Overview Finding My BFF...
Meet My BFF
All of life, in spite of where one finds herself at any point along life's journey, is rooted in a foundation of a few sound principles. Quite simply put, these sound principles are "basics in life." You need them. I need them. Our children need them.
My BFF is an organization growing a stronger generation of young people. These basics in life are significant factors in the makeup of our life's journey. Youth personal development depends upon youth recognizing that their BFF is their best foot forward. Having Carrie, Matthew, Chiquita or Al as a BFF is great and every person needs a BFF but the greatest relationship should be that with self. Once there is an understanding that one's first and foremost BFF is self, life flourishes in unimaginable ways! My BFF is an organization with a mission to teach young people practical life skills and then lead them by example. The knowledge and skills at the core of My BFF are those which serve as critical to helping young people discover their best selves. The idea is to realize that one's best friend is one's best self. Arriving at one's best self is an ongoing journey of personal growth.
My BFF's goal is to foster a legacy of a generation of young people that will exemplify self-esteem, self-respect, skills necessary for exemplary productive living and accountability for self and future generations. My BFF's target group is pre-teens and teens, ages twelve through seventeen. The organization’s purpose is to empower youth with true life skills by utilizing pragmatic, innovative and collaborative learning methods. My BFF, further, promotes individual responsibility and a sense of consciousness youth should have as they mature from youth to adulthood. Every child should be taught the wonders of life and how her existence contributes to all that is right and good with this world. Our HistoryMy BFF was established by Carol Stokes for the sole purpose of helping socioeconomically disadvantaged young people get a fair chance at making the most of their journey of personal development, giving them an equal as possible opportunity to make productive contributions to the world and to reap the consequential rewards of doing so.
The need for each and every child to have the opportunity to develop these necessary basics in life is what led us to establish My BFF. |
Moving Forward, One Step at a Time ...
It was Confucius who said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
This is exactly how we see ourselves in the lives of the youth we serve. My BFF is a foundational step along our youth's journey. "The mission of My BFF is to produce more educationally-sound, socially-responsible, emotionally-sound and professionally-skilled, productive generations of youth by demonstrating to youth their BFF is their best foot forward." My BFF is dedicated to empowering youth and demonstrating their best friend forever is their best foot forward, through educational workshops, informational materials and mentorship and by building self-esteem, inspiring self-respect and teaching practical life skills. My BFF offers disadvantaged youth a selection of workshops designed to instill and develop those personal skills which will encourage and support a healthy self-esteem and positive attitude toward their present and future. The long-term goal of My BFF is to break a cycle of disadvantaged circumstances and empower youth for a new generation of productive adult living. My BFF has seven primary areas of focus programs: personal development, financial literacy, vocational/career, health/physical, recreational, spiritual and social. ![]() The cornerstone for My BFF is a book Stokes authored and published after nearly 15 years of handling consumer bankruptcy cases. Discovering a serious need for financial literacy, Stokes wrote BASIC BEGINNINGS: A Finance Management Handbook for Teens and Young Adults, a compilation of the most common consumer issues Stokes typically addressed for her clients. This is the book that started it all. The first youth workshop for personal development was basic finance management, based upon the many principles in BASIC BEGINNINGS.
BASIC BEGINNINGS: A Finance Management Handbook for Teens and Young Adults is sold on amazon.com. A copy is included in the workshop for participating youth. |
Help My BFF get closer to winning up to $50,000 by voting for them in the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest.
"Whatever you can do or dream you can,
begin it. Boldness has genius, power and
magic in it. Begin it now."
- Goethe
Living the Journey

Celebrating
Achievement
With a sense of pride and accomplishment, one young lady who participated in the May 2013 workshop received her Certificate of Achievement.
In order to make lasting changes in life, healthy habits have to be established. The younger good habits and behavioral practices are instilled, the better. The good news, though, is that it is never too late to teach one who is willing to learn.
My BFF works with youth at the pre-teen and teen phase of life. This age range is an opportune group for introducing ideals and concepts. These young people are at the age where they have had some life experiences and formed opinions and thoughts of their own. They have principles and firm beliefs, yet, there is so much room for revisiting their beliefs and introducing others to them. This is an ideal for encouraging growth to explore areas not previously experienced or even imagined.
One of the objectives is to bring out the best, and often, unknown or hidden gifts of our young people. Exposure to all life has to offer is a huge key component to the program. There are children who do not dream because they cannot begin to fathom anything beyond where they are. My BFF believes every child should have a rich foundation from which they can explore life, dream and choose a path that supports her becoming her best self and living her best life.
Once the new concepts, life skills and ideals become more familiar, they will eventually become incorporated into the youth's way of thinking, doing and being. This is just the beginning. These practices will become a part of a new and healthier individual. Once a person knows she can create the life she wants, nothing can stop her. She simply needs to be willing to live the journey!
In order to make lasting changes in life, healthy habits have to be established. The younger good habits and behavioral practices are instilled, the better. The good news, though, is that it is never too late to teach one who is willing to learn.
My BFF works with youth at the pre-teen and teen phase of life. This age range is an opportune group for introducing ideals and concepts. These young people are at the age where they have had some life experiences and formed opinions and thoughts of their own. They have principles and firm beliefs, yet, there is so much room for revisiting their beliefs and introducing others to them. This is an ideal for encouraging growth to explore areas not previously experienced or even imagined.
One of the objectives is to bring out the best, and often, unknown or hidden gifts of our young people. Exposure to all life has to offer is a huge key component to the program. There are children who do not dream because they cannot begin to fathom anything beyond where they are. My BFF believes every child should have a rich foundation from which they can explore life, dream and choose a path that supports her becoming her best self and living her best life.
Once the new concepts, life skills and ideals become more familiar, they will eventually become incorporated into the youth's way of thinking, doing and being. This is just the beginning. These practices will become a part of a new and healthier individual. Once a person knows she can create the life she wants, nothing can stop her. She simply needs to be willing to live the journey!
The Fundamental You

Thank you for visiting. As children, we are taught our "a-b-c's" in academics. As adults, we are simply groomed to get an education – a high school education – and, if we are pushed hard enough or led in the "right" direction, a college education as well. From there, we are conditioned to go after a "good-paying job with benefits" and look forward to retirement.
As we are working our way to retirement, we are encouraged to continue to work hard to be recognized and promoted. Another lesson we are taught is that we should win over the heart of someone special for longtime companionship. Essentially, most people work quite hard to achieve things – tangible and intangible. We all want an incredible life and we want someone with whom to share our life experiences.
There is nothing wrong with wanting or having any of life's bests but pursuing what brings us joy or fulfills us. It, however, should not feel like a never-ending chore! Fulfilling purpose, accomplishing goals and living dreams will not be without challenge but they do not have to be agonizing experiences. The good news is we can stop chasing our dream life and allow our dream life to chase us!
My BFF focuses on the fundamental elements our young people need for a solid foundation in life. The organization’s purpose is to empower youth with true life skills by utilizing pragmatic, innovative and collaborative learning methods. The true life skills include basic finance management principles, successful dressing, and achieving life’s best through affirmative thinking and living. Fundamental Firsts is further established to instill in youth self-esteem, self-respect, skills necessary for exemplary productive living and the charge to pay it forward.
Fortified with these assets, young people will find what matters to them will show up, as they journey on.
As we are working our way to retirement, we are encouraged to continue to work hard to be recognized and promoted. Another lesson we are taught is that we should win over the heart of someone special for longtime companionship. Essentially, most people work quite hard to achieve things – tangible and intangible. We all want an incredible life and we want someone with whom to share our life experiences.
There is nothing wrong with wanting or having any of life's bests but pursuing what brings us joy or fulfills us. It, however, should not feel like a never-ending chore! Fulfilling purpose, accomplishing goals and living dreams will not be without challenge but they do not have to be agonizing experiences. The good news is we can stop chasing our dream life and allow our dream life to chase us!
My BFF focuses on the fundamental elements our young people need for a solid foundation in life. The organization’s purpose is to empower youth with true life skills by utilizing pragmatic, innovative and collaborative learning methods. The true life skills include basic finance management principles, successful dressing, and achieving life’s best through affirmative thinking and living. Fundamental Firsts is further established to instill in youth self-esteem, self-respect, skills necessary for exemplary productive living and the charge to pay it forward.
Fortified with these assets, young people will find what matters to them will show up, as they journey on.
Basics in Life
There are certain practices which can be integrated into daily life which will help us to achieve the very life we struggle to have. We can have a fairly good life without these lessons but who doesn't want more than a fairly good life?

I believe that there are many commonalities we all share and one of these common factors is the desire for better. Every single person wants the best life possible. "Best life" has different meanings to different people, but whatever meaning it holds for an individual, each person wants to experience the best life one can have. This best life, regardless of what it looks like, must begin with building blocks. These blocks are much needed basics in life.
Adopting a few simple principles and making them a part of one's life can play a significant role in getting an individual where she wishes to be in life. Life is our journey. Each day, whatever it brings us, is life. By implementing some simple principles in the day-to-day practices, a fair lifestyle can become good and a good lifestyle can become better. Lifestyles can be transformed. My BFF aims to transform lives.
The building blocks My BFF offers are a few basic resources are life-skill resources for quality living. The Store offers resources developed for the enhancement of life. There, you will find a resource available for financial management development as well as a resource for personal spiritual growth. Our books may be purchased on the sale site by clicking where indicated. Please visit The Store frequently for additions to our books, newsletters and other helpful materials for life's fundamental lessons.
The mission is to share with you fundamental life lessons which will help heighten your life experiences while lifting your spirit along your new journey. My messages and products feed your mind and your spirit. We do this by bringing you an array of products which provide are meant to lead you onto your own path of enlightenment and to experience a feeling of euphoria.
Adopting a few simple principles and making them a part of one's life can play a significant role in getting an individual where she wishes to be in life. Life is our journey. Each day, whatever it brings us, is life. By implementing some simple principles in the day-to-day practices, a fair lifestyle can become good and a good lifestyle can become better. Lifestyles can be transformed. My BFF aims to transform lives.
The building blocks My BFF offers are a few basic resources are life-skill resources for quality living. The Store offers resources developed for the enhancement of life. There, you will find a resource available for financial management development as well as a resource for personal spiritual growth. Our books may be purchased on the sale site by clicking where indicated. Please visit The Store frequently for additions to our books, newsletters and other helpful materials for life's fundamental lessons.
The mission is to share with you fundamental life lessons which will help heighten your life experiences while lifting your spirit along your new journey. My messages and products feed your mind and your spirit. We do this by bringing you an array of products which provide are meant to lead you onto your own path of enlightenment and to experience a feeling of euphoria.
OUR ASPIRATION
TO PRODUCE AND PRESENT VALUABLE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT LIFE SKILLS TOOLS FOR OUR YOUTH
SEE JUST A FEW OF OUR PRODUCTS BELOW. YOU CAN SEE THEM ALL BY FINDING SOME LOCATED ON AMAZON.COM AND OTHERS LOCATED ON TEACHERSPAYTEACHERS.COM
TO PRODUCE AND PRESENT VALUABLE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT LIFE SKILLS TOOLS FOR OUR YOUTH
SEE JUST A FEW OF OUR PRODUCTS BELOW. YOU CAN SEE THEM ALL BY FINDING SOME LOCATED ON AMAZON.COM AND OTHERS LOCATED ON TEACHERSPAYTEACHERS.COM
See how we're putting our Best Foot Forward on our blog. Also, contact us with your comments, questions and concerns.