The Filter Unfiltered Blog

Story Time! Worth- A Moment of Transparency

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 06:10:24 GMT

“You are born worthy, you are born with um- that sort of seed, DNA seed that tells you, that you can, you can transform your life.”- Viola Davis

“You are born worthy, you are born with um- that sort of seed, DNA seed that tells you, that you can, you can transform your life.”

This verbatim statement was given by Viola Davis earlier this month from an interview on Lights on Women, The Podcast presented by L’Oréal Paris. Through speeches, interviews, and social media posts, Viola has spoken on one’s intrinsic worth many times through the past few years. My personal favorite quote is from a 2018 Net-A-Porter video on YouTube, Viola Davis on Being Worthy .

“You're born with worthiness. You don't have to hustle for it. There's no prerequisites to it. There's no bartering for it. You're born with it as soon as you come out of the womb. You're worth it.”

What I like to tell myself as a culmination of Viola’s declarations is:

“There’s Nothing You Have To Do For Worth! You don’t have to hustle or barter for it! You are born with it!”

It was important these statements of worth are read just as repeatedly as they were written. For those who are doubtful, hopefully by the third read it begins to flicker a resonance.

As a child I had a completely different notion of what worth was. I believed it was something I had to prove to others. That my “worth” was predicated on how well and how often I could rise above the social, economic and environmental statistics society had in store for someone from my background-

A young inner-city Black girl from a single parent household living below the federal poverty level.

Growing up as a “have not”, individuals more oft than not were authentically themselves. As a result, I was exposed to individuals who had no qualms with treating you with disrespect when they believed your lack of money and status, warranted them to treat you as, “less than”.

I was also exposed to individuals who would treat me differently once they identified something about me they considered of value to them and by extension society. For example, getting good grades, liking musicals, writing poetry.

So, I held firm to the belief, the more I pursued society’s standards of excellence the more I could prove I was the exception, avoiding rejection, thereby granting me access to the proverbial, “even playing field.” It was only there I believed I had better opportunity to garner praise and accolades.

Achieving this felt good for a time…but like Glorilla said, “at the end of the day, the day gotta end.”

Cause once that girl becomes a woman her narrative changes. Now she is a Black woman who has risen out of poverty, holds advanced degrees, with a portfolio which reflects the amazing & unique experiences she’s been a part of. No longer is her life a societal struggle but a societal privilege.

But what of her worth? What happened to it?

Nothing, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

It took me a long time to comprehend no amount of external validation would ever make me feel worthy internally. In the same respect lack of external validation has no bearing on one’s individual worth. In complete transparency I still work on this.

The need for external validation would show up in unexpected ways, through my personal life and professional career. The circumstances differed, but actions and thought processes were the same, if I could show the entity (person, employer) that I was worthy, in turn they will give me the validation I seek (love, promotion).

Or if I did receive the validation from the entity, it was not enough because I-Myself didn’t feel worthy enough.

What I failed to understand about worth at the time was it does not decrease, increase, contract, expand, thin, condense, rise, or fall. Worth does not go anywhere. It is always there. You simply must embrace it.

There is a line in a poem I wrote a long ago, which I recently realized I am no longer aligned with;

For once you've released all that is vital to the unworthy, the hardest step to take in reclaiming your dignity is forgiving yourself.

Now, I would alter it slightly to,

For once you've released all that is vital cause you feel unworthy, the first step to take in reclaiming your dignity is forgiving yourself.

For a while now I have been on what I call a, Personal Journey of the Acceptance of Me .

(Quirky Right?)

In this journey I have explored Love, Grace, Kindness and now Worth.

From the start, I had to get acquainted with forgiveness of others and especially myself. For times I knew better and the painful times I did not. It has not been perfect; I have gotten sidetracked and had to regroup aplenty. Yet I have faith this journey is not in vain, and I am in fact- Worthy .

In case no one has told you-

You Are Worthy Too ��

May We Drink The Cup Of Kindness Yet...

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 06:28:43 GMT

Happy New Year Readers ��

Can you feel it? The air as we enter a New Year. Does it feel just the same as it did last year?

Or does it really feel different? Can it be we are kidding ourselves? Or is our optimism just what is needed?

Truth be told I hold no answers & provide no solutions. Yet, I do wish something for us as we embark upon this New Year.

May We Drink That Cup of Kindness Yet.

Wishing this feels as if I am going against the grain. But truth be told I am simply over it.

Over any pedestaling and adulation of cups full of gluttony, avarice, greed, lust, anger, fear, acedia, exploitation, and opulence.

Wisdom is in the teachings that the more one partakes in these drinks the thirstier one becomes. These cups do not nourish but dehydrate and deplete.

So, if the simple act of deciding to try to exemplify and seek out kindness, means I have in fact- gone rogue.

I choose this defiance.

We Absolutely Need A Vampire Huntress Legend Television or Movie Series for The Culture

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 09:08:00 GMT

Why Brining the Popular Book Series to the Small Screen is Long Overdue

When I watched Chlöe’s debut video, Have Mercy I thought-“She would make a perfect Damali Richards!” At the time I know I was the only person in the world to think this. How do I know? I Googled it - Duh! Seriously I actually did Google.

Chlöe Bailey is a triple threat, an accomplished vocalist, dancer and actress. A brilliant artist, who embraces her sexuality, beauty and natural locs as proudly as Damali Richards was said to have done in A Vampire Huntress Legend Series. Like Damali she can captivate an audience. A quick peruse of her Instagram one can see that Chlöe literally “slays”every look she is assigned and looks like she would be able to slay. This is rule 101 of being an action hero & vampire slayer.

For those who may not know, A Vampire Huntress Legend Series are twelve books written by Philadelphia based prolific author L.A. Banks. The series delved into the sci-fi / supernatural / horror genre. Before she passed in 2011, Banks wrote several different series of novels within this genre.

The first novel in A Vampire Huntress Series, Minion introduces readers to the main protagonist, Damali Richards a 20 year old black woman who is a revered neo-soul hip-hop spoken word artist by day and a fearsome vampire slayer by night.

Damali’s origin story can be categorized with Batman’s, however, what makes Damali’s grittier and more realistic is she was orphaned without an inheritance and without a guardian and placed in the foster care system in the inner-city. The series as a whole centers on the struggle of good versus evil. Emphasizing how one must choose good over and over again. Brace yourself the series is also sexy, with a hefty mixture of romance & erotica.

If A Vampire Huntress Legend was brought to the small screen, the second question is who would play Damali’s friend/love-interest, infamous Bad Boy Carlos Rivera. For this I would ask others to weigh in, but Jacob Scipio, who played Armando Aretas in Bad Boys for Life comes to mind.

There are so many women authors who like Banks penned fantastic book series during the late 90’s and early 2000’s in similar genres. Unlike Banks, their books were turned into blockbuster films seemingly as soon as the ink on them dried. The question remains, why haven't L.A. Banks fantasy novels made it to the small screen yet? Especially, with so many streaming platforms that could allow the series to cultivate.

Recent success of The CW’s Black Lightning , HBO Max’s Watchmen & Love Craft Country and Disney’s Luke Cage & Black Panther , prove audiences support television and films in the fantasy, sci-fi, supernatural genres. It also shows audiences will flock to watch stories about super heroes & saviors told from the African Diaspora, Pan-Africanism and Multi-Cultural perspectives.

L.A. Banks is an author whose works we should consciously seek to curate. Her work should not be allowed to fade into the background. She has created phenomenal pieces of fiction which continue to impact readers from across the globe. It would be nice to see her work expanded to television and film in an effort to further exhibit the value of diversity in the genres she centered her work around.

Thrivin' and Survivin', Exploring Oren Cass's Cost-Of-Thriving-Index

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 07:45:40 GMT

Let's Face It- COTI & The US Middle Class

In February 2020, a study was released by Oren Cass titled, “The Cost-Of-Thriving Index: Reevaluating The Prosperity Of The American Family.” The study introduces the concept of a Cost of Thriving Index, COTI. The base model for the study were families of four where the primary wage earner is White and Male in the United States. The salary was based off median weekly income (wages) of men over 25 as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.

In the US, a family where the primary wage earner is White & Male is considered as thriving if they can survive off of the wages of the primary wage earner AND afford to pay off four major basket component expenses within the same year. The four major basket component expenses are as follows:

Annual Rent for Three-Bedroom Residence
Annual Family Health-Insurance Premium
One Semester of Public College
Annual Operation of a Vehicle

What the Executive Summary of this study surmised is under these parameters it cost the primary wage earner of a family of four 30 weeks of work to pay for the yearly expenses of the basket components in 1985. While, in 2018 it took the primary wage earner 53 weeks to pay for the yearly expenses of the basket components. The problem, however is that there are only 52 weeks in a year. This conclusion leads us to wonder, if the average Model “Nuclear” Family was no longer thriving in the U.S. in 2018, what does this mean in 2021? Furthermore, what impact does the COTI have on Female Led & Minority Led households, which statistically earn less by pennies on the U.S. dollar of White Males? Are these families on average even surviving?

When the study was publicized, the response and pushback were immediate as interest and debate started to emerge on the accuracy of the COTI presented. However, the COVID-19 global pandemic in 2020 impacted and changed life as we knew it. With so many people in need, the conversation around the validity of the COTI, abruptly halted and was seemingly indefinitely placed on the back burner.

Every where we looked in the U.S. people were struggling. The employed, underemployed and small business owners suffered. The majority of businesses permitted to remain open to the public were those which provided essential services. Essential employees were those who worked for businesses which provided food, clothing, safety, transportation, government, medical care, pharmaceutical care, etc.

So it’s no surprise that Cass’s study and introduction of the COTI as a possible barometer to measure the affordability factor, was pushed aside to address the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now we find ourselves in the last quarter of 2021. While things are not where they were pre-pandemic, there is a fervent push to return to activities and way of life which existed pre-pandemic. A quote unquote “return to normal.”

But how great was the old normal when the “Model Nuclear Family”, may no longer be thriving? When it takes the primary wage earner 13 months to pay off a year of annual expenses? If we are to consider the COTI, as a factor in determining affordability, then how much worse is it for families which are not headed by White males? What about households where the primary wage earner is female, minority and/or single parent headed? Since these households statistically tend to earn less than two parent White male headed households, how many months on average may it take them to pay for their yearly expenses?

Christopher Ingram of the Washington Post , points out that in accordance with Cass’s research the median wage for females is 80% of males. Ingram further surmises that in a family where the primary wage earner is female she will need to work 66 weeks to cover the four big annual expenses. A recent analysis conducted in 2020 by the Pew Research Center on the median hourly wages of full and part-time workers, found a similar gap in wages between male and female workers. With women earning 84% of what men earned. The Pew Research Center article by Amanda Barroso and Anna Brown on the findings reported that it would take, “an extra 42 days of work for women to earn what men did in 2020.”

A recent U.S. Department of Labor Blog on gender pay gap reveals how when women are classified into commonly accepted, racial, social, and economic groups, the gap becomes even more disparate. Pointing out that on average, what would have taken a year for a Non-Hispanic White Male to earn in the year 2020, it would take women well into the year 2021, to catch up. Case-in-point:

Women overall on average had to work until March 24, 2021
Asian American and Pacific Islander women had to work until March 9, 2021
White women had to work until April 9, 2021
Mothers in comparison to fathers had to work until June 4, 2021
Black women had to work until August 3, 2021
Native American women had to work until September 8, 2021
Latina women had to work until October 21, 2021

Let’s face it long before the pandemic brought the US and the world to its knees, analysts were evaluating concerns over the of the rapidly shrinking middle class

Could it really be that average families in the US are no longer thriving? The hard unpleasant reality is: The data across several; Gender, Racial, Ethnic, Social and Economic groups all point to the fact that the majority of these groups, on average tend to earn pennies on the dollar of what a White Male earns. So, statistically speaking, if the value of a dollar a White Male earns is no longer allowing him and his family to “thrive”, then for all intents and purposes the aforementioned groups are struggling to thrive as well, perhaps even more so. Simply put,

#��rollsdownhill��

Let’s face it if you are not Thriving you are Surviving- Statistically Speaking

If I were tweeting this right now I would write- “that’s it, that’s the Tweet.”

For any family, if they cannot afford to pay for the four basic basket components from the collective salaries of the household, in one year, then they are not thriving. Some articles from prominent respected publications ( I shall not mention which ones) did not agree. The major dissent they had with the basket components presented in Cass’s study were for healthcare and education. For healthcare, it is true that the cost will not be as expensive as what was presented in the study for those who receive medical coverage from their employer. For education, it is also well known that families can receive free and low cost financial aid. Yet, mentioning these points, could only validate the point of the study even further. The COTI definition of thriving means a family can afford to pay the entirety of these expense for one year out of their own salary. Receiving additional aid from an employer or financial aid means that they m ay not be able to afford to pay these expenses solely from their salary. #SMH (Shaking My Head)

Let’s face it

Equity helps Affordability

The conversations taking place right now on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, are long overdue. The wave of social justice initiatives sweeping the US have revealed just how vital it is for organizations to have conversations, review, evaluate and change practices so they are in-line with DEI standards. The fact the BLS reports state on average it takes Latina a year and 10 months to earn what a White Male earns in one year is staggering. For single mothers, who have to work one year and six months in order to earn what a White Male earns in a year is troubling. Especially considering they have no choice but to be the primary wage earners in their family. As a result conversations on affordability will always be incomplete when the standard measurement accepted is based on the median earnings of White Males. Especially when the COTI study is used in conjunction with the BLS, revealing that it will take some groups almost 2 years to be able to afford one year’s worth of basket components. While conversations on equity cannot take place without factoring in affordability, equal pay is a moral, ethical, and integrity issue which must be rectified immediately. #paymewhatyouoweme��

But…Affordability doesn’t equate to Equity

This is the crux of this article. In Real-Time the COVID 19 Pandemic is revealing the US is in the midst of serious situations. From global shipping crate supply chain issue s, to employers finding a hard time filling positions and the rising costs of goods and services. These things are adversely impacting families already struggling to afford their basics needs and expenses. Even before the pandemic, the average family in the US was struggling financially. According to a CBS New s report from 2019, “7 in 10 Americans struggle with at least one aspect of financial stability.” (Survey result taken from Financial Health Network.) With seventy percent of Americans struggling before the pandemic, it is clear that affordability in America is concerning. #thestruggleisreal

Let’s face it, Together

A quick rehash of what I wish readers to takeaway:

A majority of Americans are suffering financially
Unequal pay for equal day’s work is unacceptable
Equity helps affordability
Affordability doesn’t equate to equity

These four points can be difficult and polarizing topics to discuss. There will be those who read this and draw critique and others may commend. Either way the importance is to acknowledge the reality of these takeaways. I wrote this piece as an outline of sorts to draw connections between equity, affordability and how it truly impacts all Americans. Though there is sure to be debate and dissension on how to go about alleviating/solving the Equity and Affordability problem in America, I feel the very first thought someone should have is a classic one, “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” If you had a choice would you give yourself 60 cents, 80 cents or one dollar? Would you want to work for almost two years in order to earn enough to pay for one year of expenses for you and your family? If your answers to these questions is, “one dollar” and “no”, then you can start there. #theuisforunited

Fun, Flirty, Fashionable, Flattering Looks To Bring Out Your Festive Side

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 04:38:31 GMT

The Holiday Season of 2020 is here and in full effect. Though our gatherings are smaller, it is still comforting and exciting to don our most festive attire to celebrate. Through intimate settings with family and friends there is a greater opportunity to be more creative with holiday looks. Not to mention partaking in the classic home photo shoot and selfie with the household while wearing your festive apparel. For myself, I wanted to find something that was not only traditional but trendy and would look good on most women and body types. What I found was not one look- but five! The best thing is, these looks can be sported well into the New Year and the Next Holiday Season.

Velvet & Velour

What’s Santa without his Red Suit? Velvet and velour styles are staples for winter, they always add a layer of sophistication to any wearer. For myself I chose to transform into one of Santa’s Helpers with a red velour and white faux fur skater dress from Shein with matching Santa hat and embellished boots. A skater dress can be flattering for women because it hides the tummy and flares out slightly at the waist. Other popular velvet and velour pieces include blazers and skinny stretch leggings, which can be paired with a simple white button down top or t-shirt.

Embellished Shoes & Accessories

Elf Hats, Reindeer Ears Headbands, Jingle Bell Necklaces, holiday themed buttons and pins, are quick easy ways to liven up any outfit. For those who like to sparkle, adding crystal shoes or accessories to your outfit will surely add glamour to your look. Popular places to pick up these items range from discount stores like Dollar Tree and Five Below to department stores like Macy’s which include brands like Betsey Johnson and INC.

Fair Isle & Holiday Loungewear

How much fun is it to gather with loved ones for Christmas and ring in the New Year in cute tacky loungewear? Amazon and Old Navy are solid choices if you are looking for gender neutral matching fair isle and holiday lounge wear sets for your household. For extra coziness you can add a pair of big fuzzy slippers or Ugg boots. So this Christmas and New Year slip on your favorite themed loungewear gather around the fire or one of the many Yule Log videos from YouTube, then sip some hot cocoa, eggnog or champagne to relax and enjoy the moment.

Decorative Sweaters & Dresses

We are all familiar with Ugly Christmas Sweaters, but have you seen those Hanukkah, Dabbing Santa and Dunking Santa sweaters? There are so many choices when it comes to holiday themed clothing. For me I joined in on the 3D holiday dress trend and selected a Frosty the Snowman Sweatshirt Tunic Dress from Shein. It was either this or a Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer dress. Tip: sweatshirt tunic dresses are not only super cute and fun, they are also low-maintenance and comfortable.

Sequins

My personal favorite of all favorites! For myself no style screams “Happy New Year!”, more than an outfit adorned with sequins. With sequins you can’t go wrong and the choices are unlimited. Dresses, tops, bottoms, accessories, shoes, pajamas there are so many styles to choose from. For those who are daring like myself, you can layer up sequined looks with different colors, patterns and styles. The best thing about sequins is they tend to be a popular style choice for many other holidays, so are readily available through retailers like Boo Hoo, ASOS and Shein.

There’s a Meme circulating which says, “what a decade this year has been.” Which, I agree it most certainly has. Here’s hoping that these tips for festive holiday dressing helps to liven up your holiday season as we try to spread joy, kindness and good cheer nearing the close of this year.

Investing In Your 20's and 30's

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 07:52:40 GMT

Tips for people in their 20’s and 30’s who may want to start investing.

The best time to learn investment strategies is in your 20’s and 30’s. Starting early is key to building a good and successful investment portfolio. Whether you are a collage graduate, gainfully employed or own your own business at an early age, you should begin thinking of where and how to invest your money.

Here's some tips for investing money in your 20’s and 30’s.

Taking Ri sk

Risk taking is very important if you want to build wealth. Wealth usually comes through uncertainty, the traditional way of doing things only makes you comfortable. Many investors find that a modest amount of risk in their portfolio is an acceptable way to increase the potential of achieving their financial goals. (Ken L, 2019)

Find Suitable Mentor

Finding a mentor suitable for your investment goal is very significant. Investing is very challenging and requires you to make some difficult choices. Sometimes, you may need advice from someone with more experience than you. (Wetzel, 2020) says that an investment mentor will be able to answer your questions about the details of investing.

Put Automation in Your Investment

Use automation investment, so you don’t have to start wasting time on how to load money into your investment account, how to receive your dividends etc... (Vinay, 2020) states that investment through robotic automation helps with accuracy, consistency, cost effectiveness, improved analytics and improved productivity.

Set Your Investment Goal

You should aim to set goals for what you want to achieve through investment. Whether it is to retire at age 50, live a lavish lifestyle in future, become a billionaire investor like Warren Buffet or any other pursuit of a particular goal. (Joshua, 2020) says that learning to set investment goals is one of the most important things you can do as a new investor, because it helps you keep track of where you have been, where you are currently and where you are going.

Check Charges Before Making Investments

Before you invest, you should take time to know all investment fees associated with your investment (Gordon, 2020 ). You should know charges such as investment management, investment advisory fee, transaction fee, annual account fee, front end load or back end load fees etc...

Other tips include:

Find a broker that meets your needs.
Study your portfolio.
Always seek out information and more knowledge.
Diversify your investment
Make an investment plan

(John, 2018) says that investing early helps you to develop better spending habits.

In today’s uncertainty economy, it will not be good to use your young age to work the next 20-40 years, only to later realize you don’t have enough money for retirement. Also, if you have decided to invest your money while you are still young it would be wrong to lose all your money due to bad investment decisions. So it is equally as important to invest your money wisely.

The Importance of Making a Family Moving Checklist

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 02:30:45 GMT

Starting a moving checklist and learning the ins-and-outs of it will help your family get organized before the move

Think about the plethora of things that are going to happen. You need to get organized, choose companies and services, get packed, prepare your home for the next tenants, contact utilities to disconnect and connect services, contact debtors, alert people, prepare the kids and pets, and even transfer records. Depending on who you are and why you are moving, this list may go on and on. As you can see without preparation, a move can quickly spiral out of control.

This is why everyone who is moving needs to create a moving checklist before the bulk of the move is completed. There are so many different and small things to remember, and it is easy to forget half of them when you are thinking about the various other things that you need to do. As soon as you find out that you need to move, you should sit down with your family and build a moving checklist. Having a brainstorming session will get things all out on the table, and allow you to see just what needs to be accomplished in the coming day.

Rough Draft

The first write-up of your moving checklist should be a rough draft. This copy should be one that includes the brainstorming list that your family came up with. Simply write down as many ideas as possible on this copy. You can put these items into categories at a later time. It is vital to include all ideas here, as you do not want to forget any little thing along the way. To this end, having each family member present at the brainstorming session might be the best way to start the process.

Prioritize

The next step in the creation of a moving checklist is to prioritize. You need to take all of the ideas that your family has come up with and place them into some kind of order. Some people are content with placing these things into an order based on the date that something needs to be done. For this method, make a list that is separated into weeks and fill in the blanks with your tasks. It will be up to you to choose what needs to be done first, what is most important, and what can spill into the following week.

Other people may find it easier to list the tasks in order according to what needs to happen first, what needs to be accomplished next, and what comes after that. For those who want to follow a list and accomplish tasks in a certian order, this method is the way to go. This can help prevent your family from being confused.

Importance Despite Method

No matter why you are moving, how you are moving, or what your moving checklist looks like, the fact that you build a checklist at all is important. Having this paper handy will prevent disaster when you can remember everything that needs to be accomplished. You cannot expect yourself to remember everything at a stressful time like this, so a moving checklist is even more important. In the end, having one on hand can benefit your family as a whole and the move itself.

How to Do Home Fitness on a Budget

Mon, 27 Jul 2020 06:04:50 GMT

A Budget is not a Constraint for People Intending to Stay Fit

Many people often think staying in great physical health is a luxury that can be accomplished only through exercising at high tech gyms or following a dietician's suggested diet charts coupled with nutrient supplements and exclusive special foods. However, there are different ways of staying fit even when you are on a shoestring budget.

Here's A Few Ways One Can Initiate Fitness Goal Accomplishment While Staying Within A Budget:

1) Check Your Diet

The key to remaining fit is not staying hungry but following the diet that renders health benefits.

Keeping processed food at bay which is full of fat, sodium, calories, and sugar content is quite beneficial for health. Additionally, it promotes quicker results in efforts toward staying in shape.

Processed foods add extra pounds instantly to your body and are responsible for various health hazards such as, increase in cholesterol level, higher blood pressure, increased rate of heart diseases, obesity, and diabetes.

Instead, add whole grain to your diet to stay in shape. Whole-grain diets render your body nutrients required such as proteins, B-vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, minerals like iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium, etc. It is also found to reduce the risk of some forms of cancer, improving bowel health, and promoting the growth of healthy bacteria in the colon.

Consuming fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry, fish and other protein foods are a better choice to stay in shape rather than relying upon expensive protein supplements and fancy diet foods.

2) An Inexpensive Home Gym Is a Better Solution

If you think expensive gym membership and fancy exercising equipment alone can help you stay in shape, you may need to remold your ideology, especially if you have budget constraints. To stay fit on a budget, you can exercise at home working out with inexpensive resistance bands, jump rope, etc., coupled with a bodyweight exercising routine.

Ever thought of using items like different sized water bottles (filled with water), dumbbells or kettlebells to exercise with at home?

If haven't yet, try it and you won’t be disappointed!

Purchasing refurbished fitness equipment is also a good option to stay within budget and add to your fitness wealth. Scroll through reliable online marketplaces to find exercising equipment at a fraction of cost. Exercising at least 3 to 4 times a week, along with 40 minutes of cardio is essential to staying in shape and can be done at home too.

3) Go Outdoors

Going outdoors for brisk walking, running, hiking or cycling are great aerobic options to get into shape for free. Running up and downstairs, chopping wood, plowing a garden, or hitting an old tire with a sledgehammer are some old school exercising methods which provide slow-but-steady weight maintenance without calling upon your pocket.

Walking has been known to improve mood, reduce the risk of various types of diseases and stabilize blood pressure level. This along with running, cycling and hiking provide overall health and weight control benefits. Additionally, these activities help build lung capacity, decrease the chances of various forms of cancer, while enhancing emotional and mental health.

4) Don’t Eat Before Going to Bed

It is advisable to avoid eating fried or processed food before going to bed, this is because during sleeping hours your body is not efficiently able to burn the calories consumed. Additionally this food is stored in the body in the form of fat.

Overall, it’s better to stop eating at least a few hours before going to bed so your metabolism can burn the calories you consumed.

Eating just before going to bed is also harmful to your health if you have a reflux issue. Acid reflux happens when stomach acid splashes back into your throat and can cause symptoms such as heartburn, a lump in the throat, difficulty in swallowing, or asthma.

5) Drink Plenty of Water

It is crucial to drink at least 2 liters of water every day. When you drink water it removes toxins and other harmful chemicals which buildup from the body. Also, it adds to skin, hair, and health benefits and aides in keeping bowel movements regular.

Did you know, even mild dehydration can severely affect your brain functions? Stay fit physically with energy level boosted and mood enhanced, drinking ample water each day.

Finally--Stay Fit Without Burning a Hole In Your Pocket

If you dream of having a picture-perfect and healthy body, choose inexpensive sources online for inspiration and guidance. Watch workout fitness videos on YouTube or check out Pinterest to know the right exercising type, posture, and method for staying in shape.

I hope you have learned - staying in shape is more about willing to stay fit, with no excuses accepted.

Why I Chose Vegan

Sun, 20 Oct 2019 02:07:51 GMT

When people find out that I’m vegan the top two questions people ask me is “Why am I vegan” and “How do I stay vegan?” So, I decided to share.

It began with a YouTube video, Blackfish. Watching the documentary on the mistreatment of killer whales in captivity compelled me to want to learn more. Once I saw the one video on veganism I couldn’t stop. After six hours of watching every video I could find on animal activism, environmental issues, plant-based recipes, and snacks taste testing, I finally made the decision to stop eating animals. From that point on I considered myself a vegan.

Giving up meat and animal bi-products in one day wasn’t as easy a progressive as I thought it would be. For starters, the first two weeks I went vegan I had major diarrhea problems. I wasn’t used to eating an abundance of lefty greens, so the excess of fiber in my new lifestyle caused me to have digestive issues. Another thing I struggled with is learning how to read food labels. You would be surprised how many products have dairy in them, like dark chocolate. I never knew it would be challenging to find dark chocolate products that don’t contain dairy. In the end, I have faced every challenge head-on, and I have currently been vegan for almost three and a half years. Therefore, I’d recommend those who are interested in trying out a more plant-based lifestyle start out with small changes and slowly work their way up to plant-based eating.

Now three year later I’m still vegan. Although I happily eat a lot of vegetables and marinated tofu; grilled or baked almost every day, I have found the key to my being able to remain vegan is substitutes. The substitutes that I recommend to new vegans is mock(fake) meat and dairy products. Such as, vegan chicken, hamburgers, yogurt, ice cream, cookies, cheese, hotdogs, etc. If you ate it before going vegan, then continue to enjoy your favorite meals just "veganize" it by substituting the animal products with vegan mock products.

For example, I loved tuna salad. Before becoming vegan I would get canned tuna combine onions, dill, celery, dry cranberries, and just a little mayonnaise and mustard. So, when I went vegan, I didn’t give up my go-to meal I just veganized it. Instead of canned tuna, I would mash chickpeas and add Old Bay seasoning to give it a little bit of a fishy taste, and just replaced regular mayonnaise with vegan mayonnaise. Though chickpeas aren’t an exact duplicate for tuna, it's still a delicious substitute, has great texture, is loaded with protein and is affordable.

My purpose for writing this is not to persuade someone to switch towards a plant-based lifestyle. I just want to share my story and tips on how I went vegan and stayed vegan. Lastly, for those who are thinking or trying to switch over to a plant-based lifestyle, remember my golden rule, eat what you normally eat just- "veganize" it

Lizzo and the Art of Self-Acceptance

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 02:07:50 GMT

Proof Lizzo's Self-Acceptance Journey Has Been 100 Percent Powerful

There are times when social media has the wonderful capability to capture one's journey in unimaginable ways. Take this YouTube video by StyleLikeU from 2014 titled, The Truth About Self-Acceptance.

The video features then up-and-coming artist Lizzo. In the video Lizzo truthfully answers probing questions while stripping down to her undies.

The topics discussed are as diverse as Lizzo herself from loving the skin you are in- literally, the billions of dollars African-American women spend in the hair industry, Lizzo's skill as a flutist and her love of Anime character Sailor Moon.

Lizzo is one of the hottest artist today. Her words and music remind us that self-acceptance is a journey. Though each of us is on our own path, there is nothing wrong with encouraging each other along the way. The video ends with Lizzo stating one day she is "going to be like I feel sexy."

Recently Lizzo appeared on the television show, Good Morning America, and said, "Stop saying I'm 'brave I'm just sexy." She went from wanting to say, “I feel sexy” in 2014 to declaring, “I am sexy” in 2019. This declaration is just one of several things Lizzo speaks on in the video which appear to have come to fruition.

Yet, I disagree with Lizzo, I believe she is in fact brave. By allowing us as viewers a glimpse into her documented truths, Lizzo capture's how one’s vulnerabilities can be utilized to empower and transform.

Not only is this one of the best forms of bravery there is, it's also sexy!

Audrey.Mod.AllBlackEverything.

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 02:07:50 GMT

When Fashion Embodies Movements

Black

Can be a comfort to the mourning. An expression of the minimalist who wants to blend in or an accessory to the flashy bling one wears to stand out. Black is worn by those who are devoted to chastity and those who daringly embrace the racy. Black is the color of choice a man uses to Suit Up or the color of the Little Dress a woman commonly refers to as a staple.

Black

Descriptive of a people and their narrative as told by James Brown, who charges them to unapologetically embrace their pride exclaiming; "I'm Black and I'm Proud!" Today this charge is extended to include platform & mission; Blacks Lives Matter (Too), in response to those of color who are sadly slain for minor offenses or worse no offense at all. Usually accompanied by little to no recourse from the law. "Say Their Name", is the chant often heard to accompany Black Lives Matter in an effort to remember and honor the slain.

Black

Long before Hip-Hop Artists proclaimed, “All Black Everything” to the masses who embraced it with fervor, there was Audrey Hepburn and Mod Culture. Audrey's black ensembles in two of her most iconic roles are still copied to this day. From the whimsical look, Audrey sports as a burgeoning philosopher in Funny Face to the sophisticated look she sports as an idealistic slightly self-centered New Yorker in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Audrey remains a go-to for those who endeavor to make a fashion statement while appearing effortless in the process. Her simple yet elegant ways combined with her tenacity, sense of self and hustler's spirit make Audrey a true Hollywood Icon.

Black

Just refuses to be boxed in. Can be a person, place or thing. Can be a recourse for action or a utility for reflection. It is limitless and limited at the same damn time. Yet for us it still represents who we are, what we like to wear, when we plan to take action, where we see ourselves and how we are making our mark on the world.

The Filter Unfiltered Blog

Story Time! Worth- A Moment of Transparency

“You are born worthy, you are born with um- that sort of seed, DNA seed that tells you, that you can, you can transform your life.”- Viola Davis

May We Drink The Cup Of Kindness Yet...

Happy New Year Readers ��

Can you feel it? The air as we enter a New Year. Does it feel just the same as it did last year?

Or does it really feel different? Can it be we are kidding ourselves? Or is our optimism just what is needed?

Truth be told I hold no answers & provide no solutions. Yet, I do wish something for us as we embark upon this New Year.

May We Drink That Cup of Kindness Yet.

Wishing this feels as if I am going against the grain. But truth be told I am simply over it.

Over any pedestaling and adulation of cups full of gluttony, avarice, greed, lust, anger, fear, acedia, exploitation, and opulence.

Wisdom is in the teachings that the more one partakes in these drinks the thirstier one becomes. These cups do not nourish but dehydrate and deplete.

So, if the simple act of deciding to try to exemplify and seek out kindness, means I have in fact- gone rogue.

I choose this defiance.

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How to Do Home Fitness on a Budget

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Why I Chose Vegan

Lizzo and the Art of Self-Acceptance

Audrey.Mod.AllBlackEverything.

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