World Heart Day is September 29th. World Heart Day is dedicated to raising awareness about cardiovascular diseases and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to prevent these life-threatening illnesses. This observance emphasizes the significance of making simple lifestyle changes, such as adopting a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco use, and managing stress, all of which can considerably reduce the risks associated with heart diseases. 
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Most people know that anger is bad for your heart's health, but loneliness and depression affect your heart, too.

​"Study after study has shown that people who feel lonely, depressed, and isolated are many times more likely to get sick and die prematurely - not only of heart disease but from virtually all causes - than those who have a sense of connection, love and community," says Dean Ornish, the Founder, President, and Director of the nonprofit Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California. 

​I'm not a doctor, but I have absolutely felt the impact of neglect, depression, and isolation from performative family, colleagues, and friendships. It wasn't until I stopped making excuses for other people's behavior and took accountability for how I wanted to feel that I began to focus on my self-confidence. It was in self-reflection through writing, producing and sharing stories, that I came to the realization of and worked to soften my heart depression. I began to express my emotions in more effective ways and it got a lot easier to feel balanced. I like to call that time, "aligning with my star player."
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When I align with my star player I don't resort to old habits of anger, resentment, or substance abuse. I relax, play, and set realistic goals. I find peace in doing things I enjoy and that I'm good at. Or I focus on learning how to do things I'm not so good at, but I would like to improve on. I release negative emotions and have fun with like-minded individuals through creative practices that bring me joy. ​

Meet Monique Gill, Moknowsbest Founder and Chief Heart Officer.
Click Here​ to read the full CanvasRebel article.

Happy new year! Welcome to Moknowsbest's golden year. 2023 was a great year for laying the blueprint, but in 2024, we'll be led by our 24k initiative in order to go for the gold. ​

For the 2024 year, Moknowsbest's 24k initiative is to produce 24 original documentary films with 24 local Atlanta youth. 

Through the Bluest Space Documentary Film program, students will produce their own short film during the 6-weekend film production course. Our film production course guides, trains, and allows space for youth to express their emotions through filmmaking. 

We believe children are the key to a brighter future. As we intently focus on building confident, empathetic, and self-aware youth, we  enrich the individual lives of children while also putting ourselves on a golden path to improve our collective futures. ​​

We're paving a new golden path and would love your support. Get involved by subscribing to our monthly newsletter or following our socials @Moknowsbest.ATL. 

If you or your organization are interested in contributing or collaborating with Moknowsbest to meet our 24 karat Film goal, please email Monique Gill at [email protected]. Discover more about the Bluest Space documentary program by visiting moknowsbest.net.

1. What attracted you to the bluest space youth film program?

This program spoke to me directly because my daughter Zoe is a born creative and has a true affinity for animation, writing, visual arts and film. We found out about the documentary project just days before it began by a friend who is well aware of Zoe's interest. We feel very lucky for her to be included.

2. What was your expectation for Zoe being a part of our film program?

My expectation for Zoe in this program is for her to gain some technical skills in editing as well as to deepen her creative vision to be able to translate it onto film.  I also was really anticipating her finding her voice and confidence to share her story, hopefully helping to assist with her healing through the family trauma we experienced.

3. What has been your favorite part of Zoe participating in the Bluest Space film program?

My favorite part  of Zoe's participating in the Bluest Space film program was the dedicated one-on-one attention she received from Ms. Gill, with whom she shared her vision. 
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4.  Would you recommend the Bluest Space to single parent parents?
Please describe why. 
 
I would absolutely recommend the Bluest Space to other single parents! The fact that this program exists for such an underserved community (single parents and displaced households). I feel the opportunity for children to find their creative voice and begin mastering film as a medium is an invaluable opportunity that may lead to successful careers in their future.  

​Being in a new place can be overwhelming or over stimulating. Stress inducing feelings may activate disruptive behaviors On this this day, I was assigned to sub for a 7th grade class. Students are instructed to be seated, review the board, and begin their assignment on distributed laptops. ​

Flooding through the threshold, students erupt toward all sides of the classroom darting to and from until they were all seated. Within the first 10 minutes, I had nearly 12 requests to go to the restroom. At the same time, I witness a small squishy ball go from 1 to 3 into 5 pair of hands in between upon desks and being smashed against students heads.

Tip #2: 10-Minute Rule.
With this rule no one is allowed to go out of the classroom for the first or last ten minutes of class time. This rule also sets the expectation that daily warmups, drills, or closing submissions are priority upon entering tor exiting the classroom . This is incentivized by providing a daily grade or  reward for students who remain on task.

​Tip #3: Verbal Warning for Stress Tools 
Returning to in-person learning after the pandemic welcomed a new addition to the classroom. To help refocus and combat anxiety, students are now permitted to have stress relieving tools (i.e, stress balls and fidget toys). That being said, students are encouraged to take advantage of tools for their success but under the condition that students maintain ownership of their own tools and said tools do not become a class disturbance. Determine and reinforce the number of allotted warnings students will have before they lose the privilege to reinforce custom and reduce the anxiety of in-classroom expectations for students. 

Implementing clear boundaries and incentivizing behavior correcting systems make for a more stress free classroom to sustain a comfortable yet dynamic learning environment. I'm still discovering ways to incorporate pieces of structure into the classes I substitute, but these few tips will definitely help my full-time educators. ​

The socialization of media and online platforms really makes easy our projected judgments of who people are, what they do, and how they live. The truth is, NOBODY but God knows the silent battles people face alone. This is a challenging post because addiction has been a personal, silent battle. Once social and fun, alcohol became a physical, mental, and emotional interference of my day-to-day wellbeing. Repeatedly, I put myself in questionable, dangerous situations to numb doubt, depression and sadness that at one time, dominated my life.

Let us start from the beginning. ​

Regardless of your perception of who I am now, I learned lack and loss early in life. Before I knew why or what it meant, The closest people to me, Inside and outside of my home, projected their self belief onto me. People imposed upon me a lack of self worth. I was reminded my pure existence was a burden, a pure fuck-up. I have even been accused of purposely sabotaging others because of things completely out of my control.

It wasn't until college that life triggered me to overindulge to subside unresolved old wounds. After graduation, life got tougher. For three years I went through a great depression I didn't think I'd make it out of. I felt my entire four-year college experience was a pure waste. I couldn't get a decent paying job. I was disappointed by people I once called friend. I was in-and-out of deplorable jobs, while still living on a string with unreliable transportation. Not to mention my four-year relationship ended, hard. My father although able-bodied, was uninvolved. My mother although able-bodied, was having financial difficulty of her own. My sister was experiencing her own dilemmas and a new child. I did what most people do. I dealt with it on my own.

Holidays, morning, day and night, I worked three jobs at a time. My life only consisted of work and sleep. The icing on the cake was the break-in of my first-floor apartment, where I lived alone. The only way I felt I could manage my day-to-day life was to numb.  Although I never did hard drugs, I woke up drunk. On break I would drink. After work I would binge drink. Having multiple bottles of wine at a time became my addictive behavior.

When I stepped outside, I smiled but I was absolutely miserable and beatdown. To be honest, I felt it would be best for the world if I didn't wake up. On one hand, I knew something was wrong but I refused to admit it out of absolute fear of actually admitting to being the inconvenience people assigned me to be.

Check out Relatively Cracked Up if you need additional encouragement. You can never  be a failure when you try.

The influence was my environment, but MY choices were a result of my mind. I am not perfect nor is it my intention to sale an image of perfection. I am human. I have flaws, I make mistakes. I do not have the answer to end addiction but I am not the same woman because I decided I wanted a different way of life. When I change my mind, I change my circumstances. 

​I started removing unsupportive, judgmental people from my life. I spent more time in nature, and saying affirmations became a daily routine. I eventually got a job in education and that allowed me a new level of stability to tangibly pivot my life. I started prioritizing what I needed as opposed to what others wanted for me and my confidence grew. When I change my mind, I change my circumstances. 

​I am aware that my life is one perspective of substance abuse and not the global representation. I am a big, stubborn, brilliant woman that learns by living and my truth is firm. When I change my mind, I change my circumstances. 

Life can be hard. Admitting to having a problem is huge. Admitting to needing help is huge. Most people are just trying to make it through each day. No matter how high or low one ranks on the social hierarchy, everyone faces their own silent battles and at any moment tides can change in either direction. Being judged for your shortcomings is nerve wrecking. The truth is, it's a privilege to live in a society where outside scrutiny doesn't dictate my comfort or elevation in life. So, in this privileged society, give useless opinions the weight they deserve, none at all! REMEMBER THIS: YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON YOU  WILL SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH. MAKE IT A LIFE YOU ENJOY.
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• You don't have to settle because people in your life settle
• You can choose a completely different life whenever you decide a completely different way of life
• You are worthy of good things. You are worthy of whole things. You are worthy of healing

Addiction comes in a variety pack that includes; habit-forming substances, behavior, or impulse activity having harmful physical, psychological, or social effects and typically cause well-defined symptoms. Anytime cravings mimic physical needs like hunger or thirst, addiction is at play. Addictive habits are triggered by many factors such as emotional, mental, physical, financial, and geographical influences that resemble excessive behaviors like; sex, working out, gambling, internet usage, shopping, or even video gaming.

Addiction is not to be taken lightly. Millions of people are effected by the impact of addictive behavior everyday. My intention is to be informative of the subject matter and yet vulnerable to my own truth. In sharing my own story, I hope I encourage others to take inventory of their own behaviors to improve their daily lives. I am not a licensed physician but anyone who crosses this message, please know you are never alone and there is help even in your darkest times. No matter how many times you may revert back, as long as you breathe, you can try again. 

Love,
​Mo

PS: The SAMHSA’s National Helpline,  1-800-662-HELP (4357) is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.  

Mfinity radio is a Moknowsbest Podcast available now on;
Anchor FM and Spotify. 
On the go? Find blog audio and additional inspiration at Mfinity radio. Letting the light in and shining to Mfinity & beyond.  

Let the world tell it, any and everyone around you is your competition. The world is... partly wrong. Will you or your coworker get the promotion? Who's gonna get the phone number of the cutie at the food court? Who will win the race? People are always looking to compete for the top spot, right. 
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The promotion goes to the employee who arrives early and offers models of improvement for the team, as opposed to the coworker who may arrive on time, does their work, but doesn't offer ways to improve work functionality. The cutie at the food court might give her number to whichever of you is the finest or she might give it to the one who's truthful, showing sincerity, and tells her the conditions of the bet. One runner chose to hangout with friends on a Friday night, while the winner cut down their time by committing extra time after practice to perfect exploding out of the blocks.