The title of this post may not alarm too many folks today. Sadly, the fact that this title does not immediately cause a rush of anguish and shock simply underscores the challenging and oftentimes horrific environment we are in today. It is a somber sign of the state of mental and emotional turmoil our youth are currently facing.

Brandon McInerney was just 14 years old when, one day three years ago, he decided to exercise his OWN sense of justice and fatally killed a fellow classmate, Lawrence King. To Brandon, it was just to kill Lawrence for one simple fact: Lawrence was openly and admittedly a gay male. Because the jurors, at the time of his trial three years ago, were “hopelessly deadlocked”, a mistrial was declared. Now, three years later and the ripe old age of just seventeen, Brandon has plead guilty to this heinous crime and will be tried as an adult on murder and voluntary manslaughter charges.

Brandon was fueled by enough hate and disdain for Lawrence, that he obtained a firearm and gunned down Lawrence in front of his fellow classmates and teacher in a computer lab. The questions that remain are: Where did this hate come from? Why did Brandon decide HE should administer judgment and his own form of justice over Lawrence? Why did Lawrence’s choice of lifestyle “offend” Brandon to the point of violence?

This quote was taken from the American Psychological Association’s report called ” Hate Crimes Today: An Age-Old Foe in Modern Dress”: “Most hate crimes are carried out by otherwise law-abiding young people who see little wrong with their actions. Alcohol and drugs sometimes help fuel these crimes, but the main determinant appears to be personal prejudice, a situation that colors people’s judgment, blinding the aggressors to the immorality of what they are doing. Such prejudice is most likely rooted in an environment that disdains someone who is “different” or sees that difference as threatening.” It goes on to include a quote by Dr. Karen Franklin of the Washington Institute for Mental Illness Research and Training that “…offenders perceive that they have societal permission to engage in violence against homosexuals.”

Personally, I believe this tragic incident could have been avoided. As a matter of fact, many incidences like this one could be prevented if, in addition to the skills of math, reading, and writing, our young people receive in school, that they are also exposed to “practical and spiritual skills that develop and nurture their psyche and attitudes.” It is simply not enough to provide the “basics” of reading, writing, and arithmetic to young people in today’s apathetic society. The false sense of superiority and/or the threat another person’s lifestyle poses are rooted in a skewed sense of self and a lack of understanding in character and attitudes. The media, which is almost a lifeline to many teens, can be very powerful in fueling skewed opinions and perceptions. And sadly, there are not enough sources to counteract these oftentimes negative perceptions and opinions.

In the case of Brandon McInerney, he felt that Lawrence was a threat or was “lesser than”. His personal repulsion lead him to commit an act that he can never take back. As it stands, Brandon will serve 25 years (for manslaughter and for the use illegal of a firearm) for his actions. It is an unhappy ending. And, yet, it is an ending we see more and more of today. Maybe if we put constructive measures (education, mentoring, at home reinforcement) in place to mitigate and get to the root of the hate and rage in teens, stories like Brandon will become less and less prominent. Maybe, just maybe, the justice of hate will, one day, cease to exist in our young people. What do you think?

Until next time…

Blessings!

Traci
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The demise of ANY relationship, in this case the divorce of Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries, is a somber event and most would prefer to deal with the issues surrounding such a breakup in private. However, when your last name is Kardashian, it becomes imperative to share the details, almost play by play, with the world at large. But what is it, exactly, that makes teen girls idolize this family (especially Kim Kardashian) and, despite what you may say, even us adults just can’t help ourselves from gossiping about the this family’s late breaking news?

In an article actually published by Fox News last year about the Kardashians, notes that Kim Kardashian,in particular, is a fashion icon for many young girls. She epitomizes modern day glamour and success which is a strong obsession that we see many young people in Generation Y experiencing. Unlike other “heiresses” she has been able to create a very profitable conglomerate based on her image, products, and exploits (sex tapes, playboy spreads, weight loss pills, self tanners, etc.) While those achievements are stellar in the business realm, the other message that is being sent and embraced by Gen Y is that it is BETTER to be beautiful and famous than to to smart and “regular”. As a result of this first family of reality TV, the Kardashians have triggered a ripple effect that has many would be doctors and lawyers opting, instead, to try to become the next best rapper or reality TV star. Did they do this on purpose? Probably not. But the “reality” (no pun intended) is that the bombardment of their presence on TV and online has a definite effect on the minds and attitudes of the current generation.

What do you think of the Kardashian’s effect (positive or negative) on this current generation (Gen Y)?

Until next time…

Blessings!

Traci
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In an enlightening article by Janis Whitlock, MPH, PHD called “Why teens addict: The elusive search for happiness” , she details the effects of this quest for happiness and the roads that lead to teen addiction. However, the “good news” is that practices such as meditation has been shown, through scientific research, to help in turn this cycle of teen addiction around, battle their unhappiness, AND put them on the road to being much happier.

I encourage you to read this article (see link above) as this may be just the thing to help an unhappy teenager in your life.

Until next time…

Blessings!

Traci
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For those of us who like to follow the soap opera called politics, last week, we saw a sad show of bad sportsmanship and poor behavior during the 2011 Republican Presidential debate held in Las Vegas on October 18th. Some of you may ask “So what else is new?” And I would have to agree, poor behavior and lack of sportsmanship has become common in current day politics. However, we are in a time when the general morale of the country is at an all time low. Our younger generation is much more involved in politics and thanks to the Internet, MTV, etc. their exposure to issues is more prevalent than ever. Thus, bad sportsmanship and bad behavior has far reaching effects. Not only are we electing potential candidates for office, we are also, by default, electing a silent partner that will set the tone and influence the mindsets of many….their character.

Last week, we saw more personal “jabs” taken and given in the debate than a focus on the issues at hand. Rick Perry urged Mitt Romney to “finally tell the truth” and Mitt Romney alluded to Rick Perry being a “dimwitted novice” and questioned his integrity and ability to lead. Even outside of the debates, we have seen hopefuls, like Herman Cain, attack the manhood of our current president to help promote his own agenda. Not only does this exchange of rhetoric undermine the perception of the Republican party in general, more importantly, it sends a message, especially to the younger generation, that displaying respect and character to your fellow colleague, even in competition, is no longer a requirement. In the case of recent comments made against our current president, it sets an example that lack of respect is “OKAY” to give to someone in a position if authority. Giving respect should not be predicated on whether your political views are democrat or republican. It is much bigger than that. It should be a requirement for fair and effective leadership and conduct.

As we all continue to watch the current debates and anticipate the forthcoming democratic events as well, we should keep one thing in mind: When we elect or support a candidate, we are ALWAYS electing two entities; the person AND the character they represent. One (the person) will carry out the tasks at hand and smile for the cameras. The other (his/her character) will set the tone for the nation and will greatly influence our future leaders.

Until next time…

Blessings!

Traci
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WARNING: This video may be upsetting for some to watch

Just last week, the above incident shocked not only those in China, but has caused a worldwide outrage. An innocent, two-year old child, named Yueyue, was the victim of a horrible hit-and-run accident (see the above footage from a surveillance video) in the city Foshan. However, to the shock and horror of most, no one stopped to help this tiny victim, who was left to lay in a pool of her own blood. Reports state that for seven minutes, she lay helpless until a female trash collector finally did the “right thing” and took the child to get medical attention. However, within those seven minutes, before she was helped, this child was struck, yet again, by another truck.

The latest reports state that the child is currently in a coma, fighting for her life.

This incident underscores the rampant “deterioration of character” in many individuals today. The lack of sensitivity, even to our youngest and most innocent fellow humans, is growing. Have we (not only in the US, but worldwide) become so self-centered that we are entering an age of ‘worldwide desensitizing”?

And what message does an incident like this send to our young people? To date, there are no reports of the drivers who hit this victim, coming forward to take responsibility. And many passed by this child before just ONE person reached out to help. Is this the kind of example we want to show others to follow? The message that something like this sends is painfully clear: Lack of responsibility and lack of sensitivity and lack of character is OKAY.

We not only need to send our prayers and support to this little victim and her family, but we ALL need to take time to assess our own levels of responsibility, character, and duty to others. Are they at a high enough level to avoid such an incident? Are we “OKAY” with no consequence for such a heinous act upon our most innocent citizens? If something like this can happen across the seas to an innocent child with no ramifications, just think of what could happen to YOUR son, daughter, sister or brother right in your own backyard?! And think how grateful you would be to know that in a world headed towards widespread desensitizing, that one person, like the trash collector in China, decided to exercise her sense of responsibility and character to help.

Take time to assess and ponder your own “sensitivity” level.

Until next time…

Blessings!

Traci
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In the 80′s [yes, I am proud (well, sort of) to say I am a Gen X baby!] we experienced an era of self-indulgence, excess, and greed like no other. Gordon Gekko (character from the hit movie “Wall Street”), played by Michael Douglas, epitomized the values of many during that time. Jobs were plentiful and Reaganomics was in full swing. Life, for most, was good. Because of this prosperity, many spent small fortunes on cars, clothes, trips, and ALL SORTS of entertainment. And then, just because they could….they went out and spent even MORE on on cars, clothes, trips, and entertainment. The cycle was seemingly never-ending. Narcissism was rampant and directly linked to the amount of cash you had. As a result, young people grew up with a sense that money was the holy grail and to be considered “glamorous and successful”, one had to do whatever they could to obtain as much money as possible.

Fast forward to year 2011. We are definitely not experiencing the widespread financial successes and securities of the 80′s; jobs are lacking, most are more frugal in their spending, and luxurious travel is not as abundant. However, one thing has not changed: Narcissism, especially amongst the younger generation, is at an all time high. We are in the age of “easy and instant celebrity status” and EVERYONE wants a piece of the pie! Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube now make it possible for would be musicians, actors, and even those with zero talent to become the next sensation! But, are we sacrificing previously valued things like education, service to others, family, spirituality, and coming together for a common cause for fame and popularity? Has the “new Narcissism”, which seems more focused on self-promotion due to the economic climate, created an “every man/woman for himself” mentally?

According to a recent survey, eighty-one percent of 18- to 25-year-olds, Generation Y, viewed being rich as their most important or second-most-important life goal and over half felt the same about being famous. And, they noted that they just have to promote themselves in order to get there.

Is self-promotion such a horrible thing? Not really. We have all done it to land a job or to get the person we love to marry us! However, today’s OBSESSIVE self promotion breeds a generation that, unlike previous generations, is less concerned with the plight of others. Lack of valuable resources in fields such as social work or teaching is abundant. And the family unit is becoming smaller and smaller as the emphasis is more on self and less on the next generation.

What can we do? We can start by being examples of “thinking outside of ourselves” to our children, nieces, nephews, and siblings. We can do more for others through service and outreach. We can promote organizations and causes that have less to do with ourselves and more to do with others. We can educate this generation and the next on the need to help others just as much as we help ourselves.

The shaping of an era starts with the mindsets and attitudes at home. Let’s all try to create a NEW “Age of Selflessness” this time around.

Until next time…

Blessings!

Traci
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You don’t have to be a computer guru to know what the buttons on the image above mean. Many of us have been subjected to the “blue screen of death” on a computer or just simply the computer locking up in the middle of our overdue paper or much needed report for work. When all else fails, we were taught to just put pressure on three little keys on the keyboard: CTRL + ALT + DELETE. Many times, we may lose the very thing we were just working on, but it also gives us a chance to start again and move forward much more than we could before.

That is exactly what we (“TEAM TRACI….Go Team!”) have been doing for the past several months as we have been pretty “quiet”! But, due to your support, emails, interest, and subscriptions, me and those working with me were able to reach MANY people through The C.H.AM.P. Within program (online and in person) and Heroes At Home Radio. Your encouragement allowed us to reach across the seas to our fellow brothers and sisters in Africa and help provide much needed inspiration and tools they could use to have a better life and be better equipped to deal with their day to day challenges. We even started a non profit organization whose goal is to spread the practices and tools of The C.H.A.M.P. Within program to communities nationwide. Not bad for efforts that started just 18 short months ago!

But even still, there was something “missing”. There was a strong need to REBOOT and do the work necessary to move ahead even farther by adding new things, revamping old things, and getting rid of the things that were no longer working or required. Now, we are embarking on an EXPANDED version of the self-help tools of The C.H.A.M.P. Within program to reach more adults and teens, a NEW tour, a NEW media project, and NEW in-person workshops through The C.H.A.M.P. Community Project. We have more resources than ever before and more doors are opening. What a blessing!

Why am I sharing all of this with you? Is it to just brag and show off? Absolutely not! It is to show that sometimes (many times) it is better to put into motion, a little “CTRL”(stop being led around by life or circumstances and become your own leader in your world), “ALT” (ALTer your course if it has become stagnant and/or unfulfilled) and “DELETE” (get rid of things, events, and sometimes even people that are holding you back or getting in your way).

While rebooting a computer can sometimes be a real pain, we are almost always happy when it comes up again and we can make the progress we need on our work. Endure a little temporary “pain” and dare to REBOOT your world. You may be glad you did.

Until next time…

Blessings!

Traci
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It is truly my pleasure to feature this very gifted and “wise beyond her years” author, Ms. Paige Agnew. At 17, she has released her first book, “Starless Sky”, and is about to release a second book very shortly call “Seven”. Take a minute to read an excerpt from her book below. And definitely check out more about Paige at: www.paigeagnew.com

Starless Sky

As I sat at the red light, I had a choice. I could turn left onto Main Street and pull into the church parking lot, or I could keep going straight towards Dean’s Creek. My conscience pulled me left but my choice no longer existed. I was in the wrong lane and the red light had changed to green so I was forced to go straight. I looked over at the church and saw them all standing there in the parking lot. There were at least twenty people from school crying their eyes out and I was positive that half of them didn’t even know her. It was amazing to me how some people would do anything they could to turn the attention back to themselves. Instead of having people focus on the reason why they attended the funeral in the first place, they would cry their eyes out so other people would spend their time comforting them instead. I parked the car on the street before getting out and being blinded by the unusually hot April sun. I slammed the door hard and walked around the winding creek all the way to the front. I realized that anyone that might see me would think I was absolutely insane. I was in a black dress and black heels wandering around in an old abandoned creek. With the next step I took, my right heel sunk into the dirt. My body lost balance and I fell down hard to the ground before starting to roll down the steep hill towards the water quickly. My body rolled and rolled and then finally hit something hard that felt like a leg. I was so stunned by everything that had just happened that I didn’t have time to think, stop, or scream. I was breathing hard as I laid flat on the ground and not only had my dress flown up about five inches above my thighs, but I also realized I had lost another heel in the process. “You know, I may not know a whole lot about heels but I’m pretty sure that walking on the grass isn’t such a good idea.” My rescuer extended his arm and held out his hand. “Thanks for the tip,” I mumbled. I looked up at his upside down body feeling a little dazed and disoriented. I stood up by myself, ignoring his hand then smoothed out my dress and made sure my messy bun was still intact. “I’m Kennley.” He offered a hand shake. I chuckled a little to myself. Kennley? What kind of a name was Kennley? The image of a Ken Barbie doll kept popping up in my mind. Once again, I ignored his hand and walked away from him towards the creek to sit down on the grass and stick my feet in the lukewarm water. Who was this so called Kennley anyhow and what was he doing at my Creek. No one ever came here. The creek was practically abandoned but I liked it that way. I loved the tall tree that created the perfect amount of shade and the long, winding creek that disappeared in the forest. He felt like an intruder and I couldn’t help but be rude to him. He seemed nice and maybe a little overly friendly, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t looking for any new friends or acquaintances. I was looking for some place peaceful and that place had just been robbed from me.

Blessings!

Traci
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Fifth Video Blog: Teens in Africa – Positive Changes for Teens in Kenya, Africa

This week on Heroes At Home TV, Traci shares footage from Scripture Union School in Nairobi, Kenya. Through Traci’s program, The C.H.A.M.P. Within (www.thechampinyou.com), in partnership with Scripture Union Nairobi School, teens will begin to learn skills that will bring about positve life changes for them. These Kenyan teens will be put on the road to overcome the oppression, violence, and negativity they face on a day to day basis.

There is no denying that we are living in a generation of “wanna be” celebrities and athletes. There was a time when little boys and little girls aspired to be doctors and lawyers. Now, their role models are L’il Wayne or LeBron James. While there is nothing wrong with teens wanting to be like someone else (as long as the “someone else” is a POSITIVE role model), teens in generation Y are more apt to go to extreme measures for that fame than they did in previous generations. Due an increase in overall athletic competitiveness and a decrease in school funds and scholarships, the potential to be a star athlete has more allure and more appeal than ever before. And with that allure and appeal comes the rise in steroid use amongst teen athletes.

The rise of teenage steroid use and the resultant suicides and abuse have lead to the creation of anti-steroid organizations such as the Taylor Hooten Foundation (http://taylorhooten.org). Taylor Hooten, a promising athlete in baseball, took his own life as in July 2003 as a result of depression he experienced from the use of anabolic steroids. This is just one of many stories that are making the news daily regarding steroid use with individuals under the age of 20 years old.

Meanwhile, many states have cut funds that were previously earmarked for steroid testing in athletes. For example, the state of Texas tested approximately 35,000 teen athletes in 2007-2008. However, between 2010-2011, only a little over 4,500 are scheduled for testing. In states like Delaware, steroid testing has not even started due to concerns of “cheating” on the tests. “The cost didn’t seem to make the bang worth the buck because testing was so easily beaten,” Kevin Charles, executive director of the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association said. “We had a real good presentation by a medical intern on how easily one can beat drug testing.” (see more info at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/010211dnsposteroids-lede.7c36f4.html)

So what can we, as parents and concerned citizens, do to avoid stories like Taylor Hooten? How can we help this current generation overcome the appeal to resort to steroids in order to be the next Brett Favre or Venus Williams? The first step is education. Taking time to talk about the long term dangers of steroid use is vital to guiding teens away from the allure of steroids. Open communication and education may be the saving grace that will equip them (mentally and emotionally) to stand strong against the ever present pressure to be ahead of their peers. To help with these conversations, here are some of the long term health consequences of steroid use (info taken from: http://www.focusas.com/Steroids.html):

• In boys and men, reduced sperm production, shrinking of the testicles, impotence, difficulty or pain in urinating, baldness, and irreversible breast enlargement (gynecomastia).

• In girls and women, development of more masculine characteristics, such as decreased body fat and breast size, deepening of the voice, excessive growth of body hair, and loss of scalp hair, as well as clitoral enlargement.

• In adolescents of both sexes, premature termination of the adolescent growth spurt, so that for the rest of their lives, abusers remain shorter than they would have been without the drugs.

• In males and females of all ages, potentially fatal liver cysts and liver cancer; blood clotting, cholesterol changes, and hypertension, each of which can promote heart attack and stroke; and acne. Although not all scientists agree, some interpret available evidence to show that anabolic steroid abuse- – particularly in high doses — promotes aggression that can manifest itself as fighting, physical and sexual abuse, armed robbery, and property crimes such as burglary and vandalism. Upon stopping anabolic steroids, some abusers experience symptoms of depressed mood, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, headache, muscle and joint pain, and the desire to take more anabolic steroids.

The second step is being aware of the signs of steroid use, if the teen has already started using, before it is too late. Here are some behavioral and emotional traits to watch out for:

• Quick weight and muscle gains (when used in a weight training program)
• Aggressiveness and combativeness (change in attitude and temperament)
• Jaundice
• Purple or red spots on the body
• Swelling of feet and lower legs
• Trembling
• Unexplained darkening of the skin
• Persistent unpleasant breath odor
• Severe acne breakouts and oily skin

While less and less teen athletes are being tested for steroid use due to lack of state funds, yet, the use of steroids is increasing, the need for “steroid education” is at an all time high. Start by educating yourself and being aware of this trend before it truly is too late.

Until next time…

—- Traci
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