Britney Live And More

[Agalia Valcin]

Atthe beginning of 2014, I prayed, Lord, let this be the year I become content. What I meant was, Lord, let this be the year and Dan and I get big fat raises so we can buy enough stuff to be content. Instead, Jesus graciously showed me his heart for simple living, authentic connection, and living with intention.

Simplicity is also not perfectionism or inflexibility. In fact, I think pursuing a more simple life frees us from these things. Choosing simple allows us to let go of what we think perfection is and the constant racing around we do to achieve it. Choosing simple allows us to have more margin to be flexible when the unexpected arises.

For me, simplicity is living my life with an uncluttered soul, house, and schedule; living in alignment with my values and beliefs; living within my financial means and within my personal reserves of energy.

I recognize that this all might sound a little touchy-feely, but I do believe there are some concrete practices we can engage in to help us live more simple lives. Because as much as simplicity is a mindset, it also requires action.

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

I work at the California Science Center, a free museum in the heart of Los Angeles, California. As Senior Educator, I get to share science with people of all ages. In my role, I wear a lot of different hats - from teaching biology to high school girls, to Virtual Field Trips for K-5 students, to working on the floor of the Science Center to training our teenage interns, and much more! One of my favorite projects has been writing the curriculum and creating activities for the Blue Whales IMAX film premiering at the California Science Center this spring. I work on a variety of different things, and there is never a dull moment!

The movie Free Willy! I must have been about 4 or 5 years old when I saw it for the first time, and I remember watching the VHS tape multiple times a day. When I discovered that killer whales were not the only amazing thing in the sea, I became hooked wanting to learn more about what lived in the ocean. I began volunteering at a local aquarium in my teenage years and have been heavily involved in anything ocean/science/conservation-related ever since.

There have been many people who helped me get to where I am today. I had many mentors who introduced me to new opportunities and gave me the support I needed to go after them! I especially appreciate those who supported me in finding ways to look at how to teach/learn science in ways that are creative and outside the box, and to not take myself too seriously. There are so many who have guided and encouraged me; Shannon Penna, Evelyn Serrano, and Kristal Ambrose are just a few mentors who especially had a positive impact on my journey.

I love how the Science Center promotes learner-first approaches to education. All of our methods focus on asking questions more than answering them, and letting our guests and students lead the investigation. Also, anytime I can go whale watching and call it work is my absolute favorite.

I really value having experiences of learning, exploration, conservation, and adventure and sharing those moments with others. I have spent time being a Marine Mammal photo I.D. intern, focusing on collecting data about blue whales in order to aid in implementing protective measures in their feeding areas. I was a Coral Reef Ecology and Restoration intern in the Bahamas; I worked on helping to survey the health of reefs, growing and out-planting healthy coral. I was an onboard naturalist on vessels in Alaska, telling visitors about the geology, flora, and fauna they were seeing on tour. I was a Guest Lecturer aboard an expedition ship in Alaska, and I volunteer with a local whale watching company here in Southern California. At the Science Center, I don't "get out" as much, but I still love bringing all of these experiences to the table as I engage members of the local community in exploring various scientific topics.

I love to go whale watching! I also have a keen interest in wildlife and nature photography. Traveling is a passion of mine and I aim to (responsibly and sustainably) explore and experience as much of this planet as I can while I am able to do so!

I saw that someone made a post highlighting the fellowship position in one of the marine biology groups I am a part of on Facebook. I recalled seeing someone I follow on Instagram sharing her experience as a Science Communication Fellow. It looked like such an amazing experience, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to try it for myself!

We all have our daily rituals. There's the universal: brushing teeth, going to work, eating avocado. And then there's the idiosyncratic. For me, a day does not pass without texting at least one friend about the latest charmingly odd thing that has popped up on Britney Spears' Instagram.

To the unimaginative masses, who have lost all innocence and ability to recognize magic in the world, it's just a photo of a chess board. To Britney, it is a curiosity waiting to be explored, an invitation to transform.

Almost everything Ariel does in The Little Mermaid is in direct opposition to the limits her father places on her freedom of movement and expression. Similarly, the major theme in Britney's life has been fighting against an overprotective father and management team, a struggle that continues to this day and inspired this bop:

Both Ariel and Britney are also followed around by a micromanager hired by their fathers to convince them that a controlled environment free of choice is better than the unknown of a life of their own choosing. For Ariel, it's Sebastian. For Britney, it's her current manager Larry Rudolph.

When Ariel fails to show up to the show at the beginning of the movie, Sebastian says, "This concert was to be the pinnacle of my distinguished career. Now thanks to you I am the laughingstock of the entire kingdom!" Swap out "entire kingdom" for "entire music industry" and it's easily something that could come out of Larry Rudolph's mouth.

The first time Britney laid eyes on future husband and baby daddy Kevin Federline, she was equally feeling it. Federline was a backup dancer for Michael Jackson, Destiny's Child, Pink, and none other than Justin Timberlake, Britney's ex. (Kevin is the one with the cornrows and sleeveless jacket.)

Both Ariel and Britney rebelled against their fathers' strict rules by hanging out with the wrong crowd. For Ariel, it was Ursula's henchmen, Flotsam and Jetsam. For Britney, it was Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan:

Desperate to take control of their lives, both Ariel and Britney turned to a Svengali figure, who took advantage of them in their time of need. For Ariel, it was Ursula. For Britney, it was Sam Lutfi, a super shady dude who popped out of nowhere to enable her and try to make a buck off the situation by becoming her manager. He did something similar with Amanda Bynes and, as recently as last summer, allegedly kidnapped and robbed Frances Bean Cobain's husband.

As a consequence of Ursula's meddling, Ariel literally lost her voice. Britney lost hers in a more figurative sense. As a response to Britney running around with Sam and getting into trouble, Britney's dad and Larry Rudolph probably had a conversation similar to this one between Triton and Sebastian:

Sebastian: Why, if Ariel was my daughter, I'd show her who was boss. None of this flitting to the surface (da club) and other such nonsense. No, sir. I'd keep her under tight control.

This is where Britney's conservatorship comes in, a legally binding document, much like the one Ariel signed with Ursula, which robbed Britney of her voice in the sense that she could no longer make her own decisions in terms of her life, her business, what songs she recorded, and basically everything else.

Sebastian sings a whole song called "Under the Sea," trying to convince Ariel that she should just stay home and not do anything her father wouldn't approve of. Change the title to "Under the Conservatorship" (or "Under the C," for short) and you basically have the same thing.

Triton grants Ariel legs so she can live above sea level and marry Eric. And, last year, Britney was freed to get back to making her own decisions in terms of her music career. She was able to call all the shots and have complete control over her last album, Glory, and it's her best album since the conservatorship was put in place.

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

3a8082e126