Courageous Lives of Children and How They Beat Cancer

Have you ever heard that that the courageous lives of children are grounded in the principles of biology?

This is about super human powers, although you could say we have the ability to do whatever we want if we really put our mind to it.

A friend of mine was sharing on Facebook the other day that long time friends of his family have a 4 year old little girl that had been battling cancer for most of her short, young life.

Needless to say, they just celebrated her conquering cancer and had a huge party for the going away of that disease!

The thing is, although she was ill for so long, she doesn't see it that way. Her mind doesn't have that negative aspect of it that we tend to grasp and hang onto as adults. We have a tendency in our humanness to take information in, and then we wear it like it's the holy grail.

In this case, she didn't have the capacity to say, "if I get better", or "if I live to tell about it". When we get to be adults, we stop thinking positively and let life take over. There isn't any reason to live this way! Do you agree? Observing children tells us a lot about ourselves, in how we think and act. The mind is so powerful.

The courageous lives of children are evidence that we don't have to resort to that way of living. Children overcome illnesses rather quickly. If you have a toddler in your home, you know this all too well. They tire down when ill, but when they get up, they are still full of energy!

Children don't have the mindset that anything can stop them. You already know that they never give up! They will persist and persist until they get what they want. It's amazing! Children are the perfect example of going at it again and again until they wear themselves out!

It's a beautiful thing! When in doubt, always remember that there is something to be said by reading about and sharing more about the courageous lives of children!

Do Motivational T-Shirts Mean We Can Perform Better?

Believe it or not, we found yet another article today about the effects of motivational t-shirts. The biggest surprise is The Simpsons, a well beloved animated prime time TV show is what sparked the conversation for the two individuals that wrote about it.

Can we perform better as a result of what we are wearing? Do certain types of clothes make us feel better or do they make us look better and therefore we feel better?

Two researchers from Northwestern were curious when they saw an episode of The Simpsons that got them thinking about how Homer was perceived differently by the students at the school where he was a janitor.

What was the big deal? It was a drab gray uniform that was given to Homer to wear for work. Upon the event of a rainstorm, the dye was washed off revealing tye-dye which really got the students attention! They were a bit freaked out. So, I guess the students thought he was in a Hazmat suit or maybe a zombie?

Whatever the case may be, how we dress sends a message. Many people perceive how you dress differently dependent upon the style they like too. Those that dress with a Goth style appreciate others dressed in a Goth style. There are many who freak out when they see individuals dressed in Goth type clothing.

Motivational t-shirts are their own story, and you'll see tons of folks wearing them in the gym. In fact, the two researchers on this project coined the term "enclothed cognition", and talk about how it relates to how people feel better able to work out because of what they wear.

While in a lab, some students were given lab coats while others just wore what they showed up in. Surprisingly, those students wearing lab coats did much better than those without. Why? Lab coats trigger the thought that "Hey these people are smart." Some might say, "Wow, they look smart.."

The same applies to motivational t-shirts. Some people feel better about themselves just by wearing them. Naturally, if something is written or printed on a t-shirt, people will look at it. We are creatures of habit. We have to look, otherwise we wouldn't be human!

Aside from "motivational t-shirts", consider the company Lululemon that makes fitness apparel. Many women won't wear the yoga pants if they don't feel their shape is adequate enough to do so. They won't wear spandex or the Wunder Unders that the company sells for $82.

However, if you see someone wearing these outfits, you'll think, "Wow, they must be in good shape because they work out." It's all about perception, and certain types of clothing will no doubt send a message to those that see you. Would you like the impression to at least be a positive one?

Wouldn't you like for people to believe that you are courageous? What about getting people to believe that you stand for something? We can help. Please be sure to stop by and check out our full line of apparel designs to inspire courage, inspiration and motivation. You can go HERE to find our motivational t-shirts NOW!

Putting the Holiday Blues to Rest

News reports each year come out about how to beat the holiday blues. It seems that every year, there are more deaths, sadness, and that overwhelming feeling of aloneness that strikes many.

It's not something that happens suddenly because it's winter but often because it's been on the mind of the individual that it is affected. Perhaps they have experienced tremendous loss in their life and they are looking for a way to recover from it.

When loneliness strikes, it's hard to hide it for a long time. You find yourself looking for a reason to make connections, go out, take a walk, maybe even throw a party.

You find that you want to do this more often during the holidays because you start thinking about how much you miss a loved one that passed, or perhaps you have lost a friend.

The holiday blues are more than feeling sad, because this year so many are left without work, a loss of income or even a loss of public assistance that they had been receiving. There were thousands on unemployment that finally dropped off of the payroll, and now they are left without feeling as though they can provide for their families.

Kids go without Christmas gifts, they cannot feed their children, and all they can feel is despair. It seems other family members are doing just great, but somehow they cannot seem to make it work. Then, there is another piece to this puzzle.

There are families that live on a stringent budget, and now they battle holiday blues because of the commercialization of Christmas. They start to feel the pressure of not "being enough", or the inability to "not spend enough". Although they have shopped and have the ability to do so, it's all about how much they can buy and how big the gift is to those they spend time with.

It makes it tough when you are surrounded by even one of these issues, let alone two of them. Unless people have been through it, it's hard for them to understand how you feel. Where are you at with the "holiday blues"? Are things going pretty well? Do you have it in you to step up and share your heart with others?

If you are employed and enjoying your family this year, remember those who are not. It is not always true that people "live off of the system", or that they "don't work hard enough". In fact, now more than ever, there are so many that have fallen on hard times. How has God blessed you?

If He has blessed you, why not make it a point to bless others. If you know someone that is struggling with the holiday blues, reach out and share your love with them this season. Live courageously!

Courageous Acts Deserve Courageous Rewards!

It has been said that there are so few courageous acts, yet we can share the story of one we just came across today that will touch your heart.

Captain Bill Dowling of the Houston Fire Department performed one such act recently when he responded to a hotel fire in Southwest Houston in May of this year.

It was there that four firefighters died, and 13 others were injured as a result of the courage. Dowling lost both of his legs fighting the fire, and as of today he still cannot speak.

He currently has physical therapy each week, and naturally he only plans to make progress. The great part of this story is that the end result of his courageous acts aren't dampering his spirit.

Needless to say, his family is quite proud, and on Saturday he received an award for his courage from Liberty Mutual as part of the awards they use to honor firefighters around the country. While Dowling's wife Jacki would turn back the hands of time if she could to have her husband the way he was prior to this event, she could only smile when her husband was given the award over the weekend.

Kathy Huynh, the representative for Liberty Mutual that was at their home to present the plaque said that, "It was a very emotional moment for us." She shared with the family that 100 firefighters are honored each year, and only two are selected for this special award.

It was Dowling's co-workers at the Fire Deparment that shared his story of his courageous acts about his attempt at helping fight the fire. Dowling was in tears while trying to express a thank you for this award with this wife and children present, which in turn brought emotion from his wife Jacki.

Knowing that he was trying to show gratitude is how she knows he is sharing some joy and light through his brokenness that comes with the reality of losing limbs and being limited in the scope of one's job. How would you handle this?

Knowing the risks that come with the job didn't stop Captain Bill Dowling from his courageous acts. Instead, he did what he knew to do best, risking his life and limbs to save the livers of others. It is all too often that we don't think about the risks these firefighters take, along with police officers, and others that serve our community every day.

What would you do? Would you stop being courageous? Would you continue to do what you do best in an attempt to help others? We believe that our firefighters are so important, along with law enforcement officers, nurses and doctors that help people every day.

Don't ever let fear damper your "courageous acts"!

Anti-Bullying March Takes Place in Port Coquitlam

If you are visiting Port Coquitlam and you see hundreds of pink t-shirts and umbrellas without the pink ribbon, it's the anti-bullying march being done by the organization I AM SOMEONE.

This march took place last year in honor of Amanda Todd, a victim of bullying that made national headlines once she took her life. Last year, the march was  called The Snowflake Walk, but it's now under the new name.

The organizer Greg Moore wanted to change the scope of this year's event, simply because bullying has now made headlines with more incidents of suicide behind it.

Moore was rather sensitive to the Todd Family as they have created their own endeavors. Moore even changed the logo to exemplify the greater good for more teens rather than just one. Although, he always states that every life is just as important as the next.

The movement he is focusing on is one he works on with Carol Todd, the mother of Amanda. Prior to the start of the walk, there was music, other entertainers, and even motivational speakers present to help with the event.

One of the guests was Conrad Gray, another young man being bullied for his autism. He is plenty aware of the fact that others are being bullied for so many reasons, and as a result he wants to support this movement. So, what is the key to helping those that have been bullied? How can you create a strong anti-bullying effort?

Victims of bullying have said that the best place is to start at home. As parents, be involved in what your kids are doing. Talk to them, and make sure they know the door is always open. It's time to raise awareness, and there are still not enough anti-bullying campaigns to go around.

Events are great, support groups are great, and it's great to bring awareness out with some motivational t-shirts too. This is why we offer them here! We believe that bullying is wrong, and we support those that take a stand against it.

Will you take a stand? Check out our full line of motivational apparel, and make it a point to join up with the closest "anti-bullying" campaign you can find!

The Heroic Motivation of Karyna Douglass

Heroic motivation is the kind that you only see once in awhile, when someone does something because they want something so bad they will go to any length to accomplish it.

This is true for Karyna Douglass, a young woman from Portland, Oregon that wanted to join the Army.

Karyna was told that she had to lose 110 pounds for her to join and she did it. It is no surprise that an endeavor like this takes motivation and dedication.

Needless to say, Karyna did it and even during the holiday season right now she remains true to her plan to keep the weight off for her new adventure into the military. So, how in the world did she do it?

When Karyna was interviewed by Fox, she told her story about working out at the fire station with the guys she works with, and she avoids those situations where she might find the pie, cookies, and other culinary delights that we all see this time of year.

Naturally, the crew at Fox had their own questions about what stirred this heroic motivation in her. Was in people making fun of her? Was it health problems? Karyna dug a bit deeper than that. I tend to think of insults as something that we can all resonate with, and honestly, insults make it easy to go out and perform better to make changes.

It's having your own reason that most people struggle with. I know I had to learn that it was about doing it for me and NOT for other people. While going on a whale watching tour, she was amidst the Coast Guard. It was that reminder of watching them serve that made her refocus on NOT meeting the weight requirement.

She wanted to be admired, the way she saw others admired members of the Coast Guard and other members of the military. She wanted to be revered. While working at the Zoo in Portland, she just didn't get the physical activity she needed to get there. It was time for a change.

Karyna was on her own mission to complete this time, and knew that if she could do that she could do anything she wanted. Now that she has reached her goal, she is ready to be sworn in on December 12, which is just a few days away!

Do you have this same type of heroic motivation to accomplish something? What would it take for you to make a positive change in your life? Do you have to be pushed or does something have to go wrong for you to do something right?

It's time for all of us to make changes, but as you go into the holiday season, don't lose sight of living the way God intended us to live. Make it a point to live each day with "heroic motivation", and live courageously.

Lift the Holiday Spirit for Those in the LGBT Community This Year!

Do you know someone in the LGBT community that is struggling with family issues right now? Right now during the holiday season it's easy to reach out to others and it's easy to show love. When that holiday spirit goes away, where does it leave you?

I was reflecting on the struggles of many friends I have that have come forward to say they are gay, and yet their families do not accept them or welcome them home during the holidays. What kind of world are we living in?

I began to realize how much I still don't understand regardless of the number of friends I have in the LGBT community, what they feel when others are so close to their family and enjoy holiday traditions. It seems that no one would have to go without a place to go for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but I find out that this just isn't true.

There are so many left without a home to welcome them at this time of year, and probably almost any time of year they don't feel the love and acceptance of even their parents. One of the greatest pains I've ever experienced is the lack of feeling of love from a parent, whether it was through an argument or other issue that came up.

So, how can we fix it? I don't know that we can fix it, but I do believe that we can spend more time and energy reaching out to others less fortunate, meaning even those that have income but those without family to share holidays with.

The LGBT community has been experiencing ups and downs for years, but the focus right now isn't rights, licenses, jobs, or anything else. This is about people. It's time that we STOP separating people upon their gender, sexual orientation, and by their incomes.

What if we just stopped looking at people differently just because they aren't like us? Why can't we just strive to share what we have with others no matter who they are or where they come from? It seems to me that this should be fairly simple, but it's a mystery as to how there are still so many folks left out because they are lesbian or gay, or otherwise.

One organization, Your Holiday Mom, has been receiving letters and phone calls since 2011. The idea behind this was to welcome those that are without family during this time of year. It's a great thing for the LGBT community, and so we thought we would share it and what they do.

This virtual holiday welcome has spread joy to so many, and continues to do so. Loving moms are opening up their hearts to adult children from the community and saying, hey, we love you and wish you a wonderful holiday season. Just the idea that someone cares enough to act as a mother would to them is touching and nothing short of amazing.

Where is the love folks? What have we been doing all of this time that we have been here on this Earth and NOT loving all people? This holiday season, we are asking you to not judge, but open your hearts and homes to those from the "LGBT community" that are without loved ones to share their holiday season with.

Paul Walker's Inspiring Purchase for Soldier and Bride-to-Be

Paul Walker is no doubt a star to be remembered after his tragic and sudden death earlier this week. Although his death was sudden and tragic, he leaves behind a great legacy for his daughter, friends, and other family members as well.

Today in the news, it was discovered that Paul Walker had purchased an engagement ring for a young couple that couldn't afford to buy their own. While this young couple was inside a jewelry store, Paul Walker was nearby listening to the conversation about their inability to afford a diamond ring for their engagement.

This diamond ring was for a soldier and his bride-to-be that wanted to marry several years ago. At the time, the young soldier had no idea who the actor was, and actually spoke to him while in the store.

Irene King, the sales associate at Bailey Banks and Biddle spoke with Paul Walker after the couple had left, and purchased the ring for the young couple. On top of this $10,000 ring purchase, Walker asked that his involvement remain anonymous.

Irene had agreed to keep the purchase to herself, but now that Walker has passed away, she wanted to let his good deed be known. His compassion for others and his big heart was never a real secret, but he always did things without wanting attention to be drawn to him.

While you might believe it's unreal, Irene King was surprised as well, never having experienced that level of generosity, with such a huge price tag attached to it. She was absolutely stunned, and as you may imagine pleasantly surprised to see someone step up and give so much to a total stranger.

At this time of the year we often recall stories of this nature, and it's truly heartfelt that Irene chose to share it. What if Paul Walker were still with us? Would he still be a great teacher to others about how to give, and how to do it year round and not just once a year?

Truly, this is a remarkable story, and one that is worth sharing. Have you ever done anything for someone you didn't know? Have you ever done something for someone that could NEVER pay you back?

Perhaps it's time for you to do something like this. It doesn't have to be a $10,000 diamond engagement ring,but what about doing something for others that cannot do for themselves? What if you reached out and did something for someone else as a random act of kindness?

This holiday season, let's reflect on the big heart of "Paul Walker", and perhaps learn a lesson that will last the whole year through.

Does Motivational Apparel Really Empower Women?

From time to time we talk about motivational apparel and how it may or may not help people. Some folks think motivational t shirts are great, and others don't seem to think much about them at all.

However, we have shared a few stories with you about this topic, and interestingly enough, we are NOT the only ones that think it works and is a worthwhile endeavor.

In fact, if you have been following our blog for awhile you probably read about the tshirts worn by runners, and those that were being sold by the gal that posted fortune cookie messages on tshirts.

Simply genius.

Now, we are hearing about an endeavor to help empower women through motivational apparel, and it's catching on folks. This "Kickstarter Campaign" is what many women have been waiting for from Neva. So, what is this all about?

Motivational Apparel by Neva 

Just in case you are wondering, Neva isn't the latest sportswear brand like Under Armour, but it stands for:
Nicole + Geneva. The founder, Sacha Nana started this company due to the inspiration she got from her nieces.

Sacha wanted it to be stylish, but also to employ women from South Asia. The motivational apparel is hand-stitched by women only, employing women that would otherwise have no work. As a result, these women are getting a bit liberated, earning nearly 10 times what they would with a standard job in their country.

It's not just the apparel we think about, but the opportunity the apparel creates. It's life giving in that it is giving these women a purpose, and a sense of being able to provide for their children. That is pretty amazing, and it's powerful for those of us that take our work for granted.

In our endeavor to help inspire you and encourage you each day, we want to offer you the chance right now to check out our motivational apparel that we offer, especially right now during the holiday season.

You can click HERE to view our selection of hats, decals, t shirts and more, and you can also check out the rest of our site to find out how we are helping to empower all people. We hope that we can encourage  and inspire you to do better, to do more, and that you'll be touched by what you find in our motivational apparel here at Courageous Life!.

Inspiration for Monday-Autistic Children Get Time with Santa!

Generally, I enjoy looking for inspiration for Monday because it seems to be the hardest day of the week for me. After a holiday even more so, but that doesn't mean that I am NOT in the holiday spirit.

What I find I have to recover from is all of the hoopla about shopping Black Friday and people using stun guns on each other to get the best bargain. However, there are still some good folks out there that think otherwise.

This bit of inspiration for Monday I wanted to share with you, and I am sure you will agree that it's touching, and will inspire you and others to take action this holiday season.

Inspiration for Monday Out of Malls?

As it turns out, there are several malls in the US and Canada that have found a way to make some autistic children very happy. They get to meet Santa on their own terms. 

This is because they will have some time to meet Santa set aside for them, rather than their parents bringing them to meet Santa when the other children do. Great idea or what? This time with Santa is before the malls open, which means they won't have to be uncomfortable in crowds and loud noises which many autistic children don't do well with. 

If you are reading this and you are the parent of an autistic child, or perhaps you foster one, you know all too well what they often miss out on. As a parent, you struggle to figure it out and how you can find the balance. Lights and music are turned down too to help out with the setting for a calm visit with Santa for this Christmas season.

While you may still be in need of inspiration for Monday, there is no doubt that this story sheds light on how you can help those that are not only less fortunate, but those that just need to celebrate a little differently. It's all about the children isn't it? As well, it's all about putting a smile on their little faces.

Do you have a story to share? If you have your own inspiration for Monday, we would love to hear from you here in the comments below, and we would also love to hear from you on Facebook on our page for Courageous Life!

How Did You Spend Black Friday?

Black Friday is supposed to be the biggest shopping day of the year, at least for some people.

I've never shopped Black Friday, nor do I ever intend to start. I don't have anything against it, but I think that people go crazy over the darndest things.

Over the years, I've noticed that Christmas has become over commercialized, and holidays have turned into spending sprees.

There is no more creative giving, no more giving from the heart, but rather so much emphasis on how cheap you can get something.

If it can't be bought, it's not worth anything, or so it seems. The saddest part of this? There are so many people excluded from this day on the calendar every year. There are those that haven't an extra dime to spend on Christmas gifts due to lost jobs, disability, and even those that just feel they can't even leave the house for fear of being pummeled for the best deal of the day.

Now, I say all of that to say this; I don't disapprove of Black Friday and I don't dislike friends and family that shop on this day. I don't even intend to become an anti-shopping campaigner, or be one of those crazy people that try to boycott it!

However, I do want you, the reader to really think about what is happening today and ask yourself; "Is it really this important?" I find that if I stop and ask myself if something is important ten minutes from now, and my answer is no, that it won't change anytime soon.

Especially when it refers to buying something. Spending just isn't that important in the grander scheme of things. I hope that you feel the same way. It's time to reach out to others, and after all, Thanksgiving is all about being thankful for what we already have.

It seems odd that one day we are thankful for what we have, but the next day we have to have more. We have to accumulate and spend as much as we can. It's quite maddening, isn't it? Where do you stand on Black Friday?

I am not asking you to stop shopping on "Black Friday", or even to discourage others. What I am asking you to do is consider what matters most in your life. Think about those that could use a visit in the hospital on your day off, or how about sitting down to send out cards to those that are ill?

There are so many other ways that we could use our time, rather than seeing how much we can spend on ourselves, or even on Christmas gifts in general. What say you? It's time to be different, and live courageously!

What Are You Thankful For?

What are you thankful for?

You may feel that this is a loaded question, or perhaps you are in a tough situation right now in your life, and you just don't know what to do.

I've been there. I've had a lot of money, and I've had none at all. The key here is to be thankful no matter what.

I know that when I sit back, relax, and take a deep breath, I can find a voluminous list of things I am grateful for. The list can run so long, it is almost never ending. For starters, I am thankful for:

1. My eyesight
2. My ability to hear
3. My ability to touch 
4. My spouse
5. My cats 
6. My unborn baby due in March 

What are you thankful for?

There are so many things that you can honestly say that you are thankful for, even when times look bleak. I know it's not easy by any means. I don't expect you to jump up and down and run around in circles if you lost your job, and no, I don't expect you to do this if you just lost a loved one to cancer.

However, what I am challenging you to do, is to look at the blessings in your life that you still have? What about your health? Do you still have a job? Don't let the unfortunate cloud your view of what is good in your life. It's easier said than done, but it's so necessary.

What are you thankful for?

if you are struggling today with something in your life, and you just aren't sure where to look or what to do, then keeping a gratitude journal is a wonderful idea. As tough as it may be, remember it's focusing on the good that can change your life for the better. ALWAYS!

Don't allow any negativity to cloud your thoughts, and most of all, continue to pray and seek God's best for your life. So, as we go into the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow, be sure to reflect on, "What are you thankful for?"

Will You Live Your Courageous Life in 2014?

As times get tough, will you still continue to live your courageous life as we head into a new year? Closing out this year may feel a little premature, but it's right around the corner. 

In fact, it's time that the Christian community come together and make some heartfelt decisions about how the church can do better by being more, doing more, and reaching out to those that have been ignored for far too long. 

I hear a lot of Christians stating that they are being persecuted for their faith, but that is something God already told us would happen. 

There was no secrecy in His Word to us. It's up to us to decide whether or not we'll believe what He says and stand up for it. If we do, then we do so without merit, complaining, or even regretting it. 

Will You Live Your Courageous Life Now?

God never called us to a life of poverty, discontent, anger, sadness, and hate. If we have those things, they are merely a result of our own doing. This isn't to say persecution doesn't come because again, God said it would. 

If you truly are living your courageous life, isn't it an honor to come against that when it does happen? If we really are living for God, then anything we suffer for Him should be a privilege. 

We should also share the thought that persecution is coming against religions as a whole in our universe, not just the "Christian faith". Furthermore, we as Christians often like to tear down those that don't believe as we do, namely:

1. The LGBT community 
2. Other religions
3. Those from foreign countries 

This isn't the life God called us to live; He called us to live a better one. God has called us to live in freedom in Him, and to share that message with others. He never asked us to be His minions running around judging others, nor did He ask us to NOT speak to others because they are different from us. 

As God's children we should be simply taking Christian to mean, "Christ like", and follow what God teaches us in His word. Could it be any clearer that we have completely failed at this? 

As we go into a new year, we need to bring awareness that the only way to live is to live courageously. It's time to stand up for what God's Word actually teaches and not what denominations have broken it down to believe. 

It's time that we come together, focus on loving others and give our brothers and sisters a real chance to receive our message. Love is powerful, and as the world around us seems to get angrier, let it be a time for us to be different. We are in the world, but we don't have to be "of the world."

Will you join us today and vow to live your courageous as we head into 2014? 

PS-Did you enjoy the insights brought to you today in this article? Did this inspire you or give you something to think about? We want to hear from you! If you would love to start living "your courageous life", please comment below, and be sure to find us on Facebook under Courageous Life! 

Motivational TShirts and the Fortune Cookie Message that Inspires!

Have you checked out our motivational tshirts HERE? We have still been on the search for more stories about what motivational apparel is doing for people as we continue to expand our apparel line all for you! 

We came across an interesting story today about Kristen Golden out of Massachusettes and her mission to encourage others by putting fortune cookie messages on tshirts. 

As an avid collector of fortune messages from her fortune cookies, Golden decided that it would be a good idea to share those messages on tshirts where more people could see them and enjoy them. 

Her motivation for doing this was her realization that even a message tucked into a fortune cookie could motivate her to make better choices because it made her stop and think about it for a second. 

In her mind, if only a moment was more than enough to inspire her to get to work on these shirts. 

As most folks do, she looks at the messages she gets as if it is truly speaking to her. Have you ever had that moment when you cracked open a fortune cookie and the message inside just seemed to fit? Golden has had the same experience. 

Not only did Golden take her idea to market, but back in July of this year she inspired several women at a business pitch event that she won. The contest is known as "Count Me In for Women's Economic Dependence". 

Golden is taking her motivational tshirts to a whole new level, and she is part of a business accelerator program that aims to help women get their businesses to $250,000 in sales yearly. Not bad eh? 

Golden's story is more than just motivational tshirts though. Her story is one of years of working as a Director of Safe Passage with women coming out of violent circumstances, poor family influences, and more. What she learned from these women has motivated her to do more and be more for herself and for others. 

This is her true passion behind everything she is doing,but her desire to build a business was there along with a good idea that has turned into a great idea! She knew that if these women could be resilient, so could she. Her inspiration to all those women around her is amazing, and we would like to do the same here for you at Courageous Life! 

If you are seeking some "motivational tshirts" for you and your family and friends, stop at our SHOP LINK, and take a look at how you can promote living courageously! 

Where Does Your Motivation Come From?

Where does your motivation come from? If you were to take a look within yourself, where would it lead you? Your answer is different from mine I am sure of it, and not to mention that it's okay. :-)

Each of us have our own likes, dislikes, and of course getting up in the morning. What is it that drives you? Loving another? Taking care of your family? Living your best life each day! If you are creative, then it could be something you are doing to use your talents that makes you get up each day and go at it again.

The key to this is "what is your WHY?" You need something to drive you in life, otherwise you can really lose sight of your purpose, and thus end up feeling less than the light that you truly are. If you were take just a moment and think about all of the things you love to do and those you've inspired before, what comes to mind first?

Your motivation daily is what drives you to be or not to be, and that is the question. Is it getting your bonus check? Hopefully it's something a bit deeper, because a lot of people are driven by getting a paycheck and monetary gifts.

It's time that each of us take a deeper look inside as to how we can contribute to the lives of others, and how we can bring positive change to the lives of others. Can you help others meet a need in their lives? If you are able, why not see to it that others are getting their basic needs met, and perhaps it's time to give to those that are less fortunate.

The holidays aren't that far off, and with that in mind it's time for you to consider how you can help others live their best life. It's time to remove the focus from you and join those that are living courageously. Does this shed light on changing your motivation?

PS-Did this blog inspire you today? What have you decided to change? Be sure to check out our entire website here, and don't leave without taking a look at our inspirational and motivational apparel. Live Courageously!

Manny Scott and His Motivational Message to Children

If you don't know who Manny Scott is, chances are you'll hear about his motivational message to children before the year's end. Recently, Scott set out on a mission to share his message to encourage children that are being raised in neighborhoods stricken with poverty.

Not only is Scott on a mission, but he sheds new light on the message about poverty, and where the root of it really comes from. The message is that it's really the access to people that can help you make positive change in your life. That isn't specific to any race or particular neighborhood unless you allow it to be.

Scott tells his personal story about how beautiful his family was, but they were lost to drugs and alcohol. Growing up in Long Beach, California might sound glamorous but for him it wasn't when he was living with these family issues and living homeless.

Missing nearly 90 days of school each year between elementary and high school, Scott was merely roaming the streets, believing that there was no hope for him, and no life beyond what he was living. At the young age of 14, Scott dropped out, and his best friend was murdered.

One day, Scott was sitting on a park bench, when a stranger sat down beside him and engaged him in conversation about turning his life around. Would you say that this stranger was possibly an angel? Quite possibly, but what is so amazing is what happened after this. No doubt, he was overdue for a motivational message.

Scott ended up in the classroom of Erin Gruwell, the teacher made famous in the movie "Freedom Writers". If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend it. This movie isn't just about teaching English, but it's about a teacher that chose unconventional teaching methods to reach her students, turning them into college bound students that developed a passion for both reading and writing.

Because Gruwell took the time to reach out to her students, show them love and help them build their skills, she was instrumental in doing more than she could have ever imagined, especially in the life or Manny Scott.

This is what courage is. It's not being afraid to share your motivational message, especially when you have something to offer. There could be no better way to help others change their lives than to reach out and teach them something of value.

Are you willing to reach out and help others? Are you willing to do what is necessary to encourage another and motivate others too? If you have a "motivational message", we want to know! You can leave a comment below, and you can also connect with us on Facebook by going HERE!

Demi Lovato and Her Thoughts on Bullying

If you didn't catch GMA (Good Morning America) this morning, you missed out on what Demi Lovato had to say about her life, experiencing bullying, drug abuse,  and how she chose to make her life better.



Demi was on GMA this morning to share insight into her new book "Staying Strong" and where the heart of it came from, and how it has helped get her message out about her struggles to help others. Demi wrote the book as a way of encouraging her fans that have faced similar issues in life.

Her battle with depression was just one of the challenges, but her use of drugs to cope with it was leading her down another path; a path not so bright. In fact, even Demi testifies to the fact that her past was somewhat dark.

Being in the spotlight she knows that most people assume her life has been so much different, and in most ways better than hers just because she's a pop star. The shocker for most young girls is hearing that Demi faced a lot of bullying growing up.

She wasn't popular and she wasn't unlike most teen girls struggling with eating disorders, drugs, and alcohol. Her mission is simple; to help others. In her own mind even at a young age, she believed that those that bullied her did so because they were unhappy with something in their own lives.

As a result, she took the time to reach out to the young woman that was bullying her, and found out that this young woman was struggling just as much as she was. Demi says that her bully personality was her outlet of letting out the pain, and a way of crying out to ask for help.

Have you been bullied? If so, are you courageous enough to take this something bad and turn it into something good? At Courageous Life, we believe that everyone needs a helping hand, some encouragement, inspiration and motivation.

We welcome folks from all walks of life, and we know that all of you have a story to tell. We invite you to help us help others, and to make a difference. We want to promote more anti-bullying efforts, and we would love for you to join us in this endeavor.

Please stop by our website today HERE, and check out our stories, videos, and our apparel that you can purchase to share a positive message. Thank you for stopping by and reading this blog post about bullying and what we can do to stop it.

Live Courageously!

Fresh Inspiration from Who I Run 4

If you need a little inspiration today, then check out what this organization is doing to help special needs children. Who I Run 4 is a unique organization that pairs runners with children with special needs.

Even if you feel it's tough to find the motivation to exercise, think again. These children will change everything for you, and how you feel about exercising. Nothing is stopping them from getting in their runs!

The best part is that this organization also offers these special needs children the chance to have runners run for them when they cannot. Should a child wish to participate in a charity race or some other event, they can have someone run for them.

Truly, it would give you the motivation to run for a young child that wishes they could, am I right? The founder Tim Boyle, started this organization when he connected with a man with Down Syndrome and a crippling hip condition that prevents him from doing much of anything in terms of exercise.

Boyle had posted a photo for his upcoming run in a 5K, and this gentleman with Down Syndrome commented on it. When this man, Michael Wasserman commented on Boyle's photo, he simply said, "You can run for me anytime, Tim!"

That comment stuck with Boyle, and as a result he got the idea to start this organization to get folks to do just that and run on behalf of others.

To date, more than 3,000 matches have been made and it's encouraging more people to participate and get them motivated to move! Can you say inspiration? Take it a step further, and let's take a closer look at how these runners communicate the children they run for.

Runners post letters on Facebook, photos of medals they have won for them, and these runners are also wearing t-shirts with the children's names on them. Does it get more touching than that? Boyle's only concern was that he would have tons of kids looking for runners to connect with, but instead the turnout for runners looking for children surpassed what he ever thought would happen.

This is truly an inspiration, and it's something we can all learn from in how we can help others still live out a dream or get encouragement through an alternative idea. It's simply amazing. Would you pair up with a child if you were approached about an opportunity like this?

Don't wait for "nspiration" to find you; be courageous and go out there and get it!

LGBT Inmates in Texas County to Get Special Protection

Recently, an announcement was made that a Texas county was planning to grant special protection to LGBT inmates in one of it's prisons.

This comes as no surprise as there has been a lot of talk surrounding the LGBT community and the need for resolution on many topics.

While some of you may frown on this just because you don't live the same lifestyle or have the same preferences.

I want you to consider how sad it is that anyone would need special protection in a prison cell. Think about it for a second; prison?

Who has the right in prison to judge another human being? Nevermind the fact that judging others is wrong all around, it certainly doesn't seem right for an inmate to hurt another just because they have a different sexual orientation.

Who in a prison cell is ever justified? We are NEVER to pass judgment on other people, but it just seemed so odd to me to find that an inmate would want to hurt another simply because they live a different life. It never made sense to me that an individual's choice to love differently would cause fear in anyone. Hmmm.

These LGBT inmates have obviously had their share of struggles with this very issue in prison. They have been open about who they are, they choose to be authentic, yet they are being judged horribly by others that have killed others and who knows what else.

It just doesn't make sense.

Thankfully, this law being passed will prohibit inmates from having just cause to hurt another based upon their sexual preference. The same goes for anyone that works in the prison too. There will be no toleration of injuring another or even speaking ill of another simply because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

It's time that got real about this issue and stop the discrimination. It's never okay to discriminate, and it's never okay to physically or verbally abuse someone because of the choices they have made.

Houston has the third largest jail, after Los Angeles and Chicago's Cook County. It seems that all three of these prisons have had to take a hard look at what is happening behind bars with their inmates. I say, "It's about time."

It's time to be courageous, and take a stand for our LGBT inmates. Rather than passing judgment or allowing them to suffer at the hands of others, let all of them be safe and treated equally. These are people, some with lost souls that could use some encouragement, direction, guidance, and most of all a love that transcends what man has to offer.

Be Courageous!

PS-How do you feel about the issue with "LGBT inmates" and what they face? We would love for you to leave a comment below!

Gossip is Like a Cancer

Gossip is like a cancer, and it's killing families, friends, and worst of all our children.

It seems that people have a real gift for talking about others rather than talking to others; the end result is devastating.

No matter who is doing the talking, it can be devastating, and the end result can be a lack of trust and love between family members as well as between friends.

It can feel like the whole world is crashing down when those you believe are the most supportive of you really aren't.

This is why we all need to make a concerted effort to put an end to gossip. We often don't realize the ramifications it can have, but it's something that we shouldn't be doing at all-PERIOD.

Why People Gossip 

There really isn't a reason need as to WHY people need to gossip, but there are reasons that people do it. Oftentimes, I find that people do it to make themselves feel better about themselves.

Many times people just have the itch to tell something they have heard, and the thing is, they don't even know if it's true. You can read all of the psychological mumbo jumbo you want, but in reality the reason for gossip is usually to feed this need to feel better than others or to try and elevate ourselves above others.

This really isn't the same as sharing stories or memories folks, this is backstabbing and talking about others that aren't present. You can call it what you want, but the reality is that people are so busy filling voids in their own lives that they lose sight of how they are hurting others in the process.

So, how can we make a courageous effort to STOP gossiping?

It would be wise for us to:

1. Talk to others directly 
2. Ask questions if curiosity is really there 
3. Always respect others enough to ask if it's okay to ask 
4. Pray for others and let them know we are available if they have a need 

There isn't any reason that we should be gossiping about others, and it's time that we took a stand as adults to show our children a better example of how to act and live with one another.

Be Courageous!