Lift Shift

If you are one of the people struggling right now during the holidays to improve your quality of life or just to keep your life on track you are not alone. There are many people trying to improve themselves or take baby steps to improve some area of their life. There are no perfect people. Look at the person next to you. Looks like they have it all together, don't they? Maybe not! What many of us forget in our lives often is that person has said, done things and thought things that would probably shock you. Yet we pretend we are perfect. Society has taught us what the blueprint is to fit into today and if we don't fit that mold we run and hide. We pretend everything is perfect and that we aren't stressed out.

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Zara House was formed six years ago in West Virginia and it is a house and rehabilitation center for sex trafficking victims. Co founder Ariel is a leader, pioneer and making a difference in the world of sex trafficking.

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This year many people have found themselves overwhelmed with self doubt and some will even stay paralyzed with doubt, unable to get through it. It's not uncommon to have self doubt and everyone goes through it in some stage of their life. What's important to keep in mind is that sharing your own experiences can lead to helping others.

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I met Mary five years ago through church in my hometown of Elkhart, Indiana. We had great conversation and I was instantly intrigued by her passion and purehearted approach to the world. Many people are searching for hope and direction right now and Mary offers this in for other in many different forms.

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I met Tim at a birthday party in Cabo San Lucas and from the get go I knew how creative and articulate he was. He is a captivating photographer and a great conversationalist. His business started with nightlife photography and red carpets, where he says, "Any celebrity that has been to Vegas, I've shot. I would shoot for other media outlets. It was a great start to my career but then I moved forward to publish my magazine, Deluxe Version Magazine.

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What Are the Hair Trends for 2020/2021? Kyra Kloepping Kyra works for Prima Salon in Scottsdale, Arizona where she has been trying to look at this year's unexpectedness through a positive lens and accept new opportunities that come her way. Her salon shut down in February where they stayed closed for a month but she used the time to work with her clients and take the extra time she found herself with to travel to them in order to meet their needs. Background with Kyra She is 24 years old and was born and raised near Madison, Wisconsin. She moved to Arizona a few years ago and has been in the hair industry for about five years. She attended a technical college specifically for hair called Madison College which she says was extremely fast-paced and intense. When she wasn't in hair school she was working part time as a receptionist at a salon to get her foot in the door and to learn the ins and outs of salon life. Kyra knew she wanted to be a stylist for about ten years. She states that she thinks her interest came from being a dancer as a kid and having to do their hair and makeup in various ways for different dances. She knew a four year university wasn't for her and wanted to try hair school to see how she would fare- she's loved it ever since. She mentions plenty of people assuming that hair is more simple than what it is and how so much more work goes into being a hairstylist. Hair styling is definitely all about continuing education with things changing each year and with every season. Kyra says,"You can never be the best, you can always keep growing." Kyra's short term goal was to rent her own chair at a salon and she was given the opportunity sooner rather than later when her previous salon went out of business. It's intimidating, but it gives her something to work towards, like looking for new clients to keep business coming in. In the future she'd love to have her own space in a studio or suite and potentially have her own salon. Her goals mean more work and come with more responsibility but she is focused on growth and seeing where her path takes her. Marketing techniques for getting new clients? Referrals - your clients tend to be a lot like you because you attract people you can talk to and get along with and have things in common with. Asking your clients to send you their family or friends is a huge way to get more business. Instagram- Looking into using the right hashtags, having the right timing of posts, knowing what to caption your post, and taking more time to finish colors and styles so they look photo ready. Yelp - getting good reviews so people can look up your name and see previous positive experiences. What are popular colors and trends on clients right now? Kyra says that a lot of blonde is popular with both guys and girls right now, and it also could be because of the season. Silver hair and pastels are also extremely popular because people don't have to go to work in person or as normally right now so people are doing fun things with their hair. Even kids who aren't going to school can try new styles or colors. A popular trend that has been consistent are beachy wave curls, which lots of people can't achieve on their own and want help at learning how to do it. Lots of Kyra's clients either ask her to style their hair with beach curls or ask for advice on how to achieve the look on their own. With the right curling wand, you can get the same look! She recommends the Hot Tools 1 inch curling wand and reminds us that you don't always have to spend the most money to get the best product. Dyson hair dryer - pros and cons vs other products? "Ultimately, it is the best dryer that is on the market for hair right now. Dyson tested a new technology for the way that it filters. Normal hair dryers have the filter on the back of the dryer and it could catch your hair. The Dyson has the filter on the bottom of the dryer, so you won't get your hair caught and it's supposed to dry the hair faster. Salons need time and the better dryers take less time. It also has a 2 year warranty which is amazing. Spending more money on something like that and that will last a little longer is totally worth it." What fashion and beauty magazine is your favorite and why? In-Style Magazine has a good selection of trends. There's hair, nails, and beauty all in one. We carry it in the salon and I like flipping through it to see the trends. It's fun to step back, sit down and relax to read something that's easy to digest. Advice to your younger self: Set goals and achieve them. Take time to make them (short or long term) and don't lose sight of them. Try your best to achieve them. Hair Stylist Misconceptions Kyra says a huge misconception would most likely be her age. People tend to wonder if she'll know what she's doing or if she can only do hair on younger people. Kyra focuses on being well-rounded to be able to work on every type of hair and to see what each client needs. Favorite Retail Store? "Sephora has a great selection and everyone there is helpful. It would probably be my favorite to visit. I also love Ulta and it's closer to me and I don't have to deal with the mall traffic. Both stores are great places to get whatever you need and get any help with products." Who knows you best? Kyra's immediate response is her sister who recently moved in with her. She said they've always been close but Kyra went to college and moved away and then her sister did the same so they haven't had an opportunity to be around each other like this since high school. She says even apart they had a close relationship and talked every day. They both love to help each other emotionally and they can read each other easily. Where can we find you? Instagram @kyrakloeppinghair

I'm talking today with Jeffrey Lazos Ferns - Gallery Director at C Gallery Art in Scottsdale, Arizona. The gallery opened a coffee shop inside and I introduced myself to him and we could've talked all day! Jeffrey is a native Arizonan. He's worked with DC Ranch Art in administration over 25 years. He mentions working under the "whole umbrella" of the arts. His passion is arts and culture with a focus at looking at art in the community and using art as a catalyst for positive change. There are many variations of art where you can use it to build bridges in society and within communities. Jeffrey's current position as Gallery Director for C Gallery Art came to him while he was working in Administration and Communications for Arizona American Indian Tourism Association. The pandemic hit and he knew that it would take a while for the industry to fully recover. Charlene Falk, owner of the gallery had a very specific vision for the director position and he was chosen based on his past experience and the collective vision they had for the gallery. The space used to be a realty office but the gallery has been in that space for a year. They closed for a month during the pandemic and then put together a plan and vision for the gallery in May and June. The idea as they move into their art season is to do public programs and build on the vision of being an arts and culture hub that features female artists. Who inspired you to show women's artwork? Jeffrey was raised by single mother who had eight kids, four of them being sisters. He describes her as a very feminist and strong woman that encompassed the values of a mother - love, family and caring. Jeffrey notes that throughout his many roles in his career in the arts that there's always been a big presence of the patriarchy and even in the sub roles in museums a lot of women were running leadership roles but their art wasn't being showcased. They would be really talented as artists but would take a position as an administrator because their work wasn't valued; maybe not intentionally but old institutions weren't able to look past those blocks for so long. Jeffrey states, "Being connected to strong women my entire life I knew that this wasn't what I should do, this is what I have to do. My mother, being a native woman of color, didn't let anyone tell her she couldn't do anything. That mentality is what I see in so many extraordinary women artists."

I thought I knew what "Me Time" was from reading books and asking questions. But what I'm finding out as I continue with my life is that it doesn't have to be a 'selfish' activity like taking a bubble bath or getting a pedicure. It also doesn't have to be with just yourself. You can do something with a friend that you both enjoy Living in Arizona, 'me time' involves a lot of hiking trails and visiting the great spas and resorts in the area. I know that it's important to take time out of my day to fill my cup up and recharge by doing something I like. Whether it's aqua aerobics, spinning classes or walking on the treadmill, physical exercise and the chance to quiet my mind allows me to nurture my spirit. This helps me to be more present in my life and my relationships and to center my heart and channel my passions towards things that I enjoy. When I'm able to do this, I can focus on being more creative when I'm serving others. Working at half capacity doesn't serve anyone. You can be a physical body in a room during a meeting but if you aren't contributing to the conversation because you're worn down, then who are you really serving? Is Me Time Selfish? Many people ask themselves this and you really have to stop and think about what you're doing each day. It can be more beneficial in the long run to take five minutes out of your day to simply read or look at photographs. It will help fuel your spirit and recharge your brain.

What does this phrase mean? Many of us have experienced this at some point in our lives. We tell ourselves we're well. We surround ourselves with people that make us feel safe but also don't stretch us past our comfort zones. Read more HERE.