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Round-Up Wednesday (September 2, 2015)

Round-Up Wednesday (September 2, 2015)

I miss going back to school. There was something wonderful about that blank slate full of opportunities and what you do with said opportunities.

ADVICE I’D GIVE MY YOUNGER SELF

I’m a sucker for “this is what I’d tell my younger self” videos. This video is one of the best. Like seriously, the best. The wisdom of the these wise ladies has stayed with me for days and I’ve given a lot of thought about the advice I’d tell my younger self and what would I need to change to make sure I was proud of the life I’ve lived. In this digital world, I sometimes worry that I don’t measure up and they reminded me of what really works. I won’t give away their wisdom, just go watch them.

PAVEMENT BOOKWORM

Sometimes opportunities come from the most unusual places and it take a certain type of person to recognize these opportunities. Philani Dladla’s is such a person. Finding himself homeless and hooked on drugs, Dladla noticed that that that begged on the street corners were getting something for nothing. He wanted to be different and that he could give people something worthwhile—book reviews in exchange for money. Every morning he stets up shop selling books that he’s read. Books he likes sell for more that books he doesn’t. Seeing how he could spread happiness, motivated Dladla to get clean. But, his amazingness doesn’t stop there. Knowing that for many children lose their way after school falling into drugs, alcohol and crime, he set up an after school reading program, where, as he puts it, “we don’t just read together—we talk about our hopes, dreams, and challenges and support each other in achieving them.” Inspired yet?

POSITIVE EXPOSURE

It’s hard enough to have a positive body image when you fit into the socially accepted norm, but what if you don’t? Rick Guidotti was a famous photographer working with some of the agreed upon most beautiful women in the world. Then one day, he encountered a young girl who changed his whole viewpoint. This girl had albinism and Rick found her beautiful and wanted to take her picture. She said no. Guidotti set up Positive Exposure to use video and photography to transform the publics perception of people living with genetic, physical, and behavioral differences. For some of these people, it’s the first time they’ve been told they or their children are beautiful.