Exercising Discipline & Relying on Connection in 2024

 Happy New Year!

I am reminded of the sermon I preached just one-week ago during Watchnight Service at the church.  I exercised discipline yesterday, by not buying another pair of shoes and realized that I needed to share this to continually remind and encourage myself that I am on the right track.  Perhaps this will bless you as well as you aim to transform your life this year.

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Have you ever found yourself stuck by limiting beliefs?

1. You do things the way that your Mama did things because of a limiting belief that her way is the only way for things to be done. 

2. You don’t apply for certain jobs or positions due to a limiting belief that someone like you can’t have it all. 

3. You never reach beyond your circle because of a limiting belief that you must act a particular way or just accept certain things.

4. You stop showing up for yourself because of one failure and now you're stuck in the limiting belief that you will never be any better or do bigger things.

5. You keep doing the same things, yet you’re perplexed that you keep getting the same results, because of a limiting belief that “this is how I’ve always done it…this is just me”

All limiting beliefs.

But imagine for a moment and ask yourself.... WHAT IF?

WHAT IF…you tried something new?

WHAT IF…you stepped out on faith?

WHAT IF…you started believing God for the impossible?

WHAT IF…you started believing in your own capabilities?

WHAT IF…you let go of the way things were and embraced the possibilities of how things could be?

WHAT IF… your unique skills and talents are exactly what the world needs to solve its pressing challenges?

WHAT IF… the setbacks you've faced are just stepping stones to a remarkable success story that inspires others?

WHAT IF…your potential is limitless, and the only thing holding you back is the belief that there are limits?

WHAT IF… every failure or mistake was an opportunity to learn and grow, bringing you closer to your true potential?

WHAT IF…

It was early in the morning and I was still lying in bed thinking and talking to the Lord. The word that grabbed me and wouldn’t let go was DISCIPLINE. Why this word? It didn't make sense that this word would arrest me as I lay there rubbing my tongue across my fresh braces. I'd only had braces for 2-3 weeks after wearing Invisalign for about 18 months. Invisalign had been recommended by the boys' orthodontist after I noticed a ridge on one of my teeth, indicating that I had been grinding my teeth in my sleep. Week after week, I would insert a different clear tray that would hold my teeth firmly and settle in by the next week when it was time to change to another tray.

Week after week this pattern continued, but no one really noticed that my smile had been slowly changing, because my teeth were quietly shifting. Slowly, with each new Invisalign tray, my childhood smile was changing. 

That smile from my 8th-grade graduation pictures in my off-white lacy dress and cat heel shoes was changing.

That smile from my high school graduation pics where I wore that yellow taffeta dress and had an asymmetrical hairstyle was changing.

That smile from my graduation from Spelman College with my Anita Baker haircut was changing.

That smile that beamed on my wedding day when I married my husband wearing microbraids was changing.

That smile that beamed in the yearly recreated picture of my boys kissing my cheeks was changing. Different hairstyles, same smile.

I finally recognized the shift when I took headshots, rocking a newly shaved head, my smile had really begun to change after months of wearing Invisalign.

I was pleased because I had wanted braces since I was a little girl, but my parents could not afford them. When I became an adult, I had this limiting belief that I was too old to change my teeth. (Honestly, the ONLY reason that I really pursued braces was that the ridge on one tooth reminded me of my mother who, by the time she died 10 years ago, had ground her teeth almost to the gum line. I did not want this to be my fate, so I decided to step out and make a change.)

After almost 2 years and several boxes of trays, the orthodontist suggested that we speed the process along because two of my teeth just wouldn’t budge.  I’d been doing the same thing and been in the process for months, but these two teeth just kept hiding and playing peek-a-boo behind the front teeth. With all the shifting, rotating, and correcting of the cross-bite, two of these teeth needed something more.

Lying in bed I was reminded of the scripture in Matthew 17:19-21 when the disciples were with Jesus ministering in the crowd and a man brought his son to Jesus. He said I brought my son before your disciples but they couldn’t heal him.  Jesus went  on to heal the young boy and when the family had gone on about their business, the disciples turned and asked Jesus “ Yo, why couldn’t we cast him out?”

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief [LIMITING BELIEF]; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 [f]However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting [DISCIPLINE]

And that’s what the Lord showed me early that morning, laying in bed, rubbing my tongue over the back of my teeth, realizing that one of the teeth that had been hiding for years was actually shifting. The teeth that had been playing peek-a-boo were getting bolder and coming to the forefront. Just as Jesus told his disciples that some things require DISCIPLINE to change, the Lord was showing me that it was the guidance of the metal wire, attached to the brackets that were providing the DISCIPLINE for my teeth to come out of hiding.

You see with the Invisalign, I made all the decisions. I took them out when I ate. I was able to remove them when I got tired of them and needed a break. Sometimes, I would remove them for a little while, but other times I would keep them out for hours, only putting them back on at night.

But something happened quickly when the orthodontist put those metal brackets in, along with the guide wire,…the shift was no longer determined by my will, but it was determined by that to which I was connected.

And that’s what God wants me to share with you as you enter 2024.  You’ve been hanging out long enough playing peek-a-boo and hide-n-seek with your gift, waiting for something to happen and God says with a little DISCIPLINE you will see your change come.

~Coming to church in the building and online, week after week…you are in the right place but not seeing any lasting effects. God says try a little DISCIPLINE in 2024 and stay connected to me.

~Giving an offering every week, yet not seeing any real changes or benefits. God says try a little DISCIPLINE in 2024 and stay connected to me...give me a full tithe, just 10% of what you make, and watch that loan officer come back with a different story next time, allowing you to purchase your home or that car.

~Studying in school, but the GPA is not where it needs to be. God says try a little DISCIPLINE in 2024 and stay connected to me talk to your professors and attend the study sessions.

~Desiring a promotion on the job God says try a little DISCIPLINE in 2024 and stay connected to me get there early, leave late, and make it so that the job can’t be done without you, then go in and negotiate your pay raise,

~You say Lord I know that you have more in store for me but I’m not quite sure what I should do God says try a little DISCIPLINE in 2024 and stay connected to me.

 Jesus said in John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. It's all about staying connected as the branches are connected to the vine. Your sustenance comes from the power in the vine. The vine is your lifeline for growth and strength. You only grow because you are connected. So stay connected!

Stay connected to the one who loves you.

Stay connected to the one who saved you.

Stay connected to the one who delivered you and watch the shift begin to happen. 

Stay connected to the one who transformed you and watch the shift begin to happen. 

Stay connected to the one who redeemed you and watch the shift begin to happen. 

Stay connected to the one who gives new life and watch the shift begin to happen. 

In 2024 as you approach your new beginning, try a little DISCIPLINE and stay connected.

Btw, the orthodontist projects that I will only need to wear these braces for about 3 months. Another sign that as soon you take all of the decisions out of your hands and begin to rely on help from a stronger source, your time can be expedited.

Lord, please expedite our blessings in 2024 as we exercise discipline and stay connected to you.

Now walk it out....

Prelude to REST...I chose a pillow over a champagne toast

It is January 3, 2023, and I am extremely grateful to God for allowing me to see another year.  

New Year's Eve has always been an event in my family. As a little girl, I entered the New Year praising God, we called it Watchnight Service.  Growing up in a Black Pentecostal church, I thought it was just a religious service where we ended the year thanking God and began the new year thanking God.  Every choir would sing, the praise dancers did their number, people gave testimonies and we'd have our revivalist close out the night preaching and prophesying. Then we'd go to someone's house afterward to eat and continue the celebration.  Little did I know that my future husband spent much of his youth doing something similar in his Black Baptist context. After every new year, I quickly realized that none of my friends, from other cultures, brought in the new year quite the same way. They only partied! It wasn't until years later that I learned the historical significance of this "Watchnight" service.

History lesson time (Come on, you know me):

When Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation (September 1862) it was not enacted until Jan.1, 1863, New Year's day.   The night before,  enslaved Africans in Confederate states, stayed up all night in their homes or places of worship and 'watched the night' until dawn which marked their freedom. This night has also been called "Freedom's Eve". (Note: The Emancipation Proclamation was intended to free only enslaved Africans in the Confederate states. It was not originally intended for those states who remained loyal to the Union. In 1865, the 13th amendment to the Constitution was signed by Lincoln in January and ratified by the states in December.) We'll continue the history lesson later.

Fast forward...

Since my husband is a Pastor,  we brought this tradition to our church.  We would begin Watchnight service with praise & worship, listen to member testimonies, Byron would preach and we would close out at midnight "praying in" the new year.  Then we would all enjoy food, in the fellowship hall, as a church family. This is all that our sons ever knew, until the pandemic.  We strategically moved everything online to stay connected to our folk.  The pandemic, however,  has taught us that people move differently when it comes to church, which is totally fine. Our love for Jesus has not changed, but we have found other ways to stay connected and fellowship with friends and loved ones.  This year, rather than do the same thing for tradition's sake, we created a church Zoom, where folks could jump on and give their testimony.  #connection  We held the Zoom call at 7pm to allow people to be with their church family before hitting the streets to go party or hitting the bed to sleep.

I chose to sleep!

But there is a back story to my sleep choice and it's called REST.

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A couple of months ago, I began listening to an audiobook entitled, "Rest is Resistance".  Each night as I prepared for bed, I would listen to at least 20 minutes until I dozed off.  One of the things that kept coming up for me was the idea that African American women have been conditioned to be busy.  Michelle Obama, in her book, "The Light We Carry" (I just finished the hardcopy.) mentioned the same thing....the pressure to be at the top of your game because "all eyes are on you".  Black folks are put under a microscope.  Many times when walking in a room, people actually think, "I wonder how she got here...who does she know or what does she do?"  Let's be honest, It can be a room full of white people, sprinkled with a few persons of color, and many of us will think, "hmmm, I've got to know who that person is...it's like having a mythical unicorn in a room".  (Deny it if you want to, but I know you've thought that at least ONE time in your life. It's okay, I'm not judging you, because I have fallen into the same trap and oftentimes I am considered the unicorn. Ha!) Moving on...

So this idea of rest had been percolating in my mind for the past couple of months.  Only in my mind, because physically I was not resting.  Working the ministry with my husband meant that when the pandemic hit, we did not chill like many others, but we (our sons included) created a platform where our church family and people across the country could stay connected with us and be encouraged during times of uncertainty. (For 2 years, our home was a production studio!) Both of us have this crazy work ethic and hearts to serve, so it was instinctive for us to push harder, many times to the point of exhaustion. 

Any time someone would ask what I did for a living, I would simply reply EVERYTHING.

On Monday, I was at one location. Tuesday and Thursday I was at another location. Wednesday was a totally different location. Friday was supposed to be my day of rest, but I was still corresponding with students, and organizations from the other days.  I did all of this daily work, while still reading, studying, and writing as a Seminary student. (What the what, and why?) The weekend was not a reprieve for me because church work usually happened on the weekend, as we would prepare for the Sunday morning worship experience.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the chaos. (or at least, I had grown accustomed to it)  I was able to compartmentalize everything. "If it isn't your day, you don't get any play" or "I'm off the clock" is how I navigated the various spaces.  Oftentimes, when I arrived home, if everyone was home I felt like I had to keep moving. Only if I was home alone, I allowed myself couch time but jumped up when I heard the garage opening.  I didn't want them to see Mommy or Wifey as lazy.....it's that doggone Black woman societal conditioning again. Ugh!

Back to the percolating...

These two books began to rearrange my thoughts and overall body chemistry. There was a slow and steady shifting of priorities that was taking place. I was becoming a bit more reflective and began to make decisions that made me feel better.  I was still moving hurriedly from day to day, but I could feel something brewing inside of me.  A prelude to REST! The week before the Thanksgiving holiday, one of my "days" asked me to commit to another day of the week. (#ScheduleChange) I went home, thought about it, prayed about it, and decided that NO! is a complete sentence.  I tendered my resignation the following week.   I didn't have things figured out yet, but as soon as I chose ME, I began to feel more grounded. Rather than continuously floating from day to day, job to job, I had begun the process of anchoring myself to REST and stability.

Even as the Christmas holiday approached, I told my husband that I did not want to travel, I simply wanted to be in my home to REST. I was content in being in the same place and space for a couple of weeks to give my mind/body a chance to recover from the chaos and busyness to which I had grown accustomed. I probably should have been a bit more specific! I was forced to REST because I  ended one year and began a new one at home, sick with COVID. Ha! God has jokes! (this is why the pillow was the best option for me)

So this year, my word is REST!  By the way, REST does not equate to sleep!

I am currently listening to an audiobook, "Sacred Rest" by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith (Come on Sis...an African American female internal medicine physician. She speaks my language!) She writes about seven components of REST.....mental, spiritual, emotional, social, sensory, creative, and physical.  Finding this book, after the other two, was a Godsend!  This is the perfect way for me to begin the year.  I had already told my family that I was going to take FB and IG off my phone for January.  #SocialMediaSabbath so that I was not inundated with other folks' stuff before I could even form my own thoughts. (I will be intentional as to when I engage on social media platforms and not look at every notification.)

I declare REST in my mind....think higher thoughts of myself and others. I am worthy!

I declare REST in my body...actually listen to what my body is telling me. Know when to get up and exercise, but know when to take a seat.

I declare REST in my daily work activities...I begin this new year with one job where I show up Monday-Friday, in a sunlit office, still helping students, but differently. (Okay... I'm still an adjunct professor, so 1.5 jobs. Ha!)

I declare REST and restoration in my finances...make more mindful, budget-friendly purchases.

Oh and by the way, in the middle of my REST revelation, I was invited to speak at a women's conference in May... "Embracing the Sabbath as Sacred: Leaning into Rest, Restoration, and Rejuvenation".  The conference will be in Cancun, Mexico. Now that's some REST right there. (Look at God!!! Ladies, as soon as I get the registration information, I'll share it with you.)

My REST revolution had been brewing for months and I wasn't even aware of it.  God was orchestrating things behind the scenes because I have always tried to remain open to the possibility that God was going to blow my mind.  In this instance, God was shifting things strategically, working behind the scenes, and causing unrest in my spirit so I could be open to the idea of REST. 

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So, what God has God been showing you? What has your gut been telling you to do? That uneasiness that you feel could be the Holy Spirit telling you that there is something more. I say trust your gut, trust your instincts, trust the Holy Spirit.....even when those around you do not understand your reasoning for switching things up. This is your narrative...your testimony...your blessing!  

I choose REST, what do you choose?

Now walk it out...

Spectrum of Allies - Education is a Social Justice Issue

I am currently a student in Seminary working on a Master of Theological Studies. One of my courses this semester is "Theology and Social Justice." Each of us had the opportunity to determine which social justice issue mattered most to us. My social justice topic of choice is education. (If you know me, you ALREADY knew this.) Throughout the semester, we discussed social strategies, including Saul Alinksy's Rules for Radicals, The Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change based on Dr. King's nonviolent campaigns and teachings, and Mutual Aid. We furthered the conversation by identifying the tools that best address our social justice concern. 

Two strategies discussed were Pillars of Support and Spectrum of Allies.

The Pillar of support is a tool to assess the power structure and the organizations that support them. The Spectrum of Allies is a strategy tool that examines the range of social groups and forces from active supporters to most vigorous opponents. I chose the Spectrum of Allies because, with the correct information, we can convince local churches that every Black and Brown child is our mission. Before we try to get kids to live right, I want to ensure that every child can read, write, and have a positive self-image.

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Equity and access to a good education are social justice issues. During the pandemic, we realized the importance that local agencies, churches, and community centers could play in ensuring that no child went without access to Wi-Fi and learning capabilities. During the Fall 2020 school year, I served as a site coordinator of one of the Community Hope Centers, where local churches partnered w/ Urban League OKC. We ensured that students received daily affirmations and support before starting their studies. Posted around the facility were quotes of promise, determination, pride, and power meant to encourage and strengthen every person who entered the facility. We recognized that Social Emotional Learning was imperative for each young scholar's success. Research shows that when a student feels supported emotionally, it directly affects how the child learns.

Since my husband pastors a local church in Oklahoma City, I have access to knowledge regarding how the church functioned during the pandemic and how it reemerges post-pandemic. From 2020 to early parts of 2021, most of the local churches closed to their congregations, except for Sunday morning worship. Many of the local churches owned a dormant fellowship hall or community room for much of this time. Our church partnered with the local Urban League through the Cares Act funds, called Community Hope Centers, served families and proved the value of churches partnering to meet the community's needs.

I can love the church and criticize the church at the same time. Too many local churches are more concerned about church membership, viewership, and getting people to "get right" to enter heaven. We miss the importance of meeting the needs of families and children now. Many of our Black and brown students in OKC attend schools with low reading and math scores, and we expect them to grow up and compete with kids with access to more resources. What could this mean to students when this becomes important to ALL of us in the community?

During and after slavery, Black folks were not allowed to read. They understood the importance of education, so they formed their schools.' Religious institutions established schools or provided general education in Sabbath schools, which often supplied the only educational opportunity for African Americans. It was here that students learned the academic fundamentals. Yet, it was also where they received emotional support and an expectation for excellence.

I contend that local Black churches need to be concerned with the educational success of our Black and Brown students. Most recently, OKC passed one of the most significant school bonds designed to take care of the building and grounds. Most local schools that educate Black and Brown students received refurbished gyms or walking paths. We can agree that newer facilities are valuable to the student's physical abilities. Still, the community needs to invest in students' academic success.

This is where the Black church comes goes into action!

What would it look like for EVERY local Black church surrounding the nearest school with support? What if we opened our fellowship hall doors twice weekly to ensure children had snacks, free Wi-Fi, and a place to complete their homework? How could weekly tutoring help our students? We could enlist retired or senior members to work in the reading room, where they read a book for 20 minutes. High school and college students could serve as tutors or mentors while gaining community service hours. I can imagine looking around the room and seeing positive statements to keep our young scholars engaged and motivated.

An African Proverb says, "It takes a village to raise a child." The goal of community partnerships is for everyone to participate in the process of building a stronger, more productive community. Whether it be churches, synagogues, mosques, or community centers, I believe every child would benefit by having the community invested in their education. We are all stakeholders in the education of our youth. 

So, where do you stand? What is keeping you or your church from partnering with the local school? Come a little closer to the action and help join this education revolution.

Education is a social justice issue!

Now, walk it out.

Redecorate your room with a YES and a NO!

Wow! It is already December 5th! 

The year 2022 has been a year of growth for me. I have learned the power of my Yes AND the power of my No. 

Oftentimes we miss opportunities because No is our default response. Either we do not view ourselves as capable or we are held captive by the familiar. We say things like, “this is just the way I am” or “this is how I have always done it.”  Just like that favorite chair that you have which has the indentation of your back side, after years of sitting in the same spot. You enjoy a good cup of tea, while sitting in the chair. When you sit down to enjoy a movie, you can swing your legs to the side, curled up underneath a warm blanket. This same indented chair cradles you every time you take a seat, at the end of a long day. It still matches the room decor, so it is not out of place. It is simply comfortable.

Then one day, you happen upon a furniture store and realize that there are so many other chairs that could match your room decor. Some of the chairs are shaped differently and have different textures or features, but you get a glimpse of the potential of taking one of these new chairs home with you. You even get excited because you imagine how this chair could brighten the space at home and give it a fresh look; until you look at the price of the chair and realize that it costs to take that chair home. Being the cautious individual that you are, you quickly talk yourself out of it and go back home. No impulse shopping today!

You are proud of yourself because you dodged that bullet and saved money! Kudos to you (and your financial planner) because that new chair was not in your budget. As you drive back home, the thought of those new chairs quickly leave your mind, and you move on to the next thing. 

Everything is fine, until you go back, sit in your familiar chair, and realize that the groove fits you a little differently. Although still perfect for the space, you notice that it leaves your posture tilted just a tad. You realize that you must kick your legs up to build enough momentum to work your way out of the well-worn indentation. “Hmm, I hadn’t noticed this before” you say to yourself as you remember the plethora of chair options in the furniture store. Night after night, you go back and sit in the same comfortable chair, but you begin to imagine what one of the newer chairs could add to this room. You wonder, “if I say Yes to this new chair, what will I have to say No to?” You even begin to count the cost of how much those furniture store chairs might set you back. You start calculating how you can save money by not eating out as much, instead deciding to make morning coffee at home or by packing your leftovers for lunch. In your mind, you begin to move the existing furniture around to see if you can create a fresh look for the room. You can hang pictures on a different wall and rearrange the existing furniture to set a different tone for this space. You oscillate between should I or should I not, until you finally take the leap and say Yes.

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When I said Yes, at the beginning of the year, I did not realize that I was saying Yes to thinking and moving outside of my comfortable chair. With that Yes, came a renewed confidence and the power to change, control my narrative, and rearrange my entire room decor. My Yes allowed me the ability to not be afraid to stand on the wall and speak truth to power for myself and others.

Yes, to embracing the kids of color in the community, who are lagging academically, and creating programs to help parents who need an advocate.

Yes, to calling our legislators and legislation to the carpet when their policies do not support the well-being of children. 

Yes, to speaking up for myself even when others did not understand my moves.

Yes, to self-care which in some cases involved sitting outside soaking up the sun’s rays in stillness.

Yes, to not being ruled by fake fears.

Yes, to trying new things. (Go with your knees knocking, but by all means…GO.)

Yes, to trusting my gut! (You never lose when you bet on yourself and God.)

But with that Yes, it was also imperative to recognize when saying No was expedient.

I said No to being defined by others.

No, to being paralyzed by fear.

No, to simply going with the crowd. #IndependentThinker

No, to viewing myself as small and insignificant when I KNOW that I am greater than my wildest imagination.

No, to allowing the expectations of others dictate my actions or decide my outcome.

No, to allowing the enemy to wreak havoc over my mind, my family, or my circle of friends.

No, to looking outside of myself to confirm my worth. (I am more than enough and so are you!)

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There is power in your Yes AND power in your No!

When you tap into your light and allow it to shine brightly, it will illuminate your path and guide your forward movement as you begin the redecoration process.

No to fear and Yes to faith.

No to mediocrity and Yes to marvellousness.

No to the opinions of others and Yes to the omniscience of God.

No to insecurities and Yes to your imagination.

Throughout this year, I have rearranged the furniture in my room several times. Last year, I sat comfortably in my chair with the familiar indentation, simply happy to be alive and surrounded by the people I love. But this year, I began counting the cost of what saying Yes AND No could mean to the decor of my life. 

Even as we began rearranging furniture to make room for this years' Christmas tree, I realized that I must let go of some things to make room for the new. There are two pictures that I took down off the wall by the tree and I have already decided that when Christmas is over and the tree is down, I will not put them back on the wall. I think I will leave it bare until I have a different vision and new direction for the wall space. I want to cultivate an area that suits my new mindset. (Someone else might call this decluttering.)

I invite you to take this last month of 2022 to be reflective and reevaluate the decor of your room(s). What have you closed yourself off to because you have become so comfortable with the familiar? What opportunities have you missed out of fear of making a difficult decision? There are some things to which you need to say NO immediately because they will not serve you. Yet there are plenty of options to which you should just say YES, trust your gut, and grow with God.

Recognize your genius and the light you possess inside and allow that to be your guide.  Redecorating your room does not mean that the old furniture is bad or of inferior quality, it just means that you have a new vision of how you choose to navigate your existing space. Your Yes has opened you up to more options!

You cannot say that you want more out of life, yet keep relegating yourself to the mundane out of fear. I encourage you to stop by a furniture store this week, find a chair, close your eyes, and dream a new vision for yourself.

 

Now walk it out…….…2023 is on the way.

15 by 51

I know you are wondering; what does 15 by 51 mean? 

If you divide 15 by 51 it's a rather small number, 0.2941176471.   If you multiply 15 by 51 it equals 765.  Someone might try to figure this out and say, "Maybe she is building something with total square footage of 765.  What could she be doing?" 

Ha, I know you are trying to figure this out. Let's explore...

Last year, during my 50th Birthday gala, "Celebration of Sisterhood", I encouraged the sisters to "be the light". That means showing up in a room, not intending to change or convince anyone to do anything differently, but your mere presence shifts the atmosphere.  The light and aura illuminates the room without you ever having to open your mouth. But Baby, when you do open your mouth, you speak truth to power and bring light to every situation.  That has been my mode of operation over the past year. 

 And here's what I really like about shining your light...

My light doesn't put your light out.  It merely accentuates what you already have inside of you.  We shine together!!!  This is why I am very intentional about encouraging other Sisters.  I am neither threatened nor am I discouraged, by noticing the accomplishments and growth of other women.  And if they are younger than I am, I really want to pour into them by modeling authentic celebration of another woman.

Because I was intentional regarding shining my light, doors opened for me this past year that allowed me to have a lived experience.  I've been asked to preach in some great pulpits, speak up for others on various platforms, ran for office and I've been engaging with others on so many fronts just because I dared to shine my light.

Well now it's time to set another intention, as I make my way to 51 in August.

Have you ever complained sooooo much that you have grown tired of hearing yourself talk about it? No one else is talking, but the voice in your head just complains on loop. You understand, right?!  Well, it's time to finally shut this voice up!  (it's so unnecessary) You have seen me this past year cruising on my bike or walking around the neighborhood (RIP Arby), I have slimmed down a little and my legs are pretty strong, but tthefat has shifted in my upper body. Go figure!  My belly and doggone back fat have appeared with a vengeance and they are quite proud of themselves. Ha!

I know that maturity has a way of slowing down metabolism and raising cortisol levels that help us to store fat, but (geesh!) that doesn't mean that I have to accept it!  This sister is not going down without a fight.  The fight is first in my mind, then it will reflect itself in my actions. In fact, the shift happened this morning.  I found an exercise program/ channel that I like on YouTube and I made myself get up and go to the "workout room" that we created during COVID. (Yes, I have everything I need in my own house. Don't judge me. Ha!)   I can literally go to the other room in the morning and do a 20-minute workout without even thinking about it.  If I go to the gym, swim, ride my bike or go for a walk, that should be the added gravy to my exercise intention. The next step is to champion my nutrition; not with a diet but with intermittent fasting and eating more REAL foods, as opposed to junk food fillers.

So I am calling on my fitness and nutrition oriented Sisters to shine your light this way. I'm going to need encouragement along the journey!!!  You are my accountability partners. (Don't bash me or I will mysteriously delete your phone number. Ha!)  Know that I have seen your social media posts and YOU have already encouraged me to strive for better in this area.  Thank you!

So back to the 15 by 51...

I am setting the intention to round out year 50 by losing 15lbs by my 51st birthday. (August 15th)   I already know that I CAN do it... ability is never the question.  The concern is whether or not I will make the necessary changes to meet my goal.

 Today, I have already made a few very important steps: 

1. I got up and exercised,

2. I drank plenty of water,

3. Fasting until noon, and

 4. I put my business in the street by informing you... now I have to be accountable. Ha!

Share with me what your intentions are for the rest of the summer.  You may have set a different goal for yourself, but I'm sure that you can always use a little encouragement.  Let's keep each other lifted in this journey, we call life.

Now walk it out....