Tag: life

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Mommy Dearest

They say age ain’t nothing but a number because it’s so much more than that.  Age is an indicator of life experiences…triumphs, failures, overwhelming joys and life altering losses, all of which you’ve survived.  I am a firm believer that every lesson doesn’t have to be learned as a result of personal experience.  You can learn from the experiences of family members, friends, co-workers, and stories that you’ve read/or heard about.  Every loss or failure doesn’t have to be your own in order to apply that lesson to your life.  So where do you go when you need guidance, encouragement, or wisdom?  To someone who has lived and experienced life long enough to have survived through some it all.  That’s right!  Our elders.  For me, the wisest and closet person to me is my mother.  I think we all, at some point have reflected on what our mothers and mother figures have told us and thought ‘I should’ve listened’ or ‘she was right.’ I know I have.  For some of us those thoughts may be different due to not having a mother/mother figure.  Maybe your mother didn’t have the knowledge or experience at that time to offer meaningful advice or help you on your life journey, perhaps she was ill-advised.  So, instead of giving you one Mommy, I gave you three.

YT Mommy Dearest

It’s one conversation, three Mommies, and a variety of topics, hosted by Saran Almond.  (From right to left) Meet Lady Di, Granny, and Ramona Big Eagle.  These ladies offer advice that you can apply to your life right now.  Their chemistry, personalities, and responses will make you think, laugh, and wonder ‘WHAT WOULD she DO?’  Remember, be proud of the years you’ve acquired and celebrate each day of your life by living on purpose.

Mommy Dearest,

Thank you for being the ultimate example of strength, love, and beauty…and for showing me what it looks like and what it means to be a woman and a lady.

To all of the Mommies, thank you so much for the joy and insight that you bought to the show.

You are appreciated!

Sincerely,

Saran

WATCH the show here!!! MOMMY Dearest!

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Reinvention

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Have you ever been in a bad situation, knowing that you should leave and you stayed? Unhealthy relationships, dead-end jobs, lapses in judgement, procrastination, etc, etc.  It’s funny how easy it is for us to get comfortable being uncomfortable.  It’s strange but true for many of us, including myself.  With this on my mind, it became very apparent that I need to do something different so that I can achieve something different.

From the very beginning I’ve had this vision of what my show would look like.  Although, I’m very proud of my show and what I’ve been able to accomplish I still haven’t created the show I envisioned.  As I sit here with a myriad of ideas feeling like I’m not making any progress, I watch the number of my YouTube views plummet with each new show.  All while my counterparts seem to be doing amazing.  My thoughts as I make my observations are, “Do I really have to be the butt of the joke, contribute to the overload of celebrity gossip, start rolling my eyes and sucking my teeth with hands flailing?”  After taking note of what I don’t want to become.  I took note of what is working for them.  Enter the reinvention of ‘WHAT WOULD she DO?’  I’m sure you’ve been here before.  Feeling like you have to do something but you just don’t know what to do.

So, what would she do? She spoke to her sister who made a suggestion.  I must admit, I didn’t receive what she told me right away because of course I’ve had this vision from the beginning, and I want to do it my way.  Then I asked myself a question.  Is there only one way to achieve your goals?  The answer for both you and me is NO. If there is more than one way to do a thing and the one way you’ve been doing it isn’t working why not try another way and see how that works.

The next step is to get out of my own way.  What needs to happen now? I need to do something NOW starting right NOW.  No more excuses about not having: enough time, enough resources, a good support system, etc, etc. I am a person of action, and there is no time like the present.  Why? Because tomorrow isn’t promised.  We all have the same number of hours in a day.  The difference between those who live their best lives and see their dreams to fruition and those who don’t is commitment to achieving goals, tapping into your resourcefulness, being honest with yourself, and taking action NO EXCUSES.

We can keep going in the one way direction that is leaving us unfulfilled or dare to step out on faith and try another way, and perhaps another way until we reach our destiny.  Be inspired by who you can become.  Be inspired by possibilities.  Life is about choices.  Choose to live your best life starting now.  The only limit you have is YOU…so get out of your own way and go for it!!!

~Saran Almond

Twitter: WWsD_theshow

Instagram: JustForSaran

 

 

 

 

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Closer Than You Know

We, Unity, Cooperation, Together

Together WE can make a difference!  With so much going on in the world and the trials and tribulations brought on by life it’s easy to forget our blessings.  Often times WE are blessed by being a blessing to someone one else, and WE all can do this regardless of our personal situation.  My purpose is to provide information in a way that is not only informative but in a way that allows people to receive thoughts, opinions, and perspectives of others.  All of this so that people know WE are not alone, open minds to another way of thinking and/or understanding so that WE are more compassionate, sympathetic, and accepting of one another.

Closer Than You Know…a documentary on human trafficking in Charlotte is underway and coming soon. This is a very real issue affecting women and children every day, and yes it does happen here in Charlotte, NC.  In fact, it’s closer than you know.  The premiere date is tentatively set for January 2016…more information will be provided at a later date.  The more WE know the greater the chance that WE can saves lives as WE educate, inspire, and encourage ourselves and others to help end human trafficking.  Here is the winning short film that I created for The International Human Trafficking Institute’s “See Contest.”

 

 

More great news!!!

 

“What Would she Do?” returns this fall with new shows, new street interviews, new information, and more of your favorite TV host Saran Almond.  New shows come with the highly anticipated and very candid street interviews, subject matter experts and vital information.  As the show continues to grow and build momentum, I thank you all for hanging in there with me.  WE make a great team!!!

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Women’s Heath and Wellness

womens_health_wellnessThe topic at hand is women’s health and wellness. I chose this topic to address some of the issues that lead to chronic illness and disease such as poor diet, little to no exercise, and stress.  Today, women take on many more responsibilities when it comes to home, career, and family.  Often times while women are caring for everyone else they neglect themselves and specifically their health.

In March 2015, I visited a health and wellness expo at the Levine Senior Center in Matthews, NC sponsored by Novant Health.  My observation at this and many other expos is that many of the attendees tend to be older people.  I think it’s vital to address our health by taking proactive measures as opposed to being reactive once there is a diagnosis.  Health and wellness expos provide a wealth of information, and they address a wide range of issues from the common cold to weight loss to cancer, among other things.  At this expo, I received some great information from doctors who spoke on the topics of heart disease and menopause.  I also conducted a one on one interview with a holistic health and wellness coach who provided some great information on healthy eating and healthy living.  I’ll be sharing all of this information with you so that we all can feel better and live better.

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Remembering Wayne Moore…WHEN THE PETALS FALL

When the petals fall, the sun goes down, the wind is still and there’s a chill in the air…Is that when it’s over?
Do the memories of your bloom, the rising of the sun, the whistle of the air, or the cool in the breeze bring comfort in times of sorrow?
Is there fear in not knowing the coming of tomorrow?
This life is short, and we are here for just a moment.
Will the memories of your life fade with the passing of time?
Who will know how great you were, who will pass on your stories, celebrate your life…will anyone remember?
I will. I will remember you when the petals fall, the sun goes down, the wind is still and there’s a chill in the air.
But when I’m gone who will remember you? Who will remember us? When the petals fall who will remember ME?

Written for and dedicated to the memory of my dear friend Wayne Moore. By Saran Almond 020815

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I am MORE than: My wheelchair…Dating with a Disability.

On set with Monique Stamps and Ronald Zaconet. Lovely interview.
On set with Monique Stamps and Ronald Zaconet.

Dating is often advertised as two young people who meet eachother, like eachother, fight for their love and live happily ever after. We’ve seen this since we were children in almost every Disney movie, on television and movies in general. But we all know that you don’t have to be young to date or even like the other person for that matter. The recent surge of reality television has proved just that. Amidst the rumors and applause, love lost and love found, the weddings and divorces, there’s an entire population that we have failed to include, at the minimum, in the conversation… and that is the disabled.

‘WHAT WOULD she DO?” started a quarterly dating series entitled “I am MORE than.” In this installment, I AM MORE THAN: MY WHEELCHAIR, we discuss dating with a disability, specifically spinal cord injuries. In conversation with a friend (who happens to use a wheelchair) we discussed some of the perceptions people have of people who utilize wheelchairs. I wondered, why are we not including the disabled in conversations regarding dating and relationships. We all love and feel the same way…disabled or not. When discussing dating and being in a wheelchair, I asked able bodied people if they would date someone in a wheelchair, why and why not. I ask people in wheelchairs that same question. You may be surprised by the answers. I had the opportunity to speak with some wonderful women about how their disability has affected their dating life OR has it? Tune in this Friday, November 19th at 10:30pm on Channel 21 (Time Warner, Charlotte NC) or via YouTube Channel: WHATWOULDSHEDOtheshow to hear what these ladies had to to say.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

For Resources available to those who utilize wheelchairs please visit our “Resources” tab on the Menu.

Twitter @WWsD_theshow

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Coming OUT on “WHAT WOULD she DO?”

As I’m contemplating on my next show and what’s needed to get the show to be what I envisioned…a show that’s empowering, a show that is informative, a show that is a CONVERSATION STARTER…I’m wondering which way should I go.  “WHAT WOULD she DO?” is all of those things but I want MORE.  I want people to be enlightened and feel like they walked away with a “understanding” and/or a cause. 

As I embark on this journey of CHANGE…I wonder what that looks like, what it sounds like…what it feels like.  I want the community to get involved, get excited…GET MAD!

So here’s my first topic:

“Coming OUT”

In the wake of Jason’s Collins’ (the first openly gay nba player) announcement that “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” there has been a lot of talk and speculation about his life BEFORE the announcement.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Mr. Collins states, “When I was younger I dated women. I even got engaged. I thought I had to live a  certain way. I thought I needed to marry a woman and raise kids with her.”  As I read that statement, I wondered what that must feel like and thought how painful that must be.  What happened to that woman?  I wondered how that must feel and about the different emotions she may be going through.

Initially, I thought the topic might be “Men who have sex with men and say they’re not gay.”  Yeah, that raisies a few eyebrows but it’s deeper than that.  In a society, where homosexuality has been shunned, this must be a terrible feeling…not being able to be true to yourself.  When does that secret become malicious?  How do you get young boys and girls to come to terms with who they are?  Who do you tell, how do you tell?

There’s a side of “coming out” that hasn’t been examined…I want to go there.

Your thoughts?

You can follow the show on Twitter @WWsD_theshow

For the full Jason Collins’ interview with Sports Illustrated please click on the link below 

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/news/20130429/jason-collins-gay-nba-player/#ixzz2W4G92OWl