Beauty Heals And Gives Us Wings
I’ve written very little, because I’ve had so much going on otherwise. It’s frustrating that I haven’t had enough time to do my writing, but it’s okay: I’ll do a mad dash over the next couple of days. I’m confident that I can get a solid book before November 30th.
Pray for me, y’all!
Happy Monday, friends! I hope today is the beginning of a wonderful and prosperous week for you all!
After having a tough couple of weeks, I came across a photo that I took after eating a fortune cookie. Sometimes, inspiration comes from the most random places . . .
Full disclosure: I’m generally always working on two or three goals at a time. My bucket list is extensive, so I only do “hyper-focusing” when it’s a big deal. Constantly working on some goal or dream can take its toll: you can feel burnt out and exhausted. It takes a lot of energy to go for what you want out of life.
So, I decided to put them all of my dreams on hold for a while as I explored other options. Sometimes, putting your attention elsewhere gives you some time to rest and restore before you handle the next leg of your journey. I was hoping that the other options led me to the place and circumstance that was meant for me.
Sadly, it didn’t work out that way.
I felt like I’d wasted my time and energy. I felt kind of low and drained, and not particularly motivated. Worst, I felt frustrated, because I hadn’t made any noticeable progress.
Then I came across this photo. And I remembered who I am, what I’m doing, and that there’s no such thing as wasted time.
That’s worth repeating, so let me say it again: There’s NO SUCH THING as wasted time. There are wins and there are lessons, nothing more. So I may not have had any wins, but I certainly got some lessons.
Now, it’s time to make peace with those lessons, move past my fear of failure, and take my next big step.
The lessons have prepared me. I’m ready.
When I first started on my emotional and spiritual journey, I came across a lot of unsound advice from well-intentioned (but clueless) friends and family. The main problem with the advice I was receiving was that it lacked nuance and context for my specific circumstances.
They knew me but they didn’t KNOW me, if you get my drift.
I kind of resigned myself to walking this path alone, until I came across the quote, “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house”. I was perplexed by it, but I thought it was interesting enough to dig deeper and learn who said it first. My research led me to Audre Lorde.
And. My. World. Changed.
I found so much of what Audre wrote about mirrored my personal experiences, frustrations and concerns. She inspired me to find my voice, to own my personal power, and to care for myself. I owe a lot to Ms. Lorde.
Whether you’re familiar with her or not, I’m sure you’ll find a gem among her words. The hardest part of this post was limiting the number of quotes so as not to inundate you all.
Enjoy, and talk to you all tomorrow!
(all photos courtesy of Pinterest)
After experiencing several intensely busy months at work, I had intentions of taking a vacation to the warm, sunny island of Puerto Rico. I saw myself walking the beaches, touring Old San Juan, and getting the tan of a lifetime.
Then Hurricane Maria happened.
So, needless to say, my dreams of soaking up the Caribbean sun were dashed to pieces. No beaches, touring or tanning for me. However, I count my blessings: my Puerto Rican friends are safe and healthy, the island is starting to recover and I’m positive that they will rebuild and be better than ever.
(Photo courtesy of WeClipArt)
That being said, I still have a few scheduled days off and no concrete plans.
What’s a girl to do?
Time for Operation Staycation! I started getting everything I need to have a fantastic time at home. Here are some of the elements needed for a restful and restorative staycation:
If you all can’t go somewhere fabulous during the holiday season, at least commit to enjoying a little bit of staycation time. You won’t regret it!
Happy Hump Day! And YAY for making it to November 1st! You already know that I’m doing NaNowWriMo, so a lot of the posts for this month will be brief but (hopefully) useful.
You can check out the links at the bottom of this post to see the rest of the “Preparing for 2018” series. Today’s post is going to provide a resource that will help you get clear on what you envision for your life, both next year and for years to come.
(photo courtesy of HappyBlackWoman.com)
Rosetta Thurman of HappyBlackWoman.com has created an amazing guide that will help you shine a light on multiple areas of your life, and will guide you in finding out what your ideal life looks like.
With your ideal life clearly envisioned, you can figure out what steps need to happen in the next year, in order to get you closer to your dream. You can download the guide here. By the way, this resource works for anyone, not just happy Black women. So no matter what your demographic is, check it out! I think you’ll find it very useful.
Other Preparing for 2018 Posts:
Preparing for 2018 (Introductory Post)
Preparing for 2018: Before Setting Your Goals
Happy Monday! As we start a new week, I thought this would be a good time to tap into some words of wisdom. One woman that inspires me tremendously is Josephine Baker.
The effervescent Josephine was talented, stylish, graceful and perfectly poised. The trailblazing entertainer left behind an abusive, impoverished childhood and eventually went on to achieving global acclaim. She decided to live in Paris, France where she experienced the happiness and peace that eluded her during her formative years.
Josephine was not just an entertainer: she was also an activist and doting mother. I find her life and perspectives to be so inspirational. Here are a few Josephine Baker quotes that I thought you may enjoy. Vive La Baker!
(Photos courtesy of Pinterest, APassion4Jazz, and Izquotes)
Some of the things that I’m drooling over currently (in no particular order). . .
These Wonder Woman bracelets by Alex and Ani are so elegant but still lots of fun. These are a very grown-up way of injecting a little fun into your style. I love both shades – gold and silver – so I’ll probably end up getting both!
I can’t get enough of Ralph and Russo’s ornate heels. These are the Eden heels with black satin and rose gold leaf detailing – divine!
This beautiful vintage-style coat from Collectif really fits my classic aesthetic. And the cape is so cute and unique: you won’t find a lot of people wearing this design!
The Jackie Dress by Black Halo is a classic, and this 3/4 length sleeved rendition is perfect for the cooler months. This mermaid pink shade is also so pretty and feminine: what’s not to love?
This incredible cobalt blue bag is made by Gregory Sylvia. I love the color and shape: it’s classic with a twist. Even the name of the style – the Devereaux – screams glamour and elegance.
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Those are the items I’m lusting over right now. Let’s see how many I get over this holiday season!
Well, now you all know why I’ll be out of the loop in November. I’m fully participating in NaNoWriMo 2017, so that I can get back into the habit of writing fiction.
(Photo courtesy Clipart Library)
I’ve written a few books, but I’ve never published. I can’t tell you why I didn’t take the next step, other than the fact that I didn’t believe in my abilities. It’s funny: I can get on this blog, talk about pretty much anything that interests me, and I don’t feel shy about it. But my fiction, where people can actually read the worlds, characters, and scenarios that I create? It feels almost intrusive!
But the thing is, I have to publish my work. I believe in writing for your own satisfaction, first and foremost. But I think it’s powerful to make your words available for another person’s consumption: you never know who will be enlightened or inspired by what you have to say. No writer is required to publish, but it can be a “full circle” action for those of us that choose to do so.
I’m ready to come full circle. It’s time.
So this November, I’ll do NaNoWriMo, and in December, I’ll do my 3rd round of revisions for a previous book I wrote. In January, I’ll start on a new book, and in February, I revise a different book: one that I haven’t revised in a couple of years. I’ll stay on a “Write/Revise” rotation for the next few months, until I have a book that I feel is truly ready for the public (probably Summer 2018).
Are any of you participating in this year’s NaNoWriMo event? Or have you participated in the past? Let me know in the comments below: I’d love to hear your stories!
Hi friends! I hope you all are feeling wonderful, wherever you are. I’m gearing up for an exciting November, but I wanted to make sure to share this post that I think will help you as you prepare for an awesome 2018.
I previously wrote about what should happen before you set any goals and the importance of committing your goals in writing. But this post is, undoubtedly, one of the most difficult steps for really going after your goals.
You must become an expert at listening to your intuition.
(perfect photo courtesy of Exemplore.com)
I struggle with explaining this concept, so I will advise you now to check out Jeannette Maw, my favorite law of attraction (LOA) coach. Jeannette’s blog, Good Vibe Blog, and it’s companion, Good Vibe University, have been invaluable in offering ideas for reaching goals more efficiently. Jeannette also has a fantastic podcast, LOA Recon.
I came across Jeannette after listening to some other LOA podcasts and reading some books about deliberate creation. At the end of this post, I will reference the best podcasts and articles that Jeannette has written on the topic of listening to intuition, or “guidance” as she likes to put it (I use the terms interchangeably, and have really gotten fond of using “guidance” to describe those internal “hunches”).
Your intuition is constantly giving you feeback on what you should do. Getting really familiar with how you truly feel is key to recognizing intuition when it speaks. And trust me: when you’re at a crossroad, or confused about what to do next, your intuition has an answer. All you have to do is get quiet enough to listen to it.
Meditation or, at very minimum, getting quiet, can help you listen to your intuition (photo courtesy of MostlyMystery.com)
That’s right: you have to get quiet. Remove as much exterior “stimuli” as you can, get quiet, and be still. You can say aloud, or quietly to yourself, what you desire and make it plain that you’re confused about how to get it. Don’t attempt to think it through: just state it and relax. Then, start listening for sensations in your body or unexplainable thoughts coming to mind. How does your stomach feel? Do you have chills/goosebumps? Did a thought pop randomly into your head? Look around you: does anything in your physical space catch your eye? Pay attention without overthinking. If it helps, write down whatever comes to mind, for as long as you feel like it.
The more you practice listening, the easier it will be to recognize when your intuition is speaking to you. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself: a light touch works really well for this sort of thing. If you don’t come up with any hunches, then put the practice to rest while you do something else. Sometimes, giving yourself a break can be wonderful for helping you find the real answer.
There is one condition that I like to emphasize: your best bet, when taking a break, is to only do what feels best (Jeannette advises the same thing). The better you are about this, the more likely you are to actually start hearing your intuition loud and clear.
If you can master this, you will reach your goals more quickly and effortlessly than you could have ever dreamed.
If you struggle with listening to your intuition, check out Jeannette’s resources here:
Blog Posts
Podcasts
Secret Instructions to Dreams Come True
Happy Monday, beloveds! I want to start off this week with a little encouragement for the “ugly” ducklings that are still trying to find their groove. It’s going to be okay, really it is. You may not know it, but you’re on the cusp of being your best, most amazing self.
I realized that I needed to write this post after talking to one of my fellow late bloomers. We mentioned how much more fun we would have had years ago if we were aware of the tools that could improve our looks and lives. We live in a shallow world: having advantages in the looks department is powerful. But, we were both late bloomers: awkward, conditioned to “fade” into the background, and constantly grasping for our most confident selves.
It took years of reflection, experimentation, and even some harsh critiques, but we’re both looking and feeling our best. Changing our diets, wardrobes, hairstyles, and perspective has done wonders for both of us. We’re finally “pretty” girls, and this side of life has been wonderful. The best thing of all is that being more confident in our physical presentation has led to us meeting more people, and those people eventually discover that our interior beauty – the beauty that never fades – is the most captivating part of us. The “pretty” packaging draws people to us, and those people can get to experience the inner beauty that’s been there all along.
The inner beauty is always the most import (from ForHarriet)
You all have seen my Boohoo hauls (here and here) but you don’t know that I amped up my hairstyling game, too. I recently started setting my hair in Rita Hayworth-esque waves and curls. The attention I’ve gotten has been mind-blowing, especially since my hair is the same length and color: all that has changed is the curliness. I also pared down my makeup, focusing more on intense eyes and less on matte, full-coverage foundation. Again, the attention I’ve gotten is astounding.
Current hair inspiration, Rita Hayworth (from Allison Barbera Makeup)
My advice to any late bloomers is to continue experimenting and have fun on the journey. Looking like an airbrushed supermodel isn’t the goal: finding a look that makes you feel your best is what you should shoot for. Take care of yourself, and be gentle with yourself. You’ll find your lane, I promise.
Bronze Butterfly 