Month: November 2025

Keep working on YOUR dream(s).

This past Wednesday was Orientation. 😳

Whew.

WHEW.

WHEW!!

I had not worked in 17 months. I was now 57. Age mocked me asking if I was ready for this. I told age to shut up.

I rocked Orientation. Okay, I was rocked by Orientation. 😁🤣.

I got back into the flow of things. I got off at 4:30. I was:

Exhausted.

Exhilarated.

Completely done.

Except, ideas began coming for me. Truths began yelling at me.

You see, beloveds, I have been working on a budget so I can simultaneously:

Clear up almost 9,000 in credit card debt in less than a year.

Stop using credit cards to pay bills.

Save.

Put into 401k.

Pay ALL monthly bills on salary less than 20 dollars an hour.

In doing so, came up with system, with some help with chatgpt to take care of everything in 11 months.

I even broke things down into graphs, charts etc. to show EXACTLY how one can get over their fear and out of credit card or debt jail in less than one year.

Now, I am crafting video series showing the how, coming up with call to action to help others get out of financial jail.

Living these past 17 months with no job, going through ALL my savings, having to lean on the largess of others has been humbling, embarrassing, life changing, amazing and every other ing you could imagine.

The bible says ALL thing work together for the good. It also says to write the vision and make it plain. I’m going to do both and offer these nuggets to whosoever will.

I’m looking forward to this next chapter of my life. It feel good to be looking forward to things instead of dreading things.

I hope I have to never go through another tornado experience. I’m grateful for the lessons learned. I’ve learned to slow down. I can’t believe how much I was rushing through life, killing myself, trying to keep the rent paid and helping others while doing very little for myself.

I’m going to continue to help people. It’s what I like to do. I just have to make sure to keep me in the equation.

Life is what we make it. I say that all the time. I remind myself of that all the time.

I just stopped by to encourage someone to keep on working on your dreams. Starting with me.

There’s so much in the social media streets that are pulling at our attention. Put down your phone. Reach out to a friend. Make a new one. Get out there and live. Life is much more than Tiktok. License more than rage and click baiting.

You are not defined by what Tik Tok says about you. You are defined by your actions. You are defined by your choices. You are defined by your love, or lack thereof.

I’m trying to build a foundation of love here. All are welcome. Be encouraged. I love you.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: We got this.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Its time to start taking your time.

Its time to start taking your time.

It’s time for you to stop rushing headlong into things and then crying afterwards.

It’s time to make your way forward with deliberate intent.

It’s time for you to stop allowing others to bully you into decisions you have not thought out.

It’s time for you to stop blaming others for your life choices.

It’s time for you to stop blaming God, life in the universe for how things turned out. You have made the choices you have made.

It’s time for you to set yourself free from the prison of fear, doubt, and dread.

It’s time for you to move forward with intentions.

It’s time for you to choose.

It’s time for you to let go of those things that have been holding you back.

It’s time for you to allow your dreams to take control.

It’s time for you to wake up and live.

It’s time to understand that rushing does not mean success. Take the time you need to succeed. Even if it takes a lifetime.

It’s time to leave the past and the past. It’s time for you to enjoy your present. It’s time for you to understand the future will be what it will be.

It’s time.

*Cassandra turned away from the mirror, determined, free, hopeful, joyful, ready to take on all comers*…

Life is what we make it. What are you going to make with yours?

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: We got this. Less in the year, strong. 2026 has nothing on us!

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Use it for your good.

Tough times.

Use it for your good.

Hard times.

Use it for your good.

Frustrating times.

Use it for your good.

Lonely times.

Use it for your good.

Quiet times.

Use it for your good.

Challenging times.

Use it for your good.

Maddening times.

Use it for your good.

I am soooooooo grateful for the terribly hard, frustrating, maddening, lonely, challenging and every other ing times I have had this last year and a half.

I cried through them. I laughed through them. Heck, I wondered if I would make it through them.

I did.

I did!

I learned.

I lived.

I lived!

I just stopped by to encourage someone. Starting with me.

I looked around and found many nuggets I can share with others. Even now, I am building a system that is going to assist me with getting rid of almost 9,000 in credit card debt I accumulated to keep the roof over my head.

Now that I start my traing, on Monday, I have things budgeted, to the penny, so I can STOP using the credit cards, pay down/off the cards, save, get 401k back going, and pay all bills. Am creating content to help folk get out of credit card and financial jail.

I have also created work/life calendar so I can have time for work, play, working on my dreams, chores, etc.

This terribly hard time has helped shake me from my slumber. The slumber of “just getting by”, for myself, whilst throwing my all behind helping the world reach THEIR dreams.

I will keep doing that. That said, I am taking MY turn. I matter. My thoughts matter. My dreams count.

Don’t leave YOU out of the equation, beloveds. Don’t be gaslit into thinking that taking care of you is selfish. It is. It must be. You can’t give what you don’t have!

Have an amazing rest of your weekend.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Be encouraged.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

It’s NOT over.

Your dreams are NOT over.

Your future is NOT over.

Calamity does NOT await you around every corner.

Beloveds, life truly is what YOU make it. YOU decide if you win. YOU decide if you lose.

YOU decide to move forward.  YOU decide whether to run back in fear.

Fear does NOT run you. Rather, it doesn’t have to. YOU decide how long fear shall have its say.

Be encouraged. You CAN. You WILL.

When, beloveds, will you truly begin to believe in YOU?

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: You got this.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Hang in there. Don’t worry about how many steps it takes.

I’m starting over with starting over. I’m starting to get my shape back in hell. Yeah, I know that sounds backwards. I feel backwards.

I took out the trash and went for a walk. The dumpster seemed like it was forever away. I fought discouragement every step. It felt good.

I just stopped by to encourage someone. Don’t worry about how many steps it takes. Just take the first one. And then another one. And then another one. Until you have reached your goal.

And even if you don’t reach your goal, you will still have won the race!

going with you,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Let’s Go!!

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

I think I can.

I think I can.

I think I will.

getting about being about it,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Life is what I make it. I plan on making a greater world as I can, with what I have. I’m done wasting time wondering if I can. I’m going to try. Simple as that. What are you going to do?

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being different.

I don’t know when the term different became a bad thing. I wonder when being different became the enemy?

It seemed as though everyone is trying to put everyone into the same box. We have to think the same. We have to look the same, we have to live in the same place. We have to believe the same things. We have to like the same movies, we have to dislike the same music. We have to hate the same things. We have to love the same things.

Enough!

People are amazing because of their differences. I have been joined studying different cultures from all over the world via Youtube. The country doesn’t matter to me. What that person is doing doesn’t even matter to me. I just enjoy seeing people doing what they love just because they love it.

I have been watching this guy from Canada teaching people how to cut wood. He takes such pride in his work. I have been watching this gentleman in England teaching people how to make pizza. You can tell he takes great pride in showing people his work.

The other day I was watching this 84 year old Japanese man who had taught himself how to make pizza so that he can take care of his family. People come from all over to eat his fair. He takes pleasure in serving everyone.

I just stopped by to encourage someone today. It’s OK to be different. I have been dismissed my whole life because I appear to be different. That’s OK. I enjoy being me. I enjoy being loud. I enjoy being joyful. I enjoy getting up early in the morning to encourage people who may hate me. I enjoy loving a world that does not seem to like me a whole lot.

The Bible says I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I agree. The same goes for you. Lift up your head. You are beautiful. You are amazing. You are magnificent.

Now get out there and live.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: This life is what we make it. Let’s make it a good one. If no one has told you yet today, I love you and care about your life.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

True Dat!

You can do more than what you are doing.

True Dat!

You can BE more than you are being.

True Dat!

You can give more than you are currently giving.

True Dat!

You can lend an ear to someone who needs to be heard.

You can open your arms to someone desperate to be loved.

True Dat!

You can choose love over hate.

True Dat!

You can choose laughter over despair.

True Dat!

You can continue to be about being about it, even as others throw in the towel and quit.

True Dat!

You can be a light.

True Dat!

You can make a difference.

True Dat!

You can BE the difference.

Get out there and do, be and love!!

*Cassandra turned from the mirror and got about being about it*

Care to join me, beloveds?

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: This world needs what only YOU can provide. Believe in yourself. You can do it.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

It’s not hopeless.

Hang in there, beloveds.

Your dreams are out there. Adventure is out there. A new way of living is out there. That is, if you can summon the courage to get out there and live.

The only thing hopeless is your outlook. And that you can change any moment you choose!

This may seem strange for an encourager to admit to but before the tornado, I could encourage everyone in the world but me.

Why? Allow me the privilege of speaking freely, beloveds.

There has always been a part, a small part, albiet, that secretly believed I would NEVER be enough. All my life, I have been dismissed, by the world. Because, of my race. Because, of my gender. Because, of my faith. Because, of my joy.

Because. Because. Because….

Yea, I fought back against all those hurdles/stats/shenanigans. Still, after a while, even the best of us tend to take on water.

So, I secretly carried around a bit of ‘for everyone else but you’ juice everywhere I went. I used that juice liberally, early and often. SMH.

It was, is, and ever shall be, BECAUSE of the love of God, that I learned HOW and TO love me some me. Yall non-believers are just going to have to give me some room here…lol.

Now, NOW, now that my heart is full of love….ah, God, I just hafta give it all away!

Beloveds, all is NOT lost. We have all been lost. In stinking thinking. In set ways. In hard headedness. In all manner of foolishness.

Maybe, God left me ’round here to say these words to some. I have no idea. I have chosen to use these words, these days of mine, to love as many as I can. Call me silly, if you like. I love you too!….hahahahahahahahahahahahha

Be encouraged. My heart has been trying to tell the world something for days. I know not what she has been trying to say. If someone knows, please let a sista know.

Have an amazing today. It’s the only one you get.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Be encouraged.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Hate, I hate to tell you this.

Hate, I hate to tell you this.

I refuse to give in to you. I refuse to entertain you. I refuse to let you run my life.

I choose love. I choose joy. I choose peace. I choose laughter.

Hate, I hate to tell you this.

The light will drive you out. Love will win the day. You shall be defeated.

My heart breaks beloved, every time I see all of this hateful and divisive rhetoric that seems to be everywhere. It seems that hate has become envogue. It seems that people are proud to show their hate flag.

Not me. I choose love. I choose to love my fellow man. I pray for every heart. I pray for each and everyone of us.

I don’t think that people realize how truly short life is. If people knew this, I think they would be making different choices with their lives.

I came a step between losing my life when that tornado was outside my door. It is something I would never forget.

To this day, I asked God. I asked life. I asked the universe. Why was my life spared? I wonder if there are people that are more worthy than me. My heart grieves for young people who have been lost. I cry for those who have died, who have left husband and children behind.

I tell God it it’s just me. Who am I? What can my life do? What kind of an impact can I make?

He tells me just to try. He tells me to be myself. He tells me to get up every day and love my fellow man and leave the rest to Him. I do. I will. I’ll try.

I just stopped by to let you know that your life can make as much as an impact as you choose. Love someone. Starting with you.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: I love you. For whatever that means or is worth to you, beloveds…

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!