There's always something to be grateful for. When we are grateful, we surrender and trust. When we decide to be grateful for what has shown up in our life, when we loosen our grip and go with the flow, that is gratitude. That's not giving up. It's allowing the space for the highest good to appear, believing that what will come with the flow of the universe will serve you. Gratitude is acceptance that we can handle what comes and that we are good enough for it. Embrace gratitude, let it engulf you. Gratitude is contagious. Everything may not be going right but everything isn't going wrong either. We open ourselves to life by grateful. If you are breathing, say thank you and embrace gratitude as a daily practice. Hope you enjoy this edition of the Own Your Own Power Podcast.

We can pause and go with the flow or approach change kicking and screaming. But change is change, some changes are good and some changes are dramatic and twist us to unexpected places. But just like we can't stop autumn or winter from coming, we can embrace change in a way that makes our lives flow. Allow time for your mind, your brain, your body to embrace the change and then consider what's next. This podcast episode offers some thoughts on rolling with the flow of embracing change.

Sometimes as adults we're caught up in focusing on yesterday or worrying about tomorrow. But young children see life more simply and I think being reminded of some of their perspectives can help us be calmer, be our best selves, embrace the here and now. Children are living much in the past, where as adults we see disappointment, they're not living in the future, where as adults we caught up in anticipation and worry. My podcast edition focuses on some excellent motivational thoughts from a grandniece that I recently spent time as she's preparing for a new school year: Have a great day, Be yourself, Do good each day, Try your best, Love yourself, and be a good friend. I hope you will listen and will find the perspectives can make your pause to embrace here and now, thus better able to own your own power.

The word “EMBRACE” is a word that evokes action, that makes you think, that makes you feel something. So, in this new year and throughout the year, I want to encourage you to really, really feel and to really do things deliberately that seize times to be joyful and happy. To embrace times for yourself, those you love and those you want to help. Gallup's 2022 survey says unhappiness has risen globally, with several factors contributing to it. This podcast shares reasons to make this year a reason to embrace happiness. Toni Morrison's last work, The Source for Self-Regard, spanned four decades of her works and distinguished knowledge from wisdom ... this podcast discusses embracing wisdom. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a champion for many things and now is a time to embrace the challenges he left us with, including hope and love.  A new Boston monument to him is titled, The Embrace, and the artist is on point in why he chose his design. As you move into 2023, embrace is a theme for each of us to embrace life, change, happiness, wisdom, social interactions, human connections, and love. Listen to how to get started.

I'm thinking about several gifts and people this time of year. The combination of purpose, love, generosity, and empathy make for the best gifts this time of year and all year. The people who are on my mind include my mother (whose passing happened 10 years ago), words from Oprah and Chadwick Boseman about purpose and words from Michelle Obama's book on "The Light We Carry." My podcast touches on Chadwick's comments on living our purpose, the gifts that I learned from my mother's life of generosity and love, how Michelle Obama's thoughts on empathy show us that "I see a little of you and you see a little of me" and more thoughts of the gifts we give all year long. I hope you will enjoy it. 

Have you ever thought about how often you're looking down instead of looking up. It may be more often than you're aware. Looking down at your phone, iPad, computer in your lap, or as you walk. As Autumn continues, this season of change and evolution is a good time to step back, see the horizon, take a leap and soar high, actually look up and look at ourselves. When no one else is looking, it matters the most that we're honest with how we're living up to our own standards. Be your own validator. You may fool other people but you know the truth about how you measure up. Take the doubts and fears and breathe courage into them. Like the might oak tree whose branches reach outward and upward, look up and stretch yourself.

Recently we heard Serena announce she wasn't retiring but rather was looking at this next part of her life as an evolution. When I retired from my main job several years ago, it wasn't retirement from life, it was a huge change for me but I evolved into a new segment that brought excitement, some unknowns and plenty of fulfillment. I heard the term rewirement from a women aged 70 who started a new career as a fashion model at that age. She even talked about using different colors in her attire changed how people saw her. What I know is that this part of my life has been greatly fulfilling as I've rewired to focus on my passions, the treasures God has given to me and serve a purpose. This podcast talks about this. Hope you will take a listen.

My husband's Aunt Fannie recently said "I'm in my own shadow" and I've been thinking about what that could mean. I think it inspires confidence, living your own life, not needing others to tell you how to be but rather looking within for your guidance. Taking life's experience and deciding who you are, not what others prescribe for you. There's some consistency too in looking at advice from Maya Angelou, the way Paul Newman & Joanne Woodward lived, my parents, and an author for Black youth literature named Jason Reynolds. All in all, when we are standing in our own shadow, we don't cower to others, the sun must be shining in order for there to be a shadow and we can stand up to who we want to be. Take a listen for more on this topic.