empowering-women Archives

Tips for Empowering Women and Girls in 2023

The calendar is turning to a new year again, which means people of all ages are creating their New Year’s resolutions. Even though people have differing opinions about setting resolutions, I’m sure everyone can agree that personal development should be an integral part of everyone’s life. After working with hundreds of women and girls over the years, if you’re wondering what you should focus on for 2023, I have a few suggestions. Focus on you — specifically fostering an environment and habits to cultivate and strengthen empowerment and confidence.

Although this may sound lofty and huge, possibly feeling out of reach due to societal pressure or low self-esteem, empowerment comes down to the personal perspective you have of yourself (your self-esteem or self-worth) and your daily habits. Here are some tips to help you get started:

Recognize your worth

The most important aspect of empowerment is recognizing your worth. Be grateful for your amazingness, your imperfections, your weaknesses, and your power — all of these things make you who you are. You are exactly who you need to be, and you are designed perfectly just as you are. Remind yourself of this daily through self-affirmations to help grow your confidence and understand your worth, especially on those days when you don’t want to.

Although it’s always easier said than done, never allow naysayers to drag you down or make you doubt yourself. There will always be people who don’t support you and your success, but your worth is not defined by what other people think of you. Remember that there is no way to please everyone; all that matters is that you are happy about yourself.

Take care of yourself first

The biggest mistake many people make is trying to fill others’ cups before filling their own. I call this a “mistake” because you cannot help someone else feel happy or satisfied until you feel that way yourself. Think about the message you hear every time you are on an airplane: “put on your mask before you help anyone else.” That’s because you cannot help others if you run out of oxygen, right? The same is true with our own happiness.

Activities that fall under the umbrella of self-care are critical for empowerment. Make these activities a habit, a part of your day-to-day life — they are non-negotiable. Take the time to meditate, journal, work out, or do other activities you love that help you feel satisfied. If you constantly work away at your job or school and don’t have any outlet for relaxation, you won’t ever feel motivated or ready to take care of yourself. On the other hand, when you make yourself better through these methods, you will be able to help others in profound ways.

Don’t let other people hold you back from being your best self

Society will always have expectations of you, but don’t let those expectations weigh you down and keep you from becoming the woman you want to be. People will ask you to do things, but not all of them will be in your best interest. Say “yes” to the things that help you move towards your goals and “no” to those that don’t.

Once you build this power, it’s just as essential to maintain it within yourself. People may be jealous of your “power” and strength and try to steal it away or drag you back down to their level, which is why you should surround yourself with people who will support you. Surrounding yourself with these people will also ensure that you are not feeling pressure to compete and can focus on your personal and individual goals and growth, instead.

As you start to take action toward your goals and accomplish them, your confidence and self-esteem will grow, leading to increased empowerment too. But once those goals are met, remember that confidence is like a flower — if you don’t nurture it, it will wither. For this reason, always strive for constant self-improvement. Even when you reach the next level, remember that there is always another level to reach and that, in order to grow enough to reach it, you must get comfortable feeling uncomfortable. When we get too comfortable, we begin to stagnate, which is inherently antithetical to growth. The best growth occurs after defeat, failure, and setbacks because these provide the opportunity for you to learn. Each day, focus on being at least 1% better than you were yesterday.

By changing your mindset and focusing on personal growth and fulfillment rather than what others want and expect you to be, you can walk away feeling more empowered and satisfied. Remember to put yourself and your needs first. This will help you feel better about yourself and allow you to be more of a source of positivity to the people around you.

Finally, everything that you have or don’t have in your life is because of you: your habits, your thoughts, and your self-esteem. You are in 100% control of your life. If that’s not empowering, what is? Take charge of who you are and who you want to become — one habit and one step at a time.

About The Author

By GeNienne Samuels, Co-founder & CEO — Sideline Prep

Sideline Prep is made up of a network of current and former professional and semi-professional cheerleaders that have danced on the sidelines for years. Our goal is to fully prepare young women for their cheerleading and dance prep classes and auditions, enabling them to walk in with more knowledge, style, glamour, and confidence. Ultimately, we aim to make Our Lovelies “sideline-ready”. You can follow them on Instagram.

Being Yourself Is Your Superpower:12 Things About My Authentic Gypsy Soul

In a world that often expects us to be something that we’re not, it can be difficult to find our true selves. We are constantly getting messages from the media and society telling us what is acceptable and what is not. In the end, most of us try fitting into a mold that simply does not fit.

Thankfully, more and more women are starting to break free from societal expectations and embrace who they truly are. They are learning to love themselves for who they are, quirks and all. And that is something truly amazing.

For me, I am a gypsy soul. Learning what a gypsy soul is made me realize I’m not crazy or weird but just being my authentic self – doing what comes naturally to me. Don’t make yourself nuts trying to fit into a societal norm. Figure out your own norm. What makes you feel alive, excited, and comfortable? After being conditioned by expectations for so many years, you might go through a trial-and-error period learning what feels authentic, but it’s a self-discovery that profoundly impacts how you live your life and how you experience joy in this world.

Here are the twelve things that feel authentic for me and my gypsy soul:

1. I am an old soul in a modern world. Sometimes it feels like I was born in the wrong time period.

2. I am self-sufficient, unpredictable, and fiercely independent. I work hard to make my own wishes and dreams come true.

3. I am not scared of life, and life doesn’t scare me. While life can be scary at times, I know that’s when I learn and grow the most. I can be the hero of my own life.

4. I am a collector of moments; material things are not important. I rather have a barrel full of memories than a barrel full of things!

5. I am a passionate person who asks deep questions and thinks about deeper aspects of life. Self-discovery is always on my mind, and I want to know all the things about all the things. Don’t give me small talk; give me a deep, meaningful conversation.

6. I love nature and art, being imaginative and creative, and music runs through my veins. Being in nature makes me feel alive. I want rocks covered in moss with a small stream running nearby.

7. I let my emotions guide me, am empathetic, and trust my intuition. I tend to think and feel things way too much.

8. I believe in magic and miracles. I’m optimistic and know that something good is always around the corner. There is a silver lining in every cloud and magic in every day; sometimes you just have to find it.

9. I dance to the beat of my own drum and live an unconventional lifestyle. I’m constantly looking for something new and exciting. I’m creating my own path and finding my own joy. You may not always agree with my choices, but I’m making those choices for me and not you!

10. I am a free-spirited, adventurous wanderer who loves my freedom. I want new places and new faces. I want to experience all there is to experience! It’s not about checking off boxes; it’s about experiencing it all!

11. I am full of energy and want to live life on my own terms, always open to change and embracing chaos. I have fire in my soul. There is beauty in imperfection, no need for rose-colored glasses. An authentic life doesn’t pretend to be perfect. Perfect is an illusion I quit chasing.

12. I am afraid to fall in love, but I love unconditionally. I have a big heart and every time I have loved, I have gotten hurt, but it hasn’t stopped me from trying. I hope to find someone who can match my depth.

We are all unique and amazing in our own way, and there’s no need to apologize for being who we are. So go out and be your beautiful self, unapologetically. Let society try and put us in a box – we’ll always find a way to break out and fly free.

If you’re feeling down because you don’t fit into the “norm,” remember that you are not alone. There are billions of other women out there who are also fighting against societal expectations. And together, we can make a difference.

Check out my book, Discovering My Gypsy Soul, to learn more about me and my journey of self-discovery.

About The Author

Catina Borgmann is a free-spirited, adventurous woman who has discovered and subsequently embraced her authentic gypsy soul. She was born and raised in Nebraska and lived there until 2018, when she followed her dream to live in a tiny house community in North Carolina.

Catina is a catalyst for self-love, self-discovery, and living an authentic life. Along the way, she has made mistakes, learned lessons, fought battles, won victories, survived traumas, become an author, and started a blog. She’s managed to always find joy within her journeys.

Through her company, GypsyWander, she hopes to inspire and encourage free-spirited women around the world to live authentically and find joy in their own journeys. You can find her at www.GypsyWander.life, on Facebook, and on Pinterest.

Solid Gold Values And The Venus For Restart Collection

When I started mazi + zo, my jewelry company, I focused on creating beautiful jewelry for people who care about style, original design, and quality. It was also important to me to use sustainable materials, handcraft our product, and do it here in NYC. I didn’t, however, expect to weave in my broader political values as well, but that’s how things have turned out!

Back in 2020, when nothing felt more important than engaging in election news, Michelle Obama’s “When We All Vote” organization selected our VOTE necklace to help raise money to promote voter participation. It felt great to raise more money than I could afford to donate personally (the small biz struggle is real) and it was a thrill to see photos of people all over the country wearing our necklace–everyone from Stacy London to Monica Lewinsky to Kara Swisher has one!

My experience with the VOTE necklace taught me that I *can* make a difference and I’m ready to do it again: Along with the majority of the USA, I am enraged that the highest court of our country has determined that people cannot choose for themselves when or if to have a child. In 2019, poet laureate Amanda Gorman expressed the importance of standing up for reproductive freedom better than I ever could, opening with “ When the penalty for rape is less than the penalty for abortion after the rape, you know this isn’t about caring for women and girls. It’s about controlling them.”

Reproductive rights are human rights, and this decision impacts men, too.

Juliana Kim wrote for NPR about why overturning Roe v. Wade is tragic for our whole society, and not just a women’s issue. Notably, she referenced a study by Dr. Bethany Everett at the University of Utah which “found that young men who were involved with a pregnancy and whose partners had an abortion were nearly four times more likely to graduate from college than those whose partners gave birth.”

I want to help the people who are tragically affected by the laws being passed all over the country, and I want to have as big of an impact as possible!

This time around, I’ve partnered with Stix, another women-founded company. Stix provides doctor-approved products related to pregnancy, ovulation, UTIs, yeast infections, and emergency birth control (aka the morning-after pill.) That last one, Stix calls their product Restart™, is clutch right now, when people in many states are being denied access to the morning-after pill. The amazing founders at Stix have committed to providing Restart™ free of charge to people who need it, no questions asked. It’s easy: people in need fill out a form on getstix.com and Stix ships it out in a generic package so no one can guess what’s inside. This is a literal lifesaver.

These tests aren’t free to provide, though. So to help them continue to provide this service, Stix established the RestartTM Donation Bank, where anyone can donate to defray the costs of distributing this critical health care.

Want to help?

As a sign of my support for reproductive rights, I’ve been wearing mazi + zo’s minimalist Venus sign jewelry which represents a goddess deified as a warrior, lover, and “bringer of victory.” And when I explained the significance to others, I had an “a ha!” moment and knew exactly what to do:

I’m using those designs to support Stix’s efforts: When you buy any piece from our gorgeous Venus for Restart™ collection, mazi + zo funds a dose of Restart™. The delicate Venus pieces include a charm necklace, stud earrings, and (my favorite,) threader earrings. Like all of our jewelry, each piece is available in sustainable solid 14k gold or pure .925 sterling silver, is handmade in NYC, and ships in our signature reusable tin.

So you can shop, shine, and help someone in need receive the urgent health care they deserve. That’s gonna feel good. You can also donate directly to the program here.

Thank you for supporting the RestartTM Donation Bank and sharing our solid gold (and sterling silver!) values. You’ll look great in our Venus threader earrings, necklaces, and studs and they make great gifts, too.

About The Author

Lizzy Klein lives in NYC and is the founder of mazi + zo, a company that makes jewelry that ups your personal style with original, high-quality, easy-to-wear, easy-to-layer designs. Shop mazi + zo and find your next favorite jewelry!

7 Signs You’re the Accidental Trail Blazer

You never asked for it, you certainly didn’t search for it, but somehow you are the unintentional Pied Piper of the millennial world.

Starting trends left and right, always there with the freshest beats and coolest ideas, but you’re not doing it for the recognition, the fame, or the glory. You’re just doing you, and the world apparently loves you for it:

1. You’re fashionable, but you have no idea how.

You haven’t read up on the latest trends; you have no idea what’s going down in fashion week; most of your clothes have been found, borrowed, lent and donated; but, despite this, you leave the house looking like one fly motherf*cker on the goddamn reg’.

You’re the idiot savant of the sidewalk runway, and that’s just dandy with you.

**2. You keep stumbling into the next big noise.**

In no way are you the authority on new music. You know way more people out there that take that sh*t seriously and are d*mn good at finding the slickest new beats. You’re a casual amateur at best.

You do seem to keep ahead of the curve through, and through a combination of blind luck and stealing suggestions from yo’ buddies you’ve curated a Spotify playlist that can send shivering eargasms down the spine of any would-be listener.

3. You’re not taking risks, you’re just keeping things fresh.

You’re not attending a bondage seminar ‘cos you’re that into the whips and chains things, it’s just seems like a fun way to spend an afternoon. A one-way plane ticket to Guatemala isn’t so you can “discover yourself,” it’s ‘cos the beaches looked pretty.

You didn’t quit your job ‘cos you got a better one, you just thought you needed to mix it up a little. You don’t see the risks ‘cos in your mind risks are just a different way of doin’ things.

4. You’ll give anything a one-time shot.

“Don’t knock it ‘til you tried it” should be a tattoo in an intimate area of your body (if it’s not already). You’ll give anything a go, ‘cos how do you know you don’t like something if you haven’t the balls to give it a shot?

The downside is you’ve ended up in some questionable situations, however, you still think the benefits outweigh the occasional sketchy situation. Then again those grandmas at Bridge Club were mean.

5. You’re not afraid of getting it wrong.

Hey, it doesn’t always work out, and at some point you may find yourself on a rainy street corner in a city you can’t stand, ‘cos you thought it’d be fun to do a cross-country greyhound road trip.

Sometimes things fuck up, sometimes it’s not your cup o’ tea and sometimes there just wasn’t the right vibe, but that’s all good, it’s not always going to be a home run. You go home, you dust yourself off and you don’t sweat it, cos there’s plenty of other adventures out there that you’re gonna love.

**6. You just don’t get embarrassed.**

You’re not afraid of looking like a bit of a tit, ‘cos you’re only a goddamn fool if you feel like one. Because of this “whatever” attitude you can actually pull off a lot of shit most can’t rock cos’ you own it.

Bra on the outside, why not? Stiletto flip-flops sound like fun. Face paint for work; you’ll rock the boardroom with your lion face. And now you can see exactly how these ridiculous trends start.

7. You’re not traditionally popular.

You were never one of the cool kids at school, the cheerleaders kinda ganged up on you and you felt way more comfortable hanging out with the weirdo’s, drop outs, nerds, and stoners.

To be honest, you’ve been just fine doing it on your own and have taken on life lone-wolf style. You’re an individual, and no one has ever let you forget it, so you wear that shit like a badge of honor ‘cos it lets you be you. Which is the best “you” you can possibly be.

How Women Can Protect Their Financial Assets Post-Divorce

Kim Kardashian’s recent split from husband, Ye, has shown us just how unprepared we may become in the midst of a divorce from our partners. None of us get married with the assumption that a divorce is inevitable, and we don’t want to plan our lives accordingly, but in any marriage, you can’t predict what your future situation will be.

However, it is important to protect one’s financial assets after a divorce. Here, an experienced and skilled divorce lawyer can provide insight into the range of options and help craft an agreement that works best for each individual based on their particular situation. With divorce involving both legal and financial components, working with a divorce lawyer can ensure all aspects of the divorce process – including legal documents and paperwork – are handled appropriately.

Let’s talk credit…

One of the most important financial aspects to understand after a divorce is the effect it can have on your credit. While a divorce decree may break down who in the relationship will be responsible for any specific debt, your original loan documents will remain unchanged. Joint credit remains joint credit even after a divorce.

In the eyes of the lender, you are contractually responsible for that loan, and any late or missed payments will still affect your credit. Ideally, your divorce decree will specify that any joint credit accounts will be closed and refinanced individually. If not, this should be done as soon as possible – especially with credit cards where your ex-partner could continue adding additional charges that you will be jointly responsible for!

You can pull your free credit report online at annualcreditreport.com, and review it for any forgotten joint credit accounts that may be lingering under you and your ex-partner’s names.

Remember that store account you opened together three years ago to purchase a new refrigerator? It may still be open, even after it was paid off.

The 4-step process…

Most partners will find themselves living on less income after a divorce. This makes it even more pertinent to assess your new financial situation and make a plan for the future. Leigh Singleton, Director of Financial Education at Monifi, suggests using an easy 4-step process to assist in getting your finances back on track.

1. Assess the Now.

When assessing your current financial standing, Leigh recommends constructing a document listing your assets (banks accounts, investments, retirement funds, etc.) in one column and your outstanding debt balances in an alternate column – this allows you to fully work through all of your financial assets and recognize them in real time.

2. Identify Your Goals.

Take a close look at the document you created and decide what you’d like to change. Are you hoping to pay off your card debt? Save for a girl’s trip to the Bahamas? Start or add to your retirement fund?

3. See Where Your Money Goes.

Track your expenses over the following months. You may be surprised at some of the areas money is sifting through your fingers. Banking apps such as Monifi make it easy to track your expenses by automatically categorizing your transactions for you.

4. Create a Spending Plan.

Use your selected app or spreadsheet to create expense categories such as rent/mortgage, food, dining out, kid’s sports, etc. and indicate a monthly budget for each line item. It may take a few months to stay true to the allocated spends, but don’t despair, change takes time.

Getting your finances on track during a marriage can be difficult, and divorce adds another layer of complications. Creating financial freedom as early as possible, even within a healthy and strong relationship, will assist both partners in the long term. Leigh reminded us “financial freedom doesn’t necessarily mean you have as much money as you need to buy everything you want. What it really means is understanding and planning your financial life.”

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Seven Things We Look Forward To When We Brunch

Ahhh that lovely past time for us ladies. The Sunday Brunch. A chance for us women to gather as a female tribe. Whether we are single or attached, at Sunday Brunch, an open forum occurs. Because it is a place where all women at the table have equal voices, and whatever the vent may be, the vent shall be. So here are seven things that we look forward to when we brunch together.

1.) The Food

Breakfast with my Besties never requires a calorie count. Morning indulgences like sweet crepes, cinnamon rolls and a mean scramble with a croissant of course. Carbs and friends mix at brunch.

2.) The Coffee

Whether it be a Cappuccino, a Latte, maybe a diner style Drip, or an Espresso, a Matcha, or whatever you want a your cup o joe of choice.

3.) The Brunch Outfit

Choosing what to wear to that gals brunch means stepping up your dress game. Let’s face it, we dress for ourselves and our girlfriends. So pull out that fall sweater, those high heels, and that Midi Skirt. Or maybe your fall boots or fun flats? Hmm so many choices in my closet.

4.) The Cocktails

Well, in terms of options there is always, the classic bloody mary, mimosa, french 75, french martini or the champagne variety. (Don’t forget the Kloveo champagne stopper!) Ultimately, a cocktail style akin to a speakeasy is always acceptable on a Sunday.

5.) The Conversation

Maybe one of your friends is going through a breakup. Or the other one just got through a nasty divorce, or one of the single gals at the table has a juicy dating story to tell. The best part of Sunday Brunch is the opportunity to share your stories with women that understand and support you.

6.) The Location

People watching always lends to the conversation. So a carefully curated location with great food and good ambiance is a must. A bustling location where you can still hear each other laugh, vent and share while still checking out the scene can provide the best energy for a ladies brunch.

7.) Planning The Next Brunch

Ok so where do we brunch next week? And who is coming?

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4 Reasons Every Girl Should Model For A Boudoir Photoshoot

It’s promiscuous, it’s too ris-kay, whatever naysayers may say… DON’T LISTEN TO THEM! I recently did a shoot with my favorite photographer that completely pushed me out of my comfort zone, and damn am I so glad I did! I have to say, the last two weeks leading up to the shoot I was so nervous! I wasn’t losing the weight I had wanted, I had the worst breakout, it felt like everything that could go wrong was going wrong. The day of the shoot though… that day is the day all of those feelings went away. It was “The Day”!

I had learned a lot from this shoot, and this is why EVERY WOMAN should model in a boudoir shoot at least once in her life!

1. The ultimate sense of self – love!

This shoot is all about you! Go out and get yourself that sexy outfit you loved, treat yourself to a spa day! mani – pedi’s, facials, the works! you deserve it! pamper yourself and get yourself that happy glow! It will show!

2. You get a built in hype-woman!

You should choose a photographer who you feel completely comfortable with! The photographer I chose I have known for years, shes family! Needless to say I felt completely comfortable with her and boy can I say, BIGGEST HYPE WOMAN EVER! she was so encouraging and made me feel like a total baddie!

3. The power from within!

Theres something about the poses that your photographer will have you do that not only makes you feel like a bad b*** but not only that, but makes you feel like you can command a room. some of my favorites were in front of a window or sitting on top of a couch or playing on the bed!

4. The confidence boost

I promise you, once you see the finish product of the shoot and you get your pictures back… the confidence boost you will feel is like no other! It will have you thinking “omg is this really me?!?! I am hottt!!!”

Getting a budior shoot done is honestly so much fun, with the right photographer the atmosphere will be light, positive and all around just fun! This shoot is sure to have you feeling like a new woman! It’s also a plus if you have a significant other and you surprise them one day with a picture… trust me, you will thank me later! *Insert devilish smile emojii* Even if you don’t have a significant other and you just do the shoot for you, Girl more power to you!

Go Do The Damn Thing! udio

About the author: Ashley Denton is a creative artist who’s mediums include music, theater, dance and creative writing. This girl thrives on coffee, adventure and exploration. Ashley has been writing professionally for five years and editing for four. Ashley is also one of Puckermob’s newest editors.

Single Women: Taking Freedom to the Next Level

Living independently as a single working professional is a living concept that’s been gaining in popularity among women worldwide. It’s seen as a way of learning life skills before taking on the role of a wife and a mother. More young women between the ages of 25 and 35 are seeing solo living as an essential part of “adulting”. They want to be able to experience the same things bachelors get to experience before they get married.

As a result, more single women are taking freedom to the next level and living lives on their terms. If you’re about to enter the world of solo living and want to make the most of your freedom, these couple of tips are here to help get you started.

Practice relying on yourself before moving out

Having your own place to come home is exciting, but it also comes with a list of responsibilities. For single women who are not used to living and functioning on their own, moving out of your parents’ house or a place you share with a roommate may come as a challenge. Let’s say you had a bad day at work. Instead of venting to roommate or family members, you’ll need to learn how to cope with emotions on your own. Living solo will also mean taking care of things yourself. Therefore, make an effort to learn basic things such as fixing a leaky sink and doing grocery shopping for one.

It’s also a good idea to practice budgeting before you move out. That way, you’ll get a taste of what it feels like to manage your budget when you’re on your own. This, in turn, will help prepare you for the real world and spare you a lot of unnecessary stress.

Make your move as smooth as possible

Ok, so you’ve found a new place that’s within your budget and have decided to move. Now, it’s time to put your plan in motion and start packing. This is probably the most bothersome part of the move, and many of us would probably rather skip this step.

To make moving less stressful, consider looking for a moving company that offers the best packing service in your area. In doing so, you can rely on moving professionals’ expertise to move your belongings safely and properly. Do your research and compare the moving companies in your area to make sure you’re getting the best deal. By delegating these kinds of tasks to the pros, you can focus more on the joys of being single and living by yourself.

Go all in when it comes to decorating

Once you’ve moved in and started unpacking, it’s time to move on to the most exciting part – decorating! It’s your home, so why not make the most of it and customize every nook and cranny to your liking? This is your chance to tailor everything from kitchen to bedroom to your taste. For some, that will mean keeping things cozy but staying more on the minimalist side. For others, this will mean going all in for a more eclectic look.

Either way, there are numerous chic and feminine bedroom ideas for making your new place look cozy, aesthetic, and functional. With little inspiration, you can create the perfect place for relaxation and boosting your energy so you wake up refreshed. Living solo means you don’t have to compromise, so milk this opportunity and go all in with your home decor!

Enjoy the simple pleasures of solo living

Decorating your new home as you please is just one benefit of living solo. You also get to do with your free time whatever you want and what brings you the most joy. There’s no pressure of keeping your home perfectly tidy, and, most importantly, you can have your peace and quiet. Of course, at some point in time, you may decide to move in with a partner or a roommate. But for now, this is your chance to embrace being single and all the perks that come with it.

Use this time to get to know yourself better, try new things, create a routine, and explore your future goals. This is one of the best ways to get ready for the future that lies ahead. It will also be of immense help both in your private and professional life.

Accept help when needed

Living on your own is about learning how to rely on yourself and being independent. That said, it doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help every once in a while.

All of us will run into certain problems at some point in their lives. Sometimes, those problems may be too difficult to overcome without reaching out for help from our loved ones. If such a situation arises, don’t hesitate accepting others’ help. Starting out on your own isn’t easy, but with a little help and support, you can make this transition easier on yourself.

Wrapping up

Being able to design your own life the way you want it to be, prioritize yourself and your needs, and experience all the life’s adventures solo – what’s not to love about that? With these key tips in mind, you can embark on your journey of solo living with confidence and experience all its joys to the max.

About The Author

Taylor Parker is an American based writer and blogger. She is very passionate about family, fashion, health, and lifestyle. Taylor writes mostly lifestyle articles, but also you’ll find her in home improvement and other niches. You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter

Celebrating Women: Past, Present, and Future:

Women have been making history forever. We know this is something that has not been easy. Here are just a few women who inspire me. These are women who’s broke barriers for women everywhere.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

“Women Belong in all places where decisions are being made.” This is a woman of the past who we where all lucky enough to have sitting on our supreme court for many years. She was a trailblazer in her own right. She was the woman who had it all, a family, and a career. For me when I think of the great women who have fought for our rights, while living in her truest and most authentic self she is the first person that I think of. She did not let the male superiority get her down she persisted in following her dreams.

Dr. Maya Angelou:

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s clouds.” This woman present such positivity. She was a fierce leader for many who followed her. Her writings are still regarded today. She used her own experiences to teach about things like civil rights and overcoming life’s obstacles. Let’s do our best to show love the way that she would have wanted us to.

Dolly Parton:

“You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.” I choose Dolly because it is my sole belief that she knows what I means to work hard to get to where she is. I think it is very easy for some of us to think that we will never get to where we want to be. Dolly is the embodiment of someone who had everything against her and still she worked hard stuck it out and followed her dreams. She is also someone who continues to give to her community, she is one of my favorite women.

Kamala Harris:

“There will be a resistance to your ambition. There will be people who say to you, ‘stay in your lane,’ because they are burdened by only having the capacity to see what has always been instead of what can be. But don’t you let that burden you.” I could not do a post without the first woman vice president. Someone who also fought her way to where she is now, but someone who works so hard to make life better for all Americans. Happy National women’s month to our first woman Vice President.

Amanda Gorman:

“In this truth, in this faith, we trust. For while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us.” I choose Amanda Gorman for my future woman of history, this is because she is a woman who will make history that I am sure of. For someone so young she has such wisdom. Wisdom that we all need right now. She embodies hope that we all need right now. With her dreams of being in the political arena, I hope all of these things remain true. I also hope that her dream of a presidency comes true. She will have my vote.

There are so many women who have changed our lives for the better. These are just a few of my favorites. However, I think I missed one thing, the everyday woman. Let’s celebrate her too. The woman who doesn’t stop going to make her family life work. The woman who works well into the wee hours of the night because she knows that what she is doing in her career matters to someone. To all the women in the world who keep fighting everyday because they know that whatever they are fighting for and where ever they are fighting, it all matters. We are all making a difference.

Happy National Women’s Month.

Keep fighting, and I will keep fighting with you!

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Can you have it all and should you even want it?

As women, we are often told we can’t have it all, and that it’s either/or. Either we are good mothers, or we have successful careers. Because god forbid we should be good at both!

There’s even that episode of Sex and the City where Samantha claims her and the girls have it all, only for her curtain rod and her immunity to come crashing down, shattering her belief system, even if for just a little while.

But is that really true? Can we have it all? And do we even want it all?

As I’m writing this, I’m trying to take stock of my own life. Do I have it all?

Career woman

Personally, I was always labeled as a career woman, from a very young age. Back then, I was no more than a career child, but I was always ambitious and driven, and knew exactly what I wanted to build for myself.

When I announced I was pregnant with my first child (at 28), some of my friends and business acquaintances were honestly shocked. How can you have a child now, I was asked. It will completely derail your career!

Mother of two

When I had my second daughter two years later, I got the same kinds of intrusive comments.

How are you going to cope with two kids and that job of yours (I was working at a marketing agency at the time), you won’t have time for the girls and a full time job. You get the idea.

Turns out, I have had time, and still have, for both. And allow me to let you in on the big secret.

All or nothing

In an overly (yet covertly) misogynistic world, where men demand that women give up their titles because it “sounds comic”, in a world where girls are still denied an education in nearly half the countries in the world, can we really expect to be applauded for our efforts?

When a woman chooses to devote her energy to her kids, a portion of society will label her as antiquated or taking the easy way out. After all, she is now relying on her husband for support, as opposed to paying her own way.

When a woman chooses to build one of those high-powered careers for herself that surpass the men in her league, she’s called a man-eater, heartless, cold, and a whole host of other terms I’m not going to repeat here. Can we just remember Miranda Priestly?

And, when a woman chooses to have both – kids and a very successful career, instead of seeing her as a source of inspiration, we drag her down and tell her she can’t possibly be good at both. That she will either be bad at her job, or raise inadequate kids.

Really?

The crux of the matter

What I am about to say might be a bit of an unpopular opinion. However, I firmly believe that the women’s movement is about choice. About the ability and the right to choose what you want to do with your time on earth, free of judgement and prejudice.

If a woman decides she wants to be a stay-at-home mom, she needs to be able to fulfill that dream. If she chooses to run her own tech company, she should be able do that too. And if she wants both, what’s there to say that she can’t do it?

In reality, the only thing that dictates if you can have it all is time.

There are 24 hours in every day, and if you can fill those 24 hours with enough sleep, exercise and good food to keep yourself healthy, and find enough time to spend with your kids, your husband or wife, doing your job, watching Netflix and taking the dogs out for a walk – then there truly are no limitations.

Remember – the kids will grow up, and they won’t need your attention 24/7. If you make the time your kids and your career, well, you can live an incredibly full life. And even if you don’t – channel your inner Michelle Obama, the woman who has proven the sky is not the limit!

Discover your all

I urge you to ask yourself what it is that you actually want. Don’t listen to society, your parents, your significant other. Listen to the voice inside your head exclusively, and decide what you want to do with the time given you.

If you don’t want to have kids, teach yourself how to survive the pressure others will put on you to try and change your mind. And if you don’t want a career, come up with a witty answer to the intrusive questions. If you want to be the first woman on Mars, just find a way to get in touch with Elon Musk.

A personal wishlist

Finally, let me tell you how I realized I can actually do everything I wanted.

I adopted a dog in college. He was a French Spaniel, as I wanted a breed that was super sweet and snuggly, and despite everyone telling me I had no time for a dog, that the dog would be lonely and misbehave, that I would have no time to study – Jack taught me I can do it. Take care of him and myself, and graduate summa cum laude.

I realized I could have kids and still work. And that neither having kids nor working needs to trip me up, or prevent me from doing whatever it is I want to do – including going out dancing with my husband on a Wednesday night.

Phenomenal woman

You’ll forgive me if I part with a quote adapted from Maya Angelou and a bit of Oprah:

“Make yourself proud to spell your name w.o.m.a.n. – whether you choose to spend your days raising happy humans, breaking the glass ceiling, or living a quiet, contented life no one may ever read about, but that puts a smile on your face every single morning.”

About The Author

About Julia Robson: Julia is the mum of two girls and two pups, a self-employed work-from-home wife and an expert librarian who can always find a book her kids will love to read next. She has always been a writer at heart and has finally found a way to let her creative side show – you can read some of her work on Medium