Barriers -- A Community Art Installation

August 18, 2016
RED FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that are currently very present and difficult):
• “When I was at The Swim Team Finals I was sad because I almost made it to LA84 but I go DQ’d on Breast Stroke. I was very sad. Hopefully, next year I will make it to LA84.”
• “I am scared to talk in front of the class, because I think I will be made fun of.” – Ana Bush
• “My 5 AM Alarm Clock will be over come by the Snooze Button. I will Rise against greater odds to start my day.”
• “the journey of becoming a mother”
• “My other half & Finances – effected emotionally & we are working it out by communicating & coming to our senses.” – Anonymous
• “Watching my selfless mother care for her 2 sisters with dementia breaks my heart. The endless hours she gives, only to watch them slowly die. I am feeling helpless. All I want is to ease pain. I love you mom.” – Monica Rose

YELLOW FLAGGING TAPE
 (representing Barriers that are currently present but being managed or addressed):
• “My life seemed to have ended when his ended (Georgie) but come to find/He opened that cultural bias wall of homosexuality/With out George a lot of family avenues would not have opened.”
• “I desire to be mindful. To be free of my past, which no longer exists, to be free from my future, which not yet exists. Breathing in, I am aware of my in breath, breathing out, I am aware of my out breath, Breathing in, breathing out, I am my breath, I am present, I am home.”
• “Mental Health is invisible to the eye but is real and can be seen. Never compromise your health. Take the journey. The hard experience is a golden trophy.” -Aneirous Grey “WE ARE MAGIC WOMEN• AWAKENING TO OUR UNTAPPED POWER”
• “I am working on overcoming my shyness, I have been talking more, but not very much.” –Ava//13

GREEN FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that have been overcome):
• “Got diagnosed with MS when I all of a sudden could barely walk or feed myself or drive my son to school. But found a Holistic Dr. who helped me & I have no more symptoms” J There is always hope, even if it is not seen in the regular routes. I can now run & drive & feed other people who cannot feed themselves J Many Blessings”
• “becoming the girl strong enough to go to college and travel far lengths to chase my dreams”
  •  “Today was my first day of school and I thought I would not make any friends at a new school so I was nerves but I made a friend on the first day.” – M. Lynch, 9 years
• “I put my own barrier on my life after losing my parents. I won’t be held back anymore. Life – Forward – Adventure”
• “Love Helping People Become Financially Independent, Debt Free, Live out their Dreams. Love God & Help Others achieve their Dreams AND Goals”
• “an assault is a way of learning resilience and knowing I am part of a larger tribe of strong, beautiful, people”
• “THE BRAZILIAN CINDERALLA’S MiRACLES Book By/ABOUT “MiRANDA CUNHA – Season 11 America’s Got Talent - @THEMirandaCUNHA – Facebook – THE Miranda CUNHA – FAN PAGE – OVERCOME – ALL LiFes CHALLENGES – THRU MiRACLES – AND SMALL MINDED PERSONS MiSCONCEPTIONS OF ME! FORGIVENESS iS My Remedy! Abrigada ADEUS! XOXO BRAZIL”
• “Smiles bring Smiles”

July 29 2016 
RED FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that are currently very present and difficult):
​​​•“Long Distance Relationship”
• “My friend and I were going down a slide. I busted my lip. But we are fine J” – Olivia
• “One of my struggles is family: I hope one day (sooner) we will be a whole again. Fam over everything.”
• “I want my friend to stop bullying me.”
• “Diabetes”   “Politically Correct”
• “Keeping our heads held high during any obstacle, staying positive even when we can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, knowing family is everything and to be grateful for all our blessings, pushing forward and staying strong. Always fight and never give up!”

YELLOW FLAGGING TAPE
 (representing Barriers that are currently present but being managed or addressed):
• “I am working through my anxiety. I’m also working on making friends.”
• “My barriers es tenerlos mas pasiencia a mis hijos.”
• “I have been shy my whole life to the point I find it difficult to even look people in the eye if I did not know them. This is something I work on all the time but it is still prevalent in my life. I work everyday + struggle but I make progress. And don’t quit.” – 37 year old mom of 4
• “Bring my family to a new country is a challenge for us.”
• “SOMETIMES IT’S HARD TO STAY POSITIVE WHEN BUREAUCRACY, RED TAPE, INERTIA, HIERARCHY, BIAS, PREJUDICE, FEAR AND OFFICIALISM KEEP GOOD WORK FROM HAPPENING.”
• “I’m scared of scary movies but I sit and wait and if anything comes I’ll know.” – Ashen, 9
• “I used to not eat any lettuce but now I do.” – Daniel Peterson
• “14% Undecided”
• “College Dropout”
• “Getting in shape – Making healthier choices”
• “I am still trying to do bars in gym” – Ava: 8
• “I am doing better in math.”
• “computer typing”
• “Hi, my name is Adrian. I am working on soccer.” – 6 years old
• “have faith all will be fine if you have trust in him”
• “You’ll overcome it!! Have Faith!”
• “I learned how to read” – James, 6
• “Put things in perspective. If you just concentrate on your toughest challenge, then your way will become clear. Never give up! Never surrender.”
• “Getting more folks to vote Democratic.”
• “Riding my bike isn’t easy. I’m getting better.” -6 (years old)
• “Not everyone is Democratic!!”
• “I’ve had a hard time at school every day.” – Emmanuel E., 7
 
GREEN FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that have been overcome):
• “My teenage daughter would not talk to me about her feelings. She always shut me out L I tried being her friend, her confidant. Nothing was working. Finally I poured my heart out and told her she has no choice & needs to let me know because I love her with all my heart. I said ‘I don’t care if you say you are mad at me, just say something.’ Persistency broke down the wall & we are now closer than we have ever been J”
• “I have conquered freshman year of high school.”
• “One hard thing that I learned was swimming because one time when I was four I drowned in my pool but I’m thankful my big brother saved me.” – Makayla
• “Creating my own business, seeing it thrive, and then losing it due to a collapse in the economy”
• “Had an inspiration and aspired to open my own agency, obstacles such as consistency, designing a business proposal are two of which I overcame! I am now a business owner!”
• “I imagine everything.” – Grayson, 6
• “I’ve spent large portion of my life in a foreign country that has low standards of living and that is full of people that speak a language I don’t understand. A lot of my time I was frustrated that I didn’t feel part of the culture that surrounded me. It took a while for those feelings to dissipate, but once it did, I was surprised to find myself enjoying experiencing being “stuck” in a country that I never felt was my own. Looking back, I wish I made more of it in the beginning as I did in the end.”
• “Haber venido a un nuevo pais y aprender las costumbres y el idioma.”
• “COMING TO THE U.S.A. FROM MEXICO AT 8 YRS. OLD, I Learned English In Less than 1 yr. Have Lived here since 1988. America makes dreams come true!”
• “rock climbing was hard” “Moving to A New Area”
• “My family moved to a new home but at least we had gotten a pool.  ‘Splish’ ‘Splash’” – Michelle Mena
• “I was able to overcome the obstacle of abuse in marriage and this made me a stronger person.”
• “Overcame the birth of my daughter by natural labor. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. And my daughter is absolutely beautiful!“
• “I Single Mom” J+ J = We Got this J”
• “Being Left Out At School-“
• “I got an A in school.” – Maddie, 10
• “When I went off to college I had to return home to attend a different school. I worked 3 jobs to pay for my degree while in school. It took me 6 years to finish! But I did it! And I’m proud of myself. On to the next! I start my Master’s in Social Entrepreneurship & Change in September!”
• Danae, 10 years old -“My barrier was get A+ on almost all subjects in school this showed me I was smart enough to do anything this affected me in a good way I feel verrrryyy!!!! proud. It change me by having confidence It altered my life BUT I DID IT”
• “Husband with Health Issues – Diabetes – Cancer” “Daughter & Grandchildren Living Out of State”
• “I used to learn how to be friends with Brooklyn, but not anymore” –Bella, 9 years old
• “My friend could do a back flip into the pool. So I asked her to teach me. I was really scared, but she convinced me to try it step by step. After finally overcoming my fear, I did it over and over and over again.”
• “I accomplished being a great soccer player.”
• “I have overcome hours of hard work and being in the gym to be a freshman on varsity!”
• “I have conquered pirouettes on pointe in ballet.”
 

July 21 2016 
RED FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that are currently very present and difficult):
• “I lost an amazing friend last week to a car crash. R.I.P. JJ Adkisson Forever a talented amazing human. Miss you.”
• “THERE’S NO SHORTCUT TO ANYWHERE WORTH GOING…”
• “My sister has sudden mental issue. It requires lots of talking to her, she has (a) hard time expressing herself. Words are labored. She can’t work, family has to take care of financials. Most of all, it is sad to see her unable to participate in life.”
• “I am struggling with having confidence!”
• “Something that (is) stopping me from getting my life together is my financial problems not having a job”
• Daveoo Owwak – “HOMEWORK”
• “I have a hard time asking for money for my business especially with people with people I know.”
• “Something that (is) stopping me from getting a job is that I don’t go(t) my ID”
• “MEDICAL RETIREMENT – NEW CAREER – AVOID ANOTHER SURGERY”
• “My greatest barrier all my life has been anxiety. Fear has prevented me from enjoying life to the fullest. I go through periods of management and I can accomplish great things. But then the anxiety strikes back and I am frozen.”
• “I am having trouble overcoming selfishness. I am stubborn and try to do everything myself. I have a tendency to run from my problems. I know I can overcome.”
• “Relationship problem, unhealthy and taking my health and happiness, being unhappy and not doing anything about it. Need to be strong enough to change my life, choose to be happy and get out of this relationship.”
• “I am looking forward + would like to remove barriers for a stress free life.”
• “I’M ANGRY WITH THE PERSON WHO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME, BUT WILL OVERCOME THIS STRUGGLE. HE WILL NOT CONTROL ME. THIS DOES NOT DEFINE ME.”
• “I have been limited by a sexual violation. This has been the barrier from having a healthy intimate relationship but I am working through this obstacle. I am trying to love deeply without limitations. I deserve the freedom!”
• “How do we become human? How do we mend and heal the violence we inflict on one another? How do we heal our planet and transcend greed and possessiveness? How do we escape capitalism? How do we become better ancestors for future generations? How do we stop committing genocide? How do we move beyond today’s limitations? We must remember the past, imagine the future.”
• “I Want to stop worrying about politics   Going to meet my Father”
• “CO-EXIST”
• “Stop Police Brutality!!!!”
YELLOW FLAGGING TAPE
 (representing Barriers that are currently present but being managed or addressed):
• “Overcoming Chronic Pancreatitis & Lupus”
• Audrey Millner 8 “I love to do dance! I love the splits. I used to be able to do all three but I stopped doing them. So now I can’t do them. So now I’m work(ing) torts that.”
• “The idea of life’s impermanence, the law of entropy; nothing lasts forever. That one day, everyone and everything you know will be gone. As will you.”
• “I love to sing but I have trouble singing in front of people but I have gotten more comfortable…” By: Ireland Tremonti
• “I am learning to be alone. I was in a relationship for 25 years…I am loving myself now.”
• “Making Relationships Count – Opening My heart to Others and Letting Them In.”
• “being goaley I am (going to) get good at it”
• “Myself. I am my strength and my glory. I am my poison. I am my own Achilles heel. My light has had its triumphs. So has my dark. I and I.”
• “My fear of Dr.s      I hope to relax on future visits”
• “I WILL CONTINUE TO WALK AT RELAY FOR LIFE OF SANTA CLARITA VALLEY UNTIL THERE IS A CURE FOR CANCER! I WILL FIGHT FOR A WORLD WITH MORE BIRTHDAYS.”
• “I WILL WALK, I WILL FIGHT, I WILL KICK CANCER’S ASS! I WILL REALY FOR LIFE. I WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LOVE ONE’S LIFE. #CANCERSUCKS #RELAYFORLIFE #MELODYANN.”
• “Husband’s drinking à currently not drinking”
• “I’m limiting myself. Currently I’m stuck in a rut and only have myself to blame. It’s funny how comfortable we can be in our discontent. It’s good to write this out and acknowledge it.” – Anonymous Young Woman in a quarter life crisis
• “The imminent misunderstanding of the human condition.”
• “Having a positive outlook on life.”
• “I can’t drive 55. I don’t want to be 50. Go Go Poke Mon Go! XXOX Eat Pray love Why get Sober When Your gonna get drunk again(?)”
• J MATEO

GREEN FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that have been overcome):
• “This year my husband’s company had a very severe crisis, and we just had a baby. The situation made us so stressed. But we didn’t give up. We tried as best as we can for each other, for our cute son. It’s a blessing that we have good nice friends there for us and helped us pass through the hard time. It’s a blessing that we have the cutest boy to sooth us after a hard day!”
• “I tried hard to pitch 50 mph and I finally did.”
• “My sister moved 2,500 miles away to Michigan • Moving to a new school where I didn’t know anybody • My dog died • I overcame these because 1. I still get to text & call my sister, 2. I made new friends, 3. I got new dogs and I still miss Mabel but I learned to live without her.”
• “At first my grandmother died. I have learned that I don’t have to hide or be sad. She is now better, no pain. I love her.”  - 12, Shelby K.
• “After years of telling people I love myself, I finally mean it.”
• “I was so scared of doing a front walkover but I overcame my fear and did it I was so proud of myself!” - Brooklyn Tremonti
• “Overcoming cultural differences to marry my soul mate”
 
July 16 2016 
RED FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that are currently very present and difficult):
• “I took care of my aging mother for years. I helped her learn how to walk & talk again after her stroke. She recovered beautifully as if nothing had happened. She just passed away peacefully in the night 2 years later – her birthday is next week. She would have been 90. What do I do now?”
 • “Deciding what I want to do next in my career while getting closer to the Lord and my family.”
• ”I have trouble raising my hand.”
• “Gun Violence: I gladly give up my right to the 2nd Amendment if it means that it will save a life. Where does your right to life begins and end and mine begin? Thou shall not kill = this is my 2nd Amendment”
• “With all the technology for communication – Why can’t we speak to each other?”
• “MY MOM IS THE BOMB!!”
• “The levels of violence in the world right now is so very disturbing and I’m hoping that we will stop tolerating it and find a way to evolve beyond it.”
• “Keiro Belle”
YELLOW FLAGGING TAPE
 (representing Barriers that are currently present but being managed or addressed):
•  “Working through self doubt in my career – I am continuing to practice being kinder to myself J”
• “moving from fear to faith”
• “Overcoming Depression and Anxiety”
• “My anger + depression has always been a big problem for me that I’m slowly overcoming one day at a time.” – Panda
• “Sin in general        Being anxious                        Sexual temptation     getting in shape        Understanding that everything I own is not truly mine, It belongs to Christ, even my body is not my own, it is His. One day I will have to give this body up, and I will be judged by me obedience.”
• “After spending over a decade letting people tell me my voice should be silenced & my opinion is not important I am finally finding my voice. My opinion matters. My voice matters. I matter. Overcoming the fear & anxiety of owning my identity.”
• “3 years of unemployment!! – Patience & perseverance will help – With God’s help I will survive – perhaps this is my resting period”
• “The stress of change when we have no say on the change and it seems those who make the decisions don’t care how their decisions affect others.”
GREEN FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that have been overcome):
• “Having others tell me what I should do for a living when their suggestion is not something I would have enjoyed doing. I didn’t do what they wanted and I enjoy my job. J”
• “I like to play at my house. I love when my family take me places. I love my family!”
• “Cancer happened out of nowhere – there was no history in the family – I drove myself to my treatments – Doctors gave me the knowledge – God gave me strength. I’m here & healthy after 20 years.”
• “I am so grateful for all my Blessing. My Business my Family and everything I have overcome By the Grace of God!!!”
• “I have overcome my fear of giving birth!”
• “Stage 3 Cancer Survivor, Healed marriage. Love Unconditional Love from God”
• “ACCEPTED & MOVED PAST ANGER OF LOSING FAMILY MEMBER TO CANCER AND TURNED IT INTO MOTIVATION FOR MY ART.”
• “ONCE, I wanted to go to a karaoke party, and IT GOT canceled.”
• “We must al deal with the barrier that is mortality. The veil that exists between this world and what lies beyond is probably the ultimate mystery. Lots of us make stories about exists beyond, but we’ll not know until we pass through ourselves. Witnessing a death is a deeply profound experience that permanently changes how you relate to your life.”
• “Passed my hardest class the school year. Lost 20 pounds from last summer.”
• “I Learned to Swim.” - Ellie
 
July 9 2016 
RED FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that are currently very present and difficult):
• “Alzheimers”
• “Balancing family & work.”
• “Air pollution, physical injuries, distance”
• “All I WANT TO DO is RELAX…Stop Thinking…Stop obsessing. And just Live.”
•”WE NEED TO UNITE WORLD-WIDE FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION TO SURVIVE     SUSTAIN LIFE     ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS    GLOBAL UNITE     EXTINCTION”
• “I CONSTANTLY THINK ABOUT MY DOG AND HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM. I AM NOT SURE WHAT I AM GOING TO DO WHEN THE DAY COMES THAT HE IS NO LONGER ABLE TO ENJOY HIS LIFE. I FIND MYSELF DWELLING IN WHAT I AM GOING TO DO WITHOUT HIM! I WANT TO ENJOY HIM WHILE HE IS HERE AND NOT THINK ABOUT LIFE WITHOUT HIM. I LOVE YOU SHICKERDOONE. YOU TAUGHT ME LOVE!!”
• “Health issues have been a struggle (?) It (?) Family & friend have helped me move forward.”
YELLOW FLAGGING TAPE
 (representing Barriers that are currently present but being managed or addressed):
•  “My son (13) has ODD, ADHD, Mood Disorder and tried to kill my stepson last year. Our lives have been turned upside down, but we are starting to see the light and enjoy life again. It gets easier.”
• “Crucial Conversations… Rising Strong” – KB
• “Professional Problems”
• “STUDYING TO PASS TEST, PERSONAL STRUGGLE”
• “Swimming AND Balancing” – DYAMI
• “I Want To Stay Home   Be myself”
• “Getting out of my own way. Stepping out of the box. Fear of the unknown. Taking on new challenges. Open my heart to giving LOVE. Open my heart to receiving LOVE!
• “Seeking understanding about self-worth & success, realizing that God-given Privilege to love & serve others is enough, eternity cannot be found in one’s income or accomplishments or reputation”
• “A barrier I have faced is instead of finding my identity + worth in my education, gender, appearance, mind + accomplishments; I have been learning to lose myself in the person of Jesus Christ + His death + love for me. In God, my identity in all these things no longer defines me; yet all of them b/c richer things b/c I do not have to suck my worth from them, but can enjoy them as a part of how God made me.”
GREEN FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that have been overcome):
• “My knee was painful – osteoarthritis. After knee replacement surgery, it took months to be able to walk without a cane. But now I can walk 40 minutes a day. Thanks be to God!”
• “Reead” – Caleb Boek, age 6
• “Health problems   Alcoholism      Family”
• “I overcame my sin! Praise God Galatians 2:20”
• “I use to trouble speaking to people I was very Anti-social. I was able to pass that barrier by going out more. I am very social now and have a lot of friends now.”
• “Overcome Poverty”
• “GOD BLESS America – LAND OF THE FREE, HOME OF THE BRAVE! ONE NATION UNDER GOD”
• “Continuing school even when I lacked the motivation. Also my BF joining the Air Force. And us being able to stay together.”
• “We overcame unemployment and emotional difficulties by the grace of God! Romans 8:28”
• “Cancer survivor    Praise God for good medical care and family and friends support!!!”
 
July 7, 2016 
RED FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that are currently very present and difficult):
• “I am working on my English as it is my second or foreign language. I hope it improves each day. It’s hard to understand the message from other English speaker. I am continuing to learn it better… J
• “I have some issues that made me feel bad. Now I’m full time mom and housewife and my husband works a lot so I don’t have time and money to do better and relax. That made me gain weight and stress a lot. With a chronic pain in my back that made me feel crazy. Family away in other country and no having residence made me sad L I need to accept it.”
• “Second Hand Smoke Kills! Smokers, tobacco & marijuana, need to understand their smoke kills. I have never smoked but now must fight to live a healthy life despite the damage done by smokers. Don’t smoke in No Smoking areas. The damage from it hurts and kills innocent people. My kids have had to watch me suffer, because others choose to smoke.”- A mom. A friend. A daughter. A person who fights to live everyday.
• “Swimming Classes” – Ciro age 7 2016
•””HELP THE OPPRESSED! END THE POLICE STATE! BLACK LIVES MATTER! PRO-CHOICE! WOMENS RIGHTS!”
• “ I love animals and nature and I feel that they are not respected enough. Animals should not be kept in cages and trees should not be cut down. People should only buy rescued animals to save their lives. If you buy a specifically breeded animal, you are basically killing an animal because those animals in kennels won’t have a home. And nature and trees are being cut down. Houses don’t have to be huge. So recycle and help save nature.”
• “Living in a world in which a young black man can get shot while complying with police officers during a routine traffic stop. It’s discouraging. It makes me feel helpless and powerless. I want to help, to stop it, but feel powerless. It makes me angry.”
YELLOW FLAGGING TAPE
 (representing Barriers that are currently present but being managed or addressed):
•  “Facing racial inequality in the face in modern times is an obstacle I/we face everyday. I constantly am watching the conversation and work to add a positive voice to the negative narrative. Working for a better tomorrow takes ‘work’.”
• “I had a very negative outlook in life. I was impatient, irritable, and angry all the time. Since then I was hospitalized and sought professional help. I have begun taking care of myself and learned to forgive, love my husband, and found some peace and happiness. My journey of healing has begun and things are going well. Much much better. I’m learning to live again. God has been watching over me. I am truly grateful to be alive J “
• “Struggle to Listen with full attention”
GREEN FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that have been overcome):
• “I got minecraft. I went to San Francisco. I went to a minecraft village.” – Ciro 2016

July 2, 2016 
RED FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that are currently very present and difficult):
• “Committing the Time to Myself to live a healthy life. To eat a vegie based diet, exercise, + meditate. To make my self-care a priority.”
• “Sometimes we get in our own way on our journey to success and happiness, I am learning to trust myself and my decisions, have more confidence in myself. I am working to believe in myself because you have to believe to succeed.”
• “I Struggle with opening up To other People close to me. Very Difficult To Show Feelings”
• “Fear of making Mistakes. I’m tired of limiting Myself. I Know I have a lot OF Power within me I just need to believe” – Tanner Underwood
YELLOW FLAGGING TAPE
 (representing Barriers that are currently present but being managed or addressed):
• “PARENTING A TEEN”
• “I’m Making a Mid-life Career Change. I have sold Awards, Trophies & Treasures and have started over with my new business ESTIN Promotional Products. It’s Working!!!”
• “I’M LEARNING TO BE A PATIENT MOTHER OF TWINS”
• “Health care is a great + needed institution in our lives. Unfortunately it is a very unavailable thing to many people. Why are there so many people willing to help But so few ways to obtain it?”
• “My mother’s death from Pancreatic Cancer. I love you Mom”
• “PTSP IRAQ WAR”
• “Balancing the responsibilities of being a wife and mother with my own creative and career goals and needs.”
• “Growing up I had a learning disability called aphasia, which is like dyslexia but with verbal comprehension and verbal coordination, and if affects remembering the correct order of sequences like that of a recipe. I went through 10 years of speech therapy and awkward social moments. As an adult, I don’t notice it as much now, except for when I am learning a new recipe! To overcome it, I strengthened my visual memory and enjoy experiencing art and creating art.” – Diana Kado
• “I have overcome being stuck in one place”
GREEN FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that have been overcome):
• “Losing my job was the greatest blessing in disguise. God is good. Less stress in my life & room for a new baby!”
• “I had a hard time reading and seeing so I started to read more and got better then we went to the doctor and got my eyes checked. And I got Glasses : ) . Also, I got better with my grammar!” - Bailey Roberts 12 years old
• ”I am looking for a job with benies!!”
• “I earned my Master’s Degree!”
• “God Bless America”

June 25, 2016
RED FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that are currently very present and difficult):
• “Staying Calm”
• “Overcoming Poverty”
• “EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN”
• “Trying to Find Host Home for Students Fear, of others, change, selfish, busy”
• “Balancing my needs  + that of my family. Having to put school  + work on hold. Finding enough time in the day to fulfill everything I want to do. Balancing time + budgets + hobbies + infancy + quality time + education + down time + rest. Not enough hours in the day.” – Santa Clarita mother
• “TV kept me from doing first things first.” –Zachery Jequinto Age 9
• “Living a life most would love, find fulfilling, and be proud of, all the while, hating it and wanting for a simple life in nature. A life farming and in the woods with no care for modern problems or issues.”
YELLOW FLAGGING TAPE
 (representing Barriers that are currently present but being managed or addressed):
• “I HAD A STROKE 2 MONTHS Ago & WORKING THROUGH IT”
• “The Direction of my career is not what I planned so I am making steps to change it. I am not allowing the negativity to get me down.”
• “Recently I let go of a job that was holding my business back. After 7 yrs. of commuting to LA and dealing with poor mgt. and not enough hrs. and low end pay. I was too comfortable. I am excited to let it go and start new adventures/endeavors. Time to explore and organize and find a new path. I Feel Free!”
• “Our family has gotten used to expensive things, like big vacations, eating out often. Now we are working on making more frugal choices, so we can appreciate making meals together, having picnics, and enjoy simpler vacation time together. This also makes us less dependent on keeping two big salaries, which gives us more freedom!”
•  “I often feel that I am my own barrier. I tend to procrastinate with things I need to get done. I also tend to not work as hard as I need to. However, in the end I tend to motivate myself to try my best.”
• “Getting back into a career as a middle aged woman, nervous about competing with much younger people.”
GREEN FLAGGING TAPE
(representing Barriers that have been overcome):
• “I was very shy as a youth. I wanted everyone to like me. I realized that was not possible and the only opinion that really mattered was my own. I found that most people like me after all and those that didn’t, didn’t need to affect me. Now most people would never guess that I was once shy.”
• “Overcoming limitations from mental illness, working hard with support from Drs., friends, and family; finally emerging from it and finding life again”
• “I Feel HAPPY AND Free THaNKS TO MY Job AT FARMeRS MARKet I SeLL HOMeboy BReAd”. Steve  : ) : ) : )
• “After working the Ivy League at Penn I was miserable and had no time for my family, God or myself. So I made the decision to leave, leave my prestigious job, titles etc. and move to California and work part time. I have lived here for 2 months and I Love it!!!! I am so happy, my family and young children are so happy I am making WONDERFUL friends and participating in community art projects – my BEST is going to my family, friends and church and my job – This makes me happy and at peace.” Chileshe Price
• “Our twins were born prematurely. We had to go to the NICU at a hospital in another town. The kids needed physical therapy and one needed to go to Children’s Hospital. After years of challenges they are now healthy. We are so thankful.”
• “I was struggling with my back handspring in gymnastics and I just couldn’t understand what I was doing wrong. So 1 week after that day I ran through it slowly and I realized that I kept placing my hands wrong and I barely was jumping. After that I tried it again and fixed my mistakes and I did it! Now I can do it!!!!” J J J
• Math was my worst subject but now it is my best subject
• “My barrier at work is dealing with people with strong opinions and set in their ways. It forced me to overcome my shyness and hesitancies and deal with people. By having courage to confront fear, I was able to understand others to best deal with their personalities. As a result, I have gained a mutual respect between myself and my coworker…” Paul J.
• “AT THE MOMENT I’M ON A HIGH - I’M IN LOVE & OBSTACLES HAVE NOT LASTED: HOUSE HUNTING – DONE! WORK TRANSFER – EASY! MOVE & PACKING COMPLETE!”       Stefanie Elk