All posts by Aime

About Aime

Aime Hutton is a true survivor, being born 3 months early was just the start of her struggles she has overcome in her lifetime. As an Empowerment Leader today, Aime helps tween and teen girls to be brave, bold, and to celebrate being themselves through online programs, and live workshops.

10Sep/16

Dreams are Powerful

Brave, confidence, Dreams, happy, , , ,
Dreams are important!

Dreams are important!

Parents, and caring adults, do you remember dreaming as a child?  Our dreams as a child could be very different from what they are today.  Maybe dreams you had as a child were squashed, or even laughed at by friends, or family.  This blog post is all about dreams, for your daughter, or young girls in you lives.  Be open to this idea again. 

Dreaming is so important to being a Wonder Girl.  As a Wonder Girl dreams are what keep you motivated and moving forward. Many adults forget how to dream.  This is because when those adults were your age other adults told them that those dreams are foolish, and even stupid.  Those people who tell you that the dreams are foolish want to see you succeed, yet may be scared of how it will play out.  Your parents for example may be afraid for you to not achieve your dreams, and want to protect you.

Dreams are allowed to be big, to be scary even.  The way for you to achieve that dream is to break it down into small goals.  Say for example you have a dram to travel to Ireland and stay in a castle just like “Merida” from the Disney movie “Brave”.  What is something you need to do to get started?  Do you need to learn about Ireland?  Do you need to look on the internet about castles? 

Speaking of a goal, some may see the word dream and goal as the same.  Start to think.  Do you have goals that you want to accomplish?

How many goals can you have you maybe asking?  The sky is the limit!  You can have as many dreams and goals as you wish!  One of the secrets to having them come true is to share them with people.  Never lose sight of the end dream.  And once you reach the end of achieving that dream, continue onto another one!  Always be thinking what’s the next step?  Never give up and keep going!

This is one of my favourite songs about dreaming.  Take a listen and read the words.  So very powerful!!

What are you doing to go forward and dream again?  Tell me below!

 

 

 

03Sep/16

Happy Helpers Rock

happy, ,
Happy to be back to school?

Happy to be back to school?

Parents!  This is another great blog to read with your daughters!  All about figuring out what makes them happy, and ideas about helping others in the community. 

It’s back to school time!  Some people love this time of year, some people dread it.  What do you think about back to school?  I remember going back to school, and not being happy, this is a place where I was teased and made fun of daily.  I preferred to be not at school, yet I kept with it, and went to school every day.  What helped me was finding things that made me happy and doing that.

What do you like to do that makes you happy?  When was the last time you laughed out loud till your sides hurt?  It does means different things to different people.  Some people may enjoy hiking in the woods, and others may like reading a good book in a quiet library.  Make a list of what makes you happy, have 10 things in your list!

Or when you hear the word happy what do you think of?  There can be happy people, happy places, happy memories, and even happy colours and songs.

Using what makes you happy can move you forward to helping others in your community as a volunteer.  And even helping others around the world.

If you could help someone or somewhere in your community that would make you happy what would you do?  Or where would you go?  For example, if puppies make you happy, how can you volunteer and be with puppies?  I know of people who volunteer at an animal shelter.

And just think what if you were to help others around the world.  What a cool idea that would be.  How can you help others around the world you might be asking?  Easy!  So many organizations are on Google that you can search out volunteering around the world and get involved.  Or another idea for you is why not raise money by selling something you made and the money will be collected and you can send it to another country who wants clean water or sports equipment for the children.  I know of a girl who makes bracelets made by women and girls in Africa, and she sells the bracelets in Canada and donates the money back to the women and girls in Africa.

There is also the WE Day that happens here in Canada.  All about kids your age doing good things in their communities.  Check out this video about WE Day, and how you can become involved!

 

 

24Aug/16

Be A Mover Like The Olympians

dance, moving,
Be a mover! Just like the Olympians!

Be a mover! Just like the Olympians!

Caring adults!  This is another great blog post for your daughter and you to read and experiment with.   Gather your tween girl in your life, and let’s have a fun time discovering what it means to be a mover!

With the Olympic Games finishing up on Sunday, I thought it would be a great time to talk about what it mean to be a mover.  How are you moving in the world?  What do you like to do that gets your heart racing.  Just like the Olympians who competed from all corners of the world.  They were doing things to get their hearts racing, and they also really enjoyed their sport that they were competing in.

Maybe you liked watching the track and field?  Or the swimming?  Or maybe the rowing?  Have you ever done those kinds of sports?  Did you like it?  Or were there sports that you had never heard of and are curious about trying them out?  Go and do that!  Move your body, do something that makes you happy!!

Are you ready to shake things up?  Let’s look at something that is not a sport, in the Olympics yet is lots of fun, and will get your heart racing just like the Olympians!  How do you feel when you’re dancing?  Are you happy?  Dancing and moving to music ups your happy energy and you can be more creative after dancing to some music when working on an essay or project for school.

Music also helps you relax and unwind.  Adults also call it ‘de-stress’.  Different kinds of music can make you feel different too.  How do you feel when there’s soft music playing?  How do you feel when there’s loud music playing?  Or how about what some adults call ‘angry’ music – the heavy metal music.  That maybe you like and that’s okay. Why not try something new and stretch outside your box even for just one song.

Dancing is a way we move through our lives.  And it’s always better to dance towards something rather than away from it. 

Being a mover and a shaker shows the world that you are here to be seen and heard.  How are you going to dance and move through your life?  The choice is up to you always!

17Aug/16

Being Bold In Your Life!

bold, confidence, Dreams,
How will you be bold in your life?

They are being bold!  Will you be bold in your life?

Caring adults, this is another message for both you and the tween/teen girl in your life.  Have a discussion about this, and figure out the plan of attack.  This will make sense as you read the blog this week.  This week let’s discuss being bold more intimately.  Being bold is about finding your voice.  Choosing to stand up for you.  Speaking your mind even if you are scared to, yet know it’s the right thing to do.

If you see something happening that isn’t right what do you do?  Do you say nothing?  Do you tell a teacher/trusted adult?  Do you confront them?  Being a Wonder Girl who is bold means either confronting them (only and I repeat ONLY if it’s safe to do so) or telling a trusted adult. 

Being bold also means speaking your truth to adults.  For example your teacher maybe asking for response from the class about a topic you are discussing.  Raise your hand and give your example/idea.  It can also mean speaking your truth to your parents or other trusted adults when something is wrong.

When you are bold you are also planning out the way you do things.  Being brave remember was more like feel the fear and do it anyway.  Being bold, is knowing what you want to accomplish, and moving ahead and creating steps to make it happen.  So for example, if you want to get your driver’s licence what is the first step you need to do?  Get the learner’s book would be the first step.  Read it, and talk with your caring adult about driving, and even asking questions on driving.  Becoming aware of your parents when driving is another idea, watch how they drive, and make a mental note in your head on what the do, compared to what is in the book.  When you are ready and old enough, go and take the learners test.  I know when I did mine, it took me 2 times to do my test.  In Ontario we were only allowed a certain number of mistakes on the test.  It is a written test we did.

Tell me below how you are going to be bold today!

 

11Aug/16

Confidence Grows Inch by Inch

Brave, confidence, empowerment, eWomen Network, , ,
It's your best pair of heels for sure! Your confidence!

It’s your best pair of heels for sure! Your confidence!

To be confident, you also need to be brave.  Last week I was at eWomenNetwork International business conference and expo.  The theme of the conference was all about being confident.  I did something for the first time in 5 years of being at the conference.  I spoke in front of 900 plus business women and men on the microphone, sharing something personal.  I have been growing my confidence and bravery for many years now.  Was I scared to stand up?  Yes.  Did I do it with my knees shaking and teeth chattering?  Yes.  I took a breath, looked over at a few friends I could see near by and went for it.

Confidence grows inch by inch, just like being brave.  Let’s look at it this way.  Caring adults, grab your tween girl in your life, and take a look at this!

Have you ever wanted to try something new yet were scared?  Maybe your Mum suggested giving a try of a new sport or class after school?  Yet you’re afraid to meet new kids?  Or you’re worried what the other kids will say when you do meet them.

Perhaps though you REALLY want to try the activity.  Being a Wonder Girl is knowing that you’re scared about something and doing it any way.  Growing your confidence and believing in yourself takes work, and practice.  Maybe you’re reading this right now and there’s a test coming up in school.  And maybe it’s a subject you don’t like.  Or it’s a subject that is challenging to you.  Do your best to study for it.  Create a way you can remember stuff easy.

Think back to when you were in grade one or two.  Is there anything you did then that you don’t do now?  Did you stop something that you liked to do because other kids were making fun of you?  Why not doing that something again?  Be brave feel your confidence rise and go for it!

Being brave also means trying something again when you failed at it for the first, second, or even third time.  Just keep trying until you get it completed or right!  Keep going with putting one foot in front of the other.  Every little step towards that something you want gets you closer to it, not further from it.  And doing nothing just gets you nowhere.

Someone told me once that it’s confidence that makes a woman sexy.  This is so true!  Feeling confident enough to walk down the street with our heads high, feeling amazing and confident in our own skin.

Take a look at this video below by Demi Lovato, it’s all about being confident.  What’s wrong with that?  Nothing!!  Tell me, below, how will you grow your own confidence today?

01Aug/16

Body Image

Aware, empowerment, , ,

Love your body!

Parents of tween and teen girls!  This article is for them!  Talk about it, don’t be afraid.  How comfortable are you in your own body?

With school rolling around the corner let’s take a moment and talk about something…..

There are experts that talk about being in your body, and being ‘one’ with something.  Think of your favourite music group/singer.  When they perform, sing, or play and instrument they could look so amazing like the guitar is almost a part of them.  Or there is an example of surfers.  They will say that they feel one with the ocean.  The surfers feel in complete control over their body, and the wave at the same time.  How aware are you of your body?  Do you know where your feet are at this moment?  Look down at your feet.  What are they touching?

Do you realize that ad’s you see in Teen Vogue or the 17 magazines have all been altered?  The models do not wake up in the morning with their make-up on and hair done.  It takes a team to get a model ready for the camera.  And then after the photo shoot is done the editor staff use the computer and adjust everything!  They remove birth marks, change skin ones, and will also take away any extra body rolls that do not make the model look flattering.

The computer photo that has been altered is the one that you see in the Teen Vogue or 17 magazines.  Sometimes ads in magazines are all about ‘dress this way to attract a guy’. Or there are others that are totally degrading towards women.  Some ads are very sexual in nature, or sometimes even violent towards women.  There is a video on you-tube about how models are altered in the editing room.  Click here to watch the video.

How comfortable are you in your own skin?  Do you like what you see in the mirror?  Here’s a tip, don’t compare yourself in those magazines!  Also find things you like about your body.  Even if it is just your smile.  That’s a great start!  So many girls your age are thinking the same thing.  That they hate their body and wish they looked like someone else.  This may sound harsh, but stop that!  Your body is perfect as it is right now!

 

25Jul/16

Being Aware with Pokémon Go

Aware,

How aware are you?

Parents of teen/tween girls!  This is to read with your daughter!  A couple of important tips and tools are here for your daughter to know and understand!  There have been so many stories I’m seeing about the Pokemon Go game on people’s phones.  What’s it all about?  Getting healthy?  Getting outside?  Meeting new people?  Engaging with the world around you?  Let’s look though at something some may have not thought to think about.  Safety and being aware of those around you!

How aware are you when you are playing Pokémon Go?  Do you see people out where you are when you’re playing your game, yet are not on their phone, or talking with others about the game?  Here’s the special tip!!  When you are out with friends be aware of people you do not know.  This doesn’t mean be scared to go out with friends.  It means have a plan if something does happen and you’re scared to know what to do.  Families may have a code word that you can text your parents at times like this.

Are you playing the game in the dark?  Outside?  If you are travel with friends in groups.  And tell your parents/caring adults where you are going.  They worry about your safety and want to make sure you are aware of yours as well.

Let’s switch to online interaction.  What about being aware of others while online?  Like Face Book, or Snap Chat?  How much info are you telling others?  Do you post public photos of yourself for everyone to see?  Or just your friends from school?  People you actually know, and have met.  Thee could be a time when someone messages you privately on Face Book that finds you cute, and maybe you like his profile picture too.  Unless you actually know him, do not agree to meet or send pictures to him.  It could be a person who wants to take advantage of you!

19Jul/16

Tell Me The Difference…

bold, Brave, Choice, ,
What's the difference?

What’s the difference?

When you hear the word ‘brave’ what do you think of?  When you hear the word ‘bold’ do you think of something different from ‘brave’?  There is a difference for these two meanings.

Being brave is like the saying ‘feel the fear and do it anyways’.  Take a deep breath and do it.  You want to go and learn to swim?  Then, be brave and go do it.  All you may need is a little push!    For example when I’ve worked with teens, I’ll ask them what is something they are afraid of doing, yet really want too.

The answers I get back are rather interesting.  One time in a school with boys and girls I was asking them this question.  A student responded that he wanted to go and swim with sharks.  Now can he just up and go swim with sharks?  No, he needs a plan.  This is where the difference starts to show between being brave, and being bold.

Being bold has more of a plan in place.  Another difference is that being bold is about doing something that you know is right, yet you may be afraid to do so.  There was a young girl I was coaching in the program for tweens, and she say something happening to her friend that was wrong for example bullying.  She wanted to step in and say something.  She was afraid yet knew it was the right thing to do.  I remember being in university and being marked wrong on a test question.  When I knew the answer was correct.  I went to the professor and asked him to re-look at the question/answer I gave him.

Here’s an idea to consider, make a list of what you want to do that you maybe scared of.  Are these things something you can just go and do?  Be brave?  Or do you need some more planning, and be bold, take small steps.

Do your best to have 5 things you want to do that are brave, and 5 things you want to do that require more planning, and be bold and create them.  What’s the difference for you?

One of my favourite songs is “Brave” by Sarah Bareillis.  Check it out below, and I would love to hear what your list is below in the comments!

 

22Aug/15

Healthy Relationships Are What?

Brave, Choice, dating violence, empowerment, help

Healthy relationship?

Healthy relationships are very important to everyone I know.  Yes they are important to me too.  As some of you may know I was not in a healthy relationship in university.

Healthy relationships are more than being with your partner (boyfriend/girlfriend, or husband/wife).  Having healthy relationships with your friends and family too.  Know that relationships are built on trust, kindness, and understanding of each other.

Let’s explore this a bit more.  How does a person grow a healthy relationship around the area of  trust.  Trust is earned, not just given.  So this would mean keeping your word, if you say you will show up at 5pm to their house, then do so.  If you do not, your friend will not trust you.  And this also goes the other way, if your friend promises you that they will be there at 5pm to your house and they do not show up, you will start to not trust their word.  Then you can start to build on this, go step by step, keep your word build the trust between you.  And also know that trust in any relationship can take years to grow, yet can be snapped away in seconds!

Kindness, is huge in any relationship.  Being kind to one another is key in any healthy relationship.  Smile at your partner, do something nice for a co-worker, call up a friend to say hi!  then to grow the heathy relationship, be open to receive kindness.  Watch what comes back to you!   And you will never know what will grow and blossom from being kind to others.  You have no idea what the person is going through.  I recently came back from the eWomenNetwork International Conference and one of the speakers Shawn Achor spoke about being happy, and something called the ‘doubler’.  Meaning send someone a letter on how you appreciate them, and then watch what comes back to you from them!

Here is his Ted Talk:

Shawn Achor

The final part of  this idea of having a healthy relationship is understanding each other.  This is possibly the most important one.  We need to understand each other!  Many miss communications come from not fully understanding one another.  Something I teach during workshops for tween and teen girls is the word SALT.  Meaning Stop, Ask, Listen, and Talk.  Want more information on this message me here.

What will you do to create a healthy relationship with those around you.  Not just your intimate partner.

 

 

 

18Jul/15

Music and stress

Brave, empowerment, ,

music and stress, there is a relation

 

Music…..who doesn’t love music?  There are all kinds of music.  Did you know that there can be different emotions when listening to music?

I know for myself when l listen to music I like I am happy, feeling in a good mood, and yes even the occasional spontaneous dance parties happen in my living room.  Or I’ll admit it, in the car safely at a red light!  It’s fun, and the looks I get from people around me in their cars are priceless.  Some laugh, some smile, and some do a little dance along with me.

Music stirs up sadness too.  Sometimes I’ve caught myself crying when listening to a song, especially if it is about missing someone.  I have found myself in tears of sadness.  And that’s okay, sadness is an emotion, and perfectly allowed.

thank you

Being out in nature and hearing the sounds of the earth, the animals is also music, and it’s the purest kind of music that can help de-stress you.  Go for a walk, and listen to what’s around you in nature.  Go and sit on the river bank, and listen.  Can you hear the music?

Nature sounds are very soothing, and help with relaxation, as well as classical music or music like Enya.

There are people too in the world who will help you with your stress and they use sound to help you!  My awesome friend Sharon Carne from Sound Wellness is an expert in this!  I have been helped by her by attending her toning circles on Easter Sunday’s out in Lake Louise.  Sound is a powerful tool to help with stress relief!

Here are just a few photo’s of a toning circle a few years ago!

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What are you going to do today to help reduce your stress, with music or sound?  Contact us for help with your daughter!