I often think about my own personal safety and the times when it has been compromised. Currently, I am in the process of making some powerful life changes and thinking about personal safety in new ways. In addition to protecting ourselves physically (with non-lethal defense weapons), we must remember to protect our mind and soul. What good are we to the world if we are stressed out and riddled with indecision? We have to guard our mind from the worries that creep in so they do not take over! 
Traveling in this vast world we live, I’ve worked with many philanthropic organizations and have been involved in charity work. I have seen the world as both an amazing place and a place filled with much conflict and strife. We can travel safely in both places by being informed, alert, and maintaining (or incorporating) a healthy dose of optimism. We can try to find the opportunity in every obstacle.
"Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character."
Author Unknown, from Be Thankful
Let’s not ‘tune out’ instead remember to stay ‘awake’ in life and in the world regardless of what is thrown in our way. Yes, it can often be overwhelming but we can breathe and rise to the challenge. Just like the world, we (as women) are amazing and challenging. Let’s strive for a healthy balance in our minds to feel secure in our thoughts, our speech, and the way we carry ourselves.
"If we don't change,
we don't grow.If we don't grow,
we are not really living.
Growth demands a temporary surrender of security."
~ Gail Sheehy ~
I also want to take a look back this week as we missed talking about International Women’s Day (IWD) which is held every year on March 8. The website contains articles on a variety of topics. As I was reviewing their website (noted below) I found the following information interesting to read which I chose to share here this week:
GENDER FACTS
Networking:
Women use 20,000 words a day while men only use 7,000
Global Issues:
Females in developing countries on average carry 20 litres of water per day over 6 km
Globally women account for the majority of people aged over 60 and over 80
Pregnant women in Africa are 180 times more likely to die than in Western Europe
530,000 women die in pregnancy or childbirth each year
World population hit 6,872,741,131 on 1 January 2009
Of 1.2 billion people living in poverty worldwide, 70% are women
80% of the world's 27 million refugees are women
Women own around only 1% of the world's land
AIDS sees women's life expectancy of 43 in Uganda and Zambia
5 people are added to the world's population every 2 seconds
Women are 2/3 of the 1 billion+ illiterate adults who have no access to basic education
Innovation:
Globally women comprise 42% Internet users (Italy 37% ... US & Canada 51%)
In OECD countries women comprise only 30 per cent of degrees in science and technology
Women's representation in computer and information sciences workforce is around 30% globally
Female inventors still only account for around 10% of the US inventor population
Women control $14 trillion in assets and this should grow to $22 trillion over next 10 years
Women comprise 21 of the 37 million people living below the poverty line in the US
Only in Japan and Peru are women more active in starting a business than men
Women spend more time researching before they invest than men do
Media / Arts:
Only 21% of all news subjects (people interviewed or whom the news is about) are female
Women less than 1% department heads, editors, media owners but third of working journalists
80% of UK purchasing decisions are made by women but 83% of 'creatives' are men
Work:
Women do two-thirds of the world's work but receive only 10% of the world's income
Women's education is the most powerful predictor of lower fertility rates
One year out of college women earn 20% less than men and 10 years later 31% less
Women on average are away from workforce for 14.7 years compared to 1.6 years for men
The biggest EU gender pay gap is in Cyprus and Estonia at 25% then Slovakia at 24%
Government:
56% of women who voted supported Obama compared to only 49% of men voted for Obama
Until 20 years ago there had never been more than 5% women MPs globally
Benazir Bhutto was the first woman prime minister of a Muslim country (assassinated 27/12/07)
From the 27 EU member states, UK ranks 15 for women's representation in national Parliaments
From 1945 to 1995 the percentage of women MPs worldwide increased four-fold
SOURCE: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/facts.asp
WEBSITE LINK: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/default.asp
"Wishing you Good Mental Health". ~Dr. Frasier Crane~
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