So I’m a Frog…

Today I went to see one of the best movies I’ve seen in quite some time… “The Princess and the Frog”. Initially I just thought this was going to be your typical Disney movie but I was definitely wrong… This movie had so many underlying messages and themes that resonated to me as a person in that “in between” phase of life that I just felt compelled to share a few…

Lessons from “The Princess and the Frog”

1. Hard work actually does pay off – as trite as it sounds, that was one of the main points of the movie. Although the protagonist faces adversity and often becomes disheartened by disappointments, all of her hard work pays off in the end. So this reminds me not to grow wary in my well doing for in the end I shall reap if I faint not… I’ve gotta keep pressing on

2. See the trees AND the forest – we often hear of someone missing the forest for the trees or vice versa but this movie lets us know that we need to recognize both. Don’t be so busy working and doing that you forget to just live and be. In this blackberry driven society, it is very easy to be so consumed with everything but yourself and your own contentment. This spoke to me because I am definitely a member of the crackberry club, so my goal for 2010 is just to simply live and stop looking for ways to be busy and avoid my own happiness.

3. Appreciate the “in between” – basically appreciate being a frog… and so this is where a dear friend and I had our major epiphany! We’re FROGS! There were many people who had a major problem with the fact that Tiana remains a frog throughout most of the movie, however, I see a bigger picture… Her being a frog is actually her going through a process… As a frog she learns many valuable lessons, many of which help to shape her future. So what I’ve learned from this is that I need to just learn… instead of complaining and hoping and wishing, I just need to learn. God is definitely trying to show me something so now I need to open my mind and learn.

4. Expect the unexpected – no this is not a new lesson but it definitely is one that hit home in the movie… Tiana’s life changes in so many ways but it all comes together in ways she could not begin to imagine in the end… so instead of planning, I’m just going to let God work HIS plan and expect the unexpected

All of this from a movie, especially a Disney movie, you may say; but these lessons could not have come at a better time for me. As I prepare to enter 2010… I’m convinced that this year has great things in store and I just need to remember that although I’m a frog right now… I’m emerging into a princess

Lost on the Road…

Wow… so this week has been interesting to say the least. I was chatting with a friend and she asked me “are you at one of those sucky crossroads of life?” and to my surprise I answered “ABSOLUTELY”! I’m in a place where not much excites me, especially career or educationally and I just feel like I’m lost. I had my time to find myself, but during that moment I was so determined not to be a “single, black female addicted to retail” that I didn’t find myself. Instead, I let others’ dreams for me define me. So here I am 6 years later wondering where to go from here. Do I stay (for security purposes), do I go into the unknown? Ay yi yi!! I have being praying and God definitely gave me the greenlight – so I know I have a destination, but where remains to be revealed. Until then, I’ll just keep praying and believing that God has something better…
Lost

My Name is Victory…

So today I almost had a meltdown…. I’m so discontent with a lot of things and I allowed the devil to infiltrate my thoughts. I’m still fighting the battle of the bulge and as of right now the bulge has me down but I’m not out (I just got back up!). I feel like I have sooo much on my plate but I can’t seem to get into a good rhythm and it bothers me. This isn’t normal. I’m usually able to be superwoman – save the world’s problems and minimize my own… Not this time. But oh there was a silver lining to this incumbent dark cloud… last night a DJ (in this case iTunes) saved my life. Sooo Jonathan Nelson has this song “My Name is Victory”… My favorite part is “I know who I am, God wrote it in HIS plan, for me.” So once I reminded myself of this, I was able to proceed with my day. I know that this self-doubt will be replaced with self-love… so move outta my way self-doubt!! Shall I proceed?! —- YES INDEED!

The MENTOR in the mirror

So anyone who knows me knows I LOVE mentoring… I don’t know when the love began but its one of those things that took on a life of its own. It brings about such joy and validation to my existence. I know God has given me the gift of relating to others in this way. I can be mom, big sister, teacher, friend, and everything else!

I found out a few days ago that one of my mentees is moving to California *tears*. She’s such a joy and I’ve watched her grow into a wonderful young lady… but on the other hand… you know how I loves me some Cali – so I’m on the next flight to visit :~). But it really makes me wonder what will happen to her once she moves. Will the lessons I’ve taught her and the examples I’ve shown be enough to keep her grounded in the land of “faux-lebrities” and “vanity” or will she become someone new???

On the other hand… one of my mentees is right here in Atlanta and I worry about her daily. I’ve known her for six years and can definitely take credit for the person she has become. However, so much goes wrong in her life that it impedes her growth and progression so what’s a mentor to do? Because at the end of the day the words of encouragement become monotonous and cliche’.

I’ll figure it out soon… until then, I’ll be working on my book with NadaJo in hopes of bringing out the mentor in us all…

The Bane of MY EXISTENCE!!!

I’'m Fat

I honestly think that this song is hilarious and in so many ways it describes how I feel…

Ok seriously… by no means am I morbidly obese… but my weight is DEFINITELY the bane of my existence. Every week I’m strategizing some new way to melt the pounds away… and honestly, my plans will work if I can just STICK WITH IT. Sheesh!! I was reading a friend’s blog and so I think I’m going to steal her idea! I’m going to find a bunch of ways to track my weight… starting TODAY… ok so weigh in will be same time next week… I’ll keep you posted on the ongoing battle of me vs. the scale….

The (Lost) Souls of Black Girls… Part 1

So my friends and I watched this documentary entitled “The Souls of Black Girls”. We were all thoroughly intrigued by the title… and those who had participated in the documentary, so we watched. Well, needless to say, this DVD sparked a very healthy discussion between the masses.

One major issue tackled (or at least touched upon) was the self-image of black girls. Well considering I mentor, I thought this to be a pretty amazing topic. Some of the young ladies in the video noted that they did not feel as if they were as beautiful as their white classmates and they also had body image issues. They did note that these issues were primarily due to images they see in the media… So my first train of thought was: why have we allowed the media to define who we (women of color) have become? There is not a definite answer to this question, it just notifies us that there is still a LOT of work to be done to help our young girls…

In addition, Michaela Angela Harris made a strong argument when she stated that black girls have not been given an identity, so they do not know who they truly are… this is so sad, yet true. I often reflect about my lessons on self-image and who taught them to me. Well the phrase “experience is a good teacher” would have to relate to my self-image studies because my teachers were my mother and grandmother. However, such is not the case today. There are many young girls who do not have great mothers or positive women in their lives to direct them or even discuss self-image with them. So how do we reverse a trend that has started to break down the core of future generations??

Needless to say the issues of a lack of men in the households came up in discussion so that dead horse continues to be beaten…

*SIGH… so many problems, so few answers. What are we to do? I guess this “Unanswered Question” will linger on from day to day…

And I Wonder…

Observant by nature… I truly tend to think about those problems that plague our society and question our existence. My thoughts later transform into discussions with my friends and so the discussing begins…My friends and I are always strategizing about our plans to make this world a better place… so cliche’ but true. Day after day I read, hear, and/ or see things that make me wonder when did our society come to THIS. THIS being sexting, abuse, apathetic children, broken families, uneducated children, misguided parents, and this list could go on…but I mustn’t linger. Needless to say, our society is problem-plagued so what do we do? How do we revert back to the “it takes a village” mentality when the village doesn’t exist? How do we shelter our young people from violence and instill great morals and values if our society doesn’t exemplify them? So where do we go from here? Do we walk away… or do we keep on trying?? (I relate most things to music…). I still dream of a world that seeks peace, cultivates youth, and embraces families…(dreaming big) *Sigh… I wonder if I’ll ever find my dreams*

Why Not???

So my dear friend Nada Jo got me interested in this thing called blogging… I’m typically a private person but I sometimes like to share my insights and views with the world…. so here goes…