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Anything is possible, if you set your mind to it, work hard, and have your heart in the right place.

Little Mix, an awesome all-female vocal group and winner of The X Factor, reinforces these ideas in their new song "Little Me."  The next time you're feeling down on yourself, turn this song on and remind yourself that the possibilities are endless, and that you can be anything you want to be. 




If you can't see the video embedded above, click here to watch it on YouTube.

Wish I knew back then what I know now
Wish I could somehow go back in time
And maybe listen to my own advice

I'd tell her to speak up, tell her to shout out
Talk a bit louder, be a bit prouder
Tell her she's beautiful, wonderful,
Everything she doesn't see

You gotta speak up, you gotta shout out
And know that right here, right now
You can be beautiful, wonderful,
Anything you wanna be

Click here to read all of the lyrics.

Cartoon Network is working to educate kids about bullying with their new original documentary Speak Up, which will air Sunday, March 18 at 5:30pm, then at 8pm, commercial-free. It is part of their Stop Bullying: Speak Up campaign to help kids to speak up about bullying and support those who’ve been bullied. Speak Up features interviews with kids aged 8-13, talking about bullying–by those who’ve been bullied, watched bullying happen, or been bullies themselves. Speak Up also includes Cartoon Network’s three hosts of Dude, What Would Happen, as well as Chris Webber (NBA All-Star), Matt Wilhelm (Pro BMX champion), and NASCAR drivers Trevor Bayne, Jeff Burton and Joey Logano, who all share their experiences about bullying and encourage kids to speak out. Before, during and after the documentary, bullying prevention expert and author Rosalind Wiseman will talk more about bullying, and answer viewer questions online at StopBullyingSpeakUp. The documentary will also be posted the website afterwards, and will be offered free of charge to customers through Comcast Xfinity, Facebook, iTunes, Xbox 360+Kinect and YouTube.com, each for at least two weeks after the documentary first airs.

I like seeing companies making an effort to try to help kids and make things better. Good on Cartoon Network.

Via Cynopsis Kids

My husband came home from work today very frustrated and restless. He went to a meeting comprised of approximately 60 business people. There was a microphone for attendees to speak into when they asked or answered a question. Dozens of the 60 attendees did NOT speak loud enough to be heard. Speakers were asked repeatedly to repeat what they had said, louder and more directly into the microphone. How irritating is that?

I realize that some people are not comfortable speaking in public, but this was not a one person presentation. (Obviously I am not shy or I would not be a children’s book author who travels around to schools and uses ridiculous cartoon voices in my presentations in front of hundreds of kids and adults.) But as adults, shouldn’t we be able to literally speak loud enough to be heard? I don’t get it.

I have always been outgoing and used to pray when I was a kid that I could be shy. It never worked. I admire shy people for keeping quiet when I cannot. I always used to think shy people thought I was an idiot for talking too much. But I have had several people explain to me that introverts like to be around extroverts so they don’t have to do the talking themselves. Should I be offended by that?

I am getting off subject here a bit. The bottom line is that if you have something to say, say it loud enough so everyone who is listening can hear it. If you cannot speak up, perhaps it is better to not speak. That seems like a shame to me, since everyone knows something about something and can make the world a better place by sharing that with someone. Are you getting some of this some of the time?

There are organizations that help people get over their fear of speaking like Toastmasters. I have heard a lot of good things about that organization bringing people out of their shells. Check it out if you are one who sweats bullets or get stomach cramps at the thought of speaking into a microphone in front of strangers. If not for yourself than do it for your children. You don’t want them to not be able to be heard, and you’ll be setting a good example.

I hope you heard what I said loud and clear.