Do you feel weighed down when you think of all the derailers that exist in teen girls’ lives today? Do you wish that there were more opportunities for young girls to find their true inner self, explore their inner strength & prepare for their future? We understand the challenges young girls face today. Therefore, we created the perfect opportunity to support girls as they navigate their way through the ups & downs of life. The Girls Like Me Summer Camp which took place from the 23rd – 26th August, propelled girls to defend, protect& create their future!
Being a teen girl in the world we live in today can be really challenging. Several derailers constantly surround them. With the pandemic being a disruptor, teen girls feel more instability than ever before.
A couple of days ago, on the 10th September, World Suicide Prevention Day was observed. According to the WHO, more than 700 000 people die to suicide every year and there are many more who attempt it. It represents the fact that mental health issues are prevalent & there is a need for us to raise awareness. And what better opportunity than now?
We, at The Like Me CIC, believe that mental well-being is of utmost importance. Therefore, we urge that if you see signs of somebody going through a tough time, do reach out to make sure they’re okay. If it turns out to be a false alarm, even then they’ll know that you care for them & support them.
Going through mental health issues is hard! It can sometimes feel impossible to carry on. To anybody who may feel like this, this is a message for you: You’ve made it this far & you will make it through. Depression plays with your mind, so don’t believe everything you think. You are stronger than you think. And you’re not alone. There are people who feel exactly the way you feel and people who love you & support you.
“If we don’t change, we don’t grow. If we don’t grow, we aren’t really living.” – Gail Sheehy
I. Change is inevitable and the only constant in life. Everything in this universe is constantly changing yet the thought of change makes us feel uncomfortable. It makes us feel like we’ve lost control.
As human beings, we look for routine & we love to build our cocoons of comfort. Change can make us feel anxious as it comes with uncertainty.
II. Looking at change in a different light: Since change is constant, we must realise that most of the time we don’t have control over external factors in our life. What we can do is:
Fall is approaching & many of us will be returning back to work/school. I’m sure for many of us, our heads are buzzing with ideas & goals! While the thought of summer ending might seem gloomy, knowing that we’re about to enter a new phase is very refreshing! To make this transition great for you, we’ve compiled a list of fun things that you can begin your September (or end your summer) with:
Go to a new place
You know that place you’ve been wanting to visit for the longest time but never got around to. This is the time for you to visit that place! Go to a place you’ve never been to before or one that’s been on your travel list. It doesn’t have to be far away. Alternatively, spend some time in nature. You’ll be amazed at the wonders it can do for you!
The thing about failure is, that it’s inevitable. We all fail from time to time. Our failure could be associated with exams, a relationship, a business start-up… essentially anything. Many A-Level & GCSE students received their grades earlier this month and didn’t do as well as they would’ve liked (and I was one of them). I know how terrible it feels to fail & sometimes to fail multiple times. It can really wear us down.
But I want to let you know that failure is actually good for you. Now I know you must have read lots of articles online about how to turn your failure into motivation. And it does sound cliché but… it’s possible.
The annual Woman Like Me L&B Conference is taking place this June, Saturday the 26th. This years theme is Rising From The Ashes and our speakers will share stories from the heart about how they have risen from the ashes. Our mission is to reveal hidden stories that make us who we are to empower women. To attend you must register your ticket here. This year you have the power to choose between in person and virtual attendance.
To get the chance to win a FREE ticket to this event feel free to enter your details below to our Prize Draw for the chance to attend completely free of charge!
Runner ups don’t fret as you may also win a discounted ticket of up to 40% off!
Hasina Rahman
Hasina is the owner of a female only martial arts club in Luton, Pink Diamond Martial Arts. She has achieved 3 black belts in 3 different styles of martial arts and has been running her own club for the past 5 years.
She is a public speaker raising awareness for anti-bullying and self-confidence.
Last year she released her first children’s book; Heroes, a guide to anti-bullying. Hasina wants to empower women and girls with confidence, self-love and life saving martial arts skills! She is also a mother of two young wonderful boys, who keep her super busy!
Since April is Stress Awareness Month and the Covid lockdown measures seem to be lifting I thought it would be a good idea to reflect on how to take care of yourself during these difficult times.
The Corona Virus has been around for over a year now and during hard times stress levels will naturally rise as the level of uncertainty increases. The pandemic is here for the long haul and we need to do all that we can as a community to help fight the spread of it. What we need to remember though, is that we cannot control anything that is beyond us. Spiralling out of control is no good for anyone therefore we would advise you to focus on what you can control; your own thoughts and actions.
“There is no point stressing over something you have no control over. Move on and grow stronger.”
Here are some tips to deal with stress:
Exercise – This releases endorphins that naturally reduce the stress hormone and improve your sleep cycle and self-image.
Light a candle – Candles are known to be calming and relaxing, certain scents such as lavender and orange blossom can help reduce stress through calming scents (aromatherapy).
Write it down – Do not focus on the negative things, rather keep a diary of what went well and things you are grateful for on a daily basis. This will help you see the positive side and reduce anxiety levels.
Spend time with friends and family – that be it virtually. Spending time with friends and family is proven to be a natural stress reliever as oxytocin (the love hormone) is released. Support is important for living a balanced life and having strong social ties can help you get through stressful times.
All of these activities can and will help you reduce stress as they force you to live in the moment. Do not worry about things out of your control and learn to live in the moment. Most importantly, do not let stress consume you as it is not worth it, have fun with your daily life.
Our mission is to empower 1000 women to ‘climb their mountain’ so that they break down their barriers and reclaim their power. Join us. For more details about how we can help you to ‘climb your mountain’ – check out our free events here.
