#BeSureSundays: Winds of Change

If you like dealing with change, raise your hand!*keeps hands in lap* Change has always been intimidating to me. Consistency is comfortable; I know what to expect, I can prepare for obstacles ahead of time, and I am mentally content. Change doesn't allow for any of the previously mentioned perks. However, change is inevitable so it doesn't matter if we like it or not...it's going to happen so we just have to accept it.

Within the past two years, I have experienced major changes in relationships, career paths, housing, finances, health status, and family dynamics. In the past, I've frequently viewed change as negative. I found this wall decal almost two years ago that supplied me with comfort and encouraged me to embrace change.

Two years later, after trying to apply this quote to my life- I can finally say, I truly believe it. When I quit my FULL TIME (paid vacation, benefits, free lunch, beer & pizza on Fridays, health insurance) job to pursue my masters, I was nervous TERRIFIED. However, this past year has been one of the best years of my life, I have found my true direction.

The next time a change is thrown at you, I encourage you to fearlessly go with the wind so you can uncover your unexpected treasures.

How do you handle change? What is the most recent change in life that you had to deal with?

Billie Board & FCA Baseball Mission

I love when people use their blessings to invest into the lives of others. I am generous even though I don't have a lot any (let's be honest, I'm a grad student, we know any type of student is broke) because I believe I am on this earth to serve, ignite passions, and inspire people to be fearless. I find joy in supporting causes that align with my mission.

My friend/future photographer of my wedding Billie Board is on a trip combining his love for Jesus, Baseball, and Photography. He is in DR with 8 young ball players from inner-city ATL making connections with the locals, hearing the needs of residents, talking about baseball with the children, building a home for the Jose Family, and praying for peace in the community.

I've participated in numerous volunteer trips and what I have learned from them is two things: 1. You need to go in with a closed mouth, open ears, and hands prepared to work. Understand that the people living in the situation know what is best for their community. So after listening to what their needs are, if you have a suggestion, propose it and if it is accepted great - if not, get to work!

2. Finding a way to continue that service and making a lasting impact is integral. If the site you are visiting is far: return the next year, remain in contact with the people you've met, ask how you can help remotely, or encourage friends/family to go serve. In addition, try to create something tangible or make connections with individuals that they will remember forever.

During this trip Billie Board (Tre) and the rest of the team built a house for the Jose Family. That is clearly tangible and will be a physical reminder of how much the group cared about this family they just met. In addition to the work being done, mentoring is a major component of this trip. I created Don't Die Afraid so it can be a community of inspiration.

The men on this trip are embodying the motto of DDA, "Don't deprive the universe of your amazing contributions because you died afraid," by impacting the neighborhood they are working with, each other, and those back home that they share their experiences with.

If you would like to donate to their cause, Billie Board has a GoFundMe that is only $300 away from the goal. Every dollar counts!

Have you ever been on a mission trip? If so, where did you go and what work did you do? Have you ever started a GoFundMe account, what are some advantages of raising money on that platform?

Don't Die Afraid on YouTube

Today marks the one year birthday of Don't Die Afraid and 24th year of my life! I am so thankful to all those who have helped me along this journey. Especially YOU! Yes YOU! You- the reader, the supporter, the person who leaves comments! You are the reason I keep going. So with that being said, I would love to introduce y'all to the next level of Don't Die Afraid which is my new YouTube channel, yay!!!!!! I would love your support for this channel, just as you have supported this blog. Both of these are a part of my vision for Don't Die Afraid and it only goes higher from here.

This is something I have been contemplating for a long time and decided to just go and do it! Why? Because I am living fearless! For y'all who haven't ever seen me in person- this video is a clear view of me---I am a walking Tangent so I apologize in advance for any distractions haha.

I LOVE birthdays so tell me all about yours!  When is your birthday? Why or why don't you like to celebrate birthdays? What is the most enjoyable thing you've done for your birthday?

#BeSureSundays- Tribute to M.L.K. 2015

Since Martin Luther King Jr. Day is upon us, I thought it would be perfect to use one of his quotes for our #BeSureSundays.

Sometimes we feel inadequate and as if we can't make an impact in this world. I know that is a normal feeling, but we shouldn't let it prevent us from trying. If every "great person" had that mentality, imagine where our society would be. Would we have complex highway systems (they amaze me), the internet, Wii gaming systems, x-rays, or airplanes? Probably NOT!

I wouldn't even have this blog if I believed I couldn't make an impact. When those doubts start to cloud your thought process, remember our lesson for today, "If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” Even if you think what you are doing is insignificant, do it to the best of your ability. You will never know your impact until you put yourself out there and just do the damn thing. As a wise woman once said, "Don't Die Afraid!"

What are some small things you are doing in a great way? What keeps you motivated to do those things?

#BeSureSundays- Rebirth

Christmas is this week! Yay!!!! I absolutely LOVE Christmas! The music, decorations, gift giving, joyful spirits, food, activities, gatherings, sweaters, scented candles...literally anything that has to do with the season, I am all for it! Christmas signifies the birth of Jesus and usually we associate New Year's Day with the "rebirth" of ourselves. People make New Year's Resolutions and claim that the new year will be better than the last. Some individuals like to broadcast their goals so others can hold them accountable. I'm already seeing posts on social media outlets about people wanting to improve for the new year. My only question to those individuals is, do you really keep the same momentum for these goals throughout the full course of the 12 months? Or is this excitement over by the 1st of February?

I am not one who shares my goals publicly because I am not looking for the approval of others. I AM my biggest critic so I don't need anyone to hold me accountable. I don't want to depend on outside forces to check me when I am not living up to the standards I have set for myself. I have a small collection of mentors who I approach for advice, but they are the only group I trust with the responsibility of having a large hand in my growth. I don't expect everyone to agree with my mentality and that is fine because we have different paths.

So my suggestion to all you fearless people out there is instead of just looking at New Year's Day as this time of rebirth, use the whole Christmas season!

1. Relax-  the days you have off work/school just have "me time"--do those mindless things you are always too busy to do...that can include watching your favorite sports game, playing games, leisure reading, or a Netflix binge 2. Recharge- pamper yourself 3. Renew- make a list of improvements you want to work on in the new year and set dates to have them done by 4. Restored- throughout the year rebuild your plan as you find necessary, always keep your goals fresh

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Do you set goals throughout the year for personal development? If so, how do you evaluate yourself? What is your favorite step in this 4 step process?

#BeSureSundays- Be Bold

With winter weather basically here, we tend to only see the naked branches and overcast. I chose this photo that I took over the summer of this bed of flowers, to remind us of all the beauty we can find in nature.

For this installment of #BeSureSundays, our message for the week is to BE BOLD! This time of the year is stressful for students like myself finishing up final projects and in general for individuals trying to finish the year strong.

Don't let this cold weather suck the life out of us, wear some bold colors, speak up when you feel the urge, and do something daring! Use the hashtag #BeSureSundays to post pictures or tweets about what you are doing today to be sure of yourself, and prepare to conquer the week ahead!

Introducing #BeSureSundays

Sundays nights can be rough! It is the most hated day of the weekend. You can't sleep in late because of errands/church and you can't stay up all night because of work/school. So yeah Sundays are mood killers and a reality slap telling you that soon you'll be waking up to Monday Morning Blues (unless it is a long weekend which we love). But what if we changed our attitudes towards Sunday nights and Monday mornings? On Sundays relax & unwind- catch up on your favorite shows, read a book, drink some wine, take a bath surrounded by candles, read Don't Die Afraid, watch football, cook a hearty meal, go horse back riding, exercise....really do anything that brings you happiness. If your Sunday is spent focusing on joy then you will be ready to conquer all the shenanigans you might face that week.

A lot of this anxiety about the weekend being over comes from us not being sure of ourselves. We aren't sure we can deal with the bullcrap we might endure for the week. BUT WE CAN! WE CAN DO IT ALL because we aren't dying afraid, we are a fearless family!

So with that mindset, I came up with the idea of #BeSureSundays. On Sundays, let's focus on seizing the last ounce of the weekend by doing things that makes us smile. Use the hashtag #BeSureSundays to post pictures or tweets about what you are doing that Sunday to be fulfilled, sure of yourself, and ready to conquer the week ahead! I'll also post an inspirational quote, that will be used to get us through the week.

As for Monday mornings, let's remember to be grateful for another day of life.

What do you do on Sundays to prepare for the week?

What is your favorite day of the week?

Momentum The Inspiring Chrome Extension

Get Your Momentum Up! How can I have an inspirational blog without sharing some of my keys to remain upbeat, you ask? I simply cannot! It just wouldn't be fair for me to keep all this knowledge to myself.

My job consists of me being on a computer all day so instead of opening a new tab and seeing the boring dashboard of Google Apps or "Most Viewed Pages", I have this Google Chrome app called Momentum that you all should check out. (Shout-out to my co-worker Jenna who told me about it.)

It is perfect for a person who loves photography, philosophy, and staying organized!

From the screenshots you can see the dashboard supplies you with:

• Beautiful photo, including the location where it was taken
• "Things to do list" to stay on track of daily tasks
• Prompts you to create a daily goal through the question, "What is your main focus for today?"
• Local weather (you can see New York's has been too low for June!)
• Motivating quote on the bottom
• Time stamp with a personalized greeting including your name
• An Apps button on the top left hand corner that redirects you to the Store, Google Docs, Search, Gmail Account, Drive, and YouTube

While browsing the Chrome Store, I also saw "Dream Afar New Tab" which is similar to Momentum. According to the reviews, users prefer "Dream Afar New Tab" because it doesn't recycle photos. I have seen the same photos on Momentum before but that didn't bother me because it doesn't take away from the beauty.

The person who left the review of Dream Afar spelled "does" incorrectly and that bothers me. Regardless, try Momentum or Dream Afar New Tab and tell me how you like them!

What Chrome extensions do you use?

Do you start your day with daily affirmations similar to the quotes in this program?