Unmute

I f you don't know, let me tell you, romantic relationships in 2021 are not for the weak. Truthfully, if I'm going to be brutally honest, relationships have never been easy. The saying "Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus" is certainly more than a notion. But it goes even deeper than that. We all come into relationships with emotional baggage, history of failed relationships, upbringing, preconceived ideas, unspoken expectations, etc. There should be no surprise why most relationships that are started with the best of intentions usually fail miserably. Whether the relationship looks like a fairytale or it's as toxic as they come, the simple truth is you get what you allow.   3 years ago, my husband and I finally separated after a 7-year rocky marriage. To his credit he could be  extremely giving, helpful, and supportive, There are many things that I would not have accomplished without having him by my side. So what was the proble m   in the marriage? Was th

   An upscale downtown shoe store window proudly displayed an impressive pair of red designer heels. The shoes seemed to call out to a young woman as she attempted to pass by. Captivated, she walked inside to have a closer look. She approached the salesman anxious to know the price. He informed her the heels in question were expensive, limited edition shoes, and the store only had one pair left.  The shoes were definitely over her budget but she figured there would be no harm in simply trying them on. She promised herself she'd only wear them for a moment and then she would promptly take off the fabulous pumps, walk out of the shop, and try to forget they existed. But as she held the elegantly crafted box her heart seemed to skip a beat. She quickly pulled back the decorative packaging revealing the most exquisite pair of shoes she had ever seen. Barely stifling the squeal that erupted from her lips, she removed her shoes and hurriedly slipped into the beautiful heels. They seemed

  I n a place far, far away there lived an old, bag woman who was revered by the townsfolk; she was known for making predictions about the people of the town. The people believed her words; whatever she spoke about a person would somehow come true. The young and the old alike would come from both far and near to hear her speak her prophecies. The townspeople would gather around her as she rocked in her old rocking chair. After a minute or two she would begin to hum, quietly she'd get up from her chair, walk over to the old kettle stove, reach into her pockets and pull out 3 mint leaves, drop them into the pot and begin to stir the boiling water. Then she would speak her prophecies to the memerized crowds. The people believed her words and sat spellbound in her presence as she spoke. And sure enough, her words would eventually be fulfilled. One day, two young girls from the same side of town went to visit the old, bag woman. The girls wanted insight concerning who they would one d

  Have you ever thought about how some of the most invaluable assets of our world came to be? We rarely consider the processes that are involved in refining gold, diamonds or other precious stones. We simply admire the finished project without regarding the sweat equity that produced these beautiful and costly items.  Pressure is defined as constant physical force that is applied to or against an object. Many of the world's precious treasures that are here today would cease to exist with the absence of pressure. Although the process of pressurizing an object can be a burdensome and tenuous task; I think we'd all agree it's worth it.  Diamonds are formed from carbon that is buried, deep beneath massive layers of earth. They are put under intense pressures equaling 725,000 pounds per square inch. Next, they are exposed to extreme temperatures totalling 2,200 Fahrenheit.    Once found they must be cleaned, sorted and inspected. Only a small number of these diamonds can move on

I absolutely love object lessons. An object lesson can provide a unique viewpoint by providing a tangible object to illustrate a teaching or principle. The amazing aspect of using an object lesson is the power of association. Each time you see an image that correlates with that particular subject, the teaching or principle will be reinforced and renewed in the mind. The start of a New Year always brings the thought of resolutions. What were the goals you set for the year? Have you begun working on your to do list? Maybe you know what you want, but you're unsure of how to get it. Well, let's take some inspiration from these big cats. Leopards generally hunt alone. They are risk averse, so you will not find these lovely cats engaging in a confrontational battle. A leopard's night vision is 7 times better than that of humans. They are nocturnal creatures, knowing their advantages, most of their hunting occurs at night. They pick animals that are smaller and defenseless. These

  I s there life after death? I think that's a question that every human being struggles to answer. Although we all hold separate and distinct viewpoints, beliefs or ideologies on the answer to this question the concept is a revolutionary one.        What if death wasn't the end? What if it represented the beginning of something powerful and awe inspiring? What if it required death in order to unlock a change in perception, open a closed door, or provide a different vantage point on a perspective? I've had times in life when I've embraced the thought of death and times when I was immobilized by the fear of it. Regardless of the varying outlooks I've had about death; I can honestly say I've always respected the fact that one day I will die. Yet, I find myself faced with the earth shattering question "Are you ready to die?"  What is insanity? Insanity is continually doing the same thing, but somehow expecting a different result. Simply put, you can't

Our life is full of relationships. Throughout our lifetime we experience our connections with people in multiple ways. We engage in familial relationships, friendships, dating/courtships, marriages, business involvements, and situationships. All of these interactions impact us both in positive and negative ways. Whether the influence in our life is good or bad the relationship is governed by us, we get what we allow.         Years ago I had a former best friend. This friend was incredibly intelligent, articulate, passionate, business savvy, funny, talented and gorgeous -- the total package. She was one of the most colorful people I have ever known. We had some very memorable moments together. But, the problem with our relationship was I didn't get out of it what I put into it. Anytime she needed encouragement, support, care, understanding, compassion, etc I was there. But when I needed support that mirrored what I provided to her it was always suspiciously absen