The Honeybee's Lifestyle

Blog

  • Do What You Like

    Hello Honeybees,

    My job requires me to carry some pretty interesting things. Things that might embarrass some but not me or my teammates. 

    You see, I am the Director of Community Outreach for A Step Ahead Foundation, a nonprofit that provides FREE Long Term Reversible Contraceptives or LARC for short, to the women of Shelby County. 

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    At ANY given time you will find in my car or purse for that matter…. Condoms, models of the female reproductive system, or actual models of the methods that we provide. You can visit our website at www.astepaheadfoundation.org to learn more. 

    My trunk is a very interesting place.  I keep displays and supplies ready at a moment’s notice. I never know when I might have to pull out my stuff and do a presentation.

    GIAFI

    Earlier this week I was picking up my car from the shop.  The young man that was helping me had to go in my trunk.  The first thing that he saw when he opened the trunk was a big detailed display of the female reproductive system.  I can only imagine what he was thinking.

    The conversations at work can go from zero to weird real quick.

    “Do we have anymore condoms?”

    “Yes, there are a few BOXES in the closet”

    Or

    “Has anyone seen my uterus?”

    “No, but you can borrow mine”

    When male guest come into the office we give them fair warning about the possible conversations that might happen.  Hey, we have work to do and they are more than welcome to join in.

    Sometimes it can seem like a sorority house (a term our CEO has adopted). But we all enjoy what we do. Work does not have to be boring. Why should it be?

    Outreach Team at Flash MobOutreach team at DixonBee, Nikki & Ingram at BrunchAt A Step Ahead Foundation we are helping the women in our community take control of their lives by planning their lives, families and future.IMG_0287

    Not everyone gets to enjoy the work that they do but I am truly blessed that I do!

    Belinda Bee pic

    What is the strangest thing that has happened to you at work?

    Beewisdom-  The only way to do great work is to love what you do!!

  • Spread The Word

    Hello Honeybees,

    Sickle logo

    September is National Sickle Awareness Cell Month

    Why is this important to me and should be important to you?

    Reason one- Sickle Cell disease is inherited and occurs in about 1 out of every 500 Black or African-American births.

    Reason two- I carry the sickle cell trait

    Now carrying the trait (thanks dad) doesn’t really affect my daily life. I’ll probably never be Serena as that kind of intense exercise can be very taxing on my system (Yeah, that’s the reason) & I am anemic but that just means that I need to get enough iron (good thing I love liver & spinach but hate taking iron pills).

    See easy!!

    On the other hand Sickle Cell Disease can and does affect the everyday life of those who inherit it.

    Here is a pic of what a normal red blood cell looks like and one that is sickled.  Because of its shape it decreases the cells ability to effectively carry oxygen and cause other issues.

    Cell pic

    This condition can cause a sickle cell crisis. Sickle cell crisis are episodes of pain that occur with varying frequency and severity. It is usually followed by periods of remission. The risk for a sickle cell crisis increases with any activity that boosts the body’s requirement for oxygen. This may include illness, physical stress, or high altitudes.

    These painful crises can last hours to days. They affect the bones of the back, the long bones, and the chest. The crises can be severe enough to require hospital admission for pain control and IV fluids.

    This is by no means all of the information that we should know about Sickle Cell Disease.  This is just to bring awareness to the disease.  

    What can YOU do to help?

    SPREAD THE WORD

    Visit www.sicklecelldisease.org or  www.sicklecelltn.org or  www.stjude.org and donate your time, talent or treasure.

    You can also donate blood.  Research shows that blood donors with the same ethnic background provide the best match to those with sickle cell disease.

    Let’s be our brothers keeper!!

    Belinda Bee pic

    Beewisdom – We live in challenging times and we need to have each others back.

  • An Attitude of Gratitude

    Hello Honeybees,

    Gratitude Pic

    Have you ever had one of those days where you felt like the world was against you?  Where you felt like nothing could go right? 

    Yeah, I know I’ve had them too. 

    But I have decided that instead of looking at how bad things might be or could be, I look at how good things ARE. 

    You see I have adopted an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE.

     This is how it works for me:

    I wake up every morning in a bed in my bedroom in my house, I have shelter

    I turn on the TV and make a pot of coffee, I have utilities (cable is an extra bonus)

    I wake up my boys for school and they get up without a fuss. Now that’s truly gratitude!

    I cook breakfast for my boys, we have food

    I drive them to school, we have transportation

    I go to a job that I love, I have income

    I’m able to pick my boys up from school, I have flexibility

    I could go on and on but you get the picture 

    No, everything is not perfect but I choose to see the things that are and for that  I AM GRATEFUL!!

    Belinda Bee pic

    What are you grateful for?  Let me know!

    Beewisdom – “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle