What does it mean to have “courage” or to be “courageous”? Webster’s dictionary defines courage as being “the quality of being brave or valor” To me, courage is standing up for what you believe no matter what. To me, courage is being fearful but acting anyway and lastly courage means going against the norm of what everyone else believes is the “socially accepted” thing to do, say, or be and doing your own thing. In some way, shape, form, or fashion we choose to be courageous from the moment we wake up, until the time we fall asleep at night. The other day before I walked out of the door, the holy spirit said to me “every day you either choose to pick up your gifts and dreams or  you choose to lay them down. Which do you choose today?” I nearly fell to the ground and wept, because it touched a deep inner place in my soul that only God and I know exists. As a woman, business woman, mother, wife, nurturer, provider, and all of those wonderful roles that I play each and everyday, the very core of who I am is expressed through the gifts that flow effortlessly through me and the same is true for you. It is how God made us. The gift that God planted in us is at the very core of our being, just as a writer, writes, and a singer.. sings. Each and every person on this planet was born with a God-given gift, many if not all of us with multiple gifts, my question to you…do you choose to pick up your gift or lay it down today?

Over the last couple of months things in my world have been so chaotic with school, family, relationships, and work that I have not set aside concrete time to simply enjoy the process of being. I enjoy and cherish late night yoga sessions, time in silence to write and soak in the silence  when the phone does not ring, the kids are not screaming, and there is no where to be except where I am. I just recently got married, and although everything is absolutely wonderful on that end..I cannot help but to feel like..it is another area that is pulling me in yet another direction.  It is only during my time of stillness, that I can truly reflect on my life. Lately, during my time in reflection, I find my thoughts are any place but in the present moment and for me that is a sign that I need to readjust and refocus. I firmly believe that God speaks to us and we have to be open to hear and listen. I hear you, Lord and am I listening as well?

Wow, I am so happy to be able to sit down and share some of my insights and thoughts on my blog. Over the last couple of months I have struggled with truly expressing how I  feel about certain things in my life and completely standing in the truth of me, now I have to express it. The other night while I was reading, I became fully aware that I had been suppressing my feelings and emotions, and glossing over the emotional knawing at my heart. Marianne Williamson’s poem sums it up

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Every night I pray that God would order my steps and order my children’s steps. Understanding where I am in life, and knowing that everything happens in time, and knowing that I do not have all the answers or know all of the “how to’s”, but if I take one step each day, and remain true to who I am, not allowing people or ego to disrupt what I know to be true, that in all and through it all, I will continue to stand and have the victory in all that I do. We each are blessed with God’s creative touch. His touch of genius lives inside of us and if we remember to remember each and everyday to exude  that light nothing is impossible.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning”.

Just the other day my daughter and I were sitting in the living room reading a book, my son was snuggled up reading one of his favorite “Diary of Wimpy Kid” books and my daughter was insistent that we read “Charlie Brown’s Christmas”. As we sat there reading the story, my daughter jumps up and says “I finally know how to whistle, want to hear me!” So, for the next 5 minutes or so, my daughter demonstrates her ability to whistle, one whistle at a time. She would whistle a sec, catch her breath, perch her lips, and whistle again. If you can imagine, it was the cutest thing ever! It reminded me of when I was a little kid, expressing my “first time”.  The first time I learned how to ride a bike or the first time I learned how to roller skate, all the first you learn as a child and share with the world. As a child, it is the excitement and joy of learning something new and being completely happy and joyful of the complexity of the task, yet simplicity of it.  What about as we get older? The excitement, joy, and innocence of learning something new, evolving, and transforming into greater beings is definitely something to share and express. As we get older we can sometimes forget the zest and zing that makes our heart jump for joy when learning something new about life, world around us, and the world within us. Remember to take in the new, share and express what brings you alive and as some would say “tickles your fancy”.

How we view, care, and love ourselves shows up in many areas of life. If we esteem, love, and respect ourselves, we make choices that are for us and celebrate our inner and outer being. When we are unsure of how we feel about ourselves, we make choices about our mind, body, and spirit that do not serve us. This shows up in the words we speak, thoughts, food we eat, and the choices we make each day.  For example, if you view yourself as low on the totem pole of life, always putting every one else’s needs before your own, and you measure your level of self-worth by how much money you have, job, clothes you wear, and car you drive, you are determining your level of self-love on external factors. Growing up, I struggled with unconditional love and total self-acceptance, especially during puberty. I would look in the mirror and would pick out every flaw from my head to toe. What was it that shaped the invisible imprint of “unlovable” on my heart, which made me feel like I did not measure up?  It has taken years for me to “wake up” and realize that love, especially, love for oneself is accepting yourself exactly as you are, and having a healthy regard for being worthy and deserving of the very best life has to offer. One of the greatest gifts that I encourage each of you to do, starting today, is to invest in “You”. Invest in being the best “You” you can be. Love yourself completely, totally, and unconditionally. You deserve it!

Ready, Set, Launch is just what we did on Saturday! Womenfit - (Soon-to-be elements Diet and Fitness) launched an AWESOME set of classes on Saturday and Sunday! Many women, including myself held it down and participated in all of the wonderful classes offered that day including Bodypump, Pilates, and Body Combat! Oh, I almost forgot that my sister and I participated in a short, but intense personal training session with Amazing Personal Trainer - Danielle. You can imagine how very sore our muscles were that day. Thank goodness for deep relaxation and Yoga!

I had the pleasure of speaking at the  Pink Dot Concepts - Work It Girl Business and Opportunity Fair on Sunday! One of the main reasons why I love speaking and participating in events such as the one on Sunday,  is because i always meet and encounter women who are doing spectacular things. I had the opportunity to not only present a workshop but attend two AMAZING workshops offered by Gail Diggs, CEO of GCD Marketing and Chanelle Washington Founder of Indigofera Beauty.  In addition, I met tons of individuals with beautiful souls and great spirits!

I sat down to write this evening and only a few key words filled my head…BRRRRRR, it’s cold outside! If you live on the East coast, then you you know what I am talking about. ..bone chilling tempartures, light snow, and over exaggerated winds..and did I mention it is only mid-December.  Despite all of those factors,  I love the holiday season and celebrating Christmas and New Years. It is a time to reflect and remember the many blessings that God has bestowed on our lives.  It is a time to spend with family, friends, and loved ones and take a few extra moments to tell and show them how much we love and care about them. Merry Christmas!

Wow, it has been a little while since I have posted one of my fantastic blog posts! Well, today I am on a personal mission.  Being honest with yourself and others is one of the truest forms of character.  In addition,  Being noble and having character says to the world that you value yourself and the world around you.  It starts with each of us having character, living, and breathing truth.

My cousins Randall and Brittney graduated from high school this evening. As I sat there in the audience, listening to the speakers and witnessed the anticipation of the graduates,  I thought back to my high school graduation. I thought back to how excited and happy I was to finally be finished with high school and moving on to bigger and better things in life. Little did I know, HS was simply another chapter in my life which was closing and another chapter was just beginning with new excitements, new adventures, and new choices surrounding my life both, present and future.  Some individuals are 100% sure what the want to do once they complete high school..it may be college, vocational school, job, but for others..many others, they are in limbo about what direction they want their life to go in. That is perfectly okay. In time you will figure it out. Seek out your passion, do what you love, and all else will fall into place.