About Talia Whyte

Posts by Talia Whyte:

A Few Thoughts on President Obama’s Community College Plan

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President Obama Community Colleges
Last week President Obama announced that he wanted to make the nation’s community college system free of charge to students.  Under his not-so-detailed-yet plan, $60 billion will be spent over the next 10 years to make this possible.  I already have a bachelor’s degree, but I went back to school at my local community college recently to get certification in web development and programming.

Going back to school after being out for so many years can be daunting, but I had a great experience.  There are many things to like about community colleges; they are inexpensive, you don’t feel like the oldest person in the classroom and there is a lot of academic support.  Many of the teachers at community colleges do everything to help you succeed.

While I think the president’s plan so far is ambitious and promising, I also have a lot of questions that I hope he will address during his State of the Union next week.

Class issues? – Nine million students will save money from this proposed plan; however, middle class students will most likely benefit, since low income students already have their tuition covered by the Pell Grant.  Maybe the money should be given to low income students who matriculate to a 4-year public college or university if tuition exceeds the Pell Grant and maintain a certain GPA.  Speaking of which…

Higher GPA, More $$$? – Obama’s plan proposes that community college students can retain free tuition if they have a 2.5 GPA, or a ‘B’ average.  I think money should be given on a progressive scale.  If you have a 4.0 GPA, you get full free tuition.  A 2.5 GPA would be half or three quarters payment for tuition.  I think incentives systems force students to achieve more by thinking about the value of their education.

First time, and second time around? – Most scholarships and grants, including the Pell Grant, are geared towards first time college students fresh out of high school.  There are a growing number of people who may already have bachelor’s or master’s degrees, but due to the changing economy or layoffs, have to go back to school and retrain in a new field.  There should be money for those who have been affected by the recession to help them get back on their feet.

Support high demand careers – It seems like Obama’s proposal supports students majoring in all subjects.  However, the country is lacking in graduating students who are pursuing in-demand careers in STEM and this is becoming more obvious everyday in the global economy.  Priority should be given to students majoring in fields that are actually in-demand and hiring right now.

The Benefits of Meditation for Entrepreneurs (and Everyone)

Stone Balance
The holidays are all over now.  Time to put away the Christmas tree and stop eating holiday treats (yes, really). Time to get back to normal everyday life.  However, for those of us who run businesses, hustle and bustle is normal everyday life.  I was busy the last couple of weeks redesigning this website, that website and creating content and digital strategies for clients.  Also, Global Wire Books released its latest ebook this week and Global Wire Design launched a new year’s marketing campaign.  On top of that, I have to start working on 2014 tax returns for my staff.

Yes, I am very busy and sometimes it can be stressful.  A few years ago a good friend of mine recommended that I take up yoga and meditation to bring some relief to my life.  This was one of the best recommendations I could have ever received.

Yoga is great as a physical exercise.  Taking a 90-minute weekly yoga class has really helped me get fit over the last few years.  However, I really appreciate the breathing and meditation exercises in these classes, as it has made such a difference in my work and personal lives.

We all know the health benefits of meditation, such as decreased blood pressure and anxiety and increased energy, self awareness and peace of mind, but many of us get so wrapped up in our busy lives that we don’t take the time to breathe, literally.

So here is how I meditate and I hope you will find this useful in your own life.

Logistics:

  • Find time – This is very important.  This could be five minutes a day.  I like to meditate first thing in the morning, as it is a great way to start the day on the right foot.  If you are not a morning person, do it just before you go to bed to whine down.  Also, you can meditate many times during the day, like if you are waiting to pick up your kid at school or during lunch break, or for that matter, any break you can take during the day.  I like to meditate during my commute on the train or bus.
  • Find a quiet place – This is why I recommend meditating in the morning or evening when your living space is at its quietest, but you can close the door in your office or sit in your car.  If you have an office cubicle or commuting on public transit or anywhere that is noisy, put your headphones on and listen to some soothing audio, either chill/downtempo/lounge/yoga music like Thievery Corporation, MC Yogi, Enya or natural sound effects like waterfalls or waves crashing or birds singing.

Practice:

  1. Position yourself – sit down in a chair or cross your legs on the ground.  You can also do this standing if you are not in the position to sit.  Then close your eyes, try to forget about what is happening in your life at that moment and concentrate on breathing.
  1. Sama Vritti – this is the ancient Ayurvedic practice of “equal breathing”, where you inhale the same amount of air that you will exhale.  First concentrate on your natural breathing first.   Begin a slow count to four as you inhale through your nose. Then also count to four as you exhale out the noise.  Some people practice inhaling in the nose and exhaling out the mouth.  Others inhale, keep the air in for a few seconds, and then exhale.  As you feel comfortable you can increase the count time.
  1. Nadi Shodhana – or “alternate nostril breathing” is when you hold the right thumb over the right nostril and inhale deeply through the left nostril. At the peak of your inhalation, close off the left nostril with the ring or pinky finger, then exhale through the right nostril.
  1. Guided Happy Thinking – go back to Sama Vritti or normal breathing and think of a positive thought or image.  Maybe think of an inspiring quote by your favorite philosopher or poet.

When I started doing this practice a few years ago, I thought this was kooky, hippie stuff.  But after doing this breathing and meditating for the first couple of weeks, I started to feel less stress,  make better decisions, and think out things more rationally when dealing with work and family.

Today I try to do this practice at least 10 minutes a day.  You know I don’t do new year’s resolutions, but if you want to try doing something about reducing life stresses with a simple plan that can be immediately implemented, try meditation.  You will thank me later.

Resolve To Not Resolve This New Year

new-years-resolution-listThis week over at Global Wire Associates, we launched our latest marketing campaign, “New Year, New Digital You.”  I am a strong believer in starting off with a clean slate, whether it is your digital life or your regular everyday life.  A new year is a time when people set up resolutions, like losing weight, giving up meat or spending more time with the family.  Most people fail at their resolutions because they are either unrealistic and/or poorly planned and executed.  Many of my own friends and family members have gone down the resolution rut as well, and as a result, created more stress and heartache in their lives.
 
I’m not into resolutions, per se.  Instead, I am more of the mentality that if you want to change something about your life, then just do something about it now.  Figure out what is the one most important thing you want to change about yourself, your lifestyle and/or your environment now and make a plan of action for how you will implement that change.
 
Over the last few months I have had a couple of friends who were dealing with some serious life issues and I have acted as a support cushion through their crises.  So for the next few weeks or months, I will occasionally write posts about making structured life changes for the better, like the power of meditation, fitness, healthy eating and other topics that I see fit for conversation and help you think about creating a realistic plan that works for you.
 
I’m not a life coach nor a therapist, and my life is not perfect.  I have my own trials and tribulations.  But what I do have is experience that might be useful for someone else needing support.
 
I hope you will join me on the journey.

What Robert Frost Teaches Us About The Holidays & Life In General

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Snowy Woods

When I was in the 5th grade, I remember my teacher requiring us to memorize a poem and recite it in front of the class.  He selected Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” for me to recite and he gave me a month to memorize it.  At the time, I was glad to get that poem because it was only 16 lines long.  But I do remember my teacher telling me that I am probably too young to understand the beauty of the poem, but I will when I am older.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

By Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

 

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

 

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound’s the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Now I am older and I understand what my teacher was trying to tell me.  The poem is simple but profound.  There have been many interpretations of it over the years, including these interesting analysis here and here.
The poem was written in the summer of 1922, but was inspired by an incident in 1905 when Frost went to town on his horse to sell eggs and make enough money to purchase Christmas gifts for his children.  The trip was unsuccessful and he became deeply depressed and stopped his horse in the woods on his way home to cry.  Apparently, the horse shook his bell and Frost smiled and continued on home.

Here’s my “I’m not a poet” poetry interpretation.  The poem is about life (“woods”) and death (“frozen lake”).  It’s about contemplating life under duress, or in this case, taking in the scenery.  This time of the year brings a lot of stress, pain and misery for many people.  Some other people believe Frost was insinuating suicide in the poem, as his family was plagued by tragedy and mental illness throughout his life.  I think the horse is a metaphor for God or some other higher being of moral authority reminding his owner that life goes on (“promises to keep”) and now is not your time to die (“miles to go before I sleep”).

Okay, so I guess some of you reading this are asking why I am being such a “Debbie Downer” on Christmas Eve.  I bring this poem up because of its meaning. A lot of us have been stressed out by all the breaking news lately. Sometimes you have to put life stresses in perspective, and keep moving forward.

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