Half of the world experiences menstruation, yet females still face extraordinary barriers simply because of their periods. A study found that 71% of girls in India report having no knowledge of menstruation before their first period. (From the Menstrual Health in India Report sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) My first reaction, that’s absurd! Yet, when I thought back to puberty I can’t remember anyone talking to me about my first period before it happened. Not even my mom. In Africa, you’ll hear girls refer to their periods as their time of shame. The unavailability of sanitary products in developing countries is a barrier to education for school age girls. It contributes to absences of up to 4 to 5 school days each month, that’s 20% of the academic year skipped due to menstruation. It further limits their future career and economic opportunities. Let’s get rid of the stigma and taboos. Be proud. Period.

http://menstrualhygieneday.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/FSG-Menstrual-Health-Landscape_India.pdf

https://www.afripads.com/what-we-do/

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Happy International Women's Day. This year’s theme: Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change. I will be spending the rest of March talking about women’s issues. Women’s issues are also men’s issues because we all need each other. I happen to be uniquely qualified to speak as a woman so tune in ladies. And if you’re a man, tune in so you can understand what is happening with 50% of the world's population. I take your feedback to heart. I hear you wishing for better sound. I have a new microphone and hope the improvement in sound quality is an indication of how much I value you as my tribe. You deserve the best that I can afford to give you. I also hear you asking me to get personal. So I’m going to the edge where it’s not comfortable. That’s where the growth is for me too. I hope to inspire you to do the same in your own life.

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Do you apologize too much? Or not enough? If you fall in the former camp, you’re constantly saying I’m sorry. You find yourself reaching for something at the same time as someone else and say I’m sorry instead of excuse me, go ahead. Or if someone is blocking your way, you say I’m sorry instead of pardon me, may I pass. Stop. Don’t give away your power. You’re making yourself small with your speech. You don’t need to make false apologies. This is how you maintain integrity of speech. Save your apologies for expressing regret, accepting responsibility, making restitution, genuine repentance and requesting forgiveness. And if you’ve never apologized in a meaningful way, you're robbing yourself of a great gift. To be wrong and see that you are loved in spite of your mistakes. I’ll be helping you with that in the future.

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Sharing some thoughts from Sam Hill. He says, "The people you are dealing with are suffering. Almost everyone you meet is practically drowning in self concern. Just look at them. Listen to them. They are broadcasting their own self-doubt and anxiety and disappointment. They are worried about what others think of them. If you get out of yourself for a moment. If you can just take a step back from feeling implicated in what’s happening around you. You will generally see that you are surrounded by a carnival of human frailty.” Thank you Sam Hill. This is so beautifully put. It opened my heart wide to a tidal wave of compassion. It really did make me take a step back and realize my implication comes from my own self concern. We really are in this together. Look and listen today, notice what others are broadcasting. What’s beneath the bluster?

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One of the benefits of understanding the discussion on values is that it helps you appreciate others. When someone makes a decision that is different than yours, they're just living by what they think is important. That’s how two people can get the same information yet come to a different conclusion. That's more than okay. I hope it allows you to have compassion for others. They struggle with the same thing you do. There’s constant angst when you're not living in alignment with what your heart truly values. As we grow up, we tend to adopt the values of our family, culture, society or any organizations we belong to. Adulting means knowing who you are and what you stand for when none of those things are around you.

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Let’s get to applying your highest value. What use is knowing if you don’t apply it. It’s like going to the beach and leaving the sunblock in the car. Yesterday, you chose the value that matters most. The one you were left holding from a list of at least 30 values. After I sat with my pile, I ended up holding Connection. How do I use this to make decisions? Let’s say that I have two competing events to go to. One is a large party with 100 people and another one is a small dinner with four friends. I would take a minute to reflect which one offers me the most connection. For me, it would be dinner with my friends. I’ll know I’ve chosen correctly, because once I’ve gone and had the dinner, I’ll feel great about it. That’s what happens when you live by your highest value. You instantly know you’ve honored it because it feels good. If you are living by someone else’s values, you’ll feel burned out. Slather that SPF 100 Value all over, apply daily!

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How to identify your most important value. Today we’re talking about picking your nose. Just kidding, let’s talk about choosing your top value. You probably spent more time picking your nose as a child than you have as an adult figuring out what values your life revolves around. Let's go ahead and do that. Get paper. Write out the 30 values covered in episodes 32 through 61, beginning February 1st so you can see them all in front of you. Add any values that are important to you that are not on the list. Rule out all but 10, I mean physically cross out lower priority values. Cut that in half until you are left with 5. Cross out 2. Cross out 2 more until you are left with 1. Circle it. There you have it. In less than 5 minutes you chose the value that speaks most to you. Do this exercise with your team or friends and share your top values with one another. You’re welcome! I just saved you thousands of dollars on an organizational team building and values workshop.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

Value Vulnerability. "It's the courage to show up and be seen." Thank you Brene Brown. It’s so simple and profound. I feel like we’ve grown accustomed to wearing a lot of armor in the world. Modern day armor can be makeup, clothes, accessories and a nice haircut. Don’t get me wrong because for me those things also fall under the category of art, beauty and expression. But a lot of the same sensations that go with naked also describe vulnerability. Vulnerability is something I have to choose who I’m going to show it to. I’m always so impressed when people are exceptionally good at this, about highlighting their humanity. I feel like we’re not ready for it until somebody has made it. It’s so uncomfortable to see somebody in their process, it’s just too close to home. That’s why when we have friends we can be vulnerable with or they can be vulnerable with us it’s so special. It’s really saved for a circle of very intimate close relationships, we’re not just vulnerable with the world.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]     Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

Value Wisdom. This is something that we tend to associate with our elders or age and experience. But sometimes you’ll hear wisdom come out of the mouth of babes. It’s just something that rings to be universally true. In the science world there are theories and scientists test them to see if they hold. That’’s what we hope for with wisdom. There are many opinions but which ones over time and all sorts of different experiences keep ringing true. As a coach, I feel like I spend a lot of time showing people that there are so few truths out there, we can make our own beliefs. Wisdom is holding onto the beliefs that serve us well and letting go of the ones that don’t. Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]

Value Spirituality. This is fascinating for me because I have some strong beliefs about my own spirituality. I do believe it’s an exploration of the things that make you who you are and the connection to something bigger than ourselves. Things don't always quite add up in life. When I see people who against all odds have really turned their lives into somethings exceptional. I just think man that was your spirit because you just defied all the statistics, the outcome is contrary to your experience and upbringing and culture. Something in you despite maybe not having both parents, suffered abuse, the mundane or whatever setbacks including the trappings of misspent wealth or soul-sucking success figured out that you wanted and deserved more. Even though there wasn't a single voice from the outside saying it. To me that's the spirit. Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]