Soundtrack of My Life Continued

This past weekend was really cool for me because I was able to vibe to music that did my soul a favor and made me think about ME!!!

Ginuwine- Ain't None of your friends Business had me feeling like I was in high school again for several reasons.  I was with a longtime friend from high school, it didn't matter what my friends thought then or now, and the song just made me want to be with him even more!

Musiq Soulchild- So Beautiful always makes me feel like I matter. It makes me feel that I am adored and truly beautiful.  It makes me want to close my eyes and get lost in the lyrics and bass as it thumps in a certain someone's ride as we cruise sometimes.

Usher and Beyonce-Love in the Club Remix ....such a sexy song with lyrics that allow me to imagine myself in many different compromising situations for brief moments then I always snap back to reality when the song is over.

Miguel- How Many Drinks ....I never realized how much I liked the song until my best friend said it was her favorite.  Someone also gave me the CD and I can put the song on repeat as many times as I deem appropriate.  The song serves as a reminder to seize moments and opportunities and live without regret all while having fun! It works for me!!!

These are a few of my choices for now and it really helps to have music available to take me away and make me feel carefree and jovial and remember the moments in time that make me smile!

What would we do without music????

Chowan Moore Aforo

Follow Your Dreams

      I had the opportunity to fulfill yet another Bucket list item.  I was able to go to my daughter’s middle school and speak the AVID students.  Although this may not sound like a big deal but to me it was.  For weeks I tried to figure out what to say?  What would give me the biggest bang for my buck?  I wanted to first and foremost say something profound.  I wanted to reach each and every student to give them all something to remember.  Second and most importantly I didn’t want to embarrass my daughter (who wasn’t in the program anyway but had friends in the 2 classes that I spoke too).  I finally decided to go with my gut and speak about following your dreams.  Anyone who knows me knows I am excellent at given advice but taking my own advice needs work.  I wanted to share the tips that I gave to the class in hopes it could help “US” all.  I actually did some research and came up with:
Create your own vision for your life.  I lead with the quote that if you do not come up with a vision for your life, someone else will have no problem including you in theirs.  Whether this be your parents, friends, or peers.
Be Uniquely you.   We talents and skills that no one else has.  At your age your job is to get good grades and figure out what your niche is.  I threw out some artist they may know Nikki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Pink, etc.  These are all talented individuals they are all performers but what sets each one of them apart from the others.  They each follow their own paths.
Challenge yourself.  Don’t settle for the mediocre go for the gold.  “If your dreams don’t scare you then they aren’t big enough.”  Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Put your vision to paper.  Whether it is journaling, using a Vision Board, or Pictorial Notebook.   Create your own personal road map or guide book.  I find that when you can picture yourself where you want to be and you put that out to the universe, the universe will shape itself to accommodate your path.

Self-Trust

QUOTE:  When you’re trying to motivate yourself appreciate the fact that you’re even thinking about making a change.  And as you move forward, allow yourself to be good enough! – Alice Domar

 SONG: I Got This by Jennifer Hudson

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 due to poor decision-making in the past we have lost our self-trust.  Ultimately you are the gatekeeper to your own soul.  Who is the best knower of yourself if not YOU!  You know what’s best for you but somewhere along the way we have lost that ideal.  Life has its way of making us turn against the only person for which we live—yourself/ourselves.

At times when we don't trust our own judgment 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.

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.

 

Journal entry for today:  Think about a tough decision you had to make in the past.  Write down the Dilemma and then on the following line jot down your course of action.  Next but probably the most important part follows it with Thank God for keeping me safe and bringing me through.  Reassure yourself every day that you got this.  What’s your I got this playlist and why?  What do you play when you are in the mood for self-assurance?  List your ideal playlist and don’t forget to feel the music and emotions as your write.