Happy Turkey Day!

It's that time of year again. Happy Thanksgiving!! I cannot wait to see my family, eat all the good food and maybe have a drink or two. I am most thankful for growth this year. I have been able to see my emotional growth this year. I am better than I was last year. I am thankful for family and friends. Thankful that they get me and understood my intense need for space these last two years. I am thankful for life, for waking up this morning. Thankful that I am still here and have the chance to get things right. I am thankful for clarity. Today, I am most thankful for love. A year ago, I would not have said that. But, love is still a beautiful thing. I have no issue seeing it but I'm not actively seeking it out. I am thankful for the possibility of all that will come next in my life. I am thankful for the ability to visit memory lane but not get stuck there. I am thankful for the ability to write about it all. Today will be an amazing day because I said so. Happy Turkey Day, people!!

Thoughts on a Sunday

It's been a long week. Emotions have taken me through it. So, since today is Sunday, I thought I'd focus on the positive. Today's post is all about the things in my life that I am grateful for. 

• I woke up this morning, well rested and in a great mood. 
• My Saints won!!!! It was a home game and it was a great one. We needed this win to shake up the rest of our season. #RoadToTheSuperBowl
• I am thankful for the ability to pray for peace. Peace of mind, body and soul. Because I deserve it.
• I am beyond thankful for the gift of clarity. I needed it desperately. I was acting out of character and it needed to end. 
• I am grateful for lessons learned. I took a leap of faith but it didn't end the way I envisioned. Reason, season, lifetime in full effect here. 
• My hair is growing so fast. It is healthy and I am happy. This is a huge deal to me. Forever grateful for full edges and length and thickness.
• I have really high standards and I am extremely hard on myself. But, I know what I want and what I deserve. I deserve people who know that they want me in their life and at what capacity. I deserve reciprocity. I deserve happiness. I am grateful for the people in my life that get that and give it as well.
• I am thankful for open, honest, frank discussions about any and every thing. I am as grateful for the people I encounter who can engage me intellectually. I thrive off of intelligence. 
• I've realized that I've invested way too much time in the ability of someone other than myself to bring me happiness. The problem with that is if/when that person leaves, so does my happiness. I am grateful for that light bulb moment I had recently. I am Kenda and I determine my own happiness with or without anyone else in my life. 
• I am thankful that I can see myself for who I am , flaws, faults and great things in all. I see me better than any other person walking this Earth. I am me and that is a wonderful thing. Grateful. Thankful.

Thank God for your 30's...

My birthday is this coming Saturday. Yikes! I'm truly not ready. Around my 28th birthday, I started dreading my 30th. To me, 30 represented the age one should have it together. Career, marriage, family, and home should be in place. I was so far from that. I didn't even know if I truly wanted it. Turning 30 became, something I wanted to avoid. Right before that birthday, I realized that I was blessed. I knew too many folks who didn't make it to see their 30th birthday. So, I embraced it. Especially since I didn't look it.

My 30's ushered in something wonderful. The 3 years after 30 were some of my happiest ever. I know I wouldn't have appreciated it in my 20's. I didn't mind turning 31,32, or 33. Now that I'm days away from my 34th, that feeling is back. I'm not happy about this birthday. I back to that place I was before my 30th. So, in am effort to turn it around, I'm thinking about all the wisdom that I've gained so far in my 30's. I posted the below on my Tumblr yesterday.

Thank God for your 30's... 

I’m thankful for the wisdom that comes when you cross the threshold of 30…for a plethora of reasons.All the things you think, do, say, believe in your 20’s will drastically change in your 30’s…if you’re lucky. 

In your 20’s, you THINK you know it all. In your 30’s, you KNOW you do not.  

I ran the streets in my 20’s. I was in every club, knew the dj's, bouncers and bartenders. I loved going out. Then, it got old. And, I grew up. 

You will too.

What have your 30's taught you? I know God has a plan for all of us. I thought I knew about mine. I've been proven wrong. So, the one thing I truly want for my birthday is a clue. I've spent too much time thinking I'm doing the wrong thing. Oh and tulips. Tulips on my birthday would make my day. I guess I could always go buy my own, right? It's officially my birthday week. Let's all pray that it's a happy one. Here's to 34 & prospering! Happy Birthday Week To Me!! 

Give Thanks

• My family. Wouldn't trade them for all the money in the world. 
• My health. Aside from allergies, I am almost always healthy.
• A roof over my head, a soft place to sleep, the warmth of central air/heat. 
• Conversations with the kids (nieces and nephews). I love seeing the world from their perspective. So much wisdom from such tiny souls. Plus they give the best hugs this Teedy has ever received.

• These dope chocolate boots that I will be rocking today. I LOVE them. They are a fave. 
• My writing ability. It is my gift. I couldn't be happier that I get to share it with the world. 
• The Thanksgiving day meal I prepared and the family time that I am craving today. 

• Reciprocity in my life from those I love and trust. I dig that they give me what I need. 
• The arts. Good music and literature and art makes my soul happy. 
• And, finally, the promise of tomorrow. Another day to try to get this thing called life right. 

So Thankful

Today and everyday I am thankful for life. For waking up every day to try to get this thing called life right. Thankful for family...the good, the bad and the indifferent. Thankful for the ability to love and be loved. Thankful for the brown skin that I am in. Thankful that God gave his only son for my sins. Thankful for the talent that I possess. I am just grateful for all the things that have been bestowed upon me. I am not just aware of these things on Thanksgiving but every day. Every day is a gift. My gift. I hope that I am not taking any of them in vain or for granted. I know that I can do better, much better in some areas. I am in a constant state of growing. Ever thankful. Every day. Hope that you guys are as well. Happy Turkey Day!

Thankful!

* For life. I woke up today. That is a gift in itself. Thank God.

* For family. Good, bad, or indifferent, they hold me down. They have my back. They praise me when I'm right. They tell me when I'm dead wrong. And, they love me unconditionally.

* For friends. These are the people who choose to love me. They laugh with me. They call me on my bs. They clown me whenever they feel that need to. They listen when I just need to talk. And I love them for this.

* For my Heart. I thought that there was a part of me that wasn't lovable. I convinced myself that it wasn't a viable option anymore. And then, I was proven wrong. Dead wrong. The ability to love and be loved is a gift that I cherish.

* For my Love. Finding him was like finding another part of me. I didn't know what I was looking for until I met him. We just click. It's still amazing to me.

* For Health. I think I take it for granted. But I'm so thankful for it.

* For Growth. Lord knows I've done a lot of that. And, I still have much further to go.

* For my Gift. This blog helps me use my gift. Writing is my thing. I'm so grateful for this outlet.

Happy Thanksgiving to you!