Cravings!!!

While in class yesterday my co-teacher was playing play-doh with the students. The teacher made a dog and some Hersey Kisses Cookies. As soon as I seen the play-doh cookie, my cravings began. Yes, play-doh cookies trigger my cravings because they looked just like the real thing, lol. I have a problem with giving into temptations. If I see something I like then I will crave it until I get it. I do not like NO, or being told you can not have it. Being denied what I want for me as a Scorpio is being denied the right to a full life. So learning to practice discipline with eating is my current goal. So I did not give it another thought. I took a deep breath and kept working on my lesson plan. I confessed to my colleagues that if I talk about or even see a commercial of something I want I will began to crave it. I then will go and get it. We all laughed. Marketing experts know what they are doing!! Shortly after one teacher said "well then I want a million dollars". We laughed again, but this time something touched me. When we really look at our cravings deeply it is telling us we lack something. The answer depends on what the cravings are. Our desires or cravings are in us for a reason. Our desire is our passion towards what it is we want out of life. So why don't we pursue our passions as aggressively as we pursue our vices?

For some of us to think about becoming a millionaire the first thought might be, yea right. Some may have found peace with the idea of not having that much money, but strive for other goals. Maybe a desire to live free of debit. To loose a few pounds. To quit their dead end job and start their own business. Whatever those personal cravings are, I am encouraging us to get it. Just like when we pursue that skirt on sale or those new pair of J's. If we have the courage to dig deep we will see that there are things we deeply crave, but some how they are on the back burner.

I am a goal nut! I have owned a planner every year sense my junior year in college back in 2001. I keep track of my progress wither it has to do with personal or professional goals. It helps me to live an orderly life. I will admit that I have not pursued most of my goals with the same desire as I go after my vices. You know the things we know we should avoid but give them too much power? Like sweets, men or women who should not be in our lives, or over spending and not enough saving. Those things that keep us bound up and not living the life we really crave!

Visiting my sisters job a older gentlemen asked me what brought me from Oklahoma all the way to Northern VA. I simply answered "better opportunities". As we began to talk he asked why was I not in the public school like I desired but teaching in Head Start. It's not a knock to Head Start he said, but when you know someone is great you wonder why they are not living up to their full potential. We talked for ten minutes and he gave me a good ol' fashion pep talk. And some gems, because several years ago he was a teacher also:) The blessing in diguise was I knew that I was not aggressively pursuing my goals. I was aware of them and working towards them, but not as diligently as I ought too. So right away I received the message as a word from GOD and reflected on my goals when I went home.

Dictionary.com says the definition of cravings is great or eager desire; yearning. To yearn for something so much that it is all you think about. You will not stop at anything until you gain it. Usually this is seen in a negative light. You know how to stop bad habits? Replacing them with better ones. So to put a spin on our negative cravings let's invest time on the positive ones. The cravings that will get us to the place in our life we desire. Push yourself through the discomfort. Affirm yourself by saying things like "The positive cravings is what you really want", "In order to break the cycle it starts with me", "We do not stop habits, we make better ones". Talk yourself out of your low moment so you can come out of it feeling better and stronger than you did before. You have all the power within! It is up to you what and whom you give that power too.

The Day I Will Never Forget!

August 29, 2010 was the day that my life was changed forever. Growing up in Oklahoma I was exposed to hard core rap and R&B. It was not until I went to NYC in 1990 that my life would change. I saw b-boys free-styling on the blocks. I saw graffiti on the trains. I saw the most beautiful men on earth wear Tim's, Champion hoodies, and hat cocked to the side! I don't even want to talk about their sexy accents. Yes, I LOVE NYC men!!! Listening to the radio I would hear Dj's drop exclusives at night. I heard artist like EPMD, De La Soul, Nice and Smooth, Red Man, Wu-Tang , Nas and my favorite group of all time Tribe Called Quest.

Going back to Oklahoma after leaving NYC for the summer I would have exclusive songs I recorded on tape that I had gotten from the radio. That was my life! Hip-Hop became apart of my life. A LOVE affair began and I have been a supporter of the movement sense.

Rock The Bells concert has been coming to the DMV sense I moved here back in 07'. Finally by the grace of GOD I was able to go! I can't express how excited I was. The little girl that would record songs on the radio rapped to every lyric when Tribe hit the stage. I was Inspired by KRS. He said HIP is the knowledge and HOP is the movement. Seeing one of my favorite emcees of all time Nas be a surprise guest I lost it. No one knew he was going to show up. I just told my friend if Nas came it would be perfect. Nas performed with Lauryn and Wu. Busta brought energy to an already charged Tribe show. I was jumping and dancing, never sat down! Despite Lauryn Hill coming two hours late the show was still a delight. Just seeing Lauryn after all those years was a blessing and something I would never forget!

Feeling Overwhelmed?

What is your current life situation? New job, or just laid off? Are you like millions of folks still looking for work? Did you just move to a new city? Or are you planning to relocate? Transitions are apart of life. In order for us to have a smooth transition it is important to have a plan. Three years ago I moved to the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia area)from Oklahoma City. Being a big dreamer I needed to relocate to a place where my dreams could manifest. Leaving the comfort of my home was a very emotional transition for me. I cried half of the drive up to Northern Virginia. My twin sis and I drove 19hrs so I could accomplish my goals.

Being overwhelmed can lead to stress. I would not eat all day. The most traumatic of all was me losing my vision. I remember telling my brother I no longer see the beauty in the trees. I lost sight of why I moved in the first place. Overwhelmed the devil was able to steal my joy and almost my mission. All I wanted to do was to go back home to Oklahoma. While opening up about my fears and stress, my vision became clearer and clearer to me. I remembered my goals and focused on my plan.

A plan is simply goals that you have for yourself to help get you to the next level of your life. When we feel overwhelmed it is best to have a plan. Scriptures say blessed are the ones who are prepared. Having a plan is preparation. It is having the tools to deal with life setbacks because they will come. Here are five ways to help you deal with being overwhelmed.

1. Write It Down

In 1999 I was living with my father at the time. My dad relapsed on drugs and stole from me, 700 plus dollars. I was so overwhelmed I became sick. Throwing up and gaging every single day! I remember watching Oprah and she said to write down how we feel to help deal with depression. I have been journaling from that point on. I discovered my LOVE of writing in the process.

When writing in a journal it is important to write down what it is you feel. Put words to emotions because that helps fight depression. When we can not say how we feel it makes us feel low. So write it down, see what it is that is really bothering you. In your journal express your ideas that you have for your job, starting a new job or simply what to do around the house. When you wake up write down what you dreamed. I have a separate journal just for my dreams. I believe there are many ways that GOD speaks to us. Dreams are one of them. Label emotions like fear and confusion at the moment you feel it so you can figure out what it is that is bothering you.

2. Take Time For Self

Last week a friend of mine wrote on twitter that she went to the mountains to think and clear her head. Being out in nature is a perfect way to reconnect with yourself. As a teacher I am drained most days. I give 100% daily to my students and it takes it's toll on me. On my lunch break I sit outside under a shade tree. I listen to music on my MP3 player, read, lay on my blanket and think. My co-workers say I look so peaceful. I tell them you can have this peace too! Find a place where you can go and be alone. Make a sacred place in your home. Go there to pray, meditate, write, or just to think. There is no excuse! When you become your first priority, that is when you become everyone else's as well.

3. Seek Help

If you feel after writing, praying, talking to family and close friends that you still remain overwhelmed seek professional help. Seek a minister in the church who gives counseling. An elder person who has been through what you have been through for guidance. I prefer a professional counselor. I sought free counseling while in college that was provided by my University. Currently I get four free counseling sessions at my employer. Look to see if counseling is provided by your job. It is confidential so no one will know if you decide to go.

4. Follow Through

Do not promise yourself something and don't do it! Every time you break a promise with yourself your self-esteem is lowered. Stop neglecting yourself! No more putting off for tomorrow what you can do today. Make a plan and stick to it!

5. Allow Mistakes

Apart of the journey is failure. Breath! Give yourself a chance to grow and learn. Do not stay in a space of helplessness. Figure out what went wrong and move on!

*Bonus
Be Careful Who You Tell Your Dreams!

Having a new idea is exciting. When GOD gives us a vision it is natural to want to share with others what that vision is. The bible warns us of this! There are people who thrive on negativity. That is their choice, but it does not have to be yours! Hearing what we can't do is overwhelming. I can count on one hand how many people supported me moving to the DMV. I heard how high the rent is and it will be tough to meet people. I was constantly reminded of my fears. It all came from telling too many people my dreams. Eventually I shut up and began to prepare in silence. I only told those my vision who could help me! The devil is a lie! Know that GOD gave YOU a vision which means others may not see it. That's ok because the vision is yours and yours alone! Be encouraged as you go forward. Pray with me as I pray with you!