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Guns, Drugs, Smoke and Mirrors: What Happened To Pablo Escobar's Daughter, Manuela Escobar?
Life

Guns, Drugs, Smoke and Mirrors: What Happened To Pablo Escobar's Daughter, Manuela Escobar?

She was heir to the throne of kingpin Pablo Escobar's $30-billion empire -- and then she vanished. Following her family's arrest, Manuela Escobar essentially disappeared. So, where is the cartel princess -- Manuela Escobar -- now?The Life and Crimes of Pablo EscobarBusiness InsiderYou've heard of Pablo Escobar. Over three decades after his death, his reputation precedes him.The Colombian Drug Lord was one of the most ruthless, insane, and dare I say, awe-worthy criminals of all time. He was also the richest (cue the *oohs* and *awes*).And while I'm definitely not saying Pablo was a good guy (let the record show this man is definitely a bad dude if not a civil terrorist!) When I say awe-worthy, I just mean that Escobar's hustle was insane.If Pablo Escobar Was Actually Al Pacino, Scarface StillLike, I think respectfully, that's a MASTERCLASS we'd all take. I'd definitely pay $180 for Pablo Escobar's Masterclass for Starting Your Own Business Like A (Drug) Boss.More than anything Escobar is the poster boy for why you shouldn't underestimate a middle child! The third of seven children, and born in Colombia into extreme poverty, Pablo Escobar clearly decided that he had other plans for his life.By the time Escobar was a teenager, his criminal career was already underway. Steven SheenyPetty crimes (mind you) like selling fake diplomas and smuggling stereo equipment...Escobar also allegedly made a profit stealing tombstones and then re-selling them. He wanted to make money at all costs. In a hustle whose origin stories we don't have time for right now (because for once this isn't about Pablo, but about his daughter Manuela), Escobar managed to go from glorified grave robber to amassing a $30 billion dollar fortune as El Patron (the boss) of the notorious Medellín Cartel.Pablo Escobar: The King of CocaineBy the 1970s, Pablo Escobar was one of the world's most powerful and wealthy criminals in the world. His rise to infamy as Thee Colombian Drug Trafficker earned him the moniker "The King of Cocaine". Throughout the '70s and the '80s, Escobar organized the Medellín Cartel's drug production, smuggling, and distribution of cocaine and subsequently amassed immense wealth and power through his illicit activities.At the height of his career, it is reported Escobar would wash $70 Million *cash* *per day* in drug sales. Shimon Okshteyn, "Cocaine" (2008)And if that doesn't seem like a sh* t load of money, let me put it this way: Escobar's operation was the backbone of the addictive stimulants drug trade (aka cocaine) in America.AND IF THAT IS NOT LANDING, let me give you another mind-blowing figure: Pablo Escobar was responsible for supplying 80% of the cocaine in America. In the 1980s. *Which, for the record, is so much f*cking cocaine*80% of the cocaine. In America. When the US was OBSESSED with cocaine!Cocaine was so big in the US, everyone was snorting it. Think Wolf of Wall Street. Think Patrick Bateman. Think The Golden Girl's snorting that sh*t at BINGO!The mass consumption of cocaine in America fuelled Pablo Escobar's reign of terror in ColumbiaHis tenure was marked by violence, corruption, and the destabilization of Colombia (it's actually really f*cked up and heartbreaking what his narco-terrorism did to the nation). But as justice would have it, it didn't end well for Escobar.He was gunned down in a police op in December of 1993, bringing an end to his reign as one of the most notorious figures in the history of organized crime, leaving behind a $30-billion empire.But that's not all he left behind.Pablo Escobar had two children with his wife Maria Victoria Henao.Their son Sebastián Marroquín (born Juan Pablo Escobar) and their daughter Manuela Escobar.The Drug Lord's Daughter: Princess of the CartelDaily HighlightManuela Escobar was born on May 25, 1984, and her life while her father was still alive seems so terrifying it's no wonder she's seemingly vanished into thin air since his death.While it is rumored that Manuela Escobar was "the apple of her father's eye," this does not mean much to a child, when constant assassination attempts are being made on your father's life, life throughout your childhood.Though, yes, she was the heir to a $30-billion fortune. So you can imagine the Escobar compound really popped off at Christmas---really put the kids of divorce's holiday festivities TO SHAME, I'd imagine!Manuela Escobar and her brother Sebastian spent their early years enjoying the usual luxuries that come with the territory of being Pablo Escobar's kid: luxurious mansions, private jets, and it's not confirmed but I'm pretty sure Manuel and her brother didn't have to share a bathroom---very cool.Slightly less cool is of course, the constant and impending threat of child abduction/kidnapping.Y'know---the ol' thieving and torturing of the drug lord's daughter for ransom? The Escobar family's awareness of this threat, led them to cautiously shield their children from the public eye, knowing their vulnerability would make them the easiest target.Manuela Escobar Grew Up Away From The WorldLike the Rapunzel of Cartel Kids---Manuela Escobar was kept isolated, away from the "outside world."She had limited contact with anyone outside of her immediate family, which you can imagine would be an incredibly lonely experience for a little girl. Pinterest**All the Barbie Dream House Play Sets in the world wouldn't mean anything if you had no one to play with.**Despite the circumstances (y'know...that people were calling her dad The King Of Cocaine) Manuela's mother and father--(the King and Queen of cocaine, if you will) tried to provide their children (effectively The Prince and Princess of Cocaine) with a loving and nurturing environment.Kill A Horse, Ride A UnicornDespite Pablo Escobar’s reputation for being evil incarnate, if we've learned anything from *The Marvel Cinematic Universe*, it's that some villains also have hearts!Pablo Escobar's Achilles heel was his daughter.PinterestHe was willing to buy his little girl anything she wanted---though if we've learned anything from *Indie Coming of Age Movies*, it's that money doesn't buy happiness, and "rich kids" have it hard too and just want their parents to spend time with them.Maybe if Pablo Escobar had time to watch The Breakfast Club he would have taken pause before stapling a horn on a horse's head and wings on its back---but alas, this was a problem even John Hughes couldn't solve. Yes, you read that right.One year Manuela Escobar asked her father for a "unicorn" as a gift. Instead of illuminating his daughter with the knowledge that unicorns are not real---Pablo said f*ck that. Pablo said: "Boys, bring me a white stallion and your biggest stapler. We have our work cut out for us."The horse later died of a gruesome infection. PETA tried to picket his complex and was gunned down later that day.Kidding!(About PETA. The horse really did die).He Burned $2 Million Dollars To Keep His Daughter Warm (WTF)By now, we've come to understand The King of Cocaine was really one for the theatrics. As the '90s ushered in a new era of Americana addiction (eating disorders), Pablo Escobar’s life of crime began to catch up with him.For their safety (because people were trying to kill them), the Escobar family was forced to hide out in the mountains of Colombia. As the legend goes Manuela Escobar was cold one night. So instead of giving her his jacket---Pablo said: No. Pablo said: What I lack in boy scout knowledge I make up for in my knowledge that paper 👏 is 👏 flammable 👏.And then Pablo Escobar burned $2 million in cash — just to keep his daughter warm. I'm sure this was a nice moment before Pablo realized that this wouldn't cut it for long and eventually entered his family into a safe house under government protection. In December 1993, Pablo Escobar died in a violent shootout.The Fall of Pablo Escobar: The Disappearance of Manuela EscobarPinterestManuela Escobar was just nine years old when her father, Pablo Escobar, was killed in a police operation in December 1993. The death of the notorious drug lord brought an end to an era of violence and drug trafficking that had plagued Colombia for years. Following her father's death, Manuela Escobar, and her family were forced to assume new identities and live in hiding to protect themselves from the dangers associated with their father's legacy.No country wanted to grant the family asylum...BECAUSE AS IT TURNED OUT, Pablo Escobar wasn't very popular.Not even the Vatican would take The Escobars (which is saying something).The family tried their luck from South America to South Africa, until they finally settled in Argentina. They all got new identities and really thought that would do the trick.But turns out, nope.In 1999, Manuela's mother and brother were suddenly arrested and imprisoned on account of illicit association, money laundering, and falsifying public documents. However, Manuela Escobar escaped being detected alongside them and ever since has been a ghost.Where Is Manuela Escobar Now?Despite his fortune, Pablo Escobar's daughter did not inherit his billions. Instead, it is reported that Manuela Escobar's net worth sits at $2-million ---which for context is less than Amanda Bynes?It shouldn't come as a surprise that Manuela Escobar isn't on social media. *But apparently it does!* Because "Manuela Escobar Instagram" is one of the top Google searches when it comes to the Drug Lord's daughter. And I get it. We're all a little curious!But if there's anything we've learned from Andrew Tate, it's that live streaming and hiding out from the authorities do not go together like peanut butter and jelly!While there's definitely interest in Manuela's physical appearance, few photos on the internet seem to be credible image sources.With a figure as elusive as Manuela, you can never be too certain you're looking at her true likeness.Unlike her older brother Sebastian, who released a memoir discussing what it was like to grow up as Pablo Escobar's son, Manuela adopted a very reclusive lifestyle.TIMEManuela Escobar is the only family member who has never been accused of any crimes. At the time of her father's death, Manuela was far too young to have any involvement in his affairs, however, it seems that Manuela has never entirely shed the burden of her family name or the horrors of her childhood.It is rumored that Pablo Escobar's youngest struggles with severe anxiety and depression that's placed her under suicide watch. Manuela Escobar today remains in hiding and continues to live under the impending fear her identity will be discovered. Famous BirthdayIt's said that Manuela Escobar's fear around her true identity is that it will put her loved ones in jeopardy---similar to how her safety was in jeopardy all those years ago in her childhood.

Autistic Girl Has Higher IQ Than Einstein And Is Completing 2 Engineering Degrees
Everyday Heroes

Autistic Girl Has Higher IQ Than Einstein And Is Completing 2 Engineering Degrees

Adhara Pérez Sánchez is eight years old with a higher iQ than Einstein, and her accomplishments are destroying misconceptions about disabilities.An impressive lifeSanchez has gone through a lot in her young life, and she remains and an inspiration. At just eight years old, she is studying toward two engineering degrees, and her dream is to be a scientist and to become an astronaut at NASA.It’s been a struggle every step of the way, though. At three years old, Sanchez was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and at the age of four she had a seizure that nearly left her in a coma. The episode caused her to lose full use of her hands for a year and led to physical therapy."Still, she never gave up. In fact, she looked to one of her heroes for guidance. “Adhara followed the example of Stephen Hawking; she said that despite having a disability, that didn’t keep him from achieving great things. She will always admire him because she likes black holes.”NAYELI SÁNCHEZ, ADHARA’S MOTHER.Everything happens for a reasonThe family discovered that Adhara's seizures were caused by one hemisphere of her brain being more developed than the others. So, she was exceptional in TWO ways: autism and an incredibly high IQ. In fact, her IQ was found to be even higher than Einstein and Stephen Hawking. "Adhara was bullied in school, and kids thought she was 'weird,' but that too left her in good company. 'When Albert Einstein was young, they didn’t believe in him; they thought his ideas were foolish, but with time he proved them and that is the reason why Adhara likes this character,'" NAYELI SÁNCHEZOvercoming our limitations makes us strongerUltimately, what we perceive as our biggest limitations may end up being our strengths, and despite her “disability” this girl is headed for greatness. Who knows, maybe we will soon see the first teenage astronaut in space! More uplifting news: This Six-Year-Old Blind Piano Prodigy Taught Himself to Play “Bohemian Rhapsody” and Other Classic Covers by EarSingle Dad Adopts 13-Year-Old After He’s Abandoned At HospitalDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Warren Buffett, Melinda Gates and Sheryl Sandberg Agree This Advice Is Essential For a Lasting Relationship
Marriage

Warren Buffett, Melinda Gates and Sheryl Sandberg Agree This Advice Is Essential For a Lasting Relationship

Some of the richest, most powerful people in the world don’tcredit money and fame among the greatest value in life – but the moment theyfound their true love, and held onto them.Warren Buffett has seen a lot of success in his life, but to him, there’s only one moment that truly mattered.In the HBO documentary, "Becoming Warren Buffett,"he says of the "two turning points" in his life: "One when Icame out of the womb and one when I met Susie.""What happened with me would not have happened withouther," Buffettsaid of his first wife, who died in 2004.Love is important, and in fact, Buffett said the biggest decision in life will be who you choose to marry."You want to associate with people who are the kind ofperson you'd like to be. You'll move in that direction," Buffettsaid in a conversation with Bill Gates at Columbia University in 2017."And the most important person by far in that respect is your spouse. Ican't overemphasize how important that is."Bill Gates’ wife Melinda agrees.“If you choose to have a partner in life, whoever you chooseis probably the most important decision you make," she said during aconversation with Bill at a recent event. It's "even more importantthan what career you have, where you go to college, where you go to highschool."That doesn’t mean you are doomed if it takes you a while tomake that decision. "You can have a do-over. People do have a do-over withpartners in life, but it's easier to have a do-over in your job and to changecareers a lot than it is to change partners," she said. "So I say,try to pick very carefully and wisely."Facebook COO and author Sheryl Sandberg, whose late husband, Dave Goldberg, was the CEO of SurveyMonkey,also agrees. "I truly believe that the single most important career decision that a woman makes is whether she will have a life partner and who that partner is," she writes in her best-seller "Lean In.""I don't know of one woman in a leadership positionwhose life partner is not fully — and I mean fully — supportive of hercareer."As Gates put it at his recent New York City appearance: "You will affect a partner greatly in life and they will affect you."

How Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher Laugh Their Way Through Love
Love Stories

How Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher Laugh Their Way Through Love

Welcome to #RelationshipGoals, where we’re giving the stage to the power couples we admire. From admirable long-term relationships to inspirational newlyweds, these are the couples we love and hope to take cues from in our own relationships.Just after the release of her first major feature-film, Scooby-Doo, in 2002, Isla Fisher attended a party in Sydney, Australia.And, as fate would have it, a very peculiar character was visiting the very same party that day: the one and only Sacha Baron Cohen, at the time riding high off his fame starring as his character Ali G in the feature film Ali G Indahouse.Shortly after, the two began dating and just two years later were engaged to be married.But it took the next two years before the couple would be wed, which involved a big decision on Fisher’s part: converting to Judaism, Sacha’s religious upbringing.“I love the focus on family, food, and laughter,” she says of the Jewish tradition. “You know, I didn’t get to go to university because I’ve been acting since I was a kid. So, for me, studying theology was also fascinating. I love Judaism,” she said in an interview with The Express.For two years, Isla studied Judaism intensely before they finally wed in Paris shortly after Fisher’s conversion in a quiet ceremony in 2005.In fact, the ceremony was so small that only six people were placed on the guest list.“It [was] very important to me to have a beautiful ritual celebrated with my family and friends. And when you are in the public eye, to keep that private and to make it happen without it being really visible is really difficult,” said Fisher on keeping their wedding ultra-private.Why Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher are a true power coupleFourteen years later, the couple now has three children -- two daughters Elula and Olive and son Montgomery -- and is going as strong as ever.But splitting their time between London and Los Angeles isn’t easy.“Juggling a family in LA isn’t easy,” says Fisher, now 43. “There’s not really a culture of bringing your kids to dinner parties or to restaurants past 6pm. I tend to entertain at home because I want to be with my family – it’s easier to put your kids to bed and have a wine with friends.”As both parents and A-list actors, Sacha and Isla always keep their kids' privacy, protection, and well-being the number one priority."I’m lucky enough to be able to stay at home and be with my family," says Fisher. "I used to devour every script, but now I’m focused on my family life, which has brought me so much satisfaction in a deep way."But despite the devotion to their children, they always manage to find time for each other."Someone early on told me you have to have a date night every week and that is the best bit of advice I was ever given. I think it’s really important on that date night to talk about things other than the kids," she says, laughing. "It’s really hard...Honestly, I think communication is everything.""My husband only makes a movie every three years, so we’re together all the time," she says.Most recently, they worked together for the first time on Louis Leterrier’s comedy Grimsby alongside Penélope Cruz and Mark Strong.All the times they inspired us with their loveBeing married to Sacha Baron Cohen isn’t easy, as anyone would guess.As the face behind countless iconic satirical characters over the past two decades such as Ali G, Borat, and Brüno, Baron Cohen is not only famous but famously disliked for portraying controversial personas and tricking unsuspecting volunteers in his signature faux-documentary style.After tying the knot, Baron Cohen played Borat in his self-produced 2006 film and 2009’s Brüno, both controversial in their own right. Each film and Sacha’s consequent publicity appearances as each character attracted heaps of negative attention. And, in some cases, even death threats.Speaking on what a regular day was like being married to the man behind such sensational characters, Fisher told Telegraph, "Instead of asking, 'Are you going to pick up the dry cleaning?' I'd ask, 'Are we getting sued by somebody?' or, 'Is there a warrant out for your arrest?'”Fortunately, Baron Cohen doesn’t bring his characters home at the end of the day. "Oh my gosh, no," Fisher said when asked. "That would make life challenging. But he brings them home visually. I’ll see a handlebar moustache when he’s doing Borat, or he’ll have the blonde streaks from Brüno, his gay fashionista character."Despite the negative attention Baron Cohen’s characters have attracted over the years, the two seem unbreakable, laughing their way through it all.“It’s amazing,” said Fisher when asked about her marriage to Sacha. “It’s like winning the lottery, having a good partner.”Their biggest relationship takeawayFisher, who recently co-starred in the big screen comedy Tag with Jeremy Renner about a real-life game of tag that spanned three decades, and Baron Cohen who premiered his latest work, Who Is America?, on Netflix at the end of 2018, each continues to work.However, their dedication to their family and to each other, remains second to known, proving that fame doesn’t have to conflict with love."Choosing to be together every day is incredibly romantic. I love marriage. I think it's a wonderful institution and it's the most important decision you make," said Fished when interviewed by Australia's Sunday Telegraph. “Life is filled with highs and lows, and you have a best friend to share it with you.”Other inspiring love stories: How Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Prove Friendship Is the Strongest Base for LoveWhy John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s Relationship Offers An Incredible Lesson in Trust and SupportWhy Will and Jada Will Never Divorce – And What Their Commitment Can Teach Us

Jada Pinkett Smith Shares How Friendship Is Key to a Marriage’s Survival
Love Stories

Jada Pinkett Smith Shares How Friendship Is Key to a Marriage’s Survival

Jada Pinkett Smith is very honest and open about her private life,whether it’s on social media or her Facebook Watch series, Red TableTalk. She sometimes touches on topics a lot of celebrities areuncomfortable opening up about, such as recent video she posted about why it was wrong of her to prioritizing romantic love in her marriage to Will Smith."I had an epiphany the other day," Jada said in the post. "I had tocall Will and say, ‘You know what? I have to thank you for enduring myrage.’ It made me realize how durable love must be because we don’thave all the answers at the beginning. We go through life and we getthe answers as we go, and we can break things as we’re finding theanswer."This couple has been together a very long time, by Hollywoodstandards. They wed New Years Eve of 1997, and have had their shares of ups and downs along the way."I realized how unmet standards of romantic love often justified it toturn into a cold heart that many times can fuel hateful and brutalactions of revenge and manipulation towards someone you say or saidyou loved," she captioned the video on Instagram. "It actually may bethe only form of love you can fall OUT of.It takes more than romantic loveShe added: "At one point, my romantic standard of love was all thatmattered and if it wasn’t met…there was more than hell to pay. Myromantic standards were feeding my ego whether they were met or unmet. I experienced some very hard lessons (and continue to do so) that formed the decision that my ego and my heart could not share the same space.”For her, it was not romance, but kinship and friendship that madetheir marriage work. "It was the deciding factor to transform my unionto @willsmith from a marriage (contaminated with all the above) to alife partnership led by and steeped in 'devotional friendship,'" sheended the caption. "The only thing to do in life is to find the formof love where we can give the best of ourselves AND...it’s not alwaysgoing to look like you thought."

Why Oprah Winfrey and Boyfriend Stedman Graham Make A Strong Case for Unconventional Romance
Dating

Why Oprah Winfrey and Boyfriend Stedman Graham Make A Strong Case for Unconventional Romance

Welcome to #RelationshipGoals, where we’re giving the stage to the power couples we admire. From admirable long-term relationships to inspirational newlyweds, these are the couples we love and hope to take cues from in our own relationships.The year was 1986, the year Ferris Bueller took a day off, Kenny Loggins warned us of the Danger Zone, and The Oprah Winfrey Show exploded onto the daytime talk scene.But just before the debut of Oprah’s now legendary talk show, another memorable event occurred at a charity event in Chicago.It was here that one Stedman Graham, a former athelete and founder of the nonprofit Athletes Against Drugs, met Oprah Winfrey, a once aspiring newscaster and then relatively unknown host of the local talk show AM Chicago, sparking one of the most iconic -- and famously private -- relationships in modern history.Why Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham are a true power coupleOprah and Stedman’s relationship is considered by many as perhaps the most unconventional of high-profile relationships today.Ferociously private and refreshingly untraditional, from the very beginning they allowed each other to be who they were and grew to support one another’s endeavors without placing expectations on each other.It took nearly six years of dating, said Oprah in a 1992 interview with People, before Stedman started keeping "a toothbrush at my apartment.”By that time Oprah Winfrey had become just “Oprah” and was already America’s closest thing to royalty.But she didn’t let the fame go to her head, and Graham, a traditional man by all accounts, was nothing but supportive and encouraging of his strong and successful female partner along their journey, both keys to a relationship that would eventually span more than three decades.Through the years, they battled everything from tabloid rumors -- including a false story published in The Chicago Sun-Times about Graham’s falsly alleged affair, which was later redacted with an apology from the paper -- to a cancelled engagement and the media criticism that followed.In an interview with Access Hollywood, Oprah admitted considering marriage again after attending Tina Turner’s wedding to longtime partner Edwin Bach in July of 2013.“Because Tina was like, ‘Oprah, you need to do this. You need to do it.’ I was just thinking, ‘Well, OK, would things really be different?’ And no, I don’t think so.”Never one to follow the status quo, Oprah's union with Stedman has always been unconventional. Instead of fighting it, they’ve found their groove and are happier and stronger for it.She says that if she and Stedman had gotten married, it likely wouldn’t have worked out because of how unusual their relationship is in contrast with the expectations that go along with marriage.“If you ever interviewed him, he would tell you that had we married, we would not be together today,” said Oprah. “Because he’s a traditional man and this is a very untraditional relationship.”All the times they inspired us with their loveWhat has made Oprah and Stedman’s relationship from the beginning is perhaps even more Stedman himself than anything.Being a traditional man in a relationship with a woman as strong, wealthy, and successful as Oprah isn’t easy, but Stedman’s character shines when speaking about his longtime love.In a 2015 segment on Oprah’s Own network, Stedman opened up about his relationship to the icon."I want her to succeed and be as successful as she possibly can, so I encourage that," said Stedman. "That's not always an easy thing to do when you're a man in a relationship with a very powerful woman, and so, I'm not threatened by her fame or her success or her money or all of that -- that's who she is. It has nothing to do with how I define myself."And though the two rarely make public appearances with one another (one of the most famous talking points of their relationship, at least in terms of media coverage), Graham is always there when it really matters.Graham was there when Oprah received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 1998 Academy Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Barack Obama in 2013, and most recently when the HFPA presented her with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 75th Annual Golden Globes in January of 2018."Stedman, you're the sweetest man, with the greatest integrity," said Winfrey while accepting the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 1998 Oscars. "Thank you for helping me to be everything that I am, and all that is to come."Their biggest relationship takeawayOften, in relationships with strong personalities, when one person becomes successful it can create a rift between the two where resentment, jealousy, and anger form.It takes a certain kind of strength of character and dedication to one another for a relationship to work when this happens, such as in the case of Oprah’s meteoric rise to fame. But Oprah and Stedman don’t just make it work, they derive strength from pushing one another to realize their best self."It really amazes me that I got to be around a woman who changes people's lives every day and who also takes her own lunch to work," said Graham when he took the stage at Chicago’s United Center for the “Oprah Winfrey Surprise Spectacular”, a star-studded goodbye event to celebrate the end of Oprah’s iconic daytime talk show.He continued:I can't believe that a colored girl from the backwoods of Mississippi has done all that you have done. But what is really amazing is that you have done this through God's amazing grace. I love you for making the difference in my life.Winfrey echoed her love and appreciation for Graham in a 2008 interview with E! News stating, "I happen to be with a man who has always appreciated the fact that I was...considered a powerful person...[He's] not trying to crowd in on it, not competing with it. He knows how to hold his own."Other inspiring love stories: How Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Prove Friendship Is the Strongest Base for LoveWhy John Legend and Chrissy Teigen’s Relationship Offers An Incredible Lesson in Trust and SupportWhy Will and Jada Will Never Divorce – And What Their Commitment Can Teach Us

6 Light-Hearted Ways to Handle a Friend Who May Be Unintentionally Taking Advantage of You
Friends

6 Light-Hearted Ways to Handle a Friend Who May Be Unintentionally Taking Advantage of You

It’s nice to go out of our way to help our friends. But, where is the limit? Can you actually help too much? If you have a pal who is always asking for a favor and it’s becoming annoying, overly time-consuming or straight up off-putting, listen up: we’ve asked experts how to say no to them -- with tact, and respect to your friendship.Keep the message clear and conciseWhen posed with a request for a favor and you wish to decline, say so, but use decorum. There’s a difference between being direct and being nasty. “Validate the requester's need for help without being rude,” advises Susan Petang, a stress management coach with The Quiet Zone Coaching. “Keep repeating until they get the message using the ‘broken record’ technique.” RELATED: 5 Reasons Why It’s OK to Keep Turning Down Social Invites from Toxic FriendsKeep your emotions in checkAs in any conflict resolution, it's important to stay calm. “If you feel like you're getting too hot under the collar, postpone the discussion,” says Petang. It’s OK to tell your friend, "I'm getting angry because I feel you're not listening to me after I've said no.” Another valid way to handle it is by simply saying, “let's talk about this later when I'm calmer."Stand your groundInstead of tiptoeing around the issue to avoid hurt feelings, appeal to the actual friendship between the two of you, says Debra Carpenter, relationship manager with Sandpoint Idaho Real Estate. “Rely on that connection being strong enough to withstand your honesty about the situation, and respond immediately when asked for another favor,” she says. To show you care, smile, which demonstrates understanding, but stand your ground -- your own confidence in saying no is what will resolve the issue. Maintain your boundariesEstablishing and maintaining barriers with others can be difficult, especially when it’s a close friend or relative. “When someone is constantly asking for favors, they are overstepping boundaries that we may or may not have communicated,” says Jared Heathman, MD, a psychiatrist in Houston. If you want to complete the request asked of you and it does not overstep your boundaries, then do so. Try to help find a (realistic) solution If it is something specific they are always asking favors for, call out the elephant in the room, says Dr. Heathman. Let them know that you notice that they appear to be continuing to have trouble. Try to help solve the challenge. “Talk to them about the problem and see if you can problem-solve with them to end the long-term favor requests,” he says.RELATED READING:How Emotionally Intelligent People Handle Toxic People6 Ways to Build New, Meaningful Friendships as an Adult5 Signs You're Actually the Toxic One in a Friendship

Heartbreak

5 Reasons Why It’s OK to Keep Turning Down Social Invites from Toxic Friends

If there are friends in your life who sap the happiness out of your mood, it’s time to start the year off on a new foot. Take an inventory of these “happiness spoilers” and realize it is more than alright to turn down their invites to get together. Make plans with those who bring you up, instead of the toxic people who bring you down and your year will be a whole lot more fruitful.Here are some expert tips on how to do just that. Put yourself firstLose the guilt about putting yourself before others. “Putting yourself first is not a crime,” explains Emer Moloney, founder of thisisnotlifecoaching.com. “Depending on how you were raised and the values you live by, you may be conditioned to be a people pleaser and you may feel real guilt saying ‘no.’” Instead, visualize an evening doing the things you want to do, with the people you want to be with.RELATED: 5 Signs Your New Relationship Might Become ToxicRealize the value of your timeYour time is a limited and valuable asset. “Each second it passes you can never get it back, and giving time to friends you don't want to spend time with or who drain you and make your day less than what it would have been without them is literally giving away your most valuable asset for free to someone who you don't want to give it away to,” explains life coach Stacy Caprio. What's more, you can never get it back, she says. Instead, think about who is really a good friend and who is not -- and make those who are being a good friend to you a priority to see. Cut your stress triggers Living life is hard enough without the added stress and energy-drain of being around people who bring us down. “We must choose our inner circle of people carefully, because we need to have people in our life that make us feel safe, respected, understood,” says Natasha Sandy, a psychotherapist and female empowerment igniter in Toronto, Canada. “There are people in our lives who will be good friends forever, and there are others who will not, for all sorts of reasons.” Understand you’re evolving as a personWe are ever-growing and evolving beings, says Sandy. “As we mature and own our value, we also step into our power. Along with this empowerment comes a growing self-awareness in general, as well as a growing awareness of what we need from our friends and family,” she says. In owning and exercising this empowerment, Sandy says it becomes easier to ask for what we need, to state what we don’t like, and to nurture the relationships that matter, as well as stop putting effort towards relationships that bring us down.Respect yourself moreSandy says when we prioritize love and respect for ourselves we also prioritize giving and getting it from the people around us. “The more we exercise our spirit muscle of assertiveness, the easier it becomes to decline social invites from superficial, unhealthy or meaningless relationships,” asserts Sandy. “Alongside this, we should be shifting our energy and efforts towards nurturing the relationships that do matter. This makes for a better, more meaningful life and fuels our mental, emotional and spiritual health.”RELATED READING:What is Gaslighting and Could You Be Experiencing It?5 Signs You're Actually the Toxic One in a Relationship

Jada Pinkett Smith Shares Why She and Will Smith Don’t Celebrate Their Wedding Anniversary Anymore
Marriage

Jada Pinkett Smith Shares Why She and Will Smith Don’t Celebrate Their Wedding Anniversary Anymore

Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith got married on New Years Eve (many years ago!) and one would think that would be an amazing night to celebrate their anniversary each year – but it turns out they actually don’t!On a recent episode of Red Table Talk, Jada PinkettSmith addressed the topic of wedding anniversaries and she shared why her andWill no longer celebrate theirs. It comes down to the fact that it IS on NewYears Eve, and they have different ideas of how they like to spend the start ofa new year."Usually, Will on New Year’s likes to be in an adventure in the world somewhere. There’s no telling where he’s gonna be. I don’t wanna be out in the world. He now has the freedom [to] go and have an awesome adventure of some kind."RELATED: Why Will and Jada Will Never Divorce - and What Their Commitment Can Teach UsHowever, Jada prefers to stay in on NYE, and relax. "It's more a life partnership, so it's not steeped in that day. We don’t really celebrate that day anymore in that sense, because the context of our union is totally different."Will and Jada are one of our favorite couples because they are so comfortable in their lives together they are also able to nurture their lives as individuals. It's so powerful a statement and it's something inspirational we can all learn from!RELATED READING:3 Life-Changing Books That Inspired Will Smith to SucceedWill Smith Reveals the "Most Poisonous" Aspect of Marriage

Family

Here's All the Times Will Smith and His Family Made 2018 a Little Brighter Thanks to the Power of Social Media

We love Will Smith and his amazing family for many reasons, from how funny and entertaining they can be, to how inspiring and motivational they can also be. Recently Buzzfeed broke down a bunch of times this year that the family made the year even better, and here’s some moments we found uniquely inspiring! When Will and Ellen recreated the Fresh Prince! That adorably relatable time that Will celebrated after the Super Bowl! When Will poked fun at himself filming action sequences When Will did a parody of his son’s “Icon” video as a way of congratulating him on the huge streaming success Jada, Willow, and Adrienne’s amazing Facebook real-talk video series, Red Table Talk... When Will worked at Boots (why, again?) for a day and showed us he could be just like us Will’s #InMyFeelings challenge! That time Will amazed us by jumping out of a helicopter and streamed it on Youtube! Will and Jada have an inspirational marriage, and part of the beauty is that they never take themselves TOO seriously. Like this time he made fun of her outfit! When Will showed he is not too cool to learn a new thing, like salsa lessons with Marc Anthony! When Will showed us the REAL story behind The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air