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CARPE DIEM 

When You Don't Know What You Want to Seize (My 1st VLOG)

I'm in Oakland, CA this weekend attending a funeral.

The mother of one of my dear friends, in fact one of the first friends I made when I moved to Minneapolis passed away.  It's bitter sweet this weekend because my friend is saying goodbye to her mother... which in my opinion is GONE TO SOON. The sweet is the fact that I've reunited with two of my friends. We use to eat together almost every Sunday night and watch Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives over a home cooked meal that one of us prepared.  It was a Sunday evening ritual that I enjoyed for a couple of years. Our personal journeys have now taken us in different directions and we no longer reside in the same city.

Anyway, all of us are in some type of transition in our personal and professional lives. One of my friends who is trying reignite her inner spark asked me over coffee at Starbucks yesterday morning in the mist of our errands and assisting in final funeral and repast preparations...Miss Carpe Diem, how do you seize the day when you don't even what you want you want to seize? GOOD QUESTION! As she asked the question she began to film me on her iPhone. So here's my reply. I decided to post it as a VLOG. My very 1st VLOG! (Side note: I love "virgin experiences." )

To summarize my thoughts on how one can begin to seize the day in the mist of confusion you:

1. Assume an attitude of gratitude

2. Recognize and accept your personal state of mind or "place"

3. Become OPEN to possibilities (I'm open to UNLIMITED possibilities)

CARPE DIEM

ps- I'm in the process of relaunching my blog. What did you think of the VLOG? Would you like more vlogs? Leave a comment and let me know what you're thinking! THANKS

Missed Opportunity

"Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them."

- Orison Sett Marden



Last week I was at on the treadmill and watching a segment on CBS this Morning about Justice Clarence Thomas making history by breaking his streak of seven years of silence on the bench. The piece went on to explain that the other Supreme Court Justices can be very abrasive towards lawyers presenting arguments with disrespectful comments.  After watching the piece I thought WOW...how cool would it be to see a case argued in the Supreme Court live and in person. Maybe I'll take a day off from work sometime this year and take in day of arguments at the Supreme Court. Then I thought Jasmine you went to college in Washington, DC; you could have easily have gone a spent a day, two days, even a week at the Supreme Court. You missed the opportunity. A missed opportunity.

Link to video from CBS this Morning Story

Then earlier this week I was at the the 57th Presidential Inauguration. Standing immediately over to the left of the row I was sitting in was Paula Abdul. A bunch of people (like me) took pictures of her but a few people actually walked over to her to take a picture with her. I wanted to take a picture with her but I thought I would be respectful her personal time and allow her to enjoy her time at the inauguration. Later that evening I sent her a tweet and she mentioned that "she would've LOVED to meet me and take pic." A missed opportunity.

The evening that I returned home from Washington, DC this week  I received a phone call from a dear friend asking me to call her back that night no matter what time I picked up her voicemail.  I obliged and called her back around 11:30 PM.  She had bad news to share, her mother had lost her battle to cancer and passed away on Monday. SHOCK ran through my body. I knew her mom had been ill but I didn't think or know she was THAT ill. I was reminded that my friend had called me the week before and in her voicemail she said she was just calling to catch-up. Since I had no major new developments to report and due my "busyness" I had yet to return her call. A missed opportunity.

As a person that lives by the mantra Carpe Diem...Seize the Day I've had my share of missed opportunities. It's impossible to do everything but my challenge to myself and to you is to make sure you are doing the RIGHT things and the IMPORTANT things...don't allow those things to become missed opportunities due to busyness, fear, laziness and complacency, the weather, not having your hair done, not having anything to wear, etc. because you never know if you'll get another opportunity.

“Your regrets aren't what you did, but what you didn't do. So I take every opportunity.”
― Cameron Diaz

 

Carpe Diem

I Know that I Know

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

One of my OWN Ambassadors shared this video with our group a few weeks ago and I finally took the time to BE STILL, WATCH &PROCESS it.

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/The-Age-of-Miracles-The-New-Midlife-After-the-Show-Video

I’m in Hawaii currently and last night I randomly ended up in two conversations about “expecting.”  In all honesty, I EXPECT a miracle every day! In my heart of heart, flowing through my veins and even pushing on the soles of my shoes I KNOW that God has blessed me and will continue to bless me and for his blessings I am very COGNIZANT & THANKFUL. With that being said I also understand the blessings and favor he continues to shower on me comes with responsibility.

So on this 3^rd day of this new year I want you to  ask yourself a few questions:

-          What is your REALITY?

-          Are you OPEN to the possibilities?

-          What do you KNOW in your core? (My mom use to say I know that I know that I know) What do you  know that you know you know?

-          How are you USING your CALLING?

It’s so easy to get out alignment by becoming comfortable and complacent and by settling for “good enough,” but GOD has blessed all of our lives and he is calling us to be ALL THAT WE CAN BE and all that we can be is personal! He has specific agendas and purposes for our lives. Each persons’ walk is different and worth discovering and acting on.

My challenge to you and myself  in the first 30 days of this year is to take some time to be STILL, LISTEN & KNOW.   Drown out those voices in your head and around you. (A great book recommendation that will help you with the voices in your head….Untethered Soul by Michael Singer).

After you get alignment or realignment get about the business that is your divinely purpose.   BE ALL THAT HE IS CALLING YOU TO BE!  Life is too short and it’s moving to quick not to be on purpose.

DREAM BIG

CREATE the miracle yourself

Remember THOUGHTS become WORDS that become ACTIONS that become REALITY.

It’s a NEW YEAR….it’s time to do the DAMN THING!

CARPE DIEM

Happy Birthday Jesus

I wasn't feeling very well yesterday and really not in the Christmas spirit. Today I woke up refreshed, feeling better and reminded that the whole reason behind celebrating today is celebrating Jesus’ birthday!

I've been shopping and storing things for the "Christmas" since October and I managed to pack up all the stuff I bought in three suitcases to bring home with me to Atlanta. Since I've been commuting back and forth to NYC the Christmas season was a little different for me this year. I didn't put up my normal Christmas tree, Christmas dish towels, nutcrackers, poinsettias or bowls of pretty decorative ornaments. I didn't even hang the Christmas cards that were sent to me like I normally do. However, I did manage to make a donation to the homeless service project my church held last weekend and I spent the weekend before last volunteering at a Santa Store for children whose families shop at a Food Bank in North Minneapolis. In retrospect those were the best things I did all Christmas season!

I'm happy to be home in Atlanta with my mom, dad, Merlot (our family cat), Johnny, close family friends and sleeping in the room that for many years I called my room. I'm also thankful for the time that I got to spend fellowshipping with friends before I left Minneapolis. I'm reminded this morning and slightly convicted in my remembrance that Jesus is the true reason for the season.

It's unfortunate that Christmas has become secular and people have forgotten that it's Jesus' birthday not a key sales period for retailers and businesses. As a Christian I believe that Jesus came to give HOPE and LOVE to a dark world. He came to spread the promises of our heavenly father and to die for our sins.

So this Christmas my friends I give you LOVE. If you don't have the honor of spending today with loved ones. Know that God loves you and that's why he sent Jesus so many years ago on this day.

"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

~ 1 Corinthians 13:13

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Jesus & Merry Christmas!

  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

Luke 2:11

 

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15



CARPE DIEM

 

Be Nice to Me...I'm a Human Being

What does a hello cost?

How much energy are you exerting when you smile?

Do you have the time to sincerely ask someone how they are doing, listen to their answer and reply accordingly?

Were you taught to mind your manners as a child? If so, are you still minding them today..do you say please and thank you?

We live in a extremely fast-paced world, almost everything we do is in a rush to meet some sort of deadline, timeline or schedule. We rapidly move from meeting to meeting in the office, to rushing home to pick-up kids for after school activities or to the gym or after work meeting to grabbing dinner, heading to bed and starting the cycle all over again. We go through the motions when it comes to spending quality time with our families, friends and loved ones. True meaningful connections are a void in our daily life.

Jonathan Franzen stated in his book Freedom that for a generation with such modern conveniences we live the most inconvenienced lives. Think about when was the last time you were actually fully present and in the moment of an activity or conversation? You weren't multi-tasking....thinking about work, texting, tweeting, reading an e-mail or mentally somewhere else?

Our country is in a national state of mourning due to the tragic murder of 20 children and 6 adults in Newtown, CT. last Friday. Right now there is a heightened sensitivity and in our vulnerable state we as a society and community of citizens appear to be a little nicer and connected.

We're saying hello

We're smiling

We genuinely have concern for how our neighbors are doing

It's unfortunate that it takes tragedy to remind us to engage in civil discourse and to mind our manners. It's my desire that our current state of concern and friendliness towards fellow man will become a new way of living in our country.

After all,  

A HELLO cost nothing!

It takes more energy to frown than it does to smile.

Sincerely asking someone how they are doing  and listening to their reply may be the silver lining in their cloudy day.

Your mom and grandmother would be so proud to see you minding your manners!

Let's make a commitment to not only remember but to practice the Golden Rule...Do unto others as you would have done unto you.

CARPE DIEM

One of my favorite childhood animals, was a stuffed bean that said "Be Nice to Me...I'm a Human Bean"

Perspective

I woke up yesterday morning with the word perspective top of mind!  When I think about perspective I envision two people standing in a museum looking at the same picture.  One person sees a terrible thunderstorm and the other person sees people dancing in the rain.

How can that be....aren't the two people look at the SAME picture?
I contend that they see the painting differently because they are looking at it with different internal lenses.  Those internal lenses provide their perspective.  For many perspective is based on external factors that alter their internal lenses....comfort level, community, politics, family, friends, work environment, the weather and sometimes the alignment of the moon and stars can all affect one's perspective.

I live in Minneapolis and I really do enjoy living in the "Minnie Apple"....June through October. Ask me how life is in Minneapolis around January 14th and I'll tell you I'm ready to pack my things and move back south. How can that be when two months ago I was in love with the city?  Dry, brittle, Old Man Winter has showed up and changed my perspective on a city that I really do enjoy living in.

Have you ever been in a rut?  Doing the same thing day after day, with the same people day after day, telling and laughing at the same jokes day after day.  In that case a little trip somewhere different, a conversation with a old college friend or a visit to a local nursing home could provide a much needed change of perspective to get you out of your rut.

So today I ask you what is your perspective?
From what internal lenses are are you viewing things?
Are they lenses of fear, scarcity, negativity or a lenses of joy, gratitude, happiness and abundance?
Are you in a rut?
Do you need to change your perspective?

Carpe Diem