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chattingwiththelightkeeper · 7 months

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Mind Your Manners

It is no secret we live in a world where being polite and kind is forgotten. Just take a trip to your local grocery store to see it live and in person. If you are daring, head on over to Wal-Mart for a display of truly poor manners. The D/S lifestyle is no different. Just ask any submissive about the crass messages they receive daily the number of unsolicited gentleman-sausage selfies that roll in. Today we will take a minute to remind the dominant population that saying please and thank you should be part of their interactions with their submissive(s).

It seems that so often d-types forget that submissives, especially

those in a relationship, process a request differently than vanilla people. When a dominant makes a simple request, a submissive may not take it as ‘an order’ but since they take pride in pleasing their d-type, they want and in fact, at times need to please or serve. So when a submissive hears, for example, “Since you are in the kitchen, could you grab me a ___” they do not feel, as a vanilla might, that this is simply an if it is a convenient request because they internalize even a simple request as a chance to serve and please their dominant. One is left befuddled when they see or hear of d-types asking their submissive to do something for them but not saying please with the request. Even if a d-type is telling their submissive to do a task, they can still mind their manners and say things like “Today, would you please do ___ for me” or “I want you to write in your journal three times this week for me please”. Now, there are times, especially during play when it can be fun, exciting, and erotic as heck to order a submissive to and fro but outside of those times, whenever humanly possible d-types need to remember, please.

There are many memes, gifs, and the like that circulate all over the kinky internet where submissives are shown saying “Thank you Sir/Ma’am, may I have another”. Whenever I see one of these my brain always defaults back to 1978’s classic comedy Animal House where there is a scene where the fraternity pledges are spanked with the house paddle and must always say “Thank you, sir, may I have another” after each wallop. Once again, I think dominants need to say thank you to their submissive when they do something for their dominant. It is fun to hear a submissive say thank you after a healthy smack on their bottom but d-types need to remember to say thank you for the big and little things their s-types do for them. No matter if it is fetching them a hot beverage or exploring a fantasy together, saying thank you must be part of a dominant’s vocabulary. One suggestion for dominants is saying thank you not just when a submissive does something but also at the end of the day saying thank you for doing X, Y, and Z for me today. The more a submissive feels appreciated, the more they will crave to do for them.

While please and thank you may seem old-fashioned, using them is a simple and easy way for a dominant to always reinforce just how precious their submissive is to them. A bonus of all of this is if a d-type is in the habit of using these words, they can sound like a polite person in public, rather than the kinkeriffic dominant they are, discreetly giving an ‘order’ to their submissive in a vanilla surrounding and the vanilla world will simply believe the dominant who said please and thank you is just a polite person, never grasping what is happening under the surface. Lastly, dominants must always remember that submissives have the right to say no at any time and for any reason, so using good manners, helps make the s-type feel appreciated which means they are less likely to want to say no. So please join in doing this and thank you for reading.

How do you feel about minding manners while keeping it kinky?

If you enjoyed this, I invite you to give my podcast a listen 'Chatting With The Lightkeeper,' a top 25% most-followed podcasts on Spotify but available on all the major podcasting apps and follow my socials for more exclusive content: Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) for a deeper dive into the wonderful world of D/S.

As with all of my thoughts, please see this disclaimer.

©TLK2023

#d/s relationship #bd/sm community #dom/sub #d/s community #my writing

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sneakpeek111 · 2 months

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Podcasts provide women of all ages with a unique platform to explore, grow, and thrive. The best podcast for women can educate, entertain, empower, and inspire them in different facets of their lives. They are a cost-effective form of entertainment that facilitate meaningful conversations beyond the traditional forms of content consumption, such as books or articles.

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texasborn · 2 months

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vcloudtech · 3 months

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Adobe Audition for Podcasters: Essential Techniques

Intro

In the evolving landscape of podcasting, delivering high-quality audio content has never been more crucial. Adobe Audition stands out as a formidable tool in the arsenal of podcasters, offering a robust platform for recording, editing, and enhancing audio files. Whether you're a novice podcaster or a seasoned producer, understanding the essential techniques within Adobe Audition can transform your podcast from good to exceptional. Let's dive into the world of Adobe Audition and uncover the essential techniques every podcaster needs to master.

Getting Started with Adobe Audition for Your Podcast

To embark on your journey with Adobe Audition, the initial setup of your project is pivotal. This begins with the creation of a multitrack session, a step that sets the foundation for a structured and organized podcast production. By utilizing a multitrack session, you can easily manage different audio elements such as dialogue, background music, and sound effects on distinct tracks. This separation not only facilitates a smoother editing workflow but also grants you enhanced control over the mixing process, ensuring that each element harmonizes perfectly in your final production. It's essential to become acquainted with Adobe Audition's core features early on. Dedicate time to explore the waveform and multitrack editors, familiarizing yourself with their interfaces and functionalities. The Essential Sound panel and the Effects Rack are crucial tools that you will frequently use, offering a straightforward way to enhance and modify your audio. Moreover, achieving the correct recording levels from the start is vital for producing a professional-quality podcast. Aim for levels that are neither too low, which can introduce unwanted noise, nor too high, leading to distortion. By striking this balance, you ensure that your recordings have the optimal quality for further editing and enhancement within Adobe Audition. Starting strong with these foundational steps will pave the way for a smoother, more efficient podcasting workflow.

Mastering the Art of Noise Reduction and Cleanup

Navigating through the hurdles of unwanted background noise is a common ordeal for many podcasters. Adobe Audition steps up to this challenge with its array of potent noise reduction capabilities that are indispensable for producing clean, distraction-free audio. When confronted with constant background disturbances like air conditioning hums or static, the Noise Reduction effect proves invaluable, effectively minimizing these distractions without affecting the essence of the primary audio. For noises that are more intermittent in nature, the Sound Remover effect shines by isolating and eliminating these specific sounds. Meanwhile, the Adaptive Noise Reduction tool is adept at adjusting to fluctuating noise environments, making it a superb choice for recordings captured in less controlled settings where noise levels can unpredictably vary.

A key strategy in applying these tools is to use them judiciously to preserve the natural timbre and dynamics of the voice. Overuse or incorrect settings can inadvertently introduce artifacts or make the voice sound unnatural. It’s advisable to start with subtle adjustments, incrementally increasing the effect until the desired noise reduction is achieved without compromising the vocal quality. Listening back to segments of your audio after applying noise reduction effects is crucial to ensure that the voice remains clear and unaffected. By mastering the delicate balance of noise reduction, podcasters can achieve pristine audio quality that keeps listeners focused on the content, free from the distractions of background noise.

Enhancing Your Podcast’s Dialogue with EQ and Compression

For podcasters aiming to elevate the audibility and quality of their dialogues, EQ (equalization) and compression are indispensable tools. EQ serves to fine-tune the vocal tracks, allowing podcasters to highlight the clarity and richness of their voice by subtly enhancing higher mid frequencies while diminishing low-mid frequencies to avoid muddiness. This adjustment ensures that the spoken words stand out crisply against any background noise or music. On the other hand, compression plays a pivotal role in normalizing the audio levels. It meticulously balances the dynamic range, smoothing out disparities so that both the quieter and louder segments are consistently heard, preventing any listener strain during playback.

The Multiband Compressor feature within Adobe Audition is particularly advantageous, offering the ability to apply compression to specific frequency bands. This targeted approach allows for more nuanced control over the audio, ensuring that the compression is effective without compromising the natural quality of the voice. For podcasters, this means maintaining the authenticity and emotive power of their dialogue, which is crucial for engaging the audience.

Implementing these tools requires a thoughtful approach. Initially setting mild adjustments and progressively refining them helps in achieving the desired outcome without over-processing the audio. This balance is key to producing dialogue that is both compelling and comfortable to listen to, laying the groundwork for a podcast that resonates well with its audience.

Creating an Immersive Sound Environment with Effects and Music

To transform your podcast into an auditory adventure, skillfully incorporating sound effects and music is essential. Adobe Audition is equipped with an extensive library of sound effects, alongside seamless integration with a variety of music libraries, providing podcasters with an abundance of resources to enhance their storytelling. When selecting music or effects, it's crucial to ensure they support and elevate the narrative without overshadowing the dialogue. Strategic use of volume adjustments and fading techniques allows these elements to gently complement spoken content, enriching the overall experience without causing distraction.

The Essential Sound panel in Adobe Audition simplifies this process, offering intuitive mixing presets specifically designed for non-musical audio. This feature assists in achieving the perfect balance between voice, music, and sound effects, ensuring a cohesive and immersive soundscape. Additionally, consider the emotional tone and pacing of your podcast when choosing music and effects. The right sound at the right moment can dramatically increase listener engagement, evoking emotions and painting vivid mental images.

Experimentation plays a key role in crafting an engaging auditory environment. Don't hesitate to try different sound combinations and observe how they influence the feel of your podcast. Remember, the goal is to create a rich and captivating auditory experience that complements your content and resonates with your audience, making each episode memorable.

Streamlining Your Workflow with Templates and Batch Processing

One of the secrets to a productive podcast production process lies in the strategic use of templates and the power of batch processing within Adobe Audition. By creating a template for your podcast episodes, you effectively set up a pre-defined multitrack session that includes your standard tracks for dialogue, music, and sound effects. This not only organizes your workspace but also equips it with your preferred effects and settings, ready to be applied to each new episode. This approach significantly reduces setup time, allowing you to focus more on the creative aspects of your podcast production.

Batch processing, on the other hand, is an invaluable feature for handling repetitive tasks efficiently. Whether it's applying a uniform set of effects across multiple audio files, normalizing audio levels, or converting files to a desired format, batch processing automates these operations, saving you hours of manual labor. Imagine processing an entire series of interviews or sound bites with consistent audio quality at the click of a button. By leveraging batch processing, you ensure uniformity and professionalism across your episodes, enhancing the overall listener experience.

Together, templates and batch processing are pivotal in achieving a streamlined, efficient workflow in Adobe Audition. They not only expedite the technical aspects of podcast production but also ensure consistency in audio quality and formatting, freeing you to channel your energies into the creative storytelling that captivates your audience.

Finalizing Your Podcast: Exporting and Quality Checks

Wrapping up your podcast production with a keen eye on quality and consistency is vital. Utilizing Adobe Audition's Loudness Radar is the first step in this crucial phase, allowing you to align your podcast with the universal loudness standards. This tool ensures your audio won't jarringly stand out or fade into the background when played alongside other media, providing a seamless listening experience for your audience. Following this, conducting a thorough playback test is indispensable. By listening to your finished episode on various devices, such as headphones, car speakers, and home audio systems, you're able to identify and rectify any inconsistencies or overlooked imperfections that could detract from your podcast's professionalism.

When you're confident in the auditory quality of your episode, turning your attention to exporting is next. Choosing the right format and settings is paramount; for most podcasts, exporting as an MP3 file at 128 kbps strikes an optimal balance. This bitrate offers listeners quality sound without the burden of large file sizes, making downloading and streaming more accessible. This final step not only encapsulates your hard work in a listener-ready format but also marks the transition of your podcast from a project to a product, ready for distribution and consumption.

Embracing these finalizing steps in Adobe Audition enhances your podcast's quality, ensuring it leaves a lasting impression on your audience while meeting industry standards.

#business

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ciarastockelandinventorygenius · 4 months

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Inventory Genius Book Chapter 6 Guides You to Decrease Expenses

📘 Explore the path to strategic growth in Chapter 6 of the Inventory Genius Book, where we zero in on the crucial theme of decreasing expenses. 📉 Scaling your business is essential, but managing your inventory and understanding the numbers is paramount. Without the right focus, scaling can amplify existing issues. Join me, Ciara, as we delve into key strategies to streamline expenses and ensure your growth is not hindered by unnecessary financial burdens.

🔍 Learn the art of managing your inventory effectively and gain insights into deciphering the numbers that drive your success. Don't let scaling become a double-edged sword—tune in to this episode for actionable tips and advice.

🎙️ Ready to optimize your business for success? Tune in to The Inventory Genius Podcast and gain valuable insights: https://www.ciarastockeland.com/podca...

👩‍💼 About Me

Hi, I'm Ciara, your go-to inventory and cash flow expert! As a serial entrepreneur, wife, and mom of two, I thrive on challenges. Messes don't scare me—I'm here to help you win in business and find peace of mind in your everyday operations. Let's work together to create a plan that focuses on the right things, ensuring you get that consistent paycheck you deserve.

🔗 Connect with me:

Facebook:

/ theinventoryworkshop Instagram:

/ ciarastockeland LinkedIn:

/ cstockeland Pinterest:

/ theinventoryworkshop Tune in, take notes, and let's elevate your business together! 💪✨"

Watch Full Video :

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#Inventory Genius Book #Youtube

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ourschooltrust-19 · 7 months

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Resources Teachers Can Utilize to Expand Their Knowledge

In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the role of teachers transcends the confines of the classroom. As the architects of knowledge, they are tasked with imparting information, igniting curiosity, and nurturing critical thinking in their students. To accomplish this formidable task, teachers must be steadfast in their commitment to personal growth and professional development.

In an era characterized by rapid advancements in pedagogical approaches and educational technologies, the journey of a teacher extends far beyond their initial training. This article delves into a myriad of resources that educators can harness to expand their teaching methodologies and remain at the forefront of educational innovation.

I. Professional Development Workshops

Professional development workshops constitute a robust avenue for educators to engage in immersive learning experiences. These workshops, often facilitated by experts in the field, offer a concentrated exploration of specific topics. This hands-on approach allows teachers to grasp theoretical concepts and implement practical strategies directly in their classrooms. The benefits of these kinds of workshops include personalized guidance, interactive learning, and the opportunity to engage in collaborative discussions with peers. Educators can enhance their instructional methods by participating in these workshops and staying updated with the latest pedagogical advancements.

II. Online Courses & Webinars

The advent of technology has revolutionized the accessibility of learning opportunities. Online courses and webinars allow teachers to acquire knowledge from the comfort of their own space. This learning mode accommodates busy schedules and will enable educators to tailor their learning journey according to their pace. The benefits of online learning include flexibility, diverse subject offerings, and the ability to engage with content from experts worldwide. Through interactive webinars, teachers can also engage in real-time discussions, ask questions, and gain expert insights, further enriching their understanding of educational trends.

III. Educational Conferences

Educational conferences serve as prominent platforms for educators to immerse themselves in a multitude of perspectives, research findings, and best practices. These events bring together educators, researchers, and thought leaders from across the globe, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation. The significance of educational conferences lies in the diverse range of topics covered, from curriculum development to integrating technology in classrooms. By attending conferences, educators can gain exposure to cutting-edge concepts, engage in thought-provoking discussions, incorporate educational trends, and network with professionals who share their passion for education.

IV. Peer-Reviewed Journals & Research Publications

Leveraging peer-reviewed journals and research publications is a cornerstone of evidence-based teaching. These scholarly resources offer in-depth insights into various educational aspects backed by rigorous research methodologies. Teachers can delve into articles that explore effective teaching strategies, cognitive development, and classroom management techniques. Identifying critical journals in education ensures access to reputable and authoritative sources of information. Educators can refine their methods, align with the latest educational theories, and ultimately enhance their students' learning experiences by integrating research findings into their classroom practices.

V. Educational Podcasts & Videos

Educational podcasts and videos have emerged as powerful tools for professional development. These multimedia resources offer a convenient way for teachers to gain insights from experts, engage in discussions on pedagogical topics, and explore innovative teaching strategies. The significance of podcasts and videos lies in their ability to accommodate diverse learning styles while providing information in an engaging and accessible format. Platforms like YouTube offer a plethora of channels dedicated to education, and TED Talks provide succinct yet thought-provoking talks by experts in various fields, which can significantly contribute to teachers' professional growth.

VI. Educational Literature & Books

Printed educational resources, such as books and academic literature, hold enduring value in the realm of professional development. These resources provide an in-depth exploration of educational theories, research findings, and pedagogical approaches. Educators can delve into books written by renowned experts to gain deeper insights into effective teaching methods. Incorporating literature insights into teaching methodologies can enrich classroom practices, fostering a deeper understanding of the principles behind successful teaching strategies.

VII. Social Media as Learning Tools

Social media platforms have evolved beyond personal communication to become valuable tools for professional growth. Educators can harness platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and education-focused online communities to connect with peers, follow influential educators, and stay informed about the latest trends in education. Participating in online discussions, sharing experiences, and engaging with educational content on social media can offer a collaborative space for learning and idea exchange.

VIII. Continuous Reflective Practice

Emphasizing the value of self-reflection is a cornerstone of effective professional development. Regularly engaging in reflective practice allows educators to critically assess their teaching methods, identify areas for improvement, and adapt their approaches based on student outcomes. Cultivating a lifelong learning attitude is essential for ongoing growth. This involves maintaining curiosity, embracing challenges, and seeking new learning opportunities. By fostering a mindset that values continuous improvement, educators can remain open to new ideas, approaches, and technologies to enhance their teaching practices.

In the pursuit of educational excellence, the journey of a teacher is continuous. The resources highlighted in this article serve as beacons illuminating the path to professional growth and pedagogical prowess. As educators engage in professional development workshops, conferences, podcasts, and more, they not only elevate their craft but also uplift their students' learning experiences. Embracing learning as a lifelong endeavor, teachers enrich their classrooms with fresh perspectives, refined strategies, and a deepened understanding of the art of teaching. As we conclude, let us remember that the dedication to expanding one's knowledge is not only a commitment to our dedication to the bright minds we guide toward a future of endless possibilities.

#ourschool #banashankari #banglore #teachers #students #learning

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fcleadership · 8 months

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Résilience en Leadership - Les 10 principes / S8P1 - FC Leadership Podca...

🎙️ Discover our new season #8 "Resilience in leadership - the 10 principles. S8P1 🎙️

Dive with us into the fascinating world of leadership, resilience and success with Fadler in your "FC Leadership Podcast". Each week we explore exciting topics that will help you develop your leadership skills, improve your well-being and achieve your goals.

🌟 What you can expect today in the FC Leadership Podcast:

- Captivating content with your leadership and personal growth expert.

- Practical tips to boost your confidence and increase your impact tenfold, build your resilience and communication skills.

- Inspiring lessons for overcoming challenges to achieve success.

- Reflections on change management, personal growth and much more.

Join our community of aspiring leaders, ambitious professionals and success seekers. Subscribe now and get ready to be inspired, informed and motivated to achieve your dreams.

🔗 Listening links:

https://fadlercelestin.com/podcast or on the platform of your choice soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, google podcast, Youtube, spotify, deezer, tuneIn etc.].

Don't miss our weekly episodes! Follow us for regular updates and don't forget to share with your friends and colleagues who are seeking fulfillment in their personal, spiritual and professional lives. 🚀

#PodcastLeadership #Resilience #PersonalDevelopment #Success #Leadership #PodcastMotivation #ListenNow

#youtube

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rosiewitchescottage · 2 years

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Neil Oliver – Water Nymphs, Paganism & The Rise of Christianity - Podcas...

Got to admit to something of a girlie crush on Neil Oliver. But he appeals to the history geek in me too. This comes from a series called ‘A Love Letter To The British Isles’. Where he explores different spots around Britain that have tales to tell about our history.

In this session. He’s talking about Lullingstone Roman Villa in Kent, that amongst other things shows a picture of religious practices from the Pagan/Animist invocation of water nymphs at a household well and veneration of Ancestors, to some of the so far earliest known practice of Christianity in Britannia.

Some happy Geeking Out here!

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/lullingstone-roman-villa/

#youtube

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clementine-theblog · 4 years

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Talk About It Tuesday: Why Healing Hurts

Hello Clementines, and welcome back to Talk About It Tuesday! Today we explore the pain in healing, and I break down a few key things about healing that we always seems to forget.

Healing from our traumas and pain can be hard. We are often flooded with images and ideas of what healing and growth look like, but all of these ideas are fabricated lies in disguise on social media. We cannot all be works of art all the time, and none of us are perfect (that’s okay!). Healing is messy and crazy and confusing, and there is no right or wrong way to get better.

The most difficult part in healing is the way it burns to get better. When I say this, I don’t mean that we’re hurting ourselves as we heal. It means that healing is a step into the unknown, and that hurts. Healing can feel like shedding an old self, and in a way it kind of is. When all we know is what hurt us before, growing from that place feels like becoming a new person, and that hurts. It hurts because we are unsure of what to expect of our new selves. Becoming a new person is like learning new mannerisms and meeting new people, and that’s super scary.

The hurting comes from abandoning the only comfort we had which is coincidentally our trauma. When we grow up with our trauma, we get comfortable with it, and it becomes a part of ourselves. It pains us to rid ourselves of the thing that was essentially ourselves (in our own eyes). It also hurts to heal because we constantly wonder if our trauma was made up or if we were just faking it. So many of us fear healing because we worry it’ll invalidate our suffering, and when suffering is all you know it can be hard to let it go. It’s important that we appreciate our suffering will never be invalidated. We cannot accuse ourselves of faking because we want to get better.

Healing hurts most when we outgrow our old friends and family and begin to realize the people who hurt us were our only semblance of friendships. This isn’t true for all, but some of us have suffered at the hand of our closest people, and that hurts to realize. Healing can be difficult and painful when you consistently bounce between emotional growth and being there for those who are draining you. The process of healing isn’t streamline, so we feel crazy or in pain when we find ourselves back at square one. Often times we return to the pain because guilt (as told in the podcast) tells us it’s all we know, and it would be wrong to abandon something so deeply rooted in our lives. We have to ignore this.

Healing hurts because all growth stings a little. To heal is to uncover a wound for us to see, and then to apply salves of love and self-preservation. Healing will always sting a little, but then it gets better when we get better. Don’t fear relapsing. Don’t fear the process. Just be.

Check out our podcast here .

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talihahiman-blog · 5 years

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Finding Home and Starting a Blog

All my life I have been a curious, questioning seeker of Truth.

I think most people encounter a severe period of Questioning in their lives before they fall back or abandon their quest and resign to stop even thinking about it. But some, like me, remaining searching for a Truth that seems immutable. Finally, Alhamdulillah, I feel like I have found that Truth. And its name is Islam.

This is not a discovery that I happened upon in an instant: there was no thunderbolt from the sky demanding I give myself to it, no massive horde trying to bend me into shape, no men with knives at my throat denouncing me for what I was; no angel hovering beside my pillow, no giant billboards on the highway trying to point me where it thought I should go, no conversion school telling me I was inherently flawed.

This discovery came from a lifetime of asking questions, not accepting vague, mediocre and uninformed answers, the realization that the only way I would find the right answers was to embark on exploring matters of the sacred on my own, and then reading, researching and experiencing first-hand several different paths to the Ultimate.

Each path taught me profound lessons about myself and my relationship with God; each brought me closer to Him and helped clarify what was really important to me.

Last year, in particular, after an unexpected end to my marriage, going completely broke, homeless and feeling worthless, I found myself lying on the floor of my greataunt’s bedroom one February evening, still alive after two suicide attempts in one night, with an acceptance that if I was still alive, it was because God willed it.

“You have to show me why You’re not letting me leave,” I demanded of God. “Clearly You’re keeping me here. And I don’t know why. I still don’t even know You like I want to. I have nothing left. I have no will to stay. I’d leave now with no regret if You just let me. But if You won’t let me go, then show me why You want me to stay.” It was a moment of utter surrender.

The answer was not immediate.

There was a period of three months from that moment where I felt like I was in limbo. No answers, no direction.

In March I decided to move back with my family in Trinidad indefinitely to let the situation and my demand incubate. Slowly, I felt an urging in my heart to come back to NYC and start over, completely alone. It was not at the only option by any means - but it was the craziest possible option. I had nowhere to go, no money, no family here. Yet I was completely homesick. I never understood homesickness was an actual thing until I was in the place that I was born and raised in surrounded by my entire family, and all I could think about was NYC!

To everyone else - and, admittedly, to even myself - it seemed as if I were jumping into shark-infested waters when I could barely even swim, but somehow I understood that coming back would be the catalyst for God’s answers to my sincere plea that February.

By mid-May, I used the money I saved from working in Trinidad to buy myself a plane ticket back to NYC on June 2. Getting off the plane with nothing but one suitcase and a carry on bag of belongings and marching into the homeless shelter, I steeled myself with faith that if God was bringing me back, He would get me through anything that life could possibly throw my way.

So began the most incredible turnaround of my life.

I was faced with trial after trial, and in oftentimes what appeared to be impossible situations, He always showed up. On time. I learned in a very tangible, undeniable way that a true relationship with God was not simply talking to Him, but an active conversation with Him: you talk, you ask, you explain - then you shut up, you watch and you listen.

The answer is not always in obvious places.

For most of the year, I also identified as Hindu if anyone asked, and I hated when people asked because it never felt like it correct answer, which I found common to all to all of the religions I involved myself in at some point or the other. While the nature of the missing pieces would change, something was still missing anyway.

As a major world religion, naturally Islam was on my to-do list of religions to learn more about, but l thought that the only thing we might have in common is my belief that Jesus was a prophet and not the Messiah. The end! After all, it was a war religion that suppressed women, right? And they couldn’t listen to music, right? And they could only eat food from halal places, right? And you had to take a Muslim name! Right?!

And how could I forget: a Muslim group in Trinidad known as the Jamaat-Al-Muslimeen was responsible for an attempted coup d’etat in 1990 that resulted in 24 deaths, severe injuries to the President of the country, and my birth merely three years later meant constantly hearing the story of the “bad Muslim guys” even long before 9/11. Then 9/11. Then ISIS.

Everywhere I turned the narrative was the same: Islam is oppressive and dangerous. And living in NYC, where the new World Trade Center stands tall reminding us of the tragedy that befell this city and the world before it, it also reminded us constantly of that running narrative.

How could I ever be one of them?

Also as a languages enthusiast who loves spending time listening to different things from around the world, I suddenly started to stumble upon several Arabic and English Islamic songs that I really loved and listened to on a regular basis, moved, sometimes to tears, by the beauty of them and pure sense of joy, connection, and devotion contained within them.

While there were many such songs which captivated me at that time, these two became very special to me:

youtube

Listening to these, I couldn’t help but think, “Perhaps we’ve got this Muslim thing all wrong.”

But I couldn’t seem to get past that point.

It turned out that I started a new job this year, and in doing so found myself a close friend in a Bengali-American Muslimah from a neighboring department. She did not wear hijab nor was fussy about her shirt necklines, but was outspoken about her belief in Allah (SWT) and her excitement about Ramadan, as well as the role that Islam played (and continues to play) in her choices. For the first time, I had a wonderful Muslim woman in my inner circle who was my age, so relatable and so...normal.

Almost like instinct, I began asking her to tell me more about her beliefs and was fascinated to hear of her stories about the Jinn and why Ramadan is important. Even though I was raised in a country where Muslims were very visible and Ramadan was celebrated visibly, I discovered through conversations with her that even Ramadan was not what I thought it was - and it was certainly more than just getting bags of yummy treats on Eid. (Barfi, kurma and gulab jamun, anyone?)

From the little I had learned through my new friend and my quickly-expanding catalog of saved Islamic songs on YouTube and Spotify, my interest grew quickly about what Islam really said about the big questions. Shortly before Ramadan, another new hire at our organization came in - she was my age, proud feminist, fresh out of breaking up with her neglectful boyfriend, a real move-maker and unapologetically herself. We, too, became instant friends and quickly found ourselves contemplating modern religious thought and female empowerment. She was also an Arab-American Hijabi.

Neither of these new Muslimah friends tried to tell me that I should be like them, but they were both excited to hear of my interest in Islam, and both proud talk to me about their understanding of and experiences in it. I was being pointed in one direction by God now, and it would have been stupid of me to ignore it.

As the days counted down to Ramadan and conversations continued, it felt very natural to decide that for Ramadan this year, I would sincerely undertake to learn about Islam with an open mind. I had technically already started, and I was surrounded by equally open-minded people who would support me along the way - it finally was the right time. I told my friends of my intent to learn for Ramadan but did not tell them that I would also fast.

I started off Ramadan reading the Quran on my phone telling myself I’d just get the gist of it, but after a week it was inadequate - there was so much I wanted to reread and explore that I needed the real thing in my hands. I desperately wanted to let my mind dance between its pages and get lost in it, find gems and other surprises and come back out with a new understanding. After scouring bookstores for the right first* Quran, I decided on a translation by Tarif Khalidi.

*I already suspected at that point that this one would only be an introduction and that I would desire to read more ‘advanced’ translations and even the original text in Arabic after having a good initial understanding it in English, and this translation struck me as a beautiful cross between capturing not just the meaning but also the poetic and linguistic beauty of the original Arabic.

Ten days into Ramadan, on the second day with my new Quran, one thing was as clear as day: everything that was portrayed to me about Islam was wrong. All of it. The media and sociopolitical landscape is riddled with severe misconceptions and abuse of Islam, and I was completely unprepared for how tainted and ignorant the media perception is when I began to see what it is really is. Seeing past the misinformation and blatant lies being told, I knew that sharing the actual beliefs of Islam with others would become a very important task for me, even if I did not embrace it as my own.

There was also another issue I was praying about in the past few weeks and keeping myself open to answers for, and on the following day the answer came to me in the form of a particular episode of a podcast. I was just scrolling through and clicking on random things to listen to at work instead of my regular playlists to get me through the day, and although I’d been listening to such podcasts of several days at that point, that one was the one that confirmed to me that God was truly listening. Call it convenient confirmation bias if you will - that doesn’t change the fact that it was a direct answer.

I found myself suspended in time, awestruck and understanding in a different way from any path I had ventured into before that this was it.

It was what I’ve been on the hunt for my entire life. Everything I’ve done, felt, questioned, experienced, hoped for, run from, aspired toward and battled with myself about converged into that moment. I didn’t know precisely what I was looking for...until I found it.

Allah (SWT) spoke. My heart understood. And without even knowing it then, I accepted it.

I finally found my spiritual home. I am a Muslim.

Up until now, my travels led me to places that were interesting and useful, but still hollow and incomplete. For the first time, I feel whole.

And so here I am on the 14th day of Ramadan, feeling like simultaneously everything is different yet the same. I have not officially taken Shahada with witnesses, but I know that the real moment when I became Muslim has already happened. It was on that eleventh day on work when time stood still, and everything became clear.

There are still two more weeks left in Ramadan, and I’m not sure yet if I’d like to take Shahada on Eid, as I will be spending it with my Beng-Am Muslimah friend from work and her family again, and I think that would be a wonderful opportunity to do so. Otherwise, I may choose to wait some more and continue to study a while and find a community that I can be a part of it, not just my bubble of work acquaintances. But if I hold off to ‘study more,’ I feel like I will end up never taking it because I may never feel ‘ready’ - and Islam is a way of life and an ongoing act of submission to Allah (SWT), so I understand that officially converting is only the beginning. I really appreciate how often I see and hear the advice that one does not have to know everything to take Shahada - one simply has to be prepared to know, with the guidance of God.

Regardless of when I decide to take Shahada, I feel quite certain that my wandering soul is home at last, and I feel immediately called to share the things I am learning, contemplating and experiencing as a new Muslimah in NYC. Inshallah, it is my hope that someone out there will be able to either relate or at least learn something new, wonderful and unexpected about Islam along the way!

#islam #ramadan #2019 #ramadankareem #muslim #newmuslim #convert #conversion #quran #peace #god #godisgood #happy #reflections

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ciarastockelandinventorygenius · 4 months

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Chapter 7 of the Inventory Genius Book - Mastering Net Profit for Thriving Results

📚 Explore the pivotal realm of net profit in Chapter 7 of the Inventory Genius Book! 💼 Uncover the true litmus test for business success that goes beyond gross profit. Join me, As we dive into the often-overlooked yet essential metric that determines whether a business is thriving or merely surviving.

📊 Net profit is the ultimate measure, representing what remains after deducting the cost of goods sold and covering all expenses. It's time to shift the narrative and give net profit the attention it deserves. With the Inventory Genius Method, I'm on a mission to elevate businesses by emphasizing the crucial role of net profit.

🎙️ Tune in to Chapter 7 for insights and strategies that will reshape your approach to business success. https://www.ciarastockeland.com/podca...

👩‍💼 About Me:

🔗 Connect with me :

Work with me: https://www.ciarastockeland.com/work-… Buy my book, Inventory Genius: https://www.ciarastockeland.com/book Listen to The Inventory Genius Podcast: https://www.ciarastockeland.com/podca… Read my blog: https://www.ciarastockeland.com/blog Visit my website: https://www.ciarastockeland.com

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#Chapter 7 of the Inventory Genius Book #Youtube

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ourschooltrust-19 · 7 months

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Resources Teachers Can Utilize to Expand Their Knowledge

I. Professional Development Workshops

II. Online Courses & Webinars

III. Educational Conferences

IV. Peer-Reviewed Journals & Research Publications

V. Educational Podcasts & Videos

VI. Educational Literature & Books

VII. Social Media as Learning Tools

VIII. Continuous Reflective Practice

In the pursuit of educational excellence, the journey of a teacher is continuous. The resources highlighted in this article serve as beacons illuminating the path to professional growth and pedagogical prowess. As educators engage in professional development workshops, conferences, podcasts, and more, they not only elevate their craft but also uplift their students' learning experiences. Embracing learning as a lifelong endeavour, teachers enrich their classrooms with fresh perspectives, refined strategies, and a deepened understanding of the art of teaching. As we conclude, let us remember that the dedication to expanding one's knowledge is not only a commitment to our dedication to the bright minds we guide toward a future of endless possibilities.

#ourschool #banashankari #banglore #teachers #education #learning

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pearlistrippin · 3 years

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There's so much emptiness streaming that it can be difficult to discern REAL substance if you're impressed by ability alone. My dear Sister/Friend, Multi-Instrumentalist, Composer, Vocalist and now Mommy is setting the bar yet again with her culturally rich and diverse digital platform, #VOXPLORATION. What @clariceassad and the #AssadFamily do with vibrational tension will astound you. PLUS, her heart is gold and that is the Art and the beauty of Music. From whence it flows... If #Music is your balm, elixir, remedy and inspiration THIS is THAT. Check out #Voxploration and the Artists the create culture. So, proud of you, my love❣ Here/Hear for it🎙🎼🎶🔥 And make sure to Rate on #Apple🌟 "The VOXPLORATION Podcas‪t‬Clarice Assad Music Interviews 5.0 • 9 Ratings "The VOXPLORATION #Podcast offers a series of interviews with astonishing singers around the earth who share their musical expertise, tips, technique, and unique styles. The first season explores the vibrant world of #beatbox, freestyle #hiphop, improvisational systems of #jazz, #Arabic, and #SouthCarnatic music." https://www.instagram.com/p/CMFRG4wHCb2/?igshid=570v5ca9yn87

#voxploration #assadfamily #music #apple🌟#podcast #beatbox #hiphop #jazz #arabic #southcarnatic

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theremightbecupcakespodcast · 4 years

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There Might Be Cupcakes Podcast Episode 61: Childe Roland and The Dark Tower In which I explore all the different incarnations of Childe Roland and his quest to the Dark through literature and history, from the 8th century (or so) to Stephen King’s Gunslinger. Episode link in bio or https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/there-might-be-cupcakes-podcas-520320/episodes/61-roland-and-the-dark-tower-63518927 #stephenking #thedarktower #thedarktowerseries #thedarktowerbooks #childeroland #poetry #robertbrowing #williamshakespeare #josephjacobs #fairytales #rolanddeschain #gilead ♥️♥️♥️🧁🧁🧁 #Bookstagram #bookpodcast #bookpodcaster #bookpodcasts #trypod #podcast #beyourownheroine #podcasts #theremightbecupcakes #podernfamily #ladypodsquad #readersofinstagram #newepisode #newpodcastepisode https://www.instagram.com/p/CBZNd69JkHy/?igshid=tee10o7x5mfi

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art-of-manliness · 6 years

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Podcast #388: The Culture Code

Have you ever been part of an organization where everyone and everything just seemed to click? People are motivated and things get done. Contrast that experience with being part of an organization that feels toxic. Demoralization, cynicism, and infighting emotionally drain the people who work within it, and dysfunction reigns. Why do some organizations thrive and others flounder? My guest today argues that it all comes down to culture. His name is Daniel Coyle and he’s the author of the book The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups. Today on the show Dan and I discuss how cultures are formed and what the famous Christmas truce during WWI can teach us about culture formation. Dan then shares the factors that create positive group cultures, including action steps you can take to implement these elements in the organizations you lead or belong to. If you’re a leader in any capacity (this includes being a dad), you don’t want to miss this episode. Show Highlights * What led Daniel to the shift in writing about talent to writing about culture and groups * Everybody’s “secret” second job at work * Do group cultures form even if you aren’t conscious about it? * What are the elements of a positive culture? * Do offices and groups need to have fun in order to succeed? * Shallow fun vs. deep fun * What is Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs) doing to get his players to love him? * How great leaders balance love and truth * How close physical proximity and a shared meaning foster understanding and connection * Why suffering together creates unbreakable bonds * Why our nuclear missileers have such a poor group culture * Can one person make a difference in turning around a toxic culture? * What can a leader do to fix or improve group culture? * Why defining and naming key behavior changes is so important * How long does it take to change a group’s culture? * Why over-communicating can actually be a good thing * The power of cheesy catchphrases * The role of vulnerability in group cultures * How to celebrate failure * How Pixar continues to make spectacular movies * Balancing feedback and criticism with maintaining leadership and integrity * How leadership/management changes depending on the aims of the group Resources/People/Articles Mentioned in Podcast * The Talent Code * The Importance of Creating a Family Culture * Five Rules to Lead and Succeed * How Leaders Build Great Teams * WWI’s Christmas truce * How to Face-to-Face Contact Makes You Healthier, Happier, and Smarter * The Allen curve * The Value of Exercising in a Group * A Culture of Cheating in the Nuclear Corps * Mike Abrashoff * The Power of Moral Reminders * The Spurs’ Pounding the Rock * After Action Review (AAR) * Inside the Pixar Brainstrust * Danny Meyer * Skunkworks project Connect With Daniel Daniel on Twitter Daniel’s website Daniel on Facebook Listen to the Podcast! (And don’t forget to leave us a review!) Listen to the episode on a separate page. Download this episode. Subscribe to the podcast in the media player of your choice. Podcast Sponsors Stitcher Premium. Marvel is unveiling their first scripted podcast ever, and it’s available exclusively on Stitcher Premium. In Wolverine: The Long Night, you’ll be immersed in a murder investigation that explores a string of mysterious deaths in Burns, Alaska. To listen now, go to wolverinepodcast.com and use the code MARVEL for a free month of Stitcher Premium. The Great Courses Plus. Better yourself this year by learning new things. I’m doing that by watching and listening to The Great Courses Plus. Get one month free by visiting thegreatcoursesplus.com/manliness. Spotify. Spotify is making it easy for you to stream this podcast and many others like it on your mobile device, desktop app, and smart speaker. Open the app on your mobile device or desktop, click on the “browse” channel then click on the “podcast” section to find the Art of Manliness and many others. Click here to see a full list of our podcast sponsors. Recorded with ClearCast.io. Read the Transcript Coming soon! The post Podcast #388: The Culture Code appeared first on The Art of Manliness. http://dlvr.it/QL9Bh6

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