International Women's Day

Do you know how fabulous you are?

March 8, 2019 by Carol Schulte Leave a Comment

Happy Friday!

And Happy International Women’s Day!

Today, and every day, I celebrate YOU.

Even though I hope we don’t need a special day to realise how fabulous we are.

(And you know what, I don’t necessarily want to exclude the men today. I really don’t think today should be about a battle of the sexes. There are so many incredible men who have supported, encouraged, been our cheerleaders on the sidelines, and continue to be.)

But it is a day to recognise the incredible achievements of women, and to empower each and every one of us to continue to go after our dreams, to help us see and believe that anything and everything is possible.

There have been some incredibly brave and extraordinary women in our history that paved the way. Women who believed in the power of their dreams. Women who didn’t take no for an answer. Women who were prepared to fight for what they truly wanted. Women who really did make things happen, despite their circumstances, their age, their sex, their naysayers, their sometimes extreme battles.

We’ve come so far.

And maybe we still have a long way to go.

But I think it’s time to focus less on what we don’t have, and more on what we do have.

And moreover, less about seeking external validation, and more about realising we have all the power to achieve whatever we want within.

It’s about being brave enough to be ourselves in a world that all too often wants us to be something else.

In past blogs around this time of year, I’ve spoken about how fabulous women are. And let’s be honest, we ARE!

If we’re lucky enough, we can give birth and create new life. We are mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, aunts, girlfriends, powerful professionals, caregivers… and sometimes all at the same time. We can rock it in anything from leather pants to yoga pants, from short cocktail dresses to jeans and a tee. We have big hearts. We nurture. From suffragettes to style icons, women inspire others to fight for their rights and go after their dreams. We have vision. We come from a place of love, compassion, and caring. We put others before ourselves. We have spirit. We have grit. We are beautiful. We have the power to bond pretty profoundly with one another. We take care of each other. When we see someone crying, we sit with her and find out what’s wrong and we comfort her. We have a natural ability to look after those needing comfort, support, love, friendship. We care. We are strong and capable yet gentle and kind. We come together and help each other. We are each other’s cheerleaders. Women fill up each other’s buckets. We can roar. We are brave and vulnerable and real. We can raise society up to a higher level by making value-based choices. And we women empower other fabulous women to step into their fabulousness.

Now you may not resonate with each and every idea above, but chances are you’re feeling you deserve a good ol’ pat on the back right about now.

And you DO! So go ahead, I’ll wait.

You really are pretty amazeballs. I hope you take a moment to realise it.

But you don’t need me to tell you that, your boss to tell you that, or the world to tell you that.

And we don’t need a special day to remind us of that.

You need to KNOW that. And believe it.

However, it is International Women’s Day. So take a moment to celebrate YOU today. And take a moment to celebrate the other special women in your life today, too. Reach out and tell them what they mean to you, and express how fabulous they truly are. And then reach out to the special men in your life, and let them know what their support means to you also.

I shall leave you with some inspirational quotes from some pretty inspirational ladies.

I shall leave you with some inspirational quotes:

“If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun.” – Katharine Hepburn

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” – Anais Nin

“When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.” – Helen Keller

“If you set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.” – Margaret Thatcher

“The most important thing is to enjoy your life – to be happy – it’s all that matters.” – Audrey Hepburn

Have a FAB week, you fabulous woman (or man!) you!

10 Ways to celebrate today… just ’cause!

March 11, 2016 by Carol Schulte Leave a Comment

My week in pics (and selfies!): Daybreaker event, (dancing at 7am!) Intl Women’s Day event & meeting Dr. Ginger Grant, One Red Lipstick Book Launch!, Selfie with CAPS National President Deri Latimer after listening to her speak, going to see Kinky Boots, speaking for WINGS, an amazing new women’s empowerment group.

10 Ways to Celebrate TODAY… just ‘cause!

This week I bought myself a lovely little bouquet of tulips. I was walking by a store I’ve never been to before, saw buckets of bouquets in various colours outside, and where I normally would have continued on my merry way, I stopped. At first I noticed all of the colours and smiled, and then continued on. A few steps down the road, I turned around and went back. Why not indulge in some for myself?!?

I remember a few years ago I told myself I wanted to buy fresh flowers every week. I’ll admit, it didn’t last very long! And although I don’t do it regularly by any means, whenever I do, it always brings me joy.

Sometimes those small acts can make a big difference.

Sometimes it’s fun to do a little something to celebrate the moment. For no other reason than just because.

I don’t think we take the time to celebrate enough. And beyond those special occasions – birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, other achievements and milestones (which I certainly love to do in a big way!) – there is reason to celebrate every day if you choose to see it that way.

Celebrate how far you’ve come. Celebrate how far you want to go. Celebrate the small wins. Celebrate just because.

Need some easy ideas of how you can celebrate today? Here you go!

1. Buy yourself flowers.

(I bet they will make you smile!)

2. Celebrate someone else.

Nominate someone you admire for an award. Give a random shout out. Write a friend a love note.

3. Spoil yourself.

What’s your guilty pleasure? Do you like chocolate? Ice cream? Purses? Ties? Treat yourself to a little gift… just ’cause. You deserve it!

4. Try something new.

Is there an exotic fruit you’ve always wanted to try? A new dish? A new bold colour you’d like to try on? I dare you!

5. Have a little dance party for one.

Put on Celebration, or your favourite dance song, and get a little jiggy on. Right there at your desk or wherever you may be sitting (and if you have an open concept office, or are at a coffee shop, all the better! Those around you will want to know what’s going in and will join in the celebration in no time!)

6. Say cheers to yourself over your fave bevvy.

Be it a fancy tea, a latte, or a glass of bubbly. Indulge. Cheers!

7. Break out the china.

Why not? Today is as good as any to create a special celebration. Or, if you’re like me and don’t have china (yet!), break out a fancy dish or a cup. Or set the table more elaborately and swanky than normal.

8. Write yourself a love letter.

As you recall, last week I wrote a letter to my younger self. You can try that, or you can write a letter to yourself as you are today. Let yourself know how amazing you are!

9. Write a list of your celebrations.

When was the last time you listed out all of your accomplishments and achievements? You can look back over your year, or go as far back as you want… chances are you’ll be surprised and pretty darn proud of how far you’ve come and all you’ve done.

10. Take someone (or yourself!) out on a date.

I’ve done this on more than one occasion. And although the first few times I felt a little self-conscious about it, I actually really enjoy it! It makes me feel confident and strong.

So, how are YOU going to celebrate today?

There are reasons to celebrate every day if you choose to see them. So why not break out the china, just ‘cause? (Click to tweet it out!)

Have a FAB week!

How are you going to choose to celebrate today? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Let’s celebrate you fabulous woman, you!

March 13, 2015 by Carol Schulte Leave a Comment

My week in pictures (clockwise from BL:) making Gremlins at my booth; friends, supporters, and fellow participants (Nadine Devereux, Halyna Chevpilo) at A Celebration of Women’s ‘IWD Summit 2015’ ; photoshoot with Maggie Habieda of Fotographia Boutique; a collage I created of some inspirational women leaders and rolemodels; it’s a-windy getting ready to fly to Thunder Bay; Halton Small Business Development Centre ‘Make it Happen’ event with organizer Sandra Nuhn, Carolyn Dickinson and I; speaking; more amazing friends and colleagues (Ashley-Ann Pereira, Melissa Maher, Jenna Smith)

This past week I had the privilege of speaking at two events in honour International Women’s Day ~ A Celebration of Women’s ‘IWD Summit 2015, and Halton Small Business Development Centre’s ‘Make it Happen’ event for women. Hearing so many inspirational stories of leadership, accomplishment, and overcoming major obstacles and hardships, it was indeed inspirational, moving, and made me proud to be a woman.

Women are pretty darn fabulous, let’s be serious.

Synonyms: tremendous, stupendous, prodigious, phenomenal, remarkable, exceptional, more astounding, amazing, fantastic, breathtaking, staggering, unthinkable, unimaginable, incredible, unbelievable, unheard of, untold, undreamed of, beyond one’s wildest dreams

While doing some research to prepare for my presentations, I was reminded of some pretty fabulous women with some pretty fabulous stories and incredible accomplishments. And coming to the end of International Women’s Day week, it only makes sense to pay tribute and celebrate. And hopefully in turn inspire we women of today to be all we can be.

Now I am not trying to engage in a battle of the sexes… men of course can be fabulous, too! Because at the end of the day whether you are a man or a woman, you are as fabulous and as powerful and as capable as you choose to be.

That being said, there have been some incredibly brave and extraordinary women in our history. Women who believed in the power of their dreams. Women who didn’t take no for an answer. Women who were prepared to fight for what they truly wanted. Women who really did “Make it Happen” (this year’s theme), despite their circumstances, their age, their sex, their naysayers, their sometimes extreme battles.

And, if they can do it, so can you.

All life forms, at their core, are instinctually wired to grow as big as they can and live as long as they can. Last time I checked, humans were not only just another life form, moreover the most intelligent life form that exists (at least that we know of so far!) And women are pretty powerful, intelligent, fabulous human beings.

So why are we not all growing as big as we can? What is stopping you from dreaming, from playing, from living as BIG as you can?

It’s your time. It’s our time. So what are we waiting for?

I’m going to keep it short and sweet today – and leave you with a few inspirational quotes that really spoke to me this week.

“There is no greater agony than bearing the untold story inside you.” – Maya Angelou

“If you set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.” – Margaret Thatcher

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.” – J.K Rowling

“If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun.” – Katharine Hepburn

“The best dreams happen when you’re awake.” – Cherie Gilderbloom

“The most important thing is to enjoy your life – to be happy – it’s all that matters.” – Audrey Hepburn

“A year from now you may wish you had started today.” – Karen Lamb

If only all of the women out there knew just how fabulous they truly were!

What are YOU going to do this week to celebrate your fabulousness? To go after your dream? To make it happen? (Click to tweet it out!) I want to hear about it over at the blog.

Have a FABULOUS day, and a FAB week.