Speak the Truth.....Speak Now

Do Something Now

2011-12-29T09:41:00.000-05:00

"You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, & expect to win." -Zig Ziglar

Hello Everyone,

I’m really excited about 2012 and all that the Creator has in store for me. However, as I reflect over this past year and the years prior, I must admit that there were times when fear became my friend. We all have our fears, right? Like fear of bugs, fear of the dark, fear of being alone, fear of losing a loved one, or fear of not finding love. Society has created fear in many of us, especially in teens, such as fear of not being adequate, fear of not fitting in, or fear of failure and rejection.

The light came on for me when I realized that I needed to examine my fears and to see them clearly. I realized that I could not allow fear to take root in my life because unexamined fear can lead to missed opportunities. I’m still learning to feel the fear but to go forth anyway and not let fear deter me. Besides, there’s a whole world waiting out there for me and for YOU.

As we come to the close of 2011, I want to challenge you to not allow fear, playing it safe, excuses, or other people's opinion of you prevent you from reaching your greatness. Christopher Reeve said, “We can either watch life from the sidelines, or actively participate…Either we let self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy prevent us from realizing our potential, or embrace the fact that when we turn our attention away from ourselves, our potential is limitless.” I encourage you to Do Something Now!!! Thinking isn’t enough…Act Now. No matter if it’s going back to finish a degree, writing a book, traveling the world, or losing those unwanted pounds, just Do Something Now. Move in any direction that is not the polar opposite of your goal. Come on, You Can Do This!

Remember, God has an amazing, wonderful plan for your life, perfectly mapped out just for you! Don't let fear stand in the way of what God has in store for your life but instead trust in Him.

One Love,

Robin

Ready, Set Go!

2011-11-02T07:00:00.004-04:00

It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged; I’ve missed sharing with you. I’m back with a great deal to say that I hope will inspire and encourage you.

I celebrated my birthday a few weeks ago in a simple kind of way (those who know me well find this shocking). I spent the day with my daughter and a couple of relatives. I was happy and content to be with people who I know loved and cared about me. I wanted this year to be about finding my center and self-improvement. Lately, I’ve been wearing so many hats until I just needed to be still, quiet and to listen to my inner voice. This past weekend I took a much needed weekend getaway with some friends and new acquaintances to the mountains of Tennessee. I needed it more now than ever because I am at a point in life where change is inevitable. For the past few months, I’ve been worrying too much about situations that are beyond my realm of control. Being in the mountains gave me such an overwhelming sense of peace and an opportunity to really self-reflect-to think about my life, who’s in it and where I am headed on this journey. Sometimes the growing pains of life can be quite challenging.

While taking in the mountain views and fresh air, I began to think about some things, and I decided to write them down – as I do with most things. Here goes….

10 THINGS I KNOW FOR SURE:

1. Keep God first! It’s about a relationship with him. He deserves our attention.
2. It is very important to have people in your life who celebrate you, not just tolerate you.
3. Nothing matters more than having a peace of mind. This can only be achieved when you are at peace with yourself. No matter what anybody says, what matters MOST is what you think of yourself. No one is perfect. Remember, peace and perfection are not the same.
4. It's important to recognize when you’re worried, wounded and worn out. Take a mental health day when you need it or you’ll end up allowing people to treat you like a doormat or you will end up treating others like crap. Remember, you are valuable and worthy of being treated as such and you should treat others as you want to be treated.
5. When someone shows you who they are the first time, believe them. There is no room on the front pew of your life for people who don’t want to be there. Stop being emotionally dependent on people whose part in the story is over. Let them go.
6. Life is worth living and you are responsible for your own happiness. We often go on a diet or detox but we seldom detox our hearts and minds. Get rid of negative thoughts and replace them with positive thinking and affirmations. After all, you more than anyone else deserves to be loved and happy.
7. Stop making excuses for everything. You were BORN for GREATNESS! Don’t settle for mediocrity! You can’t be afraid to succeed and fail. When you’re scared of Failure and scared of Success, just stand still. God will guide you to the right path.
8. Find a mentor. It’s important to have people in your circle who can teach you things and who are willing to be open, honest and loving. Remember, not everyone is on the sidelines cheering for you.
9. A career is great but you have to stop to smell the roses and nurture your family, friends, relationships and health. India.Arie states it best in her blog when she writes, “Thank you God for granting me the clarity to Honor the relationships that I cannot change, the Courage to Heal the relationships that I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference.
10. Last, you are beyond Blessed. You are beautiful, lovable and destined for greatness. Don’t give your power away or allow someone to shrink you. Rise!

I am so ready for this next phase of my life. Every time I feel stressed or I’m dealing with the growing pains of life, my plan is to mentally go to my happy place in the beautiful Tennessee mountains. Ready, Set Go!

One Love,
Robin

Peace

2011-03-06T09:31:00.002-05:00

Hello Everyone,

There is an old African Proverb that says, “Peace is costly but it is worth the expense.” My ancestors really knew what they were talking about with this. Last February, I felt like my life was completely falling apart, so I decided to do something about it. It was really hard for me to pinpoint the exact moment that things became unsettled. I thought it was when I walked away from a five year relationship or maybe it was when I began making poor financial decisions. Or perhaps it was a culmination of “pieces” of things that stole my peace. I was not going to play the victim but I realized that everything I needed to heal was right inside of me. On a cold, blistery day in February 2010, I put a plan into action to reclaim my peace. I was operating out of divine order and I knew I had to do something-FAST. Moreover, I knew that the inner joy I had worked so hard to achieve was not given to me by the world so I was not going to allow the world to take it away.

Iyanla Vanzant writes, “Lives fall apart, not because God is punishing us for what we have or have not done. Lives fall apart because they need to. A broken life is test of faith in the highest order.” There were times when I thought I would not make it, but I had faith and I knew a breakthrough was on the horizon. Due to poor planning and fiscal management in the past, it required me to make huge sacrifices to recover and rebuild. As a result of those sacrifices, I learned so much about myself, my relationships and money management. I worked on those issues that sometimes caused me to be my own worst enemy. Maya Angelou once said, “I sustain myself with the love of family.”God put wonderful people in my life who loved me tremendously; they showed up when I needed them. I could feel God’s love by their goodness and generosity. I was truly humbled by their acts of kindness.

I want to offer you some encouragement that things do get better. Throughout my trial, I was not moved by what I saw around me but by what I believed. My faith helped me to know and believe that everything would come together in God’s perfect timing. Remember, to have faith is to believe in something or someone, to fully trust, to be so confident that you base your actions on what you believe. We can never transform the world by just talking but by living what we believe. As I reflect on my life, I now realize how truly blessed I am. Not only am I the proud mother of a 13-year daughter, I have a great circle of friends and family. I have a peace that surpasses all understanding. God is good…

Onward and upward,

Robin

Let It Go!!!

2011-01-12T07:27:00.004-05:00

Sometimes we need to be reminded of just how special we are...let go of things that are holding you back from walking in your purpose. As we enter the 12th day of the new year, I thought this was worthy of posting....

LET IT GO...by TD Jakes

There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you: let them walk. I don't want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone. When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left. People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can't make them stay. Let them GO. And it doesn't mean that they are a bad person, it just means that their part in the story is over. And you've got to know when people's part in your story is over so that you don't keep trying to raise the dead. You've got to know when it's dead. You've got to know when it's over. Let me tell you something. I've got the gift of good-bye. It's the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It's not that I'm hateful, it's that I'm faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He'll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don't need it. Stop begging people to stay. Let them GO!!

If you are holding on to something that doesn't belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains ...LET IT GO!!!
If someone can't treat you right, love you back, and see your worth...LET IT GO!!!
If someone has angered you ...LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge ..LET IT GO!!!
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction ...LET IT GO!!!
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents .. LET IT GO!!!
If you have a bad attitude...LET IT GO!!!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better...LET IT GO!
If you're stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him...LET IT GO!!!
If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship....LET IT GO!!!
If you keep trying to help someone who won't even try to help themselves.. LET IT GO!!!
If you're feeling depressed and stressed ...LET IT GO!!!
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying "take your hands off of it," then you need to...LET IT GO!!!
Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing for 2011!!! LET IT GO!!!

Get Right or Get Left .. think about it, and then LET IT GO!!!

One Love,

Robin

Happy New Year

2011-01-02T10:50:00.006-05:00

Hello All,

Happy New Year!!!! The old is out and the new is here. How many of you make New Year's resolutions year after year only to find that your plans fall flat or never even take off at all? I’ve been guilty over the years of making resolutions only to fall flat after a month or two. A couple of years ago, my daughter and I started making vision boards. For us vision board is about goal-setting. We cut out statements and pictures from old magazines, make our boards and place them in a visible place. We chart the steps needed to reach our goals and set specific milestones to evaluate how we’re progressing towards meeting our goals. This seems to work for us. While we have made progress in a lot of areas, we are aiming to go to the next level. Try the vision board….I think you will treasure it!

Truly I am grateful, humbled, overcome with joy, and inspired by the lessons I have learned over this past year. This year did not go by without me often being imperfect, fearful and uncertain about life, love, friendships and my career. I lost the battle with some issues but I refuse to lose the war. By taking time to really get to know myself, I have entered into a wonderful place of greater understanding, patience and love for myself. I had to learn how to receive love which provided me with the growing understanding of how lovable I am. I realized that I had to be open to those who loved me and practice receiving that love they have for me and own it. I rediscovered love-the real antidote.

I am so excited about all this New Year has to offer. I am ready to embark on all that God has in store for me. When you trust God with your dreams, they will materialize better than you expect! Abundance is knowing the glass is always half full no matter what is going on. I encourage you to keep reaching for what you know the divine Creator has called you to do. More importantly, believe that ALL things are possible. BELIEVE!!!

Let’s take it to the next level.

Be Blessed,

Robin

Love Cleanse

2010-10-17T16:37:00.009-04:00

Hi Friends,

It seems like it's been forever since I last blogged. I took some much needed time out to get my head together and to focus on “me.” Let me tell you, I needed this time. Having suffered the lost of one of my best friends, a few strained relationships and the end of a romantic relationship forced me to strip myself down to the core to self-reflect. During this time, I had the chance to start from scratch and build on a foundation of strength, clarity and forgiveness, rather than attempting to reconstruct myself from the ruins of the old me. I needed a “Love Cleanse.”

For those of you who follow the quotes I post on Facebook and Twitter, they are from Mastin Kipp, the founder of The Daily Love. Kipp has created a 30-day “Love Cleanse” designed to wash away the remnants of past relationships, cleanse your emotions and spirit of residual baggage, and help you gain a fresh perspective on life and love.

This “Love Cleanse” consists of:

1) No dating-Come on you can go 30 days.

2) No flirting (which obviously includes giving out the digits, initiating conversation with a boy you happen to find attractive, etc.) This one was hard for me!!!!

3) No kissing (or any other physical activity, for that matter)

4) No obsessing, ruminating, cyber stalking, and no mentally or physically engaging with anyone with whom you have a history of drama or are seeking to break free from. I made a clean break!

5) Increasing physical activity. Mastin’s recommendation is yoga. I haven’t made it yet but I did make contact for information with a local yoga instructor.

6) Living healthy –Think fresh veggies, lots of fruit, plenty of water…and it is also strongly recommended that you try organic, less processed foods. Also – make sure you get PLENTY of rest. I’m learning how to come home and do absolutely nothing; it’s refreshing.

7) Journal your experience, every morning and every night. It will give you an excellent point of reference at the end of your cleanse to go back and see how you grew and progressed and even healed throughout the process. This one was easy for me because I’m either writing or thinking about writing.

I recently celebrated my 40th birthday as a single woman. By this time, I thought I would be happily married with three children and a dog-LOL, but this is the life the Creator has given me and I am embracing it. I try to live each day like it's my last. I love my life and the things I have had the chance to experience. But I realize that it’s important to allow self-reflection time between relationships or loss of any kind. It’s even more important to realize that you can be attached and miserable or available and happy. The right one will come.

Forever, the new “me” is here to stay!

One Love,

Forty & Fabulous Robin

Reference
http://www.examiner.com/single-women-in-nashville/mandy-hale

Let Freedom Reign

2010-05-31T19:15:00.004-04:00

"He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away." Raymond Hull

Okay, so isn’t it a great feeling when you have an epiphany, a sudden, intuitive leap of understanding through a striking occurrence? I was seriously struggling about making a decision on an issue. On one hand, I had pretty much made up my mind to just walk away. On the other hand, I was allowing sentimental feelings to get in the way. Nostalgia can make the past look better than today. In midst of an occurrence, it came to me like an outer body experience that it was time to cut the ties…..completely.

Just as you cannot love anyone else until you love yourself, you cannot be true to anyone else until you are true to yourself. In my last blog I speak about possessing a sense of freedom. I’ve never felt this before because it wasn’t time to. I needed to experience the highs and lows of life in order to appreciate this level of bliss. There are those who cannot handle this awakening and would prefer that I live in shame, fear, low self-esteem and denial. When people are not happy with their life, they cannot share in your happiness or freedom. When a person shows you their true color the first time, believe them! Trust me-it will spare you unnecessary heartache. Building lasting relationships requires genuine honesty about who we are, what we want and why we want it. It requires us to be authentic.

As we come to the close of another Memorial Day, I want to thank the soldiers who fight everyday for our freedom. It is important for us to remember the cost of American freedom. Just as men and women of the armed services put their lives on the line to protect the US and what it stands for, remember the price you’ve paid for your own personal freedom. The soldiers fight so that no one can take away the many rights and freedoms guaranteed by the basic foundational documents of our country. In that same spirit, don’t allow anyone to take away your freedom. You’ve paid way too much for it....enjoy it.

Let Freedom Reign,
Robin

The Big Chop

2010-04-24T08:26:00.003-04:00

Hello All,

Over the past eight months I’ve been growing my hair out preparing to make the transition to the natural side. I knew that I wanted to be natural by 40 so I began my process August 2009. Most people know that I’m very obsessive about my hair. I’m the kind of girl who would leave the office for lunch and come back with a new hairdo. I’m just that serious about my hair so this natural process was a big thing for me. Well, I’m proud to say that Monday, April 19th was my Big Chop Day. Yes, I did it!!!!

There were a couple of times during this process when I started to return to the perm (hair crack), especially when friends and family could not understand why I would want to do such an awful thing. While there are many natural men and women in this world and the workplace, I was often advised that kinks and career don’t mix. Some of these comments were hurtful and disheartening. In my mind, I believed that my capabilities, work ethic and visionary spirit would transcend all of that. Consequently, I remained strong because I also had a support group of very professional and everyday natural women who shouted how liberating being natural felt. For eight months I wore kinky twists. When it came time to get my kinky twists again, I woke up one morning and decided that it was time for the BC. It was like my spirit was telling me to turn it loose……so I did.

I can’t explain how free I felt. When I saw my hair falling to the floor, it was like the remaining baggage and a myriad of emotions I was carrying went too. I felt cleansed and proud of my hair. I'm even more proud of myself and the courage it took to make such a bold move. I had my own hang-ups about hair and there were many times I let my hair drive my self-concept and self-esteem. This process may not be for everyone but this process is a pledge to be kinder to me. I love me and all that comes with me. My Father tells me that I’m beautiful and wonderfully made… The lesson here is that we much teach our children to love themselves beyond hair, clothes, and material things. We must engage in conversations about beauty and foster a positive self-concept and image. I'm as beautiful as I believe and think I am...it really does start from within.

I can't wait until the day I have a head full of wild hair. For now, I’ll rock the afro, twists, my natural curls…..whatever I feel like in the moment. As my sista India Arie put it, "I am not my hair."

One Love,

Robin
“NaturalSoul”

The Long Way

2010-03-30T06:35:00.004-04:00

I'm in my morning devotion, and I just received a word that is directed at me. I have to share. I spent some time in Numbers because everything in life seems to have something to do with numbers (age, marriage, promotions, # of children, salary). I’m sure you get where I'm going with this, especially the ladies.

The book of Numbers presents the chastening wrath of God against his disobedient people. In the book of Numbers, two-million ex-slaves were on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land. The trip could have been made in about 11 days but it took them 38 years! They did things all wrong and what they should have done they didn’t. Because of their lack of faith, the Hebrews wandered miserably in the wilderness. God took them the LONG WAY so they could have some time to rethink some things.

Many of us are on a detour in our journey. Many of us have taken the long way in our careers, finances, and relationships. Now things don’t seem to be going as fast as we would like them to. There are times when we think our way is the best way and things should happen in our time. This morning I had an "aha" moment. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend the next thirty-eight years of my life missing the point. We really should pay attention because God wants to teach us a few lessons.

One Love,

Robin

Test of Faith

2010-02-26T16:51:00.004-05:00

My grandma always told me to pray without ceasing. Boy was she right! I can’t begin to explain the number of curve balls thrown at me this last month. Many of my issues I had created on my own due to poor planning and overspending. I thought I was being punished or like the devil was spending way too much time making my world difficult, but there was no one else to blame but the person staring back in the mirror. I almost began to whine and whimper about my dilemma, but I changed course and immediately went into prayer and fasting. Suddenly, I heard this voice in my head remind me that God uses suffering as a means to increase faith, patience and trust in Him. I realized that not all problems are of the devil. Dealing with trials tested my faith, obedience, and understanding of God's will for my life.

Whatever trials I face, I remember there is a purpose for my suffering. God worked my situation out for me in such a way that I knew it was of Him (trust me, man could not even come close to this kind of favor). The Greek word "without ceasing" means continuous action. Therefore, “praying without ceasing” means to pray continuously. Praying without ceasing is sometimes really difficult when it seems like God is not answering...It’s important to realize that God doesn’t always answer on the spot or the way we want, but He does answer as He sees fit.

Keep Praying, Believing, and Trusting!!

One Love,

Robin

Stay on Track

2010-01-23T10:00:00.008-05:00

Hello All,

We are 23 days into 2010! We are truly blessed to be living this life. In the days prior to the New Year and now that the New Year is here, the devil has really been trying to distract me from the transformational process emerging in my life. Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines distract as “to draw or direct (as one's attention) to a different object or in different directions at the same time.” It’s amazing how the devil uses jealousy, envy, greed and hatred in our relationships, family, friendships and careers to create disarray in our lives. These ruined relationships, family feuds, failed friendships, and chaotic careers are the devil’s catalyst that keeps us off track and takes our eyes off the Creator. I’m sure many of you, in just these 23 days of 2010, have experienced this same kind of tug-of-war with the devil. There are days when we are able to defeat him and other days when we allow him to distract us. Remember, this fallen prince’s job is to steal, kill and destroy. We must refuse to give the devil any kind of dominion over our lives...he is a liar!

It is so important to remember that no matter how much personal trials may distract us and we shift between the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, we must believe that God has a purpose and plan for us that will come to fruition. Moreover, in light of the recent Haiti Earthquake, each new day, each new breathe of air is a reminder of just how Blessed we are. Joel Osteen states that “When it seems like everything is against you oftentimes it's because God has something in store for you.” Growing pains will come and stretch us in different ways, but we must stop allowing the devil to use brewing anger, old wounds and limiting beliefs to distract us from God’s promises. God is God and he can and he is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or think. God desires us to have a well-balanced life, one that includes fellowship with Him and others.

As we continue to embark on the journey of 2010, it is important to realize that every day of our lives offers the opportunity for us to regroup and refocus. Remember, God’s mercies are new every morning. Let's allow God to see his reflection in us. A clear sense of purpose and direction can help us stay the course and stay on track.

One Love,
Robin

Know Your Truth

2009-12-22T17:23:00.005-05:00

Hello Everyone,

This year, 2009, has probably been one of the best years yet for me. According to numerology and the bible, the spiritual meaning of the number nine deals with intellectual power, inventiveness, and influence over situations and things. Characteristic traits of the number nine are a strong desire to serve fellow human beings and a fighter for social causes. Did I mention that I was born on the 9th of October; I turned 39 this year; and even when I am tired, I press forward with my Girl Scouts and my volunteerism? I think 2009 was destined to be my year:-).

Now some people may ask why I would claim 2009 as my best year when I am a single mother, drive a Taurus, broke and dislocated my ankle this year, and I don’t have a mate (not even one in sight LOL). Sounds like a boring, hard life, right? Wrong!!!! My life is full and I am at my happiest because I am free…. I am free from heavy, introspective issues that tend to be distractions and weigh down the spirit. I am no longer blinded by my own self-inflicted ignorance or measuring myself against unrealistic standards. I am free from issues and people that held be back from walking into my God-given purpose and destiny. This does not mean that trials and tribulations do not occur in my life. Remember, what doesn’t break you only makes you stronger. Succinctly, only when I was able to confess my own confusion; realize that no one else could make me happy but me; and acknowledge some hard truths about life was I able to find my own voice amidst the mayhem of life. More importantly, more than any other time, I trusted God and fervently believed in his power, grace and mercy. This has made all the difference in my life. Even when I couldn’t trace his hand, I trusted his heart.

According to John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” It is so important that we discover our own truth. For some it may be admitting an addiction (there are many kinds), realizing a relationship is over or discovering your soul mate was there all along. For others it may mean ending procrastination and stepping into your purpose. As each day passes, I am still evolving and discovering my own truth. Discover yours…

As we approach the dawn of 2010, keep reaching for what you know the divine Creator has called you to do. Keep reaching my friends. Merry Christmas & Have a great New Year.

One Love,

Robin

Finish the Race

2009-12-14T07:24:00.009-05:00

I wrote this blog January 2009, and I thought I would share it with you again. This blog is a reminder that we have to regain our focus and push forward. Trials will come but we must finish the race.

I had to share my thoughts with you. Yesterday was by far one of the most trying times of my 38 years (did I day 38, I meant 29). Seriously, I was in a race with my deteriorated spirit, human ignorance, and my innate ability and hard work. Cognitively I was lost and searching for answers on my purpose and why the Creator had put me in this position. I don't know if any of you have ever felt this way, but yesterday was it for me. I was on the verge of freaking out over everyday chaos, tiptoeing around inflated egos with excruciating poignancy, and squeezed between authority and the need to rebel. For a minute I almost threw in the towel.

Then I thought about the card a parent gave thanking me for going over and beyond the call of duty for her child; I thought about the student who told me I was her hero; I thought about the sacrifices of my mother and grandmother; and I thought about the Girl Scouts who patiently anticipate my arrival each time we meet. More importantly, I thought about the love and admiration I see each and every time I look into my daughter's eyes. That did it for me! Those things navigated me back to my center.

The book of 1 Samuel reminds us that it's not how we start the race but how we end that truly matters. A good start is great, but the end matters most. This message is to remind all of us that we, too, are in a race. The race isn't over. How we started isn't nearly as important as how we finish.In the face of difficulty, even when we feel like throwing in the towel, keep pushing. Just keep pushing to the end.....Never give up!

One Love,

Robin