My dad used to say garbage in, garbage out. Meaning what we put into our spirit will come out of us.
I’m careful about what I watch, what I read, and what I listen to. I have been doing my best to keep out all this negative. Click baiting garbage that is going around the social media streets.
Television, right now, is full of nothing but that which reaches out to our most basic instincts and the lowest common denominator. I choose not to watch that or go down that route.
I choose to watch, listen to and read things that feed my spirit. I choose to put out content that edifies and encourages others. Starting with myself.
I also make times daily to turn off my phone. And leave social media alone. Social media can be poisoned. Be sure to give yourself some free time away from your phone, Youtube, tiktok and Instagram.
Make sure you are having actual conversation with those that you love. Call a friend, have a nice conversation. Write an email. Conversation seems to be a lost art. Bring it back.
I’m doing my utmost to feed myself positive things. How about you?
Do it because you are afraid what will happen if you don’t.
Don’t do it because you are afraid you may fail.
Do it because you may win.
Don’t do it because you’re afraid it won’t work out.
Do it because you are afraid what will happen if you don’t reach out.
You’ll never know unless you try. You will have no earthly idea what you could have accomplished if you had just taken the chance and reached out for greatness.
Don’t let fear run your life and your choices. Tell fear to shut up. Don’t be afraid to go alone. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You’ll make many of them. You’ll spend a lot of your time alone. Do it anyway. Go anyway.
I’m no longer afraid to fail because of my age. I’m no longer afraid to feel because I lack in knowledge. I’m no longer afraid to fail. Failure comes with the process. Failure does not make me a failure. Failure just means I have to make another try. failure simply means I have to keep on keeping on until I win.
Failure is not the end of the story. Failure is not a barometer of things to come. Failure is just that. An attempt that did not work out the way we hoped it would.
Be encouraged. Keep being the needle in the haystack. Your moments will find you!
asking for A Friend, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: Enjoy your life. Enjoy this day. Make the most of it.
I have really been enjoying using some of my ‘me time’ to gather inspiration, laughter, learning, and thoughtful discourse from a variety of sources and people.
I just stopped by to share a bit of them, and me, with thee…lol.
If you step in a ring even though you thought you might lose.
You have already won.
If you have decided to try even though the deck has been stacked against you.
You have already won.
If you have chosen love over our hate.
You have already won.
If you have chosen action over apathy.
You have already won.
If you have moved forward instead of looking back in the past.
You have already won.
If you have decided to stay in the fight even though you were behind.
You have already won.
If you have decided to go on, even though you have been left all alone.
You have already won.
If you have decided to love others even though you have been treated harshly.
You have already won.
If you have decided to shine your light, even though everyone else has chosen the darkness.
You have already won.
If you have stayed in a race, even though you have been more tired, you have ever been.
You have already won.
If you have completed the race, lost and have been laughed at, but you still rejoice.
You have already won.
If you have taken your meager beginnings, using for a glorious end.
You have already won.
If you have chosen to remain joyful and hopeful even though everything looks dark and dire.
You have already won.
If you have raised your hands, in victory, even before the race has finished.
You have already won.
It’s not about the outcome. It’s not about the trophy. It’s all about your fight. It’s all about your try. Fight. Try. Enjoy your life. The rest will come out in the wash!
asking for A Friend, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: Keep looking for the victories in your life.
Because, in part, we weren’t taught how to see, to chase, to pursue, to attract prosperity, and hope for the future.
To be black, we were told, we were raised to believe, was to start, 100 yards behind the start line, for a 100 yard dash race.
We were told we had to work ten times harder than everyone else.
We were admonished we had to be ten times better than everyone else. Just to have a slim to none chance at success.
With that in mind, I fought.
Everything.
Everyone.
Everywhere.
I didn’t get much time to dream. None of us did. We had to fight. We lived in survival mode.
The tornado saved my life.
Why?
Ironically, because I had to learn how to fight:
Fight for my dreams.
Fight old demons of fear about poverty and lack.
Fight doubt.
Fight my way back to peace, love, and joy.
Fight myself to free myself from the bondage of believing my worth was tied up in my job, in my capacity to be on call for the world 24/7.
Fight to stand on FAITH.
Fight to stand on BUSINESS.
You see, once the tornado turned my life upside down, I had to fight to right it once again.
I fought, angrily, with God.
I fought, disillusioned, with Life.
I fought, belatedly, with The Universe.
I fought to get my confidence back. I fought to find my identity. I fought to find…ME!
One day, Jesus quietly came and said “It is finished”. He meant it. I had been scared to believe it. For ME.
Then, God sidled up to my heart and said “You don’t have to fight anymore, Cassandra”.
Astonishingly, I believe Him. About me. Ah, God, I KNOW my worth now. I SEE my worth now. I RECEIVE my worth now.
I have, as the bible says, learned to be content, in EVERY stage I am in. I am no longer terrified to experience lack.
I look FORWARD to my future now. I no longer look to the future with secret dread.
Beloveds, I had true faith, love, and belief, for everyone in the world but me. Smh.
Too often, we allow ourselves to be fed the outrageous/ridiculous lie that we were called and meant to be a slave to the world. We were NOT.
Serve the world, yes. There is a huge difference between service and slavehood.
Service is done from love. With love. Freely. Without conditions. True service takes care of EVERYONE. EVERYWHERE.
Service IS love in ACTION. Jesus came to serve, to love, to give, to share.
Anywaze, God tapped me on the shoulder and told me to rest.
Uncurling my fists, opening my arms, embracing whatever may come, has not been easy. It has come at the cost of:
My pride.
My need to be comfortable.
The chance to ALWAYS be right.
My need for safety.
I had to become open to new things, new experiences, new adventures, new everything.
How terrifying. How exciting.
I just stopped by to tell someone that life was never meant to be lived in a constant state of fear, of dread, of dismay. Life is here to be loved, lived, relished, cherished, gifted, received, recognized, given away, taken in…
Be encouraged. Allow your fight to be over. You do NOT have to fight to be seen, to be heard, to be loved, to be valued. Just keep being the priceless gift that you are. Love SHALL find you.
asking for A Friend, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: In case no one has told you today: I love you. So does He. Nuff said.
It is so easy to blame ourselves when hard times come around and we can’t seem to get past them.
Often times it’s not us. It’s just life doing what it does. It’s during these times where we must be patient with ourselves. We have to stop judging ourselves. And condemning our efforts as worthless.
We give ourselves such a hard time when hard times come around. I’m learning to stop doing that to myself. I’m learning how to forgive myself.
I’m learning how not to expect others to rescue me. I’m learning how not to lay all of my weight on my family and friends. I can’t expect them to fix everything. I can expect them to know everything.
In my job search. Every no is bringing me closer to my yes. In the meantime, I rejoice over every opportunity. These opportunities are increasing my faith. These opportunities are showing me that I have made a really tough stuff.
The tornado woke me up from my slumber. I was sleepwalking through life. I needed to have woken. I’m glad I did.
If you find that you are asleep walking through life, please shake yourself away. It doesn’t have to take a tornado or some catastrophe to get you to make changes in your life.
I’ve been doing my best to be a source of encouragement to somebody. I hope I have been. I have spent the past few hours drinking coffee, blogging, listening to uplifting music and enjoying my apartment.
I cannot tell you how many times in the past I had spent my days. In despair and gloom and doom, because I didn’t have a job. I shake my head now thinking about those times.
Jobs come and go. People come and go. Situations come and go. The trick is, how shall we find ourselves after those things have happened? I plan on being a joyful, hopeful individual.
I’m currently drinking coffee out of my favorite crystal mug. My mom love crystal. This is such a special time right now. Time I wouldn’t have if I had a job right now. I am enjoying every jobless second now.
I just wanted to stop by and curve someone who has suffered a loss.
Hang in there. I’ve really been missing my mom lately. A lot. More than usual. I don’t know why. I just do.
I’m sending out prayers and warmth thoughts to all those who have suffered a great loss. Be encouraged.
We can’t bring that person or situation back. We can think on them with love. We can remember the great times.
It’s OK to miss those we have lost. It’s perfectly fine to grieve situations that we enjoyed. Give yourself permission and space to fill your loss. Then, get up and keep it moving.
asking for A Friend, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: It’s OK to not be OK until you feel OK again.
Why Can't I Be Loud?! 