What is your reality?

Greetings to all!!! I pray the day is treating you well. It has been a while since my last post so forgive my tardiness. My question for today is......"What is your reality"? I spent a wonderful evening Saturday night with my nephews. One of them told me I have a hard time separating my image from my reality. When he said it, it truly struck a cord and was right on honest. I feel we all have an "image" of ourselves, something we have created and try to live up to. We also have an image that was created via our circumstances......our role in society, our life. My "image" as a child was that of a Senators daughter. The daughter of a man that in my mind was instrumental in spearheading change in this city and state. My parents created an image.....an expectation of who we were as a family and individuals. The "image" was one that included our personality, our position in life......the "social" standing we felt we held. What happens when the "image" that was created was destroyed? What happens when the individuals left to deal with a new reality struggle with maintaining the image that was created for them? My other nephew is very inquisitive about the family "secrets". The truth that lies behind the greatness of a man that he knew as a Grandfather and a family lifestyle he has learned about through the stories of the children who lived it. I find myself a bit perplexed by the statement I can't separate image from reality and it has opened up questions and truths in my mind. What is your image? What is your reality? What world was created for you that you now fight to maintain or was created for you but lost and you struggle to bring it back? I know who I am and what I stand for. I know what my reality is and value the life I have been given. My image and my reality are for me to create......as is yours. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and thus is reality. Create your own and let YOUR image be YOUR truth. Love you all!!!

Life is for LIVING!

Greetings to all!!! I pray the day is treating you well. I must say...I realize every day more and more that life is for LIVING!!! I mean truly living...not simply existing. I am so grateful that my mind is right and I understand the value in taking time out and appreciating every moment. I enjoy the sun...the clouds...the grass. I enjoy my child...his laugh...his smile. I value and treasure my family...my friends...my love. I don't let one day slip through my fingers. Life is for LIVING!!! Are you living? Are you enjoying the simple pleasures? Are you making the most out of every opportunity you have? We are all on a daily grind, a hustle to make a dollar. We want more, reach for more, work for more. We spend our days fighting for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Well my friends....your pot of gold is within your reach. You have to see it in order to seize it. See it....SEIZE it....and LIVE YOUR LIFE!!! Love you all!!

Dream Catcher

Greetings to all!!! I pray the day is treating you well. I can't believe how much time has already passed us by? It seems like yesterday we were just celebrating the New Year....now it is time to Spring Forward! I must say I am more determined than ever to make this year and every one after the best it can possibly be. There are so many things out there for us to capture. Dreams, goals, desires of the heart....all of it is there but only there for those who are willing to reach out and grab it. I believe I have discovered my purpose and within that a desire in my heart has been unleashed and ready to tackle the world and take everyone along with me for the ride. What is your purpose? What is your desire? Whatever it is go catch it, live it, love it, embrace it. May GOD's will be done in your life and I pray that each of you RUN not walk and catch your dreams!!! Love you all!!!

2012-Okay, here we go!!!

Greetings to all!!! I pray 2011 was all you hoped it would be and if not, well let's try again in 2012. I am not going to send one of those cliche emails about setting goals, what you can accomplish, being all you can be, yada-yada-yada. Instead, this blog post is about simply giving it the old college try. If I honestly asked you what resolution you made in January 2011 that you kept until December 31, 2011 what would your answer be? I know mine-I half way fulfilled my resolutions and stopped somewhere around ummmm January 24th!! So in 2012 let's not make a bunch of promises we can't keep. Start off with something small-one thing, and commit to it for a week. Then after you do that, add another week or something different. Baby steps provide us the confidence we need to take ourselves and our commitments to the next level. Okay...I am putting it out there-Resolution #1-Finish Rich Dad Poor Dad by January 13th. If I can't finish a book in a week and a half (I am already on Chapter 4) then shame on me. My bookcase is full of books I have partially read so one by one I will get through as many as I can. Comment back and let me know what your baby step is. Together we can make this year a very successful one. I'm in, are you? Love you all!!!!

Stop Complaining Already!!!!

Hello my dear friends!! So as I complete this year....the Year of Susan, the one thing I am going to stop doing is complaining. Don't get me wrong, I am not a Negative Nancy by any means nor do I see the glass as half full. I do however sometimes feel the "weight" on my shoulders and some days it is more than a girl wants to bear. I mean let's be real here, how much can a sister take?!?! When you are the one that typically does it all, be it at home or at work, others begin to see you as that "go to" person for any and everything. As nice as it is to be needed, sometimes you want to just say STOP ALREADY!! So, why don't we? I can only look at myself here and maybe you can see yourself in my mirror. I have a take charge, get it done personality. It is who I am and part of me thrives on it. But the other part of me wishes people would do what they're supposed to do and not look to me as if it is MY problem. I do it to myself though. I really do. For one, I should say something when it all becomes too much but no...I take it on then bitch about it later. Well, no more....stop complaining already! If I don't want to do something then I should say so, otherwise quit the moaning and get the job done! That goes for me and it goes for you too!! (And I don't want to hear you complain about it). :) Love you all!!!

What is it really all about??

Hello my friends....I hope the month of October is treating you well. I am excited everyday about the opportunities that come my way. The challenges and struggles we face only make us stronger. Many of you are ready to tackle the world with all your might and all I can say is GO FOR IT!! Think about 2011 and what this year has meant for you. Look ahead into 2012 and tell yourself what that year will mean for you. Some of you will experience life changing events...you will start a new career, move to a new city, marry, have a child, gain a friend....at that same time some of you (including myself) will lose a job, divorce, lose a friend, experience the death of someone close, experience a tragedy...all things we don't want to happen but for some of us it will. How will you respond? That is the question you must ask yourself. How you respond, your approach to life and the things it brings your way is what makes you who you are. I am a survivor and all good things come my way..no matter what it is. The Year of SUSAN....YES!! The Year of YOU...YES!! There are a few months left so let's make it a year to remember...together!! Love you all!!!

October Already??!!??!!

Hello my dear friends!! I can't believe a month has already passed us by. Where does the time go? I am very excited about finishing this year strong so I must work hard not to let myself fall off the wagon. I have goals, dreams, ambitions. "I want to be a star Mom!". Anyway....I hope the month of October is a pleasant one. As we approach the last quarter of this year I take a moment to look back and reflect on my past life. The life I have lived and what I have done or what I didn't do. The one thing that remains true...time continues to pass us by and we can either surf this wave as long as God gives us breath or we can walk around with our heads in the sand, oblivious to what is going on and what is happening in our lives. I started 2011 50/50. What I mean is 50/50 working on my goals and not working on my goals. Well I have said it before and I will say it again...we fall down, but we get up. I pray that God continues to give me breath, life on this earth so I may do all HE wants and expects me to do. May I always be mindful of my blessings and take no moment for granted. Tomorrow is promised to no one. I ask for His blessings and His grace upon me. This has been the Year of Susan....I am thankful it has been and will continue to be a great one!