Next Level Love

Find the Spirituality in love again was a life mission I began two years ago. I have a love for learning, so I was eager to figure what that meant. I was surprised at the path it would take me. The journey to love took me on a quest of seeing love as more than one dimensional. My view about love in the past had much to do with how I received it. You know, if someone is nice to me then I am nice to them. Now if someone is mean to me, I am going to be mean X’s ten! Love has taught me if I got everything I deserved; I would be in bad shape. But by grace and mercy I am healed, so why not give that same love to others? Regardless of how they treat me first, I love because it’s who I AM! It’s not about dishonoring yourself for others. It simply means I strive to no longer be petty! That’s that next level type love.

What I am learning is that love is bigger than man and women. We connect to love by being one with the Universe. When we release negative energy and begin to truly live out the scriptures in 1 Corinthians:13, our whole world opens up. With an instant shift we can change 100 years of karma by simply asking for forgiveness and deciding to put positive energy into the Universe. By one positive thought is a ripple effect, like waves in an ocean. The more love you put out in the world, it comes back to you. This my friends is how I began to find the Spirituality to love. My transformation started off very simple. I gave hugs to people as we said hello, I smiled not worrying about if it would get returned, and I ate lunch outside to bond with nature and made peace with myself. I wrote. I did mediation practices by writing what my soul craved, what is my purpose, my plan and how the world is all connected to this. I finally got it. You and I are not separate. We are one and the same. And seeing the love and beauty in all things is how I began to heal. I stopped placing conditions on myself feeling I am only lovable when I lose 20 pounds. Looking at flowers I feel love. Feeling the waves of the ocean against my feet gave my soul such a rush! I began to take the time to pause in the evening to watch the sunset. Watching the rain, allowing water to sooth me like a nurturing mother. I feel connected, I feel loved, and I feel I am okay as I am. What I believed I have benefited most by this change is my relationships with the people the closet to me. My connections with my family and friends has taken me to new levels and given me what I need. The love I have now has healed me.

Being born to a mother who decided at an early age parenting would not work for her; my grandmother (and grandfather) stepped in and raised me. My mom would come in and out of my life. The pain of not feeling lovable was very real for me, not having my mother in my life caused years of disconnect. One day I found myself in a counselors chair crying about how it hurts not having my mom in my life. But at this time I had out grown just about everyone in my circle. I was alone. I was scared. I was depressed. I told my counselor I have outgrown my friends, I am 23 and need friends who care more about finishing a personal goal than the latest hand bag. She said to me, “Your life is like a ladder, the step behind you is where your old friends are. Where you are now is that space in the middle, trying to find out who you are. And when you get to the next step your new friends will be there waiting for you”. Jesus, what a lesson I learned in that moment. My life now is confirmation of that next level.

The love that has healed me the most is the love I have received from women. See God gives us what we need. My grandmother teaches me what it means to love unconditionally. Not only did she raise me when her daughter chose not to, but she continues to treat me as her little girl at 35! The bond I have with my twin sister is the strongest of anything I know. She showed me the beauty in individuality. The amazing time I had with the women on my trip to Jamaica last weekend for my girlfriend’s wedding made me reflect on this. I strengthen the relationships with the women I already knew and developed bonds with women I met for the first time. Non stop laughing, dancing, drinking, eating, swimming and we even shed a tear or two. In that moment everything was clear. I knew I had arrived and I liked my reflection I saw in the mirror. The love I craved since birth I have it now. I am a girl’s girl, being around women gives me my soft place to fall and when needed tough love. When I feel lonely, tired of being single and need to vent I have a circle of women who will be there for me. At this next level of love I feel I can only climb higher from here!

Music Mondays: Zo! - Tell Me Something New feat. Jeanne Jolly

People who are the closet to me know I am a super romantic. Since a little girl, if I had a tough time expressing emotion music did that for me. The perfect lyric would express my deepest sorrow, joy, peace, and a desire just to be loved. That is what Zo's "Tell Me Something New" did for me. My longing to settle down and fall in love is my hearts greatest desire. It is amazing to me how a song can express our deepest desires. In the second verse country, soul singer/songwriter Jeanne Jolly sings "Such a rare and precious find/ To receive this love divine/ And I am yours babe". To hear a man say or feel that way about me would be ‘a dream come’ true. With a soulful melody and deep felt lyrics, this instantly became my favorite song.

Zo! is a soul/jazz artist from Detroit. From top to bottom, "Manmade" is a classic with many hit records written by Foreign Exchange lead singer, Phonte Colemen. Go get this album now; you will be in for a treat!

Enjoy...

"Week of the Young Child": Spring

In the Preschool classroom it is essential that creativity is allowed to take place. I believe the best classrooms are centered around the interest of the children. Spring season has always been a fun time to plan activities as a teacher because there are many "natural" activities that take place in and outside the classroom. On the playground you will begin to see dandelions growing in the grass, worms inside of the dirt, butterflies and bees going from flower to flower, and children sudden interest in the weather. Last week my former class did many activities related to Spring. I love using natural resources such as rocks, dirt, fresh flowers etc. so children can have "real life" experiences. When connections happen, learning begins to take place.


My former co-teacher became inspired and wanted to use seeds as an art project. Children created their own art mosaic using beans. Children decided on their stencil given them their creative freedom. Flowers were the most popular mosaic art and two children chose bats.



I love Spring because I love gardening with my students. Since the school did not have a garden, our class created their own. And every child was so excited about planting their flower. I let each child have a hand on experience. We used cups, water, plant seeds, soil, buckets, and shovels. Working with a few children at a time, I had them pass around different materials to each other once they were finished. The learning standards were comparing and measuring, estimating how long it would take for their flowers to grow, and use scientific skills.








The materials were cheap and can be purchased at dollar tree if not provided by school. The children continue to water their plants themselves every day. They enjoy watching the process of their plants grow. There are many activities to add based on the interest of the children.

"Week of the Young Child": Greg and Steve (playlist)

“Week of The Young Child” April 14-20, 2013 is National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) annual celebration. NAEYC purpose is to highlight children, families and Early Childhood programs that support them. As a Preschool teacher I want to focus this week’s blog post on my classroom and how I play a part in Early Childhood Education. To keep my preschoolers excited, I create a classroom where it is positive, creative, fun, and that has lots of music!! My favorite song to sing in the morning to my class is “Good Morning” by children music artist Greg & Steve. No matter the school, every class I have taught in loved this song! I play air guitar as other children played instruments they wanted to play such as drums, trumpet, and of course they imitate me and play air guitar. If you are a parent, teacher or around children often sing this song with them in the morning to brighten their day!

Sow Seeds of Gratitude

As the seasons turn, reflect on the gifts of change. You've come so far, and grown so much. Think of all that was, all that is, and all that is to come and breathe in gratitude. Remember where you've been, know where you are, and imagine what’s ahead, and breathe out gratitude. Each season has its purpose. Via (@Soulseedsmedia)

Music Mondays: The Foreign Exchange - So What If It Is

"Don't you worry bout the pain of yesterday, just remember to live. Don't be afraid it's not the end of your world but so, so what if it is" ~Phonte

Riding the train on a long commute home from my former job in DC I checked my twitter timeline. Phonte Coleman posted that there would be a new song by Foreign Exchange coming out that day. Being a long time fan I went directly to his twitter page to get the link. As I heard the song first of all, the music during the intro gives me the most amazing feeling. I could stay in that space forever, listening to the intro over and over. Once getting to the lyrics I was blessed by the simple words “It’s not the end of your world…so what if it is”. Going home emotionally drained and wondering if I should quit my job, I felt like it was the end of the world. And it was the end of my world, at least that part of it. What I learned in that moment was so what if everything comes crashing down; your life gets turned upside down. It is heartbreaking, but if you’re blessed to see another day it will get better so remember to live! It’s not the setbacks that define us, but how we recover is what does. I have below the lyrics that helped free me from the prison of my plan and releasing my life to God allowing a new journey to take place. What must come to an end in your life? What is God asking you to free yourself of? While you reflect on that, enjoy the music below. With pleasure here is the new single on the upcoming Foreign Exchange remix album titled “The Reworks “, “So What If It Is”.

Lyrics by Phonte Coleman
Everybody's got their song and dance about
What it means to struggle and to go without
No one thinks that they're part of the problem yes it's true
It's true

People running scared amidst these changing times
Recession, depression, unemployment lines
Everybody needs a little healing yes they do
They do

Now's the time to raise your voice and lift your hands
Show your love to every woman every man
Nobody believes things will get better but I do
I do

Don't you worry bout the pain of yesterday
Just remember to live
Don't be afraid it's not the end of your world but so
So what if it is

Everybody's searching trying to find a way
Reaching through the darkness for a brighter day
Looking for the sunshine in a sky that smiles so blue
So blue

Now's the time to raise your voice and lift your hands
Show your love to every woman every man
Nobody believes things will get better but I do
I do

Winter

According to reports the groundhog “Punxsutawney Phil” has seen his shadow and there will be an early spring. I admit I was excited to hear the news. Usually I am all for experiencing the fullness of each season. Over time I learned that each season teaches an important lesson in our lives. Summer brings fun in the sun, trips to the beach with your girls, family vacations, trip to Vegas with the boys, and opportunity to fly out the country and see the world. Fall brings reflection, the perfect 70 degree weather with the right touch of cool breeze. Fall is also a time to plant seeds and to be grateful for all that has come into your life. Spring is the season to reap the harvest of what has been sown. The hard work, sacrifice, and discipline you sown in your life will begin to bloom as blessings and opportunities. Yes, the spring season is a blessed time indeed. So what do we gain from the winter season? This is what spirit leads me to believe.

What winter calls for you to do is take a break from it all. The cold night air is telling us to go inside, relax for a while. Snuggle up on the couch alone and watch T.V. or read a good book. When was the last time you logged off your favorite social website and picked up a phone to call your cousin that lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan? What winter comes to teach us is to be still. Being busy does not equal being productive! Spend time in solitude and do the things that bring you joy such as listening to music, working on a scrap book, sewing, repairing something in your home, taking the time to meditate for at least five minutes. This world will throw you off your center! Waking up at 5am and getting home at 7pm, making sure your child gets to soccer practice, attending every party invite, being involved in 12 activities in church, I can go on and on! The Bible says there is nothing more precious than time. What you do with your time says what you value most. This is why winter is so special!

Since I resigned from my job last week I now look at how I spend each moment of my life. I value my time and what I do with it. My new job took so much of my time and energy I had nothing left for myself. I would take home lesson plans to work on, and enter observation notes into the computer every week. From the time I walked in the school building at 8 am I would run around making sure the class was set up and materials were in place. Then when the children went home I would start preparing for the next day, running around again. My goal was to have my weekend free of work and that lasted for about one week. I sat down to make a plan where I worked smarter not harder and I was criticized by management for not taking work home. The thing I reflect on is I asked God for that job! See, I thought being constantly challenged, being pushed to your limits, and making a high salary meant I was successful. I reasoned with myself saying much is given, much is required. When I would wake up to go to work I felt like throwing up, having anxiety attacks. This happened off and on for weeks. Then it started happening at work and I knew it was time to go! What the winter has taught me is I need peace and comfort. Stop pushing myself and be still. And from this moment forward that is what I will do!

We are all different. Being pushed to your limits may empower you, while for me, I shut down. Being still and listening to spirit is how we learn who we are. This is tough because some folks don’t want to hear the truth. Some folks have a difficult time dealing with self. Don’t be hard on yourself. Discovering our personal truth is where our healing lies. The truth, as painful as it can be is a loving reminder that we must have the courage to work on parts of ourselves that no longer serve us. Do not let these last few weeks of winter to be in vain. As parts of the U.S are hit with snow and others deal with frigid cold, take refuge inside. Take minutes or up to an hour out of the day just for you. Have a day you read with your child or let them pick an activity for you to do together. What you start now will be a lifelong habit of love, commitment to self and creating space for a loving partner! So before that early spring day, take the time to show gratitude for self and reflect on what winter has come to teach us all.