A NEW YEAR OF POSSIBILITIES IS COMING

 For many of us we have had a mixed bag of the good and the bad this year. It has been a whole 2 years of the pandemic, I can't believe that we are in the second year of this global health crisis. Covid has affected all of our lives in some way, but we are still pushing through this difficulty. This year has taught us many lessons collectively as well as individually. One thing I know for sure is that we are resilient. 

I don't know what this new year will bring, but I am approaching it with optimism, there is no blue print that will tell me how things will turn out. I will take it one day at a time and be patient with myself. I have goals for the new year and will strive for those goals. At the same time I will take into account that I may have to reroute and change the plan if need be. Above all things I will remember to be kind and patient with myself. 

I hope that you too will remember to be patient and kind to yourselves. Wishing good health and happiness for you in the new year. 

If You Love Me, You Will Respect My Boundaries

All of us have boundaries, at least most of us do. Creating boundaries is a way of practicing self care and creating a safe space and protecting one's peace. Protecting my peace is important to me, there is a lot going on in the world and there is so many things and people demanding my attention. This is why it's imperative to have boundaries in place. 

When it comes to my children they are no different, they too need healthy boundaries, in this digital age.  Especially during the teenage years, it's hard to keep up with teenagers. However, technology is not the only thing that needs to be addressed when it comes to boundaries. There is a whole host of things and situations that calls for boundaries to be set in place. Also, as a parent I am mindful that I too must respect my children's boundaries such as their privacy. This may mean not posting certain things on social media or listening to what they want instead of running away with my plans for them. 

I had to face this very thing in planning my daughter's 16th birthday party, I wanted to make a big deal out out of her 16th birthday, but she wanted a small gathering to celebrate her special day. I knew that doing things my way would make her unhappy, and that is the last thing that I wanted to happen. In the end, I respected her and gave her what she needed and wanted. Boundaries goes both ways, and we all deserve to have our boundaries respected. Lastly, we are all learning, growing and evolving and so being kind and patient with each other could go a long way. 

Know Your Worth

 This is a topic that is worth exploring more. 

As always I will lend my own experience to this topic. I am no stranger to under valuing my worth. Recently, I had an opportunity come my way and I was so thrilled for the opportunity. I decided to jump right in and use my gifts and talents to make this project a success. I quickly realized that I was being undervalued for what I brought to the table. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself: "don't be so happy for an opportunity that you undervalue yourself." 

In this challenging world, it is imperative that I know my worth and don't just fall for anything. My gifts and talent have value and it is up to me to make sure that I am not being devalued. Everyone is looking out for their best interest and it is my responsibility to look out for my interest. I will take this as a lesson learned, and next time I will be more considerate and kind to myself. I am in tuned to my needs and what I want to attract in my life. I won't be so quick to jump into a opportunity again without making sure that the situation benefits me. The world is not fair, but knowing our worth will help us attract the right things to our lives. Wishing you good health and happiness. 

If You Keep Your Peace, You Will Keep Your Joy

 Peace is essential to being happy.

I can think back to a time that I was a angry person, I was mad at everyone and everything. I could not find peace in anything. I was not happy and I had no joy. I had so much hurt bottled up inside of me it made me angry. It felt like there was bomb living inside of me and at any moment it could go off. This was the old me. 

How did I get to this new place that I am in now? It's simple, I felt like the anger I had inside was going lead me down a destructive path. The anger that I had towards others who had caused me hurt was slowly destroying me. I wanted to be happy and the only way I could to that was to let go of the anger. It was easier said than done. It was years of working through my stuff, and taking accountability for myself. It all started with one courageous step to want better for myself. Change may not happen over night, but all it takes is one courageous step to make a positive change. 

My peace is my responsibility, I try to focus on positive things that will add peace to my life. I know all too well that a disruption in my peace can cause a disruption in the rest of my life. I am resolved to seek after positive behaviors that will add peace to me life. When I keep my peace, I keep my joy. Please feel free to share your journey in the comments section. Wishing good health and happiness. 

Wellness Check

We are approaching our second holiday season in the pandemic. It has been a trying time for all of us, we are all trying to adjust to our new normal. However, things are loosening up due to the availability of the vaccine. Many of us have gotten the chance to visit family members and go to public venues. This holiday is a little more bearable than last year. Although, we can't help but to tread lightly because covid-19 is still among us. At least now we can see each other in person, instead of having countless virtual phone calls.  Meeting in person and checking in on loved ones, has been the best part of the past several months. 

 I have gotten the chance to travel a little bit to have a change of scenery and to visit family members. Life is not totally back to normal, but it is the best it has been for a long time. I am happy for the small improvements and victories. I have also gotten over my fear of going to the doctor's office in the pandemic. I am caring for myself and my family by keeping up with our doctor appointments, remaining healthy is a priority. Everything is a journey, I am looking forward to the holidays to spending time with family. I plan on being safe while doing so. Even though I am vaccinated I will continue to wear my mask for safety. 

What are some ways that you are taking care of your health and wellness? 

I Am Done Beating Myself Up

I have been way too hard on myself. I am done beating up on myself because honestly it makes the journey much more difficult than it needs to be. Life gets hard, but I am doing the best that I can and that is all that I can do. I know in my heart that I am doing the best that I can and that is all that I can do. I am learning that I cannot solve every problem and I don't have all the answers. I can do what I can and ask for help with other things and somethings will have to work themselves out. I stand in the power of being alright with not having it all figure out. 

I deserve happiness and I am done beating myself up, point blank and period. I am putting an end to beating myself up. I am practicing being kind to myself.  All may not be perfect in my world but my world will keep on turning. Wishing you peace and happiness along your journey, may your world flourish.

Be Kind To Yourself

 Beating myself up won't get me were I need to be any faster, it will only slow me down in the long run. Even though I know this fact, I must admit that I sometimes get impatient with myself. I am guilty of being unkind and impatient with myself very often. I am trying to get better at not being so hard on myself, because it only creates anxiety and stress. 

I am a woman, wife and a mom, I am hard on myself in all of my roles. The expectations that I set for myself sometimes seem unattainable. I work myself tirelessly in hopes of getting where I need to be faster, in that pursuit of the end goal it usually leaves me exhausted and disappointed. doing the same thing will only get me the same result. I am ready to make positive changes, to be a better, healthier and happier version of myself. Everything has an appointed time and due season. I value myself and my happiness and I deserve to give myself grace. I am making better choices by being patient and kind with myself. 

Everything Takes Time

 Have you ever heard of the saying "good things take time", that may seem like a cliche but i think that this rings true. Often times when amazing things happen, it my look like it happen effortlessly or out of the blue. However, I know better, good things take time, baby steps lead to big results. Behind every small or big victory is the hard work happening behind the scenes. 

Don't Be Discouraged By The Long Wait

Everything has it's appointed time to happen, I too have been putting in the work and praying for something. It seems like it has been a long wait, and sometimes I get restless and impatient. It may not happen over night but I know that one day all the hard work will pay off. The long wait is not a denial, it maybe a delay but it is not a denial. 

Perseverance and consistency is key, baby steps will eventually prevail. Whatever you are going through, just know that you will get to where you want to be one day. Life may not be easy and it definitely isn't always fair but there is hope. Be patient and kind with yourself, and don't forget to enjoy the journey and celebrate the milestones. After all like is all about embracing the journey. 

Be Yourself, Do What You love And You Will Find Your Tribe

 I tell my children this all the time, and sometimes I have to remind myself of this very thing. I notice this very thing in my life, that when I focused on self acceptance and what I love to do I found my tribe. Instead of trying to fit in to where I don't fit, I focused on what I love. The pursuit of our passions always land us were we need to be. Instead of focusing on what's missing in my life, I choose to focus on the things that makes me happy. Pursing the things that enrich my life has given me fulfillment and has allowed me to connect with like minded people. 

Everyone has a tribe and I believe that the pathway to finding where we belong is to live in our authenticity. Being ourselves, pursuing what we love and that will lead us to our tribe. I have found a tribe of life minded people and most importantly a safe place where I can be myself. Although it was not my quest to find a tribe, it naturally happened once I started to focus on the important things. I breathe easier in my life because I am no longer trying to fit in where I don't fit. I am looking forward to many more fruitful connections in my life. I will continue on this path of focusing on myself and what I love to do. 

I Wish That I Could Make It Better

It is hard seeing a loved one go through difficult times and situations. I wish I could make everything better, I wish I could make the problems go away. It hurts to see a loved one struggling knowing that I don't have the power to make the difficulties or the sadness go away. It is a powerless feeling.

I wish that I could make it better

I wish that I could ease the pain

I wish that I could make it vanish

I wish that I could heal the wounds

I wish that I could make it better

The Time Is Now

The time is now!

I have been putting off some very important things that I want to do for myself. I have been putting it off because it never seemed like a good time. I have been using my kids as a excuse not to care for myself, yes, motherhood is hard and it keeps me busy. However, if I am being honest, it's very easy to use my kids an  excuse for not finding time to take care of my needs. I have allowed a lot of things to fall by the wayside Some that have affected my health and well being. 

The time is now for me to get back on track and be accountable for my choices. Today, I choose to work on my goals without excuses. I may not get it right the first of second time, but I will promise to pick myself up and keep going. 

Is there something that you have been putting off, if so, I hope that you too make time to be kind to yourself. Best wishes! 

You Will Out Grow People Or They Will Catch Up To You

 You will either out grow people or they will catch up to you. Navigating relationships is hard, it can seem  impossible to get through some of the difficulties in a relationship. For me it has been easy to let go of toxic relationships because I value my mental health. Once I got the strength to walk away, I have the outlook that these people will either change their ways to catch up with me or I will out grow them. There is only two things that can happen and neither are bad. I have outgrown many relationships and that's alright. There are a few people that have been inspired to change and catch up with me. 

But, how do we navigate day to day life with our love ones. We can't just go around discarding everyone like used paper towels. Some relationships are worth fighting for, even though there are some differences there. Navigating these relationships are tricky and complicated. We are all wired very differently and it is a tricky 1,2, step dance when trying to get two different people to get on the same page. I really don't know the solution, but I do know talking and listening can help. I also find that when I am going through these difficulties I use the same outlook that they will either catch up with me or we will outgrow each other. I mean this in a much more subtle way than in the case of the toxic relationship. I can't change people, so why even try. I find that when I work on myself, and better myself, my outlook on life changes. A new perspective on life usually come with new experiences, and new relationships. When loved ones see the changes I have made, they may become inspired by it and it will have them wanting to make changes of their own. I think the best way to help my relationships is to work on myself. Counseling is also a great tool, if everyone are on board with that. Until then I will continue to change my world by bettering myself, and not trying to change others. Frankly, seeking to change others is not my job. I believe that my relationships will be were they need to be in due time. We are all responsible for ourselves.  

When A Physical illness Affects Your Mood

 It's true that a physical illness can affect your mood. I am no stranger to this, no matter how big or small the illness is, it has the potential to affect my mood. I have been going through a few small illness one after another, and I can't help but to feel drained. It's a helpless feeling when my body just won't cooperate with me. I am thankful that these illness are only temporary but it does not make it easy. While going through my temporary illnesses, I thought about all of you that might be going through long term illnesses. I have great compassion for what you are going through. 

My heart goes out to those who are going through chronic or long term illness. I know that it's not easy to battle a illness on a daily basis with no ending date in sight. I can't begin to imagine what you must be going through. What helps me to get through the rough times is my faith, when I am feeling hopeless I also like to meditate on positive things to inspire me. I try as hard as I can to keep my mind in a positive place. I know  that having a positive outlook and not giving up can help. Even though your situation may seem rough, there is hope. Wishing you good health and happiness. 

Yay Or Nay To Support Groups?

 I have had the pleasure of not only attending support groups, but I have also started a mental health support group in my community. I have had many positive experiences in a support group setting. The road may seem lonely when I am going through hardships of life. A support group helps me to know that I am not alone. There is always someone that can relate to what I am going through. It's funny how we all think that we are alone when we are facing difficulties, then suddenly we realize that there are others going through the same thing. From my experience attending support groups, the common thread is that there is always someone who is going through the same things. There is comfort in knowing that I am not alone, and when I see others overcome their obstacles it gives me hope. We can be inspired by each others journey and exchange ideas, these are the reasons that I like support groups. 

The mental health support groups that I have attended are private and they value confidentiality. The pandemic has forced us online and we are all meeting virtually. Nonetheless, support groups are still available, for many the challenge has been how to maintain privacy online. There is always the option to turn off cameras or call in if that is available. I also limit what I share, to protect my privacy. Overall, support groups have been a helpful tool to me. What do you think about support groups?

My Emotions Won't Control Me

 Dusting myself off and trying again. It is hard to experience any type of difficulty or hardship. I've had a rough couple of weeks going through some emotionally draining situations and now I am going through an physical illness. I know it's something that is temporary but still it affects the way I feel, the way I move and the way I view my world right now. 

There is a lot of emotion and I try to not let my emotions control me, I feel them, I recognize them and I push my way through until reach my healing and victory. 

Struggles Don't Last Always

 It might be hard for you to believe that your struggle will end one day. That struggle that you are going through may feel like it has no end in sight. It may feel like you will never get through what feels like the hardest thing that you have ever faced. It might be the hardest thing that you have ever came across, but trouble does not last always. I too am going through something at this very moment, that has been draining and difficult. It has been going on for about 3 years now, on the outside it looks like things are impossible. But, I know from past victories that this too shall pass. It won't get the best of me!

Life is not without struggles and when we get through one struggle another seems to follow. What are we to learn from this? We get through one difficulty only to face two more on the horizon. Life is not perfect and there is something to learn from every twists and turn. We are human beings and we get drained sometimes when we are going through difficult situations, that does not make us weak. The most important thing is to pick ourselves up and keep going. 

Struggles don't come to stay, we learn and grow from them. Although, it may look like it comes to break us, it won't if we don't let it. We are resilient and we can get through rough situations and thrive. Wishing you good health and happiness. 

I Pushed The Pause Button

 I took a few weeks off to relax and exhale from the very long school year. My family and I pushed the pause button and went on a vacation and enjoyed each others company. It was nice to have a break from the day to day hustle of life. I also took time off writing my blog, every Monday. I want to push the pause button more often to focus on self-care. I talk about self-care very often, because it has been a journey for me. First thing is first, self-care is at the utmost importance. 

I am so proud of myself, although I am not were I want to be, I am also not where I use to be. I am growing in the area of self-care and it is changing my life for the better. This summer I will also catch up on all my doctor's appointments, this last year has been tough with the pandemic. I had to push back my appointments because I wasn't sure if it was safe to move around. Now that everything is opening up I am going to make sure that I am healthy. Pushing the pause button also means taking the time to address health needs. Every little bit matters. May you too find a moment to push the pause button and focus on your needs. Wishing you good health and happiness!  

Nothing Is As Perfect As It Appears To Be!

 Don't be fooled by the glamour of how something may appear. I often see posts on social media people appearing to be picture perfect. I also see people re-post those same posts with #goals or #couplegoals. no person is the same and no relationship is the same. I can tell you, my husband and I often get compliments about our relationship based on a post or a picture. We have been in a relationship for 19 years and married for 18 years of those years. People always hear the the number of years we are together and get impressed. What they don't see is the work that goes into keeping a marriage together. It takes determination and perseverance to over come obstacles as a couple. 

what people see is the result of the work, but they do not see the work that we do on a daily basis to help our relationship to thrive. Be careful about comparing your life to others, we are all imperfect and on our own journeys. We all have work to do to get where we want to be. Don't compare your life to people's perfect posts on social media. We all have a choice to choose happiness and to seek after it. It is a daily process, don't give up on yourselves no matter what. You will have days where you will experience great days worth posting, and days where you don't feel great. However, through it all keep going, life is worth living. Enjoy the journey, learn and grow.

Kindness, Assumptions And Relationships

 You never know what someone is going through so just be kind. Sometimes, we all have this outlook that someone else's life is perfect. Then this cause us to be upset and unhappy about our own lives, because of comparing ourselves to them. The truth is that there is no such thing as perfection, we are all going through something. We should never assume, but of course that is a hard thing to do. Just like we should not judge others that are going through struggles, we should not judge others because based on the perception that they have a perfect life.

Some of us are going through a silent battle that we are keeping to ourselves, and we think that no one else understands. This notion that no one else is going through the same thing is a fallacy. Most of us are going through the motions afraid of being vulnerable, out of fear or shame. We are truly stronger together, we should always show kindness and never assume. When we have better communication with each other, our relationships will thrive. 

We are all imperfect people, trying to work through our hardships and navigate through life. We should show compassion and always be a place of safety for one another. May all our relationships thrive and be a place of safety for us. Wishing good health and happiness.

Are You Suffering From All Work And No Play?

 Work will always be work, it will always be endless things to do. Let me clarify, work has it's place and it is good to be productive, it's apart of learning, growing and sharpening our skills. However, sometimes all work and no play just creates stress and anxiety. It is good to take a breather once in a while, having a outlet and a way to unwind is important. What do you do to unwind or relax?

Personally, I have a few activities that helps me to relax. Just to name a few, I like to take a walk on a nice day, there is nothing like breathing in fresh air and feeling the wind blow through my hair. I feel so alive with the crisp clean air moving through my lungs. Music is also my friend, I can lose myself in the melody. Music inspire me, it makes me smile, it makes me dance and it helps me process my emotions. Music also makes me feel alive. What makes you feel alive?

Whatever, positive activity makes you feel alive do that. As I get older, I find that I seek after peace and wellness. I am learning the importance of achieving peace and calmness in my life. Work will always be work and it is never ending. I will be more effective with my work when I have calmness in my life. Taking the time to smell the roses is important to me and so I will continue to take the time to do so. Being motivated to take the time for my self is hard at times, I have to try and be intentional daily about taking the time. 

I hope that you too find the time to be intentional with yourself and take the time to smell the roses. 

You Are Worth The Effort!

 Just because a situation is bad today, does not mean that it is always going to be like that. Situations have a way of making us feel like there is no hope and things will never get better. I personally have survived many situations that I thought were impossible to get through. It's safe to say there will always be a situation that needs tending to, but that does not mean that it will last forever. Situations vary and some may last hours, days, months and even years. I have experienced all of the above, this does not make it any easier. However, because I have past evidence that I can get through the struggles, I have something to go on. 

I know that struggles are temporary, and so I know not to fly off the handle and make permanent decisions based on a temporary situation. As long as I am taking baby steps forward I know that everything will be alright. I am not saying that everything will be a breeze, but it is a step in the right direction. I have been going through a tough personal issue for three years now, so I know that it isn't easy to get through struggles. I don't know know when I will get through this struggle but I remain hopeful. I am trusting in the process and most importantly I am seeking help and I am applying the tools I have learned. I have a active role in the healing process. In my opinion, I think that I can get through any situation as long as I am taking a active role in the healing process. 

My faith is also a guide for me, that is where I get my strength from. Situations don't come to stay unless I want them to. I will always bet on me because I am worth it, I am worth the time and effort. I hope that you too will not give up on yourself no matter what you are going through. You are worth it!! I hope that you will never lose sight of that. Wishing good health and happiness!!

Handle Change Like A Boss

Change isn't easy!

Change is uncomfortable!

Change is messy!

Change is scary!

Change is unpredictable!

Change sounds very unappealing when you think of it like that, however change is life. Change is necessary to grow there is no way around it. Also, nothing stays the same because we live in a ever changing world. Everything around us is subject to change and we are also changing. Change maybe hard but change is not the enemy. 

The more we fight change is the more we find ourselves out of sync with who we are. When we are out of sync with who we are then confusion sets in. Confusion has a way of sending us into a tail spin. Once we are in a tail spin, then that opens the door to all sort of issues. Fear and anxiety is sure to follow. 

It's not easy to handle change for any of us myself included. The only thing that we can do is take a deep breath, get ourselves organized and find healthy tools that can help us along the way. Change sucks sometimes but it's going to be alright. With change comes new learning experiences and adventures, all of it is going to help us to grow and thrive. It maybe scary but change is not meant to hurt us, it's all about learning and growing. We are all on this every changing journey together, we can make it with perseverance. 

The Pot Of Gold At The End Of The Rainbow

Hardships don't come to stay, I strongly believe that every struggle will bring strength. The struggles have a way of helping us discover our strengths. Although, the struggle may seem hard or never ending, I believe that we can get through the hard times and come out on the other side stronger. 

The storms of life does not come to stay, there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Your latter will get better no matter what you may be facing now. The tough situations is stretching and molding you and building up your strength. For many of us things have been hard, but through it all there is hope. 

It's been a crazy year and for others maybe it's been a crazy decade or longer. I know all too well the reality of spending decades in what seems like a never ending hardship. It's never too late for things to turn around. A little hope and a little faith will go along way. 

Keep hoping, keep believing and keeping taking baby steps. 

My Go To Self-Care Activity

 I have a few go to activities that I engage in for wellness. 

I enjoy doing breathing exercises, there is nothing like expanding my lungs and breathing in fresh air and releasing the toxic fumes that are in my body. I especially love to breathe in fresh air from the great outdoors. I love the smell of fresh crisp air. Deep breathes are calming, it helps me to feel energized. 

secondly, I love to go to the gym and have a good workout. Just getting out the house is good and getting some good exercise helps to calm my mind.

Lastly, I have a good eye steam mask, that is so relaxing, there is nothing that says relaxation like heat therapy.

I try to do the best that I can to stay relaxed and establish a self-care routine. Life is busy, but I have to constantly seek out time to have self-care. 

Seek after whatever self-care activity that will bring you one step closer to wellness. Your health and wellness matters!

Are You Going Through The Pandemic blues?

I did not see this coming, I didn't know that the pandemic would last this long. It has been a crazy ride, I feel for my children because they have missed so much. It's been over a year now since this pandemic has been raging war on the global community. My children are tired of it and so am I. We have missed so much but in the midst of it all we are still experiencing blessings. We have definitely been experiencing blessings despite the hardships of the pandemic. My emotions have been up and down, having our regular routines disrupted and then watching so many lives been lost to Covid-19 it has been hard. 

I like many, thought that this pandemic would have been gone by Mother's Day of  2020. I held out hope like many others that we would get the all clear to resume our regular lives. No such luck here we are about to approach Mother's Day of 2021 and the pandemic is still here to stay. I never thought that I would be so sick of being at home 24/7. I love my home and I am thankful for it but, some fresh air and a change of scenery is always a welcomed escape from the home.

Recently my husband and I took our children on their first plan ride. It was also my husband's first time flying. It was a welcome distraction from quarantine and virtual working life. It was just what the doctor ordered, we needed excitement and adventure. We enjoyed the Florida sun for a little while and then  returned to our home. It is great to get out and see different things and it's also a blessings to return to our home safely. As long as we are being safe when we do things, that is all that matters. 

This pandemic have me asking "Are we there yet?" just like a child would on a road trip. This pandemic has been some road trip, I am sure that you all can relate to that. I am hanging in there and I am sure that you are too. I am going to try my best to continue to have gratitude and keep things moving in a positive direction. I am sure that we are all tired of the pandemic and are counting the days of when we will be free from this virus. Until then I will continue to seek moments of adventure and excitement with my family. This too shall pass, and the sun will shine again. I have hope that Covid-19 will soon be a memory. Although, we will never forget our loved ones that we have lost during this pandemic. This too shall pass, keep hope alive. 

Looking At The Glass As Half Full

 The old me looked at my glass as half empty as opposed to looking at the glass as half full. I am not going to fake perfection, every now and then the old me try to creep back in. I have to remind myself that life is not perfect and thing will happen but it is not the end of the world. Granted, sometimes it does feel like it is the end of the world, when I am going through life situations. Life does not slow down and there is constantly issues that will arise. 

I use to be angry and frustrated because I was looking at my glass as half empty. I was not taking the time to recognize the things I had and to be thankful for it. Looking at my glass as half empty just made me more frustrated and angry. I was always looking at what I was lacking and not really being thankful for what I had. It really is a draining state to be in. 

I choose to count my blessings and be thankful for what I have, that is a healthier way of looking at life. Even though I am not where I want to be, I am thankful for the blessings of today and I try to live in the present more. I want to embrace things as it comes instead of constantly chasing something else. Although, I am planning for the future, I am not discounting the small victories of today. Life is a journey it's not a race. Live, love, laugh!

You Can't Heal Other People's Trauma

 Yes, this is a note to myself.

I have my own trauma to work through, other people's trauma is not my responsibility. 

Because I am no stranger to trauma I have a tendency to get way too involved with other people's trauma. 

I wear my heart on my sleeve and that can be a strength as well as a weakness. 

There is a thin line between being supportive and taking on the responsibility of someone else's healing. 

This week, I came to the realization that it is not my responsibility to heal anyone. 

Frankly, I don't have the power to heal anyone. My role is to be supportive and compassionate to others. 

I am not going to fall into the trap of assuming the responsibility of healing someone else. 

My healing is my responsibility and everyone holds the same responsibility for themselves. 

I am at peace with that!

SPRING CLEANING IS NOT JUST FOR THE HOME, IT'S ALSO FOR THE MIND

 Spring is approaching and it's right on time. It is time to shed the darkness and gloominess of the winter. The sun is shinning, the wind is blowing and it is a brand new day. The gloom of the winter is long gone and we can begin to make plans for the spring. 

Spring cleaning is not just for the home, it is also for the mind. This new season is a time to refocus and re-energize. Forget about past failures and look towards new goals and a fresh outlook on life. Remember the lessons of the past and gain strength from it. This season is blowing a new and fresh wind my way. I am going to reach out grab a hold of all that it has to offer. 

Wishing you a wonderful new season. 

SAY NO TO SELF SABOTAGE!

The pursuit of peace is important to me. Seeking peace! Embracing peace! Guarding My peace! Maintaining peace! Not self sabotaging my peace. All of these are important to me. Especially that last one, not self sabotaging my peace. Do you ever feel afarid to be happy? Sometimes it all seem too good to be true, it's like I can't enjoy the moment because I am waiting for the bad news to come. Why can't I just enjoy the moment without self sabotoging myself. It's alright to be happy and live in the moment, I am learning to not only seek, embrace and guard my peace. Maintaining and not self sabotaging my peace is also important. Whatever, it takes to achieve peace in my life that is what I will pursue. I hope that you too will pursue whatever your heart desires in your life. Wishing you good health and hapiness.

I Don't Do Well With The Rush! Rush! Rush!

The rush! rush! rush! life is not for me. I like to do things with care, I was never the type of person that seek to do things in a rush. An emergency is the exception, if I have to hussle in an emergency I will after gathering my thoughts. However, besides that I don't do well when someone is not prepared causing me not to be prepared. I am and well always be a preventative person, that's how my mind is wired. I like to take the proper steps to maintain the quality of something,or my quality of life. I always have a six sense for seeing what preventative measures I need to take to maintain the overall quality. Everyone has their way of doing things and that's great. However, when someone ele's lack of preparedness affects my life, it throws me for a loop. I am not perfect by any means, but I always see the need of what has to be done, and I like to be prepared for it. I don't like to run around at the last hour, having an anxiety attack trying to get things done. Let me give you a visual of how I really feel. I feel like I am being hog-tied and dragged by a car through the busy streets. Sorry, if that was too graphic,but that is how I really feel inside. It's a helpless state of being. When you are in a patnership, you can only do what you can do and then you have to trust that your partner will do their part. Being in a partnership is not easy! Since I can't control what someone else is going to do, I am trying to work on my reaction to it. I am trying not to get to a place of anxiety or a place of anger. Life is filled with unexpected situations, how I react to it will make all the difference. Nothing or no one is worth my peace, I will continue to do my part and trust that things will workout in the end. I also learned that I don't have to make someone else's urgency, be my urgency. Although, I am willing to help, I simply won't let someone's urgency disrupt my day. I seek to have healthy boundries in my life, and this one of them. I am protecting my peace at all cost.

WHEN LIFE GETS TOUGH, I GET TOUGHER

Life can get tough and rocky, it can also be unpredictable. When life gets tough it is easy to get discouraged. I have been there time and time again. I face disappointments that causes me to get discouraged. When I get pass on situation,I feel empowered but when another obstacle comes I become discouraged again. It is a very human thing to go through these emotions and it comes with the territory of being a human. We all have dreams, needs and desires and we can't help but feel passionate about them. Passion shows that we care deeply about something. I am trying however, not to let my emotion dapping my hope. When life get tough, I have to get tougher! I know that thoughts of discouragment will come but I won't give into it. To give into the discouragement is to give up on myself. I am not willing to give up on myself, I will fight to live. furthermore, I will fight to overcome every obstacles in my way. I am worth the effort and I am worthy of having self love and good health. I am worthy of all the goodness that God has for me. When live gets tough, I get tougher because I believe in the power of self love. I hope that you also are equipped with the power of self love. It is a daily process to wake up and practice self affirmations. Nothing comes to us easily, it's the daily practice and the baby steps that will bring us far. Wishing you good health and happiness!

Finding Resources In Your Community

 Do You know how to find the resources in your community?

I have been talking a lot with my children, about finding the resources in their school community and using those resources to help them navigate through their academic journey. It's important to know what resources are available and how to access those resources. Through doing volunteer work in my community, I find that most individuals do not know about the resources available to them. I spend time letting the community know about the resources available to them, and also gathering like minded people together to share resources. It is impossible for me to know about every available resource in the community, that's why sharing and learning from each other is key. 

There were times that I needed help and I have to reach out to my community to seek help. Whatever community you are in there is always help. It can be a school community, work community, church community or the place that you live. With a little research you can find out where the resources are and how to apply for these resources. 

None of us can make it alone, especially in this pandemic that we are in. There is always help available when we need it, sometimes we have to rely on the kindness of our community members and local officials. You may feel alone sometimes but know that you are not alone. There are resources and people who can help you this tough time. You are not alone and someone cares for you. 

What Has You Down!?

 The weather may have you down, or maybe it's something else.

Whatever it is, this too shall pass.

We all have down days, it does not mean that it will last. Most situations are temporary and we need to keep that in mind. Somethings has to be worked through in therapy and that is alright. Other things are short term issues that will pass as soon as it came. 

I too have down days, and there are days that I feel doubt, I also get discouraged just like anyone else. I have to constantly remind myself to stay positive, because real life situation have a way of trying to tear me down. There is always something that will tries to disrupt my joy and happiness. Situations have a way of popping up and finding me. I recently started meditation as a way of decompressing and releasing my stress. Meditation has been helpful thus far, it is a tool to help me bring calmness to the racing thoughts.

There are endless things that could happen to get me down. There is no end to the unexpected things that could happen. You may be down today, but don't count yourself out. You can make it through this!

Don't Play The Comparison Game

 Run in your own race!!

Yes I Am Talking To You!!

Don't look to your left and don't look to your right!

Look forward and keep your eyes on the prize!

Comparison is a big distraction. Comparing yourself to someone else will only destroy you from the inside out. You are running in your own race, no one is you and you are not them. Be you, go your own pace. It's alright to be who you are, your talents will make room for you. Your dreams and visions will make room for you. Keep moving forward at your own pace, you will your goal. Be well and be you!!!

Handling Too Many Changes At Once

 I finally have a new blog entry, I took two weeks off. Thank you for being patient with me. 😊

I have been going through a series of life lessons, I have been learning daily that growth happens when I stretch myself outside of my comfort zone. I find myself growing when I take a leap of faith into an uncomfortable territory. I find that their is so much benefit to getting out of my comfort zone, but there is also so much anxiety of the unknown that is also present. There has been so much change in my life recently, everything seems like it's happening so fast. I have to remind myself to breathe and live in the moment.

I have recently started taking a meditation class, I needed to learn some techniques to calm my anxieties and help me decompress. Change is something that will always happen, how I deal with it, will either set me up for success or failure. Whatever, it maybe, my mind is made up to handle what comes next. I am resolved to do whatever it takes to achieve full wellness in my life. Wishing you good health and wellness in your life.

Stand Still

 There is a lot going on right now with everyone, we are all going through our personal struggles coupled with the world current events. We all need  to be kind and helpful to one another, this is not the time to doubt and give into the pressure!

When in doubt choose to believe, when the darkness come surround yourself with something that brings light into your life. Never doubt the power that you have inside, you may not be able to control the outcome of the situation but you can be intentional about what you want in you life. Give a little kindness to yourself and to others, that is the most that any of us can do. 

Stand still and know that this is not the end though things may look grim in the world today. Every end brings a new beginning. If you are at the end of a situation, there will be birth of a new beginning. Keep your peace and heart looking towards hope. Stand still and know that there is a wonderful new beginning on the way. 

New Year, Same Problems!?

 It's a New Year and many people thought that at the stroke of midnight the pandemic of 2020 would just disappear in 2021. That is very wishful thinking and I personally wish that this was the case, however it's not. The entire world is getting a big lesson in patience, the Corona virus is still among us. There is very little we can do, except keep ourselves safe with masks, gloves and social distancing. 

My Year In Review

Before the pandemic began, I found out that I lost a family friend to a heart attack. I was in disbelief, I lost a great friend. Before I could properly morn the loss of my friend, the Corona Virus began to spread in the United States. Some of my church family was affected by the Corona Virus and a few lost this battle with this terrible virus. I also lost another family friend to the Corona Virus. Remote learning was also in full affect for all students, including my children. My daughter missed her 8th grade graduation and she started high school virtually. My son also started his junior year of high school virtually. Virtual learning has been challenging. Many places were abruptly closed down due to the virus. My family and I attend church by live stream and doctors were also meeting virtually. The summer was not as exciting as other summers, My family and I stayed safe by spending most of our summer in our backyard or at the park. When dine in became available and safe we also did that. We also attended a outdoor party when it was safe to do so. This year for the most part, we tried to entertain ourselves within the walls of our own home. There were also very personal struggles that I endured this year. 

2020 was difficult but I also had a lot of blessings. I got a job that I did not interview for, this opportunity came out of no where. I welcome it, because it is a chance to grow and work with some very knowledgeable and driven individuals. I also started getting serious able my health goals this year. I celebrated my 16 year wedding anniversary before the pandemic hit. I also celebrated my daughter's 15th birthday in quarantine. We are getting the hang of virtual learning, my book is almost ready to be published, and the holidays were also a joy this year. Lastly, My family has been in good health and my spouse and I both have jobs. I am finding moments to be thankful regardless of the pandemic.

Have Hope This Year!

Even though we are not in control of the Corona Virus, we are in control of our thoughts and our self care. That same hope that we have that 2021 will be a better year, let's keep that hope alive. I don't have an unrealistic expectation of what should or will happen this year. I do believe that the pandemic will end, it just won't end on my time table or anyone else's. I choose to have hope, no matter what. I am responsible for my thoughts and my actions moving forwards. I have the tools to use to help me on my journey, it's up to me to apply them. Life is hard but I believe that I am resilient, and I can get through anything. This year I don't have a New Year's resolution, I just want to continue to be resilient through life's struggles. I wish you all the best for this year, may you be resilient no matter what this year brings. Wishing you good health and happiness.