"Ripping and Running" and THEN..My Ahhhh Moment!!!

This photo is a symbol for how I have been feeling for the last couple of weeks--just running in every directions! Lately, my life is filled with a "million and one" activity-- with no concrete end in view. I have been RIPPING and RUNNING!!!!! All the “compartments” in my life are in flux!

Work is the pretty much the same—my travel schedule is a bit hectic at the moment and from time to time, new things are added!

My home life is unstructured as well! I am buying a place and it’s a new construction so there are no processes in place for anything. Every time they (the management company) need me to bring something or sign something, I am only given a day or two notice—OYE! The original move-in date was around the September timeframe. However, they are ahead of schedule, and what this means is that things are ready when they are ready!!! As a result, I have to be ready when they are ready. Because of my travel schedule, I have decided to start packing up some of the rooms to save sometime. The issue is that I have boxed all around me—AND I HATE IT!!!!!!!

I do a lot of volunteer work and for the past two weeks, all my due dates for tasks are in heavy competition with each other—translation: I have been “burning the midnight oil!!!

I am going to Africa, a month from now, and I still need to find the time to get the reminder of my shots, pack, plan some activities to do with the older children while I am there, and spend sometime getting “centered” for the trip.

As you are reading this, you must me thinking—why the HYPE???? Well for someone who is a FLAMING J on the Myers Briggs—this lack of structure feels like H_ _ L!!!


This morning I facilitated a workshop for a group of 50 ministers! The event took place in Glen Cove, NY (about 30 minutes from my home). The property was GORGEOUS—lots of trees and beautiful--old buildings! I journeyed to this property in peace—it was AWESOME! The session went well and more than half of the group came up to me afterwards with positive feedback!

The ahh moment!

On the drive back home I began reflecting on the last few weeks (chalk it up to the scenery)! And then it came to me—that though I have been “ripping and running” and feeling like I don’t have enough hours in the day to get things accomplish, this is one of the BEST times of my life!!!! I am actually living my life on purpose—buying a new home (packing boxes and all), going to Africa, volunteering in my community—this is what I want my life to be about! Today I was reminded that I am living a life that extremely rewarding—CHAOS and ALL!! Three words—God is AWESOME!!!

Catch you later…..

ps – I also have a plan to get “centered”—you might be a tad bit jealous when I share it J!

HEART SMART

I went to a Bible Study last night that was facilitated by Chris Burge: http://www.chrisburgeministries.com/page446.htm
The Study topic was: "Heart Smart"--What does it mean to be a heart smart single! This was an amazing session!!!!!

Chris said that for every decision that we have to make in life--our question should always be: Do I have peace about this?

He said that our life is lived in three different circles! Circle number one is The PROMISE, circle number three is The PROVISION and circle number two (which intersects # 1 & 3) is The PROCESS. He went on to say that we spend most of our time in The PROCESS circle because this is where we learn to become our best selves! And that PROCESS is where we have to guard our hearts against distractions!

We received 5 Characteristics of a HEART SMART SINGLE!

1) A Heart Smart Single recognize when they are having a defining moment! (Defining Moment--This is when staying the same is no longer an option--Living, Thinking, and Dreaming the way you have been is no longer an option). He said that everyone has a moment when God Sovereignty intersects their destiny--their defining moment!

His Question: What is the invisible you (the things that God has placed on your heart to do, to be, to live) that you are wrestling with to give birth to?

2) A Heart Smart Singles is a pro at pouring all of their energy into their present "season" even if it’s not the "season" they want to be in, and they do it with thanks giving and contentment know that they “season” will change!

3) A Heart Smart Single knows the difference between a good friend, a potential mate and a bad distraction!

4) A Heart Smart Single recognizes that they can't make somebody else be what they need them to be--they recognize that they cannot expect a healthy response from an unhealthy person!

5) A Heart Smart Single recognizes that life does not happen TO them, but THRU/FROM them!!!

This event was a DEFINING MOMENT for me!!!!!

Later,

Tash

In the spirit of sharing.....101 things about me....

I stole this idea from a friend's blog--Thanks Fergie :-)

1. I am a friend of God
2. I was born on October 14th
3. I was born in the West Indies (Kingston, Jamaica)
4. I four sisters on my mother’s side (Nadine, Racquel, Toni-Gaye and Antoinette)
5. I am the middle child!
6. My sisters are my heart
7. My mother is my heart beat
8. My mother would give me (and all my sisters) the world if she could
9. I got my generosity of spirit from my mother
10. My mother is her father’s child
11. My mother is tall and beautiful and a bit vain :-)
12. My mother often gets mistaken for the older sister when we are all out together—she secretly LOVES IT :-)
13. I think that I would die of a broken heart without my mother and sisters
14. My older sister, Nadine, is one of the nicest people I know!
15. My second oldest sister, Racquel, is my make believe twin! She can sometimes be VERY difficult, but if she calls you friend—she will give you her heart (my mother says that she is more like my grandmother than the rest of us)
16. The sister that follows me, Toni-Gaye, is sweet as pie! I don’t always get where she is at, but I know that she loves/ respects me fiercely! She is the one that I worry about the most
17. My baby sister, Antoinette, is a wonderful reflection of God’s love! If we were not sisters, I would still want to be her friend! She has a whip that she calls a tongue and we ALL spoil her!
18. I have two nieces and three nephews that I love, love, love!!!
19. My two brother—in—laws have truly become my brothers! I love them so much! They are the best husbands, care givers and providers.
20. My maternal grandparents were central figures in my life growing up!
21. My grandmother, Laura, died in November 2000. There are still moments when I miss her so acutely that my heart contacts and my eyes become like a river!
22. My grandfather, Donald, is living in Jamaica! He is 87 and has prostate cancer! I cry more often than not when I speak to him
23. I haven’t spoken to my father in almost two years—I have issues with him that he is not aware of!
24. My father was not an active participants in my life growing up
25. My father is funny, handsome and friendly, but a lousy care giver and provider
26. I have other siblings on my father’s side of the family
27. I don’t know much of my father’s family---I communicate with one of my sister and an aunt
28. I love my friends, am crazy about all of them and consider most of them sisters-friends
29. My relationship with Bixby Elliot makes me feel safe!
30. My relationship with Althea Gibson, Pat Waddell, Nancy Williams and Mirtle Sidbury has caused me to make MAJOR shifts (good ones) in my life!
31. Angelique, Karen, Tessa, Janine, Ashley, Dollicita, Shanta, Ayanna and Laura have become my sisters in every sense of the word!
32. I think of Keta as my little sister —I am protective of her!
33. Franklyn is my bothers—I think that he loves my life!
34. Ashley allows me to be myself!
35. I think that Ayanna’s life vision/mission is more like mine than it’s different
36. I like where my relationship with LaTrese is headed—I do consider her friend and want us to stay on the same trajectory
37. I wish Kate Nekic Lived in NYC
38. Rae Shawn inspires me to be silly :-)
39. Some people that impress me are: Mummy, Reggie Van Lee, Nancy Williams, Pat Waddell, Althea Gibson, Kathy Donaldson, Debbie Turner, Floyd and Elaine Flake, Julia Russell, Paul Leacock, Terrance McKinley, Mirtle Sidbury, Oprah Winfrey, Claudette Copeland, Cynthia Hale…Just to name a few
40. I have no one in my life that I wish weren’t in it!
41. I am loved
42. I am a sister, a daughter and friend to many..
43. I hate the telephone
44. I use television to procrastinate
45. I want to help people make purposeful leaps in their lives
46. I want to change the world
47. I love music
48. I love books
49. I like quotes
50. I live my life on questions
51. I think that questions are a powerful tool for change
52. Appearance is important to me
53. I like handbags, purses and shoes
54. I like shopping
55. There is a different color paint in every room of my apartment
56. I am buying a new place
57. I am going to Africa
58. I am into dresses
59. I want to complete a triathlon
60. I like visiting new countries
61. I don’t like flying
62. At the end of this summer I will have visited 5 of the seven continents
63. I love books and music and could not live without both !!
64. A trait I most dislike in people is passive aggressiveness
65. I am going to buy a bike when I move
66. I want to learn how to rollerblade
67. I would like to become a jogger
68. I want to buy a summer home by the beach in the Caribbean
69. I want to own my own business
70. I want a side hustle
71. I would like to get married
72. I would like to have children
73. I am afraid of dogs
74. I am attracted to masculine men!
75. I will/have dated outside my race
76. I would like to live abroad for a few years
77. I am a good problem solver
78. I like order and structure
79. I get impatience with incompetence
80. I think that a sense of humor is sexy on a guy
81. I am in a new/ wonderful place in my Christian walk
82. I have a HUGE crush on SL :-)
83. I don’t like white walls
84. I think that I have a cute butt :-)
85. I am liking the color green
86. I like matching under garments
87. I am making it a point to smile more
88. I am hard on myself
89. My favorite pieces of furniture are my Armor and my Gothic bench
90. I LOVE raw carrots
91. I am not a chocolate lover!
92. I like hard candy
93. I love stew peas and rice
94. I LOVE, LOVE , LOVE natural light
95. I am a hopeless romantic
96. My GUILTY PLEASURE: Reading black romance novels by Brenda Jackson, Rochelle Alers, Brenda Jenkins and Melanie Schuster ONLY! I put them in a cover when I am reading :-)!
97. I don’t like eating alone
98. The last book I read was titled: Change your Conversations Change you Life-- It was great!
99. I love Nina Simone music!
100. My All time favorite songs are: “Sinnerman” and “See Line Woman”
101. I worry that I might upset someone by not mentioning their name in this blog—BELIEVE THAT I LOVE YOU!

A Quandary...How much do I share?

My return to "blogging” is an intentional one! I have some ideas about conversations that I would like to start/share in this forum and for that I am EXCITED! The problem that I am having is centered around the content—specifically, how much information do I share on this blog? Since it's my blog then I want to share things about me--the problem is that I am not comfortable doing that!
In general, I am an extremely private person! There are only a few people in my life that I really "share" all of myself with--I think that this can be linked directly to my earlier years.

I grew up in a culture (Jamaica) where you don't take things outside of the home! It was understood that whatever happened in the home/with your family stayed in the home. This was never a problem until lately or should I say that this started becoming an issue for me lately because of my blogging intentions--which is based on me DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY in my life. One of the things that I want to do differently is not being afraid to share more of me with the world. I guess a natural question is--why would I be afraid of sharing? Answer: Because I don't always know if I am enough---WOW I said it!!!

If you asked me what is the one thing that I know to be true at this point in my life? I would say that I have learned/know that "I cannot do this life thing by myself!!!!" That I really get the statement that-- no man is an island and that I need to lean on others to survive! It's not that I think that I am superior or better than others—it’s just that I have always been uncomfortable leaning on others or asking for help-- I am not sure why! I have learned that I am not self-sustainable--no one is-- and that is OK! I actually don't want to be--I want to be the person that is comfortable sharing herself with the world because she is ALWAYS ok with how she shows up in the world! Is that possible? Is there anyone out there that is A OK with who they are and how they show up everyday? Is that even attainable???? If I were that person then this post would not be necessary!!!!! Hmmmm—if I did not have to write this post, where would I be in the space that I am in? Does this question make ANY sense?

I am not sure that I have all the answers, but I am pleased that I am writing this post because it means that I am TRANSFORMING! If I hit the “publish post" button, then I know that I am doing things differently!

Your thoughts?

Tasha

I said goodbye to the South this morning.....

Ok-- I know that I promised that I would have info on my trip to ATL, but outside of visiting with my friends and God daughters, the trip was uneventful!!!

I will share some photos of the god daughters later....

I am in ATLANTA!!!

Y'al,

I am in the South!!! I traveled to ATL this week to attend the ASTD conference! The good news is that I have friends and God kids here as well! I am sure that I will have a lot to share next week! Stay plugged in :-)!