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Reaching Out: Why is it so hard?
Reaching out for help is hard. Ask me how I know. Three days… That’s how long it took me to send a text message asking for help from a trusted friend. Three days… That’s how long it took me to email a counselor who came highly recommended as a “safe place” to talk through some important issues. Three days… That’s how long it has taken me to write this blog post. Reaching out for help is hard. But why? Why is it so difficult? Why do some of us deny ourselves the very thing we freely give to others? Do we feel we are unworthy of receiving the help and…
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An Invitation
“It’s just an invitation…” These words pressed deeply into my spirit earlier today as I reflected upon the fires, battles and mountains that have risen against me this year. Of course, those attempts were faulty at best, because –in the words of Tasha Cobbs– “no fire can burn me, no battle can turn me, and no mountain can stop me.” God holds my hand and He knows my name; therefore, no weapon formed against me can prosper (Isaiah 54:17). But what about this invitation? The attacks, the warfare, the distractions…they are all simply invitations. Divine invites from God. Invitations to worship Him…invitations to enter into the secret place with Him…invitations…
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I am a Healer!
“I recently had an amazing revelation. I am a healer. My voice, my identity, my calling…All are deeply rooted in a special gift of The Holy Spirit. The gift of healing. In years past, I described myself as a writer, creator and inspiration specialist. Time has passed, and that description has morphed a bit. Now, I am an author as well as an artist who no longer hides her artistic gifting. And, yes, I am still a creator whose ultimate desire is to breathe life into her audiences–to inspire. When you inspire…when you breathe life into something, you activate spirit. You create the opportunity for something to spring forth. You heal. Healing is a…
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The Birth of a New Book
Now that I have released my second title, I have found that the birth of a new book–no matter how many times you do it–feels just like the first. This gives me hope. It puts a smile on my face. It assures me that there will always be a certain element of excitement, mystery and even misery that accompanies this momentous occasion. I don’t ever want to tire of this. You see, the birth of a new book is much like the birth of a child. It’s legacy. It’s lineage. It’s a part of you that will remain until time indefinite. It’s evidence of the idea that was conceived, nurtured…
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Dynamic by Design
Sister, you are Dynamic by Design. You were designed to think and invent and create. Like a cogwheel, your mechanics are engineered to spin, rotate and transmit torque. You are fashioned to be a force that engages and encourages constant motion and power. But, it’s not just you. We are all Dynamic by Design. We are all cogwheels. Cogwheels created to work together…to collectively achieve a desired outcome. And the teeth of our cogwheels are uniquely crafted to merge together at precise angles so they do not inhibit the movement of the others, but instead, propel them forward. So why is it that so many women can’t seem to work together or celebrate the successes of…
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COVER REVEAL on Lowcountry Live: The Belief in Wings
Yesterday, I was blessed to be a guest on Lowcountry Live, where I not only shared tips to help moms manage their back-to-school mornings more effectively, but also did the cover reveal for my upcoming book entitled, “The Belief in Wings: Evolving from Self-doubt to Personal Power.” The Belief in Wings: Evolving from Self-doubt to Personal Power is a three-part journey designed to encourage teen girls to define and deliver their voices; choose courage and become the heroes of their own stories; and step into their personal power and greatness. This book will provide the stepping stones and guidance necessary to encourage girls to believe in their unique gifting and to make strides…
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The Giver
This post was originally published on one of my older blogs in December of 2013 at www.creolemagnoliacafe.com. ~ The Giver I was feeling tired, drained and depleted. I was pouring into others, like I always do, without finding ways to pour into myself. Yes, me…the Inspiration Specialist–the one who has built a platform on uplifting, motivating and inspiring–was feeling exhausted, burnt out and flat out uninspired. And so my heart–and coincidentally, my fortune cookie, which I don’t believe in, but found rather ironic–told me I needed to write. But my heart also told me I needed to sketch. And so I was obedient. ~ Being a Giver can sometimes catapult you…
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Thank you Writer’s Block. I appreciate you.
Thank you Writer’s Block. I appreciate you. I can’t believe I just typed those words. But they’re true. Let me tell you about it. I’m a writer. And like the vast majority of writers, I occasionally stumble upon a bout of Writer’s Block. I’m working on a book that’s due to be released in the fall. My book, entitled The Belief in Wings: Evolving from Self-doubt to Personal Power, is a three-part journey designed to encourage teen girls to find their voices, choose courage and step into their greatness. This book is very personal for me. The messages I share with the girls are messages I didn’t receive…messages that would have helped me…
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The Sisterhood of the Traveling Tiara
On the rainy afternoon of October 1st, I walked into Dee Dee Peckers, a local wing joint here in Charleston. It was my 43rd birthday, and I had been looking forward to meeting with two fabulous friends all week. Still adjusting to the darkened atmosphere, my eyes scanned the crowd. In a dining area filled with mounted televisions tuned to sports channels and men in work shirts hunched over tables filled with beer and baskets of wings, I saw two hands shoot up and wave me over from the well-lit booth by the window. Doretha Walker, Angie and I were excited about enjoying an afternoon with sister-girlfriends. Like silly school girls,…
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When you hear the call: 5 steps for granting yourself permission
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ~Romans 12:2 (ESV) ~ For me, there is something transforming about fall. Not just the physical changes of the earth–the leaves, the colors, the wind–but something within me…a shift, an awareness, a beckoning. Since entering my 40s, I have been more cognizant of this. My ears have become more attuned to the wind chimes. The fall winds blow and gently awaken that which stirs my soul, and I can hear the whispers of my inner self. It’s…