My Job

I  wrote this a while ago. I was really bored at work and just thinking about things so ended up with this. I don't know if it's good or not, I just wanted a place to put it. Plus, a few years from now I kind of want to remember what working this job was like. I'll probably end up revising this. Maybe expand on some of the ideas because some of my thoughts jump around here. We shall see. 

Sitting in a chair my feet barely hit the ground

You know those office chair the ones that spin around

Pressing computer keys: number dash dash delete

You can call this boring I wouldn’t disagree

Too any people checking over my shoulder

Like I'm a child waiting for mother’s shift to be over

I got this job thinking imma be driving a rover

Unlucky me please someone hand me a clover

Landed my first interview in the end of May

Mamma said this will look good on my resume

Too bad they cheaper than McDonald’s

Got me feeling like I’m Ronald

Minimum wage paid forcing myself to stay awake

I could have sworn I was getting paid today (Do I get paid today?)

I make money and then owe

If only my tears could grow it

I wouldn’t wake up with anxiety

Hoping each morning wasn’t the last fight in me

This is life, they tell you this how you do it

Bite your tongue and live through it

This is what people define a career this is what I call living life in fear

I feel like we live to work because we're always taught that money and a career is suppose to be life. I mean what other reason do we go to school other than to prepare for a job? You spend most of your like studying for a job and than you spend the rest of it working. There is always a fear of not making money therefore we get stuck working low wage jobs just so we can say "at least I have a job." We take these random jobs and people expect us to be grateful about them like they actually pay us well. I'm well aware that my job will never hire me as a full time worker. It's cheaper to keep me, a part-time teenager, than to hire someone full time. I don't even get paid the same amount as every one else. I do better than the guy working full time, but business is business and I'll never be payed half as great.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverb 4:23( NIV)

Today I wanted to write about guarding our hearts because I feel like we do so many things without knowing that some of the things we do can hurt our hearts. God know everything we do and he knows that as humans we make stupid mistakes. He is telling us that we should be careful because the devil will constantly try to tempt us in every directions. So instead of letting us focus on the right direction, the devil will try to bring us to the twisted path which will lead to nothing but to our own doom.

As a teenager, I feel like I spend my days unconsciously making stupid decision without realizing that those decisions hurt me at the end of the day.  Not only does it hurt my heart, but it hurt my relationship with others and most importantly my relationship with God. I understand we have desires and wants. But it’s good to ask ourselves, “Is my desire in right with God?”, or “Is what I am doing the right thing?”

The world is full of enticing things.  When we dwell too much on things that are bad for us, it will gradually lead us away from God and from our own true self. We need to know that we are women of God and God meant us to grow like beautiful flowers, not to wither like grass. I want every girls to know that you’re worth so much more than anything. Jesus knew that and he showed us by hanging on that rugged cross for us.
So guard your heart from that guy, guard your heart from that drug, guard your heart from that obsession, guard yout heart from that hatred, guard your heart from that anger, and guard your heart from anything that will destroy you…

I know things are easier said than done. That’s why prayer is the key.  God hears all the prayers in our heart and there is no such thing as greater prayer. All prayers are important to God. God is always ready to hear what we have to say and he is happy when we pursue that relationship with him. My question is, “Will you pursue the selfish leader that try to bring you to death, or the loving father that already assure you peace through Jesus?

If you need a prayer for your heart comment below or on our instagram page @independentgirlsny                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                             God bless,
                                                                                                               Lynda… :)

Peer Pressure

Ladies,

Peer pressure is no bueno. Whether you're a freshman in high school or a senior in college it's only natural to experience peer pressure.

When you're an under class man in high school, the pressure can seem greater because you might want to impress and appeal to your upper class men "friends".

Quick story, as a freshmen, I used to have lots of senior friends. And these friends skipped class and drank in school. And me, wanting to seem cool, would cut English class and hide out backstage. And being even dumber, we'd pass around a water bottle full of rum.

Stupid because

A) who knew what kind of germs those kids were carrying
B) I could have caught monogitis eww
C) we could've got caught and thrown out of school
And
D) being drunk in school isn't cool, it's dumb. Even though it might seem fun at the moment

Even though I wasn't forced, I wanted to seem mature like them and not like such a goody too shoes. In the end, I failed an English and Trig test, AND my parents found out.

But Kim, what are you trying to tell me? This doesn't apply to me. You may ask yourself.


No one's forcing me to do this. I want to do this.
You only live once.
We're just having fun.
They're my friends, they wouldn't do something that would hurt me.
It's just one class. It's not that important.


If you find yourself saying these things, you are most likely being pressured to do things you wouldn't normally do.

So yeah don't drink, do drugs, skip school, cut class, shop lift etc just to appeal to your older friends.

Make sure to be true to yourself, and to believe in yourself even if someone else calls you lame or childish. Cause odds are, they're threatened of the fact that you're determined to get far in life and not end up in a dark never ending pit like them. Besides, if they are truly your friends, would they ask you to do something they know you wouldn't be comfortable doing?

So you admit that you're being pressured. What do you do?

Simply, just talk to your friends. Let them know what's going on. If they're truly your friends, they won't ask you to participate in said activities. If not, you're better off without them. Remember there are plenty of other wonderful amazing people who'd love to meet you.



Xo
Kim


Have you ever felt peer pressured? Leave a comment down below if you have, feel free to let us know.

On Your Mark, Get Set… GO!

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    I am sure you have heard that whenever a race is about to start; like in a running race. So, today topic is about RUNNING. To many of us think running is a tiring activity and it not the most fun way to workout. However, running has tons of positive health benefit for our body that we aren’t even aware of. Maybe this blog about running health benefit might change your mind…

Running is a…

STRESS RELIEVER

   
   Stress is one of the biggest causes to many disorders in our bodies. Stress can increase risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and other heart diseases. Everything around makes us stressed and sometimes our responsibilities is too heavy to bear. Family problem, school, jobs, failures, our future consumes our minds. We have to remember that these stresses can cloud our mind and will keep us from thinking positively. That’s why running is such a nice way to relieve our stress. Running will improve your mood and it makes you more energetic.

HEART PROTECTOR

    
    According to Center for Disease Control 600,000 people in the United Stated died of heart disease. The heart of woman is very vulnerable. If you think about it women has a lot of things to deal with. If you are young girls like me, we don’t have the experience of worrying about children yet. But think about other women who are married, like our moms. They have to worry about their jobs, their family, their friends, their kids, etc. That’s why running is one of the best ways to protect our heart. Running can lower your cholesterols, improves your blood pressure and decrease your change of heart attack.

FAT BURNER

    Running is a great source of fats burner. If your body goal is a lean tone body, running help you lose body fats. That’s why runner bodies look leaner. Start running! Running also help maintain weight.  However, it is important to know that your body needs fats too. Fats stores energy and it is a cushion for our body’s organs. Running is for shedding only unnecessary body fats.

MONEY SAVER

    Now if you are like me who doesn’t have a lot of money for gym membership, running is a good way to stay fit.  You don’t even have to spend money to buy a treadmill. Just lace up your sneakers, go outside and start running. (I only suggest you use treadmill if you are a busy person and have an office jobs). Since the beginning of time our ancestor has been running to hunt and even their mail man was runners. So get out there use you’re running instinct and save your money.

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    So join with me on the journey of running….! If you have any info on how running benefits us or if you have story of how running already improved your body, comment below or comment on our instagram page @independentgirlny…

                                                                                                                   Just keep running!

                                                                                                                                     Lynda

         

Half Way Up

    There are countless times that I've done things half way. Ate half the food my mom cooked me because i didn't like it, finished half my homework because I too lazy to do the rest, went half way with my sports career because I couldn't stand the pressure. I'm so full of halfs I can't remember when I've done something in full.
    This past Sunday I was really moved by something the preacher said. I wasn't all emotional about it and to be honest, at the time I didn't think it would have much of an effect on my life. But it did.


We read 2 Kings 13:

    King Jehoash of Israel ran to Elisha (a prophet) when he knew Israel might be defeated by the Arameans. Elisha commands the distressed Jehoash to open the window and shoot an arrow. He goes on to say that the arrow symbolized victory over Aram and all that good stuff... But what interested me was when Elisha commanded Jehoash to strike the ground:

"Then [Elisha] said,"Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the gorund." So the king picked them up and struck the ground three times. But the man of God was angry with him. "You should have struck the ground five or six times!" he exclaimed. "Then you would have beaten Aram until it was destoryed. Now you will be victorious only three times."

2Kings 13:18-19

    I can't help but think of the face a soccer player makes when they ALMOST make a goal.  IF ONLY King Jehoash would have struck the ground more than three times would Israel have victory over Aram forever. Three times he hit the ground, only half of what was required for eternal victory. So easily he missed the mark.
    Doesn't this happen to most of us? Don't we start something we're so full of veal about, but never finish it? There are so many times I've stopped at the half way mark: half way done with my homework, half way done with my bible reading... So many times I sworn on my great great great grand uncle's grave that I would "do better next time" only to stick my toe in water and say "nah, I can't do it."

    The preacher that Sunday spoke about something that stood out to her on a recent trip to Hawaii. Her and a couple of other people were headed up a mountain. At first they started out excited to reach the top. They quickly became tired and  took many breaks to rest. They weren't even half way up the mountain when they decided that they couldn't go any further. She said as people came down form the top , they would rave about the beautiful view at the top of the mountain. The view she would never see because she gave up.

    If you noticed, we start falling astray from our initial goal when we want to take "breaks" aka excuses.

"I can't read my bible today I was busy."

"I couldn't work out because I was too sick."

"I can't because I'm too tired from doing nothing all day."

    Just like she said in her story, they took breaks because the were too tired of walking. Little by little those small breaks they took held them back from getting to the top. The little excuses we make hold us back from the victory the Lord wants for us. The view at the top of mountain could have been her victory if she just kept going.

    To be a little more personal, that specific day I was frustrated with the Lord because I couldn't see how any of my prayers were making a difference. I was yelling at him. Funny thing is, I go to church and the first thing the preacher says is "if you've been praying about something keep praying. Don't stop half way and give up. Keep crying out because the Lord will move in your prayers." Slap to the face.

    I just want you girls to know that no matter what you're starting right now, you better finish it. If you're praying salvation over family members, keep praying. Don't stop. You might be like Jehoash, three strikes away from restoration in your family. If you're working hard to get in shape, don't quick, you're three strikes away from that goal. If there is a class you struggle in, don't stop, you're three strikes away. If you've been struggling with economical finances and need to pay for school or your family needs help, don't sop, you're three strikes away from financial victory. If you just started a relationship with the Lord, don't stop, you're three strikes away from a true relationship with him.
    Girls, let's be young woman of our word. Let's start something and let's finish it. Be doers. Act upon it. And let's not be okay with spiritual complacency. He wants to take us from glory to glory, don't be okay with just half way.

  

Sorry, no fun post for today. I just want to get something off my mind. Priscilla

5 Beauty Essentials For School

Girls,

School is almost starting! Crazy I know. I can't believe summer is over (insert tears here). 

While I'm not the person to wake up an hour early on school days just to make sure my hair and makeup are perfect, I do have 5 essentials that I never leave my house without. And without further a do, here they are...

1. Mascara

Mascara can give the illusion of longer, more voluminous lashes, bigger eyes and it takes less than a minute to apply.
Lately I've been using the L'Oréal Butterfly mascara. I love that it doesn't clump and fans out my naturally long lashes. As you can see I love all the Maybelline mascaras. It's kind of an addiction.

2. Hair ties/hair clips/hair pins

You never know when mother nature or even an intense phys ed  period will strike and frizz up your hair, so you've gotta be prepared.
I've recently been using tiny hair clips (I'm sorry bows!).

3. Lip balm/gloss

Never suffer having dry lips. It stinks, it's totes not cute and it makes you feel totes not cute.  Moisturize your lips between classes ladies (you never know when you'll spot your crush jk). 
My all-time fave balm is def Nivea because it moisturizes like a dream and doesn't dry out my lips at all like Chapstick and Blistex do. For gloss I love the Clinque and Revlon line.

4. Oil absorbing sheets

Being oily is just not fun. Could I be any more obvious? After a long day at school and gym class and sweating your face might get a wee bit oily. Oil absorbing sheets are awesome in that, they'll get the oil off your gorg skin and won't ruin your makeup (total win).
I have combination skin type and I tend to get oily on the bridge of my nose and my chin. Ugh not cute. So thank heavens for oil absorbing sheets. ☺

Last but certainly not least....

5. Compact Mirror

I think that carrying one is just sooo important. I don't know how much I can stress it.  You might have friends who are too nice to tell you that type got your lunch stuck between your teeth (like I do). Or you might have friends who mess around with you, or maybe you don't have any friends :(. But hey, at least your mirror won't lie to you and will be there for you through thick and thin.
But what I'm trying to say is that if you go to school with your makeup/hair on point, don't go the rest of the day blind; you don't know if your mascara or lipstick has smudged or if your ponytail isn't smooth (its happened to be before.... soooo embarrassing).

So there are my top 5 beauty essentials. If you have some beauty essentials, let us know what they are in the comments down below.

XO,
Kim 

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Tips For the New School Year

 

    Hey girls! It’s Lynda. How was your summer? Mine? Well, it was good and busy. I joined this summer health internship for half of the summer and you can guess I was pretty busy. And my last two weeks was rocking even though it was short! I am sure all of you have been busy too.  Busy from jobs, busy from schools or even busy from boringness. 

    

    Now its time for serious talk girls...School is starting. Its back to alarm setting, bus waiting, traffic hallways, and messy worksheets. Many of you girls aren't exactly excited to go back to school and I am with you girls…school is tough. Our parents and teachers might not understand how stressful school life is, but the three of us knows how you feel. We are walking on the same shoes too. So saying that I bear you some gifts, in other words, school tips!

Tips time!!

ü  Be positive: Schools can bring out a lot of negative thoughts. Past failures, anxieties, and fears. Be aware that all the negative thoughts can keep you blind. It can keep you from seeing the true YOU! It even keeps you from seeing YOUR potential, YOUR uniqueness, and YOUR talent.  Try to shove that negative aura away and rise above your hardship. Don’t let anything hold you down. Remember you’re stronger than you think.

ü  Be prompt: I am sure you have heard this over and over again every time school year begins. But I am not giving you this tip about being on time on class. BUT about your school work. DON’T PROCRASTINATE! I Repeat… DON’T PROCRASTINATE!!!!!! This is one of my goals as well. The more you procrastinate, the more stress you’re giving to yourself. So do your school works early, and not in HASTE. The earlier you do your school work the more excellent your work will be. So let’s work on that together. Prevent yourself from distractions. For example, social network. It easy to say we don’t have enough time to do our school works. But if you think about the time you spent on social network, time pass quickly. All those hours could have been use on at least one of your home works. Remember Time is Money. So spend your time preciously.

ü   Be confident: I know it’s hard to believe that you can succeed. Especially when all the kids in your class are excelling. It’s like running a race. You all started in the same year, same time, and same place. But you feel like your trying to catch up to them everyday. You have to learn that YOU are different from everyone else.  BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! Believe that you can achieve your goal. Believe that you can be the best that you want to be. Believe that you are smart. When you focus too much on others, you won’t be able to focus  on what you can acquire with your ability.

ü  Be changed:  Do we agree that studying is boring? And have you ever tried to study but couldn’t get an ounce of knowledge in your brain? I felt like that too. During my internship this summer, I learned from one doctor not to look at it as studying but look at it as learning. She said “There is a difference between studying and learning.” As I sat there and heard that, my whole perspective about studying changed. It was hard to adjust and see what she meant. But the next time I tried to study, I looked at it as learning new things. It turns out to be more exciting and adventurous. So, girls never be afraid to change. Change to improve yourself, not to change who you are. If this idea still doesn't work for you then try to find a new way of how you can improve your study. Comfort is one of the keys to successful study. If you’re not comfortable with your environment or your surrounding when your studying, search a comfortable niche where you will be able to focus.   Maybe you’re more comfortable studying with your friends, or studying at the library. For instance, my comfortable niche to study are my quiet room and my favorite; outside with nature. One time I even study at my backyard.  Try it out yourself. Just spread a sheet on the grass and study.  Being outside helps me focus rather feeling coup inside the house. Think creative and try new things that will help you.

ü  Be bold:  Last but not least, don’t be afraid to show the world who you are. I use to be really shy, and I still am working on it. Please, don’t be like how I was. Be open, make friends. Take a little risk and learn from all your experiences. Life is too short , so don’t waste it. This school year is YOUR time to SHINE! Go out there and be part of something. Join a club, join a sport, join the drama team; anything that you are interested in. Especially if you’re freshmen in high school, being involved is good because your college resume will be terrific at the end of your senior year. God gave you breath each day for a reason. So live each day to the best and be and inspiration to others. 

    That’s all for the tips for this school year. Just to let you know a little secret, all this tips refers to me as well.  So, together let’s thrive this year and be our extraordinary self. I hope nothing but the best for each and every one of you girls.

                                                                                                                                        

GOOD LUCK!!!

Lynda

Share me some of your tips for a good school year.

 You can comment below or comment at out Instagram page @independentgirlny.