May Is National Bike Month

May is national bike month. Since its a perfect time for our communities to recognize and celebrate all the benefits of bicycling. Bicycling keeps us healthy, carries us efficiently, saves us from high gas prices and makes our air cleaner and our roads less congested. Bicycling helps address many of our most pressing societal and environmental problems. It's been reported by the national bike group People For Bike, half of all Americans make three miles or less- an easy bike distance. A vision of Mayor Mike Bloomberg years ago, the city that never sleeps is promoting a new program called City Bike Share. The rentals begin in May, Annual memberships cost $95. Program will begin in May with 6,000 bikes in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Eventually the goal is to to have 10,000 bicycles at 600 stations through all  five boroughs. Its unclear when this will take place, but NYC is stepping up its efforts to become a healthy city that leads by example.

Bahrain Blogger Escapes To Britain

In the metro news this morning, there was a very interesting story about A Bahraini blogger and human rights activist who has been granted asylum in Britain after being in hiding for two years. A leading voice among protesters during the anti- government demonstration in 2011., Ali Abduleman   escaped a government crackdown and was smuggled out by fishermen. A military court tried and sentenced him in absentia to 15 years in prison. Its a sad story really, which explain the sacrifices we must endure for the shake of others. Ali has not seen his daughters since they were 6-months old. Abdulemam, 35 year old, a  former engineer with Gulf Air and author of the pro-democracy Bahrain Online Blog. He feels it deeply, as I can't imagine what he's going through.  he says, " I feel pain because I am not in my homeland. I did not choose this. I did not want this, but what I have come to realize sometimes the things we don't want chooses us, and we have to live with the consequences.

Yoshihide Kiryu 17 year old Japanese Sprint Sensation

Martha Payne 10 Year Old Blogger Becomes Worldwide Phenomenon

Who said, little people can't make a difference, well according to Martha Payne an active 10 year old blogger from North Scotland, people will listen to you if you have something important to say. Martha’s blog started trending on twitter. The story got picked up by local and then national press followed by international TV. The local council, unhappy with the publicity the blog was generating, banned Martha from taking pictures at school. Her humble beginnings started when she

 raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help feed children in Malawi. Her recent story was no ordinary food fight. The council’s decision turned into a PR disaster and only served to attract more attention. The online community swung into action protesting on social media. Jamie Oliver spoke out in support of Martha.  Because of the support hundreds called the council to pressure them to reverse their decision. Which was later overturned. Only ten years old, her short lived life is full of great accomplishments. Martha has now raised almost $200,000 for the charity and donations are continuing to roll in. Last year she traveled to Malawi with her family to see first hand how the money was being spent.She opened a school kitchen named in her honor at Lirangwe Primary School in Blantyre, which has resulted in 2000 kids a day no longer going hungry. The experience has left her determined to continue raising money for Mary’s Meals. She had said, she saw how little other nations have it  compared to her. What I find very inspiring about her story, she hopes her experience will allow other kids to get involved, by starting their own blogger. Addressing issues and concerns in their communities. As I first stated , who said you have to be a big person to make a difference, as long as you have a voice, people will hear you loud and clear. Visit her site http://neverseconds.blogspot.com.au/

Cinco de Mayo- Mexican Food

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo Mexican style.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honoring Jane Jacobs New York Visionary Urban Planning Activist

I read an article in the metro news this morning honoring a great New Yorker who influenced the lives of many around the city. She said, in a quote that I thought was really inspiring, "Cities have the capability of providing something for everyone, only because, and only when, they are created by everyone. Those were the words of Jane Jacobs, the visionary urban planning activist  who wrote a treatise declaring " Downtown if for People. She is remembered for her stance against former Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, chairing a committee  to stop  Moses' plan to build an expressway through Washington Square Park and the West Village.  If she was alive today she would have been 97. In honor of her contribution and hard work, Mas is offering 100 free walks and bike rides that will allow community residents to explore their neighborhoods and examine and discuss what does and doesn't work from every angle: from housing issues to immigrant rights to the LGBT experience and more.  A group of Jacobs friends is paying respects by looking for a way to memorialize her, and while ideas of a namesake park or street were floated. It was ultimately decided  that the most fitting tribute to Jacobs would be something that involved a lot of people and was active, and particularly that gave people a chance to get out and experience their neighborhood.  There was a section in the paper which talked about her impact and how she would of wanted to be remembered. A community participant conclude, Rowe marveled at the range of walks planned for this year, and explained an important aspect of the walks is that there is no real leader, they're hosted by community residents. Maybe that was the legacy she wanted to leave behind,  and she certainly fulfill it with this years events which include 90 cities around the world. Some of the walks planned in New York City include a German bakery tour in Yorkville and a Sandy-themed tour of Red Hook.

Staying Motivated When Life Throws Curveballs

We've all been there. Life gets ahead of you, works gets very busy, challenges arise. It can be easy to let things slide or to not give your all just to get the job done. But there are some simple tools we can all use to alleviate stress and help us accomplish our goals, even in the face of hardship. In an article in the metro paper this morning I got some valuable tips that can help assure us that everything works out for the best. It all about how you think and stay motivated. 1) Visualize your success. Picture yourself successfully reaching your goal, Give yourself time to see yourself accomplishing every small goal until you reach your desired place. 2) Create a clean, written plan. Organize and planning is key if you want to succeed. You must have a written, organized plan for your goals. Being organized...will help you stay focus, motivated, on track and to follow through: something that manyus have problems doing. 3) Surround yourself with the right people. When it comes to building a brand or business, I like to be in rooms where I may be one of the least smart people. I want to be surrounded by people with higher experience, that can mentor me or teach me highly valuable lessons. The same applies for people with positive attitudes that believe in you. You don't need nay naysayers telling you to get a grip or " get real." If they have nothing good to say, stop listening to them and move on to those that can give you constructive criticism and positive reinforcement. Those positive people will encourage you to pick yourself up, try harder and reach further than you knew you could.  4)Don't live in the past. What happened in the past needs to stay there. Its gone, there's nothing you can do about it. other than learn from it. What happened yesterday doesn't define you, nor does it determine what will happen today. 5)Never Give Up Many highly successful people (Micheal Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs) had massive failures at first, but they kept trying and never gave up on their dream. Their dream may have evolved into something different from what they set out to do, but once they got there, they realized they were meant to do what they eventually accomplished. Remembering those that came before you will inspire you and keep you motivated, because there's no reason why you couldn't be that person, too! Have the attitude of those that are already in reach of their dreams, and you will soon be there as well.