Welcome to Friday my lovelies!

What is “Be-Good-to-Me-Friday”? WHY “Be-Good-to-Me_Friday”?

It’s certainly NOT because I’m ONLY good to “me” on Fridays. Trust AND believe.

I used to send a motivational email to some friends/coworkers weekly and every Friday, I’d close it with something like “Find some time to be good to YOU this weekend”. We get so caught up in doing what we need to do for our families, our jobs, our friends, etc. Some of us give until we’re tapped out. When push comes to shove, we push OUR needs aside and ride to someone else’s rescue. We shove what OUR wants aside to keep the peace.

(Let’s add THAT to the 2008 Moratorium list too. That whole thing about putting ourselves last, not treating ourselves as a priority.)

Years ago, someone I was dating called me selfish. “WE” hadn’t made any plans for the evening BUT “I” had made plans…with myself, to give myself some much needed “quality” time. Dude told me I didn’t know how to be in a relationship. LOL While that might have been true, it certainly wasn’t for the reason HE cited. For me, the BEST way to be in a relationship is to know what you need and go about getting those needs met in a honest, straightforward manner. That includes knowing when you need “ME” time and claiming it - without explanation or apology.

With all the things we have going on in our lives, it can be easy to get caught up in “movement”. The “doing” of some thing. Which doesn’t always equate to making strides, getting somewhere…progress. “Moving” doesn’t always equate to progress. Just ask a rocking horse. (*giggle*) Sometimes the best way to move forward is simply to stop. To be still. To rest. To recharge. Refill your cup.

You can’t give from an empty well.

So today, I’m taking some time off. Taking time to honor me. Why? Cause I kept working at “it” - at life, at being better, at being open, at being honest…at being me. Cause I didn’t let the nonsense knock me off my square. Cause I didn’t struggle with or against any thing that happened my way – work, the back pain, the plumbing issue, the “minor” gas leak, the personal drama, etc. None of it. Cause when I look back over the past week, I’m farther along that I was at the start of the week.

You don’t need a rearview mirror if you’re not moving.

Progress - positive, forward moving progress.

It’s been an interesting week. Things pretty much came at me the same way they did before (chaotic AND crazy) but this time, I showed up differently. That was the key. And that is the thing that has me excited, encouraged and most importantly, empowered to repeat the process.

So this weekend, I’m holding myself open. Open to whatever possibilities come my way. Open to what Life brings and more importantly, HOW Life brings it. Holding myself in a space that Life will read as open, accepting, and maybe even vulnerable. The vulnerable part is my challenge.

It’s not easy to hold yourself in a space that leaves you feeling “open”, “exposed”, “vulnerable” but sometimes that’s exactly what Life expects of us, what Life NEEDS us to do. Life – the one that I’m destined to lead – is worth it. And so am I. So are you. We just have to get past ourselves.

The day is in high gear. Things are…things. But it’s all good.

I’m sitting outside the fray, above the chaos. Because even in the midst of madness, life still tastes sweet. Actually, life “TASTES LIKE SOME MORE”.

Slow down long enough this weekend to at least check in with yourself. Feed YOUR soul. Refill the cup. Find ways to nurture YOU. Honor the person you are. Make room for the person you’re becoming.

Enjoy!
*~* MsJayy *~*

BREATHE.

Of my many mantras, “BREATHE” is primary, priority – and for me, pivotal. My friends can attest to that – I will break into the middle of their run-on sentence about the issue du jour with a calm and strategically timed “BREATHE” in a heartbeat. WITH the accompanying motions of pressing the fingers of my right hand together, bowing my head, closing my eyes, and moving my hand from forehead to heart. Mmm hmmm. EVEN in public.

BREATHE.

It does wonders in helping to get/keep you focused, helping you gain clarity, helping you stay centered…helping you stay in the moment.

BREATHE.

Sounds simple enough but you’d be surprised by how shallowly many of us tend to breathe. It should come as no surprise then to know just how shallowly many of us live. *smh* How deeply can you truly expect to live, to experience life, to grow your greatness if you are wily-nily about taking in the life force that will keep you connected to all of that?

Someone once told me that breathing is a form of prayer. “MINDFUL BREATHING”. Conscious breathing. Deep breathing. I believe it, that it’s a form of prayer.

Today I’m consciously practicing “MINDFUL BREATHING”. Started the day sitting in stillness, candles lit, eyes closed, regulating my breathing…breathing DEEP, feeling my body fill with a sense of calm and peace, connecting my heart and my mind. For a person who tends to live in her own head too much (classic “over-thinker) combined with having a VERY vivid imagination and VERY strong intuition, being MINDFUL is a must for me. It gives me a chance to check in with my feelings, to not get caught up in knowing (or needing to know) and to let myself truly FEEL and then honor what I feel.

Breathing helps me ensure that my soul is intact. It helps me ensure that my heart is open. It reminds me that in my life, my first and foremost “board of directors” is heart, spirit, and mind and that I must keep them aligned and on one accord in order to live this life forward.

And so, I sat in silence. Breathing. Repeating the word “Grace” in my mind as I shook my “To Do list” free. The call to the plumber, the dorm fees, the hospital bill that remains uncovered even though I’m insured, home repairs, traffic, bills to be paid, articles to be written, trip to be planned, unanswered emails, unreturned phone calls, etc.

I let my breathing slowly erase those things from my mind and gave myself space and permission to simply BREATHE. To BE.

BE…connected with my heart, my soul.
BE…grateful for it ALL.
BE…present in this moment.
BE…centered.
BE…uninhibited.
BE…sure.
BE…joyFULL.
BE…authentically, organically, intrinsically, beautifully humanly ME.

BREATHE.

I pray you BREATHE deeply in the space that life gifts to you today.

Live, Breathe, Laugh, Love Deeply,
*~* MsJayy *~*

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

On this 9th day of May in the year 2008, let it be known throughout the land that today - THIS DAY - is “JUST BE GOOD TO ME DAY”.

Yes indeed. “Just be good to me”. That’s my focus today…being good to myself. You’re free to snag that thought if you’re feeling it.

There’s been so much going on in the world lately. The situation in Philadelphia. The Sean Bell case. Senator Obama and Rev. Wright. The election. Tornados.Gas prices. Job losses. And I haven’t even broached the things that have touched me upclose and personal. It can be overwhelming.

But…not today.

Today, I refuse to let any of that stuff weigh my spirit down, make my heart heavy, or linger too long in my thoughts.

Today, I’m embracing JOY. In spite of everything that’s going on, in spite of how things might look to the “naked” eye, Life is good.

And today?

Today is another opportunity to make it even better.

I woke up ready for that challenge. I skipped the gym this morning choosing to ease into my day another way. Woke up early and laid in bed for a few minutes, listening to the rain, thinking…smiling. Pulled myself into a seated position, reached over to light the candles on the nightstand, grabbed my journal and let silence serenade me while I wrote out my thoughts.

Ran myself a nice bubble bath and let myself soak while candlelight danced across the bathroom walls to some soothing music. Treated myself to yogurt, fresh fruit and acai tea for breakfast. Got dressed, pulled on some sassy sandals (yes, even in the rain. Ha!), some funky accessories, glossed my lips, ran my fingers through the kinky strands of my hair and declared myself beautiful. Yes I did. Hell, felt so good I just might repeat the process tomorrow. LOL

Life is short.

Much too short to let ourselves be unnecessarily burdened with stuff that doesn’t matter in the long run.

That’s where my head is today.

And so, I decree upon this 9th day in May in the year 2008 that my highest intention is to BE GOOD TO ME.

I’d say I’m well on my way. And you know what?

Not only does it feel GOOD….it feels RIGHT.

“Happy BE GOOD TO ME DAY!”

In JOY,
*~* Jayy *~*