Dealing with a Stressful Workplace

December 8, 2019December 8, 2019

Dealing with a Stressful Workplace

This article discusses the strategic ways and positive directions one can engage in when under stressful and emotionally draining workplace environments.

Remember, you are STRONG. You were made to do tough things. Ground down and find your foundation. What can you gain from this experience?

The Yoga Institute:
“The world is bound to unfairness. A person may face unfairness from time to time, while one-off situations could be moved on from; a recurring situation needs addressing. When it comes to workplace unfairness, fingers are immediately pointed towards the boss. Dealing with an unfair boss implies two things- one has been wronged & one needs to react. Yoga philosophy finds both as undesirable; Yoga prefers to take an active position over the victim stance or a reaction to action psychology.”

What to do with The Angry Boss:
“An unfair situation needs to be examined before drawing conclusions. Ask yourselves questions, has this been a recurring behavior on your boss’ part or was it a one-off instance? What was the event that triggered the behavior? Often, we make quick conclusions over a misread situation. It could be triggered by our ego or our baggage from the past, making us less compassionate towards our seniors.

Consider the situation once, from your boss’ point of view. If you have seen a sudden change of behavior, like forlornness, unexpected quietness followed by anger; there is a serious chance that your boss is going through something emotional, personally. In such a sudden switch, a bit of friendliness, compassion, and tolerance from your end can go a long way. It will be noticed by your boss and the edge could be pulled off from the everyday interactions. You could also seek your boss for a one-on-one conversation, calmly stating your grievances, try this only after covering your tracks, i.e. make sure you corrected your mistakes and then approach your boss for due reasoning.

But, if the situation continues to stay ugly even after you showed compassion, causing you stress or anger, in that case, resort to Pranayama. Regularly, start practicing deep breathing; slowly take a deep breath in, and gradually breathe out. This will calm your nerves, helping you to evaluate the situation more objectively. Consider your options; is it possible to move to a new role or department, thus cutting off direct interactions with the unfair boss? Or is it your blessing in disguise to explore your options for a career move or change of organization, entailing new opportunities?

A new start, be a new department role or a new company doesn’t come with the promise of total positivity and fairness. Dealing with a new manager can be equally tricky but, if you continue to use the same old patterns it will keep us stuck in a similar situation.

Practicing Parikarma, a Yoga technique which helps in purifying a person’s mind, includes Maitri (Friendliness), Karuna (Compassion), Mudita (Goodwill), Upeksa (Indifference for Evil), which helps in balancing our mind and deal with unfairness objectively. Being detached from situations with a witness-like attitude helps in better dealing with unfairness as it won’t potentially affect us emotionally. Following Pratipaksha Bhavana, teaches us to challenge our mind, and helps to shift and realign our energies. Thus, when negative feelings like greed, anger, delusion arise, shifting your attention in the opposite direction also goes a long way in dealing with sticky situations of unfairness.

A situation doesn’t define us, how we react to it is what defines us. Thus, when you can’t change an outside situation, change the direction of your focus, to bring some semblance for yourself.”

We are powerful and beautiful women. Negative women give us power as we learn to read a situation with an objective mind, not emotional, and practice positive variations that lead to strong, healthy relationships.
Support each other, lift each other up. You got this!

November 14, 2018

The “Face of Misogyny & Racism” is Trump

The “Face of Misogyny & Racism” is Trump and if you are uncomfortable looking, it might be because you are too.

There is a pattern of escalation and Donald Trump spent last week talking down to black women journalists who cover his presidency:

PBS Newshour correspondent Yamiche Alcindor,

During a White House press briefing, Alcindor noted that the president called himself a nationalist on the campaign trail, saying, “Some people saw that as emboldening white nationalists. Now people are also saying…”

But not before Trump interrupted her and responded, “I don’t know why you say that, that is such a racist question.” Alcindor continued her question, adding that people believe Republican party is now supporting White Nationalists “because of your rhetoric,” Trump retorted, “I don’t believe it,” adding, “That is such a racist question,” pointing his finger at her, he said, “That is such a racist question.”

CNN reporter Abby Phillip:

Trump paused and cocked his head. “What a stupid question that is,” he said, wagging his finger at Phillip. “What a stupid question.”

She tried to respond, but Trump interrupted her saying, “I watch you a lot, you ask a lot of stupid questions,” before walking off to board Marine One, the presidential helicopter.

American Urban Radio Networks correspondent April Ryan:

During remarks on the White House lawn, Trump called Ryan, “nasty,” a “loser,” and added that she “doesn’t know what the hell she is doing.”

Trump’s misogyny or “hatred of”, “contempt for”, or “prejudice against” women is publicly displayed. His hate is manifested in numerous ways, including social exclusion, sex discrimination, hostility, androcentrism, patriarchy, male privilege, belittling of women, violence against women, and sexual objectification. Embarrassingly, this illustrates the vulgar display that America lacks leadership and has fallen as a global leader for human rights.

This man has led our country to this great divide, where people have begun to say, “Hush, don’t talk about it, the Economy is doing great. If you can’t say something nice, I will unfriend you — unfollow you”, over things that should be, without question, morally repugnant. My questions to them:

Did you tell your daughter to be quiet when her grandfather molested her?
Did you tell your daughter to be quiet so her father would stop beating her?
Did you tell your son it was his fault for the beating because he dresses like that?
Did you tell your son to ask God for forgiveness for accusing the Priest of raping him?
Does the “dangling carrot” of an increase in your bank balance help you forget the atrocities you silenced?
Why did Trump’s legions believe that an elitist would lead them to salvation and financial freedom? That answer is simple.

It is the nature of a demagogue to exploit the ignorant.

And Trump has exploited the ignorant and empowered men to shoot and abuse women, children to praise Hitler, violence against religions, and Caucasians to hate people of color. Again, ask your neighbors, friends, colleagues, and adversaries why they voted for a demagogue?

By definition, Demagogues appeal directly to the emotions of the poor and uninformed, pursuing power, telling lies to stir up hysteria, exploiting crises to intensify popular support for their calls to immediate action and increased authority, and accusing moderate opponents of weakness or disloyalty to the nation.

Superficial politeness has been given a platform to fester cultivated hate. With that said, I will continue to uphold equal humanity for it is in my nature, and I do not care if you are uncomfortable as you hide your own Face of Misogyny & Racism.

June 15, 2018June 15, 2018

Fed Up

Response to:
“Suburban Women: The New Vanguard of a Cosmopolitan Uprising?”

Larry,

For many women, it is simple. We are fed up.

Sadly, suburban or not, our community & Country has reached a level of violent threats that include hate crimes towards women, against our friends, and ourselves. People now openly threaten to beat women over customer service dilemmas. It has reached a level where oppositional critics rally for aggression while dismissing the request for assistance in preventing further violence.

The current public attitude is “that’s your problem.” Instilling violence against women in our community is not productive, and using social media posts to inflame a derogatory & savage retaliation is vulgar. Wearily, I realized that I was able to disrupt the progressive narrative about women, but I had done nothing to secure its prosperous growth.

And that is the problem; women between the ages of 35-55 have done very little to maintain the equality milestones our predecessors created. In 1919, women stood outside the White House and demanded that they are allowed to vote. New laws in the 1920s would promote women’s health and education. In the 1960s and 70s, feminists guaranteed, under the law, limited equal rights in the workplaces of universities and colleges and secured the use of contraception, along with abortions rights.

Now we are mad, fed up, screaming “me too”, your “times up”. It is that simple. Suburban, urban, rural or exurban are inconsequential factors.

We have wasted almost a half century, and things have not become better. Women were slipping. But now, we are fed up. We need to get back up and push ourselves, push our pain to where we need to be. Our pain will move us from where we are today to where we want to be in the future.

Women have an opportunity of a lifetime.

Women, if you want this to be your decade, you must give up the trivial. Stretch, work day and night, and reach for your unfolding future. We are inches away from losing all those rights the women and men before us had struggled to achieve. You don’t want it bad enough if you’re going to relax on the weekends. You can’t relax, you must get up and decide how you are going to fix this it. We need to teach valuable skills and life-long lessons emphasizing that Women’s Rights are invaluable to our society. Teach young girls that poise and grace can exist with grit and passion. Because this is a long hard fight, do you have the skill and determination to stay in the game? I do; challenge me, be stronger than me, make us all reach towards a better future for Women.

I’m fed up.

Jenneffer Pulapaka

#womeninspirechange

March 13, 2018March 13, 2018

Girls, Girls, Girls – for tips

Hospitality is an environment of misogyny, servitude, and sexual harassment from the guests as well. For the last 12 years, I have lived in a community that is welcoming and divisive. Ten years ago, I moved into the realm of hospitality at night, and I endured the darker side of people’s essence. I have been adamant and will remain steadfast in my lack of tolerance from those demanding servitude or subjugation. You know who you are, and this is not about exposing you at this time.

The number of women customers that had abused staff is heinous. People who assume it was mostly abuse “by men on women” have pedestrian thinking.

I have had:

Dr’s wives snapping fingers and calling me bitch,
local businesswomen addressing me as “honey” & “sweety”,
“Do you know who I am? And I ‘m more important than that other table,
a relator’s father physically hitting me,
the business owner walks out without play for her bottle,
dentist demands staff to hold the check until next week,
gossiping “alternative” facts only behind my back,
women verbally beating me up because I have a natural frown,
and blackmailing me if they don’t get a reservation when the tiny dining room was already booked up.

Initially, I was able to brush off the venom; but like a dog that is punched daily, I was unable to sustain that level of abuse from the guests while remaining pleasant and perky with a smile on my face. They sent me to a “bad place”; and I was angry with everyone, everything, from every side. We even began arguing with each other, staff against staff over who could make more money. It was there, in that place, that I changed. I became intolerant of the abuse and learned to resist. With my husband by my side, we stood up and said enough. That was over three years ago.

So what happened? Why three years ago? Colossal relief came to all of the staff with the inclusion of tips. Customers lost their leverage to be nasty, abusive, and sexually harass the team. We made sweeping changes that resulted in staff equality between the front and back of the house teams. We took the power back and lifted the staff up. Hospitality businesses locally and globally pimp out their “girls”; present them to the public like a toy that guests can harass for tips. No more. We gave them the freedom to say, ENOUGH.

This is an excellent NYT interactive, THE TIPPING EQUATION, this time its about the sexual harassment experienced by waitstaff in the restaurant industry: “In interviews, more than 60 servers and bartenders—nervous teenagers and seasoned veterans, students and single mothers, a few men but mostly women—shared stories of crude comments, propositions, groping and even stalking from customers. They work in diners, chain restaurants, and high-end dining establishments; they reported hourly take-home pay ranging from $8 to more than $40.

#TimesUp

January 21, 2018January 22, 2018

Sexism has tipped to the point of hate towards women

Our innovative world has evolved, but our ideas about gender have not evolved. This sexism has tipped to the point of hate towards women.

“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
– Nelson Mandela

Most recently the women that are my friends, my colleagues, restaurant staff, office staff, business management continue to be verbally abused and bullied. There remains no room for hate and violence in this world. We must learn to be more kind, compassionate, empathetic, and sympathetic to humanity.

People, I hear you. But, I’m good, and my staff are good. We have adjusted to key problems and have made changes, as we progress. Still, why do women in business face retaliation/pissiness from both men and women when it comes to the enforcement of office/business policies?
Examples:
Staff reporting to work on time,
Implementing payment on accounts receivable,
Business opening/closing schedule,
Can’t get a specific appointment,
Completing deadlines,
Questioning costs and overhead,
Applying proper dress codes,
Completing staff task lists,
Determination of charitable contributions,
Restricting counterproductive demands.

Does it come down to “Smile!” sexism? Public entitlement to control how a woman looks, speaks, and thinks?

As a businesswoman, I seek out and maintain sustainable practices in the multiple businesses I run. Sustainability rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present without compromising the abilities or opportunities of future generations. Therefore, if we are given the opportunity to influence other people, we should not influence their hate, jealousy, or anger. If a person continues to instill hostility towards another person or business after they have made positive and productive changes, what is the incentive for people to respond to constructive criticism?

Sadly, our community has reached a level of violent threats that include hate crimes towards our staff, against our friends, our neighbors, and myself pointedly. Patients now openly threaten to beat staff over insurance dilemmas. It has reached a level where oppositional critics, a local musician enraged by a dress code, rallied for aggression while dismissing the request for assistance in preventing further violence. He replied by writing, “that’s your problem”. Instilling violence against women in our community is not productive, and using social media posts to inflame a derogatory & savage retaliation is vulgar.

No truer words can set the stage for our current atmosphere, that we must heal these wounds; we must allow tolerance; we must evolve our ideas on gender and race. Women are entitled to equality and the freedom it encompasses.

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
–Abraham Lincoln

Jenneffer Pulapaka

#MeToo #TimesUp #womeninspirechange #docslead #StopSexism #WomensMarch

August 27, 2017August 28, 2017

Women’s Equality Day 2017

Women’s Equality Day, August 26th, marks the ratification of the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. DJ Trump never proclaimed equality for women on the day of observance, something every sitting president since Nixon has done. Trump skirted around mentioning equal access to health care, the gender pay gap, or gender-based violence. And hey, we have no shortage of questionable national days so do it right– hello, National Cheeseburger Day.

Here is the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA):
Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

It IS that simple.

For years, I have listened to men complain about being discriminated by affirmative action. Guess what men? You will benefit from the passage of the equal rights amendment.

Today, there is little doubt that one of the greatest areas of discrimination against women is in employment. The average is an 18% pay discrepancy annually. Unions report, “we want to protect the little women” than admit that it is lucrative for the men in American industry. Thousands of jobs from which women are arbitrarily excluded are the well-paid, interesting, “male” jobs and what remains are the poorly paid, tedious jobs, as “female” jobs. This is a cruel way of keeping women in a condition of poverty and humiliation. 35% of the families headed by women live in poverty; 61% of the Nation’s poor children live in families headed by women. Your failure to pay equally leads to a nation of children destined for a path of poverty and dependence on government aid.

Equality must be written into our Constitution. Women have not been protected by the Supreme Court; which has not extended to any female citizen the protection of the 5th or the 14th amendments. Why should working women spend thousands of dollars on litigation to gain work equality?

Prevarication that the amendment will keep women with dependent children from receiving alimony is a common scare tactic. The women I know, who are divorced, must work to support their children because child support is not there. If a man divorced his wife, done legally, got custody of the children, alimony, and child support, then good for him.

The ERA would put “gay rights” into the U.S. Constitution. Yes, it’s about damn time!

The ERA will jeopardize single-sex programs and schools. Yes, we need to begin teaching children that sexism in youth lays the foundation for sexism as an adult. We are a country that is sexist; dictated under a current Administration that demonstrates misogyny and racism. The current “ways” are not successful for 1/2 of its population. It is time to change. Additionally, it would take away women’s traditional exemption from military conscription and also from military combat duty. I wholeheartedly believe that all citizens, if able, be exposed to conscription and the ability to join the armed forces.

Yes, the ERA would put abortion rights into the U.S. Constitution and make abortion funding a constitutional right. I am sorry, anti-abortion advocates, your beliefs should not be above the current rules of law. Federal health care does not ban any legal medical procedure for men. Additionally, the ERA will lead to a balancing of insurance companies premiums: health, life, automobile, etc. Women will not be required to pay higher insurance premiums with equality; they will be paying insurance equally with men.

“I will continue to support and uphold equal humanity for all. Let us never forget that all people in the USA are entitled that the equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. ”

Jenneffer Pulapaka

#womeninspirechange #womenlead #docslead #equality

August 9, 2017March 15, 2018

Sexist

——————————————————
DEFINITION: SEXIST
sex·ist/ˈseksist/
adjective
1. relating to or characterized by prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.
“his attitude to women is patronizing and sexist”
noun
1.a person with sexist views.
“I want to make it clear that I’m certainly not a sexist”

——————————————————-
As I got off the phone, I thought, “Did that just happen?” And after a long pause, “No, it didn’t. I’m just hypersensitive to that issue. ”

I explained what happened to my husband and then went on with my day.

Again, two hours later I thought, “Did that really happen?” As I tap my pen on my desk, I wanted an answer. I had referred several patients to this doctor and three off the top of my memory had basal cell cancerous lesions like myself; one female and two males. I pick up the phone and did some quick follow-up calls. I thanked the last patient and got off the phone now knowing, that really happened.

All three patients have yet to have their surgeries. The woman is having insurance scheduling issues, and they are working with her on her options. But both men, can’t schedule surgery at this time as it interferes with their work. They planned on “getting it done,” over the next several months or during the Christmas break. They reported the doctor was understanding and did not hassle them about waiting until they could free-up time from work. Although, both men have been delaying surgery since their January and March diagnosis.

“Wow, that did happen!”

During my morning conversation with that same doctor, I told him I just finished several long vacations and had three more business trips and a packed schedule due to my absence. I was planning for January to have my surgery; in the mean time, I wanted to start topical treatment as my lesions are tiny and want them to remain under control.

DOC: “You need to clear your social calendar and get this surgery scheduled.” ME: I know my head tilted like a dog hearing a whistle. “What? No, I don’t have time right now and have to wait till next year when things can slow down”.
DOC: “Your social life is not an excuse.”
And then things spiraled into the abyss from there.

This doctor devalued my career, my patients, my businesses, my duties, my responsibilities, my own “doctor” work schedule, my “restaurant” work schedule, and my “advocacy” schedule. Only after my follow-up calls did I catch the depth of his devaluing of women. Both male patients had careers that were not addressed as a “social calendar,” he understood their need to perform at a high level, and the surgeries would have to wait.

This came right on the heels of the anti-diversity manifesto penned by James Damore. In it are the author’s qualms with diversity and inclusion initiatives at Google, programs he deemed a waste of time because women are inherently less suited for technical roles than men.

Blind commenter:
“The fella who posted that is extremely brave. We need more people standing up against the insanity. Otherwise ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ which is essentially a pipeline from Women’s and African Studies into Google, will ruin the company.”

“I’m impressed. It took serious guts to post that.”

“I hope nothing happens to the guy.”

So no, my doctor was not brave, and I am not impressed. I want to make it clear that my doctor is certainly a sexist. Right in the very definition as noted above, “his attitude to women is patronizing and sexist.” But no, nothing will happen to this guy and that is why women need to inspire change.

**Update

New doctor, great service, respected my schedule, and I am on a plan to being skin cancer free. My new doc is a male because he is the best-qualified surgeon in my area and I am NOT gender biased.

July 28, 2017

Taking AIM

Criticism, like it or not, is necessary for change. How you deliver it, demonstrates your constitution. Hillary Clinton once said, “It is important to learn how to take criticism seriously but not personally.” Furthermore, it is important to avoid disparaging remarks regards a person’s physical attributes or attire. While one may argue that appearance plays around in a critical personal assessment, never lead with that in the delivery of the information.

Recently, Ivanka Trump, at the G20 meeting, sat in on a panel discussion for her father. The photos during that meeting brought outrage, but their relevant facts disappeared among the childish remarks about her dress.

“I don’t mean to sound sexist — it can be dangerous to comment on what women wear — but the fact that she sat in for her father in a dress that was so incredibly ornamental was such a contradiction in terms.”

“the first daughter, who’s also a special adviser to the president, (is) wearing a ‘girly’ dress “

“IVANKA TRUMP wore a chic baby pink sleeved dress whilst at the Women’s Entrepreneurship Finance Event at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany.”

“questioned what ‘message’ Ivanka Trump was trying to send at the G20 Summit by wearing a pink ‘girly’ dress with bows”.

“It’s a pink dress with big bows on the elbows–that’s not a dress that’s made for work.”

Remove the petty and vulgar remarks related to appearance and focus on the current arguments relevant points.

“Her presence at the high-level table was somewhat unusual, given that government ministers are typically the ones called to stand in for heads of state at such sessions.”
“It does not appear that (Ivanka) spoke at the session,” and, “some say it further blurs the line between family and political affairs in the Trump administration.”

Criticism or feedback needs three key factors to be effective:

AIM
1. Action addressed ( “You are always 5 minutes late.”)
2. Impact of action discussed (“This delays our meetings, make us late for our next appointments.”)
3. Desired improved results ( “Be on time, or you are not welcome to join the meetings late in the future.”)

This feedback was not personal, it was factual and the impacts of the action discussed the reason for the desired change.

Do not waffle; be polite and direct. Do not use phrases such as: I feel, please excuse me, would you consider, I’m sorry but, etc.

So the next time someone says to you,“Smile! You look so tired.” Respond with:

“Hello, that is not an appropriate greeting. Comments like yours are hurtful about something I am unable to control, because I have been working all day. In the future, a simple ‘Hello’ said with a smile will make people smile.”

Practice staying on your AIM with the trivial actions in your daily life. These will hone your critical judgment skills, and you will present a stronger image regardless of your dress for success.

#womeninspirechange #WICCD

July 12, 2017July 12, 2017

Wednesday Wreading: Cherokee Women and the Trail of Tears

Did you know Cherokee women had a voice in the Cherokee government? The Cherokee were not only matrilineal, but they also were matrilocal. “Marriage gives no right to the husband over the property of his wife.” Read More about Cherokee Women and the Trail of Tears, by Theda Perdue.

Visit www.WICCD.org for more information about the gathering taking place on the Trail of Tears Commemoration Day, which gives us a chance to celebrate Native American’s rich heritage, to socialize with old friends and make new ones, to eat food inspired by centuries-old tradition, and to learn from mistakes while accepting each other as we are and walk together in peace.

July 9, 2017July 17, 2018

You’re not “interested”?

Threatened,
Disorganized,
Losing.

Growing up in Orlando, I wanted to “get into modeling.” My mother was on a fixed budget, though we had some spending money. We did not have the budget for my “I must go to modeling school” expense. However, my mom surprised me, got a new high-interest Choice credit card and paid for the most expensive Modeling & Image school in Orlando. I will never forget the expense she bore, nor would I forget what I had learned at school. Over 10-12 weeks, my mother would drop me off at class and pick me up, this is where I learned valuable skills and lifelong lessons about image and advancing your career. Those lessons allowed me to work in the Modeling industry earning money throughout my teenage years, in fashion shows, print, commercials, etc., before I left for college.

Three decades later, I am an accomplished modern day renaissance woman. I’ve used those lessons from my youth, over and over again. I have heard extraordinary speakers, traveled extensively throughout the world, and run successful businesses. But, something was unsettling, there was a mysterious undercurrent creating inner turbulence. Jolting awake, in the early morning hours before the sun could flood the bedroom, I realized I hadn’t done a damn thing to support women’s rights. Why was that important?

As things go, I was recently updating my Curriculum Vitae and casually noticed I could have used phrases, such as, “the first female…”, “the only woman…”, “the only women out of…”, to a nauseating extreme. On that morning, I realized that I was able to disrupt the progressive narrative about women, but I had done nothing to secure its prosperous growth.

Now we approach the 3rd Wave of Feminism, which is quietly protesting social reform against people’s unconscious biases. But, we have not taken care of the 2nd Wave, this newest generation is running with a grassroots movement that does not have a platform to build on. Our current government is still not set to guarantee women equal pay or representation; and the abortion issue, along with women’s health rights, is still on the chopping block almost monthly.

To this end, I challenged myself to promote projects that will support, encourage, and inspire women to know their worth and demand their equal rights. I needed to pick up where my generation dropped off.

I founded a symposium, Women Inspiring Change and Community Development (WICCD), pulling my weight and pushing women further. As I reached out to my generation, the new guards from my iconic past, for support, I was shocked by their complacent personal agenda. The bottom line was when I looked at the group of people I was surrounded by; it was easy for me to think I was accomplishing a lot. Because compared to many of them, I was the only one advocating for women. The powerful women I looked up to from my youth had been replaced. And there was the fault in my thinking; I needed to be the weakest link so that I can be pushed to do better, we can be better, women can be better. I must grow, when I’ve reached that goal, I need to stretch out and be better.

I need to say to my generation, what gives you the right to tell me you’re not “interested” in the promotion, protection, and advancement of women? What gives you the right, to hinder young girls with your faulted thinking of “we have it all”? Because we do not have it all. Why has my generation become comfortable? Do you know what it takes for women to become equal? Someone, some group, is waiting for us to fail. Now, what are you going to do about it?

You must get up. If we are not where we want to be, you must sacrifice. Don’t take your great ideas to the graveyard.

What are you going to do with your time? You have wasted almost a half century, and things have not become better. We are slipping. You need to get back up and push yourself, push your pain to where you need to be. Your pain will move you from where you are today to where you want to be in the future.

You have an opportunity of a lifetime. If you want this to be your decade, you must give up the trivial. Stretch, work day and night, and reach for your unfolding future. We are inches away from losing all those rights the women and men before us had struggled to achieve. You don’t want it bad enough if you want to relax on the weekends. You can’t relax, you must get up and decide how you are going to fix this it. We need to teach valuable skills and life-long lessons emphasizing that Women’s Rights are invaluable to our society. Teach young girls that poise and grace can exist with grit and passion. Because this is a long hard fight, do you have the skill and determination to stay in the game? I do; challenge me, be stronger than me, make us all reach towards a better future for Women.

Jenneffer Pulapaka

#womeninspirechange