Saturday, January 22, 2011

#NewJobNewRealities

May 8, 2010 I graduated from college. Just like any other college graduate I was like "Okay, I got my degree! Who wants to hire me?" REALITY CHECK My first two jobs out of college were a summer counselor and daycare teacher, both paying minimum wage.  I was devastated. I had busted my behind for the past 4 years studying to the wee hours of the morning, writing papers, being a full time Resident Assistant (which at times got on my last nerves) and now it seemed like I was a leper to any employer looking to hire someone.  It was frustrating, to say the least. 

Well 8 months later I can say that I have a job where I can use my degree.  I work for the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance.  My job is to help with the efforts to improve the child hunger problem in Arkansas.  One way we are doing this is by working directly with the food banks in the state.  Even though I have only been working with them for a week, I really like my job.  I'm not about to become rich or anything but I have a job that is truly helping people.  That makes up for what I don't get in my paycheck. 

Also, working with this particular population has made me more appreciative. Not that I grew up in a wealthy home but I can't say I know what it is to go to bed hungry.  Even if my mom cooked something I didn't like it was still something to eat.  It is hard to imagine the lunch at school being the only meal I would have all day.  Unfortunately, that is the reality for a lot of children.  So I enjoy that the focus of my job is to make this sad reality a distance memory for these children.

With this new job, it has really hit me that I am an adult now.  I have been living on my own for awhile now but it has just now really hit me that I'm solely responsible for me.  This has made me see life in a new light.  Things that seemed important before don't really matter anymore.  Petty gossip and having to be apart of a crowd seems childish.  Growing spiritually, really getting to know my family, and becoming somewhat financially stable(these school loans are a female dog!) are the things that are making my To Do List.  My new reality is to appreciate everything that I have and show that appreciation whenever possible.

 

Friday, January 21, 2011

#ILoveMeSomeME

I want to start this first blog off by discussing self worth, confidence, and what it means to love your self.  As we look into society, we are told that a relationship, money, the perfect job, money (yeah, I know I said it twice), material things, and the perfect body will bring us true happiness. Well, I beg the differ. Happiness starts with the person staring back at you in the mirror.  I believe that true happiness starts with self worth, confidence, and loving yourself.  Now I'm not trying to push my beliefs off on anyone but God made us all in His image.  That makes me feel more special than any pair of name brand shoes could. Knowing that I'm made in the image of the Most High is a confidence boost in itself.  So what is it that brings down our self worth or makes us have self hate?

I believe its when we put up with others' disrespect or excuse inexcusable actions.  Someone once told me that people can only do to you what you ALLOW them to do to you. When you let others disrespect you, you are disrespecting yourself.  You are saying that you do not deserve to be treated like the great unique individual that you are. Thee are some actions that NO ONE  should have to put up with...including being cheated on, lied to, and/or abused.  You can't control others' actions but you can control how you react. This at times might mean letting certain people go because they are causing you pain and not beneficial to you.  

You have to know that its okay to love yourself and to let your shine (sorry if that sounded a little corny). You have to be brave enough to stand up for yourself even if it means being alone.  In the long run, you will thank yourself for it.  Stop letting others define who you should be and come up with your own definition of YOU.  Being dark skin, thick, and short might not be society's definition of beauty but I have made it work for me and I LOVE it.  When you wake up in the morning sometimes you just have to say "I Love Me Some ME" :D