Angelina Jolie's inspirational speech

I couldn't agree more, Angelina Jolie, different is good. Do you guys remember my favourite quote which is: 'it's the unreasonable man that changes the world', well Angelina is naturally unreasonable, and it has certainly paid off for her big time.

I love the fact that a celebrity has admitted to feeling that way. It gives hope to youngsters like my seven year old son who accepts that he might be different too, but now throughly embraces the fact.

I guess that's why I could never be a lawyer as I'm not totally opposed to breaking the rules once in a while or thinking outside the box. After all isn't that the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing that everyone else is doing, but expecting different results. Don't worry folks nothing I choose to do is illegal, just not conventional.

Sometimes you have no choice but to be different and think outside the box, as society won't allow you to be anything else. If having a first class degree in music performance, a gold disc on my wall and a powerful four octave range isn't enough to get on any of the TV reality shows, a lead role in the West End, a record deal with a major British record company or even anything other than being offered a backing vocal role with one of the British artists, then what choice have you got? Oprah Winfrey says that, 'you don't become what you want, you become what you believe'. Well thank goodness my beliefs are not in sync with music industry decision makers. I would now be homeless if they were.

I love the fact that I am different and a non-conformist. According to Angelina Jolie different is good and if it's good enough for her, then it's certainly good enough for me.

Motivational Speech from Pursuit of Happiness

I would like to thank Youtube for this inspiring video

In the words of Will Smith himself to his co-star and real life son, Jayden Smith, 'Don't let anybody ever tell you you can't do something, not even me. If you have a dream then you've got to protect it!' These words were as poignant then as they are today. Most individuals don't have your best interest at heart and too many of them think they have a say or an opinion about where you deserve to be in life, even if they are totally unqualified to make those decisions. But this is your dream we're talking about here, not theirs so what business is it of theirs anyway?

This scene is a very powerful moment in the film The Pursuit Of Happyness. Will Smith's character reminds us that we hold our futures in our own hands and that only after a lot of pain, disaster, sweat, tears, hopes and dreams can we accomplish what we really desire in life.

I seek happiness, fulfilment, success and enlightenment everyday. Everything that was ever achieved in life came from one, simple little dream.

Think big, dream big and take ownership of your dreams. The world will only ever be yours once you make that crucial decision.

I didn't know my own strength

I would like to thank (inspiring4u.tumblr.com) for this brilliant quote.

Last year September 21st 2014, I lost my wonderful husband of 10 years to DVT. It was totally unexpected and life-changing all at the same time. I thought my world had reluctantly come to a horrific conclusion. I kept saying to myself "Why Me? Am I not a decent, hard-working, compassionate individual who always manages to see the good in people even though there are many times when I haven't got much to work with? How come this happened to me? I know that my late husband, James Winchester didn't want to go, I certainly didn't want him to go and our seven year old son, Tyler most definitely didn't want him to go, so why then was he snatched from us in such a crude and abrupt fashion? The truth kept coming back as, why not me? Being a good person doesn't exempt you from personal tragedy. In fact I would go so far as to say that often being that way invariably exacerbates the problem because you're like an easy target.

In those six months since his passing I have had to grow up very quickly in areas then I assumed I'd never need to: I have had to get a grip on my finances, deal with tenants, be mummy and daddy to my son, handle individuals who at best can only be described as 'soul-less', pay bills on time, deal with work men taking the 'p' because I am a woman, do the school-run all on my own, try to balance being a mum, with a career, running a household and try to cope with a few businesses all at the same time. At times I would be lying if I didn't admit that I thought James had been given the easy option.

However, I am not the type of person to give in easily and I am proud of the way my son and I are handling this devastating hand we've been dealt. I have learned that actually I am a very strong individual who is no longer intimidated by anything toxic that the world chooses to throw at me. To begin the process of healing I have had to remove any trace of ego I have ever had and start from scratch, but what has come back to me is that now I know who I am so that if anyone dares to question my abilities as a mother, a singer, a songwriter, a blogger, an entrepreneur, a business woman or someone lacking in intelligence, I laugh in their face and remind them that I dance to my own tune now and no one else's. I see setbacks as feedback now. There is always a lesson to learn or a new direction to take when tough challenges come your way and the quicker you get what that lesson is the quicker you will grow into the person you always knew you should become.

In one of Whitney Houston's songs she admits, 'I didn't know my own strength'; well neither did I girlfriend, but I certainly do now!

Dream - Motivational Video

I would like to thank Youtube for this inspiring video

The world belongs to those who dare to dream. It is not up to others to decide whether you deserve to achieve your goal or not, it is up to you. Why do we allow others to force us to settle for mediocrity?

When I think about it I have been told my whole life by adults, who should know better, that I am not good enough, whether that is GCSE English teachers, A Level Music teachers, British record labels, TV reality shows, you name it I've had some individual or other try to crush my dream or self-belief. One time I cried so hard that I thought it would send me into eternal depression! But like the phoenix I rose from the flames and I am now preparing for the greatest opportunity of my career to date: to play the greatest female vocalist of all time!

I now no longer hear the word 'no' and negativity has no power over me. I even wrote a song about it. Some of the most successful people that the world has ever seen were all dreamers. Don't you think it's time you joined them?

Women shouldn't choose between work and family

(I would like to thank Elite Daily for this article!)

Women all over the world are oppressed. They are denied education, protection and basic freedoms. Men are, too, in some countries.

When democracy steps in on behalf of equality, many women are free to celebrate their rights, like their right to speak, right to be independent and right to choose.

Yet, the choices women have to make can lead to new restrictions.

The women who surround me every day — college-educated, preparing to graduate, on the job hunt, etc. — are facing some of the most important choices they’ve ever had to make.

In the next decade, many of us will choose jobs, spouses and where to build our homes.

And, in the midst of those choices, one stands out, just as it has for generations of women before us: The choice between building a career and building a family.

In the last few months, I’ve joked with my roommates at least half a dozen times about the idea of me having a baby — it’s not an idea I’m crazy about. I’m in the maybe-I’ll-adopt-one-day camp.

When I think about it, though, I probably couldn’t have a child anyway. The life I want doesn’t include room for a tiny life in need of constant care and attention.

I’m a young journalist devoted to my career and the plans I have for it. I want to see the world, but the occasional vacation in one faraway-but-not-so-different city or other won’t cut it.

I want to be a foreign correspondent in the middle of conflict, ready to show the world those oppressed lives caught in the turmoil of which we’re barely aware. I want to tell stories and change lives.

And, for the record, I also want to be able to go out with my friends and colleagues for a drink without worrying about finding a reliable babysitter first. That might be selfish, but I only have one chance to enjoy this life.

I’ve been with my boyfriend for four years, and as much as he wants to talk about moving in together and getting married, I just want to land my first job after college.

I’d like to be married within the next 10 years, too, but I won’t sacrifice what I’ve worked for to get that white dress and to say those vows.

I have friends who disagree. Some women dream of houses in the suburbs full of healthy children and a loving husbands or wives.

I don’t have many male friends who think that way, though.

Young men want families, too, but they rarely have to consider how a family will affect how far they can climb. Having a happy family is just another rung on the ladder to proving their success.

Why isn’t it that way for women?

We can blame tradition or gender roles or the expectations of a male-dominated society, but all of those things just feel like excuses.

The way I see it, the temptation of making the decision between work and family right now is the problem.

How many young women really know what they’ll want a decade from now?

We can plan the perfect weddings and pick the perfect names for the kids we’ll have with our perfect partners and build our perfect careers, but what’s perfect now might not be so tomorrow.

Women aren’t doing anything wrong; we’re pretty much killing it actually. But, we could benefit from a few adjustments and, dare I say it, taking a few pages out of the man book.

Live for the moment. Don’t be afraid to put yourself first. And if you want to build a happy family one day, don’t forget to build a happy you to pave the way.

The Definition of a Champion (Motivational Movie)

Source

This excellent 6 minute video highlights what it takes to be a sporting champion, but I believe that the attitude and work ethic that each of these sporting champions possess should apply to every goal or ambition that you may have in your own life. For example as a British professional singer and songwriter myself I have realised that I am at a distinct disadvantage with my classical vocal training as opposed to someone like Whitney Houston, who was blessed with an incredible talent, but more importantly learned how to use it to it's fullest potential thanks to her US gospel training. The American accent lends itself to powerful and effortless singing which s why so many phenomenal singers come from there. Hence I have to work at my voice with a US-based DVD and mp3 package every single day to replicate that gospel training. However I am determined and soon I'll be joining my sisters from the other side of the Atlantic.

Never aim to just be good or ok, always strive for greatness. Be the inspiration you which to see in the world.

This quote sums up what I believe it takes to be a true champion: “At some time you’re going to face your fears or your match and it’s okay to fail. You know, it’s okay. But, in my opinion, the true failure is in avoiding the confrontation or the challenge".

Unbroken - Motivational Video

The human spirit is a powerful thing! When we realise how powerful it is and the huge scope of possibilities there are out there available to us, we will never again settle or tolerate mediocrity. We will take ownership of who we truly are and who we deserve to be.

Don't let the world decide for you what you are worth or what you can achieve. The only person who has the right to do that is you. The human spirit is a powerful thing! Never, ever forget it.