Archives for September 2015

#255| A Day Worth Living

September 12, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 3 Comments

Heading out somewhere today?

Do you plan to be out and about?

Share your smile with everyone you meet – you never know for whom you will make it a day worth living!

Join in the Fray: What’s the best thing that’s happened to you when you gave someone a smile?

The Swirl World Team is committed to sharing 365 days of inspiration in 2015. Our goal is to help you stay motivated and inspired by bringing you positive, uplifting images and corresponding thoughts.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#254| Ride The Wave!

September 11, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 3 Comments

I challenge you not to only “ride the wave,” but to go one better.

Do as Thoreau says, and launch yourself on every wave.

To me, launching yourself means to first see the opportunity in any given moment, and then to leverage that opportunity.

The “opportunity” can be something as simple as seeing the beauty in a single flower (there’s something to be said for “stopping to smell the roses.”)

The opportunity can also be something as complex as paying attention when an idea flits through your mind, and stopping. Writing it down. Brainstorming.

Or, just doodling!

The point is not only to seize the moment, but also to enjoy it.

John and his wife love riding the wave – with each other!

Join in the Fray: What steps can you take to “launch yourself?”

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#253| It’s Better To Stay At Home

September 10, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 5 Comments

If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home. –James Michener

I love to travel.

If you say, “Let’s g—,” I’m saying, “When?!” before you even get the sentence out of your mouth.

Though I’m big on advocating the advantages of traveling, even I can think of a time when it’s better to stay at home.

I agree with James Michener – if you’re going to go somewhere and reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.

In other words, if you’re going to be negative, fearful, critical and insensitive, keep all of that to yourself and Just. Stay. At. Home.

And you know what? Michener’s sentiment holds true if you hold those kinds of feelings concerning people of a different ethnicity or culture than you.

We live in a global society, which means we’re all interconnected – whether we like it or not.

I love living in a global society – how about you?

Today’s photo features the Smiths on vacation in Stockholm, Sweden.

Join in the Fray: How do you feel about living in a global society?

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#252| Making Progress

September 9, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 18 Comments

It’s Wednesday – as good a time as any to chat about wellness.

Hopefully, like me, you’re making progress with your health and fitness goals.

If you aren’t, don’t despair.

Every day is a new day, which means you have another day to begin moving in the desired direction.

Remember: Strive for progress – not perfection.

Join in the Fray: Where do you stand on your 2015 health and fitness goals? Are you making progress?

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Mental Illness Did NOT Stop Me!

September 8, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

In this podcast episode, New York-based Actor Mia Raye Smith dishes about acting career. She also discusses how she overcame personal challenges with mental health issues.

Guess what??

Mia is about to debut the World Premiere of her 1-woman show!

From the Broadway World website:

Mia’s solo show, I Am Hope, will have its World Premiere at the United Solo Theatre Festival on September 23rd. The play was developed in Matt Hovermen’s Go-Solo Workshop.

A shorter version of the play was produced at Emerging Artists New Work Series in the Fall of 2014. The production is directed by Mary Catherine Donnelly whose recent directing credits include Jay-Z & Me (Edinburgh Fringe, Amsterdam Fringe, 59E59).

Mia can be anybody she wants to be without a drink in her hand. Her soul is as old as Detroit’s Motown records. Mia was revving up to travel the world, until it became the size of her studio apartment. Can she overcome her biggest fear that grandpa can’t help her shake?

Get To The Show

Performances take place at Theatre Row/Studio Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues), New York, NY 10036.

Subways: A/C/E to 42nd Street.

Tickets are $19.25 and are available at the Theatre Row box office, or at 212-239-6200 – www.unitedsolo.org/us/iamhope-2015

Show Date:

Wednesday, September 23rd @ 3:30 pm

Running time: 60 minutes

Mia is funny and vibrant, and Adrienne and me enjoyed her so much! I also “got in Mia’s business” to get the details on her Swirl relationship.

Woot!

If you can’t see the podcast player, click here or here.

If you can’t see the Sound Cloud player, click here. You can also head over and listen to the show on iTunes, Stitcher Radio or PlayerFM.

To visit and “Like” Mia’s Facebook page, click here.

Follow Mia on Twitter @MiaRayeSmith

Shout Out!

The Shout Out! for this episode goes to Nancy Gathecha of the Live By Design – Inspiration Radio Podcast.

Nancy’s weekly show features inspiring stories and informative interviews with business strategists, lifestyle experts and thought leaders on various topics. Each show will leave you motivated and ready, to take action in the direction of the life and business of your dreams.

To listen to Nancy’s show, click here. Follow her on Twitter @NancyGathecha. Find Nancy on Facebook here.

Want to be a guest on the podcast, or know someone who should? Send an email to Podcast@TheSwirlWorld.com. Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio!

#251| Do You Have Enough?

September 8, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 9 Comments

Here on the blog I tend to talk quite a bit about setting and reaching goals and achieving.

I know why I do this: It’s because setting goals – and achieving them – is a huge part of my life (and has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember).

I push myself to succeed, and my friends will tell you I also push them to succeed.

And you know what? I also want you to succeed.

“Success” is defined differently for each of us, and that’s ok.

The goal (see what I did there?) is to strive for whatever success means to us, and to be willing to take the steps required to obtain that success.

In today’s quote, Lou Holtz says, “If you’re bored with life — you don’t get up every morning with a burning desire to do things — you don’t have enough goals.”

I agree with him!

If you’re constantly feeling bored, I have to ask “Do you have enough goals?”

How about we take the word “bored” out of our vocabulary, and instead replace it with descriptions of the activities, hobbies and – watch for it – goals – we are reaching for.

I challenge you to banish boredom, and get some things done instead.

Join in the Fray: What goals have you set for this month? For the remainder of the year?

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

How To Manage Your Mind After Divorce

September 7, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Author, Speaker and Award-winning Blogger Wilma Jones was a featured guest in Season 1 of our podcast.

Wilma is the Founder/Publisher of the Living Happier After blog and Founder/Leader of the Living Happier After Facebook Community.

She is also a speaker and author of the book, Living Happier After: 20 Women Talk About Life After Divorce. Her goal is motivating and empowering women to live better, not bitter, after divorce.

In this podcast episode, Wilma candidly shares how to manage your mind after going through a divorce.

We appreciate her transparency and believe you’ll benefit from the practical tips she provides.

Wilma also dishes about her newest venture – her new podcast.

Woot!

If you can’t see the podcast player, click here or here.

If you can’t see the Sound Cloud player, click here. You can also head over and listen to the show on iTunes, Stitcher Radio or PlayerFM.

To listen to our previous episode with Wilma, click here.

To check out Wilma’s Facebook community, click here. Subscribe to her blog and visit her website by clicking here. You can find Wilma on Twitter at @LivingHappierAf.

In addition to her wonderful book, her FREE e-book – A Short Discourse To A Kick-ass Life is a great read!

The Shout Out! for this podcast episode goes to Siedah Mitchum of The Freedom Biz Podcast.

Here’s what Siedah says about The Freedom Biz Community:

“The Freedom Biz™ is a community of soulful heart-centered creative entrepreneurs. Those who listen into The Freedom Biz™ Podcast are in transition and are on a mission to create a biz and life they desire on their terms!”

The Freedom Biz™ Podcast shares the stories of brave women entrepreneurs who’ve ditched their 9 to 5 job for freedom.

Tune in for new episodes every Tuesday morning!

To follow Siedah on Twitter, click here. To visit or join The Freedom Biz Facebook Community, click here.

Want to be a guest on the podcast, or know someone who should?

Send an email to Podcast@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio. You can also hear us on PlayerFM!

#250| Happy Labor Day, USA!

September 7, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Happy Labor Day!

Hope you’re enjoying your time off – and the last few days of summer.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#249| So Happy Together

September 6, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 14 Comments

Whether you’re in a relationship or not, you can still be happy.

Be happy with you.

You and someone else . . . or you and you.

So happy together . . . . .

Join in the Fray: Can you truthfully say you enjoy your own company? Why or why not?

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Lyrics to “So Happy Together,” written by Alan Gordon, Allan Gordon, and Garry Bonner. Copyright: Alley Music Corp., Trio Music Company.

#248| What Are You Going To Do?

September 5, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 13 Comments

A 3-day holiday weekend is officially on deck.

So, what are you going to do?

Do some gardening? Home improvement projects?

Nothing?

I plan to try to get caught up on current backlog in the blog and podcast.

(That is, after I get caught up on some sleep . . . .)

Join in the Fray: What are you doing this holiday weekend?

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

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#255| A Day Worth Living

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#254| Ride The Wave!

John and his wife love riding the wave – with each other!

Like this:

#253| It’s Better To Stay At Home

Today’s photo features the Smiths on vacation in Stockholm, Sweden.

Like this:

#252| Making Progress

Like this:

Mental Illness Did NOT Stop Me!

Get To The Show

Shout Out!

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#251| Do You Have Enough?

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How To Manage Your Mind After Divorce

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#250| Happy Labor Day, USA!

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#249| So Happy Together

Lyrics to “So Happy Together,” written by Alan Gordon, Allan Gordon, and Garry Bonner. Copyright: Alley Music Corp., Trio Music Company.

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#248| What Are You Going To Do?

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Archives for September 2015

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