Emelia Sam

117. Going through life without purpose, is like driving without a steering wheel. How do you navigate?

118. Every experience has value. It is up to you to extract the lesson.

119. Greatness is within everybody.  You must believe and give it permission to flourish.

120. Facing the truth transforms the energy of hiding into the energy of realizing your potential.

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112. Being defensive is a waste of energy. A strong character will speak for itself.

113. The sun is always above the clouds. Trust that difficulty will give way to better days.

114.  Capability is a muscle that needs to be constantly stretched. Insufficient  activity leads to atrophy.

115. What you see as impossible simply hasn’t been done…yet.

116. Don’t let negative emotion consume you. Redirect that energy into positive action.

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The Power of the Girl Effect

I hear the stories of girls in the developing world. I cringe at the expectation of early marriage and forced childbearing of adolescents. I feel nauseated by the subjection of children to prostitution and exposure to AIDS. I feel deeply for the young girls who only wish to go to school but whose families cannot afford it.

I sit half a world away thinking what a shame it is but feel so far removed.  Then I see her through my window – the teenage girl, carrying her newborn as her toddlers struggle to keep up. I am struck by the irony.

I realize there is little difference between the girl I see on the street and the girl halfway around the world.  They’ve both been trapped by the vice of cultural norms and live with the mental shackles relegating them to lives of unlived potential.

 The perceived worth of girls is a worldwide issue.

Thankfully, some of these girls realize their worth. Addis, Anita, Kidan, Shumi, Sanchita.  These are the revolutionaries, the future world leaders.  These are the girls whose divine sparks could not be extinguished by the low expectations of society. Their efforts have transformed their lives and the lives of those around them.  They give me hope that the life of this unnamed girl down the street has a chance, too…

They make me question my contribution (or lack thereof) to the problem.  Until now, I didn’t understand the multiple ways in which one could make a dent.

It starts here with the Girl Effect. It starts with self-education and spreading the knowledge. At the very least, we need to share the facts and have the conversations that lead to further action: donation, microfinance, and time…

…and in our immediate worlds, making the effort to connect with the girl down the street. Why? Because self worth changes everything.  We each have the power to be the catalyst for the neXXt.

Change the world 2 X chromosomes at a time.  That’s the power of the Girl Effect.

Exercising on the Mall has become one of my favorite things to do in the nation’s capital. It’s mindboggling to think that I live “down the street” from a place that millions of people around the world long to visit. At times, I almost forget the enormity of the city’s image. But last Friday, that wasn’t the case.

As I approached the monument, I was able to see individuals rappelling down the sides of the monument inspecting for damage from August’s earthquake.  As you can see (or barely see) in the pic is a lone figure suspended at the top of the structure. In case you aren’t aware, that’s a long way down…550 feet to be exact.

In summary:

• The monument is a huge part of the image of Washington, DC.
• There are cracks in the monument.
• People risk falling in order to identify the cracks that need repair.

It got me to thinking…

Our images are built by our words and actions.  What happens when they don’t match up with whom we think we are or who we want to be?

Those are our cracks, but only some of us are willing to face them head on. We know that cracks left unattended compromise integrity, yet many of us would rather dismiss our “faults” than suffer the discomfort of acknowledging them.

Perhaps we think the risk of falling into the rabbit hole of self-exploration is too much to handle. We must remember that only when we recognize an issue can we begin to heal it.

The question is, have you identified areas where you need work? If not, how far are you willing to fall? 

107. Do not lose yourself in the confusion of others. Chaos is optional.

108. Mediocrity is inevitable if you always look to others for approval. Trust your own judgment.

109. Believe you are capable. Enough said.

110. Discomfort is a part of growth. If you can’t accept that, you will remain a shadow of what you could be.

111. Stand strong when it comes to values. Compromise on preferences. Know the difference.

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102.  Question, question, question. Don’t lose your ability to wonder. Life is more interesting that way.

103. Saying “Why does this always happen to me” is a signal you are not learning the lesson. Pay attention.

104. Don’t get overwhelmed. Everything is not important. Prioritize and keep it moving.

105.  Being alone does not have to mean being lonely. Learn to enjoy your own company.

106. Stretch your imagination. Only then can you step into a grander version of yourself.

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97.  Stop getting lost in minutia. Excessive attention to detail will keep you stagnant.

98.  Opportunity does not often follow mediocrity. How much opportunity is coming your way?

99.  Your life tells the story of how much courage you have. What is yours saying?

100. Self sabotage is the number one reason people get stuck. Are you standing in your own way?

101.  A path is forged by a single step. Start walking.

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93. Misplaced values create misdirected energy meaning you miss out. Re-evaluate.

94. Greatness requires the self-study that feedback provides. Open yourself up to constructive criticism.

95. Our fears are often signposts to greatness. Conquering them and unfold your true potential.

96. Overly cautious living is like driving with the emergency brake on. Release and flow.

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The Intimacy Battle

What is it about the thought of intimacy that makes so many of us uncomfortable? Why do we hide our real selves even from the people “closest” to us?  What’s your opinion?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUYQUlvgMz8