Month: March 2021

I took some time off to celebrate my birthday. I continued my journey of self-care and one element I added during this celebration period was unplugging from the news and most of social media so I could live in a blissful bubble of relaxation and enjoyment. I was vaguely aware of what was going on, it is hard to really tune the world out, but I did not plug in as I always do.

That changed yesterday. I finally sat down and took in all that has been happening in full detail and caught myself up. I am painfully aware that we have been in this pandemic for over a year and that there is still a border issue. I knew all of that. I am also aware that there have been two horrible shootings resulting in the loss of lives and yet gun control will be a topic that trends and fades aware. Nothing I caught up on, even the new voter restrictions in Georgia, surprised me. There was one thing however, that resonated with me and that was accountability.

No one wants to be held accountable for their actions. We live in a society where there is always an excuse made or finger pointed as to why a situation may have happened or occurred.  I long for a day where open and honest dialogue can be exchanged, and we can take all pretenses out of our conversations so that we can hold each other accountable for our actions and operate in our true spirits.

If you don’t want me to live because I’m Black, say so. While that is not your decision to make, I would much rather appreciate you being direct and saying what’s on your mind. If you don’t want me to vote because I’m Black and when my people get together magic happens, say so. If you don’t want me in a CEO position in your company because you are afraid, I will succeed, say so. If you don’t want to give me the capital to start my own business because you know I will make it grow and ultimately be able to help my own people, say so.

Right now, I’m swimming in the deep end of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion world. I see the inequities firsthand and the marginalization of people of color. What is most disturbing however is not the inability to get it right and level out the playing field. It is the fact that there is no accountability for the lack of representation. It is everyone else’s fault.

We either didn’t have enough candidates, or we never thought about it or whatever lame explanation can be thought up. Now we are in the spotlight so we will show the world what we are doing in quicksand fashion. I heard a wonderful speaker say not too long ago that if you cannot find qualified diverse candidates to lead your companies, you are either bias or lazy. Accountability.

We must stop hiding behind pretexts. In our work life and in our personal lives. It’s time to man up. Gone are the days when it is ok to drag our feet and make justifications on why things aren’t done and will get done. Now is the time. Step up and let your word be your bond and hold yourself accountability.

If you say you are going to do something, do it. If you say you will show up, show up. We are only as good as our word and these days; the currency is worth less than it used to be.

Have an amazing day and be true to yourselves and to others!

I love you and until next time, be safe!

1 year and 2 days ago the word came to a halt as it was declared we were we in the throes of a global pandemic. Many people wondered if we were going to be home for a week or two or perhaps just a little over a month. I must confess with all my education I was not completely updated on the definition of what a pandemic was, so I did my research. I immediately began to tell people that I would see them in a year, or two and that we would be buckling down for a while.

Here we are slightly one year past that date and my office is still closed. There is no plan on reopening it just yet and even if they did, I mostly worked from home before so there is no great rush for me to get back inside the office building. I was supposed to travel heavily for work in 2020 and instead, after 3 early trips in January and February, I was grounded for the remainder of the year along with everyone else.

Last night my hubby and I were marveling at what a difference a year truly makes. We say it, but 2020 takes the trophy. At the end of February, we were gathered to celebrate my sister becoming a doctor and there was so much life, love, and energy in the room. Our family, both blood and Christian were in attendance. My birthday was just a few short weeks off and things were really looking up. Looking back, we partied as if we didn’t have a care in the world. I’m so glad that we did. If we had known what was in store for us, how would our countenance have been then?

In that year, I managed to keep myself from going crazy. I increased my time with my heavenly Father, and it has paid off in dividends. I only wish it hadn’t taken the world to shut down to give God what he has given me for so many years. Attention. When I focused on what He has had in store for me, doors began to swing open, and life changed.

For starters, I began this blog. It gave me an opportunity to expand what I may say in my personal journals to a broader audience in the hopes that I can help someone who may be going through a similar situation like myself. There is not a lot of commentary here week to week however I get calls and texts letting me know the level of engagement on those who are reading and being encouraged. So, I keep doing it.  I also went back to school. Not once, but twice. And I will be starting yet another class in less than 2 weeks. 

I believe in educating yourself before speaking on certain subject matters. I am not a fan of school as I have stated many times, but I am a nerd and a very excellent student. I will research. I do not fly by the seat of my pants and “hope” that the information I share in any forum sounds correct.

I lost people. Too many to detail. It hurt like hell and I had to step back and process the whole grief situation layer by layer. Because of my delayed response to grief, I had to put it all on the line to say I was not ok and work to get ok. Today, I am ok and still working to be better every day.

I met new people. Together we formed a wonder team and have embarked on a journey that will change a piece of corporate America forever. We are tackling issues of systemic racism, gender inequality, oppression and whatever else you can thing of and we are doing it together. In less than a year, we have traction, and we are motivated to be trailblazers & trendsetters!

I have a greater appreciate for the people I love. The relationships that I have deepened. The inability to hug or spend face to face time has made us closer and more keenly aware the of the little things.

There have been so many moments in these 368 days since lockdown bridging 2020-2021. My reflection is that I am just getting started on what I pray will be the best days yet. The foundation was laid while the world was still to get much accomplished in “behind the scenes” for the main events that will unfold in the months to come.

The wheels of the world are starting to turn again. Vaccinations are becoming available and slowly but surely, we will get to a place where businesses will open and thrive again, and people will congregate. The pandemic is not over yet. Caution still needs to be at the forefront.  The question is, when we get back to business, are you ready?

One final thought. I literally was ready to leave town for my birthday last year when we got shut down. This year, I will be fully vaccinated but I have no plans to go anywhere. I may or may not blog next weekend as it will be my “birthday weekend”.  I do want to encourage everyone to take some time to ENJOY your moments where you celebrate life and give yourselves permission to have FUN! The pandemic caused so many people to cancel their birthdays as if the gratitude of being alive was not important last year. Everyday is important!

Live Your Life!

Be Safe and ENJOY!

Until Next Time, I Love YOU!!!!

There is something to be said about waking up happy. These past few weeks have given me a roller coaster of emotions that trend upward to pure joy. It has been years since I felt joy and it has been this consistent. We cannot confuse happiness with joy as happiness is but a fleeting moment and emotion while joy resonates in your soul.

After my dance with grief, I made a commitment to stay on a healing path and continue self-care. So far, I have been faithful in that commitment. That led me to open up with others and share what I had gone through and was still processing. The community that was then built around these shared experiences started to expand and healing was trickling out like a wave in the ocean.

I don’t talk much about work because it is just that, work. This week however I was able to attend a Woman’s Conference led by some immensely powerful, trailblazing women who are doing their part to make this world a better place. The invaluable information I was able to pick up will help me not only today, but in the years to come on my own personal journey.

So, I asked myself. Is this MY season? If you are one that attends church or has some spiritual connection, you would know what I am saying. Our Pastoral leaders speak of seasons as our times to be blessed by God and to be patient, faithful, obedient, and committed. I have been all of that as humanly (I am flawed) as possible. Not days, not weeks, not months but years. The greatness of God and his favor has always been evident in my life. I’ve had ups and downs however I can say with all confidence, life is surprisingly good for me.

What makes this time so different than the others is the JOY that I feel. Attacks are coming. Roadblocks are being put up in my way as I navigate into areas that I had never thought I would be in. Each and EVERY time however, there is a shift and I get through it as if it were never there. My name is in rooms before I get there and there is a definite buzz happening about who I am, what I am doing and what will happen next.

The crazy part is I have always focused my energies on being in the background. I wanted to be the organizer and financier. Let someone else be the face and the voice. In less than 12 months, both personally and professionally, that has changed.

Social injustices have made me scream louder. Our disregard for our neighbors has pushed me to step up more and advocate and engage so no one gets left behind. Yes, we are all hurting in our own ways, but we are truly stronger together. It costs us nothing to check in but our time.  I don’t want to be the only success story if the people around me aren’t successful as well. So, I pull people up.

The only “I” statements I have these days are those where I take accountability for my actions. Otherwise, I want it to be about we, us, and ours. In it being “my” season, the opportunity to help others and share the goodness that is being bestowed upon me is available. “My” season is about expansion that serves the community around me. When I succeed, we succeed.

So, is it MY season? Time will tell. The opportunities that have been presented and the direction that has been Holy Spirit led will prayerfully continue.  I have watched in AMAZEMENT at the awesomeness of my heavenly father and being 48 years old, surviving what I have survived, it never gets old!

The JOY that I feel is a feeling I want to continue. Even when the attacks happen, or the roadblocks appear, I still feel it. It’s like I know I have a secret weapon and no matter what, I will prevail. I will continue doing what I am doing because I seem to be on the right track.

“He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless” Proverbs 2:7

I wish you joy and health and an amazing day!

Until next time, be safe!