2012 : The year of No Settling

“The enemy of the best is the good. If you're always settling with what's good, you'll never be the best.” ~Jerry Rice

“The year of no settling.” Well, I don’t know about YOU…but I think that’s a GREAT motto to live by this year! What if we ALL made this the year of no excuses? The year we throw all caution to the wind and GO FOR IT? The year we hold nothing back…not our feelings, our dreams, our talents, our plans, NOTHING? What if…just WHAT IF…we kissed the boy this year? Or quit the job we hate? Or finally started that night class we’ve been talking about? Or wrote the book? Or took the chance? Or auditioned for the part? Or kicked that loser to the curb? Or threw GOOD away and allowed the BEST to come our way?

WHAT IF we made this the year of no settling?

Makes you wonder what AMAZING things we’d have to look back on next year at this time… J

#STOLEN BLOG!!! TO GOOD NOT TO SHARE

World AIDS Day

So today is World AIDS Day 2011 and I bet you have heard a lot about AIDS my message is very simple...

A picture says a 1000 stories...

This is so profound!!! I think it also applies to the 16 days of activism campaign...

 Passion into Action

Bertolt Deams

by Bertolt Daems 

When you dream of peace
And your heart tells you not to stop dreaming; live your passion.

When you dream of peace
And life is offering you the chances to contribute, go for it.

When you dream of peace
And by every step you take, you can already see the next one, and the next one and the next one; keep on walking.

When you dream of peace and you find yourself surrounded by friends with the same dream; collaborate.

When you dream of peace
And a global organization is there for you to help make that dream come true,

hold on to it
Know it
Stimulate it
Nurture it
Guide it
Love it

And put your passion into action


We give  to you.
A regular member. Like you and me. Dreaming your dream. Dreaming my dream and dreaming his.
With only one purpose; to make the dream come true.
And to put our passion into action.

JCI The Netherlands presents with great proud.
Your JCI President 2012,
Bertolt Daems

http://www.bertoltdaems.com/

WHY HURT OUR WOMEN AND OUR CHILDREN?

I’m a mother. a sister, a partner and a friend,
I’m not an object on sale or one you can lend, …so
WHY HURT ME?
I’m the one listening to your troubles,
I’m the wiping always wiping your tears,
I’m the one who shares your dreams
As well as your fears…so
WHY HURT ME?
I give birth, one of life’s greatest joys
I do not give birth to useless toys
So everyone born from me
Is sent from above to live a life that’s free
WHY HURT THEM?
So many of us have lost our lives
Whether it can be by the gun or with knives
We, the WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Are sick to the core… AND
WE SAY: ”YOU WILL HURT US NO MORE!!
Message: “After this years 16 Days of activism against Women and Children abuse, let there be no other case of violence, they are also human beings and they deserve to be loved and taken care of.”

SOURCE : http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0911/091125_16_days_Activism/091126_poem02/article.htm

excerpt from “latent rapists” by Ntozakhe Shange

these men friends of ours
who smile nice
stay employed
and take us out to dinner
lock the door behind you
wit fist in face
to fuck
who make elaborate mediterranean dinners
& let the art ensemble carry all ethical burdens
while they invite a coupla friends over to have you
are sufferin from latent rapist bravado
& we are left wit the scars
bein betrayed by men who know us
& expect
like the stranger
we always thot waz comin
that we will submit
we must have known
women relinquish all personal rights
in the presence of a man
who apparently cd be considered a rapist
especially if he has been considered a friend
& is no less worthy of bein beat witin an inch of his life
bein publicly ridiculed
havin two fists shoved up his ass
than the stranger
we always thot it wd be
who never showed up
cuz it turns out the nature of rape has changed
we can now meet them in circles we frequent for companionship
we see them at the coffeehouse
wit someone else we know
we cd even have em over for dinner
& get raped in our own houses
by invitation
a friend

‘16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence’

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates, November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights.

This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1, World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre. The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women.

You can participate in the campaign by:

• Blogging about any issues on gender based violence
• Wear a white ribbon and supply white ribbons to friends and colleagues
• Add the Logo to your website and stationary for the duration of the campaign
• Run workshops and awareness raising events for friends and colleagues, on violence against women
• Volunteer at a shelter, or service organisation, and create space and time for your friends and colleagues to volunteer too.

You Were Planned

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…"
(Jeremiah 1:5, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

What an amazing thought: God knew you before you were even born! He saw your unformed substance and said, "I have a purpose for this life. I have good plans for them!" Then He breathed His life into you and sent you through your mother and father. They may have had issues, but that doesn't have to stop you from becoming all that God intended you to be. You have been handpicked by Almighty God to be here at this time in history!

Sometimes we hear parents say, "We weren't expecting this child. They were a surprise. They were an accident." No, that child may have been a surprise to you, but they weren't a surprise to Almighty God. No child can be born without God breathing His life into them. You may think, "Well, Joel, I was unwanted. I was an unplanned pregnancy." No, you wouldn't be here if God didn't give life to your seed.

In God's eyes, there is no such thing as being illegitimate. Remember, He knew you before you were ever born! Find confidence in His love knowing that you are a person of destiny, and you are part of His mighty plan!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, thank You for choosing me before I was ever born. Thank You for knowing me and revealing Yourself to me. I trust that You are working in my life today, even when I can't see it. I stand in faith knowing that You have a mighty plan for me in Jesus' name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen