Category: Life Moments

Letting It ALL Hang Out – Part 2

Published on by Roshonda B5 Comments

Featured Photo by Mica Asato from Pexels

A BIG YAY!!!! if you read Part 1 of letting it all hang out and have come back for Part 2. I really appreciate you and Guess Whattttttt……A VIDEO!!! Ha-ha…

WHOSE THE BOSS NOW – PHONE STORAGE!!

Okay, so maybe you’re just seeing part 2 and don’t know what the heck I’m talking about, well you’ll just have to read part 1 to know the excitement I’m feeling at this moment. This is just a “getting to know me” post of questions that I get asked all the time or pretty frequently. The first 6 were last week and this week is the last 6 with a bonus.

Have you Read This? >>>> Letting It All Hang Out, Part 1

I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know me…if you’d like to ask a question, just leave it in the comment section and I’ll answer it – I’m pretty much an open book except for on the subject of “Politics”- My mind just can’t take it. You know there are conversations that people just get a kick out of having and that’s one that I don’t but any other question is acceptable.

So let’s get into it again – Push play, if you haven’t already…lol.

Oh No!! where’s the video!?! Okay, so the excitement above is totally how I imagined things happening in a sunflower and rainbow world – hence the pic below…

Image credit: by Susanne Jutzeler from Pexels

But as you can see – My phone really is the boss of me…

Image credit: Bing/Gif

Well, while I imagine and dream of getting a new one, in the meantime listed below are the “typed out” second part of the questions I get asked a lot or have just experienced recently.

The Show Must Continue So, On and Upward – Here they are…

1. What Do You Like to Do in Your Spare Time?

Wow. Sometimes I don’t feel like I get a lot of spare time but when I do, I enjoy watching movies and Series – I don’t know if you remember that show “The Office” with Steve Carell, but over the weekend, I watched Season 3 of that. It was a very off humor type of show. I found the DVD at the Salvation Army for $2.99 in which was a steal! Which brings me to my next thing I love to do in my spare time and that’s shop at the thrift stores, I absolutely love it.

You can find some really good deals and steals there – a friend of mine got married earlier this month and I needed some silver shoes, just happened to go in there after an appointment a couple of days before her wedding and found a cute pair of silver wedged sling backs for $3.99 and they were BRAND NEW! I couldn’t pass that up and they went great with my outfit. Other things I like to do is write, relax and sleep in if I can.

2. Do you have any Crazy Indulgences?

OMGosh, I used to have a crazy indulgence about listening to celebrity gossip. Truth is I was subscribed to over four or five YTube channels – all of which were nothing but celebrity gossip channels in which they all talked about the same thing but each gave their different take on the matter and evidence. I was so hooked on that and reality shows…but you know how things can overtake your life, energy and space? I realized that, that was what these things were doing.

Image credit: Bing

I would even push off important things to watch! I was addicted you can say, finally one day I realized that I had to stop and let something go, well – I ended up letting them all go. It was too much, I was paying more attention to their lives than my own and you know what the bible says about having “other gods” (notice the little g) before the big God (notice the big G) We have to pay attention to the things in our lives that we yield our mind, body and spirit too.

3. What are your biggest accomplishments outside of blogging?

Well, let’s see…I used to think that blogging was not an accomplishment because it didn’t yield me a lot of followers or make me famous (true story) but blogging is an accomplishment as a matter of fact anything in our life is an accomplishment when we’ve decided to quit playing around with our dreams and goals and actually go after them, not just by mouth but by hands and foot and what I mean by that is, you’re working to make it happen; because talking about it and actually doing it, is two different stories. I’ve written a children’s book and I was able to do book reviews for two authors.

I finally put the foot to the plow and started my own business this year, its up and coming (really new, like last month new) but I’m finally letting go of fear and putting myself out there. I’m also a singles ministry leader and this year makes year two of “The Naked Truth” gathering. You know how some people start something but you don’t hear about it anymore? Well, God bless – this was a vision he gave me and a friend of mine and we’re doing it! (If you want to know more about this, just ask me in the comment section)

4. Are you married?

The question is no but I would love to be “again” one day. I got married when I was 24 years old. I was excited about it however; he wasn’t the man I wanted to marry. I mean I said yes on that “predictable” Valentine’s Day. (I say predictable because why people choose holidays to propose, its so cliche’ – the older me now knows that, the younger me then was ecstatic!) He wasn’t the man I wanted or even needed in my life. Truth be told I only married him because I felt convicted every time I went to church, we were living together after he got kicked out of his place. I had just purchased my first home at 23 and it looked and smelled soooo good, That was also a great accomplishment, says the younger me (the older me now knows while this was an accomplishment, I should have waited until I was mature enough to know what “home ownership” really meant. He moved in and it seemed like everything sweet turned sour.

Image credit: Bing

He was a mess and he brought his mess to my place. I was immature, I didn’t know what marriage really entailed; I was going by the way it looked in movies but I wasn’t prepared to deal with it in real life and I sure didn’t have a knight in shining armor. He was married twice and had older kids, one at the time was just getting to high school, and the other had just graduated. And there I was, no kids – had never been married and with someone whom had already experienced life, I was looking for someone that I could experience life with…sigh…but I just didn’t have the voice to speak up and say it. I felt like he was the best I could do (oh if I knew then what I know now) I would tell anyone, get to know who you are first before you bring someone into your life. Spend time with you, love you – Raise the rent on your self-worth and charge taxes!!

5. When was the last time you cried?

So, I’ve been crying ever since my mom passed in 2016. She was my rock, my love and while we had our ups and downs as mother and daughter, she was my best friend and I miss her every day, she’s in my heart and mind every day. There are little things that I see or experience that lets me know she’s around me, those are the things I cherish most. However, I don’t really cry every day, although that first year was tough, God bless, every year after thus far has gotten a little better, I still have my moments but for the most part, I know who my mom was, how she lived and who she served so that gives me comfort that she’s in a much better place.

But the last time I cried was like two weeks ago when someone told me that they wonder if I’m a true Christian because my faith was small and not as elaborate as theirs….this hurt me to the core and the person that said it to me, we would pray together, talk about the bible together and they knew how much I valued God, but you’d still turn around and say something crazy like that to me? I was appalled! Everyone’s faith is different, some people have the faith to believe that they can walk on a car lot today and leave with a brand new car and they actually do it! But you have others whose faith may not be that strong – it’s not because they don’t believe in God it’s just that their faith isn’t there yet but that’s where the bible says, “The strong, ought to bear the infirmity of the weak” So in the areas where I’m weak, you should be strong. Needless to say it took me some time to talk back with that person…

6. Do you have any crazy eating habits?

YES! almonds and cream cheese are my newest snacks that I enjoy eating together. I love dipping my almonds in cream cheese and eating it…ha-ha, yesssss – it’s so good so you have to try it. That’s if you like that sort of thing. Someone once told me about putting pimento cheese (hint, hint Palmetto Cheese – the Pimento Cheese with Soul is the ABSOLUTE BEST out there!!) and ham on a sandwich, Chillleee?!? – it’s now one of my favorite things to eat and with a side of tomato and chips? This girl is in #foodie heaven! For reals….lol

Image credit: The blackpeppercorn.com
7. Will you Blog forever?

That question is “I don’t know” – I honestly didn’t think I’d be blogging this long but I’m here. I’ll blog as long as God gives me the strength to do it and as long as I have something to talk about. There are times where I feel like I need to take a break from it and I’m going to be doing that very soon (more to come that) but otherwise – I  plan to continue and that’s only if nothing else takes precedence such as getting married to a prince (heheheh – I’ll give you time to catch that one)

Well, that’s it in a nutshell, that’s all about ME! Of course if you have any questions that you’d like to ask, feel free to ask in the comments. Thanks so much for reading, commenting and even following! I have a few new followers and I’ll let you know about them next week! because I already held you long enough =)

Take Care! See Ya In the Blogs soon enough. Much Love.

Letting It ALL Hang Out – Part 1

Published on by Roshonda B13 Comments

Featured Photo by Susanne Jutzeler from Pexels

Just in case you were wondering about the title, this blog post and the part 2 (yes, there’s a part 2…haha) coming next week will be ALL about MOI! a.k.a “Yours Truly – Me!” Maybe you know me already and want to skip this post as well as next weeks and I’d totally understand ORRRRR, maybe you’re just a little curious about me (weather you’re new to the blog or not, it’s just a guess) However, maybe you’d like to know some quirks as well as a little background information about me so here it is! I know you been waiting all your life for this…haha, don’t mind me – I always imagine things TOTALLY different in my head space =)

So, because you asked for it (In my head space again) I’m going to answer about 12 questions, some today and the rest next week in regards to things I get asked all the time or have just been getting asked about as of late. These are just a few questions but if you have questions of your own that you’d like to know – just ask. I’m pretty much, somewhat, okay, ALOT of an open book so you can ask me anything – except about politics. I’m not a political person, Yes – I do vote as that’s my right but I don’t like political talk of any kind. I have my opinions but I’d rather keep those to myself and my head space ; )

I have to admit I wanted to do a video answering these questions and be all different and unique…lol…but in my Kevin Hart voice:

Photo Image: Kevin Hart

I promise you!! It’s like I have to delete everything on my phone in order for it to run smoothly and do cool things….UGH!!!….My storage prompt is on right now because this silly phone wants me to delete pics! I know, I know….Yes, I need another phone but honestly I can’t afford to get one right now (the one that I want that is!) so I’m subject to taking commands from it. At the moment, it’s my boss so I have to do what it tells me to do…..

Photo Credit: ICANHASCHEEZBURGER.COM

Any-who, here’s getting to know me a little better. I hope you enjoy and for those that know a word of prayer?, while you’re throwing up your timber (as the seasoned elders would say a.k.a “request”) to the big man upstairs?, put my phone needs in there as well. I really appreciate ya and Thanks in Advance!!! =)

I PUT THESE QUESTIONS IN AN ENVELOPE AND JUST PULLED THEM OUT RANDOMLY, SO HERE GOES…

1. What’s your background? (Any sisters, brothers, mom, dad OR KIDS)

Yes, my background is a little interesting and it would take me writing a novel to tell you all the in’s and out’s of it…lol, but seriously it would. However, I am the oldest of two girls. We never was blessed to have any brothers but I have an awesome brother-in-law in whom I love dearly and is like a brother to me. Me and my middle sister are two years apart, my baby sister and I are five years apart. People used to tell my mom that it didn’t look like she had girls as old as she did, but she literally grew up with us, which brings me to my next question – My MOM

My mother was 16 yrs old when she became pregnant with me. She was a young girl looking for love in all the wrong places after her mother sent her away at 12 yrs old, citing the fact that her “husband” didn’t want her living there anymore. So my mom went to live with her cousins in Arkansas, people she hadn’t even met before. There was a lot of things that happened to her during that time. My mom although having me out of wedlock, counted it as a blessing because she finally had someone growing inside of her that she felt was going to love her and that I did, now – My DAD

Didn’t know him, seen him twice in my now 40 yrs of life. He paid child support a couple of times when I was in high school and that was about it. I did talk about him more in depth on my “My Favorite Childhood Memory“ video

I have two kids a daughter and a son (ones a full blown teen and the other a tween, both are running me a little crazy). Know anyone that would like two kids?…..lol (their my babies though and I love them dearly) and NO, I don’t want anymore…but thanks!! =)

2. Does anything ever bother you? Pet Peeves?

Oh gosh yes!! I have a few pet peeves such as I can’t stand a person that creates confusion…oh my that gets under my skin or when someone is a compulsive liar…phew! honey, can’t take it. However, there is one pet peeve that raises the hair on my neck and that’s when I’m in the grocery store, especially the self-checkout and someone is standing so close behind me until I literally feel their breathe on my neck. That bugs the heck out of me. Now when I go thru the self checkout I make sure I’m standing in front of my basket and I leave it there until I get all my groceries out, check them and then I move my basket…lol. I just can’t take it….it works my nerves over….lol

3. How old are you?

Well, I just celebrated a birthday last month. I officially turned the BIG 4-0! I don’t know what it is but it’s something about turning those ages such as 20, 30, 40, 50 and so forth and it’s another thing when you get to the top of the mountain as I say of all of those ages such as 25, 35, 45 and 55. I can’t explain it but it’s like a light bulb or something awakens on the inside of you. You begin to think and see life completely different or as a friend once told me “The things that once mattered, don’t matter and the things that do matter, do.” And that’s the truth – now at 40 I notice that I’m more “conscious” about what I say, do and what I put in my body as everything plays an affect on you somehow.

4. What’s your Daytime Job – What do you do in real life.

In reality – I work in administration at a University. I’m a singles ministry leader for my church and I just started my own small biz entitled “Roshonda-BCreative” in which is a writing and creative design publication company. It just started and as of right now I’ve only had one client but I’m praying to God that it grows and grows. It may not make me rich and that’s okay, I’m just excited to get it up and going. I’m putting all fear & doubt aside and making it happen. Pray for me!

5. What’s your biggest embarrassment

I almost took this question out of the list. Let me see, I have a couple of things I’m embarrassed about – one is the fact that I didn’t allow myself time to get to know me, my goals and really search for what it was that I really wanted to do in life. For the better part of my 20’s and 30’s I found myself becoming more engulfed in finding love, getting married and settling down with one man only and that could have happened, however, I wasn’t patient enough to wait on God for it. Therefore I married someone whom, well that’s one of my questions for next week…I’ll tell you then. The other embarrassment is the fact that I never got a college degree, before you unsubscribe….because that’s always been my fear of telling people that. Not so much because people will unsubscribe to the blog, I mean you do you boo. Every audience isn’t for everyone and I’ve learned to accept that. However, I don’t tell people for fear they’d find me less interesting or think I’m “less than” because I don’t.

Photo Credit: Bing/Discouragement/ibelieve

I’m the one that always puts “some college” on applications or whenever that question comes up. It’s just that when I got out of school, I had “no clue” about what I wanted to do. I thought it was going to be nursing, but I quickly realized I hated needles – especially sticking people with them. Then I wanted to go for business administration but didn’t know what area I wanted to specialize in. On top of all that – being the oldest and having a mom on disability, I felt obligated to work to help supplement the income that was coming in the house – so that’s what I did, I worked. I went to training’s, took small classes and googled what I didn’t know. I worked my “tush” off to get where I am today, it was a much longer road around but I learned from the best (good and bad).

I had some tough teachers in the office administration field who at the time, got this egotiscal, twenty something girl in shape! I learned and became pruned by some not so good bosses and/or people as well. I learned a lot, more than I probably would have learned in a traditional school but I won’t lie, I think about having a degree all the time. I know it’s never too late to do anything and one day I just may surprise myself and do it!

6. Who Are You?

I’ve been “deemed” as the encourager in my what I like to call “short lifetime” it’s something that comes very natural to me and I love inspiring people, I’m always looking for the positive lining in everything and/or looking for ways to turn things around into one. This job is not easy and I have to watch what I say. Sometimes you can boost people up and maybe it’s not what needs to happen or they have other underlying issues that need to be worked out, so instead of sugar-coating. I try to be honest (especially when my opinion is being asked) and tell a person like it is.

I’m just a woman with a little girl inside of her whose trying to live out the dreams she never thought she was either good enough or ever could do. I have issues just like the next person, I cry (another question asked – next week!) and have had many low points too. For some reason people tend to think I don’t get mad or cry or have bad days! I experience not so good days and go through ups and downs just like the next person. I’m not perfect, I make many mistakes as a matter of fact so many, if you look in the dictionary you might just see my pic next to the word. It’s not about who you are really, it’s about how you handle situations – including life, which is different for us all. All in all I’m HUMAN – that’s who I am first.

Well, Did you get to know me a little better? I hope you did! Maybe next week I’ll be able to do a video (fingers crossed if my phone and it’s storage will cooperate ; )

More Questions and Answers next week! stay tuned!

It’s Your Business. So Set The Tone!

Published on by Roshonda B12 Comments

Featured Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

So you want to be a boss, already a boss or thinking about becoming your own boss – No matter where you are in this process, let me be the first to say “CONGRATULATIONS!!” and now my little celebratory business dance…

Okay, just wanted to celebrate you a little bit because whether you’ve been a boss or thinking about stepping out on faith to become one – it’s a celebrated moment. You should give yourself a BIG pat on the back for making what some call THE BIG LEAP!!

However, while becoming your own boss is exhilarating – it can also be very scary and you’ll doubt yourself many times during and going through the process “Can I really do this?” “Why am I doing this?” or “Do I really have the skills to do it!” and I will say “YES! YOU DO!!” otherwise why would the thought even come to your mind..

These were all thoughts I had when I ventured out into blogging and now/recently into my own writing and creative design publication business, happily entitled “RoshondaBCreative” – I create flyers, social handles, brochures, newsletters, resumes and so forth for others. I even can write up blog posts, content and copy-write as well. As a matter of fact, just last week I received my very first customer whom wanted me to create a flyer, she loved it! and for the first time in history outside of doing everything for “free” (more on that in a jiffy). I got my very first payment!!!! I was elated, excited and it gave me that extra push to confirm, I was in my right lane.


Photo by Juan Pablo Arenas from Pexels

But before that happened, I had to get my business etiquette together. After-all, I had never ran a business before and had no idea as to what it really detailed. The only thing I knew is that I had to be professional because “first” impressions are lasting impressions and I’m a firm believer in “How you start” will definitely set the tone for how everything else in your business will run. Over the years, I’ve worked alongside some good and not so good business owners. Even if the business owner was not that great, there are still lessons that I took from them because in business everything won’t be rosy, there will be shortcomings and mistakes made but it’s how you handle those grey areas that will determine it’s success whether your business is BIG or small.

Listed below are a couple of “Tone Setters” I believe every business should have:

1st Tone: Get Your Paperwork Together


Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

When I first learned that I wanted to turn my passion into a business, the first thing I did was get my paperwork together. What I mean by this is – I looked for contract templates, proposal templates and business card designs. I even took a free business class to find out what my business would be registered as, either an LLC or if I’d be considered a Sole Proprietor. If you’re just starting out I would suggest going ahead and getting your name registered at least as the cost is minimal. Once your business takes off, then I would go deeper into getting it trademarked and so forth. While you’re in the process, don’t forget to come up with a BOMB slogan! Something that identifies your business characteristic.

However; the main thing is making sure you have your contract, prices, proposals and business cards ready because when you announce “Open for Business?” you may not have time to get those things prepared because no one likes a messy business man or woman.

2nd Tone: Communicate Properly


Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

Oh gosh! I’ve seen some really messy communicators in business. If you say you’ll get back to someone in 24 hours, please make sure you do that. If you tell someone you’ll have their product ready in a week, please make sure you hit the deadline on the head or before. If someone sends you a message, please answer them and if you don’t answer within a specified period of time, just say “I apologize for the delay in getting back to you” first before you go into what their need may be.

Having good communication skills in business is a TOP priority and very essential to your business. Good communication can build your business, Bad communication can and will tear it apart before it gets off the ground good. Remember: Words travel faster than lighting!!

3rd Tone: No Freebies!

Photo by Bing/Empty Wallet

You’re going to always have that person that wants you to do something for free! However, you have to set the tone and let them know that you’re running a business and this time, you need to get paid. I remember accepting a job from a person that I knew very well. They needed me to update a resume they’d gotten from someone whom they stated “Didn’t do a good job” – they asked how much I would charge because they were going out for a job and desperately needed it the following day. I told them $5.00 and that evening I put everything aside just to get their work done. I sent it promptly the next day as suggested and after that…..silence….

I get an email about a week later telling me they ended up not using the resume and therefore because they didn’t use it, they figured they didn’t have to pay me my $5.00! Now don’t get me wrong, I know you might say that’s nothing but my TIME was everything! It was then that I decided to put a stipulation on payments. Anything $50.00 or less, I need the full payment unless we discussed you giving half down first. Value your time and your business enough to get your money upfront because your business doesn’t run off of “non-payments”

4th Tone: Don’t Be Afraid to Say No or Be Intimidated to Sell Yourself Short

Photo by Bing/Intimidation

When you first start out in business you may want to say YES to everyone and while that’s great in a rainbow world, you’re going to have to exercise your right and say NO! Only you know how much time and effort it’ll take you to complete a project. Think about that when you take on jobs, don’t allow someone to come into your business space and tell you what they want and what they need you to do. You’re the BOSS, you set the rules and tell them what YOU need them to do in order to complete their work.

Most times when this happens we feel as if we’re going to lose clients based off of our demands for our time and craft but that’s not the case. Don’t succumb to selling yourself or your product short, I mean you have to make a living as well…..what you start out doing for that one client will set the tone for what you do with other clients. If one client feels as though they can get over, guess what! That spirit will soon surround your business and the next thing you know, you’ll have other clients coming along wanting a handout or for you to sell yourself short & your response to that should always render a BIG NOOO!!

** ** ** **

These are just a couple of experiences I’ve experienced with “finally” starting my own business. Your business is like a newborn child in which you want to protect, nourish and watch it grow and grow and grow. Remember to stick to your guns and set the right tone because your business is depending upon you to shape and feed it. How you start is definitely how you’ll finish…

Do you have any business tips or stories? Share them below in the comments!

I Survived Hurricane Jeanne

Published on by artemple1 Comment

Featured image: Photo by Engin Akyurt from Pexels

It was September 2004. It was supposed to be our vacation.

My parents, my maternal grandmother and I flew down to Orlando on September 20th from Indianapolis to check on the damage done to our mobile home from Hurricane Charley.

Jeanne was out to sea. She was not going to hit land, meteorologists said earlier in the week. “Jeanne won’t affect the United States”, one said.

A couple of days later, she made a sudden left turn and headed straight for FLORIDA!


Bing/Hurricane Jeanne

Meteorologists told residents to brace for yet another hurricane. People were putting up plywood and using tarps in an attempt to protect themselves.

Local government officials were giving frequent press conferences urging residents to evacuate. Shelters were being set up and the Red Cross was getting prepared.

My family and I sat watching the coverage, trying to decide what to do.

We had decided to change our plane ticket but, we were a little too late as the airport just got it’s orders to close. We called the rental car agency to see how much it would cost to drive our rental back to Indiana but it was going to be too costly.

So it was official. We were all going to experience our very first hurricane!


Bing/Hurricane Jeanne

On September 25th, a member of the Orlando Police and Fire Department drove around the mobile home park -a retirement community- with a bullhorn announcing we had by 6 PM to evacuate.

A cousin of ours -who also lived in the park – invited us to join him at his son’s house. Jeanne hit the Orlando area between 3 and 4 AM the next morning.

She was a Category 3 with winds between 80-95 miles per hour with a gust of 70 and left several inches of rain. The media coverage was very professional and calm. I admired their courage to go out and report. Very brave souls!

One got tossed several inches live on the air but fortunately wasn’t hurt. As for me and my family, we were all basically calm. I sat on the living room sofa reading “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” with an amazing view of the storm through the picture window.

I really can’t put it into words what I saw: just the work that I saw God due was just simply incredible!


Photo by Johan Bos from Pexels

The city curfew lifted the next day and we returned back to our home.

The level of destruction in the park left us all in a state of amazement.

Parts of or whole roofs were gone. Front and back porches were gone.

Carports, awnings, trimmings and siding were gone.

The canal, lake and swimming pool were overflowing.

A tree with a birdhouse near the lake was leaning sideways.

The shuffleboard court had puddles of water.

Trees were snapped and leaning or were completely gone.

Very few homes sustained little to no damage. Luckily, our home was one of them.

Now I’m not going to get all “I-saw-my-life-flash-before-me” on you because I’m not the dramatic type. Going through a hurricane was very exciting but it was not a life-changing experience…

It was one very memorable vacation!

Have you been through a traumatic event such as a Hurricane or maybe even a Tornado? Tell me your story below and let’s chat!

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.

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.

Reflection: The Number 4 & It’s Celebratory Moment In My Life

Published on by Roshonda B7 Comments

Featured Image above: by The Lazy Artist Gallery from Pexels

Ahhhh, or I guess I should say “WOOSAH” Where in the world do I start. Ever since I beat out shyness at the age of 30 (Yeah, late bloomer here), I’ve really never been at a loss for words but for some reason when it came down to reflect on the number 4 and 40, you’ll find out those meanings in a sec. I honestly didn’t know where to start, what to really say or if I should just skip this week and not post at all…

I have to admit, I’m usually prepared and have things scheduled, but this post is literally coming at you word-for-word as I sit at my computer and type away. Well, here it goes…

So the number 4 and 40 are celebratory because the number 4 represents a hurdle crossed that I didn’t think would last a month, less known a year. The number 40 represents the turn of a century that I honestly didn’t think I’d live to see. Without further ado, let’s begin with the number 4 in which all started in March when I got this beautiful notification from WordPress:

Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com! You registered on WordPress.com 4 years ago. Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging.

I mean, has it been 4 years already?? – Geesh, where has the time gone? I remember the month and day that I started this blog. It’s amazing because months prior I was beginning to wonder, what in the world my purpose/gift was. You know there’s a time in all of our lives where you want to become more strategic with your purpose and you begin to put more thought into what you’re doing and how what you’re doing is affecting the people around you. I had no idea what my true purpose was, I did in a sense but I hadn’t began to really cultivate it.


Photo by Buenosia Carol from Pexels

Mind you, I’ve always been known as the “jack of all trades.” I could tell you how to do anything but I wasn’t a master at any of it. At one point I felt as if I was just put here on earth to just fly with the wind but deep inside I knew something more was there – people would look at me and the only thing I would get was “There’s something about you, I just can’t put my finger on it” In any case this could be good or bad, depending on how you look at it…lol.

However, In my spirit, I felt as if I should be doing more as if whatever it was I was doing, was nothing compared to what I should’ve been doing – if any of that even makes sense. As I scrolled through my email one day I saw the advertisement for WordPress and starting a blog, as soon as I see that advertisement – something in my spirit jumped as if to say “THAT’S IT!” needless to say, I didn’t take the bait and waited another 6 months in which I see the same advertisement and again, my spirit leaped and again, I didn’t do it. March 13, 2015 – there it was again except this time, the feeling I felt was forceful as if I was in labor and the baby was coming…whether I was ready for it or not.


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I felt something deep inside me say “DO IT NOW!!” and I did it, right then and there. I was hesitant about paying for my domain name, choking up the excuse of “I didn’t have the money” I learned a lesson from that experience and through it – I birthed my first blog post on this site entitled “Invest in Yourself……First!” and the rest as the old adage says “is history” I had no idea what I was going to talk about or even if this blog would last. Sometimes I can be an “it’s new” type of gal and once I get bored, It’s thrown to the side with other unfinished projects. I have to say, I acknowledged God every step of the way and 4 years later, here I am and I’m so grateful for the love, the support and the followers new and old who have stuck with me throughout this time.

I know there’s people out there that read the blog and never like or leave a comment but they read it and I’m even more grateful for that support as well because there’s a lot of things out here that could get your attention but to give me 5% of it, I count it an honor and I’m humbled. If we never meet or speak to each other, know that I feel the love.


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SOOOOOOOOOOO……that’s that, now you might be thinking, what’s up with the 40! Well, that’s how old I’ll be turning on tomorrow! I’m nervous, scared, disappointed, happy and optimistic all at the same time. Not sure if you can have all those arrays of emotions going on but I certainly do.

My doctor told me earlier this week that his friend told him that his 40’s were his best decade ever and I’m soooo holding on to that. There are so many things I can say about going into 40. I’ve experienced a lot of ups as well as downs getting to this point and I’ve made some terrible mistakes but I’m going into 40 with a little more wisdom and a lot of more love for myself. It’s sad because if I can be honest, I messed up my 20’s and most of my 30’s and even though, by 30, I’d finally discovered my voice. I had trouble using it and continuously welcomed, unacceptable behavior in the terms of “toxic” relationships.

Over that period, I’d gained many friends and lost just as many. Some for no apparent reason at all – I just happened to look around and realized they were no longer there. Some instances of that happening hurt like hell (pardon the language) and in other circumstances, I was glad for the departure. I’ve learned a lot getting to this point and it’s true what they say, the older you get you tend to become less worried about what people think, what people say and how people view you. I now realize my worth and KNOW who I am. I’m no longer hungry for love, attention or friendships. I allow things to happen organically now, which in my opinion – is best.


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The one thing I’m looking forward to in my 40’s is my kids graduating high school and completing college if I should still be writing at 50 and if their heads are screwed on right (fingers crossed) They’d be done accomplished both by the time I reach the end of my 40’s. So it’ll be cool to see what my reflections I write at that time for sure.

Going into 40 while I’m working on my emotions towards it. One emotion I’m sure of and that’s the bittersweet moments. (Okay, the flood gates are about to swing wide open..) I miss my mother dearly. Every year, no matter what age I turned, she would always have her “mother-daughter” coming of age talk with me. My mother had experienced it all and seen it all so she was destined to tell me every year what the new age would hold for me and how I should conduct myself as a lady. It was her thing and I loved it. Every time I would get ready to turn an age, I would ask “Okay, mama when do I need to schedule my talk with you” – haha. If she was here I would have gotten my birthday present in February….lol lol. She always gave birthday gifts EXTRA early.

It’s funny because I wonder what wisdom she’d share with me in regards to the 40’s, I would give anything to have at least 15 min with her – but mama’s gone now…

Please help me say “WHOOSAH!!”


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Moving Forward >>>

You know Life is unexpected and while living it – you’ll have your many ups, downs and coming out of nowhere situations but guess what – you just have to live it, make the best of whatever it throws at you and celebrate every…single…moment! I mean, every one of them, no matter how big or how small. Because we only are guaranteed one shot, some are lucky and get more – but you have to live it as if ONE is all you have and will ever get.

Embrace it, Cherish it, Hug, Love, Kiss and CELEBRATE!

I don’t know what this next phase will hold. I’m sure like with everything else, there will be many ups and of course some low downs but I’m praying for bigger and better accomplishments, I plan to continue to be on the grind and crush goals. I plan to produce one, two or more books to be published – prayerfully from a traditional publisher. Build my business (RoBCreative), raise these teenagers into something great (again, fingers crossed) and LOVE, give back and invest. I think love has finally found me, maybe i’ll be able to write about that someday.

Whatever comes and whatever goes, I’m standing with open arms ready to embrace it and like my doctor said, maybe the 40’s will truly be my best decade starting tomorrow and to infinity and beyond….I’M READY.


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If you made it to the end of this post, Thanks for sticking around, I truly winged this one ; )