DECODED...

Everyone knows how I am about Jay Z and anything that has to do with him...I pre-ordered Decoded and I'm impatiently awaiting it's arrival! I came across this video where he speaks on SUCCESS and how people close to you react when THEY (I meant), YOU change.

Please provide feedback...if u agree or disagree! If you have experienced this, how did it affect you and what did you do to please yourself or those involved.

"Most young Kings (Queens lol) get their heads cut off"....Jay describes how the people close to you feel as if you have changed when you reach a certain level of success or in your journey to success. Why stay the same if you are trying to become better?? How can you reach your full potential hanging around people who aren't going in the same direction? Is changing wrong?? My opinion is no, as long as it's for the better and you are being true to yourself. People will have something to say whether you are doing good or bad so why not do YOU...their going to talk anyways. We need to get out of the mindset of wanting to be liked and accepted so much that we will be unhappy on the inside as long as it looks good on the outside. Society has popularized "image" so much that we will do anything to make something look good no matter how faux we really are. People always talk about "keep it real" but the question is who are we keeping it real with? Definitely not ourselves....

Maybe we as individuals need to DECODE ourselves and we can see who we really are and what we believe in then it will be easier to move on and feel good about the CHANGES we make because it's all done in the pursuit of pure happiness. And only those who genuinely care for us will understand.

Take a look at the video and tell me what you think! ENJOY!
(for the ppl who r looking for the video, when you click on the word SUCCESS that is underlined it will direct you to the video)

Quickie....

Just wanted to spread some positive energy this morning! I'm in a really good mood despite the rain...I've been reading this book "Secrets of Six Figured Women" and it has given me so much hope for a change for the future. I just have to take the steps to get where I need to go and step away from the unfamiliar. That's what I've been practicing all of 2010 as seen in past blogs.

Always try to start the day out with positive readings or music...it definitely makes a difference. Now I'm getting back to work...

Spread love...give out what you are seeking to find! "Pay it forward"

Spending Time w/ ME...

Today I took out time for me before I headed to my photography class. Went to Chevy's and had me a couple half price drinks *fist pump* for spending less $$! I had some BBQ wings, half price on those too! We all need to take out time for ourselves...often. Whether it's taking a ride in the car, taking a walk or even taking yourself on a date. You get to know yourself and think about life, goals, things you need to improve or you can just clear your head of all of life's problems for that little bit of time.

I remember when I wouldn't be caught anywhere by myself, I thought that was the most lame thing going somewhere alone. Now I have no problem, certain places you would rather have company but I can say I enjoy going out to eat alone. Hanging out alone builds confidence, helps you make more rational decisions when spending money and it also makes you more approachable. You can network better when alone, some people get intimidated when having to approach a group of people and we have a tendency to be a little more friendlier when we are by ourselves.

So take some time out at least once a month to get to know YOU a little better....you will be surprised what you find out!

Dad knows Best...

"A secret is not a secret once you've told it to someone else"

No matter how hard people try to hold things in it rarely happens. Some people just can't keep secrets for various reasons...they just frankly can't hold water, others just talk so much they don't think about what they are saying and some just like to feel important as if they have the latest juicy gossip. But whatever the reasoning are, if there is something you don't want to get out keep it to YOURSELF, write it down, tell GOD and if it makes you feel better tell him "pssst don't tell this to nooobody" but the minute you repeat it to someone else expect it to come out sooner or later. Or of course, you could kill them after you tell it then surely it will not to get beyond the two of you LOL!

Just one of my random posts, the older I get all of my Dad's words, sayings and teachings become even more valuable. #DADSROCK!

Miss SYDNEY aka "DIVA"....

So yesterday I did a mini photo shoot with Sydney who is the 6yr old niece of my partner Ebony...this was another assignment for my photography class. The assignment was to take photos of things that bring us happiness. So my initial idea was to get a child, wearing adult clothes, with shopping bags. I love children, shopping and dressing up in clothes and accessories. But Miss Sydney turned that little assignment into a full fledged photo shoot! She took direction so well and was serious while having fun! She knew how to continuously pose while the camera while just snapping away. Kids are so innocent and always (I'm sure the parents out there will beg to differ lol) bring happiness and just love to have fun!

As all my friends know I'm always being shy and nervous about just about everything! So Sydney says to me "I'm NEVER shy...NEVER and if I do get nervous I know people are going to say GO SYD GOOO" yup, a 6 yr old "checked me boo" lol But she was right, as long as you listen to the positive people in your corner you can do anything. We all mess up but that's what makes the journeys and lessons worth while :-)

I ended up with 188 photos!!! So trying to find my favorites to post was almost impossible! This little girl has so much personality and spunk it's insane and I also got in a picture of her little brother who was saying "CHEESE CHEESE" throughout the whole night lol After we were all done at 10 pm, Syd says "so are ya'll ready for the fashion show now"??? As all the adults looked at each other half sleep. So keep your eyes open for her...she's ready! Go Syd Gooo!!

Faced Fear!!

I finally faced one of my fears as far as photography goes! I have a terrible fear of approaching people on the street asking them if I can take their pictures. I know when people approach me, it kind of creeps me out. So for an assignment for my photography class we had to get "City Life" images. I saw this lady eating on the bench with her bike, helmet and basket. I thought that was a good depiction of city life....a woman on the moving squeezing in a bite to eat. Of course by the time I got the picture she was done eating. I was on the phone with my good friend Terrelle and she told me "you better go over there and ask her...what's the worst that could happen"!!! I'm going back and forth with her like but what if she curses me out, what if she says no....you see where this is going?? My minds way of procrastinating and trying to get out of doing what needs to be done.

I finally got up the guts to ask her....I just told her my assignment for class was to get some "City Life" photos and I thought she would be a good photograph. I also let her know these would just be for class purposes only. She was very nice about and said YESS! *as the sweat beads rolled down my back*....I just told her she didn't need to do anything in particular, just continue her phone conversation. So the lesson from this is...the mind is very powerful, people are not as mean as we think they are. And if someone says no, that's all they can say and you just accept it, say thank you and move on! After I did that, every other photo I had to get was a breeze.

WHIP MY HAIR....

It's been a while since i've updated my blog! I kind of lost focused and took time to regroup...began photography classes, photos will be updated soon! So as you know I love the Smith's and Willow's new video "Whip My Hair" is amazing from and artist standpoint as well as the energy and the words in the song to give girls encouragement...both young and old. A lot of people talk bad about the "9 yr old" but I think it's cool that she is allowed to express herself and is not kept in the box society keeps everyone in. GO WILLOW!!

Enjoy...

CHANGE...

Good one for everyone who wants to change...including myself. It's not easy but needs to be done!

Will Smith...

In case you haven't realized it I'm always surfing the net for great inspirational, funny and informative videos. I've come across "Will Smith's Words Of Wisdom" and they were so powerful!! We may not all agree with his views but majority of them make a whole lot of sense...they do to me anyways. I'm in the stages of becoming a better me, I've identified my flaws and I'm proactively focusing on ways to make them better. Flaws are what make us unique but I have to improve on the ones that are holding me back from a better ME. I study people who exude success, whether it be reading books, blogs, watching videos ect. I study my parents moves and actions as well! They are the #1 example I look to. When we want to do better we have to surround ourselves with people who are where we would like to be, people we can learn from, individuals who are smarter than us and who give off positive energy PERIOD.

The saying is true "Your NetWork Determines Your NetWorth"

Enjoy....