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We must do more than think pink this October.  The statistics can be very disheartening, while Black women are less likely to get breast cancer; they’re more likely to die from it. Obesity is the second leading contributing factor after tobacco. Some studies showed that women of 40 don’t even remember when their last mammogram was.  Some experts are now recommending women have their first mammogram before 40 and possibly as early as 33 this according to a recent study published in the Journal of American College of Surgeons. To find a center near you please visit Cancer.org.  If you haven’t schedule your first or next mammogram please take time to do so. 

Some small things that will help you stay healthy; walking one to two hours weekly cuts your breast cancer risk by 18 to 20 percent.  Eating smart, research shows that that the greater variety of fruits and vegetables you eat, the more phytonutrients you consume.  Remember to do monthly breast exams, for more information on this please visit ww5.komen.org.  For more information regarding Breast Cancer please visit www.BCRFCURE.ORG.

Cheers to staying healthy!

One of the most toxic behaviors – cruelty – stems from a total lack of empathy, concern or compassion for others. We see it every day online and in the media – people being devastatingly unkind and hurtful to others just because they can.  They tear people down online in a cowardly way, using their anonymity as a shield.  Cruelty, backstabbing, and hurting others for any reason is toxic, and it hurts you as well. If you find yourself backstabbing and tearing someone else down, stop in your tracks.  Dig deep and find compassion in your heart, and realize that we’re all in this together.

It’s never too late to live a life that makes you proud. If you don’t learn anything else from this post, learn that. We get one shot at this. There’s no age limit on changing your course, and to settle in and be stuck in a life that isn’t authentic is a tragic waste. Honestly, it’s never too late or too early to be who you are capable of being. There’s no time limit – you can simply start and stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. You can make the best or the worst of it. It’s up to you, so make the best of it. Do things that startle you. Feel things you’ve never felt before. Spend time with people who help you grow. Live a life you’re proud of. And if you find that you’re not, have the courage to make a change.  Cheers!

Mentally strong people know the opposite of defeat is not courage; the opposite of defeat is hope. And there’s always hope. When you lose something good, don’t think of it as a loss, but as an experience that gets you back on the path you were meant to travel. Ultimately, the measure of who you are is what you do with what you have at any given point in time. It’s important to remember that you have enough, and you are enough, always. Stay strong. Think clearly. Even when it feels like things are falling apart, they aren’t.

Sometimes everything in life has to come to an end. It’s important to acknowledge and accept the end of an era – to walk away sensibly when something has reached its conclusion.

Closing the door, turning the page, moving on, etc. It doesn’t matter what you call it; what matters is that you leave the past where it belongs so you can enjoy the life that’s still available to be lived. This ending is not THE END, it’s just your life beginning again in a new way. It’s a point in your story where one chapter fades into the next.

Not all toxic people are cruel and uncaring. Some of them love us dearly. Many of them have good intentions. Most are toxic to our being simply because their needs and way of existing in the world force us to compromise ourselves and our happiness. They aren’t inherently bad people, but they aren’t the right people for us. And as hard as it is, we have to let them go. Life is hard enough without being around people who bring you down, and as much as you care, you can’t destroy yourself for the sake of someone else. You have to make your well-being a priority. Whether that means breaking up with someone you care about, loving a family member from a distance, letting go of a friend, or removing yourself from a situation that feels painful — you have every right to leave and create a safer space for yourself.  Cheers!