Relationships Went From Being Sacred...

To being the butt end of a joke...

My Husband and I have been together for almost fourteen and a half years but we've been married for almost six and a half years. I'm not going to say that it was easy, because it wasn't, but I will say that every troublesome moment has been worth it; those moments have allowed us to get to the peace and tranquility that we are enjoying today. The things that go on in our relationship are no one's business but our own and we make it a habit to keep it that way.

I'm noticing, more often than not, that there are a lot of people who treat being in a relationship like some sort of joke. Never at any given moment should anyone know the ins and outs of your relationship. An occasional, trusted, confidant (or even two) maybe but not ALL of those around you. Not everyone on any social network that you have an account with. Not random strangers on the street. Quite frankly, not even your family should really know the inner workings of your relationship.

If you truly want your relationship to work, then outside interference won't do.

When so many people know your business, then they feel entitled to give THEIR OPINION about YOUR BUSINESS. Nothing irks me more than when unwanted advice is given; especially on a situation that the person knows nothing about. If you make a decision that they don't agree with, then they feel like they have a right to be personally offended by it.

Infidelity, poor money managing, "baby momma/daddy" drama, domestic violence, horrible parenting, a questionable sex life; these are a lot of things that I see/hear about people that I don't even know, especially on a personal level. Smh. I guess some people just don't care what information they share with the world anymore...

Sometimes, All You Need...

Is. Just. One. Day...

Life gets hectic. The faster it goes, the faster we go with it. The slower it goes. the slower we go with it. Life is constantly on the move and therefore, so are we.

Oftentimes, we get so caught up in the steady pace of life that we forget about ourselves. We forget that our bodies need to rest. We even forget about our minds; they need to rest as well. We forget that all of our being needs to breathe, needs to be cared for, needs to be nurtured, but most importantly we forget that our being needs a rest.

I know that I certainly forgot lately.

On 9/5/14, I flew with my mother and brother for an overnight trip to Las Vegas. I had not been on a plane in about 22 years, so the plane ride there was an experience in and of itself. I am pleased to say that to and from Las Vegas, I came across some very nice people and that reassured me that all was not lost within humanity. Anyway, I had never been to Vegas and though we were only there for about a day, it was a break well deserved and most definitely needed. Seeing something different, new even, allowed me to rejuvenate myself enough to continue on with the steady pace in which my life had taken on. I was able to refresh myself so that any adversity that I faced, now seemed completely trivial in the grand scheme of things. It was pretty much exactly what I needed.

No matter what is going on in your life, ALWAYS take time out for yourself. Do something you love, see something new, take a mini vacay; it doesn't matter what it is as long you do SOMETHING. Sometimes, all you need is a day...

We are constantly on the move, but that doesn't mean that our being has to be. It's okay to just STOP every now and again because when you burn out, the world will still continue to spin...

Balloons Fly Higher and Higher...

With the more air that they are filled with...

I've been flying rather high since the release of "Treasure Chest" and I have no reason to come down. My state of mind is in a better place and my overall being is at peace. Whatever it was that I was previously going through, I think I might have found the strength to overcome it. And I'm not going to say that it was easy, because it wasn't. It took a lot of prayer and meditation, as well as "seeking help". I didn't seek help in the professional sense, but I did begin to talk about what it was that I was going through. I shared with others the state that my mental was in and I was blessed with their kind words and support. More than anything, their positive outlook was contagious. Contagious enough to bring me out of that black hole that I had taken up residence in.

I'm extremely big on pride. Like, I refuse to do anything that will weaken it, I guess. But sometimes, a person has to swallow their pride by the mouthful in order to get to that place that they so long dreamed about. It doesn't make you weak, it makes you wise.

Lately, I've been feeling pretty good about the path that lies ahead of me. I get the feeling that there's nothing but positive things to come my way. Even if some negative things should arise, I've strengthened my mental state to the point that those negative things will not put a chink in my positive mind state. Because let's face it, everything in life depends on your mind state. It's all about how you perceive a situation that will determine whether or not it makes or breaks you and quite frankly, I'm tired of being broken...

Sometimes all it takes...

Is submerging yourself in something bigger than yourself to bring you back to the here and now...

I'm not going to lie, I've been feeling rather down lately. If one were to ask why, my answer would be that I didn't know. Why? Because I didn't. I can't explain the sudden depression or where it came from but I'm feeling a lot better. Maybe it has a lot to do with the fact that I published my third poetry book yesterday. I don't know but I submerged myself so completely into something that I love that when I came up for air, my storm cloud was gone.

Hmm... That might be a lot of my problem lately.

I find myself so consumed with being a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and aunt that I haven't had time to be a writer. Hell, to just be me. I have to remember that before all of those roles, I come first. That if I burn myself out or allow myself to fall off the edge, none of those roles will matter because I will no longer exist. And my existence is vital, if to no one else but me...

I Love Being Clothed...

But now it's time for me to love being naked just as much...

The more I promote my work, the more exposed I feel. Completely bare. In the company of strangers no less. Naked for all of the world to see.

I honestly feel like no matter how much notoriety my work garners, I will ALWAYS feel as if I'm exposing my bare self to the world. I want to say that I'll eventually get over that feeling, but it hasn't shown signs of going away. I want to believe that I'll feel beyond confident about sharing my thoughts and feelings with others, but I feel more and more guarded the more I write.

I want to be one of those poets that engage readers in an open discussion about certain poems that they've written or is open minded about any kind of criticism that they receive. I want to be, but I'm not. I don't feel comfortable at all discussing certain poems that I've written and I always pray that I don't receive any negative criticism because my feelings would end up seriously hurt. Yes, I know. I sound like a wimp but it is what it is. I'm so sensitive at heart that it makes absolutely NO sense and some things, my little heart just isn't ready for.

One day though, I feel that will all change. I'm aiming for greatness and I can't have anything holding me back from attaining that greatness. Not my feelings and especially not my nakedness...

Time To Get Out The Scissors...

Because I'm finally cutting these ropes...

Lately, I have found myself so ridiculously stressed out. It honestly makes NO sense whatsoever that anyone should be this stressed out for practically NO reason.

BUT...

As I have come to do in all stressful situations, I'm cutting out what stresses me. My well-being, is at stake. I cannot allow for my mental, physical, or emotional health to falter, especially with what I have planned. I need all of my strength so that my dream(s) will come to fruition.

There must be something on the horizon for me because these roadblocks that are popping up in my path are coming from out of nowhere. They seem to be coming from out of nowhere anyway. Then again, maybe these moments are reminders that I stand alone in the world. Surrounded by many but completely alone.

I don't know, but before I allow stress to render me helpless, I'm going to do everything in my power to live a stress free life.

Someone pass me the scissors, please?

I am lost...

And I can't seem to find me...

Lately, again, I've been feeling like I don't know what my purpose in life is. What am I here for? What I want to truly do with my life for that matter.

I feel so lost. Like, I'm here but I'm not. No real sense of direction and sometimes no true urge to get any. I can't help but to wonder, is that even normal? I always thought that the older I became the more clear my path would be, but that's not the case at all. It's as if the older I become, the more muddled up my path seems; like my visibility for the future is minimal.

I know what I want to do and I think I know what I have to do, the main thing is to just do it. Do it. Do it. But for some reason, I've gotten rather gun shy with "just doing" anything anymore. I don't know why though. Guess I have some more self discovery on the horizon in order to break through the sudden barrier that I've apparently created...