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A Little Inspiration from Ryan Reynolds - part 1

5/26/2018

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       “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but anxiety is also a great fuel.. it’s the anti-complacency pill.” This quote came from Ryan Reynolds, the star of the initially unsuspected, but ultimately mega successful DEADPOOL movies. The sexy man married to the gorgeous Blake Lively. And my (ahem, not so secret anymore) celebrity crush.
        But yes, even this hugely successful, loved by millions man, openly admits to struggling with anxiety and depression. Often choosing to hide behind his literal Deadpool mask and persona in order to keep his cool.
        From a tumultuous family past, to a few movie flops (i.e. The Green Lantern and lest we not forget the dreadful “Just Friends” – although I admit watching this beautiful man dressed up in a fat suit complete with double chin was way more enjoyable than it probably should have been) He has finally hit his stride. Probably the best version of himself professionally, even co-writing and producing the hugely successful movie franchise. Can we say CHA-CHING!
        But the point is that in spite all of this, and maybe even in part because of all of this, he still battles the same issues of anxiety and depression that so many others do. And I want this to encourage those who struggle as well.
        You might be nowhere near having a huge blockbuster movie out or model beautiful wife, but his story should inspire you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. You are not doomed for a life of failure or mediocrity- no matter what toxic person in your past might have told you otherwise. And you can succeed just the way you are. Warts, weaknesses and all. Be determined to use it as a catalyst to try harder to reach your goals- whatever they are. Let it fuel the fire in your heart.           
         You might have to dig your heals in a little deeper than others who don’t struggled with the same issues that you do- but at least you’re not stuck doing it in a tight rubber suit like Deadpool or every other superhero in every comic book movie ever made. So, keep pushing through and don’t give up no matter how bad you feel at times. That can be YOUR superpower.
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An Inspiring Story from DJ Carly Wilford

5/16/2018

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         “Know who you are: the bits you like and the bits you don’t. You hear loads of advice from different people, but you might be here to do something completely groundbreaking and if you were to listen to everyone then it might throw you off track…Do what makes you come alive… That’s different for everybody. If there’s an inkling inside of you that there’s a bigger world out there, and there’s something for you to do, then go out and grab it…”

       OK, so I totally stole this  quote from my Facebook business page, but I don't care, I love it. It's true in every way. Articles like this give me life and I hope it inspires you too. F.Y.I. if you aren't already following us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and yes- even Pinterest @femmespiremedia then you are missing out. Seriously, like and follow us @femmespiremedia. You will NOT regret it. 
         Oh yea, and don't forget to click on the link below to read more about this awesome female DJ"s inspiring story. 
​www.huckmagazine.com/art-and-culture/music-2/carly-wilford-u-turn-life-dj-gender-equality/?curator=MusicREDEF
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Create the Life You Want - a brief intro to the upcoming book

5/14/2018

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           "Create the life you want to live. It’s never too late to start. If you’re still alive then you have time. Don’t waste any more time living in regret!" 
          Sounds like a quote from a cheesy, pop psychology, self help guru. And you'd be right! Well sort of. 
           See, I'm working on a book called "Create the Life You Want." Here on this blog I will be sharing some excerpts and stories from my life that I believe will encourage and empower you to live your best life possible. It's a journey I hope you will enjoy sharing with me as I share various things I've learned in life and am STILL learning through mistakes, hurts, and disappointments along the way. 
          Some of us spend so much time looking back, dwelling on all the things we did wrong, the opportunities we missed, the dreams we think we lost, and wishing life could be different. Believing the lies that it’s too late for us, that it’s too hard, and that we are just doomed to live a plan B, C, or D life.
         I admit it’s been a constant struggle for me for most of my life. I’ve wasted more years, ruined more relationships, and lost more time to depression, anger, and discouragement because of this than I have spent actually enjoying my life and the people in it.
           But no more!
          I’ve had an epiphany. I can spend my life regretting and being miserable, stuck in the past. Or I can let God take those mistakes and use them for good to help other people.
         So that’s what this book is. It is a compilation of various quotes I found that I only discovered when I was in my most lost places, desperately seeking encouragement and inspiration to get me out of my own ruts. The passages that accompany them are my stories that were inspired by these quotes. I hope they encourage you and inspire you the way they have me.
          You don’t have to spend your life living in regret. You can create the life you want RIGHT NOW. 
          
        * Check back regularly for more info, inspiration and encouragement.  Follow me on this journey. I guarantee you will enjoy the ride. 
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Get Up! The Newest Song to Get You Out of Your Rut..

3/18/2018

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What do you dream to do with your life? What has been holding you back from actually doing it? I want to encourage you to do at least one thing each day that will move you closer to accomplishing your goals and dreams. Life can be hard. Sh*t happens, usually when you least expect it and knocks you down. Sometimes for a very long time and one day you end up looking at yourself and your life and thinking "it's too late", "I'm not good enough. It's too hard." or "If this --- didn't happen then maybe I could have done it. But now I can't." But I want to tell you that's not true! (and I'm sure I'll be posting a lot of stuff reiterating this message cuz I've struggled with it a LOT over the years. That's where this song came from- more on that later.)  So without further ado, here's a new song to pump you up to Get Up and finally live the life you really want- or at least get one step closer to making it a reality... ​
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When You Need a Reminder of Your Worth..

3/18/2018

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         I just discovered spoken word artist Jon Jorgensen while searching for empowering videos for women on youtube. And let me tell you I am hooked. All his videos seem to be really inspiring and uplifting. But the video below was particularly touching.           
          Just reading the comments underneath on his page from the many high school girls posting made me tear up. One girl said she was battling anxiety, depressed and suicidal thoughts and that she would listen to this video every day to keep herself from killing herself! Another young girl, said she was bullied at school and had abusive parents, and that she would play this video every morning before school just to help her get through the day. 
         These kinds of comments break my heart to read, but I’m grateful that there are people like Jon Jorgensen in the world trying to encourage people by sharing their struggles and passion through their gifts. I look forward to discovering and sharing more of his inspiring and life affirming videos with you in the future. You can check out his YouTube channel @JonJorgenson.
          But most importantly, never forget, like the video says: you are beautiful, you are worthy of love, and you are enough!
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Afghanistan's First All Female Orchestra: Fighting For Women's Rights and Freedom of Expression Through Music.

2/23/2017

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What would you do if you were told you weren’t allowed to play music (or something else you loved) because you were a woman?
          This week I discovered “Zohra”, Afghanistan’s first all female orchestra. This is a huge deal because during the Taliban rule of Afghanistan- playing instruments was BANNED. Even today, performing music is still frowned upon by many conservative Muslims. 
        That’s what makes this group so exciting and inspiring. Not only are they an all female musical group formed in an extremely male supremacist society where many things are STILL restricted for women, but the orchestra is also led by a woman! And at only 19 years old, the conductor Negin Khpalwak, is an inspiration in herself.  
        The National Institute of Music, where the Zohra orchestra was formed, was founded by musicologist Ahmad Naser Sarmast in 2010. The school enrolls about 300 students between the ages of 14-20, most of which are female and many of whom come from underprivileged families. The institute is dedicated to promoting women’s rights and ensuring gender equality in the sector of music, as well as offering quality arts education in an area of the world that often tells their people that they can’t even play music. Giving the students outlets for self expression, creativity, and independence they wouldn’t have elsewhere in the country during a previous time.   
​         The Zohra orchestra and Afghanistan’s National Institute of Music are making waves in the Muslim world and beyond. They began touring on January 19, 2017 in Geneva Switzerland. Keep an eye and ear out for these impressive ladies. Spread the word and encourage the involvement in music to empower women and teen girls in Afghanistan and across the world. 



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The Vagina Monologues: Better Late Than Never

2/23/2017

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​          Well it’s 2017, 19 years after it’s inception, and I have FINALLY read “The Vagina Monologues” by Eve Ensler. Gasp! Blame it on my ultra conservative upbringing, but I was the  girl this book was made for. I struggled with guilt and shame about my body and my sexuality, no matter how minor. Even just saying the words “sex” or “vagina” made me feel embarrassed and dirty. 
          
Now at 32, I pride myself at being a heck of a lot more free and open, but I still catch myself using word substitutions at times. Partly, I suspect, from my still lingering religious guilt and fear. Growing up with a formerly Catholic mother and Jewish father, who converted to “Born Again” Christianity during the return of the fundamentalist conservative Christian phase of the late 80’s/early 90’s will do that to you I guess. 
        
But that’s what makes this book of performed monologues so fascinating. It’s proof I’m not the only one who struggled with these insecurity, fear, shame, and embarrassment issues when it comes to my body, sexuality, and even twisted gender perception (more on that in a later post). No, I realized I was normal. Scratch that…I AM normal. 
          
Ok maybe “normal” isn’t the appropriate word. Let’s say I was typical. Typical for a female in my generation and the ones before it, apparently. It’s eye opening really, and a confirmation of exactly what I’m trying to do with my life- to encourage and empower women and teen girls through the arts and media. It took a long time to become this women I am- that I have finally learned to like- and I’m still a work in progress But I’ve come a long way from the girl who would cry every time she looked at herself naked in the mirror, or would make “clicking” sounds with her tongue cuz she was too embarrassed to say the clinical terms of penis or vagina, and would spend hours (if not days) begging God incessantly to forgive her for having sexual thoughts let along partake in any sexual acts. 
          
I admit reluctantly, it led to me being in a couple abusive relationships over the years- which now looking back I can see I fell victim to because of my lingering and deep rooted issues with myself and my past. These issues caused me to believe lies that led me to these unhealthy relationships, or at least accepting them far longer than any emotionally whole person should. Going around in these unhealthy cycles, until I finally woke up and put my foot down to stop it. Which honestly, I could only do with the help of some supportive friends, empowering messages, massive amounts of honest (sometimes painful) introspection and a lot of prayer.
          
That’s another reason I am so excited about the Vagina Monologues and what Eve Ensler was doing and is continuing to do today. She’s using theater and the written word as a way to facilitate a healthy conversation and expression of women’s body and sexuality shaming issues as a pathway to healing and ultimately fight abuse against women in all forms.
         
I’m a little embarrassed that it’s taken me this long to finally have experienced this work that made such a huge splash when it came out in 1998. But maybe this is just proof it’s time to bring The Vagina Monologues back around for a new generation of women and teen girls still struggling with body image issues, sex shaming and abuse? And it’s never too late for that.  

  • Let us know if you discover anything inspiring, encouraging or empowering for women. Doesn’t matter if it came out 100 years ago or is about to be published. We want to share and promote it here. 
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    Author

    Tiffany Grand is an author, songwriter, playwright, media producer and mental health advocate. She's a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston MA and the founder of Femmespire Media and Validation Publishing. She's passionate about being a positive influence in the world through her gifts of writing and the arts. Follow her here, on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram @TiffanyGMedia, and on her author website www.tiffanygrandmedia.com 

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