Category: Faith

Sis, when is the last time you were alone? And I mean really alone to do whatever made you feel good. Until this weekend, it had been months for me! Although it was unplanned, it was right on time.

“Spending time alone in your own company reinforces your self-worth and is often the number-one way to replenish your resilience reserves.”

–Sam Owen

Depletion

de·ple·tion/dəˈplēSH(ə)n

1. reduction in the number or quantity of something.

Have you ever ran out of money to pay bills or felt completely exhausted at the end of a workout? That’s what depletion is like, you’re simply running out. When you’re a go getter, depletion can come often. Most days you’re running 150 mph with little to no breaks. Often times, you may even forget to eat. I hear you, I see you, I am YOU!

That’s why this weekend was so amazing for me! Saturday morning I was not feeling great at all. It’s usually the first sign that I’ve worked myself into the ground and need to rest. Between that and this unstable weather, Saturday was not looking too grand. My son’s first tournament game in basketball was in an hour and of course I had to be in attendance. Sometimes even the smallest act of obedience will yield a great reward.

I’m so glad that I showed up! As usual, My Mother in Love was there and she has been dedicating time to spend with the kids on the weekends lately which has been great because I’m ALWAYS working. We didn’t plan for her to take them ahead of time so you can imagine my excitement when she offered to take them with her after the game! It took everything for me not to dance right in the middle of the basketball court lol.

Listen, your girl loves her kids BUT your girl also needed a B-R-E-A-K!.

So what did I do? First I cleaned my house. It felt so good to be in silence and clean. As I was cleaning the house, I also began to feel lighter as far as the clutter in my mind. One less task! Whoo hoo!

Then I left the house and went to the Container Store because if you’re a planner girl with a productivity and organization obsession, CS is your spot! I purchased some bathroom vanity pieces, a jewelry organizer (because my Kendra Scott obsession is REAL) and a shoe rack. I made a conscious effort to purchase FOR ME! So often I’m swiping left and right for my spouse and kids, that I have to be reminded by my friends to do something for myself.

I left Container Store and swung by Pier1, what a treat! They’re closing several stores and I was able to snag their big 3 wick candles for $5 each! They smell so yummy! Sis, get to Pier1. The end.

Finally, I ended up at Sephora. We’re not even going to have that conversation becaaauuusse, make up 🤷🏾‍♀️. My final destination was to see the new movie, The Photograph, by Issa Rae. It was soooo good! I ate nachos and cried at the end. It was the perfect ending to my day.

“Solitude is where I place my chaos to rest and awaken my inner peace” ~ Nikki Rowe

Let me ask you, when is the last time you were alone and able to do whatever brought you peace? When’s the last time, you threw your phone in your purse and enjoyed the moment? The last time you stopped and smiled at strangers, took a deep breathe, didn’t constantly check the time on your watch or phone to make sure you weren’t late to someone’s event? I’m 99% sure those questions may have just made a light bulb go off in your head saying, “OMG! I need to be alone!” Don’t be afraid to say to yourself, “I need space.” There’s beauty in realizing that you need restoration and your resources are depleted. You can not and will not stay the course, if your resources are dried up! When looking at your plans this week, create some time for yourself that is solely for you to recharge and do what makes you happy. Don’t worry about anyone else’s agenda, they’ll be there when you return.

Until Next Time,

XOXO

Are you stuck in between a rock and a hard place? Do you have the desire to do something but you been sitting on your hands scared of the outcome? Today I am talking to you! You, my dear gem, have to get off your behind and get to work. Someone out there needs your vision to fulfill their destiny.

In 2017, I was LOST.

I had recently given birth to my daughter and was on a maternity leave from a job that I was growing to resent on a daily basis due to the structural changes that were taking place. I was stuck with the decision of going back to work and being miserable or finding a different and hopefully better route. 3 years later, I’m sitting at my computer, it’s 7:05 in the morning on a Sunday and I am SO HAPPY to be in a position to write this blog post to you.

Starting is scary, hard and difficult but the end result is so incredibly worth it. At this stage in the game with the current climate of the world as a whole, you need to do what you love. So why aren’t you starting? Well, if you’re anything like me three years ago, the main reason is because you are scared and you don’t want to lose your security blanket. Your job, your spouse, your friends, family etc is in essence your security net. You’ve worked hard to build and maintain these relationships and you’re afraid that if you do what you’re passionate about those things or people will not support you. You’re afraid of being left behind. The irony here is that by pursuing your God-given purpose, you can only be pushed ahead never behind.

I remember sitting at home worrying about how to help provide for my family and not miss a beat. The moment I made the exact decision to be obedient to the calling that was on my life, we’ve never missed a meal, never felt like we were going to lose a home or a car and never felt like we were suffering. God provides. That day was May 12, 2017.

I made this post yesterday that I’m going to share with you here.

The purpose of the post was to encourage you to try. Often times, we become so focused on everything being perfect and everyone applauding our efforts that we forget to at minimum, try. Who says you don’t have the ability to write out a business plan or just write down the goal? Who says you’re incapable of selling yourself and creating the life you envisioned for yourself? Who says that one person can have a grand life and you can’t?

NO ONE.

You are your own worst enemy. Remove the idea that someone has to approve your dream in order for you to pursue it. When I started G&C, I didn’t care who approved my efforts, I cared about feeding my children and waking up to do something I loved every single day. That’s what mattered most to me.

I surrendered to God’s purpose for my life. I was called to lead, to inspire and to be an example of what it looks like when you walk in total obedience. Many may ask, what does obedience look like?

Obedience starts with discipline. If you tend to lean on the side of rebellion, I encourage you to develop a routine. If you’re working in Corporate America, wake up an hour earlier than you normally do everyday and dedicate that one hour to your dreams. Commit to yourself that you will not create excuses nor complain. Tell yourself, neither is an option while you’re building the life you desire. Understand that it will be hard! I want you to find a mentor once you’re all in, wait until then because you don’t want to waste their time and miss your opportunity. Every time you consider taking an extended nap, decide to commit that time to your goals. What I’m saying to you may seem simplistic while reading but takes a lot more effort and discipline than you think. Here’s the thing, you can do it. You can do any and everything that you set your mind to do. No one is holding you back but you. In 2020, excuses are unacceptable. You’re either doing the work or moving out of the way. Make a choice today. Stop waiting, time definitely isn’t.

Until Next Time,

XOXO