The Perfect Gift

You must’ve made it through Thanksgiving or you wouldn't be sitting here right now reading this lol. It's been a crazy fast year, hasn't it? Most of us are glad that it's coming to an end and we are so ready to start the new year fresh and do better. But hold on...we still have the month of December.  

You may be sitting in a space that you’re a little irritated for not having received the things you’ve hoped and prayed for. Maybe you wanted a job, a car, a house or a new relationship. Or maybe you’ve had circumstances that have gone to S^&T and despite how you tried or prayed, things haven’t turned around for you. I have a question, a 4SELF-DEVELOPMENT question: If you’ve a good little boy or girl this year (week, month or quarter) and Santa doesn't come through for you, how will you behave? Will you hate God, hate life, hate the world, throw a tantrum, go into a major depression or wanna die? Hey it's a valid question! To be perfectly honest, I’ve been there and sometimes it’s just hard to hold your head up and keep going.  

Last month we focused on Thankfullness. Hopefully you took the time to make a list, to journal and meditate on your blessings. Because rather you want to admit it or not there are parts of the world that don’t have it as good as we do – Like total third world countries. If fact every time you pass a homeless person... you must realize things could always be worse. Thank God it’s not you, right?  

Sometimes all we can think about is what we DO NOT HAVE and what our lives would look like if we never get those things... yeah it can be depressing! But let me challenge you to set that down just for a moment. And the way to come out of that space is.... ready for this: 

GET OVER YOURSELF (lol) Stay with me.... 

You know I’m not one to bark at ya or judge without suggesting something that could help you do better. Uh, it’s time to leave the pity-party so that you can finish strong. And the way to do this is to .... CHANGING YOUR FOCUS.  

1. Go down to your local shelter and just observed the people. You will notice that not everybody is mentally challenged or addicted to a substance. There are former CEOs, mothers with children, and other folks who previously “had it going on” but now find themselves in a bad position. Can you imagine not having the basic needs that we take for granted? A key to a place we call our own? No bed (with a pillow & linens we chose) to sleep in, a private room with a door, a toilet and shower that we don’t have to share with strangers, no refrigerator with left-overs, and no peace and quiet. Its crazy but looking at the less fortunate should make you think... 

2. Go where the homeless are and watch. If you are so bold go have a conversation. See the people and if nothing else … thank God that that’s not you.  

3. Find ways to help the less fortunate. If you’re squeamish about getting your hands dirty, or feeling uncomfortable find a church and donate can goods, blankets, or needed items like new socks, gently-used clothing and shoes (stuff that you don’t use anymore.)  

4. If you have nothing to give, donate time: SERVE. Many churches or community centers make food boxes for needy families, and pass them out at an event. Or go help with the Annual Christmas dinner at the neighborhood Homeless Shelter. You could make sandwiches and pass them out to the homeless (and offer encouragement or prayer.) So many SELF-LESS things you could do.  

And you will be surprised how serving others puts your own issues into prospective and makes you feel grateful for what you do have. Just know, you will not just be doing good, you’ll also be planting seeds for your own future.  

Thank you so much for tracking with me this year... I’ve seen you grow! (Metaphorically speaking). I hope that you have seen your SELF, learned to like you a little more, or have recognized some ways to improve. And if no has told you, You have value, you are an individual, which makes you special. You are beautiful, you are ENOUGH and you are loved. You deserve the best, and God has just that for you. If you believe that He is working all things together for you good, at the proper time you will receive if you don’t give up … you will receive good. What you pray for may not manifest exactly the way you hoped... but remember... that could be you on skid row. Thank God, it’s not. Its my hope that you finish this year, healthy, having everything you NEEDS and that you are blessed with at least one of your wants.  

Thank you for tracking with me, laughing with me, thinking with me and growing with me. I look forward to meeting you again soon.  

Peace and Love,  

Anji 

Four Seasons

Well it’s officially Christmas Season, the time of Peace and Joy. And you know I’m big on Joy. Speaking of SEASONS, I’ve lived in California most of my adult life and there’s mainly just one, hot. I’ve become a weather wimp, I can do 118 like champ, but I’m crying and complaining when it drops below 40 here in GA. But what I love about Georgia is you get to experience all four of the seasons. Autumn is a reprieve, the explosive yellows, oranges and red colored leaves are sort of a reward for surviving the sticky (yucky) humidity filled summer.

I can say, no matter where I am in the world, spring is my favorite. Just a couple of posts ago I talked about the difference between dancing, or getting caught in the rain, which we know washes away the old dried stuff, waters seeds, brings new life and the beautiful flowers we all enjoy. And life is beautiful, at least it was meant to be that way. Even bears come out of hibernation… because the sun seems to be just right.

One thing we know, it takes for seasons (winter, spring, summer and fall) to make a complete a cycle. Life is like that, it has four seasons. Life starts in Spring (the birds and the bees)! Like spring chicks we receive nourishment, education and stimulation to growing. Summer comes, its hot and the frenzy of movement compels us to leave the nest and fly. Its time to build our own lives, get that career, home, start and raise a family and plant seeds for the future. You know… do life. With Autumn comes the second half of the life cycle. We’re cruising now, the kids are about to be grown, retirement is on the radar and what was hot is now cooling off. Old fruit begins to dry and whither away. And finally winter comes. We all know it would. As long as there’s seed time and harvest, the seasons come and go. Time keeps on-a-ticking. For each of us just like in nature the sun rises at birth and surely one day it will set. As they say, two things are for sure: DEATH AND TAXES.

Writer and philosopher Zaid K Dahhaj in his article “Why Understanding the Seasons of Life Will Ease Your Suffering” (2018) says, and I paraphrase:

“In Spring and Summer we celebrate youth, vitality and aliveness. But an endless summer is unnatural. Who you become, the people you nurture and the work you do in the summertime of your life all contribute to the making of your harvest, or your legacy. In the fall of your life, you reap what you sow.”

But you cannot have the next season until you let go of the previous one. Holding onto something that is dying or the past will only stunt your growth and delay your future. Seasons are meant to have a start and finish… so that life can progress organically. This is seen more than we’d like to admit with jobs and relationships. Yeah it’s been fun, but in your “knower” its apparent there’s no future there. And you know one day it’s gonna be time to move on. Year 1 and 2 is great, no kinks, no issues or nothing but half way through year 3, things begin to change. It could be a number of things and “you’re done” or all of a sudden you wake up feeling differently… Yep that should be the beginning of the end, except you keep telling yourself “No responsibility is fun, tho.” But the whisper “Its time to go” continues to nag until the signs, flags, and issues start popping up everywhere (that’s the universe giving you a hint.) To be honest with yourself, you knew this day would come. Have courage to do what you must. Because one thing is for sure, you cannot progress to your next season by holding onto a dying one or to the past. The longer you hold onto a thing, the worse the situation becomes… Its better to release by choice than it is to be forced to let go. Control what you can … and don’t fret the rest. If it didn’t work out, it probably was for you. Or, it was only to be in your life for A CERTAIN SEASON… A season is not meant to last a lifetime.

A HappyLife is made from experiencing, getting the most out of each season. The goal is end your cycle with no regrets (get your closure before moving to the next level). KNOW THYSELF, so you can trust your own intuition. (When you don’t know, pray.) And if you need a little help, as always…

I got you! CLICK HERE