Month: December 2020

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Start The Day On A Positive Note

I have been slacking. Usually when I get dressed in the morning I will play the 100th episode of the Sincerely HER podcast. This episode is titled “I Am Greatness” and includes some powerful, positive affirmations. What a great way to start my day and get me in the right mindset. I haven’t listen to my affirmations in over a week 🤦🏾‍♀️.

Yesterday, my coworker and I were talking about our personal development, positive affirmations and meditation. Even though I have been slacking, I realized how much I enjoy this particular activity. I shared the podcast details with her and what it means to me to listen every morning. Seriously, one morning while listening and reciting those positive affirmations a great idea popped in my head that set me on a different path in life. My coworker proceeded to find the podcast on her music app right then and there. Next thing I know I can hear her reciting the affirmations at her desk. I smiled so hard. And when she said “I Am Worthy” I heard the change in her voice. That is one of the affirmations I always say with a little extra flair. Lol. Yes, I Am Worthy!!!

After running through all the affirmations, she turned to me and said “I do feel better after that. I am going to do these every morning.” That is what it is all about. I know just reciting affirmations every day may not cause a great mindset shift, but it is a start. “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results” as said by Willie Nelson. And we have to start somewhere right? Zig Ziglar said, “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” Well said.

The Sincerely HER podcast gives you work week, short bursts of motivation to start your day. And I mean short. Lol. Most of the listens are no more than 3 minutes. The 100th episode is more than 3 minutes but you won’t notice because it is so awesome. To listen on Apple, you have to download Apple podcast. I listen on Amazon music which unlike Apple doesn’t required a separate app. Team Android here 😂. You can also find the podcast on other streaming sites as well. Check it out.

Today is the last day of the year and I have so much to say, but I have to gather my thoughts. I don’t want to be just rambling on and on. Though we may not know what the day will bring, let’s make it a great one. Be well and whole. Much love 🧡 💚

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End of an Era

Last night was the last day that I would be a homeowner. Today I signed the papers to hand my house over to another. It is an emotional, bittersweet moment. I have not cried but I probably will. I wore makeup today and I am still out and about so it won’t be pretty to have mascara stained cheeks. Lol. Not exactly how I thought this journey would go. Honestly nothing in this journey has gone the way I thought it would. Lol.

I purchased my house at the age of 24 in November of 2001. First time moving out on my own. I had wanted to get an apartment and move out of my mom’s and stepdad’s house way before then. My ever persuasive mother said it didn’t make sense to pay someone else all that money and to not get anything in return. I hear you lady. So I stayed with them as I saved money and pretty much brought everything I needed for my home. I had all my furniture, a boatload of towels, paper towels, toilet paper, sheets and anything else you can think of. I had it all. But I was still not prepared for homeownership. It was so much more than I thought.

To be fair, I was forewarned by a few single homeowners of the unexpected expenses. Yeah, still had no clue until the first gas bill came. Lol. I don’t like being cold. I would put the heat on 80 – 85 degrees. It was winter time people! Well that first bill was $300+. Seriously caught me off guard 😂. Oh these are the type of bills my parents pay!?! On top of that cable. Who knew this shit cost this much? Smh. Water bill, electric, homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, damn the water heater went out. If you have not purchased a home, don’t be scared. It is definitely some benefits to being a homeowner.

One benefit is you can paint the house and the walls whatever color you want. My mom called my house the psychedelic shack. Every room was a different color. My bedroom was dark blue, second bedroom had red and white walls, my kitchen was green and orange and my living room and dining room was like a raspberry color. And after a couple of years I had the exterior painted coral. Everyone said it was pink. One day a guy rides down the street and hollers out the window “Pink house”. It’s coral dammit!

Another benefit is when you have a pet you don’t have to pay extra rent or a damn non-refundable security deposit. You just bring that fur baby in and enjoy. That is not to say that you won’t need to get special cleaners for your light gray carpet when your untrained shih-tzu uses the bathroom on it. And now you have to decide is this mutt worth it? My new house with new carpet vs this cute little puppy baby. I see why apartments have non-refundable deposits. Lol

Then there is the benefit of no one above you or below you. You have the house all to yourself. You can sing and dance as loud as you want. Play your music on volume level 10 or 100. Whatever makes you happy. No funky food smells in the hallway seeping under your apartment door. The only kids you have to hear are your own, if you have any. Room to grow your family without having to move to a bigger apartment. The lists goes on and on. I loved being a homeowner.

The truth is I thought I would get married. That I would share that space with someone. The responsibility divided in half. It didn’t happen. The responsibility always all mine. That shit gets draining. My house is 100 years old. There is no end to the type of shit that can go wrong. And it started to go wrong. Lol. Now do I fix it or sell it. Toledo will be in my rear view at the end of 2021. So I decided to sell. One day I had a chance conversation with just the right person and here I am today, homeless.

These past 19 years with the lovely coral house on Park St. have been great, frustrating and the experience of a lifetime. I thank God for the blessing of being a homeowner, for giving me the ability to pay my house off, for sustaining me when it got hard and for sending the right person at the right time. Cheers to the end of an Era. Be well and whole. Much love 🧡 💚

P.S. I went out to eat at Olive Garden after I signed the closing papers. This is where I typed this post. An amazing couple covered my bill for me. I was already emotional. I just wanted to bawl my eyes out. I didn’t but it was hard not to. What a way to end the day.