On your mark, get set, GO!

How many of us hear that phrase and take off like an Olympic track star?  You start off strong, develop a pace, end with a burst of energy, and most times a win.  Sounds like a great way to go through experiences in life:  giving your all as soon as the opportunity arises and you succeed.  Even if you don’t get that top spot, you are still considered one of the best and can walk away knowing that you gave your all. 

But how many of us hear that phrase and procrastinate or delay our start?  You give yourself too much room to relax or you get comfortable along the way.  Ultimately, you don’t allot enough importance to your contribution to the situation and the end result is a reduced reward or total failure.  Then what?  You blame someone or something for what happened?

What about the man/woman in the mirror?  That Olympic star is the only person running the race.  Yes they had a lot of support, training, and assistance in getting to the starting line, but when the gun goes off its just them.  The win comes from what they have on the inside.  So when it’s time for you to be that star and run your race, don’t procrastinate.  Take responsibility for yourself (attitude, actions, contributions, choices, successes, failures, and lessons learned throughout).  Just being responsible can take you all the way to the finish line.  It not only exudes integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness, but speaks wisdom to those who are watching you.  Now some of you don’t care who is watching, but remember you have to be evaluated by someone to be considered one of the best.  So as you go through life stay “on your mark,” make sure you are “set,” and when your time comes…GO!  Don’t procrastinate, be responsible in your success, and do your best.  Just being in the race is an honor.

Until next week…Andrea M.

Last Week’s Poll:

Q:  How important is faith in achieving your goals?

A:  Unanimous vote of “most important”

For those who voted and even those who didn’t, I hope your actions match your claims of faith.

"O thou of little faith"

In the Bible (Matthew 14) there is a story about Jesus walking on water and Peter’s faith.  In summary, Peter asked the Lord to allow him to also walk on water during a storm. The Lord granted his request and Peter began his walk, but as the storm continued, he became distracted by the elements and began to sink. Jesus saved him, but pointed out that Peter had little faith.  After reading this story, I wondered why Peter would ask for such an AMAZING experience just to lose it because of his lack of faith.  I asked myself:  What extraordinary experiences and blessings have I asked of God?  Those in which I was the only one who was bold and inquisitive enough to make the request.  And God said yes!  But when I started experiencing that blessing, my lack of faith allowed distraction and doubt in God’s ability to take it away.

There is not another instance of Peter having the experience of walking on water.  Some extraordinary blessings never come again. In this new season of my life I, like Peter, have asked the Lord to grant me some extraordinary, radical, and unconventional blessings (as unbelievable as “walking on water”).  He, again, said YES!  This time it is up to me to take those steps of faith and walk in that destiny.  No time to second guess my existence in a situation, lifestyle, or location.  He has already given me my position.  No room to doubt my abilities, efforts, and maturity or allow the “elements of the storm” to influence my focus.  After all, he controls the elements AND the storm.  So if you have never come to this type of bridge in your life, you can take it as food for thought.  If you have ever crossed this bridge, I hope you understand my point of view.  Either way, the bottom line is…don’t doubt God!

Until next week...Andrea M.

Last Week’s Poll:

Q:  Are curvy/voluptuous women beautiful or unhealthy?

A:  Unanimous vote of beautiful.

So why aren’t more curvy/voluptuous women portrayed equally in the media?  Hmmm  Something isn’t right there.

What did you say?

Random ideas pop in my head from time to time. A lot of them end there, but some spark a brainstorming session and there is always a discovery made. When I walk down the street or into a room I wonder what do people see when they look at me?  What makes them smile, wave, or even spark a conversation?  Is it all about their outgoing personality or is there something about me that speaks to them first?  Although I may not be talking from my mouth, my body language and outward appearance reveal so much. Some of what's projected includes how I take care of my body (clean, groomed, clear skin, bright smile, physically healthy, interactive, etc). My demeanor and body language can reveal my attitude and/or personality (facial expressions, arms folded, no eye contact or staring, avoiding proximity or too close to others, etc).  Also my actions and reactions in certain environments can give people an exact idea of what I am thinking or feeling.  Places like a grocery store, mall, gas station, party, restaurant, workplace, and church are a few examples of where your actions can speak so much louder than your words.

Now as a public figure I've been somewhat concerned with the perception that others have of me just because I would like it to match what I see for myself and career. Well, in a perfect world it would match what God sees.  But with that being said, wouldn’t I need to see what God sees?  Absolutely!  Should I be waiting for validation from anyone for what God has promised me?  Of course not!  I must love myself and trust God enough to reveal my path so that I may live in HIS vision.  The public will never notice if I am not fulfilling my purpose, because they have no idea what God has for me.  My current concern is walking in God’s vision.  That will set the standard for who Andrea is to the world.  It will define me with no room for rebuttal.  So as I prepare for my daily activities, I will think about what I will say to the world when my mouth is shut.  I pray that it is positive, productive, and even a little contagious, because whether I want to or not, I will always be saying something.

Until next week...Andrea M.

Last week's Poll: 

Q:  What size do you consider plus size?
A:  The industry standard for plus-size models begins at size 10/12. However, the average size woman in America is size 14.

Please cast your vote in the opinion poll for this week so I can see what you think.

"No, YOU let go!"

In hopes of giving myself and my family the best chances of success, I have to learn to let go.  It is so easy to walk away from things or people that are holding onto me, but what about the people and things that I am holding onto?  Or the ties that have not been severed?  Or the habits that may have slowed down but not been eliminated?  This “self-made" shelter of relationships and habits has protected me from some things…including myself.  But that same shelter has kept me from many things….including MYSELF.  It is built with its own drama, stress, heartache, uncertainty, and cheap memories.  As intelligent and bright as I am, I’ve allowed it to develop and continue.  In my stupidity, I’ve literally laid the bricks.  But it is time for demolition. Everything and every one, two, or three cannot and WILL NOT accompany me on my journey!

There...Great...Decision made!  I’m feeling really good!  But then it dawns on me:  I must learn to function without that old shelter and still be, feel like, and project ME.  I ask myself:  How do I fill the physical, emotional, and euphoric voids?  What is the proper procedure to release my grasp on what has been to what will now be the new normal, comfortable, and usual?  With my mind made up I know that my destination does not have room for negativity.  Only extraordinary but honest minds, positive and prayerful spirits, and unconditional support are welcome.  So as I feel myself break out of a cocoon in one area of my life, elsewhere I feel myself entering another.  But we all know that NOTHING IS WITHOUT REASON OR PURPOSE.

I came across this scripture and it stood out to me.  It also relates to my post.  Think about it.

Matthew 7:6
"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”  (KJV)

“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy.  Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.”  (NLT)

Until next week…Andrea M.