Meet Our Contributors

(Enjoy individual videos of each of the contributors below the articles!)

Making Connections

by Sabrina Protic

Whatever your trials and tribulation are, one thing is for certain – you must find the inner strength to detach from the circumstances that you cannot change and find a new beginning. Sometimes we may find ourselves thinking, “maybe if I did this” or “maybe if I say that” I can get back what is lost. This is emptying thinking that leads to grief and more anxiety. It’s time to change the landscape in your life and build new connections, friendships, networks, and relationships.

When you begin building connections, it’s easier to start from the inside and widen out. By that, I mean starting with the people you are already connected to (and may not have talked to in a while).  I started with my friends, and through association, they helped me bridge out to meet other people. I even threw myself a “coming out” party and invited my new growing circle of friends.  It became clear to me that I would have to create my own path of starting over and growing a network was the key. I knew I wanted to find roots and keep busy

It became clear to me that I would have to create my own path of starting over and growing a network was the key. I knew I wanted to find roots and keep busy with people and projects that had depth and meaning. That meant it was time for me to build connections in the business community, where I could add value.

How does one do this? There is no shortage of networking groups that meet anywhere, anytime, in person or online. Find a group that matches your values and whose mission and visions you can embrace. Look for groups that fit your personality, yet encourage you to stretch your wings a little.  The goal is to build your community and essentially, your future world. Eventually, I founded my own network of women entrepreneurs called W.E.E., Women’s Entrepreneurial Empowerment. The mission of this organization is to create opportunities for women to expand their networks, develop relationships, grow their businesses and engage in community enrichment.  Read More...

The Toxic Affects of Alcohol
by Dina Arvanitikas

Excessive consumption of alcohol on a regular basis damages the liver and the brain.  Regular consumption of alcohol can lead to Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency because it inhibits the absorption of Vitamin B1.[1] Vitamin B1 is important because it is necessary for all the tissues in the body.  It is also critical for certain enzymes in the brain that enable the synthesis of neurotransmitters. 

Persistent alcohol abuse will damage the brain.  One form of damage is known as “wet brain” a/k/a Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome which can morph into encephalopathy or psychosis.[2]  Symptoms can include loss of mental activity resulting in coma and/or death, confusion, loss of acuity, loss of muscle coordination, muscle weakness, loss of memory, and vision problems.  When psychosis sets in, people can experience visual and auditory hallucinations, the inability to create new memories, and severe memory loss.  Wet brain is not curable, thus it is important to refrain from alcohol abuse and monitor your vitamin B1 levels.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines heavy alcohol use as more than four drinks for men and more than 3 drinks for women a day.  The NIAAA defines binge drinking as patterns of drinking alcohol that elevate blood alcohol concentration to 0.08%. For men, that translates to five or more drinks within 2 hours; and for women, four or more drinks within the same time period. Read More...

Women and The Power of Influence:
How are You Showing Up?

by Loretta Monroe Calvin

It is a long-standing fact that over the years, women have held a prominent position in the home, in positions of power a high level of trust and influence. As I reflected on my own childhood, I was blessed to be in a two-parent home, where my dad served as the main breadwinner, the primary source of income. My mother was an at-home parent until the last of four children finished grade school. When the last of us finished grade school she worked part time to supplement daddy’s income, but she always put her family above everything else. She kept a spotless home, always home cooked meals and was clearly someone who my dad looked up to for making hard decisions. I can recall many nights hearing them discuss budget, major purchases or creating action plans for our family. Almost always, my dad looked to my mother for the “right decisions”.  

As we got older, and decisions were being made at a higher level about college decisions, and other important things, house renovations – my mother was the person he looked to for any final decisions that they made together. I sensed it was because she would ask some challenge questions, scenario based (“what if”?), almost always my dad would say “This is why I always make sure I get your input”.

While the early years of women in the workplace may not have been as welcoming for many, as time progressed and more women began to prepare for a variety of positions in multiple careers, women began to slowly gain a presence among those making decisions and in positions of power. With the increased role and influence of women across a myriad of professions the power of influence began to show up in the workplace, in the board room, on the sports field, in the medical field, doctors, lawyers, scientists, engineers, architects, educators – women began to penetrate, lead and drive decisions. Most recently, we witnessed at the pinnacle of this history, the appointment of the first women as Vice President of the United States! Read More...

Nurturing You:

Seasons and Change
by Dr. Leita J. Harris

How timely that I am launching this column at the change of seasons - definitely not an accident. Spring happens to be my favorite season for so many reasons. As I reflect on some of the simple meanings of what SPRING represents it breathes life into me and I hope into you as well: newness, rejuvenation, awakening, new life, breaking forth, change for the better, new Birth, new Beginnings, etc. I taught in our Women’s Sunday School class this past Sunday that it is so incredible how “seeds” are buried that will spring forth when the time is perfect. Seeds represent potential. Seeds cannot be planted in soil that will not be nurturing nor can it be planted at the wrong time or it will fail.

The change of seasons can also be applied to seasons of our life and as a medical doctor who specializes in the care of women, the “seasons” can be applied to different decades of life. Each decade brings a new set of “challenges” for our health and wellness and it is imperative that we are aware of this and make every effort to be proactive in managing it. Think about you in your 20’s vs the 30’s vs 40’s, 50’s, etc. literally a whole new set of conditions that can involve our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual being.

Merriam Webster defines “Nurture” as “to supply with nourishment, to educate, to further the development of”. Cambridge dictionary adds: “to take care of, feed, and protect someone or something” (and I like this one) “to help a plan or a person to develop and be successful.” YES! Nurturing is decisive, it is a plan for success. My passion is to assist women (and men) to live their optimal lives, full of vitality, energy, wellness, purpose, fervor and this takes a PLAN. It is very intentional and as we like to say, does not happen by accident. Read More...

Vitamin D and Zinc

by Southeast Compounding Pharmacy

Perhaps best known for its functions relating to bone growth and strength, vitamin D has many other surprising benefits. Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, is naturally produced by your body when your skin is exposed to sunlight. However, it is important to ensure your body is receiving adequate levels of vitamin D through eating certain calcium rich foods and taking supplements.

Vitamin D was discovered in the early 20th century when people began to notice that rickets (softening and weakening of the bones in children was becoming more and more common in the winter months in northern locations as it become more common for children to work in factories or go to school instead of working outdoors in fields.

It was noticed that children who took cod liver oil regularly very rarely got rickets, and as we know now cod liver oil is extremely rich in vitamin D. People who do not have have the necessary levels of vitamin D in their body are at risk of developing bone abnormalities such as osteoporosis (fragile bones) or osteomalacia (soft bones).

Recent studies have also shown that vitamin D is also important for preventing disease, such as heart disease and the flu, as we get older. Vitamin D has also been known to play a role in helping symptoms of depression and mood regulation. A recent study also showed that vitamin D can be beneficial if you're trying to lose weight when a group of people regularly taking vitamin D supplements were able to lose more weight than a group of people taking a placebo supplement. In an era where most of us work and go to school indoors, vitamin D deficiency is becoming more common, especially in children. Therefore ensuring your vitamin D levels are where they should be by taking supplements or eating a careful diet is very important. Read More...

The Sharper Woman Newsletter is a resource to help women live longer, younger, stronger, and smarter lives utilizing the power of information.

Sabrina Protic

Financial Coach

Founder of Ageless Techniques

Dina Arvanitakis, ESQ., LL.M

Alg Law Real Estate Attorney

Founder of Feel and Look Fabulous

Loretta Monroe Calvin MSBS

 CEO & Chief Strategist of Monroe Strategic Business Solutions, LLC  

Dr. Leita J. Harris, Gynecologist

Owner of Nurturing You Health & Wellness