Akosua Dardaine Edwards's Blog, page 162

Love this thing called life

Human life is an experience in magnificence when done with the courage to make mistakes. You are the only creature to consistently learn and grow from mistakes . . . other species often perish from them Sabrina Reber


Love, in every sense of the word, this thing called life Love life Don't just go through the motions Don't live your life "in the meantime" perched between where you are and where you want to get Don't cuss life because it is moving beyond anything that you feel capable of keeping up with Or because uncertainties are too complex for you to understand at the moment you find yourself in. Love life when the way doesn't seem clear,fair or perhaps safe In your love you will get clarity. In your love you will get a sense of safety. Your love will free you from the trepidation that grips your joy. 
Peace

Truth is constant

Change will happen in windfalls followed by fallow periods where it seems like
nothing is happening. Those are the times when you’ve got to practicing sticking with
what you know is actually true, versus reacting to fear. Kate Courageous

Truth does not vacillate, it just is. Truth remains constant. Our response to truth can change and depends on many different variables, this can change but the truth remains as is

The truth gives us the ability to make decisions that can sometimes be discomforting

Facing the truth early helps, it really does. One may not make a decision immediately upon hearing, knowing and revealing the truth - once the knowledge is gained there is no turning back.

What will you do with the truth? If you don't do something it will do something with you

Peace

TEDx Port of Spain - Here I come

I am the women of my dreams; each stage of growth, a woman unapologetically herself has emerged. This becoming myself is a process. Ijeoma Umebinyuo

I am excited, happy, grateful and proud to be speaking at TEDx Port of Spain tomorrow 6th October 2016. It's truly a honor to be able to share my story on the Queen's Hall stage
Reminder to self: get clear.keep it simple.be intentional
Peace

http://tedxportofspain.com/portfolio/...

Be Intentional

I tried to drink it awayI tried to put one in the air
I tried to dance it away
I tried to change it with my hair

I ran my credit card bill up
Thought a new dress make it better
I tried to work it away
But that just made me even sadder

I tried to keep myself busy
I ran around circles
Think I made myself dizzy
I slept it away, I sexed it away
I read it away

Away, away, away, away, away, away Away, away, away, away, away Cranes in the Sky, Solange Knowles


Today I was chatting with a good friend of mine, she has been having a career challenge. Her solution is to "work it away" and ignore it. To me,  with all my love and no judgement. If it works for you, work itI have learnt that the "away away, away" solution has consequences if we are ready to deal with it then it's all goodIf it's just to avoid feeling and dealing, well it's a trap, a set up, get ready for bad behavior, from yourself and the people around you because you attract it to you what you internalize - brutally honest.If you want to look at what you have internalized, look at the patterns in your relationships and other affairsThe awesome thing is all that is required is a change of mind, a change of choice and the courage to face the thing square and say hey come on, come on in let's start something! You run, it runs with youSimple right?Get clear, keep it simple, be intentionalPeace

I am delighted to receive the unexpected

Trust that the unscheduled events  of our lives are a form of spiritual direction - Carolyn Myss

We love control, human beings love to know what is happening and what is next. Everything else seems like we are all over the place, that we are not focused, that we are out of control
Not being in control does not mean that things are out of control
Think of how many times that things that either happened out of the blue or by coincidence and they became defining moments in your life

I have learnt that the Universe is delighted to bring you the unexpected and I have learnt to be delighted to receive it

This week presents me a whole host of unknowns, I am remembering these lessons as I go forward on this journey

This week I am being interviewed by a radio station in the USA and I am doing my first TEDx talk. Many questions remain unanswered

I am delighted to be brought the unexpected
Catch that
Peace

Thank you to my village

You represented in the fashion of the truly gifted Jill Scott
It really does take a villageI have been having so much support on this journey to speaking at TEDx Port of Spain, I am so grateful and happy.My friend asked me about doing my makeupMy cousin has been giving me tips on clothesAnother friend loaned me clothes from her store Another one is making me a shirtI am dripping with gratitudeOne listened to my speech and gave me pointer all with love
This is a dream for meTwo years ago I wrote down 100 things I want to do before I transition from this lifeA Ted Talk is on the list 'Listen, dreams do come trueStart dreaming. start doingThank you to my villagePeace

Pretending is demeaning

Pretending is demeaning, and it makes you weak and confused, and it's also a lot of work. I don't do that kind of work anymore. untruth is always complicating, and truth — no matter what the consequences — is always strangely simplifying. ) Elizabeth GilbertCheck yourself- sometimes when you are extremely mentally tired check out if you are walking around with a mask, the mask becomes heavy. Ask yourself, what are you attempting to prove by being something or someone that you are not?There is a difference between being respectful and being fakeWhat do you believe it is you have to lose by pretending, what is so important to you that you have to be someone else to get or keep it? to be accepted?What is it that remains so important?I wanted to be liked, I wanted to avoid conflict, I detested disappointing people and being around any raised loud voices. That was my reasonNowI knowEveryone cannot like meand there are ways and tools that I can use to deal with conflictNow I know that I can cry, feel my feelings and recoverNow I know it is all part of the processPretending and being fake is notPeace

How do you show up in the world?

We all know sometimes life's hates and troubles 
Can make you wish you were born in another time and space 
But you can bet you life times that and twice its double 
That God knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed 
so make sure when you say you're in it but not of it 
You're not helping to make this earth a place sometimes called Hell 
Change your words into truths and then change that truth into lov e  As By Stevie Wonder

How do you show up in the world?
How will the world be when you leave it?

This is an issue I believe in strongly, making where ever I am a better place
The people who came before me and paved a path for me took their responsibility very seriously. According to Maya Angelo - my crown has already been paid for
These thoughts came racing back into my head over the weekend with the opening of the African American Museum in Washington DC. Where the history of a people will be told, to inform, educate and instill pride into the lives of the up and coming generations
As I was discussing this with my grandma we started talking about progress, she mentioned that whatever area that we are involved in, to stand for what is right
She gave me the example of when she went to work in the oilfields, at that time there were little or no women working in the oil industry, they placed her to work in the stores area and there were no female bathrooms. She asked her boss about it and he said find your own bathroom or use what is there, we will not be making special arrangements for one woman.
My grandma said there will be many more behind me so get prepared
She advocated for the ladies room and was ostracized and suspended from the Department yet she continued, the result being a separate ladies bathroom. The women who came afer just saw a ladies room, they did not know or was ever told the story
I have to take my responsibility seriously
to make wherever I am a better place, instead of moaning about what is missing, what we don't have and who should do something- I can do something!
It just makes me a  better human being as well
and I like being better
Peace

The power is real

Stuttering with your new power doesn’t make it any less real. Danielle La Porte

You have done the work, in fact , you continue to do the work
You have left the relationship that disnonors you and encourages bad behaviour, yours and others
You have quit the blood sucking job, the one you drag yourself too daily
You have booked the doctor's appointment
You have started the therapy, the counselling
You have started saving money and making a budget
but......

You hit a wall
You stumbled

Hey, no problem, you stubbed your toe on the ramp, does it mean you are a loser? Hell no
Does it mean that you will go back to the old habits and old behaviour? maybe not
It's just a stumble, the power is still there, it never left
Believe that!

Lighten up will ya?
Ask yourself, what does the present moment hold? And listen
Peace

listen.pay attention.decide

I allow myself to look at the anger, the fear, the resentment I may be feeling. I don't hide it; that just perpetuates the wrong-mindedness. I am willing to see my own feelings differently as well. I recognize that perhaps I am judging myself for feeling them. So, as I did with the external judgment, I do with the internal: I affirm I am willing to see it differently and ask for help. And I wait. ACIM

I got to the meeting early, I sat down around the table surrounded by people who have important roles in the organisation according to their titles. I secretly sent love to everyone in the room and prayed for a good meeting and to be guided- not by the ego.The discussion was interesting, I listened intently, I see every encounter as an opportunity to learn and grow. I said my piece and there it was, someone around the table did not agree and decided to show it very passionately. I listened and honestly got so angry and judgmental. the thoughts that passed through my mind - OMG it shocked me! I wanted to honestly as they say where I am from, buss some cuss in the placeI started to judge myself and then it hit meFeel the feelingsthis is part of the lessonyou do not have to act on itbut it is telling you somethinglistenpay attentionthen decidenow that you have the tools, there is no need to suppress and bury your feelings, to let them festerI took a breathI said calmly, I hear you, I see you and my opinion does not change that I have heard you and that I see you, this is just my opinion, that is all. We can disagree and still be respectfulyayyy meFeel the thinguse the toolsbe willing to see it differentlythat was my lessonPeace