Adulthood

Tools

Do you believe you have all the tools needed within you to win at life? I do.  I believe we all are born with everything we need, but we have to possess the thought process of knowing this.  A dream deferred is just that, deferred. It’s not gone, you may just have to take a different route to get there. Or maybe your dream is not your purpose but the steps you take to reach that dream is the pathway to your purpose.

Depression, self-resentment, etc. have caused me to throw a pity party for a large portion of my life up until a few months ago. I literally woke up one day and said “enough, I’ve had enough”. I had prayed and asked for answers but never listening to the answers given. I was continuously blocking my blessings because I couldn’t get out of my own way, my own emotions of self doubt. That morning when I said enough, it was as if I was given a new outlook. Of course those self deprecating thoughts will try and sneak in, but I am able to mentally toss them aside and say those aren’t for me any longer. I’ve prayed differently since then, instead of selfish prayers (as I call them), I pray for insight and the ability to see and listen to what He is showing and telling me.  I learned to set my attention on my intentions.

When I was a child I wanted to be a singer, I even went to college for a bit and majored in voice. That was not my path,  but I had always wrote songs, poems and stories, not realizing the footprints I was creating for my life.  I believe if I hadn't taken the long route and thought my childhood dream of being a singer was all I was meant to be,  I wouldn’t have eventually discovered my purpose of writing.

I say this a lot but, no matter if no one else believes in you, you have to believe in yourself. Be the best version of yourself, where you become what you want to see in the world and live in a space of gratitude. By gratitude I don’t mean saying please and thank you all the time to people, although you should, but noticing things and saying it out loud. For example when you notice love by a mom holding their child’s hand crossing the street, speak it out loud or internally, “thank you for showing me love”. You’ll notice that your gratuitous attitude brings lots of positivity to you, at least that’s what I’m learning. Everyone’s experience will be different but, what’s the harm in trying it out.

I hope your holiday time with friends, family and yourself has been beautiful and that your 2018 is blessed with everything that you never expected but have manifested. Cheers to us all!

I'll end this post with the infamous poem by Langston Hughes.

Harlem

BY LANGSTON HUGHES

What happens to a dream deferred?

      Does it dry up

      like a raisin in the sun?

      Or fester like a sore—

      And then run?

      Does it stink like rotten meat?

      Or crust and sugar over—

      like a syrupy sweet?

      Maybe it just sags

      like a heavy load.

      Or does it explode?

Mentors

I saw an interview of Viola Davis speaking about the importance of having mentors in life. I'm a huge believer in mentorship, no matter what age you find one or the age they are. It's important you have someone you consider a mentor that you trust and can guide you with whatever you need. 

The first mentor for me is someone that I can now call a friend, Ann Akiri.  Ann is a remarkable woman she worked hard for her position and is one of the most fiercest and ageless women I've ever met. She still looks like she did in her 20's (black don't crack).  She helped me learn the importance of a job. Not just showing up, but actually being present. She hired me on the spot when we met and now looking back I realize how monumental that is of someone of her stature to have hired a young girl like me at the time with no experience, due to her belief in me.  Think about what you were taught in your first "real" job and times that by 100, that's the attention and lessons she gave me. She was preparing me for whatever was to come. I'm so thankful and blessed to have a mentor like her. Even when she pissed me off and vice versa, I always wanted to show her that I was learning. We had some epic times: saw Prince, traveled together, danced the night away for her birthday's and worked our asses off all the time. She even came to my bridal shower and wedding. When I saw her I cried as she came to give me a hug, it meant so much to me that she was there. We don't get to see each other as often now, but when we check in, it feels like no time has passed. 

I pray for everyone to have a mentor or multiple like Ann, someone to help guide you not just in your career, but through life.  Oprah has said, "A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself".  That is so true. I love some of the great mentorship programs they have for kids, they need the same for adults. Life is hard, so find yourself someone to shine the light on your path or least leave a trail of gummy bears for you to follow.

IMG_1026.JPG

We saw him together and it was an epic experience for me. #rip #prince