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- Women's Rights

Happy International Women's Day! This observance dates back to 1911 and ever since has sparked economic, political, and social action on a global scale. The theme for this year is "Make It Happen"; which highlights the achievements of women while simultaneously serving as a call for greater equality. So obviously, it was a no-brainer that I had to highlight it for #BeSureSundays. The whole premise behind #BeSureSundays is to use Sunday as an opportunity to gear up for the week ahead by meditating and making sure we know what we are capable of. The YouTube spotlight campaign "#DearMe" made it evident that the discussion among women is that we aren't sure of ourselves. The videos were an opportunity for women to give their younger selves some advice. Many women explained doubting themselves, worrying too much, hating their bodies, being afraid to be themselves are consistent issues... I pray that one day we have a generation of girls who don't harvest any of those insecurities.

In 1995 at the Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Hillary Rodham Clinton stated our featured quote for this week. After 20 years this statement still seems to be debated by our society especially when we look at violence against women, insufficient  amounts of women in leadership roles, and the lack of accommodations for pregnant/working mothers.

Today please join me in celebrating women all over the world making strides and still fighting the battle. They are surely living the motto, "Don't Die Afraid."

Who are some inspirational women in your life? How do you show appreciation for these women?

Missy Lynn's Palette

This is NOT a beauty blog for many reasons, but it is a place where I showcase inspiration. Last night I saw beauty and inspiration collide when I heard about Missy Lynn's palette with BH Cosmetics. Who is addicted to YouTube videos? *looks around the internet, raises hand shyly* ME! ME! ME! I love the aesthetics of a good YouTube video, thinking about how the editing process was, and of course the content. I low key love editing- my bachelor's degree is in Broadcast Journalism so I edited videos and audio for daysssss. It wasn't even on this fancy Final Cut Pro everyone has, I was using Avid. Only my old school editors know about that ancient thing! So back to the point, I was getting my nightly fix of YouTube and stumbled across this announcement.

I'm not a devoted fan of Missy Lynn's because I've never had the time to research her and see if I like her style and personality. In order for me to consistently follow a blogger or vlogger, I have to feel connected to him or her. I am subscribed to Missy Lynn so when I see interesting videos of hers, of course I check them out. Last night when I saw her reveal video, I was ecstatic! Her genuine gratitude is evident from the way she talks about her partnership giving an opportunity for more black women, choosing colors for all skin tones, designing it with her military dog tag in mind, making it affordable, and of course the strong pigments so it is worth our money. I was in awe of this woman! I am now officially a fan! For real, for real!

This one video made me a fan of Missy Lynn. This young woman is doing her thang! If you look in the comment section, many women share how this has pushed them to greater heights in there makeup artist journey. However, I believe Missy Lynn's new development can inspire us all regardless of what our purpose is. She is embodying my motto of, "Don't Die Afraid."

Missy Lynn, "Go On Girl!", support a sister by purchasing the palette here!

Are you a Missy Lynn fan? If so, what do you like about her? What do you think of the palette? I am not a makeup guru so I am bad at envisioning different looks but what can you see yourself using this for? Date night, job interview, everyday makeup?

#BeSureSundays- Purpose

I saw this quote during the week and knew it had to be posted for #BeSureSundays. Some people get so caught up with the word purpose, it makes them uncomfortable. I've heard individuals complain about not being passionate about anything therefore they lack a purpose. That statement is so far from the truth A HUGE LIE! We all have a purpose. At different stages in life, our purposes might change based on the clarity we are experiencing. Just because we don't have this elaborate purpose to cure type 1 diabetes, doesn't mean we aren't useful to this world. Never diminish your aspirations because you feel like they don't compare to the next person's. Everyday I set out with a purpose to accomplish three goals on my to do list, make someone laugh, compliment a stranger...whatever it may be. My daily purpose usually revolves around how can I help someone? So on those days when you wake up and you are unsure of what the bigger purpose in life is, just remember a small daily purpose goes a long way.

What are some of your daily purposes in life? If you have your breath-taking major purpose in life, what is it? Share! I want to know! *smile*

National Black HIV & AIDS Awareness Day

Today I have been trapped in my apartment working on a paper. The grad school life struggle. However, I didn't want this day to go by without acknowledging the importance of February 7th, National Black HIV & AIDS Awareness Day. The few times I checked my Instagram and Facebook I only saw ONE post about it. Are people not informed about it? Or do they not care? Being the buoyant individual I am, I told myself-people just don't know about it. You can celebrate the day in many ways: talk with friends about how disproportionately African-Americans are affected by HIV & AIDS, get tested, volunteer to help with HIV & AIDS prevention/treatment outreach, educate yourself about how preventable HIV is, and share on social media so your followers will know as well!

When it comes to health issues, there aren't a lot that we can prevent-some just happen. However, HIV & AIDS isn't one that just happens. It is 100% preventable! Take your sexual health into your own hands, get tested. The OraQuick test literally takes 20 minutes just a quick swab of the mouth. Don't worry if you don't have health insurance there are tons of locations that perform FREE testing and you can even purchase them at pharmacies. I advise you do it at a center with a tester who is well equipped to assist you if the test comes back positive. I work at a place that performs testing and the testers are extremely knowledgeable and supportive.

This day of commemoration has been going on for 15 years. Add it to your calendar so you won't ever forget and also share it with friends!  There are numerous HIV & AIDS Awareness days, become familiar with them. This is an issue that affects ALL OF US!

Do you know about the awareness days? How can we spread knowledge about these days so they are common knowledge like any other holiday?

#BeSureSundays- Keep Pushing

This was the hardest week of the year for me. I don't like saying "hardest of my life" because that isn't true; as humans we sometimes exaggerate so I try to avoid that. The year just started so by saying "hardest of the year", it encourages me to be grateful for the three weeks prior and acknowledge that harder things can happen within the next 11 months. To sum the week up I kept receiving bad news about the health of my family members and I also could barely walk. Not being able to walk is one of the worst impediments I've ever experienced. If y'all know me, you know I try to stay positive through everything so I continued to work and attend class. Every 10-20 minutes I would have to take a little stretch because my knees would lock up. I wore a knee brace and then switched to an ace bandage because it was more comfortable. The doctor offered me crutches but the little fighter in me rejected those stating that I will be okay. I rubbed my knees in Aspercreme, wore supportive sneakers, and prayed for healing daily.

Thankfully, today I'm feeling a tad bit better. Thanks to the American Health System I probably won't be able to find out what is wrong with me for a couple of weeks. I'm speaking into existence that it won't be anything major that needs surgery. My motto during the week was "Just Keep Pushing"--if you are dealing with excruciating pain that you feel you can't handle, repeat that line to yourself and hopefully it helps.

#BeSureSundays-Failure

Why is failure regarded as a downfall? In my previous post, I introduced you all to Hindsight, my favorite show which focuses on Becca, the main character who was scrutinized for "failing" in her marriage and career. Unlike the rest of us, she passes out on an elevator and is able to wake up in 1995 with the power to change her life. We all know time travelling is currently impossible so how can we learn to appreciate the "mishaps" in life? It's simple! Consider them, an alternative path....another way of learning. If we never "fail" we won't know the sweetness of success.   

What is the last thing you have failed at? How did you turn that situation into a positive?

Do You Have Any Regrets?

I don't usually watch TV shows because I am a grad student with limited time.

• Writing 20 page single spaced papers (torture I know)
• Reading long chapters on theory, health systems, and environmental health
• Developing lesson plans because I am a TA
• Serving overtime at my job because I love it so much
• Establishing my company (Don't Die Afraid!!!)
• Producing regular blog posts
• Dining at savory restaurants so I can review them on Food Before Love
• Traveling to New York to spend time with my Amazing Nana

In addition to the normal tasks of meal prepping, remaining updated on current events, exercising to strengthen my knees, adventures with Mr. Fearless, sorority events, folding clothes straight from the dryer (the most time consuming part of laundry), and satisfying my YouTube addiction.

Instead of spending my time watching shows, I binge watch them when I have a break from school. This also helps break the suspense all the rest of you have to live with week to week. However, two shows I have carved out time to watch and work the rest of my schedule around are Hindsight and Chasing Life.

Both shows revolve around decision making.

In Chasing Life the main character, April is a hardworking journalist at a Boston newspaper. She enjoys dating her hot co-worker Dominic, arguing with her little sister Brenna, and going to brunch with her best friend Beth. Most of the time she is indulged in work, busting her ass to be assigned major stories so she can get bylines. Once April's job and love life seem to be coming together, she is diagnosed with Leukemia. From that moment on, her goal is to live without any regrets.

Becca, the main character in Hindsight unfortunately doesn't have the same mentality as April. Becca has made choices that were the best for everyone except herself. She fortunately is able to travel to 1995 and start over. As she is reliving some of the landmark moments in her life including her wedding day and career choice- she questions every step deeply now to think what will make her the happiest. What if she can choose a different option and end up on a path that is less safe but more thrilling?

Emily Fox, the creator and executive producer is brilliant! Even though I am only 23 years old I can still say I've made choices in which I didn't place my needs/feelings first. I cared too much about others and it resulted in my discontentment. I can honestly say I wouldn't go back and change any of my decisions because they have made me the fearless person I am today. Both Becca and April are living my motto, "Don't Die Afraid" and that is why I am so attached to them.

Are you going to be like April and take control of your future? Or will you be like Becca and feel remorse 10 years from now?

What shows are you loyal to watching this season? Can you imagine having a second chance like Becca? Would you change something small, major, or leave your life the way it is? Do you ever make decisions based on the emotions of others? To prevent misery 15 years from now, how can you live a life without regrets?