The American Dream

It was all a dream I used to read Word Up! Magazine....Well not really, but I did read magazines and wish that I could succeed to be just like the people I would scan the pages to see. What I seen in the magazines, television, etc. literally looked as if the lifestyle was untouchable and what everyone should want for themselves. I didn't realize that wanting what others have could be detrimental to my future if I didn't pay attention to the Dream I had for myself. I eventually learned to not set myself up for failure trying to live someone else's American Dream.

What is the American Dream? The definition seems to be after high school go to college, get your ideal job after, get married, and buy a house. My American Dream has been more nightmares in a sense because it hasn't always went in this order. Majority of the time the peers around us  tend to put pressure on us without even noticing. We can start to look around and see what everyone else is doing, but questioning what WE ARE supposed to do. Planning seems to be overrated these days, but all in all there is still a course that needs to be followed and that's God's plan for YOU and only YOU.

I was reminded recently that I had fell off track and forgot my soul purpose of being on earth. Every now and then I get distracted and side tracked from the dream that God has planned out for me. I only knew this because I started to feel as if the world was caving in on me and felt like I needed some time to myself. What also has been brought to my attention is me losing track of who's the center of my life and why I have a purpose in the first place. This may seem a bit shocking, but I don't always stay the course like I'm supposed to because I'm human and that's just what humans do sometimes.

The great thing about my relationship with God is that he forgives me before I even ask for forgiveness. He's waiting right there when I don't necessarily always turn to him. God is the only one that has created a dream that was specifically made for me. I have to remind myself of this constantly because it could feel as if everyone is moving ahead while I stay stagnant. In reality I'm not being stagnant it's just called Gods timing.

We could be so caught up with not being caught up with others that we hold ourselves back from working in our true purpose. All of our American Dreams differ because all of our paths are not supposed to be the same. What's meant for you is for you and not others. Learn to block the distractions of television and social media and learn to feed your soul with food it wants and needs. Just remember don't be so busy chasing the American Dream that you forget what your reality is supposed to be. Stay prayed up and keep the faith.

Check out this AMAZING clip from Zig Ziglar speaking about DREAMS! Enjoy!

Pain always brings Gifts

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:8-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Pain is something that we all have to deal with no matter how much we may try to dodge it. Pain can sometimes feel like it's waiting right around the corner for us to be in a good space. Have you ever heard the saying "every time I turn around it's always something"? I can relate to pain in a lot of ways because I have been through so much in this short lifetime. But I have also learned that the pain I've went through has always brought me gifts.

When I was younger I always was able to use writing, drawing, and reading to help me forget about what I was going through or what my family was going through. As life kept moving ahead I formed a habit of expressing myself through dark times, and dark times are still relevant today. It may look like it's easy for me to create or write a blog, but there is much test, trials, and tribulations that come before to bring creativity of me. I don't just create things cause I'm bored, or want to make money, I create because it heals my heart, mind, and soul. I would also hope that it can heal others heart, mind, and soul when they look at what I created originally to help me.

“Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Any form of Art to me is like making a joyful shout to the Lord in my own way. It takes me to another place where there is no pain and I simply enJOY it. There was a time that I pushed this joy to the side because I was trying to be a so called adult and not childish. Ironically I had to reach back to my childhood to see what used to give me joy during difficult times. Art has repaired my heart in many ways of course with God's help. God doesn't always want us to be deep and try to please him with major things, he simply just wants us to be ourselves by using our gifts.

God gives us trials and tribulations so we can know what our gifts are to get through the darkness. The journey that I continue to be on sometimes feels like there is no light coming anytime soon. Then when I think about what I have discovered within myself because of the darkness, I become more grateful. This life is not meant to be easy and everything is not going to drop in your lap right away. There is much preparation that has to take place to make us all tough. When there is pain just know that there are gifts coming directly after. Have a blessed day!

In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present. Francis Bacon 

Check out some motivation below from one of my favorite movies Remember the Titans!