sharonksobotta

Be your own advocate!

Be your own advocate. Imagine the life that you want, put a lot of energy into making that happen, but always leave room for miracles. After getting diagnosed with incurable stage four cancer, Kris Carr took matters into her own hands. She moved out of the city, went back to school to study nutrition, changed her diet and lifestyle, and started a website called crazysexylife.com. Kris says the biggest killer on the planet is stress. She says stress is caused not just by our work environments, morning rush hour, and disgruntled family members, but also by the food we put into our bodies. She learned that there are no shortcuts to health. "I have a very rare sarcoma. Cancer basically changed my life and made my life a better journey. What I've been doing through my website, crazysexylife.com, is basically helping other people overcome obstacles--whether its cancer, depression, or crazy sexy divorce. I think that whenever we hit our tipping point, it's a sign. We can go one way or the other. I think I chose the right way, which was basically to go back to the basics and learn how to take care of myself and really take care of myself and not be a weekend warrior about it. No one is going to give you permission to live. That permission is your birthright, and so if you can’t stand up for yourself, make it your New Year’s Resolution starting today (regardless which month and day it is when you read or listen to this) is to start doing it now. There is no time to waste. We come here alone, we leave here alone, and everything else is just delicious in between, so make it good. BC (Before Cancer) I was an actress and a photographer living in the City. I was burning the candle at both ends. I lived on fast food and pre-packaged things. Anything that was good ‘to go,’ preferably with a Martini, was perfect. When I was diagnosed and found out there was no treatment, I left the City, I moved to Hippyville, also known as Woodstock. I moved to a house in the mountains. I started living the life that I said I was going to live much later. And then I went on a huge journey around the country for different integrative modalities that might help me. I made a film about it for TLC called Crazy Sexy Cancer. That was the beginning of cancer really being a teacher to me. Prior to that, I was a closet journaler, but I didn't think I had what it took to be a writer. Once I was diagnosed with cancer and I could face that, writing, making a film and trying new things seemed pretty easy. What did I have to lose? Absolutely nothing. When I heard the phrase, the rhythm of change, the first thing I thought of was energy. I think it's important to leave room for miracles. When you start to make changes in your life, the energy really shifts. It brings about unexpected beauty and peace that really connects you to your spirit." Kris Carr, Founder of Crazy, Sexy, Life

Star Jones

Star Jones is an attorney by trade and a vibrant television personality by practice. She caught the attention of Americans for her no-nonesence approach as a co-host on the View, and today she is a legal correspondent for NBC. When Star encountered some major health issues and had to undergo heart surgery, she reassessed life and got back on her feet by writing and narrating a novel. I encountered Star at an Audiobook Authors' Tea. I was exhausted that afternoon and contemplated leaving early. But, I had always been intrigued by Star's courage and candor and decided it would be a loss not ask a question. I asked a version of my signature question--What is the most important lesson that you've learned on your journey? Although the question was personal, she answered with her usual candor, courage and honesty. "For the majority of my life--from the time I was twenty-years-old until I was forty-one, I was morbidly obese. At my heaviest, on the day that I had weight-loss surgery, I was 307 pounds. I was in the very unique position of having started in television at 220 pounds and then the audience watched me gain seventy-five pounds in front of their face, and then watched me lose 160 pounds over the course of two years. It was an emotional up and down. I gained a lot of problems with the seventy-five pounds and then I lost an entire human being when I lost the 160 pounds. I don't think that I fully appreciated the emotional toll it would take on me. I had to actually accept my shortcomings, accept that somebody who was supposed to be so smart, allowed her health to get so out of control that she needed to have an intervention. I finally got control of my guilt with therapy, because it actually did require someone to sort of say, 'Shut up Star. Get over it!,' Once I got control of my guilt and forgave myself, I started to live again and like life. When I got diagnosed with heart disease, which by the way is the number one killer of all Americans, I said I could curl up in a bed and put covers over my head or I could sort of laugh at the soap opera parts of my life and share them. I thought other women would find joy and sadness and laughter and all of the emotions that I felt, so I wrote Satan Sisters. It is a fun, trashy, featurey novel and if you're recovering from anything, it'll make you laugh and that's what I wanted to do."

In wine, truth

The voice and story of John Patrick Gill, wine maker and Tenba Ridge Winery Owner.

Malalai Joya

"An eye for an eye makes the world blind." This is a snippet of an interview with Feminist Anti-War Afghani Activist Malalai Joya from April, 2011.

Wisconsin Teachers Take a Stand

Sometimes, before passing judgment or deciding what's best for others, the best we can do is listen to the voices of those who are directly impacted. These are the voices of teachers and students in Wisconsin.

'The House of Sick & Dying'

Traveling. We do it to explore, to discover new depths of ourselves, and sometimes to escape something. This story is set in India at the Mother Theresa Headquarters. It's a scratch draft at will be read at the event called 'International Intrigue' (at 6:30pm at Cafe Royle) in San Francisco on 2/17/11. It reminds us that the personal really is political.

In Solidarity with the People of Egypt

The 2011 Journey to 'VDAY: Until the Violence Ends'

Looking for something fun to do to kick off your Valentine's Day weekend? Consider attending the 9th Annual Production of 'The Vagina Monologues' at St. Mary's College of California in the Soda Center at 8pm on Friday, February 11, 2011. This podcast will be embedded into a video showcasing the student experience that will premier the night of the performance. For more information or to rsvp a ticket, call 925-631-4171. 5 FAQS About VDAY 1. What is the mission of ‘The Vagina Monologues’? The mission of V-Day is to raise awareness about violence against women and to demand a world without such violence. Each of the play’s monologues represents the stories and experiences of more than 200 women from around the world. It addresses topics that include faithfulness in marriage, domestic violence, rape as a war tactic, gender identity, childbirth, sexual abuse and assault, intimacy and menstruation. Its intent is to break the silence surrounding these issues, and the shame and guilt that may prevent battered women, sexually abused children and sexual assault victims from accessing services. 2. Where does the money raised from the SMC production of V-Day go? Each year, we contribute 100% of the profits to grassroots organizations involved in the cause of ending violence against women. All proceeds from the 2011 SMC production of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ will be given to Community Violence Solutions, a non-profit organization that works to support victims of sexual assault and does prevention education. 3. Why are SMC college funds allocated toward such a controversial play? SMC funds are not contributed toward the play. The play is part of the V-Day college campaign. The play is performed by a group of student volunteers. All costs needed for executing the play come through ticket sales. 4. What leadership opportunities does the Women’s Resource Center provide to students who may not be inclined to participate in or attend ‘The Vagina Monologues?’ Join us for The Crossroads of Social Change, the second annual Wo/men's Conference at Saint Mary's College of California on March 4-5, 2011. Participants will have the opportunity to examine the intersection of race, class and gender as it pertains to social justice, social change and leadership. On Friday, the conference will kick off with an invigorating luncheon, ‘Women of Color Leading Change,’ followed by I-chat (safe space debriefing groups), the debut of ‘Be the Change’ video projects and a networking open house in the Women’s Resource Center’s brand new home. On Saturday, the conference will offer three tracks of sessions including: identity politics, leadership and social change, along with a special lunchtime and closing performance. To register, please click the following link: http://www.vdev.stmarys-ca.edu/student-life/womens-resource-center/wo-mens-conference/index.html 5. How is the ‘The Vagina Monologues’ relevant at a Catholic campus such as Saint Mary’s College of California? Although Saint Mary’s College of California is a safe campus, it is not immune to societal issues such as sexual assault and dating violence. Sexual assault impacts as many as one in four women and one in ten men, while as many as one in three women are victims of dating/domestic violence. Saint Mary’s College of California does not condone the controversial acts that are referenced in the monologues. Yet, we acknowledge that the play is based on women’s experiences as victims of abuse, infidelity, hardships and struggles and support the play’s mission of breaking the silence around these issues and about contributing toward the societal mission of ending violence against women.

Mary Peace Head (Rosie the Rivitor)

The innocence of children

This podcast was made with the help of Mrs. Splinter's 4th grade class!