Preparation

I visited a new church today. It's funny how sometimes the message you receive is right on time as if it was there waiting for you. The Bishop said something that really made me think. "You don't get what you want in life, you get what you prepare for."  How many of us talk about all the success we want but spend our time preparing for failure? Even those of us who try to prepare sometimes just miss the mark. We are preparing for things we know are attainable instead of preparing for the things we really want to aspire to. Dream bigger. Prepare for greatness. Have the faith that you have already received it. 

Unveiled

I have been observing a lot lately.  Not just observing myself (if you have been reading you know I have been doing a lot of this) but observing everyone else. You learn about yourself when you take a closer look at the people around you. I have realized there is only about a handful of  "real" people in my life. Everyone walks around with various masks on. They could be anyone depending on the day, or the crowd. So I am grateful for my handful of friends who are the same person they always are no matter what day it is, what the circumstance is or who is around. They are my constants. My foundation. I do wonder though what would happen if just for one day everyone was unveiled? What would we really see?

Thankful. Part 1

The holidays seem to either make people really happy or really depressed. I keep hearing how this year will be less. Less presents, less food, less money. It seems there is a lot of focus on what we don't have. The economy has turned us into a nation of "glass half empties." Today I am thankful for everything I have in my glass. Even if it's only half full. I'm thankful for my family, my friends, my health, my job, (my side hustles), my infinite blessings, my wisdom, my life. I'm thankful for the new people I meet everyday and what they bring into my life. I'm thankful for the people that have been there beside me through it all. I'm thankful that I live in a world where anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it.

Intelligent Thug

He walks into the room with the swagger of a million gangstas. You can't help to feel his presence. Tatt-ed up. His body art tells a story of the life he has lived. The hood he is from. Knots in his pockets. Chrome at his side. Never been to college. He holds a street degree. But has read more books than your history professor. Manages million dollar budgest on a daily basis. He always has a plan. Flipped the illegal into legal so his seeds don't need to. Intelligent Thug.

Even if only for a day.

So I'm at a social gathering this weekend and find myself in a conversation about life, relationships, single motherhood, men, money, success and so on with two people I have never met before in my life. I have found myself in this situation kind of a lot lately. I'm not sure what it is about me that somehow makes people open up...with my walls and all. But I have realized that God will talk to you in a number of ways through a number of people. Pay attention. I realized in the middle of this conversation and that the words coming out of my mouth reflected the growth that has taken place in me over the past year. I realized that the words entering my ears I have heard before in my private conversations with God. I also realized that answers to some of my questions were being spoken as well. Everything happens for a reason. If you ask, you shall receive...you just never know who might bring the answers. People come into your life for a reason...even if only for a day.

Why Hate? Just get your own sh*t.

I've realized that no matter how old you get, people still hate. My inner circle is full of successful people, which also means that on a regular basis we are all surrounded by haters. I just don't understand. Instead of hating on someone, acting out against them or trying to bring them down because they are doing their thing - why not put all that wasted energy into getting your own sh*t? Don't talk about it. Be about it.

Pause...again

I don't remember having this many things to do in round 1.  Maybe I did,  I was just younger with more energy so I didn't realize it. One thing is for sure. I feel it more in round 2. Hence, another PAUSE day....or should I say evening since nothing about today was paused.