Where Do I Get My Inspiration?

Lately, it seems like inspiration has been coming at me in every direction. The world has been in such a state of vulnerability since the COVID pandemic started in early 2020. Being a survivor of COVID I have been looking for inspiration ever since my positive diagnosis. Gratefully, God brought me through that very difficult time in my life better and stronger than ever. My relationship with God has gotten more dire since recovering from this illness. Through that experience, I learned what’s really important in life and what I need to be giving my time, love and attention to. So many people have passed away from this disease and the numbers of fatalities are still rising everyday. I take my ability to resurrect my writing ability as inspiration and an answer to many of the prayers I prayed while battling COVID. I get to inspire people by writing about issues concerning the world around us on a weekly basis. Since surviving this illness, I had the inspiration to make my blog public after 7 years of inactivity. I’ve opened it to the public and I’m getting a plethora of positive feedback. I get to polish my writing skills in hopes to one day make writing a professional career!

I come from a legacy of extremely hard workers. My mother was the first African American female coal miner in Southwest Virginia. It was an incredibly difficult and grueling job for a woman. She was so good at her job that she was able to do it for 20 years. Her and my father sacrificed so much for me to have the life I live. They both taught me to have self respect and to use my voice. Other lessons were to keep God first and that nothing comes easy in life. Although I had a very non conventional childhood, my parents made sure I had what I needed to thrive in life. My brothers and sisters were also a source of inspiration for me growing up. From a very young age my two brothers had a dream of playing in the National Football League (NFL.) They are three years apart and one of them happens to be my twin. With discipline, strong work ethic and perseverance, they both made their dreams a reality. Together, their football careers lasted for 19 years. 

So, what about you? How do you find inspiration to pursue your dreams in life? The thing about dreams is that no one is too big. God has placed at the center and core of all of our beings gifts and talents. Everyone has something they are really good at. It is our job to find out what they are. Here are 5 tips on how you can find the motivation to finding your talent and pursuing your dreams!

1. Reach out to a job coach.

2. Find a hobby that you enjoy.

3. Teach someone else how to do something. Tap into your role as a leader.

4. Find out what you enjoy doing that you would do for free everyday. That’s your passion.

5. Ask yourself and really spend some time thinking about what you have overcome in your life! Overcoming life’s obstacles is a big motivator and will inspire you to move forward.

Kobe Bryant And The Evolution Of The Girl Dad!

It’s been almost 2 years since the world was brought to its knees by the loss of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna ‘Gigi’ Bryant in a tragic helicopter crash near Southern California that killed 9 people in total. They were on their way to a basketball tournament for Gigi and her friends. NBA preseason basketball just so happened to begin today. Although Kobe Bryant retired from playing basketball in 2016, he left more than just a basketball legacy. In my opinion, his biggest accomplishment was being a girl dad. Kobe Bryant was a girl dad and I know because I was raised by one too.

At the time of his death, Kobe was raising four daughters. He was quoted as saying, ‘Girls are the best…I would have five more girls if I could.’ Like Bryant, my Daddy considered himself a girl dad because I’m one of five girls. Kobe was a professional basketball player which meant that several times a month, he would be traveling out of town for games. Like Kobe, my father worked out of state when I was a young girl. He worked at the University of Tennessee as an Admissions Counselor during the week and would come home on the weekends. My father was also daddy to two boys who were really gifted in all of the sports they participated in. One of the boys, Julius, just so happens to be my twin. Even though my mother worked the night shift for most of my childhood, I remember both my parents being very engaged and interested in what I was doing at school.

After Kobe retired in 2016, he spent a lot of time taking Gigi to Lakers games. Kobe was a naturally comforting father. It came easy to him. Like my father, Kobe knew that in order to be there for the joyous times, he’d have to be there for the challenging ones as well. So many similarities between Kobe and my father. I’m almost positive that they were put on earth to raise daughters. My daddy sacrificed so much so I could be me! We have pictures and videos of Kobe and Gigi playing basketball and although there are lots of smiles, Gigi had the same tenacity as her dad. They shared a love of basketball. She had dreams of playing at The University of Connecticut and going on to play in the WNBA and carrying on her father’s legacy.

It’s safe to assume that Kobe envisioned watching Gigi go on to do just that, as well as support his other three daughters pursue their passions too. He and Gigi died together doing something that they loved; playing basketball. Kobe leaves a lasting legacy for girl dad’s and I cannot help but to reflect on my own father who will also. Just like Kobe is a legend and hero, my own father will always be that for me. The love I have for my own father mirrors that of Kobe and Gigi! May they both rest in eternal peace.

Brick by Brick! How I Find Balance In My Busy Life.

In 2009, Katy Perry recorded an acoustic album with a song titled, ‘Brick by Brick!’ I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. Here are a few of the lyrics!

‘..And I sure confess, I’m a mess, I’m a mess of mistakes, but please count to ten, before you throw it all away…’

‘…So brick by brick, I’m breaking through these walls, Oh, between you and me, I’m not giving up, I’m not giving up on us…’

These lyrics seem to be hinting to a relationship gone bad but I like to flip it and for me, it’s a testimony that I was once lost and need God as my GPS. This week I want to discuss how I transitioned from broken to whole with a balanced lifestyle. This post, I reveal some tips on how I have found balance in my busy life. 

In September 2007, I made a move to Charlottesville, VA. After attending college there for 4 years, I felt it necessary to move back there after a tumultuous year of living in Chicago. I met with a pastoral counselor a few days after my move. My counselor’s exact words were, you’ve built this wall around yourself and God wants to help you take it down brick by brick. From that point on, I worked feverishly at getting rid of the wall.

I landed a great job at UVA and made a handful of friends I could go out with. Unlike in Chicago, I had a support system at my new home. I started going to church. I volunteered at the Virginia Discovery Museum and at UVA. I worked with the international population to help them speak better English. I built a resume filled with lots of public service. My schedule was packed with things I loved to do. I exercised everyday and stayed in shape by running. I was in a good space. That wall I had built was starting to come down brick by brick. 

10 Key Takeaways for finding balance in life!

1. Exercise AND Recover/Rest.

2. Learn something new everyday.

3. Read and Write.

4. Get a balanced diet.

5. Reach out to your ‘Strong’ friends and family.

6. Volunteer.

7. Meditate.

8. My mother says, ‘give God some of your time!’ Try to find a bible based church to attend.

9. Step out of your comfort zone daily.

10. DE-clutter all of your spaces.

Little by little, Brick by Brick..you will be practicing gratitude while living your best life. Balance is possible, you just have to be intentional about creating it!