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I have started this blog site called the VOICE OF YOUTH as I believe that with guidance and mentoring it is the children who will bring about the changes we want to see in this world: from the smallest of changed to the largest.

ENVIRONMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, ENDING POVERTY, CHANGES IN ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ARENAS and so much more.

This is a site created to EMPOWER you, through which to hear your voice. We want to hear about your views, knowledge, experiences, and awareness on a wide range of topics. Many of you will also have an opportunity to post your blogs on this site. You can send your messages to Sandra@2bempowered.com. For identification, you only need to provide your FIRST NAME, AGE and COUNTRY. That’s it!

From this information I will gather and put together programs and initiatives. And I ask you to be the co-creators of the change you want to see in the world. You will be an important part of this process. As the future leaders of our world, it is time for you to break free of any barriers, unite, collaborate, share what you know and come together – holding hands and making a difference.

Below you will see a letter written by new President Barack Obama to his two girls. It is an exciting time as he is ushering in a NEW WAY OF THINKING – one that youth will align with. I encourage you to be part of the change, and lead by example, even if your peers or parents do not. It is your responsibility! As a parent myself, I can tell you that we only want the best for our children. Sometimes, however, we forget what is important. LET’S REMIND THEM!

Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President. On this historic occasion, PARADE asked the President-elect, who is also a devoted family man, to get personal and tell us what he wants for his children. Here, he shares his letter to them. 

Dear Malia and Sasha, 

I know that you’ve both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn’t have let you have. But I also know that it hasn’t always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn’t make up for all the time we’ve been apart. I know how much I’ve missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey. 

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I’d make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn’t seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn’t count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that’s why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation. 

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren’t rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity. 

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you’ll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other. 

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility. 

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something. 

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It’s a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be. 

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you’ve had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential. 

These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That’s why I’ve taken our family on this great adventure. 

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House. 

Love, Dad

Tell me what you feel about Barack Obama as the first African American President #44 and what he stands for?

Sandra

We have just come out of 2008 – a time for much change and clearing of old ways, habits and beliefs for many and for some it still continues. January tends to be a time for making resolutions: I want to lose weight, change jobs, find a partner, end a relationship and the list goes on. It is known that within a few months most people have let their resolutions slide and go back to their old way of being and then the process begins all over again.

I want to tell you that it does not have to be this way – life is about choices and decisions. Some people feel that they do not have a choice and that they are stuck in the lot that has been given to them. I can tell you that this is not true and that within each of us is the free will to change.

Within choices there are at least three choices you can make. First is to choose to do nothing. The person who does this can accept their life and circumstances for where they are at and be grateful. I have a friend who when she knew the path I was taking about inspiring and empowering women to make changes in their life to become their true selves looked at me and said that she was not ready to reflect from within. I told her that is ok as no one is here to judge her or make her do otherwise. I did feel it was necessary for me to point out that by choosing to do nothing means that her circumstances will likely stay the same. I also encouraged her to be grateful for where she is in her life and that she has a roof over her head, food on her table, two beautiful children, and a husband who loves her. When you look at life this way – it’s pretty good.

There is another choice and that is to take one area or thing in your life and decide to make a change. I call this the baby steps to change from within that over time will ultimately lead to larger changes in your life. With my clients who I do body energy work with at the end of a session I will often suggest one thing that they can choose to do differently. For one I suggested just smiling at five random people on the street and making a difference in their day. I asked them to see how this felt for them, giving the gift of love from a distance. For another client I suggested that he set boundaries for those in his life. This can be simply saying “no” when someone asks you to do something that you do not really want to do or do not have time for. For a third client I suggested that she write in a gratitude journal and list 5 things each day that she was grateful for and made her feel good. It can be as simple as seeing a beautiful flower, it may be the laughter of your grandchild, or it may be looking in the mirror and saying the words, “I love you” to yourself and really meaning it. I know that choosing to change from within can be difficult and I want you to know there is no right or wrong, or good and bad. I ask that you suspend all judgment and just let it be. Learn to be in that “moment” of total “beingness” even if it is for only a few seconds. The small shifts that will happen from within will become the norm and everyday practice and from this you can choose another area that you want to tackle.

The third choice, and there are more, however this one I call the one in which you recognize that you are not happy in your life and you know you want to make changes from within. This is where I have been for a number of years. I wanted to strip away the layers and rid myself of the habits, core beliefs and all that was not serving me and allowing me to be my true self. This is not the easiest path as it takes courage and support to look in a mirror, see your reflection and take accountability and responsibility for the part you played in all of this, and then begin the process of acceptance, letting go/releasing, forgiveness, loving and honouring yourself, healing, breaking cycles and so much more. I equate this path to the layers of an onion and that the awareness comes in layers and some layers fall off quickly and you move through this part rather easily and other layers may take months or years depending on your level of awareness. For some the lesson is learnt the first time and for others they may have to go through the learning lesson over and over again until they wake up and say – I GET IT. The greatest awareness I have come to is knowing that I am a great being of light as we all are and that my enlightenment is the moment I chose to be. I know that we are all connected and that through my awareness I have not only transformed my life from within and all my relationships, however, I recognize that I have touched so many lives and made a difference just by being true to myself and honouring who I am.

I ask that you make one choice. Whatever it is please be grateful for where you are at and know that our purpose on this planet is remembering who we are: amazing beings of light who are all meant to shine. This can mean whatever for you. My girlfriends have been my strength, my light and my support in this process. Please find a support group who will help you in your journey of awareness. They may be the one(s) that hold the light at the end of the tunnel when all you see is darkness. I am excited to say the site can be “one of your girlfriends”. You will be hearing from my own life experiences and awareness and more importantly you will be hearing from women, like yourself, from all over the world sharing their insights, experiences and awareness. Let us help you through your journey.

All my love,

Sandra