Sunday Chronicles: My A-Ha Moment

Hi, loves! Do any of you watch SuperSoul Sunday on the OWN channel?  I call it my "get right".  I intimate interviews with authors, actors/actresses and others really help me to gain perspective and encouragement in dealing with the given situation or obstacle of the moment.

This Sunday I watched the interview with the author of The Alchemist, Paulo Coehlo, and I really got the a-ha moments I needed-- a confirmation of sorts from God on which direction I should take.

"You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it's better to listen to what it has to say." - @paulocoelho #SuperSoulSunday
— Super Soul Sunday (@SuperSoulSunday) September 6, 2014

For the past year or so, I have been grappling with a few things.  Downright agonizing and stressing about. My career plans, relationship, practicing patience, and the list goes on and on.

 One of my most pressing issues is deciding which career path to continue on and figuring out HOW I am going to get there.  One side of me thought that the most practical thing to do would be to continue in education and get my Master's of Education but, another side of me is  so drawn to the public health field.  I had previously applied to a Master's of Public Health program that I was accepted to but, due to some financial setbacks I could not attend.  Talk about discouraged and depressed!

I felt so down (I have even shed a few tears out of frustration) but, I thought that maybe it was a sign that I should pursue Education further.  However, something in me keeps telling me that it is really not what I want long-term.  I have a deep desire for something other than Education....and my heart truly knows it.

There are people close to me who tell me that Education is "safe" and given the economy, I should stay in this field because I will always have a job.

"It will be the best decision right now."

"You're getting older and it will take too much time to pursue another field."

"You can always go after what you want later."

My thoughts? 

When did 33 become "too old"?

Why should I do something I do not feel fully vested in?

What if it works out and my spirit can finally feel fulfilled?

Faith over fear (my life's motto since Jan. 1st).

I'm not sure how I will work out all of the details but, I know and believe that if God placed the dream in my heart He will also provide a way to work it all out perfectly.  It feels scary and it has been difficult for me to go against what others are telling me but, I now know what I need to do and I need to honor the purpose placed within me.

I have not read The Alchemist yet but, it is next on my reading list (right now I'm reading Me Before You by JoJo Mojes).  Seeing this interview this morning has really impacted my life and it was just what I needed.  I feel like a weight that has been so heavy on my spirit has been lifted and I can now move forward a little more confidently.


Have you read The Alchemist? What did you think?

What is your heart telling you to do?

Sunday Fun day

Sunday is usually my day to clean up, cook, give my hair some extra t.l.c. and get caught up on blogging, leisure reading, etc.  Oh, and my new favorite thing to do on Sundays is to watch OWN for Super Soul Sunday.  I LOVE the shows on Oprah's network every day but, my spirit especially gains so much every time I sit down to watch Super Soul Sunday.  Have you watched OWN on Sundays?

This Sunday morning, I had some fresh green juice and pancakes made with fresh, blended strawberries and bananas (all courtesy of my sweetie *wink*).

Then, I pulled my trusty Huetiful steamer back out and deep conditioned my hair (soooo needed).  I really want to get back to having bra-strap length hair when straightened so, deep conditioning treatments will be more frequent for me! I tried a honey-olive oil treatment that I found on CurlyNikki (which made my hair oh so very soft), and I opted for something different and did a braidout this time instead of my usual twistout.  I'll be posting pics of the results this week.

What do your Sundays look like?

My Super Soul Sunday

Sunday is probably my favorite day of the week.  I get to wake up when I feel like, do some cleaning and reorganizing, and do some pampering (workout, mani, pedi, deep conditioning of the mane, etc.) without any real time constraints.

Today, I tuned into Oprah's channel, OWN, and caught the tail end of her show, Super Soul Sunday.  Have you ever watched this series?  I really haven't watched it too many times but, today she was interviewing author, Dr. Brene Brown who wrote the book, Daring Greatly,  a book about love, living wholeheartedly and being conscious of the energy that you bring around those closest to you. I was on my laptop doing some work and I stopped what I was doing to listen. Brown shared a part in the book called, The Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto, that moved me to tears (I'm such a crybaby recently---SO not me).

My Sunday view- laptops, white toes and Super Soul Sunday

As a 30-something woman who has wished and longed for a child for so long, I can only imagine the love that a parent has for a child that they carried, birthed and watch grow every day.  This episode is for everyone (parent or not).  It was definitely life-changing for me. I live for these moments where I can read or hear something  that can change my whole mindset and every aspect of my life for the better.

Brown's 'The Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto:

"You will learn this from my words and actions—the lessons on love are in how I treat you and how I treat myself.

I want you to engage with the world from a place of worthiness.

You will learn that you are worthy of love, belonging, and joy every time you see me practice self-compassion and embrace my own imperfections.

We will practice courage in our family by showing up, letting ourselves be seen, and honoring vulnerability. We will share our stories of struggle and strength. There will always be room in our home for both. 

We will teach you compassion by practicing compassion with ourselves first; then with each other. We will set and respect boundaries; we will honor hard work, hope, and perseverance. Rest and play will be family values, as well as family practices.

You will learn accountability and respect by watching me make mistakes and make amends, and by watching how I ask for what I need and talk about how I feel.  

I want you to know joy, so together we will practice gratitude. 

I want you to feel joy, so together we will learn how to be vulnerable.

When uncertainty and scarcity visit, you will be able to draw from the spirit that is a part of our everyday life. 

Together we will cry and face fear and grief. I will want to take away your pain, but instead I will sit with you and teach you how to feel it. 

We will laugh and sing and dance and create. We will always have permission to be ourselves with each other. No matter what, you will always belong here.

As you begin your Wholehearted journey, the greatest gift that I can give to you is to live and love with my whole heart and to dare greatly.

I will not teach or love or show you anything perfectly, but I will let you see me, and I will always hold sacred the gift of seeing you. Truly, deeply, seeing you".
Read more about Dr. Brene Brown's book here

I was already in love with the Super Soul Sunday series on OWN but, today's episode makes me want to tune in every week and I will be adding this book to my reading list.  What are you doing that feeds your soul?