Random

Happy 2012! My first blog entry this year, welcome back to my blogosphere. I have not updated my blog in awhile and for that I apologize. Can you believe it is already March? Wow, we are in the third month of this New Year, so we need to catch up.

As a kid I always made New Year resolutions religiously, didn’t you? I stopped making Resolutions years ago because I rarely kept them. Not sure why I never kept them, my guess was because they usually were superficial. Now I just make my goals for the entire year. I have small goals that are: studying, reading new books, spending more time with people who LOVE me, joining organizations, and learning to cook healthy foods. Then larger goals: Going back to school, take a vacation out of the country, take care of heath, and save more money. Having goals keeps me aligned with my purpose. Utilizing our time wisely on earth helps us feel better about
ourselves and that spirit blesses society as a whole.

The key to making goals is not to overwhelm, but to keep on task. This year I have enrolled in school. I am currently in my first semester and I have already had some tough lessons. One of my lessons has been to never take a fast track online class again. The reason I am back in school there are classes I need to fulfill my teacher certification requirement. My journey back to school will be tough but I am encouraged. I am on a mission!

The goal for my blog is to continue giving light and positivity. Everywhere we turn bad news haunts us from the news, magazines or drama at the job. At times it appears we can’t escape negativity. My mission in my life is no matter where I am I want to spread light in dark places. I will use the Holy Spirit to guide as I follow my heart and speak what I believe the Lord wants me to say and more importantly to do. My heart desire is for readers of my blog to feel a connection to GOD when they leave this space. GOD speaks in many ways and my goal is to share whatever I feel that is with you!

So what have you been up to so far? Any goals for the New Year or do you make New Year resolutions? Please connect with me and let me know how life has been for you so far in 2012. Blessings!

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.

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!

Making A Difference In Our Own Lives!

How much do you give to yourself? Honestly? How much time and energy do you put into, say getting dressed in the morning? How much time do you put into creating something for you to eat at home? The truth is even when we know that taking time for ourselves is important, we simply don't do it! Yep, we get up and think about what to do at work, what a friend or family member needs. We cram our schedules with charity work or events and by the end of the day we are wore out!

In this season of my life I am focused on a few things. My first concern is my money. I will have my car paid off next year! Praise Jehovah!!! That will give me extra money and lots of breathing room. I am getting my passport ready now:) I do not want to just save my money, but to be able to do things I always wanted to do but could not afford it. Saving and investments is my main focus for 2010 and beyond!

The second thing is my health. I have been chunky my whole life. I wrote about that before. Healing is still a everyday task. To say I feel good about myself is one thing. To believe it is another. With so many images with women who look nothing like me, it is challenging to feel good about who I am. I constantly work on my image issues. I have learned that the best way to work on my image issues is accept what I can't control and to have the courage to work on what I can. So losing up to 50lbs is my goal. Sense the last time I blogged about wanting to loose weight I have lost 16lbs!!! The last month has been tough so I gained 4lbs. This week I am back on my grind. GOD knows this is the toughest thing I have had to do. My health is what is most important to me, not just my weight. Our self image is apart of our health. If we do not have a healthy view of who we are, we will never get the weight off and keep it off. It is deeper than self LOVE, it is acceptance. I am who I am. But I know that I am not happy with how I look and I am working on it! Low self esteem no more!

My third goal is working toward my certification. I currently work for Head Start. I LOVE what Head Start does for children and families. As a teacher I am over worked and under paid. The school is year round and I feel I never get a mental break. Putting myself first, I am working toward a better place not just financially but mentally and spiritually as well. I want to be a certified teacher so I can work in the public school. My goal was to work in the public school when I went to college. Due to not passing the Praxis on the first try I decided to work for Head Start. I have gotten a great advantage or Head Start (pun intended) while working for Head Start right out of college. I have great classroom experience and now I need the certification. In the next few weeks I will get a transcript evaluation and go from there. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I go forward on my journey. Thank you!

Lastly, Rest is so important. Still, we often over look how important rest is when it comes to good health. Doctors have proven that people who get plenty of rest are less like for health issues. Yet, we stay up late and wake up early everyday as we are off to work. My vow is to get in bed by 10:30pm every night. Right now I am more like 12 ish and finally fall asleep about 1am! I know I am not alone. I wake up at 7:30 am. It never fails I go to bed around 12am and wake up around 7:45 ish rushing to head out the door. Not very healthy I know.

Today I am making a difference in my own life! I will take better care of myself. I ask that you vow to do the same. What have you been putting off this year? Want to start that new business? Vacation overseas? Go for it! Put your self first! Neglect is damaging to the soul. We tell ourselves that someones life takes value over our own. That is not true! You matter. You are important. When we begin to make a difference in our own life, unconsciously we are making a difference in others.