Single-Mooning: Falling back in love with oneself one day at a time

The Magic City Classic is a big deal for my alma mater. This is the time we come together once a year to play against our biggest rival. We look forward to the tailgating, the playful trashtalking, the bands battling for a year of bragging rights, and somewhere in there I might even see a little football. Even more than that, though, this is the time of year I get a little nostalgic, pondering on not just the memories I made in undergrad, but the lessons I learned. The one that has came into play most predominately last week, and even the first part of today, is courtesy of a woman whose name I do not even recall. She came to speak to our accounting class about what it's like to work for the US Treasury and gave some key points about internships and career choices. But the one take away I got from her lecture did not even have anything to do with accounting--- it had to do with life. In her closing, she stated, " There is no such thing as a bad day, only a character buildi...

My mind often goes back to the Biblical story of the Israelites. I think it's because at any given moment, you may find me actively standing in one of their pairs of shoes. I might be in the shoe where I am captive, the labor is hard and I'm just hoping and praying that the Lord will see the sweat of my brow and soon rescue me. I might be in the shoe where God is delivering me, avenging on my behalf and I can clearly see His hand of favor and protection moving in my life. I might be in the shoe where I have made it to the Promised Land and I'm praising with timbrel and dance when I look back and see how the Lord has brought me over...... Or I might be in the shoe where I'm between captivity and the Promised Land and because I can't see the victory ahead and because the distance seems long or even "impossible" (as if anything is too hard for God), I allow myself to look back at my captivity and romanticize it. Have you ever been there? Where...

Hey Readers, guess what?!? If you're reading this, we made it through yet another cuffing season! Yay us!! ***Insert happy dance! How did it go? Did you find yourself watching Hallmark Channel marathons with Kleenex and popcorn at hand? Did you get together with your girls for an epic "Gal-entine's Day" of dinner and mani-pedi's? I had my usual heart-shaped pizza and spent the evening with people I hold close to me, laughing and dancing up a storm.  Of course, no cuffing season would be complete without those random texts from people I hadn't spoken to in months (one person even from more than a year ago) and then that in turn led to another exciting round of hitting that oh-so-powerful "block" button.  One thing was different this year though, one text that stuck out more than the others. This one was from a current potential suitor who said, "I have a Valentine gift for you, when can I bring it by?"  This was quite a change f...

Happy 2018 Dear Readers! We talked a little bit about cuffing season in my last post and I mentioned that instead of filling the void with all kinds of toxic stuff (Lifetime movies, food binging, alcohol, meaningless flings, fill in your blank here ____________), I'm surrounding myself with positive people and living my glass-half-full, golden life to the fullest. So for those that requested a list, here's a starting point for you. But don't stop here, think outside of the box and do something that works for YOU, something that brings YOU joy! And you can do these with friends, accountability partners, siblings, etc, whatever you do, don't pick up the phone and call that ex. Okay? Okay! Let's goooooo: Read a new book (Try "I Am #8" by John Gray; "I-Factor" by Van Moody; "Wholeness" by Toure Roberts, "Prepare and Position Yourself Devotional" by Charissa T or ask a friend for a recommendation) . Start/join a book club ...

Good morning, readers! Wanted to interrupt your day with this little newsflash: When people walk out of your life, it is NOT a reflection of YOUR LACK OF VALUE--- Instead, it is a reflection of their own inability to recognize how unbelievably, immeasurably valuable you are!!! Never forget you are a prize and your worth is NEVER tied up in the ones who walk away (job, friend, relative, significant other, opportunity). You are a WHOLE human being and they can't take any more of you with them than you allow. In other words, missing your peace? Don't allow it. Missing your joy? Don't allow it! Missing your hope? Don't allow it. Don't let anyone or anything make you feel like a fraction of the absolute greatness that you truly are. Okay, now back to your regularly scheduled programming!

Dear readers: In case you haven't noticed, the temperature is dropping, the leaves are falling, the holidays are approaching and we all know that means one thing: cuffing season has officially begun !   Photo courtesy of Getty, Huffington Post This is the time of year that you notice folks' single status dramatically changing as we approach the four consecutive, " Are you bringing your boyfriend with you " holidays. Guys and girls start looking for that special person to snuggle and get cozy with during the cold weather, that someone to kiss at midnight on New Year's Eve and to be snowed in together as we round out the cold year's end toward what we can only hope will be a warm and spicy Valentine's Day (yes please)!! If you find yourself not in that category, however, FRET NOT! We are gonna get through this cuffing season together. Here are a few tips I myself am following, in random order, to go from Cuffing Season Catastrophe Case to Holida...

Just wanted to pause and drop a quick line to encourage someone today: KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE FINISH LINE!! Do not be distracted by anything that comes to kick you off course. Whether that is an external person or boundary making your goal feel impossible or whether that is a force in your head listing all the reasons why it can't come to pass. When you're driving your car, you look FORWARD toward the direction you're going, right? IF you do have to look left or right, it's simply to momentarily glance at your surroundings, not to keep your eyes turned there. Why? Because failure to watch where you're going, leads to you crashing, leads to a delay in you reaching your destination. Being distracted is costly and your future you can't afford that expense. I don't care if that goal is a new relationship, but you're up against countless situationships that have ended and gone nowhere. I don't care if that goal is a new house or car and your lend...