The day after Christmas

I haven't written anything for a while because I decided to take a 9 to 5 job and so it has pushed Party of Purpose to the backseat - at least for now.  I'm still working on a couple of events for 2012 that mean a lot to me, but I can take my time now and not stress myself out like I was earlier this year.

I'm starting to get antsy now though and my biological POP clock is ticking, so instead of approaching things the way I did the first time around, I'm going to create a formal budget and a project plan with tasks, dates, deadlines, etc.  As if I didn't know to do this already- but I was being stubborn in that area, and trying to do everything from memory and cell phone reminders.  It worked, but I was often left feeling like I forgot something.  If I put it in writing, then I can check it off as I go along and know that I truly accomplished  my goal(s).

I never make New Year's resolutions because they never worked for me - not really.  As long as I know what I'm going to do, I do my research, prepare for what's ahead, and then press play.  It's time to do that now and it's coincidentally happening just before the new year, a time to bring out the old me, all scrubbed down, suited up, and ready to act on the good tips I've learned and heard about up until now.

Big Hugs!

Introducing the POP Kids and their campaign against hunger

I was sitting there thinking about ways to get the kids involved with community projects and charity and as I sat and listened to them talk about how they saw themselves giving back, POPKids evolved.

So we've been recruiting at school and the responses have been lovely.  Now it's time to start sending information packets home for parents to read and decide if they really want their child(ren) involved, because time is precious and for most kids, homework takes up quite a bit of time.  Then there's meeting agendas and projects to have for the kids to select from once a month or so to make their mark in the world.

I can't wait to see how things turn out and all of the things these kids eventually accomplish.  It's going to be amazing!

Beauty and the Beast

I attended the Broadway show, Beauty and the Beast, last week with my son.  When the show started I worried that he would be disinterested because it seemed to be a show that was geared to a younger set.  All he watches at home are shows like iCarly, Drake and Josh, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Vampire Diaries, and Smallville.  As it turns out, he loved it and said it was the best birthday gift ever.  Did I mention I won tickets to take him to this show?

http://southward.patch.com/articles/beauty-and-the-beast-at-njpac-thrills-patch-contest-winners

I was driving down the street a couple of days ago, and I saw a girl standing on the curb of a highway-to-street intersection.  She was wearing pajamas, stuffed animal slippers, hair undone, and looking completely distressed. She appeared to be in her late teens/early twenties and she was looking off into the distance, almost hopping from one foot to the other, as if she were looking for or waiting for someone.  Tears were imminent, if she hadn't already been crying.

I was in the middle of a dangerous intersection, and couldn't stop my car to ask her what was wrong and if she needed to get help, so I went around the block and in the few minutes it took me to do that, she was gone.  Two minutes.  In two minutes, she could've gotten into the car with ANYONE and I wish I would've just slammed on the brakes and spoke to her.  I don't know what was wrong, but my first thought was, Did she get get into an argument with her boyfriend and get put out of the car? 

Domestic Violence is deeply entrenched in our culture, and it's swept under the rug like it's taboo.  No one wants to be the one to own up to what's going on and get rid of this madness.  If you aren't going to take on the responsibility, then whom?

DV isn't only about physical violence either.  It's emotional, pyschological, financial (yes, I said financial).  It's about control.  Stop sitting around calling someone stupid for being in this situation.  Judgements of their personal character is doing what exactly?  Making them feel bad so they'll leave?  NOT.

DO SOMETHING. SAVE A LIFE. ACT NOW.


Domestic Violence PSA from Tyler Johnson on Vimeo.

A Red Carpet Social Empowerment Event (in beautiful So. Cal)

 

“So. Cal’s Natural Beauty Pageant”

A Red Carpet Social Empowerment Event

June 19, 2011

http://www.iwillflourish.net/

 
Event Description
The beauty pageant market is growing exponentially with annual numbers of 3 million for children alone. The numbers continue to increase. One major concern is that the traditional beauty pageants breed narcissism while others feel it cultivates insecurity. Critics feel that pageants tip the scale of what is healthy for one’s natural development.

Walking for Cancer (I miss you Grandma)

Yesterday I walked around NYC in support of the eradication of cancer via the EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women's Cancers 2011.  I wouldn't have known about this wonderful effort, if I hadn't been informed by new colleague, Makeda Campbell of Immaculate Enterprises. http://www.immaculate-enterprises.com/eifrevlonwalkrun.htm

A great place to talk about what matters most

AJ Ramsey is the author of Newark's Armadillo, a memoir about the abuses she suffered growing up at home.  She is now the head of her own publishing company, Ramsey Literature , also the name of her facebook group (click the link to go to the page), where she regularly challenges her group members with thought-provoking questions and debates.