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Anger? Over It! – Discriminated Against? Done!

Published on October 1, 2019October 10, 2019 by amytemple98155 Comments

By Amy Temple

I have dealt with all sorts of rejection ever since I was diagnosed with a learning disability at the age of 5.

In school, I was bullied and harassed practically every day. It was very traumatic and left me with feelings of fear, anxiety and low self-esteem. I found it hard to trust. Lord knows I wanted to be more open and friendly but the worry over being humiliated was much too great for me too handle.

After graduating and receiving my diploma. I went on to attend a vocational school where I received a certification in general secretary work, soon after I entered a job program for the disabled. While that was my first job and I was excited to start my life as well as my career. This job proved to not be such a happy start for me as I got my first real experience within the workplace of how society really felt about individuals with learning incapacities.

During the annual review, that’s when EVERYTHING came to a head and my presumptions became a realization! The program director just blurted out and told me, that I would never live above the poverty level. And to put the icing on the cake, he topped it off by saying “Amy will always be on welfare.” So, in other words, the degree I worked so hard to get was a complete waste of my time because according to him “I am just too damn STUPID!” At the end of the meeting, we had the option to terminate the contract.

We took it.

The job interviews after that proved to be very uncomfortable per the faces of the people interviewing me who clearly were viewing my problem, rather than my certification which qualified me to work. It was very clear they were only allowing the interview so they would not be at risk for a discriminatory lawsuit.

During this phase, it was also becoming very obvious that the program coordinators were slacking up on finding me employment. The job coach assigned to my case was not that reliable either. Most of the interviews I went on were jobs that I’d found on my own. My parents on more than one occasion had to give me a ride to the job leads due to the coach being M.I.A.

With my parents’ help, I continued looking for regular employment. To get out of the house, I began volunteering at a local assisted living facilities where I helped with daily activities.

Every month I must have gone on several job interviews. I even went back to the same vocational training center I attended in high school and became certified in Medical Secretary work where I had multiple internships at a local hospital.

One day I had applied for a position at the medical center of the retirement home I was volunteering for and soon discovered I was one of three finalists and the hiring manager wanted each of us to do a two-week internship. I didn’t get the job…

I must confess, I was surprised as I had the most experience. After speaking with the hiring manager, I discovered the two medical secretaries I was working under had lied about my performance. The one hired was a friend of theirs.

I remember having a conversation with the other candidate. She was a single mother wanting to provide a better life for her kids. If anyone else deserved the job, it was her! My heart just went out to that family. I couldn’t get over how low those two secretaries went just to get their friend the position.

After that, I decided I was not pursuing the 9-5 life anymore. I didn’t want any part of a life that was going to viciously discriminate and/or stab someone in the back like that.

Fast forward nearly twenty years later & after MUCH self-examination, I have made peace with how society feels about me.

I got hopes. I got goals. I got dreams.

And, I intend on making them all come true. I’m 42 years young! & The LAST thing I don’t have time for? Is figuring out why certain people hate me. Over It! Done!

Amy is a resident of Florida. Since 2006, she has been self-employed in the dog care field. In May 2017, she self-published a memoir titled “I Am Not Stupid” which is available through Amazon. She writes for seethegoodinfo, an inspirational website and the Learning Disabilities Association’s newsletter LD Source.

Sunday’s Thought: What Are You Going To Do?…

Published on July 7, 2019July 30, 2019 by Roshonda B2 Comments

The photo above by rawpixel.com from Pexels

Hey, Everyone! Okay so before you ask – No, I’m officially not back yet…lol. However, do you miss me? I definitely miss you which is why I had to stick my head through the window. I’m still on hiatus, there’s a lot of things going on right now; however, with it being a new month and all, I was thinking about a FB live that I did 2 months ago and thought I’d share it with you.

It’s entitled “Finish The Assignment!” I was talking to the Lord about some things and before I could finish stating my case, this is what he told me. I don’t know how many of you have “unfinished business” that you have to do – maybe it’s a book, maybe it’s starting your own business, maybe it’s following your passion or finally completing something that you’ve put off on the back burner.

Whatever it is, 6 months have flown by and time is waiting on NO ONE! What are you going to do with the last 6 months of the year? Think about it and determine to FINISH what you started!

I pray this little video is an encouragement to you to pick up whatever it is you put down and FINISH IT because Time is waiting on NO ONE!

Talk to ya Soon!

P.S. Please excuse my hair – I should’ve left it down, it was definitely an in-between appointments stage…lol lol lol. (Oh Well, You can’t look like Angela Bassett all the time…he he)

https://www.facebook.com/ShesJustHerself/videos/1011908798998041/

#Sunday’s Thought: Do You Have A Fork??

Published on April 28, 2019May 9, 2019 by Roshonda BLeave a comment

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

What’s up everyone! It’s been a minute since I did a Sunday Thought, as a matter of fact this is the first one of 2019 and it’s a good one. So stick with me for about 5 min, if you read faster than that well this is going to be a breeze!

So Get Those Forks & Let’s dig into it…

I want to ask you a question: Do you happen to have a fork? I’m sure you’re probably thinking, who doesn’t?? Which takes me to my next question: Do you know what the meaning of the silverware trio when it’s placed in front of you at a restaurant? I have to be honest; I learned what those shiny utensils truly were in the movie “Pretty Woman” haha, to those that have seen the movie – remember when he was trying to teach her what the salad fork was and the dinner fork and the placement of each? Yeah, I was learning right along with Julia Roberts. I just never knew that there was any meaning behind utensils, I just knew that some were BIG, others were small and okay, now where’s the food! Lol..

But everything in life has some type of symbolism and/or meaning to it. As the adage says “There’s a reason for everything” and that statement couldn’t be further from the TRUTH! Since that time of learning what utensil was used for what, I never really gave another thought to utensils having any other meaning until my sister sent me a story some weeks back that brought a somewhat spiritual meaning to one particular utensil and that was the FORK.

The story goes a little something like this:

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things ‘in order,’ she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

“There’s one more thing,” she said excitedly..”What’s that?” came the Pastor’s reply.
“This is very important,” the young woman continued. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.” The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.”That surprises you, doesn’t it?” the young woman asked.”Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request,” said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. “My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, “Keep your fork.” It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming …. like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!”So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder… “What’s with the fork?” Then I want you to tell them: “Keep your fork … the best is yet to come.”

Photo by Plush Design Studio from Pexels

The Pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.
At the funeral people were walking by the young woman’s casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, “What’s with the fork?” And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

I’m sure after that story, you’ll begin to look at your fork as not just some small eating utensil but now you’ll look at it and eat off of it with PURPOSE!

I don’t know what you may be going through today or even what battles you may face tomorrow or in the months to come, but I want you to keep these quotes in mind “Trouble don’t last Always” – “Joy Comes in the Morning” but most importantly “YOUR BEST IS YET TO COME!!” – the bible says, we’re supposed to count it ALL joy when we fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith, produces patience (James 1:2-3)

So, hold on to your fork knowing that SOMETHING GREATER IS COMING!!

Let this song by Martha Munizzi encourage you today, it’s one of my favorites!!

Sunday’s Thought: The Struggle is REAL!

Published on January 14, 2018January 13, 2018 by Roshonda B3 Comments

Photo above courtesy of bing

Sometimes our struggles to live or continually be saved feels like an ice-cream scoop. No matter how hard we try to get that perfect circle on that scoop – something happens and life comes tumbling down, just like that ice cream below in which probably landed on the ground after only a couple of licks.

I recently seen a post in which someone asked the following question:

It’s so easy to say we should hate sin and run from each temptation, but it’s a different thing to do it. That’s where I’ve had trouble. I want God so much, but I have certain areas in my life that sin still has a hold on me. I do good for a while, then fail. Or lose my temper, or etc. So how do I make it from here to there. How do I cultivate this holiness that is required to see God. How can I keep my focus and passion high enough to fight until I can overcome?

This question was answered perfectly by the blogger, but it got me to thinking. “How many other people feel this way”, “How many other people are there that really have a desire to walk in holiness and be a good christian but miserably fail at it; anytime they get up to do the right thing – it seems like they trip and fall every time. So, while the question above was answered, this is my answer to anyone else whom may struggle on a daily to be fully committed to God. (see below)

We all have times in which we want to give God our everything but for some reason while that’s our hearts desire, the temptations of life seem to always get in the way of us fulfilling what our heart wants and that’s to be closer to God. The Apostle Paul said, (paraphrasing)….Every time I want to do good, Evil seems to always be there too. Romans 7:21

We have to understand that when we have a mind to want to please God, the enemy is going to always be there, to make sure that we don’t fall through with our choice. His job is to always bring distractions and destruction to our path, anything he can use to make you discouraged in fully trusting and/or believing in God. But there’s a secret to overpowering his deception, and it’s this “Your will for wanting to serve God has to be stronger than your struggle not too” – meaning, You have to fight your way through your decisions and/or struggles to fully rely on God and it’s not going to be easy.

When the enemy sees that your will is stronger than anything he’s throwing your way? Then he’ll leave you alone for a season…because he’ll have to step back and figure out where your new weakness lies. We have to be consistent, that’s where our true power resides….In consistency. The enemy fights us where we’re weak, if one minute you’re in and the next minute you’re not, then that also means you’re double minded, and the bible says in James 1:8 “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” constantly wavering between doing right and not doing right is a breading ground for the enemy.

If he can keep you confused and perplexed about your walk with Christ, then he’ll continually keep throwing things in your path to keep you that way. Another thing you have to keep in mind is this, because this is my thought process when it comes to the enemy “He doesn’t really have that much power, we give him the power to do things. The enemy has to go and bow down before Christ, just to ask him a question about us” So, if he was sooooo powerful and mighty – then why does he still have to bow down, you know why? Because he recognizes that God is ALL powerful and the ruler of the Universe, he also knows that God is over him – he can’t do anything unless he gets permission from God to do it. God is all his love and glory, brags about you and tells the enemy that you won’t fail or fall for his tactics, he speaks highly of us. So when the enemy tempts us and we fall or fail…..he laughs and tells God “See, what I tell you” but God, like any Father or parent believes so highly in us, he knows that next time – we he’ll be the last one laughing. I know what I said may sound sort of juvenile but I want you to know that God wants you to succeed and never wants you to fail. You can see that here:

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13

You see?, the only thing you have to do is ask God to make a way of escape for you – If you really don’t want to do something, all you have to do is ask God to get you out. I’m telling you this, because I’m a witness of him doing it in my own life.

Once your desire becomes stronger than your struggle – that’s how you WIN!

Roshonda N. Blackmon – Creator of A Blog, A Magazine. It’s JustsumInspiration, Author, Speaker & Encourager

It’s Woman Wednesday! Hey Girlfriend, You’ve Got Mail, This Message is For You…

Published on October 11, 2017October 11, 2017 by Roshonda BLeave a comment

Women, are the most powerful beings to ever walk the earth. The bible say we’re the weaker vessel and to some that might mean “weak” in nature but actually it means she’s easy to cry when hurt, she’s vulnerable, loving, compassionate and while she puts up walls once she’s been hurt, she can easily let them down when she feels and/or recognizes love. While men are the earth, it’s the power of a woman that makes it go round. See how powerful and unique you are woman of purpose? So why do you let others make you feel less than what you are?

As a woman sometimes I forget who I am and begin to question, what in the world God created me for. I sometimes allow others thoughts and criticism’s of me, shape the way I live my everyday life, I somehow allow their negativity to dictate who they feel I am and in the process of all that I become depressed; down-hearted and almost ready to sit on the sidelines of life as I watch everyone else play the game until I remember Proverbs 139:14 in which states:

When I read that scripture of verse, I suddenly snap back into reality and begin to see myself as God see’s me and I begin to think; everything that God made was good and very good, so that means that I’m a product of his best good creation, sculpted from the best clay and shaped by the best creative hands creation ever knew and you know what?, that includes you too girl.

Girlfriend, you are a diamond – a cut above the rest. You can move mountains with just one look, you have the power to speak your mind and everyone under the sound of your voice – has to stop and listen to you. So why don’t you use your voice to speak those things that are NOT happening in your life as though they ARE, including who you are. Honey, you don’t need a man to tell you you’re beautiful and you don’t need to keep giving a man your body just because you want someone to love you. LOVE starts at home (with you). Your body is a temple and everybody and everything is not privileged to enter into it. Ever wonder why you keep attracting the same type of man? It’s because your type, your attitude, your perspective and your outlook on who you are hasn’t changed. There’s still something broken on the inside, something that’s hiding in the shadows and maybe it’s being covered up by the nice clothes, shoes, make-up and hairstyles but it’s there and it needs your attention. The potter (God) specializes in broken vessels, he’s the master of finding a home for lost pieces…pieces that we feel can never be put back together again. You can’t put them back together but God can. You’re so much more worthy than you think and so much more valuable than you realize, you’re a PRICELESS piece of gold that can never be sold. I want you to begin to count up how much you’re worth and then add tax to it. Because you really are WORTH it, and that’s not just for those L’Oreal commercials it’s for you too boo.

Remember, you are a woman of purpose and vision. Don’t let the enemy trip you up by making you think less of yourself, oh and by the way YOU ARE CAPABLE, if you weren’t God wouldn’t have given you the vision or dream to accomplish what he destined/ordained/created you to do. A friend of mine sent me the video above. I didn’t look at it when she first sent it to me (had some life happened moments going on..lol) but when I finally took a look at it, it blessed my soul so much – I had to share it with you.

If you’re in a place today of thinking less of yourself; less than what God made you to be then I ask that you look at the video above and declare today that you’re not only AWESOME but VALUABLE & WORTHY!!

Roshonda N. Blackmon – Creator of JustsumInspiration, Author, Speaker & Encourager

Let’s Live Well, Laugh Loud, Love Hard & Inspire Often!