Ladonna Armstrong

Latest Author Features

Be Humbled

Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility. ~ Saint Augustine Happy New Year! Never been one for resolutions. It always felt like I was setting myself up for disappointment by trying to find something worthy enough to make a definitive claim on this great big thing I was going to change or do differently in the coming year. Something impressive enough that I would tell everyone to ensure accountability. Romantic enough that others would be wowed and inspired to make mesmerizing resolutions as well. I would stand on this victorious mountain of ideals, shout

Be Present

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these. – George Washington Carver The Celebration Issue! To tell you the truth, the final issue of 2020 is quite the celebration here at Bella. We made it through the year with innovation, collaboration, expansion, and a positive outlook on the horizon. We were blessed with the continuing support of advertisers and contributors who not only kept our Bella in print but allowed us to spread our mission wider and

Mary Allen and Eagle Corps Services

I have recently had the privilege of befriending the amazing Mary Allen of Eagle Corps Services. I have known Mary for over a year and was introduced to her husband Richard and their company when they presented at a Rotary function last fall. I was very impressed with the products they offered and how they are changing safety in our community. Eagle Corps Services, LLC is a minority-owned small business owned by Richard Allen, a service disabled veteran who has over 35 years of experience leading safety, security, fire, and emergency response programs. He has successfully run large, complex security and emergency services organizations at major Department of Energy and

Be Challenged

Publisher’s Letter From Your Fearless Leader “Change does not change tradition. It strengthens it. Change is a challenge and an opportunity, not a threat.” Prince Philip of England What a wild ride we have taken on the rollercoaster of life in the last few months. In August, we were getting “Back To” life. September was our “Change” issue, which rolled into October with our “Creativity” issue. We decided to get creative with our branding and we revamped our focus to #bebetterbebella, to start where we are and to find our voices. We are telling our truth. We are honoring the process by accepting where we are at and identifying what

Be Bella

Publisher’s Letter From Your Fearless Leader “If ever there is a tomorrow when we’re not together, there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart, I’ll always be with you.” A. A. Milne It is Fall Y’all! The air is crisp and the leaves are beginning to change. The colorful pallet across the earth sparks vibes of creativity and stirs my soul. Inspiration appears in the pumpkins adorning doorways and leaves gently falling from the trees. This month’s issue is all about creativity. We have been joyfully

Be The Change

“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.” Mahatma Gandhi The September edition of Aiken Bella and Palmetto Bella are packed full of opportunities for growth and change — changing your mindset, changing your scenery, changing the way you do business,

Be Open

“If we open our eyes, our minds and our hearts, we will find that this world is a magical place.” ChÕgyam Trungpa The August issue of Bella magazine is the second annual “Back to…” issue. We first published the Back to Bella issue in 2019 with thoughts of back to school, back to business, back to life — a return from the summer. This year everything is different. Yes, there is a back to, a return to these mile markers; however, back to normal is not on the horizon. We have a new normal that we will be returning to. Schools are finalizing their schedules. Some students will be returning

Walking Through A Hopeful Process | Child Advocacy Center

The Child Advocacy Center of Aiken County (CAC), located at 4231 Trolley Line Road in Aiken, coordinates investigations, treatment, and prosecution of the most serious cases of child abuse in Aiken and its surrounding counties. The building, staff, and volunteers provide a safe, nurturing, healing, child-friendly environment at no cost to the families who need it. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the CAC also provides training, education and community outreach to break the cycle of abuse. For more information, visit ChildAdvocacyAiken.org. I was asked to speak at a volunteer recruitment tea for the Child Advocacy Center last fall. Unfortunately, I personally know individuals who have been summoned to the center for the

The Aiken Center for the Arts presents: “Burd Brain”

Marius Valdes, also known as Zoo Valdes, is known for creating a menagerie of lovable animals and whimsical creatures that pop off the page. Valdes, who teaches graphic design and illustration at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, will share his colorful characters in the main gallery at Aiken Center for the Arts while students are in camps this summer. These works, which are based on a children’s book the artist is working on, will give students insights into the process of creating art. “Burd Brain,” the children’s book he is writing and illustrating through a grant from the University of South Carolina, includes words and illustrations that tell

Be Young at Heart

“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” Franz Kafka July is The Youth Issue. Nothing is more youthful than summer. Kids are out of school and can be found all over town, playing in parks, hanging out by the pool, and making new friends at summer camps. The days are long and the sunsets seem to go on forever. Birds sing all day and fireflies grace the evenings. There is magic at play. Families spend more time together and schedules are a little more relaxed. The presence of children and their playfulness adds fun to