Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Time (30th Edition)

In younger days....

Turning 30 has been an unusual milestone for me.... Many look at is at a sign that they are getting older... that they have begun the decline, but for me, it has been an incredible awakening. No need for wild parties or drunken episodes, I chose to spend it in the exotic isles of my mother's birth country, Bermuda. My only desire was to spend such a precious time in my life, with those that know me well. I noticed such lovely details in my family and shared fulfilling times with them, I found myself thankful. I saw the comparisons between myself and people that I haven't seen in years. It was rather incredible the generosity and sheer happiness my family showed me, and it caused me to think about how some of us try to run as far as we can from our family... how we spend years or lifetimes trying to become or appeal to something that we are not....It made me understand in such a profound way my purpose.... to blend, to love, to help those around me that are missing such beautiful times shared. It caused me to not waste fleeting youth on trivial differences, that are inevitable. I have said it before, and I will say it again... that we are who we are because of the environments we come from. In order to interact with other people successfully, we must understand and appeal to those unique differences. This new decade for me is most crucial.. this is the decade in which I will become a mother, and can make or break the foundation of my future. I realized also in my trip that there are no set instructions to life. I have tried to follow the rules, believing that it would take me successfully from point A to B without hassle, only to find that it wasn't that simple. This life requires innovation, character and morals. It requires boldness, sincerity and compassion. In my ripe age of 30, I have learned that, and I am thankful. Some people ( like myself) have tried to avoid the process by subscribing to a black and white approach to life... Unfortunately, we are in the minority.. and no matter the high degree of planning, we will still find ourselves aiding others through there own processes. I have learned now.... that with relationships I can not be so rigid.... because inside each person is a beauty that the Lord wants to be cultivated, and for those of us with the tenacity to see such beauties... we are the ones charged with the responsibility in bringing out the best in those around us. It can seem tedious.. but I am certain without a doubt, that our Lord will reward us handsomely someday :-)
Me in vintage Versace

Monday, October 14, 2013

Dependence

My mother always used to tell me that God helps the child who helps himself as I was a young tyke. She encouraged me to become independent and educated to avoid dependence that could hinder my life in the future. Over the weekend, I finally saw some sort of benefits for my independence as usually many are put of by it or intimidated by it. In America we have a large welfare supported population..... you will find that many that are close to you are receiving some sort of benefit from the government... either food stamps, childcare supplements, healthcare, housing or social security. I am all in favor for these programs as to be used in the situation of transitions : I.e. you find yourself on hard times, death, unemployment... but you must work towards becoming independent of the systems at some point.. not just living a lifestyle in which you depend on it. The past weekend, the E.B.T. system was down in Ohio and all the people that use food stamps to get food were unable to shop. However, my family and I do not utilize the system. We have been informed that we are over income to receive any sort of aid from the government, although we pay the taxes that support those that do use the system. This weekend I was very fortunate to be independent of the government... As I made several stops over the weekend to the carry out and the grocery... each time they reminded me that the E.B.T system was down.. and I reminded them that I had real currency to exchange for goods... Now I know the users of the system may be offended by this post, but the truth of the matter is this. Everything will eventually come to an end... you must always be prepared for the unexpected... especially if you are in a position that you depend greatly on someone or something for your lively hood. It is always good to have some money set aside or a back up plan for when or if such things occur.. Who could have ever foreseen a government shutdown? This weekend was a prime example of what my mother had always promoted me to be... and how distinguishing yourself from the crowd always pays off....

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Be Highly Motivated


 
October
After looking at some of my old pictures on Facebook one July day. I decided to put forth some serious effort to slim back down to my college days. I have been working diligently ever since and seeing the results makes me excited, I want to share with my followers my progress. My current goal is not necessarily weight loss, but the fit of my clothes and my look in my pictures. I intend to make fitness just a regular part of my lifestyle. My current regimen has been working out at least 5 days a week, including at least 45 min of cardio ( running 15 min, and striving to complete 5 miles on the still bike) I do a small amount of abs each day and some weights too tighten up my upper body. However the most important aspect of getting your body in shape is getting your diet in order. I have been trying to limit my fast food intake... lol and pack lunch as much as possible.
September



August



 



Monday, October 7, 2013

The Worry of Age

As I was watching tv.. I couldn't help but notice all the commercials geared at beauty  and anti aging products. I thought to myself that it was a shame that we can't appreciate the blessing of getting older. Yes, of course some people won't look as good as others.. that's human nature.. however all the time we spend time dressing up the wrinkles, dying our hair and other measures to mask the natural process of growing older and wiser and looking the part. The truth of the matter is that living a long life is a blessing. As we see death on a daily basis... many times, unfortunate and abrupt endings to lives. I actually was moved to tears the other day at my job when I noticed a co-workers picture on her desk. The picture was of an extremely happy baby boy with down syndrome. He looked so excited in the picture, I couldn't help to ask her if the picture was of her son. She said no, that the picture was of her two year old nephew that had drowned last summer. Apparently, his older sister had left the door unlocked, and the boy was always quite inquisitive and energetic. It was just a moment before they realized the stillness in the house, and called the police to notify them of a missing child. The area they lived in was a rural area and heavily wooded. When the police arrived, they brought search dogs which sniffed out the boy which had drowned in a small pond in the woods. I was instantly floored... thinking about many different aspects of how that impacted all that knew the boy. The loss of a child can create an incredible void. The guilt of his family for feeling like they didn't protect him or that they felt like they even created the circumstances that lead to his death. Just so many things ran through my mind.. I burst into tears and couldn't collect myself for some time. The most profound thought that I had was about my own life.. Just thinking about how I have put myself in many dangerous situations, and how God continues to protect me. On the days where I was late to work.. and he kept me from a car wreck. The plane trips that I took that he kept the plane from falling out the sky. How my body works without my instruction.... All the food I eat, and I have never choked to death.... and I wondered why he finds so much purpose in me. Why he chooses to keep me here, when so many pass away. So therefore, I say all this to say that if God allows you to grow old.... rejoice in it instead of trying to recapture youth....