever.

Know what brings you joy. My Mom knew how to work hard and how to sacrifice her own needs for others. She always put herself second. I truly don't think she knew how to find joy - I think she thought joy was somehow selfish. It was like she held herself too tightly. Do you know what brings you joy?

Maybe it IS doing things for others, but it has to be with no expectation of receiving anything in return, just for the sheer joy of giving. When you have expectations, you've attached strings to your gifts. And your joy depends on the recipient's response. What brings me joy changes with each new adventure I have. FireStar brings me great joy. Nature brings me joy. My wonderful friends bring me joy. Sprinkles on my yogurt bring me joy! What brings you joy? Do you bask in it? Throw your head back and laugh, throw your arms out and embrace life - it will be over all too soon.

Let people get close to you. My Mom was tremendously independent and self-reliant. She didn't want to burden anyone. At her funeral many of her friends told us how they tried to do things for her - drive her to doctor's appointments, etc. and she would never let them. This took away a chance for them to get closer to her, and they were so sad they didn't get to do more. Her passing made me realize I can be very much like her and keep people at a distance. I need to work hard on changing this.

Are there things you see in your parents that you are also doing? We tend to repeat their patterns without even thinking about it. It's not too late to change - but do it now. You won't be around at your funeral to see all those people grieving the lost chance to be close to you.

You can't make someone love you. My parents divorced when I was in my teens. I can still remember all the hundreds of ways my Mother tried to hang on to my Father. It was an impossible task - one all of us have attempted at some point in our lives. We feel that if we just give more, become better, work harder - that special person will love us. Unfortunately, it just doesn't work that way. You simply cannot make another person love you, be faithful to you, or stay married to you. All you can do is your best and if they don't choose you, you have to let them go. You have to choose yourself and make your own life as big and as wonderful as it can be. Twenty years after the divorce, my Mom was still bitter. I would have given anything to have her let that pain go. It stole her joy.

Are you letting someone from your past cause you pain? If they don't want to be with you - let them go! You deserve someone who wants to be with you for who you are - not because of pity or guilt or because you sacrificed yourself to make them happy. The past is over - take back your power and your joy and live in the present. Take good care of your health - now.

Americans work more hours than any other nation - we've now surpassed the Japanese. We are taking fewer vacations and we're constantly checking voice mail and e-mail. We never stop. My Mom literally worked herself to death - never taking a sick day, pushing herself to the limit for over 40 years. No one can take that over the long haul. Professional athletes have an off season; they know their bodies need time to recover. For most of us, the off season never comes - the constant stress is a way of life.

You have got to change this for yourself NOW. Take your vacations and totally disengage from the office. The company will not collapse without you. And you'll be more productive when you return. You also need to build regular exercise into your schedule. Too busy? Or too lazy? 20 minutes of walking everyday can make a huge difference in the quality of your life.

Your health is the basis for everything - are you putting it last?

I've learned a lot of other lessons from my Mom's death and from her life.

Sometimes we only learn lessons through pain. Is there some pain in your life right now you can learn from? If you can find the lessonsHealth Fitness Articles, it helps ease your suffering. Thanks for taking the time to review these lessons with me.

Are You Free To Be You?

Learning From Life

By Charlie Badenhop

Do you ever find yourself thinking, "Life has taught me some tough lessons, and the scars do not heal easily."? This article can help you learn valuable lessons from the past, instead of allowing the past to determine your future.

The quality of the life we live, is based upon the learning we derive from our experiences. I know that for myself, it is sometimes easy to feel that "Life has taught me some tough lessons, and the scars do not heal easily."

When I find myself thinking like this it means that I have fallen into the trap of believing that "It is ‘only natural’ that an ‘X’ type event or relationship, will lead to a ‘Y’ type response." At other times it becomes apparent that if I had somehow learned something different from a particular challenging situation, the quality of my life would be much more rewarding.

In working with a client struggling with alcoholism, we spent our first session with the client telling me in detail how he had come to live such an unhealthy debilitating life. In short, he said: "Both my parents were alcoholics, and both of them were physically abusive to me. I grew up never knowing what bad thing would happen next. I learned from my parents that the best way to not have to feel the pain and uncertainty of life was to escape into an altered state of alcohol induced euphoria." When listening to a client tell such a sad story, it is easy to believe that their situation was all but preordained.

As fate would have it, a week after beginning to work with this client, I went to a business luncheon to hear an inspirational speaker discuss how we can live our life fully and succeed in times of hardship. Indeed, the speaker was truly inspirational. When the talk was over, I waited around to thank him.

After introducing myself and thanking him, I asked him how he had come to lead such an exemplary life. He looked around to make sure no one else was listening and in a low voice he said the following: "Both my parents were alcoholics, and both of them were physically abusive to me. I grew up never knowing what bad thing would happen next. I learned from my parents that the worst possible way to deal with the pain and uncertainty of life was to escape into an altered state of alcohol induced euphoria. My parents taught me a difficult but very important lesson. I learned from them that staying present in the moment is the only real chance we have for living a fulfilling life."

What a truly great example of embodied spirit the motivational speaker offers us. The quality of our life is not dependent on the circumstances we encounter. The quality of our life is dependent on what we learn from the circumstances we encounter. Perhaps the greatest example of this wisdom is present in the life of Nelson Mandela. He is a man that suffered great pain and hardship, and somehow his suffering seasoned his soul in a way that has led him to be compassionate and caring.

In the course of exploring how to live our life more fully we can consider pondering one question over and over again, "What can I learn from the difficulties I am experiencing, that will actually ADD to the quality of my life?" At the very least we can begin to entertain the fact that: We can derive a wide range of learning from any single circumstance, event, or relationship. When we get the most stuck in life is when we believe that the one thing, we did learn is the only thing that can be learned.

How Often Do You Genuinely Smile And Laugh?

How To Find Happiness

By TJ Philphott

5 Simple Techniques

It would seem fair and accurate to say that a common 'quest' shared by many would be how to find happiness in our daily lives. Authentic happiness may be defined by different people in different ways but ultimately it comes down to an inner peace we feel. It therefore stands to reason that the key to happiness is finding that inner peace which brings us to our discussion here today. What is it we can do to or how is it we can act that will help bring happiness, or more of it, into our lives?

Here are 5 simple techniques you can immediately use with little effort that will help put 'pep in your step' and bring happiness into your life.

Be Grateful It is amazing how showing a little gratitude can make your insides feel so warm and fuzzy. Besides the fact that it feels nice to be nice these actions bring out the best in others also. The result is they respond to you in the same fashion and in the end this can bring happiness to everybody involved.

Also by giving thanks it consciously makes you aware that others are acting kindly towards you so you therefore appreciate it more.

Be Optimistic If you stop and consider how much influence each one of us has over our own destiny there is no reason not to have hope. Possessing hope or optimism gives you more energy and a certain sense of excitement about the way things 'can' be. This helps to 'lighten' your mood and can bring happiness to those around you.

Perform Random Acts of Kindness Much like giving thanks being helpful to others without expectations of reward or reciprocation makes you feel good about yourself. The resulting reactions you get from the people who you helped only serve to make you feel even better.

Emphasize Your Strengths So you got some weaknesses, big deal, everybody does too. Learn to put more emphasis on the strengths you posses whether it is a sense of humor being a good listener or something else. Using your strengths gives you more confidence and likely gets a better reaction from others both of which tend to make you feel better about yourself.

Count Your Blessings Look around you and see others that have various challenges such as physical, financial or emotional in nature and appreciate what you have and who you are. No matter what the situation may be there is ALWAYS somebody who has it tougher than you! Life is only as bad as you 'perceive' it to be.

With lifestyles that seem to be consumed by work and stress it is no wonder that many question how to find happiness in their own lives. Not the happiness you may experience when leaving work for the day or perhaps a long weekend but true authentic happiness that stress can NOT erase. These 5 techniques reviewed here today can quickly establish that sense of 'well being' to help make you feel a more 'positive connection' with your own life. Stimulating this sense of inner peace is the key to happiness and comes with giving thanks for what it is we ALREADY have.

Exhale, You Got This!

Life Is A Journey

Enjoy The Ride

Love, God's, and Our's

By Amritanshu

Love is Patient, Love is kind. No eyes of envy, true love is blind.

Love is Humble, it knows no pride. No selfish motive hidden inside.

Love is Gentle makes no demands. Despite all wrong, true love still stands.

Love Love Love Love

is Holy, Love is pure. It lasts forever It will Endure knows when to let go. knows when to say no.

Grows in the light of the son.....

Everybody talks about it! The world sings about it! Movies are laced with it!

Multitudes of novels revolve around it! Poetry drips with its theme! Love! Love!

Love! The world cries out for this stuff! Sometimes, I feel that love is the most overrated emotion. As young people our ideas about love come from the people around us, the movies we watch, the books we read, and the "words of wisdom" shared to us through various sources. And eventually we form our own ideas about love most of which are nowhere near the truth. Young and old, male and female - Asian, Caucasian, African, Indian, Hispanic, Muslim - all languages, all cultures, all ages (and all future ages as well) - they all write about and cry out for this stuff called - LOVE! But, what is it?

Love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised in the Church.

Great Faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice and miracle working power produces very little without love. Love makes our actions and gifts useful. Although people have different Gifts, love is available to all. In the morally corrupt world today, love has become a mixed-up term with little meaning. Love is the greatest of human qualities.

Love involves unselfish service to others, to show it gives evidence that you care.

Faith is the foundation and content of God's message. Hope is the attitude and focus, and Love is the ACTION. When faith and hope are in line, you are free to love completely because you understand how GOD loves. I believe that one of the best characteristics of Love is that it is directed outward towards others and not inwards towards ourselves. In this world where everyone emphasizes on how it is more important to think of yourself and secure your turf, true love goes against the flow and urges us to think about others. Love helps us set aside our own desires and instincts so that we can give love while expecting nothing in return. Thus, the more we become Christ like the more we will show our love to others.

Your Life Is A Miracle

Dear Mother, Don't Worry

A life is what your responsible for worry, awakened by cries in the night don’t worry sweet lady, your son is alright I run in the street, struck by a car don’t worry dear mother, your son is alright Stitches, and bruises, and small broken bones seems like this child, cant be left alone trouble will find him, he’s accident prone Don’t worry my lady, your baby is home Be happy, don’t worry, sometimes it must be enjoy life beautiful woman, don’t worry about me relaxation’s impossible, but why cant you see a mother’s love comes with anxiety, but don’t worry about me I live life to the fullest in an honorable way Give thanks to our creator, I show honor this way Thankful and grateful, adventurous paths mistakes come with penalties, pains never last I’m human, my music, a whole different class a piece of the earth existing in life don’t worry sweet lady, I’ll be alright Lay on the sand, tan on the beach, drink a refreshing drink until you can reach ecstasy, heaven, under the sun, look how far you’ve come not worrying about me, don’t worry, don’t worry dear mother sweet lady, your worries, don’t come with no peace Written by Master Poet October 8, 2019

THE CURSE OF THE MOTHER DAUGHTER RESENTMENT (The repeated cycle of hurt and no affection) Every woman starts as a baby. Full of possibilities, not worried about the maybes, what could be or even possible uncertainties that the world will show.

All she knows, from the first beat of the heart, the first breath taken, a soul is awakened. It’s a feeling like no other. A baby girl is given to a mother.

As a baby girl, she is fully dependent. Need for affection, the love for attention.

Mother’s intuition will lead her in the right direction. At least, the best way she knows how.

She will try her best, to give you everything you need. To fix broken variables that had been broken at the seams. Protect her from hurt that was never meant to be seen. A mother loves hard. A mother loves only in the way she knows.

Every mother loves different from all the stories untold.

Baby girl is growing older. She is now a child. Imagination is running wild.

Finally able to comprehend what she sees and what she’s told to do.

Young daughter is still way too fragile to understand the world from mother’s view. A mother still tries her best but now daughter needs to learn to be independent.

As time goes by, affection slows down. Daughter is old enough now to get herself around, the rules that is. The mind of an adolescence, the transition of maturity is truly gonna be tested.

The attachment lessens, but of course it’s still there. But why would she listen if she thinks that you don’t care. Her mind is now wondering why your heart is so bare.

A mother knows this feeling and wants to protect her from the grueling evils and impurities awakening. So a mother is going to show her in the only way she knows how.

Daughter now looks for it in other ways. She is old enough now to take her life by the reigns. The pleasures of finding and exploring different avenues, yet somehow, she still has no clue what to do.

The pleasures turn into pain, nothing will last because of years of memories from the past lead to the direction of survival, with no gain.

A mother knows what hurt looks like. She deals with it inside, until she finds the key in her heart to break the chain of demise. She wants her daughter to listen, so a mother is going to explain in the only way she knows how.

Daughter hears the plague, sights action to dismay, but cannot comprehend why she was treated that way. Hopelessness and burden, depression quakes fear uncertain. Resentment creeks in a tunnel of words unspoken.

A mother is hurt, wondering where things took a turn for worse. How did her daughter not learn everything she tried to do for her. The feeling of failure runs deep. From a cliff so steep, holding on hoping shell get the lesson she was trying to teach. So a mother is going to cope in the only way she knows how.

Daughter is moving on, finding ways of life searching for answers to make things right. Time starts moving fast, and she’s forgetting the past. And one beautifully star filled night, she gave life to a precious baby girl.

Daughter is now a mother and she will love her daughter, in the only way she knows how.

-the cycle continues.

C-lite, Newport News March 15, 2021

A Life Coach, for the people, and by the people.

Follow me on YouTube at: https://youtube.com/c/ElijahAmmiLCRAcademy Check out my website at: https://elijahammi.com You can follow me on Facebook and Instagram at: https://www.facebook.com/lifechangingresultsacademy https://www.Instagram.com/lcracademy You can contact me via email at: elijahammi@gmail.com

We Support Small Businesses

We Support Small Businesses

We Support Small Businesses

A Lotus Flower Always

Rises To The Top

Don't give up on your dreams.

Dreams do come true!

Happy Healing

We Love You