2009 In Retrospect

If 2008 was a year of experience for me than 2009 was one of commencement. I witnessed history as Barack Obama, the United States’ first African American President was sworn in. I learned the meaning of true commitment and unconditional love within a marriage. I dealt with past issues never previously addressed; friendships that where and trust me when I say needed to be put to rest. Questioned myself a lot along the way, prayed, and yes I’ll admit sometimes strayed from my faith. I’m only human. It was tough, trying, and at times I wanted to give up, but I made it. I learned that we are all just perfectly flawed humans in a world where too many strive for perfection. I am still a work in progress, but I love me, flaws and all. How about a round of applause for all the haters in 09’ who tried to bring me down? I’d say job well done, but I’m still standing.

Here are the top 10 lessons I learned in 2009! Most are quotes that spoke to me and a situation I learned from.

1. “Everybody’s at war with different things. I’m at war with my own heart sometimes.” Tupac. Sometimes you will fight with yourself, but you have to make peace with your decisions and learn to let go.
2. “Never a failure, always a lesson.” Rihanna. We mustn’t dwell on things we cannot change. Learn from your mistakes and move on.
3. “Take me as I am!” MJB. Just be who you are, it’s okay to do you. Pretending only goes so far. Smart people can always tell the real from the fake.
4. You are beautiful. You are intelligent. You are worthy of all that you receive. You are much wiser than you were last year, stronger than you were last month, better than you were last week making you Greater than you were yesterday. Each day is a progression of a life that gets better as we get better.
5. Life is not all about you and your beliefs, no matter how much you would like to believe it is. There are other people on this earth who are of a different religion, race, and sexual orientation. You don't have to like any of it, but you should at least try to respect others and their beliefs. Learn to COEXIST.
6. Not only do I not know what's going on most of the time, but I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did. Not one person knows everything but everyone knows something.
7. "Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, so they can become your blessings." Everything is a blessing. Learn how to unwrap the gifts given to you and use them to further your life.
8. If you don’t love it, change it. If you can’t change it, learn to accept it, but do not complain about it. Complaining without a solution is just considered rambling!
9. “Love, like the process of human life is always changing and unless we stay aware and change with it, both love and life will elude us.” If being okay with who you are takes time just think how much time it takes being okay in your relationships.
10. "Our entire life consists ultimately in accepting ourselves as we are." Look in the mirror and love what you see.

Peace, light, and love in the New Year. Be blessed and remember to always do you!

Nicole

“Today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.”

Today I chose to be happy, despite the “bad” hair day I was having, my students “sad” choices, and a number of other things that could have and would have normally altered my mood I remained happy throughout my day. Every morning I wake up with choices. I can choose to be mad and allow the negativity to consume me or I can choose to say that is only a second, minute, or hour in a day that is filled with so many more choices. Why not make the best of the remaining seconds, minutes, and hours in my day. Some days pain is inevitable, but to make a choice and stand by that choice takes courage, no matter the outcome. Being able to make choices, whether right or wrong and live with no regrets is extremely liberating. “Today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.” Love you!