The Content of your Character (remember?)

What is yours (content of your character); in three words or less?!

We heard it referred to as Obama’s presidential election speech was reviewed; MLK’s words rang out. The reference was to the color of a person’s skin; but I feel it is deeper than that.

WE are all now called to dig into our own character and enhance relationships in our homes, work, schools, communities.

Dictionary.com defines character as
1.the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.
2.one such feature or trait; characteristic.
3.moral or ethical quality: a man of fine, honorable character.
4.qualities of honesty, courage or the like; integrity
5.reputation
and on…with 22 total examples.

The time has come to take inventory, because the world is watching/listening and needs you/me. We are now to fall back on our Character which according to Calvin Coolidge “is the only secure foundation of the state.”

Here’s a good time to be not only your own best “cheer” leader, but for those around you; for it is in the giving that we receive….and that promotes good character!

Is it “in YOU”?

A year after our youngest daughter graduated, we attended a friend’s ceremony. The speech given by the person voted in by the class was entitled;

Is It In YOU?

 

He was able to pull from his class, the most unlikely heroes. And the most likely. Which made the “Unlikely” even more proud to be included. Very YEAH YEAH Out Loud of him.

 

He told how each of the likely/unlikely person(s) had contributed to his high school experience, the difference they made in his and their classmate’s lives, and what could become of it.

 

Now, 4 years later, I would be interested to know how that came out. Many will have gone down different paths (maybe even because of this “speech”, something they never expected). And that night, I was sure to pull the “speaker” aside and give him a YYOL! I told him what a difference he had made in not only his life for acknowledging these individuals, but that he may have changed the course of those whom he included. He somehow doubted this.

 

Now that I have written this, I will send the link to someone who graduated with him. And ask, how it’s going, and in his short years, if he’s heard from any of the “recipients”.

 

My message is to make sure EVERY day, you ask not only of yourself, “is it IN YOU?” but to convey to the most unsuspecting, that it IS IN THEM!

 

And that’s a “YEAH YEAH”; being your own best ‘cheer’ leader and paying it forward, Out Loud!

Bullying

While attending a conference in LA, a presenter reminded the audience YOU are guilty of being a BULLY if you stand idle and do nothing.

Bullying happens to more than just “kids”. Some “reality” shows have shown how the public does or doesn’t step in regarding the elderly, the disabled, the homeless and your neighbor. Have a conscience about the world around you and do “something”.

Paul Rusesabagina (Hotel Rwanda) spoke to a local YWCA group a few years ago, and when he was asked, how did you do it? His answer made perfect sense. He said: “I knew I would have to get up every morning and look at myself in the mirror. If I didn’t do “something”, I didn’t feel I could face myself and know I hadn’t been a “bully” by standing by and doing “nothing”.

In support of the third annual Bullying Prevention Awareness Week, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is providing resources for families, educators, mental health professionals, and law enforcement on how to recognize, deal with, and prevent bullying.

YYOL feels bully prevention also begins with self-esteem. Knowing you “can” do “something” many times has to come from within.

Visit www.yeahyeahoutloud.com and see how you can become your own best “cheer” leader!.

World Teacher Day October 5th

This week, all week, World Teachers’ Day is being celebrated. It was originally inaugurated in 1994 to commemorate the signing of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers on 5 October 1966. More than 100 countries currently celebrate World Teachers’ Day on 5 October.

In conjuction with World Teachers’ Day 2008, YEAH YEAH Out Loud is joining with Self Esteem Tools in Schools Campaign to support teachers in building students’ high self-esteem which is the foundation of personal growth and learning.

The intent of the SETS Campaign is to offer FREE support and products to teachers, parents, and to bring positive change to kids, classrooms and schools! This campaign is becoming a MOVEMENT! Join us, and share your free e-goods with teachers and parents, so our kids and classrooms can benefit from your generousity!

Visit link on the left for more information!

Plus; why not send your favorite teacher a YEAH YEAH E-Card to show your thanks and cheer them on at the same time.

Sometimes you have to be your own best cheer leader.

In your personal life, and professional life, you often have to dig deep to keep up your own self-esteem and spirit.

Recently a person who committed fraud/forgery against me as a licensed appraiser was sent to prison. It’s not really the “resolution” I wanted, but it seemed to be the only way to have a precedence set for a crime of this type.

The local paper (Columbian) featured an article on 8/30/08 ”In typical identity theft cases, the thief goes after a bank account or a line of credit. In Kathy Carpenter’s case, the thief was even more bold. A woman took Carpenter’s professional identity as a real estate appraiser, using Carpenter’s name and license number. She even appraised commercial and million-dollar properties that Carpenter, a residential appraiser, isn’t licensed to do. Jean Faye Dodge, former manager of a La Center appraisal company, is now in prison. But Carpenter’s troubles aren’t over.”

The problem was, I knew this person. I had contracted with her company for a few years after the major AVM she represented left town and she continued her appraisal network to funnel work to me and some other appraisers in the area.

The other problem, it was a “virtual” crime of sorts. No one physically took something, or came onto my property, yet the repercussions were farther reaching. There was no compromise of my software, or my computer. It was a simple copy, edit paste (and a bad job of it at that with a barely legible, fuzzy facsimile of my name). It was all too easy.

This has made it all the more difficult to validate my feelings of loss, and re-group to move on and keep going.

Since (or during) all of this, I have been developing YEAH YEAH Out Loud, a children’s program. I began working on my initial idea back in 2004 but didn’t get product and site up until December 2007.

……but having that as a distraction, fed me life that was getting sucked out on the “other side”. That’s a YEAH YEAH Out Loud from me::to me!

…Empowering kids to discover their inner “cheer” leader.

Humans; when they succeed, we succeed

A theme in the Olympics, is that of being a “cheer” leader. We find ourselves encouraging some of the most unlikely heroes. Empowering others who may even question their self esteem?! Who seemingly came to the games with overwhelming confidence, only to stretch themselves and their abilities to reach their life long goal, yet still needing that inner voice at the most unlikely moment, as the dream is within (0r just out of) reach.

Whether it is the crowd, the event or the individual themselves that encourages them to achieve their ultimate goal or not, it is not the actual achievement of the goal, but being there at the Olympics that makes them a “winner”. They have found within themselves the inner “cheer” leader, to have made it to the Olympics, much less “win” their event.

So here’s a YEAH YEAH Out Loud to all of the athletes, and their support systems. Let’s hope the inner “cheer” leader takes over at just the right time, to help them achieve their goals.

But remember, being a “winner” isn’t always about coming in FIRST.

Congratulations Olympic participants!

Olympics

YYOL to participate in “Self Esteem in Schools” Campaign

Anke Otto-Wolf and YYOL’s Kathy Carpenter will join to bring campaign alive.

Senator Obama requested the Self-Esteem project information from Anke Otto-Wolf and said that “Our kids deserve a better chance at every level –from preschool and summer school, to high school and college. Last year, he introduced the Innovation Districts for School Improvement Act, which provides grants to school systems that draft detailed plans for broad reforms at the district level.”

Anke Otto-Wolf is the creator of Self-Esteem Tools for Teachers and the initiator of the Self-Esteem in Schools campaign to be launched mid August.

Bringing awareness of the need for self-esteem in shools is the project’s main focus.

More information about this project will be posted on YYOL web site and Self Esteem Tools for Teachers.

It’s the vision of YYOL® to be a key, recognizable symbol for positive self-esteem.

Move over GTG, BRB, LOL; well here’s a new text messaging acronym YYOL®; AND it stands for empowering kids to discover their inner cheerleader! YEAH YEAH Out Loud©!
(if you want to know some more visit http://www.netlingo.com/emailsh.cfm)

YYOL wants to help children reach their full potential by demonstrating that collectively and individually they are capable of doing more than they thought possible, leading to lifelong successes.

To develop fun and inspiring solid foundation programs that foster positive self esteem while fulfilling national and state educational requirements.

To provide and support a web site that communicates clear and effective strategies and techniques to achieve sharing of positive self esteem methods and applications. 

It all starts with the story of Hur-Ray© and Kiddazy® who are not limited to one school or group, but their faces say ”Yeah Yeah Out Loud” for those that need encouragement, regardless of nationality, ability or status.

Visit http://www.yeahyeahoutloud.com/ and see how your community can become YYOL and find a new awareness of POSITIVE acronyms!

 

 

 

Self esteem curriculum tool

Empowering kids to discover their inner “cheer” leader. YEAH YEAH Out Loud, a children’s self esteem tool for use in early learning environments (3-8 year olds)  is “launching” its’ home grown (Vancouver, WA) efforts. 

The core of this compared to others is two fold:

1) YYOL™ sends the message early as a foundational building block that when the going gets tough, you are your own best “cheer” leader; vs. a fix it later remedy.

 2) The YEAH YEAH Out Loud theme helps the child realize the “cheer” leader lies within. 

All young children need and deserve high-quality early learning experiences that will prepare them for life, and YYOL is taking this great opportunity to do its’ part to help young children.

Some people have “Ah Ha” moments. Kathy Carpenter has YEAH YEAH Out Loud (YYOL) moments.

 As the daughter of a hard-of-hearing and visually impaired father, Kathy had to be LOUD about everything. Her spirited, can-do attitude, nurtured as a child, blossomed with marriage and motherhood. “Being a mom is the best job I ever had” says Kathy (Vancouver resident for over 21 years).

 When the kids graduated and moved away to college, I thought my “Yeah Yeah” days were over. Being the “on-line Mom” I ended up fixing things from printers to friend issues; as well as just being available on the other end of a late night check in to say “Hey”. While they used common acronyms to chat, I found my own; YYOL! They could “hear” me!

 Then a special invitation came. It was a call from our “son”, then a college freshman, who invited me to be at “Mom’s weekend”. Being the “cheer” leader I am, I felt bad thinking I didn’t have any school colors/spirit items for his college.

It was this experience that was the inspiration which led to the creation of Kiddazy® and Hur-Ray (a concept that evolved into a full blown self esteem program) who have become symbols to represent that there is always someone there to “cheer” kids on!

Kiddazy® and Hur-Ray are not limited to one school or group, but their faces say ”Yeah Yeah Out Loud” for those that need encouragement, regardless of nationality, ability or status.

 Through Hur-Ray (the sun) and Kiddazy® (a flower) Kathy found the voice to spread YEAH YEAH everywhere.

(Currently being utilized by Friends of the Children; YWCA; special education in Port Orchard WA, 1st grade in Battle Ground WA and pilot program for VANSD- all day kindergarten AND our suggested script and vocabulary has been translated into Spanish! Additionally, a center for North Clackamas School’s “Ready, Set, Go” program-Kindergarten readiness through Metropolitan Family Service)

Visit www.yeahyeahoutloud.com and see how your community can become YYOL and together help to give all young children a great start!