September Is Suicide Prevention Month

It's the end of the month. Financially, September 30th is the year end for many corporate and governments entities. We also enter into the last quarter of the year. That means the holidays are coming😱😱😱 Many "holidays" occur on this date like "National Love People Day". Most important to me,  September is known as Suicide Prevention Month. With everything going on in the news and social media, there was virtually no mention of this very important time of the year. I've lost many classmates to suicide, and I've always lamented over their deaths. For those who have lost loved ones, I can only imagine the range of emotions that you go through. In researching for my mindfulness blogposts, the goal is to focus your energy internally to be in the present moment. However, suicide prevention focuses on connecting with others. Watching human behavior and recognizing changes in them is key to recovery. The National Institute of Mental Health suggests you look out for changes in your loved one's behavior like:

• Increases their use of alcohol or drugs or starts to behave recklessly, such as driving while intoxicated or without a seat belt.
• Has extreme mood swings, from euphoria to the depths of depression or appears agitated, expresses rage or talks about seeking revenge.
• Sleeps too much or too little or withdraws or isolates from others.
• Appears to be in unbearable psychological pain or talks about being hopeless or a burden to friends or family, or talks about feeling trapped or having no reason to live.
• Begins to search online for ways to kill themselves, such as buying a gun or obtaining medical prescriptions.
• Begins to give away prized possessions or visits or calls to say goodbye.

Many organizations have listed resources online for symptom recognition. Therapists can assist with exploring the root causes for individuals who are not coping well with life or have expressed the desire to harm themselves. The key ingredient is you. Are you checking on family and friends? Is there someone who has been on your mind? Have you noticed subtle/drastic changes in those around you? Does your workplace have programs in place? Your school? Your church? Do you belong to a support circle or an accountability group? You can't save the world, but you can give someone the hope and strength to keep going. People can move forward and get through the situations that they think they can't overcome. 

Key Questions To Ask Yourself: 

• Is there a history of illness? 
  
• Was there a recent loss? 
  
• Is there a belief system that honors personal sacrifice?
  
• Can they get a weapon? 
  
• Did the person survive a suicide attempt? 

As we prepare to increase our mindfulness,  let's also incorporate mental health awareness into our schedules. It is shocking how thin the line is between the two. While we are in quarantine, let's strive to improve the quality of our lives and the lives around us.  Let's continue to press towards the mark of the high calling and live our best life. The purple life. Please share your comments below. Thank you for reading  this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe, masked and stay healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Speak Your Truth

Wednesday Wednesday. Hump day indeed!!! I am still over this week. This melancholy feeling is like a dark cloud over my head. Blah blah blah. I generally don't mope, bellyache,  or complain. But this mood must be released. Indian Summer is happening across most of the country. News outlets are throwing stories together like patchwork quilts. Zoom meetings have turned into isolated cubes of simulated togetherness. Jobless claims are still at record numbers and food insecurity has gripped the nation. What the pandemic is teaching us is to shift quickly. We cant be blind to the real world while wasting away in social media. Society labelled politics as left vs right, but what about those in the middle? What about the lovers and the fighters? What about the influencers and those that are influenced? The number of businesses that are coaching and training have taken over the internet. Bloggers are creating content around at home remedies for shuttered non-essential businesses that permeated our lives. The world is an upside down ball of confusion. How are you dealing with it? Are you working or looking for work? Are you a business owner or a hustler? Are you single or do you have families you're responsible for? Everyone has a cross to bear. We must navigate these rough waters with skill, patience and grace. It's tough sometimes but we must persevere. Hold on to our hopes. Continue to dream. Stand on to the promises of God that He will never leave us or forsake us. So many passages of scripture talk about faith, hope and strength. Now we must apply these principles for our lives. Many times we lose our focus on what we want. We tend to look at what's around us. What are you seeing? Is it a good look where you are? What is your focus now? Are you yet holding on to the past? Pr are you visualizing and manifesting your future? Share your comments below.  Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe, masked and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Be Offended!

Its Choose Day. The week just started and I'm over it. Watching today's newscasts brought back bad memories.  Children dying in the crossfire. Drivers killed in carjackings. Innocent people dying from freak accidents. You go to school, work, (insert place here) going about you normal routine and then there's a shooting.  Our country is becoming numb to these recurring headlines. Chicago is constantly in the spotlight for the reckless abandon of the value of life. For an 8 year old shot and killed playing on his porch by a gunman aiming for his older brother is heartbreaking. To come out of the city to the suburbs and shoot people out of gang wars is the bottom of deplorable. Our children are not safe at school or on their way to school. Our country hasn't always been this way. Where is the blood lust coming from? Why does no one care about the carnage of these dead bodies? My question is why aren't there common sense gun laws? No other major country has these issues. We police the world but can't protect our citizens???!!! Preposterous!!! I am thankful that there has risen a generation that says enough of this foolishness. People are tired of the lack of compassion and humanity. Our young people aren't posting about fluff topics. They are socially conscious citizens who are demanding that we do better. They are taking the world by storm demanding answers to these tough questions. I join them as I flashback to the shooting in Chicago 's Financial District a few years back. A voice came over the intercom asking us to shelter in place. Cell phones bust with news reports from outside our building. S.W.A.T Teams in the lobby...guns and rifles drawn.  Police and news helicopters hovering overhead.  I never want to go through that again, and my heart goes out to those families victimized. I can only imagine the depth of emotions that everyone must have right now. I know we can do more than sit by and watch. We can be offended by the ugliness of our society and make the change. I'm just waiting for others to join me. Are you ready? I am. Join me on this journey as we aspire to live the best life. The Purple Life. Share your comments below. Thanks for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe, masked and healthy.  Take Care and God Bless!!!

Help Us Find Us: Black and Missing

Well it's Saturday night, I guess that makes it all right. People say, what do you have to lose? It could be your life. There's been a lot in the news lately about Missing and Exploited people. We've all seen the story of the murder of a young blogger. She traveled across country with a fiance, who has now disappeared after her dead body was found. Now, the reason why there's so much attention is because the young lady, Gabby Petito, was a beautiful blonde woman who had her whole life ahead of her. Her face was plastered everywhere. All over social media. All over the news. They had volunteers searching for this young lady. Now all the stories are coming out about all the fights that were being had between her and her fiance, weird voice messages, etc. This story has also shed a light on the disparity between black women, and black men, who are also listed as missing. These people of color have had no media coverage given nor search parties organized. Families have actually had to pay their own private investigators to try to search for their missing loved ones. Unfortunately, we are all too quick to show the stories of people getting shot. People involved with gang violence. People who died of drugs. However, no one talks about the missing. No one talks about the people who seemingly vanished into thin air. No one talks about how the police claim that they are in some sort of nefarious activity. Often dismissive, officers explain why these people "disappeared" and have no resource to spare for that. I find it difficult because I know how much I love my family. I also know most people love their families too. Yhe very thought that someone could just magically disappear while they're on their daily routine, or while they're going to a new place or or studying a new idea, or just in transit somewhere is just heartbreaking. Particularly in Chicago, you see the news that is splattered all over the place. The negativity is what reigns supreme. People cannot find their loved ones. It can take years and rewards before people will even give tips. I'm even reminded of Jennifer Hudson when her family was killed. It took a reward for people to report that they seen the car where her young nephew lay dead. Why? Because they wanted that reward money, and we shouldn't be this way. It's just really heartbreaking especially for people of color. Not only for missing blacks but also for Hispanics or Latinx, or even our indigenous brothers and sisters. We've already seen the images of the Border Patrol beating Haitian refugees. The thought that people would just go missing, never to be seen again or never to be heard from. Unbearable. We would all love that ending like Elizabeth Smart being seen alive and well, even though many years later. Unfortunately it's often the case like Jilani Day, a promising young black man who was studying to be a doctor. He disappeared en route to an appointment with his professor. A body was found weeks after he was reported missing near his car, but whose body was not immediately identified. Only after all of the attention on Ms Gabby Patito that his family stepped up the pressure to find him. Suddenly the DNA test came through to positively identify his body. Now obviously this has created more questions than it has answers. But at least that's one family that has gotten the answer that was their worse case scenario. In Illinois, there are currently 143 missing persons cases of which nearly half are people of color. Again, where is this mentioned in the news?  The fact is that there are so many prominent cases of young people- black, hispanic, indigenous persons- who are missing. It really sets the tone for what we need to do as a country. Now, there is an organization called Black and Missing Foundation. They have done the work for the past 13 years and  they have been putting out the information of how our people are just going missing. They are trying to keep their stories in the news and spotlight as much as they can. BAMF works to make sure that more resources are used so more of our people are actually found. Think about it. You don't hear about missing young men, especially missing black young men, without assuming that there's some sort of gang activity related. We need to erase this stigma. We need to turn the page. We need to put as many sources into finding our people as we do into locking them up. Not everyone is a crime boss. Not everyone is a gang banger. There are many productive citizens who are living their lives and deserve to live their life to the fullest... without disappearing. We are not magicians. People don't just up and disappear. We need to find our lost. Help us find us. Please share your thoughts below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blog space. Stay safe, masked and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

The Racism Of Deportation 2021

Have you been watching the news? Have you seen the crisis/chaos at the southern US border? Where did all these Haitians come from? How did so many people escape the island nation? Why are they coming through Mexico? Since they're in the US, why send them back? I've seen the images and heard many stories. The lies. The confusion. The inhumane treatment. Sheltering under a highway? In 90-100+ degree weather? I've had all I can stand, I cant stand no more. I am fed up with the unfortunate policies of this country that the current administration is hiding behind. Our country has a history of welcoming refugees seeking political asylum from oppressive regimes. The fact that the Haitian President was assassinated this year is reason enough to consider asylum. But then all the natural disasters that have hit the island and the fledgling economy have run many residents to foreign soil. America has taken European refugees for centuries. Recently, we took many of our Afgan allies to military bases to process with a shred of dignity. But this? Chasing Haitians on horseback through the Rio Grande? Herding refugees like runaway slaves to return them to an uncertain fate. Disgusting. Triggering. Yet, historically tragic. The American People have been silent for too long. There's only one thing the policymakers understand and that's power. Money cant buy everything,  and some money is better than none at all. However,  these refugees have no organization, no backing, and no US interests to barter. We as a nation have sunk to a new low. Enforcing outdated policies to escape the law and due process is exactly the steps taken in Nazi Germany. 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 and they are not pleased. God is watching and His will shall come to pass.   How will this ugly episode be viewed by history? Probably as one of the darkest moments in the country.  Please let you light shine. Let your voices be heard. This is not what I voted for or envisioned happening. Definitely stand in your truth and live your power. You matter. Your thoughts matter. 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. Lers come together and fix this. Share your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blogspace.  Stay safe, masked, and healthy. Take Care and God Bless !!!

Renewed, Refreshed and Reset: 2021 NBMBAA Conference

Happy Monday. This was a weekend of reflection. I truly had the time to soak up all the information presented last week. I had the privilege and the pleasure of volunteering with the National Black MBA Association for their 43rd Annual Conference. The theme was Refresh Renew and Reset, and it lived up to everything that I could possibly imagine. I used to volunteer when I was a student, working towards my MBA here in Chicago. To have the conference return to its home. Returned to its roots. Returned to where it all started was just very very nostalgic. They were celebrating so many historic moments.  Anniversaries and corporate opportunities that formed throughout  the years being celebrated. It really created magical fantastic experiences that will spark energy for all who attended. Sometimes we grow out of those things that made us happy while we were going through. Sometimes we let go of extracurricular activities in favor of employment efforts. It's good to go back and revisit the things that we used to do. The things that used to give us energy. The things that used to make us strong. And the things that we felt as a sense of community. One of the things that I truly loved about the conference experience is getting together with other professionals. People who have a like mindset. People who were on top of their business. Folks weren't necessarily there to just party. They were working professionals there for career growth, advice and advancement. The conference provided a socially distanced safe space to escape the pandemic and invest in yourself. To get things going in their life. It was about networking. It was about learning new things. It was about growth and expansion. And it really set the tone for the whole week. You had volunteers, like myself, who were inspired by speakers that we had to ourselves. We were inspired by speakers like Michael Vick, and Ledisi, as they gave the crowd comments on things that we could be doing right now to help change our world. Change our environment. Change the corporate structures that we now belong to. We also had corporate receptions where there were a plethora of empowerment messages. We also had plenty of music throughout the week, including DJ D-Nice who had a very special set during the 3M Welcome Reception (from Club Quarantine? The guy with the hat? Volunteers got all the questions that night) Let's not forget the main event- the career fair. There were entrepreneurial events but the focus is always on the career fair. This year, it's separated into two parts: the physical career fair on Thursday and Friday and the virtual career fairs coming up on Tuesday and Wednesday. This is an extra treat for those who were in attendance, and for those who attended digitally. During this pandemic, the conference was canceled last year but they came back strong. They came back resilient. They came back with purpose, making sure that their membership was taken care of on both a physical, personal, spiritual and business level. The NBMBAA ensured that the conference was everything you could possibly imagine and then some. Everyone walked away with connections, knowledge and economic opportunities. Some of the closing activities included competitions, award ceremonies and programs encouraging business growth, expansion, entrepreneurship and community support. The NBMBAA is going to be a strong organization for years to come. As I look at the turning over of leadership to our youth. I'm very confident that the future is in great hands. Everyone was there from young students who are high schoolers to college students to MBA students, to those of us who are experienced in our careers. There were many generations. We heard from those who actually founded the organization as well as those who are newly crowned into it. I encourage you and implore you to reach back into your past and grab those good moments. Invest in your future. Make sure that you are doing everything that you need to do to make sure that you are up to date. Ensure that you are networked, plugged in and ready to go. Make sure you take advantage of every opportunity that is provided to you. Don't be afraid to show up and show out for any reason.  You don't want to miss the opportunity in, especially when it comes right to you. There's so much in store in life for you. The NBMBAA Conference was absolutely uplifting, motivational, and inspirational. Be inspired to always grasp for the mark of the high calling. You can always lead yourself to the purple life, to the best life possible. Share your thoughts and your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blog space. Stay safe, masked and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

Change Your Perspective!

Happy Hump Day!!! Hoping your day wasn't as hectic as mine. Had several conversations with several new contacts. Overall, everyone's mood was pleasant. Learned a number of new strategies to implement info my life plan. Work -life balance is coming together. Managed to even get some motivational words from some awesome speakers. I'm a strong believer in continual learning. It's always good to learn something new. You never want to be stuck. Evolution takes the old ways out to make sure we advance as a civilization. Your new business concept could fill the niche that people don't recognize they need. Timing is everything.  If you launch your business before you're ready,  you could ruin your reputation.  If you wait too late, that trend may pass you by. Life is a giant relay race. You must know how to change your perspective. There is a certain path you must follow. Some people will be on the same journey with you. Others will be there to support you. You may face distractions along the way. You must stay the course and keep your focus.  Consistent performance will yield winning results.  How is your business model working now? Are there new strategies or technology to push you forward? What is your succession plan? How is your team prepared to face the future? Being disciplined like the athlete with coaching and mentoring will take you to the next level. Are you ready? Leave your comments below and let me know where you are. My journey is starting over but I'm pressing for the mark of the high calling.  Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe, masked and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

7 Reasons To Invest In Your Education

Monday Monday...what a day! Friday the 13rh is superstitious but Monday the 13th is just as bad. Today's difficulties were growth pains. When attempting to chat a new course, you have to use new strategies. You must incorporate new technologies. You must be in top shape mentally, physically, and financially. During the pandemic, many articles have been written about self improvement. While you want to ensure good ethics and practices, how do you improve on you? How do you grow during a pandemic? Do you struggle with the concept of pivoting? Societal norms frown upon being stagnant.  For some reason, we value putting ourselves last to promote others or raise children. But why can't we step to the front of the line? Or even falling back to work on you. Often I've been told that education is the best investment you could ever make. No one can take that knowledge for you. Doing my research uncovered 7 reasons why you should invest in youreducation:

1. Education Makes You a Better, More Interesting Person 

2. Learning Enriches Your Life 

3.Education Fights Off Demotivation 

4. Education is Linked with Wealth and Career Satisfaction 

5. Education Boosts Creativity and Innovation 

6. Nobody Can Take It Away

7. Education Comes with Financial Responsibility

Most subjects can be found on Google. YouTube provides step-by-step guides on a myriad of subjects. Nothing wrong with higher education as that is a foundation to build upon. Mixed with experience, people can quantify and qualify the unique value added proposition these skills can be used for.  Often, people give and give and give without replenishing the energies released. It's important to genuinely evolve and grow. Singles need to learn this concept before bringing others into a commitment. Married couples have to build the partnership on the foundation of their individuality. Can everyone maintain this standard? Or is that too much pressure? We can only improve self after living life. We bump. We bruise. We learn. We grow. If I'm better today than I was yesterday,  then I've accomplished something.  So what is your growth plan? How motivated are you? Can we accept and talk about this part of the journey? Let's chat. Share your comments below.  Thanks for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe, masked and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

20 years since 9/11/01- Pandemic Perspective

Its Sunday, September 12, 2021. It's been twenty years since the terrorist attacks in NYC and DC. We also remember the passengers of US Flight 93 who thwarted the hijackers' plans and crashed in PA. So many memorials created in the honor of all the victims who died on that day.  9/11/01 is the 21st century version of the Day of Infamy. Most people remember exactly where they were when those planes hit. Sheer panic gripped the country not knowing if there were other attacks to come. Our church was filled to the brim as people searched for normalcy and fortification of faith. Twenty years have passed and things have changed drastically. Friends came and went. Jobs came and went. School lessons learned. Degrees earned. Lives loved and lives lost. After COVID-19 has taken over the world, it reminds me of the shift of life we had back then. The pandemic certainly brings a different perspective to reflect on history. Can you imagine that happening now? In this day and age of a 24 hour news reel? We still get images of turmoil and strife within minutes on the World Wide Web. And we are watching rival factions debating politics while their constituents suffer. Unfortunately this is becoming "the norm" in the light of the coronavirus. Conquerors and robberbarrons seek profits over people and have destroyed anything in their way. They hoard this wealth while the multitudes fight over the scraps. Group mentality manifests to make one feel superior over others to justify their ethical neglect and deplorable actions. Fake news and conjecture has replaced reality and humanity. Sadly, things appear to be worse and there is no hope left.....or so others would want you to think. What do you feel when you think on these things? Can you recall where you were on 9/11/01? What is your view on today's society? Do you empathize with those less fortunate and less educated than you? Do you have any compassion left? Or has COVID-19 forced you to only look out for you and yours? I choose to search for the truth of it all. God blessed us with a moral compass and the gift of discernment to guide us through dark times. Our ancestors used these thoughts and prayers until freedom came. What will history say about us? Let's embrace our collective past and invest the time now to create the nation that we want. Never forget the sacrifices made and move forward in their honor. Faith without works is naught. And God covers all in his love, grace, and mercy. We want to maintain the high road and live our best life. The purple life.  Share this journey with me as reach the mark of the high calling. Post your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe, masked and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

7 Tips To Invest In Self-Love

Its Saturday, September 11, 2021. To say that it's been a very emotional day is an understatement. Hearts are heavy as we remember the events of 20 years ago. Spiritually, I can't take it. Mentally, its exhausting. Well 2021 has been a roller coaster that rocked the world. The "Rona" has changed our lives forever. Reacting to COVID-19 has forced us to look at harsh realities on a multilevel front. Lost in this mix is taking care of yourself. Some people are starting new ventures while others are trying to hold on to what they have. Some are working and schooling from home. Others have lost their jobs, businesses, lifestyles, and perspectives. The feeling of isolation is forboding and has sparked discussion about mental health services. Self care has been the buzzword of the pandemic, but it's open to wide interpretation. But what about self love? Sure we are in survival mode, but is there love there? It's tough to say self love without conjuring up images of pride. So how do we actually invest in self love? Here are seven tips to use:

1. Be intentional.

2. Set mini-milestones for self-care and daily productivity.

3. Find a support system.

4. Don’t be afraid to not have it all together, all the time.

5. Plan ahead and make time for what matters.

6. Reduce stress by writing things down.

7. Take 20 minute breaks for you.

I am blessed to have my faith and hope in Jesus fortified by all the answered prayers. I have found a community that focused on uplifting each other in God. I am lucky to be drawn back to my calling and purpose in life. I took a break from blogging to focus on myself. But now, I am focused on you. I know you have your goals and your dreams on the line. But I also know you may be neglecting yourself in the process. How are you caring for yourself? If you have problems answering this question, you have proven my point. I found that taking the time to truly invest in all facets of yourself is truly paying off. Let's start off on the right track. Let's refocus and restart our journey. Leave your comments below. Thanks for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe, masked and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

11 Things To Do To Invest In A Balanced Life

Happy Friday!!! The weekend is here, and life is beautiful... until Monday. Do you feel rested? Or are you the hamster spinning your wheel? 2021 has still been a drain as we are still surviving. We as a nation are not thriving as we battle natural disasters, political division and societal collapse while fighting a pandemic. There is a perpetual search for a work-life balance. What happens when you take work off the table? Oftentimes, people wrap their identity in their job title or profession. But who are you really? Sheltering in place has given me plenty of time to re-evaluate some things. First and foremost, I needed to get away and rest. Often, we don't want to slow down and admit that we are human. Life has advanced technologically, but we are forever chasing the next "big thing". Luckily, many people have refocused and recalibrated to regain and maintain levity in all facets of their lives. In my research, I found eleven things we can do to invest in a balanced life:

1. Exercise Regularly

2. Set Goals

3. Strengthen Your Current Skills

4. Learn a New Skill

5. Attend Seminars and Workshops

6. Keep a Journal

7. Get Organized and Declutter Your Stuff

8. Break Your Bad Habits

9. Read

10. Find a Creative Outlet

11. Get Out of Debt

These changes are small but can make a huge impact on your daily activities. Take the time to make these actions habits to thrive by. Our fast paced lives can run you right into a rut. It can be overwhelming. Some react by going into auto pilot. Others numb themselves with legal and illegal substances. Still others shut down completely. It can be a vicious cycle as we dance around issues instead of tackling them. I managed to reconnect with my purpose and realign my efforts with my vision. Getting away gave me fresh perspective and alignment. I've been tweaking some plans and I am excited to implement this new strategy. How has your life been going? What are you up to? Are you maximizing your time? Fully engaged? Or in the middle  somewhere? Share your comments below.  Thanks for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe, masked and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

5 Guidelines For Investing Your Energy

Happy Thursday!!! Did you make it over the hump? Or are you dragging yourself to make it to the weekend. Let's face it. The seasons are changing. We are losing the sunlight and the temps are dropping. Life isn't peaches and cream, and we shouldn't think of it this way. But does it need to be this hard? Can we redirect our focus on better things? Yes, yes we can. We can tap into our personal reserves and reallocate our personal human resource. The key is to use our precious efforts to maximum efficiency with minimal waste. COVID-19 force us to review our way of life and revise our practices to survive. Do you feel tapped out? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Well take inventory. How you are spending your energy? Use these five guidelines to evaluate your actions:

1. Notice your energy.

2. Know what matters to you.

3. Plan wise energy investment.

4. Plan where not to invest.

5. Don’t overthink this. 

Technically there's enough energy to go around. Everything is so tense right now and we are stressing out more than ever. Everyone is going to the extremes to prove their point and validate their existence in this world. But the real question is....do we need to carry this heavy load? It's so draining to carry the weight of the world. You wind up hurting yourself in the long run. We must pool our resources and work smarter. Together we can stop the wasted energy and grow together. Peace and harmony can be obtained. Maximum growth is our right and our choice.  Choose ye this day that your burdens be stripped down to the joy you crave. Be your best. Be purple. Live the purple life.  Share your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe, masked and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

7 Ways To Invest In Your Health

Happy Hump Day! How are you feeling? Good? Bad? Ugly? I must admit, today's energy is "meh".  Do you feel out of sorts? Are you stressed out? Overeating? Numb? Avoiding ugly situations? Biting your tongue? Holding it all in? Putting on a brave face while quietly dealing with your issues? 

How many "pandemic pounds" have you put on? For the first time in my life, I've lost weight and kept it off. Quarantine survival has removed many temptations and stressors that wreaked havoc on my life. Self care is the buzzword for 2021 and mental and physical health has risen to prominence while sheltering in place. Oftentimes, people don't know where to start. In this fast food and microwave world, we as a country have lost our way to tried and true healthcare for social media rumor and manipulation. It's time to invest in our collective health. We reap the highest rewards when we perform optimally. Here are 7 suggested ways to invest in your health:

-Meditate. 

-Read. 

-Eat healthy food. 

-Drink water. 

-Move your body. 

-Spend time in nature. 

-Rest up.

 My focus has shifted to maintaining a moderate level of health. I'm a diabetic, and it seems like it's a vicious cycle to go through. Still learning lessons to break all to familiar patterns. Why am I blogging about this? Because today I felt nothing. I always blame my tiredness on lack of sleep and pour my energy from cups of tea. I have been a diabetic for over 20 years, and I thought I knew my body. WRONG!!! I'm on the right path as I intend to keep strong and get healthy.  I use my story as a warning to you. Do you know someone whose health is suffering? Don't give up on them. Educate yourself and lend your support. I suggest starting with the different associations that deal with the condition. From there, you can go to WebMD and other online resources to find the right path for you. I ask you to join me on my journey back from the brink....moving toward living the best life. The purple life.  Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe, masked and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!

10 Ways To Invest In Yourself

Happy Tuesday after Labor Day!!! So how much work was piled on your desk after the holiday? Does it make you wanna holler? Just scream at the top of your lungs? Or are you ready to start your own enterprise? So many people have pivoted into new careers and been successful. Others have turned their hobbies into lifestyle must haves. I will say, the thought of having a location independent entity has pushed my wanderlust to the edge.

2020 taught us that time waits for no one. Tomorrow is not promised so do it now before it's too late.  COVID-19 is ravaging our country, and we are being forced to change our work dynamic. More entrepreneurs are launching online products and services across social media and brick-and-mortar platforms.

All while we were in Quarantine due to the pandemic. Other business hopefuls have done nothing but dream of "some day". They've hidden their talents due to fear, past failures, and/or finances. We all know someone who wants to get back to "normal" and won't try anything new. And they know it too. Many businesses were stuck in similar ruts.....and have since shut down. You have to move with the trends to gain or maintain your customer base. You need to find your niche. No body can be you but you. You have your thoughts. You have your creativity. You actually have others with complimentary talents who would love to help you reach the next level.. Have you noticed any areas of your personal or professional life that are stagnant? If so, go out and learn something new.  Add some knowledge based tools to grow your work. Is there a trade, hobby or talent that you'd like to explore further? Have you created a new product or process to ease the labor of the world? Do your research and see how little you need to grow beyond your wildest dreams. Dedicate some resources to self-development. Here's a list of 10 things you can do to invest in yourself:

1. Learn a new language

2. Exercise

3. Take a social media class

4. Go to a conference 

5. Join an organization

6. Be an engaged mentor

7. Create an ongoing vision wall 

8. Hire a public speaking coach

9. Create a space to inspire you

10. Travel

This list is not exhaustive, but it is actionable and doable. Relax, take a deep breath, and plunge right in. More skills makes you more marketable. So what's hindering you? Fear of rejection? Loss of control? Delegating duties to someone else? Upgrading your clamshell flip phone to an Android or iPhone? Don't be basic and please don't become cliche. Take the bull by the horns and go learn something new.  Prove the naysayers wrong,  even if they're all in your head. Many people died with their hopes and dreams locked deep within. The pandemic has done irreparable harm, but cleared the path to do a new thing. Empty yourself and fulfill God's purpose for your life. The blessings far outweigh the risks that you'll take. Accept the past for what it was, but embrace your future and what will be. What part of your life are you working on? Please share your comments below.  Thanks for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe, masked and healthy.  Take Care and God Bless!!!

Labor Day 2021: Pandemic Pause For The Cause

Happy Labor Day!!! I hope your holiday weekend is going well.  I'm taking advantage of the true meaning of this day... RESTING🚨🚨🚨   I think of our ancestors who struggled under racial aggression and oppression for 400+ years. At the turn of the 19th century, our country came out of slavery and went into an industrial age. Laws were needed to ban child labor, limit the workday, and put in safety reforms.  Unfortunately we are fighting the same issues from over 100 years ago. So why was this holiday created? The dictionary defines Labor Day as a public holiday or day of festivities held in honor of working people, in the US and Canada on the first Monday in September, in many other countries on May 1. Federally, Labor Day is an annual celebration of workers and the workforce's achievements. The idea is to recognize and honor the American labor movement and the ways in which American workers have contributed to the country's success over the years.

This holiday was created for working people after they combated greedy business owners who were dollar driven and ruthless robberbarrons. COVID-19, the economy, and the political divide has made daily survival meaner, craftier, and tougher as the fight continues between the haves and the have nots. We must put our differences aside to reach the common goal of liberty for all. We as a nation have yet to live up to this creed. But we're closer. And we can keep pushing for our inalienable rights. Our paths have crossed at this juncture as we try to defeat the coronavirus and reimagine our crumbling societal structure. Essential workers have kept the country afloat while sheltering in place and working from home has been normalized. We need to prioritize wellness and work-life balance as well as protecting ourselves from COVID-19 variants, insurrections and natural disasters. We need to move forward together towards our best life. The purple life.  What lessons have you learned about today? What does this holiday mean to you? How are you moving forward during this pandemic? Share your comments below.  Thanks for reading this article and supporting this blogspace. Stay safe, masked, and healthy.  Take Care and God Bless!!!