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WHY COMPLAIN? B – P_O_S_I_T_I_V_E
Complaining or voicing disagreement and frustrations seems to be the conversation of the day. We seem to be in a contest to prove to ourselves and others how tough we have it, even if it’s a half-hearted dialogue that sounds like a five minute bit for an open mic night. However, you don’t think it’s funny, and in truth, the person(s) listening may be thinking, wait till you hear what I have to say!
The person(s) are not listening they are waiting to pounce on you with, wait till I tell you what happened to me, or did you know…?
Tuesday, July 9th, Melinda Smith, the host of Heart Mojo and her guest Marc Alu recorded the monthly podcast of Heart Mojo https://newclevelandradio.net/follow-heart-mojo-with-melinda-smith/. Melinda is an inspiration to many not only is she a cancer survivor, but she is also a survivor of many aspects of life, and she motivates herself through sharing, caring, and compassion for life (her’s and yours!) Her guest Marc Alu is a two time survivor of cancer amongst life challenges. His first go-round to reach cure/remission was not enough to make this simple, talented man smile. As he faced his cancer demon for a second time, he radically changed his life physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Marc is a drummer and not only does he play in his band, but he is also associated with:
Drummer at Tracy Marie, Drummer at Graffiti, Drummer at Run Avril Run, Drummer at Reality Tour, Drummer at USA Country, Drummer at The Feedbacks Band; Cleveland Ohio
As we sat in the small home studio of newclevelandradio.net and discussed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, I realized that millions of people are missing out on appreciating the life they have. You have heard we only get one, at least one in this form. It should be our mission to make our lives the best we are able without creating earth quacks, tsunamis, tornados, or unneeded rain! To do so, we must look at the bright side of life. We have too many cancers in this world, and that way to remain healthy is to remove the toxicities that are destroying us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
If you want to share positivity contact us at newclevelandradio@gmail.com.
Depression is a STATE of Mind_Let’s Talk
Good morning world! As I shared yesterday, depression is a state of mind, and often the answer as to why we are feeling down, blue, and sometimes worthless is unexplainable. The feelings of despair are often like a rollercoaster they sweep us up and down until we reach a calm. Learning to journal and vocalize my thoughts has been my happy tool even when I sit here crying as I type the words on the screen. However, it cleanses me and allows me to be more aware of the changes that I feel both physically and emotionally.
I have identified myself as an open book, too often wearing my heart on my sleeve, but I am OK with that. It is my life and the way I choose to live it to the fullest. Join me in this conversation as I begin a new podcast with YOU about Empowering Yourself to FEEL! Let us mentor each other through the process, taking a journey with new adventures to fulfill ourselves.
Contact me at newclevelandradio@gmail.com and let’s talk!
U Are Not the ONLY ONE facing DEPRESSION
For some families, the 4th of July is for family, picnics or cookouts, and others it is still another workday. Even if it’s not another workday, you may find yourself alone with no plans either by choice or not. This holiday like so many others, can breed depression. If you are one of the millions suffering today (or any day) face your demons and take a step forward into the light!
Depression is more common than you might want to acknowledge, and you are not the only with these symptoms. Yes, indicators that may be causing you to feel down, worthless, empty, and utterly despondent. Statistically, 1 out of 15 adults experiences this sense of sadness annually. If you are one, it is essential to acknowledge it, embrace it, and get the assistance you may need.
I have been experiencing depression most of my life. However, while I was still living at home under the roof of my parents, their answer to this malady was to keep my chin up. It is easier said than done, and without the proper tools, it may be impossible. For me, it was all about reliving my feels and crying over my woes. Once I was cried out, I was too exhausted to feel miserable, so I put on my happy face and attempted to find the smile behind my mask.
After suffering for almost 64 years, I began to acknowledge my demons in the winter of 2014. Many of those demonic fears were self-imposed and yet I was unaware of that at the time. My journey began by acknowledging I was ill as I took sick leave from my corporate job that I loved; however, the environment was toxic for me. It was with this acknowledgment that I sought help.
Help came through therapies, including psychologically, medically, and spiritually. What I have learned is I am OK! Being OK does not mean perfect. It is the imperfections that make me special, unique, and astonishing. The opinion of others is not what should define me. This five plus year journey has taught me to be true to myself. It is not always comfortable.
Stepping out of my comfort zone was difficult, but I wanted to witness the amazement of loving life. These words are spoken and sung in various ways. Demi Lovato sings about finding the love and self-confidence inside yourself before you seek acceptance from anyone else. https://youtu.be/cwLRQn61oUY
Join me as I continue to share my journey, tell me about yours, and let’s create a safe and loving world. It’s time to become more aware of our needs while accepting that we are not alone. Hold out your hand and acceptance the guidance.
Depression is not a cookie cutter illness, nor is the treatment.
DANCE to Your New JOURNEY
Today is the last Friday in June 2019, half of 2019 is behind us, but there is always today, and tomorrow will come! I used to be a worry-wart trying to accomplish tomorrow’s business today just so I could have a day off; however, if you do that daily, you never take time off. Without taking the time to recuperate, refresh, and recharge each task often gets more complicated, and internal resentment builds up. (At least it did for me.) While I was so busy living for tomorrow, I was not fulfilling my own needs and reaching my potential.
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, while I am not a dog, nor am I old in mind and spirit. Therefore I have been able to venture down a new fork in the road and experience this thing we call life. It is precious, and embracing it with all my heart and soul has allowed me to develop into a more empowered happier me.
I challenge you to ask yourself one question, are you happy with yourself? Do not criticize yourself when you answer honestly. Take your answer(s) and take a gamble on walking down a new path today. Instead of going straight turn right or turn left. Witness the landscape and breath in the newness. Feel what you see, feel what you hear, and feel from the depths inside. Experience those feelings that may have gone dormant while living for tomorrow instead of for today.
No judgments. We are all on a personal journey, and until you embark on yours as I have on mine, you will never become one with your body, spirit, and mind.
Sunday – Sun Day – Sundae
It’s Sunday morning, and some of you are preparing to go to Church, others are praising they spiritual leader on the golf course, while many may be sleeping late since it is a day of rest in some form of interpretation. For me, it’s a workday, and I am spiritually inclined to engage with co-workers, customers, and some of the few non-customers coming through the door today. The sun is shining here in Cleveland, Ohio as well as in many other cities across the United States. If you have been affected by the bad weather of late, I want to remind you that you may want to enjoy what you can and pledge (all of us) to make mother earth survival able.
When the EPA was formed in 1970, almost 50 years ago, the mission of this organization was designed to protect human and environmental health. Global warming and overpopulation were a very serious concern/and still should be. The warming of mother earth is “gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants.” It is these effects that are causing the numerous weather pattern changes with flooding rains, erosion of the lake and seashores, forest fires, and so much more massive destruction.
We can truly make our world for a lifetime and beyond safer, cleaner, and less destructive. We need to stop all the waste! Once there was a time, we were less disposable. However, modern technology has taught us some bad lessons, throw it out if it’s not working to your standards; this includes the tangible and nontangible items in life. Not only have things been sent to landfills, but able-bodied Americans have been forced out of work waiting and wondering, “What Next?” Too many Americans of all ages are sitting on disposable islands because they are not perfect. I ask you, who defines perfection?
As you take in the sunshine today on this third full day of summer, make a promise to yourself and the mother who provides for you that you will do what is right in return. Recycle not dump, compost, and a rich the soil for growth, and embrace and engage with those who need a hand to help them stand tall and proud. B-U, B-ME, Become Engaged, and B-US!
3 Women_Commonality
Yesterday I met with three very inspiring women and although they may not agree let me tell you why I note them as such.
We are living in a world where everyone seems to know your business, making assumptions about who you are, and how successful or not you may be. Technology has taught us to listen in sound bites and look at the outer beauty when choosing someone to be a friend, significant other, business associate, etc. However, as I sat with these three lovely women, no presumptions were made.
My initial contact was a bit uncomfortable as I arrived early, almost one hour before we were to meet. Now I am an early bird when I have a scheduled meeting or event to attend, but sixty minutes was an error on my part when I filled in my calendar. In the scheme of things all worked out for the best, I returned to meet with these three inspiring women at the given time.
The conversation was easy, and as I sat amongst them, I felt at home with these three women whom I hope I can call my new friends. As we shared ideas and conversation, I felt an inner space that has felt empty fill up with joy and anticipation.
If I do nothing more with my life, I hope to engage others to seek out their needs and challenge themselves to fill the missing pieces in their lives. I want to be a hand to guide and learn from others and wake-up on a morning with more RAIN and still feel happy, seeing the sunshine in the eyes of my new friends and acquaintances.
These three women are inspiring to me as I noted they too are challenging themselves as well, a common bond.
DAD’s Day – FATHER’s DAY – POP’s DAY – Call it whatever you want DAY with LOVE
In response to my brother Joel’s Blog, “Dads.”
My dad was my hero
He was not perfect by a long shot, but he was my Pops!
At 5 ft 11 inches he appeared to be a huge figure to me.
He provided me with hugs and kisses, and these were not meant for just special occasions, they were daily devotions of love for family.
My pops always had an answer or tried, and although it may not have been the one I desired, Words by Harmon were spoken or written.
When my dad wasn’t smiling, I assumed it was my fault, and yet today I look back and wonder why I allowed those thoughts to cross my mind. Assuming always resulted in making an ASS out of ME. (Some times that even included a potch on the touchy, OUCH!)
My dad was not wealthy in the sense of dollars, but his compassion for life, learning, and sharing made him as RICH as a king.
He was a dreamer, and he attempted to reach for the stars, failure was not in his vocabulary, every step was part of the master plan.
To this day I can still hear my father davening, saying the morning prayers, and often as a young child, I would watch him from afar with his Tallit (prayer shawl), Kippah (head covering), and Tefillin: Phylacteries.
Often this followed another daily ritual for my Pops, as he called it, the three S’s. At the end of this, he could hear my father bellow, “Good Morning Handsome!” (My father once told me if you can’t say something positive about yourself how can you expect others too.)
Today, Father’s Day 2019 it is the 15th year that my father is not here on this green earth (that we are destroying) to celebrate. I cannot imagine what he must be thinking looking down from the heavens above with the love of his life, my momma, DVasha at his side.
Today I will not be giving my dad cigarettes as we did in the 1950s and 60s, or a pipe or tobacco as he preferred in the 70s and 80s. He no longer needs a necktie or a new iMac, and even in the day, he preferred just having his Chick-A Dees, his children grandchildren, and great grandkids, spend time with him.
I miss watching my dad fall asleep in his comfy living room recliner and waking up just in time to watch golf on TV.
I miss knowing that he was just a phone call away with the wisdom I chose to listen to or not!
I miss spending Father’s Day with him or any other day.
But, I cherish my memories that no one can ever take away, this is the gift he gave me, and today I will remember and send my loving thoughts to the heavens above.
To all the GREAT DADS, my husband Rich included, continue to create the love and kindness both you and your children need to be the BEST versions of themselves.
WE R the LIGHT of The World
In October 2016, as my mother was nearing the end of her life, I made the decision that I needed to connect to my Jewish roots. My mother was the anchor for the many holiday traditions that I grew up with and enjoyed for many years. However, when I married in the early seventies, my husband at the time was a nonpracticing Reformed Jew. If it weren’t for family trips back to my parent’s Seder Table or celebrating Hanukkah with his family, life would have been empty.
In 1979 as I went through a divorce I chose to get not only a civil court document but I went to the Mikvah and received “A get or gett (/ɡɛt/; Hebrew: גט, plural gittin גיטין) is a divorce document in Jewish religious law, which must be presented by a husband to his wife to effectuate their divorce.” You’ve heard the song “Tradition” from Fiddler on the Roof, and I chose to follow the culture.
In 1980 I also chose to become a Bat Mitzvah. I did this for me, creating my identity and identifying with being a Jew, not for the religious aspect but for the commitment to carry on the traditions and family love that I grew up to love.
Although I fell in love with a Gentile man, the second time around, the love and friendship we possess convinced me that an interfaith relationship could withstand the test of time. It’s funny how your life may change but deep inside my soul the need for keeping the flames burning, never have extinguished themselves.
I have struggled since the early ’80s to find a community of Jewish individuals that openly accepted my family and me. However, through the guidance of my mother and father from heaven’s above, I refused to give up, and I have found myself at Temple Israel. A big shout out to Rabbi Josh Brown who read my heartful note asking for connection as he guided me into the hands of Elaine Newman and Teri Segal. Since that day, I have begun interweaving my family into theirs. Through Elaine and Teri, I have met so many wonderful people. Mensch (mentsch)— Literally “man or woman” an honorable, decent, stand-up person, as in, “I don’t care who you marry, as long as he or she is a mensch.”
Tonight I will attend services and pre-services social to recognize new members to the congregation/my family. I am blessed that I have found yet one more way to live my life to the fullest and share the opportunities that are available for us all to be accepted in peace. I can hear my mom and pops kvelling, feeling the happiness that I am experiencing. Although I can no longer return to my mother and father’s home, I can open the doors of my home and enter the doors of Temple Israel to fulfill a need that has needed nourishment.
We all must find that space to light our fire and share it with others to experience the beauty of the sunrise and sunset.
D-DAY make a POSITIVE Change 4 PEACE
Today 75 years after D-Day, D-Day the day it happened on June 6, 1945. On this day 425,000 Allied and Germans were killed, wounded, or went missing. Only one out of four survived!
The above should be one of our many reminders of why we want to stop warring with each other. Begin with yourself, family, friends, neighbors, and move out to the outer edges of your comfort zone, and extend a hand in understanding that you are no more important than the person you declare as your enemy. Let us rid this word from all languages.
We do not have to be antagonistic towards another; there is no need for harm, injure, or overpowering another. Isn’t time to “Lay down our sword and shield,” down by the riverside? Isn’t it time to study war and declare NO MORE?”
If D-Day does not trigger you to empower yourself to change, we will never truly live in a peaceful world.
In memory of those that sacrificed their lives to stop WARRING and bring us together in discussions, awareness, and acceptance of differences, I say RIP! To the families, friends, and battalion brothers who survived, a special thank you for contributions.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life; it is D-Day, the day to make a positive difference.
B-U, B ME, Empower Yourself to become the Person You are Inside and Out.
Dedicated to cousins who are making changes for them, paving the way for us!
I have thanked Candace Pollock many times over for allowing me, newclevelandradio.net to produce a bi-weekly podcast called, The Intentionality Gurus; https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-intentionality-gurus-candace-2018-19. This podcast has helped me begin to identify who I am and what I want to be. For some, the changes may not be noticeable, and for others, they may be very apparent, but personal coaching has taught me that life is worth living if you are comfortable in your own skin.
Much has changed since I was born in 1950, mostly because of the influences of television, radio, the internet, and social media which at one time was more like tabloid gossip, some true and some not so much. However, as complicated as the social norms, maybe I believe that we should be able to live as individuals while still being part of the community and global society. My individual beliefs may be different from yours; however, that does not make either one of us right or wrong. In fact, it is an advantage to see both sides of every issue and know that there may be more than two opinions.
In December newclevelandradio.net announced that we were going to work towards an Empowerment Series. This series initially was a female influence, although I believe there are many genders sided issues the sooner we work together and bring awareness and acceptance (at the least tolerance) to the forefront, we will not be living in a civilized world.
There is a difference between competition when it comes to a game, only one person or one team can win, then the competition to be right when there is no right or wrong, just a difference in beliefs. In fact, when it comes to winning, I do not believe in the concept that everyone gets a trophy. What I do believe is we should be able to identify our strengths and enjoy the opportunities to participate. As much as I would have enjoyed designing clothes and sewing as my mother once did, I never had the passion, and without the passion, I dreamt about fashion but never pursued it. However, despite putting off my love for writing and broadcasting, I followed my heart despite many telling me I would not succeed.
What is a success?
Newclevelandradio.net would like you to join us as we move forward with our Empowerment Podcasts. If you would like to be featured or even co-host the series, please contact me at newclevelandradio@gmail.com. This series will touch on all issues from FEMALE RIGHTS to the RIGHTS of MAN. I would like to develop a dialogue on the “ME TOO MOVEMENT,” and look at it from all sides and define what it is doing to society! Aging is another issue, and although some of our shows discuss it, let’s talk about Jobs, Family, and Socializing. Are we all destine to Senior Living and by the way, what is defined old? Who defines age?
Along with Terri Lynn and Love Compost – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybdjOs13tp0, let us make this world a better place.
D5 Creation