There Is Hope
It's kinda hard to believe that October is gone and the newness of November awaits us tomorrow. I think that the past 7 or 8 months have been super hard for me this year. Several large appliances failed, I almost fell deep into depression and some of my fitness goals just went down the drain. It's hard to think clearly when it ninety plus degrees in your home for weeks.
Even in the darkest moments I somehow manage to keep the faith and believe that if God brought me through adversity before, He'll do it again. Coming out of the rough moments this time I noticed something different. I noticed the scars, the damage that stress will do to you when the world weighs heavy on you. I realize now when I eat the most, sleep the most and checkout the most.
So, while I came out with no tangible losses, I came out sore for the pain I inflicted on myself. Not physical pain. Emotional pain. That hurts too. Pain of lost time and lost opportunities because with stress I sleep time away. Pain from not staying on my weightloss journey and having to get back on the journey of being consistent. What has been magnified the most, me seeing how I see and value myself when I can't deal with the stress. I love my myself. I need to love myself more.
Maybe, I've never noticed it before, I clearly see it now. Sometimes, I'm simply not good to myself. Even if I accomplish great tasks, I'm hard on myself when things don't go the way I believe they should. However, there is hope. Hope that this time, I truly see myself and the beauty of all that God allows to flow in and out of my life Hope that when the next thing comes along that I can't handle, I won't sabotage myself. I'll protect the investment.
October saw me come out of a dark space and into some incredible opportunities. It was definitely exceeding and abundantly above all that I could ask for. There is hope and maybe the darkness was needed for me to see bad habits that I had ignored before. For that I'm thankful.
My hope is built on nothing less.........
World Stroke Day
Lord, Your Grace
Today I’m thankful for God’s grace.
In two months I’ll reflect on the day that changed my life and put me on a quest for joy.
November 5 is a day that changed my life. Thinking about it now, it was definitely God’s grace that I received help in a timely manner.
My family and friends have been amazing on my healing journey.
I’m thankful for people who love on me, hold me accountable and hold me down.
August 28
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Resiliency & Gratitude
I have come to find that my writings tell a story. It is one of resiliency and gratitude. For a while I thought my writings were not connected. I’ve written poetry, fiction, a journal and a non-fiction book. Honestly, I thought “My collection is random and it doesn’t make sense.” Then one day I was on ClubHouse and the moderator, Teresa Hairston, told me that my writings tell the story of my resiliency.
Not only had I never considered that idea, I never would have on my own.
Today I got on Canva and created this video. In days to come I will expound on each book and tell why I wrote it and how I created it.
My writings began with a marriage separation and now I am in a state of gratitude. In all things give thanks.
This View Right Here - Finest Playas Mujeres, Cancun, Mexico
When I arrived in Cancun I was exhausted. The journey began early in the morning and 3 flights and 2 layovers later I was so tired. Once arriving in Cancun we had to wait for our transportation to arrive, which really only added to my need to climb in a bed. Our driver arrived and the journey to the resort began. That alone was another twenty or thirty minutes added to the trip.
Mind you, I've never been to an all inclusive resort and I have never been out of the country. So, I didn't know what to expect. I only knew that the pictures of my room were simply beautiful. After arriving at The Finest Playas Mujeres we were directed to wait to meet with our concierge. We sat with a glass of champaign and we wait briefly. A gentleman soon comes and directs us to where we are supposed to go and meet with our concierge. Entering the room the first thing I noticed is a small case of food. It was so cute and filled with finger sandwiches. I would have taken a picture, however I was so hungry. We had left Cincy at six that morning and I had yet to eat or drink anything. By now it's over 12 hours later and the sight of food blessed my heart.
I go over information with my concierge. Honestly, it was too much information to take in for someone who was tired and hungry. I listened as intently as I could and the music that was playing really made me feel calm. I had to ask Siri who the artist was, see video below. The cool thing about that song is that it was also playing when I went to ask about checking out.
My concierge walks me to my room and I immediately notice the beauty of the wood paneled doors of each guest room and how they are blended so beautifully with the neutral walls. Everything you saw walking through the resort was the most beautiful scene. Finally we are at my door and I can honestly say it was more beautiful than I could have imagined. I have a ritual when I enter my hotel rooms, I take pictures of everything before I have a chance to move anything. My room was just like the pictures I had seen, only better.
There was one thing that I was not prepared for, the view from my room. At the point of entering my room the sheer curtains were up and I was snapping pics. After a short period I open the sheer curtains. Nothing prepared me for such beauty. Nothing!!! It was breathtaking. I step out onto my patio and I inhale the beauty and tears gently began to form and I think about everything that I had been through in the past two years. I had to go through all of that for this view right here. It was so beautiful and so serene. So much so that I kept my curtains open during my stay. I wanted to see the sun rise and set. I wanted to see the Caribbean Sea flow ever moment that I could and I did.
Checking In By Michelle Williams
A Brilliant Mind Gala 2021
All I Could Be, Is Who I Am
It's been such a long time since I sat down and wrote something out. I've been so busy being creative, creating content and building my brand that I now realize that I have not set aside time to get my thoughts out or share what is going on with Arlinda.
Let me preference this by saying that I need to get this out. No, I have to get this out.
So, I have been divorced since 2008. The marriage ended in 2007. I have been in some situationships that resulted in broken and shattered hearts, In 2017 I decided to do things God's way and abstain from physical relationships. That means, no entanglements for me.
During this time I began to pray for God to take away the desire to be in a relationship. I didn't even want the attraction stuff. I didn't want to think that a guy was attractive or that he was a possibility to date. My thought process was that if I didn't have the feelings then I wouldn't have to deal with whether or not it would work out. I've been praying this way for years. If you asked me if I wanted a husband or a contemporary home, I'm going for the home for $200 Alex. lol
As my luck would have it, I met a man. Chilllleee!!!!! Listen now! Before we go any further, this situation panned out to absolutely nothing. lol
I officially met him in December, we had a conversation in January and by mid January it was a complete wrap. This guy checked off all of my initial boxes. He's tall, dark, handsome, saved, creative, he works out and eats similar to how I sometimes eat, most of the time anyway, and he is the nicest person. One evening we had the best conversation. I'm laughing and blushing the entire time.
Several days later the conversation took a turn and I had no idea what to do. So, what did Arlinda do? She reacted in defense. I couldn't get out of that defensive mode. My defenses was up like a DJ Khalid song. It stayed there. I didn't want to be perceived a certain way by him. I wanted to control the narrative because that's what I needed. Letting go of being in control is hard for me. That moment didn't need me to control it and he said to me several time to let it flow.
I just couldn't.
I remember him trying to have a conversation with me about what I was thinking and how I was feeling. By then I had shut all the way down and in my mind I said, "Oh, forget this!"
I've been through my share of bad relationships and I think for the past, nearly four years I have been working through some stuff with myself and apparently I have a way to go.
I am being kind and gentle with myself. I know that instead of working on the issue I had with this guy in that moment all I could be, is who I am.
Guarded.
Closed Off.
Not trying to hear it.
Maybe I should just focus on my dream home because the idea of meeting and getting to know a guy concept? That's not working well for me.
Review: Woman Evolve: Break Up with Your Fears and Revolutionize Your Life
Woman Evolve: Break Up with Your Fears and Revolutionize Your Life by Sarah Jakes RobertsMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Woman Evolve: Break Up with Your Fears and Revolutionize Your Life
I'm finishing up an advanced copy of Woman Evolve and I have had to pause several times to reread and take some notes and honestly kinda sit with myself. I've never heard anyone discuss Eve is such detail. We know Eve was in the garden and that she ate the apple. This time I'm being able to see myself as Eve. God knows I've submitted to things that I wasn't supposed to but I got curious and inquisitive. There were many consequences for my actions.
Woman Evolve will help women not only get to the root of their fears and past bad choices, it'll also teach them that once you identify that root and work on it, you are then evolving. What's even more amazing is that once you step into who you are supposed to be other women will rise up to operate in their purpose too.
Thank Pastor Sarah.
View all my reviews
I Go Red!!!!!
I Go Red!!!! 
#nationalwearredday2021
I have participated with #GoRedForWomen
faith based initiatives for several years. I loved being a part of #havefaithinheart and #empoweredtoserve It was something about getting information out to the community about stroke and heart disease that I absolutely love.
On November 5, 2018 all of the information that I shared, with others, I now needed for myself. After my first day on a new job, I was rushed to @thechristhospital and it was determined that I had suffered a stroke. It’s been a journey for my family, my friends and myself. Fortunately, the quick response by a school secretary and a school nurse got me the help that I desperately needed.
After leaving the hospital, I was in speech therapy for months and I eventually entered counseling to deal with the depression and anxiety of everything that was going on in my life.
I Go Red for myself, my family, my friends and to inspire others with my story of resilience.
My prayer is that my life experiences are a blessing to others. Remember, we are blessed to be a blessing.
I encourage you to
Know your numbers.Choose to move.Stress lessEat well.Be well.
You can’t help others heal if you are not well.
Wellness Webinar 1.5 | Dreams and Visions
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