thesocialtouch_hi

02/18/2022

🥊'PSST!'🥊

🥊Here's a mini revelation - I love being underestimated! I thrive from the expressions on people’s faces when I say or do something that is supposedly completely out of my persona and character. My inner feisty self does cartwheels when that happens. I take great pleasure with proving people wrong.

🎯When I was growing up, I wouldn't say boo to a goose. I used to be so quiet that people would barely notice me in the room. I just shied away in the corner, kept my head down and listened to what others had to say rather than voice my own opinions. It wasn't very often that spoke up or said what was floating around in this brain of mine. Or even do something out of my comfort zone. ~ Boy, have I changed!

🥊All I can say to people who are and have been underestimated is to go out there and blow people's minds and prove you’re as fiery and sassy as the next person! Honestly, it really can be a confidence booster. And it feels good to see those nay sayers squirm when you are thriving and living the life you are intended to live.

❤️

02/18/2022

🥊'PSST!'🥊

🥊Here's a mini revelation - I love being underestimated! I thrive from the expressions on people’s faces when I say or do something that is supposedly completely out of my persona and character. My inner feisty self does cartwheels when that happens. I take great pleasure with proving people wrong.

🎯When I was growing up, I wouldn't say boo to a goose. I used to be so quiet that people would barely notice me in the room. I just shied away in the corner, kept my head down and listened to what others had to say rather than voice my own opinions. It wasn't very often that spoke up or said what was floating around in this brain of mine. Or even do something out of my comfort zone. ~ Boy, have I changed!

🥊All I can say to people who are and have been underestimated is to go out there and blow people's minds and prove you’re as fiery and sassy as the next person! Honestly, it really can be a confidence booster. And it feels good to see those nay sayers squirm when you are thriving and living the life you are intended to live.

01/25/2022

Dear Son,
Pretty soon you are going to back to college. I know you're excited to “live on your own,” as you put it. I get it. I'm excited for you, too. It will be an amazing experience, one that you'll cherish the rest of your life.

College life - It’s cool on a whole other level. Like “figuring out what you want to do with your life” cool. Here’s just a few tidbits of advice I have for you.

So, here it goes:

1. Take on classes and professors that will stretch you to grow.

2. Take as much history, sociology, political science and philosophy as you can.
-Whatever you decide to major in, be sure you take classes in how the world works.

3. Open your eyes to the beauty of the diversity of the world you're living in.
-You will meet and work with people from all backgrounds and experiences. Stretch yourself to get to know them and learn from their perspectives.

4. Be kind and courteous to the support staff on campus.
-These are the hard-working individuals who clean your residence hall, cook, serve you food, and keep your campus safe. Get to know them; greet them by name.

5. Make friends with others who don’t look like you.
-Or sound like you, act like you, think like you.

6. Ask “why?”
-Question authority, rules and policies when necessary. There may be a better way and your inquisitiveness may help spark positive change.

7. Develop your own convictions.
-You will read, hear, see and learn about all kinds of values and beliefs. Start forging your own convictions.

8. To start, focus on experience rather than a career pathway.
-Look for opportunities to learn something, anything, about yourself and the world around you. Any job, event or course could give you invaluable information.

9. Be kinder than necessary.
-I have made lots of apologies to people whom I judged too quickly. I have never regretted being kind to someone.

10. Call your mother.
-Maybe I should have started with that one.

Love you Ryan! So of you.

📚

01/11/2022

After sitting with some really - I was inspired to do this .

Our stories are not meant for everyone. Hearing them is a privilege, and we should always ask ourselves this before we share: "Who has earned the right to hear my story?"

If we have one or two people in our lives who can sit with us and hold space for our shame - stories, and love us for our strengths and struggles, we are incredibly lucky.

If we have a friend, or small group of friends, or family who embraces our imperfections, vulnerabilities, and power, and fills us with a sense of belonging, we are incredibly lucky.

To those who choose to share your stories - you are and to those who hold that space to do so - you too are truly .

❤️

01/11/2022

I ❤️ love it when someone asks me ~ ”What makes a woman strong?”

The women who amaze me are the ones who find space in their hearts to love after experiencing trauma & abuse. These women work ~ hard ~ at moving forward. Then there are some that completely floor me; the ones who evolve into a space where they allow someone to love them back. They are not resisting... They are not running. They are letting those steeled guards down.

This takes strength - courage - and hard work. These women are . These women deserve recognition for their strength.

12/23/2021

A few weeks ago, I started a new journey working with the LGBQTIA community as a forensic specialist I am learning so much every time I sit and absorb a story. My take away is how so many have put in the work to strengthen their voice and take a stand. They choose to not be silent about who they are and the abuse that has hurt them yet molded their gritty beautiful character.

Here’s what resonates… We shouldn’t always “zip our lips” or “turn the other cheek,” and sometimes it’s imperative we stand up and speak up. Sometimes it’s imperative we SPEAK OUT.

People need to be vocal if and when they see someone being physically, verbally, or emotionally abused. Many of these individuals in this community never had anyone defend them in their time of need. And many of them have been conditioned to be quiet and take the abuse.

I know speaking up can be scary and unnerving. Fear can keep us stuck — especially fear of change, because when you stand up to an abuser something has to change. But the victims of abuse deserve our time. They deserve our love and our support.

Plus, when someone fails to speak up against abuse, they become complicit in the abuse. They (consciously or unconsciously) justify the behavior, acknowledging it is okay. They imply what is happening is normal. It is a-okay, and this further traumatizes the individual being abused. But that’s not all. When people stay silent about abuse, the cycle is allowed to continue. The abuser feels untouchable; invincible. When people stay silent about abuse, they validate the actions of the abuser — or, in some cases, defend it. They make excuses, often in the form of platitudes. “There are two sides to every story,” they say. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. Give them the benefit of the doubt.” And when people stay silent about abuse — they endanger another’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being. What’s more, abuse thrives in silence. Sometimes all it takes is one brave soul to stand up and say, “this is wrong,” to turn the tide. One person willing to stand up and speak out and say, “No. This is not okay.” Here’s to NO MORE TO ABUSE.

12/20/2021

11/18/2021

❤️My Gentlemanly Son❤️

I love you...

❤️I want you to know how complex and intricate and meaningful those three words are when they come from me. I have been saying them to you throughout your entire life, but I often wonder if you know exactly what I mean when I say them.

❤️You should know that I love you just as well as you know your own name. My love was your very first love, and it will last last your entire lifetime, even long after I’m gone. But in case you ever wonder, I want to tell you exactly what “I love you” means to me.

❤️When I say I love you, it’s more than a natural feeling a mother has for her child.

❤️It means I think of you all the time. All throughout my day, my thoughts of you are too many to count. When I think about you, it can be a simple hope that you are making the best of this current moment. As you live and journey on, I often hope that you’re content, that you’re patient, that you’re learning or challenged or enjoying yourself.

❤️When you’re home, I hope that home is serene, peaceful, and comfortable. If you’re out with friends, I hope that you’re fulfilled and happy. My love is much more than admiration. My love is more than pride for who you are and what you’ll become. My love is steadfast hope that never fades.

❤️I love you also means you are the person for whom I would stop everything.

❤️If you ever need me, even if I can’t (physically) be there for you instantly, in my heart, I’m by your side. I’m holding your hand. I’m holding you up. I’m holding you close. I’m guiding you forward. I am there for whatever you need. No matter where you are, I am with you. No matter what, you can always call on me.

I love you Trysten.

🦋 🦋

11/06/2021

🦋Shame Stories ~ or Are They?🦋

🦋Let’s think about it. Every single mistake that you have ever made in your life until now, has contributed into shaping the person you are today. Our regrets mold us way harder than our achievements do.

🦋This is why I gravitate to individuals who have shame stories ~ I really love it when I’m gifted with a story that was hard to share because one fears judgement and being ostracized. It’s an honor when someone offers you their stories; it’s an invitation to join them in a very sacred space. It is a true privilege to be a witness when one lays their shame on the table, offer vulnerability up, drop defenses, and reveal deep wounds. It’s probably one of the most beautiful human experiences.

🦋Sharing can be so scary ~ it’s why I’m selective when I choose to share my shame story. I have experienced peeps who use my past against me. Some distance themselves because of what others will think of them by associating with me, and then there are some determined to put me in a box with all sorts of labels slapped around it. I could say this is cowardly ~ but then I would be negatively labeling them too. An abusive cycle I don’t want to perpetuate.

🦋This post stems from a question I was asked this week ~ Why are they called “shame stories?” After sitting with it ~ I realized labeling it as shame eternalizes that energy. It’s not shame ~ it’s Courageous. I have usually seen that people who are not afraid to share their shame stories with others, are the ones who don't let their past trap them in chains. I have learned by revealing my shame ~ it takes away all its power, and that's where fear fails and courage wins. It’s these stories that shaped me and brings clarity to my place in this world.

🦋Here’s to all the “Courageous Stories!”🦋

🦋 🦋

11/01/2021

🦋IG FACTOIDS🦋

Social media is a big monster today. It’s a very large ocean with uncountable content, news and information. There is no doubt that it’s very hard to stand out from the crowd when you just act “normally”. Boosting your brand awareness and your engagements requires time to think, great planning and of course the knowledge of the social media interesting facts in 2021. Here are 10 that I find to be informative:

🦋Intagram Facts #1: One of the surprising social media usage facts on Instagram is that; the platform has 1billion active monthy users worldwide. More than 500million of these use the platform daily.
🦋Intagram Facts #2: Nearly 1.7billion accounts use Instagram Stories every day. As for the users, 500million of them use Instagram Stories every day.
🦋Intagram Facts #3: 95million photos are uploaded to Instagram daily.
🦋Intagram Facts #4: More than 40billion photos have been shared so far.
🦋Intagram Facts #5: The average user spends 53minutes on the app on a daily base.
🦋Intagram Facts #6: 71% of Instagram users are millennials.
🦋Intagram Facts #7: Instagram is the second most popular social media platform after Facebook.
🦋Intagram Facts #8: 71% of US businesses use Instagram.
🦋Intagram Facts #9: 15% – 25% of the users swipe up when there is a link at the Instagram Story.
🦋Intagram Facts #10: 59% of businesses link Instagram Stories to shopping pages.

As you can see Instagram is a great and powerful marketing tool for any businesses that want to reach and interact with a very large and active audience. I wish these social media interesting facts on Instagram will help you to plan your next social media marketing strategy more carefully.

Need Help? Reach out ~ I’d love to chat about your social media strategy for 2022.

🦋 🦋

10/31/2021

🦈SHARKS🦈

Hands down one of the best experiences in life. Swimming with was life altering. She took me by the hand and gently nudged as we dived down to these exquisite sea creatures.

Anyone who knows me ~ is very aware I am rigid and a scaredy-cat in the water. I was nudged (not so gently) by a shark 13 years ago.
When I shared my story with the world renowned shark conservationists ~ she smiled and said, “I’m looking forward to giving you a different perspective.” And here it is: I will no longer see the ocean waves without imagining the beautiful creatures that live in the depths. I will not be able to hear the word “shark” without remembering the ones I was able to meet. I will not be able to “fear” them as I did before. Instead, I will feel respect for the role they play in nature.

If you ever have the opportunity to slip beneath the waves and live out this thrilling adventure for yourself, I encourage you to take it! As cliche as it sounds, the old saying is true. You only live once - and, the way I see it, shark diving in the wild ocean is the eye-opening kind of moment that makes life worth living.

Go check out You won’t be disappointed.

🦈 ❤️ 🦋 🦋