"All I want for Christmas..." - dreams, wishes and visions come true - November 28, 2012

So it's about time I wrote a regular blog, the last one was in May and I've been writing in the www.MLGsVIDESMission.blogspot.com since then, so you or I haven't dished on the regular going-ons of living. It's November 2012 and much has happened. Presently, Christmas carols and songs are playing on the radio, which I love and I know some of you might hate. One of my favourite modern Christmas songs is Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is you." So this blog is on “wishes, dreams and all things coming true!”

'Be careful what you wish for cause you just might get it' are lyrics from the popular dance song, "When I grow up" by the Pussycat Dolls but it's true. Even in the Congo, I had to be careful what I wished for (a work week in the cafe serving customers in addition to managing and accounting) because I nearly got all I wished for (I worked 6 night shifts in French). The same in true of life in Toronto. On facebook, I posted my affirmation that I will be married to my boyfriend and have bought a condo downtown in 18 months. Some of you liked that post and commented, thank you. That dream is coming true with God's help.

I checked my last blog and in February 2012, I wrote about my mantra, "I finally found someone" as sung by Barbara Streisand and Bryan Adams. That song still makes me cry a little because it's so beautiful, but it is true because I have finally found someone. With your love and support, my trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo serving others and speaking French become a reality. Now an opportunity to purchase in Regent Park is available and I'm opening that door! This is a reference to 'when opportunity knocks, open the door'.

“Dreams cancome true, look at me baby”. I did an exercise in 2011 on visioning and making dreamboards with my good friend Jo (Josephine on twitter - @joeboxer26). I had been reading Iyanla Vanzant's Tapping the Power within. I repeat my affirmations to myself, to God, in my poetry, on blogs, facebook and to anyone who will listen. I extole the virtues of writing it down, saying it out loud and overall being clear and honest with oneself about wants, goals, dreams and desires. Dreams can come true, I'm proof of that. I am more than I thought I could be even from 2005. Wow, how my life has changed, how I have grown and how my potential has been realized.

 

How about you? Are you realizing your potential? As this Christmas and holiday season approaches, I encourage you all to write down a wish list for yourself, where you want to be next year at this time, what you want to be doing, who you want to be with. Keep this 'Christmas wish list' handy and refer to it often. That is my wish for you, that all your dreams come true.

When it rains, it pours and be careful what you wish for - May 15, 2012

Amen! When it rains, it pours. I have yet to be disappointed by life, by God, by forces in the universe conspiring to make my life better and good. Thank you, again and again, over and over.

The past few weeks, I have woken up praising and giving thanks. I can't imagine a better life than I have right now. Sure, things could be better - I could own a condo instead of renting in a co-op, I could have a bigger title for a job instead of managing a program that has provincial reach, I could be married instead of dating. Things could be better, but I must admit, they are pretty good right now and I am thankful for what I have right now. No matter how small or seemingly inconsequential, I think you have to be thankful for the little that you have or you won't appreciate the big things when they come.

What's new? Everything. And that is okay. I am okay with the new.

VIDES - My mission trip is a go. I have been telling you about this desire/calling I have to serve my community in some way for about a year, now I'm really going. I'm combining my love of travel and serving others and learning French in a mission trip with VIDES Canada - www.videscanada.ca I'm leaving in a few weeks and will be away for a few months. Follow my new blog on my experiences in Senegal volunteering with the Salesian community - www.MLGsVIDESmission.blogspot.com

Love - My love life is kicked into high gear. I've written a few poems and a couple songs now about how this experience is rocking my world right now. "I've been hit!" Cupid was somewhere I wasn't looking and now I'm hooked on a certain guy. I've rewritten Nat King Cole's popular hit "Orange Coloured Sky" to fit my circumstances. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-6QknAOsVo

Community - I've found community projects in my neighbourhood that I can get involved in before and upon my return from Senegal. CRC (http://www.tcrc.ca/) will have opportunities for me to work in Regent Park and build community and I'm on a board-ICA Canada (http://www.icacan.org/) for an organization dedicated to communty building, official at the AGM in May.

Finances - Ma encouraged me to save for the future, for my travel wants, for my future condo in the redeveloped Regent Park. It has been hard pinching pennies and such, but I've appreciated seeing savings grow and know that I am investing in myself. Budgeting is not my first love, but I'm coming around to appreciate it.

What's next? Everything. And I'm okay with it.

Now that my mission trip is official, consider this your official notice. It's on! And I need your help. I have planned for my trip and my expenses are mostly covered, but I would very much like to support the Salesian community that I am going to serve for three months. I need your help to provide the children and youth attending school in this Senegalese community with the supplies they need. Your support will help. Please see below for ways you can help.

How can you help?
Spread the word - follow this blog online - http://MLGsVIDESmission.blogspot.ca, tweet about it and add the hashtag #MLGsVIDESmission or #MLGsVIDES or #MVM
Donate - send cheques of any amount to VIDES Canada, amounts over $20 can be tax receipted, cheques are made to VIDES Canada and sent to Sr Jeannine Landry, 178 Steeles Ave East ON L3T 1A5
Donate online - http://www.indiegogo.com/MLGsVIDESmission from now until May 29, 2012
Support the fundraisers - Show up and bring friends to MLGs fundraisers - upcoming events are May 20, 2012 and June 10, 2012. Check out facebook for more info.Pray - your prayers for me on this journey are appreciated and for the community I will serve.

My advice? Keep dreaming, when you know what you want out of life, you can ask for it. And when you get it, don't forget to say thanks.

Thanks!

Food and music - heart and soul - March 24, 2012

Food and music are my heart and soul, they make me happy. I thought about the things that make me happy this week and asked myself, am I doing the things that make me happy? Ask yourself the same question. Will you be surprised by the answer?

I was. I was delightfully surprised that I can answer with a resounding "yes!" This week was an example of how I continue to do the things that bring joy into my life and spread this joy to others. On Monday night, I finally took Josephine (@joeboxer26) to Harlem Restaurant (@harlem1920) for the Carolyn T Monday night Open Jam (@carolynTband and facebook). It was great, some amazing singers and instrumentalists graced the stage. I really enjoy going there, getting up on stage and singing my heart out. It is something that encouages me to grow and learn. I learned a new song this week and performed it at another open mic, Singer's Den put on by Nigel (@intelswagger) and hosted by Al St. Louis (@alstlouispoet). I sang "Let's Stay Together" written by Al Green as sung by Tina Turner. I love Tina! It was good.

All of these musical experience were preceeded by going with friends (@adamdiamond_, @joeboxer26, Lenore and Chantelle (twitter handles not memorized)), to see a taping of Canada Sings (@CanadaSingsTV) that will air in May. Amazing fun! And I'm more inspired to get out there and do more music either on my own (i.e. solo) or with Sweet Rhapsody (twitter handle a to-d0).

I also gave a gift of service this week - by offering my time and my talents. I made a delicious soup for the Lenten Soup series at Newman Centre http://www.newmantoronto.com/ and shared it with 15 people who came for soup and stayed for adoration. I derive much pleasure out of cooking and baking, but more from sharing with others. It was for me like an #EatPrayShare moment. I learned something from the experience also, how to make soup for 15 people. That is the hard part. I may do it again sometime. It was like a prelude experience to cooking in a soup kitchen or community kitchen.

I also took a walk in my neighbourhood of Regent Park on a day off and was amazed at the changes of the revitalization or gentrification of Regent Park http://www.torontohousing.ca/regentpark. I was impressed to see the community centre that the Toronto Christian Resource Centre http://www.tcrc.ca/ has built and the beautiful space they have for the community. I am excited by the potential to contribute and volunteer in the community.

As part of my year-long adventure to serve my community and find my purpose in the everyday, I feel that of late, I have found good reasons to be and to do. Of course, I still have questions about all that I am to be and to do in my lifetime but for now I am content to continue exploring how I can serve others in my quest to define or redefine self. I look forward to continuing to nourish my soul with food and music.

What's next? There is always something - February 17, 2012

Last week, my knees hurt from jumping over speedbumps with my niece. A week ago Friday I lost my phone after an awsome party and lost the guy's number (no worries, he has mine). This week, it's not the knees, my ribs hurt from trying to excercise. As they say, if it's not one thing, it's another.

But rather than be pushed and "bowled over by the bowels of life" I'm gonna stand my ground, stand up and fight for the kind of life I want to live. So last week, my training session didn't involve any squats 'cause I could barely bend, no matter, I sweat as much anyway. Since Friday, I've been a little bit disconnected and not texting, tweeting, facebooking (is that a verb) or bbming as much as normal, but is that so bad? (That last incident has forced me to think a little and not depend on the external or the environment). Yesterday, I had to maintain a stiff posture as the soreness in my ribs doesn't allow slouching.

You can always find what some call the "silver-lining" in any bad situation, I call it the joy or the joie-de-vive. As 2012 continues to roll on by despite all my efforts to slow time, I am now reminded to do daily affirmations. I share this with you as I share most of my secrets and experiences, so you can learn something from this story. I do daily affirmations so I can be present in crafting the life I want to live right now and tomorrow. As St. Valentines Day was this week, I, like many single people, was faced with this reality, that I am currently single. But it's not a way I want to be so of course my affirmations are about affirming my need for companionship and having God's help to find the someone he has planned for me. (I've also been singing the Barbara Streisand/Bryan Adams 1996 hit - I've finally found someone - as a sort of mantra).

So onwards and upwards. I must have dreamed (or journalled at some point) of having an adventuresome, exciting, 30-something lifestyle. This week was probably the best example and the fun isn't stopping. On Monday night, I attended with friends a George Brown College event to support a colleague at the Devil's Martini, Wanderlust, plus @CarolynTBand's open mic at @Harlem1920. Tuesday, Jo @joeboxer26 and I went to a Fastlife event where I met lots of eligible bachelors, very nice; much prefer being out than staying in and moping on Valentines. Wednesday was gym and chilling at Jersey Giant with @adamdiamond_ and eating a healthy bun-less burger with salad. Thursday I made it to both skating lessons at Harbourfront and Singer's Den hosted by @AlStLouispoet and created by my cousin @Steph_Boucaud and @intelswagger. The week isn't over as there are Black History Month events to attend.

Wow! This is my life!

So what's next? That is entirely up to you. You can make it happen, let it happen, imagine it, dream it, figure it out. There is always going to be something. Either something good or something bad. The only control we have is of ourselves and how we act or react to the things, people, places and events that happen.

I choose to be concious in my life, be active and be an active participant. Life is, just is. But me, I am how I want to be. How about you?

Someday at Christmas dreams will come true - November 27, 2011

"Someday at Christmas all our dreams would come to be", Stevie Wonder.

Contemplating life and all you did this year, accomplishments, activities, challenges, and how you faced them, seems to be a common practice. It is at this time that I prepare to celebrate Christmas and the beginning of the new year and I also reminisce about the past few months and all my dreams, hopes and wishes. I muse on my life and evaluate whether it is what I hoped it would be or ponder the gaps and what I can do to fill them.

I also look at my list and wonder what can I do in 30 days to finish off 2011 in a way that would make me feel very good. It's a good time to check in and see where I have grown and where I can keep growing.

Christmas is my favourite season because of music, song, food, desserts and gift-giving. I look forward to Christmas parties, dinners, carolling and of course shopping. I am thankful as I was at Thanksgiving of who I am and who I am becoming, what I have and what I can give. Christmas is the time to put into action that feeling of thanksgiving in real and tangible ways.

I know that Christmas can be a contemplative and nostalgic time as well with feelings of wistfulness, longing and melancholy. I recognize that this time of year is filled with so much angst and anxiety at the same time it is filled with joy and celebration. I encourage everyone to reach out and accept the hands of friendship and the opportunities to grow and know someone. Even if you don't think so, there is someone somewhere who loves you and wants the best for you. With that hope, go forward and accept the love that this season reminds us of.

"I believe for everyone who goes astray, someone will come to show the way". I believe in Christmas. I believe in hope. I believe in you. I believe everyone has it in them to be the special gift at Christmas that everyone wants to open. Let Christmas be the time and the season for you and your special gift to be shared. Everyone has a talent and if you haven't shared it already, now is the time to open up and let your light shine.

I know I am wistful and metaphoric but I believe the season is beyond measurement. It will not matter how many gifts you give, how much money you spent or how many parties you hosted, it will matter how deeply you touched someone and made them feel special. It will matter how you gave of yourself, your time, your energy and your love.

Be the Christmas joy you wish to see in the world.

Thanks for the memories and the moments - Thanksgiving in Canada - October 10, 2011

It's Thanksgiving in Canada. Besides all the turkey and the trimmings, the dinners and the dishes, the cooking and the baking, the time together with friends and family is most precious. This time of year is another opportunity to reflect and consider the things we are thankful for. I am sure that most of us took time this weekend at one or other of our many meals to give thanks for our family, friends, life, lifestyle, graces and gifts.

I for one am thankful for the memories and the moments I am sharing with the people in my life everyday. I am thankful for the moments that my Creator has granted me. I am thankful for the skills and talents I have that allow me to craft these moments or to grasp them as they come by. Opportunities like the ones I've come across sometimes happen on their own, sometimes they take making. Making something happen out of energy, will and happenstance, takes more than luck and chance. It takes commitment and strength to cling to a dream until it becomes reality.

Many people witnessed my latest celebration where by the Grace of God, moments and memories happened that I am thankful for. I am thankful for all the family and friends that came out to my birthday party celebration - MLGs Rocking Rhythms ROMP - and witnessed dreams becoming reality. It has been my dream to peform my spoken word in public (I have since 2008), sing or front a band (doing it now) and also host an amazing birthday party (which i did!). This for me is a testament to commitment, holding true to your dreams, putting words to them and taking action. I give thanks to He who is for givng me the grace to achieve my dreams.

I am thankful to have accomplished many milestones in my life, completed projects, tasks and achieved things I set my sights on, but I know I could not accomplish these things without the support of loving friends and family. I am thankful for you. You who are there for me, you who support me, you who listen, you who talk, you who through sheer will enable me to do the things I am called to do. Thank you!

As we enter another season of grace and thanksgiving, the bouyancy of which should carry us into the new year, we should contemplate our thankful moments and memories and the people in our lives that help us to experience the beautiful, the challenging and the teaching moments.

Let us be thankful that we are where we are meant to be exactly and the people in our lives are in it for a reason, a season or a time and for that be thankful also. It is far better to bless our lives and other's lives, bless each day and be thankful for it, than to curse and swear and only have regret. Be thankful for who you are, what you are, what you are doing and what you are meant to be doing. Count your blessings and your moments of gratitude, these are the moments and memories that count.

Inpired by others to live the dream - August 18, 2011

As I write this blog entry, my first since April, I am living one of my dreams. Sitting in a restaurant on Queen Street East, as an independent woman, admiring and being admired. At one point, I dreamed of being a single woman, living in the big city, dining at fancy restaurants and being my outgoing and natural self. In the beginning, I was doubtful but now I am here!

Is the dream the same? Dreams grow big, change shape and coalesce into something different, something new. Once I had achieved my dream, I went to a seminar either by Bob Proctor or Joe Morton and I heard "dream bigger!" I have seen other's realize their dreams and I know it can be done. Kinda like 'if you build it, they will come'. My sister and her husband have a dream of retiring in Florida. It so happens the American economy tanked and homes in this southern, ocean-bounded state were suddenly available and affordable. Taa Daa!

My summer has been another delightful experience one after the other. From Summerlicious to Caribana/Caribbean Carnival to Tastes of the Danforth and every other festival and event, I have explored Toronto and lived it. Lovely! Now I'm asking myself, what's next? What is the next dream?

When you have something in your heart that you want to have happen and it fills your spirit and gives you passion and energy, and you are hoping and wishing that this "thing" will become a reality one day, that is the dream. The challenge is not in making the dream come true, the challenge is in dreaming the dream. It may be fantastic and imaginative, seemingly out of reach, incredible or unbelieveable, that is your dream. Once you commit to it and put your hopes in your dreams, channel your thoughts, your spirits and your energies, then the dream will come to you and be your present, your now, your reality.

Inspired by a friend who challenged herself to go speed-dating or at least do something constructive to change her single situation, I did the same. Getting out in the real world and meeting other single, eligible and suitable persons is a definite step in the right direction towards couplehood rather than forever single. Thank you Barbara for inspiring me. I've met a few new people since I stepped out of my comfort zone and took charge of this dream.

Inspired by artists and writers that I saw at the last "First Fridays" hosted by Warren Salmon. I heard from a young woman who is a writer by trade, having (almost, nearly, has she even?) reached 30 and written 40 books. Kayla Perrin. Kayla is an inspiration to me so I've committed to finish writing the book I started two years ago. Thanks Kayla!

Inspired by my sister to have a lasting love-life and a family to cherish. I appreciate being a part of her family and sharing her family - the two girls are adorable and I spent my summer vacation with them and Grandma/Ma and the whole family are darlings. Thank you Mitz!

Everything else I have achieved thus far is because I dreamed it and I made the dream my reality with focussed energy and applying my passion. Now I am dreaming of my partner who will travel the world with me and make a home in downtown Toronto. I'm dreaming of the little girl and the little boy who will fill our lives. I am imagining, picturing and dreaming of a new reality. Now I'm dreaming of being on stage and singing R&B and soul. Performing my poems. Signing my book at Chapters. I will not wait until I retire or perspire to put some energy into the things I desire!

As my 35th birthday approaches, I'm checking my list of things to do in life. I've decided to make some of the dreams on that list happen sooner rather than later. One thing I remind my friends when setting goals - be specific! You have to know exactly what you want or how will you recognize it when you get it? What are you long-held dreams and wishes? What did you want to do when you grew up? Think about it. And then do it!