Although I missed out on International Women’s Day due to everything that was happening in my family at the time, I did not want to let this month go by without recognizing it somehow!

There are so many women who have inspired me in my lifetime. However, I wanted to take a moment to honor the eight that I admire the most in this stage of my life. The character of these phenomenal ladies and the examples of strength, love, and compassion they display with their lives is what motivates me to strive to be better every day.

.women of inspiration

 .

Here they are in no particular order:

.

.women of inspiration

Annie Lennox

I am inspired by Annie’s philanthropy. She was recognized as the most charitable celebrity by Looktothestars.org, a site dedicated to tracking and acknowledging celebrity charity news and information around the world. To date, she has supported over 30 charities and foundations globally.

 .

 .women of i

nspiration

..

Jada Pinkett Smith

So much about Jada inspires me, but mostly it is her boldness, bravery, and actions for social good. The talented and beautiful actress is fearless when it comes to speaking out on injustices. She applies that same fearlessness to her career and her family life.

..women of inspiration

.

Simone Smith

“Mrs. LL Cool J” is a woman that I have highly admired through the years for many reasons. Being a wife, a mother of four and a woman of faith, she is someone that I can closely relate to. And in spite the nature and magnitude of her husband’s career, she has always remained the ‘quiet-yet-supportive’ strength that has upheld both her husband and her family.

 .

Women Of Inspiration

…Women Of Inspiration

.

Stevie Nicks

This was the very first woman that I saw on a music video and said to myself, “Wow: who is that!” No matter what Stevie Nicks does or where she does it: you can feel her energy! That is what I admire about her the most. I also admire her endurance: how she has overcome and persevered through the many years in her industry.

.Women Of Inspiration

.

Alicia Keys

One word: humble. I admire Alicia’s humility and most of all, her authenticity. Ever since the very beginning, she has always stayed true to herself and her sound, refusing to give in to the conformity of mainstream music. I also admire the passion she holds for her craft.

.

Women Of Inspiration.

Kathy Bates

This woman’s talent is above-and-beyond off the charts! That alone would be more than enough reason to admire her. But what I truly love about Kathy is the way that she commands her roles. Be it film or television, there is no way that you are not going to know that Ms. Bates is present and in action! She is the ‘attention getter’ without being the ‘attention stealer.’ This is what I admire about her the most.

…Women Of Inspiration

.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji’s drive, work ethic, and determination to be the very best is something that I noticed about her the very instant she arrived on the acting scene. When I learned her background on how she broke into the industry—and how she did not let her circumstances stop her—it made me look at my own life and believe in myself even more.

.

Women Of Inspiration..

Adele

When I hear Adele’s name, I instantly think of confidence. I absolutely love how she knows for a fact that flashy or revealing costumes and special effects are not needed while performing. She lets her talent speak for itself.  In a day and age where you see the exact opposite, that is highly admirable!

.

.

.

.

.

Who are the women that inspire you? share with me below or tell me about them at: melisasource@yahoo.com.

.

.

The post Honoring Women’s Month: 8 Phenomenal Women Of Inspiration appeared first on MELISASource.

November’s edition of Friday of Phrases quotes starts with a few quotes spoken from media mogul Russell Simmons during his stop at Wash U St. Louis (you can check out the other pearls of wisdom  >>Here<<).

 .

Enjoy!

 .

.

Quotes from Russell Simmons:

“Being happy can make you money, but having money can’t make you happy.”

 .

“Put in the effort to do the impossible.”

 .

“Practice loving everybody all the time. Hating others only hurts you. But only stay around people and things that lift you up.”

 .

And….my absolute favorite:

 .

“You can learn from everywhere” <– (I say this all of the time!!)

 .

 .

Now, here are some additional Friday of Phrases quotes from others:

 ..

“If you analyze the difference between the things that truly make you happy and the stuff that hasn’t worked, voila, you see the formula: Smiles come from the simple joys in life versus failed attempts to escape yourself. The trick is to pause, hit refresh, and move on.”

~Actress Scarlette Johansson

 .

.

“Goal-setting is the epitome of what I do. You need to start with a premise or a standard—I will never compromise on this (I want to get to this place). First, I look at my goal and at those who’ve done what worked for them. Then I look at my personal situation—is it in line with those things. You are an individual so set your goals to fit you.”

~Singer Jermaine Paul

.

.

“You have to adapt when adversity strikes.  You have to overcome certain things. Mentally, it’s just about being tough, and if your natural ability isn’t the same, you have to outwork and outthink others. In all situations, you need to find ways to adapt.”

~NFL legend Dan Marino

 .

.

“Everyone has their version of what they can give and share. I always tell people that one of the biggest gifts that you can share with another person is to actually be present and listen. It’s the smallest thing.”

~Actress and Model Tracee Ellis Ross

.

.

“They say luck is where opportunity meets the preparation. For me, success is where faith meets preparation. It’s not always something I’ve worked out technically. Just divine mistakes. Whatever ability I’ve been blessed with, that’s what I work with. I work hard because you never know when a moment’s gonna happen.”

~Actor Denzel Washington

 .

.

 .

Do you have favorite quotes that inspire or motivate you? Share with me below or tell me about it at melisasource@yahoo.com.

.

.

The post Friday Of Phrases: Quotes of Inspiration and Motivation appeared first on MELISASource.

People from all around braved the high winds and strong storms to see Russell Simmons at Wash U St Louis last night in hopes of being inspired. Surely enough, the business mogul and “hip-hop pioneer” did not disappoint. I have to admit that I was extremely excited to see hear him speak and to see him in person, as he is someone that I have always highly admired.

 .

There was so much that Russell Simmons discussed during his seated conversation with the attentive audience, specifically in the areas of happiness and success. I wanted to share some of his valuable life lessons with you.

 .

Invest your energy

• Exercise your creative muscles—there is power in imagination and creativity.
• If you chose one thing that you are passionate about to invest your energy in, you will find true happiness
• Do not be afraid to invest your energy into your passions

 .

Actions for Happiness and Success

• Put your head down and be fully engaged in the moment instead of focusing on what will (or may) come
• Honor your first responsibility to yourself, which is to express what is in your heart
• Stay around people who inspire you as much as you can
• Free yourself from being bombarded with stuff you don’t need
• Be optimistic—when a challenge comes, smile, get at it, and do the best you can
• Do not chase results. Do the work and forget the results. –Too many people look for the results so much that they forget the process
• Use the power you have within you to break negative cycles of behavior
• Be a good giver without reservation or expectation

 .

Wellness: Being of Sound Body and Mind

• Take time often to sit and just be still. Every happy, valuable, and creative moment derives from stillness
• The mind is like an animal in a cage: it bounces around until it realizes that the cage will not move—then it becomes still
• Practice meditation often—if for only 20 minutes. It helps the mind to let go of the noise. It is the noise in your head that causes struggle
• Learn to operate without anxiety

 .

Keys to Remember

• Needing nothing is how you attract everything
• No matter who you are or your background, your happiness is totally up to you
• If you give off positive energy, positive energy will come back to you
• It’s not separation that makes a person great—it is their heart. The “great ones” are the people who are truly and sincerely inspired.

 .

Russell Simmons closed his talk by reminding the audience to do what they love, never compromise themselves. He then held a meet-and-greet reception where he graciously autographed his books ‘Super Rich‘ and ‘Do You‘,  answered attendees’ questions, and posed for photographs. Upon bidding his farewell, he encouraged the crowd to be inspired and to do work that gives people a reason to uplift others.

 .

Seeing Russell Simmons at Wash U St Louis was an awesome experience that I will always cherish. I am so glad that he received such a large and welcoming turnout on such a cold and rainy evening!

.

.

The post Russell Simmons At Wash U St Louis: Mogul Shares Keys To Happiness And Success appeared first on MELISASource.