Month: October 2017

BE YOUR DREAMS

If there was anything in the world that you could do, what would it be?  What dream or dreams are you not attempting to accomplish because of fear?  What is it that’s stopping you and why?  Is it something that you think your parents wouldn’t support you in doing?  Is it a fear of failure?

“If you don’t build your dream someone will hire you to help build theirs”. —Tony Gaskins

If you have a dream for your life, you’ve got to do what ever it takes to just do it!  Make sure that whatever the dream is, you start working towards it as soon as possible.  Stop allowing each day to go by without you doing something that brings you closer to that goal, that dream, that wish.  If you feel like no one else in your circle believes in you, YOU continue to believe in you.  If it’s not going to cause deadly harm to you or anyone else, go for it!

“The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you.” — Tom Bradley

God doesn’t need to tell people what you know he has told you about your life.  He gave you those dreams and visions for yourself.  If others don’t believe in you, okay.  It’s sad, but don’t allow it to get you down.  It’s a disappointment when those you trust and whose opinions matter to you don’t believe in you, but you gone hafta let that go and do what you know has been placed inside you!

Be You, Do You, Express what is in You to SHARE WITH THE WORLD!  Who knows, it could bless someone besides just you.  You’ve got to Just Do It!!!

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C. S. Lewis

What is a Dream Deferred?– Langston Hughes

Images Curtesy of Google Images

Advertisement

The Angry Facebook Friend

Dear Angry Facebook Friend,

As I read your comment or status, I can hear the yelling and see the eye rolls from behind your computer/phone screen.

Facebook should not be the place where you tell everybody your business.  It’s also not the place where you should share all of your opinions.  No where on social media should be a place for that.  Yes, there are those that bring up conversations to start fires, and there are some that feel they have to comment on every status someone adds to FB.  Just because you are allowed to air your thoughts, doesn’t mean that you need to…some people sound so bitter and mean and judgmental.  If you don’t understand why people do what they do, what is the point of disrespecting them?  Just because you disagree, doesn’t give you the right to insult even if you are just saying.  Conversation is different than debate.  Some use Facebook as a platform to debate with all that have a different way of thinking or seeing the world.

Dear Angry Facebook Friends,

As I read your comment or status, I can hear the yelling and see the eye rolls from behind your computer/phone screen.  Stop trying to win every “battle” and shut-up! Be quiet and try to see things from another’s perspective.  You just may learn something because you don’t know everything.  Give another voice a try.  I don’t know what has happened in your life for you to sound so angry at those that disagree with you.  They are not trying to attack you, but just like you, they want to be heard.  They want their opinion to have the chance to be analyzed by others…not just you.  Stop waiting to pounce on the person that agrees with their stance and not yours.  Stop taking your frustrations out on all of us and learn to deal with the real issue.  The real issue is that you have been hurt and you are angry.  Maybe those that oppose you remind you of others that once had a hold on your voice and kept you from speaking out.  Please stop taking your past out on all of us.  We just want to be able to voice our opinion, like you, without being attacked all because we think differently than you.  You don’t always have to share your insight.  You don’t always have to be included in the conversation.  Just scroll up or down and move past that Facebook post.

Sincerely,

Your Facebook Friend

October 10, 2017

In 2007, I made the big move of moving by myself to live closer to my fiancée.  That same year, I became a teacher, and got married.  All of these things were done in a matter of months.  May, August, December.  As the 1st letters of each month spell out, it was a M.A.D, but an exciting and challenging 7 months. Everything was new.  I was gaining a new family, a new career, and a new title…wife.

I was still fresh from my college experience but had no idea that the next 10 years would be a new journey of continuous growing and learning.  These last 10 years have definitely taught me a thing or ten.  This has been a time of self discovery and discovering how people can truly be.  I am just now beginning to understand my purpose in this world.  I haven’t figured everything out, but each day I believe I am getting closer.   Here are 10 things that I have learned, and am still striving to be confident in:

  1. Forgive yourself from past mistakes, because God has.
    • Sometimes we keep our own selves bound by not forgiving our own selves even when we ask people or God for forgiveness.
  2. Don’t worry about having children based on others’ timelines for your life.
    • Too many people rush into having children because they feel that’s what you do after you get married. Get to know your mate as a spouse.
  3. It’s okay to not have everything figured out by 30…you are still growing up.
    • 30 doesn’t mean you are an adult and should have all the answers by the time you reach that number… “age ain’t nothing but a numba”. We are still growing up.
  4. It’s okay to make mistakes; learn from them and move on.
    • Get over them, basking in them only adds stress to your life.
  5. Everything is not going to be comfortable.
    • Unplanned things happen. It’s about growth and becoming who you were meant to be.
  6. Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself.
    • Don’t allow anyone to disrespect you. Stand up for yourself and respectfully speak your mind. As Michael Jackson said, “With love”.  ❤
  7. DO what makes you happy. 
    • Stop living your life according to how others think you should be.  If it doesn’t displease God, then you are good!
  8. Everyone isn’t going to like you & that’s okay 🙂
    • Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming….
  9. Don’t feel like you always have to explain yourself. Some people just don’t want to understand you.
    • You’re not always the crazy one!! They just want to be confused/the victim.
  10. Never hide who you truly are, if it offends someone, that is not your problem.
    • Don’t add more problems to your life.

The number ten symbolizes the completion of a cycle.
It is the number of heaven, the world, and universal creation.  I look forward to what else is in store for me as I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus . Philippians 3:14

October 10, 2017 (10/10/2017)

Read the Signs

Recently while in Dallas, my husband and I had lunch at a Cajun restaurant.  Having pretty much grown up in the DFW Metroplex, I was surprised to see that Dallas had a restaurant of this type.  Now that I live in the Houston area, I have Cajun food often.  Many of the people living in southeast Texas has…

Recently while in Dallas, my husband and I had lunch at a Cajun restaurant.  Having pretty much grown up in the DFW Metroplex, I was surprised to see that Dallas had a restaurant of this type.  Now that I live in the Houston area, I have Cajun food often.  Many of the people living in southeast Texas has some connection to Louisiana.  Due to having had great Cajun food,  I was hesitant and nervous as to what I would be allowing to enter my mouth.  Would the roux (pronounced roo) of the gumbo taste burnt?  Would the Cajun chicken really be blackened or just plain burned?  Would there be boudin (pronounced boo-dan)?  I was too hungry for any taste bud regrets.  I can’t remember what I ordered, but I do remember that the staff was genuinely nice and the décor was appropriate.  This along with the atmosphere made this time a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

There were many wall hangings that showcased this restaurant’s roots to “The Boot”.  Many advertised Mardi Gras, The New Orleans’ Saint’s Football Team, and my husband’s favorite college team to go against, LSU. However, one of the signs moved me, so much so, that I had to take a picture of it. This sign gave a great warning, that can still be considered wisdom even today.  It said:

Beware Pickpockets and Loose Women

-New Orleans Police Dept.

As Dr. Seuss might say, I smiled a great smile, and I laughed a great laugh.   I had never seen a sign that was so right to the point.  Pickpockets can’t be trusted because they want anything that is worth your money and Loose Women are after your money too, so they can’t be trusted either.  Wherever this sign was originally placed, I can infer that it was somewhere where no one should have been.  So, if you were in this location, you were getting exactly what you wanted.  You were being taken advantage of.

Although today a lot of the missteps taken by men seem to be blamed on the women in their lives (that they have chosen to be with), but there are a lot of proud loose men around too.  Where are the signs for them?  By now you shouldn’t need a physical sign, just read the signs and learn by observing people and listening to the wisdom of those experienced in these matters.

We all know the signs of a loose woman/man, even though their actions are glorified (depending on race and status).  We all know the signs of a pick-pocketer even though many of them are CEOs or employed by major companies.  It might be family members and/or friends.  We have to be on our guard!  We cannot blame anyone for falling into the traps of these types of people.  We must accept our choices and actions, make do with what those actions have caused, forgive ourselves, and live a new life striving to not make the same mistakes again.

So, beware of pickpockets and loose women.  They come in every race, gender, home, and work place.  I know you have someone in your life telling you these same things. Be on your guard!  Listen to wisdom & read the signs!

Are you someone that this sign is warning about?

IMG_1182

Whom shall I fear?

It’s been a little rough lately.  So much has been going on. The world is scarier today than it was yesterday.  It seems like with each growing second, there is more chaos and devastation being announced by the news.  Technology makes us all aware of what is going on in the world.  No more is technology simply an escape tool.  So much corruption and manipulation is being accelerated, that it’s hard to keep up with everything.

That’s just talking about the world.  This isn’t even including what is happening on your own home front.  There used to be a show that came on about 10 years ago, that showed how homes in the nicest looking neighborhoods had “that craziness” going on.  It was like a CSI show, but with a closer to home approach.  I appreciated that show so much because the local news always seems surprised when the white-collar neighbor is a serial killer, but speaks with an expected tone when a killer is found living in the “hood”.

The world is a scary place, but my God said that He has not given me a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, a spirit of love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).  So, I will live my life professing this even when fear attempts to frighten me and bring discomfort when I turn on the 6:00 news.  I will live by this scripture as I go through my daily routines and continue to believe that He still has control even when it looks like the world is out of control.

The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear?  Psalm 27:1

Autumn & Pumpkins

Fall is here and everywhere I go, I see pumpkin stuff.  Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin flavored cereals, and pumpkin vanilla candles.  Pumpkins, Pumpkins, everywhere! I, for one, am not a pumpkin person.  Sweet potatoes??? Yes!!!  It’s a cultural thing.  I have  decorated my yard and the inside of my home with pumpkins because of the harvest and the autumn season, but I don’t care to eat pumpkins nor do I get excited at the pumpkin flavored food and drinks crowding the store shelves and coffee shops.

I too like the colors of the fall or autumn, as I prefer to say, so I do enjoy seeing the pumpkins.  The oranges, yellows, greens, browns, and deep reds.  The coppers, bronze, and gold make me smile.  I enjoy the smells of the fall… warm vanillas, caramels, apple cinnamon, and Glade’s Cozy Autumn Cuddle (this fragrance is my favorite right now, yes gawd!!!).  This is also my mother’s favorite time of year, so it reminds me of her.  She lives in Chicago, so she actually is able to see the seasons changing. *Her home is also surrounded by trees whose leaves change to the beautiful red and oranges as mentioned above.*

With autumn also comes the cooler weather.  Unfortunately, the desire I have for sweaters, scarves, and boots is annually unfulfilled.  It is still in the 80s where I live.  This is cooler, but nothing I would deem appropriate to celebrate the fall with. #sideeyetotexas Last year we probably got maybe a few days of cooler weather, but it only reached the 60s.  Long sleeve shirts are a joke.  If they are button up, they can be worn as a jacket possibly.  Hopefully this year it will get cooler.  The fact that the temperature is in the high 80s now gives me some hope.  Leaves are actually beginning to become yellow, so yay!!!!

I am enjoying this time of year, especially in my new home!  My television is set for Hallmark’s Harvest shows, the smells of Cozy Autumn Cuddle is in the air, and my mind is ready to harvest the blessings God has for me, my household, friends, and my entire family!

Bring on the Pumpkins, Bring on the colors, Bring on the Harvest!!

At least the HOLIDAYS are COMING!!!!

I’ve gotten off to a shaky start.  My plan was to begin a new me by working out with the goal of 5 times a week and working on my personal projects; and sure enough, when you say things like that, hindrances pop up.  I was able to start working out, but I wasn’t able to continue working out.  It’s hard out here for a teacher!  If it ain’t one thing its anotha!  There is so much we are expected to do while at school with the students, when students are in their extracurricular classes, and really not enough time to accomplish everything that needs to be done.  Students get holidays and teachers must report to school for meetings and planning.  Students get early release and teachers must stay for more meetings and more planning.  None of this is enough time to complete all that you must prepare for your classes.  I refuse to do work at home because then it feels as if I don’t get a break!  *I also work, with traffic, close to an hour away from my home.  This just adds to the complications that arise.

Am I grateful for having a job?  Yes I am; and I am realizing that there are issues no matter where you work.  Did I choose to live this far from work?  Yep and I still had these same issues when I lived 8 minutes away.  I look forward to the day that I can be free to do what I want to do when I grow up.  It’s imperative that I grow up now and begin doing what I want to do.

My work out plan, is not working as well as I would like because as a teacher I must make copies, and have meetings, and look over lesson plans, create lesson plans, respond to parent emails…so a lot of the teaching life is interfering with my personal life.  Struggling to do other things besides work and come home to rest.  There must be sacrifice somewhere?  Maybe if I don’t set a start date and just begin that will help.  I don’t know.  On a lighter more self-assured note, the holidays are coming and I am super excited!

-attention-shoppers-september-is-almost-over-stores-will-start-selling-all-upcoming-holidays-at-once-so-happy-thankshallowmas-b4103

%d bloggers like this: