Carpe Diem: Seize The Moment, Seize The Day!

Sometimes we never take time to seize the moments that are precious in life, instead we find ourselves rushing through life from one moment to the next moment. Every moment becomes a speck in our mind leaving empty voids of us rushing through life. 

We begin to rush our life where living in a microwave generation is the norm. No one has patience to take the time to breathe and look into the sky to see the clouds depart as if heaven was reaching out to them. Every sunset and sunrise becomes a blur that seeps into the back of our minds. 

Every day should be cherished and seized with living in the moment. I realize life can be consuming if we allow it to consume us, however we have to be willing to step away from the outside world long enough to silence ourselves.  I believe silence is the most profound thing we can cherish to recollect our thoughts. 

When you begin to seize the day you allow yourself to get caught up in the journey not the destination. Life is made up of many journeys with many lessons, nevertheless we have to be able to step away from the chaos long enough to embrace seizing the day.

According to Webster’s Dictionary carpe diem is best define as the enjoyment of the pleasures without concern for the future. So often, we become stressed with life that we never indulge in the simplicity life offers. 

Enjoying the simple things such as birds chirping in the early am, watching the stars at night or looking at the brightness of the sun have lessons and pleasures attached to them. If we become prone to seizing the moments we will be happier and less stress.

Stress is gained when we are filled with the worries of the past. Carpe diem is much more than a common expression but it is the way to live life. I challenge you to take time to slow your pace, embrace nature and meditate in the stillness. Life is sweeter when we throw off the blues to allow joy to radiate our souls. 

Life is waiting for you patiently to seize the day with pleasure! 

Carpe Diem: Seize The Moment, Seize The Day!

Sometimes we never take time to seize the moments that are precious in life, instead we find ourselves rushing through life from one moment to the next moment. Every moment becomes a speck in our mind leaving empty voids of us rushing through life. 

We begin to rush our life where living in a microwave generation is the norm. No one has patience to take the time to breathe and look into the sky to see the clouds depart as if heaven was reaching out to them. Every sunset and sunrise becomes a blur that seeps into the back of our minds. 

Every day should be cherished and seized with living in the moment. I realize life can be consuming if we allow it to consume us, however we have to be willing to step away from the outside world long enough to silence ourselves.  I believe silence is the most profound thing we can cherish to recollect our thoughts. 

When you begin to seize the day you allow yourself to get caught up in the journey not the destination. Life is made up of many journeys with many lessons, nevertheless we have to be able to step away from the chaos long enough to embrace seizing the day.

According to Webster’s Dictionary carpe diem is best define as the enjoyment of the pleasures without concern for the future. So often, we become stressed with life that we never indulge in the simplicity life offers. 

Enjoying the simple things such as birds chirping in the early am, watching the stars at night or looking at the brightness of the sun have lessons and pleasures attached to them. If we become prone to seizing the moments we will be happier and less stress.

Stress is gained when we are filled with the worries of the past. Carpe diem is much more than a common expression but it is the way to live life. I challenge you to take time to slow your pace, embrace nature and meditate in the stillness. Life is sweeter when we throw off the blues to allow joy to radiate our souls. 

Life is waiting for you patiently to seize the day with pleasure! 

Giving Back To Yourself During The Holiday Season!

The more you give of yourself, the more you need to give to yourself. ~Christine Hohlbaum

As the holiday season is vastly approaching we find ourselves once again caught up in the hustle and bustle of buying presents for our loved ones. We spend massive hours shopping, looking and identifying the perfect gift for our family and friends. The Christmas season is full of joy, love, sharing, caring and giving back. The ultimate gift of the holiday season is the birth of Jesus Christ and how he gave back to us by sacrificing his life for the redemption of our sins. This holiday season is filled with replenishing; indulging oneself in laughter, love and warmth from people we deem as family. However, I truly believe in this elaborate holiday season we tend to drain ourselves financially, mentally and emotionally. We forget to give back to the most important person in our life-US!

Instead of putting ourselves as a number one priority on our Christmas list we tend to put our needs and wants last. Life is meant be lived to the fullest  cherishing every moment. When we begin to cherish the moment we can begin to understand the importance of self preservation. In self preservation we can learn to preserve our sanity during the holidays by simply making ourselves a priority.  This year in the holiday season I decided to only buy gifts for my daughter. I also decided to make my Christmas list for myself. I have spent plenty of years spending dollars on people that never reciprocated the same giving spirit as me. I would find myself wasting dollars on insignificant people that had no particular value in my life. However, as I have matured over the years I have realized the importance of taking care of myself. I realized I never really made a Christmas list for myself, contemplating what I wanted for the holiday season. It is imperative to give back to yourself this holiday season by nurturing your needs and wants. Below I will give you a few tips on how to give back to yourself this holiday season.

Tips To Give Back To Yourself:

1. Take Time Off Of Work: Instead of letting all of your vacation time build up how about taking time off to plan a date with yourself. Schedule a day off to relax during the holiday only immersing yourself in taking care of you.

2. Go On A Shopping Spree: The Christmas season is filled with shopping for gifts for everyone in your family including friends how about this year you make a list for yourself and get at least three items that will bring joy to your heart this holiday season. If you really are in the spirit put a gift under the tree for yourself!

3. Enjoy You: Inspite of the crazy crowds while you are out in the holiday season madness remember to enjoy quiet time for yourself and enjoy your own company.

The holidays are meant to enjoy so do not forget to enjoy yourself during the holiday season. Giving back to yourself should be top priority!

Giving Back To Yourself During The Holiday Season!

The more you give of yourself, the more you need to give to yourself. ~Christine Hohlbaum

As the holiday season is vastly approaching we find ourselves once again caught up in the hustle and bustle of buying presents for our loved ones. We spend massive hours shopping, looking and identifying the perfect gift for our family and friends. The Christmas season is full of joy, love, sharing, caring and giving back. The ultimate gift of the holiday season is the birth of Jesus Christ and how he gave back to us by sacrificing his life for the redemption of our sins. This holiday season is filled with replenishing; indulging oneself in laughter, love and warmth from people we deem as family. However, I truly believe in this elaborate holiday season we tend to drain ourselves financially, mentally and emotionally. We forget to give back to the most important person in our life-US!

Instead of putting ourselves as a number one priority on our Christmas list we tend to put our needs and wants last. Life is meant be lived to the fullest  cherishing every moment. When we begin to cherish the moment we can begin to understand the importance of self preservation. In self preservation we can learn to preserve our sanity during the holidays by simply making ourselves a priority.  This year in the holiday season I decided to only buy gifts for my daughter. I also decided to make my Christmas list for myself. I have spent plenty of years spending dollars on people that never reciprocated the same giving spirit as me. I would find myself wasting dollars on insignificant people that had no particular value in my life. However, as I have matured over the years I have realized the importance of taking care of myself. I realized I never really made a Christmas list for myself, contemplating what I wanted for the holiday season. It is imperative to give back to yourself this holiday season by nurturing your needs and wants. Below I will give you a few tips on how to give back to yourself this holiday season.

Tips To Give Back To Yourself:

1. Take Time Off Of Work: Instead of letting all of your vacation time build up how about taking time off to plan a date with yourself. Schedule a day off to relax during the holiday only immersing yourself in taking care of you.

2. Go On A Shopping Spree: The Christmas season is filled with shopping for gifts for everyone in your family including friends how about this year you make a list for yourself and get at least three items that will bring joy to your heart this holiday season. If you really are in the spirit put a gift under the tree for yourself!

3. Enjoy You: Inspite of the crazy crowds while you are out in the holiday season madness remember to enjoy quiet time for yourself and enjoy your own company.

The holidays are meant to enjoy so do not forget to enjoy yourself during the holiday season. Giving back to yourself should be top priority!

I'm Back: A Letter To My Readership Community!

Hello All,

I know it has been quite awhile since I gave you a fresh blog post but know I have not forgotten about you at all. I have been busy with working on a plethora of things. I have become a guest writer on two blogs in the last two months writing articles monthly for Mind of A Diva and Weaffair Blog site. However, in the many things that are taking place in my writing career and pursuit I want to give you a fresh blog post this month. I have many things to blog about that will be happening next year. I appreciate your support and growth that my blog has taken since I started The Inspirational Corner. It is always my desire to inspire, encourage and uplift you to live an authentic lifestyle without societal validation. As we come upon the holiday season do not forget to spend time with the ones you love the most, give back to those who are less fortunate and most of all do not forget to nourish your needs as well. My new blog post this month will discuss including yourself on your Christmas List. So often, we buy presents for other people but we forget to include ourselves in this joyous season. I am a great believer in giving back to yourself, endowing yourself with love, nourishment and self preservation for the up and coming year. I am looking forward with taking my blog to another level in 2014. Thank you again for your support and enjoying my blog post.

Cheers To An Innovative New Year,

Stylicia A. Bowden
Ms. Stylicia A. Bowden

You can check out my guest writing appearance for Mind Of A Diva & Weaffair at:

Mind Of A Diva: http://tinyurl.com/mj2c57h
Weaffair: http://tinyurl.com/lsxhkq4

I'm Back: A Letter To My Readership Community!

Hello All,

I know it has been quite awhile since I gave you a fresh blog post but know I have not forgotten about you at all. I have been busy with working on a plethora of things. I have become a guest writer on two blogs in the last two months writing articles monthly for Mind of A Diva and Weaffair Blog site. However, in the many things that are taking place in my writing career and pursuit I want to give you a fresh blog post this month. I have many things to blog about that will be happening next year. I appreciate your support and growth that my blog has taken since I started The Inspirational Corner. It is always my desire to inspire, encourage and uplift you to live an authentic lifestyle without societal validation. As we come upon the holiday season do not forget to spend time with the ones you love the most, give back to those who are less fortunate and most of all do not forget to nourish your needs as well. My new blog post this month will discuss including yourself on your Christmas List. So often, we buy presents for other people but we forget to include ourselves in this joyous season. I am a great believer in giving back to yourself, endowing yourself with love, nourishment and self preservation for the up and coming year. I am looking forward with taking my blog to another level in 2014. Thank you again for your support and enjoying my blog post.

Cheers To An Innovative New Year,

Stylicia A. Bowden
Ms. Stylicia A. Bowden

You can check out my guest writing appearance for Mind Of A Diva & Weaffair at:

Mind Of A Diva: http://tinyurl.com/mj2c57h
Weaffair: http://tinyurl.com/lsxhkq4

My Year of Jubilee, My Year of Celebrating Me!

 

I decided to take a whole year from October 1st 2013 to Oct 1st 2014 to focus on celebrating myself holistically. I realize as women we do not celebrate our accomplishments enough while we cater to so many other people we have to choose to cater to ourselves. I believe we lose sight of who we are because we put ourselves on the backburner supporting everyone else dreams. In this year I will celebrate who I am to the fullest. I am honored and excited to be in the November 2013 issue of Essence Magazine on pg. 14 defining my thoughts on black beauty. Get your copy today!

 

 



My Year of Jubilee, My Year of Celebrating Me!

 

I decided to take a whole year from October 1st 2013 to Oct 1st 2014 to focus on celebrating myself holistically. I realize as women we do not celebrate our accomplishments enough while we cater to so many other people we have to choose to cater to ourselves. I believe we lose sight of who we are because we put ourselves on the backburner supporting everyone else dreams. In this year I will celebrate who I am to the fullest. I am honored and excited to be in the November 2013 issue of Essence Magazine on pg. 14 defining my thoughts on black beauty. Get your copy today!

 

 



The One Day That Changed My Life: My Rebirth!

 

"I dance, I smile & live fearlessly because I know what it feels like to die on the inside I only want to live authentically being me." ~Stylicia~

I believe it is a crime to never acknowledge your greatness and never share it with the world. I use to be the kind of girl that was scared to shout on the rooftop about my accomplishments until I realize someone else needs my inspiration, testimonies and story. I love life and live it abundantly because in my life I had too many tragedies impact me especially on February 20, 2007 when my two year old daughter left this world. My children are my joy and to lose a child is like a stab in the heart; painful and sometimes you wonder is recovery possible. After my oldest daughter and I had to endure the pain of losing my sweet two year old daughter, Serenity T. Bowden we somehow had to pick up the pieces. The hardest part in my life was picking up the pieces acting as if life goes on but for me it stopped and nothing remained the same. I was no longer the person everyone wanted me to be but I was bitter, angry and hurt. However, with my strong faith in the Lord he utilized this pain to turn it into a purpose bigger than me. I was a writer since I was eight years old but my gift, passion came full circle when I got stationed in South Carolina five years ago when I was still in the U.S. Navy. The tragedy of losing an angel gave me the courage to share my pain through the written word. I expressed my pain, triumphs and healing through the gift of words which became my source of healing. Every time I released the pen it reminded me of my dreams and sharing them with my family when I was young speaking of being a great famous writer. After exiting the military in 2008 I was broken with open wounds still needing some repair. I had a void but nothing to fill it but my will to write and overcome the pain. In 2011, a four year relationship ended with a man I fell in love with but little did I know it was the beginning of finding my authentic self. I took two years to face the real me by coping with internal issues and stopping the insanity in my life. Some chains needed to be broken but others around me realized I was changing no longer being the people pleaser and control freak. I lost some friendships in the process but I can truly say I am so glad I stayed true to myself, walking boldly in my truth. Today, I live bold, loud and authentically without societal validation celebrating who I am. This moment that happen six years ago changed the way I view and live life. My youngest daughter time on this Earth affected so many people. My oldest daughter and I keep Serenity's memory alive by not taking life for granted. I always have to live with the pain of losing a child but I have a choice to let this pain stop me or motivate me to keep going to share my gift with the world. I choose to let this pain fuel me to share my gift and passion to inspire humanity. My plate is large but God has given me all the tools I need to motivate & inspire those that are put in my path. So, I continue to release the pen so healing can begin.....This was the result of the rebirth of me!

The One Day That Changed My Life: My Rebirth!

 

"I dance, I smile & live fearlessly because I know what it feels like to die on the inside I only want to live authentically being me." ~Stylicia~

I believe it is a crime to never acknowledge your greatness and never share it with the world. I use to be the kind of girl that was scared to shout on the rooftop about my accomplishments until I realize someone else needs my inspiration, testimonies and story. I love life and live it abundantly because in my life I had too many tragedies impact me especially on February 20, 2007 when my two year old daughter left this world. My children are my joy and to lose a child is like a stab in the heart; painful and sometimes you wonder is recovery possible. After my oldest daughter and I had to endure the pain of losing my sweet two year old daughter, Serenity T. Bowden we somehow had to pick up the pieces. The hardest part in my life was picking up the pieces acting as if life goes on but for me it stopped and nothing remained the same. I was no longer the person everyone wanted me to be but I was bitter, angry and hurt. However, with my strong faith in the Lord he utilized this pain to turn it into a purpose bigger than me. I was a writer since I was eight years old but my gift, passion came full circle when I got stationed in South Carolina five years ago when I was still in the U.S. Navy. The tragedy of losing an angel gave me the courage to share my pain through the written word. I expressed my pain, triumphs and healing through the gift of words which became my source of healing. Every time I released the pen it reminded me of my dreams and sharing them with my family when I was young speaking of being a great famous writer. After exiting the military in 2008 I was broken with open wounds still needing some repair. I had a void but nothing to fill it but my will to write and overcome the pain. In 2011, a four year relationship ended with a man I fell in love with but little did I know it was the beginning of finding my authentic self. I took two years to face the real me by coping with internal issues and stopping the insanity in my life. Some chains needed to be broken but others around me realized I was changing no longer being the people pleaser and control freak. I lost some friendships in the process but I can truly say I am so glad I stayed true to myself, walking boldly in my truth. Today, I live bold, loud and authentically without societal validation celebrating who I am. This moment that happen six years ago changed the way I view and live life. My youngest daughter time on this Earth affected so many people. My oldest daughter and I keep Serenity's memory alive by not taking life for granted. I always have to live with the pain of losing a child but I have a choice to let this pain stop me or motivate me to keep going to share my gift with the world. I choose to let this pain fuel me to share my gift and passion to inspire humanity. My plate is large but God has given me all the tools I need to motivate & inspire those that are put in my path. So, I continue to release the pen so healing can begin.....This was the result of the rebirth of me!

Color Outside The Lines!

Sometimes I wonder do people really understand how boring their life truly is in essence. They never change the routine but live life on pause replaying the same events over and over. They watch avidly while everyone around them is living outside of the comfort zone.  Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter etc. is the only place they socially interact with facades of people; instead of looking for more genuine human connection. No one seeks to live a boring life however, I believe we get consumed with life. Instead of us living life we allow life to live us.  We become plagued with boredom and hoping someone would rescue us from a life of mediocrity . Bitterness and envy plagues the heart, mind and soul because you are not living but merely existing in life. How can you change the channel from boring to a life filled with excitement and social one on one connection? Well, it does not happen overnight you have to be willing to live life on edge.

Two weeks ago my friend from New York called me proclaiming she was coming to visit me in the spur of the moment. It had been two years since we last seen each other. We have been friends since 1999 where we met at our first Navy duty station. In both of our journeys we have grown, matured and became new women. However, I did not know how much her visit would impact me. When she came to visit me I was challenged to think outside of the box in order to incorporate some fun activities and sightseeing while she was here. Nonetheless, we had a great time sightseeing and embracing new adventures. It was great to get out of the same routine of life. When she left I reflected on what I learned from her being here. I recognized how boring my life had become even though I have always been a woman of adventure. I had a different thirst for life after she boarded the plane to get back to her life. I knew I could not go back to the same BORING routine in my life I needed to step out of the shadows and make plans to live it up. 

Life circumstances can paralyze your ability to rest, relax and enjoy life. Life is filled with simplicity yet we add our own complications to it. I wanted to stop settling for a boring life. I decided to trade in my training wheels for my BIG girl wheels. Life has too many adventures for me to sit just to watch them go by. We only have one chance to live an unforgettable life. In order to make it unforgettable you have to be willing to dance to the beat of your own drum and be you without limitations. I was the first one to take the step out of the boat to test the waters and to find the essence of life. In my findings I understand the fun in living outside the lines. The most essential key to live a more lively life is color outside the lines of routine. The same is routine is BORING! I charge you today to "Color outside the lines!"

Color Outside The Lines!

Sometimes I wonder do people really understand how boring their life truly is in essence. They never change the routine but live life on pause replaying the same events over and over. They watch avidly while everyone around them is living outside of the comfort zone.  Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter etc. is the only place they socially interact with facades of people; instead of looking for more genuine human connection. No one seeks to live a boring life however, I believe we get consumed with life. Instead of us living life we allow life to live us.  We become plagued with boredom and hoping someone would rescue us from a life of mediocrity . Bitterness and envy plagues the heart, mind and soul because you are not living but merely existing in life. How can you change the channel from boring to a life filled with excitement and social one on one connection? Well, it does not happen overnight you have to be willing to live life on edge.

Two weeks ago my friend from New York called me proclaiming she was coming to visit me in the spur of the moment. It had been two years since we last seen each other. We have been friends since 1999 where we met at our first Navy duty station. In both of our journeys we have grown, matured and became new women. However, I did not know how much her visit would impact me. When she came to visit me I was challenged to think outside of the box in order to incorporate some fun activities and sightseeing while she was here. Nonetheless, we had a great time sightseeing and embracing new adventures. It was great to get out of the same routine of life. When she left I reflected on what I learned from her being here. I recognized how boring my life had become even though I have always been a woman of adventure. I had a different thirst for life after she boarded the plane to get back to her life. I knew I could not go back to the same BORING routine in my life I needed to step out of the shadows and make plans to live it up. 

Life circumstances can paralyze your ability to rest, relax and enjoy life. Life is filled with simplicity yet we add our own complications to it. I wanted to stop settling for a boring life. I decided to trade in my training wheels for my BIG girl wheels. Life has too many adventures for me to sit just to watch them go by. We only have one chance to live an unforgettable life. In order to make it unforgettable you have to be willing to dance to the beat of your own drum and be you without limitations. I was the first one to take the step out of the boat to test the waters and to find the essence of life. In my findings I understand the fun in living outside the lines. The most essential key to live a more lively life is color outside the lines of routine. The same is routine is BORING! I charge you today to "Color outside the lines!"

Blending In Is Overrated, Blending Out is Underrated!

We live in a society where everyone wants to blend in just to fit in a box. The box implements boundaries and limitations that decrease the level of originality. No one wants to be different because of the paralyzing fear of being rejected. Rejection is the sore that festers from hurt and pain inflicted by others. However, rejection is a part of life and it is the climax of growth. No one who ever strives to be great dodged the bullets of rejection. Rejection is not something you want to embrace but it is a lesson that is worth exploring. Society teaches us the game of being mediocre instead of reaching higher. Mediocre people do not mind blending in and doing just enough to get by day to day. However, mediocrity can cause you to slip and slide into a world of regret and complacency. Mediocrity will keep you stagnant or stale where mold will destroy your creativity, your dreams, your tenacity and much more. People who want more out of life never get caught in the box of mediocrity instead they become busy creating their own path to success. If you fear success then you will never have the motivation to succeed. Failure is the catalyst of learning how to succeed. We never really understand that failure fuels us to have faith to go the extra mile. Do not let circumstances, stigmas, rules or limitations stop you from reaching your full potential. The world will use tactics to stop you from accomplishing all the things that you need to do in life in order to fulfill your God given destiny. It is important you strive to rewrite your script and get back in the driver's seat of your life. Many times we allow others opinions, ideas and experiences define our own life path. Therefore we have to learn how to blend out. Blending in has become socially acceptable for those who have no ambition to grow higher and move forward. Blending out is about having the courage to speak your truth, stand up for what you believe in, and being honest with yourself. Deception is a silent killer that robs you of your authentic moments in life. The only way to walk in truth is by embracing the person you really are within. Below I will give a couple of tips on how you can be more effective of blending out.

Tips To Blend Out

1) People Pleasing is Overrated. If you are living your life to please others please understand you are doing yourself a great disservice. No one will every truly appreciate you for who you are if you live to make them happy. You will lose your self worth, self love and most of all self respect. Live to please God and yourself.

2) Happiness is momentarily but joy is everlasting. Everyone is on the road to happiness but happiness is just for a moment. You have to make it up in your mind no matter what comes you way you will be content and joyful.

3) Becoming Authentic. You cannot discuss authenticity until you first go through the journey of how to be authentic. Everyone use the word authentic but I wonder if they really understand the significance of the word. Blending out is knowing who you are and becoming your true self. Authenticity is the key to this life journey.

4) Self Fulfillment. We live in a world where it is taught that putting yourself first is wrong but if we are striving to blend out you have to learn to figure out what makes you happy, what are you passionate about and make your dreams happen. Self fulfillment is part of taking the time to get to know what fulfills you and gives you passion.

5)  One Of A Kind. A person who dares to dance to their own rhythm becomes the creator of understanding what makes them unique. When you embrace your unique quality God can use this to change the world. Stay in your lane, expand it and continue to create opportunities instead of waiting on opportunities.

Never be scared to blend out, blending out is the adrenaline you will find on the road to becoming free and becoming you!

Blending In Is Overrated, Blending Out is Underrated!

We live in a society where everyone wants to blend in just to fit in a box. The box implements boundaries and limitations that decrease the level of originality. No one wants to be different because of the paralyzing fear of being rejected. Rejection is the sore that festers from hurt and pain inflicted by others. However, rejection is a part of life and it is the climax of growth. No one who ever strives to be great dodged the bullets of rejection. Rejection is not something you want to embrace but it is a lesson that is worth exploring. Society teaches us the game of being mediocre instead of reaching higher. Mediocre people do not mind blending in and doing just enough to get by day to day. However, mediocrity can cause you to slip and slide into a world of regret and complacency. Mediocrity will keep you stagnant or stale where mold will destroy your creativity, your dreams, your tenacity and much more. People who want more out of life never get caught in the box of mediocrity instead they become busy creating their own path to success. If you fear success then you will never have the motivation to succeed. Failure is the catalyst of learning how to succeed. We never really understand that failure fuels us to have faith to go the extra mile. Do not let circumstances, stigmas, rules or limitations stop you from reaching your full potential. The world will use tactics to stop you from accomplishing all the things that you need to do in life in order to fulfill your God given destiny. It is important you strive to rewrite your script and get back in the driver's seat of your life. Many times we allow others opinions, ideas and experiences define our own life path. Therefore we have to learn how to blend out. Blending in has become socially acceptable for those who have no ambition to grow higher and move forward. Blending out is about having the courage to speak your truth, stand up for what you believe in, and being honest with yourself. Deception is a silent killer that robs you of your authentic moments in life. The only way to walk in truth is by embracing the person you really are within. Below I will give a couple of tips on how you can be more effective of blending out.

Tips To Blend Out

1) People Pleasing is Overrated. If you are living your life to please others please understand you are doing yourself a great disservice. No one will every truly appreciate you for who you are if you live to make them happy. You will lose your self worth, self love and most of all self respect. Live to please God and yourself.

2) Happiness is momentarily but joy is everlasting. Everyone is on the road to happiness but happiness is just for a moment. You have to make it up in your mind no matter what comes you way you will be content and joyful.

3) Becoming Authentic. You cannot discuss authenticity until you first go through the journey of how to be authentic. Everyone use the word authentic but I wonder if they really understand the significance of the word. Blending out is knowing who you are and becoming your true self. Authenticity is the key to this life journey.

4) Self Fulfillment. We live in a world where it is taught that putting yourself first is wrong but if we are striving to blend out you have to learn to figure out what makes you happy, what are you passionate about and make your dreams happen. Self fulfillment is part of taking the time to get to know what fulfills you and gives you passion.

5)  One Of A Kind. A person who dares to dance to their own rhythm becomes the creator of understanding what makes them unique. When you embrace your unique quality God can use this to change the world. Stay in your lane, expand it and continue to create opportunities instead of waiting on opportunities.

Never be scared to blend out, blending out is the adrenaline you will find on the road to becoming free and becoming you!

I Am Ready For Love!

When you are ready for love you first learn to love, respect and honor yourself first. Then love proceeds....~Stylicia~

 

 

Lately, I have been surrounded by so many people posting through social media about their engagement and marriage journey; it has been contagious. Many people who are posting their wedding bliss are comrades I know personally. I am happy to be surrounded by this thing called love. I believe love is phenomenal when shared with the right person that is compatible for you. However, those that really want to be in love and married always wonder how does someone get to the point of marriage bliss. I have even wondered that myself as a single woman living the life of singlehood. I realized two years ago in order to be loved I first had to be bold enough to love myself. I was compromising my values and beliefs just to have someone in my life. Soon I became sick and tired of falling in love by myself realizing love is a two way street not a one way. I wanted more for my life so I began my authentic journey in 2011, this journey consisted of me dealing with my internal issues and facing the real problem. I was getting in my own way of learning to love myself unconditionally. I was looking for love but love could not find me because I did not love myself. I had to reassess the choices in my love life. The journey of loving myself made me distinguish the difference between love and sex. I craved to be loved and married but I was not mature enough to handle this concept. When you are ready for love you stop compromising your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health just to be loved.  Loving yourself forces you to make healthy choices for your life. When you know your worth you are not afraid to be who God created you to be. This journey began to redefined me in many ways. I decided to become celibate, love myself, find my worth and start planning for my future. I needed to learn that being single was not the end of the world. I started to make plans to have a social life and live my life unadulterated. I started to travel more and see life abundantly. I believe in love with my whole being, I believe in the bond between man and woman but I also believe love will be ready for me when I learn to be ready for it. As years are passing by I am starting to conclude that God is preparing me for love. The only way I can prepare for it is by showing God I can handle all the responsibilities that come with loving a man unconditionally. Only God knows if I am ready for love in this season I believe I am ready but until love finds me I will continue to work on me and improve me. Love can sometimes be a battlefield and you have to be prepared for the course ahead. The question I often ask myself am I really up for the challenge of making love work because marriage is a partnership and a fulltime job. I have gotten the itch for love on many occasions but I want to be ready for love so everyday I am in constant preparation by loving myself first.

I Am Ready For Love!

When you are ready for love you first learn to love, respect and honor yourself first. Then love proceeds....~Stylicia~

 

 

Lately, I have been surrounded by so many people posting through social media about their engagement and marriage journey; it has been contagious. Many people who are posting their wedding bliss are comrades I know personally. I am happy to be surrounded by this thing called love. I believe love is phenomenal when shared with the right person that is compatible for you. However, those that really want to be in love and married always wonder how does someone get to the point of marriage bliss. I have even wondered that myself as a single woman living the life of singlehood. I realized two years ago in order to be loved I first had to be bold enough to love myself. I was compromising my values and beliefs just to have someone in my life. Soon I became sick and tired of falling in love by myself realizing love is a two way street not a one way. I wanted more for my life so I began my authentic journey in 2011, this journey consisted of me dealing with my internal issues and facing the real problem. I was getting in my own way of learning to love myself unconditionally. I was looking for love but love could not find me because I did not love myself. I had to reassess the choices in my love life. The journey of loving myself made me distinguish the difference between love and sex. I craved to be loved and married but I was not mature enough to handle this concept. When you are ready for love you stop compromising your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health just to be loved.  Loving yourself forces you to make healthy choices for your life. When you know your worth you are not afraid to be who God created you to be. This journey began to redefined me in many ways. I decided to become celibate, love myself, find my worth and start planning for my future. I needed to learn that being single was not the end of the world. I started to make plans to have a social life and live my life unadulterated. I started to travel more and see life abundantly. I believe in love with my whole being, I believe in the bond between man and woman but I also believe love will be ready for me when I learn to be ready for it. As years are passing by I am starting to conclude that God is preparing me for love. The only way I can prepare for it is by showing God I can handle all the responsibilities that come with loving a man unconditionally. Only God knows if I am ready for love in this season I believe I am ready but until love finds me I will continue to work on me and improve me. Love can sometimes be a battlefield and you have to be prepared for the course ahead. The question I often ask myself am I really up for the challenge of making love work because marriage is a partnership and a fulltime job. I have gotten the itch for love on many occasions but I want to be ready for love so everyday I am in constant preparation by loving myself first.

Authentic Spotlight Interview: Floyd Boykin Jr., "The Renaissance Man"

When you have a gift to create I believe you should always use all your creative tools to inspire the world and use them to change a world of despair into a world of hope, And so for August The Inspirational Corner features a man that uses all of his God given gifts to inspire the world through his artistry, we introduce none other than Floyd Boykin Jr.----> The Renaissance Man.

(Picture by: Abbie)

 

"We all have a mission and when we let others cast doubt upon that vision, it is no longer a vision....it becomes an unofficial assignment to assimilate and create what's popular."

~Floyd Boykin Jr.~



Me: I remember three years ago when I was searching through YouTube and I came across one of your spoken word videos and from then on a great friendship and working relationship developed. I am so glad to have the opportunity to interview you, so you can share your artistry with my readership community. First of all, what would you say was your particular form of artistry?

 

Floyd: My form of artistry consists of poetry, hip hop, soul, jazz and experimentation. I consider myself as a poet, as well as a spoken word artist. But I am also a musician (I play the bass guitar, a little flute and a little piano), I produce videos and publish books, magazines and greeting cards. So in essence, I am a student of expression. I've been called a "Renaissance Man". Humility means the world to me as an artist.

 

Me: Humility is definitely important in developing your artistry. Since you are very humble about your artistry how do you utilize it to inspire the world around you?

 

Floyd: I use my talents to inspire, or at least help motivate individuals to think outside of the box and stay grinding in the land of creativity. Through my music and my written work, I promote self love, respect for self and others. I do this by encouraging others to put forth their best effort to help create better beings of love. I also enjoy highlighting other artists in my music, as in Spoken Vizions Magazine, to let other see that there are people out there with similar situations as the readers who are pursuing their dreams regardless of their situation, health, finances or other obstacles. To inspire hope, ignites dreams, give birth to visions and therefore creates a reality of love.

 

Me: As you help others ignite their dreams what have been some valuable lessons you have learned in the development of your artistry?

 

Floyd: My most valuable lessons is to never compromise your art to please others; I am who I am as an artist because I do what I feel. I do what I believe in and I create what's from the heart. Those are the reasons that people even know who I am. I follow the light that I believe God has placed in front of me. We all have a mission and when we let others cast doubt upon that vision, it is no longer a vision....it becomes an unofficial assignment to assimilate and create what's popular. Another lesson that I learned was from Abiodun Oyewole of the Last Poets. He told me once many years ago after a performance at Club Divinity, to "never let technology keep you from doing what's in your heart." Since then, I've been moving forward and doing what I see in my head. If I don't know how to do something, usually I will get a book and teach myself. I don't particularly like waiting around for "people" to become available to me. I would rather just enhance my skills and add to my artistic  worth. A great lesson is that music and art suppose to inspire and take you higher.

 

Me: We all have a path in life to take, a consistent journey. What would be the one word you would use to describe your journey as an artist?

 

Floyd: That's a good question. I think I would go with the word that many called me earlier in my career and it later became my stage name (I no longer use it but it is still relevant)---> IMPACT. People use to say that my work always had a powerful IMPACT on the minds of the people. It was a healer to some. So I adapted the name IMPACT, changed it to IMPAKT and it became my name for many years. I always capitalized every letter because when you see words that are capitalized people feel like it was meant to have more power.

 

Me: Authentic is a word I have used to describe my journey. What does this word mean to you?

 

Floyd: Being authentic to me means to be  a genuine representation of oneself. My work reflects who I am. It is not filtered, watered down or copied from someone else. I believe that I am unique in my craft, yet inspired by many incredible artists. An artist that fits this bill would be Me'shell Ndegeocello. I am truly inspired by her work, and you can hear the inspiration in my music yet when you hear my work you still hear Floyd Boykin Jr. I think there is a difference between being inspired and straight up copying someone else's style.

 

Me: The Inspirational Corner tagline is: "Live Bold, Live Loud & Live Authentically" in what ways has this concept been implied in your artistry?

 

Floyd: I live boldly and unapologetically in my work. I talk about things respectfully but in your face through my music and my writings. In term of the phrase LIVE LOUD, I stand firmly behind my work and try my best to let my work be heard and seen. Once you get a hold of it, it speaks loudly to your soul and your heart. Live authentically, I believe in being myself. To know my work is to know my mind, therefore my heart and it's authentic.

 

Me: Sometimes people who strive to live their dream can get discouraged what would be your words of inspiration to someone who endeavors to live their dream?

 

Floyd: My words of inspiration would be to never let someone tell you that you cannot do something or achieve something . Most of the time it's coming from people who weren't bold enough to try or someone who tried and failed for one reason or another. Just because someone else didn't achieve their goals, doesn't mean that it's your fate as well. Just get up, get your nerves up, be encouraged and do it. Learn what you need to know to make it happen, put your shoes on and run track in it; run with it and don't look back! There is a quote by the late Steve Jobs that I love and it says "When some see them as crazy ones, we see genius because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

To me this means others will never see the genius in who you are if you give up on yourself, so don't give up!



You can find more information on Floyd Boykin Jr. at:

www.spokenvizions.com
www.floydboykinjr.com
www.poeticbydesign.com

Social Media Sites:
https://www.facebook.com/floydboykinjr
https://twitter.com/spokenvizions
(Also can find him on on Instagram. Google Plus And more....)

Floyd Boykin Jr.- Don't Give Up



Floyd Boykin Jr.- She Could Be My Wife


You can check out more of this artist music at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/FloydBoykinJr 

Authentic Spotlight Interview: Floyd Boykin Jr., "The Renaissance Man"

When you have a gift to create I believe you should always use all your creative tools to inspire the world and use them to change a world of despair into a world of hope, And so for August The Inspirational Corner features a man that uses all of his God given gifts to inspire the world through his artistry, we introduce none other than Floyd Boykin Jr.----> The Renaissance Man.

(Picture by: Abbie)

 

"We all have a mission and when we let others cast doubt upon that vision, it is no longer a vision....it becomes an unofficial assignment to assimilate and create what's popular."

~Floyd Boykin Jr.~



Me: I remember three years ago when I was searching through YouTube and I came across one of your spoken word videos and from then on a great friendship and working relationship developed. I am so glad to have the opportunity to interview you, so you can share your artistry with my readership community. First of all, what would you say was your particular form of artistry?

 

Floyd: My form of artistry consists of poetry, hip hop, soul, jazz and experimentation. I consider myself as a poet, as well as a spoken word artist. But I am also a musician (I play the bass guitar, a little flute and a little piano), I produce videos and publish books, magazines and greeting cards. So in essence, I am a student of expression. I've been called a "Renaissance Man". Humility means the world to me as an artist.

 

Me: Humility is definitely important in developing your artistry. Since you are very humble about your artistry how do you utilize it to inspire the world around you?

 

Floyd: I use my talents to inspire, or at least help motivate individuals to think outside of the box and stay grinding in the land of creativity. Through my music and my written work, I promote self love, respect for self and others. I do this by encouraging others to put forth their best effort to help create better beings of love. I also enjoy highlighting other artists in my music, as in Spoken Vizions Magazine, to let other see that there are people out there with similar situations as the readers who are pursuing their dreams regardless of their situation, health, finances or other obstacles. To inspire hope, ignites dreams, give birth to visions and therefore creates a reality of love.

 

Me: As you help others ignite their dreams what have been some valuable lessons you have learned in the development of your artistry?

 

Floyd: My most valuable lessons is to never compromise your art to please others; I am who I am as an artist because I do what I feel. I do what I believe in and I create what's from the heart. Those are the reasons that people even know who I am. I follow the light that I believe God has placed in front of me. We all have a mission and when we let others cast doubt upon that vision, it is no longer a vision....it becomes an unofficial assignment to assimilate and create what's popular. Another lesson that I learned was from Abiodun Oyewole of the Last Poets. He told me once many years ago after a performance at Club Divinity, to "never let technology keep you from doing what's in your heart." Since then, I've been moving forward and doing what I see in my head. If I don't know how to do something, usually I will get a book and teach myself. I don't particularly like waiting around for "people" to become available to me. I would rather just enhance my skills and add to my artistic  worth. A great lesson is that music and art suppose to inspire and take you higher.

 

Me: We all have a path in life to take, a consistent journey. What would be the one word you would use to describe your journey as an artist?

 

Floyd: That's a good question. I think I would go with the word that many called me earlier in my career and it later became my stage name (I no longer use it but it is still relevant)---> IMPACT. People use to say that my work always had a powerful IMPACT on the minds of the people. It was a healer to some. So I adapted the name IMPACT, changed it to IMPAKT and it became my name for many years. I always capitalized every letter because when you see words that are capitalized people feel like it was meant to have more power.

 

Me: Authentic is a word I have used to describe my journey. What does this word mean to you?

 

Floyd: Being authentic to me means to be  a genuine representation of oneself. My work reflects who I am. It is not filtered, watered down or copied from someone else. I believe that I am unique in my craft, yet inspired by many incredible artists. An artist that fits this bill would be Me'shell Ndegeocello. I am truly inspired by her work, and you can hear the inspiration in my music yet when you hear my work you still hear Floyd Boykin Jr. I think there is a difference between being inspired and straight up copying someone else's style.

 

Me: The Inspirational Corner tagline is: "Live Bold, Live Loud & Live Authentically" in what ways has this concept been implied in your artistry?

 

Floyd: I live boldly and unapologetically in my work. I talk about things respectfully but in your face through my music and my writings. In term of the phrase LIVE LOUD, I stand firmly behind my work and try my best to let my work be heard and seen. Once you get a hold of it, it speaks loudly to your soul and your heart. Live authentically, I believe in being myself. To know my work is to know my mind, therefore my heart and it's authentic.

 

Me: Sometimes people who strive to live their dream can get discouraged what would be your words of inspiration to someone who endeavors to live their dream?

 

Floyd: My words of inspiration would be to never let someone tell you that you cannot do something or achieve something . Most of the time it's coming from people who weren't bold enough to try or someone who tried and failed for one reason or another. Just because someone else didn't achieve their goals, doesn't mean that it's your fate as well. Just get up, get your nerves up, be encouraged and do it. Learn what you need to know to make it happen, put your shoes on and run track in it; run with it and don't look back! There is a quote by the late Steve Jobs that I love and it says "When some see them as crazy ones, we see genius because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

To me this means others will never see the genius in who you are if you give up on yourself, so don't give up!



You can find more information on Floyd Boykin Jr. at:

www.spokenvizions.com
www.floydboykinjr.com
www.poeticbydesign.com

Social Media Sites:
https://www.facebook.com/floydboykinjr
https://twitter.com/spokenvizions
(Also can find him on on Instagram. Google Plus And more....)

Floyd Boykin Jr.- Don't Give Up



Floyd Boykin Jr.- She Could Be My Wife


You can check out more of this artist music at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/FloydBoykinJr 

Authentic Spotlight Interview: Rachel Walker, Singer/Songwriter/Recording Artist

The Inspirational Corner always will do our best to bring you unique people, ideas and thoughts to bring inspiration to your life. In doing this we are working on providing you with interviews, articles and much more to keep you inspired. In order to keep the focus on being your authentic self I have created "Authentic Spotlight Interviews". The following interviews will be on a monthly basis included with my bimonthly blog post.

Our first Authentic Spotlight Feature is none other than singer, songwriter and recording artist---Rachel Walker.

Let the “The Ra[E]volution” begin....

 

(Photo by: Ellen Stagg)

 

"Being authentic means knowing who you are and knowing that you have something of value to bring to the table". ~Rachel Walker

Me: First of all, I would like to say it is such a pleasure to have you as our first Authentic Spotlight Interviewee. I would like to first inquiry about your artistry. What is your form of artistry?

Rachel: I am a singer, songwriter, recording artist, performer, and producer.

Me: I always find music to be inspiring for me. How do you use your artistry to inspire humanity?

Rachel: I write songs about love and life. The goal is to express myself through music, sound and words with honesty and creativity. I use my artistry to give people music that they can enjoy with a message and sound that inspires joy, happiness, movement/dancing, emotion, reflection, affirmation and love.

 

Me: Since you have a great love for what you do as an artist what are some valuable lessons you learned during the process of developing your artistry?

Rachel: I have learned so much but I would have to say that the most valuable lesson I have learned is that it okay to let go: let go of control both vocally and creatively, let go of insecurities, let go the fear of judgment, let go of trying to please everyone and let go of boundaries. So much of development starts with not being so restricted and your willingness to step outside of what is comfortable and familiar. It is so important to trust yourself and it is okay to make mistakes.

Me: I believe you just said a mouth full. This is such a profound statement. Since you have learned so much what word would you use to describe your journey as an artist?

Rachel: I would say that the best word to describe my journey is “evolving”. I started my journey with very little knowledge but a whole lot of desire and heart.  Now I feel extremely knowledgeable but I’m still I’m still learning and growing with my artistry. You can never really know enough.

Me: My blog is centered on being your authentic self, what does being authentic mean to you?

Rachel: Being authentic means being honest and not being afraid to speak your truth even if it’s not popular. Being authentic means knowing who you are and knowing that you have something of value to bring to the table.

Me: Since you talk about speaking your truth, The Inspirational Corner tagline is: “Live Bold, Live Loud & Live Authentically” in what ways has this concept been implied in your artistry form or became your truth in life?

Rachel: This tagline resonates so much with me. When I put out my first album “Walk With Me” in 2009, I didn’t know a lot about the business nor did I know a lot of people in the business. All I knew is that I had songs inspired by my life experiences that I wanted to put out into the world and the album gave me a specific goal to reach. It was a bold decision in itself simply because it was my first time sharing my music publicly

 

I continue to “Live Bold, Live Loud & Live Authentically” as I put the final touches on my sophomore project, “The Ra[E]volution”, due for release in Fall of 2013. This album is the soundtrack to many of my experiences over the last 2 years. Musically and lyrically, “The Ra[E]volution”, captures the evolution of my sound and creativity in a way that you have never heard from me before. As I said previously, letting go is the hardest thing to do in a world where people strive for acceptance and popularity. On this record, I am not holding anything back. I am fearless. More importantly, the purpose of this record is to identify with the listener, and to encourage the listener to also let go, embrace change, to be fearless and enjoy how that feels.

I am so incredibly proud of this project and my team and look forward to sharing it with the world very soon.

Me:Rachel, I believe as an artist you have so much to give because you are passionate about what you do. What would be your words of inspiration to inspire someone who endeavors to live their dream?

 

Rachel: I would have to say, love what you do with your whole heart; live it and breathe it. It is surely your genuine love for what you do, that will ultimately carry you through the challenges you will face along the way. I can’t tell you how much disappointment I have experienced in pursuit of my dreams, but it was my love for music that kept me going. I learned along the way to expect disappointments but never let anyone or anything steal my love for music and leave me stagnant. I would also add that you may not feel the support from people in your circle or even family members but that’s ok. People are going to convince you that your dreams are too far fetched. The key thing is for you to NEVER tell yourself that. If no one else encourages you, encourage yourself. Now go get ‘em!

You can find more information about Rachel Walker at:

www.rachelwalkeronline.com

www.facebook.com/rachelwalkeronline   
www.instagram.com/raemelrockswell
www.twitter.com/raemelrockswell 

To download both of her singles  on iTunes go to:

"Walk With Me" https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/walk-with-me/id330536127

“Falling” https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/falling-single/id389611406  collaborated with Spoken Word Artist, Tshombe Sekou, www.tshombeisms.com  

So Lovely-Rachel Walker