Author: elsims

New book, well I have actually had it for a while.

As soon as I seen it at Target, I had to have it. I, of course have not read through all 3000 questions or answered any of them on paper either. I did skim through a few pages. I think that they are some pretty interesting questions. One that I did not like was, “Who would you kill if you could get away with it?” Until this weekend that is. The truck driver that tried to run me off the road has earned that spot. Lol. I wouldn’t kill him. God will get him for me.

I am in a phase, no…a place in my life where I have found that what I have been doing, I can do much better. There is a constant search for improvement whether it is through books, listening to motivational speeches or watching sermons on YouTube. I have picked up on some really great ideas but I just haven’t implemented any of them on a consistent basis. Either I will start the practice for a few days and fall off after about a week or keep researching and never put it into action. Yes, I am a procrastinator. Yes, I know that there are books to help with that as well. Yes, I am procrastinating about reading those books. I am great at my bad habits. Not so great with creating new, healthier ones.

I started to listen to Steve Harvey’s book “Jump”, where he pretty much is saying stop waiting and letting fear or not knowing all the steps stop you from doing great things.

I fall into that category completely. There is a really great clip going around and it is on YouTube were he does a small inspirational talk about this same topic. I recommend that you check it out if you haven’t seen it. I did not finish the book, but not because I’m a procrastinator. I actually purchased the audiobook and he let someone else narrate the book. Why?? As much as he talks, that should have been right up his alley. I couldn’t reconcile the voice of the other man with the words that pertained to Steve’s life experiences. It didn’t mesh well in my mind. Now when I see an author who did not narrate their own audiobook, I don’t buy it.

If you are looking for inspiration but don’t have the time to read a book, my future husband (lol) Sean Croxton has a website called www.seancroxton.com where he takes a snippet of a motivational speech and play it almost daily. He does not post any on Saturdays and Sundays. It is called the Quote of the Day Show. I try to listen to them in the morning when my brain is fresh so I can get the most out of what is being covered. It is a definite morning pick me up. And you can listen to it as you brush your teeth and get dressed. Usually not more than 12 minutes. If you are at a crossroads, working on becoming a better person or just love gaining new and different perspectives, check out a couple of these books talked about in this post. Sean Croxton also has an e-book called “The Money Mind Reset”. I am investing time this week in reading the whole thing, no procrastinating.

Another book I recommend is “Abundance Now” by Lisa Nichols.

Lisa Nichols also has a website called Motivating the Masses. You can subscribe to her weekly newsletter that helps you tackle some real issues and give you words of wisdom to use in your daily life. If you are going to read Steve’s book “Jump”, make sure it is not the audio version. This next book I read with my book club, “Think Better, Live Better” by Joel Osteen. It can be read over and over again. There was so much that I got out of it. I even wrote down some of the really great phrases on cue cards to look at daily.

We are great but we can be better. Sometimes it takes reading a book to get the concept that someone else has been telling you all along. We have a tendency to look at correction as attacks, when really the person telling us has our best interest at heart. Maybe we aren’t ready to hear what they have to say or their delivery is off. If someone’s message is one of negativity or discouragement, don’t listen to that one! But oddly enough, those are the ones we tend to listen to. Lol. Allow your visions to flourish into reality. Take action and if you don’t know how, there is a book for that.

I have always wanted to end my post with a tagline. Something that represented me. I haven’t figured one out just yet, but we will stick with this one for now. Be well and whole.

Also, I know Monday is almost over, but I was having some difficulty adding my pics. I didn’t want to let this day get away. For one, I didn’t feel like changing the title. Lmao. Two, someone may have needed this message tonight.

I have started this post about 3 or 4 different times over the last 3 to 4 weeks. I always stop after a while. I’m not sure exactly why. Not feeling inspired. Overwhelmed and not sure how to articulate my thoughts. This time I am at my favorite place sitting on a wooden bench, feet dangling above the ground. The breeze is blowing across my neck and I can see water for miles. Nothing is more calming to me. People are walking along the walkway and ducks are bobbing around in the water. What more could I ask for?

Well…a boat would be nice so I can bob around like the ducks. Or a residence on the water so this could be my view every day. Lol. Guess I’ll settle for this perfect day for now.

I have had some mentally and emotionally draining last few weeks. Usually I’m pretty good at handling things but not this time. I mean I’m not messed up or on the verge of a breakdown. Just not thinking and creatively numb. What the hell? I started a blog because I have so much to say and then to not be able to say it is weird. Also, I think I just got out of the routine of waking up and writing with a fresh, unburdened mind. Now in this moment looking at the subtle movements of the water and this clear blue sky, I feel some of the pressure releasing off my chest. I don’t exactly feel like me but, I feel better.

I recommend getting away from your thoughts and going to your favorite place. Rejuvenate your soul and find the peace that makes you whole. Or at least what takes off some of the pressure. There is nothing like it. There are some things in life that are truly unavoidable. And when you come across these things, these situations plus our own negative self talk and problems we have created for ourselves, how do you handle them? How do you balance yourself out? Whatever works for you, make sure you do it. We have to present our best selves to the world. It is what we are meant to do and meant to be. Our best is what allows others to be their best. We smile, laugh, inspire, encourage, uplift. Someone needs you. Don’t let your light stay dimmed. I had a friend and coworker read my blog for the first time recently. She told me how she really enjoyed it. That she laughed and she cried. That is exactly how I wanted people to be affected by my simple and true words. By me exposing some of my vulnerability. By letting my light shine. Don’t go too long without taking care of self. I may be the person who needs your light. When I think about it, it’s probably your fault that my light was dimmed. Dammit! Get yourself together right now. Lol. Seriously, be well and whole, the world needs you at your best.

A year ago the MS Walk was the same event that sparked a fire in me to start my blog and quit waiting for the right time, look, feel. This year I thought it would be the event that got me back to regularly blogging. Not so much. I really did have a great time and my team may have been smaller but they were just as awesome and inspiring. The walk is just so amazing. You see how many people are affected by MS. Not just the person with MS but their families and their friends. This walk shows the love and support. I had went back and forth with myself trying to decide if I was going to say all the good things in one post or if I was going to put good and bad in it. At this point I need to just say something. It’s been 2 weeks since the event. So here goes.

The Good Stuff
Like I said my team was awesome. They were an assortment of friends and family. It was a beautiful sunny day. One of my team members was finally able to walk this year. She represented Ebony’s Avengers by completing the whole mile, twice. While the rest of the team stayed with me walking at a snail’s pace. Here we are at the finish line.

I was blessed again this year to give away another blanket. I finished the blanket at 6 am that morning. I did want to add more to it but I just ran out of time.

It looks small but it was just big enough for Ellen.

Ellen, of course, is a beautiful person who also happens to have MS. I met her in the bathroom. Lol. I am sure I creeped her out. I just told her that I wanted to give her something but it was just outside the door with my friend Anthony. When we got out of the bathroom, she did wait to see what it was but I am sure she was still weirded out. I explained to her that I had MS as well. Starting last year I wanted to give a blanket away to someone like me. To someone who has to deal with this unpredictable, life-changing disease. She was a little emotional but also touched that I had chosen her this year. Surprisingly, she was at the MS walk all by herself. No one from her team had shown up. She got out there with her walker and showed the world that she won’t let MS stop her. And she was moving pretty good. It was a pleasure to meet her and to put a smile on her face. God definitely picked a deserving person this year as well.

Now for next year, I believe that I will still make a blanket but depending on the weekend I may not be able to attend. One of my good friends is getting married in Las Vegas and I will absolutely be there. So hopefully the walk will be the weekend before or after the wedding.

The Bad Stuff
I have seen the MS walk go from a thriving event with a bunch of activities before and after the walk to a shell of an event. This is pretty disturbing to me. I am not sure if there was a change in the event organizers or if they were just looking to downsize the event. Either way it sucked.

Now this is the worst part about the walk. One year the University of Toledo had a bridge blocked off due to construction that we would normally cross. That year the Walk used a different route. Understandable. What isn’t understandable is why they continue to use this new route? The route is not MS friendly. It involves going up and down a hill. It also has variations in the path that makes me use too much energy to stay balanced. I am tired a quarter of a mile in. This allows for me to assume that there is not anyone affected by MS on the committee helping to plan the walk. Which doesn’t make any sense at all. My goal is to walk the walk as long as I possibly can. It may take 45 minutes to walk a mile, but I can know that I did it. This is important to us.

Lastly, there are not any clear directions of what door to enter for the event. One year it was the front door of the building. The next year it was the back, even though I parked closer to the front to save energy for the walk. What the hell? Get it together people. I am truly interested in being on the committee and I am going to reach out to see if I can. The next year’s walk cannot be like this year’s. It was the worse so far.

There is so many things that a person with MS has to go through and will go through. The walk should be one of the good things. As I said, I debated if I was going to say all these negative things in this post or create a different one. At the rate I’m going with posting, it would have been another 2 weeks before I said it. Lol.

This post is set up to be shared with my Facebook page. I have not deleted my account but I am still not active on Facebook. Therefore the best way to contact me is through my email, elsims27@yahoo.com or call/text, 419-213-9391. Or you can comment below.