Family
Gemma’s Gem of The Week: Stepping Outside of the Status Quo
Living in a calculated and straight-edged society can make endless possibilities feel like a pipe dream. It is easy to lose sight of what makes you happy when you are trying to please everyone else. We often hear the phrases “what do you do for work? Where do you go to school? What do you major in?” How many times have you been asked these questions, and similar? How many times have you been asked about where you see yourself in the future? Now, consider this: How many times have you been asked, “does the work you’re doing make you happy? How do these experiences make you feel?”
In high school, I was told that I would waste my potential by not going to college. These words at the time felt deafening, and filled my head with doubt. Regardless of the path you decide to embark on, being told that a decision you’re passionate about is wrong can leave a painful sting. I began to seek out answers from anyone but myself in moments of insecurity. I remember yearning to fit into various molds that never felt right. Despite this all, I couldn’t ignore the nudges that were pulling me in a different direction. The best experiences I ever had stemmed straight from spontaneity. And so I packed up my bags and moved to Los Angeles at 19 years old.
Now this wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. I had an entirely different plan for my life mapped out prior to this decision. I would go to school in NYC, major in musical theatre, and continue my career afterwards. During auditions, (as Glennon Doyle writes in Untamed), I experienced a nudge that whispered “not this.” I just didn’t fit the mold that these schools were seeking out, and the schools didn’t align with the person I wanted to become. When I let go of the desperation to follow the path that others wanted for me, Los Angeles popped into my mind. Suddenly, the nudge felt stronger and surer than ever.
In the weeks leading up to the move, I was burdened with the thought “what if I’m making the wrong decision?” I discovered how truly terrified I was of failure; even though I didn’t know what the consequences would even look like. I just knew I was afraid to fail. As humans, we want to keep things orderly, we want control, and we want to succeed. But I finally thought to myself, “the wrong decision compared to what?” I had nothing to compare this decision to yet, because I hadn’t experienced life independently. I was lectured endlessly from people uttering the words “how will you pay your rent, it’s far too expensive out there, LA is fake, how are you gonna pull this off?” Stepping outside the status quo really opened my eyes up to just how boxed in we are as a society. And this needs to change. It is vital that our youths’ lives and ideas are acknowledged and heard.
Within a mere few months of being out there, I learned the most valuable, enriching, and realistic life experiences. With that being said, if I’m being transparent with you, Los Angeles is far more glamorous on television when you’ve never actually visited. Living there is vastly different from being a tourist. On top of this being my first ever move, this required hard work, and an array of challenges. Life revealed itself in some of its truest forms. I learned about the messiness, the imperfections, the little grand moments, feeling small and lost, discovering strength. I learned about balancing life, work, and play. The lessons that came out of it did not come easily; but that does not mean they were wrong. These adventures mean more to me than anything. I wouldn’t change this decision for the world. By listening to myself outside of all the noise, I discovered and learned more than I could have possibly imagined.
While taking a leap of faith may seem daunting at first, the newfound views of the unknown are quite spectacular.
Imagine taking a leap of faith right now; what is something you’ve always wanted to reach for? What does the ideal life for yourself look like? Listen to that. It’s a lot closer than you think. It’s easy to glorify and romanticize the idea of an “ideal, happy life”, as opposed to considering it an actual reality. You control the life you decide to create for yourself. Nothing is meant to be easy. Nothing is meant to be handed to us absentmindedly. We have to work for the goals we want to reach. But the work doesn’t have to be grueling and draining. The work can be fun if you allow it. And you’d be surprised at just how significantly life changes when you decide to make it your own.
For coffee lovers who love to rock, we love the new Keurig partnership with The Rolling Stones. Of course, we all wish we had a summer break like being a kid again, but for the adult who has to report to work duty in the morning we could not think of a more splendid thing!
The limited edition “Start Me Up” iced coffee kit makes the perfect cup of coffee to jump start you day and will have you singing all day long. A special blend made just for this edition has a nutty roast that’ll start you up with electrifying notes of strawberry.
Each of the “Start Me Up” iced coffee kits includes a custom designed K-Iced brewer and tumbler, “Start Me Up” K-Cup Pods designed to be perfect over ice, as well as access to an exclusive Spotify playlist curated by the iconic band to rock out to while you sip.
It will start you up in a way you never knew possible! The kits are available to purchase on Keurig.com.
The language of flowers is a powerful symbol of expressing emotion. As spring continues, you may be enticed by a colorful tulip delivery at your local florist or market. Behind every bloom is a distinct meaning that can convey serious sentiments and bring joy and solace alike. Here, we will uncover the stories behind six of the most popular spring flowers so you can give your loved ones the perfect gift this season.
What Do Flowers Tell Us?
Flowers have captivated us throughout the ages with their beauty, vibrant colors, and sweet scent. From ancient mythology to more contemporary literature, the symbolic language of flowers has been associated with expressing emotion, surprise, and joy. But have you ever wondered what each flower is trying to tell us? What secrets lie beneath these delicate blooms? We will explore what flowers mean and how they can help communicate feelings in an eloquent yet intimate way.
Tulips: Symbolizing Happiness
SA tulip delivery is a sure way to brighten someone’s day. This versatile flower comes in many varieties, including late winter and spring blooms, and is associated with expressing happiness. Pairs perfectly with other early spring blooms such as daffodils and hyacinths for an extra special bouquet!
Daffodils: Proclaiming New Beginnings
Brightly lit yellow petals of daffodils signify new beginnings in life. Their fresh color palette speaks to a seasonal rebirth, helping us celebrate all the potential that lies ahead. Perfect for those embarking on new journeys or looking to make fresh starts this spring!
Ranunculus: Expressing Ardent Attraction
Ranunculus are multicolored blooms that express intense attraction with their delicate layers of ruffled petals. This eye-catching flower draws admiration wherever it goes and is often used at weddings as a sign of passionate love between two people.
Freesias: Representing Innocence & Friendship
Freesias are thought to represent innocence and friendship due to their light fragrance that evokes feelings of purity and warmth when gifted. A fitting bouquet for any occasion where strong bonds are at play: whether between parents, siblings, or friends!
Hyacinths Conveying Playfulness & Joy
The vibrancy behind hyacinths embodies joyful playfulness like no other flower can – so much so that they were dedicated to Apollo in Greek mythology who represented youthful exuberance! Gift these sprightly blooms to any lover of life who enjoys living every day like it is full of endless possibilities!
Peonies: Representing Romance & Good Fortune
Last but not least, peonies come packed with symbolism representing good fortune, compassion, romance, and even bashfulness. It is no wonder these flowers (which can weigh up to 2 pounds!) have been revered since ancient times as symbols of wealth and beauty making them perfect for expressing your heartfelt love this season!
Bonus: Boost Your Knowledge about the World of Flowers
For those looking to explore flowers in greater depth and discover more of their hidden messages, several books offer a wealth of knowledge. From growing flowers to caring for them in vases to learning the language of flowers, these books can provide invaluable insight into the world of blooms. After all, it is always curious to find out more about the meanings behind the lovely bouquets that we give and receive.
The Language Of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh is a remarkable book that delves into the Victorian traditions associated with different types of flowers. Through poignant stories, readers gain a better understanding of why certain blooms have taken on such powerful meanings over time.
The Flower Expert by Dr. D. G.Hessayon is another great resource for mastering the art of flower care. Covering topics ranging from flower selection and cutting techniques to creating bespoke mixed bouquets, this book offers step-by-step instructions on how best to care for your flowers so they can last longer in your home or garden.
Grow, Harvest, & Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms from Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden is a must-have guide for any aspiring florist or home gardener. This book takes you through the basics of flower gardening and arranging so you can create beautiful bouquets with your home-grown blooms. From seed selection to harvesting techniques, it provides a comprehensive how-to manual on growing stunning seasonal flowers.
Flowers are truly magical gifts that unlock deeper emotional connections through their various meanings. Taking the time to consider which type best reflects what you wish to express helps create meaningful gifts that last much longer than their shelf life. With their amazing semantic and aesthetic value, flowers have everything necessary to offer both the giver and the receiver the pleasure associated with their timeless language this springtime!
As parents, your main job is to support your children and help them grow into happy, healthy, successful adults. You do this by providing guidance, advice, and practical things like food, clothing, and shelter. You’ll also do this by giving them love and letting them know you’re there for them.
None of this changes just because they get older, and although parents would hope their adult children are equipped with all the knowledge they need to live their own lives well, sometimes they will be faced with challenges, and it could be that the parents need to be there to help them. With that in mind, here are some of the best ways to help your adult children.
Have Open Communication
One of the very best things parents can do for their children at any age, and certainly as they grow into adults, is to make sure the children are aware they can talk to the parents about anything and everything. Keep your communication channels open at all times. Ensuring that you can both have frank and honest discussions about whatever it is you need to talk about is vital. When your child talks to you, make sure you don’t judge and listen carefully before offering advice.
If you can have these open communication channels, your adult child is more likely to come to you when they have a problem, whether it’s something serious like needing drink driving solicitors or something smaller like wanting some dating advice. After all, you can only help if you know what the issue is in the first place.
Financial Guidance
One of the biggest issues many adults have is linked to money. Once they start earning money, it can be hard to deal with it responsibly, especially if they have no major bills to pay and they are still living at home. However, this is a bad habit to get into, and it can lead to some big problems in life. Debt can be debilitating, and it’s an easy thing to get into.
This is why you should offer financial guidance to your adult children. Give them practical help when it comes to budgeting and saving and ensure they understand how to build a strong foundation for their future.
It might be that your adult children have some financial problems and need some help. How you handle this will be your choice, but if you decide to loan them money, make sure you have a proper agreement in place and ensure they pay you back – this will help them be more responsible and help you financially too.
Encourage Independence
It’s hard to let children grow up and be their own person; as a parent, you’ll always want to guide them, and you might have ideas about what they should or should not be doing. When they are children, you can have your say and do things to stop certain behavior or encourage it. However, when your children are adults, you no longer have such control, and that’s a good thing – your children need to learn how to be independent.
To help with this, you need to be encouraging about their choices and help them only when they ask you to. It’s important that they work things out independently and learn from their mistakes, but they also need to know you are there for them when they need you.
Tabitha Brown is coming to NYC! On Tuesday, June 6th. Vegan actress and social media personality Tabitha Brown and McCormick will be hosting the free one-day-only “That’s Your Business” Farmer’s Market pop up from 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM (or until supplies last) at Studio 525 in Chelsea, NYC. Tabitha will be on-site to meet attendees and share all her favorite healthy eating tips and tricks!
The event will be in celebration of the recent launch of five new salt-free, vegan seasoning blends and recipe mixes as part of the McCormick by Tabitha Brown collection and will highlight local produce with family-friendly games and photo moments.
The location is at Studio 525, 525 W 24th Street.
Ailey comes to Times Square for a series of free outdoor dance classes led by Ailey Extension instructors and NYC dance artists. Classes are open to people of all ages and all levels of dance experience!. These dance workshops are presented by Ailey Extension and one will happen today June 2 at 5pm, Broadway & 46th St. The class is Broadway Jazz with Judine Somerville to register click here.
On Wednesday, June 7 at 6pm, at Broadway & 46th St LiveDance /Time: Study III with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company co-presented with New York Live Arts
Culminating its 40th Anniversary celebration, the world renowned Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company makes its Times Square debut with /Time: Study III. This piéce d’occasion, featuring the outstanding performers of the company and guest musicians, marks the third annual New York Live Arts presentation in Times Square.
The New Dramatists’ 71st Annual Benefit Luncheon and You are There
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