A Day in the LIfe of a Hair Professional

Who Says Blondes Have more Fun????

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:40:00 +0000

Not my Client Crystal! Crystal had never done a major change and was a little scared but wanting to spice up her self described "mousey" brown hair. After consulting with her and examining her peaches and cream complexion and her crystal (no pun intended) baby blue eyes I suggested spicing it up with Red. She then told me her two brothers were both natural red heads. That clinched it, Bingo I knew it would be great on her. After doing some rearch over the internet (her homework from me was to find pictures of celebs in different shades of red) and dragging her boyfriend to the wig store (great idea) she boldly decided to go for it and we changed our minds from the original mahogany to Red. Who says Blondes have more Fun?

FREE AT LAST

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:25:00 +0000

Well I did it! I finally finished school four days ago, and I am now prepping for my state board which is next wednesday. I have been studying and working on all my applications so I hope to pass the first time. I am very proud of the past year of hard work that I have done and am enjoying the process of getting to know hair and feeling more confident. Next step : State Board, Next step after that: Get Job.

Celebrity hair news

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:37:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Now that her stint on "Melrose Place" is over, Ashlee Simpson is letting go of the past, and her old red hair color. The actress-singer revealed her new black hair in Los Angeles Nov. 11, 2009.

From RTE Entertainment:
Andre wins 'Best Celebrity Hair'
Peter Andre has been named as having the 'Best Celebrity Hair' of 2009.
Also featured in the Brylcreem Best Celebrity Hairstyle Awards top ten were actor Robert Pattinson, racing driver Jenson Button, TV presenter Declan Donnelly, Take That singer Mark Owen and musician Robbie Williams.
Simon Cowell won the 'Worst Celebrity Hair' of 2009 award, followed by comedian Russell Brand, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, 'X Factor' judge Louis Walsh and tennis player Andy Murray.

Britney Spears has a new shorter more casual style.

Nicole Richie went to a darker hue in the Brown Family

Salma Hayek has a new shoulder length bob

The new hair color in europe at the moment: GRAY

How much time do you spend on your hair?

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:18:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

I hear a lot in the salon : I want no maintenance or low maintenance, I don't want to use product, I don't blow dry/curl/flat iron my hair, and I get ready in less than 30 min including my hair but I want to look like Angelina Jolie or Jennifer Anniston.

Beauty takes work. No surprise there. It takes a small village really to get most celebrities ready for events where they will be photographed and believe me photo shop is definately in use as well.

The short answer is that there are no short cuts. If you want to look fabulous. You must spend some time at it. If you are going casual you can skimp on the product or use something lightweight in your hair. If you are going for something up or more structured you definately will need styling products, and tools.

A blow dry is a definate must for a foundation of good looking hair. Remember to try to dry the root first, switching directions, blowing first one direction at the root around the head , then the other, taking about 80% of the moisture out. Drying at the root breaks the pattern that your hair wants to live in and gives you that L'oreal Commercial feel of your hair moving 360 degrees around the head.

Then a curling iron, hot rollers or a flat iron as the base for some good style. Practice in front of the mirror with pictures and a can of hair spray. I challenge you to see what you can do!

Be Bold

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:41:00 +0000

Image by friskytuna via Flickr

Be Bold choosing a new hair color or style. Allow your hair dresser to make some suggestions. They generally know what they are doing.:) Step out of your comfort zone. Chances are your comfort zone is dated and no longer works for you anyway. What I have learned this past year doing hair is that most people are stuck. Stuck in a rut, stuck in a decade, stuck in a look. And it may not work for you anymore. It may have looked and felt great at some time, but its time for something new.

InSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:42:00 +0000

We make our fortunes, and we call them fate.

Earl of Beaconsfield

Five weeks Left

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:32:00 +0000

Well now that the year is almost over I can say wow where did the year go? Of course while I was in the midst of my 70 hr weeks and no life it felt like forever. I am in the final push, trying to get it together for the State Board Exam. My test date is the end of Jan, so keep your fingers crossed that I will pass on the first go around.

Lately I have been thinking, what next? Whats my next step? Right now I am possibly considering Mud Make up School for another 9 weeks of Education which is hideously expensive. But I am thinking that I may want to go down the road of Celebrity Hair, or hair for movies, and live events in which case having as many tools in my toolbelt could make all the difference. I don't ever want to be in the position of someone wanting to hire me and then saying oh but we can only hire one person so we want them to be able to do both hair and make up.
Also I am thinking that while building my career I could do bridal on the weekends and offer both makeup and hair services. I will let you know what i decide to do. My other option of course is to forego the makeup and just get a job as an apprentice at a Salon.

From The Independent

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:54:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

New company creates fragrances from dead celebrities' hair

Relax News

Wednesday, 18 November 2009

MyDNAfragrance.com offers scents based on hair samples of deceased personalities.

According to the New York Daily News, the Los Angeles-based company uses clippings provided by celebrity hair collector John Reznikoff for its "very scientific" procedure, even though it remains a "secret" how the famous DNA finds its way into the bottle.

"I can't go into our secret process, but we base the fragrance on the genetic code," Dr. Diva Verdun of MyDNAFragrance.com told the paper.

A visit to the website confirms that Verdun has developed scents for everyone from cinema freaks to history fans. 'Obvious' choices include the actress Marilyn Monroe, and singers Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson - but how about enemy of the US state John Dillinger, absolutist French Queen Marie Antoinette, or Tarzan impersonator Johnny Weismuller? Or, even more bizarrely, who really wants to smell like baseball player Joe di Maggio?

However, Verdun says that personalities' original bad body odour won't feature in the actual fragrances."I did a little research on Elvis, and he actually had really bad body odor. So we don't want to clone him in any way or create a fragrance that actually smelled like him," she is quoted in the article.

But what do these perfumes actually smell like? Descriptions on the website leave you clueless, as does this one about the 'Michael Jackson' scent: "M is an exclusive one-of-a-kind fragrance that explodes into an indescribable fragrance, which seemly draws the attention of every person in the room," it reads.

"It is composed of the lightest, but most volatile essences. Much like the performer himself, this cologne is unique and like no other cologne in the world." At least about that last one, Verdun should be right.

Remember to Love yourself

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:16:00 +0000

This has been an incredibly difficult year for me. Leaving my second love so to speak without getting the opportunity to actually do it (Acting) and going into this new unknown venture. For anyone who is starting over and especially those of you going around for the second or third time into a new career, remember to be patient with yourself and most of all to love yourself through it. Starting from square one is a daunting task. But if you stay in the moment, breathe, and let go of judgement, you will do it.

Up Styles- A Lost Art?

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:35:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

While it seems like up styles are still prevalent for Brides and in Fashion Magazines it seems they have fallen out of common usuage among regular gals in every day life. I remember my mother having the big hair piece in the closet that she would put on top of her hair to create that big beehive do that was so popular in the 60's. Women used to sleep with rollers in the hair with toilet paper wrapped around it. Modern girls don't seem to do much anymore with their hair besides bump it and wear it half up , half down. Maybe like jitterbugging or partner dancing, upstyles have fallen out of style.
To create an Upstyle the most important thing is the foundation or base. First set your hair with rollers, or if you don't have rollers you can use your biggest curling iron and do barrel curls and pin them up all over your head. Make sure you use some type of setting spray before to give yourself hold and texture. Take the rollers out/or the curls down and finger through or lightly brush through. Turning your head upside down and spraying again is also good. You now have a good working base to start from. You can use Pony tails as a second step to create many styles. One to three pony tails placed in different sections. Start pulling strands of hair out of the pony and wrap and pin. Experimenting is important here. Have fun. Use braiding, and wrap or tie strands of hair together to create shapes then wrap and pin using up all of the hair.

My Thoughts

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:49:00 +0000

So I've talked alot about the trials and tribulations of starting over again. It is difficult being in your 20's again or going through all the things you did when you are 20. I was very lucky the first time around that I was passionate, I loved what I was doing, I knew who I was and I knew where I was going. I've also said before that having been a successful Professional Dancer for 13 years that I was lucky that I got to live one dream already, not only live it but to find success as well.
Now the challenge is recreating myself without knowing who I am now, where I am going, and without having that incredible passion that I had when I was young. Well Life is about contrast isn't it. We don't recognize the up's without the downs, the good without the bad, the easy, without the difficult. Even though this has been the toughest year of my life and a struggle, I have almost made it through, and things have been getting a little bit easier each day.
The hardest part is being in the moment and not wanting to race ahead to the end result. I am starting to become excited about creating my career now, and look forward to sharing those thoughts with you as I continue on my journey.

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OF THE WEEK

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:47:00 +0000

Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved. - William Jennings Bryan, 1860-1925

Gray Hair

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:41:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

What causes Gray Hair? The absence of melanin in the cortex and medulla of the hair shaft where the pigment lives is the cause of grey hair. Once the pigment is gone it cannot be recovered it will always stay grey, that is without the help of hair color. Premature greying can be caused by heredity, stress, illness, and lack of vitamin b 12.

Almost at the Finish line

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:37:00 +0000

Well Friends, would you believe I am almost at the end of my school journey. I have one more month left of this year long program. Although looking from the outside in time seems to have passed quickly, or so my friends and loved ones tell me for me it has been a long, hard, tough road filled with stress, frustration, fatigue, and questions. Many of those things are still present. For a long while I felt like the odd man out and that I was the only one experiencing all of these things. I have since learned that many of the students have felt similarly which is comforting.

This Weeks Inspirational Quote- Continuing our Theme on Character

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:46:00 +0000

Actions, looks, words and steps form the alphabet by which you may spell character.

Johann Kasper Lavater

Maintaining your great Hair Style

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:41:00 +0000

Image by Niels van Eck via Flickr

One thing to keep in mind about your hairstyle is that you do need great product and great tools in order to maintain your look. Yes we do always hear....."I can never make my hair look the way you do" or "I wish I could take you home so you could do my hair every day" (of course this is some of the reason that celebrities look so good, because they have their own personal hair stylist) but next time your stylist does your hair, pay attention. Pay attention to the tools they use. What type of brush are they using to blow dry, what type of products before, during, and after. Is there a special technique they are using. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Learn how to style your hair by watching what your stylist does. Chances are if you have the right product and tools you will go a lot further in getting your hair done similarly. Lastly, practice, practice, practice.

Do you have Good Hair?

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:57:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

What makes Good Hair and do you have it?

Good Hair should look shiny and healthy. It should have body and movement. The hair style should be flattering to your face and body type, the color should be flattering to your complexion/skin tone and eyes.

Most likely if your hair cut is flattering you receive compliments on it and are even questioned as to who your stylist is?

You most likely do not have good hair if:

It is dull and limp. Overprocessed, or the color does not match your eyes and skintone. Your style is dated and you have not changed it in years or trendy but looks like it belongs on someone else.

From Web MD:Top 10 Foods for Healthy Hair

When it comes to healthy hair, it’s not just what you put on your tresses that count -- it’s what you put in your body, too.
By Hilary Parker
WebMD Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

"Lather, rinse, repeat" may be standard advice, but shampoo and conditioner alone won't give you the healthy hair you crave. For the most luxurious locks possible, you'll need to step out of the shower, and into the kitchen.

"Your hair grows about 1/4 to 1/2 inch every month, and the foundation of all of our new hair, skin, and nail growth is the nutrients we eat," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a Chicago-based dietitian. "If you eat a healthy diet, you will grow stronger and healthier cells throughout your entire body -- inside and out."

If you were born with fine, thin hair, you'll never have rope-thick tresses -- no matter what you eat -- but a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of growth-promoting protein and iron can make a difference, say nutrition and hair experts.

And beware of dietary supplements often marketed to thicken hair or make it grow faster. They may backfire.

"Even though you can find beauty supplements on the shelves of most stores, try to get the nutrients you need from foods whenever possible," Paradi Mirmirani, MD, a dermatologist in Vallejo, Calif., tells WebMD. "In rare instances, excess supplementation of certain nutrients, such as vitamin A, has been linked to hair loss."

Read on for the 10 top foods that should be the foundation of your healthy hair diet.

(What are some of the things you do to keep YOUR hair healthy and shiny? Talk with others on the Skin Care: Share Your Tips message board.)

Healthy Hair Food No. 1: Salmon
When it comes to foods that pack a beauty punch, it's hard to beat salmon. Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, this high-quality protein source is also filled with vitamin B-12 and iron.

"Essential omega-3 fatty acids are needed to support scalp health," says Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD, a dietitian in Los Angeles and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "A deficiency can result in a dry scalp and thus hair, giving it a dull look."

Vegetarian? Include one or two tablespoons of ground flaxseed in your daily diet for some plant-based omega-3 fats.

Healthy Hair Food No. 2: Dark Green Vegetables
Popeye the Sailor Man didn't eat all that spinach for healthy hair, but he could have. Spinach, like broccoli and Swiss chard, is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum. The oily substance, secreted by your hair follicles, is the body's natural hair conditioner.

Dark green vegetables also provide iron and calcium.

Healthy Hair Food No. 3: Beans
Beans, beans, they're good for your ... hair?

Yes, it's true. Legumes like kidney beans and lentils should be an important part of your hair-care diet. Not only do they provide plentiful protein to promote hair growth, but ample iron, zinc, and biotin. While rare, biotin deficiencies can result in brittle hair.

Blatner, who is also a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, recommends three or more cups of lentils or beans each week.
Healthy Hair Food No. 4: Nuts
Do you go nuts for thick, shiny hair? You should.

Brazil nuts are one of nature's best sources of selenium, an important mineral for the health of your scalp.

Walnuts contain alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that may help condition your hair. They are also a terrific source of zinc, as are cashews, pecans, and almonds. A zinc deficiency can lead to hair shedding, so make sure nuts are a regular on your healthy hair menu.

Healthy Hair Food No. 5: Poultry
Chickens and turkeys may have feathers, but the high-quality protein they provide will help give you the healthy hair you crave.

"Without adequate protein or with low-quality protein, one can experience weak brittle hair, while a profound protein deficiency can result in loss of hair color," Giancoli tells WebMD.

Poultry also provides iron with a high degree of bioavailability, meaning your body can easily reap its benefits.

Healthy Hair Food No. 6: Eggs
When it comes to healthy hair, it doesn't matter whether you like your eggs scrambled, fried, or over easy. However they're served up, eggs are one of the best protein sources you can find.

They also contain biotin and vitamin B-12, which are important beauty nutrients.

Healthy Hair Food No. 7: Whole Grains
Sink your teeth into hearty whole grains, including whole-wheat bread and fortified whole-grain breakfast cereals, for a hair-healthy dose of zinc, iron, and B vitamins.

A whole-grain snack can also be a great go-to food when your energy is zapped halfway through the afternoon, and you've still got hours to go before dinner.

Healthy Hair Food No. 8: Oysters
Oysters may be better known for their reputation as an aphrodisiac, but they can also lead to healthy hair -- and who doesn't love that?

The key to their love and hair-boosting abilities is zinc -- a powerful antioxidant.

If oysters don't make a regular appearance on your dinner plate, don't despair. In addition to getting it from whole grains and nuts, you can also get zinc from beef and lamb.

Healthy Hair Food No. 9: Low-Fat Dairy Products
Low-fat dairy products like skim milk and yogurt are great sources of calcium, an important mineral for hair growth. They also contain whey and casein, two high-quality protein sources.

For some healthy hair foods "to-go," try throwing a yogurt or cottage cheese cup in your bag when you head out in the morning to snack on later in the day. You can even boost their hair benefits by stirring in a couple of tablespoons of ground flaxseeds or walnuts for omega-3 fatty acids and zinc.

Healthy Hair Food No. 10: Carrots
Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which promotes a healthy scalp along with good vision.

Since a healthy scalp is essential for a shiny, well-conditioned head of hair, you'd be wise to include carrots in your diet as snacks or toppings on your salad.

Elvis' Hair fetches $15,000 From CBS News

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:31:00 +0000

Auctioned Elvis Hair Fetches $15,000
Clump of Hair Believed to be Shaved from Elvis When He Joined Army Sold after Death of a Friend

* Font size
* Print
* E-mail
* Share
* 3 Comments

* In this Oct. 12, 2009 file photo, a clump of Elvis Presley's hair, given to Gary Pepper as president of the Tankers Fan Club to give to Elvis fans, is one of over 200 items in The Gary Pepper Collection of Elvis Presley Memorabilia at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, in Chicago. Photo

In this Oct. 12, 2009 file photo, a clump of Elvis Presley's hair, given to Gary Pepper as president of the Tankers Fan Club to give to Elvis fans, is one of over 200 items in The Gary Pepper Collection of Elvis Presley Memorabilia at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

* Interactive Burning Love

Only 42 when he died on Aug. 16, 1977, Elvis lived a life long on groundbreaking musical achievements.

* Stories
* Elvis Landmark Just A Parking Lot Now

(AP) A clump of hair believed to have been trimmed from Elvis Presley's head when he joined the Army in 1958 has sold for $15,000 at a Chicago auction house.

Also among the 200 Elvis-related items up for grabs at the Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago on Sunday was a shirt that once belonged to the King which sold for $52,000.

The buyer of the hair paid $15,000 plus an additional $3,300 in auction house fees.

Other items on offer included scarves, photos from the reception of Presley's 1967 wedding to Priscilla, Christmas cards he sent and lots of records. Elvis dolls and Elvis Pez dispensers numbered among the memorabilia.

All the items had belonged to the late Gary Pepper, who ran a fan club and was a friend. Pepper, who had cerebral palsy, died in 1980.

Chris Rock

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:28:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Chris Rock's 'Good Hair' Gets Good News

* October 20, 2009
* |
* By: Harley W. Lond
* Comments (0)

Talk about a bad hair day.

A federal court in Los Angeles has refused to stop the release of Chris Rock's 'Good Hair,' a comic documentary that takes a look at the way hairstyles influence the activities, pocketbooks, sexual relationships and self-esteem of the black community.

The injunction was brought by Regina Kimbell, producer and director of 'My Nappy Roots: A Journey Through Black Hair-itage,' who alleges in a $5 million copyright infringement lawsuit that Rock copied substantial elements of her as-yet-unreleased 2005 documentary on the same subject.

According to the complaint, Kimbell screened her film for Rock in 2007 after winning the Pan African Film Festival's best documentary award, but also acknowledged that she knew Rock was already working on 'Good Hair' at that time.

According to a report in the Hollywood Reporter, "Ideas can't be copyrighted -- only the expression of ideas. ... Rock may have been inspired by some of the elements he saw on screen, but the bar for copyright infringement can be high in cases like this." According to Kimbell's suit, there are more than a dozen similarities between the two films.

The quashing of the injunction allows Rock's film to open wide this coming weekend; last week it earned more than $1 million on 186 screens.

"These motions are rarely granted," Kimbell's lawyer said, according to the Reporter. "We still feel optimistic on our copyright claim and we're on track to proceed."

Ivanka Trump From Style Watch at People

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:24:00 +0000

Image by Rubenstein via Flickr

The Inside Scoop on Ivanka Trump’s Wedding Gown and Hair

Brian Marcus/Fred Marcus Photography

While Ivanka Trump looked no further than her own jewelry collection for her something sparkling for her wedding to Jared Kushner this weekend, the heiress sought out famed wedding gown designer Vera Wang for her “something new.” Ivanka and Vera Wang worked closely to create the perfect couture wedding gown inspired by the gown Princess Grace Kelly wore to wed Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956. The result — a hand made lace gown fit for a princess. To complement her majestic gown, Ivanka paid long time hair stylistJulien Farel a visit 10 days prior to the wedding for a trim and “Park Avenue Blonde” highlights. And though Wang was still putting the finishing touches on Ivanka’s wedding gown just days before the ceremony, the heiress was “really calm” according to Farel, who cut about an inch and half off of Ivanka’s blonde tresses. “She really just wanted to make sure she had a fabulous trim so her hair would be able to style well the day of the wedding,” Farel tells PEOPLE. Watch as Vera Wang describes the work and inspiration behind Ivanka’s couture wedding gown. Tell us: What do you think of Ivanka Trump’s wedding gown?–reporting by Isley Kasica

From NME The First for Music News- Lady Gaga

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:21:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

NME News

Lady Gaga to give away lock of hair with album

'The Fame Monster' also includes a new Beyoncé duet

Lady GaGa is set to give away locks of her hair with a new edition of her debut album 'The Fame' – which is also set to feature a new duet with Beyonce.

Copies of 'The Fame Monster' will come packaged with a lock of the singer's hair, plus eight new songs including 'Telephone', which features a vocal from Beyonce. It will be released on December 15 in the US, reports Allheadlinenews.com.

Another Happy Color Client

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:11:00 +0000

Sorry I don't have the before pics but Vanessa was one of my bleach blond clients who was very very blonde and pretty much the same color all over. She was torn with staying the same, but not wanting the cost and maintenance of being Suzy Chapstick Blonde. We decided to integrate several colors of lowlights to give her more blending and durability without sacrificing her blond. We were both very happy with the result.

My Client Jessica

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:36:00 +0000

So the bottom two pics are what Jessica looked like when she came in and the top two pictures are the after shots. Very subtle difference, a little more blond and sun kissed. She loved the end result because it looked so natural.

Are you Happy with your Hairstylist?

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:27:00 +0000

What do you think makes a great hairstylist? Are you happy with your hairstylist?

Here are the things I think that make a great hair stylist:

They Care. He/She really cares about you and wants you to look your best.
Good Listener/Empathic
Good Service Provider
Educated and up to date on current trends and cutting/color techniques
Prompt/Reliable, sets and keeps your appointments well
Innovative and suggests things
Reasonable Pricing

What do you think makes you a good client?

Here are the things i think make a good client:

Prompt/Reliable
Loyal
Open to Change
Low Maintenance

Character-Do you have it?

smith.corey@sbcglobal.net (corey smith) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:31:00 +0000

One of the things I am learning most about myself in this journey is about my character. Or shall I say my lack of character, unfortunately? I haven't always found myself looking at my character in my life. Who does? Although I am pretty introspective and feel like I have worked on a lot of my personal issues. However, I do know through this process that I haven't always or even often suffered my challenges, frustration, and stress with dignity and grace. I haven't always been patient and kind both to myself and others. I haven't always kept constant, and persistent with faith and charity. It is with no small shame and embarassment that I reveal this to you, in the hopes that we all can realize what we can learn about ourselves in many ways on these unplanned forks in the road. I can only recommit to myself to do better, to be aware, and to make the changes I want to see towards the positive. It isn't often as I said that one gets to weight these things, and I don't know if I failed to learn them as I was growing up or have simply forgotten, or discarded them, or perhaps even worse, never had them to begin with? But in this opportunity of schooling, through both career and personal, I will continue to learn and grow.

In that spirit, this week's INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE:

Let us not say, Every man is the architect of his own fortune; but let us say, Every man is the architect of his own character.

George Dana Boardman

Are you who you want to be? Have you even looked in the mirror, lately?