Jamesy Boy

It has been cold here on the east coast.  I have been enjoying my house with the fireplace lit, good food, and a warm blanket.  This weekend we rented a movie called Jamesy Boy.  It chronicles a young teenager who overcomes a life of crime and incarceration to reinvent himself as a college-educated poet.  

Based on a true story. It shows the harsh reality of young men living in crime ridden communities, fatherless homes, and no role models.  This movie tells the story of James Burns' journey and determination to become somebody.  I connected to this story because the plot portrays the reality of some  of my students. We all have the choice to either become a statistics or rising above the expectation of our environment.  "It's not how many times you fail. What matters is how many times you get back up".  

See you again on Thursday.  Remember to live. love & share.

LO --

Weekend Note

Hey Everyone!

Heard this song this morning!  This is what I am choosing today!  Why, not?  It is a 3 day weekend for us.  If you did not read yesterday's post check it out and listen to this song.  Take care and have a happy day.  I will see you on Tuesday.

Live.Love & Share.

LO --

I am choosing happy today!

This week has been a struggle personally to stay positive, but I have really worked at renewing my mind.  I am clear that I want a positive, productive, transforming day that I am intentional about not letting anyone steal that peace that I have chosen for myself!

Here is what I know!

1. That I cannot control anyone but myself.  So I have total control of how I want my day to look.

2. I always want to be seen smiling, even when the day has presented a little turbulence.

3. I want to count my blessings regardless of the circumstances

4. At the end of the day, the good always outweighs the bad (count your blessings)

5. Respond to your problems with knowing that God’s going to work it out.  (Tell your problems about God, Don’t tell God your problems.  I read that somewhere)

6.  What I have noticed is that when I am responding to “B.S.” I am doing it in a calm voice.

What I have come to peace about is I cannot letting other human beings determine my experience.  I have to pray and determine to stay at peace always.  

I am learning y’all.  I hope my sharing has allowed you to grow and find peace. 

How do you deal with the day's detours?

Remember to live. love & share   

LO --

Dirty 30

What I am learning in my 30’s 

1. Start creating the life you want now!  

What I am learning is that I have to be the captain of my own ship.  I am more than capable of having everything that I dream of and more.  I am learning that I have to quit being afraid because fear will only paralyze me. Balls to the wall.  

2. Laughing and spending time with family and friends are important.   

Tomorrow is not promised. I love Sunday brunches with dad, celebrating birthdays, and creating new traditions in my home with my family.  

There is nothing better then girl friend time!  I love my girls.  We laugh, give each other good advice, and pray for blessings to reign down.  I am learning the value of a good friendship.  

3. Love is better in your 30’s 

No more puppy love!  Love is more meaningful in your 30’s .  We do what is best for us, playing no one’s game but our own.  

4. You got to learn how to sweat the Right stuff

People are going to say and do what they please.  The day you start to change yourself, things around you start to change. You got to go beyond people’s opinions.  

5. Don’t explain. Don’t repeat.  

I have a tendency to always feel the need to explain myself.  What I have come to realize is that I don't have to explain my dreams to everybody they belong to me.   

6. Don’t compare 

“It does not matter how you start, it only matters how you finish.”  Everyone has a story, what is your story?  Just because  someone is in front, does not mean they are ahead.  Live your own life!

I am still learning and creating how to live a meaningful life for myself .  Overall, I pray that I can live each day with no regrets, give back to others, and celebrate life’s success.  

What have you learned?

Remember to live. love & share

Y'all come back now!  See you again on Thursday!

Did you laugh today?

Today I laughed, I mean really laughed.  When was the last time you laughed?  Laughing is infectious.  The sound alone makes you want to find out what someone is laughing about.When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness.  Someone today told me that they did not laugh.  I thought to myself, how sad.  

Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.

I was reading on line and found a list of benefits of laughter: 

Physical Health Benefits:

Boosts immunity

Lowers stress hormones

Decreases pain

Relaxes your muscles

Prevents heart disease

Mental Health Benefits:

Adds joy and zest to life

Eases anxiety and fear

Relieves stress

Improves mood

Enhances resilience

Social Benefits:

Strengthens relationships

Attracts others to us

Enhances teamwork

Helps defuse conflict

Promotes group bonding

So, when is the last time you laughed?  It does not have to be a belly laugh (even though I love those) it just has to be something that lighten the mood and put a smile on your face.  If you have not laughed today maybe this will help. 

I will see y'all again on Tuesday!

Remember to live, love, share & laugh

Renewing your mind

Some of us are a week into our goals/resolutions.  I want to give everyone a little food for thought when it comes to renewing your mind:

A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which maybe intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth.  If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce  their kind.   

Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating towards perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts.  By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master gardener of his soul, the director of his life. 

I read this in, As a Man Thinketh, by James Allen.  We have to make sure we are particular about what we put into our mind.  Are you sowing seeds of good thoughts or tending to weeds?  Remember the choice is yours.  

Remember to live. love & share.

LO —

P.s. See you again on Thursday!  

# make it count

It's is a snow day here in the tri-state area and I am feeling gooood.  I needed this extra day.  I know it is a little greedy because I already had a week off, but hell I have been working my whole life.  I feel like this is an opportunity to work on the things I love most, so I made a to-do list.  I don't want this day to feel lost or wasted.  Below is a little inspiration to get your day started!

# make it count and remember to live. love & share.

Stepping into your greatness

This year part of my goal is me stepping into my greatness.  What does that mean?  It means me not doubting my capabilities, telling myself I am not ready yet or comprising.  I have so many great ideas that I want to capitalize on. I go and tell my family, then I quickly talk myself out of it.  Have you ever had these nagging feeling about your ideas, which keeps the wheels in your head turning?  I have them all the time.

What I have learned about one’s greatness is:

1. It is a gift from God
2. You are born for this
3. Anything is possible

How do you step into your greatness:

1. Renew your mind
2. Put it on paper.  
3. Do not get attached to the outcome but get committed to the process 
4. Research what kinds of skills and the people you need to help you reach your greatness.  

So, no longer am I in 2014 going to say “I can" but  I choose to say “I will”.   I am going to have a different spirit about my greatness and not only am I going to speak it into existence but start to live it.  The conversation of I need to wait until this happens, in order for me to walk into my greatness will no longer hinder my today.  I can start to live out my greatness now!  I need to start to look for the people who are masters in this field.  Read books around my greatness.  Continue to learn more about it.  Most of all, not be afraid to start!  

Can you relate to my experience?  What is one thing that you will do this year to move you closer to your greatness?  

LO--

Remember to live. love & share.