Money Matters

You know there’s a lot of talk these days about money matters, finances, how to build your legacy.

People showcase what they did at twenty-five, they speak to how they retire and set sail around the world.  They entice you with intriguing words that usually sound like “RICH” and boom, you are hooked.

I mean come on, who doesn’t need a little extra green face value in their pockets. Who doesn’t want to retire with more than enough to live, to survive and even enough to help others?  But then they say pay $300.00 for the next steps.  And you are like what!! If I had an extra $300.00 to pay for a class, I wouldn’t be online with words prefaced and italicized as “FREE.” 

Well, these next few blog post are going to be focused on FREE financial advice.  Oh no, I am not an expert and I do not have seven figures (yet) that I can show you. What I do have is experience in being in a place financially that was not favorable, and I am still learning how to not go back there. All of what I will share will be elementary for some, but that is often where one needs to be when trying to start something.

Finances are like water, its flowing or a drought.  You sometimes win, and sometimes you lose. But I can offer you these steps to start saving that I am using to kick start your savings plan.

  1. Don’t let the bigger picture stop you – Yes, the end goal can be disabling to establishing the beginning. All you can see is what you want to attain say in the end. Most people people’s first financial goal is to have six months income in reserve at a bank. So, let’s say for you that looks like $1,200.00 and in your mind it’s completely out of reach. But if you stretch it and say that is two hundred dollars a month, or fifty dollars a week, it sounds better, right? But don’t stop there, that fifty a week can become say $7.00 (rounded down) a day. In your mind you think it’s impossible to save 1,200.00 in six months (free and clear), but can you save $7.00 a day? That may mean no more Starbucks, or eating lunch with the crew at work, but if your goal is clear and you are ready to make that move, it is in your will so just do it.
  2. Determine supplemental opportunities – there are so many moonlighting opportunities, or contingencies that you can take to get that $7.00 a day. Keep in mind, you want to save two hundred a month (now of course if your goal is larger reconfigure) or seven dollars a day.  If you look at sites like DoorDash.com, Instacart.com, GoPuff.com, you can work an extra hour and get that covered with no problem. If you want more, work more, right. This an jump start your plan (or even help pay off some bills).
  3. Be-come Disciplined – You see I didn’t say be disciplined, because for many it is hard to say NO to self.  We want what we want and often feel that it is deserved.  Don’t get me wrong you do deserve it, but you must be willing to be disciplined to attain your goal. You must Be-come (begin to be) which means each day you try, each day you have a made-up mind, and each day you come into alignment with your goals.

Come back for the remaining three steps to as we build together a better financial footprint for our lives. We are in this journey together and will become better money managers.

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Making it happen, day by day.

Venting ( From Inside My Head)

The days are filled with questions, way too many to find the answers often times.

What is it that we seek to define this life?

Every day it is a new awareness to what you did not know, something else to add to the many thoughts that cover the day. Something else to fill the mind of how short this time is on earth. Something else that can make you feel that you are the best (or maybe not so much) that you can be my mind wonders.

Why is it that the world only accepts us by the number of likes we have or the number of zero’s that we have in our financial portfolio?  Why can’t we just love because we are to?

I mean even for myself I want to share my life on social media almost by force because not doing so you cannot market to the masses. I mean admittedly our world has grown to million-dollar status’s by subscribing and liking a person’s post. Not even thinking that the rarest and truest post are not made public. And if by chance they, are it aligns to abnormalcy (we are after all human with faults).

I am lost in the game of post (for all social media forms) and honestly prefer the life of simplicity that is private and unassuming. But how am I to share my story? To share who I am becoming; or even just to position myself for the viral overnight success story if the vehicle to get me there is the same one, I don’t want to ride? Talking about an oxymoron.

And I gravitate to the why of it all.

My conclusion is that I want the advantage of notoriety but not the public exposure that can lead to judgement of me not being perfect. You know exactly what I mean, I know you do.

To live up to the expectation of others ladders whereby inevitably you do not measure up. Just let me stay behind the scenes and trust the process of work so that in due season I will reap.

Can I get an Amen?

Life’s Curve Ball

Simply put, life can throw you a curve ball and you are not sure how to catch it.

Moreover, where did it come from?

What does your curve ball look like, what did you do when it came out of the field and caught you by surprise?

Well, let’s talk about where the origin of curve balls come.

I believe that curve balls come from disappointments, from expecting one thing and getting another.

They come from investing into others and being left empty because they never invested back into you.

Life throws a myriad of curves that when you are not in the right position you can miss what was intended for you to catch.

Were you supposed to catch understanding of the why?

Were you supposed to catch creativity when all resources were dried up?

Were you supposed to see that love is more than a convenience for personal need, it is the breath of life?

Maybe you were supposed to learn that difficulties come to reveal the character within.

As we journey through life we are seen in the crossroads for generational deposits. That which comes from those before us and that which we leave for those after us.

Every person has a choice, every person has a conscious to effect and affect their lives.

No one should say that the curve ball made me distance myself from home base because it was not expected, life is lived each day under uncertain expectancy. Yes, we can plan, and we can schedule for things to happen, but the unexpected will always create an opportunity for your creativeness, for your quick response (your hang-time); for you too see what you are truly made of.

These are a few steps that I have tested true for how to adjust in life when the curve balls come:

  1. Grab hold of it – It is here, grab the ball. You now determine what your next steps are.
  2. Move – something has to change. Often, we look outside for change, but it is within you.
  3. Challenge your fear – It is difficult walking in the unexpected, but if you stand still nothing changes.
  4. Embrace the change – What ways can you project this defining moment of opportunity?
  5. Elevate – You must rise to the momentum of where this change moves you.

What has happened, has happened. Do not allow it to diminish your light. Your plan.

Reorientate yourself to what you know and take every challenge to be-come the overcomer.

Life is not a bed of roses, but you can handle the pressures by adjusting your expectancy and catch the curve ball to new heights.

The Value of the Moment

Well, this would be the first blog entry that I’ve written from a place where I am transitioning to a higher plane of accepting that I control nothing.  We are in the life, sent for a purpose and no matter how much we think we are orchestrating our daily lives we really are not. Oh yes, we must make choices, but what happens when life just does what it does?

No matter how well defined we are towards becoming, everyday we be come what the universe sends. I mean really no one wants negative energy or bad things to happen, but it is the way of life on either spectrum, right. I mean if we could control the outcomes EVERYTHING would be spectacular, just as we want it, right.

It’s not common for me to share my day-to-day activities but at this moment I really hope that my words can give inspiration to someone to value the moment. You see I had a situation happen two weeks ago that literally PAUSED my life from the plans I had overnight.  No, I didn’t lose anyone; I didn’t lose my job; I didn’t have a major relationship break up but had a physical temporary impairment (4-6 weeks projected) that cause me to stop, reflect and change my view.

I mean literally overnight, I went from being this vibrant, functioning, highly motivated individual to being a highly functioning, not as vibrant because of the excruciating pain that I was in. I transferred my thoughts of myself as an individual who was independent to a dependent on all for everything. And of course, I questioned my own purpose and the obvious thought of WHY me, and why now?

Right at that moment I had to shift my thinking to “heal thyself” as I fought to remove every dart and negative thought that tried to end my life (it does start in the mind). The battles became real, way into the midnight hour, and I could not win every battle, but thank God for being a very present help in time of need. And while I am questioning everything and reshaping the value of me, this too will work together for my good.

If you are reading my blog and you know my vibe, I am a pursuer of life, creating the space I live in void of negativity and now this situation has me fighting to keep the “good energy” I need to fully restored. Cause even in this I am still “rooted for purpose “and in this I will still inspire, to give light to others. To know that this situation has allowed me to see my greater need for this light (divine) to shine towards me.

This temporary setback is a set up for me, this I must believe as I will be more victorious over obstacles that come my way.  It has allowed to receive that “agape” love in a tangible way from my family and to open my heart, eyes, and mind to receive the love that they are displaying, around the clock care, support, and laughter. It is a blessing to have my family. So beautiful.

Humility, gratefulness and absolutely submission to the life that I no longer control. It is by His grace, His love, and His mercy that I live and only through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can the power of God have complete control. To know that within a moment, your mobility, your life can just change is an awakening. Something that we often times take for granted. I never thought I did, but clearly, I can say being here, I will do better.

Love your life, love your family, love the health that you live under and above all never take anything or anyone for granted. In the flash of second it can all change.

Be blessed and trust the process.

Silent Yet Strong

Do you hear it?

is it loud or is it silently taking you to a place of remembrance?

what is it that you feel?

What is it that you sense?

Why is it that it moves you to a different place unspoken?

Or even makes you stop in your tracks?

Silent, but yet controlling every step of your life.

And when left uncontrolled can become very explosive?

I creep up on you and you wonder where I came from

I often catch you by surprise with amazement and cheer.

And I never shut off, not designed to do so.

How you manage me it is up to you

But when you harness that power to know what to do

Always keep in mind

Your THOUGHTS are what you do and trust me, I will follow you.

And do what you say everyday and in every way.

Control me or I will control you!

What do you think – after all it’s up to you!

Seasons

You know, here in Michigan, we have four seasons, and while the spring, summer and fall are welcomed with open arms, the winter months can be quite the challenge.

But it is the picture we create as we remember what is to come, not where we are.

Remembering the walks on the lakes, the time at the park, the walks at dark.

Even we are now awakened to roads covered in snow it is just a season and we are here for a reason.

But isn’t that life?

I’d like to think that even as the seasons change for reason so do the seasons of our life.

Think about it!

It’s never the same.

It’s always changing.

There’s different levels up enjoyment and different levels of pain.

Just like the seasons I would reason so are the seasons of our life.

Sometimes it’s difficult to understand the plight but oftentimes they bring us to new heights.

Heights of awareness of self

Heights of awareness of others

Heights of understanding those things that seemed so questionable.

I don’t know maybe the weather externally provides an indication of the internal and how we reside.

Think on that, what is your stride?

What season of life are you’re in?

I guess if we equate our lives to seasons, Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall

We will know that whatever the season it will pass.

It may be a blistery storm right now, but you have to believe that the sunshine will come.

Maybe it’s the fall where every leaf of life has fallen to the ground, but even the leaves do grow again to the trees.

Think about that life brings forth creation not just when we’re born but every day that we live.

A time to create.

A time to celebrate.

What season are you in, I ask again, that you may know it is temporary.

As the seasons change may you know that through it all it’s your time to grow, let nothing stop you.

It is your time –

To glow

To win!

Is it Just Me?

If you are reading this blog today can we just have a little mental conversation?

Some blog time, with your mind.

There are some things that I think about, unspoken.

What about you?

And of course, we all wonder if these thoughts are just our own (where did that come from?).

Do you ever wonder if you have what it takes?

Wonder if you will complete your goals before the end date?

Or even if you are doing what you were placed – on this earth to do?

Maybe my thoughts cycle around because my spirit is curious or

Maybe because I am genuinely wanting to find purpose in life.

Maybe you have felt the same, maybe I am not the only one in this game (of life).

Piercing thoughts without answers, some may say why does it matter

Yet as we live, we must find something more to give

From within ourselves

Over to someone else

If you can relate, let’s celebrate

Leave a comment as we create

Each day a way to be/come more and more

Of WHO we are meant to be!

Caught Up

Have you ever been in a state of surrender?

Between the questions and the unknown?

Torn between the words you hear and the words you fear?

You know the times where self talk makes you account for all your thoughts.

The times where your mind tries to define a deeper meaning to that which is unspoken?

Caught Up in the life that runs away while you chase the wind you cannot see.

Caught up in the place of old given from the stories told.

When we are designing the day we create a void, a space

Where we can create.

Hate that space that leaves us empty, drained and incomplete

That kind of caught up should not be.

Think of the completion of

your purpose, your mission

Be caught up in purpose

Caught up on purpose

Become that you that will make others say

Who!!!!

A Moment in Time

Wait a minute am I in it.

why does everything seem so diminished.

diminished by time that we cannot unwind.

a moment we shall never define.

it has passed.

who thought that it would last?

a moment in time that was what so divine.

a moment we celebrated, and we were so elated.

then came the moment of truth as I stood upon the roof.

the highest point of my desire now burns with fire.

I had to go on the roof to look over my view,

not of other opinions that (don’t) matter you see as they were trying to control me.

set yourself free!

be who you are meant to be.

be a part of something bigger.

be a part of your own trigger.

pull back that which was holding you.

so that you can redefine a bigger view

look to see what’s inside of you

allowed the burn to churn and become anew.

resonate

dedicate

cultivate

Take up that space and self-motivate!

  • Photo by Madison Inouye on
  • Photo by Daria Shevtsova on
  • Photo by Daria Shevtsova on

What’s Your Name?

When you were born your parents give you a name sometimes that name is based upon a favorite person a relative or even a name within their name.

Then we are given names in school but are assigned to us by our teachers our classmates are peers.

We are given names as high schoolers or teenagers that change the frame of our image that we have of ourselves.

But then there’s the name we take on assigned to us from our own definition of who we are, who we think we are or who we want to be.

So, I ask what is your name?

Have you matured or grown past the insults that were thrown at you as a child, as a teenager, as an adult all that aligned you to dysfunctional associations?

What is it that you call yourself?

How is it that you align to less than positive images that are projected towards you, when you know that you do not represent any category any phrase or any negative reflection.

If you are unsure of what you call yourself, I want you to think about your surroundings what do you see? How do you respond when people try to love on you with the love you’ve never experienced do you reject them? Do you push them away? Do you wonder what’s wrong with them?

Today I’m want you to embrace a new name and that name is called I AM:

Beautiful

Deserving

Purposed

An Overcomer

Sexy

Intelligent

Capable

Rooted

Determined

I AM………

All that God intended for me to become; I call it by faith. Selah

1 Kings 2:3 And observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

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