Miles 4 Change

In 2009 I read a story about human trafficking that moved me to tears and prayers. In 2012 I was moved to run, but felt more comfortable looking for organizations that fought human trafficking. This helped me to focus on contacting legislators regarding the cause and finding out more information. A good thing, but not the only thing I was called to do. In 2013 I was moved to run for the cause, but created all kinds of excuses to justify my shrinking back. For 2014 I am ready to jump back on the wagon and pick up where I left off.

A message from the A21 Campaign

Dead Man Walking

I can remember a time in life when I thought I could numb myself to the pains of this world. I have a strong hermit gene that I constantly have to fight against. I prefer to stay at home over anything else. Being in my safe four walls where I command the comings and goings was definitely my first preference. Clubs, bars, even small sporting events in this area didn't excite me. My financial issues made me just want to focus on going to work, paying bills, sleep, and repeat. I saw no true joy in life, just a mediocre existence of repetition. Work, pay bills, sleep, repeat... with being drawn into other people's issues helping to break up the monotony just a little. The sad part was I was willing to live with that existence. Emphasis on "existence" because I was not really living.

Honestly I was just a "dead man walking". People around me couldn't tell it. I functioned at work, gave my best efforts, and kept it moving. I functioned at home, paid bills, help to take care of my mother, and kept it moving. Around family I gathered, conversed, enjoyed that time, and kept it moving. Yet, inside I was stagnate, emotionally unmoved, and uninspired. So how did I get out of that death trap?

Here are a few things I learned to do that took me from merely existing to be determined to enjoy my life.

Great Leaders Lead By Example

Today we throw the term “leader” around quite haphazardly. Some who have been bestowed this honorabletitle actually haven’t yet paid the dues to deserve it. If you have no clue what I am talking about or names/faces started flashing in your mind then you definitely should read on.

Leaders are people who realize that the best way to lead is by example. Whatever yourexpectations are for your team, comes from your experience in achieving that milestone and your persistence in making it to the next level. Take teaching for example. I encouraged students for years to read and write through their summer break. I preached on why it was important and encouraged them to continue to hone and develop those skills even during their vacation time. If they wanted to continue to advance and be ready for the next school year they couldn't lose ground. Summer was not an excuse to slack off!

Are You Willing to Pay the Cost?

One of the shows I love watching on HGTV is "The Property Brothers". On this show twin brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott, try to help future homeowners find the home of their dreams. They first find a home that has everything the buyer wants on their list. They take the buyers to the property, walk them around it , and "wows" them. Everything they want is wrappped up in one pretty little or big package. Then the brothers hit them with the bottom line, the cost. This is where the buyers get the gut check, and all of them, after hearing the price, look as though they were sucker punched, blindsided, hoodwinked... you get my drift. Then the brothers go on to explain that they can help the buyers get exactly what they want if they look at taking another approach to getting it. Next, the two brothers do their thing in finding properties that can be restored and turned into their buyer's dream home. At the end of the show you have happy buyers thanking the brothers for a job well done and a home that exceeded their expectations. Isn't that just like life?

Go For The Gold

I am very proud of all of our Olympic athletes who are representing the United States of America in London. Their years of discipline, commitment, and dedication to their sporting events are inspiring! It's also amazing to see the excitement that builds for the Olympics and championship games in various sports. We position ourselves in front of the television for hours, if we aren't lucky enough to be front and center at the event, and coach our teams or chosen individuals to greatness. We feel the intensity of that moment right there on the sofa or in our favorite chair! We share the beaming sense of pride in their victory and are quick to rationalize what their shortcomings were if they were defeated. It is so easy to be a Monday morning quarterback, to look from the outside and criticize critique others.

 

The Ultimate Road Trip

As I stated in my last post, one of my aunt's has earned here doctorate. This makes it two family members that I know of with doctorate degrees. My late aunt Dr. Patricia Cooper ( dad's sister) and the soon to be (officially) Dr. Charlene Holmes ( mom's sister).

Charlene at Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota

She graduated from Capella University and was adamant about traveling to Minnesota and walking across the stage to receive her degree. After all that hard work I don't blame her! So this radical road warrior actually got an opportunity to go on a road trip with my aunt & uncle.

Celebrate the Milestones

Yesterday my mother and I went out to dinner with one of my aunts to celebrate the completion of her process to obtain her doctorate degree. After years of hard work and  overcoming distractions, her ultimate goal is a reality. The only thing left to do is step across that stage and receive her degree. We promised that we would treat her to dinner when this time arrived. Well the time is now and the place was here...

If you are a true BBQ connoisseur or just love good southern home cooking, this is definitely the place to be. This is where our celebration was scheduled to happen and my reflection kicked into high gear. Must have been something in the bbq sauce!

Rethinking My Thinking

Have you ever sat down and thought about what you think about? I mean really think about the ideas that travel through your mind. You know things you've learned, things you've been told, and stuff that just seems to creep in there with no real source that comes to mind. Now a days we barely have time to just sit down without some problem arising that needs to be solved, or some request that needs to be granted. Not to mention we also live in a world where distractions are the norm. Look around you as you travel through your day.  Of course this would mean not fidgeting with your smart phone or any other electronic device. Everything we could ever imagine accessing is right at our finger tips. From checking your email, to reading your favorite book, updating your social networking sites, or viewing your favorite show. The possibilities of the many places you can go without moving is limitless! We have what I will call "distraction overload". This hinders sitting still and getting quiet. I mean just thinking about it feels wrong.

But there comes a time when we need to sit still and get quiet. A period of time everyday where all the noises of life disappear and the only thing we have to contend with is our thoughts. Now I am as guilty as anyone else of allowing distractions to keep me, well, distracted, and obligations to keep me on the move and obligated. Who we are and how far we will go is directly connected to what we think. We've all heard the definition of insanity (doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results). Well this past decade has been insane!  I invite you to journey with me as I travel the road of reflection and take time to think about what I think about. Some thoughts may be proven true; others will have to be dismissed. The only way to change my outcomes is to change my actions. The only way to change my actions is to change my thoughts. The only way I can change my thoughts is to be real regarding what I think. The only way I can be real about what I think, is to think about what I think about. It just keeps coming full circle! So this is my process of rethinking my thinking...