Hump Day Motivation!

I wanted to share a few tweets from Freshalina's twitter from last night that were exactly what I needed at that exact moment!  I think I have finally figured out the service that God wants me to give and I was researching schools to improve my skills and get certified.  Of course, my mind got to running and coming up with all of the obstacles of why I could not do it then I "mind checked" lol myself and came up with the positives.  The tweet about not being able to get a job was sooo on point!  I have been applying to jobs for almost 6 years and I have not got a new one or even a damn interview!!  I'm like I know I have what it takes so what's the problem!  Not that I am complaining about my current job because I am definitely blessed but once you feel there is nothing more to learn or even contribute it's time to make a change.  Getting turned down for job after job definitely gets your creative juices flowing and I lost my creative mindset once I got settled into my normal routines and being comfortable for a while.

So I prayed and prayed, revamped resume after resume, applied to jobs in different fields made creative cover letters...the whole 9!  I heard God say create your OWN and get out and give.  I also think about Jay Z who I loveee so much for his business sense and everything else he stands for lol  How no one would sign him so he went out and did his own thing and hasn't looked back since.  Then for a while I was stuck at what I could do that would give back and be fulfilling for myself and afford me a flexible lifestyle.  I see that God did not want me to get stuck in the 9-5 rat race because I know if I was to get a big promotion or a new job it would be even harder for me to walk away and do what I'm really meant to do because of comfort and convenience.  Not to say anything is going to be easy but it's worth it.

Just thought I'd share for anyone who is at a hard spot between their normal routine and going for their dreams, ask any successful person if their road to success was easy and I'm sure you will get a HELL NO!  So go for it and trap up those boots and get ready for the journey :-)

Day on the MALL

Who said black folks don't have picnics on the mall???!  We do and we had us a good time!  We had a nice and fun day out on Saturday to enjoy the weather and we will definitely be making a habit out this.  Cayden had a ball and he loved his chair that his Mi Mi bought him :-))  Boogy was in tow of course but he wasn't feeling being on his leash.  We packed up the cooler, Los is definitely a boyscout so he was prepared lol  We had lemonade, iced tea, sandwiches, salad, potato salad, chicken and green beans!  oh and of course music...Cayden had a ball running around and people watching.  We saw tons of dogs, other kids and families, bike riders amateur football players and of course the usual tourists.  Just had to share a few pics from our day out.  To put the icing on the cake we had crabs with my cousin at her house after our day on the Mall...yummy!  SPRING IS HERE!!

The Past is Done...Give what you wish to receive

Alex is always on the ONE!  This post was nothing but the truth and I had never heard this quote until today.  I always thought that our childhood and past can really affect our future but this quote opened my mind to see differently.  Not to say that the past plays no part in our actions but the past does not have to cripple you if you want to have a better future.  If one has not received love, they may not know how to express it or may be a little reserved on when to give it in fear of not being hurt or rejected but the more love you give the more you will receive!  If we hold on to what we didn't get or have, we hold back all the good we can get NOW.  So why have a loveless past, present and future??  It will take time to open up and let down walls but intuition never steers you in the wrong direction.  There will be heart breaks, hurt feelings and disappointments but that happens to everyone.  Just use those times as lessons and move on and get back to giving as Russell Simmons would say! :-)

Ideas Please

I've been thinking hard lately about my students I tutor...current and old students.  I reeeally enjoy the kids, they are hilarious and it makes me feel good giving back to the younger generation.  But it's bitter sweet because each student is awarded a certain number of hours through the program I work through so once their hours are done I no longer tutor them.  Unless they get more hours in the future.  Of course, all my kids have my number so they can call or text me whenever but I was trying to think of a way where I can still get together with all my kids from time to time.  They vary in ages so I don't know how to incorporate them all.  Also, I don't have a lot of spare time being a mommy and working with the new students that I get.  But I really enjoy the kids and they seem so disappointed when I tell them it will be our last day tutoring.  It definitely makes me feel good to know I have influenced them in so little time.

Revenge...Let It Go

Ok God!  I hear you...LOUD AND CLEAR!  I've been praying lately for God to help me to discern my voice from his in my head as well as the courage to actually LISTEN, not only HEAR what He's telling me.  Boy did he work fast on that request.  I am a terrible over thinker so I'm always in my own head which is where the difficulty comes when trying to Listen to God's guidance.

 Lately there are a couple situations that have come back to my mind that I had written off and moved on from.  They have been in my mind heavy and to the point where I want(ED) to seek my own revenge.  When people do or say things that I feel aren't right, I don't forget!  I may move on and it will not be anything that bothers me but when a situation comes up those actions pop right back in my head.  It gets to me even more when I know things or have ways where I could get revenge on that person at any moment.  I'm not an angel but one thing I don't like to do is intentionally hurt anyone's feelings or worse so I get mad at myself because I feel I bite my tongue too much when I know a person is really weak but do things to portray otherwise.

Yesterday, we went to church...at 8am might I add lol  there was a guest preacher and part of his message spoke on LEARNING TO FORGET!  This was the day after I prayed for God to help me to hear and LISTEN to his guidance.  The preacher was saying how many of us can't forget anything and most of the times we replay one thing in our head thousands of times which magnifies that one wrong doing and makes it feel like the person is constantly doing this thing to us.  He also said we need to learn to forget and let God handle them and sometimes he'll allow you to watch them get dealt with by him.  Seeking our own revenge only takes away from our blessings and I can not allow that to happen.  I am very blessed and I have to be sure to keep what's important in the forefront of my thoughts.

THENNN...this morning I was watching an interview on the breakfast club and Terence Howard was on the show speaking on a movie that he's working on that has to do with REVENGE.  Once I heard that, I immediately logged into blogspot and got to typing!  He said: "Revenge is violence against your own soul"  and he also said you end up having to apologize in the long run so why do it in the beginning.  People end up suffering worse when you let time handle them.  Lord knows it's not easy but I can say I will make a conscious effort to stop replaying things in my mind, I have to be a conscious thinker or else my thoughts will have me doing and saying all types of crazy mess!

Just thought I'd share because I know we all want to get pay back but most times, that pay back doesn't feel as good once it's done.

Getting Back to the Basics...

I saw this post on FB a few minutes ago and thought it was a great post to blog about...with the killings of the two high school boys in the area over the past few days this was right on time!  Kids priorities are so messed up now days, everything is tied to what "image" can be portrayed and how much stuff can I acquire.  Don't get me wrong, EVERYONE loves nice things....I know I do!  But the focus everyday should not be how can I get those things and as a parent we have to be careful what we focus on because that will be the same things our kids grow up to put value on.  We get our kids used to name brand everything, expensive this and swagged out that then when they are too spoiled to get up and work hard on their own to buy these things they will do whatever it takes to keep up with the flashy lifestyle we've made them accustomed to.  I can say I have been guilty of this with my son, not necessarily putting a focus on name brand clothing but I do LOVE shoes and nice clothes.  But I can say all nice clothes are NOT expensive and I am a BARGAIN SHOPPER!  Now I know for a fact my son has no clue as to what he is wearing and I will never tell him "go get your Jordans out the closet" because he doesn't need to know what Jordans are at 1 but I like them.  I know as parents we want the best for our kids but is it really necessary??  For me, I'm a shoe fanatic...I like clothes but I LOVE shoes!  But will I stand in line for some...HELL NO!  Have I in the past when I was a teen...ABSOLUTELY!  But now days it's becoming deadly just to have on the latest pair of sneakers.  Everyone has also become obsessed with their kids being "swagged out"....we are allowing the tv and videos dictate what "cool" is for ourselves and kids.  Half the people on tv we are trying to keep up with don't spend a dime on anything they have on!!  It's free promotion for the labels and brands when they GIVE these people all the expensive things we see.  But here we are breaking the bank, maxing out credit cards just to keep up with a person who actually HAS the money to buy what they want but they are smart enough to just take what's FREE.

We need to get back to the basics of teaching character, integrity, love and values.  When you have all those things in order...the "things" will come and they won't be as much of a big deal because on the inside you feel even better than you look on the outside.  In church on Sunday, the pastor spoke on having character over looking good on the outside.  There are a lot of people who attain success that people dream of but their character doesn't allow them to stay there or fully enjoy it.  That's why people end up bankrupt, strung out on drugs, etc.  They thought being able to attain things would bring them eternal happiness and once they realize that is farthest from the truth they become sad and depressed.  Then it's like "now what"???  So raising "spoiled kids" is not always what's best...they become bored with all the things they get and can become very unappreciative if that's all the focus is on because they just expect it.  They aren't taught how to work for it and that this is not what's important but only a bi product of hard work and dedication.  Let's focus on education, helping others and loving each other as is...not by what one looks like or is wearing.  Instead of posting pics of our kids in their new outfit or new shoes, let's see pictures of that report card or them working hard at the table doing homework and reading a book!  There are a lot of dumb and ignorant people who hide behind their appearance and image so as the saying goes DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE! 

Just pray for me and my shoes fetish :-)  Yes, I'm guilty but I will definitely do better!

Be sure to check out Scotty Scott's FB page!!  He has some really great thought provoking perspectives!

Embrace Emotion

" Stop pretending that I have it all together and if I'm scared be scared...allow it...release it...move on"

I loved when Beyonce' said this in one of her vlogs she shared during her interview with Oprah.  This is so me!  Sometimes we try to be so strong that we don't allow ourselves to identify with our emotions.  We definitely should not dwell on fear but acknowledging that is there and why can help with the process of overcoming it.  I'm trying to work on this DAILY...

Betseyyyyy

Love me some Betseyyyyy!!!  I came across this pic when I was looking for the shoes she is wearing and I had to share!  All of her pictures, fashions and clothes exude FUN!  She is an older woman but will still do a split without notice!  Not sure what's up with the mini Betsey but that's her....unpredictable!

DO YOU!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Shout out to my newest Valentine!!  I looove my little rockstar with everything I have!  I never really got caught up in the hype of Vday but I do feel you should use it as an EXTRA day to express genuine love.  The true definition which is: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
                                 Love never fails
I am definitely blessed to be able to experience Valentine's Day everyday with my Man and my Prince...oh yeah and Boogy (our dog) lol  So today I will be cooking dinner, sipping some wine and dancing to some music with my family!  I was thinking about taking Cayden to Chuck E. Cheese buuut I think we'll stay in for tonight.  Enjoy your Valentine's Day and I hope you put your reservations in early!! LOVE YA'LL....