So here I am, 2 years later. I set up this blog thinking I was going to dive in 2 years ago. I never wrote a single word. I couldn't think of anything to "write" about. Well guess what, one of my goals this year is to STOP Procrastinating, so I'm just going to write about ME. Me praying, me thinking, me working, me exercising, me eating, me cooking, me learning, me growing, me reading, me writing, me dancing, me scrapbooking, me knitting, me saving money, me studying, me having fun, me traveling, me with family, me with friends, me with love interests, ME CHANGING! OK I realize that is a lot of me, but the only reason I am focusing so much on me is so that I can be a good me to all the people in my life and not in my life. I feel I have been a good daughter, sister, and friend, and cousin and coworker, but I am preparing myself to be a better daughter, sister, friend, cousin and co worker, a great wife and mother and a great human and disciple of God. I want to be the best me I can be with the people I love and respect. I'm listening to Joyce Meyer, Heart Test right now and she is speaking on how God will test us and test us until we pass the test. Otherwise you are held back. Makes a lot of sense to me. I am at the point where I refuse to feel self pity, I'm tired of being tired at where I am in life. Early in life, it is like I went fast forward with great things happening for me at lightning speed. I had a great childhood, teenage years and young adulthood. I was blessed with two parents, health, a great family. I never wanted for anything. I was educated and really had anything I ever wanted. (Clearly this was as a result of great parents and the prayers of my ancestors before me and not of my own actions). What better way to repay them and honor them and God than to "wake up" and do the things I am destined to do. I heard this morning from Joel Osteen that we all need to "Wear our blessings well!". Well dang! I mean exactly. I can remember "dumbing myself down" sometime shortly at the end of high school or beginning of college. I didn't want to show how much I knew (education) or discuss everything I had. After college this showed itself in the form of doing things that I didn't necessarily have to do. (more on that later) I participated in things that did not have to be part of my life. I was not wearing my blessings well. Now don't get me wrong. These "blessings" have kept me through these last ten years of my life but I was just floating. I haven't added anything. I have often discussed feeling "stagnant" with many of my friends and family members. The inability to "move" out of my current situation is the direct result of me not taking any "Action". I know it is ok to be content with a current situation but the key is to constantly be working and praying for the next steps at the same time. With that said, Ive decided to take action. Because this is new for me I know that some of those old demons have been trying to get back in and tell me to sit on the couch, watch, tv and do nothing. I know that "Greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world". This is my confession of faith. I know that I can do this with Gods help. I know I can get back on track. I know I can be the "me" I'm supposed to be. Now for those of you out there who are actually reading about me, (lol), please help to keep me accountable for that list of things I said I needed to work on for me! I thank you in advance. So this is what I have done so far. Here goes.
1. I did the master cleanse for 7 days to help cleanse me and prepare me for the changes I will be making in my life. It truly helped not only to cleanse me physically, but it helped me to focus that week on writing down exactly what I needed to do to become the person I am to be.
2. I have been praying over the phone each weekday morning at 6:30 am with my cousins Imani and Ayla. This has truly been a blessing. It enables me to start my day off praising God, thanking him and asking him to watch over me and my family. I have also been listening to the preachings of Joyce Meyer on my morning drive to work. Already I see the benefits in terms of my overall attitude and outlook each day.
3. I have started journaling and now blogging (yay). What I am realizing is that I have a lot of thoughts. Some of them may be just thoughts, but some of these may be the dreams that I have been asking God to show me. Instead of clogging up my brain I have to get my thoughts out. I really believe it will help me to organize, weed out and plan accordingly. Funny because I have always had a lot of thoughts, but they have always stayed in me tucked way back and sometimes forgotten. Or I shared them at the wrong time and they lost steam.
4. I have been cooking!! YAY. Now don't get me wrong, I love to EAT, not cook! But one day my friend Melanie was talking about how it was revealed to her that she needed to start cooking. Not to become a master chef but to prepare her to be a mother and wife. Just one small step. Now initially I have to say I rejected even the thought of that. Those who know me know I like to be cooked for! But it was made clear to me in my prayers over the last couple of weeks that it is something I need to learn to do for my health, to save money and last but not least, to be prepared to be a wife and a mother. Now secretly, deep down inside, I still want to be cooked for.... lol but we will cross that bridge when the time comes.
5. I have joined Dr Oz 11 week move it and lose it challenge. My mom and Aunt Kathy have also joined. The greatest part of the program for me is the calorie and exercise logging. It is really keeping me on track and enabling me to track the foods and calories that are going into my body. I have simply made a decision to eat better. I really don't want to cut out any kind of food, because I love it all, but what I have done is made a conscious decision to make better food choices. I am eating more veggies, more fruit and saving all the bread and meat and wine for the weekends :). I know its for the best.
6. I have exercised 3 times this week. Now it was not anything crazy, but it was more than I have been doing. I know I have it in me to do, but I really need to ask God to help me the most here in this area. I am trying to decide whether to take a yoga, pilates or dance class or even get a trainer, but I hate to spend more money when I still have a Ballys membership and a Ballys right down the street. OK - I'm a work in progress. I wont be too hard on myself.
7. I have read one and a half books. My goal is to read two books a month. As a child it was one of my absolute favorite things to do. and at some point I just stopped. I have no idea why. So far I have read "In search of the Proverbs 31 man" by Michelle McKinney Hammond (gift from Mel). I am now reading "Put your Dream to the test" by John Maxwell. (gift from Sonya). I went to dinner with Jeanne last night and she had the kindle. It was adorable. If I stick to my habit, I will invest in one in the summer time.
8. I have started to apply for new jobs in new areas. I love Florida and I like insurance. But it is just time to do something different. I think. I mean you never know. This process may end up with me right here, but in the meantime, my girl Tania helped me with setting up two new resumes (one for insurance and one for event planning) and I am just putting myself out there. I'm applying in NY, NJ, DC, VA and even Chicago (Ive just always wanted to be there...something about that city). So the choices right now are insurance (risk mgmt, operations, training, marketing), corporate event planning, commercial real estate, public relations or if someone wants to offer me a broadcasting job, I'll take it! :)
Ok so I have a lot more I want to do, (lots of entrepreneurship goals (business plan completion), creative goals (scrapbooking, knitting), finishing insurance ARM designation, and getting my debt under control) but GUESS WHAT, I'm giving myself a year to get everything started. It takes a month to make a new habit, so by Mid February I should be well on my way to being prepared to take the appropriate steps to be the person I am meant to be. For those of yall who have told me, dont try to do too much, and dont be too hard on myself, I AM LISTENING. Believe me, I dont want to overload myself, but it has been a long time coming and Im motivated. Yall know I work best when I have a lot to do. :)
Talk to yall soon.
Love Always
Janelle Nicole
1. I did the master cleanse for 7 days to help cleanse me and prepare me for the changes I will be making in my life. It truly helped not only to cleanse me physically, but it helped me to focus that week on writing down exactly what I needed to do to become the person I am to be.
2. I have been praying over the phone each weekday morning at 6:30 am with my cousins Imani and Ayla. This has truly been a blessing. It enables me to start my day off praising God, thanking him and asking him to watch over me and my family. I have also been listening to the preachings of Joyce Meyer on my morning drive to work. Already I see the benefits in terms of my overall attitude and outlook each day.
3. I have started journaling and now blogging (yay). What I am realizing is that I have a lot of thoughts. Some of them may be just thoughts, but some of these may be the dreams that I have been asking God to show me. Instead of clogging up my brain I have to get my thoughts out. I really believe it will help me to organize, weed out and plan accordingly. Funny because I have always had a lot of thoughts, but they have always stayed in me tucked way back and sometimes forgotten. Or I shared them at the wrong time and they lost steam.
4. I have been cooking!! YAY. Now don't get me wrong, I love to EAT, not cook! But one day my friend Melanie was talking about how it was revealed to her that she needed to start cooking. Not to become a master chef but to prepare her to be a mother and wife. Just one small step. Now initially I have to say I rejected even the thought of that. Those who know me know I like to be cooked for! But it was made clear to me in my prayers over the last couple of weeks that it is something I need to learn to do for my health, to save money and last but not least, to be prepared to be a wife and a mother. Now secretly, deep down inside, I still want to be cooked for.... lol but we will cross that bridge when the time comes.
5. I have joined Dr Oz 11 week move it and lose it challenge. My mom and Aunt Kathy have also joined. The greatest part of the program for me is the calorie and exercise logging. It is really keeping me on track and enabling me to track the foods and calories that are going into my body. I have simply made a decision to eat better. I really don't want to cut out any kind of food, because I love it all, but what I have done is made a conscious decision to make better food choices. I am eating more veggies, more fruit and saving all the bread and meat and wine for the weekends :). I know its for the best.
6. I have exercised 3 times this week. Now it was not anything crazy, but it was more than I have been doing. I know I have it in me to do, but I really need to ask God to help me the most here in this area. I am trying to decide whether to take a yoga, pilates or dance class or even get a trainer, but I hate to spend more money when I still have a Ballys membership and a Ballys right down the street. OK - I'm a work in progress. I wont be too hard on myself.
7. I have read one and a half books. My goal is to read two books a month. As a child it was one of my absolute favorite things to do. and at some point I just stopped. I have no idea why. So far I have read "In search of the Proverbs 31 man" by Michelle McKinney Hammond (gift from Mel). I am now reading "Put your Dream to the test" by John Maxwell. (gift from Sonya). I went to dinner with Jeanne last night and she had the kindle. It was adorable. If I stick to my habit, I will invest in one in the summer time.
8. I have started to apply for new jobs in new areas. I love Florida and I like insurance. But it is just time to do something different. I think. I mean you never know. This process may end up with me right here, but in the meantime, my girl Tania helped me with setting up two new resumes (one for insurance and one for event planning) and I am just putting myself out there. I'm applying in NY, NJ, DC, VA and even Chicago (Ive just always wanted to be there...something about that city). So the choices right now are insurance (risk mgmt, operations, training, marketing), corporate event planning, commercial real estate, public relations or if someone wants to offer me a broadcasting job, I'll take it! :)
Ok so I have a lot more I want to do, (lots of entrepreneurship goals (business plan completion), creative goals (scrapbooking, knitting), finishing insurance ARM designation, and getting my debt under control) but GUESS WHAT, I'm giving myself a year to get everything started. It takes a month to make a new habit, so by Mid February I should be well on my way to being prepared to take the appropriate steps to be the person I am meant to be. For those of yall who have told me, dont try to do too much, and dont be too hard on myself, I AM LISTENING. Believe me, I dont want to overload myself, but it has been a long time coming and Im motivated. Yall know I work best when I have a lot to do. :)
Talk to yall soon.
Love Always
Janelle Nicole
I enjoyed reading your blog.I am so glad to see you are growing both spiritually,mentally, and physically. I so love seeing the growth...keep blogging girl.
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