Time {Five Minute Friday}

I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home.

Today's five minute writing prompt is "Time."

Start

Time essentially is all we have for sure and that even has an expiration date unknown to us.  Time is the most valuable asset in our possession that we can use in whatever way that we see fit.  Even prisoners can choose how they use the time while they are incarcerated.  A prisoner can be as miserable or as enlightened during this time of captivity.  Nelson Mandela was the greatest example that I have that can prove this point. 

When I think of time I think of those who have ended their time here in the living.  It gives me a profound understanding of the gift of time. Through all the struggles that I have faced in life Time gives me hope because I know that as long as there is time and I have breathe in my body I have another opportunity to succeed.

As human beings, we have something special we have the ability to choose.  Stephen Covey explains that “in between stimulus and response is the ability to choose”. We can choose to make the best of our time or we can let time pass us by and wonder-why?

Why did I let time get the best of me?

Why didn’t I master my time?

Why didn’t I choose to make time my best asset?

Time

Stop.

Five Minute Friday is a weekly challenge where bloggers write on a prompt for five solid minutes.  Check out Kate’s website for more details andthe link-up. 

First {Five Minute Friday}

I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home.

Today's five minute writing prompt is "FIRST."

Start.

When I think of the word first it makes me reminisce over all the firsts that I have encountered in my life.  Sometimes it’s exciting to have a first experience and sometimes it’s scary to have a first experience.  The most memorable first was 21 years ago when I gave birth to my first child.  It was a girl.  It was the year of a lot of first.  My first apartment, my first year at college and my first time realizing that in this world you have to be able to stand alone and that your parent’s protection and prayers can only go so far.  You have to be willing to take those first steps into your destiny. 

Twenty-one years later I’m still experiencing new first experiences and I have learned to embrace them as opportunities to learn and grow as an individual.  In November almost 21 years to be exact I experienced watching my first born give birth to her first born.  It was a boy!  It was also one of my greatest first moments.

I have always loved the beginning of the New Year because it has always represented a chance to start again to enter a year that has yet to begun. This year my one word is productivity.  I choose this word because I am in the producing mode.  I want to give birth to something great and share it with the world.  I’m currently working on my first book and it is a great first experience to be able to share with the world my creativity and insight. 

First can be scary and exciting but always worth the try!

Stop.

Five Minute Friday is a weekly challenge where bloggers write on a prompt for five solid minutes.  Check out Kate’s website for more details andthe link-up. le to

Do More Stuff in 2016 -Productivity

Happy New Years!  It seems I went dark for a brief moment.  Well I’m back.  I hope that you enjoyed your holiday festivities.  I definitely enjoyed mine. 

My heart, soul and spirit tells me that this year, 2016 will be the BEST YEAR YET. 

I can’t explain it or quantify it but I have an overwhelming feeling of expectancy in the Year 2016.  I expect great, miraculous and wonderful things to happen.

Now My New Year’s Celebration didn’t involve balloons, champagne, clocks, balls falling from the sky or a New Year’s Eve Church services.  What it did include was a couple of days of true reflection and prayer. 

And then at the stroke of Midnight on New Year’s Eve the house was completely quiet and I was surrounded by my journals, planners, books and endless amounts of resources paid and free that I’ve accumulated over the past year or so.  

Guess what? I have download and printed literally 10 reams of paper of things that could possibly help me fulfill my dreams and I have barely touched the surface of any of them.   What a waste right? 

So this year I decided no more clicking the free download button, no more add to basket and no more signing up for online workshops.  Not indefinitely, just until I incorporate the things that I have already.  Oh and no more NEW BOOKS till I read recently purchased BOOKS!

Now I must be honest I will be pining my lovely finds to one of my 100 Pinterest boards for later consumption unless its time sensitive; (if so I have to make the right decision….if I get it now then I have to use it now).   I’m not quitting cold turkey either I will subscribe to a few blogs that I am serious about following…. limiting myself to 3-5 email subscriptions a week.  One of my email is full of spam from bloggers who have not grasped the concept that some times less is more.  The reason this is a problem because when I start clicking I start reading and the clock keeps ticking.  So in the email I use now for business and blogging I add blogs that will compliment my life’s works.  For instance other writers, homemakers, planner junkies and people who make me feel great when I enter their blog.  

I will do all of these things to eliminate a lot of noise around me.  Not bad noise but noise is noise and it can distraction. 

Now to get to the wonderful One Word for 2016.  For the last …. Years I have participated in using one word to describe my annual New Year Goals or as others describe as resolutions…. I like Goals better. 

The first year was in 2013 the one word I used as a theme was Reposition this was the year after my mother passed and I really had to reposition myself and deal with being a grown child of deceased parents.  Then in 2014 my word was focus.  I choose focus because my objective was to become more focused on my goals and the things that I considered important at the time.  Last year my word was Intentional.  During that time I was very selective in what I did and how I did it.  Making sure that every move served a predetermined purpose

This year’s word is Productivity….. The reason that I choose productivity is because this year is the year that I will be focused, positioned and intentional in all my efforts.  This year’s theme is to get stuff done, do more stuff, make more stuff and read lots of stuff!  Stuff is whatever moves me closer to my ultimate goals in life.  Whether it is Spiritual, Financial, Relational, Mental or Physical my overall objective is productivity.  In the coming weeks I will share some of the productivity tools that I’m currently using.  I will also share if they are a help or if they have become noise.  Blogging is at the top of my list of stuff to do and I will blog with a purpose related to my ultimate goals. 

Have you settled on what your New Year Resolutions or goals will be this year? Have you chosen a themed word to dictate your journey this year?

Disclosures:

The image of desk is from Jill Levenhagen Collection of stock photos

Seven Life Lessons learned from Maya Angelou

The wisdom that resonates from those that came before us is such a profound thing.  From the shores of Africa to the lands of South America people have honored the ancestors from all walks of life and cultures.  In the United States this sort of tradition has become watered down. We are not mindful of those that have walked before us as we should be.  Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”  This verse suggest that we are surrounded by the saints of the past in a unique way.  Over history we have been encouraged to celebrate the lessons and contributions of our ancestors to our society.

One of my favorite human beings to walk this earth, has joined this great cloud of witnesses and it leaves me to wander what I can say I have learned from her-Maya Angelou.   If I were to make a list it will be ongoing, ever growing and expanding as Maya Angelou used every moment of her life to bear witness to all of the joys and sorrows that life brings.  Over the next few weeks I will reflect on the many things that Maya Angelou imparted in me through the use of her words, her humbleness and her service as a spokesperson for education, peace, justice, redemption and service.

Today I will share seven life lessons that Maya Angelou has left me in her words of wisdom.  There are many more lessons that she has given but for the sake of space I will focus on the following seven: Love Liberates, Be Courageous, Be Charitable, Be Hope, Be Forgiving (but never forget), Tell Your Story and Leave a Legacy.

Love Liberates

 “My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return”. - Maya Angelou

Love is the one thing that is above all others.  Everyone has a natural desire to love and be loved.  Out of love children are conceived.  Out of love masterpieces are created.   Above all things let us love one another. (1 John 4:7).

When Maya Angelou suggests that one should have courage to love and receive love, makes me wonder, why would you need courage to receive love.  As much as everyone desires love, everyone is fearful of the loss of love or the state of hurt and heart break.  One must be willing to take the risk of heartbreak in order to receive the rewards of love. 

Be Courageous

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently”. - Maya Angelou

For example: In order to be virtuous you must have courage.  Courage to change the way you think, in order to embrace learning as you pursue the virtue of Wisdom.  Courage to be kind and love others even when you may not receive it back in order to embrace the virtue of Humanity. 

This lesson is one that applies to all aspects of life.  Regardless of what is ahead of you or whatever task is at hand the only thing that will allow you to succeed is courage. 

Be Charitable

 “I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back”. - Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou has always had a great use of the English Language and the use of words.  In her quote about not having on two catcher’s mitts displays her genius in the use of analogies.  Catchers catch with one had covered by a mitt and they throw with a bare hand. This is to say that in life you have to be prepared to receive and willing to give without any expectations in return (bare handed). 

 Be Hope

“Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud)”. - Maya Angelou

How can one be a rainbow in someone’s clouds?  This quote may be hard for some to understand…however when I first heard this phrase, I said to myself I want to be a RAINBOW.  The rainbow is a symbol of hope.  Being the hope for someone can be the difference between life and death.  In life we are always on a stage or platform where the world is our audience it is up to each individual whether it will be a tragedy, drama or an inspirational hope giving moment.

My hope is also to be a Rainbow or beacon of light in the lives of the people that I come in contact with.  I have had many Rainbows in my life and it has meant the world to me.

Be Forgiving (but never forget)

 “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time”. 

- Maya Angelou

This quote has been repeated frequently by many people over the years.  I suggest Maya is not advocating don’t forgive but rather  that you should forgive others.  At the same time once a person has proven to be untrustworthy, dishonorable or a negative impact in your life; then you have to be conscious of those traits and act accordingly. 

Tell Your Story

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you”. - Maya Angelou

Storytelling is a tradition that predates the act of writing.  From the beginning of time people have shared stories from their past and their ancestors past in order to gain an understanding of themselves and their Society.

Everyone has a story that they can tell that will be inspiring and help another as they navigate through life.  You can share your story as Maya Angelou did, as a world renowned author or in the grocery line to a stranger. Either way, there is something freeing about sharing your story with others.

Leave a Legacy

SOURCE
“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. - Maya Angelou

The last lesson that Maya Angelou has taught me is that you should leave a legacy.  For me a legacy is a strong and inspiring memory that someone leaves behind.  It is not the amount of wealth, things or accomplishments that people remember it is the overall impression that you have of given them once they are no longer around.

My mother has left me with a great legacy. I strive to embody all the awesome attributes that she model for me over the years on how to be strong, courageous and loving. 

I have never met the Great Maya Angelou. She has left a lifelong impression on me through her willingness to be all of these seven things. These lessons I will use as a guide to navigate me through this great journey of life.

Have you learned any life lessons from a person whom you’ve never met?  If so I would love to hear from you. Just leave a comment below.

The Story of Me and Blogging

The Story of Me and Blogging! 

Over the last five years, I have tried my hand at Blogging.  Initially, when I started it was for all the wrong reasons.  I saw a few blogs posted on social media during a time when social media had really entered the age of familiarity.  Prior to that I did not know exactly what a blog entailed or the fact that anyone could create a blog.  As a matter of fact blogging goes as far back as yahoo messaging and chat groups.  Remember that was the biggest thing going on around 1998. (Don’t quote me on those dates). This is just my personal reflection of how I grew to understand and love social media and the many possibilities.  I am still in the discovery stage even now.  

As we jump forward to the present time it seems like a blog is something everyone has!  You get a blog, you get a blog and you get a blog.  Everyone gets a blog!

Now that you have a blog - now what?  Is your blog a place on the web that collects dust and the content is infrequent and stale as old bread?  Is it a diary of ramblings that no one but your mother would read or love?  What is it?  I have pondered these questions about my blogging adventures over the last few years and wondered do I belong in the Blog Community. 

So many questions to consider.  After attempting blogging for over five years I have learned for me being a blogger requires 5 essential things.  If they are not all in place then the joy of blogging will diminish and the burn out likelihood will increase tremendously. 

Vision/Mission

Every blogger must have a vision and mission for their specific blog.  Without a vision and a clear mission you will get stuck very quickly.  The vision is a broader approach to the why of the blog.   The mission statement is the specific mission you plan to accomplish that mission.   For example my vision for Splendid Chronicles is to provide a space where I chronicle my experiences, events and observations with the hopes of inspiring and encouraging others. 

Commitment

Next there is a certain amount of commitment involved if you really want to be taken seriously as a blogger.  I have learned this the hard way.  If you intend to have a bog that is read by more than just friends and family, you must be committee to creating content on a schedule. You determine the pace but whatever pace you set is the pace that you need to keep.  For instance, although I am participating in a 30 day challenge (where I post every day for 3o days), my ideal schedule is 3-5 times per week, Monday thru Friday.

Planning

Once you have a schedule the next thing that must be in place is a Plan.  Spontaneous posting is great if you are a person that can just write away at any given moment.  However for me it is much better when I plan things out and have a basic plan of what I will write and when.  I suggest planning and writing post at least a week before they are published in order to reduce the stress of writing.  It also allows a chance to go back and review, edit and perfect your work.

Accountability

This is a tricky subject.  Who will hold you accountable? Usually you will be accountable for yourself.  If you have set a schedule and plan then it is totally up to you if you follow through with your commitments.  Another way to feel accountable is to join groups that blog and start networking with other bloggers.  I have learned over the years that fellow bloggers are your biggest readers and will always encourage you to keep at it.

Endurance

Simply don’t give up.  Blogging is a process that is on-going.  As time goes on your plans may change, your vision may even change but you just have to keep going and honor the commitment you have mad to be a part of the Blog Universe.

As I step out on this huge blogging platform I hope to touch someone with my words that thay may live life more abundantly.

Picture Source:
FreeImages.com
Oprah Image: Google