When the road gets rocky...

"True happiness means forging a strong spirit that is undefeated, no matter how trying our circumstances." Daisaku Ikeda

When I read that quote I thought to myself easier said than done but then I said no, easier said than believed. We make so many profound statements during the course of a day but how many of them do we truly believe. We have been bombarded with the new positive way of thinking but I dare to say that new approach can be crippling because the moment you start looking at life the way it is you realize, damn life is "rocky". I must admit I am one of those who believe that what you resist in life persists in your life and what you focus on you give life to and last but not least we are in control of the direction of our lives but I also believe that its ok to cry and grieve and feel like crap and question everything that is going on I just don't believe in staying there. Well how do we exeprience these different stages without yielding to the desire to stay there? Staying there is easy and does not require a whole lot of energy and believe it or not I like easy to hell with anything worth having is worth working hard for I say if its easy I could do it more and more so give me easy. I just wish the universe functioned on my philosophy we would all be so much happier.....yeah right.

Well the best way to make it true trying circumstances and still be happy for me is to follow the path that you naturally gravitate towards. Nobody but you know what's best for you so trust self and ride the wave. This is what works for me when the road gets rocky in this journey I call life;
1. Embrace the feeling: Don't fight it or hate yourself for being there instead roll with it. If you feel like crying, cry as long as you can; for that matter cry until your eyes are swollen, you are congested and is having trouble breathing just get it all out. Don't look for the lesson right there and then just embrace the feeling. It may take an hour or a month or a year but just see it for what it is a feeling and its okay to have it.
2. Love yourself for being honest: We live in a society where honesty is requested but not honored. In being honest with your feelings you are developing self and that is the best kind of development in the world because everyone benefits when YOU grow and develop.
3. Remember it's about you: Yes its ok to focus on self ...look in the mirror and say damn I got it going on or I am doing me in all this. Just laugh and enjoy where you are, you may never come back to this place again and you surely don't want to miss the moments of goodness beccause God knows you will not forget the chaos.
4. Celebrate You!!! I think because I was born in Trinidad an island that lives to party; I'm always looking for an opportunity to party. One of my colleagues said to me, "You can have a party all by yourself." You know what's crazy I really can. I believe we have to celebrate ourselves because if you don't no one will. I say set the tone and start celebrating....

Well it's not just about forging a strong spirit but a whole lot about acknowledging where you are and doing the best you can in the circumstance...remember Life Definitely Rocks!!!!

It's About Balance

“We think that the point is to pass the test or overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.”
Pema Chodron (When Things Fall Apart)

Just yesterday I was sharing with my mom I hate it when you work your butt off to get something and when you do get it you are so exhausted you can’t enjoy it. As a result last year I decided no more of that for me; I have taken that approach in most of the things I do now remember its a process I can't do it all at once. Last semester I got a B and it was ok... to show you how much I have grown in the past year this semester I picked which course I was not going to work my butt off to get an A in, at the cost of enjoying time with family and friends. Please do not take this as an excuse to accept mediocrity because that is not what it is about it’s about balance. Well the course I decided I was not going to overwork myself in guess what, I got my grade this week and I got an "A"...you never know what life holds eh. Peace…

"She Got It"

1. 
2. Lying in bed with her Bible opened, she asked, “Lord, what are you doing in my life?” What path have you laid out for me? Will you please help this sister out?” She waited and waited wondering to herself whether or not she was heard but as she began to get out of bed the Lord responded, “The plans I have for you are plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future, plans to take you to higher heights.” She froze in His presence refusing to say a word in fear of missing the message. As she lay there with the raindrops banging against the window she could feel the spirit of the Lord moving within the room. The room settled and she could hear the spirit resonating within her and the drums of her forefathers beating a tune she was quite familiar with, the hope song. As she listened she got it; your life is not your own; you have been placed here at this time to serve as the ambassador of change I so greatly desire for my children. Remember in order to produce you must first endure growing pains so welcome what you are going through, draw from those that have gone before you, and always leave a legacy for others to follow. She sat up in the bed and began to think on the struggles those before her had endured and purposed in heart to be a breath of fresh air wherever her travels lead her. An ambassador of change, she was being used to change the very environment she was a part of. 
3. 
   
4. She turned to get out of bed and realized the rain had ceased and the sun was rising; a new day was beginning right there before her eyes. As she stood there looking at the sun rise she noticed the path had been laid out, all she needed to do was submit herself to the greater purpose and it will all fall into place. Many prominent women have left a path in the sand for her to draw from whilst still creating her own journey. Alice Walker’s “Before You Knew You Owned It”, Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” and Zora Neale Hurston’s “Every Tongue Must Confess” provide tools she can tap into for her journey. Sasha smiled with tears pouring down her cheeks, as she watched the sun light up her world thinking to herself, my journey truly is “A Breath of Fresh Air” in the midst of total chaos. How will she ever overcome the chaos of the daily struggle, she wondered to herself as she watched the puddles of water on the street? “Yes, I got it, ride the waves and enjoy every minute of it,” she said. As she turned away it hit her like a ton of bricks she has never been able to ride the waves.
5. A little disappointed she looked up to her heavenly Father and asked, “Will you please take away all the drama?” “Not in a million years; it builds character and develops perseverance definite necessities in your journey.” He responded with a smile. A little disappointed Sasha sat back on the bed and wondered how could she ever be an ambassador of change or the breath of fresh air if she is constantly bombarded with problems and difficulties. Then she remembered what her mother had taught her to say whenever she came up against an obstacle, “This too Shall Pass”. Sasha got it, right there that morning in her room before she began her day. Smiling she turned back to her Bible and heard the Holy Spirit saying, “Don’t worry about what the Lord is doing in your life or what path he has laid out for you or whether or not he will help you out. Just be comforted by the gift he has given you…when he tests me, I will come out as pure gold.” He got your back sister. Your daddy loves you!!!