We have laughed, cried, suffered, and enjoyed good food- TOGETHER! It's difficult to imagine a time when I didn't have my best friend around or just a phone call away to listen to me vent or share my most embarrassing moments. I only remember us having one disagreement once and that was only because she didn't want me wasting my life away with a man who was about ten years older than me. The awkward moment only lasted a few minutes...LOL.
I said all that to say that as I embark on a new journey I am very happy to know that my best friend has done all that she can to be there for me and I want her to know that she is appreciated and truly loved by me.
In addition to my best friend being there, there are numerous other friends who have my back and who have shown me that I will always have their love, support, and their shoulder to cry on when I need to throw a pity party (one hour maximum time limit). I appreciate the positive energy I get from friends. At times when I couldn't reach my family members by phone or face to face I always had a friend that was there for me.
I am thankful for my friends in Atlanta, Tallahassee, Virginia, and all points in between because they have shaped my life and can bear witness to my testimony. There have been times when I don't know what I would have done without a friend to change my mind or be the voice of reason when I wanted to do some things I might have regretted.
Friendship has power beyond belief....and I believe that everyone should have at least one true friend. Friends lift each other up when they are down. Friends understand. Friends don't judge. Friends tell the truth-even when it hurts like hell! Friends don't let friends walk around with boogers in their nose...LOL!
To all my TRUE friends....I owe you one! Thank you for listening and encouraging and respecting me.
I encourage everyone to live a life that is Better than yesterday, Brighter than your darkest moment, and with a belief in your heart that convinces you that you are Blessed!
Chowan Moore Aforo
Connected By Ho
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
How are "YOU" doing today?
Good question. I am not sure. When was the last time you asked yourself this question. If your like me it's been a minute. Think about it even if we take a moment to out of our busy day to drum up the nerve to ask ourselves the question. How many times do you think you have actually waited for your souls response?
Honestly, how many times in the course of a day do we ask this question of other people? You ask your co-workers, family members, hell we even ask strangers if we make eye contact with them. Granted when we ask this question most of the time it is because it has become a habit to ask it. It's become a way of greeting people. We will ask that question and keep walking in the direction that we need to go. Not even stopping or looking back to see if that person was going to respond. If they did want to respond we surely don't give them the chance too. Lets just keep it real most of us are so caught up in our own struggles that we really don't care how "you" are doing. You could be telling us that your mom died, your aunts in the hospital, and your dog has pnuemonia. In that order. :)
As the saying goes most of us treat other people better than we treat ourselves. Based upon that assessment, how do you think we treat ourselves? We don't even give "us" a chance to respond to the question because we don't even take the time to ask it. Everyday we need to check, we need to know how we feel and what we need. Just ask, wait for the response, and respond accordingly. Thats a surefire way to show yourself how much you love yourself.
Honestly, how many times in the course of a day do we ask this question of other people? You ask your co-workers, family members, hell we even ask strangers if we make eye contact with them. Granted when we ask this question most of the time it is because it has become a habit to ask it. It's become a way of greeting people. We will ask that question and keep walking in the direction that we need to go. Not even stopping or looking back to see if that person was going to respond. If they did want to respond we surely don't give them the chance too. Lets just keep it real most of us are so caught up in our own struggles that we really don't care how "you" are doing. You could be telling us that your mom died, your aunts in the hospital, and your dog has pnuemonia. In that order. :)
As the saying goes most of us treat other people better than we treat ourselves. Based upon that assessment, how do you think we treat ourselves? We don't even give "us" a chance to respond to the question because we don't even take the time to ask it. Everyday we need to check, we need to know how we feel and what we need. Just ask, wait for the response, and respond accordingly. Thats a surefire way to show yourself how much you love yourself.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
What a difference a day makes!!
Ever since the day I decided to take my life back and live by my own rules it seems like the Universe is now in compliance with all of my personal requests. I also feel like my innermost thoughts are also being revealed and granted. It's very exciting to stop worrying and truly believe that all of my needs will be met. I have some very gracious friends that have jumped right in to help me as well as complete strangers that don't mind going "that extra mile".
I firmly believe that all the good deeds you do have a way of coming back to you tenfold. The day I left my old, boring, plain, abusive, stagnant life is the day I felt alive, revived, fresh, and free!
I thought I would be miserable and bitter and confused but I have opened my heart and mind to whatever is right, positive, and fulfilling to my soul. I now welcome new experiences and people into my world.
This is the one moment in my life where I can say "the grass is greener on the other side".
To my people...I say thank you...
to my Creator I say thank you...to the person who made me realize I deserved better.....THANK YOU!
I pray that everyone finds the courage to live Better, let their light shine a little Brighter, and know that they are truly Blessed.
Chowan Moore Aforo
Connected By Hope
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Speak Your Peace
Dear Oppression:
This letter is to tell you that you can't hold me down any more! I will no longer be silenced, shushed, muted, or just not heard. I have had enough of being in the background. Life has to turn around and it begins with letting you go! I refuse to allow my life to be in your hands and under your control. Try holding yourself down and tell me how it feels!
I have too much to accomplish and there's no time for playing by someone else's rules. I offer no apologies to those who feel threatened by me stepping up and making bold moves and necessary steps to liberation and happiness. My only hope is that my sisters will do more of the same things I have done to achieve personal freedom, happiness, and satisfaction.
I love myself enough to make a move in the right direction!
Thanks for the wake up call!
Chowan Moore Aforo
Be Better, Brighter, and Blessed!
Stay Connected By Hope
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Self Trust
I know we all struggle to understand and not take for granted a lot of past choices and decisions we have made. Like taking a job we didn't want, staying in dead end relationships, or to have or not have children. In our heart of hearts we know we mean well and only want the best for ourselves but do to poor decision making in the past we have lost our self trust. Ultimately you are the gate keeper to your own soul. Who is the best knower of yourself if not You! You know whats best for you but some where along the way we have lost that ideal. Life has it's way of making us turn against the only person for which we live.
Have you ever had a decision to make and your heart told you to do it but your mind advises you to look at all the other variables involved, you have children, you can't leave your family behind, you don't have enough_____ to do that (you fill in the blank). What happens at this point when your heart and mind don't agree. Both are absolutely correct with their messages. Your heart deals with the emotional aspect of things but your mind is the rational side. Are they really not agreeing or are they giving you the opportunity to look at your decisions with a full 360 view. So normally what happens at this cross roads, we end up talking ourselves out of what could potentially be our blessing. What message do we send to ourselves when this happens? Ponder this thought for a moment or two.
We tell the only person who loves us that we don't trust the decision that we have made for us.
At times when we don't trust our own judgement we could pray if that helps. We can tap into our internal GPS and take some time to examine what we feel when we are faced with a decision making opportunity. We have to oftentimes be hurting enough or broke enough or fed up enough to make a decision. We have to make sure our common sense is not stifled or discredited when we are making decisions that could impact our lives and the lives of our loved ones.
I think we should trust ourselves enough to say "I will not let ME down. Also, if we do make a decision that turns out to not be the right one, we have to dust ourselves off and keep trying until we get it right. We have to build trust with ourselves just like we build trust with others-it doesn't happen overnight. Every experience has to be a learning experience and you must forbid yourself to make the same mistake twice. You have to believe in yourself and become your biggest fan and supporter. The world will do its part to bring us down so we have to be mindful of our thoughts and actions so they constantly coincide positively and productively. We must keep ourselves uplifted and spiritually fed.
Self trust takes practice and discipline to be fine tuned.
Challenge for the Day! Take a 5 to 10 minute time out to just check in with yourself. Ask yourself how you feel? And wait for a reply. Listen! and Act accordingly!
Have you ever had a decision to make and your heart told you to do it but your mind advises you to look at all the other variables involved, you have children, you can't leave your family behind, you don't have enough_____ to do that (you fill in the blank). What happens at this point when your heart and mind don't agree. Both are absolutely correct with their messages. Your heart deals with the emotional aspect of things but your mind is the rational side. Are they really not agreeing or are they giving you the opportunity to look at your decisions with a full 360 view. So normally what happens at this cross roads, we end up talking ourselves out of what could potentially be our blessing. What message do we send to ourselves when this happens? Ponder this thought for a moment or two.
We tell the only person who loves us that we don't trust the decision that we have made for us.
At times when we don't trust our own judgement we could pray if that helps. We can tap into our internal GPS and take some time to examine what we feel when we are faced with a decision making opportunity. We have to oftentimes be hurting enough or broke enough or fed up enough to make a decision. We have to make sure our common sense is not stifled or discredited when we are making decisions that could impact our lives and the lives of our loved ones.
I think we should trust ourselves enough to say "I will not let ME down. Also, if we do make a decision that turns out to not be the right one, we have to dust ourselves off and keep trying until we get it right. We have to build trust with ourselves just like we build trust with others-it doesn't happen overnight. Every experience has to be a learning experience and you must forbid yourself to make the same mistake twice. You have to believe in yourself and become your biggest fan and supporter. The world will do its part to bring us down so we have to be mindful of our thoughts and actions so they constantly coincide positively and productively. We must keep ourselves uplifted and spiritually fed.
Self trust takes practice and discipline to be fine tuned.
Challenge for the Day! Take a 5 to 10 minute time out to just check in with yourself. Ask yourself how you feel? And wait for a reply. Listen! and Act accordingly!
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