Life – Page 5 – A Blog, A Magazine. It's JustsumInspiration!

Monthly Series: An Attitude of Gratitude – Challenge #4

Published on November 15, 2017November 9, 2017 by Roshonda BLeave a comment

Happy Hump Day! so, today is the second week/4th day of our Monthly series – Attitude of Gratitude. Just in case you missed the November Vibes post, Every Monday and Wednesday for the month of November, I will be posting questions in regards to being grateful. I will answer these questions myself but my hope is that you will answer them too and leave those answers in the comment section.

Some questions may have us digging a little deeper within ourselves to answer them, but in the end – my hope is that you will feel more empowered and begin to see yourself and even your life differently and not just for the month of November – but for every month of the year. You can choose to start a journal if you want but this challenge as you may say, is not just about us writing things out and leaving it in a little book to store it away and go back to it when we’re reflecting on our life but the challenge is to show it!! so as an extra bonus after every question regarding yourself will be a question in which will relate to the world around you, it’ll be called “Our End of the Day Question” – you don’t have to write about it here, but it’ll be something that you’ll just ask yourself everyday at the end of your day. While writing out what we’re “grateful” for is half the battle, showing gratitude for and towards others is the KEY!

So, let’s do both – reflecting and showing….(by the way, the passage above will be in every challenge post to start off, however; a new question will be at the bottom of each post).

What is one of the best gifts you’ve ever received. (My response)

Over the years, I’ve received quite a few gifts – some were from absolute strangers while others were from loved ones but I’ll talk today about a gift I received very recently; back in August I started sitting for an elderly woman, she was 91yrs old – I absolutely love older (seasoned..lol) people. The wisdom, the knowledge and just listening to them talk about the old days and who they used to be, where they worked and how they lived their life is always and has always been fascinating to me. Her name was Ms. Naomi and I looked forward to going over and spending time with her. Ms. Naomi was so full of life and was one of the sweetest people I’ve meet in a long time. However, unfortunately she passed away last month and my heart shattered, she lived a good life and I was so happy that she was able to be around good family when she departed and not in some rest home. The gift I received was a pair of purple diamond earrings that her daughter gave to me, in which were Ms. Naomi’s favorite color and her favorite pair of earrings – “I knew mom would’ve wanted you to have these,” her daughter said as she gave me the little box. I felt so honored and blessed to get such a gift, it’s one that I will always cherish and remember Ms. Naomi by forever.

Rest In Sweet Peace Ms. Naomi – I Love You!!

– What’s the Best Gift you’ve every received; Comment Below –

Your End of the Day Question:

Did you talk to someone you love today? If so, who & how did it make you feel.

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

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

EnSpired: Hairdresser Spends Well Over 8 hours on Depressed Teens Hair

Published on November 14, 2017November 14, 2017 by Roshonda B4 Comments

picture above and below courtesy of Daily Mail UK

This month as we talk about having an Attitude of Gratitude, there’s a 16yr old teenager who’s ever grateful for the time and patience a hairdresser took in taking care of her distressed locks. 20yr old student hairdresser Kayley Olsson of Waterloo, Iowa must have seen many clients and completed many hair transformations but none of them could compare to the client in which she was about to see on a Tuesday morning.

Probably thinking her day was going to be a breeze; it quickly turned into a tornado when a depressed 16yr old young lady (name withheld) sat in her chair to get her hair done, the teen’s hair was so matted and damaged – Kayley had to clear her schedule for the next day and a half.

According to media site Daily Mail UK the teen whom had been battling depression, was so depressed she couldn’t even brush her own hair and came to the salon to intentionally ask for her hair to be cut off. But Olsson wouldn’t have it and decided to spend the hours needed (13 to be exact) to fix the teens hair whom also had picture day coming up at her school.

‘It honestly broke my heart and we tried everything we could to keep this child’s hair for her! At the end of the day I want this to be a lesson to people.‘ Kayley Olsson

After spending a full 8 hours one day and 5 hours the next day – Kayley was able to turn the teens stressed tresses into a Cinderella story that had a very happy ending. So happy until it even surprised the teen, whom stated:

“I will actually smile for my schools pictures today, you made me feel like me again“.’

The picture above is the before and below is the after transformation!

Kayley, touched by the incident in regards to the teen – shared her story on her Facebook page in hopes that the situation would raise eyebrows about mental illness and how it affects our children, at the end of the day – Olsson just wanted to make the teen feel special again, stating:

A CHILD should NEVER feel so worthless to not even want to brush their hair. After being here 8 hours yesterday and 5 hours today we finally made this beautiful girl smile and feel like she IS worth something!

Since posting the occurrence, Kayley has been praised by many for her tremendous sacrifice and work, the post has been viewed over 1.9K times and has also been shared by millions. Way to Go Kayley! What a great way to show and spread gratitude ~

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

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

Monthly Series: An Attitude of Gratitude – Challenge #3

Published on November 13, 2017November 9, 2017 by Roshonda BLeave a comment

Happy Monday! so, today is the second week/3rd day of our Monthly series – Attitude of Gratitude. Just in case you missed the November Vibes post, Every Monday and Wednesday for the month of November, I will be posting questions in regards to being grateful. I will answer these questions myself but my hope is that you will answer them too and leave those answers in the comment section.

So, let’s do both – reflecting and showing….(by the way, the passage above will be in every challenge post to start off, however; a new question will be at the bottom of each post).

What painful experience has helped you grow. (My response)

I’ve had quite a few painful experiences that has helped me grow, some painful experiences (such as relationships) were painful for the moment but after the pain eased up, I found myself treading back down that same hurtful path only to get hurt again, except this time around – it was a little worse. But I have to say that this year I learned a lot from my past relationships whether they were friends or past exes. I learned that the past is the past and when things have past on – it’s best to leave it there. There’s a reason they call the past the past because it’s something that’ll always be entitled “once was.” The past has absolutely nothing to do with your future and if you keep toiling with the past and it’s issues then you’ll never experience the future, which always offer us something fresh & new! I might have messed over my 30’s with being in the wrong places, with the wrong people and put on more hurts, habits and hang-ups than I should, but as this year comes to a close I’m determined to hang out with people whom “truly” have my best interest at heart. #NoMorePainfulExperiences – at least none that I can control or help.

– What pain experience(s) has helped you grow; Comment Below –

Your End of the Day Question:

Did you put a smile on someone’s face today? If so, who?

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

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

Monthly Series: An Attitude of Gratitude – Challenge #2

Published on November 8, 2017November 14, 2017 by Roshonda BLeave a comment

photo above courtesy of quotesgram

Happy Wednesday! today is the second day of our Monthly series – Attitude of Gratitude. Just in case you missed the November Vibes post, Every Monday and Wednesday for the month of November, I will be posting questions in regards to being grateful. I will answer these questions myself but my hope is that you will answer them too and leave those answers in the comment section.

So, let’s do both – reflecting and showing….(by the way, the passage above will be in every challenge post to start off, however; a new question will be at the bottom of each post).

What risk are you most grateful for taking. (My response)

I would say the risk that I am so grateful for taking is starting this blog – I have to say, the idea of starting a blog came to me late 2014. I really can’t explain it but I was on my computer and this word-press ad came up and here my hand to God, it was like something said “start a blog” – At first, I thought “It was myself relating this message to my brain.” You know how you feel like something is just you? – but this stuck with me. Now, I have to be honest – I didn’t start when it was given to me at that point in which was about September, I didn’t get started until March of the following year!!

I remember it like it was yesterday, It was a Friday and I had just gotten paid and that unction within my spirit came back even stronger this time and said “NOW!!” I knew what it was referring too, so I answered the call and started the blog that day (March 13, 2015), it was a free blog at first but then I later transitioned to a paid one. I can’t say that it was easy and that everyday has been on the up and up but I will say when I look back, I am so grateful that I started – I wondered at first like, “What would I talk about?” “Would people really listen to me?” and if I could really do it. Well, here I am almost 3 years later – DOING IT! The only thing I knew at the time was that I loved encouraging people and while I didn’t know exactly how that was all going to pan out – Once I “finally” put things in God’s hands, I gave him the keys and allowed him to drive. Since that time, there have been many bumps in the road and I’ve felt like giving up MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES! But, I’m still here, trusting him and not the likes or the comments (because that can get’cha) but allowing him to guide my hands, thoughts and heart on what he wants me to say. When people do respond to a post and say how it’s changed their life or caused them to think differently or do things differently – that let’s me know that God has me on the right track and for that, I’M GRATEFUL!!

– Comment Below –

Your End of the Day Question:

What can you do better tomorrow, that you feel you didn’t do your best at today towards someone else? (or generally speaking)

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

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

Monthly Series: An Attitude Of Gratitude -Challenge #1

Published on November 6, 2017November 6, 2017 by Roshonda B2 Comments

photo credit above can be found at mahindraraj

So, as promised today is the first day of our Monthly series – Attitude of Gratitude. Just in case you missed the November Vibes post, Every Monday and Wednesday for the month of November, I will be posting questions in regards to being grateful. I will answer these questions myself but my hope is that you will answer them too and leave those answers in the comment section.

Some questions may have us digging a little deeper within ourselves to answer them, but in the end – my hope is that you will feel more empowered and begin to see yourself and even your life differently and not just for the month of November – but for every month of the year. You can choose to start a journal if you want but this challenge as you may say, is not just about us writing things out and leaving it in a little book to store it away and go back to it when we’re reflecting on our life but the challenge is to show it, so as an extra bonus after every question regarding yourself will be a question in which will relate to the world around you, it’ll be called “Our End of the Day Question” – you don’t have to write about it here, but it’ll be something that you’ll just ask yourself everyday at the end of your day. While writing out what we’re “grateful” for is half the battle, showing gratitude for and towards others is the KEY!

So, let’s do both – reflecting and showing….(by the way, the passage above will be in every challenge post to start off, however; a new question will be at the bottom of each post).

What are you grateful for today (My response):

Today, I am grateful for life – health and strength. Life to be able to see another day and start over with a clean slate, no matter what yesterday looked like. I’m grateful for having a new day to do things things over. A new day to squash goals, be a better mom and co-worker, a new day to continue to walk and work in my purpose. I’m grateful for my health, it could be a whole lot worse as I was diagnosed as being pre-diabetic – I’m grateful for having a mind to want to take care of my health and do the right things to make sure I’m in the best shape possible. I’m grateful for strength, to be be able to move past hurts, disappointments and failed relationships. It’s not always easy – but I’m grateful to God for not allowing me to succumb to my issues but for giving me the power and strength to bull-dozer through them.

– Comment Below –