Yall are going to have to forgive me, beloveds. This was a dream years in the making!!!!
I have been wanting to share motivation and encouragement since I was a babe.
You all will me a HUGE favor if you click on the video and watch all the way through. This will help the Algorithm boost y first video. I would also greatly appreciate it if you would like, subscribe and comment on the video.
Thank you, in advance, beloveds. I appreciate EVERY like, over the past five years, that helped me keep on keeping on when I have been the most discouraged.
The videos WILL get better. I am improving with every try.
Be encouraged. Go for your dreams. Start, beloveds, even if the start is a shaky one. I love and thank you. With all my heart.
asking for A Friend, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: This IS our time. Get out there and LIVE. We CAN. We WILL. We HAVE to.
Keep putting yourself out there, beloveds. In as many spaces and places as you can.
I have spent a delicious hour writing more Substack pieces to share next week.
So far, not many views. Far less than in here. In here, as far as the world is concerned, I haven’t done very much, or reached many folk, in five years.
I have done what I could. I will continue to do so.
The joy, beloveds, has been in the showing up.
I can not tell you how much joy I get from even one connection. Even if that one has been only me.😳😎🤗🤣🥰😁
Life is short. I am living it. I just had a fabulous coffee yak with my twin.
Now, I am listening to motivation, so I can fill up with motivation, so I can give out motivation. Rinse. Repeat.
It feels good to have removed the strings from my life. I no longer have the world caught up in strings of my expectations.
Yes, I desire for connections with and from the world. Still, I no longer place my value on how many did or did not.
I love. I care. I keep it moving. I enjoy those who return the favor. I ain’t mad at those who did not.
I am one of billions. It may take a while for my tribe to find me. I can only keep putting myself out there to be found.
Keep putting yourself out there, beloveds. Don’t be discouraged if your tribe has not shown up yet.
At least, one has. Me! Tada! 😁🥰🤣🤗😎😳
I love you. Have an amazing day. I just wanted to share this awesome Tiktok.
Note: It’s easy to fall into the trap of listening to fear. You look around you and all you see are the obstacles forever getting in your way. Be encouraged. Obstacles are just that. Hey Cortana, overcome everything you need to in order to have a successful and full life.
What that life looks like depends upon you, on your efforts, on your attitude, on your willingness to turn around and go another way if need be.
Give yourself the time and space to learn to move into grow. You will get there when it’s time.
Don’t get on yourself when you are afraid about a situation. A bit of fear is healthy in that it can show you where to look and what to do to maneuver through this thing called life. Fear is an emotion. It’s an indicator that something is up. Fear does not have to run our lives.
We will always have fear to deal with, to fight with, to combat and to overcome. Don’t be afraid of fear. Fear wants you to believe there is always an imminent disaster waiting around the corner. There isn’t.
Life will happen. Enjoy your life. Look forward to things. Love as many people as you can. Good things will happen to you. Bad things will befall you. It’s called life. Enjoy the life you have.
You can’t do anything about anyone else’s attitude.
You can do something about yours.
You can’t do anything to change anyone else’s mind.
You can do something about yours.
You can’t change every corner of the 🌎 world.
You can do something about yours.
You can’t do anything about others’ lack of empathy, care, and understanding
You can do something about yours.
You can’t change anyone else’s uninformed opinions.
You can do something about yours.
You can’t do a thing about another’s lack of faith, hope, and joy.
You can do something about yours.
Beloveds, the 🌎 world will tell you that all is hopeless. Dark times will try to convince you that YOUR voices, your choices, your love just does not matter.
You can NOT waste precious moments joining the ranks of all who choose not to. Life is what WE make it.
I can’t make you. You can’t make me. We CAN make it together!
I’ll do my part…
You can do something about yours.
being about it, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: We can do something about the foolishness going on in the 🌎 world. We CAN. We have to. It’s on us. My heart had been heavy over the willingness of so many people to turn their backs on those who are hungry.
You actually have people cheering the fact that Medicare and Medicaid are being cut, which will cause rural hospital to close, which will cause people to go without health care. There are people who are doing Tiktok videos laughing about the fact that food benefits are being cut but children will be going hungry.
I was watching a video where there was a town that was calling against a program that will house homeless women, children and elderly. The community said yes, we think society should do something about this. They just didn’t want the people in their town.
We are the community. We are our brother’s keeper. We are our neighbors. We all need each other. Let’s all choose to love and care for one another.
I was just talking to my sister about this today. Don’t fear the darkness. Shine your light. Be a light.
I’m making a bunch of noise. I have been complaining to God about how silent He had been. He challenged me. He asked me what I could be doing in the meantime.
I told him I said love as many people as I can. I told him, I said love me as best as I can. I told him I could sing loudly and badly. I told him I could chair dance.
I told him I could start my channel. I told him I could exercise.
Life is short. I feel sorry for all the people who are running around angry about everything.
If you don’t like the way things are, get loud about it. Make your own noise your way. Do something. Even if it’s just a small thing. Make it your thing.
asking for A Friend, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: I’m trying to make a distance. Even if it’s just a small difference. Even if it’s just for a few people. I wanna touch the entirety of the world. I want a billion souls to see my words of love and encouragement. In the meantime. I will love who I can for as long as I can.
Be encouraged. You are making an impact. More of an impact than you know. Stop seeing your impact on the small thing. You’re making such a big difference. What do you do matter.
It’s so funny that the more I ask for help from God, He told me. And asked me what was I going to do. Emphasis being on what was Cassandra going to do about things.
It has been amazing actually putting hands on on a dream that I have carried around in my heart for 35 years. I worked on the first two pieces of the project and I had so much fun doing so. In fact, I have to make myself soft working.
Be confident in your choices. Be confident in your steps. You are going the right way.
Now that we have established that beloveds, you can go ahead and get on about your day!
Life is what we make it. We will always have periods when life is being especially tough. That’s okay. You will make it to the other side. The trick is in what piece will you make it to the other side?
I am so embarrassed over all the times I gave up on myself and things got super hard. Having a tornado knock on your front door really does put life into its proper perspective.
It’s still hard taking a trash out and seeing all the destruction and everything that is gone now. Things are being rebuilt slowly. I am being rebuilt. Too slowly for me. I want to be whole already. I want to be healed already.
I don’t know why this tornado is harder than the other two tornadoes I survived. Maybe it’s because I had to go through it alone. I truly did think I was going to die. We were thinking about that moment is still tough.
I am still asking God why He left me here? I don’t know why I am fighting with Survivors guilt a year later. I need a counselor I can’t afford.
In the meantime, I will continue to encourage as many people as I can. You can get past the hard parts of life. You will. Be encouraged.
I keep telling myself that hard ain’t nothing but a word. I got this. God has me. He has you as well. I am praying for us all. Hurry, God, we need some help. We could all use some finances. We could all use some peace. We could all do with some joy. We truly all need an extra heaping, helping of Unconditional Love.
asking for all my friends. Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: It NEVER fails to uplift me, beloveds, to come here, read your comments and be encouraged. Yall keep me laughing at my dumbness. You give me hope. You help me remember that I, too, am loved and not alone. There a few regulars that respond EVERY day. Every one. On my most discouraged/disappointed days, when I wonder why the world I am wasting my fingers, a like will pop up, a word will be spoken, and my heart will be refilled.
I thank each and every one of you for taking the time to stop by. You are more than a silent witness. You are a precious soul which has touched mine. I am grateful. I appreciate you more than you will ever know. Be blessed, okay?
I was listening to someone on a channel I follow. She was talking about moving over to Substack.
I had no idea what that was or what it was for. Apparently, “everyone” is moving their content THERE.
Just as folk flocked to this platform, to that platform, to whatever platform was popular.
I looked up some videos. I became excited about another way to Express myself in a deeper way, or so I told myself.
I imagined reimagining myself there. I planned a wondrous entrance. One in which I proclaimed to the world:
“I’M HERE! HERE ME ROAR!!”
“RRRRRROOOOOOOOOOAAAARRR”
I daydreamed. Of all the heart connections I could possibly make. Of all the lives I could possibly touch. Of all the different topics I could/would discuss.
THIS would be my chance to expose my writing skills! This would be my chance to PROVE, finally, that I COULD write.
This thought, beloveds, began to intimidate me….yikes.
REAL writers would see MY work!!?😳 How could I possibly be my crazy, weird, making up crazy word self there and be respected, as a writer, still?!
Then, I planned some pieces. Surely, I would have to stop calling folk “beloveds”. Surely, I would have to stop saying “folk” in my pieces.
Surely, I would have to conform to a more structured form. I would HAVE to be more mindful of comma usage/placement!!
I would have to stop saying things like “thangs”. I would certainly HAVE to stop saying “Heckamiah Jeremiah” from time to time.
I would have to water down my “spiritual side”, so as not to scare REAL readers/writers.
I would have to write seriously at ALL times.
That was last night. I found the writing police had pulled me over, snatched me from the clouds, tossing me painfully back to earth.
Chastened, I woke. I came here. Forlorn, I stalked passed the notification that I had posted for 634 consecutive days.
Sad, I told myself to stay on THIS platform. I could do what I could in my SMALL way. Who would/was listening anywho?
Who but my peeps, here, would care about me, over there.
In the midst of my anxt/lament, The Universe happened by and asked what was wrong.
I said I was sad I would have to dim my light, over there, in order to prove that I was a REAL writer.
The Universe: You have been writing here for five years. You have been writing for most of your life.
Me: Yea, but none of THAT has been REAL writing among REAL writers.
The Universe: What makes a writer REAL? In fact, what makes a writer a writer? Is it the audience?
Me: Well, no.
The Universe: What then?
Me: Writer’s write.
The Universe: Have you been writing?
Me: Well, yea.
The Universe: Nuff said.
Me: K.
Beloveds, YOU are the platform. YOU are the most important ingredient in your equation.
YOUR voice.
YOUR way.
Keep on being YOU no matter where you go. You do NOT need anyone to validate your gifts and talents. They are yours.
Now, those gifts and talents may not be everyone’s cup of tea. We may not, we shall not be loved and valued by everyone.
That’s okay. Our tribe is out there. One of my tribes is HERE. NOW. Writing MY way. Loving MY way. Caring MY way. That’s what life is about, eh?
Don’t let doubt lie to you. Keep moving FORWARD. Keep branching out. Keep trying new platforms and ways of being.
Be encouraged. Have an amazing rest of today. I love you.
asking for A Friend, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: Do what you do. Be who you are. I AM a writer! How do I KNOW, beloveds? Because, I write.
Whether I am a GOOD writer is a completely different question on a different day. You will have to tell me.🥰🤣😎😳
Don’t let the darkness fool you. Get out your flashlight!
I have to keep reminding myself that every time I allow myself to focus on the waves and the hard that I tend to get discouraged. Otherwise, my day goes by pretty joyfully.
The holidays are hard for me. Being alone, they remind me of Mom, now gone. I miss her.
I almost found myself wanting to wallow in despair. I refuse to allow myself that luxury. I can’t afford it. I have one life to live. I have just this one life to give. I can’t waste these moments.
Since I didn’t know what to do about my dreams, I decided to encourage other folk to continue to pursue theirs. It made me feel better. It made me forget about my disappointments and discouragement. Doing so helped me to refocus on the goals that I have for my future. I remembered I do have a future. Still.
Be encouraged, beloveds. We still have a future. There is so much unrest and unsavory things going on in the world. It’s easy to want to give in to despair and hopelessness. We can NEVER do that. Never, no never, neva, not going to happen on my watch people!!
When it gets dark, just turn on the flashlight. Remember that the sun will shine and have her time.
I turned on “We Are The World” and am now serenading half the neighborhood. Poor neighbors…I sowwy.
Beloveds, this world is what WE make it. Let’s do what WE can, in our corner of it, shall we?
I love you, beloveds. More than you know. I pray for each and every subscriber and for all of your families. Especially for the nonbelievers out there. I don’t blame a one of you. In fact, I would like to take a belt to soooooooooooooooooooooo many folk who defiantly call themselves “Christians” who act like hell on wheels. Don’t get me started…whew..*Cassandra prays for all knuckleheads, er folks, who need some serious act right and a boot to the rear or…*…..oppps….lol.
Laugh, beloveds. Live, beloveds. Life is short. Life is so much more than chasing a bag, focusing on the hard, and being disagreeable to folk who don’t agree with us or look like us. Let’s all do better towards one another okay? Mini rant/lecture over. Listening to “We Are The World” ALWAYS makes me want to run around hollering at everyone to love one another. Things keep going the way they are, beloveds, you just may see a viral TikTok with some old, crazy, black woman tearing around the neighborhood hollering “love one another, already!”
Have an amazingly, awesome day.
asking for A Friend, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: We ARE the world. What kind of world are YOU providing?
Keep it pushing when the last thing you want to do is keep it pushing.
Keep it moving. When it’s the last thing you want to do is keep it moving.
The dam will break at some point. We just don’t know when. We just don’t know what will be the last blow.
Be encouraged. There will be a last blow. There is a time and season for everything under the sun.
I didn’t feel like pushing back. I push back anyway. I have to. If I don’t push back, the darkness will win. I have too many things to do to allow that to happen. Besides, we can see fireworks in the dark….lol
We get so many opportunities to either show up, give up, show out, or give in. I CHOOSE to continue betting on ME. What about you, beloveds?
asking for A Friend, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: Keep pushing back. Eventually, hard will get bored and go mess with someone else…
Okay, I was mini ranting about God being awfully silent, when God showed up and got awfully loud…
Me: Yada, yada, yada, God ain’t doing nada. Yada, yada…
God: What could YOU be DOING while you are supposedly, apparently, not really waiting PATIENTLY for Me to complete the promises I have already told you I was GOING to do. Notice, I did not say I may. I said “Yes” when you asked. For the millionth time. Again, what can YOU be DOING as you WAIT, beloved?
Me: Ehem, opps. Yikes.
Then, asked myself what I could be doing. I came up with a list quick, fast, and in a hurry:
Write.
Get up.
Encourage someone.
Encourage myself.
Feed myself uplifting music.
Make myself a nourishing meal.
Make a grateful list.
Yak with family.
Reach out to a friend.
Be good to me.
Read my bible.
Watch something uplifting/encouraging.
Work on my goals.
Daydream about my POSITIVE futre.
Take a walk.
Tell fear to take a hike.
Drown doubts in the shower.
Chair dance.
Sing badly.
Make a terribly corny video I have no idea how to upload/export/download or whatever in the fresh hoohah one needs to do to get going!!! Ack!…..oopps. scuze me….
The list could have went on all day. What did I DO, beloveds? I stopped complaining about God’s Silence and got loud up in the house!!……YYYYYAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSS!
I just stopped ’round to ask somebody what they were going to DO…NOW. Not, tomorrow. Not after they have allowed fear/dread/doubt to beat the fresh hell out of them all day.
What are you going to do NOW?
asking for A Friend, Cassandra
#YourLifeMattersToMe
Note: There will always be something going on. What we will do about those things? I’m done whining and complaining about things. I’m changing things I can. I’m mitigating the things I can’t change. I’m living with what is.
Life is about making connections and corrections. I’m doing my best to make as many positive connections as I can. I’m doing all I know to make as many healthy corrections as I can.
Be good to yourself as you do the same. Have an amazing today.
Why Can't I Be Loud?! 