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!"