Right off the bat, the announcers declared Kacy’s intention to take her time with each challenge and it paid off.
Sometimes when you rush, you get sloppy. Things get forgotten and tasks aren’t completed to perfection. Maybe you even overlook important details. Pace yourself in the workplace, in life and in relationships. Investing time in the present is worth it for the future.
Life Lesson #2: Choose a partner who supports you.
Kacy’s boyfriend seems like the perfect life partner. His looks of pride, admiration and love were displayed the entire time she competed and were enough to melt the iciest of hearts.
We all deserve a partner to support us unconditionally; one who won’t feel threatened by our strength or our confidence or our success; one who will scale a tower to congratulate us on our accomplishments.
Don’t settle for someone who will hold you back; instead, look for the person who will help you grow emotionally, intellectually and physically. One of the joys of love is the ability to hold each other up and make one another better citizens of the world.
Don’t dampen your light for someone who won’t push you to shine your brightest.
Life Lesson #3: Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith.
As shown by the Pole Grasper challenge, sometimes the gaps in your life seem too big. Like, no matter how much you want something, you might fail, slip through the cracks and hit rock bottom.
Don’t let that stop you. As the saying goes, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. Remove yourself from your comfort zone and do something exciting or new or a little bit scary. Nine times out of 10, you’ll amaze yourself.
Life Lesson #4: Set a goal for yourself, say it out loud and then reach it.
Before the competition, Mighty Kacy told the announcers that she was going to finish the course, and while they thought her determination was cute, they didn’t believe her. However, Catanzaro was hellbent on reaching her goal and mind over matter is real.
Setting goals for yourself is important, but saying them out loud is the key. Telling others what you want from life automatically ups the ante and holds you accountable for your actions.
Don’t be afraid to vocalize your dreams because it might just be the extra motivation you need to work harder for that promotion, half marathon, new apartment, or whatever it is you desire.
Life Lesson #5: When you think you’re out of steam, push harder.
One of the hardest things for some of us to realize is that we are capable of more than we believe. We might only be pseudo-adults, but life can be hard. It can get us down, strip us of our confidence and make us feel alone.
Just look at Kacy in the final challenge, right before the buzzer. She was tired and spent. But, just as the announcers were describing how impossible the 4-foot-wide obstacle would be for her, she frog-jumped her way to the buzzer, in record time.
So, you might feel like you’re all out of energy. You might feel like quitting, but don’t. Just when you think you can’t take anymore, the universe will intervene and your body and mind will get you to the end of any obstacle, in amazing ways.
Life Lesson #6: When you deserve it, the world will cheer you on.
There’s no denying that life’s a rat race. Hell, half of our friends would sell us out for a promotion or a raise. However, when you accomplish something truly amazing, the world can’t help but notice, and your competitors will only be able to cheer you on.
Let your son know you love him unconditionally. Emphasize that he does not need to be good, successful, or smart for you to love him.
2. I Respect You
Your son deserves respect too. You will teach your son a lot about respecting other people’s values and boundaries, when you show him respect. Mutual respect is key to a strong relationship with your son.
3. I’m Here For You
Be supportive in his decisions, as long as it is not something that will cause him harm. There are many adults living with resentment and regret because their parents did not support their dreams and goals.
4. I Am Listening
Listen without judgement or criticism. Listen with out self-referencing. You don’t need to relate or like what he is saying. Just listen.
5. You Brighten My Day!
Let your son know how much joy he brings into your life. Show him that he is a blessing.
6. I Believe in You
Tell him what unique qualities you admire. Support his strengths, dreams and goals.
7. Tell Me More
Be inquisitive in a good way. Show enthusiasm when he is speaking. Use your tone and body language to show you are paying attention. Be curious about what he is saying.
8. I Want To Understand
Let your son know when you do not understand what he is going through. Ask him to explain and elaborate. Don’t jump to conclusions and attack his character.
9. Thank You!
Show gratitude for the little things. Thank him for helping out.
10. Let Me Help You
Your son may not always ask for help, even if he needs it. If your son needs help, be there with your love and encouragement.
Get out the tissues. This video ruined me. With so much going wrong in today’s world, this video is a great reminder that we all have moments. Those moments are opportunities. We can make the most of them or let them pass by. This is what love is like.
Fred Stobaugh is his name. Here’s the story on Huffington Post:
Fred Stobaugh, from Peoria, Ill., wrote the lyrics to what he called “Oh Sweet Lorraine” after his 91-year-old wife died last April. The couple met in 1938 and were married for 73 years, according to ABC News.
“Oh sweet Lorraine,” the song begins. “I wish we could do all the good times over again.”
Stobaugh, who’s not a musician, entered the lyrics into a singer-songwriter contest at Green Shoes Studios in Illinois.
Think it doesn’t happen in your neighborhood? Think again. Wisconsin is seeing a rise in young people under 18 being exposed to the kinds of evils we would expect never to hear of in our community, namely, sex trafficking. TMJ4 just released a story this week about what’s happening in Milwaukee:
MILWAUKEE — Children, forced to become sex slaves. You wouldn’t think it’s a problem in Milwaukee, but it is. The FBI says it’s one of the biggest issues facing the Milwaukee area.
It isn’t just a prostitution problem, but an exploitation problem. Teenagers are being turned into sex slaves under false financial promises. It happened to Juana’s 15-year-old daughter.
“They were making her work. They were making her have customers with no control. She was locked in a room,” said Juana to TODAY’S TMJ4’s Charles Benson. “She was beaten. For sex.” Maria knows her two daughters were living separate lives. She says she knows they were being sold for sex. “She was a part of the human trafficking world,” Maria told Charles. Maria just learned her 18-year-old daughter is back on the streets, but she doesn’t know where she is.
Those parents will tell you human trafficking is very real in Milwaukee.
“It can be very violent,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Teresa Carlson. Carlson tells Charles human trafficking is a big priority for the FBI – and it’s not just a concern in the city.
“They’re looking or people who are vulnerable, the most vulnerable people in our society. That vulnerability can come from a broken family, they’re financially vulnerable, they’re emotionally vulnerable, they’re isolated, they are looking for a safe place.” Carlson says her team has a special squad dedicated to human trafficking.
“The new squad is really designed to deal with child exploitation issues so they deal with child pornography. Civil rights and human trafficking are a big part of the squad.” In 2012, the FBI launched Operations Cross Country, a sweeping nationwide effort to bust up the child sex trafficking business. In Milwaukee, 58 people were arrested, and seven children were recovered. That’s more than any city in America.”
