Chelle Ramsey's Blog, page 70

A FRESH START_MONDAY MOTIVATIONAL MOMENT

 Begin today. Declare out loud to the universe that you are willing to let go of struggle and eager to learn through joy. -Sarah Ban Breathnach
Today is the first day of school for my children. My daughter is in her last year of middle school, and my son is in his first year of middle school. It's a new year, with a new beginning. Everything that happened last year is in the past. Every mistake, every failing, every misunderstanding, and every embarrassment is in the past.

Today is a new day, a fresh start, a new beginning. Today provides the opportunity to create a brand new you, with a positive attitude. This is the speech that we share with our children, helping them to understand this year is what they make it. And their attitudes will determine the outcome of their year, and it can be the best year if they declare it, and stand firm in it.

We have been taught to speak things into existence as though they were. In scripture we read that: "Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Proverbs 18:21

This is true for adults as well as children. Declaring that your past struggles and failings are behind you, will promote positive energy into the atmosphere. When you send out positive energy, you attract positive energy. So whether you are starting a new job today, sending your child off to school, or college, or just starting a brand new week of the same routine...declare that the worst is behind, and your best is yet to come.

JUST WRITING MY DREAMS,By: C. Michelle Ramseywww.cmichelleramsey.com

A SINGLE MOTHER'S STRUGGLE_IS THE GRASS REALLY GREENER?

www.petergrosslcsw.com  On Wednesday I shared the video trailer to my upcoming book, "Is the Grass Really Greener?" I hope that you enjoyed it.

This book is a story about life struggles, and people envying the lives of others, wishing they could have certain aspects of someone else's life to make it smoother, (e.g., finances, marriage, health, house, etc.).

Today I share an excerpt from the book. In this scene Rayne must deal with her teen son's rebellious attitude, and having strength as a single mother to make a stand against all that she know is wrong.

EXCERPT:
Take a peek »

THROWBACK THURSDAY_R&B OR COUNTRY?

May 2002, Gatlinburg, TNA warm spring night in May 2002, surrounded by a hundred of our closest country music loving, boot stompin', hillybilly blues singing friends. My husband's work terminal had just won an all expense paid trip to Gatlinburg, TN. In a safety competition, the national company had offered it up as a prize to the terminal with the least safety violations. And the Cincinnati terminal with my husband at the helm of safety awareness, won!  We entered a karaoke club where everyone was turning those bottles up, and singing to the top of their lungs. We weren't drinkers...those people who only drink on special occasions (New Years Eve...and nothing else) ;). But that night I had an Amaretto Sour (my fave), and he had a gin and juice. At the urging of the crowd, my baby decided to go up on the stage and sing "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding. Well at least that's who we thought sung it, that's the only version we'd ever heard. He loved that song and he could rip it in a heartbeat. But as he cleared his throat (and eyes)...and held that microphone up close, out came a pouring of hillbilly music. Huh? Since when did Otis do country? WTH? He tried desperately to make it through that song to that beat, and it wasn't working for him. He wasn't feeling it, so he asked the DJ if they had Otis' version, they had no clue what he was talking about. So my baby did what only he can do...pulled up his britches, put on that wonderful smile, and that glisten in his eyes, and belted out his favorite song to a country tune. And boy did he jam!     2002 FUN FACTS
Average Cost of new house $228,700.00 
Average Median Income $42,409.00Average Cost of a Gallon of Gas: $1.61
Kelly Clarkson wins first American Idol contest  
    2002 BIG NEWS EVENTS:  Pennsylvania miners rescued after spending 77 hours in a dark, flooded mine shaft (July 28). Snipers prey upon DC suburbs, killing ten and wounding others (Oct. 2–24). Police arrest two sniper suspects, John Allen Muhammad and John Lee Malvo (Oct. 24) The No Child Left Behind Act is passed and President George W. Bush signs into law.

George Bush creates the Department of Homeland Security to fight threats of terrorism. 

Elizabeth Smart is kidnapped from her family's Salt Lake City home (Found Alive in 2003)

2002 TOP MOVIES:
The Lord of the Rings: The Two TowersHarry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsSpider ManStar Wars Episode II: Attack of the ClonesMen in Black IIDie Another DaySignsIce AgeMy Big Fat Greek WeddingMinority ReportChicagoThe PianistAbout SchmidtGangs of New York        2002 BILLBOARD NO. 1 SONGS:
December 15, 2001 - January 25, 2002:  U Got It Bad - Usher  January 26 - February 22:  How You Remind Me - Nickelback  February 23 - March 8:  Always On Time - Ja Rule featuring Ashanti  March 9 - April 19:  Ain't It Funny - Jennifer Lopez featuring Ja Rule                 April 20 - June 28:  Foolish- Ashanti June 29 - August 16:  Hot In Herre - Nelly  August 17 - October 25:  Dilemma - Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland  October 26 - November 8:  A Moment Like This - Kelly Clarkson  November 9, 2002- January 31, 2003:  Lose Yourself - Eminem

What's your Thursday Throwback memory? #tbt


JUST WRITING MY DREAMS,By: C. Michelle Ramseywww.cmichelleramsey.com

"IS THE GRASS REALLY GREENER?" BOOK TRAILER

Happy Wonderful Wednesday,

For today's blog post I am sharing something that I have been working on for a little while: the release of my video book trailer, "Is The Grass Really Greener?"
Take a peek »

BOOK SPOTLIGHT_GAME, SET, MATCH

Off the court, tennis star Jason Cartwright's playboy image is taking a public beating. On the court, he's down forty-love. A knee injury is shutting down his game, and the paparazzi are splashing his love life on every magazine. A comeback is in order, but the makeover he needs to save his faltering career is in the hands of the woman he loved and left fifteen years ago.

While single-mom, Izzy Connors, sees people for who they really are through the lens of her camera, even without it, she knows Jason isn't the star he appears to be. Although his charm and good looks haven't dimmed since he broke her heart, all she sees is his wasted talent and playboy lifestyle.

Can Izzy put the past behind her and help Jason get his game, and his image, back on track? Or will the click of her camera shatter his world as well as his heart?
Take a peek »

MONDAY MOTIVATIONAL MOMENT_ONE DROP

http://photo.net/nature-photography-forum/00AFiD "If you believe in yourself there is nowhere you can’t go, nothing you can’t do, nothing you can’t achieve. It doesn’t start with dealing with those people out there, but it starts with dealing with you in here." MARVIN RAMSEY SR. When my husband first said those words to me, we were having a discussion about self-belief, something that I quite often blog about. When I asked him his thoughts behind the above quote, he had the following to say: Take a peek »

SANTIAGO SANCHEZ_THE MEN OF: "IS THE GRASS REALLY GREENER?"

The strength and passion of a man is what my latest character embodies. He is handsome and pure sexual bliss to the female, but more than that he is strong, compassionate, understanding, and protective; traits many women desire. He is Santiago Sanchez, the fiancée of character Pavielle Katia Herrera, in my upcoming release "Is the Grass Really Greener?" To represent this character, I selected actor Carlos Mendez. In my mind's eye, he would be the perfect actor to depict the physical qualities of the character Santiago.
  In this excerpt, Santiago is visiting Pavielle at her home. Their relationship has been strained as a result of the distance she created between them, after receiving her breast cancer diagnosis and the ensuing battle. She has just told him that she thinks they need some time apart. This is the unedited version.
Take a peek »

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Me (18) wearing an Atlanta Braves World Series short outfit

JUNE OF 1991: I graduated from Cross Keys High School, in Atlanta, GA. I thought I was so grown at that point and the world was mine for the taking.

FALL OF 1991: The Braves won the National League pennant this year. They also played the Minnesota Twins in the World Series, losing the title to the Twins after seven games.

BIG 1991 NEWS EVENT: Jeffrey Dahmer was arrested on July 22nd, and the remains of 11 men and boys were found in his Milwaukee, Wisconsin apartment.


POPULAR MOVIES:
Sleeping with the EnemyThe Silence of the LambsFather of the BrideBackdraftBeauty & the BeastRobin Hood: Prince of ThievesTerminator 2: Judgment DayThe Addams FamilyHookThelma & Louise











POPULAR SONGS (Click the links below to see videos):  
DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince: SummertimeNaughty By Nature: OPPWhitney Houston: I'm Your Baby TonightDMA: Tom's DinerRalph Tresvant: SensitivityMariah Carey: EmotionsColor Me Badd: I Adore Mi AmorC & C Music Factory: Gonna Make You SweatPaula Abdul: Rush RushBoyz II Men: Motown PhillyJanet Jackson: Love Will Never DoLL Cool J: Around the Way GirlKeith Sweat: I'll Give All My Love to YouHeavy D & the Boyz: Now that We Found Love


Please join me by clicking the follow or subscribe buttons on the right panel. If you enjoyed this post, I encourage you to share it with others by clicking the social media icon above or beneath. You may also see more of my works by visiting my website below. I thank you for visiting, and as always, please leave a comment.

JUST WRITING MY DREAMS,By: C. Michelle Ramseywww.cmichelleramsey.com

RANDOM RAMBLINGS_RELATIONSHIP ADVICE_TO GIVE OR NOT

www.lwf.org  
When someone close to you experiences trials in their relationship, do you give advice or not? When family members, close friends, or co-workers experience difficulties in their relationship they often seek comfort, or guidance from others. They want or need that sounding board to hear their emotions, or frustrations while they vent. At this time the hearing party (you), starts feeling their own way about what the friend/family member/co-worker is going through. And when the person stops venting about their hurt, pain, or frustrations there is pure, sweet silence for one blissful moment...and then you open your mouth. This is the point where reality is altered, or confirmed.

But what comes out? You have two choices...to give or not to give.

Giving advice to someone else usually entails the giver to share with the receiver, how he or she feels about the receiver's situation. The giver is speaking on what he or she would do if he/she was in the situation. Sometimes the giver has been in the situation and they are speaking from experience. As a result, he/she believes his/her advice is sound. But there are a few things they do not take into account:
Everyone's situation is uniquely his or her own and differs from someone else's. Therefore, your outcomes will differ. The person sharing the experience will only tell what he/she wants you to know. Remember people may share but they don't tell EVERY detail. And they usually are going to see themselves as the victim in the situation, whether they are or aren't. They probably are the victim, but this will influence your advice that you give. The old saying is there are always three sides to any story: her side, his side, and the truth.Once you spew your advice be prepared that it may alter the nature of your relationship with the receiver. They will either love you for it, or hate you for it. But at some point down the road it may bring pressure on the relationship you have with them, because you know too much of their personal business now.People may take your advice to heart, and when you don't have all the information you cannot predict what will result from your advice. Everything may turn out fine; conversely lives can be devastated and the blame is pointed at you.Not giving advice usually requires erring on the side of caution. You don't want to get caught up in any drama, so you decide not to become involved. You opt instead to just listen to the person. You tell them you will pray for them and keep them in your thoughts. This method while to some may appear to be a cowardly way out, does a few of the following:

Forces the person to look at his/her situation and make a decision on their own.Preserves your relationship with the person and keeps you out of drama.In some situations you may have a unique perspective to offer. However, withholding your advice could possibly prolong the resolution, when the resolution could have come quicker if you had spoken up.If you decide to provide advice, the best route to take is to make sure you have a clear understanding of what the person is saying to you. Then ensure they understand that what you are speaking is clearly your opinion based on the information they have provided, and nothing more. But the most important aspect is to advise them to get a clear understanding of themselves, and to have a better means of communication with the other person they are in a relationship conflict with. Because once they have an understanding of self, they're in a better situation to make important decisions.

For those with understanding, advice can only go so far. To offer a personal opinion on another's person's life is just that...your opinion.

Do you offer relationship advice to others, or not? If you do, how do you proceed?

Please join me by clicking the follow or subscribe buttons on the right panel. If you enjoyed this post, I encourage you to share it with others by clicking the social media icon above or beneath. You may also see more of my works by visiting my website below. I thank you for visiting, and as always, please leave a comment.

JUST WRITING MY DREAMS,By: C. Michelle Ramseywww.cmichelleramsey.com

BOOK SPOTLIGHT_FORBIDDEN DISCLOSURE

AMAZON OVERVIEW:
Francesco Giordano wants to retire and turn over his shipping empire to his only son Daniel. But the young, gorgeous, and sexy Daniel is more interested in fast cars, the family jet, and bedding women.

When Francesco decides the best way to make his son grow up is to change his identity and move him away from his Manhattan penthouse, Daniel's world begins to rock.

Sent to a little town in Tennessee, stripped of his family name and all access to money, Daniel finds himself on a mission to prove to his father that he can make it. If he doesn't, he risks losing the family business and billions of dollars.

Country life isn't setting very well with the fast-paced New Yorker, until he meets the woman who stirs up every one of his senses. Katherine is beautiful, sassy, and has no intentions of hooking up with the new stranger in town. She leaves without a word. Will Daniel risk it all to find her?
Take a peek »