Hi Moms!
Thanks to Allied Integrated Marketing in Kansas City, SHS has another opportunity to beat the winter doldrums and enjoy a free movie!
If you would like to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks" for free, call the SHS office or email Teri today!
Secondly, we have created a brand new online community at sistershelpingsisterskc.ning.com. It's amazing! You can have a email, chat, blog and talk to other KC moms - for free! We'll post information about community resources we access and more! Be sure to join today.
Finally, I've chatted with a few of you and I can hear that end of the year stress in your voices. Stay encouraged, Single Mom. Regardless of what you have endured this past year, your best years, relationships, career opportunities and blessings are a head of you - not behind you.
Good things are still happening. Allied's gift is proof of that! Be watchful for those "little" blessings to keep your hopes strong.
Keep your hope strong and remember the best is yet to come.
Showing posts with label single mothers single motherhood encouragement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label single mothers single motherhood encouragement. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Beat the Holiday Blues, Single Mom!
There’s one surefire answer to battle the holiday blues. Your weapon is gratitude. I know it sounds overly simplistic but the best solutions in life usually are.
Inventory your blessings frequently and reject the tendency to focus on the negative. That will never produce anything encouraging in your life or your inner spirit. If in all things you are thankful, you’ll be surprised how your perspective will shift from what you don’t have to the wonderful, many things you do.
Here are 16 things you can be thankful for right now:
1. Your children and their giggles bring pleasure to your life.
2. If you have teens, be grateful that you raised them thus far.
3. You’re kids are grown? Do a little gig right now! What an accomplishment!
4. Do you have a supportive person in your life? Someone that has a smile and encouraging word regularly? That’s a blessing.
5. Do you have a place to live? It may not be your ideal situation, but it’s a piece of good fortune. Recognize it as such.
6. Are you breathing? I’m sure you are. Be happy about that!!!
7. Be thankful for the fact that you have enough strength to read this.
8. Is there a place that feeds your spirit? If so, celebrate that! If not, find one.
9. Do a set of wheels take you from one point of the city to another? It may be a car, bus, bike or friend’s automobile. Focus on the good.
10. Access to technology is another opportunity to be happy and thankful.
11. Did at least one good thing happen to you this past week? One?
12. Does someone else genuinely care about you or your kids? A neighbor, teacher or friend?
13. Does an old song still make you smile? (Mine is “I can make you dance” by Roger Troutman and Zapp)
14. Did you survive a situation that would have broken another woman in two? A divorce, abuse or rejection? Celebrate and be appreciative you overcame that!
15. Is there a guy in your past that you’re THRILLED is gone? Whew! Be happy!
16. Did you get a pleasant surprise this last year?
Could you be thankful for at least three items on the list? If so, you’re blessed beyond reason. There will be days that are so “heavy” that you’ll need a reminder of your blessings. On those days refer back to this list. Soon you’ll find yourself able to smile again and rejoice in the Holiday season – and every day that follows.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
How Single Moms Are Like Al Pacino
How are you like Al Pacino?
Last week, I watched one of my favorite movies “Carlito’s Way” starring Al Pacino. In the film, Pacino portrays a newly reformed and newly released gangster determined to abstain from the deadly influences of the ghetto streets. He was released from prison on some legal technicality. He viewed his release as a perfect opportunity to make a clean start.
How you are like the Al Pacino character, you ask? Patience, I’m getting there.
During one of my favorite scenes, Carlito stands on a rainy corner of a gloomy street watching his beloved Gail dance inside a studio. She is completely unaware that he is there – or out of prison for that matter. The camera zooms in on Pacino’s face. Pacino was captivated by this woman he has not seen in many years. Enormous raindrops pounced on him until he was dripping wet.
Then Carlito did something intriguing.
He noticed a few aluminum garbage cans lining the dark, lonely curb. Suddenly, he reaches over, swipes a lid and holds it over his head to shield him from the rain as he watched Gail’s flowing ballet movements. From a sociological perspective it was a fascinating action. A garbage can lid is something that most people would not see as a resource for anything other than covering the stench of decaying trash. Nonetheless, it was right there - sitting, waiting and ready to serve a new and creative purpose for Carlito. Carlito was a gangster, a survivor in the most primal sense of the word. A survivor uses whatever is available to them to be okay, to survive and to succeed.
As a single mom, you are what Carlito is in the film – a survivor. When you are trying to survive, you grab whatever you can to ensure that your [and your children’s] needs are met. You take full advantage of every possible resource to stay strong. You become creatively practical.
What resources are you overlooking that may be of great benefit to you? Is it a small business idea that could render extra cash for your family? Is it a college degree that might increase your earning potential? How about your faith? Are you making the best possible use of your faith to encourage you during the hard times? Do you pray? Are you reading scripture for strength and reinforcement?
Your over-looked resource could also be people. People can be great resources. Communicate your needs and goals to trusted individuals. You never know, they may be able to help you. Don’t underestimate people’s knowledge areas, networking connections or wisdom. Quite possibly, your buddy at work may be related to the head of a human resources division. Perhaps, your cousin knows someone that could help you go back to college. Your quiet elderly neighbor may know of a great babysitter for your kids! The possibilities are endless. Just cast your bread upon the waters and see what happens.
Last week, I watched one of my favorite movies “Carlito’s Way” starring Al Pacino. In the film, Pacino portrays a newly reformed and newly released gangster determined to abstain from the deadly influences of the ghetto streets. He was released from prison on some legal technicality. He viewed his release as a perfect opportunity to make a clean start.
How you are like the Al Pacino character, you ask? Patience, I’m getting there.
During one of my favorite scenes, Carlito stands on a rainy corner of a gloomy street watching his beloved Gail dance inside a studio. She is completely unaware that he is there – or out of prison for that matter. The camera zooms in on Pacino’s face. Pacino was captivated by this woman he has not seen in many years. Enormous raindrops pounced on him until he was dripping wet.
Then Carlito did something intriguing.
He noticed a few aluminum garbage cans lining the dark, lonely curb. Suddenly, he reaches over, swipes a lid and holds it over his head to shield him from the rain as he watched Gail’s flowing ballet movements. From a sociological perspective it was a fascinating action. A garbage can lid is something that most people would not see as a resource for anything other than covering the stench of decaying trash. Nonetheless, it was right there - sitting, waiting and ready to serve a new and creative purpose for Carlito. Carlito was a gangster, a survivor in the most primal sense of the word. A survivor uses whatever is available to them to be okay, to survive and to succeed.
As a single mom, you are what Carlito is in the film – a survivor. When you are trying to survive, you grab whatever you can to ensure that your [and your children’s] needs are met. You take full advantage of every possible resource to stay strong. You become creatively practical.
What resources are you overlooking that may be of great benefit to you? Is it a small business idea that could render extra cash for your family? Is it a college degree that might increase your earning potential? How about your faith? Are you making the best possible use of your faith to encourage you during the hard times? Do you pray? Are you reading scripture for strength and reinforcement?
Your over-looked resource could also be people. People can be great resources. Communicate your needs and goals to trusted individuals. You never know, they may be able to help you. Don’t underestimate people’s knowledge areas, networking connections or wisdom. Quite possibly, your buddy at work may be related to the head of a human resources division. Perhaps, your cousin knows someone that could help you go back to college. Your quiet elderly neighbor may know of a great babysitter for your kids! The possibilities are endless. Just cast your bread upon the waters and see what happens.
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