Category: Self Awareness

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Poetry Self Awareness Topic

Figment: or My Imagination

Figment; or My Imagination

Figment; or My Imagination is a poem about a parent who is grieving the loss of a child. The child comes to them in a dream, but it seems so real. After the dream is over, the parent is wondering if the child really appeared? 



Dear child where have you gone
Dear child it's been way too long
Missing you, morning, noon, night
Longing for the return of your light

Light in your contagious smile
Light in your warm touch
Light in your healing words
Light in your steady gaze

Keep your eyes shut, fear not
My smile- contagious still bright
My touch- warm is just right
My words- healing ever so light
My gaze- steady no longer tight

Dear child have I conjured fantasy
Is my imagination out on a tangency
Eyes now open still in a dream
Mind deceives me to the extreme

Mine to have, a dream is a dream
Flowing through my bloodstream
For me to keep for a lifetime
The aura of you is so sublime

Thank you for stopping by to read! 🙏🏽💗

Categories
Self Awareness Topic

Keeper of Children

Keeper of Children

Children are precious human beings. We send them to school so that they can continue to develop and learn. Also, for practical reasons, so that parents can work. Today, I’m writing about an incident that happened last week.

Two children were accidentally placed in a rideshare after school. Luckily, they were not harmed and returned to the school. Normally, they are picked up by the same person every day. So, what went wrong this time? Reports surfaced that the mistake happened due to a language barrier with the driver. One of the children spoke up when they realized that they were not at the correct location. Subsequently, they were returned to the school.

Just imagine, being a parent. The panic, fear, uncertainty that comes over you when you don’t know the whereabouts of your children. Even if only for a few minutes.

Who do you think is to blame to for this situation? The school, parents, children or rideshare driver? We teach our children about stranger danger and other safety rules. The school has some responsibility in releasing students to the correct party. Is it all on the school? Is it the parent’s fault for not being there to pick up the children?

Share your thoughts on this situation. Has this or a similar situation happened to you? What could have been done differently to prevent this from happening? I, for one have so many questions about this incident. All the proper precautions may not have necessarily prevented this occurrence. Most schools have routines in place for the car riders being picked up. What do you think about this?

Thank you for stopping by to read.! Thank you for your comments as well!

Categories
Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

Why Question It?

You are exactly where  
you need to be.  
When you land in a place  
that looks unfamiliar,  
why question it?  
 
You think you should  
be somewhere else. But  
in reality, the place you are  
today was destined for you,
only you. 
 
If you see a friend and  
they are ahead of you in their 
career, don’t fret. Go at your  
own pace. Maybe you are going  
slower but your reward will be  
greater when you arrive.  
 
We all have those years of  
progress, slow but steady.  
Bumpy roads that feel like a  
stop sign. The bumps are a  
test to see if we will 
keep going or quit.  
 
You are exactly where  
you need to be.  We  
can make all the plans in  
the world but, we are not in  
control; no, the Creator is.

You are exactly where 
you need to be

Thank you for reading Why Question It? 💖🙏🏽

The writing is in response to the prompt by Sadje.

Image credit: Nir Himi on Unsplash

Categories
Self Awareness Topic

⚪ Thought of the Day- Patience ⚪

Acrostic poem about patience. It can sometimes be hard to wait or experience delay, without getting upset or angry.

Praying thoughtfully for

Another day filled with

Thoughts of gratitude

Inviting a mindset of service

Empathy and understanding

New day and week ahead

Check your attitude before speaking

Every word begins with a thought

I wish you all a week filled with patience. Speak with kindness to others and yourself. 💝💛🤍

–“Have patience with all things, But, first of all with yourself.”- Saint Francis de Sales–

The quote is from graciousquotes.com

Categories
Self Awareness Topic

Can You Answer This? Would You Reset Your Life if Given the Chance?

⏳If you were given the chance to reset your life and start again, would you? ⌛

Life is a melting pot of good times, great memories, mistakes, regrets and much more. Sometimes we might dwell on a past error and wish we could do it all over. Maybe, we would have made another choice to improve the outcome.

I would have to answer, no. I believe who we are is determined by our mistakes and triumphs. Some of those fails give us a chance to get it right later. The triumphs in life are a testament that we can accomplish our goals.

The happy moments bring peace and joy into our hearts. Allowing us to extend kindness to others. I am grateful for all the great times and the not-so-great ones. Experience in life is a wonderful teacher.

🤔 Can you answer this?

If you were given the chance to reset your life and start again, would you?

Thank you for stopping by my blog❤️🙏🏽

Categories
Poetry Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

Fighting the Feeling; Stage Fright

A Shadorma

you're up next
smiling and sweating
is this real
on the mic
speaking word my thighs trembling
snap, snap my smile grew

I knew then
I can't mess this up 
ankles weak
lights blinding
just who do I think I am
calm down, you got this

Thank you for reading my poem, Fighting the Feeling; Stage Fright. It is a Shadorma written for the W3 prompt. 🙏🏽💖 This is the first time writing this poem style. I’m not sure if it is right, but I enjoyed it!

Speaking in front of a crowd can be a scary thing. The physical things that you feel standing up there. It’s amazing how the body responds and the thoughts that run through your mind. The inner ‘prep talk’ is what helped me get through the recital of Until That Day.

Categories
Diversity Poetry Self Awareness Topic

Employed and Unhoused-What’s Wrong with This Picture?

Man holding paycheck with nowhere to go
The dawn’s early light 
Tells of a downward plight 
Or the perilous fight 
Nearly fifty percent 
  
Land of the free 
Home of the brave  
Depraved of housing 
A basic human need 
 
Nearly fifty percent 
Work for mere cents 
Either part time or full time 
Heavy bombs on descent 
 
Unhoused, homeless, no roof 
Paycheck in hand is no proof 
Proof of simple liberties 
Nearly fifty percent 
 
Show up every day to work 
With income, not enough 
To secure a dwelling 
Prices ever going up 
 
Nearly fifty percent 
No place to call home 
Across the U S of A 
Shall free men stand 
Be free in this land? 
 
In God we trust 
Always a must 
Walk by faith 
But not by sight 
 
Nearly fifty percent 
Not of unemployment 
But homelessness 
 
Nearly fifty percent

Image created with AI using Copilot

Categories
Poetry Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

Place of Peace, Interrupted

That one place 
Place no one knows 
Knows not where to look 
Look but unable to find 
Find your place of peace 
Peace not to be disturbed 
Disturbed for only one minute 
Minute that feels like eternity 
Eternity only an exaggeration 
Exaggeration of time 
Time only imagined  
Imagined to be infinite 
Infinite it is not 
Not by a longshot 
     
That one place 
Place now found 
Found, no longer sacred 
Sacred, private, peaceful 
Peaceful once, now tarnished  
Tarnished, perturbed, just bothered 
Bothered, tense, no longer a place of refuge 
Refuge from the outside noise 
Noise like loud and quiet chatter  
Chatter unnecessary and shady 
Shady in times when light is needed 
Needed to block out murder masked as self-defense 
Self-defense now used as a cover up 
Cover up for ill behavior of the letter groups 
 
Can’t we all just get along 
Along with each other 
Other people, faiths and skin tones 
Skin tones, just the outer part 
Part of the core of a human 
Human, we bleed the same as you 
You are not entitled to harass at will 
Will led by your lack of understanding 
Understanding nothing when it comes to rights 
Rights to which you are not the dictator 
Dictator to all people you deem unworthy 
Unworthy to be here just like you 
You in all your glory are delusional 
Delusional, unfair, self-righteous to a fault  
 
Place of peace, interrupted

As I write this, I am thinking about everything going on in the world right now and in the recent past. Too many people are senselessly losing their lives, and for what? People who feel that they are more powerful than you. People who feel that we are not worthy of life on this earth. The same way they are living and breathing; we have the right to be here too. The world is in chaos and a lot of us are experiencing unrest. Any semblance of peace, fading away. It is a sad state of affairs.

I can go on, but I think from the poem, you get where I am going with my sentiments. The price of peace should not be this expensive. Such a simple concept seems like too much to ask. Peace looks different for all of us. Be it 10 minutes alone with your thoughts, a one-hour nap, 20 minutes of meditation or cherished time with loved ones. Maybe, a day of not having to look over your shoulder in fear of being snatched up on the street.

Thank you for taking the time to read the post. My hope is that sooner rather than later, things will look up. I know in my heart that better days are to come. Prayer is always bigger than any problem.

Stay well and be blessed🙏🏽💞

Categories
Self Awareness Topic

Can You. Answer This? As a Parent, is It Possible to Forgive Yourself for Parenting Mistakes?

Parenting is beautiful, and it is a tough job. Is it rewarding, yes. Is it a blessing, yes. Does anyone have all the answers, no. When it comes to parenting we do not have a manual or instructions. Sure, there are books to read, online information, seminars to attend. But, in real time and real life situations we use our best judgement.

Making mistakes as a parent is inevitable. We might feel like we are making the right decision in that moment. Only to discover later on that maybe, just maybe we could have handled it differently.

Feeling guilty about choices we make as it relates to our children can be heavy. At some point we have to move away from the guilt and into forgiveness. How do we do that?

First, we have to be honest with ourselves about what happened and why we made the choice we did. Really reflect and sit in that feeling, own it and understand your actions(s).

Ask yourself, how you might do things a little different the next time the situation arises. More than likely it will. Play in your mind ways that may have resulted in a positive outcome for all involved.

Give yourself a break and realize that no one is perfect. We make mistakes. Practice forgiving yourself and move on from it. Try not to harp on it. Reliving this in your mind keeps you stuck in that moment and prevents you from moving forward.

Along with loving our kids, we must release the feeling of guilt. By doing so, we can show up and be more focused when it’s time to wear the parenting hat.

📞Try talking to a friend or another parent for support.

✍️If that is not an option put pen to paper. This can be very effective and therapeutic.

🗣️Atone for the mistake by apologizing to your child(ren). It will demonstrate your willingness to own up to the mistake.

I am not talking about feeling guilty as it relates to basic structure and discipline. This is a part of our responsibility as mothers and fathers.

What is your take on forgiving yourself for parenting mistakes? Is it possible to get past it?

Categories
Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

How to Break Out of Self-Limiting Beliefs and into Your Greatness

How to Break Out of Self-Limiting Beliefs and into Your Greatness

We all have the potential of greatness. Yes, even you. Some of us doubt ourselves and I understand at times when this can happen. It is the constant belief that we cannot achieve something that gets in the way. The negative self-talk and the constant questioning of our abilities.

I’ll give you an example. If you ever came up with an idea about a new product that you wanted to patent or an idea on a project that you wanted to start. The more you think about it, you start letting that doubt creep in. Saying things like, I can’t do this, I don’t have the capital. Or, I don’t know where to begin. Who am I kidding, this will never work because I don’t have the people skills, etc, etc.

The more days that pass the less you are excited about the idea. You started out all gung-ho but each day that this repeated cycle of negativity plays in your head, the idea is killed. Maybe it gets postponed to; someday. We all know that infamous someday.

In this video I will provide practical tips about ways we can begin breaking the cycle of self-limitations and start tapping into our greatness.

Thank you for stopping by! If you know someone who may benefit or enjoy the information, do not hesitate to share. You never know who might need to hear this message today.

As always, stay well and be blessed! 🙏💕

Categories
Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

Are We Evolving or Just Pressing Replay?

Are We Evolving or Just Pressing Replay?

A video message about how we can examine our lives and see where we can make changes for personal growth. It is easy to get stuck in the same ole ritual and routines. Before you know it, you look up and discover that 2 years have gone by and things are just as they were this whole time.

In this video, I will share some ideas to get started on a path of growth and challenging ourselves. If you find yourself feeling stuck or stagnant; don’t fret, we can always change things. The rewards are great when we do. We feel a sense of achievement, we make ourselves more open to trying new things and we also get a boost in confidence.

Get out your pen and paper and take notes. It may feel like a homework assignment, but it will be one of the the best investments of time that we can pour into ourselves!

“Not everything that is faced can be changed but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”-James Baldwin

The first thing we are going to do is compile a list. Review that list and ask yourself the following questions:

  • Am I learning anything from this activity?
  • Am I growing mentally, emotionally or physically?
  • Does this activity challenge me?

Secondly, seek out new activities

  • Do some research, talk to people you know who may make a suggestion
  • Try to pick something that is not your usual go-to or something that you may not have been interested in before, try it now

Lastly, challenge yourself by overcoming a fear

Ex: if you are afraid of heights, if you feel socially awkward or are afraid to speak in public.

I hope you find the information in this video useful. As always, thank you for watching.

Thank you for stopping by! Stay well and be blessed! 💖

Categories
Self Awareness Topic

Does Social Media Strengthen or Destroy Meaningful Connections?

Social media is here to stay. Do you think it strengthens or destroys meaningful real-life connections? It can go either way. I think it all depends on how you use it and how much of it you consume.

Some people live by social media. What I mean by that is that some people take what they see and hear online and apply it to their personal lives. They start to believe everthing they see and they lose the autonomy of their own personal beliefs.

Social media is used for a variety of reasons. Some people use it to help boost their business. Others use it for personal entertainment, recreational use. It can be a tool to use to showcase your hobbies and personal endeavors. If you are a singer or an artist. Maybe you want to share some educational information.

SM can strengthen connections because you can find useful information about some things in your life and gain a better understanding. You may be looking for a way to empathize with someone in your life and form a better relationship with them. It can open the doors for communication and bridge the gap for some situations.

It can be destructive when people are purposly using it as a means to hurt others. Trolling and saying hurtful things to others. It’s like cyberbullying. Other times people hear stories about infidelity and then they start thinking negative of their mates.

The key to it, in my opinion, is to limit the time spent on social media. Also, know what you believe in and stay true to that. We all are entitled to our opinions and that’s what it is, opinion. Sometimes we confuse it with facts. Just remember that we had real life before social media. Real life is always better than the internet. Have fun with it, make others smile, inform, share your gifts.

As always, thank you for reading! 💖🥰

Categories
Poetry Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

Healing On the Isle of Ova

The Isle of Ova, a place to heal. Health takes an ugly turn and the aftermath of solving one problem, brings on another entire set of new ones. The Isle of Ova is a place for reflection. Healing can begin when you take time to really sit and think about things that transpire.

Life is such a magical wonder. Such small organs of a woman’s body have so many beneficial and essential functions. Modern technology in medicine makes it possible to take care of uterine fibroids and other women’s health problems. This poem was written in recognition of Fibroid Awareness Month. 



Dear Ovaries
You hold the beginning
Until time to go down the halls
Into the incubator

The incubator which awaits the sperm
Fertilizing, growing, forming
Just what mother nature intended
Creating life, performing

Dear Ovaries
Release protecting hormones
Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone
Supporting libido all the way through
Helping with strength of my bones

Dear Ovaries
Regulating hormonal balances
Body temperature, sleep cycle
Emotional and physical health alike

Ovaries, I bid you farewell
Fibroids, ovarian cysts invading space
Pain, bleeding, energy drained
Quality of life displaced

Pain and bleeding stopped, energy restored
New set of angst replaced
Hot flashes, insomnia, moodiness and night sweats
A sense of loss and new body shape

HRT, calcium, vitamin D
Bones slowly restoring health
Libido in the wind
Wondering if you will ever see it again

Dear Ovaries
Such an organ to behold
Your functions, more precious than gold
Oophorectomy means to take
A woman's core keepsake

Healing On the Isle of Ova is written in response to the W3 Prompt #169.

Categories
Self Awareness Topic

A Holding Season

A holding season is a time when we are less active. If you are someone who has to fill up every day with event after event, but now you are slowing down. You are in a holding season. Maybe you like to run the streets and fill your calendar with things to do and places to go, but are doing less of that; you are in a holding season.

A holding season gives us opportunity to slow down and frees up our mind to explore other things.

What lead you to your holding season?

💲Money- You are low on funds and need time to build your savings again. This means you are spending less and are at home more. Take this time to do some things around the house. Maybe finish that project you started months ago. Straighten your closets or clean out those junk drawers. You know those junk drawers😄

🚘 Transportation- You do not have a car right now. Maybe it is having repairs done or not running like it used to. You are now thinking twice about where and how often you travel. Taking a cab or using ride share costs money and can add up quickly. You are in a holding season. Use this time to evaluate and think of other creative ways to fill your day.

🏥 Family/medical leave- Being away from your job to take care of a family member or your own medical needs, places you in a holding season. Use this time to come up with other things to do. Things that you wouldn’t otherwise have time to do because you are usually working. If you used to read books, start that again. If you like to do crafts, start that hobby again. You get where I’m going with this.

A holding season forces us to reimagine and rethink our lives. The day to day. We start to gain clarity about how we are spending our time. Whether or not we can make small changes. This can be a good thing for us moving forward.

When the holding season is over you can decide if you will go back to the things you did before. Maybe you might decide to live differently. It’s up to you.

As always, thank you for reading!🙏🏼

Stay well and be blessed💗

Categories
Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

Procrastination; Lingering Uncertainty of Life

Procrastination; Lingering Uncertainty of Life

Procrastination is something that we have all done at some point in our lives. It is that putting off of something that we need to do. But why? The cause can be many.

Don’t procrastinate. Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?

What does procrastination mean?

The act of delaying or postponing something.

Why do we do it?

  • Fear– we put off doing things because we are afraid that we might get it wrong. We might fear being made fun of if we do something and we make a mistake. Making a mistake is not the end of the world. No one is perfect so we cannot expect to never make a mistake in life.
  • Not knowing what to do– If we are faced with something that we need to do, we might not know what to do or how to do it. Therefore, we hesitate or stall. Being unsure of the necessary steps can hold us back. At this point, we might consider gathering information and then making a move.
  • Unimportant– When the task is not important to us, we figure why the rush. No need to act on it immediately. It can wait until later. We might view it as unimportant because we do not want to do it.
  • Lack of managing time– We know we have to be somewhere on a certain day and we need to prepare. We wait until the night before. This puts us in the mode of damage control. Because we did not give ourselves enough time to prepare, we are now trying to compensate for the work we did not do beforehand.

How can we get over the procrastination hurdle?

  • Complete tasks in stages– If we know we have 6 days to prepare for a meeting or presentation. Break the project down into increments each day, so that it is manageable and less overwhelming.
  • Rethink the way we prioritize– Look at the tasks at hand in a different way. If you usually wait until the 25th hour, rethink it. Start on tasks a few days earlier. Tell yourself that this is something that must be done, so get an early jump on it. Start right away when you realize that this is something that is unavoidable.
  • Schedule specific time– Set aside an hour or two each day or once a week so that you can work on the specific task. This way, you already know that on Mondays and Thursdays from 10:00am-11:00am, is set aside specifically for the task. Put it on your calendar or white board so that it is in sight. This is your reminder so there is no excuse to miss a deadline.
  • Get rid of distractions– Distractions like playing video games, watching TV or “doom scrolling” on the internet can be major distractions. These things get in the way and cause us to waste time when we could be working on our task. Maybe we can do the task first and then if we want to do those other things, we can put those “distractions” off until after we have done the work.

Can you think of a time when you let procrastination take over? It can get in the way of real progress at times. Making us feel like we cannot accomplish things when we constantly put things off. It is not too late though. If we recognize the signs and rethink it, we can certainly do it!

The attached article, The Game of Life; Are You Playing Offense or Defense? is also about how we manage things in life. It might provide some insight and give information about how we can do things differently. Check it out.

The Game of Life; Are You Playing Offense or Defense?

As always, thank you for reading! 🥰

Stay well and be blessed! 🙏

Image credit: Brett Jordan on Pexels