At My Fingertips

Raise your hand if you can remember being asked this question when you were in elementary school:

What do you want to be when you grow up?

The typical answers are, teacher, doctor, lawyer, astronaut, along with a host of others.

My answer as a child wasn't much different. I wanted to be a teacher. But who I wanted to teach was a bit more unique.

I wanted to teach "the blind." For some odd reason I was fascinated by Louis Braille. I even learned how to read Braille, and wrote to the Braille Institute several times. I would hand-write my letters and they would respond in Braille. It was so cool! I wish I still had them.

Unfortunately, my dreams took a different path as I got older and I never became the teacher that I had always longed to be. With the teaching dream went my ability to read Braille.

Then, a few weeks ago I was in my local Starbucks and saw that they had gift cards in Braille. I just HAD to get one. I didn't put any money on it...didn't even buy it with the intention of giving it away. I just asked the cashier if I could have one and off I went. Funny how something as simple as this little card brought back such a flood of memories, along with "what ifs."

What if I had stuck with my interest in Braille and had actually become the teacher that I'd dreamt of being as a young girl? How much different would my life have been?

Interestingly enough, for those who know me well and/or have followed The Dialogue Den since 2009, you know that I have "special eyes," and the ability to SEE each day is truly a GIFT that I never take for granted. I have to take special precautions with MY eyes that most folks don't give any thought to. Not many folks my age have ever seen a RETINA SPECIALIST. I have...more times than I care to admit.

I pray that these eyes will always be able to SEE what is before them, but just in case anything ever changes...thanks to Mr. Braille, I know that I will ALWAYS be able to READ.

Oh, and in case you were wondering...the letters on the card (of course) spell Starbucks. That first little dot by itself, way over to the left lets you know that the word is capitalized.

How 'bout you?

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What was YOUR answer to the 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' question when you were in elementary school? Did your dream/goal come true?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Kintsukuroi

At this moment there are about 100 other things I need to be doing. But after the morning (and afternoon) I've had, the most IMPORTANT thing to do at this time is WRITE about how INSPIRED I have become.

This morning I attended a brunch featuring women who were willing to share their stories and knowledge with others (like myself) so that we too could get to the lives that God has purposed for us. The PowHERful Brunch was the exact name.

There were no gimmicks or "get rich quick" tips...there were simply testimonies of where these women have come from, how they got to where they are today, and again...how WE can get to where WE are desiring to go.

There were authors, entrepreneurs, a woman in the entertainment industry, all in a room FULL of ENCOURAGEMENT. These women were of various backgrounds but the one thing that they shared in common was that they LISTENED TO GOD. What He said DO, they DID...sometimes reluctantly because His direction didn't always make sense, but ultimately they were OBEDIENT, and as a result, He has BLESSED them and their endeavors.

I gotta tell ya...I wasn't sure what to expect when I paid a couple weeks ago to attend today's event. Wasn't sure if I could financially afford to go. Wasn't really sure what I was going to get out of it...wasn't really sure what I wanted to get out of it. But...God knew.

I arrived this morning EMPTY.

I had eaten breakfast, so I'm not speaking of a physical emptiness. I'm speaking however, in terms of an emotional, mental emptiness.

With the recent changes in my life (that only a small few even know about), I have struggled...mostly with DEPRESSION, but with a host of other feelings as well. SHAME ranks pretty high up there on the list. I know that there is LOTS for me to be doing, yet I have not had the WILL to do ANY of it.

It's been said that "you can't pour from an empty cup." Well, my cup has not only been EMPTY, but CRACKED...so even if anything went into the cup it would've leaked out. As a result, I've poured NOTHING in.

So yes...although I arrived with a smile on my face (the same fake smile I've been passing on to everyone for MONTHS), I wasn't smiling much on the inside.

Until...

The brunch began.

Now when I think of "brunch" I immediately think of FOOD. Yes, there was food (DELICIOUS food I might add), but along with the FOOD were the INCREDIBLY AMAZING panelists. And even before the panelists began to speak, a lovely young lady rendered Mariah Carey's "Through The Rain" to us in sign language. It was simply BEAUTIFUL.

The panelists began to speak, and as they did, not only did I hear God speak to me with regard to what I need to do...but He SHOWED me what I WILL do as I watched and listened to each of the women. What THEY were doing is what I will do.

He told me that I have a story, and that MY story is meant to INSPIRE others as the ones that I was hearing today were inspiring me. He assured me that there is ROOM for me and what I have to say, so I don't need to worry that so many others are already doing it. THEIR story is not MINE and MINE (just as theirs) NEEDS to be told...in a setting just like the one we were in today. A setting with women (and even men) who can be HELPED by what I have to say.

YES, I can ENCOURAGE.
YES, I can INSPIRE.
YES, I can MOTIVATE.

And...I WILL.

I read online that "when the Japanese mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold. They believe that when something's suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful."

That, I believe, is what God is doing to me. He is "filling my cracks" with gold. Interestingly, the cracks will still be visible, and that's okay. Every crack has its own story so I wouldn't want them to be made invisible. The visible cracks will be a constant reminder of where I have come from, and gone through, lest I forget. That's a BLESSING. And now...I can hold what's needed, instead of having it all leak out. NOW, I can pour into others from a FULL cup.

No, my "situation" has not magically changed from this morning until now. I still need help (LOTS of it), but I can say that I now have hope that I didn't have this morning. I've experienced a shift in my thinking and that, I believe, will bring about change in other areas of my life that so greatly need it.

Ok...enough about me.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What goals are YOU pursuing? What's YOUR purpose? Are you functioning in that purpose yet, or still working your way there. If you haven't gotten there yet, keep pressing, stay encouraged, and allow me to cheer you on along the way.

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Tassels to the Left

Tonight's post...short and sweet.

Just got home from attending my son's high school graduation (and dinner).

All I can say is that there wasn't a parent more proud of their child than I was of mine. And that's REAL talk!

Not sure what he'll do next. He's a creative type like me so I pray that he finds his way into the CAREER of his dreams...one that matches his God given PURPOSE. And may he never, ever, EVER find himself TRAPPED in a cubicle. Cubicles KILL dreams...or at the very least...defer them considerably.

Seriously. I'm sure that if we polled ALL of the graduates and asked what their dreams and goals are for the future...not a one...not a SINGLE one would say, "I want to work in a cubicle." Nope. NOBODY is going to say that!

Mind you...I'm thankful for my cubicle job. It puts food on our table and keeps a roof over our heads.

Nevertheless, I don't EVER want the dreams of ANY of my children to be KILLED or DEFERRED by "cubicle work." I pray that they all do well...and BETTER than their Mom. After all...isn't that what EVERY parent wants for their child(ren)? For the children to go farther in life than the parents? Yes...it is.

Now...to the Class of 2016 EVERYWHERE...CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Do well. Show the world what you're made of...and LIVE your PURPOSE.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What were YOUR goals when you graduated from high school? Did you fulfill them?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

Take Two!!!

Lately I've been re-thinking some decisions that I've made, wondering how things would've been had I done them differently. I tend to have these thoughts most often on a Sunday evening like tonight, where I am thankful to have a job, yet not too thrilled about the one I have to go to tomorrow.

Many times I ask myself, "How did I end up HERE?" Or, "Where did I go wrong?"

In the words of Erykah Badu, "I think I made a wrong turn back there somewhere."

Looking back, I can pretty much pinpoint just where things took a wrong turn. It was when I stopped attending college.

Had I stayed in college, I would've continued studying my field of choice (which at that time was TEACHING) and I would have had DECADES of teaching under my belt by now. At the very least, I would've had a degree. Well...I do have an AA, but that's not much better than a high school diploma these days.

Instead, I stopped going...and it has been one cubicle job after another ever since.

Again I say...YES, I am THANKFUL to have a job. And at the same time...probably in the same breath...I know that there is MORE for me. I am supposed to be doing something else. How do I know? Because my spirit is so unsettled, and I don't think that THIS is how I am supposed to be feeling.

Even with my blog, I feel like there is MORE for it than me writing to a handful of readers (for that handful, I am VERY thankful). This is supposed to be BIG. This is supposed to open doors for me. This is supposed to get me out of a cubicle and into the creative world of writing, and stage plays, and televisions series', and movies. THIS is supposed to be THAT.

I don't know. I guess I'm in a "holding pattern" of sorts.

Kinda wondering, what's the difference between regret, and wishing I had done something differently?

Or is there a difference?

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What's one thing you wish you could do differently that may have changed the course of your life?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

119 Days...and Counting

So I've been a bit behind in my writing yet I didn't realize just HOW far behind I was until now. My goal is to to write 365 posts in 365 days. Today is the 67th day of the year and this is post# 48. I'd better step it up. Thankfully, the goal was NOT to write 365 CONSECUTIVE posts in 365 days or I'd be in BIG trouble. So...there'll be some "doubling", "tripling" and who knows...may even "quadrupaling" in the upcoming days, because I am DETERMINED to reach my goal.

With that said, let's jump right into it.

A whole lot has been swirling around in my head lately.

Today, as you can probably guess, my Mom is in my thoughts. Today marks the 17th week that she has been gone. 119 Days. I miss her terribly. I really really do. There is an emptiness in my heart that simply will NEVER be filled. An emptiness that no one can really understand until they lose their own mother. I think about her all the time.

An acquaintance of mine lost his dad yesterday. He was there at the very end, holding his dad's hand as his dad took his last breath. I read that and cried. I cried because HE got to be there at the end with HIS dad, and MY MOM took her last breath alone...in a room...all by herself. If I could undo any part of her departure from this earth, I would undo that.

Even though I sat by her side just seven hours earlier, had I know that seven hours later she would no longer be here, I would have stayed. God, I would have stayed.

My acquaintance said that he had "no regrets" and I wished so badly that I could say the same. For the rest of my life...I will regret not being there WITH MY MOM at the end.

A friend of mine celebrated her Dad's birthday today and posted a video of him dancing. I cried. Cried because I couldn't remember the last time I saw my Mom dance. Cried because she's not here to dance anymore. I cried.

So anyhoo...It's been 17 weeks, and they haven't gotten easier. Yes, I'm still living...still functioning, but I miss my Mom like crazy. I know that she is happy in Heaven. I know that she is no longer sick. I know that she has reunited with my grandparents and other loved ones. And most importantly, I know that she is with God. For all of those things, I am glad.

So even though tears are streaming down my face as I type these words, my heart is glad...not for me, but for my Mom.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: Do you have any regrets about anything?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

WORDS Speak. ACTION Makes Them HEARD.

***My longest post to date. Don't say I didn't warn ya!***

In December of 2012 I sat down at my Judy's kitchen table, listening to Christmas music as she and I created our "2013 Vision Boards". This was the first time that I had ever made one and I loved the finished product. It was filled with Love, Health, Fitness, God, Wealth, the neighborhoods that I want to someday move into (Baldwin Hills, Ladera Heights, Windsor Hills), and a host of POSITIVE affirmations to get my 2013 flowing in the right direction. The board was FANTASTIC. The goals were inspiring. And over the course of the year, I NEVER looked at it. I think it stayed under my bed because I never bought a frame to put it in. Sad...I know. As I look back that board, the ONLY thing I achieved is that I "went Natural" with my hair. On March 1st of 2013, I walked myself into a barbershop, plopped myself in the chair and said, "Take it all off." My hair was cut down to about an eighth of an inch short (if even that long). Since then, this "Natural Hair Journey" has been quite an experience. It grew back very brittle and in July of 2014, I had it ALL cut off again, hoping that with better care, my hair would make a change for the better. I'm pleased to say that it has.

Ok...I digress (as usual). Back to the boards.

So...in December 2013, a group of my friends thought it would be fun for us to make our boards TOGETHER. So we met up and had a cutting-gluing good time. Again, I was pleased with my board and it appears that the running theme was LOVE. I have the word LOVE on my board FIVE times, along with additional phrases like, "LOVE will find you", "Ready for LOVE", "True LOVE", and "LOVEable". Health, Wealth, Joy, Family, Travel and lots of other inspiring stuff made the cut. With my 2014 Vision Board, I'd have to say that LOVE won. LOVE got me through more than I ever imagined I'd go through last year, and because LOVE was so kind to me, it continues to be the dominant force and desire in my board for 2015. I did travel to Atlanta and San Francisco in 2014, so we can check that off the list as well. Now...as fabulous as I found that board to be, would you like to take a guess as to where I kept it? *Insert Jeopardy theme song here*
I'll give you a hint...it was kept right alongside 2013's board.
Yep...under my bed. What a shame!

Now for THIS year.

LOVE made it on the board FIVE times again (would've been SIX but I gave one love to a friend who needed it), along with "LOVEable","Crazy, stupid LOVE", "I am so in LOVE!!!!!!!", "Get more of what you LOVE", and "You can never have too much LOVE". I think those all speak for themselves.

In addition to all of that LOVE, I'm gonna describe the other things on my board and their significance because I think that's important.

I'll start with the center (because the center is MOST important) and then move to the top.

***

God
Pretty self-explanatory, right? God is the center of my life. Without Him I am nothing. Without Him I can do nothing. I NEED Him in EVERYTHING I do. So right there in the center is where I've placed Him.

Now let's go from top to bottom, left to right.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
This is one of my favorite verses of Scripture. Remind me that no matter WHAT I'm facing, God's plans for me are GOOD.

I am so in love!!!!!!!
It's just how I feel. I pray that the feeling will last FOREVER.

Ready, Set, Grow!
I know that there is so much more for me to accomplish, yet I feel "boxed in". And it feels awful. I am ready to break out of the box and move into what God has created me to do. I am so much bigger than the life I am currently living. I'm ready to grow into it.

LOVE.

"The way I see it, every year can be a brand new journey."
Yes indeed! New year, new journey. I'm packed. Let's go!

What's next?
Gotta admit, I'm really curious about this one. I feel that I'm on the edge of some great things happening. Looking forward to finding out what they are.

Psalm 34:1
"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."
You have NO idea how many times I recite this verse. It truly is my FAVORITE. It gets me through EVERYTHING. No matter how bad things get sometimes (even now as I am unable to pay my rent), I STILL bless Him. When my Mom left this earthly life 52 days ago, I STILL blessed Him. Why? BECAUSE HE DESERVES IT!!! Ooh wee, don't get me started.

time
I never have enough of it. Everyday I say that I need 8 more hours added to the end, because that's what it'll take for me to do all that needs to be done. I need more time. Yet since I know that 24 hours are all that any of us get each day, I realize that making better use of my time is what REALLY needs to happen. So...I shall work on that this year.

Patience
I want everything NOW. Life doesn't work that way though, and neither does God. So I will continue to "practice patience" (as a good friend once advised me) in 2015.

FOCUS
I am easily bored and distracted. As a result, I finish very little of what I start. My life is filled with loose pieces. Who can use those? Nobody. So I must begin to FINISH what I start. FOCUS and Finish.

Success
I just wanna know what it feels like. I know STRUGGLE all too well. I am ready for SUCCESS! Success with my writing. Success with my career. Success with marriage. Success with friendships. Success with Family. I want it!

Here We Go!
My seatbelt is fastened. I'm ready for the ride.

Family
My kiddos, Lauren, Jordan and Terence are my greatest BLESSINGS. They love the Lord, they love each other, they love their parents, family and friends. They're just all around good people and I am so very thankful to be their Mom. There's also my extended family, and those who aren't even related to my by blood, yet I call "family".

"It's essential to be doing something you really love."
This is MAJOR for me with regard to my career goals. What I love is working with children. What I love is meeting the needs of homeless youth. What I love is reading to children and as a result, watching them develop a love for reading that they didn't have before they met me. Still praying. Still searching for the door to open so that I can FINALLY step into my created PURPOSE.

Hey, I'm Here!
Most of the time I go unnoticed or ignored. Gotta admit, it hurts. And no...I'm not having a "pity party", I'm just stating my truth. In a room full of people, *I* am unseen. Not to toot my own horn, but I think I'm a pretty cool person and have a lot to add to most environments. I just want folks to "SEE" me, and acknowledge my presence more than what's been done in the past.

Finally,
I am so ready to say that word with regard to many areas of my life. So very many.

Save $
I'm tired of living "paycheck to paycheck", and quite honestly it's not even that. I need paycheck & a half to paycheck & and a half to really start seeing a dent in my situation. It's all jacked-up right now, yet nevertheless...I'm still blessed. Just have to be wiser with my money.

Feel Great
This is in regard to my health (I've gained a LOT of weight over the past two years), and just life in general. I don't always FEEL great, but I want to.

In The Right Direction
Seems that I've been moving backward and I am so ready to move FORWARD. Forward is the right direction.

Meal Plan
Weight Loss works when meals are planned. I've done it before so I know that it's true. I've gotta get back to planning if I expect this weight to come off.

Book Club
I enjoy reading yet many times after finishing a book I wish I had someone to discuss it with. Good news...some friends and I are in the process of getting a club up and running. Yay!

Take Steps
Literally AND Figuratively. I've gotta get movin'.

Reaching Financial Goals
As I said before, my finances are jacked up! I need to get them together if I ever expect to have/own anything. Tired of struggling.

Healthy
Need to eat right (80%) and workout (20%)

Choose Happiness
This is just me. I could look around and wallow in all that's gone wrong, but where is the joy in that? That has NEVER been me. In all things...I choose happiness. Life is just better that way

healthier & hotter
Yep. That's what I'm gonna be!

gotta have it
There's so much that I want. So much that I need. I'm not compromising this year.

Yes!
Just being POSITIVE this year.

Results
I'm tired of "saying" what I want and will do. This year I will have the results of what I say I want and will do.

Dream Come True
I have so many dreams/goals. I am believing that they will start coming true.

FREE
I hate living life by a clock and not having time be my own. Seriously, I hate it. So I'll be working toward a life that will allow me to be FREE to do with my time, what *I* want to do with it.

Something to Smile About
I want LOTS of things to smile about, and I want to give others things to smile about. It's all a "give and take."

Positive
Again...that's all that I have room for this year. Positivity.

Marriage
This is what I want. A life-long marriage with the man who wants the same...with ME.

Love

Music
I sing a song EVERYDAY. Music is like medicine for me.

on a Mission
That speaks for itself.

Healthier
Again...already covered this one.

Breakthrough!
I feel like I've been chiseling away at life and I'm ready for the wall to finally break so that I can go through.

Where There's A Will...
There is a Will so I will make a WAY.

Just The Beginning
Like I said, I am ready to live the life that God created for me. So very ready.

$
Money. I just don't have enough. Not trying to be greedy. I just don't have enough. Tired of struggling.

Get Ahead
I am always behind. Seems that I am never able to catch up and breathe. I need to get ahead.

Friendship Never Gets Old
I have friendships that are over 3 decades old, and some that are only months old. I need them all. Every friendship has value to me.

Vacation
I've never been on a REAL vacation. I want to know what it's like to go somewhere for a week (or longer), and just RELAX. Not worry about how much the vacation is costing me...but just RELAX.

Debt Free
I am in debt over my head and the crazy part is, I have NOTHING to show for it. Just a series of bad decisions that have gotten me into the financial mess I'm in. One debt at a time, I'll dig my way out.

"Make Your Voice Heard"
I have often said that I am "misunderstood" and that is the absolute truth. The majority of people just don't "get me". But if they would just STOP sometimes and LISTEN to what I have to say...maybe, just maybe...they'd understand me better.

Loveable
I AM LOVEABLE AND WORTHY OF BEING AND RECEIVING LOVE!!!

You can never have too much love
Some would say this about money, but I wholeheartedly believe this about love. I can never ever ever have too much!

FEARless
Fear has kept me from living. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of not being liked. Fear of not being wanted. That's gotta stop. Fear is winning and as a result, I am losing. That has GOT to STOP...NOW!

Renewed
I just want to start over and try again until I get it right.

beautiful
I am beautiful. Regardless of my weight...whether I get bigger than I am now, or smaller...I am ALWAYS beautiful.

Writing
Writing is air for me. When I don't write I feel as though I stop breathing. I have other friends who write and our styles are completely different. That's ok. Occasionally I find myself comparing my writing to theirs. That too will stop. I couldn't write like them if I tried. Our stories are unique...and that's the beauty of writing. The world has room (and a need) for all of our voices.

Workout
I've fallen off terribly. Haven't been to the gym in God knows how long. Haven't walked with my group since September. Haven't put in a workout DVD. And it shows. 33 pounds later...it shows.

More doing.
Talking has gotten me nowhere. Time to put my words into ACTION.

Buying A House
I want something to call My Own...with a backyard for my dog and garden, and a garage. A place where *I* can host a party instead of having to use someone else's home. Won't happen though until I get my finances in order (or win the Lotto).

Love

Invest
I want my money to start working for ME instead of me working for IT. So I will start investing. Small, but it'll be a start.

Inspired
I want to be inspired by others and I want others to be inspired by me.

Powered Up
How will I get powered up? By communicating DAILY with God. He is the source of EVERYTHING for me. But like a lamp on a table...until it is plugged into the wall, it has no power and can not serve it's purpose of giving light. It MUST be plugged in in order to have POWER. I must be plugged into God in order to serve MY purposes.

Blog
Today I am embarking on a new quest titled, "365 Posts in 365 Days". I WILL write EVERYDAY here at The Dialogue Den.

Passionate
I want a relationship that's passionate, and I want to be passionate in all that I do.

Crazy, Stupid Love.
I want this! Who doesn't?!?

Healthy & Happy
I want to be BOTH!

have it all!
I believe I can, and will. I just have to work harder at it than some, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes. I'm tired of living a mediocre life.

Ready
I am ready to make life happen!

Helpful
This is just who I am. I have the heart of a servant and whenever there is a need, I will fill it if possible. That's just me, and I love that about me.

Love

smile!
My smile lights up a room. You don't have to say it...I know that it does. :-)

Hey Gorgeous!
I simply can not hear those words enough!

Writing
Yes, I have it on the board twice. That's how important it is to me.

Passion Meets Purpose
Once I find a way for these two to come together, I will be UNSTOPPABLE!

Gratitude
I have so much to be thankful for. I just do.

Hope.
No matter how bad things may be at times, I ALWAYS have HOPE (because Christ has given it to me).

Change for the better.
I am not perfect, nor have I ever professed to be. I just want to continue becoming the best person I can possibly be.

READY
There it is again. Yes!

More saving.
Interestingly, I don't spend much. I don't have much to spend. But from what little I do have, I can put some away.

CONFIDENCE
I heard a friend say the other day that "the sexiest thing you can wear is CONFIDENCE." I wanna wear that EVERYDAY!

Faith
My faith in Christ is the glue that holds me together when all else falls apart.

Joy
Joy comes from within, and if handled properly, spills out so that others can see.

FEAR IS NOT AN OPTION
'Nuff said. Next!

STARTING A GREAT NEW JOB
Yes...I started a new job on October 27th, and Yes...I am still searching. It's just not a good fit. None of my previous jobs have been. I want a CAREER. One that matches my purpose. One that will positively change the lives of myself and others. Yes...I am still searching. Grateful, yet searching.

REJUVENATE
Most days I am just tired. I can wake up in the morning and be tired. My life needs major rejuvenation.

YOUR LIFE IS A STORY YOU HAVE LIVED TO TELL.
Not just mine, but YOURS too. I have chosen to tell mine here at The Dialogue Den and when go into further in my autobiography that I will soon write.

LET'S DO THIS.
Tired of talking about it. Time to DO it!

Live in the N.O.W.
I don't live in the past much, yet I do get ahead of myself at times. All that we really have is NOW, so I have to learn how to live in and appreciate "the NOW" better.

INSPIRING!
This is what I strive to be for all who know me.

$
Again...I need more MONEY!

Stay Strong
2014 tried to break me. Depression over my job. Disconnection in friendships. My Mom leaving this earthly life. It was a LOT. A WHOLE LOT. More than most folks can handle. Yet my faith kept me strong. Without my faith, I probably would not have been here today, because quite honestly, there were days when I didn't want to be here anymore. Oh, but thank God for my faith!

Eat Right
Again, successful weight loss is 80% of what I eat and 20% working out. I haven't done either. But I will.

Nature
The Beach is my FAVORITE place to be. My "place of peace". I could stand with my feet in the water ALL day and just let wave after wave crash over me. I also find beauty in snow-covered mountains, or squirrels like "Stanley". All in all, I am a "nature girl" at heart.

Radiant
This is what I want to be. Wherever I am I want to be radiant and bring light, love and joy to the place.

Financial Freedom
Tired of being in debt. Gotta get my financial house order. Right now, it looks like a shack.

LIVE LIFE
I am tired of just "existing". I want to start LIVING.

Hang In There
I heard that a LOT in 2014. Hopefully I won't need to hear it as much in 2015, but it's encouraging in case I do.

Feeling Good
Simple enough.

I Corinthians 13:4-7
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
Beautiful reminder.

LOVE

Get More of What You Love
There's a lot that I love. I simply want more of those things (and people).

With A Meaningful Mission.
This is how I want to live my life.

Mother
Because I love her and I miss her. I wanted to carry her into 2015 with me. My mother...Rebecca.

Save $
You already know.

Beautiful!
Because I am, and need to remind myself OFTEN.

"All we can do is authentically be ourselves."
That's all I know how to do. As I said earlier, a lot of folks don't "get me", but I can't let that change who I am. "Get me" or don't...this is ME, and I think I'm pretty cool with LOTS to offer this world and the people in if (if only they get to know me).

GETTING MARRIED.
I would LOVE to!!!

Water
I simply don't drink enough. Right now it's 2:00 p.m. Guess how much water I've had...ZERO. Haven't had a sip. Gotta do better. WILL do better!

REINVENT YOURSELF
I'm ready to turn the pages and write some new chapters in my book. The old hasn't worked, so it's time to try something new.

NEW ROADS
See comment above.

COLLEGE
I'm going back! Don't know where the money will come from, but I've gotta do it. Not having a degree is holding me back from so many things...namely, the career opportunity that I want. So, as one of my visions stated above, "Where there's a will..." I WILL find a way to go back to college.

Ecclesiastes 4:12
"Though one may be overpowered,two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
Life was not meant to be lived alone.

***

So there you have it folks! My 2015 Vision Board. THIS one WILL be framed and hung!

Looking forward to sharing my accomplishments with you all on January 1, 2016.

Wishing you ALL the BEST in this New Year. May God bless us ALL!

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What's on YOUR Vision Board?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

My "To Do" List

So tonight I'm kinda sleepy...VERY sleepy actually, and my mind is a bit too tired to think of anything to write about. Sooo, I have reverted to my trusty little book, "642 Things To Write About". Thank God for this book and my best friend Judy who gave it to me on my birthday last year.

The topic for today: Write a list of things to do before you die.

So here they are, in no particular order. I will only list seven because, well...if you know anything about me you know that I do most things in multiple of sevens. And now I shall begin.

1. Get married
2. Buy a house
3. Go to Africa
4. Write a book
5. Create a literacy program for inner city youth
6. Sing in a theatrical production
7. Become independently wealthy/financially independent so that I can volunteer and serve others in need EVERYDAY.

There you have 'em...MY seven.

Let the DIALOGUE begin: What seven things do YOU want to do before you die?

Talk to me!

Til next time...

101 and Growing!

Yesterday I experienced what it feels like to set a goal and actually REACH it. I gotta tell ya...it feels INCREDIBLE!!!

Although The Dialogue Den has been in existence sine June 2010, I just recently introduced it to the world (as in, my friends and family) this month via Facebook.

Sometime shortly after the beginning of the year, I set a goal for The Dialogue Den's Facebook page to reach 100 "likes". At that time I believe I had 34.

The outpouring of support was amazing. Once I let folks know about the page, it went from 34 to 78 "likes" in just 24 hours. Wow!

Once I saw that the "likes" could reach 78, I was certain that 100 "likes" were attainable, BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH.

So, I kept writing, posting, and putting the appeal "out there".

Well, persistence paid off and yesterday, shortly after noon, WE did it! The Dialogue Den reached 100 "likes". YEAH BABY!!!

I was overjoyed!

Now I say that WE did it, because this blog has never been about ME. It's always been about ME sharing my random thoughts with YOU and then hearing what YOU have to say...hence the word DIALOGUE.

And, in case you've never noticed, the tagline for the blog itself says this: MY random thoughts + YOUR comments = The Dialogue Den

So you see folks, I need you in order for this blog to be successful. I am committed to doing MY part by sharing those random thoughts, and I'm counting on YOU to do your part and chime in. Fair enough, right?

In the process of reaching 100 "likes", I was reminded of something. SOME goals, you can only reach by yourself (like climbing a mountain, learning a language or how to play an instrument, etc.) OTHERS you can only achieve with the help of others.

So to the 101 of you (yes, one hundred AND one) who have "liked" the page, I greatly THANK YOU and appreciate your support. Knowing that you all are out there inspires me to keep writing and to give you something fresh and new EVERYDAY (except for "Flashback Fridays" when I post from the archives).

So...Let the DIALOGUE begin: Do YOU have a page on Facebook that you'd like the world to know about? If so, tell us about it.

Talk to me!

Til next time...