Saturday, December 31, 2011

Dream BIG in 2012 and Accomplish Your Goals


     I can’t believe how fast another year has come and gone.  What can I say?  Praise God for allowing me to live through another year.  Praise him for my family, friends and for giving me good health and strength.  Praise him for allowing me to see another year. 
    
     What will the New Year bring?  I’m not big on making New Year’s resolutions.  However, I am big on having dreams and setting goals in order to fulfill those dreams.  Many times people give up on their dreams because they feel they have gotten too old or they may believe because of past disappointments their dreams aren’t possible.   Don’t let past disappointments cause your dreams to fade.  No dream is unattainable if you believe you can do it.  God tells us in Psalm 92:12, “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree because when the storms of life blow, you are going to come right back up stronger than before.”  He also tells us in his word that he will give us the desires of our heart and that if we ask, we shall receive.  However, that doesn’t mean it will come without work on our part.  Here are a few tips to reach your goals in the New Year.

               1.  Look to God for wisdom and strength to fulfill your dreams
               2.  Write your goals down
               3.    Create a step by step action plan
               4.   BELIEVE and put your plan into action
               5.     Decide how you will reward yourself as you meet each goal
               6.     Check off each step as you begin to accomplish your goals
               7.     Reward yourself along the way as you meet each goal 
               8.      Celebrate your successes with family and friends.  However, I caution you to be selective with whom you share them with.  Not everyone will share your same excitement and vision.  Negative people can crush your spirit and cause you to give up on your dreams.  Share with those who have a history of encouraging you and lifting you up.
              9.  Thank God when you have met your goal
             10.  Stay humble and enjoy the blessings of your success

     Wishing you and yours a happy and prosperous New Year.  Until next time, I hope you have been encouraged, empowered, enlightened and enriched.   

Peace and blessings,

Cherlisa

Thursday, November 24, 2011

A Time To Give Thanks


Thanksgiving Day is a time where families look forward to the tradition of coming together.  What does that tradition look like?  For most people they will gather with family, laugh and eat turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato pie, pumpkin pie and a whole smorgasbord of other delicious dishes.  After round two or three time to watch football!  The next day, after the turkey has digested hundreds of thousands of people all around the country will race to the stores to take advantage of all the Black Friday deals.   More importantly than all of those things, Thanksgiving Day is a time to reflect on all of the blessings God has bestowed upon us.  It’s a day to give thanks.

As tough as times are we all have something to be thankful for.  Take time to thank God today for all he’s done in your life; love of family and friends, food, shelter, good health and so much more.  Those may seem like basic things in life but there’s someone not so fortunate.  Give thanks today and every day.  I pray today that God will continue to bless you and yours.
From my family to yours, we wish you a Happy THANKSgiving! 

Until next time, I hope you have encouraged, empowered, enriched and enlightened.               

Cherlisa

Monday, September 19, 2011

What Determines Your Self-Worth?

    Self-Worth is defined in the dictionary as respect for or a favorable opinion of oneself.  Yet, when you look at society the people that are most highly esteemed are those with the most money, cars, the biggest houses, the most fame, the highest professions, titles and even looks.  Unfortunately, because of this societal belief, for many people they grow up believing that their worth is based on material gain.  Sadly, this ideology for many becomes a generational curse they in turn instill this belief in their children by putting so much importance on ‘things’.  Their children feel they are inferior or important because of what they have.  Others may feel they are pretty or handsome because of what they are wearing.  In reality what they are teaching them is that they are not enough.
     What happens if they are ever in a position where they are unable to afford those things?  They feel inadequate.  As they get older, even as adults they will go to any extent to get the things that make them feel important.  When some people find they are unable to get ‘it’ they feel as if life isn’t worth living.  I’ve seen news reports and have known people personally that have taken their lives when they no longer had ‘it’.  Case in point, the suicide rate was off the chart during the 1930’s great depression.
     Self-worth comes from within.  I believe it begins with your morals, values, ethical and spiritual beliefs.  These things lead to self-love.  Lack of material things, external beauty and titles can not make you lose it.  All of those things are capable of diminishing.  However, when you truly love who you are and know the true and living God, you will have belief that you are royalty in all situations.  You matter just because.  Max Lucado once said, “You are valuable just because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are.”  So I ask you to think on this, what determines your self-worth?
Until next time, I hope you have been encouraged, empowered, enlightened and enriched.
Peace and blessings,
Cherlisa

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Are People’s Ethics Driven by Hollywood & Stardom?


I found myself engaged in a conversation on Facebook that became very controversial.  Oddly it was an identical conversation I’d had a couple of years ago at the beauty shop.  The Facebook post stated, “Are women really excited about R. Kelly?  I was turned off after all the charges involving 13-14 year old girls.”  Granted R. Kelly wasn’t charged with the crime.  If I recall correctly he settled out of court.  However, for me it’s still clear that he has an attraction to young girls because it was documented that he did marry Aaliyah when she was only 15 years old.  Her mother later had the marriage annulled.  Now 50 years ago, this wasn’t so unusual.  It wasn’t uncommon for parents to give consent for their children to marry at that age but times have changed. 
     After realizing over the years that so many people still enjoy R. Kelly’s music and support him I was pleasantly surprised to see as people commented on the young ladies Facebook post that there were some people, male and female, that still have a conscious and some ethics.  Like me, they not only do not support R. Kelly and his music but are also disgusted by his desire for young girls.  However, just like the person I disagreed with in the beauty shop there were some people that STRONGLY pledged their support to R. Kelly, his music and great talent on Facebook.  It was made clear that his talent clearly outweighs his indiscretions in their minds.  One of his supporters commented that it’s not her place to judge him and that he had to answer to his maker.  The last time I checked, God expects us to do better when we know better and will hold us accountable.  I truly believe that some people will not understand the impact this repulsive behavior have on children’s lives until one of their daughters, granddaughters, sisters, cousins, etc. is taken advantage of by an older man.  I ask the same question I asked on Facebook, what message do we send to young girls and boys when we continue to support people that abuse children?  Where is the accountability to innocent children that can’t protect themselves?  Would this behavior be acceptable if he wasn't famous?  I go back to my original question, “Are people’s ethics driven by Hollywood?”

Until next time, I hope you have been encouraged, empowered, enriched and enlightened.
Cherlisa

Friday, April 29, 2011

Decisions Decisions!!!!!



Let me begin by asking a few questions. They may seem a little in left field but just go with me for a minute.

1. Would you go to a restaurant and allow the strangers at the next table to select your dinner for you from the menu? Probably not.
2. Assume you’re thinking about a career change. Would you allow your co-worker to choose what job you’re going to apply for? Not hardly.
3. Would you let the guy down the street decide if your child should go to college or not? Not likely.
4. If you had an ill parent or child, would you allow a stranger walking down the corridor in the hospital to decide if your loved one should have medication or a procedure that would determine if they lived or died? Absolutely, not!
This all sounds utterly ridiculous, right? No sensible person would ever do anything so absurd, right? Wrong! Every time anyone chooses not to vote or to educate themselves on the candidates running for office before they vote, that’s exactly what they are doing. When you give up that right you give up your voice to make decisions for yourself and your family. I personally get livid when a person doesn’t vote but then have the audacity to ask me for a “favor” because they’re having hard times as a result of their choice not to vote. I also don’t choose to hear the complaints of non-voters. Sounds harsh? Well, think about it for a minute. Just as you would have no right to complain if you didn’t like what the guy ordered for you at the restaurant, you have no right to complain when you leave your future and your children’s future regarding healthcare, taxes, education choices and so much more in the hands of perfect strangers by not voting. Food for thought. Literally.

In the upcoming election, I challenge you to do the following;

1. Register to vote. If it’s too late for the upcoming election register now so you’ll be set for the next one.
2. Do some research and find out about the candidates. Don’t take their word for how great they are. Campaigning is like a job interview. That's their moment to shine.  They’re going to tell you all the good stuff. Some may even exaggerate a little.  Do your homework so that you will choose the candidate who will work hardest for you based on their voting record and their position on issues. (Caution: Remember, they are all human. Not all of their views will line up with what you believe but learn which ones are most likely to work for you!)
3. Tell your friends and family to register to vote and share your knowledge.
4. Get to the polls and vote! Make sure your friends and family go too!!!


The choice is yours. What will you decide? I leave you with this, “We must be the change we want to see in the world” ~ Mahatma Gandhi.

Until next time, I hope you have been encouraged, empowered, enriched and enlightened.


Cherlisa

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Stand for Something or You’ll Fall for Anything


Have you ever wondered how people are able to witness things happen time and time again that are clearly wrong and do absolutely nothing about it? How can they do nothing and still look at themselves in the mirror? Frankly, when I see things that are wrong or unjust it gets under my skin. So how do people do it? Do they lack passion? Are they merely living and have no real purpose in life? Are they oblivious to what’s going on around them? What is it? I guess it is easy to just say, “Well, it doesn’t concern me” or “It doesn’t directly affect me” or “It takes too much energy to take a stand.” It takes a really strong and courageous person to stand up for what is right and be willing to fight in order to make a difference.

There was a time in our history when ordinary people didn’t think twice about standing for what they believed in. As a matter of fact, many of them were willing to die and several did while standing for what they believed in.
On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama an unknown seamstress and member of the NAACP decided she wouldn’t fall for anything. She was on her way home from work and refused to give her seat up to a white passenger on a city bus. She was arrested and fined for violating a city ordinance. But it didn’t matter because on that day, Rosa Parks decided she was going to stand for something. Her act of bravery has been known to be the single event that sparked The Civil Rights Movement that eventually ended legal segregation in America.

In the 1900’s a man who became one of the most respected spiritual and political leaders helped free the Indian people from British rule through nonviolent resistance. He is honored by Indians as the father of the Indian Nation. His choice to stand for what he believed in didn’t stop there. Throughout his life he took other brave stands that changed the lives of others around the world. As a matter of fact, a young man who became the most known Civil Rights Leader of all times, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. patterned his movement of non-violence after him. Mahatma Gandhi refused to fall for anything. He took a stand and in return he changed the world.

Then there was a young woman that is remembered as a women’s rights leader but she also campaigned against slavery. Considering she was a Caucasian woman she could have said, “Slavery is not my problem. It doesn’t affect me.” But she didn’t. She was a passionate campaigner for abolition and women’s rights.

In spite of the law still prohibiting women the right to vote, in the 1872 presidential election in Rochester she cast a vote. She was arrested, convicted and fined. She never paid the fine and the case was carried no further. She refused to fall for anything. Although she died 14 years before women had the right to vote in 1920 and was never able to legally cast a vote, today all other women in the U.S. can vote because Susan B. Anthony stood for change. Congress honored her in 1979 by putting her portrait on a new one-dollar coin.

Today people in the Middle East are showing that taking a stand still works. Nearly a month ago after a 30 year reign, the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, fled massive uprisings in the Egyptian capital when the people decided they no longer wanted to fall for a government that offered no freedom. Their protest only began after they observed the people of Tunisia take a stand. Their bravery has allowed them the possibility to have some of the basic freedoms we have, such as the ability to reflect views, freedom of assembly and democratic values. The whole idea of taking a stand has gone viral in the Middle East. Libya is now standing for change. The result there is yet to be seen. Nevertheless, they are fighting for what they believe in.

Here in the U.S. a Wisconsin protest has drawn thousands of workers who are fighting for union rights. Other states such as Ohio and Indiana are watching the example set by those in Wisconsin.

Are you standing for change or are you falling for anything? Are you still patronizing businesses that don’t respect you, the customer or that supports efforts that you are against? Do you look at other people’s children do wrong and say nothing because ‘they’re not your problem’? Do you stand by and see others treated unfairly and say nothing because you don’t want to put yourself in jeopardy? Ask yourself, are you part of the problem? If so, make a choice today to be part of the solution. If you remember nothing else I’ve written just remember that if you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything.

Until next time, I hope you have been encouraged, empowered, enriched and enlightened.






Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Introduction

Hey Everyone!

Thank you very much for stopping by and welcome. I’ve gone back and forth for a long time whether or not I was ready to start a blog. Well, I finally decided that the time is now so I did it! I am so excited about sharing my thoughts, feelings and opinions with you. My prayer is that through my writing you will be encouraged, empowered, enriched and even enlightened.

Those of you that are my friends on Facebook know that I love inspirational quotes and intriguing conversations. Well, my goal for this format is to take it to another level. This blog is for you as much as it is for me so I want to hear your thoughts. Don’t hold back! I certainly won’t. You’ll hear first hand what’s on my mind so don’t be surprised. I’ll be talking about it all! Dreams and ambitions, relationships and children, my love of writing (Yes! Definitely my love of writing!!! My excitement will be out of control the closer I get to introducing you to my first novel) or the latest good book, social issues and politics, rules I live by, you name it! You, my friend, are invited to come along for the ride.

Until next time, be blessed!

Cherlisa