It's Thursday!

Today is Thursday and although it has been a busy week, it has been a great one. Not much has gone on but I've been rolling as usual. Today, is no different than most Thursdays I experience. I know that I have to go to work and tomorrow I will work only one job instead of two. But today just feels good.

While I am feeling so good, I want to delve into a subject that not many people talk about in a positive light. And that is what other people have to say. I believe that everyone has their own talents and gifts. That is why, I will never be a medical doctor, an executive in retail, or a bomb teacher. I can respect that. I don't have a negative thing to say about those professions...But. Why. is it, I can't have the same? I mean really? As stated before, I have recently started real estate courses and I have to say, I'm loving it. However, when I tell people, some who just met me, some I've known for months, some for years, I've gotten similar responses which are along the lines of "Why'd you do that? You that bored with life? The market is horrible. My momma failed the test when she took the class." So on and so forth. Now, in all of my years (all 23 of them) not once have I ever had a negative thing to say about people and the careers they choose. I can't say anything because that is between them and their God. So why is it that people can't be respectful of my dreams, my time and simply say, "Good luck" when they have nothing positive to say? This is nothing that will get me down because as I have said before, this is something that I prayed on and consulted God about before making the move. With that being said, no one, not anyone can change what is written for me!

I am writing all of this to say, not everyone will agree with what you do with your life. You could be running for president and someone will still have something to say. Everyone has an opinion about what you should with with YOUR life and frankly, they are not always in the best interest of YOU. So my message to you on this Thursday is to consult God about your decisions. People can give you advice but only God can advise you. He will put the needed counselors in your life to help you along the way but be discerning, not everyone is sent by God to help you out. Some people are sent by God so that He can use them as your stepping stone. You just have to learn how to listen to Him when He is guiding you. People will always have something to say, but if your decision is planted and firm from knowing that God has given you the go-ahead, you won't be phased by what people have to say about what you are doing!

So, with that being said, I hope you have had an amazing week and a terrific Thursday. Live each day with the best you've got and I promise you won't regret it!

Life's Short: Get Some

An old time family friend of ours passed away on Friday from a long fight with breast cancer. Upon arriving to my humble abode, I found out. It hurt my heart because I have known this lady basically all of my life and for the last 12 years or so, she has been a survivor to me.

Like most people, the death of those you know really makes you start thinking. Life is extremely short. I have been talking all year about pursuing my own dreams and I would just like to dwell in that place once more, in the month of February. Life is really short. Like for real. In a blink of an eye, your life can be turned upside and inside out. Those close to you can be taken, those dreams you hoped you would get to pursue have to be put on hold. It is a serious thing. But I can tell you that not only am I a testimony, I am a witness that if you just go for what you want, you will experience an unforgettable joy, something that NO ONE can take from you.

My best friend since middle school is the person I have been able to witness God working on. My best friend has gone through the ringer since we graduated from high school. From great jobs to no job, health to bad health, engaged to not. Some of everything has happened to this girl and she has kept going. I met up with her for breakfast on Sunday and it ended 4 hours later. She had this glow about her. Something I hadn't seen since she gave birth to my beautiful godson who is now 4 years old. She has gotten a new job after a year of being out on disability and is planning to go back to school starting this summer. She is happily in a relationship and she has found God in herself. She has found GOD in her life. She has learned what happens when God comes first in your life. And that is again, something that NO ONE can take from you. Just last year I remember sending her inspirational text messages in hope that she would be in a frame of mind to take it in. Anytime I would see her when I went home, she'd never be able to tell me about what the Bible said. On Sunday, this girl was spitting it to me like she'd been studying for years. And I ate it up! She is growing into such an amazing woman and she is finally realizing that she is more than a validation from other people. She has started going to Bible study, she is a mentor for young mothers, and she is even starting to pick up where we left off with our plan for her part of our non-profit. I am amazed to see this happening before my eyes. She goes on to prove that when God is your pilot, you can't go anywhere but up! She is taking life by the horns and LIVING! I'm telling you, 2012 is going to be an amazing year.

In memory of all of those we have lost to breast cancer, take a moment to just pray for their family and friends.

Reflect on your life and where you want to be in 6 months. Every moment is valuable, spend it wisely!

Are you making it happen for you?

Those Stinkin' Nightmares

So I am so adamant about not getting a relaxer ever again. In my mind, a relaxer would be the worse thing I could do to my hair at this point. I don't think about it that often but apparently, it is still apart of my psyche and it literally scares me. I have nightmares, yes nightmares, about my mother putting a relaxer in my hair. I wake up crying every time!!! Now you may think I am crazy and that may be true BUT, I had no choice in relaxers for so long that I now can't see myself going back by being forced to do it. It is not an option anyway.

This post comes about because my mother, who hates natural hair with a passion, put a relaxer in my 6 year old niece's hair, without her mother's permission, she put a relaxer in my youngest sister's hair after my sister began to get frustrated with it, and she put a relaxer in my middle sister's hair after she failed to tame it after she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. When I first started transitioning, my mom kept commenting about how my hair would break off and how we couldn't go anywhere with her with our hair looking "like that," and a whole bunch of other rude and snide comments. Lucky for me, I was in my senior year of college and well, I just didn't give a doggone about her opinion, at all. However, it was very annoying having my own mother not support me in my decision but no matter what, I knew it was right for me. I knew I couldn't trust her opinion about my hair when it had never grown past neck length because of it being over processed by 6-8 week relaxers that were not used correctly either. But that is another story. So, my sister was unnecessarily defending her decision to relaxer after over a year, I jokingly told her about my nightmares. She looked at me like I was half crazy or something.

I started thinking, maybe my attachment to my hair is very mental and emotional. VERY EMOTIONAL. I wrote about my experience attempting a new style and how it failed. It brought me to tears. However, I bounced back from it. I have nightmares about my hair being relaxed at least once a week and it just breaks my heart to go back that route. My hair is so healthy and full and it is flourishing, I never had that when I was getting relaxers. Some people go natural because it is a fad to them and you can usually tell by how easy they give up when you go through a phase where you don't know what to do! I have had moments of frustration, especially lately. But I look at the brighter side and I can be sure of two things, my hair is healthy and my hair is growing. My hair may actually be longer than it has ever been, at least since I can remember. I know for a fact my hair is the healthiest it has ever been. I take pride in knowing that I am doing right by my hair and that is why I am so emotional about it staying curly. The best thing about my journey has been the versatility. I have been natural for 6 months now and while I transitioned, I could wear it straight, curly, wavy and all of the above. I think getting relaxers really scarred me and it is really crazy but it is true. I am coming into my womanhood and learning that regardless, straight or curly, I am beautiful!