Today, I Choose to laugh instead of cry...

Today was a interesting day. I am continuing to face some hard truths about some aspects of things going on in my life. Today was like a roller coaster ride, with moments of highs and lows throughout the day.

• I started off the morning feeling frustrated personally and professionally. Personally I decided to let go of the "I am right, and you're an ass" and took the high road in a situation. Professionally I had to take the high road and let go of some of my stubbornness about a situation. That left me feeling upset, but I know it was the right thing to do.
  
• Then I went to a meeting with my like minded counterparts in other schools and felt connected and rejuvenated. The director of my department shared some enlightenment on how to get thru, and that left me feeling hopeful.
• Then my everyday frustration kicked in, but I didn't let it take over. I went to a friend's house where I could quietly pick one task and complete it. That felt good. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich was so comforting, and the convenient location of my friend's house allowed me to finish my task and get it down to south station in time.
  
• This evening I had a planning meeting, that was productive enough, but more than anything we laughed and learned... and laughing is truly the best medicine. We broke bread, worked, and laughed for almost 4 hours. It was truly what my spirit needed to lift the heaviness I was feeling.

Today I am grateful for:

• The ability to laugh and learn. ICE IT OUT! (inside joke)
• Working with such a great cohort of counterparts in the field. We are able to support each other without judgment and competitiveness.
• My cohort is going to a conference in Oregon. We need the break!
• I am going to Alabama on Thursday and I will spend the weekend with my Grandmother... my SHERO! I can't wait for my night time chats with my Grandma. Since my Grandad passed most of my family members don't like to sleep in my Grandparents room (they were old school... two beds in the room). I on the other hand look forward to the spiritual comfort I feel when I have my slumber party with my Grandma.
• My Grandma doesn't always connect with the details of what's going on in my life, but she always connects with my heart and spirit... she encourages me and reminds me that I am so much more than my present circumstances. I am so grateful that I know that and even in the midst of the storm I know that I know... I am so much more than my circumstances. I am thankful that I have learned that truth.
  

Following my heart,
WonderWoman

From a Whisper to a Gut Punch...

Some of my closest friends and family know that when I call them... take a deep breath and say... "guess what happened to me"... they know that I am about to share some crazy recollection of an event that could only happen to... me.

Well usually my "guess whats" are situations that are the reminders or lessons that come to me thru a gut punch, because I was ignoring or avoiding the whisper. Saturday was one of those days, I was involved in another hit and run car accident. It was not a serious accident, but a very symbolic incident. The jerk side swiped me, and raced away. At first I started to follow him, but the whisper said just get the license plate, so I did. I was angry for a little while, and then I did what I knew I needed to do... I got quiet and listened. I have been avoiding that quiet ME time. But after the car incident, I knew I needed to pause and get alone for a while. After a good soul cry (I needed that more than I thought). I have been emotionally exhausted, physically ill, and mentally overwhelmed for a while now. So on Saturday, after the gut punch... I listed my worries and that moved me to surrender some things. Surrendering allowed me the space to shift from what I don't want... to WHAT I DO WANT!

Saturday started off with some affirming and fulfilling moments. Working on Saturday has been the source of some of my unbalanced life and also a source of great fulfillment. I don't have the words yet to describe the feeling... but its amazing to do work that I know my journey, that was filled with trials, tribulations, and triumphs, prepared me to do. I shared some insight with a young mother while she waited to pick up her beautiful daughter. As we were talking I realized, that if I had not been through it before I wouldn't not have had the insight to share. Some days I am able to give to others what I probably needed when I was in their similar situation. As it has said before... the gut punch was my reminder that God ain't done with me yet.

I was skimming thru this book, Nothing's Impossible: Leadership Lessons from inside and outside the classroom by Lorriane Monroe. I found a new quote to add to my collection this week from Ms. Monroe, "As you grow, so does your work, and so will those whose lives you touch."

Some things I am grateful for:
-My faith and trust in God's love for me
-My Grandma T for being an amazing representative of God's love. She is truly my shero!
-Music. Two songs that really spoke to my situation these days are by Yolanda Adams- Anything and Only if God Says Yes.
-Corn Dogs. I had a corn dog yesterday and it reminded me of some special moments that I have shared with my youngest son. He was obsessed with corn dogs at one point and we would go on missions to find the best corn dog in the frozen food section... lol.
-Creative combinations for cheesecake... I just love dessert! I had a slice of cookies and cream cheesecake... yummy!
-My new highlighter w/ post-it tabs. Oprah put me onto this new product and I am using it for the new Oprah Book Club- A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.
-My Tivo... I am all caught up with The Wire and Oprah... :-)

Peace,
WonderWoman

Just Fine!

Just Fine
By Mary J. Blige
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This week has been one of those weeks... where I had to get in the car at certain moments, turn this song up, and remember that... I AM JUST FINE!

The verse that really speaks to the space I am in:

"Let it go……
Can’t let this thing called love get away from you
Feel free right now, go do what you want to do
Can’t let nobody take it away, from you, from me, from we
No time for moping around, are you kidding?
And no time for negative vibes, cause I’m winning
It’s been a long week, I put in my hardest
Gonna live my life, feels so good to get it right"

This has been a week of coming to terms with some truths that I didn't want to deal with. It has also been a week of reality checks, and reminders of how hard yet rewarding it is to be Wonder Woman and all the roles that I have as a woman, a mother, a daughter, a friend, and change agent.

Between this song and my Yolanda Adams playlist, I know I am JUST FINE! This is the journey and I have to just keep shifting my thoughts and feelings from a space of negativity to a high state of positive focus.

I re-started my Gratitude Journaling (where you write 5 things that you are greatful for... daily). I wanted to share today entry:
1- That God knows my heart!
2- That God has my back!
3- For 24 hour Walgreens
4- For caramel
5- For music that can change my mood

Peace and Blessings,
Wonder Woman