So much to be thankful for...

About a year ago, I watched the Biggest Loser Marathon episode and was inspired.  I started to reflect upon my life, self improvement and a sense of accomplishment and I came up with the wacky idea to run the LA Marathon to raise money for Get On The Bus.  Although in thought this was great, in theory I had no idea what I was doing.  How would I be able to promote this idea and garner support for it in a direct way?  

I started to brainstorm and I came up with the idea of possibly starting a blog.  However, I had thought this to be something only for the technically gifted, which many of you know, I am not.  I bounced around the idea with a couple of friends.  Not only did they buy into it, but they kept on asking, "Did you start that blog yet?"  

I used many excuses saying that I was too busy at work or that as soon as I get through X, I am going to get it up and running.  However, one fateful day I opened up my mail and found out I was summoned to jury duty.  Now jury duty for someone with my personality is pretty much a death sentence.  For those of you who know me well, you will know that I am constantly overextending myself and I thrive on busyness and high pressure situations.  How was I to go to a court house for 8 hours and just sit there?  

I had heard a little rumor that they had WiFi there so I brought around my laptop and after about an hour of goofing around on facebook, reading the news and other Hollywood gossip columns, I decided to venture into an unknown world.  I had heard about blogger.com from many, but still had not ever went on the site.  As I stroked the words, my heart started to race as I realized that this may be in fact the day that I either land my own blog or get very frustrated in the process.

I read the instructions and started playing around with different templates and in about an hour or so, my blog was set up.  Again, I thought this could be a passing fad and I am just going to do it for a month to see how it goes.  Well, after a month, my readership picked up and I was starting to do exactly what I set out to do: I was training and raising money for Get On The Bus and this became my vehicle to do both.  So as I sit here about a year later, I am now reflecting this Thanksgiving about all the gifts that I am thankful for.  Here's what I would like to share with you:

1.  My family and friends.  I by far am the luckiest person alive because I have the best family both biological and in-laws and friends that anyone could ever dream of.  We have overcome a lot together but you all have continued to stick by me and show me unconditional love.  I cherish the relationship that we have together and hope that it continues to grow and blossom over time.  Thank you all so much for loving me!!

2.  Adversity.  When I meet people, one comment that they always make is that being so young, I have been able to accomplish a lot.  I attribute this to have lived a lot of life in my 29 years.  Many things have happened to me and my family that have not happened to others and instead of getting down about this, it is my motivation to keep on pushing.  As my dad always says the true definition of courage is "composure under pressure."

3.  Change.  There are two constants in this world- death and taxes and everything else is constantly changing.  I am grateful that my life is full of surprises and constant change.  This year especially has been interesting with a cross country move, losing most of our things and changing jobs.  Although at times, I want to bang my head up against the wall, I recognize and realize that change is the universe's way of moving everything into exactly where it should be.

4.  Grace.  As I said in a previous blog entry, the most important features of my life have all come by grace.  I had never planned to meet my husband Joe, get involved with Sr. Suzanne and Get On The Bus, co-host a radio show or have this blog.  Thank God grace had planned all of this for me.

5.  Inspiration.  Just as many of you have commented that I have inspired you by what I am doing, you have equally inspired me.  Some of you have completed your first races ever this year as a reaction to this blog.  Others have gotten their PRs.  Some of you have decided to volunteer and give back to causes that you believe in.  I am not at all taking credit for any of this but I am proud of your accomplishments.  May you continue to motivate me!

6.  Voice.  I am so excited that in NYC last week a panel of about 200 people got together to specifically talk about children who have incarcerated parents.  It was a completely engaging day with not only professionals in the field but political leaders both at the city and the state level.  We also got to hear the voice of the children, which I think is always an important piece.  The policy recommendations we all came up with will be given to the new governor elect in the new year.  This is so big because this is the first time that anything like this has ever happened and I was honored to be part of it.

7.  All of my readers and listeners.  I thank all of you for following me, no matter who you are or what your opinion might be.  I was having a discussion with someone the other day and they said that I was really brave to have the blog and the radio show that I do.  The concept can be a little controversial and I realize that not everyone agrees with me.  I am grateful for all of your opinions as they add intelligent conversation to a topic even though I still do believe that mine is just the more correct one ;p.  However, I think we can all agree that we need to do something to help our next generation and save our children.  

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  I invite you to take a couple minutes and reflect on the gifts that you are thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Last Night's Show

Hello Everyone,

Last night's Scales of Justice show was really incredible.  A recent study from NewsOK found that children with incarcerated parents in the state of Oklahoma are five times as likely to become incarcerated than their peers.  We looked at the issues affecting children with incarcerated parents from the inside out. 

The show was empowering and uplifting.  We talked with Dawn Davison, the former Warden of California Institute for Women in Corona, CA and Sharon Content, Founder and Executive Director of Children of Promise in Brooklyn, NY. 

If you haven't yet, this is one that you don't want to miss. 

http://www.latalkradio.com/images/Scales-111410.mp3

Helping the children from the inside out...Tonight's Scales of Justice Topic

Just a reminder to all my readers, tonight is my Scales of Justice show and it is going to be awesome.  Our topic as always is how to help the children.  This month we have an inside/outside, east coast/west coast vibe with our two guests.

Dawn Davison is the former Warden of California Institute for Women.  She is an amazingly progressive thinker when it comes to programming for women in prison and reuniting them with their families.  Gigi Breland, who was my September guest and who I have talked about several times on my blog, served 29 years at CIW and when Dawn retired she said that "Dawn was truly a gem and would be missed by all the women at the women."  This really struck me because normally people in prison and the Warden of the prison naturally clash, but in Dawn's case, she would walk the yard almost daily talking and greeting the women.

Sharon Content is the Founder and Executive Director of Children of Promise in Brooklyn NY.  She came along the path of helping children of incarcerated parents after she realized that many of the at risk children that she was serving in her previous positions all had a parent in prison.  She set up her agency to serve the Bedford Stuyesant section.  She has a mentor program, an afterschool program and a summer camp.

Shirley and I are really excited for our guests and hope that you will tune in tonight at 6 pm- 7 pm PST/ 9 pm- 10 pm EST.  Below are the instructions:

1.  Go to www.latalkradio.com.
2.  On the right hand side of the page under Channel 2, click "listen live."

As always, I will post the archive on my blog after the show.  However, this is one that I wouldn't miss!!

Breathe, just breathe...

So if you know me at all, you will know that flying is probably one of my least favorite things in the world.  Everytime I have to fly, not does it invoke a horrible feeling in my gut, but it really is traumatic.  Strangely enough, my sister has similar issues.  Don't ask me why or how my mother was a flight attendant for years up until I was born?   I guess some things will just remain a mystery.

However, this weekend I took off for a long weekend in South Beach to spend some quality time with my sister.  As I was getting ready for my flight, I noticed that one crucial item was missing...my anxiety pills that tend to just help to take the edge off.  Crap! Out of all things to be destroyed during the moving accident, why these?  I only take them on rare occasions, but they are life savers. 

As I approached my gate at Newark airport, I sat down at the bar and went to fall back number two: a glass of wine.  When the bartender came over and asked whether I would like a large or small glass, I told her that I hated to fly and asked her what she suggested?  A large glass it was.  I don't know what it is, but wine just seems to make the world seem like a better place.  As I finished my glass, I started to feel that I could handle it.

I boarded my flight and it was looking like I would have the whole row to myself.  Then right before the seat belt sign came on a man asked if he could sit at the window seat.  Sure, what did I care?  He sat down and started to talk with me.  I learned that he was flying to Columbia to adopt an 11 year old child name Jose.  As we questioned each other about our careers, I learned something crucial.  He was a breathing coach.  Holy crap, this one was a match made in heaven.  As we took off, I told him that I wasn't a great flyer and he said, "You just need to exhale a little more."

So I did.  Did it help?  Yes, it did.  So next time you are in a panic about something, don't forget to exhale.  As for now, I am going to have to sign off as the South Beach rays are calling my name.  Ta ta for now...