“What am I going to do with all my pennies?”

This thought crossed my mind while I was cleaning my room last weekend.  I have a cup full of pennies that I have been randomly collecting as spare change. The pennies just sit in a cup in my room occupying space.

I have heard about extreme dieting in the past, but the new diet, called the "K-E Diet" or " The Feeding Tube Diet,"  lives up to the name "EXTREME". The article I read this morning in the Globe and Mail discussed this trend.

Brides are paying $1,500 to have a feeding tube administered into their bodies which provides them with an 800-calories-a-day diet (i.e., very minimal food intake).  These women are using this method to lose the last few pounds so they don't "Look Fat" on their wedding day.  According to the diet, you lose twenty pounds in ten days.

When it comes to persevering in life, it helps to have positive mentors who are there for us along the way.  Many people I have interviewed recently have mentioned this. I saw this video earlier today and thought it is such a beautiful tribute to the importance of mothers in terms of an individual's success!!!! Thanks P&G for creating this great advertisement!

Luckily, I had the chance to watch Ellen (aka The Ellen Degeneres Show) today. The last segment featured two guests and the host – all empowering stories of perserverance, hope, and inspiration!  

Ellen had Justin Bieber and his new artist, Carly Rae Jepsen, on her show.  All three individuals are examples that if you work hard, persist (or “Never Say Never”), follow your passion, overcome setbacks, and don’t let the critics take you off path: you can achieve your dream!

Each of these three celebrities had a different story and setbacks, but each let their times of struggle build their character and improve their inner strength.  Most importantly, they haven’t let their setbacks change who they are.