Breakfast with a bonus!

I am totally honoured to be a Member of a fantastic Group of Women, known as W.I.N. More than a Networking Group (of approx 15 Firecrackers!), it is a Resource Group: from National Executives of Foundations, to a Superintendent of Education.....a Lawyer, Commercial Banker, Business Owners, Life Coach and so much more. And yes...like you...I wonder how the heck I got invited to become a Member years ago!! I ALWAYS leave our monthly Breakfasts feeling inspired, invigorated and like a naughty child caught taking a cookie! I'm amongst some wonderful Women who after all these years I'm honoured to call my Friends! More than a Resource Group though.....we have also become a Sisterhood: friendships being forged, support of each other through trying times and yet more support and celebrations through our successes! We always end ur year at a Summer Retreat which one Member holds - since she has a beautiful, summer property to offer. We have a catered dinner, stay overnight and enjoy each other's company in a relaxed setting!

I love it!

Today, we were lucky enough to have Martha Powell, President and C.E.O. Of London Community Foundation join us.  While we enjoyed listening to her in the gorgeous surroundings of The River Room at Museum London (I definitely recommend the River Room!), she opened our eyes up to not only the wonderful work the Foundation carries out....but of the many, perhaps hidden, issues that London faces...such as the stat that 12.8% of children IN London live in poverty - compared with the National average of 8.2% in Canada! (2010, Statistics Canada). Also... 20.1% of adults in London are obese....with the National average being 18%.  So many eye-opening stats were relayed to us it was surprising.

The great side to this was realizing the Foundation is there and trying to change the stats and improve London. Not only that, but you can only imagine the interesting, in-depth discussions Martha's Presentation brought forth from us all!

What came through (as it does time and again to me) is how passionate we (all)  women are about helping. How supportive of each other we are...and how strong we are! It's truly wonderful to see. To know there are women (and Men too...but my Blog is on the support of Women today!) such as Martha at the helm of such Projects...and after having our discussions as we did..the ideas, thoughts, and wish to help is so strong....made me not only proud to be from this wonderful City...but to also be a part of the amazing Women's Business Communitywe are lucky to have!

I know my Husband and I are stepping up our Community's involvement this year...and I have thoughts milling around about what I want to do to help children....what did come through is how do we get the Generation Y to feel more in need to help and get involved! It seems the advent of social media has made it harder to get them involved. If you have a teen...perhaps ask them what would make them want to help? What are they passionate about.....what pulls at their heart strings most.  It's a question worth asking...I know I'll be asking our Son......there are so many wonderful 'Y's helping already...how great to add to the group!

So much was discussed today...too many subjects to mention....but...what a way to start a Friday and go into the weekend!  Hopefully you belong to an inspiring Group yourself...I know there are so many out there...getting so much done! It certainly makes you want to do more hearing the plights of some...and it's good to be reminded that help is always needed.

Go W.I.N go!

Shine on...

Strong is sexy..curvy is beautiful.

I am so glad some Stars are 'getting' it (although I feel as many are...the same number aren't!).

The only time I read gossip is when I'm torturing myself on a cardio machine...it seriously helps me through it (what does that mean, I wonder? Lol). I've been on a roll ('scuse the pun!), lately about negative self-talk, negative self-image and how the media are really not helping the youngsters of today (girls personally and boys with ultimately how they might view girls). It's so important to feel confident and good in your own skin.

So I was THRILLED to see an article in a gossip mag with before and after pictures of Actresses who were too skinny...said to hell with the establishment (ahem Hollywood), Directors' wishes for sticks in roles and gained weight to look healthier!

EUREEEEEEEKA GIRLS! These are articles our daughters etc, need to see! Tyra Banks was one; Leah Michelle from Glee and more! And they look beautiful! Strong, toned, sexy and healthy!

How we are to get the message out there to the girls of today that strong is sexy and that dieting, eating NO protein, etc, etc, is NOT the way to go...I'm not sure.....there are still too many with the wrong idea on what is right.  I wish there was more self esteem, confidence..the 'what the heck' attitude out there...rebelling against this need to be tiny.

But I know I've been there-done-that. It took me 43 years (literally) to finally realize I should feel great abut myself no matter my weight (let's correct that...I don't weigh myself!!).  I was one of those teased for chubbiness as a youngster (which is funny since I look at all my childhood pix and I wasn't at all chubby!)...but...teased enough and it sticks! I know what it's like to grow up seeing the negative points about yourself (I would be self deprecating in a jokey fashion...figuring if I point my flaws out first in a funny sense, others wouldn't need to.) and continuing them on to adulthood. But!! Now all the negative self views are BANISHED!! Heck...I even go out to the gym with my hair a mess lol! I've come a long way!

Lets try to guide our girls to this feeling of freedom and confidence while they are young...rather than them figuring it all out in their 40's!! If one girl 'gets it' that's a start!

This Blog came about due to Shape Magazine's article today on STOP THE FAT TALK. Great article and a must read.

Come on...lets go get those girls and inspire them all to feel great without the worries of others' opinions!!

Enjoy your day....
SHINE On...

No wonder girls have such incorrect views on weight!

Happy October!

I hope this Month finds you well...looking forward to Thanksgiving and you are enjoying the lovely cooler, colourful days!

I must admit...mine is a bit of a 'shake your head' post today....I mean: I KNOW gossip magazines are really just that: gossip....but one article I was reading while slogging away on my cardio machine today at a gazillion miles per hour (perhaps slightly embellished) had my head spinning - and yes....I'm going off on a tangent here...but the ONLY time I resort to gossip magazines is to help me thru my cardio workout.

So...what article had me enraged? It was about poor old Jessica Simpson. Now..she isn't necessarily a public figure I overly admire....but she's cute...going thru life doing what works for her...and earning herself a few mansions along the way to put it mildly! We all know I would think that she recently gave birth to a baby...and now she is going through the challenge most of us have been through, of losing that darned baby-weight (personally...I often joke that nearly 16 years later, I'm still losing mine, lol!). Yes...she's become the latest Star to be the weight watchers spokesperson (I ask you: WHEN will WW use 'real' women?!). This has therefore put the poor is it chicken or is it fish? Star in the weight limelight. And here...finally...we get to my anger. The article centred around comments which people are saying about how large she is...how she resembles some wild animal and how she is a disgrace. I honestly had to pull myself back on my machine I was SO floored!

I have many questions (one of them being...did In Touch really have to put out such a nasty article?) and here are some of them.....and they keep growing:

Why do people focus so much on weight gain when it's a new Mom - or at all?
What gives these people the right or authority to pick holes in her?
Are these people fit, (doubt it), strong (can't imagine so), happy (nooooo way!!), successful (no comment) people who are full of authority? And if they were...they still would never have this 'authority' to judge?
Do these people have Mothers, Sisters, Wives or God forbid - Daughters of their own?
What message goes out there when someone is so slayed verbally for their weight, their image???

These are just a few of my questions.....

This is a new Mother going thru the challenges that come along with that in itself...she is being healthy, and is doing all of this in the public eye. For others to be so nasty...and to re-emphasize this terrible Issue that is out there with weight, image and mainly females..is just ludicrous. We all know daughters, nieces, friends of children who are lacking self-confidence. These girls STILL have this subject totally screwed up due to articles written like this...or tv shows with actresses who are 'perfect' and models who resemble sticks. No wonder they all wish to be thin, tiny, perfect. I s'pose the nasty kids (girls and boys) who bully the more overweight kids are the ones who grow up to sit down and take the time to write nasty comments about people. What's going to end this?

If you haven't watched Miss-Independence...the film which highlights all if these issues and more...watch it. Better yet get every male you know to do so too..take it to your schools. Talk to your kids about self image, self respect, empathy and respect of others. 

I had a female, young relative recently tell me all the girls (regardless of height, body shape, etc etc) want to be 120 pounds...even worse was they don't eat protein - COZ THEY DON'T WANT TO BE FAT!! I ask again...what's going on?

What can we do to rectify this? Hasn't anyone heard strong is the new sexy? If only these girls 'got it' while young that to be toned, fit, strong...makes you feel soooooo good! And...believe it or not...you get compliments! Your inner strength and confidence soars!

I still go back to these awful people making those comments about Jessica: somehow I don't believe 'winners', positive thinkers, great role models or self-fulfilled, HAPPY people would resort to this. Which..perhaps if they were more active and felt more confident in themselves, they would be making successes of themselves...instead of pulling others down.

Talk to your children.....educate your Daughters (no!!! 1000 calories a day is NOT enough!!!), get them fit...make them feel empowered and help the next generation realize its not about weight...it's how you feel inside..it's about being strong, healthy, happy and understanding that the sticks we see in Hollywood aren't right...the 'real' people such as Jessica are more like us and we can't fault someone for baby fat!

SHINE On...and help a young girl get the right message....