Keep it up if you want to........​

Good afternoon,

 

You know…. I have a saying, “Don’t poke the bear”.

 

Eventually that bear will react and it won’t be in a way that you’ll like. I was raised to treat people the way that you want to be treated. So it amazes me how some people can treat others in a way that they would not allow themselves to be treated…… oh but it’s ok because if they keep poking that bear it will all flip on them. Maybe because the bear is not up on its hind legs and growling that people forget it’s still a bear. I had this experience this year. In general I don’t entertain drama because it takes so much out of you. It is really draining and that’s not how I live my life. With that being said with the passing of my father all of these random people began to poke me. I have never done anything to them and actually a majority of them have never even seen me angry. I attempted to ignore it and just get through the whole situation. Well I woke up at my aunts’ house and I told her that I was tired….. tired of crying, tired of the voicemails, tired of the hate, and tired of people trying to take advantage of me. She gave me some words of encouragement, a hug, and sent me on my way. Well unbeknownst to me some people were waiting on me with their pokers and when they poked me I snapped. I smooth went off and cursed a man out. I didn’t even know him but since “they” decided to send him in as the representative he got it. I didn’t bother to hold back. I had been holding it long enough. After our interaction I went back to my aunts’ house and cried like I’ve never had before…… I felt defeated. I felt like I had failed because I allowed them to take me to a place that I didn’t want to be. I felt like I’m better and should never stoop down to meet their negative behavior. I later realized that they had just pushed me to my limits. It doesn’t change how I live my life it was like a kettle that was at its boiling point. I didn’t have any more problems after I popped off. No more calls, voicemails, or Facebook messages. I am not in their lives and they are not in mine and that is how it has to be. I am still working with the Lord to break down the disdain I have for those people but I no longer have to deal with their negativity. It hurt because I assumed that they would care for me and what I was going through. I thought I meant something to them. I learned the difference between family and relatives. Like everything in life, that situation came to pass and for that I am grateful. My point in all of this is don’t do something to someone that you wouldn’t want to happen to you. People can only take so much before they move away from you. Even though I don’t always act like a bear doesn’t mean that I am not one. I am worthy of a happy life and intend on living that way by any means necessary.

 

I hope we are able to take a stand on the things that we deserve. Sometimes people are not able to see it and if their treatment does not meet with those requirements then we have to go. Simple as that.

 

Live your life like a cake.....sweet and bringing a smile to everyone's face!

And remember everyone has enough good qualities and is worthy of being treated well. Don’t poke the bear.

 

E

Can you see the trees?

Good morning,

Yesterday I was talking with my aunt about all of my newfound drama and how I was having a hard time handling it. She was encouraging me and she kept saying, “But I’m preaching to the choir because you know this. You are always telling people this same thing”. I agreed with her but I told her that now that I’m in the hole it’s hard to see the trees. That had me thinking and sparked a desire to write. It’s always easier to encourage someone when you are not in the midst of your own storm. You may even be able to be supportive when your storm is just sprinkling……BUT when you are in a hole and the rain is pouring you are not able to see anything.

So this morning I was speaking with a friend and I was telling him about last night’s conversation and I said, “I’m always describing the trees (encouraging) to people but now that I’m in the hole I’m not able to see the trees and it’s hard to remember what they look like. So now I need the people who care and love me to help me see the trees again”.

In other words, we all have to be reminded not to let the storms of life tear us down because we are GREAT and we have great lives. It’s a moment not a lifetime. I will not let what a few people have done to cause me grief overshadow all of the LOVE that I have received. I will instead wrap myself in their love and know that even though I’m hurting, my tears are pain leaving my body and all this love is waiting to fill me up again.

Let love fill you up.

Thank you again for loving me…….

“Happy in the midst of it all”

E  

Are you ready for that train?

Good afternoon,
 
You are not what you feel.... don't let your lying eyes tell you that you've been defeated because times have gotten rough.  GOD is always on the job. Even when your faith is shaky GOD's still in charge. Keep preparing for better even through your tears. This is not the time to give up. Crying is just weakness leaving the body. You are so much strong than you even realize. There is nowhere in the Bible that it says that life would be is easy and you would always be happy but you have been built to endure all of your life storms. You are just in the hole. (Refer to “What you know about Joe”) I promise it won’t always be this way. In one of my favorite movies the lead actress says, “They say they built the train tracks over the alps between Vienna and Venice before there was a train that could make the trip... they built it anyway. They know one day the train would come.” A better time will come….Just keep building. GOD works in HIS time and HIS time is always perfect. HE came in human flesh too see the trials and tribulations that we would have to endure. Soooooo, HE knows that times will be rough.....but HE gave you the gift of choice to come to him. Think about it this way....if your sister, brother, child, cousin, older parent or friend has a problem you would want them to come to you for help and support right? Well that's what GOD wants. Come to HIM and find rest. Meditate and get closer to HIM. Let your mind be cleared so you will be able to see the solution to your problem. The answer most times is already there but you are not able to see it because you are too wrapped up in your negative feelings.  Work on positive thinking and forward movement. KEEP BUILDING AND TRUST GOD!
 
AND remember Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not lean to your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge HIM, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6
 
MAKE IT GREAT!

E

God are you there?

Good Afternoon,

Boy I tell ya.....from the people that I spoken to lately HE is not there. At least that's how they feel. Their pain is so severe that that can't see past their noses. I know their pain will not always be this extreme but right now, they may as well be blind. This is the time that your support system (or as Katt Williams would say..."Your Team") should step in.... They need to stay prayed up for you when you can't. They stick with you and are always there....hanging in the background like groupies or awesome backup singers. GOD knows us....he knows everything. We don't have a clue and that's why most times we run around like chickens with our heads cut off in pain. There is a lack of trust and when that happens you have to get that focus back. When you are in so much pain that you don't know what to pray for or are questioning GOD's presence in your life is when you get real simple. Just ask (or beg) for GOD to hold your elbow. Help you to get through the situation. You have been given the gift of choice because HE always wants you to choose HIM. So, HE is waiting on you. Ask him to heal your heart. Beg for strength to get through it. Meditate on HIS love for you. HE knows we are human and there will be times of weakness. Times of pain. Times of depression......BUT since we are created in HIS image we are sooooo much stronger than we think. FIGHT! Have your team stay prayed up! Choose HIM and HE will guide you through this storm. I'm not saying this because it's in the bible, in a song, or some urban legend. I can tell you this because HE is constantly guiding me through every storm. Just when I think I can't take anymore GOD steps in..... AND I KNOW if HE takes the time out to do it for me HE will do it for you. You just have to keep believing and keep fighting. Life will not always be easy but it's always worth living.

AND remember......disappointments happen, unexpected things occur but GOD is never caught off guard. If you’re his child, then relax, HE’s got you.

MAKE IT GREAT!

E

Looking for happy?...................

Good afternoon,

If you want to know what it means to be happy, look at a flower, a bird, a child; they are perfect images of the kingdom. For they live from moment to moment in the eternal now with no past and no future. So they are spared the guilt and anxiety that so torment human beings and they are full of the sheer joy of living, taking delight not so much in persons or things as in life itself. As long as your happiness is caused or sustained by something or someone outside of you, you are still in the land of the dead. The day you are happy for no reason whatsoever, the day you find yourself taking delight in everything and in nothing, you will know that you have found the land of unending joy called the kingdom. – Anthony de Mello – The way to Love

I mean really is there anything else to say? We don't enjoy just being alive, being happy just because nothing is happening, or appreciating the small everyday things. We want life to be a certain way and when it's not that all we are able to think about. Don't let things that don't matter ruin an otherwise great day. Every day is a gift and it's up to you how you will react to it. Think about it like this....If you worked really hard and saved all of your money to buy your loved one a gift. They took one look at it and said, "But this is not the color I wanted" wouldn't you be a little pissed? I mean it's the thought that counts right? Well GOD gives you a new chance at life everyday and we complain all day about how it's not how you want it to be. You ever think that GOD may be like, "Well I'm not giving them anything else until they appreciate what I have already given them". Just a little something to think about. I understand that there are some things in life that will make you unhappy. You just can't tattoo those things to your heart. How can HE bless your heart when you are stressing your heart? Be happy about all and nothing at the same time. Appreciate what you have and know when you extend your hands to GOD to give HIM praise they are closer for HIM to drop blessings into.

AND remember the happiest people do not live with a certain set of circumstances, but rather with a certain set of attitudes.

MAKE IT GREAT!

E

Love don't make no sense....o​r does it?

Good afternoon,

Love is not a black and white thing. Everyone on this earth receives love in a different way. I have previously written about the 5 Love Languages. For those who may not be familiar with the book, the 5 love languages explains how there are five love languages and each of us has one that speaks directly to our hearts. If the primary language is not demonstrated then none of the others will be fulfilling. We have a tendency to speak our own love language towards the people in our life. That would be fine if everyone had the same primary love language. What we have to do is figure out how the other person receives love and attempt to do those things so that they feel loved and cared for.  That seems to be where people fall short. I have heard from many people telling me all of the things that have or had done to attempt to make their significant other happy. It wasn’t that it was bad….actually most of it was awesome but it couldn’t be recognized because the primary love language was not included. It’s like being in a dark room and all of these beautiful portraits are in there but no one can appreciate it because the missing element is the light. Speaking to someone’s love language is turning on that light. Then they will be able to see the other things that are going on around them.  Someone once told me that Love is a choice. I somewhat agree. I believe that you have feelings for someone and you choose to open yourself and allow those feelings to grow. Love is just that….Love. It’s all about how you choose to use it. There are slight differences in the way you love depending on the person but love is love. The point of love is each person making that other person feel loved. The problem comes when one or both people are only concerned about their own love. When it’s all about you how do you expect that other person to feel loved? That makes sense huh? You fell in love or chose love because what that other person brought to the table. Well somewhere along the way things changed. So what do you do? You sit and have a knee to knee. Be open and honest about your needs and wants. Then each person works on those things knowing that with some effort things will eventually get back on track. I have always been of the belief that if I work hard to please you and you do the same for me then we will be fine. People think there is a lot to love but it’s not really. Through communication and effort it can all be figured out…..you just need two willing people.  

I hope I made some sense out of this thing called love…….

AND remember love lasts because two people made a decision….. to keep it, fight for it, and work on it.

MAKE IT GREAT!

E

Performance review time 2..........

Good afternoon,

It’s that time again……

Confession time….. CLAWD……Ok here goes….I have been struggling with my feelings. There I said it! As for those of you that really know me I do not care for my “girl” feelings. I love to feel happy, loved, loving, silly, and things of that nature. When it comes to those feelings of uncertainty, lost, confused I just can’t deal. Lately it just seems like things have not been right. I attempted to just chill out and let things run its course but it only seemed to get worse. My sleep, dreams, and appetite were being attacked by these “feelings”. I know me very well so I had a come to Jesus with myself that everything needed to be addressed. I reviewed how it all happened and then with each item I thought it out and wrote down a plan of action. One thing no one (including myself) will do is keep my happy from me. I took the first step and through several forms of communication, I dealt with each situation. CAN I TELL YOU how free I feel right now…. I actually got some sleep last night. There are still some residual feelings left that need to be confronted but the whole point of this is being true to yourself. We are not perfect and will never be BUT we should always be honest with ourselves. It will save you days, months, and years of anguish. I believe the reason most people are not honest with themselves or with others is that they are afraid of being judged. The thing is that if you feel that someone will judge you for something you have done or who you are you actually judged you first. (I’ll wait while that sinks in *crosses arms*) That’s why you scramble to hide who you really are. You are embarrassed about you. O_O We all do it but I am here to tell you that when you admit who you really are it’s sooooo freeing. After I free myself from my own thoughts, I always give myself the side eye because I should have done it earlier.  Stand up and be honest. “Hello my name is E and I don’t like being vulnerable, I hate my “girl” feelings, and because I am not vulnerable I can come off as the Ice Queen* Now you know me….sorta…lol. I always wonder if people are aware of themselves but then I think if they were not aware then they wouldn’t have to hide who they are…..They are just not being honest. If you review your performance first and are happy with the way you are living your life then really, that’s all that matters. When you are uncomfortable with you so will everyone else. Free yourself!

And remember the strongest people are the ones that can admit their mistakes and take the steps to become better people.

MAKE IT GREAT!

E