Last night was a great and empowering night!
What a great night last night! I was a guest on Chelsea Korst’s great radio show, Teen Talk Live (www.teentalklive.net). Although the topic was bullying and how our friendships matter, the discussion was more about what we can all be doing to avoid getting to the point were bullying/violence takes place. The answer was simple: If we spent more time giving of ourselves through volunteer work with worthy causes, violent incidents like the one with the cheerleaders in Lakeland a couple of weeks ago, or even the one described by a caller last night at her middle school (a boy was being ridiculed for wearing a religious cap to school and for looking a bit “different” than the other kids), would not be a part of growing up. Last night, during the radio show, I felt a true sense of connection, not only with Chelsea and the discussion panel, but with all of you who were fortunate enough to tune-in. I think we all felt empowered knowing that we can all spread some “positive energy” through our words and through our actions. There is a challenge though… We must take and be a part of this positive action NOW – not tomorrow, but NOW!
Open your heart to what really matters…
Corin Wiser, author
Matters of the Heart: A guide to living and loving your teen years
Television Interview
Dear Corin,
As I sit here and watch the recording of your t.v. interview, I find myself DEEP in The Heart of the Matter.
12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, so affected by a converation with a male peer. How very important it feels to her to have the approval of the opposite sex to validate who she is and how she perceives she is viewed in her social milieu. He wants to “be friends”…she was hoping he wanted to be her boyfriend. He says he wants to be her friend and she interprets this as “HE DOESN”T LIKE ME” therefore this means “I’m not good enough”….doubting her strengths, her value and her appearance based on what you and I now know is just a boy” WANTING TO BE FRIENDS” and nothing more…If only she could See through my eyes and my heart…but this is unrealistic and I know this. Wish a bookclub were around the corner this very moment for us to vist…if only for a litte while…
I hope to experience the value of your words soon…time to purchase the book and share it with my friends and their daughters. Thank you!!!!
Re: Television Interview
I just returned back home from a little get-away weekend with my husband and three daughters, and I read the comment that was left on my blog anonymously a couple of days ago… First of all, to the person who wrote it, “Thank You.” I want you to know – although I’m sure you know this deep down inside already – YOU ARE NOT ALONE as a mother, and your daughter is certainly not alone in feeling this way either! So much of how we feel about ourselves has to do with how other people perceive us and of what the media tells us we need to look and “act” like. Often we find ourselves wondering if we are cute, popular, smart, and if we have what it takes to make it… And as teens, these feelings are multiplied by…well, infinity! No doubt it’s tough, so tough to feel good about ourselves, especially when “rejected” by others. I believe that one of the main reasons this is the case is because we learn early on to give our “power” away to others, and we no longer feel unique and special – as the gift we each truly are (as I refer to in my book). In Matters of the Heart, I offer what I hope is a different, refreshing “voice” that encourages the reader to connect with her “inner guiding system” and listen, grow and decide for herself what truly matters. I know it’s not the answer to the pains our daughter are bound to experience when rejected by a friend or boyfriend, but I do believe it’s a starting point in helping the reader understand that she has the power to decide how she feels about herself at any given moment.
And to the mother who left me this message: I WANT TO HELP YOU START A BOOK CLUB IN YOUR AREA!!!! Please contact me again and I will guide you as to how to do this. This is one step you can take to help your daughter better understand that her sense of value does not have to be tied-in to how any boy – and even her friends – perceive her. Thank you for your comment!
And as always, remember to…
Open your heart to what really matters…