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Lately I’ve been talking a lot about peace. Peace is life without worry, life without stress, life with joy and happiness. There are different things in this world that will stifle your peace if you allow it to, including some relationships, material things, jobs and even other tangible things. The question is how far are you willing to go to protect your peace? Are you willing to let go of the thing(s) that is taking away your peace? For years I tried to balance my peace with the very thing that was working to destroy it. I realized that it was impossible to do after each year feeling the same way I felt the previous year. Tired, stressed, depressed and no excitement for life. I thought to myself, I always imagined life would be better than this after I did what I was supposed to do for myself such as making good grades in high school, attending college, etc. I found out that attributing my value to my accomplishments and livelihood would always be a downward spiral. I needed more. There was an empty space on the inside of me. I decided to begin asking God to help me to reach a place of peace and state of rest. After praying and fasting he revealed to me what I needed to do. His answer was to stop carrying things that were too heavy for me. I knew then that I had to let go of some things that continued to jeopardize my peace. This is when I truly started to live again. I can look back and be grateful for everything I went through to make it to this place. You cannot fully appreciate peace if you haven’t experienced chaos. Life is not a fairytale, however you have the keys you need to obtain peace. Seek God and his guidance will lead you to still waters. I hope this blesses you. La'Trish 
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My grandma passed on July 6, 2022. When I received the news it didn’t feel real, but one thing I knew for sure is that an era of my life had ended. I say this because grandma was always there. She was here with us for a long time. My grandma was 93 years old when she went home to be with the Lord. I knew my grandma was favored because throughout her years she was in good health and didn’t experience pain. She was very mobile and anyone could tell you that for many years she walked everywhere she wanted to go, even in her later years in life. Grandma leaving this world has put me on alert. We all know that we have to die one day but when someone lives that long and passes away it’s almost a feeling of profoundness and wisdom that you get from reflecting on that person’s life. I believe that some elderly people exude a strength that we have yet to experience. My grandma saw so many people pass away during her years of living. I can imagine it really hurts to see loved ones go at first but after a while you develop a sense of peace in knowing that it’s a way of life and that going to heaven is all of our ultimate goal. This can alter the way one thinks about death. Grandma passing away reminds me of the importance of time. I believe she spent much of her time on earth in a way that brought her joy and peace. This is the way I would like to spend my years here on earth. Joy and peace are the two most important things any human can have. I want to age gracefully, not allowing the worries of the world to infiltrate my spirit. Don’t look up one day to only see that you lived your life in a way that our modern culture approves of, but as a result neglected your soul. Find what makes you happy and gives you peace and hold on to it.  My grandma, myself and my dad on my high school graduation day, June 2008. By Isis I no longer feel the same, I'm tired, I feel alone. In a dark abyss, away from what kept me safe. This loneliness that quickly ended. I was consumed in ashes by this hatred that controls me. Who am I and why am I here? Is this really what I've become? No, that's impossible, I'm just tired, restless, overwhelmed and desperate. Where is the girl who played and danced in the flower fields? That girl who knew what she wanted. That girl who achieved what she set out to do. That girl who had dreams and hopes. I don't know where I am, I don't know who I am. I want someone to find me. I want to be saved, I want to feel calm once more. But no, it's not like that. I'm the only one who can get out of there. And stop feeling that I'm not from here. Realize that this loneliness does not belong to me. That I can be happy and accept what life offers me. Above is a poem by one of my students who participated in our Poetry Event at the school where I teach. Her performance and delivery was amazing. I hope this poem touches and inspires your heart. I decided to feature this student because she is ambitious and her poem is undeniably powerful. She writes poems as a hobby and I'm sure her ability to express herself so well through written and spoken performance will continue to open many doors for her in the future.   Where do I start? According to cdc.gov, “Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.” For many years, I always thought that someone was crazy if they had mental health problems. My experiences in different professions have educated and changed my perspective on the way I view those two words “mental health.” I view mental health similar to how I view physical health, you need to have good mental health in order to live a happy life. When I think of mental health I think of one’s mind and heart. A person’s mind and heart determine the status of their mental health. When I'm unbothered and in a state of peace, I'm in a good place mentally. What I didn't know in my younger years is that there are levels to not being okay mentally. A psychotic break is an extreme level of not being okay mentally, whereas stress and depression are not as extreme. I believe it’s important for everyone to periodically do a mental health self-check. Many of us already do this, however, we don’t call it a mental health self-check. When you decide that you deserve a vacation to reward yourself for working hard, you have done a mental health self-check. Deciding to take a walk in the afternoon to get some fresh air and to clear your mind is also a way to check-in mentally. Going to sleep early, so that you can handle the next day’s to-do list efficiently, is another way to protect your mental health. Stress, anxiety, and depression are familiar factors that can disturb your mental health. When addressing those feelings sometimes you have to decide to let some things or people go. I’ve learned that when something or someone doesn’t contribute to me experiencing happiness, then I have to back away. My peace is a part of my mental health and I will do whatever it takes to protect it. Life is not a fairytale; there will be times when life tries to disturb your peace, however it's critical for you to make the appropriate changes to protect it. Note: Mental health is a term used to describe your emotional state. Always remember to protect your inner peace. If it costs you your peace, then it's too expensive.    So, let’s see…It’s been a while. Life has been crazy, so crazy that it has affected my writing progress. Things haven’t been the easiest lately. Have you ever felt stuck in a situation? Lately, that’s been the feeling. How do you escape it? You definitely have to pray, but when you pray please keep the conversation between you and God. He knows and has all the answers. Sometimes asking others for advice can make things a little confusing for you, and no one knows your situation and how it is affecting you like God does. After praying about the situation that makes you feel stuck, you have to listen to what God tells you to do about your situation. Sometimes we listen and we know we are hearing from God, however we are afraid to follow through with what God is telling us to do. Getting over fear is majority of the battle when making a huge decision. Everything God tells you to do may not be comfortable for you, however it’s always the best thing for you. When God speaks to us, he waits patiently for us to follow through with what he has told us. The sooner you decide to trust in God and take a step of faith, the sooner you will experience a sense of freedom from feeling stuck. God has more for your life and this is why you feel stuck in your current situation. Life can be more fulfilling than what you are experiencing. Know and trust that God has more for your life, so pray, listen, and make the decision to follow through with what God tells you to do. Life is not a fairytale, there is a reason for every situation you go through, however seeking God’s word for the next steps to take can help you escape an expired season in your life.  Each season of your life has an expiration date, just like food. This Christmas was amazing! First off, the weather was perfect! I enjoyed every moment of the warm sun shining down on this beautiful day Jesus was brought into this world. I wrapped my gifts really late (which means on Christmas Day...lol). Nonetheless, I thought I would share a few gifts I purchased for my best friend (B). B is tall and lean so I knew I would have to get him something with long sleeves in it. I thought the shirts below and the MK Cologne "Cityscape" from my Mary Kay Consultant and former recruiter Atiya McNeal, would be just the appropriate gift for this holiday season. The cologne has a clean, sophisticated smell, that isn't too loud and he can dress the shirts up or down. I like the fact that me and B (bestfriend) has the same style. This made it a little easier when shopping for him.
Click the link to purchase: Cityscape Cologne  Izod plaid, button-up shirt. Material is soft and gives me hard-working man lumber jack vibes.  You can wear this Izod shirt with your choice of accessory to take it next level. Give it your own flair.  You can pair this Chaps button-up shirt with some nice slacks or khakis.  This Wrangler button-up shirt was actually B's favorite. Pair this with some black jeans and be on your way out the door. Hi, if you have found your way to my blog I would like to tell you that today is a very special day. Today is my 32nd birthday! I hold so many titles but my favorite one is "overcomer." I’m a woman who has experienced many things from jealousy, to hatred, to physical and verbal abuse and out of all those things I’m still standing. Life is no fairytale, however God still has the solution to any problem you may face. My mood today is thankful, I’m too blessed to be tripping about anything old or new. There will always be things you can trip out about, however growth is when you choose happiness and to focus on all the good things. The small things are just distractions and are there to stop you from being your best self. No one knows your story, we all have one. Make sure you are using yours to uplift someone else. Don’t allow your circumstances to make you bitter. You’re stronger than anything that can come up against you and you deserve a peace of mind and happiness. Happiness and resentment can’t co-exist. On this day as I celebrate another year that I’ve walked with God and family and friends here on earth, I stand proud of what I chose not to allow to consume me. I stand proud of the fact that not only did I survive every attack that threatened my life, but I am thriving gracefully.
 What’s in the way of your dreams? Is it time, money, or health conditions? I’ve been struggling for a while to find a balance in my life to work towards accomplishing my next dream. I’ve been a dreamer since childhood but sometimes continuing to work on my dreams can be challenging, and then it hit me. Steve Harvey said on his radio show that your discipline determines your destiny, not your desire. After hearing this, I figured that I need to find a way to accomplish the next dream that I have been desiring for too long. I’ve been working on it, but I often start and then stop due to life happenings and let's be honest, mainly the lack of energy.
Sometimes after working hard every day, my energy feels like it is zapped from me. Finding that quiet, therapeutic time for yourself is key. I took a break with blogging for a while, but then realized I needed to go back to the very thing that saved me. It helped keep me grounded years ago when I was going through recovery from an injury. Fast-forward to today and it is playing that same role in my life once again. I’m grateful to have this outlet. Not only is it providing the therapy I need to set the tone for a conducive environment and mindset for me to work towards my next dream, but hopefully I am helping others in the process. Don’t give up on your dreams; you have to fight for them. This world will throw every distraction at you that it has, but you have to fight. Drag yourself up off the couch when you get home. With every ounce of breath or piece of energy you can muster up, work towards your dream. Strive to complete one thing towards your dream each day, no matter how large or small. Your life is worth it. It is worth being able to look back and see that you did everything you wanted to do in life. You explored this world and your limits, you worked hard but had fun while doing it. Please keep going (I’m saying this to you as I also say it to myself). I hope this blesses you! Trish  Teach them that curse words are only for people who have a limited vocabulary.
Those are the people who want an adversary. Every day I seek and pray to the most high. So that my soul can be at rest when I die. In life I've learned that people will say things to hurt you. When all they really want is a debut. Insecurity comes from this. Confidence resides in bliss. Overlook them and know there will be things you have to endure. However these are the things that God uses to make you mature. Get back to your father's business. Nothing else really matters; I am a witness. All these extra things are just a distraction. God's plan for your life is the main attraction. Trish What do you do when you don't know what to do? You've prayed, you've stayed the course but yet you're feeling stuck. What do you do when you don't know what to do? You're worried about bills and feel like you have no luck. What do you do when you don't know what to do? You're not feeling valued, and you know what you bring to the table. What do you do when you don't know what to do? When you're stuck in between a dream and reality, and this world seems to always make you a label. What do you do when you don't know what to do? The only thing that's left to do, is pray and fast and make "you" a priority. What do you do when you don't know what to do? It's never been easy not being a majority. Trish  |
AuthorI'm an East Carolina University alumna. I have experience in journalism, law, radio broadcasting, television production and teaching. My goal is to make a difference in the world through media and motivational speaking. Archives
September 2022
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