Being You Isn’t a Fixed State

Freedom is being you without anyone’s permission

Being you without anyone’s permission is freeing. On a similar note, being you without having to prove that you’re being you is even more authentic. When it comes to being me, I’m constantly changing since I’m on a journey learning all the deep parts of myself. Authenticity and being you doesn’t require a fixed state on the contrary, if you are intentionally you, the unfolding of who you were and who you’re becoming should be in a constant state of change. Some people call it expansion. As we grow learn and meditate while connecting with others, our perceptions expand and grow from where they were before. So while yesterday apples made a great raw fruit today they make a great apple pie and tomorrow they’ll make a great applesauce. Being you is allowing change to expand your horizons.

Let people change. Let yourself change. It’s all part of authenticity.

This Quote Got Me Thinking

Life without Liberty is like a body without spirit. Liberty without thought is like a disturbed spirit … Life, liberty, and thought — three persons in one substance, eternal, never-ending, and unceasing.“ — 

Khalil Gibran

This quote speaks on the two things I’ve been talking about Freedom and spirit. Part of me struggles with the end of this quote saying that Life liberty and thought are three persons. I think it’s a creative thought and it’s also a new thought. But I’d never think of those three things are person. However, as a fellow writer I would definitely style my characters to fit those three words. Life liberty and thought eternal? Never-ending? That also is an interesting take.

Are these things eternal?

You Go As Far As Your Team

Emails, meetings, creative endeavors and finally today we got to see our plans play out in real life. Today was our community escape room we called City Quest. I was keeping focused all morning, staying cool but it’s when things started happening that I started to get emotional. In the beginning of all this even before the planning, I was sure what I wanted to do. Then near the end I got a little unsure but the team kept my chin up! And I’m so glad they did. They aren’t kidding when they say,

You go as far as your team.

Since the beginning we all had to (re)learn the importance of patience, commitment, trust, adaptation, leadership and so much more. We can do it. Don’t ever let them tell you anything different! They told me I wouldn’t be able to make our Organization so community based that the community would be part of getting our 501c3. They told me I couldn’t get a Fiscal Sponsor, and they told me there was no point to having an Escape Room. We did it all! And today a little girl told me her most favorite part was the treasure chest!! A treasure chest!! I used my vintage trunk for the escape room and it was more magical to her than it was to me. That magic right there will make every event we plan worth it. All the people who participated lit up my life by showing up and having fun for the sake of fun.

So to summarize, here’s 6 things I learned from City Quest

Let things start happening and find joy there.
Trust your team
Let yourself grow through it!
Don’t listen to the naysayers
Embrace the magic that the little ones around you bring
And always have fun!!

Let it Be Bigger Than You

We are all woven of different colored threads and strengths and colors. We are all a part of something bigger, a very special part of something that continues to evolve. A more perfect union.

Tamlyn Tomita
Photo by Kammeran Gonzalez-Keola on Pexels.com

In comparison to the size of our universe, we humans are small yet mighty. I don’t doubt for one moment the amount of impact a tiny human being with a huge heart can make on this world. The greatest thing a world changer can acknowledge is that there’s something bigger than them. The growing pains that come with learning yourself isn’t just for them. The choices they make, the reasons they stand, or stay quiet are all for a thing that’s bigger than themselves.

Best Night of Our Life

Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.

Mahatma Ghandhi

If we don’t give ourselves room to learn and grow from our mistakes, we limit ourselves from growth. I was so afraid to make mistakes and looking foolish for so long that it hindered me from both enjoying myself and enjoying the things I love. One day I woke up and I realized how afraid I was of everything. I still get scared a lot but that’s not the point. The first time I noticed how limited I was living was when I went to the fair with a young adult that I was mentoring. She went with all her friends and family and they played the fair games like this was their last day on earth and they WON! And when they won they all cheered each other on. It was great, They brought home fishies, stuffed animals, candy. It was wild. I had never enjoyed the fair in that way. That night among other things, lead to me waking up and realizing I wanted to go to the fair and play like it was my last day on earth. That easily crossed over into my life. Don’t let being afraid to lose, keep you from having the best night of your life.

Michelangelo Once Said

The sky’s the limit. We can all go where we dream to go but we gotta work to get there. Sometimes I find myself hoping that someone is going to step in and do the work for me. But after many years of no one coming to save me, I’ve learned to put in the work myself. When I say put in the work I mean put in the work on myself. I’ve learned that prioritizing both saving myself and learning myself makes the journey of life way more adventurous. Like many people say, you gotta invest time and money on the things you really want. I invest time and money, but first and foremost, I invest in myself. I want to have good character once I finally get to where I’m going. I want to have amazing memories that are so good they return instantly from a scent or a musical note played in just the right way at just the right time. When my life floods back to me on my last breath, I want to be flooded with all the love I shared and gave freely to those around me. I haven’t always loved purely, we all have our dark moments but I’m willing to do my best for today. Michelangelo said,

Death and love are the two wings that bear the good man to heaven.

All I can do is live in a way that my light shines so bright, that my love will light the way.

Fruits Good or Bad, Your Choice

It’s feeling like that time of year again. I’m not sure what it is but I feel like I’m in school. It says in the bible you’ll know by their fruit. So… I’ve been thinking about that lately. It says you’ll know by their fruit. And I believe in this verse they’re speaking of Spiritual fruits like Love peace patience kindness goodness and self control. But some people might think fruit is prosperity money luck all the material things that can be stripped away from you in an instant. Here’s the verse.

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Matthew 7:15-20

So what I’ll be focused on is continuing to use integrity and growing my spiritual fruits this season.

Driving and Avoidance

I did a lot of driving in the car today so I had time to think. It was nice and also it was sooo cool in the A/C. So I’ve been thinking about the ways I limit myself from doing what I love by waiting for a better time to do it. I’m the writer who waits for consistency in childcare to really get down and dirty with my writing. But these past two days, with the little one home, I’ve allowed myself more time to focus on the story. Since I’ve been prioritizing my novel for two days, it’s made me realize the avoidance is more than just waiting for consistent child care. It’s because I’m almost at 60k words and I’m correcting inconsistencies and timeline errors. It’s like putting together a puzzle and it feels like all the little pieces are spread out far and wide. Most inconsistencies have easy fixes. Some require me to move, rewrite, or omit scenes. It just feels like I have to read and correct a million words which overwhelms me every time I sit down to edit; especially when I just finish correcting a scene. It’s like I have to dive back into deep dark waters from the shallow end where I was perfectly comfortable. I’m still editing and rewriting everyday but it does hinder my pace when I don’t acknowledge myself being overwhelmed.

How I’m going to work through this

It will require me being honest with myself to. Yes it’s hard without consistent childcare and I respect that. But I also respect that this book is going to be what I have to share with the world and it deserves my time and efforts. I deserve my time and effort. So I’m going to make sure I’m respecting my life as a writer.

Looking Forward

Sunday reflections

I’m excited to hear Beyonce’s new album! She really inspires me.

Here’s her latest song that I’m really digging!!

I didn’t really get into Beyonce until I watched Homecoming live and let me tell you it was like years after it came out. I think she intentionally leads women especially black women to greatness. I appreciate the art and I appreciate that she’s willing to share the table.

Peace Helps

My head was killing me today. It was a strange day. But strange or not, I wanted to get some dishes done, so I pulled up a stool by the sink and played an audible book. I took my time soaking and scrubbing while I enjoyed the book. Then I worked on part 3 of my novel. I’m really enjoying getting through part three. It feels like the story is sort of zipping together.

What’s the point of telling you about my day? The point is I took it slow and let myself be in a restful state while doing the daily habits that improve my life. It’s taken a long time to learn to not angry clean. I’ve always found life in my creative writing. It’s this finding what I have to say everyday that gets hard for me but today I found it by letting myself go at my own pace without pressure.

Peace helps. Letting the noise fall away helps. Letting yourself be in it’s natural state helps. So I just wanted to share that. Thanks for listening.