ONE MIND...ONE SPIRIT...ONE HEART

LIVE THE LIFE YOU DREAM ABOUT

2012-02-09T09:11:00.003-05:00

Do what you love to do even if it isn't presently making you any money. You have to actively be a participant in your desires so you can keep attracting that positive feeling you get when you're in that zone. Today I was listening to Kevin Trudeau's audio program called "Your Wish is Your Command," and it really stood out to me when he said something to effect of, if ever you stop enjoying what you're doing - then u know that is time to move on. Often times we have been doing something for so long that we don't even realize it no longer elicits a positive feeling because the new person we've evolved into is ready to dive off the cliff into an ocean of new adventures.

You must go within and discover what will truly make you happy. Going within yourself will take some soul searching but don't be afraid of that journey because that's where your divine purpose is waiting to be identified.

So the first thing we need to do is look at what we do on a day-to-day basis and actually write out the experiences we love and look to change the day-to-day experiences that we do not love. I think what many people are missing in their lives is the active pursuit of happiness. Don't wake up one day and say "I wish I had of..." when you have the opportunity now to stand in front of your fears - which is the only thing hindering your growth and preventing you from making those wishes part of your memoirs.

Your legacy can not be about the paper chase! Let's not teach our children to chase paper - but instead we should teach them to creatively pursue their heart felt aspirations. My challenge for you: do at least one thing every day that you absolutely love. When you find time to do what you love - the universe will respond to you by giving you even more of that which you desire. Eventually, you entire day will be filled with activities you love!

Love what you do - or the things that you could do without...will be all that you do.

Namaste

WISH WITH NO FEAR

2011-11-08T10:51:00.004-05:00

To wish is to request upon the universe your grandest desires. What is it that you truly wish to manifest in your life? I was listening to one of my favorite songs by Bilal called "Sometimes," and I got chills when he said, "I wish so clearly sometimes...I wish with no fear". When I think about my fondest desires, they are perfectly scripted in color and HD. The wish is the map; the wish is landing strip; the wish is the holly grail that everyone is searching to find. All that we have dreamed of, we have seen in our minds because we have wished for it to exist.

Ever since we were children we wished so clearly! Everything imaginary was real and so was the joy experienced. A mud pie taste just as good as Ganny's sweet potato pie. When your wishes are clear, the experiences are sweet. The desire is what sets the wheels into motion. As you wish upon a star, the universe recognizes your request because you are the creator, writer, and director of this epic film.

Why Some wishes don't come true

You have to hold onto the vibrational frequency you planted when you created the wish or it will disappear. As Bilal so eloquently stated, "I wish with no fear." Wishing without fear is the key to manifesting your desires. If we wish to have a brand new car but spend most of our time focusing on how we can't afford it, then your new car will not appear. You see, the universe is responds to your solutions OR your problems. Which ever you choose to highlight - is what you will experience.

It hit me like a ton of bricks as I was listening to this man's sultry voice and I realized I have plagued some of my wishes with fear. Wishing without fear is showing love for all of the things that you dream about. All of the things that we love we should only offer positive feelings towards. We can unconsciously sabotage our dreams by doubting they will manifest. Oh, the irony! And even more ironic is the song speaks to how we sometimes wish clearly or we sometimes without fear and I know those are the moments when we sometimes experience heaven.

Heaven is to experience your sincerest wishes!

Eternal blessings,

Shelli Tinae Price
www.twitter.com/shellitinae

WHEN IN DOUBT...LAUGH!

2011-10-19T10:11:00.008-04:00

I've laughed to keep from crying and it always made me feel better. In essence, laughing will do a complete makeover of your mind, body and soul by healing you from the effects of sadness. Yes, my friends, laughing is spiritual. The theory is simple: you can't possibly be sad for very long if you're laughing. Laughing is a remedy for anyone feeling in the dumps because it relieves pent up stress and tension.

I'm not speaking of laughing at someones misfortune - but I'm speaking of laughing from the joy you feel inside. We tend to take life too seriously but when we stop and realize how simple things were designed to be - you can't help but laugh at the irony.

THE MIND - When you choose laughter over anger, you will start to find solutions to your problems so they cease to exist. The universal law of mentalism comes into play here; the mind is all. Everything begins in our minds before it comes to fruition. Laughter can help create the joyful experiences we want to have. Let your mind be the gateway to laughter because you must desire it in your mind first.

THE BODY - The body responds to the messages you consciously or unconsciously send to your brain (or mind). Can you imagine the happy-dance going in every part of your body when you laugh? On the flip side, imagine the damage you are potentially doing when you are filled with rage, hate or sadness. The body responds to the messages you give it. If you're laughing and having a great time - the body receives these signals and you receive the nourishment from the positive effects of laughing.

THE SOUL - We've all heard the phrase, laughter is good for the soul - and it truly is. We are all spirits living a human experience and all-things positive is our connection to the Divine Source. If you want to have a better relationship with Source energy...LAUGH, SMILE, PLAY, LOVE. All of these positive attributes is what the Creator gets to experience through us.

Be light of heart and laughter will surely follow.

Eternal Blessings,

Shelli Tinae

www.twitter.com/shellitinae

ACCESSING YOUR INNER HAPPINESS PART I

2011-09-19T10:42:00.004-04:00

It has become almost cliché to say, "Happiness is inside of you," but do we really know what that inside-happiness feels like? It can be a great challenge to look inside for happiness because we seek tangible evidence that it truly exists. Believing in our inner happiness is like believing there is a heaven; we hear good things about it but many have never experienced it first hand. We tend to associate happiness mainly with people, but also it's the vast experiences that we revert back to in our minds that claim the happiness throne. Many of us truly feel from our hearts that happiness comes from inside of us but it’s still hard to ascertain how to access the blissfulness within that we so often hear about.

So how do we make "Happiness is inside of you" more than a cliché?

We must start with gratitude. Be ever so grateful for all that you have and all that you're growing to be. If you stay centered in gratitude - then it will be difficult for sadness to overcome you.

To put it simply, GRATITUDE = HAPPINESS. Do you see it now? Happiness, in some way, shape or form, has always been something we've had the ability to access just by focusing on the things to appreciate in life.

You have to start somewhere so let's start with the basics. Gratitude does not require the assistance from an outside source. Everyone on this planet has many things to be grateful for. If you're having trouble thinking of something, just stop and give thanks for your breath. None of us have ever gone one second without breathing. Count your blessings so you can continue to attract even more things to be grateful for in your life.

Food is also a great example of something many of us have never gone a day without. Be thankful for your food but don't lightly say, "I'm thankful for this food because I was hungry." That is a very surface way of giving gratitude. It would be better to say something like, "I am thankful for this food as it is providing nourishment, strength and health so I can fulfill the life plan The Source has in store for me." Give some substance and depths to your feelings of gratitude so you can tap into the happiness that the Divine Creator accessed when it created that food for you to eat and enjoy. The ultimate key to happiness is seeing how intricately we’re connected we’re a part of Source energy.

Also, it’s important to Count your blessings so you can continue to attract even more things to be grateful for in your life. Like a magnet, we are continuously attracting things – the good and the bad, so maximize the feelings of inner happiness by shining light on all the things you’re grateful for.

I am grateful for you!

Namaste!

GET IN YOUR LANE, OR BE LEFT BEHIND

2011-08-26T17:38:00.006-04:00

I watch drivers get on the freeway and decelerate instead of speeding up to get on. They end up on the side appearing frustrated as cars zoom by them in light speed. There is a life lesson in this modern scenario: when you are bracing yourself to get into the lane of your passion, you must accelerate in order to make space for you in this busy world. The space is there - but only you can discover it.

When you're trying to get on the freeway, the cars seem like they are going so fast - but the moment you put the pedal to the metal, you find out they really aren't going too fast after all; you realize that's the speed that you feel good at driving, too. In your life, speed up by studying and mastering your passion, then when you get over into the lane of competition - you will be able to exceed all expectations.

The people in the cars who hesitate to get over, fear it's not the right time - but if they removed the fear - the natural response would be to merge into the coming lane. The point is, fear is the only obstacle. When we focus on reaching our destination, we'll be amongst the crowd of drivers whizzing by in light speed. There is no progress on the sideline; strive for the fast lane because that is the lane of confidence, endurance and freedom.

DOES MY BEHAVIOR REFLECT WHAT I THINK GOD IS?

2011-08-17T09:48:00.006-04:00

Over the weekend I attended the 21st Century Woman's Conference and the Keys to Thrive in the 21st Century Conference, presented by Dr. Jewel Pookrum. For those of you unfamiliar with her, she is a surgeon who specializes in brain activity and functioning and makes outstanding connections with the brain and spirituality.

During her lecture she asked the audience to ponder on this question: "Does my behavior reflect what I think God is?"

Wow! This was a very mind stimulating question because although I know I am PERFECT, sometimes I feel that I express less than my perfection would allow. My behavior, which includes my actions towards myself, others and the earth – doesn’t always show how divine of a being I truly am. Sometimes the negative distractions of doubt, fear, anger or sadness are precursors to negative behavior.

Often, we don't even know we're in that negative field until after the behavior has been played out. The way to be a positive reflection of God is to always stay present in the moment and feel from within our connection to God. This awareness will allow us to extend behavior that is compassionate, loving and nonjudgmental. This is also an extension of our character which we have the ability to upgrade. This is not about being phony, but it is about doing the mental work to be reflections of our divine creator.

What do I think God (The One) is?
I think God is the infinite creator of the universe and all energy and life forms in the universe. We are created in the image (imagination/mind) of God so therefore we are extensions and living expressions of God.

The Law of Mentalism
This also means that we have no limitations - except for the one's we create in our negatively programmed minds. You can live out your mental limitations or you can live out the advantages you have for just being a creation of God. As you live and breathe in the mind of God - you also have access to all the wisdom produced in its divine mind. The law of mentalism states, "The all is mind; the universe is mental." If we exercise the power of our minds, a reflective behavior of God will surely follow.

Now this isn't to say that we will all end up having the same behaviors because, after all, we are individual fragments of the creator so our journey to experience The One Creator are rightfully individual and unique. Allow your inner light to shine and BE the reflection of God that you know exists. Allowing our behavior to be a reflection of God is not far-fetched if we let the mental work prelude our actions.

SADE: SOUND THERAPY

2011-07-20T10:43:00.009-04:00

The end is where I'll begin.

I left the Sade concert feeling I had been healed. It was as if Sade was a medicine woman who laid hands on me and instantly cured me. Well, in fact, she did magically heal me but not with her hands - but with the sound of her melodic, captivating voice. I came for music and I got the most prodigious elements that music has to offer; I received sound therapy.

The universe is vibrating. The earth is vibrating. Your body is vibrating. Everything is in constant motion and these waves produce sound frequencies. A person who is sick vibrates at a rate at a lower rate than a person with good health. There are instruments that can enhance your health and bring your frequency back into alignment like crystal bowls, Tibetan singing bowls, harps, and chimes.

Sade single handedly balanced the harmony of every soul in Philips arena. Her angelic energy was so peaceful you could see it was an effortless gift she was born to share. It was a mixed salt and pepper crowd - from young to old. Her sound does not discriminate and exemplifies a "one world" appearance.

She opend the show singing "Soldier of love," and for the first time I felt a deep connection to it. It caught me off guard as it seemed like it was the first time I actually listend to the lyrics:

I am a soldier of love,

all the days of my life...

I am love's soldier

I wait for the sound

I know that love will come

turn it all around

I waited for the sound and now I'm blessed. It's safe to say that I am now a self proclaimed soldier of love. It's the alpha and the omega; love that is. I was so caught up in the rapture of all of the lyrics in her songs after that moment. I felt different. Somehow I knew a block within my heart was opened.

When sade sang, "Is it a crime," I was standing at attention because I remembered from her live concert on DVD that the note she hits at the end of the song would always send the most magical shivers up my spine; energy work at its finest. So I stood there singing and trying to stay in the moment but I couldn't help but wonder if she was going to go for gusto and hit that note. She didn't disappoint me. She belted out the note and like a water spout the energy rushed up my spine. I knew this therapy had cured me for a lifetime and all I could offer in return was my sincere gratitude. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," I chanted.

At the end of the show, I was revived from my trance by the house lights but the effect the show had on me will never be forgotten.

Other highlights:

Sweetback, that's one sweet ass band!

The encore: wow, did she really get on that small platform and lifted several feet into the air? Beautiful!

The art director get's many kudos for creating the "experience

HOW CONTROLING YOUR THOUGHTS WILL MANIFEST YOUR LIFE PASSIONS

2011-07-05T15:14:00.003-04:00

Are you thinking your thoughts or are your thoughts thinking you? Chances are it's the latter. We don't even realize we're thinking something until it's already crept up on us and spinning its own scenario's and conclusions. Most of us didn't learn when we were growing up how precious and volatile thoughts are and that we actually needed to train our minds what to think and how long to hold onto each thought.

Thoughts travel faster than light and instantly send out a vibration to actualize those thoughts. We are living in the mind of God so exercising the power of our microcosmic mind is vital. The problem is we aren't using our minds to its full potential by holding onto our thoughts long enough to bring them to life. Researchers are now saying that the average human has around 70,000 thoughts a day, each thought lasting about 1.2 seconds long. Yep, only 1.2 seconds long. It seems like we're all schizophrenic or ADD prone at the least. As technology speeds up, we are doing more in less time and it’s causing our brains to lose receptivity to our souls.

We brag about being multi-takers but that is distracting us from actualizing our passions. We should be bragging about being able to hold onto one thought. Imagine a day of just one thought...If you're a city dweller like me that probably sounds far fetched because so many details are incorporated into our fast-paced day. as absurd as it may sound, I was watching a video (find the link below) that says humans used to have about 6,000 thoughts a day, each thought lasting six seconds long. Sound more doable? Again, the point is that the longer we hold onto a thought, the greater the chances of it manifesting.

THOUGHT SHOULD HAVE PURPOSE
THOUGHT SHOULD BE POSITIVE
AND
YOU SHOULD BE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR THOUGHTS

Also, meditation is a great way to clear your mind so the thoughts you're supposed to focus on can come to the forefront.

Ideally you should start your day meditating and then create a list of thought intentions so when your mind wanders and runs rampant you can return your focus to one of your thought intentions.

You are creating your world with your thoughts (conscious and unconscious alike) so you may as well create the world you want!

Namaste

Youtube video is called Melanin Physics – really get’s good around 30min in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3zoIlXIOgQ&feature=youtu.be

Shelli Tinae Price
www.twitter.com/shellitinae
www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com

RETAINING AND USING THE KNOWLEDGE WITHIN

2011-06-20T10:18:00.006-04:00

The other day I was cleaning out one of the drawers in my kitchen and I found a pad with four pages of notes from a Phil Valentine lecture I attended at Clark University in 2004. As I peered through the notes I began reading them aloud and remembering the validity of the information. Pretty much every detail that I jotted down so intensely is still relevant today. What stood out the most to me were the universal laws. I have been studying them recently and didn't even remember that I first learned about them seven years ago. I instantly pinpointed my greatest demise is not retaining and utilizing the knowledge I've acquired.

I feel like blaming the school system for teaching me to store information in my short term memory just long enough to ace an exam. The education system should not be broken down into sub-jects. When you can't find the connection to the entire story of life then you quickly forget the fragments. There is a connection - they just didn't teach it to us! The funny thing is I actually used to brag about how college taught me to be a great note taker and a master in memorization. I'm still an excellent bullet-point note taker but many of the snap shot memories of history, math, and social studies lessons have vanished.

Okay, okay, so I know I can’t blame my shot gun education. We are born with all of the knowledge of the cosmos engraved in our DNA so I know I must take responsibility for going in and out of sleep, so to speak. I have learned some amazing things that can help me vibrate and ascend to new plateaus but then the rent is due and by the time I rob Peter to pay Paul, I'm quickly thrown off my axis and back into the matrix way of living (or not living). So the big question is, how can I retain the knowledge I've acquired and exercise the truth so I can continue to receive divine information? Well I think there are a few ways to do this:

1. Watch the company you keep - communicate with people on the same journey so you can hold each other accountable for accessing and using your knowledge.

2. Re-read - you always see new things the 2nd or even 3rd time around that will help deepen the connection, so read those books again you found so profound.

3. Practice makes perfect - that's not a cliché because the more you work at something it's obvious the better at it you will become. Once you've perfected it, you will never forget it.

There is a greater responsibility on those of us who know better because we should do better. Hording information and not setting examples for those to model is doing a disservice to every being on the planet. After all, knowledge is power. If you don't retain the knowledge you've acquired then knowledge becomes dead weight.

Namaste

Shelli Tinae
www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/shellitinae

THE HUMAN BODY IS ACTUALLY FIVE: RECOGNIZING THE SUBTLE BODIES

2011-06-06T17:55:00.013-04:00

There is so much more to life than what meets the eye. For many years I thought we only had a physical body. Then in college I read "Star Signs" by Linda Goodman and learned we also have an astral body that surrounds us. Currently I'm reading a book called "The Subtle Energy Body: The Complete Guide" by Maureen Lockhart and now I'm being shown that we in fact have five bodies; our physical vessels and four layers of surrounding bodies of light. Total, each of us have five bodies or what the Hindu's call kosas or koshas. These layers or sheaths are our connection to the divine creator. The more we tap into these layers via meditative and yogic exercise - the more enlightened we become.

Your five bodies are:
1. Physical body
2. Energy body
3. Emotional body
4. Wisdom body
5. Bliss body

The physical body is the first layer and is very dense, so it's no surprise that because if its density, it can be a challenging task to witness the other four bodies that are with us all our lives and beyond, just waiting for us to tap into the depths of our signature and blissful energy. I used to think that my higher self was "out there" somewhere but now I understand that my higher self illuminates right in my auric field. So you see, there is more to you than the human eye can visually detect (except for those who vibrate high enough to see it) and the visual obstruction eludes us from the true expansiveness of our being. The material world is but one small aspect in the grand scheme of things.

This blog is not intended to break down the five layers (although I plan to do that at a later date) but to bring to light to their very existence. I'm sure there are many people out there just like me who didn't know how intricately and precisely we were designed. For me, learning about this makes me want to enter the gates of my bliss body so I can experience what they call pure joy. That's got to be better than any drug I've ever had!

The kingdom of heaven is in our energy field waiting for us to take the throne. We should study all of the five bodies and reach beyond the limitations we have lazily put in our minds. The sky truly is the limit as we ascend to euphoria.

Be on the look out for more blogs on the subtle bodies.

Namaste

www.twitter.com/shellitinae
www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY: HOW TO USE THE GOD WITHIN TO BLESS THE WORLD

2011-05-25T12:23:00.005-04:00

I'm constantly questioning the validly and origin of handed down traditions. I question things, not to be rebellious and constantly have something to debate about, but I'm really seeking the truth rather than regurgitating habits that lost their meaning during the telephone game. We play this game with our elders as they recite their own versions of our oral traditions.

Since I was a child I always said "God bless you" when someone sneezed and I used to wonder why a sneeze needed to be blessed. I understand now that the phrase was coined because a sneeze was usually a sign that someone had a cold; saying "God bless you" was wishing someone good health.

Recently my son sneezed and I said, "God bless you!" I'm not sure what happened in that moment but a little voice told me, "No, say bless you." From that moment on I offer blessings to him with love and I don't seek for an outside entity to grant the blessings I extend.

When you understand that the divine creator is inside of you, then you stop shifting responsibility and step into your own power. I accept that I am a creator in my own right and have the power to bless my child - to bless the world!

We're here to create gifts and not wait for them to manifest on the backend. We are to be at the forefront and orchestrate the experience. If you don't accept full responsibility of your power then you offer it to someone else. You can't insure that people will have your best interest at heart, but you can grab the bull by the horn and set your own miracles into motion.

Questioning things was not something that we did as kids because the response was always a resounding, "Because I said so," but let life be the teacher so there is a foundation for our actions.

Bless the world with the power of love from your heat.

Shelli Tinae
www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/shellitinae

TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED BY IGNORING THE STATUS QUO

2011-05-12T12:05:00.000-04:00

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference

-Robert Frost

I try to live my life by taking the road less traveled - not to be different, but so that the truth in life can be discovered from within my own being and not recited to me from an outside source. When things are normal it's too quiet, too rehearsed and too orthodoxed. That means few people are thinking and living outside of the man-made box we dwell in. Sadly, we are influenced by others, more than we are influenced by our own inner guidance.

Outside of the box may get a little scary but it's where adventure and self discovery playfully dance in and out of an invisible life and energy field that is free flowing and forever changing. Actually, I think most people follow the norm because change is undetermined but an occasional metamorphosis is necessary if we intend to grasp all that life has to offer.

Funny enough, there is always two roads to choose from; there is always an alternative route and there is no bad choice. They will all lead to the inevitable lesson you're sure to learn - whether now or in a prolonged future.

I believe it is encouraged for us to follow those who have paved the path before us because then everyone will know your every move and thus you can be easily influenced and often manipulated. If you go where no one has gone before, then there will be no one to dictate the outcome of your desires - no one but you!

As Robert Frost said, taking the road less traveled has made all the difference in his life and isn't that what we are all looking for? Yes, we are all trying to make moments of miracles to enhance our lives and the lives of those we love.

Namaste

Shelli Tinae

www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/shellitinae

THANKFUL TUESDAY'S: WATER IS YOUR LIFE FORCE

2011-04-26T10:38:00.005-04:00

This Tuesday I am thankful for fresh drinking water. We take for granted how valuable water is to our very existence. The human body is comprised of 70-75% water! We could not survive without fresh water to drink. Sadly, there are places in the world that don't have drinking water at their disposable.

Water is also scarce during natural disasters such as the earthquake in Haiti and the Tsunami in Japan so when you take a sip next time say THANK YOU. Lately I have been saying THANK YOU on each gulp of water I intake. It puts everything in perspective when you give gratitude for the most valuable fragments of life.

Some of you may know about Dr. Masaru Emo who wrote the book, "The Hidden Messages in Water." He shows vivid pictures of what water looks like on a microscopic level when we send positive energy to it. If you go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAvzsjcBtx8 you will see how beautiful a water crystal becomes after simply telling it, THANK YOU. I know I preach this a lot, but we are ALL ONE with all that exists.

Since your body is mostly water, now you can see how simply looking in the mirror and saying THANK YOU can also transform your body from within. You are a water being! Honor yourself with words of love and gratitude.

Namaste

www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/shellitnae

WHO ARE YOU? QUALITIES OF YOU CHARACTER

2011-04-25T15:12:00.004-04:00

When I think about a person's character I can't help but here Van Hunt's sultry voice in his song Character: "Who are you in the face of disappointment. Where is your character? The one who keeps you going?"

I think the greatest test of your character is how you handle adversity. When things are going great you really can't see the demons a person may be hiding. We've all been guilty of having some character flaws but as we get older, hopefully, those flaws start to reveal themselves so that we can grow to be better people. We are destined to be people who are building character as tall as the pyramids of Giza and not letting our character crumble like the Great Wall of China.

It's just like Van Hunt says, your character is the one who keeps you going. It's the foundation of your personality and it needs to be nurtured and cultivated - not retarded during times of misfortune. It may be true that you really don't know a person until they are going through a crisis but you must respect a person who uses that crisis as a catalyst for growth.

One of the many definitions of character is "qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity" This is a great definition because it pin-points some key qualities. Characteristics are your personality traits and these are the things that leave lasting impressions on others.

An honest person is trustworthy.

A courageous person is relentless in their pursuit of success.

A person with integrity is straight forward and lives by their principles.

If you are fully aware you have some character flaws, congratulations! Awareness is always the first step in solving a problem. You can begin correcting your character flaws once you have brought light to the situation. Be honest with yourself (no coincidence that honesty plays a huge part in building character) on the areas you need improvement.

We should all choose to build upon our character so we have greater life experiences

Namaste

www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/shellitinae.

EARTH DAY - 4 SIMPLE WAYS YOU CAN DO YOUR PART TO SUSTAIN THE EARTH

2011-04-22T19:34:00.005-04:00

Today is Earth Day so we can't help but be reminded of how dynamic - yet fragile the earth is. We live in the womb of a woman who nurtures us with an abundance of food, water, land, and breathable air. We must do our part to continue to make this beautiful planet sustainable for generations to come. Here are some simple and effective ways you can do your part:

1. Buy organic - yes it costs a little more but show the government that we will not tolerate out food being chemically modified and robbed of their nutrients.

2. Recycle - you can just about recycle every good you purchase nowadays like shoes, yogurt cups, paper, appliances, furniture and more!

3. Plant something! - go out in your yard or community and plant a vegetable or a flower garden. You can even plant a tree! Beautify the landscape around you and oxygenate the air at the same time.

4. Support Green Businesses -As your priorities change and you decide to help sustain the earth, you will discover that you will be more than happy to spend your money with companies who share your vision. You can also go to http://www.organicconsumers.org/btc/BuyingGuide.cfm and do a search for green savvy businesses near you. You may want to do a background check to make sure they aren't using the green stamp as a gimmick.

Namaste

www.twitter.com/shellitinae
www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com

DO I STAY OR DO I GO? 10 REASON'S TO CALL IT QUITS!

2011-04-21T16:54:00.004-04:00

We've all been in magical relationships that we thought would never end and...POOF...the bunny rabbit isn't coming out of the hat anymore, no matter how many times you say abracadaba. Some how the fairytail romance comes to an abrupt stop and your standing at a fork in the road deciding which way to go - which way will lead to your overall happiness. As the relationship progressed you discovered that this person may not have been the man/woman you were destined to be with. So you start to think they were in your life just to occcupy the meantime and not a lifetime.

It's hard to make that big leap and abandon the courtship so here are some signs for you to examine and see whether or no it's time to call it quits:

1. YOU ARGUE MORE THAN YOU HARMONIZE
2. THEY ARE NOT ENCOURAGING YOU TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS
3. YOU FEEL OBLIGATED TO MAKE IT WORK - MORE THAN YOU WANT TO STAY
4. SEX IS THE ONLY THING YOU ENJOY DOING TOGETHER
5. IF SOMEONE BETTER WERE TO COME ALONG YOU WOULD JUMP AT THE CHANCE
6. SUGAR MOMMA/SUGAR DADDY - YOU'RE ONLY STAYING BECAUSE THEY ARE FINANCIALLY SUPPORTING YOU
7. YOU'RE LOSING YOURSELF - YOUR COMPLETE FOCUS IS ON PLEASING YOUR MATE AND YOU DON'T HAVE A VOICE
8. YOU'VE GROWN BEYOND THE RELATIONSHIP - THE NEW YOU IS NOT COMPLEMENTARY TO THE OLD RELATIONSHIP
9. HE/SHE IS ABUSIVE - PHYSICALLY OR EMOTIONALLY; THEY ARE BOTH CATASTROPHIC
10. THE LAUGHS AND FUN TIMES HAVE CEASED TO EXIST

I know there are plenty more so add to the list and tell me what are some reasons you would say adios!

www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/shellitinae

RARE POEM RELEASED! "LIVING FOREVER"

2011-04-20T16:06:00.003-04:00

This is my first and may be the only poem that I post until they are all published in a forth coming book. I hope you enjoy it and tell me what you think.

Namaste

You ask me if we're going
to be together, in love forever.
I say we're living forever.
first 2 minutes ago,
then now, then 2 minutes from now
a complete circle of existence
we are constantly in forever.
the past you treasure
and the future is yet to measure
but you know it exists...
so if I leave you, don't be sad
you see,
2 minutes ago we were together in forever
but now I don't feel balanced.
am I trippin'?
somethin' is missin'
but in the future I have to follow the words in heart,
through my soul and out my body,
past my lips, I say,
we made beautiful circles of forever together
that will live infinitly
but it's time for me to move on.
even as I sadly walk out this door,
I'm excited to find out if there's more.
I'm ready for love in the constant now.
forget the past,
fuck the future.
love in the now flies without wings,
teleports with simple thought,
lives and dies without fears.
creates an energy field on you and I can feel.
so don't ask me if I love you forever, instead,
ask if I love you now.

Shelli Tinae Price
www.themindofshellitinae.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/shellitinae

THANKFUL TUESDAY'S: I'M THANKFUL FOR MY GRAND CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

2011-04-19T17:22:00.003-04:00

Today I am thankful for my circle of friends.

We are a reflection of each other and I'm grateful for the opportunity to see myself in others. Like minds gravitate toward one another and I'm sure we're all apart of the same soul family and preordained this reunion. We can't get through this crazy thing called life all by our lonesome so having friends you can depend on is a true blessing. Each day I say to the Divine Creator, "Thank you for surrounding me with loving friends and a loving family." I'm happy to be of service to all of you and I'm grateful for all the wonderful things you have done for me.

Whether you have one friend or many, it's always good to have people who want nothing in return except your happiness. We are all here to enhance each other's lives so I'm making it a point to tell all my friends that I love them and I'm always here for them unconditionally. Let's not take our friendships for granted and extend love from our hearts to our grand circle of friends.

So dear friends, I love you!

Peace and blessings!

NO DECISION IS EVER FINAL

2011-04-19T11:05:00.003-04:00

In search of a new adventure, I quit my job and made the conscious decision to move a thousand miles south to Atlanta, Georgia. I didn't have a plan. All I knew was that I needed a fresh start. It was probably one of the most fearless decisions I've ever made because the outcome was uncertain. I didn't have a job and all I had was my roll over 401 k and the last pay check from the stressful job I just vacated. None of that mattered to me. All I cared about was starting a new life and leaving behind the old me.

As expected, a lot of my family and friends were concerned about me making such a huge move and not having a master plan but I simply told them, "No decision is ever final and I can always come back home if it doesn't work out."

Put yourself out on a limb and follow your intuition. I didn't have a job but as soon as I got to Atlanta I worked very hard to apply for many job openings. Within three weeks I got a phone call from Art Evans, who was the manager of the temporary department at Turner Broadcasting. He called me in for an interview and told me that he receives about 400 resumes a day for people trying to get a foot in the door at Turner and my resume caught his eye. I was a temp for 5 months before I got on permanently.

I made a fearless move and I was faithful that it would pay off...and it did.

I've been in Atlanta now almost eight years and my decision still isn't final; not in my job - not with my home - not with my car, etc. You can always tell another story just by having the determination to do something different. The key to your decision being successful is based on how fearless you feel so remove all doubts. Only you can write your life story so never let anyone tell you that there are no do-over’s because it’s not about doing something over – it’s about doing things better. You wrote the script - so you can change the plot.

Namaste

WHY I DRIVE TO WORK IN SILENCE

2011-04-18T17:08:00.001-04:00

I stumbled upon driving in silence by accident. My car stereo had a short and one day it just decided not to turn on anymore. I was pretty bummed about it at first because I was always playing music to match or enhance my moods. The broken radio was in arms distance and the curiosity of what they were playing was killing me because I had been programmed that the radio and start of the ignition were uniquely intertwined. When I stopped having the ability to cut on the radio on my morning commute, I realized life is filled with many things to divert us from who we really are and thus the journey to reveal more of myself began.

Soon I began to enjoy the silence and the peace it offered me. Yes, of course there were times when I really wanted to listen to music - especially prior to a night on town but my morning commute is when I appreciate the silence the most. I discovered that the sound of the radio seemed to be a distraction. The music was distracting me from myself.

The vibrations from music - and even the voice of radio show personalities, can really have an emotional affect on how you feel. You see, we are all resonating to a certain frequency. We are radios - just like the one's we listen to in the car. So when you tune into the artificial frequency of the radio, chances are, you’re not tuned into your authentic frequency. In essence, you begin to take on frequencies that are not your own and they begin to distract you from what you are supposed to be doing to enhance your frequency field and raise your vibration.

Now I listen to the sound of my breath, the hum of the engine and the intonations of my voice. It used to be unnerving to cut off the radio but I stepped outside of my comfort zone even further and I began praying aloud in the car. Talk about strange! I was so worried that the people in the cars next to me would notice that I was talking and not singing that they would look at me crazy. This was a sure sign that I was not comfortable in my own skin so I over came the challenge and I made these prayers a daily ritual. Soon the prayers turned into daily affirmations because I am a creator and feel more comfortable asserting my desires.

So whether you drive in silence for part of your commute or the entire commute, use that time to become more in tune with your authentic self so your day unfolds the way it's truly supposed to. I'm a strong advocate now for turning off the radio in the mornings; after all, the way you begin your day can greatly determine how the entire day plays out.

Be one with yourself.

Namaste

30 DAYS OF POSITIVITY - WE'RE HALF WAY THERE

2011-04-15T21:41:00.004-04:00

It's been 15 days since I started my journey to 30 days of positivity. I must admit, I've hit a few hurdles and bumps on the road to all-things positive. Whenever you are growing, a test of your mastery will always come along. Let's just say I've been tested on numerous occasions and I haven't always been successful the past 30 days in maintaining my inner peace.

The negative emotions of doubt, fear and anger make a cameo appearance sometimes but not for an extended period of time because I'm aware of their presence. There are the signs along the road I see on this beautiful scenic trip: "Awareness dead ahead." It's amazing how quickly you can subdue negativity with a positive thought. I may not feel it right away but shortly after coaching myself, I feel peace taking over.

So if you're having trouble keeping a positive outlook on your day-to-day circumstances, bring awareness to those thoughts and reverse the effects it has on your emotions by offering your psyche a positive reward. Yes, positive thoughts are rewarding because they are a part of your authentic self; the part of you that is striving to grow from your current state of being.

I'll see you in the big city. Drive safely!

Namaste

I FORGOT TO FORGIVE HIM - REMEMBERING TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE HURT YOU

2011-04-13T17:22:00.011-04:00

He hurt her...I saw the tears; I witnessed the drop in weight; I drove to the rescue to move her belongings; I watched the kids abruptly pack up their rooms to move to the unknown. Now they have made amends and she says to me, "You should try to forgive him, too." It's been six months since the nasty ordeal and all these months she's been working to heal and part of the healing process was to forgive him for his infidelity and stealing. Those of us so intensely involved only focused on the well being of her and the children. We were so concerned with her happiness that we forgot to forgive him. The thought didn't even dawn on me until she mentioned it today. She was expressing her feeling to me and said, "I don’t think I would have received the development that God has made/is making in me, if it had come from someone else." I believe we start to forgive people when we stop blaming them for how we feel. No one can make you feel a certain way. You're in the drivers seat even though sometimes it feels out of your control. To forgive doesn't mean you forget but the experience changes you. How do you forgive with the painful memory still intact? First we must find the lesson in the experience and understand that no mistakes are ever made. There is always a divine plan in place. I believe this, I truly do, but it's hard to watch someone you love go through such pain. My golden moment will appear on the day I can truly say that all is well - that all is forgiven. He didn't hurt me, he hurt someone I love and she understands the purpose of it all. That is the most important aspect and the one thing that will help me forgive him. How do you begin to forgive those that you feel have hurt you?

WHY DREAMING BIG WILL BRING YOU SUCCESS

2011-04-13T11:50:00.005-04:00

Your dreams are alive! I'm not referring to the dreams downloaded to your consciousness while you sleep, (they are alive, too, but I'll save that for another blog) I'm referring to the dreams you have all day long that take you off into wonder-wonder land. All successful people are big time dreamers. You can't bring an idea into fruition if you haven't dreamed about it. We mistakenly think of dreams as vague and cloudy but your dreams are equivalent to your desires; your desires are equal to your passions; your passions are equal to your purpose. Children have the wildest imaginations, that is, until adults come along and tell them to wake up but the funny thing about that is most of feel dead all day long at our jobs so who really needs to wake up? Encourage your children to foster their imaginations so they can use that creative outlet to tap into their dreams and follow their heart. If you demand they follow the status quo, chances are they are forming robotic behaviors and not living out their dreams. Doubt can taint your dreams but you must transmute those doubts into beliefs because they cause a negative interference with your divine purpose. I'm dreaming of cartwheels, kisses, white sand beaches, published best selling books, Hollywood signs, passionate sex, yoga in the park, life outside of the matrix, peace for all beings on earth, more time to be mommy... So what are you dreaming about?

THANKFUL TUESDAY'S! FRESH FRUITS & VEGETABLES

2011-04-12T00:27:00.004-04:00

This thankful Tuesday is all about fresh-from-the-farm fruits and vegetable!

Walking into the farmers market I feel like a kid in a candy store. Sure the candy is shaped like oranges and avocados and eerily tastes like them too, but the mouth watering sensation is reminiscent of salt water taffy or candied apples.

Immediately I come face to face with fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and I couldn't help but notice the sage, mint, rosemary and basil just to right of me. The colors in the market are so vivid, striking and tantalizing. You can not deny the beauty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Even the items that don't necessary sit on your palate well - you still must compliment their raw attributes.

More often we need to give thanks for what it must have taken to get the food in the stores for us to purchase. I'm so very thankful that people take the time to harvest fruits and vegetables because I need them for my health; I need them to survive. There is a lot of radiation spewing into the air from Japan that attacks the cells in our bodies. Radation has already been discovered in the rainwaters on US soil. Fruits and vegetables can help protect us from this harmful radiation. Now isn't that something to be thankful for? In the mist of caos, we are always taken care of. Believe it, feel it and know it to be true.

Eat them raw when you can because the enzymes are deminished when you cook them but even if you lightly sautee them - the rewards will be great!

Namaste

YOU'RE NOT LAZY - YOU'RE ENERGY IS STUCK!

2011-04-11T09:42:00.003-04:00

Today was all about spring cleaning.

The energy in the house just seems to flow better when it's cleared of unnecessary clutter. I'm not even half way done as I plan to revamp every single room in the house but just doing 2 rooms eased a load on my entire being. A disorganized house is an indication of a disorganized life. Your house, to me, is the microcosm of a person’s life. You can tell if a person is depressed or happy just from looking at their home and if nothing more, you can tell if they are overwhelmed or if they just haven’t figured out how to manage their time.

I know u might say, "Those people are just lazy," but I would say their flow of energy is stuck and needs to be released. A person can only be lazy when they are not using their life force to its full potential.

A lazy person isn't dumb. They know the house isn't tidy. Their energy is stuck so their life is stagnant. Use spring, the time for renewal, to get your chi flowing again and honor your home and your life.

A good way to get your chi flowing is to exercise. You will breathe fire into your energy centers and that will stimulate your brain to get everything in order – including your environment.

IF YOU WANT TO BE INSPIRED WATCH "OPRAH PRESENTS MASTER CLASS"

2011-04-08T17:52:00.003-04:00

One of the most inspirational shows I’ve ever seen on television was “Oprah Presents Master Class”. When I sat down to watch it, I didn’t really know what to expect. I didn’t know the impact it would have on me. The Oprah Winfrey Show has been on air since I was eight years old so I grew up with her and didn’t realize there was so much more to her than I had previously witnessed. This was not Oprah the television host, this was a woman speaking from the purity of her heart and soul and it really moved me. Oprah the host is a channel for the world to speak through her.
Part two was just as phenomenal as part one and the unifying theme for both seemed to be that we all have the ability to tap into source energy and become anything we passionately dream to be.
Oprah was forced to sleep outside by her mother’s employer as a child because she was dark skin; she was raped by her cousin at the tender age of 9; she was pregnant at age 14. This was more than a story about a little girl from Mississippi who went from rags to riches. This was a story about a little girl who used the law of rhythm to turn her disconsolate life into one that was filled with a flow of light and love. Oprah is a great example of someone who lives with the flow – and not against it.
She expressed many life themes in the two part series that I find spiritually stimulating but one of them that really touched me is that you have to BELIEVE. There is a force greater than us that guides us and does not forsake us but you have to believe in the power and believe you are the vessel to express positive energy.
As Oprah says, we are here to learn so then in turn we can be teachers. It’s a give and take; a constant exchange of energy and love.
If you watch nothing else on television this year – please watch “Oprah Presents Master Class,” and let’s have a discussion about all the “aha” moments that are woven into this timeless piece of work. Part 1 and 2 air tonight on OWN beginning at 9pm EST.

EXCHANGING ENERGY WITH THE EARTH

2011-04-07T15:50:00.005-04:00

Today I touched the earth. I kicked off my shoes and let my feet seep into the grass. It was such a long winter but as soon as I connected with the earth beneath my feet, I knew spring had made a grand entrance.

I let my face bask in the sunlight so I really felt engulfed by nature from my head to my toes. There was an exchange of energy taking place between the earth and I; we were giving to one another as there was nothing to take away. Everything is energy. Some gadgets take away the energy you have stored within like cell phones, microwaves, computers, etc. Most of us use these energy zappers on a regular basis so it's important to exchange a free flow of energy with the earth as often as you can to replenish the energy lost from artificial intelligence.

Being an L.A. native, I was used to being close to water but now that I'm in the South I truly miss living near a body of water. You have to get very creative here but there are lakes, mountains and beautiful parks I utilize as substitutes.

I'm not a doctor but my prescription for you today is to get outdoors! Take deep breaths of the invisible life force that surrounds you and fuels your body. Then respectfully extend your body into the earth (grass, sand, dirt, etc) and feel safely connected to all that lives.

4 Steps to Prioritize Your Life

2011-04-06T15:08:00.007-04:00

Recently I took a class called, "Achieving Your Highest Priorities." When I signed up for the course I didn't know that I would learn not only how to prioritize my life but also how to identify and quantify those things that need to be prioritized. I figure I'll have a shot-gun wedding one day because that's how carefree my life has been. A small chapel with an Elvis impersonating priest, here I come! With so many responsibilities piling up - I had to make some sense of things, so with the help of this class I created a four step plan to prioritize my life.

Step 1: CREATE MANAGABLE TO-DO LISTS - Part of manageability is being realistic about the time needed to complete the tasks at hand. A manageable list means it's in your control. Don't create a list that you can't manage. You are the only person that can see to its success so realistically determine what you can accomplish for the day. The items that you couldn't get to, move them to tomorrow's list but try not to keep pushing an item. Don't push an item more than three times without completing it.

Step 2: HONOR YOURSELF - Make sure your list has at least one item on it that requires you to honor yourself. Whether it's taking a hot bubble bath or listening to your favorite music artist - make it a priority to do something special for you everyday! I mean, why the hell not! The person we take for granted the most is the one you have the deepest connection with...yourself! If I'm not mistaken, your physical and emotional health is your number one priority, right? After all, you can't be a beneficial addition to someone else’s life if you are toxically self destructing. You can share your highest light with others when you take the time to honor your soul.

Step 3: DO THE HARDEST ITEMS ON THE LIST FIRST - Those pesky bills and calls to the bill collectors always seems to make the list - and they are always the very last thing we want to do. If you get them out of the way the issues will be resolved quicker and you will feel good making a huge check X indicating its completion. Yeah, it's fun to eliminate items from your list - but it's especially gratifying to check-off an item you dreaded completing. Now it's done and that's one for the books!

Step 4: DO YOUR LIST THE NIGHT BEFORE - The start of your day is usually pretty hectic with cooking breakfast, rushing the kids off to school and getting to work. The best time to do your list is right before your head hits the pillow. Set aside 10 minutes or so to create an action list of things for you to do the next day. To me, the order doesn't matter but I would highlight the items that you don't necessarily feel like doing so you can tackle them first and foremost. The rest of the day will run smoothly after that. Throughout the day you may want to add to your list. I use the notepad application on my IPhone. It's great for jotting down important reminders.

Here's one of my recent lists:

Call Ticket Master

Pay Medical Bill

Make Hair Appointment

Honor yourself: step class

Order party supplies

Check PO Box Note* The highlighted item was my least favorite thing to do so I did it first. Is my list manageable? YES

Well it seems like I'm on the road to effectively prioritizing my life! What steps are you taking to achieve your highest priority?

THANKFUL TUESDAY'S - I LOVE SKYPE!

2011-04-05T14:49:00.005-04:00

There is an abundance of things in our lives to be thankful for so I've dubbed Tuesday's as the day to acknowledge our blessings. Welcome to Thankful Tuesday's!

Allow me to suggest getting a grateful journal so you can keep up with the things you are thankful for - whether you track them daily, weekly, or monthly doesn't really matter. I like to do a quick note in my grateful journal daily that simply states what I'm thankful for and the reason's why. By the way, this is a great way to start your day. What better way to wake up than to give thanks? I promise you will never run out of things to be grateful for and even the smallest things are huge on the grateful scale.

So without further a due, today I am grateful for...SKYPE! I just got an account recently and it's been such a joy to use. I'm able to talk with my parents who are thousands of miles away. There is nothing better than looking at my mother's beautiful face in real time. Video chat where have you been all my life! This is a great way to keep in touch with long distance loved ones so if you don't have a Skype account - get one today!

So tell me, what are thankful for today?

BEING THE OBSERVER

2011-04-04T21:51:00.002-04:00

On the road to all these positive, I have discovered it's not as easy to change as it is to make the declaration. Negativity can come in many forms: sadness, anger, fear, and resentment - just to name a few. Combating these negative emotions takes a lot of practice a lot of retraining. We are accustom to reacting to things in a certain manner and we tend to react from an unconscious state so often we look back and say, "I should have handled that differently."

In order to gain control over our emotions we must become an observer of the man in the mirror. This means you must first be conscious. No more experiencing life eyes wide shut. Before you react to something, observe how you feel. You may notice a pattern of things that get you from zero to 60 in 2.5 seconds. Some of you may even have memories from your childhood that will help you see where these emotions may stem from. Only when you are the observer of your life will ever be able to move beyond your negative triggers.

As you practice being the observer of your life and you find that you still respond negatively quite often, don't beat yourself up about it. Give yourself a pat on the back for being aware of how you feel and where those feelings came from. Rome wasn't built in one day - and neither were your negative habits. They have been brewing for years and picking up steam! Keep practicing a positive life and you will discover the peace you've only dreamed about; that peace will be the foundation of your life. Think of the impact you will have on those around you.

Now that's positive!

Namaste

BREATHING BY MIDNIGHT

2011-04-02T23:27:00.003-04:00

I've been out all day with blogging heavily on my mind. Not once did I think I would be racing the clock trying to get out a thought-felt blog by midnight. The count down has begun and the hours have turned into minutes. Can I do it? Yes, I'm positive I can. I said to myself, "just breathe!"

Instantly I drew upon the power of my breath to complete the task at hand. Learning to breathe correctly was one of the most significant lessons of my life. Most people don't breathe correctly and only take shallow intakes of oxygen - our invisible lifeforce.

It wasn't until I began practicing yoga did I grasp the strength of various breathing techniques. To put it simply, you will get more out of life if you know how to breathe. A few deep breaths will give your body the oxygen it needs for sustainability, whether you need an extra push in your workouts or energy just to think clearly.

Take long deep breaths throughout your day and watch how much you get out of life. Don't take the gift of breathing for granted.

Now that's positve!

Namaste

30 DAYS TO A NEW ME

2011-04-01T16:19:00.006-04:00

Why 30 days of Positivity?
I’ve really been practicing lately to be in a constant state of awareness. We have thousands of thoughts per day but do you know where they come from? What are some reoccurring themes? Can you turn your thoughts off? These are some of the questions I’ve been asking myself as I observe the unrelenting stream of thoughts that enter my mind. I can’t say that I can answer all of these questions yet but what I do know is I have a tendency to focus on the negative thoughts and ironically, those are the ones that keep replaying in my head. I plan and attend my own pity party and I’m the only attendee. When negative thoughts arise, I’m making a pledge to myself to transmute those mind disturbers into something positive. I knew it was time for a change so when I was introduced to Esther Hicks Youtube video called, “30 Days to a New You, positive thinking for 30 days seemed like an obtainable goal. Esther talking about using those 30 days to get your desires in motion by intensely focusing on the things that you want and the things that genuinely feel good. One of the things that always feels good is writing so my love of writing and this challenge of thinking positively for 30 days will go hand-n-hand. Actually, I think the writing will help me stay focused on thinking of things from a positive perspective because that’s when I feel pure and uncensored. Where Does the Blog Challenge Fit in?
I discovered the 30 day blog challenge after someone posted it on one of the blog groups I’m in. If you’re interested in blogging on a more consistent basis, this may be the challenge you need to make writing a passionate habit. Log onto http://ultimateblogchallenge.com/ for more details. Come One, Come All I’m so excited about the writing challenge and my positive thinking endeavor that I would love for everyone to participate with me. Push yourself to the edge of possiblities because that’s where your dreams are trying to take you. Let’s help one another stay motivated so the challenges ahead will flow smoothly like the sounds of a symphony.

LIVING FRIDAY FOREVER - 3 STEPS TO ENJOY YOUR WEEK

2011-03-25T11:52:00.003-04:00

I walked into the office today and in the matter of 5 minutes I heard, “I’m so glad it’s Friday,” and “I made it to the end of the week.” When did we start speeding up our lives just for the anticipation of the end of the week? I vote we all start living everyday like it’s Friday - like it’s Friday for the rest of our lives.

For everyone who works a mundane, dead end job and are just itching to get to Friday, I say find beauty and gratitude in each moment you are given because the dead end job can lead to a new one if you set your intentions into motion. If you are waiting for Friday to feel alive and luminous, follow these 3 steps and you’ll be on your way to having more fulfilled days – even on a so-called dreaded Monday.

Step 1: Honor Yourself – You should be doing at least one thing a day that you absolutely love. Whether it’s reading a book, getting a massage, tasting one of your favorite foods or even just sitting outside in the sunshine; in some way you should be tending to the matters of your soul. I like to exercise a few times a week and some days I just get a cup of coffee and that little treat gives me a rush of excitement. I feel great when I’m doing something to honor my present mood and desires. The little things can really go a long way.

Step 2: Discover Your Labor of Love – We are all here to make a difference and whether you impact a handful or thousands, you’re still fulfilling your purpose. Think of yourself as a planet and realize that what you do will have an affect on the entire universe! When you work on your passion you will feel powerful and your day will be divine. If you currently have a not-so-appealing job, squeeze in time for your passion to make it through the tough days. I write daily because that is the foundation of my passion. Your labor of love is your creative outlet. Put it to good use and continue to expand those efforts and one day your passion could turn into a full time gig.

Step 3: Positivity – No matter where you’re at in your life, there is always a bright side and let that be your guide. Focus on all the positive things that are going on around you all throughout the week. For starters, just the mere fact that you’re alive makes you a hot commodity! Being thankful is the best way to bare witness to the beauty that surrounds you, and is you. Soon all of the negative thoughts that plague you will cease to exist.

Incorporate these simple steps and watch how quickly your humdrum Monday’s turns into a divine, powerful, and energetic day!

RECYCLE REVOLUTION

2011-02-09T16:15:00.019-05:00

In my pursuit of all things green, I discovered the sanitation department in my county has a curbside recycling program. I thought to myself, "This is just what I need!" Hauling everything to the farmers market just wasn't cutting it anymore. Picture me lugging several bags of plastics and glasses then running around the market looking at a sea of bins trying to figure out where the tops to the bottles go since they have separate corridors from the green, brown, and clear glass bottles - which are also grouped separately.

My excitement quickly turned to perplexity when I learned I would have to pay $30 to participate. Yep, it will cost you $30 to "borrow" one of the county-owned blue bins. I suddenly had a flashback and remembered that this fee is what kept me from joining the program a few years prior. I mean, I pay my property taxes every year so why doesn't that include the cost to recycle? After all, there is money being made from recycled goods but the majority of the citizens doing the recycling don't get a piece of the pie.

Although I still didn't think that was a cost I should eat, I paid it anyway. I signed the check and stared at it for a minute before allowing it to leave my hands and never to be seen again; in the end I knew that my decision to recycle was in essence, priceless.

In hopes that one day it will be priceless for everyone, I called Sherry Arnold, the Dekalb County Recycle Coordinator, to find out a little more on why citizens have to incur this fee. She informed me that the county board of commissioners has made it a voluntary, instead of a mandatory program. So because of this they can't apply the cost to my property taxes. Right away I envisioned a possible solution could be to make it mandatory, or simply apart of the norm. It's a great move toward green living to have every home equipped with recycling bins to encourage recycling. It's the wave of the future.

"As of right now we have 32,000 customers and they're signing up every day," according to Arnold. I did the math: 32,000 customers x $30 a pop is $960,000 profit the county has made thus far from this "voluntary" program. I'm willing to bet it will remain voluntary for this very reason. There is definitely money being made in recycling efforts around the country. Going green is the new "thing" and people are finding ways to make green very profitable.

So then I had one question left that needed entertaining: "When is my recycle bin coming?" I have stacks of goods just waiting to be renewed and truth be told, this is the reason that prompted me to call them in the first place. I've been waiting for three weeks for it to arrive - one week longer than the said arrival. Arnold informed me they are getting 100-200 requests a week for the bins. They have been bombarded with request and are behind on fulfilling orders.

So it seems that the recycle revolution is in full swing! Knowing that my bin hasn't arrived because of all the like-minded people signing up, actually made me feel comfortable about enduring the unexpected delay. The mere fact that I'm not alone and that others are starting to wake up and do their part to better the earth made me feel a part of a new movement - a new consciousness. It may cost us 30 bucks, but we recoup that by having a more sustainable place to live for generations to come.

What are you doing to join the recycle revolution? It's not just about recycling cans anymore so hit me up and share your green efforts!

THE BREATH IS PERFECT

2011-02-02T15:33:00.005-05:00

During a recent meditation sitting peacefully in my lotus pose, a significant thought came to me:

Breath is the purest fiber of life and is the starting point of the expression of our perfection in this earthly body. The breath is perfect and anything that manifests from that breath is also perfect.

Imagine a person is having an anxiety attack and they can't calm down and normalize their breathing. They are taking short gasp of air and the more they panic, the more they feel faint. This example makes breathing seem imperfect but even the erratic breath is perfect because it still has a beginning and an end. So in essence, there is no such thing as an imperfect breath; the influx of oxygen is still constant thus allowing you to use your mind and the mind of God to make decisions.

Every moment you have in your breath is perfect - which means all of your actions, feelings and thoughts have the ability to express your perfection. Everything comes from breathing; you are in you breath - your breath is not you; you are a breathing-spirit living a human experience. You are unconsciously controlling the need to breathe so you can express your purpose in this life. Your breath and spirit are on a mission! The second you were born the first thing you did was breath and it will be the last thing you will do before you transition back to the formless being you eternally are. So by feeling the power of your breath, you know that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. Feel the magnitude of your breath and you will also feel the magnitude of all that you are destined to accomplish in this life.

Each day take time to sit in silence and just...breath. Observe your thoughts and allow them to take a backseat to the flow of your breathing. Feel alive; feel grateful for the moments you have to honor yourself. What better way to honor yourself than to acknowledge this rhythmic flow?

affirmation: I am a reflection of my perfect breath. All things will be made perfect because I am alive to breathe them into existence.

Time to Test Drive the All-Electric Nissan Leaf

2011-01-24T13:03:00.002-05:00

It's official!

I just signed up to test drive the new Nissan Leaf all-electric car. The tour hits Atlanta February 18 - 20.

It's been almost a year since my car took its place in heaven and I've been on a search for something new - yet better ever since. I made a decision that I would get a car that was better for the environment so I started searching for hybrid cars. I even looked at the all-electric Tesla's website but waiting until 2012 just didn't seem feasible. Then I stumbled upon the Nissan Leaf and discovered their fleet was already in production. So the Leaf research began and hysteria followed as I went deep into the intricate details of this electric beauty.

Some highlights that are just to die for are:
- 100 miles per charge - Great for in-town travels
- Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) - meaning no spewing of gases into our precious atmosphere
- The seats are made from recycled plastic - what a creative way to recycle! (I'm a green movement junkie)

There is a transition brewing in so many facets of life and the movement from oil based cars to electric cars is just one example of how things are evolving. I asked myself, "What car solution would be better for the earth?" A resounding inner voice answered, "Go electric!"

So here I am on my quest to obtain an all-electric car; the first step will be test driving the Nissan Leaf. I'll be certain to update you on my experience!

If you would like more information on the Nissan Leaf go to http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car. You can get product information on this site and if you're feeling frisky, sign up to test drive one these babies!

Beautiful Infinitely

2010-08-23T17:54:00.000-04:00

Beautiful is his heart I can’t capture because he’s so free and lovely and me.
Beautiful are his eyes, the souls disguise to all there is
But I see the depths of his luster, rooted in sandalwood musk…
It must be more to this beautiful man standing before me
As we talk I watch his beautiful layers unfold…
So naked and beautiful shedding his winter blues
When I saw his beautiful smile I knew I loved him before when time didn’t exist
So this reunion was…well…beautiful

JUDGMENT DAY

2010-07-13T11:17:00.003-04:00

“If you judge people you have no time to love them.” – Mother Teresa

Judgment day doesn’t come until after you die and your life’s work is accessed by the Most High but I think even that is more of an evaluation than a judgment.

Chris Brown has been on America’s most hated list since his scuffle with Rihanna last year but at this years BET Awards there seemed to be a shift of his image in the public eye; from woman beater to poor young soul. Chris had a melt down and cried uncontrollably during his tribute performance to the late Michael Jackson. Ironically Chris Brown was attempting to sing "Man in the Mirror." the song says "I'm starting with the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways.” That simple statement is gospel and I can see why it moved Chris. A tormented soul will discover that no one can save you, not even the second coming of Yeshua. Self realization is the end all be all. Once we acknowledge that person in the mirror we will discover that we are all the same and the need to judge will vanish.

Why does it take a public display of sadness for us to embrace a man and forgive him? Did Chris owe us his tears? I think one of the biggest lessons we all have to learn in this school of life is to not judge others based on our own ideals and standard traditions. Do you know the root of your judgments? If you could trace the origins I’m sure it was from one man/woman’s perspective which means it is not suitable for every Being on this planet.

I still find myself judging people and I'm starting to catch myself and try to understand the motivation behind it. Let’s face it, it’s a habit to judge because we think we know what’s right but each journey has a different path to enlightenment. One thing is for sure, it's easier to judge someone rather than fix our own imperfections. We have to start seeing ourselves in others. When you find commonalities - even with the people you appraise, the need to judge them will vanish because you will see a soul that is just like you…on an isolated path to rediscover perfection.

Don't think so hard - just do it!

2010-06-28T11:17:00.002-04:00

We spend too much time incessantly thinking. A thought comes with 1,000 different outcomes but if we instinctively react, we reduce the "what about this" and the "what about that's". The urge to react is immediate but delayed reasonings can push you away from what you are truly supposed to be doing so...JUST DO IT! Yes, I just screamed at you in an attempt to get your inner flame burning. Don't second guess yourself or let lazy thoughts control your life. Putting things off for another day delays the gratification you will receive once you have completed the task.

I used to dread getting up early in the mornings for work and I would lay there and waddle in my own pity. I could literally lay there and in five minutes think of 100 reasons why I shouldn't get up. It made the start of my God-given-day miserable. Now I just get up, give thanks for another day and go to work. Less thought...more action. If one day I wake up and decide never to go to work again, even that would be action motivated and fed by instinctive thought.

Whether it's cleaning the house, paying bills, mowing the lawn or meditating, activate your thoughts! This will bring you growth and expansion as you give your mind the ability to reach for higher things once each task is completed. By responding to your immediate thoughts you activate your PURPOSE. Your purpose cannot be ignited if you don't breath life into your thoughts. If too much thought on one thing is slowing you down, make a decision and put it into action!

The Resurrection

2010-03-29T15:31:00.002-04:00

Spring is here and it’s time for a resurrection. There are parts of us that lay dormant waiting for us to light the flame and rekindle the relationship with self. I’ve talked to a lot of people and everyone seems to be feeling heavy and what better way to feel lighter than to reinvent yourself…be born again. If you feel something is missing in your life – there probably is. Think about what’s missing in your life and execute discipline and faith to revive that sleeping giant. Whatever is missing is simply waiting to be revived; none of this is new, we’ve been here before. The challenge is to remember the key points (good and bad) from our past without being stuck there and use it as vehicle to move forward.

Easter is in a few days and the bible says Jesus (Yeshua) rose from the dead to save us from our sins. Resurrection can happen at any time in our lives but we have to be ready and willing to make a change. Even a subtle change can be vital. Stepping out of your daily routine can be inventive and a step away from the cross that binds you. Breaking cycles help you see beyond your current realm of thinking. Expansion…isn’t that what we are here to do? Expand our existence and overall understanding of life?

Resurrection takes courage, strength and discipline. All characteristics you are born with – even if untapped, they are there for you to explore. Make this celebration of Easter more than about Jesus. It’s been about you all along anyway. In the spirit of spring, find a way to renew yourself. So...what are you waiting for?

TO WEAR OR NOT TO WEAR A SCARF TO BED

2010-02-02T14:24:00.003-05:00

For black women hair is ALWAYS an issue. Whether it’s fried, dyed or laid to the side, hair is a focal point. We decide on all activities based on whether or not our hair will get messed up. I want to work out but my hair…I want to go swimming but my hair…I want to be sexy in bed but my hair…These challenges are the reason why I chose a natural hairstyle so it didn’t interfere with my active lifestyle. Most black women haven’t chosen the natural route so the men who love them need to be more understanding. Look at it this way, if you want her to sleep without a scarf more often – then offer to pay for some of those expensive hair bills. A compromise has to be found because I guarantee you she will not abandon the scarf completely.

Since I was a toddler a scarf was apart of my nightly wardrobe. From blue bandanas to momma’s old nylon stockings, to silk scarves and bonnets – the head wrap was a staple in my house. When I was younger it was easier on my mom so she didn’t have to do anything on a busy school morning but re-twist my ponytails that were flattened like pancakes during my nights sleep. As I got older and did my own hair, I continued wrapping my hair at night because without them my hair would be all over the place.

The scarf became a ritualistic necessity.

Before I locked my hair, I can remember not wanting a man to see me in my scarf at night so I would sacrifice more hours in the mirror the next morning just to save myself from embarrassment but after a few rendezvous’ that scarf was put to use. Is the scarf sexy? Maybe not but neither is a dew rag or snoring in bed. Women – black women in particular, make sacrifices at night to maintain our sexy during the day. I know some men feel like women should be damn near perfect for them all the time but that’s neither fair nor realistic. If it bothers you that a woman needs to wear a head wrap every night and you are starting to find her unattractive, then you may be best dating a woman with natural hair. She is more carefree about her hairdo and seldom wears a scarf to bed. The other option is to remember that wearing a scarf is not a character trait so remember the reasons why you chose her in the first place.

Ladies, do you wear a scarf to bed? Guys, does it bother you to see a woman sleep in a scarf?

Straight Men in Atlanta "Saving" Women from the Gayest City in the Country

2010-01-25T15:36:00.002-05:00

By now most of you have heard about the article in Advocate Magazine that voted Atlanta as the gayest city in the country. Okay, I will admit I’m surprised it’s worse than San Francisco but it explains why the heterosexual men here feel they have something to prove. I believe living in a city as gay as Atlanta, the straight men here feel (an unconscious feeling) they have to over compensate to prove their straight. The way they go about doing this, is a good majority of them flaunt their heterosexuality to and with every woman in town! I think they believe they are the single woman’s SAVIOR. Like, “it’s either you date me non-exclusively or you’re left with the gay men at Bull Dogs.” Men are very protective of their rolls as the leaders and providers and living in Atlanta has caused that natural instinct to become elevated and thus out of whack.

There are A LOT of eligible bachelors in Atlanta. Successful, own homes, nice cars, 401k’s with stock options, etc…living the American dream but the American dream doesn’t seem to come equipped with the idea of settling down. Now, I do believe people should be single until they are ready to make a commitment but the men here have no desire to settle down because they are too busy “saving” all the women from the gays. I remember I met a guy from DC who was here visiting and he was quick to say, “Man, if I lived in Atlanta I would be not have a girlfriend.” It’s like Atlanta is the land of the lost single men who are in no hurry to grow up; in no hurry to find just ONE woman to spend their time with. I can’t say that I’m blaming these men because a big part of me feels they are a product of their environment. If I were to transport these same eligible bachelor’s to Minnesota, they’d probably all be married or at least engaged.

The battle of the testosterone is at its peak here in Atlanta because the straight men here don’t EVER want anyone to think they are a member of the high Gays population. These men aren’t making excuses for being straight – but they are acting them out in their dating life to prove a point and the point is being well received by single black women here; IF I WANT A SINGLE, STRAIGHT MAN IN ATLANTA, I HAVE TO SHARE HIM.

NATURAL BORN LOVERS

2009-12-14T11:54:00.002-05:00

Kissing is an art; understanding a woman's body is an art. Love making....well, love making is an artistic fantasy.

Michael Jordan wasn't born with a basketball in his hand, but once he learned to play his natural talents just shined. He found his rhythm and the pure essence of his game was undeniable. I look at love making in the same way; we weren't born having sex but some people are....NATURAL BORN LOVERS.

Have you ever been with someone and they did everything right? They are a NBL - and you're probably not the only person who's discovered their splendid talents. They are passion extremist, engulfed in their sexual fantasies. These lovers have an uncanny way of pleasing their mate at all cost and understand the rhythms of their bodies - as well as their mates. Some things can not be taught - they have to be felt on an unconscious level and as much as we are spiritual beings - we can not deny these physical bodies that our soul in habitats. Natural Born Lovers understand this concept more than anyone else. If you are not a NBL then just hope that you have the opportunity to get lessons from one of these sexual beasts. Everyone can't be Michael Jordan but you can still suit up for the game and get some playing time.

WARNING: A Natural Born Lover may not love anything more than the act itself. After all, it is a fantasy inspired virtual reality. So be careful with your heart if your body has been sacrificed for the experience.

I Found Hair in his Bed!?!?

2009-11-10T10:59:00.002-05:00

I found hair in his bed

Picture this: You wake up from a wonderful night of love making and the sun rises and peaks through his bedroom window. He is sleeping soundly and you can see him softly breathing. As you gaze at him longingly, you can’t help but notice something out the corner of your eye. Is it lent? Curiosity leads you to pick up the peculiar substance and you discover it’s hair - a long blonde hair…and your hair is short and black. Oh my, how comfortable the blonde hair looks laying on his 600 count Egyptian thread sheets. Suddenly the room grows dark as night and the sun is still shinning outside but leaving a grim shadow over his room. He is still breathing softly but you forgot to breathe the moment you found…THE HAIR.

If you have ever found another’s woman’s hair in a man’s bed, that means you are not supposed to be there. I don’t care what circumstances led to you finding the hair. The end result is…YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. We can cuss at him and scream bloody Mary but it won’t change the fact that what you found was a sign; a sign to leave.

It’s like the fairy tale, The Princess and the Pea, Winnifred couldn’t sleep because there was a pea under the mattress. She said there was a lump in the bed that was preventing her from sleeping. That lump in the bed is equivalent to the hair plastered on his sheets. You really won’t be able to sleep after that. As thin as one strand of hair is, it will feel like a bowling ball is on the bed...because it's all mental. The hair paints a mental image of someone other than yourself.

God speaks to us via the confirmations we get. I can guarantee you that finding hair is a confirmation to leave and that it was not the first attempt for God to say….RUN! Even if it’s not your boyfriend or husband but just a man you’re sleeping with, that lump in the bed will prevent you from sleeping at night. That hair has a name; that hair has a face.

To my fella’s out there courting several women, keep ya game tight. Wash your sheets frequently, vacuum and wipe off your bathroom counters. Hair sheds, period, so even if you’re not in a committed relationship give the women you date respect enough not to leave a "pea" in the bed.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

2009-11-03T17:01:00.002-05:00

If you want your relationship to be everlasting, then you need to recognize that love and respect go hand-n-hand. We can easily be in love with someone and have an affair at the same time but what stops us from making that pesky move? RESPECT. Respect for ourselves and hopefully we realize that we don't want to disrespect our mate at any cost. I feel if you can't control the urge to cheat - then just break up with your mate. Temptation is in all of us but humans have the ability to make choices. Now I'm not saying breaking up with someone you love is easy because there is no way to avoid the hurt and pain - but you could at least say that you were mature enough to recognize that the change taking place inside of you required a change in the current status of your relationship.
If we cheat on mates then we are disrespecting them for the sake of our own self indulges. When you love someone beyond your own selfish pleasures, then you can truly say you love them. When you keep it one hundred first and foremost and you don't lie to them - then you can say LOVE respectfully...and not egocentrically. The ego can keep us seeking self gratification and over look the need to be with one with all there is.

Love me respectfully, not egocentrically.

The Authentic Side of Me

2009-10-26T19:50:00.003-04:00

I have been that girl who tried too hard to get a man, thinking this is what will please him - but I lost myself in the meantime because I was afraid to show him who I really was. Now I realize, if he doesn't know who I am, then he'll never be mine anyway. There would always be some obstacle inhibiting our growth because of the false portrayals of the real ME. Trying to keep up an ideal image was a disservice to myself...it was a disservice to the man I was desperately trying to impress. I was trying to be so perfect, that it made me imperfect. My experiences have taught me to cut to the chase and expose my true self without fear of rejection. I look at the men I date as a potential friend - not a potential husband. It takes the pressure off the entire situation.

Often we try too hard - especially if the person meets our "fantasy island" criteria. Then we get mentally obsessed with meeting all of his requirements. "I am good enough, see!" Being your authentic self on a date doesn't mean exposing your entire background on a first date, but it does mean feeling comfortable enough not to embellish the truth.The real person will come out eventually so you may as well be seen for who you are in the beginning of the friendship/relationship. You don't need a representative to stand in the place of the real you because once you show your true light, you risk the chance of being judged as fake. A lot of people have their guard up but those are the people who will miss out on meaningful relationships.

I don't think people always intend to cover up the truth, some of them are just surface level people. Trying to break down those walls and get them to open up is a b**ch but I think that's also associated with fear. They will never let you in because they still haven't come to accept who they are. We definitely need someone who accepts their past and is not afraid to communicate it. When you see your growth - the past is not shameful.

So once again things start right where they began...with yourself. When you lovingly accept your authentic self you can share that essence with everyone you meet.

Cuddle Weather is Here!

2009-10-06T10:56:00.002-04:00

The best part about this chill in the air…IT’S CUDDLE TIME.

I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that the weather dictates your mood and cold weather tends to make us desire a warm body constantly around us. It’s not just about warmth but cuddling is a great way to show affection. Turn down the heater and turn up the skin-to-skin contact. Any person you want to share your space with says a lot.
One of my favorite things to do while cuddling is listening to a man’s heartbeat. It’s so alive…so intricate. The simple beating of a heart can put life in a precious perspective. Try cuddling in silence and really get in tune with one another. The cold weather is just a great excuse to make that happen. The summer is about freedom and the winter is about seclusion. There is nothing more people want to do than snuggle up with their boo during those cold nights because as soon as summer comes it’s time to be out and to be seen.

It dawned on me recently that every break up I’ve had has been in April. Soon as a hint of warmth catches me…I’m gone! It’s something about the seasons that seem to dictate my “relationship mood”…it’s a natural unexplained phenomenon. Spring is about change and rebirth and the sun provides the source of energy to make that happen. Now that it’s fall and getting cold outside, use this time to retreat and snuggle up with that special someone. It’s the little things that make a person know they are loved and appreciated. Holding a person close to you for an extended period of time is a good way to get back to the basics and cuddling is a basic necessity that should not be overlooked. It is a subtle, silent – yet intense connection that your soul will appreciate once your bodies gently collide.

THE RELATIONSHIP FOUNDATION

2009-09-21T14:36:00.002-04:00

You build your relationship from the ground up and outside-in, not top to bottom and inside-out. The foundation will determine it's level of stability through any kind of weather. The key components to a lasting relationship are LOVE, RESPECT, HONESTY, TRUST, DISCIPLINE. If any of these are out of whack then your foundation may be off balance but can be repaired with attention and care.

LOVE is an eternal flame that we are born to emit til the day we transition from this Earth (an beyond). When you find someone who resonates on the same love frequency - then that is special and can NEVER be reversed. I believe we are born in the image of God...as LOVE. So the first part of the foundation is LOVE, which may be the easiest of the 5 foundation components because instinct is its guide. I LOVE YOU BECAUSE...I JUST DO.

Something that may not come as easily as RESPECT. I see people all the time disrespecting the one they love by calling them out of their name or justifying extra marital affairs. RESPECT is about honoring the one you love. It is an honor and a blessing to be in the presence of your equal. Your goal should be to never disrespect your mate...never. I find it funny when men tell me they cheat on their wives and tell me they love her in the same conversation. The thin line between love and hate occurs when your mate feels utterly disrespected. That is the turning point.

Another key component is HONESTY. This one I still have a hard time with because it's complex to determine what needs to be revealed. My advice is to confide in your mate freely. After all, the screws holding the foundation together are based on your friendship. Also, it will be better coming from you, rather than someone else. I equate honesty with liberation. Such a load can be removed from the pit of your gut by sharing some of the skeletons in your closet. This is who I was - and this is who I am today. You should not be castrated for showing growth.

TRUST may be a challenge if you grew up not trusting people. My advice is to first TRUST yourself to choose a mate who's TRUSTWORTHY. I think a lot of times we take for granted that our mates are a reflection of us. We don't trust ourselves and our decisions but we want someone to trust us. It just doesn't make any sense. TRUST and believe in your mate as you do yourself to build a strong foundation.

The last foundation component is DISCIPLINE. It'S easy to go putting your screws in someone else's tool box. Let's face it, we are ANIMALS! Some of you have K-9 teeth to prove it. We have to discipline ourselves to stay with one person. I think that's why I always here, "marriage is hard work," because it must be nurtured on a constant basis.

Maintain a balance of each of these relationship components to increase the happiness in your relationship because without a solid foundation - the relationship will crumble.

LOVE IS A DECISION

2009-08-05T12:05:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of being a bride’s maid over the weekend for my dear friend Marisa. Congratulations to her and her new hubby!

The minister performing the ceremony said something that really hit a nerve. To paraphrase he said, love is more than a feeling, love is a decision. You have to decide to love someone; you have to decide to make it work; you have to decide to get through the hard times…together. The feeling will get you nowhere without the mutual understanding and decision to make it work. Often we forget to nurture the decisions we’ve made – and in doing so we relinquish control over the things we truly desire. I believe love is a birth right – we are all love beings, but only we can decide to reach the depths of loves treasures. So yes, love is a decision and a discipline we should honor and cherish every moment.

SELF PLEASURE

2009-07-09T09:53:00.004-04:00

This week on 'Straight Talk with Ella Bleu,' we got down to the nitty-gritty on self pleasure.

Most people sneak up on self pleasure at an early age when they are discovering their bodies. Prior to that the body just appeared to be this intricate piece of art that we didn't understand; like we know a car needs gas but have no idea how to build an engine. So the question is: how did self pleasure become so taboo?

If you grew up in a religious home you know that lustful thoughts were shunned upon. Self pleasure was attached to feelings of guilt and remorse (it's amazing to me how religion has the ability to stifle your growth by instilling fear but I'm not going there today). So what we discovered is that the people who masturbate tend to know their bodies and enjoy sex more because they already know the way to their erogenous zones. If you get nothing more from this, please do not rely on your partner to teach you about your own body. I learned my body so know EVERYTHING. Even if I have a headache I can feel the knot in my neck or shoulders and kneed it out. Our bodies are always talking to us.

Your body is a sacred place where spirit resides. Imagine how great your sexual experience would be if you both knew your own bodies. Hopefully some of you can already giving a convincing amen to that! I'm not saying go home and ritualistically please yourself everyday but it should be a periodic exercise to explore the inner & outter workings of your body...a work of art.

To listen to a podcast of "The Masturbation, Fascination," go http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ellableu/2009/07/08/Straight-Talk-with-Ella-Bleu

The Ex Factor!

2009-06-18T11:47:00.002-04:00

First of all, let me say your ex’s are in the past for a reason and it’s probably best they stay there. I think we should always be moving onward and forward and the goal is to have received a life lesson from your relationship so you don’t feel the need to go back. To go back is like saying, “God, I missed what you were trying to tell me, please show me again”. If you choose to go back, be a conscious observer the next time around.

Our topic Tuesday on “Straight Talk with Ella Bleu,” was about being friends with your ex’s. It seems that even if people aren’t romantically involved, they are still maintaining some type of contact. Generally speaking, people still care about the well being of their ex’s and to some degree find it comforting to associate with the familiar; someone who knows and accepts you for who they are even if they can’t stand the thought of living with your ass! The biggest highlight is now you can take that person in doses and not on a regular basis.

What surprised me the most is that some of these ex’s are SECRETS from your current mates. I keep hearing the hook from an old Xscape song when they said, “You’re my little secret and that’s how we should keep it…” Apparently some things are better off left unsaid but is that silence a form of deception?

My advice is to let the cat out of the bag early on in the relationship because at that point you have nothing to lose. Be open about your ex’s during the “getting to know you stage”. You will gain that person’s respect and you will also show that you have no regrets about your past because after all, your past is what made you the person you are today.

The ex is only a factor if you let it be.

SEX IS A SPIRITUAL EXCURSION

2009-06-10T11:37:00.003-04:00

All of our true desires are spiritual and our bodies are just vehicles to accomplish them, therefore even sex is a spiritual excursion. Trust me, your spirit is not looking for sex but rather a connection so deep, so intense, that you and your mate can move a mountain when your energies collide.

Last night on our radio show, “Straight Talk with Ella Bleu,” our guest Erik Gordon said dating is all about SEX and that basically relationships begin and end with the mighty power of sex.

I think he’s partially right but sex for the sake of penetration is a means to cover-up some deep seeded issues. Sex becomes a distraction so you don’t have to deal with what you really want…which is ever lasting love. I think the problem is a lot of us don’t even feel true love exists and have just given up somewhere along the say. Men have it the worst because they are taught the abuse of sex is a macho birthright but our gift from God is LOVE – not sex. You’re spirit didn’t travel light years to be right here, right now just to bust a… well you know what I’m getting at.

Hey, have sex like jackrabbits all you want – I’m not judging but instead I’m saying be mindful of your distractions vs. your spiritual desires but keep in mind awareness means you have greater responsibility. I’ve been there, done that, I’m definitely not a saint but the key is being aware of where you’re at in your life and setting your sights on higher plateau’s for the future.

So tell me, what are your spiritual desires? AND if sex is a spiritual excursion...how are you going to get there?

Check out our show from last night. Here's the link for the podcast: http://tobtr.com/s/554652

APHRODISIAC SCENTS

2009-06-03T14:36:00.005-04:00

One of the strongest of the 5 senses is the sense of smell. Our nose has the exotic ability to pick up a scent and tap into our memory and our strongest desires. My favorite scent is of a man, of course, but an untapped man; no perfumes to cover up his pheromones. Pheromones are chemicals released by living organisms to send messages to beings of the same species. Have you ever noticed someone's natural scents just seemed uncannily familiar and safe to you?

In an article on suite101.com called, “Love, Sex and the Sense of Smell,” it says studies on the role of aromas in attractiveness and romance have found that:
· women prefer the smell of men whose genetics are similar but not too similar to their own
· men prefer women's body odor during the time of the month when they are fertile

I find it very intriguing that we pick up scents on a genetic level. It means we have the ability to detect someone’s energy just from their natural fragrance. That natural scent is an aphrodisiac, exciting you on such a subtle level that you may never even recognize what turned you on.

A lot of people have the misconception that they need to go out and buy expensive perfumes or colognes but if a person picks up your scent it will be from your natural odor. Have you ever tried on the same perfume as someone but it didn't smell the same on you as it did them? That's because your body chemistry is unique and distinct...waiting for the right person to catch a whiff.

Tip:
Try putting on scents that enhance your natural pheromones and don’t over power them. Some aphrodisiac educing oils are jasmine, neroli, sandalwood, ylang ylang and my favorite…lavender. Try a dab of one of these oils in just the right places and you’ll be sure to get a rise from your mate.

"Love, Sex and the Sense of Smell: Essential Oil Aphrodisiacs: Valentine's Day Romance is in the Air Suite101.com" - http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com/article.cfm/love_sex_and_the_sense_of_smell#ixzz0HHRNs5T0&A

THIRSTY WOMEN FINISH LAST

2009-05-27T11:19:00.004-04:00

JAMES: went to door 44 a few weeks ago and it was hot and the women were hot looking but poor quality because I was hit up for rent money, brake pads, etc…
SHELLI: WTF, serious? that always happens to u
JAMES: I know..why do u think so
SHELLI: Do you put your financial biz out there?
JAMES: nah....just younger women I guess. They tend to have more issues.
SHELLI: The problem with women is they don't realize a man is supposed to take care of you for life...but you can scare him away if you don't play your position right early on
JAMES: Yep…I don’t mind spending but if u ask too soon it’s a big turnoff
*The above is an actual conversation (his real name has been protected)

First of all ladies let me say: A man doesn’t owe you anything. Period! Never go to a bar with an empty wallet; never ask a man you barely know for money. Men are innately equipped with the “take care of your woman” gene. Aside from getting his paper right, there is nothing a man wants more than to provide for his family. You can’t be that woman over night. Again let me restate the problem: WOMEN DON’T REALIZE IT’S A MAN’S JOB TO TAKE CARE OF US FOR LIFE.

The recommendation: Ladies, stop acting so damn THIRSTY! Fostering a lasting relationship with a man takes time and patience. Short term, yes you might get your rent paid or new break pads, but you won’t get the ring (or whatever your long term relationship goal is). Look for more than just a short term peak of your goodies.

I might get heat from this, but if you aren’t looking for a relationship you can have six men taking care of you at once but you still gotta play your cards right and asking for too much too soon ain’t how you get there.

The THIRSTY finish last.

UGLY WOMEN ARE ATTENTIVE!!??

2009-05-20T12:43:00.003-04:00

So I’m hearing from the fella’s that ugly women do more to keep a man. I’m going to call these ugly women “precious” because ugly just seems so harsh. Anyway, they claim that precious women have more to lose so they go above and beyond the call of duty in the bedroom, kitchen and just being attentive to the needs of men on a whole. These precious women basically over compensate because they don’t feel their looks will keep a man. Looks period should not keep a person around, but okay I realize they do…but for how long?

I used to think that it didn’t matter how much a woman over compensates; a man will not stay with a woman that he doesn’t find attractive – inside and out, but for real...I have seen some fine a** men with some precious looking women and it does make you wonder, “wow, how did she get him?”

On the flip said, these brotha’s told me that pretty women are SPOILED and it’s always about “me, me, me”. They said that these women are less attentive and too self centered to cater to the needs of their man. I find that interesting because pretty women are spoiled because men have spoiled them, so fella’s you created that monster and it’s probably too late to tame it. You all get so goo-goo-ga-ga when you see a pretty women. Salivation just runs down your mouth and honestly, men don’t think very logically around pretty women.

They also said that pretty women are NOT good in bed and just want to lay there and look cute. Actually, this one surprised me because I would think a woman’s experience would determine her expertise in the bedroom – not her looks. My advice: ladies don’t be too cute to sweat and if you’re sharing your body with a man then you should be comfortable letting your inner kitten out.

UGLY(precious) vs. PRETTY…IS THERE SOME LEGITIMACY TO THIS?

MALE VS. FEMALE ROLES...THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS 50/50

2009-05-06T12:46:00.002-04:00

Last weeks blog was about RULES but this week let’s explore ROLES (and I’m not talking about playing dress up & role playing but we must explore that in another blog haha).

I’m a career woman so I know the roles in my relationship have to be modified, but not so much that I strip him of his manhood or me of my femininity. Ladies, let a man be a man and part of that is being a hunter/gatherer so he can care for his family. Modify your roles so the feminine and masculine traits are not stripped.

When I was a little girl I was determined not to accept my womanly role in life. I would watch my mother do all the cooking and cleaning and I vowed that when I got married, all that stuff would be 50/50…THEN I GREW UP…THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS 50/50.

Now I know, generally speaking, the house is my responsibility and everything that comes with it…cooking, cleaning, laundry, Etc. Do I expect my future husband to help out in those areas…yes, but I think once we accept our roles, then duties of the house and family will run smoothly.

My sister went to pre-marital counseling and the pastor had them list each thing they would be individually responsible for. Of course that list will change for each couple but you have to recognize the things you’re good at handling, while also recognizing your innate capabilities. And for God’s sake, please don’t assume that your mate just automatically knows the role distinctions. You must communicate your strengths and weaknesses so the roles can be executed effectively.

Ladies, don’t fight your roles. It’s okay to take care of home but fella’s it’s just as cool to help out so you don’t take all her hard work for granted.

BURN YOUR RELATIONSHIP RULES BOOKS!!!!

2009-04-30T11:46:00.000-04:00

I'm a rule breaker by nature because there is always a more creative way to obtain success. The rule book for your lie can not be written until you're dead and gone! Therefore, the rules will NEVER apply to you.

Everyone is reading Steve Harvey's book, "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man," and that's cool if you look at it for entertainment purposes only. Don't base your dating life around the rules because rules are meant to be broken. You set yourself up for disappointment if you follow the rules to a tee. What are you going to do when you find out that man/woman is the exception? They'll probably be long gone by then.

Harvey also suggests waiting 90 days before you have sex with a man. I know people who are married and they had sex on the first night! The rules leave little room for extraordinary and let's face it, we're all looking for extraordinary experiences. The rules are mundane, predictable and most of all, they are not certain.

I know women who read every relationship rules book they can get their hands on and they are still single, still searching. Ladies, BURN THOSE DAMN RULES BOOKS AND FOLLOW THE RULES & PASSIONS OF YOUR HEART. You will broaden your experiences and expand the potentials for true happiness.

By all means, use common sense but also let your instincts be your guiding force.

YOU ARE WHO YOU ATTRACT

2009-04-22T10:30:00.004-04:00

A friend of mine had this status on Facebook recently: “I find myself attracted to the same type of women.” My response to him was…"because you are the same man."

A good test to see yourself for who you REALLY are is just look at the people you date. The people we attract are a direct reflection of who we are – the good, the bad & the ugly. Most of us are stubborn and blind to our own fallacies and the only way to acknowledge them is to see them in someone else.
I dated a man who was so nonchalant about EVERYTHING – and that was me; he was my reflection because that’s the way I’ve always treated men (and I think that’s why men liked me because I was a challenge but that’s another blog for another day). He was in my life to show me that my nonchalant attitude implies that I didn’t care – and I really didn’t, but how could I want a man to care if I never cared? I vowed never to treat men that way again – and I haven’t…and in return I got a man who is attentive and far from nonchalant.

The subtle, positive changes we make within ourselves allow us to meet people with the same qualities. It’s all about growth. Are you ready to grow? Then you will recognize your-self in others. That’s the best way to denounce attributes that no longer suit you. It also allows you to give thanks for the positive characteristics you see in your loved ones. I look at my friends in my circle and I thank God for surrounding me with Good people. I’m like, “Hey, that’s me – all of you are me!” So thank you God for showing my growth as a woman and a spiritual being by sending good people to share this journey with.

If you find yourself attracted to the same type of man or woman, first discover what it is they all have in common; then analyze whether those traits are still suitable for where you’re at in your life; then see how those traits are directly connected to you. When you see THEM in YOU, you can praise them for being a life lesson. From there, you either embrace them or release them.

YOU A DAMN APRIL FOOL

2009-04-01T12:27:00.000-04:00

ANYONE WHO DIDN'T KNOW THIS IS AN APRIL FOOL...BUT IT'S OKAY...ONCE YOU READ THIS SMALL BLURB YOU WILL BE FREAKIN' COOL AND CAN AT LEAST SAY YOU LEARNED SOMETHNG TODAY.

In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar called for New Year's Day to be celebrated Jan. 1st. Anyone who continued to celebrate new years on April 1st were called April Fools.

YES, SO THERE USED TO ONLY BE NINE MONTHS IN A YEAR - APRIL THRU DECEMBER- WHICH MAKES SINCE CONSIDERING IT TAKES NINE MONTHS FOR A CHILD TO BE BORN.
SHELLI TINAE'S TIP OF THE DAY: WE DON'T HAVE TO BE ON TIME, BECAUSE WE ARE IN TIME. DON'T LET A MAN-MADE CALENDAR DICTATE YOUR AGE AND SENSE OF WELL BEING.

http://twitter.com/ShelliTinae

A ONE NIGHT STAND

2009-03-18T16:08:00.002-04:00

We all grown, right? Okay…cool…so let’s talk!

Do you think it’s more acceptable to have a one night stand as we get older?

My cousin is queen of going home at the end of the night with a warm blooded stranger.

She will come up to me and say, “Shelli, I’m going home with him, okay?”

At first I used say, “No, I really don’t think you should go,” but one night Sahsha looked at me and said, “She’s grown; let her go”. So from then on I never put up a fight. I figured I just have to trust her to make the right decision. People are going to do what they want to do anyway, ya know?

At 18, I think people cared more about what their peers thought about them – plus, an 18 year is still finding themselves and such a decision may not be in their best interest.

But let’s fast forward ten years…so now let's say we’re dealing with two consenting 28-year-old's and decide to make it happen that night. Should we judge grown folks for handling grown folks business?

By mid to late 20’s, I think people really have found who they are in life and have accepted most personality and character traits as, “that’s just me”. So even though we may be working on better handling certain situations, I feel like people only make minor changes by this age – unless struck by a tragedy. If they a freak at 28 - they'll probably be one at 48.

So tell me…are one night stands cool for the grown & the Young Jeezy inspired “Umma do me” adults? Do we stop judging people by a certain age and just accept the decisions they make (naughty, nasty ones and all)?

THE SPANKIN' YOU'LL NEVER FORGET!!!

2009-03-11T16:20:00.005-04:00

A good a** whoopin for kids is not as common nowadays as it was when I was growing up. The threat of having the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) disrupt your home has left a lot of parents choosing the “time-out” method instead of a good old fashion spankin’.

I’ve only had a handful of spankin's and my sister used to say it was because my mom was too old to care by the time I was born. So naturally, I remember my “love taps” clear as day and still can’t believe I got them. It’s like I’m still standing there saying, “Am I getting spanked right now? This is crazy!”

We're all family so let's share our favorite whoopin’s of all time! After all, the things that make you cry - will eventually make you laugh.

My first favorite whoopin' happened when I was seven years old. My step father was driving me to the school bus stop and I ALWAYS had a smart mouth and he was down right tired of it. I don’t remember exactly what he said to me but I told him, “You not my daddy!” He pulled his little blue pickup truck over so fast and beat my tail! Yes, an open hand, grown man beating! Needless to say, he was definitely daddy after that. I was angry at him for a long time, but looking back, I either deserved the spanking or I deserved the lesson it taught me; Mitch is now the father figure in my life.

My absolute favorite whoopin’ of all time was given to me by my Ganny (R.I.P). I was playing outside of her house with my cousin T’ana and she got mad and threw my ball across the street. Back in the day you needed permission to cross the street so you can say I was a tad bit upset. T’ana realized I was angry and took off running. I chased after her and when I caught her I pushed her and she went flying in the air, bounced, then landed on the concrete driveway. Her leg was bleeding and she was screaming bloody murder.

When my Ganny found out what I had done, she broke out her favorite weapon of choice; a thick piece of plastic that came with one of her Tupperware sets. I was twelve at the time and had decided I was never getting another whoopin’! We did about 5 laps around her large dining room table until finally…she was out of breath. To my dismay, she still had her mother wits and called in reinforcement. She screamed for my Aunt and they trapped me. The speed chase was over; I was caught. She beat me real good. You know the kind that leaves welts of your legs? I got a lick per word: I-THOUGHT-I-TOLD-YOU-NOT-TO-RUN-‘ROUND-MY-TABLE-AND-IF-YOU-KEEP-CRYING-I’M-GONE-REALLY-GIVE-YOU-SOME-THING-TO-CRY-A-BOUT.

To this day, I still think T’ana deserved that spankin’ for throwing my ball across the street. LOL

It’s funny to me now, that’s why I can write about it. Hopefully you have found the humor in some of your old school whoopin’s. Let me know the one’s that are your favorite or most memorable.

SEXY PET NAMES

2009-03-05T09:50:00.004-05:00

I was sitting here thinking, "What are the sexiest pet names?" My first boyfriend called me "Pookie," and I thought that was the cutest thing since sliced bread, but I was fourteen so everything was cute. I think we can all agree that Pookie is not sexy but the person saying it, made it adorable. Isn't the importance of terms of endearments that they are delivered by your beloved mate?

One thing I hate: for a guy I just met to call me sweetie! My first thought is that he says that to every woman he meets. "SAY MY NAME, SAY MY NAME." That's the sexiest thing for a man I just met to do; subtly acknowledge at the end of the conversation that he remembered my name. Let's have a good argument first. Then you can pull out those terms of endearments like get out of jail free cards.

Okay so my favorite and sexiest pet name is simply...BABE. It's still reserved for that special someone, you can say it in public (unlike the stares you would get from saying something like Pookie), and babe is like the name you call your TEAMMATE. Don't slip up and call the side guy or chick, babe, because I guarantee they will look WAY too deep into it.

So I'm looking for the crowd favorites. What are the sexiest pet names? And what makes them sexy to you?

CIRCUMCISION: MUTILATION OR ENHANCEMENT OF THE MALE GENITALIA?

2009-02-25T17:04:00.003-05:00

I just want to have a candid conversation about circumcision.

I know I’m not a guy and the only thing severed from me at birth was the umbilical cord, but I may give birth to a son one day so the thought has crossed my mind: will I get my new born circumcised? It is becoming less common for parents to have this procedure done but it’s so taboo that people don’t share this information, probably in fear of ridicule.

I believe circumcision was more for population control more than a religious right. Men already like to have sex like jack rabbits, so imagine ALL men running around with the nerve endings on their penis in tack. LAWD HAVE MERCY! LOL On the flip side, ladies, how would you feel if your clitorises was partially severed at birth? I am not one to believe the hype just because it was handed down from generation to generation. Are we here to think intuitively or regurgitate pseudo information? Anyway, once it’s done, it’s done and there’s no, uh, growing it back.

When I was a sophomore in college I read an article in the Men’s Health Magazine and it was the account of several men who decided to get circumcised as adults and all of them were very disappointed after the surgery. Their main complaint was in regards to sex; it just didn’t feel the same. The foreskin of the penis has a lot of nerves that intensifies the feeling during sex – but really that is the natural feeling and the circumcised feeling is unnatural right? The American Academy of Pediatrics have taken a stance…well sort of, they now neither discourage nor recommend the procedure. My bet is they don’t discourage it because it’s profitable and they don’t recommend it because they can’t validate its benefits.

The article ‘Should all Males be Circumcised?’ on menshealth.com states, “The founder of the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers (NOCIRC -- get it?) first witnessed the procedure in 1979 while training for her nurse's degree. The unlucky baby, she later wrote, was ‘strapped spread-eagle to a plastic board... struggling against his restraints -- tugging, whimpering, and then crying helplessly" while awaiting the knife. Then as the doctor, using no anesthesia, began cutting into the penis with a scalpel, "the baby began to gasp and choke, breathless from his shrill continuous screams...’

Even though the pain is evident, I can hear some women saying, “I hear an uncircumcised penis is unhealthy or it looks funny.” First of all, if a man is not hygienic, it has nothing to do with the foreskin of his penis, he’s just nasty. Secondly, if it’s funny looking before the snip, it probably will be after.

I’m definitely not telling people what to do but I would like to open up some dialogue. Let’s have a modern conversation on an ancient procedure.

I would love to hear from men who are circumcised and from those that are not. It’s definitely nothing to be ashamed of, afterall, God made us perfect. And ladies, let me know your take on uncircumcised penises. Do you have a preference? Do you have circumcised children? Any regrets or concerns?
------------------------
Here are some links and information I found:

Did you circumcise your baby boy?
yes (10,712)
40%
no (15,875)
59%
Total Votes: 26,587
(survey on about.com)

‘Circumcision!’ - http://dherbs.com/articles/circumcision-258.html
‘Care of an intact Penis’ http://pediatrics.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=pediatrics&cdn=health&tm=1065&gps=539_471_1020_431&f=00&su=p284.9.336.ip_p726.5.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.cirp.org/pages/parents/peron1/
‘Doctors Opposing Circumcision’ - http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/
Journal of the American Medical Association, ‘Circumcision in the United States’ - http://www.cirp.org/library/general/laumann/
Men’s Health, ‘Should All Males be Circumcised?’ - http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do?site=MensHealth&channel=health&category=other.diseases.ailments&conitem=6a8cd36265f1f110VgnVCM10000013281eac____

I SHOT A GUN...AND I LIKED IT!

2009-02-18T16:36:00.003-05:00

I went to a gun range and I was so scared I was almost shaking. There was a rainfall of gun shells hitting me on my head from the guy at my right and the guy at my left. I put on my gun range armor; ear and eye protectors, a mean mug, and then I got in my stance. All the while I was thinking, “What the hell am I doing here?” Side note: ladies this can make a hot date. It’s not so bad to have a handsome man lightly grip your waist as he shows you the proper shooting techniques.

So the instructions from my friend were simple: point, aim and shoot for the target. I was already warned that I would either love or hate shooting and I would know immediately after the first shot.

BOOM!

The sound of the gun echoed throughout my entire body. The lead sprays so fast that the gun gives a “kick back,” so you really have to hold the gun steady. I fired a round and I was feeling really proud of myself. We pulled up the target to see how I did…nothing. I hit everything but the target. No, I’m serious. I actually hit the clip that the target was attached to. I could see that being an expert on these things would take a lot of practice but I immediately discovered…I LIKED IT.

Okay, so I was shooting a .357 revolver because the gun shop owner recommends them for women, as his wife and daughter have made that their gun of choice and they carry them in their purses (and guys thought we just carried lipstick and feminine products). He said they like the revolver because you basically just point and shoot. Ladies, if you’re ever in danger, the last thing you want to think about is loading a clip and cocking the gun. So I was sold on test driving the revolver for that reason and also because they don’t jam like a semi-automatic gun has the chance of doing. I was seriously thrown into gun 101 class but I was definitely enjoying the lessons.

My friends bought guns that day and I left there with information on the gun I wanted plus the laser grip I fell in love with. I had the application for gun registration, too. I was totally ready to make a purchase but something hit me: if I buy a gun, damn, there is a chance I might use it one day and let me tell you, that is a scary thought.

So, I was straddling the fence but I did make a decision, but first I would love to hear how the women feel about carrying a gun. Do you have one, ladies? Also, how do the fellas feel about their women being equipped to shoot a firearm?

COMMITMENT GUIDELINES

2009-01-27T11:35:00.003-05:00

GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND COMMITMENT GUIDELINES:
-Focus on growing your FRIENDSHIP

-Agree to an EXCLUSIVE relationship
-Titles (boyfriend, girlfriend, partner, etc) are OPTIONAL, based on the couple
-Commit to the person for who they are right now, and not who you think they can POTENTIALLY be
-Set BOUNDARIES that both partners agree on
-BE REAL – so your friendship can reflect that. Be you from the jump!
-LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH – so if it’s too much work, you have the option to walk away

HUSBAND/WIFE COMMITMENT GUIDELINES:
-Marry your BEST FRIEND

-A formal commitment to an EXCLUSIVE relationship
-Titles ARE NOT OPTIONAL
-Eliminated the POTENTIALS and determined this person (good and bad) is who I want, raw and uncensored
-Set BOUNDARIES that both partners agree on (could be same from before marriage)
-Continue to BE REAL so your marriage will be based in truth
-LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH – it takes hard work but don’t make quitting an option

My man, yes...but a husband you are not!

2009-01-22T16:31:00.006-05:00

I’m trying to get a clear understanding of what being “committed” means in these days and times. A piece of paper will undoubtedly legalize the union but, theoretically, you both were still monogamous prior to the ceremony. You use this time as a testing period to see if this person can hold your interest...for life. Guidelines and boundaries are established early on in the relationship, even if they are subtle exchanges of information.

Often we solely say, “Yes we are together,” and just expect the other party to be on the same page; we expect them to act along the perimeters we deem feasible. So, I don’t have this down to a science, but thank God for my blog family because now I want us to create a list: GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND rules vs. HUSBAND/WIFE rules.

But first tell me if you think the GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND titles are juvenile since we are no longer girls and boys.

Here I’ll start:
I think I’d rather refer to my mate as my “man,” because a boy, he is not! On the other hand I think, to hell with the technicalities and I just want to conform to the norm. Saying “boyfriend” will cut to the chase: “yes that’s my dude, but we aren’t married, and we aren’t engaged.”

GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND COMMITMENT GUIDELINE # 1:
Agree to an exclusive relationship

HUSBAND/WIFE COMMITMENT GUIDELINE # 1:
A formal commitment to an exclusive relationship

PLEASE ADD TO THIS SO WE CAN GET A GOOD LIST COMPILED AND FIND OUT ONCE AND FOR ALL IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT'S EXPECTED AT THE START (GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND) AND THE END (HUSBAND/WIFE) OF A RELATIONSHIP.

Don't Date Women over 30!

2009-01-14T15:40:00.005-05:00

"I had baggage but now I only take a carry on...I like to travel light" - Shelli Tinae

A friend of mine told me that he is "almost" done with women that are 30 and over (what I like to call 30 plussers). He says they have too much baggage weighing them down and that greatly lessens their potential for "wifie" status.

He went on to tell me that he took a 30 plusser on a date and he complimented her on her perfume; then he asked her the name of the fragrance. She refused to tell him. The woman later confessed that she didn't tell him because she didn't want him to go out and buy it for another woman so he could smell it on her.

He's "almost" done and trying to maintain his liberal stance on dating. This is just one of his experiences with 30 plussers and he's getting fed up. I had to ask him: "So at what age does a woman have less baggage?"

"24-27…my research has shown that that is the range of optimal performance for a woman..in all aspects..she's at her best and brightest," he said.

He professes that yes, there are exceptions to the rule but, nonetheless, he still has lumped women over 30 into a problematic category that includes anger, baggage, and insecurities.

I will say that, the older a woman get's the more experience she has when you meet her - and that can either be good or bad. In fact, it's both good and bad. These experiences have shaped her current existence and a lot of women have let those experiences dictate how they interact with the men they meet. Ladies, not only is this unfair to them, but it's also unfair to you. No one wants to be tried in a court of law for someone else's crime.

I don't want to dog his point of view because I do think it's valid. Generally speaking, we need to add all of those experiences (good and bad) up and look at them as one GRAND lesson. There is no need to look back and dwell on the past because it is nothing more but the sum of this present moment and in theory should make you a better person because you will have learned who to BE and who not to BE.

On the other hand, this is not about age because age is relative. A woman 24-27 years old may have fewer experiences but they could have been severelydamaging to her character.

Men, before you start complaining about women, you need to take a look in the mirror because, after all...you are who attract. If you see reoccurring problems in your life, there is a lesson you are missing. So in the end, it's not about the women over 30, it's about renewing YOUR-SELF so your experiences with women reflect your renewed sense of self.

2009 - THE YEAR OF TRUTH

2009-01-08T11:59:00.002-05:00

We should never hesitate to say that we know the truth, because we do, for the realization of the unity of God and man is the truth. – Ernest Holmes

When you realize that GOD IS and works in and through you, lies cease to be an option because standing on the wings of truth, you realize it is your doorway to happiness; truth is the key that unlocks confusion in your heart. Your heart will ache if you allow lies the pleasure of acting as righteous.

All of our experiences are based on the nature of our thoughts and how we play them out in our lives. If we think truth – on a deep level – then we should voice that truth which will produce goodness in our lives. The truth resonates at a high frequency in your spirit and body and cannot be denied.

Thy word is true from the beginning and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever – Psalm 119:160

I think the big problem is acting on the truth that we instinctively and unequivocally know. Yes, the word is true from the beginning but we have free will to mask the truth under a veil of lies. The catch is…you will never be free under that veil because you can’t see where you are and you definitely can’t see where you are heading if lies are your guide.

Nothing but goodness can come from the truth and there’s a sense of ease that comes with it - a sense of relief. In our youth we learned to lie to keep secrets of wrongdoing and to avoid punishment. That is hard to outgrow because even adults fear being punished and I think the biggest thing adults are scared of is being judged. People are going to view you from their own perspective no matter what so you may as well be viewed authentically. Only the truth will ensure you are surrounded by people of the same nature, thus eliminating the fear of punishment and judgment.

No more white lies; no more telling half but not all of the truth; no more concocting detailed lies in our mind so we can act them out later on the stage of illusion; no more fearing the truth will cripple us, when it fact, it will set us free.

Let’s start the NEW year with a NEW reason to be truthful; because without truth we stay in a vicious cycle of lies thus limiting our spiritual growth. Lies are to darkness what truth is to light. Stand in the light of truth and not in the darkness of your lies. Don’t lie to yourself because that’s where all thoughts begin and don’t perpetuate those lies by speaking them into existence.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MAY THE TRUTH BE YOU….ALWAYS

LOVE CONSCIOUSLY

2008-12-17T11:18:00.004-05:00

We have to Love consciously from now on and not unconsciously.

I'm sure most of you have experienced this, but it's like we drive from the mall to our home and we don't know how we got there. We do most of our thinking unconsciously - not knowing how we got from point A to point B. The heart works in the same way but by the time it gets to point B, the unconscious thoughts on its travel affect how SWEET home will be when you arrive.

The heart only knows to LOVE and it knows no discretion. It's time to follow the movement of our hearts with our thoughts...consciously.

I've had Love where my thoughts of it stemmed from an unconscious fear of Love's perfection. My unconscious made limiting decisions on the infinite ecstasy of Love. If I were Loving consciously and with conscious positive thought, then nothing would have stopped my desires from manifesting with this man. God wants all of our dreams to come true; we just have to believe that our dreams are real and not figments of our imagination. Heaven is here on Earth as God permeates in and through all things.

Love is "perfect" but having unconscious thoughts of it can taint it because we tend to have NEGATIVE unconscious thoughts because they stem from our memories of the past. Memories of past Love can bring about doubt, fear, and confusion.

If we begin to have conscious thoughts of Love then we can supervise their authenticity and validate them with feelings of happiness and assurance that Love is perfect - just as God intended. If negative feelings arise say, "God is Love and Love is flowing through me as I give it and receive it abundantly."

Unconscious Love does not care about the illusions. In fact, it actually magnifies the illusions in our minds and creates fairytale versions of reality. Say love affirmations to erase and correct them.

Conscious love will stem from thoughts that your spirit has ordained and it won't rob you of energy, but instead you will gain strength from the positive reinforcements of your thoughts once you have trained them to remain positively centered.

Find the Time to Honor Yourself

2008-12-03T20:43:00.004-05:00

My visions are unfolding almost faster then I can create them. I see clearly my destiny as it spirals in control and aligns my life with purpose.

I am usually really good with taking time to honor myself in prayer, yoga and meditation but lately, on the edge of literally speaking, it seems the days run into each other and it's a month long day. The times I honor myself are coming far, few and in between. I don't want to forget my divine purpose is spiritually based and my body is a merely a fulfilment vehicle.

So needless to say, business is running smoothly and we are getting a lot done. To give myself balance and continue the flow of my purpose I'm going to FIND time to honor...me. This business is allowing my creative juices to pour our so in that sense, yes, I am honoring the creator, my God. I just have to remember to anty-up and reconnect with my soul-self that governs my existence.

Marcia & Joseph gave me some bath crystals and I can't wait to honor myself with a luxurious warm bath. There are so many ways you can honor yourself and it doesn't have to take all day. Any exercise, reading a book, sitting alone for a few minutes, lighting your favorite incense (mine is nag champa) - or really anything that kicks one of the senses into high gear. And believe it or not, just a few deep breaths can help center you and allow your body to release stale air in your lunges while breathing new air into the cells in your body.

Discover ways to honor yourself if not daily, then definitely weekly.

MAKE LOVE WITH ME...NOT TO ME

2008-11-06T12:18:00.003-05:00

I've often wondered where the term "make Love" came from. People, especially women, always want someone to "make Love" to them. This thought just popped in my head the other day: THE ONLY WAY TO "MAKE LOVE" IS TO MAKE A BABY. Maybe the root desire for men and women to want to "make Love" is because instinctively they are ready to procreate. It's an animalistic desire we're all born with; the need to leave a legacy.

Follow me for a second. I believe God is Love and Love is God and as a child of Love and God, I am incarnated and created in the likeness of Love and God. So the only way for me to "make Love" is for the semen of a man to fertilize one of my eggs. The initial contact of the two is a cosmic divine creation and the only way the two of us can"make Love".

Now love can be shared and I would never deny that. Depending on the energy between the two people, I believe a man and woman can have sex and can actually EXPRESS and EXTEND Love but Love was made the day you were born. People need to know that sex and making Love are not one and the same; you can have meaningless sex, sex with extensions of Love, or sex that leads you to make Love by way of producing a child.

There are a lot of people making babies but not realizing they are "making Love" ordained by the most high. All human being on this Earth are perfect and in the likeness of God and Love. We are born with the ability to create an abundance of any and everything we could ever dream of because we ARE Love...we are God.

A MAN OF LOVE
PLUS
A WOMAN OF LOVE
PLUS
THE DISCOVERY (OR REMEMBERANCE) THAT THEY ARE SOULMATES
EQUALS
THE BIRTH OF THE MOST SUPREME BEINGS

“Make love” with one you LOVE.

IT'S ABOUT MORE THEN VOTING!

2008-11-05T13:03:00.012-05:00

I wasn’t going to vote…

…and God, divine Creator, please forgive me for feeling hopeless when the reality is, thought consciousness can change millions of people in the twinkle of an eye and uplift our souls everlasting. You know what? I’m going to eliminate the word hope from my vocabulary because to feel hope is to have expectations and expectations are rooted from your past on the way you think things should turn not and not necessarily how they should turn out. Now, let’s examine the feeling of being hopeless. You can only feel hopeless when the things you hoped for – which are rooted in your past expectations – fail. Expectations lead to hoping and hoping can lead to despair. Let’s BE faith! We don’t need hopeful expectations; we get confirmations from God to show our faith has a foundation of LOVE and PEACE. Love on you ideas and aspirations, don’t hope for them because that implies there is a sense of doubt. Send them love and God will manifest your dreams right before your very eyes.

I had given up on our government and as I mentioned earlier, really had no solid plans to vote. It was a fleeting thought that would reappear occasionally. Actually, I only voted because my mother was really adamant about it and I didn’t want to disappoint her. I still think our government is corrupt and in the interest of big corporations and millionaire bureaucrats but a historic event was in order to change us ALL individually so that we can change the world collectively – and that event was the elect of Senator Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America. The world watched, the world rejoiced, the world gained faith.

I am transformed from a conspiracy theorist to an energy theorist.

And it’s not because Obama won; he has been predicted to win for quite some time, but it was the shift in energy consciousness around the world that I felt, saw and heard. People, there was a shift in energy consciousness last night. I had to repeat it because the depths of that needs to be relished in the hearts of everyone. We may not get a new government system but if we become new in our own right – we affect those around us and that in turn will redirect ideas and actions. You may have noticed that the top of my blog page says, “Thought travels faster then light. We are all one on different missions, nonetheless, but reaching for the same star in the sky that connects us to the Source.”
WE CHANGE OUR THOUGHTS, WE CHANGE THE WORLD.

Now I want to share with you some pictures from our grand celebration last night. You had to be there to understand the full experience but I have faith you’ll feel the energy just from the pictures alone. People where celebrating on the streets onf downtown Atlanta til the wee hours of the morning.

SEASONS CHANGE & SO DO WE

2008-10-30T10:51:00.003-04:00

The Fall has settled in and I have pack away the sandals and flip flops. It's like saying see-you-later to a good friend for six months. LOL Being from California, I grew up with one season year around. Yes Cali can get cold, especially at night, but never in the 20's like it does here. I've been in Georgia over five years now and I still prefer one monotone season but in the last year I've grown to appreciate WHY the change of seasons is so important.

In the Fall I literally fall....WAY BACK. I believe God designed this time for us to reacquaint ourselves with the things that are important to us and most of all, to grow. This is a time of deep reflection for me. I still go out; I guess that's expected from a semi-social butterfly but my soul is in Fall mode so I honor that with more quiet time. I can actually feel the difference within me. Can you feel it? It’s like the end of a roller coaster ride; you heart stops pounding and the adrenaline subsides. The Summer was the sensual climax that stopped my breath; the Fall is the morning after and I can breath again.

In the Fall I am settled.

I have a different regimen during this time of the year and I’m more shut off from the world. I get home from work and head straight to my bedroom. In my sanctuary I read, write, meditate, pray and listen to music. There is purposely NO television in my bedroom so I don't get an urge to be entranced by the idiot box.

Do you have a Fall and/or Winter rituals? I want to hear all about it.

TAKE OFF YOUR COOL

2008-10-22T14:30:00.006-04:00

Baby, take off your cool
I wanna see you, I wanna see you
Baby, don't be so cool
I wanna see you, I wanna see you
Baby, take off your cool
I want to get to know you
Take off your cool

“Take off your cool” is a short song but it’s one of my favorites on the Love Below album. The message is short and precise: just be yourself.

Take off the uncertainty of your perfection…take off the fear of rejection…take off that fake smile if what he/she said really wasn’t that funny…take off the expectations to be more or less then who you are…We tend to fear how people will judge or view us but they are going to have an opinion regardless so you may as well be observed in your authenticity. Lauryn Hill summed up my sentiments on interlude # 5 (part 2) of her MTV Unplugged album:

“…It's like, we date people, like let's say, you know, we're interested in somebody and we put on the perfume and dress up and then we do things that we will never ever ever do again! You understand what I'm sayin?...And that's why so many marriages end up in divorce. It's because people wake up next to a stranger. They say, Who the hell are you? What are you doing in this bed?...And I'm sayin let's give them reality from the door because you're going to attract love, and the one that really loves you. And then you don't have to pretend and falsify, and you know, keep that posture..."

(sound bite on the video starts at 3:18)
I wrote this poem today. It’s short but sums up how I feel about being so cool your feelings just FLOW so LIFE, LOVE AND GOD move easily through every moment:

My cool is off and on the floor.
Don’t pick it up I want it to stay there
so you can see me bare.
See through me, past the cool on the floor,
to the fiery pulse that floods the blood.
That cool...it’s not me and it kept me from you.
Can you see me now?
No matter the miles, you should be able to see me now
My cool is off and on the floor.
It melted as I walked through Love’s door
and surrendered to what God has in store

-Shelli Tinae Price

IN DEBT FOR LIFE

2008-10-08T16:42:00.003-04:00

I will never forget Professor Widner. He was my Black history professor in college and he told our class something that I will NEVER forget:

If we all stopped paying our credit card bills we would end capitalism.

You see, our entire monetary system is based on credit and it would crumble if we didn't continue to feed the system. In essence, the system could not exist without our debts to financial institutions.

Are you tired of being in debt? Do you think most people want to be free of debt or would they rather be in debt then be free of it? And let's say we all got together and stopped paying our debts...then what?

By the way, very soon after that conversation in class, Professor Widner stopped teaching at my university. I've always wondered if his strong political views got him fired.

HIT DELETE

2008-10-01T14:48:00.002-04:00

I deleted every text in my phone today. Some I had been holding onto since April! Looking back at them kept me in April, when it's clearly October.

Delete something today people! Whether it's an email, text, a thought, a mind set, a negative feeling, a habit, etc.

Clear up some space for new things to enter your life.

Delete Synonym's:
Synonyms:
annul, cancel, edit, elide, eliminate, erase, excise, expunge, obliterate, omit, purge, remove

Hit me back and let me know what you purged; anything it don't have to be a lot - but get rid of something.

DIAMONDS ARE A GIRLS BESTFRIEND....RIGHT?

2008-09-24T14:59:00.003-04:00

A few years ago the movie Blood Diamonds opened my eyes to what are more commonly known as conflict diamonds because they are mined in mainly West African countries in very subpar conditions and controlled by militants to fund their war efforts. They typically enslave the local people in the area, including, women and children, and force them to mine diamonds that are then sold to various countries including London and the United States. Our African brothers and sisters are being killed for “precious” diamonds, you know, that bling-bling which has become a staple symbol of love and wealth. Kind of ironic how Africans are being killed which is a HATEful crime – just so we can offer diamonds to those we LOVE.

Now, they say there are places like Botswana where they actually hire miners and the diamonds are not conflict originated.

So my question to you is: Are diamonds the only stone that is a symbol of love?

Single Ladies
Real talk!!!!! Would you be heart broken if your fiancé didn’t buy you a diamond?
Is there another stone you find just as or even more beautiful?

Single Guys
Are diamonds the only ring to show a woman you love her?
Do you feel you must buy your fiancé a diamond? If so will you look in buying conflict-free diamonds or will you look into purchasing an alternative stone?

Married Women
How would you feel if the ring you wear every day was possibly a conflict diamond? Would you have been upset if your husband didn’t buy a diamond?

Married Men
Is it important to you that your wife wears a diamond? If you could do it over, would you buy a different stone for her?

MUSIC LOVER

2008-09-17T11:58:00.003-04:00

Music can inspire you, fire you up, get you down – and most of all it taps into your emotions and will send you wildly into portals of your memory where fleeting thoughts are waiting for the melodic recall. Once there, you may find pure sadness or pure joy but the ride music takes us on is always worth shot gun.

Below is a list of some of my mood music. What’s your mood music of choice?

“I’m gonna be okay…no matter what”
Erykah Badu – Mama’s Gun
Bob Marley – Legend
Amel Larrieux - Bravebird

“I’m angry and need to calm down”
Kem – II

“I’m angry and I like it”
Dead Prez – Let’s Get Free
Makaveli – The Don Kiluminati

“Love is in the air, do you smell it?”
Me’Shelle Ndegeocello – Comfort Woman
Mary J Blige – My Life
Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing
Carl Thomas – Emotional
The Whispers – Love Is Where You Find It

You can use my categories or you can write down your mood music any way that you chose.

NEW AGE DESPERATE WOMEN

2008-09-10T14:19:00.004-04:00

Why are women acting so desperate?

If the collective of women are desperate, it HURTS the position for the women who feel a man should pursue her - and not the other way around.

On the flip side, the collective of men are not exercising chilvery and doing the bare minimum to get the women they seek. This actually HELPS the position for the few men that are rightous because women aren't used to seeing "real" men anymore.

Will women ever stop acting desperate? What do we have to do to get our respect back?

AND…

Will men ever go back to courting women? What will it take for them to recognize the beauty and admiration they have for their mothers, is within all women and should be honored?

DO YOU TRUST EASILY?

2008-09-03T16:07:00.003-04:00

It's been said you should believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.

How do you deal with trust? Do you instantly rely on your intuition or do you believe it takes time and everyone should have a chance to prove themselves to be trust worthy?

I TEXT YOU TO DEATH

2008-06-10T16:46:00.005-04:00

We are so inundated with the speed of transmitting information that the meaning and validity of the messages are lost in transmission.

People will text each other to death before they love each other to death. I don't care what anyone says, if you have the time to text, you have the time to call. Now of course no one can deny how convenient texting is and how very useful it is in situations like just letting someone know you're on your way to meet them or just to say hello. What I refer to as text death are for those of us who build relationships via text. The irony is we are texting....on a phone, the very phone that was designed...to talk on. No text can replace the sound and vibration of a persons voice.

Now, I've always preferred typing over talking. Remember the skytel two-ways from back in the day? I absolutely loved that little gadget but at that time only those of us in the entertainment field and the entertainment wanna-be's had one. In fact, the word "texting" hadn't even been coined. We were just happy to meet people with them so we could "beam" our contact information to one another. I was only able to contact those in my circle as the rest of the world was still getting acclimated to email and analog cell phones.

Now I'm having people text me books that come in 3-parts; expressing ambiguous thoughts and I can't tell if they are legit or bogus; using acronyms that I have to google to discover its connotation before I can even respond; getting dirty jokes that come equipped with perverted photos; and my favorite are the texts from men I haven't talked to in 2 years who just want to spark a text conversation.

I had dinner with a friend yesterday and her phone rang from a guy she's been, for lack of a better word, "text dating," and she didn't know what do. She let her phone go to voicemail to buy herself time to try to decipher what a call from him might mean. Does he want something? At this point his very voice is unfamiliar.

Again, I'm all for texting but texting can be abused.

Here are some texting DON'TS:

DON'T CONTACT A PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME VIA TEXT. CALLING SHOWS INTEREST, TEXTING INDICATES YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW THE PERSON.
DON'T SAY I LOVE YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME VIA TEXT. MATTERS OF THE HEART SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN PERSON OR LAST RESORT WOULD BE TO VERBALLY EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS OVER TELEPHONE.
DON'T TEXT A QUESTION IN ANGER, THAT COULD GO ON FOR 12 HRS INSTEAD OF A 12 MINUTE CONVERSATION. BESIDES, IT FEELS BETTER TO BITCH ALOUD.
DON'T EXPECT A RESPONSE IF YOU DIDN'T ASK A QUESTION. THE PERSON IS NOT OBLIGATED TO RESPOND TO COMMENTS SO DON'T KEEP CHECKING YOUR PHONE WAITING ON A REPLY.
Now that you are well versed on some texting etiquette please say this aloud:

ON MY HONOR, I WILL TEXT RESPONSIBLY. I WILL "MAN-UP (OR WOMAN UP)" AND CALL AND NOT HIDE BEHIND MY TEXT MESSAGES. ON MY HONOR, TEXTING WILL NOT SUBSTITUTE VERBAL COMMUNICATION.

ALONE WITH GOD

2008-02-12T16:05:00.003-05:00

ALONE IS TO BE STILL
LONELY IS TO BE RESTLESS

To be lonely, a gut wrenching hollowness, comes from a place of spiritual emptiness. So you call up a "space filler," only to feel empty again the moment they leave your presence. Lonely only enhances your problems because its only purpose is to seek temporary resolutions. To be alone with God offers eternal gratification.

Lonely is not reserved for the single; married men and women are just as susceptible because what I speak of here is spiritual, not physical loneliness. When the restless settles in, you may blame your mate for the impeding doom of your psyche that was masked by the love and comfort of your mate. Your soul will recognize the masquerade and the truth will play itself out.

It’s okay to feel lonely if you recognize it as a time you should be more involved in nurturing your soul. Lonely can surely be transformed into alone because alone is your place with God and, after all, God will never leave you. You will always be one with the creator. The creator can not exist without that which it created. You and God are one and the same but when you feel lonely you have emotionally lost acceptance of your divine connection.

Often we look for people to complete us because we are afraid of that intimate relationship with the God-self. We end up with someone with the same flaws because it's the only way to acknowledge your own character blemishes, so instead you project them onto someone else, denying their reflection of you. So the ego boasts without personal acceptance and never reconciles the inner conflict.

I have to laugh now, but many years ago I asked a man, "Do I complete you?" I feared losing him so I asked the question, hoping he would fear never being complete without me. I was emotionally and spiritually lonely; protruding my emptiness into his space, of course at the time not realize what I was doing. The lonely seek other lonely people for comfort because they feel ignored by the people simply seeking personal alone time. Intervals of alone time will give you balance, energy and clarity.

Now is the time to be alone with God. Don't fear the stillness within because that is your Being surrendering to the light of God. Submerge in the light and you will find spiritual clarity and emotional stability. You can be alone and happy; alone and fulfilled; alone and single; alone and married.

I suggest making time to be alone because it will actually enhance the relationships with those you love. What good are you to them if you are not any good to yourself? Light can not penetrate through loneliness, although it's inside of you waiting to be exposed as you surrender to alone-time with God.

Are you able to find "alone-time" with God? If so, describe to me one of your "alone-time" experiences.

Shelli Tinae

VIVA COSTA RICA

2008-02-05T19:22:00.000-05:00

"Are people really this nice?" That’s the question I kept asking myself during my stay in Costa Rica. By the end of my seven day trip I discovered the answer is a resounding, “yes!” I expected the staff at the resort to go above and beyond courteous – but the people in the neighboring towns of Montezuma, Playa Carmen, Santa Teresa and Mal Pais, were just as organic.

There is a collective consciousness in Costa Rica and it’s centered on love and compassion. It was not just the native Costa Rican’s but all the world implants that showed me a peaceful world is possible. In the U.S. the idea of peace sounds more like a Disney inspired fairytale then a foreseeable reality. Countries that are not founded on the ravishes of racism have a different idea of how to live. There isn't a group of the shamed, intermingling with a group of the resentful.

In Costa Rica they often say “PURA VIDA,” which means “PURE LIFE." I think a lot of us get trapped in the day-to-day demands and the idea of a pure day is far fetched, let alone the idea of a whole life that is pure. What’s considered a pure life is relative and unique to each of us but we can not follow a plan to experience pure life, we have to create it.

I highly suggest traveling abroad to see what the world has to offer. America is only the land of the free in theory, clouded by a matrix of obstacles to keep us confined and stagnant.

SHELLI TINAE – YOUR COSTA RICAN TOUR GUIDE
As your official tour guide, I would like to highlight some of my favorite parts of my Central American adventure:

TORTUGA ISLAND
We took a 30 minute ride on a speed boat across the Nicoya Peninsula to Tortuga Island. It is owned by the Costa Rican government but leased to a family for 99 years. The family is the only inhabitants of the scenic island and their livelihood is based on tourism, as several boats enter their bay everyday loaded with attentive tourists.

MAL PAIS CANOPY TOUR AND SUNSET
If you are looking to have the time of your life, you have to canopy through the rainforest. At Mal Pais there were 11 platforms. The thrill of ziplining 11 times through the lush rainforest was amazing. There are just you, the cord you dangle from, the beauty of the rainforest and the Howler Monkey’s that occupy the region.

After the canopy at Mal Pais we went to the ocean shore and watched a captivating sunset. It’s amazing how the Sun, with the ocean as its background, put me in a mood to pray and give thanks to the Sun for being so faithful each and every day. Think about it; have any of us ever been this faithful? Well, we can sure try.

MONTEZUMA

We took a taxi to Montezuma, a small town about 20 miles from our resort at Tambor Beach. It's a Bohemian influenced area with great food, people and a beautiful beach. A lot of American's have claimed this small piece of heaven but it still has its Costa Rican authenticity.

NEW AND OLD AMIGOS
I went with my girls and loyal travel buddies, Sahsha and Marcia. We always have a good time on our excursions and Costa Rica was no different.

We also linked up with some cool people from Toronto, Canada and Tampa, Florida. We met many people that I will undoubtedly keep in touch with but these guys are definitely worth mentioning. We met Adrian, Gemma, Brian “Bubba”, Steve and Paula on the second day off our voyage and I think we spent the rest of our trip with them!

I am so very thankful for the Costa Rican energy. I somehow feel renewed which has prompted me to take their idea of "pura vida" with me so it will infulence my life.

Share your mind with me! I'm also here to answer questions for any of you interested in taking a trip there.

Blessings!

GROWING WISER, NOT OLDER

2008-01-22T15:31:00.000-05:00

One of my younger girlfriends said to me, “you don’t look 30." She was kind and matter of fact but my response to her was, “I don’t look 30, but I feel 30, in terms of my growth as a woman.”

Age is not about the growing number of candles I have to blow out on your birthday cakes; it’s not those stubborn grey hairs because I’ve had those since I was 19; it’s not about my physique because a fitness test revealed I’m in the shape of an 18-year-old woman; it’s not about my not-so-great eye sight, considering I’ve been wearing eye glasses since grade school.

Age, rather, is a timeline for WISDOM.

I’m going to wear “30” like a badge of honor because I have grown a lot to get to this point. I haven’t grown in height, I think an inch shy of 6 feet is where I’ll remain, but I’ve grown to see my place in this nonsensical world. When you can make sense out of nothing, you’re really growing and learning that nothing is everything at the same time.

My age means patience and with patience comes understanding. Yes, the compensation for patience is understanding. In my youth everything was rush-rush, which left no time to process the experience. So I spent a lot of time repeating the past, trying to catch up to the lesson, which can be easily missed when you’re young and careless.

The journey to 30 has meant learning to forgive myself for the emotional dead weight I’ve carried around for way too long. Everything begins and ends with the nakedness of my mind and soul, so I’m exposed for the first time and what I’ve found is love and happiness.

I work on ME everyday and I still have my “off” days but those moments are growing shorter and shorter.

They say that 30 is hardest year of your life so I’m hoping that I’ve begun to plan for the unforeseen circumstances associated with this time period.

Astrologically, Saturn returns to the same place it was when you were born, your “Saturn Return.” Saturn, being the planet of growth, is the reason why so many people have a volatile time aaround the ages of 29 - 30. It forces change in your life in order to promote growth and this force can not be denied or ignored. Whether you believe this to be the reason or not, I’m sure you can attest to this time being marked by times of upheaval. I can honestly say I’m training myself to embrace this metamorphosis as I cyclically shed skins of the past and breathe life into my renewed spirit. I will prevail and weather the storms of change.

Do you remember 30? What advice would you give to me or others about to join the “30 and over club?"

SHARE YOUR MIND WITH ME.

In light and happiness,

Shelli Tinae