When You Can't Run Any Longer

You can run as long and as far as your body will allow...then you can rest up, catch your breathe, and start running again until your legs give out, your heart races, and you begin to see spots in the sky in front of you. That's what I did! I ran. I ran marathons...and I hate running unless I'm being chased. Ironically; I could say God was chasing me. His spirit of giving, or service, could have been chasing me. I. Was. Hunted. Or haunted, whichever way you choose to view the glass. 

The first person that ever told me to take teaching, being an educator, or working in education seriously and all the way to the top was my daddy. He's a hard worker and doesn't believe in just "getting into" something. "If you're going to do it, why not be at the top? Be the best in the business. That's what I would do if I were you." He told me. I told him then, "No way! I'm not going to be in education that long. This is just something."

That was twelve years ago. Twelve years later; I'm STILL in education. Still teaching, training, caring for, and administering to middle school-age students. 

In my ninth year, I think: I want out of the classroom. I can't continue doing the same thing year after year: 1st day, meet the teacher, get to know you, almost identical curriculum in the same order year after year, followed by a brutal testing season that no one looks forward to. End of the year activities and bridge work... I'll go to school to be a diagnostician. I teach special needs students and there are so many students sitting in classrooms every day that are left undiagnosed. I can begin a career there.

Again, once I begin classes, my daddy has another conversation with me and says, "If I were you I'd be a principal or superintendent; what about a job in education on a national level? You should look into being the Secretary of Education." 😳

Me being a child of "obedience" I begin researching then put my special education studies on hold. I continue holding because; I'll be real with myself and say I got too comfortable, too common, too adjusted. I. Was. Content. 

Until I wasn't. I hate being common. I'm uncomfortable being too comfortable. Too regular. I re-enroll in school. Still studying special education. I don't like it. I feel like I'm studying what I already do daily. The monotony is disturbing. Depressing. I want more! I want out of the classroom. I feel claustrophobic. Suffocated. I dread going to work. I dread discussing work. I dread thinking about work. Suddenly Sunday's, which are my favorite day of the week, sickens me to my stomach because I dread Monday's...At. Work. I feel stuck...in a rut...I get multiple certifications to teach what I like: dance, all subjects 4th-8th, ESL...but it's not good enough. I have a "thirst" and it's not quenched with being contained in a classroom. All the while God has been placing me in positions that I was naive to. Team leader as a first year teacher, which I held throughout my entire teaching career, committee chairs (which I complained adamantly about under my breathe, of course) leading initiatives, writing curriculum, attending conferences, etc. Things I wouldn't have ever "posted" or discussed because I was ignorant to their value.

It took me speaking with university advisors about career options with Special Education versus Education Administration, even then, about another four conversations with my Cookie Monster for me to finally agree to study educational administration. "Now, tell me again why aren't you going to school to be a principal?" "How long will it take you?" "I don't understand why you wouldn't want to be a principal," I'd get asked anytime we discussed our day😳

He has the same mentality as my daddy, if I didn't get a chance to say that before. So now I have it double duty...and heavy! As coocoo for Cocoa Puffs as I am; my internal motivation may just have been to get them to shut up about it. Lol. 

Never the less; I'm studying administration and it's everything I've been doing and not getting the pay for so the work load comes easy for me. Tedious, yet simplistic, and relevant to the job I already do everyday as an academic coach. 

I say all this to say: I'd been running. Around and around (a track) wasting time. Or if I look at the glass as half full, as I tend to do; I'll say I've been in "training". It took a slight push...ok, kick from Coach Daddy and Coach Cookie Monster, much support from my (greatest cheerleader) mommy but I'm completing it! August 20th is near. I'd rush it if I wasn't so self-absorbed about my vacation time. I've now passed the certification test, I'm in my last class, going into completing the final internship hours, then all this hassle will definitely be worth the tassel! ...new goals will be established! Another race will begin.

Runners on your mark...

Transformation Season

Weddings, engagements, graduations, certifications, births, showers, announcements, etc. This is the season for them ALL. June is the season of blessings and multiple correspondences for various life-changing events! It's also, what I like to think of as, the season of TRANSFORMATION! Whether it's your event, announcement, or not; it's the season of dramatic change. You have options of transformation: are you transforming to new thoughts, ideas, goals, etc.? Are you transforming your old way of thinking, doing, or completing tasks? Have you transformed from last year to the new year? Have you spotted someone else's transformation and now you're self-reflecting? I ask, not to judge or rebuke, but, because it's all relative...and...relevant.

The season of transformation is a powerful season when you don't get self-absorbed into the negative aspects of life and once you realize that without change...there is no growth...no progression...no productivity! Transformation is key to success and recognition. 

Pleasantries *Summer Edition

*Courtesy of expensivetastecatering Instagram post*

A thirteenth would be 

13. Don't pack plates. There needs to be food available for all invited guests that ATTEND, not your boo, cousin, or self for later.

Le sigh Single Girl Gem 67

I like how now all of a sudden there's a "movement" since Alicia Keys did a photo shoot supposedly without makeup on. We'll call it a natural photo shoot. Women...and men do it everyday. Live life without makeup on. There's no great unsolved mystery or hidden agenda! Makeup is used to enhance natural beauty. Most people wear it to look more outstanding or glamourous. Others wear it to personify a character or look as they desire. Makeup, smakeup...it's just like designing or enhancing your already lovely home with decorations or upgrading carpet to tile or wood. You do it for aesthetic purposes. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so I really wish people would "get off" shaming others because they desire something some one else doesn't. I know, I get it; it's TOO much like right for one person to like something, another person to disagree and they both mutually continue to respect each other's differences and coexist in life without placing each other in a box or ridiculing each other. 

Le sigh...

We wake to face another day,

xoxo

I was a sweaty mess after a Zumbathon! Who cares?! It's not national security to see a woman without lipstick, eye shadow and mascara! #Flawless 

*The deepest love is to be loved flaws and all* ~Khrystian Nichole #SingleGirlGem67

Single Girl... Eats

Every now and again; I just have to do it! 

Sometimes you get tired of eating out or eating other people's cooking and you want some of your good food! 

I didn't eat too much...I'm watching my figure😜

Year of Yes~Review

Reading Shonda Rhimes self revealing book for my book club the month of May. I wouldn't call myself quite a fan of her work, and that's just because I'm not too familiar with everything Shondaland, but I do love How To Get Away With Murder and I watch Scandal. I'm definitely and without a doubt an advocate of movers and shakers, smart and savvy women, as well as, girl bosses though and she fits the mold...completely! 

Just a little something in my office in case you didn't know. 

Anywho; as usual I've pulled tid-bits that stuck with me from the book. My usual disclaimer *this is in no way a substitution for reading the book.*

Shonda Rhimes, in my opinion, is quite magnificent and most people that work for her and with her agree. I believe it was   a talk show host that coined the term Shondalabra in regards to her. Her book was totally about removing yourself from your comfort zone and owning ALL of yourself, flaws and all. To be great, most times you have to do unusual things; especially things you're not familiar or comfortable with. In all her fabulousness she says, "Standing around like Wonder Woman in the morning can make people think you are more amazing at lunch time." Silly? Maybe! I took it to mean that being awesome is a mind state and once YOU believe in yourself others will too! Not only that; holding yourself in high regard forces others to do the same. As I've blogged before, if a person doesn't know, they don't know (Khrystianism) you have to TEACH people the way to treat and respect you. 

Lesson 1: Ditch the dream! Be a doer, not a dreamer.

I instantly thought of Dory and heard her voice sing, "Just keep swimming." Nothing comes easy! It's hard work to be successful. If you want to be or do something, get it done. Don't waste precious time that you can't get back dreaming and imagining. Like I've said before: Don't think outside the box, kick the box...move that thang out the way!

Lesson 2: Tomorrow is going to be the worst day ever for you. But don't be an asshole. 

One thing she mentioned during that time of dreaming was to keep going. The saying is if you can't fly, walk, if you can't walk, crawl, (I'm adding) if you can't crawl, scoot, but keep moving! "Do until you can do something else," she writes. I take it to mean; if you want to own the company; don't keep repeating yourself and not working moving towards the goal...go work for the company and learn all about it. Master it.

Lesson 3: There's a trade-off. You can't do it all. If you're succeeding at one, you're inevitably failing at the other and anyone who tells you they are doing it all, perfectly, is a liar.

This portion was a system of pleasantries meant to allow yourself time to grow in my opinion. Keep the blood pressure down, sip a glass of wine, and enjoy growth! Coming from someone that's reached her level of success that tid-bit is beneficial and noteworthy!

The last tid-bit was one of my favorites. This one goes out to all mothers everywhere and ALL people that count motherhood as a "job". I've had these exact same feelings for awhile now so to see her place it in print truly resonated with me. I won't write a blurb on it; I've taken the liberty of photographing the section I believe tells it all: 

xoxo!

#IAintSorry

Money Matters

A friend of mine posted that Donald Trump has no political experience and yet is a Presidential candidate, while in order to apply for manger at Chilli's you must have five years experience. I was just about to "like" the comment when I remembered money matters! 

When you have money, most things come easy for you or, at least without many prerequisites. Therefore, if a person with money wanted to manage Chilli's they could go and own part of the brand, open a restaurant then, manage Chilli's. Money has always spoken...loudly. Money usually can get things done. The right amount of money can set rules or change games.