Growing Wings

I met a new friend on the metro today...


I've seen him just about everyday for the last couple weeks. Today he decided to come and introduce himself and share his testimony. He explained that he was lost. Although he expressed an extreme interest to go home, he was still in awe of his resilience and determination for life! He would've never imagined that he could live without all the amenities and comforts that he was used to. It didn't matter that he spent months retrieving the strongest twigs to build the largest and most stable nest among his friends. Nor did it matter that he had gone to great lengths to preen his shiny feathers and perfect his song to attract mates. What was with him in his moments of despair were his moral fiber and will, granted by a higher being.

That's one bad azz city bird if I ever saw one!






How do you truly know who you are, what you are about, or what you are capable of by merely following the effortless road, the path of least resistance? Time moves on whether we are cowards or conquerors!

Sometimes leaving your comfort zone will allow you to grow wings.


More eloquently stated: "The man of character finds an especial attractiveness in difficulty since it is only by coming to grips with difficulty that he can realize his potentialities." - Charles de Gaulle

I will NOT let any negative situation, trial or tribulation in my life prevent my growth. Instead, I will use it as a catalyst for progress and development....

and FLYYYYYY........................

My List!!!

Some soul searching went into the creation of this. In the effort to create this list with no regrets, I meditated on my present state. Yes, I read and re-read and revised and reorganized…Enough! This list is very personal. Its scattered, rough and was developed, I feel, for the benefit of my spiritual, mental and emotional growth and well-being and to be of service.


Here goes, in no particular order:

1. Finish 101/1001 list
2. Update blog once an item is complete
3. Blog
4. Spend more time with family
5. Tell my mom and auntie “I love you” every day for one month
6. Visit my daddy
7. Memorialize important people no longer in my life
8. Establish a game/movie/dinner night once a month with friends
9. Visit best friends in other states
10. Visit best friends local
11. Give a gift to a friend (0/10)
12. Write “I will remember you..” postcards (0/20)
13. Write a letter to Oprah
14. Join/start a book club
15. Subscribe to 5 of my favorite magazines (0/5)
16. Start my loc journey journal
17. Fill an entire paper journal
18. Start an appreciation journal
19. Identify things that make me happy – start a Bliss List
20. NaNoWriMo 2009
21. Get another tattoo
22. Complete my autobiography
23. Write a biography for a friend
24. Have a work published
25. Get business cards
26. Finish reading 10 books I’ve started but never completed (0/10)
27. Re-read 10 of my favorite books (0/10)
28. Make CD’s with of all of my favorite songs
29. Set up my painting studio
30. Gain an entry in Wikipedia
31. Learn to play chess
32. Play fantasy football
33. Post a video on YouTube
34. Carry my camera every day for one month – become a photographer
35. Take self portraits (0/20)
36. Pray consistently every night before bed for one month
37. Pray every morning before I start my day for one month
38. Drink 8 ounces of water at least twice a day
39. Take vitamins consistently for one week (0/4)
40. Walk to work
41. Take 10 yoga classes (0/10)
42. Eat 5-a-day for a week (0/7)
43. Eat and use organic food and products
44. Go COMPLETELY vegan for 1 week
45. Complete the Master Cleansing System
46. Eliminate candy and excess sugar from diet for 6 months (1/6)
47. Fast during Lent and Ramadan
48. Have my callous surgically removed
49. Buy a bike
50. Buy a humidifier
51. Buy a picture frame for a family photo
52. Buy a tea infuser, kettle and fresh tea leaves
53. Buy a juicer
54. Start a small garden
55. Save at least $200/month
56. Pay off undergrad debt
57. Spend $0 for one week
58. Make a profit
59. Cook dinner at least twice a week for 1 month
60. Take lunch to work at least twice a week for 1 month
61. Become a member of a congregation
62. Make a commitment to a loving boyfriend
63. Have a picnic
64. Watch the sun rise
65. Watch the sun set
66. Sleep under the stars
67. Adopt a kitten
68. Start bakery – design a logo/brand
69. Own property
70. Work for myself
71. Start MBA or MFA program
72. Take bartending classesfor fun
73. Mend a friendship that ended because of miscommunication
74. Volunteer – become a BigSister
75. Pay-it-forward – 20 random acts of kindness (0/20)
76. Share “The Last Lecture” with 10 people (0/10)
77. Download “the secret” to my ipod
78. Remember to "Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff" at least once a month
79. Complete The Artists Way by Julia Cameron
80. Finish reading Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warrenw
81. Complete Illustrated discovery journal
82. Post quotes that inspire me in places where I will see them everyday
83. Feng shui my living space
84. Finally learn Spanish
85. Finally learn to swim
86. Learn to drive a stick
87. Start scrapbooking
88. Go on a cruise
89. Get a passport
90. Go to Jamaica
91. Be a local tourist
92. See a show on broadway
93. See my favorite artists in concert
94. Celebrate Kwanzaa
95. Be of service on MLK Day
96. Throw my mother and auntie a surprise birthday party
97. Have a birthday party
98. Organize/expand earring collection
99. Buy fabulous shoes
100. Splurge once in a while
101. Convince 5 people to start their own 101 in 1001 (0/5)

#16 Loc Journal

OK, so I'm jumping right into my 101/1001!

For the record, I officially shaved my head Christmas Night, 2004. From the beginning of the New Year through about April/May 2005, I rocked my bush... (which everyone hated, though I loved).

April/May 2009 will mark my 4 year Locversary!!!

My locs were started at a salon with gel twists. Since, I have been maintaining them myself through daily scalp treatments and weekly maintenance.



I created a flickr account to document my loc journey. I wish I started documenting sooner... it would've been fun to reminisce over ALL my loc transformations. I can't really say that I went through an "ugly" phase. What I can say is that I definitely had a period of time where the length was awkward! I created a flickr account to document my loc journey

I snapped this shot a few days ago after a wash and twist

LINK:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bangieb00_hair/sets/72157613036484768/

I will attempt to log new hairstyles, maintenance tips, etc. monthly.
So, what to expect with my locs? Curls, absolutely! A dramatic dye? Maybe!

101 in 1001 Days

I stumbled upon this website one night. Since, it continues to change my life!

The motivation for the creator of the Day Zero-The Home of the 101 Things To Do In 1001 Days Project was an article from Zen Habits. He suggests using The 6 Questions to Ask Yourself to Get the Most Out of Life as a starting point to coming up with ideas for self improvement on your list:
1. Who do I love, and what am I doing about it?
2. Am I pursuing my dream, or is fear stopping me?
3. Am I doing something that matters?
4. What am I doing to help others?
5. Am I as good a person as I want to be?
6. What am I doing to live life with passion, health and energy?


The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.


The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).


Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.


I'll be asking myself hard questions and for the first time in my life, living my desires!


In 1001 days, I'll be 7 months away from 30 years old!


Start Date: 1/19/2009
Completion Date: 10/17/2011

(if you notice, the date of this post, my State Date and the countdown do not coincide... hence, the 1st task is to complete my list. the 2ND task, write a blog for each task completed. the 3rd task, blog. procrastination is the son of a bastard!!!)