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

THE END OF AN ERA

Aww my darlin Sista friends, time is quickly winding down and before you know it will we will be in a brand new year.  I recently took a quick trip home to NewYork to visit my family. While I was there, I got a craving for a NY staple some good ole white castles.  Now I have eaten this relatively cheap treat for years, but for some reason things did not turn out like it normanly does. After eating the tasty mini burgers I became so sick it was unreal.  At one point I thought I might have to go to the ER I was feeling so bad.  After drinking two cups of  hot tea and a few tums, I started feeling a tad bit better.  But the experience made me realize that this was the END OF AN ERA no more of the cute little burgers for me. Now the fact that I had enjoyed that food since I can remember meant nothing other than it's time to make a change.  In fact my coming to the conclusion that I can no longer eat that food means the END of an ERA.  Some of us need to come to the same conclusion things, need to change in our lives.  I know your mama and her mama did it that way but it doesn't mean it's working for you.  Yes you've been with that Man for years, but for years you have struggled, fought, disagreed and none of it for the good.  You are no better off today than you were 10 years ago.  Now I'm not telling anyone to leave their Husband, S.O. (significant other) or the likes;  what I am saying is sometimes it comes to a point where you have to recognize when it's time to close the chapter on something to start a new one.  Some of the most historic and popular locations, stores etc. after so many years realize things and times change and they have to make a change that may include ending the chapter.  I was so surprised and somewhat saddend when a very large popular high end store called Fortunoff's in New York closed.  That was the End of an Era for not just New Yorkers but people from around the world.  Within the next few days before we ring in the new year, I want you to think about your life now.  Are there things that you know have been going on for years that have not been beneficial to you and your family?  Are there some things that need to come to an end so that you can begin anew?

You want to be loved and have someone in your life who will appreciate the fabulous Diva that you are, but that love can't enter your life because you keep letting that same trifling tired, joker in and out of your life.  Blocking your blessing. Well my diva it's time to come to the END OF AN ERA.

What is the end of an era for you?  If you went to a buffet to have dinner, and you had food sitting on your plate that had turned cold and stale, the restauratnt brought out hot fresh food.  would you take that same plate with the cold food on it to get the fresh hot food? No you would get a new plate. 

There's a passage of bible scripture that says: Matthew 9:16,17 NIV

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.

Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.  No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are perserved.

Are you ready to come to THE END OF AN ERA.

Be blessed always, Diva Val

DON'T FORGET JESUS AFTER THE SEASON

Ok so after the christmas shopping, sales and bargins galore.  The children, spouse, parents, family etc are happy.  You smile as you watch that new flat screen tv or you're sore from playing so many games on the kids new wii or Xbox 360 what's next?  The New Year rings in with you promising yet another year to spend less money, to get out of debt. To join the gym to loose that baby fat although your baby is now 17 years old.  We all sing with Kirk Franklin Jesus is the reason for the season, but do we keep him in our lives all year round.  If I never post again and if I never get another opportunity to leave you with a word of encouragement.  This is the best one I could ever give DON'T forget Jesus after the Season. Make him as much a part of your Life as breathing and eating.  And if you've tried everything else to find happiness, joy, love, and peace of mind and it hasn't worked it's time to try something new. 

Rev. 3:20 NIV. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me..

Invite him in.  He'll be the best dinner guest you'll ever had.

love Always, Diva Val

BAGGAGE CHECK

So this time of year most of us are usually traveling.  I just took a weekend trip to visit one of my best friends in Greensboro NC.  Amazingly, I only took One bag.  Now you may be thinking and for this she felt the need to blog?  YES! my traveling with only one bag is EPIC.  I always over pack.  Why ladies do we do that?  IDK anywho this of course got me to thinking about the topic at hand.  BAGGAGE. As the year whines down what better time to let go of some of the baggage weighing us down and preventing us from moving forward in life. It's time my Sister friends to let go of past hurts, disappointments and regrets.  Ok so you didn't pledge when you were in college Get over it!  or you didn't finish college again GET OVER IT! if you want to go back then make it happen.  Your first boyfriend dumped you over 30 years ago and you still need closure ARE YOU SERIOUS? that looser was trying to hump everything with a pulse and you still going on about how he could have been the one REALLY? Divas let's loose the baggage. It's been weighing some of down for years and years.  Now you are 32 looking like a 69 year old.  You can use the best make up around it won't help.  I know this sounds brutal but it's real and needs to be said.  Aren't you tired of being tired and sad?  Then it's time to pack up all your stuff and drop it off at the nearest dumpster.  In the words of a great classis song I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW THE RAIN is gone and I'm gonna add the baggage too.  Ok ok it might sound corny but work with me.  As long as you get the message!  I'm so excited the closer we get to the New Year, what about you?  Are you writng out your goals, forget resolutions, be honest and be realistic and write out your goals for the New Year.  I know without a doubt you can do this.  I also know the year can be as great as you want it and make it.  But first you have to dump the BAGGAGE.   This is tight but it's right!

Be blessed, Diva Val