Negativity

Negative people really step on my toes… Why you ask? I think a lot of it boils down to the fact that I’ve been raised to know that the words we speak are very powerful weather positive or negative there is power in our tongue.

I began to notice how much it annoyed me when I was sitting my GCSE’S many people I was surrounded by and even some of my friends would say things like ‘I know I’m going to fail’ or ‘I know I’m going to do crap’ not only are you fuelling the doubt in your mind but you are essentially setting yourself up to fail. As a student myself, I can be sympathetic towards people who have not revised at all or not as much as they should have and are feeling sceptical about an upcoming exam talking down on yourself is only going to knock your spirit. You don’t know what questions are going to come up in the exam, having a negative approach towards it to me is like telling yourself you want to fail. The phrase ‘Failure is not an option’ is a very common one… a lot of people need to apply that to their lives.

Negativity is infectious; I don't need or want that kind of energy around me! More times than less the people who are talking down on whatever scenario deep down want to succeed and do well but the spirit of failure and self-doubt is creeping up on them. How can u expect to do well if you're saying all sorts of comments? If you're not feeling confident about something my advice is to get a piece of paper write down the problem, what you think the resolution is and how you plan on resolving the issue. Remember to stay positive other people aren't going to do it for you. 

Where do insecurities come from?

Dictionary definition of the word insecurities:

'Lack of confidence or assurance; self-doubt'

If someone told me there wasn't anything they had ever particularly felt insecure about I would have to raise a brow. Probably no one knows the thing(s) you are most insecure about but I believe even the most confident people have come face to face with this issue even if it was remotely (they may have overcome it).

'A person who is confident is a person who realises that they have something going for them or that they have something that others don't, someone that is sure about themselves' - Reni.

Being insecure is far from a good thing. It can affect a person’s self-esteem, make them feel very uncomfortable and ultimately hold them back from achieving great things. So I question...

Where do insecurities come from?

• Being put down
• Comparing yourself to others
• Trust issues

These are three things that I have noticed although I'm sure other people would be able to add to it. Being put down can happen in school or even in your place of work I've found that it's the things that upset/offend you that stick with you or that you are more likely to remember. This can have a knock on effect causing you to feel insecure about your body or capability.

Comparing yourself to others in doing so you start to realise the differences between you and that person and when those differences pile up you begin to feel like 'You're not good enough'. They say everyone has a gift, many people do not know what there gift is yet but I can say the wrong place to go looking for it is in somebody else. Taking time out to find yourself like really find yourself. If someone asked you "What do you like doing?" would you be able to say something other than "Watching TV" and if someone asked you "What do you want to be when you're older?" would you have an answer other than "I don't know"?

Some people find it hard to trust other people for so so many reasons which is the most common case of trust issues, but I find it really sad when people don't trust in themselves. It's easy to loose faith but you've got to have some in yourself as not a lot of people in this Earth are going to do that kind of stuff for you.

Where do insecurities come from…definitely something to think about!

GIFTED 2011-SPREAD YOUR WINGS AND FLY-BUTTERFLY!!

This year has been amazing. Only half way in and so far - 1 Fashion programme and an uber delightful fashion show, staged productions at 2 theatres, and now hosting an open night mic. As well as our weekly empowerment and mentoring/get back into something...GRACE sessions. I'm smiling. And not forgetting meeting amazing, gifted young people along the way, nearly everyday, putting heads together with people who love 'heart' work just like myself,meeting people who inspire and people I probe to aspire-Thank God! However the main reason for my blog ramblings today are that the last months have been great for MIGHTY! The play Butterfly written by myself was amazing due to the wonderfully talented cast. The dancers, singers, and actors/actresses were phenominal-for want of a more dramatic word with same relevant definition, stupendous? It was quite a journey and after three months we were able to stage a 60 minute play with band and the story of many everyday youth was depicted on the stage. It was a journey of emotions, raging youthful hormones, draining 8 hour rehearsals, jokes, behind the scene freestyling, some 'pls don't mention' mummy dancing, overall fun-coupled with growth and heightened ambitions! Loved every moment of it, this is because when you are delivering a programme you get to see what is truly enveloped inside. All of the hard worked paid off for everyone. ..With everything from basketball scenes depicted through dance, monologues about youth views on marriage, scenes depicting internalised pain spoken from perspective of a teen mother and much more..I was so proud of my GIFTED cast. Every year MIGHTY aims to reach as many young people..and this can be done in so many ways. Yet what still lays on my heart is the outcome of Create: Eco couture and GIFTED. Offering a programme that will give a young person a platform is so important and when the end is a positive outcome and all involved feel empowered, they leave with with a sense of fulfillment,growth, and achievement-I smile! Actually we all smile, then head to bed for some much needed sleep! As for GIFTED we staged an advert at The Core, Corby and a preview at Luton Library Theatre yet BUTTERFLY will take to the stages of many a theatre, so pls watch this space

RUNWAY SHOW

Recently, the ever-talented ‘MIGHTY’ bunch graced us with just one of their many opportunity-providing programmes; the Eco-Couture Fashion Show.
Let’s be honest, when you think of a high-end, avant-garde fashion show with flashing lights & all that jazz, recyclables & charity clothes don’t tend to come to mind. But trust me, if you witnessed what the Luton’s young people blessed the catwalk with, you’d always use charity & couture in the same sentence.
So, you’re probably thinking, ‘Charity couture…like I haven’t seen that one attempted before’… right? Well, I admit, I too, didn’t know what to expect from the environmentally-friendly collection – mainly because usually when designers claim to have a recycled collection they’ve actually just ripped off a pocket or zip from charity garments or have only used the ‘earthy’ colour scheme (multiple shades of green & blue) to give it an ‘at-one-with-nature’ feel. However, I kid you not, the local young people whom attended the programme & many other students associated with ‘MIGHTY’, ripped up all of those assumptions on the runway.


Thanks to fresh & fierce brand, SweetMe all models (both girls and boys!) were piled with the most original, quirky jewellery out there. The eclectic 80’s-feel pieces had everything from a My Little Pony necklace to a ‘battery bracelet’ – yes, you read correctly, a pony necklace & a battery bracelet. Far from the sea-shell necklaces & wooden bangles that you expected, right?
As the sassy students strutted & did their ‘thang’ on the catwalk in time to the blasting beats through the speakers, every audience member was moved to a profound, ‘…wow’. With the carefully chosen Keech Charity garments; steadily-applied statement make up and superstars-would-be-jealous hairstyles, the gruelling January-onwards time & efforts invested by the young designers was out there for all to see on the night…& my goodness it was a glorious sight.
Throughout the event there was the buzz of an unmistakeably positive & electric atmosphere. As I left the London-fashion-week-ready collections & all-round beautiful young people from the event, I also left with inspiration. Not just the inspiration to raid the nearest Oxfam & fix myself a prom dress, but the general
inspiration to embrace everything that life has to offer – turning all our ‘trash’ into treasures.
By Lauren Holgate (Photography by Trevor Griffiths-Idelick Media)

WHAT A LOAD OF OLD RUBBISH!!

Whats this blog all about you may ask! Well how many times a year do we go through our wardrobe (hmmm..hoarders you can’t answer that one)..we go through our wardrobe and chuck out loads of bits everything from scrap materials, buttons and badges, a cardigan to boots, we loved but now never wear, and even give away things we haven’t pulled the label from.

Well places like Keech Hospice and other charity stores sell our unwanted bits on to people who give them another wear and pay a really low price for them. Designers and stylist alike source clothing and bags from vintage stores which many just see as local charity shops, and now 'Vintage' is all the rage, especially for students and people on a lower income.

Recycling is not just about making sure your rubbish is divided and put into the green or brown bin, its also something you can do to save yourself an extra quid or two hundred!! Majority of people love a good shop, but when you’re cutting back and you want a new look what can you do.  Got anything of good quality but had enough,maybe a bit worn on the arms but goo on the body, get those scissors out, buy some trimmings and could have a new jumper that looks like something out of Dolce and Gabbanas’ A/W collection-( a creative mind is required) hence our latest project..ECO COUTURE FASHION.

This project is so much fun and I’m not even a beneficiary just a practitioner but I’m loving it and I'm getting just as involved as everyone else.  We are getting creative down at UK Centre for Carnival Arts with SweetMe’s Designer Marsha Edwards, a load of creative young people, innovation and loads of vintage clothing, bits and bobs you would not imagine…working towards a major, Eco Couture Fashion Show.

The young people get a chance to let their creative juices flow and to have fun whilst developing their natural abilities be it designing, creating and/or styling this project is creating a platform for all who have a love for fashion and creating.

We have had a great time rummaging through the stores sourcing pieces and supporting Keech who have probably had enough of us. (MIGHTY love you Keech Hospice Care for Children and Adults and the work you do!) 

So next time you think about throwing your old skirt out.."think can I reinvent this"..or next time you have no money and still go to a leading store and spend what you haven’t got snubbing the charity shop “I can't be seen in there, only poor people shop there'' think Vintage, think Brick lane sweetie and go on in…your pennies spent in a charity shop goes to people less fortunate than yourself!!

 

ECO COUTURE FASHION SHOW IS GOING TO BE MAMMOTH TO BE HELD @ UK CENTRE FOR CARNIVAL ARTS, 3 ST MARYS ROAD, LUTON IN MARCH 2011. WE’LL KEEP YOU POSTED. HAPPY RECYCLING PEOPLE!!