As I move effortlessly into 2011, I find myself questioning the goals I have set for myself this year. To question these goal on the 11th day of the 1st month is quite daunting. Granted, I will go through this feeling at least 300 more days this year. Ha, funny thing is that as I type this, I am listening to Jango.com and Richard Smallwood's song "Healing" just came on. The first line to the song is "Don't be discouraged."
Whatever I was going to write has just transformed into encouragement for those going through something. This life will challenge us and we all need some kind of healing and as Richard sings in his song, there is a balm in Gilead to heal the soul.
"There's healing for your sorrow;
Healing for your pain;
healing for your spirit and shelter from the rain.
Lord, send a healing.
For this we know, there is a balm in Gilead to heal your soul."
I am encouraged for not only myself but for everyone who longs for change in their lives. We are not blessed according to what we done or even who we are but WHOSE we are. God's love is so remarkable, unchangeable, unshakable and unmovable. We try to have a love like this but most times fall short. Loved ones, there is something in each and everyone of us that reaches for something or someone to give us an indication that we are on the right path for our life. We are only human and we make mistakes. Anyone willing to condemn someone for being human with a reasonable margin of mistakes don't understand their own level of humanity. We tend to want to be forgiven but are slow to forgive others and those who say they don't care if someone forgives them is only fooling themselves and have no intentions on extending forgiveness to others. We forget that even in our pray to the Father, We agree and make a pledge, basically, that God should forgive us as we forgive others. How many people say that prayer and has yet to forgive someone but expect God to wash away each sin and cast them into the sea of forgetfulness? Too many, I feel.
Even more, we tend to forget to forgive ourselves. In my mind, the biggest part of moving past obstacles and finding the ability to accomplish goals and achieve our dreams is to forgive ourselves for our shortcomings, our doubts, our weaknesses and anything we think is imperfect about ourselves. The funniest (hmmmm funny, not haha funny) thing about all of this forgiving and imperfection is that no one walking this earth is perfect. Not one. So many people fall and stay down without even an attempt to get back up so when someone comes and tries to encourage them to move, stand, start moving, they are so used to being down that they don't understand why anyone would want them to stand and move. Some people don't even know how to stand anymore. I feel like that is me sometimes but I do know how to stand up. I do know how to move. I learn more and more each day that I am more than my shortcomings. I am more than that thing I called a failure. I am more than the looks I get from people when I think they don't like me. I am more. I have absolutely no clue what God has in store for me this year.
A few years ago I thought that by 2011 I would be done with school, in a relationship and have my own business. Well I'm not done with school. I'm not in a relationship. I am restructuring the business I started a few years back so that I can move forward. I feel God's hand on my life. I don't want to mess up. I feel bad sometimes. My emotions teeter between knowing and understanding my position and feeling bad for not grasping all He's made available to and for me. For the latter portion, I forgive myself. He's granted us one more day. Let's take it and make it what it should be. Be blessed loved ones.
Next time, I'm sure I'll have a story that entertain you with more TARA: 30 SOMETHING, SINGLE IN THE CITY AND DISGUSTED . The disgusted part basically deals with something I have done, haven't done or the general attitude or actions of other crazy people. Should be fun.
MUAH!!!!!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
"Shall Old Aquaintance be forgot..."
And we are now in the year 2011 and it is such an awesome place to be. I remember at one time in my life when I was excited and wondered how it would feel to see 1990; then 2000; and now we are in 2011. Loved ones, I am simply grateful for this moment.
Anyone who has been with me over the last few years knows that the last two years or so have been some of the toughest years I have had. 2010 started with a love for someone else and 2011 has started with an undying love for myself. 2010 started with fear and no job and financial struggle. 2011 has started with hopefulness and full time employments that allows me to take care of many things that will help make this year an awesome year. 2010 began with a prayer thanking God for keeping me and asking him to help get me to where He wants to see me. 2011 begins with the same prayer from the same heart and thankful lips. 2010 began with people in my life that, as 2011 begins, are no longer visual in my world. I thank God for their presence but I'm even more grateful for the new people that have become a part of my family.
In 2010, I have had to embrace and release love. I have had to reveal pain so that it may be released and I can forgive others and myself. In 2010, I have embraced change in my lifestyle regarding my health and will continue to do so in 2011. Lessons have taught me to not be as transparent in the new year but never be afraid to expose my heart when it comes to loving someone and to acknowledge when I am hurting so that someone may help catch the tears if I need them but I am praying that any tears falling in 2011 will be from happiness more than pain.
I am embracing my gifts. I am loving my talents. I am feeling my beauty and accepting the beautiful, sensual, loving, intelligent, unbelievable woman I am and I am to be. I pray anyone who enters my life from this point on will be a part of the plan to develop TRU's positive and caring future. I want to help more people; give more; show more love; dry more tears; teach more and reach more.
I am wishing everyone in my path and peripheral a grand and phenomenal New Year!
It starts now...let's get to work!!!
xoxox...Stay TRU!!!
Anyone who has been with me over the last few years knows that the last two years or so have been some of the toughest years I have had. 2010 started with a love for someone else and 2011 has started with an undying love for myself. 2010 started with fear and no job and financial struggle. 2011 has started with hopefulness and full time employments that allows me to take care of many things that will help make this year an awesome year. 2010 began with a prayer thanking God for keeping me and asking him to help get me to where He wants to see me. 2011 begins with the same prayer from the same heart and thankful lips. 2010 began with people in my life that, as 2011 begins, are no longer visual in my world. I thank God for their presence but I'm even more grateful for the new people that have become a part of my family.
In 2010, I have had to embrace and release love. I have had to reveal pain so that it may be released and I can forgive others and myself. In 2010, I have embraced change in my lifestyle regarding my health and will continue to do so in 2011. Lessons have taught me to not be as transparent in the new year but never be afraid to expose my heart when it comes to loving someone and to acknowledge when I am hurting so that someone may help catch the tears if I need them but I am praying that any tears falling in 2011 will be from happiness more than pain.
I am embracing my gifts. I am loving my talents. I am feeling my beauty and accepting the beautiful, sensual, loving, intelligent, unbelievable woman I am and I am to be. I pray anyone who enters my life from this point on will be a part of the plan to develop TRU's positive and caring future. I want to help more people; give more; show more love; dry more tears; teach more and reach more.
I am wishing everyone in my path and peripheral a grand and phenomenal New Year!
It starts now...let's get to work!!!
xoxox...Stay TRU!!!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
I have talked too much.
This weekend was spent talking. I feel like I have talked more this weekend than in the last few weeks. Of course, I haven't talked to who I want to talk to but I'm still getting past that. There are so many things I need to do before the end of the year and I'm hoping my emotional side don't shut down my production. Today was hard. Some days you just can't shake of the feeling or longing to be with or talk to someone. A level of loneliness comes over you. Granted, I live with 4 other people and I have been on the phone with my 2 new friends most of the weekend but my heart is still alone. I'm trying to figure out how to grasp what I already know; that I am trying to trick myself into letting go of many things that are hanging on to me.
You may think this is just about a guy or something like that and you wouldn't be totally incorrect to assume that but it's me. I have to let go of some of my ideas about my future, myself, my journey, that will stop me from proceeding. The more I think about the changes coming the more nervous I get. Families developing, careers changing, education and me getting my footing with my decisions for the new year.
Health wise, I have been having a difficult time. I'm not sick or anything like that but my focus on my fitness and nutrition has taken a back seat to my emotions. I'm trying. I really am. It's just hard right now. I'll be okay though. Even if I have to convince myself to believe that even though I don't feel it right now. Goodnight.
You may think this is just about a guy or something like that and you wouldn't be totally incorrect to assume that but it's me. I have to let go of some of my ideas about my future, myself, my journey, that will stop me from proceeding. The more I think about the changes coming the more nervous I get. Families developing, careers changing, education and me getting my footing with my decisions for the new year.
Health wise, I have been having a difficult time. I'm not sick or anything like that but my focus on my fitness and nutrition has taken a back seat to my emotions. I'm trying. I really am. It's just hard right now. I'll be okay though. Even if I have to convince myself to believe that even though I don't feel it right now. Goodnight.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Don't Stop Your Own Growth
2010 is rapidly coming to a close and many people will start to take stock in what they have accomplished this year.
These are just some of the kinds of questions we tend to reflect on when analyzing our current state of affairs. In all our questioning and reflection, we hardly ever look at the things we have done that may have hindered our growth. We lean more towards reflecting on the things we could have done to make things better. One way to ensure you change your way of thinking and propel yourself into a place of accomplishing your goals is to, first, be honest about the things you have actually done to hinder yourself. I don't mean dwell on them; just acknowledge them. Knowing where you went wrong or where you could have done something different will cause a red flag to go up the next time you are about to make the same mistake. Now whether or not you choose to make the same mistake is totally up to you but just make sure you are willing to deal with the outcome; good or bad.
It may have been a relationship that began or ended and you are looking at where you are in it right now. Did you have little stupid fights over nothing? In that case, what would you have done differently? Did you think all was well but it suddenly took a turn down a strange road and now it's over? In this case, what signs did you miss that could have told you it was ending?
Sometimes, things just happen. It's not that anything was your fault or that anything could have been done differently. Don't beat yourself up about it. Maybe everything turned out better than you expected? Could you have made it even better? Who knows? All I know is 2010 held both happiness and sadness for me; discouragement and encouragement; despair and hope. I can reflect on this year and see that I trusted others more than myself. I doubted my ability to be a great woman. I minimized my external and internal beauty and I spent too much time in regret of all I had not accomplished. I had many many great days full of happiness and laughter but as always, the sad days seem to linger.
I cannot guarantee that 2011 will be full of only happy days but I will tell you this, with all my power, it will be a heck of a lot better than 2010. I'm closing several chapters and gearing up for new ones. I have written about the hope for my future and family, I still have it. All the people I have loved in 2010, I still love. I have realized that some of those people I have to love from a distance. I have to love Tara up close and in person. Get ready! 2011's a comin'!
Is my faith in God stronger than it was last year?
Did I get the job I wanted?
Did I go back to school?
Am I healthier?
Did I find the man/woman of my dreams?
How have I made my life happier?
These are just some of the kinds of questions we tend to reflect on when analyzing our current state of affairs. In all our questioning and reflection, we hardly ever look at the things we have done that may have hindered our growth. We lean more towards reflecting on the things we could have done to make things better. One way to ensure you change your way of thinking and propel yourself into a place of accomplishing your goals is to, first, be honest about the things you have actually done to hinder yourself. I don't mean dwell on them; just acknowledge them. Knowing where you went wrong or where you could have done something different will cause a red flag to go up the next time you are about to make the same mistake. Now whether or not you choose to make the same mistake is totally up to you but just make sure you are willing to deal with the outcome; good or bad.
It may have been a relationship that began or ended and you are looking at where you are in it right now. Did you have little stupid fights over nothing? In that case, what would you have done differently? Did you think all was well but it suddenly took a turn down a strange road and now it's over? In this case, what signs did you miss that could have told you it was ending?
Sometimes, things just happen. It's not that anything was your fault or that anything could have been done differently. Don't beat yourself up about it. Maybe everything turned out better than you expected? Could you have made it even better? Who knows? All I know is 2010 held both happiness and sadness for me; discouragement and encouragement; despair and hope. I can reflect on this year and see that I trusted others more than myself. I doubted my ability to be a great woman. I minimized my external and internal beauty and I spent too much time in regret of all I had not accomplished. I had many many great days full of happiness and laughter but as always, the sad days seem to linger.
Monday, November 1, 2010
My Future and It's Light
For the last 24 hours my heart and mind have been totally detached from reality but as always, reality wins and all is restored to normalcy. I want all wonderful things for my family and friends but I know that we cannot control everything that happens in our lives; even when we try to control them.
I am reaching for whatever it is God has for me. I want to strain to reach it because I see it and if I stop now I will never touch it. I think, to often, we place ourselves in tough positions then give up on our dreams because we say life is hard. Yes. Life is hard but we have choices in every single step we take in this life. You can choose to go left or right; do wrong or right; say yes or no: be up or down. WE CHOOSE! Doesn't matter how many kids you have, how hard you job is, how much you want or how little you have; you have a choice as to which path you take and whether or not you want to be happy or live a happy life despite difficult times. I'm going to be fine. I hope you all will be also. Believe you will and guess what? You just may.
I am reaching for whatever it is God has for me. I want to strain to reach it because I see it and if I stop now I will never touch it. I think, to often, we place ourselves in tough positions then give up on our dreams because we say life is hard. Yes. Life is hard but we have choices in every single step we take in this life. You can choose to go left or right; do wrong or right; say yes or no: be up or down. WE CHOOSE! Doesn't matter how many kids you have, how hard you job is, how much you want or how little you have; you have a choice as to which path you take and whether or not you want to be happy or live a happy life despite difficult times. I'm going to be fine. I hope you all will be also. Believe you will and guess what? You just may.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Who Runs Your Life?
Dear ones, I just had a few things on my mind tonight that I wanted to share. This blogging is really helping me to connect the dots with a lot of my stray thoughts that seem to live individually instead of forming a collective front to better my life. lol. But I love them, these thoughts, and all of this is a continued learning session for me. Who do I love? Do I love myself? Who are considered sources of encouragement for my life? Do I make my own decisions or are they molded by the influence of other people?
The last question came to me about 10 minutes ago and I had to log on and blog about it. I was watching a silly Will Ferrell movie and seeing his character was use to living his life based on what was allowed by his mom. As you can probably tell I was watching Step Brothers. Funny movie! Well anyway, she enabled him and he was never made to grow up until things fell apart with his mother's new marriage. Although the situations may not be the same, I just thought of some of my decisions as well as some of the choices some of my current and former friends have made based on pressure and influence from other people.
I have allowed others to influence some of my actions but ultimately these were my actions to make so I always take full responsibility but how many people actually feel like they have no other option but to succumb to the wishes of other people. Again, I must say that I, too, have made choices based on what others said I should do and family, those choices were a disaster.
In high school, a friend planted seed that I hadn't even thought of, about a guy we went to school with and the more we talked, the more I looked at this guy and was like, "yeah, I think he's pretty cool." Granted, he was a great guy and probably still is, but I was hurt behind it because he wasn't feeling me and I thought afterwards, "I am such a friggin idiot." lol. Had I just ignored her and didn't entertain her suggestions, WHO KNOWS where I would be now or who I would be with. Maybe I wouldn't be any different but one thing is sure, nothing is certain.
Later, after YEARS of being "good" and very happy, by the way, I had an idiot friend tell me that I needed to let some of my standards go because I just needed to BE WITH SOMEBODY. ANYBODY. uh...I went out with this guy I didn't really want to because he was just anybody and family, again, REGRETS! I was an adult by then so it's not just teenagers who go through peer pressure. Don't be mistaken.
Now my real question is how many of you will allow a person to alter your destiny or just influence you to turn away from your desired choices or maybe it's a person you're turning away from because you feel you have no choice? Who, among you, has felt your heart break because you felt you had to make a choice to appease someone else who just doesn't want to see you happier than they are? Think about it. If you are miserable in your situation and are in the midst of other miserable people, ask yourself this question, "Why am I afraid to be happy?"
In my experiences, I have seen people make choices for their own life because they would appear to be too happy to their friends and family. Well, to that I say, "ARE YOU EFFIN' CRAZY???" LOL! Let me share a tidbit about myself with you to show you how I deal with the pressure of other people wanting me to make my decisions based on their level of happiness. First, I do care about other people's happiness but I care about my happiness first. The two people I respect more on this earth than anyone are my parents. They had me. They raised me. They taught me. They helped to mold my character and I still will not make a decision solely on making them happy if it made me miserable. I make a point to tell them what I think and what I will decide about certain things so that they know that although I will take their guidance into consideration, ultimately I have to choose for myself and I do just that. If they don't like someone I like, I pay attention to their feelings but if I am not going to be with that person it has to be because I agreed with my parents and saw the same things they saw and not just because they said so. Operating like this does lead to learning lessons the hard way sometimes but most of the time parents are not influencing you negatively but letting you know how they feel and that I can respect. What kinda of woman would I be if I cut and run every time someone said
All I can do is hope that my fam (that would be you) really takes stock in what it is that truly makes you happy and hold on to it. If it's the right thing, time will tell, but if you just don't try, how will you ever know. That leads me to this:
If you love someone with your whole heart and there are negative people in your life who don't want to see you happy, please be strong enough to tell them that you will live your life in happiness and love. Let them stew in their misery alone. You don't have to dwell with them there. Let's open up our lives to good things, people, experiences, and decisions that will enhance our lives. I love you fam!!!!
The last question came to me about 10 minutes ago and I had to log on and blog about it. I was watching a silly Will Ferrell movie and seeing his character was use to living his life based on what was allowed by his mom. As you can probably tell I was watching Step Brothers. Funny movie! Well anyway, she enabled him and he was never made to grow up until things fell apart with his mother's new marriage. Although the situations may not be the same, I just thought of some of my decisions as well as some of the choices some of my current and former friends have made based on pressure and influence from other people.
I have allowed others to influence some of my actions but ultimately these were my actions to make so I always take full responsibility but how many people actually feel like they have no other option but to succumb to the wishes of other people. Again, I must say that I, too, have made choices based on what others said I should do and family, those choices were a disaster.
In high school, a friend planted seed that I hadn't even thought of, about a guy we went to school with and the more we talked, the more I looked at this guy and was like, "yeah, I think he's pretty cool." Granted, he was a great guy and probably still is, but I was hurt behind it because he wasn't feeling me and I thought afterwards, "I am such a friggin idiot." lol. Had I just ignored her and didn't entertain her suggestions, WHO KNOWS where I would be now or who I would be with. Maybe I wouldn't be any different but one thing is sure, nothing is certain.
Later, after YEARS of being "good" and very happy, by the way, I had an idiot friend tell me that I needed to let some of my standards go because I just needed to BE WITH SOMEBODY. ANYBODY. uh...I went out with this guy I didn't really want to because he was just anybody and family, again, REGRETS! I was an adult by then so it's not just teenagers who go through peer pressure. Don't be mistaken.
Now my real question is how many of you will allow a person to alter your destiny or just influence you to turn away from your desired choices or maybe it's a person you're turning away from because you feel you have no choice? Who, among you, has felt your heart break because you felt you had to make a choice to appease someone else who just doesn't want to see you happier than they are? Think about it. If you are miserable in your situation and are in the midst of other miserable people, ask yourself this question, "Why am I afraid to be happy?"
In my experiences, I have seen people make choices for their own life because they would appear to be too happy to their friends and family. Well, to that I say, "ARE YOU EFFIN' CRAZY???" LOL! Let me share a tidbit about myself with you to show you how I deal with the pressure of other people wanting me to make my decisions based on their level of happiness. First, I do care about other people's happiness but I care about my happiness first. The two people I respect more on this earth than anyone are my parents. They had me. They raised me. They taught me. They helped to mold my character and I still will not make a decision solely on making them happy if it made me miserable. I make a point to tell them what I think and what I will decide about certain things so that they know that although I will take their guidance into consideration, ultimately I have to choose for myself and I do just that. If they don't like someone I like, I pay attention to their feelings but if I am not going to be with that person it has to be because I agreed with my parents and saw the same things they saw and not just because they said so. Operating like this does lead to learning lessons the hard way sometimes but most of the time parents are not influencing you negatively but letting you know how they feel and that I can respect. What kinda of woman would I be if I cut and run every time someone said
"No. You shouldn't do that.
You shouldn't buy that.
You shouldn't try that.
You shouldn't go there.
You shouldn't love him."
All I can do is hope that my fam (that would be you) really takes stock in what it is that truly makes you happy and hold on to it. If it's the right thing, time will tell, but if you just don't try, how will you ever know. That leads me to this:
If you love someone with your whole heart and there are negative people in your life who don't want to see you happy, please be strong enough to tell them that you will live your life in happiness and love. Let them stew in their misery alone. You don't have to dwell with them there. Let's open up our lives to good things, people, experiences, and decisions that will enhance our lives. I love you fam!!!!
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