A TRUE LOVE STORY NEVER TOLD!!!!!

It's been awhile since my last posting.  I'm sure you are all aware of the little thing that intrudes from time to time called life.  I have made it my personal goal to use this blog to encourage people to rekindle their dreams and goals and set out to accomplish them no matter what age, time or station in life you currently hold.  Well this my friends is a Special Posting.  Today while riding home with my Mom from the hospital.  I heard one of the most beautiful love stories never told.  She recanted how she and my dad first met some 50 years ago on a cold February day thanks to a cousin of my dad's.  Now I was well aware of their anniversary, but the story she told was of the very first time they met.  She told that story with some much love and pride as if it had taken place just yesterday.  We were returning from the hospital where once again Dad needed to be admitted.  Once again we quitely, secretly prayed that he would get through this as he has previously.  I have read story upon story about the plight of black marriages and relationships. Or the beauty of Black love as if only desplayed by our illustrious President and First Lady.  Don't get me wrong I love the President and First Lady and I adore seeing the love and strength they display.  But I have had the previledge of seeing, knowing and experiencing the true beauty of unconditional love EACH and EVERY time I see my Mom and Dad sharing breakfast together, or enjoying a sitcom together sitting on the sofa watching the Big screen TV.  Growing up we knew with a certainty if Mama knows then Daddy knows and vice versa because that's the kind of connection they had and there were no secrets between them.  I remember many days of waking up, walking in the kitchen to see them quitely talking, sharing cups of coffee together.  As a child Mom worked during the day, and Dad worked during the night, if we needed to be picked up from school or taking to the doctor my dad was there.  If dad was home on a day off or on vacation when my arrived home dinner was done.  

Now many anniversaries, valentines day, christmases other holiday or celebration  have come and gone.  We the children are now all grown.  Their bodies have changed as well as their appearance.  What has remained is the unwaving love for each other.  I see the love and concern in Mom's eyes as she  holds dad's hands over the railing of the hospital bed.  I see and hear the love in his voice as he says thank you honey for being here.  I can spend hours upon hours encouraging people to live their best lives. Or following their most outlandish dreams and goals.  There is NOTHING that can compare to such sweet, long lasting, unconditional love.  The kind of love that makes a Man stand tall and do ANYTHING and  EVERYTHING to provide for his family. The kind of love that makes a woman to lay awake at night praying for her family.

Today while riding in the car I heard the GREASTEST Love story NEVER TOLD.  It is a story I'll always remember.

be blessed, Diva Val.

THE TIES THAT BIND US

I'm sure most of us have heard this expression before, The ties that bind us, what is it that binds us to our friends,co-workers, family etc.  I recently received word of the passing of a family memeber.  He was not a blood relative but he was family.  I started thinking about my extended family of friends.  Some I've knows for decades some in the past few years.  The word quickly spread of this dear friend and well respected Man's passing.  From reports I've received and snippits of his homegoing service I felt a sense of pride and sadness.  Sad that such a young man whom I liked and respected was gone to soon.  Sad that his family is now hurting over this loss and feeling a void in their lives. Proud however, that the extended family was out in numbers showing support.  The reason for this post is to remind us how important ties can be.  How crucial it is to have a great support system in your life.  Now a support system does not have to be limited to family, it could very well be friends, co-workers, teachers, church memebers etc. Oprah once shared how much a teacher touched her life and encouraged her.  She is convinced her support and encouragement played a huge role in shaping her into the woman she has become.  Reconnecting with my extended church family has been a blessing and a joy to me.  Thanks to FB we can reconnect from wherever we reside.  Who could not love the wonder and beauty of the internet?  The internet allows us to keep in contact with family near and far.  Those ties can be repaired, strenghten and reconnected.  When I was growing up in brooklyn, back in the day we still believed it took a village to raise a child, and a neighbor was definitely an extended family member.  If  Ms. Jackson told you to behave you dare not listen or the consequences would be equivalent to disrepsecting your very own parent.  How I long for those days.  In the meantime, I am blessed to have the ties that I have.  So during the course of the day, take a minute and think about the ties you have with your family and friends.    To all of my extended family new and old, I love you with all of my heart. I may not get the opportunity to tell you this in person or often please know that I truly do. 

Don't forget the ties that bind. 

Be Blessed, Diva Val

PICTURE THIS!

Picture yourself doing things that truly make you happy, traveling, business, education etc.  Picture your children being successful, productive adults instead of the sometimes moody adolescent draining you with request of what they need, want or don't want to do. Picture yourself in a loving, committed relationship.  Picture yourself being that person you know and believe God has purposed you to be.  Take a couple of minutes, hours or just a day to reflect on some of your dreams and goals,  If there was nothing standing in your way and you could be doing something different from what you are currently doing in a career or in a job what would you be doing.  If money was no object what would you be doing.  Just Picture It.  Picture yourself being financially secured.  Would it be from your current job or career, or will you be relying on social security.  Picture your life as a retiree.  Picture your second half.  Picture that book you've been dreaming about writing.  Picture that dream wedding or trip abroad that dream vacation.  Picture that dream honeymoon.  Picture that dream party celebrating with family and friends the purchase of your new home.  Go on picture it! down to the last detail.  Are you bold enough to start a book or vision board on those things you've dreamed about?  There is an expression that says a picture is worth a thousand words.  Well what's your picture saying?   Are you letting your current picture of life determine your future picture.  An Artist starts with a blank canvas.  With imagination, vision, and the necessary tools, what starts off as a blank canvas becomes a beautiful vision.  So PICTURE THIS! It doesn't cost you a dime to dream.  It is totally free for you to set goals.  With vision, imagination and perserverance you can turn your canvas (your life) into a beautiful picture. 

Be blessed, Diva Val

I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!

Remeber when you were a kid and someone dared you, for a split second you would think should I do it? But then they would issue the ultimate in dares. I Double Dog Dare ya! lol something about that double or triple dare made it all the more serious, why who knows lolol.  All you know is that you didn't want to be known as a scary cat.  Well we are no longer kids, I don't know about you but I still love a good challenge.  In fact for me, I hate backing down from a challenge.  Now that may be a good thing or a not so good thing.  Well this year I've decided I am going to challenge myself in every way possible.  That's right boys and girls, Mentally, Spriritually, Finacially, Physically.  Why moan and groan about wanting change in our lives if we don't challenge oursevles.  If this year does not turn out to be a huge successful year for me I've decided it will not be for lack of trying.  I'm tired of talking about things I'd like to do and not taking any steps to accomplish those things no matter how big or small.  So as I challenge myself I challenge you. What are some of the things you've been talking about doing for years?  Trying yoga, martial arts?  Becoming a runner? How about trying a 5k this year?  So you're an adult and you don't know how to swim, Do you have a YMCA near by?  Look into taking swimming classes at the Y.   Why are you still sleeping in that twin bed you had in middle school.  Go ahead and buy that new bedroom suite you've been wanting for years.  You deserve it.  Now that may not seem like something major but it's a start.  Get that passport.  I DARE YOU. That trip may not happen this year but getting that passport will push you even more to take steps to take that trip abroad you've been dreaming about.  We've started a save a dollar a day challenge and the response was GREAT!  I was so happy and surprised by all of the responses. I was glad so many people wanted to challenge themselves.  So why stop there, We have 11 months to go.  Let's challenge ourselves this year like never before.  I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU!

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH!

Good morning, time is flying past and we are already at the end of the first month of a new year.  You started out motivated and excited about what the new year will bring.  So let me ask, Do you practice what you preach?  As a parent how many times do you tell your children or your spouse or love ones you can do or be anything you want.  I'm sure, like me, if you had a dollar for every time you've encouraged someone you love to accomplish their dream you would probably never have to work again in life.  Well what about YOU! Have you tried practicing what you tell others to do. To never stop dreaming.  It doesn't matter what your age is. It is NEVER to late to change gears.  The school system could always use new teachers.  New businesses are being openend every day.  In fact more and more people are taking the plunge into business ownership. There is always a demand in the medical field. Nursing is always in demand. That hobby that you do for all your friends is money in the bank for you. Just a few more credits and you'll have your degree what's holding you back.  You continue to tell your children the possibilities of their accomplishments, When will you take your own advice?

You know you have a gift of working with children, and you desire to start a daycare what's stoping you?  That food business is waiting for you to open.  Stop giving your beautiful, delicious cakes away for free. 

What greater example to your family and friends than to Practice What You Preach and accomplish that dream or goal whatever it may be.

You would never tell someone once you get a certain age stop dreaming would you?  Then who told you, you were to old too dream. 

I keep this saying posted on my closet door so that I veiw it every day.


       Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond mesasure.
    It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and Fabulous?

    Actually, who are you not to be?

Start Practicing What You Preach!

RECALCULATING!

THANK GOD for GPS, the best invention since the toaster and microwave. lol ok since light.  For anyone who was living the same spastic life like me who had the great propensitiy to get lost this is the greatest invention EVER!.  What makes it so great is not only will it get you to your desitnation; when your a special Chile like me, who still manages to miss a turn here and there it says loudly RECALCULATING.  That got me to thinking how many times, has life situations had you recalculating.  The beauty of that is ultimately you arrive at your destination safe and sound.  So what I  am saying is relax sometimes you do have to take a detour whether it's planned or not,  If you have faith know that ultimately you arrive at your destination.  Trust that God knows and is directing your purpose (route) we may miss a turn in life maybe in our career choices. Life will have you RECALCULATE.  A failed relationship? RECALCULATING. Children grown and moved out and your home alone, or it's just you and the husband? RECALCULATING.  Now there are no distractions keeping you and hubby from getting re-aquainted. RECALCULATING.  That spare bedroom can now become an office for your new in home business.  RECALCULATING.  So the next time you hear the word RECALCULATING think of it as another way to arrive at a beautiful place.

Be Blessed Always, Diva Val

DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT IT BE ABOUT IT!

Here we are in the second week of the new year, what have you done for yourself lately?  You've set your goals for the year, or you made your resolutions but have you taken any active steps toward achieving those goals or keeping that resolution?  The holiday's are over, have you had a healthy low fat meal?  Have you started exercising, walking, running, weight training anything? Have you cleared your fridge or cabinets of items that would sabatoge your plans.  Or are you sitting around still talking about what you will do for this new year.  Are you discouraged already?  Well my dears how can I say this.  SUCK IT UP! You can sit around flapping your gums as much as you want but that won't get you anywhere in the words of a great expression TALK IS CHEAP!  So stop talking about it and be about it.  Come on get up.  Let's get to it and with it.  This will be one of our greatest years EVER.  Don't just talk about it BE ABOUT IT.

be blessed Always, Diva Val

IT'S TIME TO GET RID OF THE F WORD!

Now I know what you are thinking hold on no she is not cussing and it's the first day of a new year.  No get your mind out the gutter, but when you think about it this is a much dirtier word than you imagine.  The F word i'm talking about is FEAR! corny? whack? think about it; How much further would you be in life if not for the dreaded F word FEAR!  I once heard a very well know Pastor describe fear as FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL.  I thought OMG that was brilliant.  Maybe you are a big brave person who doesn't fear anything well woo woo woo to you.  I however can't make that claim.  There have been times when I have be paralized by fear.  Why is this worth discussing well, I don't know about you, but I am sick and tired of being scared.  Scared of failing, Scared that family and friends's opinion won't match my own. Scared I won't add up to other's opinion of who I should be and where I should be.  I've yet to hear ANYONE in business say they started their business with no set backs whatsoever.  As long as Cars have been made you would think they would be perfect by now with no flaws or glitches, and yet year after year there are recalls. Why?  because there are issues that need to be address.  With that being said, do you think car companies will say ooh lawd we made a boo boo we're so afraid we'll stop making cars.  I know it sounds silly but think about it.  I am SICK AND TIRED of allowing Fear to rob me of my purpose.  I have designated this year to be a year of Purpose free from fear.   A baby learning to walk will grab onto whatever they can until they gain the courage to strick out on their own, in the mean time they never stop moving.  It's time to keep moving!  Grab on to Prayer, to your Faith, Family members, good friends, love ones, just keep moving and leave the F word behind. Kick it to the curb! show it the door. 

Serve notice to the F word today it's got to GO, peace to fanga's (lol) Dueces!

Stay Blessed, Diva Val