Medium

Three Reasons Why 2024 Is Going To Be My Year Of Gratitude

Do you ever have one of those years that kicks you in the nether regions? Yes, that’s how both 2022 and 2023 were for me. See, my life up until that point was stuck. The energy of change was stagnant. Sure, on the surface, it seemed like things were moving. But in reality, nothing was going where I wanted it to.

That’s why shifting my perspective helped me to make some profound decisions and choices for my life. While it wasn’t always pleasant giving, Gratitude is one of the main things that helped me get through the rough times.

Click here to continue reading on Medium.com.

HubPages

Unraveling the Magic: Regal’s New Year’s Mystery Movie Review of Founder’s Day

If you’re like most moviegoers, you’ll probably watch the movie trailers when you see something in the theater. That’s how they lure us back to those cozy dark rooms with the projection playing on the screen. But if you’re like me, you’ll probably be a fan of YouTube channels like New Rockstars that churn out fantastic content based on films, especially anything D.C., Marvel, or Star Wars related. This content removes any form of not knowing before heading to the theater.

However, there is a way for moviegoers to retain an air of surprise in their cinematic experience. It’s called the Regal Cinema Mystery Movie. If you’re like me, then it’s something that’s existed longer than you knew about it.

Come along, and I’ll explain.

Click here to continue reading on HubPages.com

Single and Fabulous: How This South Jersey Lady Owned New Year’s Eve Solo

As the new year ended, many things were going through everyone’s mind. It ran from “OMG, I can’t believe we’re here already!” to “I’m so f****** glad this year is over!” That seemed to be the energy of 2023 in a nutshell.

But for this South Jersey native, the events of 2023 ran so much deeper. I went through profound changes in my personal and professional life. I wasn’t sure if I could enter a new year without a significant other or my mom. Yes, I’d never experienced a holiday season without at least one of those, and it gave me so many emotions. Thankfully, I’m stronger than I realized. I took the over-hyped holiday into my own creatively pretty hands.

Click here to continue reading on HubPages.com

PJ’s and a Movie

Blossom Into Womanhood With My Girl

“Have you had the unfortunate experience of recently losing a loved one?” If your answer is yes, then I send my condolences. However, for diehard fans of the movie My Girl, you’ll have a nice chuckle.

Back in 1991, I was nine years old and loved the TV show Blossom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and My Girl, starring Anna Chlumsky, Dan Aykroyd, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Macaulay Culkin.

It centers on the summer escapades of Vada Sultenfuss (Chlumsky), as she embarks on the road to womanhood. Set in 1972, Madison, Pennsylvania, My Girl uses a mixture of vintage cars, groovy clothes, 70’s hits, and witty dialogue to draw in the viewer.

When we first meet Vada, she is living in her father’s funeral parlor, faking her own death and charging neighborhood kids to see corpses. Within the first 10 minutes, Shelly (Curtis) applies for the make-up artist job, and life begins to change.

The neglected Vada spends more time with Thomas J (Culkin) and singing to the picture of her teacher, Bill.

Her world is fragmented due to her mother’s death, her father’s creepy profession, her grandmother’s increasing senility, and her lack of female friends.

Vada’s perception of life is death. She fears loss and, therefore, chases it off by mocking it.

Although her family situation is a bit nutty, Vada still manages to follow her heart and take an adult writing class taught by her crush, Bill.

During class, Vada’s world is widened with the marijuana, sex, and orgasm-drenched poetry of her hippie classmate.

The reception of her first kiss nurtures her sensitivity and longing for emotional stability.

Her writing serves as an outlet for the expression of repressed memories of her death by childbirth mother.

While My Girl has a heart-wrenching twist of fate about ¾’s in, the ending leaves room for growth and resurrection, two topics that all women can relate to no matter their age.

As for me, I enjoy watching this film every few years to remember a simpler time in my life. The summer days were filled with smelling the bay, channel surfing in pop-pop’s recliner, hanging with my cousins, and daydreaming. The hope of wearing a bra, kissing my crush, and getting my period still lay in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead.

For more film content visit PJ’s and a Movie.

TellTales

100+ Best Marvel Movie Easter Eggs

I helped contribute new Easter Eggs for several of the MCU films.

Obadiah and the Chessmen (Iron Man 2008)

Die-hard fans can’t overlook this one! Obadiah’s chessboard is strategically placed in view in the apartment scene, and the jealousy-riddled bad guy also wears a checkered robe. This is a nice nod to his team of villains called ‘The Chessmen’ in the comics.

42. Lemuria (Captain America: The Winter Soldier 2014)

In The Winter Soldier, Captain America is on a rescue to the Lemurian star with the Avengers. Everyone seems to struggle with pronouncing “Lemurian,” which references ‘Lemuria’, the rival country to Atlantis in the comics. Maybe D.C.’s Aquaman has been to Lemuria?

70. Quantum Particles and The X-Men (Doctor Strange 2016)

The Ancient One tells Doctor Strange that the Quantum Realm is a benevolent and life-giving place. Janet Van Dyne of Ant-Man and the Wasp says, “This place changes you…some of it is evolution.” She’s developed healing powers after her visit. Is it possible the quantum particles of this realm are responsible for the gene mutation of the X-Men? Click here to continue reading on the TellTalesOnline.com website.

Healthnews.com

Should I Get A Health And Wellness Coach?

What is a health and wellness coach?

A health and wellness coach works with clients to help them improve their lives. They do so through discussions, encouragement, and holding clients accountable for their actions. Health and wellness coaches use a client-centered approach to empower clients to decide the best action to achieve goals. The health and wellness coach uses positivity to encourage the clients to stay motivated. Health and wellness coaches work with doctors, healthcare professionals, telehealth companies, and community programs — some run their own health coaching businesses. Click here to continue reading on the Healthnews.com website.

Helping Pregnant Teens Know Their Options

Teen pregnancy affects females of every socioeconomic background. But some races experience higher birth rates than others. So, all teens need to understand their options if a pregnancy occurs.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, teen pregnancy occurs when a woman under the age of 20 becomes pregnant. The definition of teen pregnancy still applies if the woman is under the age of 12. Click here to continue reading on the Healthnews.com website.

Delishably.com

Panda Express Adds ‘Sizzling’ New Menu Item That Packs a Serious Punch

Panda Express is known for its high-quality menu options. It’s this investment in quality that makes them stand out among competitors. You don’t need to wonder if the food will be delicious because the answer is yes.

So, I was pleased to visit a Panda Express in Vineland, NJ, to try the new Sizzling Shrimp. My arrival was greeted by friendly staff, including David Park, Multi-Unit General Manager of this restaurant location.

I was given a tour and introduced to the dedicated workers who brought the yummy food to life. The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm and welcoming. The staff takes pride in their job because of the cleanliness. Click here to continue reading on the Delishably.com website.

Foodie’s ‘Biscoff Ice Cream Dupe’ Has Customers Celebrating

Finding a snack can happen right away when we’re lurking through the cabinets and fridge. Then there are times when we would rather make our snacks. Making our own snacks is the best way to get what you want. So, if you’re ready to get creative in the kitchen, we recommend you stick around for today’s dupe.

TikTok content creator @mirandabrady_ shared a video on Tuesday, September 18th, about a new Biscoff Ice Cream Dupe with customers rejoicing. Wow, that looks simply irresistible! Click here to continue reading on the Delishably.com website.

Woman Who Lost 50 Pounds Swears by Special Spice Mix for Weight Loss

Are you in the process of taking care of your body? Perhaps you’re journeying to heal your body and change your habits. This can take many forms, like cutting out sugar, caffeine, or meat from your diet. Maybe you’ll start exercising every day. Whatever you’re doing, learning tips for losing weight is always nice.

TikTok content creator @sabrinabawa shared a video on Thursday, September 21st, about a woman’s special spice mixture that helped her lose 50 pounds. Most people have these spices in their kitchen. Click here to continue reading on the Delishably.com website.

Famous ‘Elvis Presley Cake’ Reportedly Goes Back to His Childhood

Did you ever have a favorite dessert as a kid? Yes, it probably consisted of a cake, cookie, pie, or some other baked good. But as we age, returning to those treasured snacks can be challenging. Sometimes, our diets or lifestyle changes pull us away from them. Yet, that doesn’t mean we can’t give in to the craving for a sweet treat occasionally.

TikTok content creator @southern_living shared a video about Elvis Presley’s Cake that reportedly returns to his childhood. Eat like the King for a day! Click here to continue reading on the Delishably.com website.

Top 10 Things I Learned from Self-Publishing a Book

It feels surreal that I wrote a book. However, the final proof copy is staring back at me from the coffee table, so it’s definitely happening. But if you had told me a year ago that I’d be in this position laughter would have ensued. Even though my publishing imprint, Celestial Publishing LLC was formed, I hadn’t returned to my completed memoir manuscript. Nor did I have plans to do so. Thank goodness a new idea came to me.

If you’re thinking about self-publishing a book, you’ll want to know what to expect. Sure, no two self-publishing journeys are the same. Yet there are things to consider before leaping. So sit back. Get comfortable as I share the wisdom gained from self-publishing my first book.

You Have to Work Hard, but it’s Fun

Now I’d begun researching self-publishing back in 2015. I watched countless AuthorTube videos and read endless articles from those who’d released their labor of love to the masses. But you won’t realize how much work is involved until you’re in the process.

If something needs revision, it’s up to you. When the manuscript needs to get reformatted because of last-minute fixed typos, guess who gets it done? Yes, it’s you. Read More

Human Trafficking Impacts Us All

What Is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking utilizes restraint, extortion, forced labor, or commercial sex acts. Fear, language barriers, deception, physical or sexual abuse make it difficult for victims to escape their captors. Once a person is taken into human trafficking, their freedom, comfort, and voice are gone.

What Regions Have the Biggest Human Trafficking Problem?

The impact of human trafficking is a global crisis and not the sole reality of developing countries. The UNODC (United Nations Office On Drugs and Crime) report on human trafficking provides information based on data collected from 155 countries. Their findings state, “worldwide, almost 20% of all trafficking victims are children.” But in some African and Mekong regions, youth are in the majority. In areas of Western Africa, 100% of the victims are children.

But the safety of children, adolescents, and adults is also under attack in developed countries. The United States made it onto the 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report. It is listed under Tier 1, which shows countries and territories that abide by the Act’s minimum standards. However, this doesn’t mean we can’t do more to improve the situation.

The Polaris Project’s recent study of the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline discloses the number of phone calls received between January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. California tops the list with 1,507 cases. Texas and Florida follow with 1,080 cases and 896 cases, respectively. While this data doesn’t provide the entire scope of the human trafficking problem, it reveals that people are suffering, and more work needs to be done.

Efforts to Stop Trafficking Continue During the Pandemic

The Polaris Project’s disclosure of the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline number of calls during the Pre-Shelter in Place and Post Shelter in Place is concerning. The number of cases increased from 60 per day to 90 per day within 30 days. This information is especially alarming concerning African-Americans and Latinos who become infected with COVID-19 at three times the rate of their white neighbors.

Nearly 43% of African-Americans and Latinos have jobs in the service industry. They can’t risk losing their jobs and aren’t able to correctly socially distance during the pandemic. The socio-economic disparities of the African-Americans and Latinos make them a vulnerable population for traffickers. In Louisiana, black girls comprise approximately 19% of the youth population, yet black girls account for 49% of the child sex trafficking victims in the state. So many incidents of trafficking go unreported, but it doesn’t have to stay this way.

How You Can Help

Human trafficking can be stopped. But the key to ending it depends on education, public awareness, and taking action. When you learn the warning signs of a trafficked person, you can put an end to it. Helping others get informed enables us to be proactive in the prevention of modern slavery.

To learn more about fighting child trafficking, please explore our website for more details.

Chapter One: How Do School-Based Services Work?

An excerpt from Crying, Learning, and Laughing: Why Students Visit the Teen Center

Waking up at 6:00 AM never came easy for me. I loathed the process as a student and resented it as an employee. But if you agree to abide by a company’s rules, then sucking it up becomes the norm. Living with an underactive thyroid didn’t help my body’s craving for sleeping in late.

I’d roll out of bed and move with the pace of a sleep-deprived zombie. Performing the morning ritual of selecting an outfit required too much effort, so I did it the night before.

After the usual bathroom activities, my three kitties needed their breakfast. I also made sure the trapped, spayed, and neutered feral kitties got some sustenance too.

On a good day, my skinny butt was out the door by 7:00. But if my slow energy couldn’t push me forward, 7:15 sparked a rushed commute.

The comedic stylings of the Tom Joyner Morning Show gave me life through Shaun King news, R&B music, and Chris Paul and Huggy Lowdown humor.

Many days I arrived with just enough time to turn on the computers, unlock the cabinets, sign into the necessary portals, and review my schedule before that first knock on the door at 7:54-ish.

On a quiet day, the mental health clinician, part-time case manager, intern, and I could speak with the students while listening to music or playing Uno. If the Universe was cranky, endless tears and loud talking teens in need of a private chat greeted us.

Life at the Teen Center followed the school’s periods, but no two days ran the same. If your school, city, or state doesn’t offer an in-school program of this kind, then your kids are missing out.

What Is a Teen Center?

In New Jersey, the School-Based Youth Services Program (SBYSP) or Teen Centers receive funding by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families’ (DCF) Division of Family and Community Partnerships (FCP), Office of School Linked Services (OSLS). The department allocates the funds to an agency or organization of their choice to set up the school-based services within an elementary, middle school, or high school. While each Teen Center offers similar services, our school’s center provided:

College, job, and scholarship application assistance
Girls, Boys, Mental Health, and Pregnancy Prevention Groups
Guest speakers
Individual counseling
Leadership recognition
Referrals to community services
Trips (college tours, conferences, and recreation)
Tutoring
Volunteer opportunities

Returning students loved getting a pass for lunch or study hall, which lasted until June unless they earned poor grades, had excessive absences, or cut class too often. Freshmen learned of the Teen Center through orientation, upperclassmen, classroom presentations, or our freshman summer program. But, the Teen Center was more than a place to eat lunch or get a snack.

Hours of Operation

Our doors were open Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, twelve months a year, unless otherwise stated. An observable holiday, event, field trip, and inclement weather might alter the teen center hours.

Parental Consent

Teen Center policy required a signed Social Services Rights and Consent form from a student’s parent or guardian after one visit. Students 18 years or older could sign the form, but tracking down students to get signed consent forms was easier said than done.

If a student needed clinical services, the mental health clinician distributed the therapist’s packet. Scheduling an intake appointment happened after the return of the completed forms.

Extra Support

Adolescence is stressful no matter what neighborhood you’re from, what school you attend, and what your parents do for a living. Yet, a teen’s home and community profoundly impact their life. Students struggling to buy new clothes, attend prom, or find a job turned to us.

We distributed donated clothing and prom tickets and took the time to help them search for gigs hiring 15 and 16-year-olds. If they couldn’t understand an assignment, we attempted to explain the directions. If it was math-related, my help was limited.

A Safe Place

What students disclosed to us remained confidential unless it involved a suicide, abuse, neglect, or threats to harm someone else. Even when students trusted a colleague or me with sensitive information, it remained with the necessary staff.

The day my first student admitted to suicidal thoughts within the past week, my anxiety went through the roof. Of course, we received training to handle those types of situations. But when it’s happening, your mind can go blank.

I sat there asking the proper questions, and once I had confirmation of those thoughts, I sought my program director whose office was across from mine. Her chair was empty. In hindsight, I should have asked our mental health clinician for help, but I’d become so accustomed to asking my boss that asking anyone else seemed “wrong.”

But I’d left the student with our mental health clinician and searched for my boss in the school to no avail.

Moments later, she returned and helped me take the next steps.

To get information about suicide, child abuse, or bullying prevention into the right hands, we used table events and presentations. Brochures, pamphlets, and giveaways lined our table in the cafeteria as curious lunchtime munchers asked what we were doing. To satisfy job requirements, we made the rounds to various classes to discuss teen dating violence and bullying always letting the kids know we were available to talk.

Someone to Listen

It may seem like common sense that a teen center offered individual counseling, but you’d be surprised at the number of students unaware of that service. No matter how many kids flocked to us, new ones found their way each month. We did plenty of outreach, but referrals from the guidance counselors and teachers streamlined the process.

One day as my lunch break began in the common area, a student came in to talk. I apologized for eating at the table, but the teen didn’t mind because the floodgates of a first love break-up ran down a sallow face. The ending of a relationship is never easy, so for an adolescent to trust a stranger in an open area speaks volumes. I offered a second session once my shared office was free, but the student already began to feel better.

On a different day, another student accompanied by a close friend disclosed information that resulted in the Division of Protection and Permanency conducting an investigation. The student remained in the home but enjoyed speaking with me about the impact of the disclosure on the grandparents and other personal issues.

But having someone to listen to your troubles could mean the difference between life and death if the teen’s depression is untreated. Therefore, giving students access to resources makes a positive difference.

Access to Resources

A trip to the teen center could result in acquiring art supplies for a project, details about an upcoming field trip, or holiday presents. The free individual counseling services and groups tackling pregnancy prevention gave the pupils quality mental health and social service care.

Our connections with local organizations and yearly grant funding allowed kids to receive what they needed to finish assignments, attend educational conferences, and hear lectures from local program representatives. The inspirational guest speakers encouraged many of the teens to become active members of the community, thereby sparking an interest in volunteering in the Teen Center or the food bank. The Stand-Up and Rebel group, facilitated by a local non-profit, empowered our kids to ignore peer pressure to use drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products.

Leadership Recognition

Some teens step into leadership positions more quickly than others. As a token of our appreciation for volunteering, the Teen Center honored a student each month. Student selection occurred through ballots and discussions of the Teen Center staff. The winner received a certificate, movie ticket, popcorn, and candy inside a popcorn holder. We posted their picture with a blurb on the bulletin board next to the front door.

The kids waited anxiously every month for the big lunchtime reveal. However, we couldn’t please everyone. For example, one time, when a student’s identity was revealed, her close friend grabbed her own wig, twirled it, tossed it, and playfully chased, and laughter ensued. It was just another memorable day at the Teen Center.

Discussion Questions

Do you think Teen Centers are useful?
Would you recommend a teen to utilize their services?
Why do you think Teen Centers are necessary?