2013.
12 months. 52 weeks. 365 days. 8,760 hours. 525,600 minutes. 3,153,600 seconds.
more love.
more laughter.
more gratitude.
more honesty.
more faith.
more hard work.
more consistency.
more experiences.
more intimacy.
more clarity.
more wine.
write the vision, make it plain.
I came across this series on the GOOD website and I am in LOVE. I love being inspired by the simple things in life that make people happy. The things that give us life, energy, excitement…those things are inspiring to me. In the What Do You Love video series, different people share their passions, inspirations and loves. Man, I wish I would’ve come up with this genius idea first.
Here’s one of my favorites:
What do you love? What inspires you?
FBFF: Sweet dreams are made of these
8.19.11
So this post is from a few weeks ago. I felt like the topic was too good not to write about it.
Dreams. I’m a daydreamer. It’s what I do all day. So when I can share my dreams and aspirations with others, I just do it! Who knows, someone out there is reading and is looking to make my dream a reality :)
1. Fess up – if you could do anything professionally what would it be?
There are so many things I know I can do well with the proper training. But if I had the money, I’d start my own organization for young girls focused on the arts: dance, music, writing, painting, drawing, doodling, singing, cartwheeling, WHATEVER.
2. What draws you to this?
Honestly, every time I listen to one of my favorite artists, India Arie’s music. It’s positive. It’s encouraging. It’s motivating. It’s love. It’s everyhing that I’d like to give to a young girl.
Every time I see a young girl who is lost, it pains me. A child that has been molested, discouraged, misguided, naive, gullible….it all reminds me of me. The more I think about it, the more my heart swells and tears well in my eyes. This is how I know that being in the midst of young girls is my calling. Because I can feel it.
3. When did you first start dreaming about this ideal?
Hmmm…..strongly, I’d say about a few months into starting this blog last year. I wrote this post speaking on that epiphany moment. At the time, I was going back and forth with the idea of returning to school for my Master’s but it never felt like the right choice. I didn’t even know what I would have studied!
4. What’s holding you back from going all in?
Fear. Plain and simple. It doesn’t matter how many times I tell myself that you haven’t failed if you’ve tried, the fear itself is enslaving.
5. Sometimes the first step is the hardest… what’s one step you can take now on the way to realizing your dream?
Work. I don’t give up. I’ve been working and building my network. I’ve spoken to my mentors who keep me focused. I have friends that reassure me of my greatness. And I believe that God created me with a purpose. Slowly but surely, my dreams will come true.
To read more of these posts, visit Modly Chic.
For 25 years, Oprah has brought us viewers into her living room to talk. And we discussed everything: controversial subjects to funny ones that made you cry from laughing. For 25 years, Oprah has been the face and voice of those who didn’t have the privilege of having such a platform. For 25 years, she gracefully delivered heart-felt stories about everyday people.
“Understanding that one principle, that everyone wants to be heard, has allowed me to hold the microphone for you all theses years with the least amount of judgment.”
I’m very sad to see her show go but I’m glad she left while she was still hot. Classy. Yet I can’t help but think how daytime tv will never be the same without her usual 4pm EST slot. Although I was not able to consistently watch her show, I’ve always admired her, specifically for five reasons:
1. Her work ethic. Can you believe for 25 years she’s never missed one day of work? Talk about a drive to succeed. And that she did.
2. Her compassion. Oprah has given millions of her money to charity. As a humanitarian, she gave opportunities to young girls in Africa and across the globe the chance to educate themselves amongst many other good works. She helped young men attend college at Morehouse. And she will give her money away when she dies. She is truly the mother of many. To live your entire life as a servant is remarkable and deserves acknowledgment.
3. Her private nature. I don’t care what anyone says but as a high-profile celebrity, you really should be careful with how much information you divulge to the media. The tabloids have spun so many malicious stories regarding her weight, her sexual relations with her best friend Gayle and her life long partner Stedman. It makes me angry that people who have nothing better to do would criticize her personal life as if what she does behind closed doors is any of their business. Why is what she chooses to do anyone’s business is beyond me. Whom and how she chooses to love is under the direction of three people: her, her lover and her God. I admire the fact that amidst all the hatred and backlash, she stood her ground and kept her private life private.
4. Her transparency. Although some things should remain private, there
is a bit of transparency needed in order to connect with your audience. She was very personable. Oprah’s story is not one that has not been heard before. Black girl growing up in the back woods of Mississippi. But hearing it come from someone with the spirit like Oprah makes it all the more amazing.
5. Her humility. She could have changed who she was. She could have done a reality show. She could have told everyone her business and flaunt how much money she makes. She could have had a horrible ego. But if she did any of that, no one would like her. Be humble or be humbled.
“People often ask me, What is the secret of success of the show? How have we last 25 years? I nonjokingly say, ‘My team and Jesus.’”
If I ever got to meet her, I’d simply hug her and say thank you for being who you are. Thank you for being just who God intended for you to be.
“Start embarcing the life that is calling you and use your life to serve the world.”
To read her final show transcript (or to have it as a keep sake as I have), click here.
This morning when I woke up, my first thought was “I wish every Monday was a holiday”. Then I started complaining to myself about how sleepy and drained I was. But if I had Monday off, I wouldn’t do anything. I’d just sleep. Then I started thinking about how I’ve wasted most of January napping. None of this thinking was positive and I hated it.
I believe God spoke to me and said, “Speak those things that be not as though they were.” I knew that was a scripture but I couldn’t think of where it came from, so I googled it. Turns out it comes from Romans 4:17. Now I’m not here to preach, just to share my experience this morning. This scripture is talking about God calling Abraham to be a “father of many nations”. Abraham was very old and I’m sure he knew it would only be a miracle from God to be able to produce any children. But because he believed, God made it so. I applied my complaining to this verse and got a whole different meaning. Whatever I put out in the universe can and will come to pass by God. So be careful what you speak. Make sure that the words you say are positive so that they do not negatively affect your life. We complain about the smallest of things and then get angry when God takes them away from us.
I’m glad I have a job because I know that the eight months when I did not have one were pure hell. No more complaining for me today.
And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11: 22-24
You may say that I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one
John Lennon
A friend of mine posted an article this morning about young entrepreneurs that really got my imagination going on all the things I want to accomplish in my life. Sometimes I think I’m crazy because it seems like there’s no way I can do all the things I want in my life time. But who is going to stop me? I’m the only one stopping myself from at least attempting to make a difference in my world. That article just refreshed my imaginative juices, reminding me that I have things to accomplish while I’m here on this Earth. I’m imagining all the possibilities.
You see things; and you say, “Why? But I dream things that never were; and I say, “Why not?” *George Bernard Shaw*
If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, I know I can achieve it.” *Jesse Jackson*
Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. *Howard Thurman*
Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative. *Oscar Wilde*
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. *Albert Einstein*
I got these two quotes from two friends of mine and I thought they were too fabulous to keep to myself. Have a wonderful and productive Monday.
Alice Walker
Daydream / I fell asleep beneath the flowers / For a couple of hours / On a beautiful day…
Sometimes my best dreams are those which occur when I’m wide awake. I’m a big time daydreamer. Sometimes, I will think about something so much, that I will cause it to happen. Does that sound crazy? Maybe. But it’s my daydreams. You wanna know what some of them are? Ok, cool.
What about YOU???
I do the bulk of my thinking either in the shower or in my car. I’d say the latter is where I think, and overthink, the most.
If I really think hard about it, my ultimate goal is to be forever happy. I’ve never been the one stuck on material possessions or any other tangible thing. It’s all about the feelings I receive from doing something I enjoy.
Yesterday, I asked a good friend of mine what makes her happy. I will not disclose her answer (lol) but I’ll just say that we didn’t share the same sentiment. But she only had one thing that would motivate her happiness (right now). For me, the sources of pure joy are endless. I know this is true, so how come reaching the state of unadulerated happiness is always a pursuit? When are we finally, truly, happy?
I don’t have the answer to that question but I do want to find out so…I’m giving myself thirty days of stupid crazy happiness. Each day, I’m going to do something that makes me smile, makes me laugh, or just makes me cry for joy. Thirty days, twenty minutes each day.
I also challenge YOU to pursue whatever it is that makes you undoubtably happy. It doesn’t have to be the way I’m doing it. Switch it up to your liking and keep me posted.
See you on the other side of H-A-P-P-Y!!!
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” The Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776
Click on the tag “happy(i)ness” to find all the posts.
