Rihanna: The Real Person

A few days ago I watched Oprah's interview of Rihanna on OWN and for the first time I really saw the real person behind all the make-up and costumes. The interview took place in Rihanna's hometown, in the country of Barbados.

During the interview Rihanna appeared "real." I could see a young lady who showed emotions of happiness, sadness, and hope. I saw a person who genuinely loves her family and people in general. I saw a courageous girl who left her family at age 16 to come to America to pursue a better life. In the interview I saw a young lady who did not forget the people she grew up with. The day of the interview I saw a caring young woman who had been hurt at times; however, one that has a heart filled with love. I must confess that in other interviews that I had watched of her I was never able to see the real person. Even after she suffered physical abuse from her former boyfriend I was not able to see her true feelings. Although I was sad for her when she was physically and emotionally hurt it was hard for me to see the real persons in the interview/s she did following the abuse. This interview that she did with Oprah helped me to see her as a loving person who is very likable and caring: A real human being who is capable of displaying different emotions.

My thoughts about Rihanna, affectionately know as Robyn: her real name, are forever changed. After watching the interview I had to call up my best friend and told her what a wonderful person Rihanna is.

Living in the Moment

Some of us have hopes and dreams that we are working hard to accomplish and at times these hopes and dreams can consume us so that we have zero time for self-care. I have experienced times in my life in which I have so much to do that I had no time to work on my self-care plan. I know that was wrong and I should not allow myself to neglect taking care of myself. Therefore, I am making a conscious decision to place my self-care activities second on my To-Do-List after my devotion in the mornings.

I want to live in the moment and enjoy the many blessings that I have today. I have a family that care about me, good friends, a job, a place to sleep, and most of all I am still here. So, I praise God for all His goodness towards me. I am thankful for the peace I have in my neighborhood and for good neighbors.

What can you be thankful for today? For those of you who maybe going through challenging times take sometime to reflect on your life. This may not be easy because your situation may seem to consume you and take up all your energy. However, the fact that you are still living is a blessing. God is not done working on you. He has a plan for your life. you are suppose to be here right now. Try to be thankful for life and do this everyday and after awhile your perception of your condition may change. A thankful mind tends to think clearer.

I pray for your peace today and that you will experience real joy today!!

Be blessed,

Joy

Your Path Maybe Different from the One you are Pursuing

This morning I recalled a time when I was working as a part-time realtor. I really love being a realtor. I was excited to do tours of the different houses. The architectual features of the different houses were a joy to look at. I was always happy to do open houses. However, despite my interest in selling houses I was not able to make a living from this career. I came up with bright ideas and shared those ideas with others and other people  benefited from my ideas. I did not do a good research to know that the world of realtor was a "dog eat dog world" I remember one time I was doing open-house for an agent and I was a very new realtor and I asked him to assist me with an interested buyer who walked through the house while I was doing open-house for him. The agent worked with the buyer and kept all the commission for himself. Towards the beginning of the housing market melt-down, I decided that I would no longer work as a realtor because I was only going into debt with putting the houses on the market and not selling the houses so that I could financially benefit from my labor. Therefore, I made a conscious decision to only pursue my life-long dream of being a nurse.

By putting in all my efforts on becoming a nurse my hard work and sacrifices paid off. It was not easy to reach where I am today. I faced rejection from some nursing schools. I was on the waiting lists twice at one college and still did not get in. I had excellent GPA and still could not get into nursing schools until I applied at the college that I believe was right for me.

I strongly believe that there is a place for all of us and until we find that place we can face many disappointments in life. The first time I applied at the first college that I obtained my Associate Degree in Practical Nursing I was accepted by the college. I was also fortunate to get into the LPN-BSN program at a university a year after graduating with my LPN. After obtaining my LPN all the colleges that I had applied to previously for the RN program accepted me; however, I chose to pursue the BSN.

It was not my intention to pursue a LPN program. I wanted to do the RN program but God had the LPN path for me. I only applied for the LPN program because I was not getting into the RN programs. However, it was the LPN program that qualified me for the LPN- BSN program. Today, I am very happy for this path that God has taken me through because I am now a BSN RN.

Trust God to lead you in the path that He has for you. His path may be totally different from yours but God's path for you is the best path for your life.

Be blessed,

Joy

A Note to My Readers

Dear Readers,

I am taking some time off from blogging and will be back with God's help during October, 2012. After studying for so long in college I am taking a beak right now. I hope all is well with you and hoping that you are still focus and working on your goal/s. I wish you all the best in all that you do.

Be blessed,

Joy

Texting and Driving a Fatal Combination

Today, I viewed the most horrifying photograph of an accident that involved a motorist that was texting and driving. While texting the motorists car went under a semi-trackter trailler and the motorists was killed instantly. One passerby reported that the head of the motorist/driver was on the back-seat of the car and the cellphone was still in the hand of the driver of the car. My prayers are with the family of this person who died such a tragic way in an untimely death. May the soul of this peson rest in peace.

We need to do much more in educating everyone in our circles to not text and drive. We are losing too many lives to this very preventable action. Please warn your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers about the dangers of texting and driving. Encourage everyone that you have spoken to about not to text and drive to sign a commitment sheet/pledge to not text and drive.

Please start today in helping to save as many lives as you can, by encourging people to make the decision to not text and drive. Thanks for your help in this worthy cause!!

Happy Birthday to A very Special Daughter

                                                 Happy Birthday to YOU!!!

It seems like just yesterday that my beautiful daughter was born. The years seem to have flown away because today you are a grown woman. My dearest daughter I wish you a very Happy Birthday and pray that the dreams that you hold in your heart will materialize. May the blessings from God your Father overtake you everyday of your life and may you be highly favored. I pray that you will have a wonderful day! May peace, happiness, health, wealth, and protection be yours now and throughout the rest of your life!!  May you be closer to God today than you were before and may His loving hands lead and guide you always!! I love you!!!

                 
                                     Enjoy Your Special Day

                                               

                                    Happy Birthday to You: By Stevie Wonder

                                                 Listen, watch, and enjoy!!!

Welcome Roland

                                                       

                                            
                                         

 Errol, Joy, and Corrie (daughter-in-law)

                                             
                                                Errol, Andre, son, and Corrie
                                       
                                       

                                               

This morning my grandson, Roland, came into the world at 11.30 AM. Today is a very happy moment for me because I am a grandmother of the most handsome grandson in the world. My daughter-in-law and grandson are in good health, and my son is a very proud daddy. So, Roland I want you to know that grandma loves you dearly and I am happy to be your grandmother.