YES WE CAN... YES I WILL!!!

Michelle Obama's speech inspired me... Barack Obama's speech moved me and filled my soul and spirit with renewed hope... I am so excited to do my part to be the change we are moving towards.

I watched Barack Obama's speech with my sons and though they don't fully understand how I feel, but as I spoke to them to explain why I feel so inspired and hopeful... I also was reminded of why I have chosen personally and professionally to be the agent of change that I continue striving and working towards.

Webster's definition of HOPE:
1: to desire with expectation of obtainment
2: to expect with confidence


I HOPE that as a nation we will stand together and vote on November 4th for the change we need... and after that moment I HOPE that as a nation we will continue to stand together and do the work and support the policy changes and do the work that needs to be done. We need to make our individual commitments to change in our self, our families, our communities, our nation.

YES WE CAN... YES I WILL!!
WonderWoman

Transition...

Today I choose to remember that I am “here” for a reason…

I often encourage young people to find their inner superhero, and today I choose to remember my own advice. I have been feeling stuck and afraid to move for a while, and I have begun to get unstuck and I am ready to move. I will use this time of transition to enhance my inner superhero. Today, I am reminded of Marianne Williamson's passage:

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

I found my passion and purpose over the last two years through my work with children and adults at varying places on their personal continuum of happiness and super heroism. Lately I have deepened my understanding of some of my triumphs, trials and tribulations as I move on this same continuum. It is from my own experiences that I have been able to relate and support students and adults as they face their fears and strive to be better today than they were yesterday. Sometimes I have felt like a fraud when I am encouraging others to do what I am often afraid to do myself... to be "brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous". I am in another transition on my own continuum and transition is often a scary place for me. Life is a spiral. Sometimes I feel like I am going up the spiral and sometimes I feel like I am going down the spiral.

Today I wrote a farewell letter to my colleagues announcing that I will be leaving the school I have been working at for over a year. I am taking a risk and leaving my current role in search of a role that is better suited for me to be "brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous". I am not sure what my next piece of work will be, but I have been blessed to work with colleagues and leaders that believes in me, and I have an opportunity to find a role that is aligned with my strengths and will continue to help me grow into my purpose.

I have been feeling really ambivalent about leaving my current job, because I feel sad that I am leaving students and colleagues that I care for deeply. I celebrate many successes over the last year or so in this work and I also have felt out of balance personally and professionally for quite sometime now. Circumstances sometimes force you to make a decision and get unstuck. I am shifting my perspective about my current space. I am moving up the spiral and I feel excited. Every day is filled with new possibilities and I will push past my fears. I am blessed to have wonderful friends, family, and colleagues and I will remember they are my source of strength and encouragement as I move forward and continue to embrace the superhero in ME.

Blessed and Encouraged,

WonderWoman

One of my favorite Days...

Happy New Year/Born Day to me!!! Today I woke up feeling more hopeful than I have felt in a while. My New Year has begun and I am excited about the new possibilities ahead of me.

I have been really thinking a lot about what are my personal priorities as I think about my life and make some decisions as as I move forward personally and professionally. Reflecting on my last year has been a process, and it has also pushed me to get focused on my priorities vs. others priorities. This month I am focusing on reconnecting with myself and trusting God's guidance. I am ready to get out of my own way...

WonderWoman's Priorities
1st- Take care of myself- mind, body, and spirit
2nd- Take care of my children... Coach them to be their best selves
3rd- Be my best as a family member and friend
4th- Share my talents with others
5th- Finish what I started... if "it" will strengthen me


Thanks to you family and friends who shared in my Born Day weekend. Some highlights of my weekend:

• I went to Merengue Restaurant for dinner with some friends. I love good comfort food with my amazing friends. I had enough left over for lunch and dinner the next day.
• I rested... the week was long and I was exhausted, so on Saturday I just chilled and then went out with my sons that evening.
  
• I enjoyed spending time with my sons and some of our "healthy" debates.
• I saw a few films at the Roxbury Film Festival. The Festival was wonderful and I really enjoyed the movies that I saw- Of Men and Boys with Robert Townsend and Steam with Ruby Dee.
• I now share my Born Day with the official Ruby Dee Day in the City of Boston. She received a City of Boston Citation that officially announced Ruby Dee Day... that was inspirational in so many ways. Elder Black women inspire me and leave me hopeful. They remind me that I have decades left to be more and more wonderful and fabulous...
• I ended my Born Day with one of my favorite things... Lemon cake from the Cheese Cake Factory... yummy!

Thank you to my friends and family for sharing one of my favorite days/weekends.

Inspired and Loved,
WonderWoman