Category: walking

You SHALL come out on top.

Be encouraged!

You SHALL come out on TOP!

Yes, I know. It feels as if you shall never be able to dig out from this latest fiasco, or, life happenstance.

You CAN.

You WILL.

This is a new year. 2025. You have all year to keep on trying. MAKE this your year. The ONLY thing that will keep you discouraged is YOUR perception. That’s it.

You got this. So do I. God has us both.

At times, heckamiah feels like ALL the time now, life tends to pile on some extra what the hells and when did all that happeneds. When it does, beloveds, we have to keep it moving.

I don’t particularly feel like moving today. There has been a stomach virus sweeping the Midwest. It was kind enough to head south and stop by for a spot of tea. How neighborly. Not!…*stamps foot*.

In addition to feeling like paint scrapings, I now have to dodge the barrage of “You will never find a job and how dare ask for one being you are an unqualified probably should be a migrant since you are a black 🖤 woman” nonsense everywhere. Everywhere!😳😠

N-E-Waze, I just stopped ’round to let you know you are NOT being buried. Not for good, anyhow.

Some of us are being replanted. Some of us are being uprooted. Some of us are having our hedges trimmed. ALL of us are being prepared.

Sometimes, we just need to be reminded that all of this crap, er, life is happening for a reason…*annoyed mutter*. Stay encouraged.

rooting for you,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: There is soooooooooo much negativity out in these streets. I absolutely REFUSE to waste even ONE moment of my day trying to convince folk that I am worthy of love, respect and a decent job.

I AM worthy. I AM worthwhile. I AM worth it.

Beloveds, particularly women and folk of color, do NOT allow your love to he hijacked by hate. Keep on loving. Keep on being YOU.

To my white sisters and brothers, I love you. Even those of you who think me incapable of being capable simply for the color of my skin/gender. Smh.

We shall come out on top! Let’s go!!!

Give extra love today. The world needs it. Geeeeeeez yall! Life is too short for all the hate being so casually tossed about.

Enjoy your day. Even the ones where you would soooooooooo like to pop a few to help them get some act right.



One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Put down the weight.

I love this quote!

I have spent a lifetime, beloveds, hauling around weight that never belonged to me. I’m sure you have, as well.

I am working hard to put down as much weight as I can get to.

Not working has soooooooooo been not working for me. I have to find another way to make myself valuable…

Ah.

Aha!

I AM value. No matter what I do or don’t do. I DO matter. No matter that I am currently not working.

Was working, since I was 14, is what made me valuable and worthwhile?

Am I no longer valued or valuable until I can again pay my way?

Ack! It’s hard confronting facts and facing them.

We have all been weighted down by/with the expectations of others. By our own expectations.

I think we are all much too hard on ourselves and on one another. The longer I live, the more I learn that I know very little about a lot of things.

I’m working on ME. I’m pointing the finger back at ME. I am expecting ME to continue taking the high road. I’m encouraging ME to keep on moving FORWARD.

I have been under the weather for the past few days. I have things I have been wanting to do. I’m trying to cut myself some slack.

Put down the weight, beloveds. We don’t HAVE to run ourselves ragged. We do NOT have to drag around other folk’s feelings and work. We are NOT responsible for how other folks live their lives. Other folk are NOT responsible with how we choose to live our lives.

Things truly will come out in the wash. All we need to do is our best. Period. The outcome is not up to us.

Uh, oh! The bathroom calleth. Again.😳🤷‍♀️

Take real good care of your tender heart.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Back away from the guilt. Lift up your head. Don’t be ashamed of your life. You have done your best.

The mistakes you have made are just that: Mistakes. So what? Fix what you can. Mitigate what you can’t fix. Apologize to both parties. Move on. How LONG will you keep bearing weight for things looooonnnggg past?

Punishing yourself today for things done a million yesterday’s ago serves and saves no one. Get going. You have thangs to do.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

I can’t hear you.

Fear: You will never.

Me: I can’t hear you.

Doubt: Nobody cares about you.

Me: I can’t hear you.

Apathy: It’s too hard to do.

Me: I can’t hear you.

Anger: Forget about people!😡

Me: I can’t hear you.

Love: You CAN.

Me: I hear you.

Try: You WILL.

Me: I hear you.

God: I got you.

Me: I hear you.

refusing to listen to lies,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Fear lies. Doubts lie. Apathy is a big liar. Anger can drown out the deepest truths.

Beloveds, it’s okay to feel. Just don’t allow your feels to run the show. It’s hard to reason when you are ready to run away and hide. It’s difficult to choose when you are fearful or the next move. It’s impossible to move when apathy sets in.

Be encouraged. Take a beat. Take a break. Make a decision. Then, get on with your life.

You got this! Go for it.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

You are NOT on the outside looking in. LIVE!

You are NOT on the outside looking in. LIVE!

I used to feel as though I didn’t belong.

I did.

I used to think I would never be loved.

I AM loved.

I used to believe I was alone.

I am NOT alone.

It’s easy to FEEL left out. This 🌎 is a big place. Yet, it’s smaller than any of us know.

I have been asking God and Life WHY I was spared from the 🌪 tornado that was trying desperately to destroy everything around me? I have not been given that answer.

Maybe, just maybe, I was left here to keep sharing this ridiculous blog, with MY stupid words with whomever is bored/ridiculous enough to swing by and be told they are loved…by a stranger?!😳🤔

Until I find out why, beloveds, I am going to keep on doing and being my why. Why? Because someone needs to KNOW they are loved and not alone.

SOMEONE needs to hold the door 🚪 open and welcome folk to come in.

Come on in, beloveds. LIVE! Life is waiting for YOU. Life is waiting to act on your behalf.

What are you dreaming of? What do you hope to do? Get started. Today. You can do it. You CAN. You WILL!

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: I’m 56 and FINALLY launching out. Who is coming with me? Let’s go!!

Stop taking yourself so lightly. Stop dismissing your gifts. Stop dismissing the still, small voice that is whispering for you to try. Just try.

You were and are not on the outside looking in. Dive in. Enjoy your life. Embrace the hard.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Heart ♥ check whatever day this is.🤢

🤢

🤧

🤮

🤒

Afternoon. Or, morning. Or, whatever time of day this is.

Have been under the weather and in the bathroom 🚽 for days, beloveds. Days!…*stamps foot*

I’m keeping my promise to check on folk and make sure I have pieces 📝 written EVERY day. Whew! WordPress says I have posted 478 straight days this go around.

I promise I have oodles of stupid and / or inspiring things to say. I just feel too much like paint scraped from the side of a barn to remember. If you ask me how I know how that feels, I will tell ya us writers know how EVERYTHING and EVERYONE feels about EVERY subject in the entirety of the world…lol.

What am I doing here?….

*Cassandra reminds herself she is keeping her promise to encourage folk every day, no matter what*.

*Cassandra thinks that’s awfully dumb and breaks into an argument with herself over trying to write when she feels like paint scrapings*.

*Cassandra gently tells herself to shut up and go ahead and encourage folk before the 🚽 bathroom demands her attention for the 50 millionth thousand and 17 hundred times*

*Cassandra scrounges through the encouragement bag to find two hoots to give and some love to share*

I hope everything is aite whicha. Be encouraged. Take real good care of that beautiful heart of yours.

Hopefully, I will be feeling myself in a few more days. Take advantage of my silence til then.

Hahahahahahahahahaha!

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: How are YOU doing? Be sure to look out for you today. You give and you give. Make sure to toss in some me time today. It’s imperative to care about you as well. Self care is NOT optional!



One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Be gentle with yourself.

I like this saying. We all need to be more gentle with ourselves. We are much too hard on one another. We are also too hard on ourselves. I’m trying to do better.

I’m trying to BE better. I’m eating 🥗 salads. I’m hydrating. I’m planning on exercising. 😂

I’m being as gentle as I can. Are you?

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Take it easy today. Go hard tomorrow…😂

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Life goes on. Or does it?

I don’t know how to feel. It seems that a bit of 2024 has seeped into 2025.

I opened the door to see that maintenance are replanting the trees that were uprooted from the tornado.

You would think this would make me happy. Oddly, it has had the opposite effect. I am remembering before.

Before the tornado. Before the loss of my confidence. Before the loss of my job.

I sit here in my new normal and don’t feel normal. Not any more. Not since the tornado. I have been fighting for my equilibrium ever since.

Life went on without me. I’m trying to get up. Will I ever?

I fight to find me. On the daily. Slowly, me is coming out of hiding.

Life goes on. Doesn’t it?

Slowly. Life goes on. It does. It doesn’t go as we think it should. It goes as it goes. I am learning how to go with it.

Loss is hard. Loss doesn’t have to stay loss. We can make something amazing out of what’s left, can’t we?

I am choosing to get on with life, beloveds. THIS is what’s left. I shall make THIS into some fantastic THAT. What shall that be? I have NO idea. I’m looking forward to finding out!

tentatively hopeful,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: When life snatches the rug from under your feet, dance on whatever is underneath. Get back up. Then, keep looking UP.

I’m not saying things that are impossible. I have to do the impossible every day now. I HAVE to live among the never-ending rebuilding. This is a daily reminder of all that was lost. I take a break. I remind myself of all I still have.

I still have hope. I still have my dreams. I still have the opportunity to love folk and let them know everything WILL be alright.

Be encouraged, beloveds. Rest, as needed. Then, LIVE. NOW. Ask yourself what on earth are you waiting for and get on with it! Asking for A Friend.



One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

We shall NOT be divided.

Hate shall NOT divide us.

Fear shall NOT divide us.

Apathy shall NOT divide us.

*Cassandra stands in the gap*

Beloveds, do NOT allow darkness to overwhelm you. Get up. Turn on a light. BE a light.

We are here, now, for a reason. For THIS reason:

To love one another.

Period and end of story.

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: I have been praying for hours. Through a heart saddened by so many who are choosing hatred, division, and fear over love, unity and community.

Yet, I remain:

Hopeful.

Joyful.

Full of love.

We shall make it through these moments. Together. As WE, each of us, CHOOSE to do so.

Be encouraged. Love someone. Especially the hard-headed ones.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Here for a reason.

You are here for a reason.

What that reason is, YOU must reason out.

You must reason with.

You must know that you are the reason.

Reason for what?

Ah.

Aha!

Keep asking!

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: Keep doing your why. Why? You may be the very reason my dreams come true. Ah, beloveds, don’t give up on your why. YOU are needed. Keep going. Asking for A Friend.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!

Grateful.

I’m grateful.

I’m thankful.

I’m hopeful.

I’m joyful.

My heart is full. I’m grateful for the hard. I’m thankful for the fear that has motivated me to continue to try. I’m hopeful for tomorrow. I’m joyful for all of the opportunities that have been laid out before me.

What are you?

asking for A Friend,
Cassandra

#YourLifeMattersToMe

Note: What do you rejoice over? What do you hope for? What do you believe in? Who believes in you? Do you believe in you?

It’s good to reflect upon what we are grateful for. I am grateful for your life. I am thankful that you were born. I am joyful that the world is about to open up its bounty to you. Receive it. Be encouraged.

One step.

One step.

One step.

You are loved.

You are NOT alone.

Keep on being…YOU!