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You Give Good Music!

August 26, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 4 Comments

I tell you, Swirl Nation is filled to the brim with cute with wonderful people – singles and couples alike.

Teneia Sanders-Eichelberger and her musician husband Ben are no exception.

They share life, songs and their love for making good music!

Wanna hear Tenia sing? Feast your eyes on this:

https://youtu.be/NIvd-Fj7zn0

You can find a number of videos on Teneia’s YouTube channel, Teneia Music, by clicking here.

In this podcast episode, Tenia and Ben reveal their favorite videos.

(Mine is Rest of My Life, which features a stunning array of interracial couples!)

Teneia and Ben share how they met and fell in love. They each provide their own personal words of wisdom for men and women interested in dating and marrying interracially.

Enjoy!

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

If you can’t see the Sound Cloud player, click 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.

Visit Teneia’s website by clicking here. To “Like” Teneia’s Facebook page, click here. Follow Teneia on Twitter @Teneiamusic.

The Shout Out! for this episode goes to Natalie Loo of BaggageReclaim.com.

Natalie is the author of Mr. Unavailable and the Fallback Girl, and offers tried-and-true courses on building self-esteem and getting rid of the emotional baggage (and toxic people) in your life.

Be sure to check her out!

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!

Copyright © 2015 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™, Swirl Nation™, All rights reserved. Photo of Natalie Loo obtained from BaggageReclaim.com. Black and white Photo of Tenia and Ben Copyright © Thabi Moyo.

#238| Sing A Song

August 26, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Ella Fitzgerald, iconic jazz singer extraordinaire and known as “The First Lady of Song,” once said, The only thing better than singing is more singing.

I couldn’t agree more!

Even if you can’t carry a tune and won’t sing for anyone or anything other than the soap in your shower, singing is great because doing so makes you feel good.

(I can carry a tune, but I can’t sing).

Don’t feel like singing?

I’m reminded of this line from a classic song written by Al McKay and Maurice White and sung by Earth, Wind & Fire:

When you feel down and out, sing a song

It’ll make your day, yeah, yeah.

If you want to hear some great singing, check out today’s podcast episode featuring Teneia Sanders-Eichelberger and her guitarist husband Ben Eichelberger.

That girl can sang!

Join in the Fray: What’s your favorite song?

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.

#237|No Excuses!

August 25, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

I wonder how many things we could accomplish if we stopped making excuses?

We say we have “reasons” to explain why we do or don’t do certain things.

Yet if we drilled down to the root of those explanations, I dare say we would find that most of our “reasons” are what my Mother calls “dressed up excuses.”

Today, let’s challenge ourselves to get through the entire day without offering any excuses.

Let’s own our actions, emotions, shortcomings, procrastinations, fears – you name it.

Own the thing you’re excusing, and put you in check.

Let’s work on continuing to evolve into people of character. To do so, we have to put an end to making excuses.

Remember: No excuses!

Join in the Fray: In what area of your life do you need to stop making excuses?

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.

These “Bitter Spices” Can Ruin Your Relationship!

August 24, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 2 Comments

Which “Bitter Spice” is she?

Spices aren’t only in your pantry – we learn this from Interracial Relationship expert and Dating/Marriage Coach Lorraine Spencer – our guest host for this new podcast episode.

Woot!

We Love Lorraine Spencer

Adrienne and I hold the utmost respect and admiration for Lorraine Spencer, an interracial blogger and pioneer in the IR blogging space.

Lorraine is a wife, mother, blogger, author and mentor.

She doesn’t brag on her connections or accomplishments, but she’s worked with the imitable IR blogging pioneer Evia Moore, publisher of Black Female Interracial Marriage (considered one of the “Mother Ships” of Black women’s interracial blogs).

Lorraine has also worked with Karyn Langhone-Folan, best-selling author of “Don’t Bring Home A White Boy” fame.

Lorraine is the author of two children’s books; The Spider In My Mommy’s Car and I Like Polka Dots On My Pizza.

Spices, Anyone?

In this podcast episode, Lorraine drops knowledge about “Bitter Spices” that can ruin your relationship. Wanna know what they are?? Tune in to find out!

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.

Shout Out To The Sistah Speak Podcast!

Our shout out for this episode goes to Sistah J and Sistah K of the Sistah Speak Podcast Network.

Sistah Speak includes a series of podcasts where the Sistahs discuss both reality and dramatic television shows. The Sistahs created their podcasts to meet the need for a Black woman’s perception and honest analysis about certain shows and movies.

Follow them on Twitter @LiteraryMarie, @Aksids, @_SistahK and @SistahSpeakCast!

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!

Copyright © 2015 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™, Swirl Nation™, All rights reserved. Photos used with permission. Post contains Amazon.com affiliate links.

#236| Brave Heart

August 24, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 8 Comments

We like to jump-start each new week by providing a quote fierce enough to get you going.

I know I’m facing challenges this week, and as far as I’m concerned, every bit of motivation and encouragement helps me with pushing past, pushing thorough and pushing forward.

A brave heart is required to push past the naysayers, haters and saboteurs.

A brave heart is required to push through our own fear and sense of inadequacy.

A brave heart is required to push forward into our purpose, and ultimately into our destiny.

Today is the start of a new day and a new week.

Let’s get started, shall we?

Join in the Fray: What’s the thing you need to be “brave enough to start?” When will you begin?

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.

#233| Yes Can Do!

August 21, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

It’s the end of the week, and if you’re like me you’re assessing the progress you made – or didn’t make.

This year I’m using the Day Designer Planner. Each day I write out a list of “goals of the day” and do my best to cross off each one.

More often than not, I don’t get to cross off every item, and when I don’t, I carry the item over to the top of the next day’s list.

Do that every day of the week, and sometimes you’ll find an item written on Monday was carried over all week . . . and into the next week . . . and occasionally, to the end of the month.

Le sigh.

So much for planning, huh?

What I have to remember is to celebrate my accomplishments (the crossed-off items) instead of wallowing in disappointment over the uncrossed items.

Yes, I need to examine the items I continue to carry over and figure out why I’m not completing them: is the item really important? If it is, am I procrastinating? Am I wasting time? Do I not have what I need to complete the project? What’s the problem? And more important, what do I need to do to fix it?

When I take myself through that series of questions, I come to an understanding of what I need to do to push forward.

Voilà!

I’ve managed to turn a “no can do” into a “yes can do.”

#Winning!

Join in the Fray: What “no can do” will you turn into a “yes can do?”

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.

#205| You’re My Best Friend

July 24, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

There seems to be a running debate concerning whether a person’s mate or significant other can hold the title of “best friend.”

Some say no – a mate is a mate and a best friend has an entirely different relationship.

Others say yes, of course your mate can be (and some even say, should be) your best friend.

Whatever your persuasion, I believe we can agree that besties are the best, and it’s beyond wonderful to be able to say to someone, “You’re my best friend.”

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.

#202| Never Too Much

July 21, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

“No black woman writer in this culture can write “too much.” Indeed, no woman writer can write ‘too much’…No woman has ever written enough.”

~bell hooks

I love bell hooks’ writing, and because I’m a writer, this statement of hers deeply resonates with me.

Her statement raises a question: Are you sharing your story? Are you even chronicling your story?

Do you verbally share with others the stories of your life? We all have them, you know.

Do you have a journal – or should I ask, do you write in a journal, ensuring you chronicle your story, your thoughts and feelings?

As a woman in this world, you have a story to tell; a story people need to hear.

Don’t allow your stories – the times of your life – die within you.

Write and write and write, and get those words out of your head and heart.

Get them into the world where others can read them and benefit from them, just as we are benefitting today from today’s quote – this mere sentence bell hooks wrote.

Take that all important step, and write.

Remember, what you have to say and to share can never be too much.

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.

#201| Thou Shalt Not Kill

July 20, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

First things first: This is NOT a politically motivated post.

I know certain thoughts may have come to your mind when you first read today’s blog title.

However, jumping into politically charged waters is not what we do here in The Swirl World.

What This Post Is About – The Back Story

Saturday night I served as the emcee of a banquet honoring 12 community and church leaders.

I was proud of the accomplishments of the honorees, and even more so inspired by the personal legacies they’re building.

The keynote speaker managed to be interesting, funny and challenging all at the same time – my favorite combination.

Something she stated in her address made me sit still:

“The Bible says ‘thou shalt not kill.’ We may not kill people with weapons, but we kill ideas.”

The Purpose Of This Post

“We may not kill people with weapons, but we kill ideas.”

Now do you understand why this post is titled, “Thou Shalt Not Kill?”

How many times have we allowed other people to kill our ideas?

We have an idea, and unfortunately for us, we share it with the wrong person.

They tell us all the reasons why it can’t work, won’t work, shouldn’t work – and we believe them.

Consequently, our ideas wither on our lips, die on the vine and never see the light of day.

Somebody killed our idea – and we allowed it to happen.

What We Can Learn From Negative People and Idea Killers

I believe the greatest lesson we can learn from negative people and idea killers is this: They are the people we need to stay away from.

I’m serious.

Avoid negative people like the plague, because they excel at destroying your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Don’t allow them into your space, and if by virtue of kinship or relationship you find it difficult to remove them from your life then do the next best thing: Keep your ideas to yourself, and instead, implement them. Act quietly if you must, but above all, act.

To All You Killers Out There

While I’m at it, I may as well flip the coin – are you that person – the person who kills other people’s ideas?

Are you the Criticizing Connie, Doubtful Debbie or Negative Nelly?

Are you an idea killer – which in essence means you’re a dream killer?

Do you realize your negativity and idea-killing behavior is a reflection of your own insecurity and fear?

You’re insecure, and you feel the need to put others down because in reality, you lack confidence.

Stop acting out of your own fear, doubt and unbelief.

Work at building others up and encouraging other people’s dreams, and you’ll soon find your own life – and your own ideas – taking flight.

Side Note

Want to read some good, thought-provoking blogs covering political issues and current news events? Check out L.A. Moore of Bougie Black Girl and Darren W. and Jenn Jackson of Water Cooler Convos. I religiously read their blogs and stalk their Twitter timelines, and heartily recommend them.

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.

A Conversation With Demita Usher – Part 2

July 15, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Today’s podcast features Part 2 of a conversation I held on May 10 with Demita Usher, aka “Brown Betty.”

Demita was a champion of Black women’s causes, and passionate about women learning to not only enjoy, but leverage their femininity.

This episode was recorded on May 10 in anticipation of the website launch of Demita’s business centering on providing teaching and training on etiquette and manners.

Demita passed away the morning of June 14.

Part 1 of the conversation with Demita is available on iTunes, Sound Cloud, Stitcher Radio or PlayerFM.

Demita was nothing if she wasn’t passionate! I hope you’re enjoying the conversation as much as I did.

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.

Demita Usher was the Founder and Director of The Social Graces and Savoir Faire Institute of Etiquette. She taught classes for several years to adults and children alike. Demita was in the process of writing a book on Charm and Etiquette for Teens. She resided in Los Angeles, California.

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!

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You Give Good Music!

Like this:

#238| Sing A Song

Like this:

#237|No Excuses!

Like this:

These “Bitter Spices” Can Ruin Your Relationship!