Interesting Times

Hello Friends,

How are you doing?  It is no secret we are living in interesting times with what has been classified as COVID19 pandemic sweeping across the World.

My heart and prayers are for every one of us who have been impacted one way or the other by this strange plague virus that has proven to be lethal to so many and has turned daily life upside down for many others.

I have been fortunate enough to be able to work from home and continue to receive a pay check and buy groceries and meet my various obligations.  My heart hurts so deeply for those who's financial well being are hanging in the balance; for those who are still employed but required to interact personally with the public like all spectrum of employees that keep the healthcare system afloat and grocery store workers etc.

My heart aches for those who's loved ones who have died but they could not be there with them; for those who can't have friends and family around to grieve and comfort them.

My heart grieves for parents, students, leaders, our world.

While medical professionals scramble to find vaccines, cures etc. I wonder, can this health crisis ever be eradicated?  Will we ever be able to do life as "normal" again?  I know only God has the answers and certainly knows the future. I know that God is able to intervene if he chooses to.

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Will leaders of  "Leading/Powerful" Nations humble themselves now that they realize that money, status, economics, will and has failed? Publicly call on God? repent for moving away from God's moral standards?  Seek God's will and make changes?

That remains to be seen. However, while we have no control over our leaders of Government we do have control over our own actions.

Are you feeling Anxious about it all?  I recommend a very encouraging and timely book titled Anxious for Nothing by my favorite Author Max Lucado.  I wrote a book review Here

I recently felt the need to re-read this book, and it was such a blessing to my soul again.  I am doing okay though, trying not to eat too much.  

I have a milestone birth day on Monday...40 years of God's goodness, mercy, provision, and favor.  I really have so much to be thankful for.  My life's journey could be a good movie script or book.  So many miraculous twists and turns some pleasant and others not so much.  Through it all, God remains Faithful to me, I really don't deserve it because I am far from perfect but I thank God for looking past my faults and meeting my needs and the Greatest gift of all has been Salvation.  Thank you Lord.

Take Care,
~Highly Favored

STILL Here

HI Friends,

I am still here!  It has been a few months since my last post and I am really missing my space here.

Lots of interesting things has been going on for me recently that has kept me busier than normal.

Was promoted at work to Director of my team!! God has favored me and appointed me and by his leading and grace and wisdom all is going well.  Praise God.

I started a meetup group.  Are you familiar with meetup?  I'm so excited, I have two events posted so far and I'm am so looking forward to all that will evolve from this group!

I won second place in my local toastmasters club 'Table Topics' competition!!  That's second place out of four competitors.  The first place winner is a lot more experienced and competed before however, I was so proud of myself for taking the challenge.

Lately I have been itching to write a new series....It's usually around this time of year that I have the unction to delve into a new perspective from a spiritual angle. I have had so much inspiration and have been jotting down notes on my phone to not forget them.  Just need to settle and focus.

To my consistent blog friends, I still read all your posts!!  I miss you all and hope to engage more soon.

Thanks for reading and have a blessed week!

Overcoming Me

Usually around this time of year is when I start writing down my goals for the next 12 Months.  I also review what I wrote down to accomplish in previous years and noticed that often times I may not accomplish every goal within the time ascribed (12 Months)  but noted that some are accomplished within a 24-36 month window and I gleefully put a check mark for accomplishment. Such a wonderful feeling to do this!

2018 feels like it moved with such immense speed. In fact, these past few years feels like each subsequent year moves faster than the last. Have you experienced the same?

I've had many high points, low points and in between this year and I'm thankful for all of them. Yes, I'm even thankful for the low points because interestingly in these moments I've discovered various strengths and been propelled to stretch  beyond myself.

I will share how I channeled inner and spiritual strength to motivate myself beyond myself these past 12 months. In addition to developing a lifestyle of thankfulness, especially during the 'low' and in between moments/seasons of life.

I am naturally an introvert; almost 'cookie cutter' introverted. Like all things, there are great positives (strengths) and negatives (limitations) to this personality style.  One of the limitations of being an introvert is avoiding small talk/random chit chat.  You've guessed it, I am not a social butterfly.  There is a difference between being Introverted and Shy.  I am  not a shy person.  I can be 'social' if I choose, but its not my natural inclination.I am naturally inclined to hide away and not bee seen or noticed.  (perhaps a main reason why I am still 'single', perhaps the main reason why I don't have a blog profile picture, perhaps the reason why I don't write too many personal posts among other perhaps..... ).

Any how, this year I decided to challenge the Introverted me and join my Organizations Toastmasters club. Toastmasters is a public speaking club/community. I knew joining that I am generally a good public speaker as each time I've had to address an audience, I receive positive feedback unsolicited. My main reason for joining Toastmasters however was to transition form a generally good speaker to a GREAT public speaker, but more personally to challenge myself to mingle and just generally talk more, on purpose. The title of my first Toastmasters speech was 'Introvert Anonymous' which I compared joining Toastmasters for me was akin to joining an anonymous group for recovering addicts. So far, so great! I am thankful that I am investing in this aspect of my life and that I choose to challenge myself in this way. I am excited to see how this investment flourishes as time progress. Plus, I get to practice my chit-chat, small talk skills when I run into a club member. #Winning #Thankful #LivingPurposefully #OnPurpose.

I am also naturally an analyzer. Just like being an introvert, there are many positives and a few negatives to having an analyzer mind.  One of the negatives limitations of being an analyzer is OVER analyzing almost everything, often times unnecessarily. For me, this also causes some degree of anxiety, high degree of procrastination and the annoying habit of indecisiveness because, thinking 'analyzing' too much into a situation, suspecting 'analyzing' a persons unspoken intent or words, needing to know 'analyzing' the what if's and all possibilities to make the right decision; As a result, I am also not inclined to take risks.
This is one of the reasons I was so eager and was so blessed to have read Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado  this book truly brought perspective to my anxious  over analyzing thoughts. I am a work in progress in this area and I am practicing daily to not think so deeply all the time, just live and let live and Faith my Fears.

I definitely can write lots more about my personal limitations and finding ways to overcome them.  It's a challenge that I look forward to improving on personally to nurture a better version of me. 

Finally, I am generally a very grateful person never hesitant to show appreciation.  I endeavor to keep strengthening this aspect of my life to always find reasons to be grateful and demonstrate an attitude of Thanks Living.

I encourage you to acknowledge your personal weaknesses and find ways to overcome them for a better version of you is waiting on ......YOU!

The Royal Wedding

This post is very special to me.  The reason is, my very FIRST Blog Post (Link) was on William and Kate's wedding.


You see, I was reading many blogs during that season, however I was not pulled to starting a blog and writing a post until after watching their wedding.


First let me say that Harry and Megan's wedding was simplicity at its best.  Their love and admiration for each other was so tangibly felt. The part that moved me the most was watching her mother and  imagining all the emotions that welled up in her heart. 


Coming from a somewhat slightly similar background, (being raised as an only child by single black mother, sent to private school and graduating from college, same age range).  Just looking at her Mom holding back the tears, and trying hard to keep her composure, my heart ached.  Just knowing all that she never could have dreamt or imagined happening before her eyes..... her girl marrying a Prince.... a Royal Wedding.....now titled Her Royal Highness...... the world watching...... I felt overwhelmed with her.


Then her dress stunned everyone in a way that they didn't expect. Everyone was expecting a bit of grandeur to some degree, instead just the opposite.....extreme simplicity. Talk about drawing attention in an unexpected way.  Also, I love how fresh her face was; to me that was Royal. Loving yourself the way you are; not bowing to pressure to please any one's expectation of you.


The black minister that officiated the talk on LOVE, with his humor, personality and charisma how powerful was that sermonette?! 


The Choir.....I was so happy to see them, excellent presentation. 


My heart is still full from this experience.  I pray that their marriage will be fulfilling to them both as they live out their purpose in service, compassion, philanthropy, equal rights, and all that they endeavor to accomplish together.

Just Random

HI Friends,

I miss the Blogsville community😭.  Reading and connecting was a guilty pleasure, perhaps an addiction of some sorts that can no longer be fulfilled as it was when blogging was popping like 4 years back.

Some bloggers gave us a good bye post, most just stopped without notice, and so I still struggle with closure from the ones I connected with most that no longer blog (don't judge me).

Do you remember the days when you could hop from one blog to the next and the next and the next with updated posts?  Oh well, I need some blog rehab therapy.

Shout Out to the Real Blogger MVP's holding it down.  I am so happy to still be connected to a few who still blog regularly, however due to recent life changes for a few of you them, I wonder if you they will continue over the long haul?

It's hard for me to connect with most of the .com bloggers these days. Most just don't seem to have that personal touch as before. So much ...... 5 Things... 8 Must... 3 Doodles...  or their posts are mainly promoting/marketing of products and brands. Nothing wrong with that, however that style/focus just doesn't resonate with me. (Deep breath, Oh Well)

My blogging is slacking too I know, but I got 'energy' 'inspiration' from the blog community at large.

Do you feel the same?

How can we strengthen our community of the few consistent bloggers left, and perhaps inspire others to share more, post more, or start a new anonymous blog?  I think a lot of people coming out kind of "cramped their style"

On another topic; I was at a concert last weekend, and lets just say it was not the most enjoyed.  The event  was to start at 6pm and they didn't open the doors until 6pm.  Sound check was going on and the atmosphere was just not feeling right. In addition, to some of the opening "acts" (Gospel music presentation should never be considered an "act" or entertainment) however, I can't help feeling this way at times, as that is how it comes across.

What is going on with this selfie society?!  I like to take a nice selfie every now and then but is there a line crossed when it appears obsessive?  While in line waiting to enter the venue, there was a group that took incessant pictures......I'm just saying, when is enough enough or too much too much?

Any way how about cell phone addiction? There was a lady next to me in the venue that was on her phone incessantly, between taking selfies, Facebook etc, just about the entire time.  It was distracting and disturbing to me at the same time, to see how people have lost themselves and unable to enjoy the moment, the present here and now without the need to touch their phone.

Thank You

Thank you friends for your heartfelt condolences, prayers and hugs from my last post.  I felt the sincerity in your words of hope, encouragement and empathy.

I will be traveling to Jamaica week after next. I have mixed emotions that include excitement and expectation.  It's been about 10 years since the last time I went home. This would be the first time all of my Father's 5 daughters are together, we've met and or spent time together separately but never all together.  I wonder if he has any other children that the rest of us don't know about?  I guess we will find out.

I look forward to sharing my experience when I return.  I hope to capture some highlights for a future post on the 'Jamaican Funeral' as a topic for the Cultural Expressions feature; By the way, did you check out the most recent post in that category about Jamaican Mother's?

I'm not done with the I've Got POWER series.  I will not be distracted, I endeavor to stay on course and complete this empowering series as I believe God is taking us to greater heights.

Again, Heartfelt Thanks to All of You. Stay tuned....


Much Love,

Highly Favored

Random_ Surprize

What an awesome time we had in service today!!!!!  My church has a special service each Sabbath in the Month of February to commemorate Black history in America.

We always start off with Africa Day and the praise team did an EXCELLENT job ministering and leading us in worship this week. They led out with beautiful songs from various African languages.  Awesome I tell you.....AWESOME!!!

Check out the service   http://new.livestream.com/metrosda/FEB072015/videos/76370011

Guess What???!! I bought a really nice Camera end of  December 2014.  It's a Cannon Rebel T5i.

I've been experimenting since, and below is the very first photo I took!....

A Poinsettia on our kitchen table...




Yummy soup being cooked by Mama Favor......it was delish!!

A few days ago.....beautiful sunrise in my backyard...

Surprize!!!!! A picture (of a picture) yours truly, Highly Favored, Africa Day several years ago.

I'm excited about my new camera.  I'm learning how to use it and getting more comfortable with the various features as time goes by.  Looking forward to documenting and sharing more pictures as Spring and Summer approaches from Favor's Lens.

God Bless you!!

Hair

It's been quite a number of years since I've worn my hair completely natural, probably about 4 or 5 years now. However I remember just prior to going natural that each time I was getting relaxers, I started getting this conviction and ill feeling about altering the state of my hair that God gave me.  This was not due to any external pressure as 4 or 5 years ago in my location there were not a lot of people talking about or going natural so I was not being "brain washed" by any external influences.  So this inner guilt kept getting stronger and stronger until one day after taking braids out of my relaxed hair I had it cut off to the new growth length.  That is how I started to embrace the hair God gave me. 

I wear it out in what I describe as a poof with a scarf wrapped around most of the time.  To be totally honest, I am proud of my hair and who I am.  BUT, I am really considering perming again.  I don't know when but I know soon.  I am ready for another change and can always start all over again with natural hair when I'm ready.