Tapping In To Your Founttain Of Youth

Happy Sunday!!! Wow, the Oscar's are proving to be diverse this year. I have watched this event ever since I was a kid. Can you believe that we all wanted to grow up? As a kid, that's all I could think. I can't wait to grow up. I want to be a grown up. I'm sick of being a kid, I want to grow up.how silly. How stupid were we? We really didn't know. Our parents tried to warn us, but we had no idea. Now that we're grown, we're trying to roll the clock back. All we see on social media are items from the good old days. Memorabilia and things that remind us of times gone by. Now, we dream about going back to normal. You really want to just stop the clock and enjoy the moment. But the moments are passing us by. The pandemic ripped our blinders off and rocked the entire world. We're not capable of really sticking to what it was that we want to do as an adult. Life is taken us in a completely different direction than where we thought we'd be. The thought of looking back can overwhelm the desire to move forward. Unlike Lot's wife, we're not turning into pillars of salt. Reminiscing about the days gone by as we're trying to reach for that feeling again. Nowadays, we have all of these mass shootings. We have all of this killing. It's just absolute insanity. We really want to come back to the center,. We want to come back home to the place where we belong. There was no such thing as left or right, or in between. We want to just maintain who we are and who we have been. How do we get back? How do we maintain some level of normalcy in each changing time? Well, one interesting thing is to tap into your fountain of youth. There was something bubbling up on us and the inside when we were kids. Where we had reckless abandon. Where we just knew we could conquer the world in our own little minds. We can do the things that we set out to do. GOOD NEWS! We can tap into that again. It's good to go back and revisit some of the things that we did as a child. I found this very interesting post, and they suggested doing the following things:

-Revisit childhood memories through photo albums and storytelling

-Spend time doing activities you enjoyed as a child

-Write a letter to your younger self

-Watch movies or read books from your childhood

Now, what I would suggest is that when you do these things, you want to take your time. You really want to investigate and see how did we get here. Where was this road map? How is it that we got so far off course? Is there a GPS to get us back? Or do we need to leave well enough alone. Sometimes trips are meant to have been lived, and left in the past. Sometimes the memories are the good things that we hold on to. However, we must press forward. Whatever it is for you, is certainly something you want to think about. Certainly something you want to investigate. Sometimes it's the best way to find your happy. Sometimes it's good to have an outside voice interrupt those voices in your head, so you can really map out a clear path. Clarity is one of the best things you could possibly have, and obedience is the next. You want to stay the course that you're charting for yourself. There's no reason why the map can't be rewritten. There's no reason why the journey can't be explored. There's no reason that you have to stop here and stop now. Don't get stuck. Move yourself. Move along. Keep it going,. Keep pushing,. Keep climbing. Keep striving,. Keep it alive for yourself and for those who coming after you. Realize that what you're doing not only affects you now, but affects future generations. It's amazing how one simple act can change the trajectory of your whole family. So please take that into consideration and tap in. Don't fall out. Tap in. Please share your thoughts below. I want to thank you for supporting this blog space, and reading this article. Please stay safe, healthy, and warm. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Earth Day 2021: Restore Our Earth

What a week we've had...and it's only Thursday. April 2021 you are showing up and showing out (Snow? Really?). Today is April 22, which is known as Earth Day. I'm proud to say that we really come a long way. Born and raised in Cleveland, our whole lives we've been joked and talked about because of our water catching fire. I was only a baby at the time, but looking at the Google Images of literal flames dancing across what is supposed to be water is truly mind boggling. This travesty helped to encourage the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. The outrageous pollution levels were a catalyst for a lot of preservation efforts. As a country, we've made a lot of changes. There's still a lot of industrialization and toxic waste in the world, and there's still a long way to go to fix everything. Today we can reflect on conservation efforts. EARTHDAY.ORG is a leader in affecting change. Their virtual conference today spawned conversation about many topics, including:

• Climate and environmental literacy
• Climate restoration technologies
• Reforestation efforts
• Regenerative agriculture
• Equity and environmental justice
• Citizen science
• Cleanups, and ecosystems

Grassroot activists are saving our planet. This year's theme, Restore Our Earth, highlights our need to replenish the resources that generations of inept policies and illegal proceedings have stripped away. Let's elevate our actions to conserve water, replanting, regrowing, reshaping, and redoing our ecological imprint. Saving our planet and being better to the environment is a renewed priority for the Biden Administration  and other world leaders. We should be trying to make things better for our future. I have to admit, I could be so callous. I have no kids, so technically once I'm gone, I'm gone. I could say I don't have to worry about the future. In actuality, that means all of your children are my children. All of your people are my people, All of your generations are my generations. So I have to work just like everyone else to make sure the planet we leave behind for the future generations is a planet they can sustainably live on. I see that they're doing a lot of testing on the planet Mars. For my people, getting on a ship to go to an unknown place didn't work so well. There's still struggles that we're fighting. I'm not necessarily trying to be a test dummy on the red planet to see what's going on there. I'd rather save the planet that we're living on here. So I do my part, or at least the bit that I can to make sure to live responsibly. To recycle, and take care of the things that I can. I do whatever humanly possible to make sure that my imprint and energies i put into this world are good. I hope to be positive, and I hope to have a long life, so that I can produce a long life for those around me. But let me hear your thoughts. I want you to share your comments and share your opinions below, I want to thank you for reading this article, and supporting this blog space. Please stay safe, healthy, and warm. Take Care and God Bless!!!

After 400 years, we have a verdict

The universe is reigning down on us....especially in Minneapolis.  Tuesday, April 20th, a guilty verdict was handed down in the George Floyd murder by cop case. Wednesday, April 21st, it will be five years since the murder of Prince. Soon, other crooked cops will stand trial for the murders they've committed as well.  These events which happened in Minneapolis made history.  Each of these events involved deliberation of the merit of each case.  Careful thought was given by the jury. Political leaders made several exclamations about George Floyd's murder and the continued quest for justice.  Actress and Activist Kerry Washington placed this message on social media:

A guilty #verdict. But this fight for justice is not over. We have a lot of work to do. There is more fight ahead of us. But RIGHT NOW please take CARE of yourself. And let’s take care of each other. Prayers and love to the family of #GeorgeFloyd.

The world revolves around the universal concept of justice. Whether in Biblical times or today, deliberations are made to determine the guilt or innocence of the parties involved. We must get out all possible outcomes to get to the truth of the matter. We must evaluate all evidence before reconciling the matter. And we must move forward to gain the rewards attached to ending the situation that has been thoroughly vetted. We have a long journey ahead in the United States. After 400 years of slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, segregation, and institutionalized racism, laws are being fought by those who are unwilling to change our society. We must remain diligent to create and sustain irrevocable rights and monumental policies for our future. So now that we have a verdict, what do we do next? Some suggestions are:

-Take a deep breath.

-Take care of yourself. Connect with your loved ones.

-Call 202-499-6085. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act must pass.

-Use your voice in ALL elections. Register to vote.

-Continue to #SayHis Name.

 I don't know what the future holds, but I do know who holds my future. I put my faith, trust, and hope in God as He navigates this thing called life.  I aspire to live the best life....the purple life. I strive to be in God's will as He has a plan for my life. I often move as He would have me move deliberately and with purpose. He has the vision,  and He's made it plain. The prayers of our ancestors came full circle. So what say ye about tomorrow? Have you aligned your will with His? Have you noticed the difference in your results? How are you doing on your journey? How do you intend to move forward in this historically charged moment? Please share your comments below.  Thanks for reading this article and supportingthis blog space. Stay safe, warm and healthy.  Take Care and God Bless!!!

HE Speaks My Language

Happy Sunday!!! Sheltering in place gave me the opportunity to dip into some of the virtual services offered online. One sermon that I would implore you to listen to is that of Bishop TD Jakes. The title of his sermon today was "He speaks my language". The focus of the sermon was on Psalms 23, one of my favorite songs. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear.... I mean, everything that this man said, touched my soul. Isn't that a Savior that you would want? Someone who reflects who you are. Someone who has felt what you felt. Who has lived what you've lived. Who has been where you been, and knows your future. If you need a doctor, He's there. If you need a lawyer, He's there. If you are in jail, He's there. If you're in the middle of a fiery furnace, He's there. Jesus has never left you. He's never forsaken you even during this pandemic,. You're still alive. God has called so many people home at this point in time, but you're still here. That means you still have a purpose. Just like He speaks your language. He's still speaking today,. He's still talking to us today. He still has a message for us today. We have a purpose to serve on this earth, and we don't need to squander this time away. We don't need to fret around like we're lost little leaves blowing in the wind. No, we need to be determined,. We need to calculate our steps. We need to move with vision, whether it's getting a job, keeping a job or starting a new business,. Whatever our task is, whatever your assignment is right now, know that God would never put more on you that you could bear. This virtual service brought me joy to see the ushers and the service workers in that facility to practice integrating folks back ang welcoming into the sanctuary, after such a long quarantine. My church also did these measures not too long ago. Actually, they are planning for the 89th Annual Bible Conference next week. This is one of the most exciting events of the year, and I am super stoked. This year the speakers are more local, but I just had to reminisce a little about Bishop TD Jakes. Last time he came to Chicago, he was helping to open a new church with Bishop Horace Smith, and the fire alarm went off. I mean literally it was getting to the good part of the sermon, and the Saints immediately started praying,. Why? They knew this was the devil trying to block a good word from a good pastor. I remember when Bishop Jakes actually came to our church during our Annual Bible conference, many, many years ago. The lines were so long that it was actually outside the parking lot, and wrapping around the block. Police officers driving by asked me about the line, the helicopters in the air and the traffic jam. When I explained to them that Bishop TD Jakes was speaking at the church tonight.They looked at each other, and they were just shocked yet impressed that a preacher could draw this kind of crowd this kind of buzz this kind of excitement. Our church was used to that type of excitement, under the leadership of Bishop Arthur M Brazier. We had the best. One of the things that Bishop Jakes said, (which will stay to me for the rest of my life). Is having Bishop to the Potter's House back in the 90s when he came. Bishop Brazier preached both services at his church. The first service, Bishop tore the house down, just completely destroyed, everyone in the building. So, Bishop Jakes decided that he was going to take Bishop Brazier on a tour of the Potter's House, about the size of two football fields. Jakes thought- Well, I'm going to wear this man out. Go make him tired after looking at everything in see what he do with the second servic. Jakes exclaimed when Bishop Brazier got up to speak for the second service, he tore the building down again. So many stories about our beloved Bishop Brazier circulate around the country. Anyone who has felt his touch. Anyone who has been in his presence. Anyone who has ever said anything about Bishop usually is a fond fond memory of this Sainted man. And I'm sure that someday, people will say the same things about Bishop TD Jakes,. He brings a word,. He brings a touch, whether the building is empty because of COVID restrictions or whether he's talking in front of the volunteers of his own church or traveling to speak to the volunteers of others. I can only say that this was probably one of the best messages that I've ever heard. And I want to give you a snapshot. God has got a lot of things for you. And he wants to talk to you about it. He's coming down your lane. He's coming down your block. He knows your alley. He knows everything about you from the number of hairs on your head to the very crown of your head to the very tips of your toes. And there's no hiding. You can hide from other people. You can do whatever you want to do, but just know that Jesus is the rock. He is the WAY, the TRUTH and the light. The longer you run from this., the longer you delay your destiny. But why not put it in the Masters hand? He is eaching out to you, extending to you, letting you know that he's there- waiting, working, doing the very thing he had planned for you since the dawn of time. It's hard to kick against the pricks. and it's hard to fight against your future. Your arms are too short to box with God and you don't have enough energy. God will have the last say so. Do you want to listen? Can you comprehend the words that are coming out of his mouth? It may be bitter. It may be tight, but it will always be right. So, what is your next step? What are you going to do? Are you going to allow God to rule in your life? Are you going to follow the presets that Jesus showed us so many years ago? Are you going to keep stumbling, fumbling, falling and failing life? Don't you want to live the perfect life? I know I do. And I know that I keep marching towards the prize of the high calling. I hope that you're on this journey with me,. Please share your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blog space. Stay safe, warm, and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Self Care Saturday Zodiac Stress Relievers

Is there any rest for the weary? I surely hope so. Saturday is an off day from my job, but my on day for self care services. As I found myself sheltering in place, I was calm and collected. I managed to get some things done, but experience no stress while doing them. I needed to take the time to unwind and unpack all the current events today. Watching Prince Phillip's funeral, getting updates on the shootings in Chiraq, and seeing the general unrest across the country left me drained. . I needed to refresh an refocus on my goals, dreams, and desires.  Have you ever run out of gas? What do you do to refuel? Well, I found this interesting list of ways to destress using your zodiac sign. Review this list and find your sign:

HOW TO DESTRESS USING ZODIAC SIGNS

Taurus : Food

Aries: Alcohol

Pisces : Sex

Aquarius Music

Gemini: Reading

Cancer : Hug 

Leo: Exercise

Virgo : Sleep

Scorpio: Weed

Capricorn: Coffee

Libra: Tv Series

So is this true for you? As a proud Aquarius,  it is an unequivocal yes. I have tried many self care techniques, but it has always been the music for me. I'd suggest trying these (except weed Scorpios) and see how it works for you. Small successes will motivate you to stay the course. I must admit, I'm a disco queen. I love all club music and in particular house music. The bass moves you, the beat grooves you. And you just move. Fast or slow. Partnered up, grouping out, or going solo. There no judgement there as we're at the mercy of the DJ who keeps the party going. You'll find birds of a feather flock together, and Aquarius loves to celebrate and respond to the music played. Watching a clip of the dance party held in Downtown Chicago truly gave me pause. People were dancing, recording, taking selfies, all kinds of things...but all on one accord. For the brief moments they had forgotten about race, creed, or color and focused on music. I revel in the fact that once COVID-19  is under control, we will be free to be kind to each other.  Love one another. Live our lives to the fullest. Are you happy with the way your life is going? Or are you stressed beyond belief? Do you need to make some changes now for your future? Join me as we move along this journey to see the best things in life. The purple life. Please  share your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blog space.  Stay safe warm and healthy.  Take Care and God Bless!!!

NO MORE HASHTAGS!!!!!

This week!!! This month!!!  This year!!! What are we doing to stop the insanity???!!! Watching the news in Chiraq is full of police brutality, crime, murder, COVID-19,  and political infighting. Battling the elements is tough enough as the weather does change every five minutes. The release of bodycam videos in the death of a 13 year old has heightened anxiety and weariness of police involved shootings. The fears, the lack of protection and racial inequality has most black and brown people on edge. History is repeating itself in the ugliest of ways.  Picture all the children separated at the border reunited with their families. Think about the children not being gunned down in the streets, but at home with their parents.  All lives matter, right? The silence of the gun lobbyists is deafening. Racial tensions are popping up across this country with confrontations on the rise. I'm sickened by the continued downward spiral of violence in our communities. Say it with me... NO MORE HASHTAGS!!! Let's send a message of hope, joy, peace, and happiness. Isn't that what we were put on this earth to do? Think about it. Don't you want someone to rescue you when you made a bad choice? Ignored warning signs? Down to your last breath? Let's go back to the work that God has given us. There but by the grace of God go I. Can we extend God's grace to one another? I think of the families of the victims. Those parents go down in prayer, crying over the loss of their loved ones. What if the whole area went into prayer and support of those pushed to the fringe of society? The world is watching these incidents and trials moment by moment with anticipation.  Their faith in America is crumbling under these circumstances. We need to stand strong on the power of God to ensure the safe return of our young boys and men to come home. Just imagine if our community embraced each other like that and lived up to the creed of our nation. Prayers for everyone. Holding each other up when spirits we're down. Many still yearn to live a purposed life. The best life. The purple life. Let's continue to chat as we move along this journey for social justice, community upheaval, and unified participation.  Please share your comments below.  Thank you for reading this article  and  supporting this blog space. Please stay safe warm and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

8 Ways To Measure Your Performance

Happy Hump Day! Today has been packed with breaking news, presidential address and analysis, and zoom meetings. Pandemic measures are slowly being repealed as more people are fully vaccinated. (Yes, I got my second Moderna shot today) As I adjust my efforts to reflect the season, several things came to mind. What are you working on? How is it going for you? Who is holding you accountable? While what you're working towards should be your passion, is it really? Are you feeling a sense of accomplishment? Or are you looking for applause? Do you care what goals and benchmarks you're hit? Or are you looking for the pat on the back or the wink and the nod? Truth be told, many people halt or end their side hustle passion projects because some ominous individuals disapprove. Surprisingly, people downplay their expertise for false modesty and verbal kudos. In our Faithful Mornings with Pastor Ericka group, we often talk about how the preached Word may be tight but it's right. Once people get over the bitterness of this pill, you'll do better. My research found eight ways that people can measure their performance:

1. Check Your Attitude. "Attitude is very important," says employment consultant Rick Waters. ...
2. Be Reflective. ...
3. Assess Your Performance Against the Job Specifications. ...
4. Keep a File. ...
5. Find out the Supervisor's Expectations. .
6. Get Feedback From Others. ...
7. Be a Team Player. ...
8. Plan Ahead.

These methods are meant to quantify your metrics. You want to monitor your progress as you move towards your target. I must admit, I have been saying that I'm working on things. Speaking on it and obsessing about it.  In actuality,  my progress has been lacking. No one is holding me accountable because they're stuck in their own lives with their own difficulties.  And the well wishes are as dried up as the Sahara desert.  But I finally came to the realization that silent moves are the best. No one needs to know what you're doing unless they can help get you to the next level. I don't need the noise. . It's a better testament when you've accomplished something rather than the struggle to get through it.  Everyone wants to win at something and tell that story. Hustle in silence and let your success scream out. Allow your tests to be your testimony. I know it will be worth it in the end because of all the stories proceeding mine. I'm certainly sharing my journey and I'm inviting you to come along.  Share your comments below.  Thank you for reading this article and supporting  this blog space. Stay safe, healthy and warm.  Take Care and God Bless!!!

We Are The Leaders We Need

Are you fed up? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Have you ever had one of those days? I mean hit the wall kind of says? Well this one was by far the one for me. I've been watching too much news, and can't blame anyone but me. God protects babies and fools.....you know the rest. But what are we doing to each other? I mean killings in Chicago are on the rise. Chiraq.is living up to this ugly nickname, and surpassing all considerable limits.  Civii unrest is sweeping the country in the wake of continued killings of black and Brown people. The need to stop Asian hate has splashed across the nation.  Social justice is elusive to most but swift to expose racism,  sexism, and classism. Politicians are angling targeted debates and legal wranglings over the rights and wrongs of US policies. This self righteous grandstanding is reaching a frenzied pitch. Each side pointing fingers at the other. Our conversations are very guarded and sometimes filled with hatred. There's even been talk of voter suppression laws sweeping across many red states. We can't afford to go back that far. We can't afford to continue carrying this bitterness and vitriol. We as a nation must come to the table and talk to each other. Contemplate and negotiate. We must stand up for our virtues and values as an industrialized society. Our lives hang in the balance and we need to secure our futures. Many grassroot organizations are taking our leaders to task. Get involved. Find a cause you believe in. If we can tout herd immunity, we can march to the polls for a healed community. I don't believe I'm living the best life now, but have joined up with others who are using our shared Christian values to implement lasting changes. I feel safe in saying that you aren't either. So let's join forces and create our narrative and purpose. We only want to live up to this country's decree of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We must strive and move forward on our goal to live the good life. The purple life. What are you prepared to do? Can you volunteer? Can you contribute? Can you spread the word? Or are you paralyzed by fear, apathy and unbelief? Please share your comments below. Thank you for sharing your journey with me. Your support of this blog space is greatly appreciated. Please stay safe, warm and healthy.Take Care and God Bless!!!

Welcome 2 AmeriKKKa

Monday Monday. I tried to avoid giving my opinion. I tried to stay positive and keep calm. I have cried and I have prayed. But my soul is uneasy and my spirit is troubled. I've had all I can stand, I cant stand no more. I am fed up with the unfortunate policies of law enforcement, training and administration. Our country is riddled with stories of unarmed black and brown people murdered by the police. Meanwhile, armed white supremacists, domestic terrorists and radicalized lone wolves are subdued and arrested without a scratch. The prior resident of the white house-who didn't care about anything but himself-actually encouraged such behavior. The American People have been silent for too long. Protests are erupting over the murder of another black man. 20 year old Daunte Wright was shot by a female officer with 26 years of experience.  The officer, Kim Potter, had more years of experience than Mr. Wright had to live. Think about it. These young people are being killed in the prime of life. Potential cut short. Families torn apart for generations to come. Politicians are being bought and sold like mindless sheep.There's only one thing they understand and that's power. Money cant buy everything,  and some money is better than none at all. However,  these robberbarons have sunk to a new low. Creating and enforcing voter suppression policies to escape the law and due process is exactly the steps taken in the Jim Crow Era. Migrant children crossing the borders is frightening,  but oddly American. Since the slave trade, trail of tears, and internment camps, Americans have become more aware of the racial divide that no one is trying to repair. The world is watching the trial of the murderer of George Floyd and they are not pleased. God is watching and His will shall come to pass.   How will this latest episode in Minnesota be viewed by history? Probably as one of the darkest moments in the country.  Please let you light shine. Let your voices be heard . Pray for Minneapolis as this city is the lightening rod of injustice and inhumanity. Definitely stand in your truth and live your power. You matter. Your thoughts matters. Too many lives are at stake to sit on the side and let this continue. As we all strive to live the best life, we must never forget our most vulnerable.  Let's finish this chapter and proceed to the rest of our collective lives. The purple life. How do you feel? What do you see? What have you heard? What is your experience with law enforcement? Who have you lost to violence (Chiraq!)? Please leave your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blog space. Please stay safe, warm and healthy.  Take Care and God Bless!!!

From Decision To Completion

Where did the time go? This weekend came and went as quickly as the rainfall. Self Care Sunday turned into Gloom and Doom Dark Day. When your get up and go just got up and went....you improvise. Delegating limited energy and resources focuses efforts to complete tasks for an already jam packed weekend. The choice to elevate your life requires grit, vision, and sacrifice. The feeling of accomplishment far exceeds the weariness of being tired and uninspired. Once you decide on your course of action, you follow the strategies to finish the courses of action. Then, you immediately think of the next goal. Stripped down and starting over. Its human nature.  People need the connection...the thrill of it all. We must conquer things. It's so fulfilling.  We all have to do lists. Line by line. Item by item. As we knock things off, we celebrate....but don't stop.  We realize it's one way to build the foundation of our lives. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.  That's how you build muscle, strength and endurance. Life isn't a race, it's a journey.  Explore the scenic route. Take the time to be present in the moment. Savor the flavor of the good life. The purple life. What are your to do lists? What are looking forward to finishing? How are you going to choose? What decisions need to be made? Share your comments below. Thanks for reading this article and supporting this blog space. Stay safe, warm and healyhy.Take Care and God Bless!!!

What Is Your Proclamation?

Humility is hard. I mean being humble is good in theory, but does it really work? Does it seem that the wicked get the attention while the virtuous get the shaft? I mean people are born into privilege and stay there. Meanwhile others broke their backs to build this country only to be oppressed, ostracized and obliterated.  Sure, there are examples of people who have risen above this statistic, but how? I'm looking at Derrick "D-Nice" Jones (no relation). This teenage rap sensation blasted onto the music with his popular song "Call Me D-Nice", He found success young, lost it, educated himself, and mastered many skills across several industries. With his return to the music scene, he regained popularity as a Celebrity FJ in high demand. Once the pandemic shut the world down, DJ D-Nice came on social media to create Club Quarantine.  With over 100,000 visitors to his IG Live, D-Nice has expanded his territory, reinvented himself, and elevated his brand into a viable, award winning influencer and thought leader. One look at his Instagram will convince you too. He was trying to cope with the coronavirus and its grip on our nation. He worked hard, honed his craft, and networked his way to superstardom.  D-Nice  networked his way into multiple opportunities and didn't hesitate to try new things. He wasn't bragging, he was promoting. He presented his best self and now he's living his best life. He's lifted his whole family up and continues to lift the careers of others. And he's a humanitarian to boot. What can we learn from Derrick "D-Nice" Jones? Follow your dream. Do what you love. Pursue all options. Hone your craft. Build your support team. Be prepared for success and don't stop until you obtain it. Measure your steps as you go through the process but press towards the mark of the high calling.  Know that God blessed you with everything you need to succeed. It's time for us to recognize that fact and pursue our passion. I've colored my passion purple as this is royal, regal, and worthy of crowning my Queendom. Are you ready to move on your purpose and passion? What is your proclamation? What do you want to be called? What do you answer to? We are seeing some light at the end of the COVID-19  tunnel. Six months from now you can totally change your life to a higher more fulfilled place.Things can only get better from here. Let's continue our journey together to live our best life. The purple life. Are you ready to take things to the next level? What are you prepared to do? Who in your network can assist you? Do you have a mentor to guide your efforts? If you're having difficulty answering these questions,  please seek wise counsel. Please share your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blog space. Stay safe, warm, and healthy.Take Care and God Bless!!!

Spring Clean 2021:Life Affirmation Principles

Well we've made it to yet another Friday. . This week has been filled with sadness, mayhem, and mass confusion.  Today was especially tough with the numbers of death in the news (Chiraq!). The calls, texts, and emails received only prove that the pressure is mounting on us all. I'm finding that people are reaching out with straws of minutiae just to stir an interaction. So many rites of Spring have come and gone with so many cancelled events still. The call to return to normal is getting louder and louder now that we have a vaccine. However. It's still not safe due to mutations and hesitation. But who has a "normal" life anymore. Have you adapted to sheltering in place? Do you have a new daily routine? Are you taking care of yourself? What I have found is that people focus so hard on work that they don't rest. Self care falls off our full plates until a diagnosis adjusts our perspective. In doing my research, I've found these eight separate principles to affirm positive living

1. The past cannot be changed

2. Everyone's journey is different

3. Overthinking will lead to sadness 

4. Happiness is found within

5. Kindness is free 

6. You only fail if you quit 

7. What goes around comes around

8. Smiles are contagious

I talk to elders all day long. They often tell me that they rather have better health versus their current situation.  Theres nothing like hearing the woulda, coulda, shoulda regrets of life on heavy rotation. But seeing all the lives cut short before coming to maturity truly hurts the heart.  I write these blogs as a cautionary tale. God said that we will live and not die. We are to take care of our bodies like the temples that they are. We need to practice these simple principles to enhance our wellbeing. This list is purposely short to aid in incorporating these techniques into our daily routine. We must look to examples of overcoming to inspire us. The time is now to rise above this base to reach higher heights. I truly believe the best is yet to come and we must keep moving forward. Don't stop. Don't quit. Dont get stuck in a rut. Don't rest on your laurels. And most certainly don't throw in the towel.Give these life affirming principles a try and let me know how you feel. Also, please leave comments on things you've found that empower you and elevate your efforts. Thanks for reading this article and supporting this blog space. Stay safe, warm and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

7 Ways To Handle Trauma And Triggers

Triggers. Trauma. Mentality. Wellness. So much is going on in the news right now, We're all talking about things that are triggering us. The trial. Gun violence. Physical abuse. Children running across the border, unaccompanied. Politics. Death.  Destruction. COVID. Social media.  Many things can bring unexpected feelings and emotions. It is really incomprehensible what stressors the body is reacting to. Tougher still is the stamina for what people are coping through. We've been in this pandemic for over a year. Although the end is in sight, it is still out of reach for many. Let's face it... the news and social media is not helping. The negativity that is going on in our world seems to garner the brightest light. Whereas those puff pieces-those feel good kinds of stories- almost cast into the distance. Society thinks you're supposed to ingest this day in and day out, and not respond.  You're expected to just keep it moving. Keep it going. Keep it flowing. Let's face it, some of us are empaths. Some of us see what's going on around us and our compassion takes over. Just today, I'd gotten some rough news from several of my friends. Each one is dealing with a different situation, but each one was needing prayer. Each one reaching out to the one person that they know has some positivity and light that they're willing to share. I have to admit, it's difficult because you need your tank filled too. Sometimes you need someone to be there for you as well. But how do you cope? How you deal with being the go to person? How do you deal with being the rock for someone? How do you deal with the exchange of values? How do you deal with the things that make you want to disconnect from the world, and just be alone for a while? In my research, I found seven different ways that you can truly handle the items that are triggering in your life. They are as follows:

• Deep breathing
• Expressive writing
• Grounding
• Mindfulness
• Relaxation
• Self-soothing
• Social support

Review this list. Tealize that you have to take many things into account.  External triggers are going on in society around us (Chiraq?). And you unearth internal triggers- those traumas that you don't talk about. Those life experiences that you've tucked away. Those little things that you have in your own personal graveyard... things that you swore would be buried with you, We don't want to talk about ugly things, unpleasant truths that we have to face. Everything that we've gone through adds to our world both good and bad. It builds character, personality. relationships.  Sometimes a shared experience can truly form a bond for life. Sometimes a shared experience can rip people apart for life. It really depends upon how you handle things as far as what the outcomes will be. Make sure that you have your circle. Make sure that those who surround you are solidly in your corner. Jesus had Judas. Do you have someone who's literally trying to test your skills?  Prove your worth? Make you suffer and die just to make a point? Or do you have the other disciples who are going to carry the message of who you are? Be your staunchest supporters? They make their mistakes but they still run behind you? Take the time to make that evaluation. Take the time to do some introspection. Check yourself. Check those around you. Make sure that you know where you're going to, and what you're going through. Definitely make sure you know who you're going through it with. These triggers can bring up a lot of trauma from the past, but we don't want that to hold up our future. Please share your comments below. Thank you for reading this article, and supportng this blog space. Please stay safe, healthy, and warm. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Preserve The Past For The Future

Have you missed me? Can you imagine actually taking a break during spring time? During a pandemic? The nerve of me to take some time off for myself. To really focus on myself and gather my thoughts. Watching the murder trial iof George Floyd has triggered  millions across this country. The world is actually watching to see what we're going to do when the world has seen this murder reel.  But that's not what I'm writing about today. I'm writing about some of the other triggers that have been happening in my life. As many of you know, I work with the senior population. I can't tell you the stories that I hear the kids running around in the background, sometimes the noise that was going on. But what I also hear is people who boss their parents around. People who are telling them who they should and should not be talking to. What they should or should not be doing with their golden years. I've even heard folks snatching the phone from their elders to see what exactly is going on. I try to be as respectful as possible, but it's always incredible to me how these things happen, I  implore you to check on your elderly.  Check on your parents, grandparents,  great grandparents, and those neighbors who you don't see as often....especially during this pandemic,  Check to make sure that they're okay. Check to make sure that they're eating well. Check to make sure that they aren't feeling lonely. Check to make sure that they are happy that they're still alive. Check on them to make sure that they feel like they've got some use in life. Even if you just have a moment to just send a friendly text, maybe knock on the door just to let them know that somebody's looking for them. Phone calls are absolutely golden and worth 1000 words that you might spend. Just that momentary I was thinking about you and wanted to bring you up can absolutely bring sunshine to a cloudy day. I glean so much from them. My life is more complete that way. Our elders have done it already. They've learned the mistakes, and they can pass on those valuable lessons. The gems that we're seeking so hard start as the nuggets that they have to pass on. Just a little pressure, and we'll get those same gems like they got. Are we listening? Are we gathering? Are we gleaning from those who have the most to give to us, and have the most heart to want to give it to us? I'm very happy in the position that I've been in. I'm welcomed into so many homes but it shouldn't be that way. I know that's a space that belongs to someone else. Take your seat. Take your spot. They might not tell you they want to talk to you, but they want to talk to you. Just like I harass everyone in my life, harass the people in your life. We've all been through this pandemic, and we all need to know who really cares. When you talk about preserving your history, what better way to do that than to preserve your parents. To talk with your parents, to share with your parents, grandparents, great grands. Let's capture all of that information so that that history is not lost. You want to guide the steps of your future by making sure you don't repeat the missteps of your past. It is our elder generation that hold the keys to what we want to do. There have been pandemics before and they've survived them. There have been riots before and they've survived them. There have been police brutality cases before and they've survived them. So, we need to glean from the survivors so we can survive as well. What advice would you give to your younger self? What advice could you use from your older relatives? What advice, have your elders been trying to give you that you've either ignored sidestepped or written off as folklore? Let's get real. Let's get personal. Let's figure out what we need to do to make sure that our futures are brighter. That the path we're walking forward and never have to go back. I don't know about you but I'm not trying to revisit 2020 in any way shape or form. What do you need to hold on to? What is the lesson you need to learn so that you can move on? Please share your comments below. Thank you for supporting this blog space, and reading this article. Stay safe, healthy, and warm. Take Care and God Bless!!!