It Is In All of Us: UPDATE!

Hello all :) 

In an effort to continue our work and organize the information we've received over the past few months, we've created the group below where we will be better able to track the people and organizations we're involved with. FB only allows us to do so much. On this platform we can interact more personally, post specific events we are a part of, connect you directly to the source of what you want, need and who/what/where you want to be involved with. We will continue to post updates on our pages but know that the real discussions will be taking place below. Thank you for being a part of this amazing journey in discovering what is in all of us! See you there :)

Things I Am Not Afraid to Tell You

When I first wrote this post several months ago, I received tremendous feedback, ridiculous amounts of traffic on my sites (if you blog, you know that’s a good thing :), emails, etc. 

It’s intention was a public prayer; a manifesto of sorts, to help me release my fears and self-limiting beliefs. 

Calling things out by their names does remarkable things for the spirit. It creates such a powerful reaction in your mind and it makes room for change, if that’s what you are after. 

I felt so proud of the many women and men who contacted me after that post and expressed how they too were owning their fears with the intention of living better lives. 

You see, if my words, my experiences can give someone else permission to want to make any kind of shift in their lives to change for the better...that my friend...is an answered prayer.

As I’ve sat here several times this week, gathering my thoughts, reflecting on the past year mixed with all the emotions of the 2 mayor events that have happened in my area within the past 2 months...I know for sure, Iam Am Not afraid  to Tell You my thoughts, prayers, hopes and dreams for a blessed 2013.

Things I am Not Afraid to Tell You:

1. I believe in God. Period. 
2. That I celebrate Christmas and I respect how you wish to spend your Holiday Season.
3. That your God is just as important as my God and that even if you wish to believe in a rock and worship it as your source of faith or energy (whatever you wish to call it), that I respect that and am hopeful for our world because at least you believe in SOMETHING greater than what we are.
4. That regardless of your beliefs “a strategy” isn’t going to shift what we all know is ‘missing’ in this world unless we realize that HUMANITY is not set apart by intelligence. That the things that humans do that really makes us different are not related to our IQ. That because we laugh, cry, create art, sing and enjoy music, appreciate beauty, feel guilt, have sympathy, and express a spiritual dimension, we bring great things into the lives of others in a constantly changing way.
5. That because we are connected to each other in more ways than we will ever know (the message behind Enchanted Makeovers), TOGETHER WE CAN ONLY ACHIEVE MORE (the message behind The Entrepreneurial Think Tank for Moms).
6. That prayer has always been my source of strength and power to live in a state of love, respect, empathy,radical compassion for others and kindness.
7. That I see YOU, regardless of your possessions or your status and I respect you because you are as valuable on this earth as I am.
8. That I don’t speak gray (right, Jalanda James? :).  
9. That I pray (fiercely) that with every action I take, I am doing right by my children, because my legacy is theirs.
10. That I am aware of the gifts I have been blessed with and that if I dim my light (the message behind It Is In All of Us), I am showing my children what that looks like and I hope and pray for them to better human beings than I could ever be.
11. That I fear judgement and I am aware of the judgment that will come from this post BUT my anchor is my Faith and I will continue to roll with the punches.

I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful Holiday Season. Here's to and for a hopeful and blessed 2013!

'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Psalm 27:1

Vanessa Coppes

"We Are In This Together"

 We Are In This Together 

I am one of the weeping citizens that Pres. Obama mentioned in his speech tonight.  I have cried frequently during the last 48+ hours and without hesitation carry as much of Newtown's sadness that I can bear.  I can tolerate the idea of loosing one of my nieces or nephew to such a tragedy for only seconds at a time.  That thought brings with it a pain that has no words.  It is a sensation that I can bear for as long as one can hold their hand in a fire.   But tonight so many are unable to remove their hands from this fire.

Since Friday 12/15 at about 2:30 pm I have wept, I have prayed, I've written; I've taken time to experience deep meaningful gratitude.  I have sat with an overwhelming sensation of gratitude for my family, my health, my abilities, and for the very full and influential life I have already led.

I have also, again, seen humanity at its best.

One individual's loathing of life has sparked an entire nation's appreciation of life.
One individual's poisonous hatred has ignited a nation's love, compassion, and sympathy.
One individual's fierce rage has quieted a nation for countless moments of reflective silence. 
One individual's malignant jealousy has filled a nation with gratitude and thankfulness.
One individual's incessant feeling of helplessness has caused a nation to act.
One individual's destructive evil has compelled millions to seek goodness that is greater than themselves.

If happiness, joy, strength, gratitude, compassion, hope and love can be experienced during times of struggle, adversity, and heartache then you have found each of their true meanings.

xo
Michelle

Even Flickering Candles Give Light in The Darkness.

 Even Flickering Candles Give Light In The Darkness

I woke up multiple times last night with a heavy heart.  I woke with the thought that 27 families are being forced to face torturous reality... over and over and over.  Every second that goes by and every thought that they have now exists in darkness... A darkness they cannot escape from; A reality that they cannot run from; a nightmare they cannot wake from.

To be honest I am having difficulty even finding and writing inspirational words about this tragedy as hopelessness and helplessness seem unavoidable.  BUT it is now when those who can be strong, must.  It is now when those who can "walk" must carry the those who cannot ...  just as we did and continue to do after Hurricane Sandy.

It Is In all Of Us's Mission is to acknowledge and foster Resilience, Empowerment, Respect, Community, and Love.  During this time these ideals may seem more like quivering, languishing candlelight rather then steady, strong beacons of hope and guidance.

But even flickering candles give light in darkness...

So I am writing even though it feels so very insignificant.  Pushing through this hopeless feeling this morning is reminding me of what Empowerment is ...  The insignificant feeling is the sensation that you are powerless against something so BIG.  Empowerment is doing it anyway. 

I am encouraging you all to send love and light to those families.  I am hoping that you will sit down with your loved ones this holiday season and everyday that follows with the experience of gratitude; the kind of gratitude that sparks change in thought and behavior, the kind of gratitude that causes one to be kinder and gentler to another.

I know you will because even when it seems Impossible- It Is In All Of Us ....

xo
Michelle

We Are Still Getting Our Hands Dirty! Volunteer!

"The List"

We are still getting our hands dirty!

Another weekend approaches and its beginning to get colder.  

 Please remember help is still needed!  

Thank you!

"The List" 

UPDATED:  12/7/12

Still more ... CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY!!! :)

There are VOLUNTEER opps in every community! Please see groups in location where you want to donate your time!  :) 

For Example:

1. http://www.facebook.com/events/395393630538949/
2. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bay-Ridge-Cares-Kitchen-Serving-Meals-That-Heal/459446857430319
3. http://www.friendsofrockaway.org/ 

Go through it carefully to find what you are looking for ... Hope it helps!

PLEASE ADD - corrections or any orgs I missed to the comments section below and I will be updating this post regularly! Thank you!!!

------------------------------------------------
Christmas/Holiday

http://www.facebook.com/HolidayToysForChildrenAffectedByHurricaneSandy
http://www.facebook.com/OperationSandyClaus
http://www.facebook.com/pages/NJ-Hurricane-Sandy-Christmas-Giving-Connection/428784863841296
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hurricane-Sandy-Adopt-a-Family-for-Christmas/262063393917218
http://www.facebook.com/pages/East-Rockaway-Hurricane-Christmas-Toy-Drive/460590717317120
http://www.facebook.com/ChristmasForHurricaneSandyVictims
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GiftsforGerritsen/?ref=ts&fref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/Santaclauseiscoming2town
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hurricane-Sandy-Holiday-Toy-Drive/281511811951811?ref=ts&fref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/OperationSandyChristmas
http://www.facebook.com/SecretSandy
http://www.facebook.com/events/126448734177240/
http://www.facebook.com/christmas.forsandy

Things I'm Afraid to Tell You

Sometimes, the ways I dealt with things in the past were not the healthiest.

Today, I am grateful for those experiences because now, as a mother, I have the responsibility (and hope) to be my children's greatest teacher. 

Jess Constable created and published the very first "Things I'm Afraid To Tell You" list on March 29, 2012. 

It's since created a movement around the blogosphere in an effort to remind readers that blogs, are written by real people. 

Real emotions drive those real people to write and guess what? They have fears too. 

Most importantly, as Jess writes herself, "I just want to see what it feels like to really push past my own self-imposed boundaries and share my thoughts that don’t often grace MML."

After spending a day with some amazing women from the Ozanam Shelter, who were attending Enchanted Makeover's "She is Me" event this Summer, I felt even more compelled to share my list. 

After dinner, we were encouraged to take the "I am not ______" challenge. After we filled in the blank,  we took a picture holding up this card, in essence exposing a self-limiting belief. I wrote I am not scared.

Today, making peace with myself once more, honoring my statement by throwing stones at my self designed/built glass ceiling... here I go:

1) I miss my father desperately, fiercely, everyday.

2) I don't know how to take a compliment.

3) I don't forget faces, but I forget people's names way too often.

4) Some mornings, I have to REALLY push myself to get out of bed.

5) Traumatized by watching "Candyman" at a much too early age, I am terrified of looking at mirrors in the dark.

6) While I've made peace with body, my battle with food is still not over.

7) I sometimes envy working moms.

8) That because my life changed in an instant in my 20's, I'm in my 30's and fear planning for the future.

9) I freak out when tough decisions have to be made.

10) I am tired of being scared.

11) I am very homesick.

After my interview for GMA a months weeks ago chatting on FB with Terry Grahl, the founder of Enchanted Makeovers about how vulnerable I felt for 'spilling my guts on national TV,' she wrote back to me saying, "It's all good Vanessa! Shine your light, to set others free." 

I hope that I've done that for someone today as I move forward honoring my authentic self. 

"The List"

UPDATED:  12/4/12

Even more ... CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY!!! :)

There are VOLUNTEER opps in every community! Please see groups in location where you want to donate your time!  :)

Go through it carefully to find what you are looking for ... Hope it helps!

PLEASE ADD - any orgs or corrections I missed to the comments section below and I will be updating this post regularly! Thank you!!!

------------------------------------------------
Christmas/Holiday

http://www.facebook.com/OperationSandyRelief
http://www.facebook.com/OperationSandyClaus
http://www.facebook.com/pages/NJ-Hurricane-Sandy-Christmas-Giving-Connection/428784863841296
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hurricane-Sandy-Adopt-a-Family-for-Christmas/262063393917218
http://www.facebook.com/pages/East-Rockaway-Hurricane-Christmas-Toy-Drive/460590717317120
http://www.facebook.com/ChristmasForHurricaneSandyVictims
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GiftsforGerritsen/?ref=ts&fref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/Santaclauseiscoming2town
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hurricane-Sandy-Holiday-Toy-Drive/281511811951811?ref=ts&fref=ts
http://www.facebook.com/OperationSandyChristmas
http://www.facebook.com/SecretSandy
http://www.facebook.com/events/126448734177240/
http://www.facebook.com/HolidayToysForChildrenAffectedByHurricaneSandy
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1XY8NPRI95GVY/ref=cm_sw_su_w