Hide and Seek....

For many years I struggled with what I wanted to do with my life....in and out, searching, fighting, struggling trying to find that "THING" that made me happy and gave me FREEDOM! I got an expensive Bachelor's degree in Journalism from LIU in Brooklyn (of which I'm still paying for, but that wont be for long). Soon after graduation, I started working in television with a twinkle in my eye. At the time, I thought getting the opportunity to work in my chosen field was a DREAM! After 3 years of going through what felt like wearing 1000 pound weights on my ankles, I made the wise decision to gently back out of that lions mouth.



I soon got into the mortgage industry eagerly awaiting my riches because everyone was hauling in high six figure incomes. The thought of controlling my own time and income (two very important components in my life) was invigorating! However, my enthusiasm was quickly extinguished when I learned the tricks of the trade in the mortgage industry. Lets just suffice to say that I didn't haul in the truck loads of money like most people did because I wasn't willing to financially rape people. I'm still in touch with the mortgage industry for the purpose of future purchases for myself, friends and family but I've slowly backed out of yet another lion's mouth.
Almost 2 years ago, Network marketing emerged into my life. I've always admired the industry but wasn't sure how to work it. It brought another level of experimentation and excitement, but this time "cautious" excitement. I got into the energy business of which I've built to a point of being on automatic pilot and collecting a monthly residual income.

Then....earlier this year a friend of mine called me regarding another business opportunity. Truthfully, when he called me, I just blew him off. I was at a turning point in my life and I didn't want to do or try anything else (what was I thinking!). Thankfully he didn't give up on me! He sent my husband and I some coffee in the mail. The day it arrived, I was suffering from bronchitis and I was taking a steroid and some other medication. I was on meds for days and my cough was still intense. When we got the coffee I decided to try it immediately because of my friend's excitement. Prior to drinking the coffee I was feeling horrible and laying around. About 40 minutes later after drinking my cup of latte my husband brought to my attention that I was no longer coughing. I was like "OMG! You're right!" I was feeling so good that I didn't even realize that the coffee had stopped my cough. That was the first time in days that I had felt some relief! I went to the computer and started researching the herb "ganoderma" (which is in all of our products) and was blown away by what I found. I called my friend, got in the business and we haven't looked back since...I'm grateful to my friend OG National Consultant Brett Shoemaker of Houston Texas.

In the beginning of doing this business, we met many obstacles...namely negative people. I wont lie and say that for a moment it didn't slow down our business a bit, however, we never quit, but at times we found ourselves frustrated and annoyed with the skepticism. I recently came across a quote that said "sometimes success comes in the form of misfortune and defeat!" When you live in a cynical world, a world where so many people have consciously decided to live unconsciously it can be quite difficult reaching people.

Thankfully, through the support and training I've received over the years and in my company, I have decided to nurture the perseverance, determination and success within me. I'm no longer sitting by and watching the ships sailing away without me. My passions are outweighing my fears and I've decided that those that are negative is just unenlightened, so I don't hold anything against those individuals. Even more importantly, I have realized that success lives within me and it's my birthright to live the most opulent life possible. I have found the most profound revelation in my life and I can truly say that finally...I GET IT!

I know my road ahead isn't going to be easy, but my eyes have been opened and my brain is being fine tuned...as the saying goes "seek and ye shall find!" It's amazing how life unfolds in your favor when you realize success is within your reach and you simply reach out and grab it.

What Am I doing now? Healthy coffee! I'm helping people to change their lives, mind-set and health all in one shot...what a privilege. I've learned that It's not what you do in life, but the lives you touch along the way. We are taking people along with us and if you want to get on board, we are happy to have you, if not, it's ok, you can sit and watch us as we happily sail away into the sunset.
"What the mind of a man can conceive and believe, he can achieve." ~ Napoleon Hill

To learn more go to: www.prosperwithcoffee.com

Placing Value...

As humans we all need to be recognized, praised, accepted and feel important, but if we don't validate ourselves and place value on what we do, we will forever wonder around this world, seeking the approval of others...constantly spinning in a vortex of confusion.

Growing up I will attest to the fact that I was always thinking about what I can do that is most profound in my life; what career would be the most affluent and give me the most exposure in terms of recognition. I felt like what I did needed to be defined by society in a profound way so I needed to have a job/career or title that when people met me, immediately gave an impression of prestige and affluence. The vast majority has decided that these titles are the epitome of your profound emergence into society. This is not to throw salt on any title/job/career because I highly regard and respect every profession in this world, whether you clean toilets or have the position of Oprah, Bill Gates or President Obama.

However, as I live and learn, I'm realizing time and time again that if I don't place my own VALUE on what I do and I wait for society to validate me, I will never feel whole.   In today's society people are more educated, but cognitive thinking seems to be at a distance, people have more material things, but have more debt than ever before in history.   Even more frustrating, every other person you talk to hates their job/career and is always looking for a way out.   Truly something in our society is innately wrong and people's priorities are misplaced.

How many times do you come across people who LOVE or even enjoy what they do? I remember years ago, I was in Manhattan waiting for a bus and there was a shoe shine stand right behind me. As I stood waiting for my bus, the gentleman shining shoes caught my undivided attention. He was singing while shining shoes and I had never seen that before! The guy sitting in the chair had the newspaper covering his face while this man was putting his ALL into shining the shoes of a person who could care less about him! As he whistled and sang, he was moving the rag across the guys shoes briskly and he was getting a thrill out of bringing out the most brilliant shine in a pair of shoes....when he was done, he stood back, admired his work and smiled! I wondered at that very moment, why is it that I don't feel like that when working at my job at a reputable TV station! I wondered what was it about that man that made him so happy shining a pair of shoes...a job that VERY few people would be proud to share with the world. I admired him! I was so engrossed in watching this man that I almost missed my bus! I carried that memory with me to this day and finally after about 5 years, I finally learned what he possessed...he placed VALUE on what he does and he could care less about what society thinks about him! He was being the best shoe shine guy that he can be!

I have learned over the years that title has very little to do with our journey on this earth. As long as what I do makes me happy and incorporates motivating and helping people, my life is complete. Whether you are shining shoes or running the biggest corporation in America, as long as long as you place value by holding your job/career/business etc in high regard and enjoy it...nothing anyone says really matters.

Business and Pleasure...

September 6th 2009 Jet Blue pulled up the tarmack in Montego Bay Jamaica and I was relieved.  Since I hate flying, my body was tense for the entire 3.5 hour flight.  As I stood up to exit the airplane, the excitement within me mounted.   We single filed out of the airplane and suddenly the mixture of air conditioning and island heat caused steam to blow from the vents in the roof of the airplane.  One lady thought it a form of welcome and my husband and I giggled.   We made our way through customs and the energy of excitement was on everyone's face.  As we exited customs, we headed over to the superclub resort room where they handed us water and our voucher for our hotel.   A few moments later our bus driver came for us and we followed behind him and the bellhop carrying our luggage....I was so excited, I wanted to skip like a kid in a play ground.  There is something about the caribbean that soothes my mind, body and soul.  Even though I have plans to travel to other countries, the caribbean will forever be my first choice!

We got to the resort and everyone was very pleasant and gave us a smile and welcome.  A gentleman walked around with a cold towel and offered us a drink, I thought "yes, this paradise."  I felt the tension of my usual fast paced living melt away and my body instantly relaxed.   As my husband checked us in, I walked over to the balcony and looked out over the landscape and the sun was shining, palm trees lightly swaying, lush green grass, vibrant flowers and in the distance I saw the turquoise water.  I closed my eyes and inhaled the fresh air as the island warmth gave my body a big bear hug...I felt at home.   My husband and I made our way to our room and since we didn't get much sleep the night before, we decided that an afternoon nap would be perfect.   We had a refreshing sleep for a few hours and got up in time to get dressed for dinner.   

Our purpose for this trip is part rejuvination and part work for our business.   While i'm here, I've been taking moments to truly thank God for all his blessings.   I had a brief opportunity to close my eyes and look at my life just this year alone and I'm truly grateful for all the blessings that has been bestowed on me....I don't take God's blessings lightly.   Doing my own business and Traveling is where I professed my life to be years ago and I'm realizing everyday that amazing things are happening because that's exactly where I'm headed.   I call it God, faith, belief in myself, belief in my business and belief in our products.   It's amazing how when you align yourself with the universe, things start to shift in your favor.  

Just two weeks ago I decided to re-read "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill (a book responsible for over a million millionaires worldwide) and low and behold, at our leadership meeting our company announced that they are merging with the "Think and Grow Rich" Foundation!  Literally, our company logo will be on copies of their books!  How amazing is that!  To be a part of a company that has products that not only heals your body, but gives you mental clarity is amazing!    As of today my life has changed!  I've been working on transforming my mentality for a while now, but today, everything came together for me!   I realized that if I'm not successful it's no one elses fault but my own and as of today I'm taking FULL responsibility for my health, happiness and wealth....NO EXCUSES!

My favorite quote says it all:
"whatever the mind of a man can conceive and believe, he can achieve" Napoleon Hill

Blessings.

To my unborn child...

The day I found out I was pregnant with you, I didn't know what to say or do. As I looked at the little white mechanism in the palm of my hand with a bright pink line which indicates "pregnancy" I was floored. I took 3 more tests just to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I looked down at what I call my "kangaroo pouch" and I caressed my belly. Tears of gratitude streamed down my cheeks and gathered at the base of my chin and dripped on my hands and down to the floor. I wanted to celebrate more but the years of struggle that i went through trying to get this point, made me cautious.

I sat on my couch and said a prayer for your journey to be safe and for you to be a beautiful healthy baby. Many times I felt like somehow I was forgotten when it came to having children, but my journey of trials and tribulations has lead me down a path of realizing that God never makes a mistake. Sometimes he takes his time because he has a special plan for your life and now, more than ever I get it. I wanted to call all my family and friends but once again, I decided to wait for the right moment. I wanted to wait until you have grown a bit, until the day I hear your heart beat.

That same night I told your father, I waited until after we had dinner. I ate healthy and made sure I chewed every morsel of my food properly, I ate a balanced meal to ensure that you are nourished to the best of my ability. After dinner, I walked over to my desk and picked up my evidence of your existence and I handed it to your father. He looked confused and wasn't sure what it was that i was giving him. I told him to look at it again and suddenly, he jumped up from the table and hugged me so tight I thought he was going to break me into two. His eyes twinkled as he got onto his knees and pressed his cheek to my belly. He looked up at me teary eyed and thankful...he didn't have to say much because I knew what his eyes were saying. Like me, he contained his excitement and we said a prayer for your safe journey.

The proceeding months were happy and uneventful and with each month that you grew, I didn't care about the changes taking place in my body, all i wanted was to hold you in my arms. The night you were born, I was scared because I had never felt pain so palpable, but the anticipation of seeing you somewhat eased my discomfort. As I held on to your father and 3 nurses, i pushed with all my heart and soul; my eyes feeling like they are going to pop out of my head and my body stretching to it's capacity. Suddenly it's like time froze when I heard your cry.  Everyone's face lit up with joy and your father cried out for joy, you made your grand entrance into the world and what a privilege I felt as they laid you on my chest. I cried uncontrollably because of the indescribable love I felt seeing your little face. We steered at each other for some time as i held your little body against mine, i didn't want to put you down, i wanted to savor every minute. Your father wrapped his arms around us and it was like the planet shifted for me. At that moment, my life was changed forever and i promised God that I will do everything in my power to make sure your life is filled with love and happiness. Above all, I promised God that you will know him! Welcome home sweetheart, mommy and daddy loves you.

Change is the only thing CONSTANT!!

Over 3 years ago, I made a decision to leave Television, a field that I dreamed about since I was a child...my decision didn't come easy. After giving myself almost 4 years to check out the news industry, I came to a cross road and I realized that maybe I needed to go in a different direction. This decision was partly due to the hectic schedule of television, the clawing up the ladder and other issues I choose not to mention. I had to decide which direction I wanted to go in and what was more important in my life. After much meditation and prayer, I chose my home life and to try something I've always dreamed of doing above everything else...working for myself!

When I put in my resignation I was scared, but I didn't allow my fear of change to limit me...so I pressed on.  I have yet to have regrets about my decision to branch out and explore my life.
I truly believe God has my back so I've been letting go and letting God do his work. Being independent and working for myself have been very interesting to say the least!  I could never receive the knowledge I've been fortunate to receive from any university on the planet. In addition, I've expanded my social circle tremendously.   I've had ups and downs, but I never let those stop me and I've adopted looking at every experience as a part of a larger picture and try to learn the lesson in everything I do.

There is no doubt that change can be intimidating.  However, it's vital that you identify your goals, believe in yourself and most importantly take action...unstoppable action toward your goals.  If we are not working toward something greater, we will continue to just "exist" on a daily basis. Existing in my opinion is much harder to do than accomplishing goals. Whenever I accomplish a goal I feel exhilarated, my confidence level shoots up and I start to feel like I can do more!   It's also important to note that small goals are made up of larger goals. We sometimes feel like everything we do have to be big, but it's the smaller pieces that add up to the bigger picture and create a steady pace of positive change.

Many are challenged when it comes to facing change, but at the end of the day, it's all about perception. Our world is constantly evolving and in order for us to keep up with the times we have to be open-minded. There is an entire world out here for us to explore.   Step out on faith, try something new, CHALLENGE yourself more and get out of your comfort zone, but know that change wont happen overnight, but it's ok because anything that is of worth takes time.   Get comfortable in your uncomfortable zone!

Success and Prosperity is within all our reach!

SELF DEFENSE

WARNING...this post is very graphic and emotional so read at your own risk!!!

You pseudo sophisticated, sadomasochistic, two timing, lying, jealous, envious, evil, conniving heffa! How dare you disrespect me! You don't know me...you think you do, but you don't! You don't like me because you see in me what you will never have or even come close to having. My inner and outer beauty intimidates you because everything about me is genuine and you can't figure me out. You hate me because God has given me something that you feel you can't have. You want to bleed all over me because that's what you do best. You walk around being nasty and then feel good about hurting others because anger is the only thing you know. You are lonely because your heart is cold and hollow. You are suspicious of everyone but the only person you need to be suspicious of is yourself! You want to pull me down on your level but I will never stoop, because you are toxic waste.  

Take my advice and get help! It doesn't matter how you look physically, when your soul is cold and your behavior is venomous, not even a dog will want to get near you. Everytime you try to hurt me, karma will do a 360 turn right back to you and kick you in the behind.   It may seem like everything is going well for a while but one day when you are unaware...the evil you have laid out will strike you.   Moreover, the anger and meanness that you portray is indicative of your unhappiness because happy people don't behave the way you do...you are transparent like scotch tape.

I charge you today to clean up your act. You are in need of professional help!  You need a good counselor for about a year to help you. Even more importantly, you need God in your life. Until you turn your life around, everything that you touch will turn to stone.

I'm a kind hearted person, but I'm not the one to be messed with!

Ps...believe it or not, you too can be happy once you get right with yourself!

RICH vs. POOR

Rich people believe: “I create my life.” Poor people believe: “Life happens to me.”

Rich people play the money game to win. Poor people play the money game to not lose.

Rich people are committed to being rich. Poor people want to be rich.

Rich people think big. Poor people think small.

Rich people focus on opportunities. Poor people focus on obstacles.

Rich people admire other rich and successful people. Poor people resent rich and successful people.

Rich people associate with positive, successful people. Poor people associate with negative or unsuccessful people.

Rich people are willing to promote themselves and their value. Poor people think negatively about selling and promotion.

Rich people are bigger than their problems. Poor people are smaller than their problems.

Rich people are excellent receivers. Poor people are poor receivers.

Rich people choose to get paid based on results. Poor people choose to get paid based on time.

Rich people think “both”. Poor people think “either/or”.

Rich people focus on their net worth. Poor people focus on their working income.

Rich people manage their money well. Poor people mismanage their money well.

Rich people have their money work hard for them. Poor people work hard for their money.

Rich people act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear stop them. (Eker says that successful people act in spite of this fear. They move beyond worry, they “fake it til they make it”, learning as they go. Unsuccessful people do nothing at all.)

Rich people constantly learn and grow. Poor people think they already know.
 
ARE YOU RICH OR POOR?

EGO...

He walks into the room, chest high, nose in the air, he's immaculately dressed. He looks around the room at everyone with a snobbish grin as if he's above and beyond everyone. When a person speaks he's quick to answer the question because he feels he has all the answers that everyone in the room needs to hear. He speaks loudly to get everyone's attention. The people in the room look on with an annoyance..half listening to what he says. He continues speaking with a loud booming voice ensuring that every ear is filled with his information. As he speaks, the audience's sarcastic eyes are on him and he feels good...he's getting what he wants and that's attention.

Moments past and he's still talking, he lets out a joke and laughs at himself and suddenly he realizes he's the only one laughing so he abruptly stops and rolls his eyes. He continues speaking, pacing back and forth. Slowly the room starts to empty one by one as he continues to be caught up in his own world. A woman gets up to walk out and he tells her to sit back down because he's not finished...as one of the 3 people left in the room, she ignores his request and walk out. He shoos her with his hand as she exit's the room. He zero's in on the guy and girl left in the room he walks up closer to them making sure they listen to him as he preaches on.

Finally the guy in the room stands up, looks him in the face and says "look around, haven't you noticed, that we are the only two people left in the room? You have yet to interact with the crowd, people have raised their hands to speak and you ignored their request, you have talked over everyone and enforced your opinions on all the guests. Don't you think you should stop?" He stood there smiling and declared "they left the room because they are jealous of me and they could never deliver information the way I can" The guy shakes his head and walks out of the room and the last woman followed. Ego was left standing by himself.
Note: Egos can lead you down a very lonely path!

MEGA MILLIONS...

I checked the numbers one by one and as I confirmed each number my heart started racing.  I started to feel like all the blood was rushing to my head. My body started to go numb as I once again check the numbers...this couldn't be...EVERY SINGLE NUMBER FOR THE MEGA MILLIONS IS ON MY TICKET!! OH. MY. GOD!!!!!

I jump up from my chair and bit my knuckles as my legs take on a life of their own. I want to scream but the sound cannot come from my mouth. I want to pick up the phone and call my family and start screaming, but I can't...not yet, I open my front door and I look at the road in front of me and I want to strip off my clothes and run naked down the street screaming, but quickly figure out that I may get arrested...that would be super disasterous especially now. I close my door and my doggie Sketch runs behind me mirroring my excitement, his tail wagging swiftly as he tries to figure out what's going on. I pick him up and whirl him around, put him down and run up the stairs. I stood on the landing for a moment trying to figure out what I went upstairs for and couldn't remember. I then run down stairs and fall on my knees..."Thank you God...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!" While kneeling, i start rocking back and forth and the tears stream from my eyes as I clutch my dreams, hopes, plans and security in the palm of my hands...I never knew I would enjoy holding a small piece of paper so much. I kiss the ticket and hold it up to the ceiling and I allow the tears and the feeling of joy to envelope me, I felt the pure, raw, feeling of freedom...free from wanting or needing. I cried for myself, my family and friends whose lives are about to change....overwhelming is an understatement.

Finally I get up, pick up my doggie and reach for my cell phone. I call my husband "baby where are you?" he said "i'm almost home." I smiled "great, cant wait to see you" and hung up. As his car pulled up, Sketch and I waited anxiously for him to enter the house. As he enters, I run up to him hugging him tight and sobbing into his chest, his eyes are bewildered "what's the matter baby" I looked him in the eyes "We are free, finally free" and I hand him the ticket. He looks at it still not getting it and I said we won the lottery...he bites his knuckles, throws his suit jacket to the ground as his arms and legs take on a life of their own and then he lets out a gutteral scream that one can probably hear from a mile away as the tears stream down his cheeks and we embrace...freedom is the best feeling in the world.

QUEEN...

I walked through the crowd, shoulders back, head held high wearing a ruffle blouse, high waist pencil skirt and peep toe heels with a matching clutch under my arm and hair neatly coiffed. I was feeling good within every ounce of my being from my hair root to my toes nails; my smile and body language said it all.

I walked by a group of women standing with wine glasses in their hand and they all looked at me as I approached them. As I got closer, I smiled and gave a slight curtsey "good afternoon ladies!" Two reciprocated, but the rest had a blank stare. Their eyes followed me as I made my way to the stage. I noticed a few brothers staring and my response was the same...a sweet smile, followed by a slight curtsey.

I walked behind the curtains to the back of the stage and the butterflies in my stomach started to erupt. I walked into the restroom and checked my makeup and touched up my lip gloss. I put down my clutch on the counter and closed my eyes and took some slow, deep, methodical breaths and said a prayer. I opened my eyes, smiled at myself in the mirror and made my way to the stage entrance. My assistant ran over to me and handed me my itinerary and notes. "You look great!" I smiled and thanked her. Suddenly I heard a loud applause and my name being called...I walked out on stage to the podium, confident, humbled and grateful. I shook the hand of the host and looked into the crowd. My eyes landed on the group of women I first encountered when I arrived. Their body language was that of intrigue, I smiled at them and for some reason, they boosted my confidence. Suddenly i decided to change my script. I turned over my papers and I let my spirit guide me....

"Queen a powerful word.  A queen is you, me and every woman in this room. A queen is a humble, confident women who is in charge of her life. She knows God and realize that her body, mind and soul is sacred. She is grateful for her blessings and doesn't diminish herself to make another person feel good; instead, she motivates,encourages and helps others. She knows how to multi-task without being overwhelmed and knows how to delegate when she is in need of a break. Queens are not perfect, they come with flaws and in all shapes, sizes and colors.  They feel what you feel, but they are in control of their emotions and doesn't "bleed" all over everyone. Queens take care of themselves to the best of their ability and they don't make excuses for not taking care of self because a queen knows that if she's no good to herself, she's no good to anyone else. Queens don't need to be envious or jealous of another because she's aware of the fact that whatever she wants out of life, she has the ability to get it. Queens realize that we all have a unique God given talent.   Queens have many friends for different purposes and she respects and understand the power of the female connection and the fact that we all need it. A queen knows how to disagree without being hurtful (for the most part) and how to be honest and upfront. She is confident about her talents and abilities and she's decisive about what she wants. A queen knows how to balance her husband, children, pets, family and friends. She doesn't worry much about what others think or say, she lives her life with purpose, passion and truth. A queen reigns supreme....that's you, me and every woman in this world. Love the queen in you and the women in your life.....Thank you!"  I looked at the group of women in the crowd and they were all crying, I blew them a kiss.
    

The applause was loud and the tears streamed down my cheeks. A queen is not afraid to be emotional in front of hundreds of people.

Be blessed.

What are you thinking?

When you wake up in the morning are you thankful that you woke up? When you get dressed to leave the house for work, are you thankful that you have a job?  If not, how miserable it must be to wake up on any given day and not look forward to your day. I'm not saying that every day of our lives will be pure bliss, but I'm realizing that truly, we are Assistant directors of our destiny (God is the director) and the choices we make has a huge impact on our day. One of the great balancers of life is knowing that you have the choice to fix everyday trial and tribulations and turn them into something useful rather than allowing them to determine your mood.

I used to hate waking up at the crack of dawn and making the hour long commute to a 9-5 job. If mass transit was not working, it made the process even more mentally, emotionally and physically challenging.  Moreover, I hated having someone control my day, determining when I can go to lunch and when I can take a day off. However, at the time, to get me through, I had to reach down deep within my mind and find the temporary purpose of my job and that purpose was paying my bills and taking care of other financial obligations in my life. When I found that my need to be away from the job superceeded my mental ability to override the unhappiness, it was time to leave.

I find that our mental processing is vital in our daily survival. It is more harmful to your body and soul to be miserable and angry. It is a known fact that stress is one of the first degree murderers in our society. Stress will find a space within your body and attack, suddenly out of nowhere you may have a massive heart attack, cancer or some deadly disease. The good news is you have control over stress, anxiety, frustration and anger. A positive mindset among other healthy practices (ie, working out, eating healthy, taking vitamins) can be a great stabilizer in your overall well being.

Our minds are trainable to be positive just like it's trainable to be negative. Like anything else, they say it takes 20 days for something to become a habit...if that's the case, then how about training your mind to think positive. Decide that you WILL NOT sabotage yourself with negative comments (i'm fat, I'm not attractive, my thighs are too big) and replace it with something like "i'm beautiful and I love every inch of my body." Even if you don't believe initially, eventually, If you keep repeating this several times a day for 2 weeks, you will see an immediate change in the way you feel about your body.  Oddly enough, your body may thank you in ways that may surprise you! When we are happy, there are certain endorphins that our body releases that's not only healthy for our body, but it helps to keep us in a good mood.

In whatever you do, start each day with some positive affirmation about yourself or life. Take that affirmation with you throughout each day, week and year. When the negative messages invade your mind (and they will), push it aside and replace it with your affirmation, say it 10 times. This practice alone will start to make some really positive changes in your life and how you think and feel about yourself.

Peace, Love and Blessings.

Family....

When I think of family several words come to mind; respect, love, support, togetherness, loyalty, kindness, friendship and honesty. Certainly, I don't believe the people closest to us are perfect, but I do feel that if you are close to someone, there should be a certain level of security/comfort/love. However, as we look around us, how many of us can truly say we have all or most of the above in our family? As I grow and mature in my thinking, my perspective is changing and my definition of family and even friendship has shifted almost because I had no choice. Oftentimes I feel like our own views on family and friendship has caused many of us years of unnecessary pain. We look at our mothers, fathers, sisters, grandparents and other family members almost as deities that has an unlimited supply of endurance for drama! Too often, family members feel it's ok to take advantage of each other, saying anything that comes to mind...being demanding, disrespectful, dishonest, rude, crude and the list goes on.

I've always wondered what would happen if metaphorically speaking family was like your boss? Would you go in to work whenever you want? Tell your boss to shut up? disrespect? slam or take advantage of this person? If you did, what do you think would be the consequence? I would think that this kind of behavior would call for you being fired or at the very least be written up and given a strict warning. Why is it that some family and friends feel like it's ok to hurt the people close to them and conversely why is it that the recipient family member/friend feel like they should take it?

The answer basically is: YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT! Just like a boss can fire an employee, if someone close to you is treating you with impunity or being harmful in any way, you have a right to remove yourself from the person's presence! It is a known fact that the people closest to you tend to be the most hurtful because they usually know the most about you and what makes you tick. However, just because you are close to someone does not give them the right to use their knowledge about you....against you...it is NEVER ok to be hurtful. It's imperative that you COMMAND and GIVE respect to the people closest to you! I have seen and even experienced the blatant disrespect that can sometimes come from the people closest to you and it can be extremely painful and have a long lasting damaging effect.

It's time that people stand up and command respect from each other and it's time that people realize that they have control over their life! It's time for this negative cycle to stop. If you have someone in your life that is hurting you mentally, physically or emotionally, then it's time for you to see that person for who they are and move away from their negativity. It is a known fact that you teach people how to treat you! If you allow toxic waste to spill all over you and you don't take action, then after a while it's not the fault of the hurtful family or friends...it's YOUR fault! Be strong and protect your well being because at the end of the day, it's ALL you got!

Matthew 18:8 "If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.

Have a wonderful and blessed week!

Independence....

I got up this morning feeling disheveled as I sometimes do in the morning. I stumbled out of bed to go to the bathroom. I came out of the bathroom still feeling stunted from sleeping so late and I walked into the second bedroom and laid in the bed with my hubby and doggie....all of us still wanting to go back to sleep. A few moments later, I got up, leaving my two guys and went downstairs to make a cup of tea. I opened the blinds in the living room, the curtains in the kitchen and I got my cup to make some tea. I opened a pack of my famous organo gold ganoderma green tea (the best tea around), and I dunked my tea bag in the water as I walked over to turn on my lap top. While I waited for my laptop to boot, I sat at my desk looking out our large sized bay window and the sun is shining. I steered at the blue sky and trees slowly swaying in the wind and I started to feel awake. Slowly I started feeling all the parts of my body coming together, transitioning from sleepy to awake.

With each sip of tea I felt better and more awake. Suddenly my stomach started growling and my mind immediately reverted to the hamburger and bbq wings in the refrigerator left over from yesterday's bbq at my friend Kim's house. I was all set to eat but then I realized that I didn't take my probiotic formula that my holistic dr has prescribed for me. I got up from my chair with some trepidation and took the pill so that I can wait the 15 minutes before I eat. I put my hamburger and wings in the convection oven (we no longer use microwaves...but that's another story) and I went back to my seat and continued sipping my green tea.

As I waited for my 4th of July kibbles to be warmed, I logged in to my favorite site facebook (of which I've renamed narcisistbook). I read all the status updates, checking out all the people who are giving you minute to minute updates of what they are thinking, where they are going and what they are doing. As much as I talk about it, i'm just as addicted as the posters. As I scroll down and look at pictures, and read the updates, I feel like a pervert looking at porn, but I can't stop myself....it's addicting.

Suddenly I heard the "ding" from my convection oven and I looked over at the clock...20 minutes had already zoomed by, i couldn't believe it. I popped out of my seat, took out the food wrapped in a bundle of foil, tranferred the contents on to a plate and put some mustard on my turkey burger. I walked back over to my computer with 4 wingettes and 1 turkey hamburger on my plate...not necessarily your ideal healthy breakfast!. I started to scarf down my burger and went back to narcisistbook...burger in one hand the other hand manuerving the mousepad on my laptop all while filling myself physically and mentally with crap...but isn't it sometimes nice to eat and surf mindlessly on the internet? :-) Stay with me people, I'm going to make a point.

As I continued to surf, my bright yellow dream board called me. I looked over to my right at my vision board of all the things I want to accomplish in my life and suddenly I felt nauseous! I wanted to vomit all the unhealthy food I just ate and I wanted to shut down narcisistbook. I stopped everything I was doing and I looked over at my board, the places I want to go, things I want to own, things I want to accomplish and my guilt took over. I looked at the big red X on the top right of my narcicistbook page and clicked on it with the mouse....in light speed the page was gone. I promised myself I would workout for at least 1 hour and I got up and emptied half a container of blue berries in a cup, washed them off and chased the unhealthy foods with something healthy. I decided that for the rest of the day I was going to do positive things toward my life goals.

What i learned today? When we surround ourselves with positive messages and influences, we find that we become more aware of our actions, more aware of the time we waste and more aware of what we are doing to our bodies. Most of us are not equipped with mentors in our lives who are constantly there to lead us in the right direction, but if we use pictures, positive affirmations, goal setting, positive books and dvd's we will find that those methods help us just as much as a physical person would. Write notes all around your home as constant positive reminders. Write them in your car, in your house, at your job and one day you will see a miraculous change in your life. When we have been conditioned to think a certain way for years, it's very hard to break bad habits, but if we keep those constant reminders around us, it's amazing how a daily mental shift can have long lasting positive results.

Tomorrow is Monday, July 6, the start of a new week. Don't wait for the start of a new week to make changes, start now and set your week off right. There is no better time than the present. If you've been wanting to workout, get up, get dressed and go workout. If you've been wanting to travel, go research destinations, if you want to save, start working on a budget to save....your dreams start with action and action is right now.

Stay focused on your dreams because without dreams, our lives can easily become a day to day mindless bundle of just existing.

BE blessed.

THE SOCIETY WE LIVE IN TODAY...

Did you know that it's all about ME?

What are you going to do for ME?

When can YOU come over and help ME?

I gotta look out for ME!

What did you buy for ME?

Why didn't you buy something for ME?

Are you going to take ME out?

I want all eyes on ME?

Look at ME!

If I don't look out for ME, who will?

There is nobody in my world but ME!

When was the last time you called ME?

Did you buy ME something for my birthday?

That's all you're going to give ME?

Hey...you better recognize it's all about ME?

You better give ME what I deserve!

Call ME!

Take care of ME!

Help ME pay my bills!

Don't you see ME?

When you will recognize it's 100%  ALL about MEEEEEEEEE?

Where is the Love?

When I was a child I was intimidated by men. Maybe it was partly due to the fact that I saw some of the women in my life cry many tears over broken relationships. It seemed as if men were able to easily walk away from their families and start a new one without flinching, leaving the woman high and dry. I feared being cheated on and I hated seeing the emotional upheaval that sometimes came along with relationships.

At one point I wondered if the negative issues I encountered in my life would mar my perception of men for the rest of my life. As I grew up and went through trials and tribulations with the male species, there was a short space in time when my hope for a lasting relationship was dashed, but it was very brief. I prayed to God and I was adamant in telling him that I knew he had someone special out there for me...I had faith! Then one sunny day in February of 1998 that hope was resurrected when I met HIM! We became friends and shared stories, then several months later we became boyfriend and girlfriend. Finally came that special day August 20, 1999 my life changed forever...HE ask me to marry him and for the first time ever I was very excited about my future because finally LOVE presented itself...not a bill payer, baller or high roller, but a real person to SHARE my life with.

Finally July 29, 2000 came and we stood before God, our family and friends and I said "I Do" to Lucien Anderson Humphreys. Now it's almost 9 years later and we are slowly and steadily building our life together. His love, affection and care has changed my perception of men but it's also partly due to the fact that I've realized life is 99% perception and 1% what you do! In addition, I've learned: selfishness has no place in a marriage: your issues grow larger when they are not dealt with and forgiveness is vital and it's always a gift to each other. The irony? The word perfect has no place in a marriage because people are not perfect so why would we expect a marriage to be that way? The best thing a couple can do is to surround themselves with supportive family and friends and enjoy the twist and turns of this mystery we call marriage. Moreover, "It takes a village to keep a marriage together!"

Oftentimes men and women these days sound as if they have lost hope especially where relationships are concerned. Love is slowly transitioning into a thief in the night, one that robs people of joy and happiness. Love has become the bad guy in the story who beats up people and leave them stripped of their emotional happiness. But as I reflect, I wonder, is it Love that's doing all of this or has the effects of avoidance, narcissism, anger, frustration and resentment overshadowed love and all the good things that are supposed to accompany it? Society is always over-analyzing and changing love, turning hopefuls away with their head cast down leaving them no hope for the future. Could it be that in this instant gratification world we live in, Love is fading because it takes too much patience and understanding? It is because Love is humble, not boastful and Love demands a certain amount of selflessness?

As a person who has seen and heard so much where relationships are concerned, I've always put my faith and best bet on love because its inside of us all and it's the one true thing that we are guaranteed if we allow it to manifest. At some point we have to decide whether we want to allow the love within us to be masked with the negativity that seems to overflow in our society today, or we can choose to protect this precious God given emotion with all our might.

Now...love comes at a price and it's called always maintaining respect, trust, honesty, faithfulness and caring. One things for sure, love isn't the enemy so I wish people would stop making it the "bad guy." Men have their ways and so do women, but the bottom line is we need each other.

Today take the time to appreciate the man and woman in your life. Look them in the eye and tell them you love them. If you are not good with words write it, let them know all the things that they do RIGHT, Kiss that person and make them feel like your life is complete with them in it.

Women, Sunday is Father's day, make the men in your life feel special....HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

One of my favorite quotes this week says it all: In those times we yearn to have more in our lives, we should dwell on the things we already have. In doing so, we will often find that our lives are already full to overflowing. ~Jim Stovall~

Be Blessed and have a wonderful week.

Are you HAPPY?

Happiness is a verb...

Have you ever come across a person who complains all the time, is quick to anger, constantly talks negative about other people or constantly thinks the glass is half empty, yet when you talk to them they swear they are happy? They walk around with their eyebrows furrowed, they hardly say hello, is usually self-centered, anti-social and always seems to have a grievance with someone.

Conversely, have you ever seen someone who lights up a room when they walk in? They greet everyone pleasantly with a smile, kiss or hug. Their demeanor is often very pleasant, they are quick to laugh and very considerate of others. They give of their resources or time and look for the good in people. When you look at them you get a good feeling in your heart because their actions are not contrived or forced, it just pours naturally from them....happy people usually bring out the best in others.

When someone is happy it's usually not because of their material possessions, they are not defined by titles, they don't always have fame or fortune, they are sometimes a regular person from around the way. Happiness usually comes from vast sources; a person being comfortable in their skin, self confidence (not narcissism), a sense of faith or a connection to a higher being. They come from a place of understanding that the glass is always half full and there is always good lurking around the corner.

Happiness comes in many different packages, but one things for sure, you never have to tell people how happy you are because happiness shines through your actions and behavior. This is not to say that happy people are perfect and don't get frustrated or upset, but they are usually content and their motive is never to hurt people. Happy people are rarely rude, disrespectful or mean spirited because happiness brings out the best in people, not the worst.

So I ask you today, Are you happy?

Have a wonderful, blessed and HAPPY Holiday weekend.

I'm having an Affair....

I have a secret to share with you, I've been having a love affair for many years now. Lucien has been suspecting something but I've been keeping my affair under wraps. This love affair has created quite a source of unhappiness and anxiety in my life. As a result, it has unraveled different aspects of my life in ways I could never imagine. Last year I had one aspect of my affair under control, but there are other aspects that I'm still fighting. However, I have finally decided I don't want to be in an unhealthy situation any longer so I've decided tonight that I'm getting my act together and finally letting go of bread, rice and pasta. Sugar was a big fight for me, but I finally let him go last December and now I can see sugar and I have very little emotions toward him.

These nemesis have been with me for quite a while, but now it's time to let them go even though my heart aches. I'm so used to them, but when I put on my jeans and dresses, the havoc that they are wreaking on my thighs and waistline is not worth the wonderful taste and comfort that it gives my stomach. I sometimes think about bread and how great he tastes after i spread butter over his warm, moist body...there is just nothing like it; but over time, I realized that bread has no love for me. All he wants to do is sit on my hips and thighs and create all sorts of bulges and dimples that I don't deserve to have.

Yes, i'm ending my affair because I deserve better and I just wanted to let you all know so I will have accountability. If you see me slipping up and reaching out for bread, rice or pasta, please remind me that they are my enemy. Sometimes when we are in an abusive situation it's very easy to revert back to negative sources. I'm sure I can count on all of you to have my back.

If at any time you see bread, rice or pasta around me, please call an intervention. I would suggest reaching out to my reinforcement team, veggies, fruit and whole grain. They are always there on the sidelines ready to take action when called to duty.

These past few years have been hard for me, but after looking around, i realized that when you stay in bad relationships they manifest and that manifestation can lead to things that can eventually cause death. Bread, Rice and Pasta can assist in diminishing your health and some of the consequence of staying in this affair can lead to: diabetes, hypertension, excess weight gain, cellulite, belly fat, constipation and the list goes on and on.

So my advice to you is, if you have been having a secret affair with the above, follow my lead and let go of anything unhealthy. I love my body and i want to be healthy for my family and friends and even more importantly my husband and my cute doggie Sketch.

Be healthy and take care of your body. Diabetes is one of the top killers in our society, cutting back on unrefined carbs and sugar can make a big difference in your life. Come on everyone, lets end these affairs! Make this week a lean protein, fruit, veggie and healthy whole grain week!

Peace and Blessings to you all!

Time is of the Essence.

I'm sitting at my desk in front of my lap top and as I type, I'm looking through the bay window in front of me. The sun is shining, but snow is covering the roof tops of every house as far as my eyes can see. The tops of some cars are practically covered and there is no grass in site from the white mask all over the ground. I inhale and exhale deeply....I'm feeling down because I know it's a whopping 5 below zero outside. The breeze is blowing and the wind grabs and whirls around the snow, spreading the white mass evenly on the ground. At this very moment I wish I could fast forward time and make the summer appear. I'm desperate to shed the heavy winter coat, sweaters, boots and hats. I'm yearning to wear sandals and sun dresses with my hair blown out and my sunglasses propped on the crown of my head... I want to feel the warm breeze caressing my shoulders, arms and face. I miss the hot sun, tan lines and leisurely walks in the park. I want to hear birds chirping and see beautiful flowers blooming. I feel time is dragging by slowly.

In the background the television is on channel 7 news and there is talk of stock prices falling, gas prices rising and companies in need of more bailout money. The bad news...this fallout is resonating across the world. The joblessness, foreclosures, repossessions and empty malls make me want to once again fast forward to better times. Then suddenly my eyes shift to a beautiful pot of lilies sitting on the ledge of my bay window, the orange and red colors so vivid. My mood is instantly uplifted. Some of the flowers in the pot are fully bloomed and some still young, slowly day by day expanding and getting brighter in color. Their stem slightly leaning to the side and petals only partially open until their growth gain momentum. The ones in full bloom are expansive, standing strong and vivid in color. As I relate this scenery to my life, I start to realize that life is all about seasons. We are hasty to rush through the rough spots in life and get to the part where times are happy and we are strong and confident for all the world to see. But the truth is, seasons are what we are made of and more importantly everything has a beginning, middle and end. As I put myself in a positive frame of mind, I begin to respect the importance of seasons. Winter is a time of hibernation, a time to relax, rewind, reflect and rejuvinate. The spring is a time of awakening and renewal. The summer is a time for enjoyment and gathering. Autumn is a time for preparation and celebration. I close my eyes, realizing that relaxing and rejuvinating is exactly where I need be at this season in my life and it's vital that I enjoy this time and the lessons that comes with it.

Life is also about expanding and contracting. For many years we appreciated the expansion (fake as some of it may have been), we enjoyed the good times, but now, for many it's a time of meager means and slim pickings. Through this experience many of us have replayed our lives over and over, asking ourselves what we would do differently if we could turn back the hands of time, how we would save better, shop less and not take so much for granted. These lessons are important for our growth... Without seasons and hard times, many of us would not be able to appreciate the true meaning of life. When we rush through life, we miss the important lessons in between. I'm learning the importance of fully being present in all circumstances in life and appreciating the bad as much as I appreciate the good....it's called balance. I'm thankful for all the seasons and the hues that my life takes on day to day. It's not always easy, but i'm most grateful for each day that God gives me because it's another day, another season and another reason to forgive myself and try to be the best person God intended me to be.

Today is the day that the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it.

Have a wonderful and blessed week.

Today...

The past six days of my life has been interesting and challenging to say the least. Lucien and I attended the funeral of a beautiful little 6 year old girl name Jenna who earned her heavenly wings way too early. On Sunday we went to see my grandmother in the hospital because she had been having severe pain in her leg. On Monday one of my dear friend's husband was hospitalized for heart issues and to top off the week, we were uncertain (until tonight) as to whether my husband had a job or not due to layoffs. God is good because he is fine and has a job. Unfortunately a couple of my husband's co-workers were not so lucky and they were laid off. In between all of this there were little challenges here and there that tested my patience.

As I sit and ponder all of this, I'm humbled and amazed at the changes that life is constantly unfolding. Oftentimes it's so easy for people to succumb to the weight of life when tested. However, I have gained a new perspective on life in a positive way and I respect the power of God. The changes of the past 6 days has taught me several lessons: Always be humble, never take life or people for granted, be grateful for your blessings and live your life to the fullest because you never know what can happen day to day. Throughout this week, I decided not to avoid the trials and tribulations, but instead go forward with a steadfast assurance that God has my back. I decided not to fall into a corner and cry, but fall on my knees and pray and be thankful. We live in a world of abundance and many of us cannot cope when our financial security is shattered. Take for example the Lupoe family in California that killed themselves and their 5 children. The mother and father decided to take their lives and that of their children because they were both laid off. However, what this tells me is their control is material. We live in a country where they would've gotten assistance in so many ways, but they allowed their pride to manifest instead of their faith.

Life will always throw you changes and challenges. In order to live and travel through life's trials and tribulations you must have a belief other than material. If your security is shattered, this is only temporary because material things come and go, but our belief in ourselves and the God we serve carries on forever. I love the cliche` when life throws you lemons, make lemonade. However, I don't think you should just stop at lemonade, you can also make key lime pies, lemon bars and lemon cake...something sweet can always come from something sour! No matter what you are going through today, be confident in the fact that it wont last forever. If you stop and count your blessings you would be amazed at how much happier your life will be. Start out by making your list:

God, Thank you for:
my eye sight
my taste buds
hair on my head
arms, hands, legs and feet that work
a healthy body
roof over my head
a car to drive in
a job
family
friends
coworkers
husband
wife
children....

As you make a list of all the things in your life that is present, you will realize how much God is abundantly blessing you right here and now. When the chips are down, your list can be a guide to your blessings.
This week, choose happiness. Leave behind stress and embrace life and hold to God's unchanging hands.

Abundant blessings to you and your family!

Black History Month

As an immigrant (turned citizen many years ago), Black History used to have a different connotation. I was partially raised in Jamaica West indies until I was 10 years old. The Caribbean was unique in environment, mentality and lifestyle. Government, poverty, anger and frustration existed but it was based on a class system and poverty in Jamaica was a lot worse than in the US. However, in the Caribbean one's survival instincts was constantly utilized which allowed people to oftentimes flourish even under the harshest of conditions. My grandmother used to have a saying "if it no kill you, den it wi fatten u!" Translation, if something doesn't kill you, then it will make you better! In the Caribbean you didn't get upset because you don't have the latest fashion, you were grateful for whatever roof you had over your head, food was an appreciated commodity and you were grateful for the necessities of life. Technology was rare and people craved education because they understood that it was a direct path to freedom. Back then and even now, Caribbeans have a unique art of truly making something out of nothing.

When I came to the United States I was thrown for a loop. The richness of this country can be overwhelming! I finally understood why so many foreigners get the impression that money is grown on trees and America is the land of abundance! However, In my over 20 years of residing in the US, I learned about another level of politics, greed, racism, anger, frustration and oppression. Although on the surface everything in this country sparkled with promise and flashed pseudo-riches, I learned that the mental and emotional bondage far outweighed the material wealth. I learned about the civil rights movement and all the deaths that occurred because people wanted their basic freedoms; I learned about people being spat on, called horrible names, burned to death, mutilated, hung in public, bodies dragged by a vehicle until it's pulled apart to pieces...some of the history of this country saddened me to my very core. I never understood the magnitude of oppression and suppression until I arrived in this country. I used to criticize Americans and felt in many ways that people here were shiftless and lazy. I wondered why so many African Americans seemed down and out...how could that be in the land of abundance? However, my own experiences over the years made me have a clearer understanding of why people in America have been so bitter and angry.

Lately people have negative things to say about President Obama. A large portion is coming from right winged individuals. Then there are those who think that he is way over-exposed and cannot understand all the praise and attention he is getting! In very short order the novelty is wearing off for many because of the severity of our economy. However, I'm holding on to what has happened in recent history near to my heart because from the view where I'm standing, an African American President was needed in this country. The Obamas reign in this country is a healing that Americans needed...black, white and otherwise. Black people needed the opportunity to hold their heads high; caucasions needed the relief of the guilt they have been carrying from their ancestor's narrow-mindedness and hate and foreigners needed to feel like this is a place where they can belong and be respected for their hard work. January 20th this country came full circle and now the healing process can begin for many. We have created a demarcation line of boundaries that has to be respected. How exciting!

This month celebrate the Rich Black History we all should be proud of. The African American heritage in this country is filled with GREATNESS. We have overcome and surpassed major obstacles set before us and we should be truly proud. Look at what The Obamas have brought back - the example of a true genuine, loving marriage, a family that put each other first (especially their children), a curriculum vitae that one can be proud of and a true relationship with the general public while understanding their needs. There is movement happening, people are waking up and taking charge of their lives!

Celebrate the lives of those who paved the way for us, many are gone, but some are still here. There are many that fought alongside Martin Luther King just as hard and was paving the way before him, during his reign and after him, those people should be held in high esteem. I'm honored that we have a month dedicated to us where we can learn more, teach our children and reflect on how far we've come.

I'm proud to be an American and I'm grateful that my family and I have gotten the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful and rich American history. One of my favorite hymns says it all....

“We’ve come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord; trusting in his holy Word, he’s never failed me yet. Oh, can’t turn around, we’ve come this far by faith.’’

Happy Black History month!

Effort

This morning I heard something on the radio that was very powerful and I thought I would share it with you all.

Many of us claim we want to be successful, yet we put in very little effort in the things we do. We often look at ourselves and compare ourselves to others wondering why we are not where we want to be or why we are not doing as much as the other person, could it be that we are lacking effort? When I say effort, meaning putting all we have into our dreams on a daily basis. Sometimes we focus on things that matter least and put very little effort in the things that matter most or should matter most to us.

If Success was easy, every person you meet would be successful...with success comes very hard work and EFFORT! If you are unhappy with where you are, start by looking at your present situation and asking yourself...is this something I want to put in maximum effort on a daily basis? Is this something that makes me happy or passionate? If it's not, effort will come very hard.

When you wake up in the morning, to be truly successful you have to walk out of your door with excitement or attack what you're doing with excitement to maximize your success. When you go to bed at night, you should be exhausted from maximizing your effort on your success.

Success to everyone is different. It doesn't have to mean you are making a million dollars a year b/c money doesn't always define success. However, happiness, joy, fulfillment, excitement, enjoyment in the things you do is want makes a person want to maximize their effort.

So I ask you today....are you putting maximum effort into your daily life or are you just existing, putting in very little effort and getting back very little results?

Life gives you back what you put into it!

Answer Question - tell me the truth...

Truth is something that has two sides, it's factual and sincere, but many don't appreciate or like it. Truth causes anger, frustration, defense and even fights...how can something so good have the ability to make a person react in an angry way? In my own personal experience there was time when truth was a hard reality to face. However, as grow and learn, I've come to a place in my life where I appreciate truth more and more...I know it's cliche` but the truth will always set you free. I've actually learned more about myself in the past several years through truth and reality.

When someone gives you constructive criticism...how do you react? Many of us are unconscious of our actions or feel that we are absolve of wrong doing. However, when our loved ones tell us something that makes us take a good look at ourselves, why is it so unappreciated for some? Is it because of pride? It is embarrassment? Shame? I know what truth means to me, but what does truth mean to you? If someone saw you spiraling downward, should that person avoid saying anything? If you are behaving badly, should it be ignored? If you are coming off angry and snap at people, should it just be tolerated?

Please school me!

The day America changed forever! 2009 Inauguration

Last week almost at the 10th hour 4 of us decided to take the historic trip to Washington DC! At first I was very intimidated by the crowds and my vivid imagination was creating all sorts of crazy scenarios, but I decided to not allow my fears to cripple me and that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that I didn't want to miss. However, those two days in DC tested my physical and emotional endurance, perseverance and faith.

We left on Sunday 1/18 in the afternoon. The drive to DC was surprisingly very easy...NO TRAFFIC! We rented a small apartment from a craigslist ad, it was no Hilton, but it had the necessities. When we arrived at the apartment, we hurried and unpacked the car then decided to venture out to Downtown DC. Once again there was not much traffic at all which was a nice surprise. We drove by the capital and took pictures, then headed over to the White House. It was very secure and baracaded off quite well...trust me, The Obamas are WELL protected. We saw the Monument, Lincoln Memorial and drove around more then we grabbed a bit to eat, went back to the apartment and settled in for the night. My sister's friend Antwain came by to hang out with us and he added a nice dimension of comedy and fun to our night. Our sleeping accommodations was very sparse, but we made the best of it.

Monday, 1/19 - We were discussing whether to do the Inauguration or Parade. My sister Aesha actually thought that we should split up and do both which was a good idea, but in the end we decided that the swearing in was the most important event, so the 4 of us agreed on the inauguration. We mapped out our day and decided to walk to the capital to get a closer look at everything and strategically map out where we can view all the festivities on Inauguration day. We were staying about 3 miles from the Capital which wasn't too bad of a walk. As we walked down Pennsylvania Avenue and saw the top of the Capital my excitement started mounting. We stopped at some local shops along the way and looked at the many vendors selling Obama Paraphernalia. As we got closer to the Capital the crowds thickened. We turned down Independence and suddenly there was a sea of people, everyone was lining up to pick up their tickets. We were somewhat green with envy wishing we were one of those ticket holders. At one point I saw a guy casually walking with the treasured yellow manilla envelope that held his ticket to the inauguration and I seriously thought about snatching it and running (LOL) but instead my conscience kicked in and I smiled at him as I walked by...he's lucky! LOL

We crossed the street and walked down a long path of port-a-potties and suddenly the path lead us to the front of the Capital as up close as we can possibly get. I stood there looking at the beautiful architecture and was awe struck by its beauty. There were flood lights illuminating the white structure that made it almost look heavenly and It was adorned with several hanging flags. My heart at that moment was so filled I wanted to cry. I'll be honest, I was never in my life this intrigued by seeing Washington, DC. As we made our way around, everything seemed to illuminate a beautiful light, the architecture fascinating, the streets filled with hope. Everywhere I went I wanted to see and learn more. I thought about President Barack and First Lady Michelle, wondering how they are feeling, what's going through their minds...living vicariously through them.

After an hour, we made our way down toward the monument to see where us "non-ticket" holders would be standing. When we arrived to the area, I was a bit disappointed but still happy that there was a possibility of a clear view. We mapped out an area we were hopeful to stand, took more pictures then decided to head back to the apartment so we can get rest for the most important day in our history. On our back I stopped to ask a police officer details for our morning journey and points of entry and suddenly I ran into my friend Felicia! We hugged for a few moments and was surprised to have found each other in the midst of so many. We had just communicated on facebook how I wanted to be there and hoped to see each other...what are the chances? Fate is so phenomenal.

We woke up at 2am on Inauguration day. I was dizzy, and exhausted because I couldn't really sleep knowing I had to get up early. However, we quickly jumped out of our early morning stupor and got dressed. We started our walk to the Capital building at 2:45AM. I layered my clothing as much as I could and was even a bit hot initially. However, that warmth came to a screeching halt 1 hour later as we arrived to our destination on 4th Street and Independence. There were people camped out on the sidewalk, but there was only about 100 people so we thought we had a great opportunity of being in the front. After 1 hour on line, we saw people running in the direction behind us and people started yelling "GO TO 7th street" we were pissed, but quickly turned around and followed suit. We arrived at 7th street on the next block and quickly lined up. We stood on line patiently waiting for the gates to open. Suddenly it seemed like a thousand people appeared out of nowhere!!! After another hour of standing my feet began to get really cold and I started to feel a chill through my whole body. My poor husband looked uncomfortable but was trying very hard to endure. I looked around and everyone was pretty much feeling the same thing....FREEZING! That arctic wind was covering us like a blanket of ice!

There are some who said it will be a cold day in hell before a Black man becomes President, well I do hope those people got their warm coats on! LOL

After another 45 minutes later, we suddenly started seeing the fence next to us swaying back and forth. Suddenly the gate popped open and people started rushing in and running to the front of the "non-ticketed" area. I was a bit afraid that maybe the secret service would rush us, but nothing happened and we got very close to where we initially mapped out the day before which GREAT considering the amount of people that were present. We found a spot by the speaker tower and pretty much stood there. At this point it was a little past 6AM. As we stood in single digit cold weather for hours, I felt my body suffering from cold and fatigue. Everyone looked beaten down by the cold blowing all over them. At one point I wondered what the hell was I smoking beating up my body like this and I said to myself "this is the least you can do...you are doing this for our future generation...you are witnessing history" and suddenly the cold wasn't so bad. I took myself mentally to a warm place and I warded off the feelings of giving up by thinking about the moment that was about to happened and how our future will change. I looked at my husband whose ankle was paining him from standing and at one point I begged him to sit on the ground for a few moments. He finally gave in and we sat together on the gravel and held on to each other for a few minutes. Finally I decided "enough is enough" and we got up and decided to make our way toward the port-a-potties on the side lines. We struggled through the tight crowd and walked around a bit to exercise our tired legs. Lu used the disgusting portable pottie and I tried but opened a few and saw a nasty mess so I decided to hold my bladder. Since we knew what we were against, we didn't eat or drink much that morning, but my sister needed something hot so she stood on a McDonald's Kiosk line that seemed a mile long. Lisa had the endurance of a brick building because she stood in the same spot for the entire time shifting from one leg to another...patiently waiting for history to be made.

After 30 minutes of stretching our legs, we decided to squeeze our way back through the crowd, found Lisa
in her same spot and resumed our standing along side her. My sister also finally came back, but had no success getting food. Suddenly they turned on the Jumbo-trons and to entertain the crowds they replayed the "We are One" concert....the crowd cheered. When Garth Brooks started singing "you know you make me wanna, SHOUT, throw my hands up and SHOUT" the crowd went crazy and we all started dancing and singing jumping up and down, which momentarily removed a bit of the chill. I looked around and people started doing the "Electric Slide" it was quite fascinating seeing that many people swaying back and forth in sync. The energy of the crowd revived me and once again I got that feeling of pure happiness. As I looked around the crowd I saw people of all complexions, backgrounds and countries. In the crowd were babies, children, men and women of all ages. There were poor, middle class and rich...everyone really did become one! People shared their food, held hands, laughed with each other and helped each other...it was amazing. There was some cursing and annoyance at people constantly passing through from one side to another, but overall people were patient. At one point 3 kind women in the crowd next to us offered their snacks to both Lucien and I. I wanted to hug them but never got a chance because finally the ceremony started...so were glued to the screen as they announced everyone.

As they announced people, all I wanted to see was Our President, First Lady, Sasha and Malia. When Sasha and Malia finally came on the screen the crowd cheered with excitement and when Michelle came out I got chills...then suddenly our President appeared and I forgot about my hunger, exhaustion and frozen hands and feet and my heart was instantly warmed. During the ceremony when Barack was complimenting Bush on his presidential run, the crowd resonated with "Boos" for once in my life I actually felt bad for Bush. It doesn't matter how strong of a person you are, feeling so disliked by so many people must be a painful feeling! We listened to Joe Biden get sworn in and the crowd cheered....

THEN, it happened, Barack Hussein Obama was sworn into Presidency and I wanted to cry, but I think my tear ducts were frozen, but my heart cried out with joy, all of us jumped up and down with sheer joy! You could see people's faces lit up with happiness, some cried, some said a prayer of thanks, it was an awesome experience to share a moment like that with so many! Despite the cold...it was truly an experience of a lifetime.

Immediately after the swearing in, the crowd started making their exit. The rest of the ceremony was a blur I didn't hear much of the poem or the ending...everyone wanted to just get out of the cold! The crowds exited and everyone was peaceful and cooperative...I never once heard of any fights or drama which is remarkable for a crowd that size.

This moment in time is etched in a very special place in my heart and I'm sure in billions of others. I'm truly proud to be an American and this family makes me want to learn more and be a better person, they make me want to travel the world, volunteer my time more and just give back. They make me want to succeed in every area of my life....they inspired me at every angle of my life. It's going to take me a while to process all of this because this is SO massive!

This trip was significant for me on many levels and in many ways, my stamina (mentally and physically) was challenged. I realized that I'm stronger than I think and sometimes in life in order for GREAT things to happen you have to endure some pain.

I want to thank my husband for being a trooper and for always supporting me through my spontaneity and for always going with the flow...he's my Barack Obama on a daily basis. I have to thank Lisa for encouraging us to go to Washington DC, however, it didn't take much coercion because I knew in my heart I needed to be there. I also want to thank my sister Aesha for taking great pictures. I'm happy and proud to have experienced history and I would've probably endured more. The trip was worth the pains I feel in my legs right now from all that standing, the sickness I presently feel in my body and the slight exhaustion from the lack of sleep. This moment added another dimension of humility, honor, respect and history in my mind.

God Bless Our President - Barack Obama, Our First Lady, Michelle Obama, Our Princesses, Sasha and Malia on their journey to making the United States a better place for EVERYONE! Their journey is OUR journey and it's up to us to help them in making America a better place because they can't do it alone.

Throughout this election process to date, what I notice stands out most about the Obamas is that they are humanitarians. Very few possess that kind of love and genuine caring for people. Their credentials don't matter as much as what's in their heart. They exude a genuine warmth toward each other and their children that is undeniable and they have a genuine love of their community. You can tell these are truly self-actualized people. They are not angry, have vengeful hearts or hold animosity. If they did, they never would've gotten this far. Many are mistaken by what is most important in life. It's not the superficial things. No amount of college degrees, money, houses or cars can make you a nice person, it's about what is inside of you and what you give to people. The Obamas are the example of what you can achieve when you are not held hostage by mental bondage and issues. I'm glad that they are the leading example and my hope is that their warmth will rub off on more people.

I'm grateful for the new world we live in!

Blessings to you all.

ps...here are photos compliments of my sister. Unfortunately of all the things we forgot, it was our camera! Oy vey.

http://www.made2design.com/photography/09inauguration