Author: Cassandra S.

What we are not going to do.

It’s okay to be discouraged.

What we are not going to do is give up.

It’s okay to be disappointed.

What we are not going to do is walk away.

It’s okay to feel defeated.

What we are not going to do is give in.

Disappointment IS disappointing. It is.

Defeat IS discouraging. It is.

But, what we are not going to do is to turn our backs on our dreams. No way. No how.

Can I be honest? Yesterday, I fought my level best to keep myself encouraged. I was mad. At me. I told myself I was a big dope for not knowing HOW yet and still. Crap.

Then, I told myself to shut up and go have a cup of ☕ coffee. It helped.

Change takes time. A lifetime. Nothing short of that will do.

Be encouraged. Keep at it. Keep drinking coffee and eating chicken strips. A weird combo, to be sure. It’s working for me. I think…lol.

trying through this trying time,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: If you are tired of fighting up your mountain, take a break and help someone up theirs. You can keep them company. Let’s go find someone in need of cheer, eh?

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

I told myself to be encouraged.

Fear showed up.

Fear was loud.

I told myself to be encouraged.

The way was long.

The way was hard.

I told myself to be encouraged.

The road was long.

The road seemed endless.

I told myself to be encouraged.

Be encouraged. Fear only gets loud when victory is at hand.

I wanted to argue with 55 tonight. I wanted to tell her that she was too old and that my time has passed.

My dreams told me to shut up and go have a cup of coffee.

Care to join me?

still believing in me,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Don’t give up when fear comes around. Tell it to shut up and go have a cup of coffee ☕ or 🍵 tea. You CAN. We WILL.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Do it because you love it, not because you have to.

Run from these words:

You should.

You have to.

If you don’t.

If you do.

Why?

These words are typically shared by folks who are looking out for THEIR welfare and good.

Run from yourself when you use these phrases. 🤣

Why?

Because, you are probably fixing to do something out of guilt. Or, fear. Or, trying to pay rent or earn validation of life.

You don’t need to be validated.

Why?

Because, you are loved. Already.

Do it because you love it, not because you have to.

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Nuff said.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

I said I wouldn’t, but I did.

I said I wouldn’t, but I did.

I cared.

I said I wouldn’t, but I did.

I tried.

I said I wouldn’t, but I did.

I loved.

I said I wouldn’t, but I did.

I dreamed.

I said I wouldn’t, but I did.

I hoped.

I said I wouldn’t, but I did.

I longed.

longing still,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Ah, God. Why do You leave me breathless? Asking for a friend. Keep putting yourself out there. Keep caring. Keep hoping. Keep loving. Keep living. Keep sharing. You shall gain so much more than you think.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Heart ♥️check Tuesday

Don’t tell in me, beloveds.

I’m supposed to be taking the next three days off to do a whole bunch of nothing.

My dreams won’t shut up!

And, they told me to pound on your 🚪 door and wake up your dreams.

Don’t blame me!

Our dreams have thangs to do.

Get up!

Do something.

It doesn’t matter what or how small.

Try.

Don’t worry if you are young. Your age is your asset.

Don’t worry if you are old. Your age is your asset.

Don’t worry if you don’t yet know how. The Universe has taken our dumbness into account already.

Get out there and live. Live your dreams out loud. Clumsily. Slowly. Dumbly. So what? It’s YOUR dream.

Be encouraged.

Why?

You know the drill by now, don’t you, beloveds?:

You are loved.

You are NOT.

Keep on being… YOU!

Now, how sweet was that?!🥰

My heart is full. So it seems is your 📬. 👋😆

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: When are you going to accept your awesomeness? Get going. Love and Life awaits you. Asking for A Friend.

You are more than an entertainment center for the world.

Ah.

Quiet.

I have taken the next three days off to do…

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

*gasp*

Calm down.

CALM DOWN!!

I am NOT the entertainment epicenter of the world.

I have let folk know I am tired. I need to refresh. I need to rest. Darn it, I need actual sleep!!!

I used to run myself into the ground. I fight running myself into the ground. Not so much, now.

Why?

I no longer allow myself to be guilted into entertaining the entirety of the world.

Growing up, we had to entertain folk when they came to visit. Grown up, we had to entertain folk at work.

After work, we had to entertain coworkers. Then, had to wait for coworker approval so we could entertain them at church or other functions.

Then…

Enough already!

That’s what God said to me. He told me He did NOT have us here to be entertainers. Yes, we can and are entertaining, as we make our way in the world.

But, and this is a big but, we are NOT here to earn approval or have to apologize for breathing air!

I matter.

So do you.

I just wanted to stop by and tell you so.

Why?

So you can STOP 🛑 wasting your precious life trying to be a traveling clown so folk can see you.

God LOVES you.

God SEES you.

God CARES DEEPLY for your life.

So do I.

Who am I?

Someone who is loved by God.

Someone who loves you.

Nuff said.

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: You are enough. You matter. Your thoughts matter. Your heart matters. Share them with others. Share them with me.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Don’t take no for an answer.

Don’t take no for an answer.

Your age can’t stop you.

Your circumstances don’t define you.

Your gender won’t hinder you.

Not if you:

Believe.

Ask.

Demand.

Command The Universe to work with you and for you. It will.

Don’t take no for an answer. Keep knocking on the door 🚪 to your dream/present/future.

Don’t judge yourself on the outcome of another. Your try will bring YOUR results. As will mine.

I gave up too easily on me. Not anymore. Never again.

getting through the nos,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Don’t take no for an answer. I have been up early and often demanding my bounty. Give it here!!!!!!

Keep asking. Keep trying. Keep commanding Life to be about being about it for you. You got thangs to do. As have I. Let’s go…

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Your pain. My gain.

I’m trying to learn about others. I’m trying to empathize with others. With their struggles.

Often, folk find it easy to empathize with those who struggle with the things they struggle with. I’m trying to learn to empathize period.

Just because your hurt is not my hurt does not mean I can’t hurt for you.

I have been learning about micro bakers. I had no idea there was such a thing! Turns out, I think, a micro baker is someone with a tiny bakery. Who knew?!

I came across a micro baker who lived in Australia. He had excitedly opened a micro bakery. I was all set to learn about his journey. He only had five episodes. He had to quit a year later.

I felt bad for him. I grieved with and for him. I thought about how excited he was to have open his micro bakery. I agonized with him as he agonize about not having time to do other things he wanted to do in his life. His dream had become cumbersome. His dream had become work. His dream was no longer something he loved.

I looked at other micro bakers who were having a time. They were happy. I wondered if they would also quick in a year.

In trying to learn how to empathize with and for others, I am learning to give myself more of a break. I’m also finding I am enjoying my job more than I thought. I thought I was ready to move on from my job to pursue my writing dreams.

To my surprise, I have found I truly enjoy my job and want to keep doing what I’m doing. I also want to make room for my writing dream. I have asked myself what is it I love about writing? I have asked myself where I want to take my writing?? I have asked God what HE would like for me, to take my writing.

Now, I wait. Now, I research. Now, I experience the lives of others. Now, I am enjoying the learning process. The learning process used to be so frustrating for me. I wanted to get somewhere already!

Now, I’m enjoying the journey. All of it. I am enjoying sharing it with you. I am enjoying talking to The Universe about it. I’m enjoying talking to family and friends about it. I’m enjoying sharing it with my supervisor at work. I am just enjoying everything about it.

In trying to get to know the struggles of others, I have found my struggles not to be so heavy. Yes, the hard is still hard. Yes, the lonely is still lonely. But, I find joy in all of those things.

I no longer feel as though I have to. Now, I do because I choose to. Because, I want to.

I have spent the last several hours getting my pieces ready for the next week. Normally, I do that on Saturday or Sunday morning. Tonight, I just wanted to share life with you and enjoy the evening.

Enjoy your life, beloveds. Love someone. Starting with you. Then, try to find someone who does not look like you and empathize with what they are going through. We are all we got, but we are all we need.

The more I am delving into the cultures of other countries, the more I am learning we all love the same. We all hurt the same. We all care the same. Just in different ways.

We are all more alike than we are different. I have been having such a good time looking for the good in others. There is enough darkness in the world. I am sharing my light and looking for the light in others.

Be encouraged. As you hurt, I hurt with you. As you heal, I cheer for you. As you grow, I grow with you.

feeling with and for you,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Nuff said.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Thank God it’s Friday!

Hallelujah!

Thank God it’s Friday!

Nothing has worked all week. And, I mean nothing. I have been ready to run away from home. The only,problem with doing that is that I have to go as well.

I have been getting on my own last nerves. Even comfort eating told me to shut up and take two seats. I have taken three.

I told myself I would not be telling jokes today is nothing it’s funny. I found myself telling jokes anyway.

Life is short, beloveds. Keep telling jokes even when life does not appear to be very funny at the moment. Someone else may be going through a hard time as well. Life has not been easy for any of us no matter what category you find yourself in.

I did not feel like doing the day. I got up and did the day anyway. I don’t know where life is taking me. I don’t even know if I want to go along for the ride. I would just like to stop and set up camp somewhere. Anywhere. I’m just so tired of this journey. I want to be there already.

I don’t feel like moving into a new place and space. I want everything to be furnished already. I know it won’t be. Just the thought is making me tired again.

The computer is being a pain. It’s a reminder that it is broken. Crap. Feels like me today…*sigh*.

Be encouraged.

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Fight on. Why? Because, we have thangs to do. Be encouraged. Yes, it’s tiring. I know. I want to crawl in bed and never come out. Okay, maybe for Doritoes and some chicken strips. But, not after that. Okay, maybe for a cup of coffee or two. But, not after that. Okay, maybe…lol. May as well stay out of bed and keep fighting, eh, beloveds?

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Your outside can not change your inside.

Your outside can not change your inside.

Not if your heart is broken.

A new job won’t.

A new relationship won’t.

A change of scenery won’t.

Having less money won’t.

Having more money won’t.

Loud music won’t.

Distraction won’t.

Drinking won’t.

Eating won’t.

If your heart is hurting, beloveds, only healing will help you. Take the time to heal. No you can’t fully heal on your own. None of us can. As the saying goes, no man is an island and unto himself. We all need each other.

We all have needs. What does your heart need? Is important to ask your heart what it needs. I never used to ask myself. One day, got asked me what I needed in what I wanted. I had no answers. I was used to just giving and giving and giving and giving and giving and hoping for a scrap here and there.

There are so many people who are trying to hide their inside. They tried to cover themselves with expensive clothing. They attempt to hide their shame under designer labels.

Many look to be called an influencer who is loved by millions but don’t like themselves.

I like me. I love me. It took me a long time to be able to say those two sentences. To believe those two sentences. I believe them now. I believe in me now.

Life is so short. Yet, is long enough to do what we need to do. If we get to doing those things.

doing things,

Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: . Life is short. Get healing on your inside. Then, if you want go-ahead and change some of you outside.… LOL.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!