Inspiration

 

Nothing can attest to the strength, power and determination of women of color. We are intelligent, visionaries with hearts of gold and a connection to a sense of purpose which exudes an unrelenting desire to thrive. We at our very best will champion the corporate arena, the little league football field and the intricacies of motherhood while maintaining our foundational connection to our inner spirit of truth.  If you have any doubt about how awesome we are, please click on the link below and read the article about this Sister.  I am certain you will see the awesomeness in her and thus believe it is also in you.

 

http://www.aol.com/article/2014/06/26/pregnant-runner-alysia-montano-finishes-800/20920810/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl10%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D494249

 

Lovin' you is easy,

 

 

J

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do It with Intention

So…this morning I started my normal ritual. Up at 4:30am, trying to open my right eye then thanking God for my sight and that the only reason why my right eye was sealed shut is because of the crust (lol), pleading with myself to get out of bed to do those “burpees” (or up downs as they call them in football), “planks” for the abs, lunges for the thighs that…well we won’t go there and push-ups (which I hate). After that I go upstairs to wake up the baby (13 years old, 5’7” and gorgeous) but of course she is already dressed in her school uniform, hair up in a cute bun with a little bling pin in it. After the shower and primpin’ (if you can call cold water facial wash (which I hate) and coco butter on the skin primpin) I’m downstairs to feed the pooch, make a bowl of cereal and pack my lunch. 

We are out the door by 6:00am, warming the car and getting prepared for the trek to the city.  My daughter and I listen to Steve Harvey in the morning and we always try to catch his morning inspiration which usually leads into chats with the baby about lifes choices, always staying true to herself and continuing to walk towards her dreams. Then we laugh at him, joke and dance our way to her school. I drop her off and I’m on my way to my job still listening to Steve Harvey and cracking up. 

I need to keep laughing because I’m about to have to find a parking spot where there are few especially with alternate side of the street parking rules in affect.  I’m driving around and around and then JINKIES (I know it doesn’t fit I but I like to say it just because…yes I love Velma from Scooby-doo) I found a spot. I must say that I am rarely incensed. I can count on one hand all the times that I was beside myself with anger but today was the day.  I pulled up in front of the spot, started backing up and this woman with a little e-car pulled into “MY” spot and parked her car.  The way she did it was with such grace I can now give her kudos for being so smooth. She looked up and saw that I was backing up and attempted to back her car as far as it could go to let me get in front of her but I was backing into a spot that was behind a driveway and my car could not fit. All of a sudden, I was INCENSED. I mean, I was heated. I have not said some of the words I said out loud in a long time and I know she was able to read my lips because I think I made sure of it but I was too INCENSED to be sure.  It was like an out of body experience. I let her have it (well kinda, if you call yelling and screaming in my car letting her have it). I was so angry and I have not been to that place in a looooonnng time. My head was about to explode as I continued to drive. I began to slowly and consciously consider what I was doing. I have to say I had to intentionally check myself and recognize (as my ATL buddy Ursula says) I was “out of order”. I have to call it divine intervention because as I was about to furiously turn the 5^th corner, God tapped me on the shoulder and made me say out loud – “that just means a better spot is going to open up for me closer to my job”. When I said those words out loud I felt such a relief come over my spirit. I was no longer driving myself. After two turns I passed my office and right in the next block I heard “slow down and park”. When I realized what was going on I was parking into a spot. Awesome!!

I had to with intention focus on my behavior. I thought about my daughter and how I could have been that angry in front of her and showed her a side of Mom that she never saw before. Now, I’m not an angel (God knows) and I have let the lip fly in front of my children but never like this. I thought about the woman and how she might have felt seeing me seething at her and mouthing some not so nice things.  I thought about how awesome God is for allowing it to happen, showing me myself (bad English but you know what I mean) and rescuing me…..AGAIN!

So…the thought for today is (I know you were waiting for this) whatever you do, do it with intention. Consider the choices you make throughout your day and with intention focus on the good in you and share that with others. Honor God and honor yourself. You deserve to have peace time with yourself and focus on the energy you put out into the universe. Be good and do good always with intention. You should never do or say something without consulting Him (that’s the two seconds you have before the words come flying out, yall know what I’m talking about). The awesome thing is when you consult Him in those two seconds it changes everything for the good then you can be confident that he will say job well done.

Lovin’ you is easy,

 

J

A God Awesome Day

Here’s a story that I meant to share with you in December.  The experience warmed my heart and I hope it will do the same for you.

Picture this…7:30 am dropping my little baby (she’s 13 years old, gorgeous caramel colored joy, 5’7” ballet dancing, youngest child of mine) off to school.  It was bitter cold outside and I walked to the bus stop to continue my travel to work. I was not in a particularly good mood because it was cold, I still had a journey before me and I was having my own little pity party.  As I walked towards the bus stop I heard the cutest little voice (sort of like the cute voice of Chowder the cartoon – Google it) saying “Good morning maam”, “have a great day”, “Good morning sir”. The voice was so angelic and sweet I was immediately touched by it.  As I approached the covered bus stop area, I saw the cutest sweet cheeked brown muffin sitting on the bench sending out salutations to everyone that walked past. I had an immediate smile on my face…as cold as it was I just could not help but to smile.  He said to me, “Good morning maam” and I said “Good morning to you” and we both smiled at one another.  He looked to be about 12 years old but his disposition was that of an old soul. The aura surrounding him was very warm.

I began to look for the bus and he said out of nowhere “Maam would you happen to have an extra bag that I can borrow? I just remembered that I’m going on a class trip today and we are not allowed to bring plastic bags”. I thought to myself what an odd request and why would anyone deny this sweet pea of carrying whatever bag he could on their trip…shame on that school. I said I don’t think so and my heart melted because I wanted to do nothing but help this sweet brown muffin. I then told him I would look in my bag to see if I had something he could use.  As I started to look I thought of my Mom.  We call her the bag lady (SMILE MOM J). She would always carry a bag within a bag within a bag and we always made fun of her but she was always prepared.  For a few seconds I panicked. I was telling myself I know dag on well I don’t have a bag in here, I’m not the bag lady, I’m her daughter why in the world would I have a bag for this angel.  Dang it…I’m not prepared!! God help me!! I looked over at his little sweet face and started digging in my bag again. Tell me why in the bottomless pit I call a pocket book was this little nylon pouch. As I reached for it, I again thought of my Mom and smiled….(even over 1600 miles away she is still awesomely helping her child… gotta love that woman!!). Side note:  My mother gave my daughters and I these little black and white paisley nylon pouches 5 years ago as stocking stuffers. Inside the pouch was a nylon bag about the size of a grocery bag. She told us always carry this in your pocket book you never know when you will need an extra bag. Of course I said, I’m not the bag lady but…SMILE).

 I was so excited perhaps a little too excited because I startled the little angel when I said “LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!” I opened the pouch and gave him the bag.  His little eyes twinkled and he said “Wow that’s awesome, thank you so much”. He start putting his little sandwich and snacks in the bag with a smile of peace on his face. Then I remembered that I had the pouch and I told him “take this pouch and when you finish with the bag you can fold it up and put it inside. Always keep it in your bookbag in case you need it again.” His smile got brighter and he said “that’s so cool and it’s pretty too”. Yes…come on now…I know that little tear is lingering on the side of your face, its ok let it drop cause I sure did. My spirit was officially lifted.

 Just when you think God is not paying attention, he sends you sweet little reminders (even in brown muffin sizes) to remind you he loves you.  This little brownie brightened my day and just when I thought God could not reveal his goodness to me anymore, I listened to the conversation the little one was having on the bus with his buddies and one of them said “hey man that’s a pretty bag”.

Yeah…I know…full on tears right now!!!!!!!! Go ahead I will wait a minute for you to get a tissue (song from jeopardy goes here…..J).

Reminder:

Angels come in all shapes and sizes, big packages and little ones you just need to pay attention. Lend a hand, a kind word or a bag to someone today…it will make someone else feel awesome and you will too!

 

Thanks Mom!!

 

Lovin’ you is easy.

  

J