New Day

Have you ever seen the movie Groundhog Day (Columbia Pictures, 1993) with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell? Yeah it’s a real classic now, lol. Its about a “self-centered” and very frustrated newscaster who had to report on seeing or not seeing Punxsutauwney Phil’s (the groundhog) shadow. Its the ancient ritual, of predicting a shorter winter or whether spring would show up early. SMH, God only knows who came up with that. Antywayyy, after doing the fluff piece, he went to bed only to wake up to the same day over and over again. It must’ve been like “going ‘round and ‘round the mulberry bush” until the mystery is solved and then…. Ding-ding-ding on to the next challenge.

Do you ever wish you could have a “do-over”? Have you ever made a dumb mistake that caused a relationship to crash and burn? Have you overreacted and said or done something you wish you hadn’t? Or are you in the WTF place looking at your life and wondering how you got there? Yeah I think we’ve all been there. sometimes I wish I could redo my life from age 20 to 35. But a very wise person (my sister) said to me, “You wouldn’t be who you are without all the things you’ve been through.” This is true, living the good and surviving all the bad and ugly has developed wisdom, patience and maybe even strategies. Bottom line, if you’ve learned, healed and grown that’s a good thing.

Listen I am a staunch believer in the Law of Seed time and Harvest. Meaning your soul (your mind, will and emotions) is like soil, fertilizer. Let me ask you, what is the condition of your soil? Is it nourishing SELF and others or is it just … well a bunch of SH*# (dung, crap, poo-poo)? What are you pouring in it? Do you mostly feed on negativity like drama, junk TV … or do you veg on dumb, mindless or harmful social media posts and videos? If that’s a yes, no wonder your life is … well not what you want it to be. Its surely a case of “Garbage in, garbage out.” But on the other hand, surviving terrible experiences can make us into bitter, hoarding, mean, angry, impatient, or even narcissistic or prejudiced people. Whatever you do, good or bad – seeds are planted. I’m mean we are planting seeds all the time, every day, everywhere we go… and those seeds grow from plants to trees (with roots) and they create fruit that falls into the lives of those who are closest, our children, family, neighbors, friends, and eventually the community & world.

When we eat and survive off of our own toxic fruit, our own lives decline. Living in hurt, pain, regret or plain ole brokenness are bitter roots and essentially grow miserable and unhappy lives. Imagine that being the legacy you pass on to your kids, and the following generations (I shudder.)

On the other hand… the good news is if you plant good, positive, healthy seeds, you can actually grow yourself a good and happy life. This may go right over your head, but … GOD IS GOOD. The Book says, it is HE that gives us the will and the ability to do (and have) good. God has given each of us the FREEDOM of CHOICE. You could choose today to live differently. As long as you live tomorrow will be a new day.

End each day with a SELF-Assessment. Start a journal. Write down all the things you are not happy with and to change them. And then write down all the things you are thankful for and repeat your list out loud. (#Thank God). Surrender all your negativity to Him and ask for the strength to do better tomorrow. Go to sleep on a good note and then tomorrow, will be a different kind of new day. Wake up THANKFUL for a new day, not everybody woke up… but you did. Be intentional to make today a good one. That means be work to stay on the path of goodness and if you fall off, get back on. Protect your focus, redirect it as often as necessary, be unbothered, forgive often, and be thankful AND DO GOOD TO OTHERS (period. It should not depend on how they act) and smile … you will plant good seeds. But, beware… if you don’t dig up the bad, the ugly the rotten roots, they will choke out your good ones. So… work on that, always work on that. And know time does not heal all things, you may have to get some help (uh the right help… ya may need a professional). There is no shame in that. Look, if you have a rotten tooth, you gonna let time take care it OR operate on yourself? (#head-tilt)

If you find yourSELF struggling, and you need a little help, as always, I got you! CLICK HERE

Starting Again

Wanna know something? Being able to start over is a blessing. Although I have to admit, having to start over after a failure, a miserable destructive ending of something you put all your energy into… literally bites (#sux) ... doesn’t feel good. Lol, had to just pull you all in. But no matter howwwww it feeeeels, its still a good thing, or at least it can be, it all has to do with one’s perspective.

There’s a “clumsy me” story that I told my family like 20 years ago that they still laughs until they cry when ONE OF THEM brings up. And just to prove to myself that I am over the total embarrassment of it, I will share with you. When I was in high school a long long time ago, in the 1980’s (the best decade for music), it was a fabulous Southern Cal day and I worked at the busiest high fashion mall in the South Bay, Del Amo Fashion Center (Del Amo Mall as it was called back in the day). Our fashion icons were, Boy George, Cindy Lauper, Madonna, and Michael Jackson. I had this white jacket, I mean it really stood out. With squared off shoulders and layers and I often wore the one glove. Anyway, while riding to work and jamming to Beat It (Michael Jackson) I was picking up speed until the corner of a planter stopped my bike mid-stride. The bike stopped but I didn’t, over the handlebars I went. And I went sliding across the parking lot like coming into home base. It very well could have been a “face-plant” except I was an expert at falling right. Man! On a busy street, but because it was coming up the side of the building I was hoping no one noticed. I got up, dusted myself off, checked for tears in my clothing and began to look around. And right in front of me was the shuttle bus driver laughing his head off. I shook my head, thinking “Anji, you’ve got to be more careful” blushing and feeling real crazy, I waved, got back on my bike and made it to work… on time.

My point is, even if you face plant, get back up and get on the bike again. Here’s the thing tho, in order to make it somewhere, you have to have a vision of where you’re going. The Book says, “Without a vision, people die off, they perish, they cease to exist.” Over time, idleness gives you too much time to stumble and fumble your way through life. I mean folks just be lazy or have no ambition… and they waste their time, talent and life away. SMH. Scooch up close and hear me.

ITS NEVER TOO LATE TO START AGAIN.

You may be scared to death, after failing, being robbed, violated and or abused, or seeing others fail. You may have stage fright, have analysis paralysis or you may just be shy. Even if you have no confidence in your SELF… dang it… FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT! Imma be really blunt with you right now… You cannot make it alone, nor can you figure out “what you were made for.” The ONLY place to discover your purpose is to connect with your Maker and participate in a community of believers (like-minded folks.) And I am here to say, that’s not always easy to do. Who hasn’t been angry with God and angry with people? So many of us have had bad “religious” experiences… and yeah people suck (sometimes). But what people tend to do is stop associating and when they do, they also turn their backs on God too, as if He’s at fault for every bad thing that has happened, essentially “throwing the baby out with the bath water.” But don’t be tricked, God is the only One Who can see beyond what we can. Step #1: Humble yourself and ask. And even if you don’t believe in God (I’m sure you have your reasons) but try it anyway. Just say to the universe… “God if you are real, come into my life and show me the way.” AND BE OPEN! If nothing happens you haven’t lost a thing… but I promise you, something interesting will happen. Resist the temptation to “explain it away” just go with it and keep your eyes open.

Starting over with your eyes open, and trying things you’ve never tried before will begin to paint beautiful colors on the canvas of your life. Life is what you make it. Stop being angry at the world and learn to make your SELF happy. And good things will come. Keep your head up and if you need help… as always, I got you. CLICK HERE