A New Beginning

Starting over sucks! Sorry for being so blunt, but in this case I‘m calling it like I see it. When one has to indeed "start over", it requires them to change the way they think and redirect their attention to a brand new perspective. Is this an easy task? Not by a long shot. But is it necessary? Simply stated, yes.

I'm currently going through this "new beginning" as we speak. Recently I've cut all my hair off, quit my job of three years and mutually decided to take a break from a long term relationship. Yes, I would think this definitely qualifies me as the summer’s poster child of what starting over looks like. Now let's be clear, am I happy about these changes? Surprisingly, the answer is yes, yet again.

You see right now I'm on a new journey. This would be the stepping out on faith journey. It involves leaning totally on the will of God to see me through. When I cut my hair off and decided to go natural, I wasn't trying to make a statement. Nor was I even trying to get back to my “African roots“. I was merely taking the chance of trying something new. When I quit my job in a recession stricken economy, I was taking a stand for myself in saying my education and self worth is more important than coming into a place where my time, talents and overall work ethic would not be respected or appreciated. (Needless to say this change was both liberating and scary at the same time.)

Lastly when realizing that the spark between me and my significant other has somewhat faded, this was me realizing that absence makes the heart grow fonder and if it‘s real love it will come back to me in due time. I have to admit, this change was a hard pill to swallow. It still remains to be a hard decision to accept, but necessary nonetheless. I know many of you are wondering, is this rant going anywhere? And once again the answer to this question is yes.

Recently, I found myself reaching an ah hah moment, an epiphany if you will. My question to everybody today, is why is it hard for us to take a leap of faith into the journey of the unknown? Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that anybody follows my lead at the current moment. We all have a different path in our life that God has called each and every one of us to follow. However, by taking the time to realize that He is calling us to live a life that is more than exceptional, why are we so afraid of stepping out of the norm and actually striving to live out the dreams and goals God himself has predestined for us.

Think about it. How many of us today has played it safe for most of our lives? I have no problem raising my hand in this category. Better yet, how many people once took chances and lived life with no regrets, but because of age, circumstances and various experiences have hindered your perception so much that you're scared of stepping out of the safety net that currently surrounds you? I know, taking chances is never easy. It involves self reflection, forgiveness for yourself & others and most importantly it forces you to stand up to the person that's been holding you back all along, yourself.

Majority of us don’t realize we stand in our own way from obtaining pure happiness. It's true. We are willing to stay in so-so relationships, mediocre jobs and live in mundane rigid routines for the sake of being complacent instead of changing things up from time to time. Is it that we are scared to change because if we do things may actually go as we hoped for? Would we actually have to match our actions with the words we so boisterously proclaimed would and could happen one day? Just a by another show of hands how many of us would actually like to see our dreams come true? Hopefully, everyone who is reading this declaration for change has both of their hands raised at this point.

In all seriousness, I'm not trying to tell people that just quitting on their currently bleak situation is the best move. I am however, advocating that we take the time to really think about what's important or use to be important in our lives. Accepting a new beginning brings a fresh start and a clean slate to work with. It enables us to see things for what they really are and figure out what exactly needs to stay or go from our lives. Why live your life from the glass half empty perspective when it could be seen as half full. Life is honestly too short to not fully invest in the calling that the God has already set out for us.

Until next time stay blessed, beautiful and divinely favored!