Life vs. Reality!

When you were growing up, did you have a vision (damn near reality) of how You envisioned your life. I did! I think at some point we all did. Did it turn out as you imagined? If it didn’t, did it shock you? Or did you think it was wishful thinking?

You know l strongly believe in God more than l believe in my next breath. Yes, it’s that real! I can almost feel it. So, l laugh at myself because we plan and God laughs at our mediocre plans.

Since my father passed - everything changed in my family. Not in a bad way - NO, but in a GREAT way. Hold on, hold on, he was my first and only love but it changed because it made me appreciate my family more - my mother (especially), my sisters, extended family and my friends. Why? This is because l just didn’t realize we were all born with an expiration date. Yes, l legit did not believe that. I remember growing up as a child - my younger sister passed, but l barely knew her so although l was sad, l was also so young - two deaths that stands out is Princess Diana and Pres. Abacha because l felt both deaths in my household but l didn’t know them so it still wasn’t as real. My father on the other hand, who l still feel - who raised me, encouraged me and LOVED me. I felt. 2-3 months later until l processed his death. My brain blocked the emotion - my brain does that. It suppress the feeling and at an unconscionable time, l suddenly begin to feel.

Real life storming into my reality. Truthfully, it becomes fucked up! I thank God for someone special that held my hand through that unimaginable/unforgettable pain. Where my real life slapped reality on me by force.

What are some of the harsh realities you’ve been through in your life?

I pray to everyone who reads this - for problems!!!!! but the ones you can manage cause there isn’t reality in this life without one without problems.

Written with Love,

Pamela

One More Ridiculous Event

If you live in any state in the United States that has either a Television Set, Radio or Internet - you must have heard of this ridiculous event that happened. A Dallas Cop Fatally Shoots an Innocent Man After Entering The Wrong Apartment

I prefer spreading positivity on my blog because life is already full of unfortunate events like this but hear it is... another innocent man whom a friend of the deceased considered "one of the most likeable people" shot dead for no reason. When will this madness STOP!!!!! When will people realize that a life is a precious gift from GOD! When will all this calamity STOP!!!

A police officer after her shift, enters into the wrong apartment - finds the resident of the apartment in there and shoots him claiming that it was an accident - she accidentally entered into the wrong apartment? What the heavenly FUCK is going on!!!! You mean to tell me the red mat at the front door didn't ring a bell, or when she entered the apartment and saw different furniture (or setup - l would imagine); l mean I know apartment layouts are similar but DAMMMNNNNN unless she's a blind bat, l don't understand this at all.

Until our Legal system takes extremely tough actions against unnecessary killings such as this one, I doubt this madness will ever stop which saddens my heart. You mean to tell me that this is ok and this lady was released on a $300,000 bail? You mean to tell me this psycho is free until proven guilty by the court? While his family grieves?? We live in an unsympathetic and unfair world today where social media has desensitized us human beings, where people accept killings like this as a norm, where terrible wrongs are justified based on race, where children are separated from parents and it's ok, where justice is questioned at the expense of you and me.

So, I ask anyone reading this to take a moment to pray for Botham Shem Jean, a 26-year-old native of the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. May his soul RIP. Take another moment to pray for all those suffering silently in this world, all those people afraid to leave their homes, all those people who woke up wishing with hopes, aspirations and dreams but didn't get to see this moment - me and you are both living in, pray for this world, the safety of your family members and don't forget yourself.

As I ride to work, at 08:04AM EST - I unfailingly listen to 'Donkey of the Day', I believe I have posted one of these in the past but I'm going to post another today, take a listen.

I want to end this on a positive note, remember this day God has given you is a blessing - do something positive. Never repay hate for hate.

People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes. - Abigail Van Burren (b. 1918)

Written with Love,
Pamela

Happiness?

Is it overrated? How frequently are you truly happy? Do you believe in happiness or not? What is your take on happiness – do you feel it’s something you have to work for, something you must attain or it’s a choice you make regardless of your situation.

My mother used to say, happiness is what you create for yourself? Do you agree? Disagree? Indifferent?

In my daily devotion, The Power of a Praying Woman a Book by Stormie Omartian the chapter I read yesterday was centered around choices! That we all make choices intentionally/unintentionally every second of every day. Let me explain – I’m going to use my own words of course but the underlying concept is the same.

Picture it, little pieces of paper with words that describe an emotion– joy, happy, thankful, depressed, afraid, crying and so much more in a little bowl. Now, someone says – pick one and whichever one you keep, you carry that emotion into the next few days. You are allowed to pick up a paper, read it, return it if you don’t like it, pick another – it’s all up to you! I bet you 99.99% of people will pick something positive, something uplifting and return anything discouraging -why? Cause who wants to feel depressed, sad, afraid etc. If we can easily make the choice, why not choose happiness, joy, laughter etc.? Apply the same theory directly to your life now – whatever negative feeling you are feeling, it’s a choice you are making. Granted, the feeling may be very valid, but they become invalid when we decide not to choose to pick something else that overturns that negative feeling. These are choices we all make - sometimes willingly but I’ve learnt/seen, we forget that it’s our choice to make?

John 10:10 says: The thief does not come except to steal, to kill and to destroy.

 

1 Peter 5:8 says: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

What this tells me is that the phrase “life is unexpected and full of ups and downs” although true to an extent, we are the architect (God the overseer) of this thing called OUR LIFE and our happiness. The moment we decide to make the choice to be happy regardless of what shit life throws at us or to pick ourselves up when we fall (cause we all fall repeatedly) we start to have a better hold of our life and choosing to live fulfilled as God promised us.

On the other hand, if we decide to bask in negative emotions, we are choosing this way of life. If we open that window – all other negative emotions begin to flow. Your heart/soul becomes the perfect playground for that roaring lion to steal whatever shred of hope/joy you had left! Mix into that anything literally that makes us lose control of our faculties or behavior, lose vigilance – suddenly one negative emotion becomes various negative emotions from nowhere because we didn’t see it coming.

Have you ever met someone that attempts to drink or smoke their problems away?  Have you ever heard of a success story as a result? What is the uniform result? Either it takes them down or they turn their life around. It’s really that simple! Nothing ultimately positive has ever come out a repetitive dysfunctional habit like that … maybe they get a short term high but once your eyes have cleared and mind is temporarily sober – you relive the feeling all over again. It easily becomes a dysfunctional cycle when you make yourself believe that rough short-term high is better than dealing with the hard truth that although shit happens, and l feel horrible, if l deal with the actual truth – l can learn from it and get over it with God (and time).

Ephesians 5:18 (KJV) says: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.

I think it’s absolutely fine to drink… but everything in moderation (“and even moderation in moderation” from the amazing Maya Angelou in her Super Soul Conversation with Oprah) but remember to stay alert which is one thing I have learnt this year among so many other things I have learnt and decided to make a choice to live by.

Written with Love,

Pamela

My 2018 Memory Box

I feel like it was just yesterday (Friday August 31^st) that l woke up – headed down to work and was looking forward to seeing Davido perform live at The House of Blues 😊 thinking and dreaming about all the things l would do this long weekend…

It’s 10:20AM Tuesday – Labor Day is over and l feel like l literally just got off work on Friday. WTF!

What does this mean… Does it even mean anything.. How is it already September 4, 2018! Wasn’t it a few short months ago – l was celebrating New Year – coming back from Spain – thinking wow, l serve a God who has allowed me to see 2018 😉 – I’m so grateful. Now, we are so close to 2019 – l feel like if l blink a few times, we will be living in 2019? I’ve felt this feeling for a while now - so this year, l decided to create a 2018 memory box. This box will take inventory of all the interesting things l did in 2018 from great trips, great food, great conversations, great concerts, great purchases – notes on highs/notes on lows and pictures to last a lifetime. Check out ‘Free Prints’ – you can print 85 4x6 pictures for FREE EVERY MONTH <- for="" only="" pay="" shipping="" span="" you="">.. So – l have decided to be old school (even though l subscribe to iCloud), to have a hard copy of select memories that I can look back on and say wow – l sure did live an interesting, it wasn’t a short one at all. It just felt short because l was always doing one thing or another.

I also have postcards, a few pictures and refrigerator magnets of the places I’ve gone to this year and a picture of my adorable God Daughter and truly faithful Dog, Louie on my fridge – a postcard from the Netherlands, another one from Spain, Refrigerator Magnets from Spain, Turkey, Rome, NYC, Boston, Maryland, Florida and a few others l can’t remember at the moment – so every time l open my fridge, l glance at it and remind myself even though the time is moving so fast – I’m sure as hell moving fast with it by making sure l create new memories on the way.

On the flip side, life can seem dull, boring and quite frankly just the same. Just like you, I do have those moments when l feel like a robot – wake up at 5 – 5:15AM, coffee + meditation, workout, walk Louie, take a shower, commute to work, work, meetings, work, meetings, mundane conversations at work, work, work, small talk with colleagues, work, work, lunch (barely), work, meetings, work, work, coffee break, wooorrrrrkkkkkkkk, commute back home, walk Louie, relax – dammnnn it’s 10PM already need to sleep and repeat the cycle. So, by creating this memory box or anytime l look at my fridge – it reminds me that although for the most part my life is as I’ve just described, l do divert from the normal routine by visiting a new restaurant, watching the latest movie at the cinema, laughing with friends about everything and nothing, shopping online, decorating my place or seeing a new face while visiting a new place. The intent is to ensure l create some form of memory – no matter how small!

Have a blessed week everyone.

Written with Love,

Pamela