Body Soiree

We must learn how to live in the space of inner peace in our everyday lives. This takes consistent, conscious effort because I know so many black women are hurting and sad, and we don't easily express our heartache or show our wounds.  Susan L. Taylor I have peace. I told a total stranger on Twitter that I was going to write about how to have inner - peace. Because getting it isn't easy. It takes work! It takes dedication and a willingness to walk away from anything and anyone that will not take your peace seriously. The question is always "How do I gain and keep my peace?" But the real question is: What are you willing to do to get peace? Seriously! Who and what are you willing to give up to have peace? I can only speak as a Black Woman. It's who I am. And what I know is that as  African-Americans we have been inundated with trauma. Day after day, story after story, through film, books, etc. trauma is disseminated and consumed. Trauma, in regards t...

"I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains" Anne Frank As I was scrolling on a Social Media site, minding my own business, I noticed a trend, people asking others what they hate. Really? We get one life. One life to love as much as we can. Should hate be our focus? Can you list all of the things you love? Despite all that is going on in your life, negative or positive? Write that list. Talking or writing about all that you hate, brings more of what you hate, to you. Don't believe me? Have you ever had a really bad morning? Where everything went wrong? You woke up late? stubbed your toe? Burnt toast and nasty coffee? And if you keep focusing on these things, your whole day is ruined. But when you change your focus(Hopefully on something positive)your whole day can and WILL change. So it makes me wonder, why would people want to write a list about all that they hate? Why encourage that type of thinking and feeling? I believe it comes down to t...

“It is not as much about who you used to be, as it is  about who you choose to be.” ― Sanhita Baruah  The New Year is upon us and with that comes the New Years Resolution. What are your hopes and dreams for this new year? Sometimes it's hard to figure out. Most of us go for the same things: Good health, getting fit, eating right, etc. And those things are great! But have you thought about the "smaller" things? The things that make our everyday run smoother? It's amazing when we take a moment to ponder and really meditate on what we need physically, mentally and spiritually, how our list will grow. So I sat and pondered and created a Hope list for you. Print this and post it somewhere to remind yourself of all that's possible if you so choose.  I hope that you allow yourself peace. I hope that you allow yourself good food. I hope you allow yourself good coffee or tea. I hope that you choose happiness above drama. I hope that you take the ti...

"Happiness is not so much what is going on around you, rather, it is what is going on IN you." My mind was made up. I was very clear with myself. Enough! No more drama, indecisiveness or melancholy. Done. I had finally come to a crossroads(not those Crossroads! No deal with the devil:)in my life where I needed to change...again. I had changed outwardly, but still had those toxic thoughts and feelings. I was tired. I knew that if I kept up with playing the same 'songs' in my head, I would backslide right back into my old behaviors of eating my feelings. It was time to deal. Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, In your way of thinking . – Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Happiness is a state of mind. A lot of people hate to hear this. They either dislike happy people(I am SO serious) or they depend on others to make them happy, then they don't have to be accountable for themselves and put in the work like the rest of us. That is cal...

This is more of a list of things to make life happier than a blog. Sometimes there are situations and circumstance that can and will make life difficult. I won't argue that because I know it to be true.  We might not at that moment, have the power to change our circumstances but we can change how we deal! Even now, some of you reading this might be going through some hard times. Financial difficulties, health issues(mental or physical), Family crisis, etc. Most of us have been there and will probably be there again. How do you deal with your anxiety? Do you overcome? Or do you succumb? I am going to sound like a broken record(I am okay with you saying so)but attitude IS everything. Years ago I created a BE list. This is my list to help me keep and maintain a better outlook on life, a reminder per-say. When we get caught up in the every day of It, IT being life, we can forget that we are surrounded by things to be grateful to and for. Here is my helper to you. Remember to BE: Aware ...

"Entrepreneurship is the act of creating a business or businesses while building and scaling it to generate a profit. However, as a basic entrepreneurship definition, it’s a bit limiting. The more modern entrepreneurship definition is also about transforming the world by solving big problems. Like initiating  social change , creating an innovative product or presenting a new life-changing solution. It can even help lower unemployment rates through job creation to help reduce poverty. Entrepreneurship is what people do to take their career and dreams into their hands and lead it in the direction of their own choice. It’s about building a  life on your own terms . No bosses. No restricting schedules. And no one holding you back. Entrepreneurs are able to take the first step into making the world a better place, for everyone in it." Oberlo.com I agree with everything this mini-article said which is why I shared it. Being an Entrepreneur is very rewarding. If you open ...

There isn't anything that will make you love life like a health scare. I say this with levity, because life is short and we must laugh...even when it is somewhat serious. These past months I have been on a mission to go to all of my Dr.'s appointments, from the Ear, Nose and Throat, to the Gynecologist, nothing will be missed. I am pretty good about going to the Gyne, I'm not one of these women who choose to ignore their vagina and the parts attached to it; so I go. Well, to be honest, I thought all of my tests, mammogram included, would come back wonderful. "Nothing to see here Ms. Morris!" the Dr. would say. "Your body is just as boring and healthy as can be. Go! run free." That wasn't the case this time. "Dawn, you have a suspicious mass and abnormal cells in your pap."We(who is we?) want you to see another Dr. that specializes in gynecological issues." I couldn't help it, when they called the mass 'suspicious' I got a v...

I won't tell a lie, I have a tendency to say things that make people angry with me. I have a tendency to speak the Truth as it appears to me; not only to other people( that ask my opinion) but to myself as well. Believe me! I am NOT exempt from my own thoughts and opinions. It isn't judgement, because I don't have that type of power( if you read my blogs, you know my thoughts on judgement). But it IS bald faced Truth. I am bringing this up because of what is said to me by women AND men in relationships. They ask me my opinion about this or that in their relationships and then are offended when they get my answer! Why did you ask? Are we so used to being lied to that when we hear the truth...we become offended? I just turned 48 and so I don't really have time for bullshit; please excuse the language in this blog! But really, I have one foot in the grave! Who has time for mendacity? Here are my "Rules" and thoughts on relationships: 1.Whatever you say to me, you...

I say something to my Personal Training clients that I always said to myself and still do: "Don't make this whole weight loss thing bigger than what it is(excuse the pun). In fact, don't make most things going on in your life bigger than you! Put everything that is going on in your life in the correct place and order; from the issues that are out of your control to what can be done right now to make your life better. No one can tell you what is the most important issue, because what might be a problem for me, might seem like a non-issue to you, and this is why you have to sit quietly and go over your priority list. I try not to say write a "Problem List" I use the word priority instead; it is way more positive and why turn it negative if we don't have to? So, sit and write your priority list, once you have finished, look and see what is number 1, is it your health?  9 out of 10 times, for most of us, it isn't. The list usually goes like this: 1. Pay car/h...

I had a hard time letting go. People, things with any type of sentimental attachment, etc. It was the idea that I had abandoned someone that I couldn't shake. What if they might need me? What if they are left alone and something bad happens to them? What if all they need is just one more chance to act right and I leave? Then what?! I am writing about this because just last night, as I was cleaning out my backpack, a note from years ago dropped out of my agenda. It was a note written by an ex-fiance listing all of the reasons he loved me. This note was written over seven years ago... why do I still have it? I thought I had become this person who every six months cleans house, literally and figuratively. Clothes, shoes, linens, people, I clean house, but I guess old habits die hard and for some reason I kept this list and then promptly put it away and purposely forgot it.  Did I need validation? I was a good Woman to him, he was a donkey( did you know some donkey's walk and talk...

As anyone that knows me knows; I love happiness. I go out of my way to be happy and I try and only bring happiness to others. There are some people that say they do, but then go out of their way to be miserable, I am not that person. I really do choose happiness, well most days I do. Like any normal human there are days that I am not feeling It. Meaning: I am not feeling happy and I choose not to be happy. I am kind of enjoying being a grouch and talking smack to myself.  On these days I also choose not to be around happy people, you will find that they will get on your nerves quick with all of their happy talk and attitude! Who do they think they are anyway? On days like this I choose to watch "Reality" television and all of the other fecal matter that is on t.v and there is a lot of crap to choose from. On days like this I choose not to exercise. Because exercise makes you feel good AND happy; can't have that! After the bad t.v and no exercise regime, I usually have rea...

Besides me trying to be the most positive person EVER ! I have really been working on forgiveness. Oh Yes, the F-word.  Holy Crap! it's hard.  I read a book that requests that you list all of the people that have crossed you, every last one , then write how they have wronged you. You will be amazed at how long this list can get. Then, when you have done all of this, here is the kicker: YOU MUST FORGIVE THEM! Incredibly difficult and mind blowing. Why? Because as you are writing all of this stuff down, you start to notice a pattern in your behavior and in your interactions with other people. If you are willing to recognize it for what it is, great change can happen for you! There can be no excuses, because the Truth will be staring you right in the face, all in black and white. The questions I started asking myself, once I noticed my patterns were: 1. Why did I attract these particular people into my life( Family we can do absolutely nothing about.. sorry!)?  2. Why did I ...

I woke up today aggravated. I mean really in a nasty mood, I don't know why, I was just...mean.  It was a mood where nothing made me happy, the voice in my head was peevish, grouchy and full of snark! and I am not at all proud of this. You know it is a bad mood when coffee won't even help. What!? No, my great comforter coffee couldn't even get me out of this dark cloud. When I get like this, and sometimes I do, the best thing for me to do is a self-evaluation. My first question to myself is: What the @!#& is wrong with you!? It is asked in a very professional way and in a secure environment. Second question: Do you need a drink? Totally out of the question! It is nine a.m. I could go by International time, but I won't do that. Third question: You don't plan on doing anything crazy do you? I mean something that could land you in jail? This is a two part question and must be thought out carefully. Crazy is a harsh term and jail isn't an option; especially if I...