Destination: Israel.

Did you know that the scenery in Israel changes every twenty-five minutes when driving? Israel was built on the watershed of the Judean Sea and it’s an amazing sight to see the varying landscapes. A visit to historic places such as Mount Scopus reminds us of “the lookout,” which represents the first time to see Jerusalem in its lavish stature with its panoramic views. Mount Scopus is vastly known for its great vantage point to seeing the Dome of the Rock and the Dead Sea. Jerusalem is known as the holiest place for Jews, third holiest for Muslims. The Holy Sepulcher is the holiest place for Christians- a private tour of this can take you back 2,000 years.

              Women and men are separated before entering the Western Wall. It was an uplifting moment to pause, pray, and reflect on life. Known as an area of respect, women’s shoulders are to be covered. Touching the Wall and placing a prayer in one of the crevices with the belief of the prayer being answered is customary. Further believed that the Gates of Heaven are open to receiving prayer requests and answers accordingly. Tens of thousands of people flock to this site daily, hundreds of armed guards are present – words alone are indescribable of this once-in-a-lifetime trip!

General tips for visiting Israel:

• Pack electrical adapters with you.
• Know that the restaurants will offer ‘Kosher’ food.
• Wear modest clothing for Jerusalem.
• Other cities are open-minded and fashion-forward.
• Retain the the paper visa/slip you receive at the airport.
• Negotiate prices on items.
• Sunscreen, umbrella and sanitizers are essential.

Photo Credit: The Arnolds

Richly to your success,
Dr. Simone

About the Author

Simone Arnold is a vice president of product management at a Fortune 500 Company. She is also an alumna and contributor to the Center for Education and Information Technology Research and the Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research at the University of Phoenix. She researches emotional intelligence, workplace diversity, and statistical procedures and applications for continuous performance development. She holds a Doctor of Management degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.  She is Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from PECB. As the Chief Inspiration Officer at MotivEight, LLC, she intentionally affirms to help professionals grow through speaking, training, and mentorship.

Destination: Greece.

  Greece is filled with so many historic structures, legends and mountainous views. From the Temple of Partheon, the new Acropolis Museum, National Archaeological Museum to the old city of Athens, Plaka – we were bound to visit them all. First, our itinerary from the United States to Greece involved a brief stop over in Switzerland, which afforded adequate time to refill our water bottles and grab a snack.  Much scrutiny was given to the number of carry-on bags; what can I say, security had a keen eye for large bags.

              Soon, we were up in the air again and within four hours landed in Athens, Greece. We prepared well in advance for transportation using the Welcome Pick-Ups as our service provider.  A few texts were exchanged, and our driver met us at the right spot, greeted us warmly, and helped with nearly eight suitcases. Don’t judge, we aspired to pack light!

              We had four days to explore Greece. Two days before our scheduled eight-day Mediterranean Cruise aboard the Norwegian Jade and two days after to get all the sight-seeing in. Flanked by three seas, Greece can captivate any traveler with the blue- rippling waters of the Aegean Sea to the east, the sun-glistened horizon of the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the deep Ionian Sea of west. 

              First, we ventured to find the American Embassy. Just 0.25 mile from our hotel we were in front of the embassy.  Since it was a very breezy day, we walked until we arrived at the train station.  Here are a few travel tips:

• Be sure to secure a map at your hotel so you can plan your train ride.
• Have adequate Euros to pay for the rides.
• Signs are posted in Greek, not English – read carefully.
• Greek residents are cordial and will provide help if you ask.
• Keep a close eye on purses or bags. Pickpocketing is common.
• Store cell phones when not in use.
• Try a Greek dish, there is adventure in every bite.
• If visiting Santorini, wear comfortable shoes for the climbs.
• Pack lots of patience when climbing to the top of Santorini to take the air-trolley back to the ship; wait time can be over two hours in peak season.
• If you opt to walk down, be very cautious, walkways are quite slippery.
• Experience the breaking of the plates… Smashing!
• Book tours directly with your cruise ship so you get back to the ship at the right time.

Photo Credit: The Arnolds

Richly to your success,
Dr. Simone

About the Author

Simone Arnold is a vice president of product management at a Fortune 500 Company. She is also an alumna and contributor to the Center for Education and Information Technology Research and the Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research at the University of Phoenix. She researches emotional intelligence, workplace diversity, and statistical procedures and applications for continuous performance development. She holds a Doctor of Management degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.  She is Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from PECB. As the Chief Inspiration Officer at MotivEight, LLC, she intentionally affirms to help professionals grow through speaking, training, and mentorship.

Part 3

By now, you’ve likely gathered there was never a dull moment on this winter trip. The Bella Roses had planned almost every minute of the nine-day voyage (well, somewhat)!  In retrospect, refining research of places to visit and securing agreement on the full itinerary would have been advantageous.

Recommend creating a daily schedule, post it in a WhatsApp group or other shared electronic spaces. For overnight outings or multi-city travel, pack light and right. Don’t be like the one Bella Rose pulling a suitcase along Champs-Elysees. Extra doses of patience and flexibility are vital. Above all, stick to the plan and the budget.

The Takes. Picture taking has its pros and cons. Capturing the moment then quickly reliving it can bring gratification and stress-relief to many. While we dined at the Moulin Rouge Café in Central London, we had a spectacular view – two models were engrossed in a photo shoot. Both models knew their angles, had adequate lighting, remained relaxed, and maintained good posture. Bella Roses were inspired.

Still, far too often, we spend more time reviewing and critiquing the memory than being in the moment. From waiting in long lines to gain access to the right angle of major landmarks to striking the perfect pose, editing, re-taking, then instantaneously posting to social media accounts – remember to push for balance. Grab moments to take group pictures and celebrate togetherness. With hundreds of photos in stock, Bella Roses seized great memories that are also souvenirs for friends and families.

The Tears. We took some time to pause on February 15^th to honor one Bella Rose – it was her birthday. And, yes, we managed to pull off the surprise. The theme was Asian Pakistani, we were donned in silk kimonos. Then, we enjoyed biryani – a crown jewel in Pakistani food. I could still taste the turmeric – the powerful antioxidant for healthy living. But wait, the chef paired the biryani with mint raita (a lovely, spiced yogurt type sauce). Ooh, la la… the taste buds dance again.

When it came to the presentation of gift and tokens of appreciation, all our love poured out and our Bella cried tears of joy, love, sisterhood, and appreciation. “You know full well as I do the value of sisters’ affections; there is nothing like it in this world.”—Charlotte Bronte.

The Telly. Bella Roses enjoyed much needed downtime on a few evenings. Two movies stand put: Girls Trip and The Help. The former taught us that no matter the challenge, we must fight to stay united. Allow everyone’s voice to heard, trust the circle, and recognize that we are not fragile as flowers, but as bombs – taking a card out of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s book.

The latter taught us of our resilience, hope, and faith despite disappointments or rejection, we are different, kind, smart, and important. I recall, writing notes for the Bella Roses and upon our arrival to the Mercure Hotels in Paris, France, I pulled out the folded notes. One by each selected a folded piece of paper. As they read the note, they burst into laughter.

“You Is Smart, You Is Kind, You Is Important” The Help Movie

Our activities brought us closer together. It gave us a sense of unity and belonging. Given that we’ve known each other for nearly four decades, one Bella can start the sentence and two others can finish it.

Photo Credit: Bella Roses, Girls Trip 2023

Au Revoir. Wait to see where the Bella Roses are off too next.

Richly to your success,
Dr. Simone

About the Author

Simone Arnold is a vice president of product management at a Fortune 500 Company. She is also an alumna and contributor to the Center for Education and Information Technology Research and the Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research at the University of Phoenix. She researches emotional intelligence, workplace diversity, and statistical procedures and applications for continuous performance development. She holds a Doctor of Management degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.  She is Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from PECB. As the Chief Inspiration Officer at MotivEight, LLC, she intentionally affirms to help professionals grow through speaking, training, and mentorship.

Hibiscus Girls Leadership Academy

March 2023

Oh fidere, fidere, teach us your ways.

Show us how deeply important you are to our days.

When I was young, I prayed and wished for you then.

Little did I know, you had permanent resident status within.

You were waiting to be watered and sun lighted, too.

Surely, you can deal with what’s thrown at you.

You become focused with clearly, written goals in life.

You’re student, teacher, mom, powerhouse, and a good wife.

You know what you want.

You’re constantly showing others how not to flaunt.

For hubris and egotism live on the opposite side.

But Confidence Court – that’s where you reside.

You’ve entered spaces, only few have been invited.

Never, oh never, must you get shortsighted.

Turn around, open the doors and windows for more persons of color.

Show them the way, turn on their lights brighter than the Eiffel Tower.

Stay connected to your roots, for they’ve launched you there.

Remember to be who you are: authentic with a flair.

Stay true to yourself and be confident in your skin.

Oh fidere, fidere, indeed, you are right here within.

Dr. Simone Arnold

About the Author

Simone Arnold is a vice president of product management at a Fortune 500 Company. She is also an alumna and contributor to the Center for Education and Information Technology Research and the Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research at the University of Phoenix. She researches emotional intelligence, workplace diversity, and statistical procedures and applications for continuous performance development. She holds a Doctor of Management degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.  She is Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from PECB. As the Chief Inspiration Officer at MotivEight, LLC, she intentionally affirms to help professionals grow through speaking, training, and mentorship.

Part 2

Last edit, we introduced you to the team (a.k.a. Bella Roses) and the truth; the love in our hearts carried us thousands of miles from our families and returned us safely. No Girls Trip is complete without a theme. To get us started, my sister decided to secure t-shirts from Amazon. During our very short pre-trip planning sessions, we had fun selecting the sizes. Perhaps, we are trapped in a time capsule, for giggles, I selected XS. If you smiled, then mission accomplished. Honestly, we all selected the size that made us shine our best!

The Theme. It was unplanned and still a mystery to me how we landed into two groups: green and orange. Green represented new beginnings: an earthly tone celebrating affluence, abundance, and growth. While in High School, the Bella Roses donned six-gore, olive green skirts paired with a white blouse to complete our school uniforms. Orange embodied positive energy, warmth, vibrance, being unique, and filled with enthusiasm. Suddenly, a mad scientist idea came to my mind: when you mix green and orange, brown is the result. We are brown Bella Roses indeed sparkling with confidence.

The Tower. London, England was our first stop for the first two days. On the third day, we boarded our Uber and after a thirty-minutes ride, we arrived at St. Pancras station. London has strict speed limits and even at 4:00AM, our driver adhered. Destination: Paris, France awaited us. With so many modern forms of transformation available, we opted for the Eurostar, otherwise known as the Bullet Train. Luxury called us by our surnames, so we secured Standard Premier seating, which grants you a lovely (yet simple) meal and a quiet spot to rest up for the near 150 minutes ride.

Arriving at “La dame de fer” in classic Uber style was priceless. The Eiffel Tower is an amazing wrought-iron lattice structure built over 130 years ago. Gazing at this landmark. I begged for time to stand still. The great architectural talents of Gustave Eiffel awaken the souls of each visitor. We stand or sit, relishing the scenes. This is my second visit to see this enthralling view and I’m still awestruck.  Like many visitors, we took 1,500 pictures here. Our feet were sown, soundly. “Catch my good side”, one Bella Rose shouted!

The Trust. Travelling in a group our size is not always easy. Grabbing a Uber is not always practical and can be very expensive between destinations. Groups should carefully map out the itinerary and agree on places to see, eat and shop. Going afoot is convenient for short trips to monument. As an instance, we walked from our hotel to L’Arc de Triompe. The roads had a steady incline. To enjoy an up-close view of this massive attraction staged at the western junction of the Champs-Elysees and the mouth of Charles De Gaulle. The afternoon weather was perfect, low 50’s but we were gently reminded that we rely far too much on our vehicles in the U.S.A. We felt triumphant in each step and grateful to take in the view and admire the thousands of visitors. I estimate that we snapped over 200 photos at this spot. Bella Roses are a force to reckon with. Camera shy, not us!

Photo Credit: Bella Roses, Girls Trip 2023

Next edition will feature The Takes, The Tears, and The Telly.

Richly to your success,
Dr. Simone

About the Author

Simone Arnold is a vice president of product management at a Fortune 500 Company. She is also an alumna and contributor to the Center for Education and Information Technology Research and the Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research at the University of Phoenix. She researches emotional intelligence, workplace diversity, and statistical procedures and applications for continuous performance development. She holds a Doctor of Management degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.  She is Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from PECB. As the Chief Inspiration Officer at MotivEight, LLC, she intentionally affirms to help professionals grow through speaking, training, and mentorship.

Part 1

With fewer than 30 days planning, a group of six girlfriends opted in for a trip of a lifetime.

Destination: Europe.

The Team. Who really subscribes to a 9-day trip to London, England in the soul of winter? We did. We’ve known each other for over 35 years and no season has gone by without a check-in by phone or in person. Born and raised in Guyana, South America, we met at St. Rose’s High School. Truly, we’re fortunate to maintain close ties over the years: chatting about hot topics affecting the world, catching up on adversities and successes in our careers, but most of all, sculpting moments to simply share laughter and love.

We rely on technology like Zoom and WhatsApp when communicating. Don’t you feel a sense of ease and calm when you connect with your girlfriends – your sisters (a.k.a Bella Roses)? I can still feel my belly cramps from minutes of laughter. Then deep conversations as we reflected on the joys of High School: boys, books, and boobs. Well, maybe not that exact order. There is a pure joy being in the presence of loved ones who unlock your laughter in a gush of deep, loud hearty manner. Technology has made it easy and convenient to bridge the void across the oceans and miles.

And the Bella Roses can cook! Ms. Chan from Home Economics class would stand in awe if she tasted the entrees. Gordon Ramsay has nothing on these chefs. There will be no yelling in the kitchens, just coordination, meal preparation, marinating, and lots of food tasting.  I helped with the latter. The meals came out perfect: seafood boil, cook-up rice, fish and chips, curry chicken – you name it my belly appreciated it!  Oh, the pictures we will share.

Food brings comfort, provides opportunities to explore a variety of cultures, and to celebrate. Think about how you incorporate food daily. Mealtimes should be special; ours were spectacular. We dined together. Prayer was a staple – every time – ushering in our sincere gratitude for what we have. Growing up with very little leaves you with a humbled heart and belly. Wasting food was seen as a sin.  We never went hungry in Guyana, but choices were limited. We respect the memories of few options.

The Truth. Our hosting sister resides in England. The round-trip distance of 8,836 miles from Miami, Florida to Heathrow, London was not a breeze, but worthwhile.  Seven years had elapsed since we had physically seen each other. Too long, we agreed. Cancer has a way of bringing folks together. The six-month-cancer-free lifeline of yours truly felt like a good enough reason to get the gang together. We are reminded of the power in Thomas Fuller’s quote: “Absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it.” There is nothing that we won’t do for each other.

Next edition will feature The Theme, The Tower, and The Trust.

Photo Credit: Bella Roses, Dining out at Turtle Bay Caribbean Restaurant

Richly to your success,
Dr. Simone

About the Author

Simone Arnold is a vice president of product management at a Fortune 500 Company. She is also an alumna and contributor to the Center for Education and Information Technology Research and the Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research at the University of Phoenix. She researches emotional intelligence, workplace diversity, and statistical procedures and applications for continuous performance development. She holds a Doctor of Management degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.  She is Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt from PECB. As the Chief Inspiration Officer at MotivEight, LLC, she intentionally affirms to help professionals grow through speaking, training, and mentorship.

When we are faced with a challenge that appears insurmountable, the words from Vera Nazarian bring hope, peace, and self-discovery. Know that you have options:

“You can go around it.
     You can dig under it.
         You can fly over it.
            You can blow it up.
             You can ignore it and pretend it’s not there.
               You can turn around and go back the way you came
                  Or, you can stay on the mountain and make it your home.”

I have climbed my mountain. I relied on innermost strength and tenacity, learned to walk, and administer self-care again, counted on prayers, favor, grace and accepted help from family, friends, and co-workers.

I’ve embraced the journey of breast cancer surgery and four months of postoperative therapies. I’m home in my new self.

Cancer did not win!

The biggest lesson was finding gratitude in trusting my intuition and instinct. Salmon swims upstream for hundreds of miles to reproduce. This is no easy task to be called to swim against the current. Pure animal instinct empower the salmon. Similarly, when we allow our subconscious mind to take the wheel, we rely on my animal instinct or intuition.

This very scenario saved my life because as the cancer diagnosis was in the right breast. I decided to remove both. Nuclear medicine and later pathology results proved me right- the undiagnosed breast was a ticking timebomb. The combination of steadfastly trusting my logical brain and my subconscious mind (or intuition) brings much peace and allows me to enter the next phase of life – successfully.

Richly to your success,
Dr. Simone

About the Author

Simone Arnold is a vice president of product management at a Fortune 500 Company. She is also an alumna and contributor to the Center for Education and Information Technology Research and the Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research at the University of Phoenix. She researches emotional intelligence, workplace diversity, and statistical procedures and applications for continuous performance development. She holds a Doctor of Management degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.

Patrick Bet-David writes that there are four levels of trust.

Earlier this fall, we launched the Sisters Breaking Glass Together, a non-profit, community-serving, women empowering organization where I serve as Secretary.

We did an activity where all participants blindly selected a gratitude stone – mine was Trust.

The first level is stranger, individual may appear shady, not trustworthy. Be mindful, especially if you don’t have prior experience with this person. Getting to know them is a pre-requisite.

The second level is endorsed. An individual with a nice track record also appears seasoned and reliable. Vet these individuals carefully even if they’re recommended by people, you know and trust.

The third level is trusted. You know these persons and appreciate their honesty. In fact, you’ve likely witnessed them in action and like what you see. These are likely the real deal.

The fourth level is your running mate. Let’s break this down even further: your closest friends, the equivalent of the “ride or die” or better yet, the one you can call at 3am, I need help friend who always answers your call! Only one or so will authentically fit the bill. They’re inextricably linked to you and comprise your circle of trust.

I am grateful for the lessons in life that forced me to examine my levels of trust. Most of all, I am most appreciative of the few running mates who are integral to my growth and success Evaluate your business partners and friendships. Know the level of trust for each person. Knowing is an essential step in your mental measurement approach.

Richly to your success,
Dr. Simone

About the Author

Simone Arnold is a vice president of product management at a Fortune 500 Company. She is also an alumna and contributor to the Center for Education and Information Technology Research and the Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research at the University of Phoenix. She researches emotional intelligence, workplace diversity, and statistical procedures and applications for continuous performance development. She holds a Doctor of Management degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.

As I reflect on 2022, I’ve realized that I’m not alone when it comes to rejection. We’ve all encountered these moments personally and professionally.

Far too often, we take up room dwelling on the sadness and may likely miss out on the opportunity to rebuild, reinvent, or be reinvigorated to stay the course. Clearly, how we react to such situations set the stage for our continued growth and success.

I’ve learned that as life throws rejections our way, finding root in the statement provides sound perspective:

“We do not grow in happiness, but we grow in sadness. Each rejection teaches us something new.”- Avijeet Das

There are several ways to thrive beyond rejection:

• Accept gracefully
• Redirect anger into a positive emotion
• Be honest with yourself
• Stop overthinking!
• Allow yourself to feel, process emotions
• Practice self-care and self-love
• Address the situation with a cool, calm, and honest tone
• Take courage knowing that rejection motivates, strengthens patience, and leads to growth
• Know the best is yet to be

Richly to your success,
Dr. Simone

About the Author

Simone Arnold is a vice president of product management at a Fortune 500 Company. She is also an alumna and contributor to the Center for Education and Information Technology Research and the Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research at the University of Phoenix. She researches emotional intelligence, workplace diversity, and statistical procedures and applications for continuous performance development. She holds a Doctor of Management degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.