[Music] Let me tell you a story. It's got drama, trauma, and plot twists worthy of any Netflix series. Except this doesn't come with a pause button or a skip button.This is real. It's a story of a girl born into abandonment. The woman who birthed her passed away the day she was born.The man who brought her into this world chose to leave her behind. But someone else chose her. The girl's maternal grandparents along with their daughter and son-in-law who had just become parents themselves.Hence they said yes ...

Thank you very much for telling uh us your story uh today at the Capitol. Uh I know you've had some time since then and I'm just wondering if there's anything you would like to add uh to what you said today. >> Um I would say what I want to add from today was uh to let everyone know how hard that was for all of us today to speak up when we shouldn't have had to.I was a minor. I was 14 years old when these acts happened against me and my survivor sisters, a lot of us. And the fact that we had to stand in fro ...

It's quite a beautiful concept to me how human psychology works. How some things don't need to be taught, how you can just absorb them. It's crazy cuz it's literally like the smell of your mom's chai or how festivals feel a lot more louder in your bones than they do in your ears.how belief is instilled within a person. You see, I come from a country where faith isn't just a belief. It's a way of life.It's in the bells ringing through the ancient temples, the aans, the gardo, the churches, and the infinite o ...

Core Message - Grief is a universal emotional response to loss, affecting everyone sooner or later [1][2] - A framework for navigating grief involves three intentional practices: Release, Rebuild, and Remember [6] - Healing from grief is possible, involving an evolution of pain, return of joy, and building a worthwhile future [14] Release - Release involves letting go of guilt, shame, or pressure to grieve in a certain way, as there is no wrong way to grieve [6] - Acknowledging and expressing feelings, rather than avoiding them, is crucial for healing [8] - Grief is not just emotional but also physical, requiring physical release through activities like exercise [9] Rebuild - Rebuilding involves rediscovering one's identity after loss and finding new meaning and purpose [10] - Joy and sorrow can coexist, and rebuilding involves finding moments of light breaking through the darkness [11] - Turning to faith, family, and community can provide support during the rebuilding process [10] Remember - Remembering involves keeping the love of those lost alive through stories, acts of compassion, and service to others [12][13] - Honoring the deceased allows a part of them to live on through the actions of the living [13] - The speaker's son's wish to help people who are hurting became the speaker's mission as a grief educator [13]

Historical Context & Social Impact - Sri Lanka experienced a brutal civil war lasting nearly three decades, from 1983 to 2009, following independence from British rule in 1948 [1] - Discriminatory laws, such as the Sinhala Only Act in 1956, systematically marginalized Tamil communities, leading to escalating ethnic tensions [1] - Black July in 1983 marked the beginning of the civil war, resulting in the deaths of at least 3,000 innocent Tamil people and the displacement of 150,000 [1] - Approximately 500,000 Tamil people left Sri Lanka due to the violence and organized state-sanctioned violence [1] Healthcare & Community Well-being - Despite medical advancements, some communities still struggle for basic quality of care, exemplified by the disproportionate impact of HIV on indigenous communities [2] - While medications like PREP (99% HIV reduction), PEP, and Doxyep exist, barriers to trust and access hinder their effectiveness in indigenous communities [2] - Indigenous communities have experienced colonization, the 60s scoop, residential schools, and policies that strip them of their land, identity, and tradition [2] - Healing happens *with* communities, not *to* them, requiring services that reflect their values, knowledge, and languages [2][3] Moving Forward & Advocacy - The focus should shift from mere survival to creating a future where communities can thrive, requiring justice and healing [1][2][3] - Rebuilding trust requires listening, accountability, and consistent effort, especially when no one is watching [4] - Allies are needed to follow the lead of indigenous communities, rather than directing them [5] - Hope and action must go hand in hand to create a future where more communities can thrive [7][8]

[Music] The world doesn't need change. It needs people who do. That line didn't come to me while meditating on a mountain or journaling in a fancy cafe. Well, you will find me there most of the times. But this line came to me while I was sitting across someone who was breaking down. Not because what happened with her. No. But no one stayed to listen. She was surrounded by friends, family. She had a large circle yet truly alone. I am Kapal Raj and I work with Fortune50 organization where I lead sales enablem ...

[Music] I have a very distinct memory of my first day of school in the States. I went into school about two weeks after I arrived from Ethiopia. And because I didn't know English, my mom would accompany me.And I remember walking down the hall with her on one side and holding a heavy in one hand. My name is Rep. Kyle and this is my journey of finding home.Now, back in the States, standing at the entrance of the classroom with my mom on one side, instead of being met with a game of jump rope, I walked into a ...

[Music] The world doesn't need change. It needs people who do. That line didn't come to me while meditating on a mountain or journaling in a fancy cafe. Well, you will find me there most of the times. But this line came to me while I was sitting across someone who was breaking down. Not because what happened with her. No. But no one stayed to listen. She was surrounded by friends, family. She had a large circle yet truly alone. I am Kapal Raj and I work with Fortune50 organization where I lead sales enablem ...

Community & Social Impact - The speaker emphasizes the importance of community and connection, particularly for Black men, highlighting the vanishing dinner table and the need for verbal communication [6][7] - "Sunday dinner" is presented as a space for vulnerability and healing, where men can share their struggles and support one another [7][9] - The initiative aims to address issues such as childhood trauma, fatherhood, guilt, pain, and loneliness [13] - The speaker envisions expanding "Sunday dinners" to various locations to foster healing and better leadership within the Black community [17] - The speaker advocates for building tables and fostering support systems, emphasizing self-reliance and community empowerment [20] Personal Development & Mental Health - The speaker shares personal experiences of overcoming adversity, including being shot and finding support through a mentor [4][5] - The speaker discusses the pressure Black men face to appear strong and the importance of shedding the "mask" to address their pain [10] - The speaker highlights the need to move away from "toxic toughness" and embrace vulnerability and self-care [21] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of mental freedom and unlocking potential through development, care, love, respect, and honesty [17] Call to Action - The speaker encourages listeners to become mentors and create supportive environments for others [20] - The speaker invites listeners to attend "Sunday dinner" to experience the benefits of community and healing [22]

Mental Health Advocacy & Podcast Impact - The podcast "Balancing Act: Life and Struggles of a Teenage Girl" has garnered thousands of downloads, indicating a significant reach within its target audience [4] - The podcast features interviews with New York Times best-selling authors, clinical psychologists, and representatives from organizations like the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, enhancing its credibility and providing diverse perspectives [4] - The podcast aims to offer compassion, guidance, validation, and hope to listeners by sharing vulnerable stories and expert insights [4] Personal Experience & Message - The host shares her personal experience with anorexia nervosa and relapse, emphasizing the importance of raw feelings and experiences over labels and numbers [1][2] - The core message is that connection and sharing authentic voices are crucial for healing, rather than striving for perfection [5] - The host advocates for creating a safe space where vulnerability is met with compassion, encouraging others to share their stories and seek help [5][7] Recognition & Community - The host received a Hidden Hero Award from Project Blackbird, an organization dedicated to destigmatizing mental health, highlighting her contributions to the field [6] - The importance of community and shared experiences in coping with pain is emphasized, suggesting that speaking up can positively impact lives [7]