Who I am.... Continued

As I got off the phone with my best friend-Passious....I felt like I was not myself. Our conversation was intense and lengthy and I had many thoughts swirling around inside this massive head of mine and I turned to my music to soothe and comfort me as I attempted to drift off into dreamland. I searched through my downloaded music to find 'my song'...there was so much to choose from but my first choice was In Due Time by Outkast and Cee-Lo. That song always seems to humble and remind me that things always tend to happen in due time...it may not be MY time but it seems to be God's time. One line in the song says 'struggling just a part of my day....many obstacles have been placed in my way' I feel like things can only get better but I have to do my part to make things the way I want them to be. Perhaps some people put all of their trust in a higher force and literally wait for things to happen. I feel that I leave no stone unturned and I do my part to aid or speed up the process.

Another song that I have often used to describe me is Sade's King of Sorrow. Some of my closest friends think Sade is depressing and now that I'm writing this blog....I agree....the song makes me feel like as a social worker and a caring person, I take on waaaaay too much drama and sadness and somehow make it my own. I find myself feeling like nothing I do will make my world and the world of those around me any better. I must note that these feelings arise when I listen to these songs so I will be deleting and updating now that I notice a trend! Also, I realized that each conversation I have with others makes me realize how I do and don't want to be. I want to be happy and stress free and I want to be financially obese.

The last song I can use to describe me at the moment is a song by Nas and Damien Marley entitled Patience. I realize that patience is a virtue and it's something I have to work on often. Patience with myself, those around me, and even those that I will never be able to help or "change". I listen to the song a lot and I gather different meanings each time I hear it. I need to be patient with ignorant people while hoping and praying that they will wake up one day. I have to be patient with a system that appears to be designed to assist some of our weakest citizens at failing! I have to be patient with the world around me and keep striving and plugging away hoping that changes will occur on so many levels.

Ledisi has a song called Bravo and it reminds me to clap for myself and celebrate my smallest victories which is what I try to take inventory and do at the end of each day. I make it my business to keep up an attitude of gratitude even when I complain...it's followed up with a look on the bright side. Overall, I have had a day of mixed emotions but I recognize my blessings and I am very fortunate for everything I have at this moment.

As we all continue to live and learn, I pray that everyone reading this blog is Better, Brighter, and Blessed.

Chowan Moore Aforo
Connected By Hope

Soundtrack of My Life

"No All-star Cast No Scripts No Budgets..... in the Soundtrack of My Life", this is one of my favorite song lines it's from a song called Soundtrack of My Life by Deemi.

As far as I can remember music has played a major role in my life.  To this day I have yet to be successful at journaling and creating vision boards.  But I can visualize my life in and through music.  Music has been my solace and comfort.  You can truly tell my mood by the music I am listening to at the time.  If I am listening to gospel I am searching for clarity and/or needing motivation.  If I am listening to Old school R&B which is my favorite genre of them all, I am usually cleaning my house and/or just reminiscing.  Now if you catch me listening to hip-hop I am truly in a party mode and you might even catch me dancing a little bit with my un-coordinated butt.

Since we all are on a journey to find ourselves.   Re-learning what makes us, us.  I thought a project my daughter came home from school with one day, would be a cool unconventional way to do something fun and learn about yourself in the process.  In the project she had to come up with a song that describes different aspects of her life.  It was so neat that I decided it would be something to try for myself.  So we are going to include this in our blog.  I will start this one off with one of the topics and my song of choice.  We will be sprinkling these topics and song choices throughout our blog.

Topic One:
Who you are?

"Pieces of Me"  Ledisi

The way she starts out the song, "People just don't know what i'm about, they haven't seen whats there behind my smile, There's so much more to me I am showing out......Pieces of Me".  The song almost brings me tears whenever I hear it.  The first line Wow, Need I say more.  Nope!  She pretty much summed it up for me.

I am a fairly young, beautiful black woman (30 is not the new 20).  Loving everything from my curly hair, to my thick hips and nicely proportioned booty, all the way to my Flintstone feet.  I am me love me or hate me it's not going to stop my shine.

What about you?  Find a song that describes who you are and journal it.  Revisit your journal entry and listen to the song as often as possible.   Play it and sing it Loud and Proud!!

"Everybody dies but not Everybody lives" -Drake

As our daily check-in began to warm up, it occurred to us that we have gotten into a routine of doing too much of the same thing all the time. Some of us just wake up, go to work, go home, eat, sleep, then do it all over again in the same order. That life gets really boring really fast. So we asked each other- where's the excitement? The adventure? The thrill? We couldn't find it so Passious decided that we have to create it! We have to start living, enjoying, and doing things. In order to live life 'pashunately' we have to serve as an example to others. The first step is aspiring to do more, be more, and see more. The world has so much to offer and everyone should partake in it. We have to be the ones to break the mold. I decided that instead of spending our 'extra money' on food, clothes, or getting ahead on bills-it would be nice to pay for some type of experience. An experience that would remain in our minds infinitely. We have both witnessed our mothers and grandmothers die without truly living and enjoying their time on Earth. We both vow to be different and make moves that the average person or even our younger selves might not have dreamed of doing.

To get the ball rolling I would like to share three things I immediately thought of and please believe there is so much more to come.
1. Be an exotic dancer
2. Be an award winning actress
3. Act as an Angel for a day giving random people money to help with necessary expenses.

Let me add my items to your list:
1. Go parasailing in the Bahamas
2. Go see the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Albuquerque, NM and hopeful ride one.
3. Do the Breast Cancer Walk in Virginia Beach next October.
4. Meet Oprah, Susan Taylor, and Tony Robbins.
5. Tell/Share my story with the world.
6. Be and inspiration to someone.
7. Take a cooking class.
8. Take pole dancing lessons. (I have over 20 items and will list them all throughout this blog)

Feel free to share your own lists with us! We would love to read the responses. Please instagram pictures of you completing the tasks.
As always....live Better, Brighter, and Blessed!
Chowan Moore Aforo and Passious Green

24 hour Pity Party

24 hour Pity Party



In life we are giving hardships.  In today's economy we are face with constant and consistent pitfalls.  The recession we are in is a prime example.  People are losing their jobs and homes at a growing rate.  At times it seems like we are facing more pain than joy.  At birth the universal sign of discomfort or dis satisfaction is to cry.  We cry at the first sign of pain or eminent danger.  Growing up some people continue with that same coping strategy to deal with everyday struggles.  As women it becomes second nature for us.  When we were children and we cried, our parents or guardians would come feed us, play with us, change us, etc.  Someone else would come to our rescue.  They would do their best to try to help us figure out the problem and work to find the solutions.

But now as adults we no longer have that person or people around us, guiding us through the process.  We have to learn to do things on our own.  Learning what to do after you cry is the skill set that separates the girls from the women.  This showcases how we resolve the conflicts and/or setbacks we encounter in life.

Simply put We work.  BEAST MODE NOW ACTIVATED!! Meaning we get off our Asses, dry up them tears, and find the solution ourselves.  Give yourself 24 hours to get right and that’s it.  Your life is now saying last call so its time to sober up and get moving.  What more will change if we keep crying?  How will the conflict be resolved?  If you recently lost your job and rent is due.  Hell Yeah!  Cry let it out!  But while your crying is you’re rent being paid or a job being found.  NO! So yes ladies and gentleman it is ok to cry and throw that pity party but just know that when its all said and done its up to you to decide where to go from there.

Affirmation: I just have to let go and allow the money to flow

I'm gonna say it each time I think about the lack of money and I will believe in my heart and mind that the money will begin to flow as soon as I let go of the perception and salty, sour attitude associated with NOT having it. Today I will channel my energy and thoughts on the feelings associated with seeing, holding, spending, and sharing All the money that is en route to my wallet and my bank account. From this day forward money is not elusive or merely a fleeting illusion that is beyond my grasp. We have to let go of the assumption that once we get the money life will change. My mindset is the visualization of what I am expecting has to first be imagined, felt, experienced and real in my mind and heart. After that is established then it will happen when it's least expected. No longer should we lose precious moments of sleep and relaxation fretting when all that is required is an attitude adjustment and a shift in our mind's eye or point of view.

Today is the day to Live Better, Shine Brighter and Know that You are Beyond Blessed.

PEACE.....Until the next blog.....
Chowan Moore Aforo

Purpose

Though sometimes we just don't understand.....I believe that there is some level of divine intervention taking place in my life at this time. I enjoy every encounter with a stranger as a chance to possibly entertain an angel! I love random acts of kindness bestowed upon me, and I find myself constantly saying a short sweet but necessary prayer for any and everyone I see. When I think about the road ahead I get scared because I can't see into the future but I'm excited because I know I'll never have another boring wasted day. I love the company I keep and we are steadily and constantly looking for ways to build each other up.
It was no accident that I never got a return phone call from those jobs I applied for but really didn't want. It's no accident that the low paying position I thought I had to have right out of college didn't work for me because my application got lost in the pile! It's  OK and I thank God I didn't let my journey end at a place where I was miserable and had no options other than to go off on somebody and become a danger to myself and others. My life is on track no matter what my current situation may be. It ain't over!!!!! My job is to keep on living, loving, and smiling like the Sun is shining on my side of the street!  I got this:-)

If you are reading this.....I said a prayer for you....and I want you to love Better, Brighter, and Blessed!  It's a God-given right!

With Love,
Chowan Moore Aforo