BlogHer is happening this week and I’m not going. BUT, if I was going I would definitely be attending this panel discussion: “How can your blogs be a conduit to transformation?” Heather from MAMAvision, Carla Birnberg, aka MizFitOnline, Claire Mysko, Kate Harding, and Roni from Roni’s Weigh will lead the panel discussion.

I think we all can testify to the fact that blogging can definitely encourage and motivate someone to learn, grow and change in a positive way. I really started thinking about it though when I read the rest of the session description: “In a society where more young girls fear becoming fat than they fear cancer, nuclear war, or losing their parents, some bloggers are taking a stand against teaching their children learned behaviors that affect their body image.”

Think about that.

We are bombarded daily with images that tell us that we can be healthier, more successful, have a better job, cool friends, a better career (the list goes on & on) if we were skinnier, had bigger breasts, different eyes, fatter lips.

These images reach young girls who begin to believe they aren’t okay as they are. That they need to change. When they should be chasing butterflies and reading Ella Enchanted they start to question the way they look and to equate their physical image with their self-worth. If the goals presented are unattainable then how do you feel worthy?

Heather, Carla, Claire, Kate and Roni want to discuss the impact we as bloggers can have on this unattainable and market-driven ideology.

We can do something. We can write about the reality of women’s bodies. We can teach acceptance. We can reveal the ridiculousness of the fashion and marketing industry’s attempts to sell people a concept of beauty that is neither healthy, based in fact or accessible.

How to do this?

- Encourage taking care of our bodies we have and focus on a healthy lifestyle instead of constantly be trying to perfect something that is already wonderful.

- Point out role models of all shape and sizes that are successful and happy in their lives. Think America Ferrera from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. There are lots more – find them, talk about them.

- Use examples of unhealthy body image concepts, commercials with anorexic models, ads to enhance body parts, as starting points for conversation regarding a healthier approach.

I love to show girls this video, short and to the point, from Dove (2006).

This is the reality behind the goal to be beautiful. There is no acceptance here of what is. Only the need for modification.

Not to mention unnecessary.

We can promote companies, products and people that encourage healthy self-awareness and realistic achievable goals.

Wouldn’t it be great if we all wrote in a way that that didn’t perpetuate this myth of not being “good” enough?Helping others always leads to learning with those you are teaching. Helping younger women and girls learn and encourage self acceptance can only be a positive experience and a lesson in acceptance for ourselves.

Thank you for all your work in putting together this panel discussion. Friday July 24th at 1:15-2:30 I won’t be there. Will you?

Remember we don’t have to be there to participate. What will you do to “step up & guide the next generation as best we can [so that there is]… hope for change?”

Last week something really exciting and really worthwhile happened all because I acted on a hunch.

I’m connected to a lot of people. I always have been. I love connections. I love connecting people with other people that I know would work well together or benefit just from engaging. I think my dream job would be just that – sort of like a matchmaker but with no specific goal in mind.

I acted on a hunch and made one of my most important connections yet! I want to share it because I want you to see how acting on a hunch, an idea, can really pay off.

I love non-profits. I love agencies supporting those who need support. I especially love when a single individual becomes motivated enough to see a problem that requires action and takes it upon themselves to do it.

I have met a few of those kinds of people. One in particular I met is Mark Horvath. (@hardlynormal on Twitter). I found him through some one else’s conversation and was immediately intrigued. Here is a guy roaming around with the homeless, interviewing them and sharing their stories. How awesome is that?

I also have met a wonderful woman (@GillianK) who happened to work for a PR company that represents . Yes, the Hanes underwear/sock people. Gillian is awesome. Super professional, patient and she understood and did not dismiss my impassioned plea out of the dark to pitch one of her clients just because I asked.

Homeless shelters, street advocates and Mark will tell you giving someone who lives on the street and spends their day walking, new socks is like handing them gold.

AH ha! Gillian works for Hanes, Mark advocates and assists for homeless people. It all made sense to me! It seemed like a win-win situation for everyone!

Gillian responded right away. I let Mark know and the idea took off! What a great fit! Hanes will be sponsoring Mark’s cross country tour by providing brand new socks for distribution in all cities his road trip takes him to. And, they will be promoting InvisablePeople.tv through their digital initiatives.

Sure I’m proud of making these connections and seeing something really wonderful happen as a result of it. I’m thrilled! But the thing I keep repeating is “you just never know….. ”

Take that chance, act on that hunch – do it.

Homelessness is not a new issue but the numbers these days are staggering. Follow @hardlynormal and you will learn about the real face of homelessness. Not just the statistics, which are important and shocking, but you’ll hear real stories from real people – just like you & me – who have no where to live.

When I first heard of Mark I contacted him through the email address on his website just connecting and asked him how I could help. He responded back by telling me a little bit about himself but the thing that I remember the most from that email was this:

“How can I help you?”

We CAN all help. It’s important. Do it. Act. What do you have to lose?