Stop. Collaborate and listen...
For those of us who think the world runs on semesters instead of seasons, its about that time again. Time for us to pick up our backpacks, grab a scarf and a clicky #2 pencil and trek to our local campus to get us some learnin' done. This prompts me to reflect on my past semester and get a handle on some things. In short, last semester was full of high emotions, low test scores, and more personal growth than I could have ever asked for. But this post isn't about the past, its about the present and future and presently I am trying to make sure my future is positive and bright. And so I present, "Goals and Reflections".
1) Put God first - I've really lacked on this. But I haven't yet figured out how to best work God into my daily life. What I've gathered so far is that getting back to basics (daily Bible study and prayer) is integral. I think that investing in a good Bible study hand book is a good first step. But budgeting adequate time is going to be my next hurdle.
2) Graduation is the motive - I've completely fallen short of my true academic abilities because sometimes, life gets in the way. But academics is why I'm in college, right?! Its time to put pencil to paper, fingers to keyboard, and nose to the grindstone. Luckily with some clubs and activities in the past, I have the time to really dive back into learning and hopefully gain a love for it that Ive been missing in my life.
3) Financial life - I never take control of my money or potential money because I feel like its something that I cannot control. Now I realize that was never the case and I'm ready to "be about my paper". If nothing else, years of financial pitfalls have taught me that hitting the bottom hurts (especially your pride) but every time I get up, I'm a little stronger.
4) Transform - The break down is simple and age old but the practice is difficult. Mind, body, soul.
I want to get a more level head on my shoulders. Less cursing and erratic mood swings. I want to begin to enjoy life and learn who I am with all the mental mess removed.
Body is twofold: Hair, and everything below. Allow me to drop some black chick wisdom... you can tell a lot about a black woman by her hair. And I don't mean is it done to the nines or is it thrown up; I mean everything. The background, how she feels about her hair, what products she uses, etc. Perhaps its the same for other races, but I can only speak on what I know. Right now, my hair and everything that goes with it says to the world: "Ermmmm, Yeah...I'm not too sure but I guess its whatever?". Ambiguous and a waste of breath. That is why Ive begun my natural hair journey. This year I want to lock down a regular hair regiment, deep condition OFTEN, and trim when I should. I think that healthy hair and a new hair statement will help propel my journey from scrubby undergrad to newly minted B.A.
My over all fitness has been weighing on my mind [pun intended] ever since I spent time at home this break. In my home live 3 older women that I love. They have resigned themselves to obesity and failing health because they feel as though its too late for them to change. If I were their age, perhaps I would feel the same way but I'm not. I don't think its too late for them and its definitely not too late for me. I want so badly to be able to enjoy my body. Right now, I'm just living in it. I want to be able to do things that I never thought possible because of my weight and generally low fitness level. I want my future children to be able to learn healthy living from me one day. I'm dedicated to the idea that it has to start now and that it has to be a lifestyle change.
Soul goes back to my first goal. I know if I can focus my life with God as my guidepost, I wont lose sight of what I want and why I want it.
5) Plan ahead - Graduation is in sight! I can taste it. But I'm afraid that I won't have anything to move on to once I'm finished. I want to start planning now and coming up with realistic options [read: jobs, destinations, etc] so that I don't: A) have some kind of quarter life crisis and B) sit around, get lazy, become broke, and settle for what ever comes along. I know I'm capable of more but getting over the fear of failure is no small task.
With the new year, have you reevaluated your goals or direction? I'd love to hear about it :)
1) Put God first - I've really lacked on this. But I haven't yet figured out how to best work God into my daily life. What I've gathered so far is that getting back to basics (daily Bible study and prayer) is integral. I think that investing in a good Bible study hand book is a good first step. But budgeting adequate time is going to be my next hurdle.
2) Graduation is the motive - I've completely fallen short of my true academic abilities because sometimes, life gets in the way. But academics is why I'm in college, right?! Its time to put pencil to paper, fingers to keyboard, and nose to the grindstone. Luckily with some clubs and activities in the past, I have the time to really dive back into learning and hopefully gain a love for it that Ive been missing in my life.
3) Financial life - I never take control of my money or potential money because I feel like its something that I cannot control. Now I realize that was never the case and I'm ready to "be about my paper". If nothing else, years of financial pitfalls have taught me that hitting the bottom hurts (especially your pride) but every time I get up, I'm a little stronger.
4) Transform - The break down is simple and age old but the practice is difficult. Mind, body, soul.
I want to get a more level head on my shoulders. Less cursing and erratic mood swings. I want to begin to enjoy life and learn who I am with all the mental mess removed.
Body is twofold: Hair, and everything below. Allow me to drop some black chick wisdom... you can tell a lot about a black woman by her hair. And I don't mean is it done to the nines or is it thrown up; I mean everything. The background, how she feels about her hair, what products she uses, etc. Perhaps its the same for other races, but I can only speak on what I know. Right now, my hair and everything that goes with it says to the world: "Ermmmm, Yeah...I'm not too sure but I guess its whatever?". Ambiguous and a waste of breath. That is why Ive begun my natural hair journey. This year I want to lock down a regular hair regiment, deep condition OFTEN, and trim when I should. I think that healthy hair and a new hair statement will help propel my journey from scrubby undergrad to newly minted B.A.
My over all fitness has been weighing on my mind [pun intended] ever since I spent time at home this break. In my home live 3 older women that I love. They have resigned themselves to obesity and failing health because they feel as though its too late for them to change. If I were their age, perhaps I would feel the same way but I'm not. I don't think its too late for them and its definitely not too late for me. I want so badly to be able to enjoy my body. Right now, I'm just living in it. I want to be able to do things that I never thought possible because of my weight and generally low fitness level. I want my future children to be able to learn healthy living from me one day. I'm dedicated to the idea that it has to start now and that it has to be a lifestyle change.
Soul goes back to my first goal. I know if I can focus my life with God as my guidepost, I wont lose sight of what I want and why I want it.
5) Plan ahead - Graduation is in sight! I can taste it. But I'm afraid that I won't have anything to move on to once I'm finished. I want to start planning now and coming up with realistic options [read: jobs, destinations, etc] so that I don't: A) have some kind of quarter life crisis and B) sit around, get lazy, become broke, and settle for what ever comes along. I know I'm capable of more but getting over the fear of failure is no small task.
With the new year, have you reevaluated your goals or direction? I'd love to hear about it :)