Juggling My Personal Life, Work, and School - Part 2

On February 25, 2011, I was able to sleep in until 9:00 AM because my Friday morning class was cancelled. I was very happy to have this rare opportunity to sleep in. I was able to deposit a few hours sleep in my sleep deprived sleep bank. I am very aware that adequate sleep is important to have a balance; however, it is very hard to get adequate sleep with my schedule. Nevertheless, I will try my best to deposit more sleep into my sleep bank.

I was able to get about two hours of study time this morning. I wish I was able to put more time in but I wanted some "me time." I got my hair washed and braided, meditated, and dance to a Mary Mary CD. I truly enjoyed my "me time."  It is very important to take care of myself so that I am able to help care for others.

My commute to work was pleasant. I was able to be present throughout the trip. I totally enjoyed the beautiful landscapes that are always present on my trip to work. It was another sunny day but this time there were white clouds in the sky.

It was a very busy shift at work. My team staff member and I worked hard as usual to help meet the needs of the clients. At the end of my shift I was really tired but satisfied that we had worked to the best of our abilities to accomplish our tasks.

Well, I am home now and after a very busy night I should be sleeping, so until next time I wish you well and Hope you have a peaceful and productive day.


Enjoy this peaceful video by Jennylinda96: Sounds of Nature -Peaceful Ocean Surf

Be Blessed,


Joy

Juggling My Personal Life, Work, and School - Part 1

OK, I took some time away form my stack of books and my online assignments to write about my day. This morning I woke up to a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the sky was clear and blue, and it was about 22 degrees outside. My commute to school was very good. The traffic was flowing this morning and I could drive at the speed limit for most of my trip. I was in class five minutes before the professor began to lecture. The class went well and as usual I came away from class feeling like my time was well spent. I am blessed to have professors who are talented teachers and have the gift of clearly imparting knowledge.

After class, I was happy to be outside and I felt very blessed to be walking to my car under a clear blue sky. After driving home on so many snowy days in recent weeks, I felt very happy to be driving home on roads that are dry and free from snow. I could still see the snow on the sides of the road; however, the people who cleaned the snow did a very good job because the freeway was completely free of snow.

At home I ate, watched about 15 minutes of television, and did some online assignments. Then, I went to my doctor's appointment. At the doctor's office I was able to read one of my textbooks while I waited for the doctor. On my way from the doctor I connected with my son by telephone.

Back at home, I called my mother and my sister and talked with them for awhile. It was good to connect with my sister and mother. I always love to talk to them.

Well, it is now time to do my meditation and then to go back to studying. I will see you all tomorrow.

                                    A world of knowledge is waiting for me!!!



Be Blessed,

Joy

It's not over Until it is Over

Hi Everyone,

I missed blogging on a regular basis; however, my schedule has been completely filled. I have also had some recent ups and downs in the journey called life; nevertheless, my spirit is high and my attitude is in the right place.

I believe that events happen in our lives to help make us stronger. I agree with Andre Crouch who said, "... if I didn't have a problem, I wouldn't know that God could solve them, I wouldn't know what faith in God could do ...."

I also believe that I should do all that is in my power to work out my situations and the things that I cannot do my heavenly Father will do for me. He may choose to work out my circumstances immediately or he may choose to walk me through the fire or flood.

I also know that it's not over until it is over; therefore, I will not give up on my goals in life. I will always, by the help of God, do my very best in all the things that I find to do.

I pray that you will be strong as you work out your circumstances. I pray that you will receive the answer that is best for your situation. I pray that you will be blessed and that you will be whole in every area of your body. May you receive the desires of your heart. Amen

Be Blessed,

Joy

May you always walk in your blessings!!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Through it All by Andre Crouch

Becoming a Better You

We live in a constantly changing world. There are no two days that are exactly alike. We are bombarded everyday with numerous stressors; therefore, it is imperative that we take care of ourselves so that we can manage the stress in our lives. If we do not learn how to manage the stressors in our lives we may become ill from these stressors. Stress can cause diseases such as heart disease and respiratory complications.We may do the same exact things on a daily basis but the world around is changing and there are numerous opportunities for us to become a better person who is able to cope with the events in our lives.


How can we improve ourselves so that we can cope with the stressors in our lives? To improve ourselves we must examine ourselves and identify our strengths and our weaknesses. After identifying our weaknesses, we need to formulate a plan that will help us strengthen our weak areas. Example: If Mary is always late for work, she needs to work on time management that will allow her to leave her home earlier so that she can be at work on time.We also need to take inventory of the stressors in our lives and reflect on how we are dealing with these stressors. Are we using stress interventions to help us cope with the stressors in our lives? If we do not have stress interventions in place to lessen the effects of stress on our lives we need to start identifying stress interventions that we can use when we are stressed.

Here are some stress interventions that you can use to help lessen the effects of  stress in your life:

• Breathing Meditation
• Guided Imagery
• Having an attitude of gratitude
• Dancing
• Singing/listening to music
• Walking/jogging
• Positive self-talk
• Saying no to added workload when you know that you cannot manage any more task (Greenberg, 2009).

I encourage you to make a decision to use some of the above-mentioned stress interventions in your life before you feel stress or at any point that you feel stressed. Stress interventions have been proven through research studies to lessen the effects of stress in people (Greenberg, 2009).

I pray that you will take the necessary steps to manage the stressors in your life on a daily basis so that you can live your best life.

    You may start using stress interventions right now by having an attitude of gratitude.

                                                        References

Greenberg, J. S. (2009). Comprehensive Stress Management (11th ed). New York, NY: McGraw.

Liveyourdreammentors (2010, June 6). Attitude of Gratitude - Law of Attraction thank you quotes (Video file). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBvoRiqRTaQ.




Be Blessed,

Joy

What do you do when your Mountain Seems Impossible to Climb?

In the Bible story of David and Goliath it appears as if David had taken on an impossible fight. Goliath was not only a giant but he had experience fighting in the Philistine Army. Who was David? He was a shepherd boy who believed that with God all things are possible.  When David challenged Goliath for a fight he knew that he was already victorious even though to the natural eyes it appears that he could not win. This story is widely known, and we know that at the end of the fight Goliath was dead and David was still standing. In life many of us are faced with giants or mountains of problems that appear impossible to solve; however, if we keep fighting with the help of God and have the right mindset we can overcome our giants and climb our mountains.

What mountain are you facing today? Is it a mountain of sickness, debt,or relationship problems? Whatever mountain you are facing  I am encouraging you to stay in the fight until you win.

In order to obtain strength to face your mountain you need to be connected to a Higher Source. For me, my Higher Source is the God of heaven. I talk to Him about all my problems. I draw strength from His Words that are found in the Bible. I am encouraged by the Words that I read in the Bible. I know and believe that with God all things are possible. I believe that with my Creator I can climb my mountain.

I cannot emphasize enough that a support system is very important. We all need other people in our lives. Not everyone is good for us; however, we can all find people who will support us. We can find these people in our family and friend groups, at church, at school, at work, or in organizations that counsel and help people. A support system is there to listen to us, give advice when necessary, and to help in other ways such as watching a child, accompanying us to buy clothes to wear for that interview, going to court with us, visiting us in the hospital, and watching a movie with us.

To successfully climb your mountain you first must have climbed it in your mind. You have to see yourself on the mountain top. You have to know that climbing your mountain is possible. You must be determined to stay in your fight until you win. You have to make up your mind that defeat is not an option and failure is a stepping stone to success. Therefore, if you know that you are in the will of God for your life then you cannot give up if you fail. You may have to rethink and use a different approach but you must continue until you cross the finish line.

I pray that you will be strengthened and that you will know in your mind that you are a winner. I pray that your mountain of problems will be removed in the name of Jesus. Amen.


I leave you with this song: I Am Still Standing by Bishop Paul Morton

Be Blessed,

Joy

Missing My Daughter

This morning, I said goodbye to my beautiful daughter at the airport before she checked in to board a flight back to the city where she attends college. I walked with her to check in her bag and watched her as she goes through security check. This time I did not cry even though I missed her very much. I am now looking forward to her visit during spring break.

She was home for about three weeks and I was very grateful and happy to have her home. We talked a lot while she was home and we enjoyed activities at home and outside the home.

Already, I missed hearing her calling for me and inviting me to watch something with her on her computer. She likes to plan events for the family and I will be missing that for awhile until she returns in the spring. I also miss her laughter and her singing; however, I will still hear those on Skype or by telephone.

Today, I am thankful for the three weeks that my daughter spent at home and for all the activities that we shared. I am also thankful for the opportunity that she has to attend college. I am thankful for the media of Skype, Facebook, and the telephone that will help us to stay connected.

This Prayer is for You my Lovely Daughter:

Dear God in the name of Jesus, I pray that You will continue to protect my daughter and to walk her in Your divine purpose for her life. I pray that You will bless her in every area of her life. I pray that you will continue to give her strength as she serves you in the areas that You have placed her. May she continue to love and trust You all the days of her life. Amen.


To My Readers:

If you are missing a love one that is some distances away I pray that you will be comforted and that you will make time to stay in touch with each other. I also pray that you will be able to see your love ones as much as possible.


I would like to share this song that my daughter and I love: Stand by Donny McClurkin

Be Blessed,

Joy

6 Tips to Help You Find a Job

Although the unemployment rate is decreasing there are still many people without jobs. During 2009, when unemployment was at a record high in my state, I was blessed to transfer from my former job to a new position. Below are 6 tips that I personally used:

1. I updated my resume and only included details that were relevant to the job that I was applying for. I had a cover letter that was tailored to the position I was seeking.

2. I seached company websites that advertised the position I was interested in and submitted my resume electronically. I went to companies and picked up application forms and hand delivered the completed forms to the companies. I enquired from people about openings at their work places.

3. I applied for all openings within a company that related to the job that I was seeking.

4. I studied everything that was important about the companies that I applied to. The mission statement and core values of the company are important to know, and any accreditation that the company received.

5. I read articles on interviews so that I would be fully prepared for an interview.

6. I prayed and believed that I had a job by faith.


I hope you find the above-mentioned tips useful in your search for a job. After applying for about three positions in the company that I now work for, I told one of my friends that I did not hear from the organization. She then encouraged me to keep on applying for the positions each time they posted them. I followed her suggestion and about a month after I was invited for an interview and was offered my current position. After I accepted the position at my present company, I was invited to three more companies for interviews and I respectfully turned down the interviews.

Even in hard times you can get a job. Keep on searching until you are hired. I wish you all the best in all your endeavours.

Until the next post I encourage you to listen to Les Brown, a well known motivational speaker.