Narrow-Minded Thinking and Power of the Internet

Well I guess this "small-time" girl with big ambition and drive had a wake-up call this morning. It's funny how one can think about things that they THINK they're going to blog about and then in one instant whether an action, call or thought can change all this.

In keeping with my "empowerment" I originally wanted to write to you about my nutrition plan and what steps I took to get into being a healthier me and that it wasn't about the "d" word (diet) but a chosen lifestyle. I think I will save this thought for another day.

Why? Because something "bigger than life" happened to me and I had an epiphany. I was asking myself "why blog?" Do I even have an audience or am I just typing words into thin air and what would make anyone in the world want to read my blogs over hundreds upon thousands others. What do I bring to the table? I'm just one person in this City just North of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. So out of curiosity I checked stats which I had never done before. I was amazed. To the readers that hail from my home Country of Canada that have freedoms, I thank you. For those that are reading from Italy, Australia, United Kingdom, Alaska, US, Poland, India, Ukraine, Russia and Philippines, a HUGE thank you and I hope that across the miles, you are finding some enlightenment, hope, humour and support from reading this.

So in knowing this, I feel a sense of responsibility and honoured with the opportunity of offering support and showing that everyone has the right to be free; a right to be empowered and know that whatever situation you're in there's hope. That no matter what challenges you face every day that the same patterns do not have to be repeated and no one ever has the power to tell you how to think because you are the only one responsible for your thoughts. For anyone reading this that is facing abuse whether physical or verbal or living in a Country where women are not treated as "persons" or facing persecution for even "looking at a man" and accusations of being unfaithful, I pray for you.

For those people that offer hope and support for these women and it sometimes feels like a "thankless" job (or volunteer work), keep on making a difference. For those that put their lives in danger to help people, thanks for making a difference. This world must be made a better place and we all need to reach out to each other whether in word or other actions, we have to make a difference. No one, whether female or male, should ever feel they're worthless or inferior. We truly need to watch our words and keep negative thoughts out of our minds and hearts and speak words of encouragement, love and support. We must always "pay it forward" and even if it doesn't feel like what we're saying or doing isn't making a difference, we have to believe IT IS touching the lives of at least one person.

I am truly honoured and humbled and no longer shall I be "narrow-minded" and think I'm writing in a cocoon. I trust these words find you well. Continue to look for strength and you can make any changes. Put yourself first. In the words of MJ and friends: "We are the world, we are the children; We are the ones who make a brighter day so lets start giving. There's a choice we're making, we're saving our own lives, its true we'll make a better day....Just you and me"

Thanks for viewing! As always, have a great day and remember to "Empower yourself and inspire change in others"

An Open Letter - Dear Grandma

****Empowering Women, Inspiring Change****

Dear Grandma,

I usually don't cry. I mean, I will tear and sensitive to some things but otherwise don't. Why am I tearing as I eat a cream cheese and lettuce sandwich?

Why, because I remember as a little girl you'd make it for me. You introduced me to it and said to keep an open mind and I'd like it. You were right. I LOVED it. Then you'd change it up sometimes and put cucumbers instead of lettuce. Funny thing as I got older and tried to duplicate it I'd say "Granny, why can't I ever make them as good as yours"? "That's because I'd use pineapple cream cheese and you use plain", you'd respond. I always disagreed with you on that point (I should know better than that) but only because it was the 70's and the company wasn't creative enough to make the flavour stuff like they do now did they? Besides, I don't really like pineapple too much because I find it too sweet. Hmm...I don't remember the sandwiches tasting sweet.

Anyway, what's the reason for this post? I don't have a valid one. Don't need one. I was just thinking of you and I just wanted to let you know. No matter how busy I was, or wasn't, I used to be able to pick up the phone for no reason at all and say "hi granny, everything's ok...I just wanted to say hi". Then we'd exchange the "I love you's" and "bye" and that's all we needed to get each other through the day. You always told me I was your favourite grand daughter (even though you'd always remind me that you're not supposed to say that as a grand-mother because it'd make the other grandchildren jealous). Regardless, you always reminded me how special I was, how gifted I was, and how much I meant to you as a grand-daughter because I took that second, if only out of my day to call for no reason and say hello....just because I was thinking of you and "because we could".

Well, sadly, you passed away a few years ago and I can't do that anymore....at least in person. So this will have to do..

On behalf of achieving my goal to implement and establish YES I CAN by "Empowering Women, Inspiring Change"...thank you. Thank you for being an example of strength and being a huge part of teaching me the core values that a woman can be a woman, can be a boss, can be a wife, mother and be independent but it doesn't make her b* and it doesn't mean she loves anyone else any less. And it doesn't mean she's sacrificing anything or some radical feminist (though there's nothing wrong with that if you are). And most importantly, if someone thinks of you as a b*, or being selfish then to heck with them because they're not in your shoes, step in your footprints or live your life so they can just mind their own business! (And that's cleaning up what you really would have said because you were very direct and not afraid to say what really was on your mind) ;)

Now, for a woman of your age that grew up in a different time and era, I applaud you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for literally being my second mom. I will always and forever hold the memories I have of you in my heart and so grateful that I was blessed to have you in my life. Thank you also for saving me from that one particular situation where it probably would have cost me my life.

I love you Granny, Dorothy Pearl Parr and proudly display my middle name Pearl and passed onto my daughter for her middle name as well. I love you more than words can ever express. I will not say that I miss you because you are and will always be a part of me. So I'm just calling out to let you know that I'm thinking of you today and just wanted to say hi....

Forever yours,

your grand-daughter,

Shannon Pearl Murree

xo

Calling All Women - Did You Know? What are you waiting for?

• 1 out of every 2 marriages ends in divorce and on average, in the first year after the divorce, the woman’s standard of living drops 73%
• Of the elderly living in poverty, 3 out of 4 are women, yet 80% of them were not poor when their husband were alive
• 58% of baby female boomers have an average of only $10,000 set aside for retirement
  47% of women over the age of 50 are single Nearly 7 out of 10 women will at some time live in poverty.

These statistics are not to scare you, but to say it’s time we, as women, prepare for our financial well-being. We can no longer afford to be financially illiterate. The price is simply too great.

Too many women, no matter what age, find themselves in dire financial straights whether it be divorce, death of a spouse or simply no planning. Why? Because many of us have not been educated about money and investing. It's not about how to buy car insurance or save pennies at the grocery store. Nowadays, we're smarter than that.

Now is the time to take control of our financial lives and not just cross our fingers and hope that someone else is looking out for our financial future.

One last statistic: 90% of all women have sole responsibility for their finances within their lifetime, yet 79% of all women have not planned for this.

There is no time like the present. Mind your own business: build and keep your asset strong. Once a dollar goes into it, never let it come out! Let your cash flow grow.

• Discover your Mission, Passion and Purpose.
• Map out where you want to go and what you'll need to do to get there.
• Create an individual strategy to become secure, comfortable, and rich.
• Strive to surround yourself with successful, positive and influencial people.