When was the last time you...

You kissed someone and meant it?
You cooked a real meal and sprinkled each ingredient with tender and love?
You helped someone without expecting anything back?
You gave freely?
You watched a good movie with your loved one?
You didn't stress over the bills?
You just didn't care that you may be overweight?
Your mind felt free?
You cleaned your mental house?
You got rid of a toxic relationship?
You sang and didn't care who heard you?
You took a nice long bath?
You relaxed and focused on SELF?
You let someone do something nice for you?
You realized that today could be your last day on earth and time waits for no one?

"Nothing continues except change; nothing remains the same, nor should it.
Life is not a state of being, but a process of becoming. To go anywhere, we must leave where we are; to become anything else, we must stop being what we were..."

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Is This It?

Shower, Work, Eat, Sleep, Shower, Work, Eat, Sleep, Shower, Work, Eat Sleep! You're kidding me right? Is this all there is to life...shower, work, eat and sleep? I didn't sign up for this and I certainly would have never asked for THIS kind of life; however, this is all I find myself doing these days.

Will someone tell me that I am in the wrong body, that this life was meant for someone who did something awful in their past life? I'm too young, vibrant and way too much fun for this kind of life....yet it's mine.

How do you manage to squeeze the fun in or the days where you can have some time with just self? I long for a day when no one knows my name or telephone number. I long for a day when I can be by myself and do everything just for me. Am I living in a dream world to believe that those days no longer exist and that the few I get a year will never return? I ask the question again "Is This It"? Nooooooooooooooooo!

For so long I've believed that we were forced to deal with the knocks that life gave us and had the "It is what it is" attitude. That no longer holds true for me. Your life is what it is if you decide not to do anything about it. Your life remains what it is if you don't recognize that a change needs to happen.

My life is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it sure as hell beats the Shower, Work, Eat, Sleep routine. I make sure I get my fun in. I make sure I take care of me and I make sure that at the end of the day I've handsomely paid myself back.

I have to come first because I am the only one living in my body. I am the only one with my soul and spirit and if it's shattered, no one can let me borrow theirs. I've found that appreciating some of the simple things can turn it around for me. Many times it is purely a thought. Thoughts are so powerful and can take you any where at any time. What are you thinking?

If you're thinking "Is this it" tell yourself no and change your thoughts. Your entire mood will change and your behavior will soon follow. Dare to be selfish and give back to self. We have just one opportunity to get this right on earth.

I dare you to Shower, Work, Eat, Sleep, get a pedicure, work out, go dancing, visit a church, laugh, buy some flowers, watch a good movie, visit some friends, kiss your children, kiss them some more, play with a dog, take a hot bath, light some candles, enjoy a smooth glass of wine, tell your mate you love them, embrace the sun, talk to the elderly, buy yourself something special and do some traveling.

The next time you ask yourself "Is this It" I dare you to say NO!

Stepping Outside of Yourself

What do you want? What do you pray for? What do you long for? What do you need? A lot of questions right? Think about it. What steps have you taken to acquire what it is that you dream of? Do you follow the norm or do you take chances and step outside of yourself?

I've found in my 45 years of life that many times in life, in order to get what you want, what you deserve and what you need, may require stepping outside of yourself and your comfort zone. It requires removing yourself from your familiarity so that God and the Universe can bless you. All that is required is taking the first step and sometimes that step is away from your norm.

I have also learned that what is specifically designed for us, we can not lose and what belongs to someone else, we can not have. In order to better understand the sacred contract of your life, it requires stepping away and stepping outside. It requires higher thinking which could include looking back from time to time to make sure you're still on the right path.

Your blessings can be stored in a place that you would never think about venturing into. They could be all bottled up in a place that may not be easy to get to, but in order to obtain anything, it requires SELF-WORK.

Step away and step outside. Take the risk and dare to tread in that unfamiliar territory. You don't know what is waiting for you and more importantly, you will land EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE. It's called your Sacred Contract and it only belongs to YOU.

The Simpler Life:

Here are the facts! I loved when things were pure and simple. If you’re under 40, you may not be able to relate, but I am hopeful that one or two of these items will ring a bell. Feel free to jump on board and hopefully, you will enjoy the ride like we have. It was truly a ride and if you’d like to comment or share, feel free to add to “The Simpler Life.”

1. It was a punishment to stay indoors and not go outside. Today, technology keeps our child occupied and they don’t want to go out.
2. Our games were hop scotch, tag, duck, duck goose, ding dong dixie, catch a boy-kiss a boy. Today, the games are either electronic or involving strangulation to cut off your oxygen .
3. While riding in our parents car, we read books, sang songs or simply talked. Today, DVD’s occupy our children and our only conversation is “Is your seatbelt on?”
4. Our neighbors could discipline us and then tell our parents who would discipline us some more. Today, if a neighbor disciplined us, parents will get into a verbal confrontation with them.
5. Our teachers, policemen, firemen and people of authority could be trusted. Today, we have to teach our children to watch out for them.
6. School was a safe haven. Today, we have metal detectors at the front doors and children are being killed by their classmates.
7. You could buy a hotdog, soda and chips for $1.00. Today, that $1.00 is worth .25.
8. People would stop and offer a ride if your car was on the side of the road. Today, they rubberneck to see who the less unfortunate are and keep driving by.
9. People listened to music on vinyl records and we didn’t have to think about bad language. Today, music is listened in the loudest volume on iPod’s and if it doesn’t have bad language, it’s the wrong version.

I am saddened by the turn of events causing our adults, authority figures and children to become absorbed and influenced by an unGodly environment and while my list is a small version of “The Simpler Life,” I am fortunate to have been a part of it.

EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS.....

Every now and then we all need an emergency telephone number for any situation. These are more effective than 911 and you will never be put on hold.

Call When:
You are sad, Phone - John 14
You have sinned, Phone - Psalm 51
You are facing danger, Phone - Psalm 91
People have failed you, Phone - Psalm 27
It feels as though God is far from you, Phone - Psalm 139
Your faith needs stimulation, Phone - Hebrews 11
You are alone and scared, Phone - Psalm 23
You are worried, Phone - Matthew 8:19-34
You are hurt and critical, Phone - 1 Corinthians 13
You wonder about Christianity, Phone - 2 Corinthians 5:15-18
You feel like an outcast, Phone - Romans 8:31-39
You are seeking peace, Phone - Matthew 11:25-30
It feels as if the world is bigger than God, Phone - Psalm 90
You need Christ like insurance, Phone - Romans 8:1-30
You are leaving home for a trip, Phone - Psalm 121
You are praying for yourself, Phone - Psalm 87
You require courage for a task, Phone - Joshua 1
Inflation is consuming your thoughts, Phone - Mark 10:17-31
You are depressed, Phone - Psalm 27
Your bank account is empty, Phone - Psalm 37
You lose faith in mankind, Phone - Corinthians 13
People are unfriendly, Phone - John 15
You are losing hope, Phone - Psalm 126
You feel the world is small compared to you, Phone - Psalm 19
You want to carry fruit, Phone - John 15
Paul's' secret for happiness, Phone - Colossians 3:12-17
With big opportunity/discovery, Phone - Isaiah 55
To get along with other people, Phone - Romans 12

ALTERNATE NUMBERS
For dealing with fear, Phone - Psalm 34
For security, Phone - Psalm 12
For assurance, Phone - Mark 8:35
For reassurance, Phone - Psalm 145:18

If I only knew then what I know now....

I would have said more I love You's to my Brother Arnold.
~~~I lost him to cancer
I would have picked up every penny that I found.
~~~They would be worth thousands
I would have not blown a full ride for a joy ride.
~~~Education is more valuable than a boy at 18
I would have stood up to those who tried to tear me down.
~~~Would have built my character much earlier
I would have understood that Karma is alive and well.
~~~I wasted time focusing on others
I would have learned to love myself much earlier in life.
~~~Would have saved years of questioning
I would have remained in church all of these years.
~~~I would know the bible better
I would have worked smarter not harder.
~~~I would have gotten off the treadmill much earlier


If I only knew then what I know now, I would not be the person I am today. Life has a strange way of taking us through things to build us up and to ready us for today. Sometimes it's pain, sorrow and sometimes it's regret. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come so embrace your TODAY! It is NEVER too late. I thank God I didn't know then what I know now, for I surely would have missed the lesson.

Loving the Genuine You

NubianGraphics.com


It is good to laugh when you find something funny. It is good to cry when you are sad. You are a beautiful, unique living person, with hopes and dreams, feelings, values, opinions, thoughts and visions. It is good to let it all shine through.

People sometimes think they can appear sophisticated by denying who they truly are. Yet real sophistication and value comes from fully expressing your most genuine sentiments and truths in the way you live your life.

You'll never find fulfillment by trying to be someone you're not. You'll never find fulfillment by following someone else's dreams.

Life is always best when you live each moment as the real person you are. Though it can be painful and difficult at times, it is far better to live the genuine truth of your own being than to run and hide from it.

Go ahead and feel the joy, the pain and fully live the ups and downs and twists and turns of the rich and wonderful life with which you're blessed. Be the real, genuine you and there is no limit to the fulfillment you can know.