Month: January 2025

The End? I don’t think so!

These are some tough days. For women. For people of color. In America at least. Just today the Air Force has been forced to remove its teaching about the Tuskegee Airmen and women pilots. This will be in compliance with the new mandate to get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Yet, I’m still here. Here I will remain. I will continue to love as many people as I can. especially those who do not look like me.

I have been doing my best to encourage people to keep on moving. I am doing all of my power to shine my light. It breaks my heart. how people treat those that don’t look or believe like them.

We don’t have to agree about everything. We do have to agree that we are going to come together. We do have to agree that we are going to treat one another with civility. We do have to agree to leave something for others to have.

I do the best that I can to leave politics out of my blog. The 2024 election has made that about impossible. I am a black woman. Executive orders have been written to take away many of my freedoms. Laws are being written to try and erase black history and culture.

To that I say this: I love my country and the people within it. even those who hate everything about me simply because I’m a black woman. I find that terribly disheartening, discouraging and sad.

Still, I’m going to keep my promise to love them. I will continue to pray for them every day. All that I ask. is for you to continue to say prayers for those who have. such mouths in their heart that they would turn their back on another. They are obviously hurting. I hurt for them. I hurt for us all.

I don’t know what the next 4 years are going to bring for me. It will be more difficult to get a job. That’s okay. I’ve been there. I’ve done that. I am doing it even now.

I refuse to be ended. I refuse to be quiet. I will continue shouting into the void. I love you. My sister, my brother. I don’t care what country you come from. I don’t care what culture you live by. I care for you. Simply because you were born.

It is imperative that we all speak up. Especially in these dark days.

It is not the end. We are in the beginning of a whole new world. This life is what we make it. I plan on making my end of the world as a wonderful, as hopeful as joyful, as ridiculous as I can.

Be encouraged. Hate can be awfully loud. Nothing is louder than love. Nothing!

Don’t allow social media to convince you that everyone hates everyone else. Don’t fall for the foolishness that your country is the only country that matters. Don’t waste time on the lie that other countries don’t care about you and your country. They do.

Get to know someone else’s culture. Read about them. Watch a channel about them. Share their story. Share your story.

Today was supposed to be a day of rest for me. I can’t rest. There are too many people that are hurting. I pray for them. I pray for you. Be encouraged. Don’t give up on your fellow man/woman. If folk truly knew better, they would do better. I am praying/hoping folk start getting some act right.

In the meantime, I hold up MY light. At least there is one light shining. Perhaps other lights shall see mine and blaze away. Ah, God. I hope…

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Every time I try to stop writing, I see something else discouraging has happened in the world. I cannot rest. I shall not rest. I will continue to uplift this world in prayer. I will continue to encourage folk to hang in there. Be encouraged. We are not each other’s enemies. We are one global family. I never forget this. I remind me myself of this daily.

This is only the beginning. Your life is what you make it. Make it an awesome one in 2025. There are times, in history, where The Universe asks us all to stand up and be counted. Count me in.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Don’t worry about the negative things people say.

Don’t worry about the negative things people say.

Stay positive. Folk are going to be negative.

Don’t waste your life waiting for folk to say positive things about you.

Stay positive. Folk are positively going to hate on you

Don’t wonder about who is saying what about you.

Stay positive. Folk are going to say anything and everything about you. True or not.

God says this about you: You are fearfully and wonderfully made. NOTHING shall separate you from My Love.

The Universe says this about you: There is only ONE you. How priceless you are!

Life says this about you: What a precious gift you are!

I say this about you: I  love you, beloveds. I pray for you EVERY day. I 😂 laugh at the enemy for being so stupid as to try you. For, I KNOW, these trials SHALL have you come out as gold.

Make sure YOU say this about you: I am loved. I am NOT alone. I CAN. I WILL!

Now, beloveds, get out there and LIVE. Let today be the LAST day you go begging for crumbs of love.

Love. Just love. Love will be sure you receive your share as you share your love with others.

It has taken these last years, of terrible strain and hardship, for me to learn to just love folk. I no longer base my love, or lack thereof, on how much or if I was loved back.

I love. I keep it moving. I love it when I am loved back. Yes, it hurts when love appears unreturned. Yet, I understand folk are hurting so that most have NO clue how to receive love. Let alone understand HOW to return love.

In these days and times, the word love is tossed about soooooooooooooo casually. Too casually.

Folk have forgotten the sheer wonder of love. Folk have replaced love with lust. Sadly, they mistakenly believe lust will fulfill or tie others to them. It does not. It never will.

Life is short, beloveds. 🛑 Stop paying rent to the 🌎 world. This means, stop trying to buy love, affection, and safety by presenting yourself as something/someone you are not.

Be you. Don’t worry about the negative things people say.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Step out. Be audaciously YOU. Without apology. The 🌎 world needs your particular brand of you.

I had wanted to start a blog for many, many years. I didn’t because I was afraid no one would care. I was afraid of what folk would think about what I thought. I thought my thoughts were stupid. I thought some of the dumbest things.

One day, I decided to deal with my fear and try. I tried. I felt like an idiot at first. There are days when I STILL feel like an idiot.

I feel like an idiot now. So what? I’m still trying. That is enough for me. All I can do is try, right?

Try. Just try. YOU may be the very person I have needed to propel my dream forward. I may be the answer to YOUR prayer/ hope/wish. How shall we ever know unless we try? Let’s go!

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Things are looking up.

Things are looking up.

Look up.

Look around you and soak in the beauty.

Things ARE looking up.

I’m choosing to look at the positive. It’s so easy to focus on all the bad things that have happened in our lives. There have been so many good things we have dismissed as luck or chance. Things are looking up for us all.

I plan on making this a spectacular year. It already is. I’m eating salads. I’m getting more rest. I’m making sure to reach out to my family and my friends. I’ll be sure to get me some good me time in.

I have been organizing and prioritizing. I’m keeping my promises to myself. I’m doing my best. I’m embracing the outcomes.

I’m standing on business. I told fear to take a hike. I’m looking for new challenges. I run away from nothing. Life, here I come!

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Make life happen. Keep looking up. in case no one has told you today. I love you.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Killin’ It.

I’m killin’ it!

I’m handling business. I’m STANDING ten toes down on FAITH and not fear.

I am dealing with my fears, head on. Without apology.

Celebrate your try. All you can do is all you can do. Let that be enough. You are enough.

I hope your day is going well. If it’s not, you can always start over. Do something special for yourself today. I hope great things for you today.

I wonder what life has in store for us today. Let’s find out.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Rejoice. Have some fun today.

I can’t believe how much time I spent in fear and dread and hopelessness last year. Never again. I’m going to enjoy my life no matter what happens within it. I have learned to find an awfully lot of good in some terribly tough circumstances. Keep going, and you shall find out the same lessons.

Daily, headlines have been blaring about how hopeless things are and shall be for folk who look like me. Particularly for women who look like me. And, daily, I have to tell myself that everything WILL be alright. Some kind of way.

Stay encouraged, beloveds. We got this.



One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Stay consistent.

I am consistent.

I am persistent.

I am magnificent!

I strive.

Consistently.

I pursue.

Consistently.

I thrive.

Consistently.

I am relentless in my consistency.

Excellence lives within my consistency.

Haters can’t keep up with my consistency.

I am constantly consistent.

I rinse and repeat, consistently.

Why?

Ask that 🗻 mountain over there. What pile of rocks? Oh, those tiny rocks used to be a big bully 🗻 that was trying to 💪 flex its largeness on me. My supposed “tiny” consistency wore it down.

consistently/patiently turning mountains into molehills,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Stay consistent. See how many 🗻 mountains you can turn back into molehills!

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

It is what it is, but it doesn’t have to stay that way!

Life ain’t easy. So what? It’s doable.

I have been encouraging as many peeps as I can to be encouraged.

Life IS hard. It is what it is, but it doesn’t have to remain that way.

WE can change our lives by doing nothing more than changing our outlook.

I have been fine until I start focusing on frightful things such as an especially tough labor market, my age, and all the other realities that demand to be heard.

I tell those things to shut up. Then, I do what I can. Then, I wait. Simple as that.

Waiting is never simple. Waiting brings out soooooooooo much anxiety and whatifs. I’m learning what to do with the anxiety and whatifs. I’m learning what to do with ME during these uncertain times.

It’s easy to feel helpless. I’m choosing to do the hard thing. I’m choosing to have faith no matter what things look like. I’m choosing to try when everyone else stops. I’m taking the chance on taking chances.

I hope your day is going on fantastically. Make it so. I hear another cup of coffee calling. Take care.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Just because it is what it is doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. Reality yells for me to give up. Hope whispers for me to try again. My heart cries…I’ll try. Ah, God. Where You at? Asking for many friends.

Be encouraged. Hard won’t be hard always. I think…lol

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

You are history in the making.

Beloveds,  you are making history.

In fact, you are:

History in the making.

A legacy being fulfilled.

A promise kept by The Universe.

Your life has done so much more than you will ever comprehend.

You see where you have not yet gotten. The Universe sees where you are headed.

Be encouraged. Your best days are in front of you!

What kind of history are you making? Make it a positive one. make it a game changing one. Make it one where people are in awe of your integrity, your faith and your joy.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: I can’t wait to see what ye shall create. I root for you everyday. I pray for you every single day. Be encouraged. Your dream shall come true. Enjoy your today. It’s the only one you’ll get. I love you.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Hold On!

Hold on!

The struggle was real, beloveds. Disappointment had reared its ugly head. 56 was annoyed being in the SAME place 55 had been.

My old was feeling old. My get up and go had told me earlier to go on ahead and kick rocks.

Then, good habits rode to my rescue!

Hope joined the 🎉 party, and we decided to put discouragement and disappointment to work by making us some chili!

Up, I got. On with it, I did. Backatcha, I told fear! Ha! Kick dem rocks!

Hold on, beloveds! We fight on!

We can NOT afford to give up on our dreams!

Success is our ONLY option!

Get up! Yea, it’s tough. Yes, it’s hard. So what?! Let’s go!!!

If you are disappointed, keep at it. If you are discouraged, stick with it. Until we win.

Your dreams mean too much to turn your back on them! Ah, beloveds. Keep going. You CAN. YOU WILL!!

hanging in there with you,



Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Failure is NOT an option for us. I wanted so badly to listen to discouragement today. Seemed like it would be easier to give in, you know?

Then, beloveds, I reminded myself of how many times I told myself that awful lie! Giving up had done nothing but make life ten times harder/frustrating/disappointing!

I REFUSE to allow quit to occupy 2025!

I’m going to keep trying. I’m going to run towards my dreams. I’m going to encourage as many folk as I can. What are YOU going to do, beloveds? Asking for A Friend…

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Get up and write(fight)!

My nerves are bad today.

I’m kinda, sorta, just a tiny bit focusing on the 🌊 waves, on the hard. They seem sooooooo large. What if I can’t/don’t/won’t make it to the other side?!

I had to snatch my try from the jowls of despair

I told my act right to keep acting right. I told my ♥ heart to keep standing on FAITH!

I got up. I got moving. I got a grip!

Then, I got back to work. I got thangs to do.

It’s okay to get nervous during the hard. During those shaky times, remember to speak LIFE over your circumstances.

We SHALL make it to the other side. In the meantime,  cut yourself a bit more slack. I have been feeling like an old, useless hag these last few days. Doesn’t mean I AM one.

I am going to treat myself with an old movie and perhaps some 🍿 popcorn. Who wants in?

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Don’t spend all day fretting. Do what you can. Pray. Wait. Rinse. Repeat. Enjoy your day. Hard gonna hard whether we want it to or not.



One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

It’s okay.

It’s okay.

To be afraid.

Everything WILL be alright.

It’s okay.

To have doubts.

Everything will work itself out in the wash.

It’s okay to feel.

Everyone has doubts and fears. That’s okay.

STOP beating yourself up for being human, beloveds. We ALL experience times where we doubt ourselves. It really IS okay.

I am sooooooooo thankful a job has not fallen from the job tree yet. I have needed this time off to heal and to grow. I have been working most of my life without a real break.

Before the jobs, I helped raise siblings and nieces and nephews.

Growing up, all we knew was hard. My life, up t now, has been viewed through the lens of hard.

Yet, God has been teaching me to see the beauty I EVERYTHING. Hard has not been a punishment. That’s what I used to think. I now know hard is just…hard.

Life can be hard. Life can be harsh. So what? We can still do our thangs, beloveds.

56 is growing up me. This morning, she sat me down and showed me a treasure trove of experience she has gathered through the years.

56 also showed me all my tears. She showed me how many times I have tried. She showed me ALL of my failures and commended me for still trying. There was a LOT of failure.

Finally, beloveds, she showed me every footstep that I had ever taken had brought me to THIS day.

The Bible says THIS is the day that the Lord has made. We are to REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.

I am learning, in this hard, how to rejoice in EVERY day.

Be encouraged. It really is okay. Plus, it’s perfectly okay to not be okay until we become okay again.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Everything will be alright. in the meantime, continue being good to yourself. Be encouraged. Those two words uplift my spirit every time I see them or say them.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!