FlyyGirl Challenge Update!

AH! It's been almost two weeks and I haven't checked in! Okay, well here's the spill:

THE MIND

The books. I'm reading Chasing the Skip by Janci Patterson right now. Next, I'm going to read The Life of Pi. I'll probably finish Chasing the Skip Saturday if I don't make any plans. I've been going out every weekend since summer has started so I may just have to sit down after work and read until I go to bed a few days.

THE BODY

I've tracked 11 miles so far. Last week in PCB I forgot all about the app and missed out on a few miles then. Fourth place has 12 miles though so if I go walking today I can pull ahead of them. I've done half of my miles this week though. 4 of them were Monday and I did a mile and a half Tuesday. So as you can see, I started off slow but I'm trying to pick up the pace. I'm hanging in there!

THE SPIRIT

I've been going through something in my life that's a very big change for me and I can feel God guiding me and talking to me. He's teaching me through this experience how to accept what I can not change and how to be compassionate. Over the last few months I've learned about myself and learned to love myself. I'm confident and courageous. Now, he is teaching me to give and receive love from others.


 So, that's what's up with me. How are you guys growing this month?

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FlyyGirl Challenge!

This month I've set a few goals for myself. I guess you could say I'm grooming my wings. One spiritual, one mental and one physical.

My Spiritual Goal

I plan only reading a devotional every night before I go to bed. When I was younger, I got a book every three months that went day by day with a lesson but as I got older I slowly got out of the habit. Hopefully without my school year distractions I'll have more time to spend with God.

My Health Goal

Me and all of my coworkers at the Boys and Girls Club have downloaded an app called MapMyRun. We track ourselves throughout the day on our phones and it's automatically uploaded to the scoreboard. At the end of the month whoever has the most miles wins. It's fun competing because we all motivate each other to get active.


My Mental Goal

I plan on finishing atleast two lengthy books this month. Books help you expand your vocabulary, bring awareness to other people's lifestlyes, increase your fluency and many other things. Through reading you travel to different lives and explore different places through your imagination.


These are three things that I plan on doing this month. Do you guys have anything that you're trying to integrate into your daily lives?

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#TheCoriComeUp

I wasn't always the bundle of joy that I am today.

I've had a few bouts with depression, as most of us have. There is no simple solution. Depression is different for everybody. Personally I wrote a lot of poems, ate healthier, and poured myself into clubs and anything else to distract me mentally.

You have to learn how to focus all your self-doubt , boredom , and frustrations with life into something good. Making and completing goals is a great way to do this. Feeling like nobody needs you? Go volunteer at your local food bank. Feeling like your not smart enough? Pick something interesting and Google search until your an expert? Feeling like you aren't beautiful? Check out my DIY Spa Day article : https://takingcarewithcori.blogspot.com/2018/06/diy-spa-day.html .

No matter who you are though, you need to talk about it. I understand the whole "what happens at home stays at home" or "not wanting anybody in your business". But, nowadays you have plenty of options to seek help. You can talk to someone anonymously on line, call a hotline, talk to a mentor, talk to someone elderly. Personally, I feel more comfortable talking to someone who isn't my peer. Adults 40-60 have a lot more life experience than me and would provide way better guidance. Find someone to talk to that you feel comfortable with and respect. Somebody who you feel is admirable.

A few months ago, I was feeling pretty down so I reorganized my furniture. This gave my room a whole new set of vibes. As I focused on being more positive, I started to associate them with my new look. This may SEEM small but I feel way more comfortable now. I also bought some new clothes. A bit of a twist to my style left me feeling revived.

Everybody has a talent or a hobby. Perfect your craft! Feeling special will definitely provide you with a sense of purpose. Share your gifts with loved ones. The praise will give you some probably much needed validation.

Speaking of validation, let's talk about relationships. I'm all for making a new friend to add a little adventure to your life. But I'm just going to say it. A boyfriend / girlfriend is NOT the way to feel your void. You can NOT depend on a relationship to "make you happy". You need to love yourself before your capable of loving anyone. If you're depressed you need to be reevaluating your life and you need to be the most important person in your life. You don't have the emotional availability for anybody else. There's no way you can be the support system they need. You'll probably end up using them and draining their energy. You have to be selfless in a relationship. Meaning, you must have something to give.

The first step is acceptance. Accept that something isn't right and be determined to fix it. Now you must have faith. Have faith in whatever you believe in that there is a way and that you will overcome this. Work. It's not easy, nobody ever said it would be. Put all your positive energy into it and repeat some affirmations to yourself when you feel discouraged. "I will have a good day today." "I am going to make something out of myself."

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Shake into Shape

 

Exercise Tips

Now let me start by saying that I am by no means a fitness enthusiast. I gave up on my six pack about 10 boxes of Debbie cakes ago. However, I try to motivate myself to do something healthy. For me the thing I'm most likely to want to do without moaning and groaning is dancing. You don't even have to be a good dancer. The whole point is just to be moving. Calories don't care if you're on beat or not.

You can watch dance tutorials on Youtube, go to a Zumba class, even blast your favorite music in the living room for a while. I know it may sound awkward but you shouldn't feel silly. Sometimes when I'm really into it, I turn off all the lights, close my eyes, and pretend that I'm somewhere else all by myself. It's a good way to wind down by yourself.

When I'm not getting jiggy with it, I like to go for walks. I haven't done track in years and these long legs aren't as fast as they used to be. I do enjoy going around the neighborhood a few times though, especially with my dog Rome. Walking is easier on your body than running, and as long as you use the same amount of energy overall you get the same benefits. Just walk longer. Me being the music advocate I am, would suggest a playlist with jazz or study music to listen to as you take in your surroundings.


There's a lot of simple ways to incorporate things into your day too, here's a little list:

- At the top of each hour, roll your chair back away from your desk and hold a squat for 20 seconds, followed by 10 full squats, repeat. Set your alarm on your phone to remind you.

- While waiting for the water to boil or the oven to pre-heat, fill your time with angled push-ups on the counter.

- Whether you're out supporting your boo, your bestie or even your brother halftime is a great time for a 5-10 minute power walk either in the hallways or around the building.

- I love BET. But those commercials can feel like forever sometimes. Try

- Talk on the phone with your crew a lot? Have your dumbbells handy! Squeeze in bicep curls, tricep extensions and shoulder presses while you get the tea.


Don't let the struggle be real. You got this!

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DIY Spa Day

HAIR :

Let's start from the top! One suggestion from me for natural hair is :

Coconut Honey

If you have extra dry and brittle hair Coconut Honey is your saving grace. Every ingredient is designed to protect your hair from breakage. The amino acids in avocado sooth your scalp while the proteins work to rebuild your hair’s follicles naturally. Plus, these ingredients add shine to hair and prevent breakage.

• 1 oz. coconut oil
• 2 oz. aloe vera gel
• 1 tsp. avocado oil
• ⅓ cup water

Mix coconut and avocado oil in a small cup. Pour aloe vera gel and water in a small spray bottle. Then add your coconut and avocado mix to the spray bottle. Shake well prior to every application. Keep in mind that coconut oil is a solid at room temperature. Thus you may need to warm it slightly.


( this recipe is from https://www.kinkycurlyyaki.com/blogs/natural-hair-blogs/14-homemade-leave-in-conditioner-recipes )

SKIN  :

Scrubs, soaks and masks all leave you feeling refreshed. Here's one of each :

Banana & Sugar Body Scrub

Put a ripe banana, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract all into a bowl.  If you're planning on using it for your face don't use sugar. Next, use a fork to mush them into chunks. Don't over mix. In the shower, rub it all over your body.

Rose Water & Coconut Milk Soak

First make the rose water. Per cup of firmly packed rose petals add two cups of bowling water. After the liquid is covered and cooled, squeeze out the liquid. Mix the rose water with a equal amount of coconut milk. Two ounces are recommended.

Apple Oatmeal Exfoliating Mask

If you're like me , you love a good Sephora face mask ( especially the rose one ) BUT it's nice to know exactly what's going on your face and feel like a bit of a health guru.

Mix 2 tablespoons of applesauce,  1 tablespoon of honey, and 2 tablespoons of cooked oatmeal with one teaspoon of rose water. Let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water.

These are just a few basic Spa Day tips ! Until next time, stay Flyy!

 

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The Bad Day Checklist

Hey FlyyGirls! We all get stressed sometimes. Having a bad day is pretty normal, but there are plenty of ways to calm down when you're feeling overwhelmed and turn that frown upside down.

1. Listen to a chill playlist.

One of the best mood shifters for me personally is music. Music connects us and music makes us feel less alone. It takes away the stress and gives us an outlet to let out our emotions. One that I personally enjoy is :
https://open.spotify.com/user/nuggetsrlife/playlist/5AdkRJ7V5R69lCk9ElHm9?si=4TMDeJ2RR6q2Dyh59BjK3w

2. Looking nice and being clean.

Wash your face, brush your teeth, style your hair, take a long bath and put on a nice outfit. Looking nice, even if you're not going anywhere will boost your self esteem. Personally, a good face mask and steam help me a lot. The confidence boost of "I look nice today." along with the confidence boost you get from productivity should cheer you up.

3. Clean your area.

Just like cleaning up yourself will help, cleaning your space will too. Clutter often causes anxiety. To avoid feeling trapped or overwhelmed by all you need to do put some things away or sweep. You'll be able to check something off your lists of things to do and the clear space will help you have a clearer mind.

4. Read a book.

Books are almost like a portal to another dimension. You'll be so focused on the characters and their crazy lives that it'll bring a new prospective to yours. If it doesn't make you flat out forget completely.

5. Put something healthy in your system.

Go brew a glass of tea. Drink a few bottles of water. Eat a fruit salad. Maybe even take some vitamins. There are lots of fruit smoothie recipes with kale, seeds, and other organic goodies all over the Internet. Some of my snack suggestions are :

- sunflower seeds
- banana chips
- granola bars
- walnuts

So these are some things I do when I'm having a bad day. What about y'all?

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The Origins of My FlyyGirl Adventure

Cori's Summer To-Do List 
- Everything
- Anything
- BIG THINGS

Hey! I'm Shecoria Akins , aka Cori. I'm ecstatic to be 2018 FlyyGirl Fly Summer Intern. As I enter my final year of high school, I'm more determined than ever to explore myself. I'm on a path filled with what I love leading me to what I want to be. FlyyGirl is training me to reach my full potential.   

First, I'd like to quote the Flyy Girl website. "Being a FlyyGirl means that you are an innovator, a creator, not just a dreamer, but a doer; they are the movers and shakers of the world that are not afraid to take that first step into the unknown."As a FlyyGirl , I plan to be adventurous and witty. I plan to try new things and better myself as a person. Summer '18 is my summer. I'm packing it full of power and prosperity. I'm making memories, making money and moving with merit. 

I'm a strong, powerful, black girl destined for big things. I can do anything I put my mind to. I will share my ideas with the world through networking. I will expand my horizons as I learn from my peers. I will share postive vibes with my fellow Flyy Girls hoping to grow from them while helping them grow too. 

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