Today I saw the movie The Butler.   Not only did I get a look into the life of  the butler, I saw a glimpse of the world surrounding him.  I saw relationships fall apart and be rebuilt.  I saw wars, internal and external.  Most importantly, I saw people on all different walks of life trying to figure it all out.  The movie was insightful and thought-provoking.  I wanted to share a little of  what I saw but please go see it for yourself.  It reminded me that there is always so much more than what we see on the surface;  In life we have choices, even when we think we don’t;  Everything won’t feel good but they will work as they should; and Often times we struggle so the next person won’t have to.

Mothers-life doesn’t come with a manual, you will make mistakes.  Communication will always be the key.  Our kids need to know that we love them and we don’t expect perfection. Our husbands need us to love, support, and inspire them.  Remember you’re not perfect and no one expects you to be.

Fathers-although your wife needs to know you can take care of your family, it means nothing if you’re not there to show her that you love her and that she plays an important role in your life.  Your children need to know you can take care of them but they need to know you love them more.  They need to know that you support them even when you don’t necessarily agree with their decisions.  Remember you’re not perfect and no one expects you to be.

Leaders-although people depend on you to have all the answers, you’re human and will get things wrong.  Learning from your mistakes is important.  You have a support staff for a reason, you don’t know everything.  Remember you’re not perfect and no one expects you to be.

Children-one of the most difficult things you have to realize is, your parents are not perfect.  They will make mistakes.  Your parents will also do whatever they have to in order to make your life better than theirs.  Never take that for granted.  Remember you’re not perfect and no one expects you to be.

The main point I took away from the movie is that, no matter who you are, you have an impact in the world.  Never think because you hold a specific position, you’re less important.  You might not change the world but you could be the voice in the person’s ear that does. Think of all those who have made an impact in the world, someone said something to spark  or heighten their curiosity to step out and reach for something further than their eyes could see.

Today, go be GREAT!!!  Someone is looking for exactly what you have to offer,

I love and am love unconditionally.

“Love is the great miracle cure. Loving ourselves works miracles in our lives.” —Louise L. Hay

On day 8 of the meditation challenge I was reminded of just how important it is to love yourself.  Before you can offer anyone else love, you must first love yourself unconditionally.  I’ve learned that it is impossible to trust someone who says they love you but don’t love themselves.  Self love is enriching and gives you inner peace.  When you stop wrestling with your insecurities and embrace your true self, you gain an appreciation for everything that makes you unique.

“Who you are is God’s gift to the world”

While watching T.V. tonight, there was a scene in which friends with benefits (error number 1) decided to enter into a committed relationship with each other.  The woman, obviously the dominate member, made this decision after becoming jealous because the man began flirting with another woman. (Error number 2).

The couple went grocery shopping and while in the store, a friend of the woman asked the man, “what do you want to be when you grow up”?  The man responded that he was already what he wanted to be and had no aspirations to be anything else.  This upset the woman and when the couple got home, she questioned if he was joking in the store.  He explained to her that he was completely happy with his current career and did not want to change it in any way.  She proceeded to tell him things changed when they decided to start a relationship and she was starting to feel something and could never marry a man in his field.

Soooo…does this scenario sound familiar?  Have you ever entered into a relationship because you thought he/she would change/evolve?

If your answer is yes, you have successfully created your own fairytale. Friends with benefits is not the same as a romantic relationship.  It’s a friendship with sex and usually nothing more.  Often times in this type of relationship, you refuse to see the person right in front of you, you miss out on getting to know who they really are because you believe you already know them.  The woman on the show only saw what she wanted from the man.  She thought he was like her because of the friendship they had.  When he didn’t measure up, she wanted to walk away.  He was confused by her reaction, he didn’t understand what changed.  In the end, he left and went off to become a man she would marry, thus, leaving her single.

In your quest for love  remember it starts and ends with you.  You should begin with a solid friendship but that alone doesn’t make them the perfect partner.   Be honest with yourself and don’t turn your partner into a perfect being.  Give them room to be their authentic self and stop being so quick to walk away.

You say you love me but, it can’t be true because every time I see you all we talk about is you.

You say you miss me but, that can’t be a fact since each time we’re together, you run to get back.

If this is love, show me hate because this love must be fake.

You say you hate them but, I can’t see how because they are  first and those you love are left out.

You say they cause you pain but, I’m not so sure since you dance with them in the rain.

If this is hate, show me love because I’m confused up above.

In your heart, the truth will be revealed.

Which will you choose, time won’t stand still.

Matthew 6:24

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Today is the one year anniversary of my blog!!!  Although there won’t be much celebrating due to finals, there is still a celebration in order.

My posts have slowed down because school is a BEAST but “To whom much is given, of him will much be required”.  The post will be starting back up and come more regularly.   I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to read, shared and subscribed the blog.  I pray that you found words to aspire you.  Always remember to LIVE LOVE LAUGH WITHOUT LIMITS 🙂

Chorus for today: “Sight beyond what I see, you know what’s best for me.  Prepare my mind, prepare my heart for whatever comes, I’m gone’ be ready.  Strength to pass any test, I feel like I’m so blessed.  With you in control, I can’t go wrong ’cause I always know, I’m gonna be ready”.~Yolanda Adams

“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh  from the beginning to the end.”~Eccl. 3:11

God has already told you certain things would occur in your life but because they have not happened, you have lost focus on the promise.

There was a time in my life that I started to grow weary in a promise God made to me.  I began to think was that God or did I tell myself that.  Sometimes we get discouraged by what we see and forget what God has spoken.  I was in church during Holy Week last year and the preacher said, “like a quarterback throwing passes to his receiver, you have to be in position to get your blessings.  God keeps throwing your blessing to you but you are not in place.  If you do not get in position, someone else is going to receive what God is trying to do for you.”  It was time to go where God was sending me.  God said be quiet because they won’t understand.  I did not have a major plan, I did what God instructed me to do.    He said don’t tell everybody because you don’t need their mouths on this.  People who care about you will always try to advise you as to what is best for you but when God is speaking, no other voice/opinion needs to be heard.  The moment I got to my destination, God sent confirmation that I was in the right place.  He sent an acceptance letter that I had been waiting two years to receive.  He was waiting for me to trust what He was doing in my life.  I had to experience growing pains to receive the promise.  God still had some things He had to work on.

Trust the Process because God’s promises shall be fulfilled, follow His instruction to receive the promises, and remember this is not about you, God wants the glory.

Chorus for today: “Sometimes you feel so alone, like a child lost with no home.  They keep telling you to be strong, but you say when will it end?  When will I win?  Just know He has His hands on you.”~Marvin Sapp

Thanks to Tropical Storm Debby, I had to take numerous detours on my way back home from visiting my family.  The route added almost 2 hours to my trip but said I was driving the same distance.  At first I was a little sad because it was going to take me so long to get home and I was traveling on unfamiliar roads.  A friend told me “As long as you get there, that’s all that matters”.

In life we will experience many obstacles, trials, and what we perceive to be negative situations. There is no way around this, no one is exempt but God makes provisions for all these “storms”.  Often times we experience what we feel are setbacks in life but they are actually God’s “detours”.  He has planned out a path and even when we end up off course, He will bring us back home.  The great thing about God’s detour is we will end up exactly where we should be therefore, we’ve traveled the same distance.

The next time storms rise in your life, appreciate your detour because what matters most is that you get to your destination.

“You is smart, you is kind, you is important”~ The Help

Many people are stuck in the same position, relationship, location, all because they don’t feel worthy. Life is about growth, the mistakes of your past do not determine your future. Everyone has struggled with, fought through, and overcame something. What sets us apart is the attitude in which we approach life.

You have to admit, accept and adjust. Admit that things didn’t go as planned, admit you’re hurt by the outcome, admit you made poor choices. Accept that something different needs to be done, accept your role in the matter, accept that you can’t go back and change anything or anyone. Then you must adjust, focus on the things you can control and the only person you can change.

Knowing that you deserve better is the first step and when you know better, do better. You should not depend on anyone to treat you better than you treat yourself. You are the only person responsible for your happiness.

No matter what happened, no matter what was done to you and no matter what “they” say…”you is smart, you is kind, you is important” You are Worthy!!!

As the journey continues, the little things that we get too busy to notice are beginning to be the most important.  The things that have caused grief in the past are now laughable moments.  I’m thankful that  everything  in life doesn’t happen just like I want it to.  Throughout my journey, I have lived, loved , and laughed truly without limits.  As time goes on I will start my new venture and meet new people but I am grateful that my past has been so richly blessed with everything I need to succeed.  The journey never stops, I say chapters end so new ones may begin.  Season change and growth takes place.  Although my life has drastically changed in the past 20 days, I know it only gets better from here!!!  As my Uncle Frank would say “My God will provide”.

My chorus for today: “Every time I fall, He answers my call.  Picks me up, dusts me off and tells me to start over.  When I’m weak, He’s my strength, I really don’t deserve it, But again and again and again and again.  Oh I’m grateful, truly grateful, for Your continuous grace.”~Smokie Norful

The choice is yours…

There are some decisions you make that you never take a second look at, then there are those that you ponder over for hours, days, and weeks.  I love the fact that, the choice is mine.  No one can force me to do anything.  The struggle comes from the division within you.  There is the person you are and the person you want to become.  Everyday you must determine who will lead.

No one was born or woke up one day being exactly who they are destined to be.  My advice is:  live your truth everyday.  You won’t always make the right decision, you won’t always say the right words but you will always be genuine.  Your truth is your story line, it is being honest with how you feel , what you think and what you want to accomplish.  I know that the most important thing I have to do is, be myself.  If I conform to the image that the world would like to see then I have not become the person I was destined to be.

There is no definite time in which someone should discover themselves.  It could take some people 40 or 50 years to get to know themselves and find their purpose.  It’s a personal journey and no one can dictate where you are on this journey.

My chorus for today: “I’ve seen it, done it, ran it, run it.  Been to the bottom and I came back from it. That’ll be the pain in the pit of my stomach, don’t regret a thing just keep it 100.  I been the drama and the bad news, I been the struggle and the damn blues.  Shed tears over silliness,  seen love blow up as real as it really gets…Rain starts pouring and it don’t stop.  Let myself drown no I will not, smile on my pretty mug, I get right back on my horse and I giddy up…”~Chrisette Michele