Who you are defines what you want - Iyanla Vanzant speaks to Women about identity

When you don't know who you are, CHANCES are you don't know what you want. When you don't know what you want, THERE is no chance for you to get it. - Iyanla Vanzant  

What a disappointment it would be to live here and never know WHO you are. And when I say "Know who you are", I'm not talking about  mom, wife, teacher, author... I'm referring to WHO you are as a PERSON. What makes you into the person you are? What inspires the character that you present to the world everyday.

Who am I, I am love, I am peace, I am smiles, I am happy, I am contagious, I am joy.... that's who I am and that's who I present to the world everyday. Me knowing who I am, has helped me to understand what it is I want out of life and out of my life.

Find your place within... Find Peace within.. Find your voice within

Remember to Smile Everyday, Show Up Everyday, and Succeed Everyday
Find Peace Within
Be Blessed
Ms. Lisa

Acceptance means you're okay - Iyanla Vanzant Speaks

Acceptance does not mean you agree with it, appreciate, or even like what has happened. Acceptance means that you know, regardless of what happened, that there is something bigger than you at work.

It also means that you know that you are okay, and that you will continue to be okay. Iyanla Vanzant

I write about this very subject in my book, "Smile, Show Up, Succeed Everyday." I have accepted the person I have become, I am okay with people not liking me or accepting me the way I am. I am okay with the opinions of others as those opinions does not identify who I am. And you know what, I accept that IT'S OKAY...

Find your okay in your acceptance.... because it's okay. :)

Remember to Smile Everyday, Show Up Everyday, and Succeed Everyday
Find Peace Within
Be blessed,
Ms. Lisa

A word to every women - Iyanla Vanzant Speaks to us

In observation of Black History Month, I am going to share a few of Iyanla Vanzant's famous quotes that she feels everyone should read and know.

"If you are really paying attention and really ready to heal, the day will come when you recognize that forgiveness is the only way back to the center of your innocence."

Iyanla Vanzant

I am a firm believer of staying centered. Staying centered means that you should ALWAYS be aware of your actions. You must know WHY you're doing something, or why are you responding to something the way you did or do. When ever we're connected with who and what we are, we have the ability to get centered and STAY. Forgiveness is the first step to getting there.

Remember to Smile Everyday, Show Up Everyday, and Succeed Everyday
Find Peace Within
Be blessed,
Ms. Lisa

When Old Folks Laugh by: Maya Angelou

They have spent their
content of simpering,
holding their lips this
and that way, winding
the lines between
their brows. Old folks
allow their bellies to jiggle like slow
tambourines.
The hollers rise up and spill
over anyway they want.
When old folks laugh, they free the world.
They turn slowly, slyly knowing
the best of the worst
of remembering.
Saliva in the
corner of their mouths,
their heads wobble
on brittle necks, but
their lips
are filled with memories.
When old folks laugh, they consider the promise
of dear painless death, and generously
forgive life from happening
to them.

When Old Folks Laugh

My grandma would laugh the funniest laugh, it sounded just like this poem... This is what I heard in her laugh- "glad I'm here, glad I had a chance to do this and that, now I wait for my day when I'll be swept away". When Old Folks Laugh

Remember to Smile Everyday, Show  Up Everyday, and Succeed Everyday
Find Peace Within
Be blessed,
Ms. Lisa

Maya Angelou's view on Healthy Food - "The Health-Food Diner

The Health-Food Diner
No sprouted wheat and soya shoots
And Brussels in a cake,
Carrot stra and spinach raw,
(Today, I need a steak)

Not thick brown rice and rice pilaf
Or mushrooms creamed on toast,
Turnips mashed and parsnips hashed,
(I'm dreaming of a roast).

Health-food folks around the world
Are thinned by anxious zeal,
They look for help in seafood kelp
(I count on breaded veal).


No smoking signs, raw mustard greens,
Zuccini by the ton,
Uncooked kale and bodies frail
Are sure to make me run


to

Loins of pork and chicken thighs
And standing rib, so prime,
Pork chops brown and fresh ground round
(I crave them all the time).

Irish stews and boiled corned beef
and hot dogs by the scores,
or any place that saves a space
For smoking carnivores.



"I believe many of my clients would love Dr. Maya's Health-Food Diner. :)

Remember to Smile Every day, Show Up Every day, and Succeed Every day
Find Peace Within
Be blessed,
Ms. Lisa

When I think of myself by: Maya Angelou

In recognition of Black History Month I will be honoring some of our great poets. This week we will read some of Maya's awesome poems.

When I think about myself,
I almost laugh myself to death,
My life has been one great big joke,
A dance that's walked
A song that's spoke,
I laugh so hard I almost choke
When I think about myself

Sixty years in these folks' world
The child I works for calls me girl
I say "yes ma'am for working's sake.
Too proud to bend
Too poor to break,
I laugh until my stomach ache
When I think about myself.

My folks can make me slit my side.
I laughed so hard I nearly died,
The tales they tell, sound just like lying,
They grow the fruit,
But eat the rind,
I laugh until I start to crying,
When I think about my folks.

Maya Angelou

What an amazing picture of who we were and how far we've come.

Remember to smile Everyday, Show Up Everyday, and Smile Everyday
Find Peace Within,
Be blessed,
Ms. Lisa

Showing Up for yourself helps You show up for someone else

With the upcoming launch of my book, Smile, Show Up, Succeed, Everyday, I thought I would share a little bit of what the book will do for you. As I prepare to launch my book, I want to not only provide you with a good read, but I want to inspire you to do things a little differently in your life. It's time to stop letting boredom keep you locked into a place where you know you don't belong. It's time to stop letting your lack of commitment to your stop keep you from showing up for yourself. It's only when YOU show up will things begin to change for YOU. Me showing up for you will have inspire you, but once I'm gone, YOU have to do the Showing and the Inspiring. Here's a snippet from the book:

"One thing I know for sure is that, you must enjoy your learning experiences. Do not think for a minute everything you’ve gone through was for naught. I have heard people say they wished they were younger, or that they wished they could turn back the hands of time. But I am one to say, NEVER again do I want to be 20, 30, or 40. I have learned so many life lessons through my experiences that have helped to shape me into the person I am today. I live with no regrets. I made up in my mind a long time ago, to graduate from public opinion and I have. I have learned that everyone will not be happy for me, and that is okay. I’ve learned that this moment is the only moment I have and I must make the best of it. Tomorrow is not promised and today is all I have. Showing up everyday is a part of living. Live in the moment and let tomorrow create its own moments when tomorrow comes."

Remember you are the most important person to YO

U. Not your husband not your family. If you're not good, the no one else will be.

Remember to Smile Everyday, Show Up Everyday, Succeed Everyday
Find Peace Within
Be blessed,
Ms. Lisa