What's Happening with the Perfect Peach Journey Workshops?

Every young girl can benefit from learning more about herself, how to keep her standards high and how to make informed decisions?

We are living in a time where young girls are defining themselves by what they see on television or hear on the radio and talking more about each other than supporting and lifting one another up. They lack exposure to good role models and self-esteem is suffering while self-worth is getting lost.

The first series of the Perfect Peach Journey Workshop was successful!  My workshops provide young girls an opportunity not only to learn about building healthy, positive relationships with others, it also fosters them in exploring and learning about themselves. They learn about Self-Love, Perception, Domestic Violence, Self-Worth, Values, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation.  Each workshop includes a lesson in each theme, reading and acting out dialogue, learning self-expression by writing in a journal, interaction through activities, and special guests of positive female role models to inspire them with their stories.
I had the most amazing group of young girls.  I could not have picked a better group of perfect peaches!!  I was truly touched by what they gained from the workshops held each week at The Green Room Actors Lounge.  Their testimonies moved me and the sponsors who got to read their letter.  Check out the workbook here:  'Who Said Peaches Were Perfect?' Workbook.
This series of workshops would not have been possible if it were not for some very generous sponsors. I have to thank the following people (all men!) who despite their busy schedules, didn't think twice about giving to a group of young girls and changing their lives.

Andrew Maloney, Executive Vice-President - Poplar Healthcare

Kevin Roulhac, Owner - N Motion Hand Therapy

David Panton, Business Executive

Will Packer, Movie Producer - Rainforest Films

Hollywood, Celebrity Fitness Trainer

Julian Bond, Minister

Mel Banks, Urban Spirit Publishing Company

Tony James, CEO of Tony James Realty

I am looking forward to the next series of workshops and need sponsors.  Email me at tracynicolewrites@gmail.com if you are interested in sponsoring a young girl. 

I will end this blog like we end every workshop:  I am on a Perfect Peach Journey... I love who I am ...  I love who I'm becoming...

God Bless!

-Tracy Nicole

Big hugs to my 13 peaches Dramatic, Shy, Talkative, Unique, Marvelous, Independent, Ambitious, Overcomer, Radient, Strong, Kind, Exotic, Beauty

Would love a comment from you!!  Talk to you soon!

The Perfect Peach Journey Continues

Just when I thought the sessions could get no better...  This session was great!  If you walked in the room you would have been hit with tons of positive energy.  The topic of the third session was Self-worth and Values. So many of us were taught to focus on others and not ourselves.  As children we are told not to brag or be selfish.  While teenagers, wanting to be accepted, we may have minimized our accomplishments to avoid appearing conceited or self-centered.  As adults we may have developed a false humility to avoid looking prideful.  We may come to not like ourselves and believe that we don't deserve anything good.  Self-esteem suffers while self-worth is forgotten. - 'Who Said Peaches Were Perfect?" The Workbook.
So we started the session off bragging about our accomplishments.  The girls enjoyed talking about their achievements without the pressure of being judged.  We each took a turn telling what makes us special.  The smiles were limitless and we got to know a lot more about each other.
The girls got a chance to act out scenes from the novel, "Who Said Peaches Were Perfect?".  This led to a discussion about how each character feels about themselves.
Then we talked about Values and identified our own.  We tackled the questions "Who Am I?" and "What do I believe in?"  We talked about how understanding what we value helps us to understand why we think and act the way we do.  Then we completed  our vision boards!!  Yes, we each did our very own vision boards and discussed our dreams.  It was fun and everyone got to take home their board filled with the things and ideas that they value.
We also had a surprise guest ... Rashan Ali!  My friend for many years stopped by to share her story.  She talked about the ups and downs of her career in Radio.  She inspired the girls with her testimony about what it means to listen to and trust God.  She also shared her vision board with the girls.  She was great!!
My sister, Torie Evans, who is a social worker and my good friend Tara Brown, who is a graphic designer also stopped in to meet the girls and help out with their vision boards.
We ended with our perfect peach journey circle and I left them with this inspiration:

Afraid To Dream

Dreaming can be frightening.

When you dream, all things are possible.

Are you afraid to dream?

I like to dream

But it can be frightening to imagine that you can have

anything, everything that you want

It’s mind blowing to imagine that there is a place where all your needs are met,

Where all of your wishes can come true;

that you can live the type of life

you have dreamed of without struggle or effort.

Can you imagine doing all of the things you love to do;

being paid for doing those things;

feeling good about what you are doing and yourself.

Is that frightening to you?

It’s frightening to me!

That’s probably why it is not happening!

I am afraid to dream…

Are you afraid to dream?

The Perfect Peach Journey

The girls returned excited about our second session.  I was happy to learn that everyone had completed their homework and journal assignments.  They had the opportunity to look deep within and tell me who they are.  I love their honesty and their willingness to grow. 

In this session we discussed ‘Perception’.  The discussion started with defining perception, understanding what it means and led to why it is important.  My goal was to get them to realize that they have a certain amount of control over how they are perceived.  The examples used were the way they dress, talk, and carry themselves.  We looked at a few pictures from magazines.  One that was very heavy was the picture I showed them of Montana Fishburne dressed very provocatively.   The discussion was about how Montana thought that by following in Kim Kardashian’s footsteps by making a sex tape to become famous was the thing to do to become successful.  The discussion could have gone on for hours.  As the conversation went on they appeared to have a better understanding about perception, how they think they are perceived, and how they want to be perceived as well as how what you do today can effect tomorrow.  We talked about the role models they see and who they want to follow after.  I had a special guest surprise them.  Shanti Das, CEO and Founder of Press Reset Entertainment.  I felt it was important to expose them to the other side of the music industry, a female music executive doing very big things.  They were inspired and amazed to learn about the role of marketing an album. (They thought females in the music industry either sang or starred in videos)  Shanti shared her recent book, ‘The Hip-Hop Professional: A Woman’s Guide To Climbing The Ladder of Success In The Entertainment Business.

We took some time to act out scenes from my novel 'Who Said Peaches Were Perfect?' and that led to the discussion on ‘Domestic Violence’ and the signs of it in a relationship.   The real talk was heavy, especially when we talked about the abusive behavior coming from both sides (the male and the female).  Not just physical but emotional abuse.  I had a special guest, Erica Benoit, a celebrity wardrobe stylist come by and join in the discussion.  There were things discussed that was not recognized by the girls as abusive behavior, which was disheartening.  I was moved by some of the experiences at such a young age.  I left them with this inspiration:

When a rock caused major damage to the right side of my face almost causing me to lose my right eye I learned self-value.  When my biological father died and we had never had a real conversation about his absence I learned about forgiveness.  When I became a single mother of two I learned about self-worth and survival.  Of course, I did not realize I was learning until after the experiences and the lessons were over.

Every experience, no matter how painful, traumatic, unexpected, or confusing it may seem, is an opportunity to learn.  At times, we learn about our selves.  In other instances, we learn about others.  We learn what to do, and what not to do.  We learn when to wait, how long we are capable of waiting.  In the midst of the most difficult lesson, we learn the tenacity of spirit and how far it will take us.  At the end of it all, we have developed character.

Always remember, every experience is merely a trip through life’s classroom. Some classes have big, fat, ugly, mean teachers; this does not mean they do not know what they are doing.  In some classes, you will have a great deal of homework.  Good!  You are being forced to study, pay attention, and take notes.  In each of life’s learning experiences, our job is to get the lesson, and practice what we have learned.  What will make the lessons easier is to remember, everything you learn can someday be put to good use, and you will be better because of what you have learned.  No one is ever going to be perfect but if you look to get the lesson from every experience you will grow.

The Perfect Peach Journey

This week was the kick off of the "Perfect Peach Journey Workshops" at actress Terri J. Vaughn's Green Room Actor's Lounge.  I couldn't think of a more welcoming place to have the workshops I have been led to give.  The entire experience was surreal.  As they entered the room and relaxed on the couches I saw myself in their eyes twenty years ago.  Organized with their 'Who Said Peaches Were Perfect? Workbooks and journals in hand, they were ready!  We all connected and the conversations flowed as well as the tears. (yes, I actually cried too!)  This week's theme was Self-Love.  I felt honored that they trusted me and were so open.  I gave hugs and mostly listened as it seemed at times they just wanted to talk.  They shared personal things they had not shared before within an hour and a half of time.  I shared personal experiences as well.  We promised that anything said in the room stayed in the room.  Through the laughs and cries we bonded and our journey has begun.  They thanked me and Terri came in and surprised them.  They were so excited that she would take the time to speak to them.  It was an amazing way to end the first session.      I left them with this inspiration:

No matter what situation you find yourself in; no matter how many times you promised yourself, 

“This will never happen to me again”;

no matter how old you are, how “stupid” you feel; no matter what you think other people will think about you, say about you; no matter how bad you feel, how frightened you are; resist the urge to beat up on yourself, and love yourself.

Go ahead, love yourself right now!

Give YOU a big hug.

Gather yourself up in your arms and rock yourself a little while.  Now look in the mirror and say something encouraging to you.

Try, “I love you no matter what!”  If you are really sincere, you will probably hit a raw nerve.

When you do, you will cry.  Good!  Love has a way of touching the core of the being, and breaking it down to the basic element: LOVE.

You can love yourself into and out of anything.  Perhaps you are where you are because you need a little love.  So before you try to figure out what to do, love yourself.

Nobody can do it better than you!

'Who Said Peaches Were Perfect?" has a new look...

After an outpour of positive feedback I decided to rerelease the original novel along with the workbook I created for teens.  There were so many life lessons in the original novel that I wanted to reach the pre-teens too young to read the book and decided to create the workbook.  The workbook is divided into seven sessions and can be used with or without the novel.  The rerelease of ‘Who Said Peaches Were Perfect?’ will be available in stores March 1, 2012.  The new novel includes a new look and an excerpt from Tracy Nicole’s next novel entitled ‘Landing’.
Check it out now: