break free

the inability to change and how to break free
left me stuck i want to see me
let loose and not broken hearted
instead feelings of doubt clouded
my judgment of the battle to feel secure
the reality is I was never good for me
and me wanted more than I was willing to work for

the inability to change stunted my happiness
i didn't want to be frozen i wanted to see me
clamped into a tight fist raised up high
i needed to snatch back my power i had denied
the other me that couldnt see past the clouds
transculent me no more, here i am right in front
seeing me for me, accepting me for me
true smiles and heartfelt pleas
to my soul
get it together
work on it
pray on it
visualize your happiness
be your happiness
then change your inabilities
and break free.

“And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time.” - Libba Bray
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” - Rumi

Aloha!

:view from the top of Diamondhead:


One of the hardest things about taking a vacation or traveling is having to return to your reality. And when your reality is cold and snowy it makes you wonder why you came back at all. That's my current battle. Hawaii offered one of the prettiest sunsets, super nice people, incredible views, beautiful weather (minus a few windy and rainy moments). Meanwhile, DC is just...yea.

Some of the highlights I enjoyed: hiking up to the top of Diamondhead mountain was well worth seeing the million dollar view of the ocean and Waikiki beach area and for only a buck entrance fee, riding a catamaran to the middle of the ocean adding to the spectular views and insanely blue waters, seeing Aloha Stadium where the Pro Bowl is held (attending a Pro Bowl is on my bucket list), attending a Luau and just laying out and catching some sunrays on the beach.

I plan to do a real write up on my time in Hawaii, meanwhile, here are a few pics of a good time.

Prayers up

As I get ready to hop on a plane for my vacation, I want to preface this post by saying my thoughts and prayers are with those loved ones regarding the missing Malaysian Airlines plane.  I can't even imagine what the people on the plane went through and what the loved ones are feeling right now.  To have no answers, no closure, and a plane just seemingly disappears without a trace.   Feeling hopeless, helpless.

 

Pray for MH370.

catch up

I try not to go more than a week without a post, about anything, but I haven't felt inspired to write. I think the winter weather has me in a funk. Of course I was excited about #snowday, but I, like most, am now over it...and the cold. Meanwhile, this weekend's weather was glorious - hence my photosess (can you tell I love my shoes!), but unfortunately a tease because the cold and snow are back this week. Blahhh!

I got outta the house, thoroughly enjoyed the sun, and celebrated a friends birthday with a scavenger hunt at the National Museum of American History, painted pottery at Color Me Mine, and dinner at a wine bar/bistro. Even though my team came in last at the scavenger hunt, we did pretty good considering it was a little hard to get into the swing of things...next time though we will take the crown!

And in other news, I've been selected with the opportunity to build up my travel writing portfolio as a travel curator for Travel Noire, a fairly new, but vastly growing platform for the black travel community. I do have a (newly thought of) goal of creating a book of my travels to share and be an inspiration to someone, even if it's just myself. So this is nice stepping stone. Stay tuned for more on this! Now I'm just crossing my fingers for one more piece of good news and this year will be off to a great start. God is good!!

“Life is a gamble. There are no sureties. If you want something badly, you'd have to trust your heart and your instincts and then take a leap of faith.” - Alyssa Urbano

2014 (...and beyond) Vision Board

As a part of a meetup group called VAsistagirls, I attended a vision board workshop, met some likeminded, goal oriented, hilarious black women. I went into the meetup anxious and excited to be inspired. I felt empowered being around a group of women who were uplifting each other with a "you can do it" and "go for it" attitude. Positivity. Several women either owned their own businesses or wanted to become entrepreneurs. Single. Divorced. Single mothers. A variety of 20 or so women, all just looking for encouragement, resources, someone to talk to, pray with, root for them, cheer on, and uplift.

Before flipping through magazines and ripping out how we hoped our vision for 2014 (...and beyond) would go, we began with a 3 minute mediation. Mediation for me is a calmness, clearing my mind and spirit, allowing God to move into my heart. I spoke to Him and asked for clarity and simplicity on my vision. I always have a ton of ideas and thoughts, but sometimes it gets jumbled and my brain moves a mile a minute. I decided to use this moment to gather my thoughts, clear out some brain space, and slow down. As a part of the vision board, you should add your picture because it's about you. I didn't have one at the time, and didnt add one prior to taking this picture. Anywhoo, after talking to my God, I decided to break down my vision board into a few sections.

The top part of the board is about me and my vision for me. How I see myself. I use my board as a visual daily reminder. A daily reminder of how i (should) see myself, even when others do not.

Priceless. In a league of her own. Queen. I love being a Black woman. Style. My black has endless possibility. My beautiful is for the world to take note. Fearless spirit. A beautiful inspiration. "What I find powerful is a person with the confidence to be her own self."

My vision continued with, of course, travel! This is my daily visual reminder of my passion.

Skyline. Golden gate bridge. Globe. Beaches. Ready, Set, Vacation. Escapes. "Away is a place where life's not about the money you spend. It's about the moments you make." Global coverage.

I proceeded to pour on all the inspiration that could fit.

Try something new! Getting to happy. Inspiring strength. Get out of your own way. There's never been a better time to focus on you! Live.Right.Now. Healthy living. "Be careful for nothing; but in everything...let your requests be known to God." Resilience. Perseverance. Focus. Perspective. Discipline. "Reading is a way for me to expand my mind, open my eyes, and fill up my heart." Health.Family.Money.You.Better.

I'm putting in my sights: Goal setting, Visualization, Planning, Actualization. I'm excited to see what God has in store for me in 2014 (...and beyond)!!

Weekend Love

As I sit in front of my computer at work, I can physically and mentally feel that I needed those 4 days off.  The weekend, MLKjr holiday, and a snow day!  God knew exactly what I needed.  A mini mental break.  This past long weekend was definitely a good one to begin the year. 

 

Me time, relaxation, vision board workshop, girls nite filled with sushi and drinks - that ended with a trip to the tow yard and barely beating the sun home..(cues up King Bey.. "tonite i'm stayin out til tomorrow..."), enduring my football team losing the chance to play in the Super Bowl, and looking terrible doing so might i add, Teedra Moses concert (she sounded awesome - just like the record), and ending with ice skating on a surprisingly beautiful 50+ degree day.   Or so I thought my weekend was ending.  Snow day!!!   Weekend was topped off with a straight lazy tuesday filled sleep, food, and catching up on the DVR all in my onesie. 

 

3 day work week underway...I can dig it!

Don't quit your daydream

While doing my daily blog reading, I came across this picture. I am a self-proclaimed daydreamer. A dreamer period. I often find my mind wandering of all the pretty places I wish to see, breathe, explore. All of the ideas in this brain of mine I wish to make happen. That's a typical daydream for me. A visual break into lala land. But I have the desire to turn my daydreams into reality. Research. Note taking. Study. Repeat. The travel industry is my obsession. I am craving location independence and entrepreneurship.

Current job, not so bad. Apartment, not so bad. "The problem is the 'not bad' syndrome. It is easy to get comfy in 'not bad' land and never leave." I have to want, desire, and go after more. Go after my happiness. "Not so bad" just screams settling. I don't want to settle, I want to succeed! "There's no faster way to kill goals and dreams than by settling for 'not bad'".

"If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness, and fears." - Glenn Clark

"We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate." - Pico Iyer