Playing Catch Up

So I know it's been a while since I have posted anything...over a month to be exact...shameful *hides face in hands*. Allow me if you will to play a little catch up.

My birthday...was absolutely AH-MAY-ZING! I had an awesome time and experience during each day that I celebrated. (Traditionally I celebrate my birthday with at least 3-4 days of activities.) Remember that Wish List that I had? Well I got everything...YES EVERYTHING...that I wanted except for item #3. (See Birthday Wish List Here.) And the way that I received item #1 was nothing short of the hand of GOD. I even got a surprise visit from an old friend. This birthday was great! AND might I add that I posted the wish list simply as a declaration of what I wanted...further proof that we have the power to set our atmospheres and manifest our desires.

Fast forward to the American Black Film Festival, July 2-10, 2011 was a pivotal moment in my professional career. If ever you thought that you could trump the plans of God, let me be the one to tell you that you are absolutely out of your mind! There was NO WAY that I was going to miss this event...this was an appointment with destiny. I have worked with a diverse group of people, but when I say that I have NEVER experienced ANYTHING like this I am not exaggerating. To those I worked with who may be reading this, I just want to say that I enjoyed each moment and I am looking forward to next year.

So this was the short version of my life over the last month. More blessings than I can count and ways for me to just simply be amazed by how much God loves me. Thank you for sticking with me on this journey.

T Minus 3 Days!!!! A Lesson In Friendship

The other day in my "FaceBook Annual Review" I came across something very profound. So much so that I have spent the last few days really considering the words and the weight of their truth. Joel Osteen wrote the following in one of his daily devotions:

Choose Your Friends Wisely

 

“…Do not throw your pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6, NAS). 

Do you realize you have treasure on the inside of you? You could say that your pearls are what God has given you to be a blessing to the world around you—your gifts..., talents and abilities. When you get around true friends, people who really believe in you, they won’t be jealous of your gifts. They won’t constantly question who you are. They won’t try to talk you out of your dreams. It will be just the opposite. They’ll help you polish your pearls, develop your pearls, enhance your pearls, and grow your pearls. In other words, they’ll give you ideas. They’ll connect you with people they know. They’ll help push you further along. If you stay around people who don’t value your gifts nor appreciate what you have to offer, that’s casting your pearls among swine. Your inner circle, those who are closest to you, should be people who celebrate who you are; people who are happy when you succeed. They should be people who believe the very best in you. Remember, it’s not the quantity of friends that’s important, it’s the quality of friends. Choose your friends wisely so you can be all that God has called you to be. 

WOW! Right?

  

I just want to acknowledge the fact that being able to have support from those who truly value you and your being is essential in this life. It's not just cliche to say "no man is an island", we truly cannot survive in this life alone. I have been blessed with some of the greatest people in my circle (so much so I have to ask myself at times what did I do to deserve such favor). It is because of my friends and those that have truly supported me that I have been able to maintain my sanity at times. It is because of my friends who have "called me on the carpet" and held me accountable for my words and actions that I have been able to deal with issues and become a better me.

Thank you to each of you (I dare not mention names for fear of leaving one of the five of you out. LOL) Please know that I love you and appreciate you more than I could ever express. Whether I've known you a lifetime or 6months, 10 years or since I was 10, met you in school or in cyberspace, spend holidays with you or worship with you...God couldn't have blessed me with a better system of support.