Forfeiture vs. Defeat

Yes, I am behind on my posts. Sooooo, maybe I over committed a little when I said I would post every day. LOL. Honestly, I have tried to keep up with it. But I seem to have this mental laryngitis that has invaded my mind and stifled my "voice". As much as I have wanted to write, I have stared at the blank screen night after night with nothing to give. I have wanted to give some offering of encouragement, or sentiment of humor, or thought provoking power statement...but I have not come up with anything.

Have you ever been that way? You start out with good intentions and then along the way you start to lose momentum, you get frustrated with your lack of ability to produce the results you desired, and ultimately you turn your attention to something else leaving your task incomplete. Yep, by definition...YOU GIVE UP!

It's very easy to give up on something when you haven't invested a lot into it; but when you have sacrificed at times your very livelihood, lost sleep & weight, and your bank account's balance has been $0.95 for a month (*Praise Break for it not being negative*)...your only choice is to keep fighting because giving up seems to be a lot worse than losing to your opponent. To be defeated you have to at least have been in the fight. When you forfeit it's like looking at your opponent from across the ring seeing their 6 foot-everything stature to your 5 foot-nothing frame and determining you don't stand a chance...so you don't even get in the ring, you simply throw in the towel.

Defeat is a sign that you threw some punches, hit-or-miss; you may have been knocked down a couple of times but you showed resilience and got back up; you talked cash trash right down to the end and stood flat footed with confidence to boldly declare "the only way I'm going out is on a stretcher!" Yes, when you are in a fight for your purpose, your passion, your destiny...your very life is on the line.

Forfeiture on the other hand is the easy way out. You don't even have to try hard to forfeit...you simply don't show up and that is assumed for you. There is no accountability in forfeiting. And when you forfeit, all you will have wasted is the time it took to prepare for the fight, your reputation (which may not be able to be redeemed), your entire savings account, and (not that it really matters...) your pride.

Well, I'm putting my atmosphere on notice...I'm not giving up! I am determined to fight in every round until I win or I die!

*Ding* Next Round...

Rewind....

So today I was a little overwhelmed with life...(stop rolling your eyes, we all get there at some point). But as I reviewed some of my previous posts in preparation for this one I was so encouraged by one that I had to post it again. After reading this and watching Beyonce' perform on last night's awards, I know that there's so much more left in me and I must press because...

Goodness is Free, but GREATNESS will cost you!

In our individual “Pursuit of Happiness” how many of us are willing to go to extreme lengths for the possibility of success? Can you go a day or two or five without eating… surviving solely on your drive and the calories in the free coffee offered in the public library; which also happens to be the place where you are the overnight janitor? Could you stay up studying until 3am knowing that you have to be up at 5 if you’re to be on time to catch the train since the “Repo’ Man” came to visit last month? And by the way, the studying that you are doing is from the books that line the shelves of the library where you’re the overnight janitor; and those 2 hours of sleep are obtained on the floor between fiction and non-fiction since last week was the date of your eviction. In an effort to breathe the vapors of success are you willing to downsize your life, going from a guaranteed source of income to a part time hustle and an internship?

Just how far are you willing to go to get to where you are going?

To be good at something you simply have to have a nice combination of skill and knowledge. To be great at something you have to want it as bad as you want your next breath; be willing to push through the pain as you bear the weight of your goal stretching the muscle of hope; and know that while you wipe the tears of discouragement with one hand you have to keep fighting the battle with the other. Oh, and you also need a nice combination of skill and knowledge.

You see the illusion of success is that it is limited to those with great pedigree, education, or just plain luck. The reality is that success is limitless and can be attained by all who are vested in its reward. Add to that the belief that what God has for you is for you, and you can EXPECT nothing less. 

See you tomorrow...

Closer

Often times when we are in the midst of transition or pursuing something new we become overwhelmed by the hurdles and challenges that we face along the way. I know all too well what it’s like to have your dreams before you and feeling as though everything around you is working against you.

This past year I have had some of the greatest learning experiences of my life. I have seen similar days and times, but never have I been in such a state where I was constantly feeling like I was outside of myself. At times even feeling as though I had no earthly idea who the heck I was. Why you say? Because I have been simply evolving into this being that I see in my dreams, can describe so vividly, am intimately connected to and have longed for since my creation…but for so long thought I could never become.

I used to think it was about my profession, my career, my financial status, my geographic location, my pedigree…but I am confident now more than ever that it is about my effort to live my God-given purpose. The greatest thing that one can ever do is leave behind their fears to die in the fire of passion that fuels your hope. Sure, I am still trying to establish that career that I desire to have, and I still believe that I was born to live in New York, and everyone wants to have financial stability…and I know that it is because of the sacrifices that I have made thus far that I am closer than I have ever been before to having those things.

I have a “can’t stop, won’t stop” mentality…and I am determined to make it!

See you tomorrow!

Countdown Day 2

There are no coincidences when you know that GOD has a divine plan for your life. 

Even though you may not understand the place you find yourself in 

you can bet your bottom dollar that every experience, every triumph, every trial 

is a strategic part of your purpose. 

The Countdown is on...

The countdown is on…30 days until the day that God’s creation and His timing lined up with the stars of purpose and appointment and the Universe became enhanced by the presence that is me. YES…it’s my birthday! *Does the Dougie* Whoop! Whoop!

Now, as I reflect on the past year of my life I’m looking in the mirror asking myself “uhhhh, is this really your life?”

Many of you have followed as I have posted, tweeted, and blogged about the various triumphs and challenges that I have experienced throughout the year. (Thank you by the way. Your support has been extremely encouraging.) Well over the next 30 days I will be submitting an entry every day reflecting and preparing for my new year. I’ll be making new declarations, candidly sharing some of the struggles that I have faced, and giving you a sneak peak at my plans for the coming year.

Grab your popcorn, your soda (some of you may need something a little more stiff *shrugs*…I’m just saying), your sour patch kids, and you just might wanna grab some tissue (you know…just in case you identify a little too much with some of my experiences)…I’m going live for the next 30 days.

See you tomorrow!