Resolutions???

I actually love change and new beginnings so it is only natural that I always make new years resolutions.. But this year I found myself getting all wound up about just trying to make a list of all the things I want to work on.. So that sort of defeats the purpose, right? So I am not making any resolutions other than to work at living life on purpose. We don't get a second go at this life so I am going to continue to live out loud and on purpose and that's it! BOOM! HELLO 2014! Sherri

Insomnia

Lately I have not been able to sleep. It seems that I always have too much on my mind and I can't seem to quiet down. My kids are great but I do have a teenager now and he is also trying to get into a great high school...so the pressures are high...all that along with work and life pressures. So almost every night I wake up around 4:00 staring at the ceiling. Trust me that really sucks because you really feel the pain when the lack of sleep starts to catch up to you later in the day. A good friend once told me that when insomnia hits, it is God trying to have a conversation with you. Well, I understood that and so I did a little praying. I think the lesson is that I just have to find a way to truly let go. I am an unfortunate ALPHA female and I am just wound way too tight. I really have to find time to release and enjoy this life. Now how does one go about doing that... Loooks like I will have to get back to you on that one... Sherri

Murphy

Last Wednesday, I didn't sleep very well the night before and to make matters worse it was rainy and straight depressing when I woke. I think I was having so much trouble sleeping because it just seems like there is so much on my mind lately that I can't seem to quiet all the questions when I try to sleep. I think I read somewhere that when you can't sleep, God is trying to talk with you..probably true... So I went in to work feeling some kind of way and as I walked the few blocks to my office I noticed a blind man walking. Now, I have seen this man before but this is the first time he and I were walking in the same direction. Well, we end up at the same intersection and he asks me to help him cross. I said "of course" and the we struck up a conversation. He said his name was Murphy. He was kind and sweet and incredibly upbeat. All I kept thinking was "WOW you are walking around here sad and this man with all of his limitations, he still has a positive outlook." I think God sent Murphy to me as a reminder that I have so much to be grateful for and the GOD has all of this under control. Have a great day! Sherri

Finding Time....

My life is so harried that I can never seem to find time to do the things I like..  Like writing this blog, reading books..

I seem to allow myself to be drifted into mindless nothingness...just wasted time.

So I have decided that I will come back to this blog if even for only a few seconds to just write something...anything to stay connected.

Developing patience with myself,

Sherri

Grateful for another try...

So I have decided to try and resuscitate this blog... YET AGAIN.  I guess I allow myself to get to so caught up in life that I don't get around to using it.  Perhaps shorter posts...

Regardless, 2012 was a breakthrough year for me.  I am at a great job and my family is doing great.  So this year I hope to tie up the dangling ends...get finances in order, finish the household project and most importantly, enjoy life.

I actually like resolutions because they are an example of new beginnings and how things can improves.  Interesting thing, I checked last years resolutions and they are pretty much the same for this year:

1.  Lose 10 pounds.  While I am essentially the same weight I have been for a few years, I would love to be a little leaner. Thus, resolution #2.

2.  Workout 5 days a week.  I usually workout 3 times a week but I think I need a bit more now that I have entered my fabulous 40's.  Importantly, I am not delusional...I know I am not going to always be able to do a super long workout but I can certainly find 30 minutes each work day.

3.  Read 25 books this year.  I have always been a voracious reader but nowadays I spend way to much time plopped in front of the TV watching reality shows.  It's time for a breakthrough, right?

4.  Stop frivolous shopping.  I REALLY like shopping and I have an overstuffed closet to prove it.  Further, we remain in the throws of a recession so my family is counting pennies.  Therefore, I will curb purchases with the only purchases being either thrifted or gift card funded purchases.

So does this mean I pretty much failed last year...HMMM...I think there is just room for improvement.

I'm ready... LETS GO!

Sherri

The Power of Positive Thinking....

Ok...so I have my hands full.  It seems like every time I turn around there is just more bad news.  Now, I know that life will not be full of roses but man I have just been taking way too shots to the chest.  My dear friend, Davida said she admired my perseverance but it is hard to keep moving forward with an anvil on your back.  Arguably, things could always be much worse.  I am healthy.  My kids are a dream and my husband is fantastic.  Yet, I find myself with difficult circumstances.  Honestly, the one thing I hate is a person who is gloom and doom and is a jerk to everyone around them.  I refuse to be that person that takes their circumstances out on everyone else because they are struggling....  So how do I shake this...move forward somehow, right?

Well, I have done a little research about the power of positive thinking.  Remez Sasson says that "positive thinking is mental attitude that admits into the mind thought, words and images that are conductive to growth, expansion and success."  This attitude expects favorable results.  This is very similar to the bestseller The Secret.  It is almost like you are willing goodness into your life.

Now, I know not to allow the bad circumstances to paralyze me but it sure is tough to keep smiling while you are wrestling with the devil.  My faith reminds me that the devil will certainly show up when you are the most down so that just tells me that I have to have my most positive thoughts and affirmations ready.

So let's begin the power of positive thinking with a few of my favorite quotes:

No matter what comes your way, you have to believe you will see God's goodness again.  You must believe you will see God turn it around. - Joel Osteen

The happiest people in the world don't have the best of everything, they make the best of everything. - Khloe Kardashian

Believe - Rev Run

Try Harder - P Diddy

Stop worrying!!!! WTF??? (Where's The Faith)

Remember, God would never take something away from you without the intention of replacing it with something much better - Anonymous

Things fall apart so other things can come together - Kimora Lee Simmons

So here we go...  Day one of Positive Thinking...  Lets see what happens!

Cheers,

Sherri (With Positiveness)

New Year's Resolutions????

I know that a lot of people scoff at New Year's Resolutions because many of us never follow through with them or waste time on things that never work out like resolutions.  I disagree. I love new beginnings and change. I like resolutions because it allows us to start fresh again, no matter the circumstances with the hope that things can be better.  So here is my rather ambitious list of resolutions for 2012.

1.  Lose 10 pounds.  While I am essentially the same weight I have been for a few years, I would love to be a little leaner. Thus, resolution #2.

2.  Workout 5 days a week.  I usually workout 3 times a week but I think I need a bit more now that I have entered my fabulous 40's.  Importantly, I am not delusional...I know I am not going to always be able to do a super long workout but I can certainly find 30 minutes each work day.

3.  Read 25 books this year.  I have always been a voracious reader but nowadays I spend way to much time plopped in front of the TV watching reality shows.  It's time for a breakthrough, right?

4.  Stop frivolous shopping.  I REALLY like shopping and I have an overstuffed closet to prove it.  Further, we remain in the throws of a recession so my family is counting pennies.  Therefore, I will curb purchases with the only purchases being either thrifted or gift card funded purchases.

"12" is my favorite number so nothing but goodness is sure to come my way this year.  So let's get on with it and start living.  2011 was very hard for me but I told the devil to bring it on because I know that my breakthrough is coming and GOD HAS GOT THIS!

Happy New Year!

A love letter to Howard University...

So I have visited HOWARD University three times in one week to get a transcript.  Now one would think you could just visit campus one time to retrieve a transcript...but HOWARD being HOWARD closed the transcript office at 3:00 the first day I tried.  The second day I was able to pay for the transcript but had to give them 24 hours to print it.  So finally it was ready.  While I was inconvenienced by the process, I was completely left with a sense of pride that I have never felt any place else.  There is truly just something about HOWARD..

Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVED Maryland. It was a great place to attend undergrad!  I met wonderful people there! SHOOT, I met my husband there AND got married there but HOWARD definitely holds a special place in my heart.

Let me go back to my recent visit and explain why......

So I get out of my car and head across campus to the "A" building and I found myself reminiscing about my many experiences there.  While the law school is at a different campus, I remember the many hours I spent in line at the "A" building trying to cash the financial aid checks.

Then I remembered my first summer dating my husband and him taking me to see "Once on this Island" at the Ira Aldridge theater (he swept me off my feet early).

Then I passed by Slowe Hall named for one of my sororities founders...

Then I passed by a group of black guys and most people (myself included) would expect them to shooting the breeze about the latest hip hop song but I was pleasantly surprised to overhear them discussing Psychology issues from case study book from class...

A distinguished recruiter friend told me that even though HOWARD produces top notch performers, most companies do not give Howard graduates a second look because they assume us to be somehow sub-standard. This left me furious and angry.  Some of the greatest minds have been graduates of this institution!!!!  While disappointed with the general state of the world, one thing holds true.... there is still just something about HOWARD.

There is just a history that surrounds you when you are there whether it be Thurgood Marshall's ghost tapping you on your shoulder or Roberta Flack singing in your ear...there is just something. Even my husband's family, who are from another country call Howard home and HOWARD helped them produce successful doctors.

Everything is special at HOWARD.....even down to the vendors. They have a special flavor, too...stuff you can't buy from any old run of the mill vendors.

So I left the campus after the expected hiccups still feeling inspired.  I am grateful for all those that came before me who are now cheering for ME.

All I could say is AMEN and AMEN!

Soror, Sister, Friends! :)

Today I had brunch with two of my linesisters.  Together, we made up the caboose of the line...12, 13 and 14.  For me, I was reminded just how little time I spend with friends and how I need to make more time with them.

We  didn't do anything special but it was just really great to reminisce and just laugh.  I think we all get so caught up in our own lives and what we deem "problems" that we just miss out on the good things in life.  Today was one linesister's 40th and the other turns 40 on the 30th.  Shoot, these bitties look great!  You 20 year-olds work up to that!

Somehow I left the brunch energized and hopeful about all the possibilities in life and and joyful.  Thanksgiving was a wonderful reminder of just how fortunate I am and this brunch was a great way to top it all off.

Thankful for my family, friends and sorors!

- Sherri

To Tweet or Not to Tweet..That is the Question

So I consider myself pretty savvy when comes to most technology.  I have sipped the "apple" Kool Aid so I have almost every apple product and have a Facebook account and a pitiful little blog AND... I kind understand the purposefulness of Facebook as it is a useful catching up mechanism but I am still struggling to understand the purpose of twitter.  It feels like it is nothing more than a whole bunch of status updates but nothing else.  Now I must admit that I often have random thoughts that I would like to share but most of the time left thinking that nobody really cares!

I am really more of a nosy twitter stalker...I just read other people's posts.  Sad, right...but yet I stay...

Oh, well.  Until I figure it out...more of a twitter stalker I will remain.

- Sherri

Not an "After School Special"

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and you generally see everyone showing their support by sporting pink in there attire and supporting this worthy cause.  I have been very fortunate since only one person in my family has been struck by this deadly disease.  My grandmother's sister died of the disease in the 1940's mostly due to limited access and resources in Alabama.  Unfortunately, ALL of the  children born from that mother have suffered with some sort of cancer moment and most have passed.  While that seems pretty close in relation to me, most doctor's don't consider these occurrences as a risk factor.  So based on that, I scheduled my first mammogram this year since I just reached the tender age of 40!

I went into my mammogram with severe trepidation.  Now, no lumps had ever been found in my breasts but it was rather surreal walking into Washington Radiology Center in Chevy Chase.  It felt a little like a really bad "after school special".  Of course, the ramifications were far more serious then a broken heart or a bad case of acne should the films come back poorly.  I found myself looking around the room at the other patients thinking is this routine for them or are there more serious problems like a lump or shadow showing up on the films.

Did you know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with this deadly disease this year? Additionally, women of color tend to contract certain forms breast cancer that are resistant to many courses of cancer treatment.  Knowing this, many women still fail to take measures to protect themselves my getting mammograms or doing monthly self exams.

Lord knows, I really don't want to hear anymore bad news but how dare I even consider not taking care of myself when my kids need a mama!

So I walk in and nurse squeezes my breast down to about two inches tall and tells me to hold still and not breath.  (To be honest, it felt like the Jolly Green Giant was stepping on my boob) Trust me, I wasn't breathing.  Then the nurse says, "well you may have to come back because there is some scar tissue and doctors will have to review that".  Well, I am like OMG she must have seen a lump and doesn't  want to tell me... So I left the appointment nervous and paranoid.

As it turns out, my film was clean with no signs of cancer and I did a little dance not just because it was clean but because I felt like I was in charge of my own health and I had done something for my family.

So next year, when it becomes time for my yearly exam, I will gladly welcome "the giant to step on my boob" and keep it moving!

I'm a HO!

Yes, I said it...I'm a HO! A sales whore!  I have some really great things and almost everything was bought at a significant discount.  Now some things will never go on sale (red bottoms, LV etc) so I have a few designer labels that don't fall into this category...but almost everything I own was purchased at a discount.  In most cases, the discount is close to 40%...how do I do that you might ask?  Your email address is your friend.  Throughout the week I receive tons of special members only sales and discounts that multiply current savings from store like Bloomingdales, Ann Taylor and Neiman Marcus.  These discounts are not advertised to the general public and they typically multiply current savings.  I almost never make a purchase without a coupon.

Some stores have great incentive programs.  Banana Republic has a great card the BR LUXE card that send you a percentage of purchase back to you but that is not unusual... but they also provide free alterations, free shipping at the GAP, OLD NAVY and Banana Republic along with personal styling.  This is great for my kids and helpful for alterations. FOR FREE!  I don't have a ton of credit cards but a few will pay off as long as you pay them off at the end of the month.

I extreme coupon...but with fashion.  So I suggest you create an email account devoted to coupons and sales.  There also come great sites that will allow you to just search for your designer favorites and they will email you when your favs go on sale.  Try www.shopstyle.com and www.shopittome.com.

I also live on Living Social and Groupon.  We are in the throws of a recession so saving money is key.  Why not get your purchases at a discount...typically 50%!  Sign me up!

Happy Monday,

Sherri

MBA Diva!

OK so my MBA kicked my ass because my blog fell off severely during the past two years.  I wrote religiously in my journal but the posts never quite made it to the computer screen.  Praise God that is over!  I mean who's dumb idea was that!  Just kidding.  My cohort was great but the workload was over the top...on top of being somebody's mama, wife, daughter, friend and soror. But I made it!  Fall back haters! HA!  Errol commented that he felt like I was coming back from a tour of duty with fatigues on and all!  It is so funny, so many people thought it was a mistake. Sigh...gotta love haters.  My MBA took me to London, Paris, Belgium, Amsterdam and Armenia.  So...I'll take it.

Check us out at the EU in Belgium.  Love you EMBA 20!

Student once again...in more ways then one!

So who's hair brained idea was it to go back to school...get an MBA...to be more marketable in an environment saturated with lawyers...oh that was me, huh.

So I start the Executive MBA program thinking "I can handle this...I have a law degree...I am smart, right?????" Then I get there and everyone assumes I must be a genius since I am a lawyer (us lawyers know that is not true), then they assume I can write really well (I can write, but prefer to talk)... It was all just a mess. Then I get a hater in my assignment group to top it all off. He literally made fun of one of my statements on an early assignment to only later find out I was exactly right. It was tough, people. TOUGH!

Then I began heaping the pressure on myself. I really want to represent my profession well. PRESSURE. I want to represent my race and gender and fight off the "angry black woman" stereotype. PRESSURE.

Then I realized there is nothing I can do but to walk down the path that God has prepared for me. Pastor Jenkins said that all you have to do is take the first step and God will do the rest.

All I have to say is AMEN!

- Sherri

Is it really so hard to be polite!

Am I becoming that grumbling old person who always complains about the injustices of the world....maybe....but there is one thing that really burns me up...lack of politeness.

Wouldn't the world be a nicer place to live if we were all a little more polite to each other.

I mean really, it is that hard to take turns letting cars in at a busy intersection or on the highway? Watch, things will be going along just fine until one rogue person just had to ignore protocol and speed by without letting anyone in. Seriously, is he going get to work any faster?

This brings to mind one episode of Seinfeld. The show opened with one of his standup routines and he is discussing how much he hates people who don't give the "wave." What is that "wave", you might be asking? The "wave" is the acknowledgement you give to another driver when they let you in traffic. Jerry Seinfeld proposed there is nothing worse then those who do not even give the minimum of a simple wave when you some other driver decided to be kind.

Let me give you another example of this politeness thing... I was walking into a store recently and I see a woman trying to open the door and push her stroller through at the same time. I was a mother of a young child once with a stroller, so I know what a difficult task that may be...so I rush up to hold the door. Can you believe that I didn't even get a thank you! The woman was very young, almost teenage...so I chalked it up to youth....but then...at the second set of doors, there is another woman trying to do the same thing (stroller/push open the door at the same time)...and can you believe she didn't say thank you either!!!!! Suddenly, I blurted out "You could at least say thank you!" Of course, the woman blurts out thanks and I am sorry..... Daggonit, she made me be rude in her failing to be polite! I know I shouldn't have said it but it just came out. I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination... but politeness goes a long way. I, was not polite by my response..... Hate me, talk about me... I guess I am a work in progress...

Still.....I'm just saying, though... LOL!

SO....what to write....

So this is my second post....and I am not really sure what to write about. I sit around during the day and think "WOW..that would be an interesting post!" But now I am drawing a blank....can't think of a thing...at least nothing interesting. Lets see what I can come up with...

One thing I have been thinking about is that as a parent, I am always telling my children to work hard...do your best... But you know what, do I do that? Am I presenting the best me there is? Probably not. I remember that growing up most classes in school came easily to me except math. So once it required me to extend myself...to work hard at it...I struggled. Aren't we all tempted to cut corners...find the easy way out...the most profitable way with the least amount of work.

Perhaps, I do push myself...sometimes....but is that my method of progression...to work hard...NOPE! Heck, I even cut corners on housework..(shhh, don't tell anyone...). I want to be an example to my kids....

I have a lot of nerve telling Miles and Layla they could be better... when I could be better myself!

Creation

OK, so I decided to start a blog.... I really have no idea the purpose of this blog...but it sounded like a good idea. You know how you find yourself thinking about things during they day and you say to yourself "I should write this down"... Well, I am writing it down. :)

Like the other day for example, I was picking Miles up from baseball practice and it really bothered me that he was the only brown kid on the entire field (several teams were playing). I swear to you the coaches were staring at me. And I don't think they were checking out my outfit. Was it in my head? Maybe. So I spent the next half hour debating my racial sensitivities...

Man, I think about stuff like this all the time.... This blogging thing might work out...or at least keep me out of the Therapist's office!

- Sherri