Lessons Learned!

This month I had the opportunity to take a vacation to Virginia to enjoy nature and some of it's adventures.  It was a treat if for no one else, ME.  I'm an adventurous type of woman that like to do the usual "don't do's"..... sometimes I associate with being a dare devil Gemini.  On this vacation, I went kayaking and horseback riding.  With each experience, I WAS SCARED TO DEATH! But guess what, I SURVIVED....BOTH!!!!!!

Kayaking was a lesson for me on patience, trust and endurance.  It became my analogy for my relationship with God.  I'm queen of analogies just FYI.  I get bored with people, places and things QUICK.  Once I get the point, I move on.  So for kayaking, me and my partner were one with nature, from the sights, sounds, very close to the water or possible dangers of the water, animals on the land and sea, and other people.  We had to not only work together to steer the kayaking canoe thingy, my partner did more work than me, we had to consider all things as we moved along the lake.  When I was tired and arms burning, my partner kept us going.  When I just wanted to sight see, my partner listened to my observations.  When I tried to get adventurous and venture off on my own thing for a second, but wind of falling in the very swampy and filthy water, covered in muddy water, sticks and God knows what else, my partner made sure I was ok, helped me back inside the canoe and then LAUGHED so hard at me.  This kayaking taught me that God has given me pieces of the world to enjoy and reflect on.  He's trusted me with the lives of people to help walk a better path and that requires trust!  He reassured me that sometimes, I go off on my own path and FAIL, but He doesn't condemn me, He laughs at my childish ways and steers me back in the right paths of His ways and in His will.....ain't He good?

Next up, horse back riding.  Now I've only rode ponies as a little girl so image me shaking and scared for my life approaching this animal that was extremely bigger and stronger than me and of all things, more in shape than me (Felicia doesn't exercise, only walking...... #dontjudgeme).  I was suppose to have the most softer, oldest and calmer horse than all of the other horses on the farm.  By the way, her name is Nutty Buddy.  I was given a quick lesson on how to care for and get in tune with horses and the history of Nutty Buddy.  Still afraid, I became anxious because we arrived at the farm at 10am and was still waiting around at 1pm to ride the horses.  I was almost over the experience before it began.  So with this experience, God taught me what true obedience means, my faith in the Almighty is stronger than ever, PATIENCE for the millionth time Felicia, trust in your instincts and communication skills through body language and verbal.  Because I was a little scared,......ok.... A LOT scared than other riders they took me and the horse around the yard a few times just so we can get used to each other and practice some key commands and techniques that would be much needed for the trail ride ahead.  

I noticed there were some veteran riders, first timers, a little seasoned, breeders and others on this trail with us.  Some of us rode the stallions and some walked.  Look at GOD!  The revelation to me was how our walks in our faith with God maybe different, but we all are on the same trail serving the same God and we help each other through the journey.  It wouldn't be a day in my life if my horse wasn't the most active after all.  Me and Nutty Buddy were headed for a small pond of water and after communicating to the horse several times that we were headed off the trails of others, the horse still did what it wanted to do.  The breeder, on foot, ran and stopped the horse by pulling the reigns and verbally communicating the command of turning back around and headed the horse and me, back on tract like the others.  That reminded me of the Holy Spirit that God will send to stop you in your tract and turn you around when you're headed in the wrong direction.

Oh, but the story doesn't end there.  The horse I rode had just been stung the day before by yellow jackets and we, you guessed it, rode through some.  At first, the horse sensed the danger ahead and gave a warning sign.  I didn't see anything, and kept riding next, it suddenly, in my words, WENT CRAZY and with me still on top of the horse.  Once again, the breeder ran to my side and instructed me to immediately jump off the horse.  She didn't have to tell Felicia twice you can believe that!  I had to walk the rest of the way back to the farm while others rode proudly into the stables and everyone cheering them on as they returned.  But here's the revelation I got out of this death defying experience (ok, I'm exaggerating but stay with me), LOL.  God, spoke to me and said, "Felicia, I see all and know all.  Trust me when danger, storms, trials and tribulations approaches you, I'll give you a warning that there's something about to block your path and if My warning is still unclear to you, I will take care of the danger completely away from you and you will still carry on safely on the journey I have set out for you."  When I tell you,  I hit my praise break on that farm, it was life changing.

In life and in EVERY situation you're faced with there are lessons to be learned.  If you're like me, use analogies to help you reveal God's revelations.  Seek Him and ASK Him, what He wants you to learn from these lessons learned!

Be blessed.

Pre-Order God, Do I Hear Wedding Bells? (book)

Pre-order your copy today of God, Do I Hear Wedding Bells for $10 (Free shipping and handling for a limited time) and click "Donate" button to pay on this site. This is the relaunch of my the book (2007). Book clubs are welcomed to purchase in bulk. Thank you in advance for supporting me and A New Me Foundation, Inc. Book will be available in JULY!!!!!!!

Don't Get Comfortable in Your Mess!!!!!!

I get knocked down in life almost daily, monthly and yearly from rejection, failure at a new business attempt, lack of finances every other season, give my all to everything and anyone I come in contact with to be left alone sometimes when I need a helping hand the most....this list could go on but the bottom line is,  no matter what curve balls or "mess" life throws at me on any given day, I don't stay in it!  I get UP, and do something about it.

People always telling they don't see how I do "it".  What ever the "it" is, I simply reply, "GOD and balance in my life."  I'm not the person that allows life and mess to dictate my happiness or take me off track to my next move.  I've written and self-published FOUR books with $0 in the bank (and a fifth book at the publisher now awaiting the final payment).  I believe those books came to fruition because God first placed them on my heart to write.  I had faith that if He gave me the ideas or plots of the story, surely He would finance the publications.  So I wrote.  And wrote.  And wrote.  And wrote.  Went through a separation, and wrote.  Moved out of town, and wrote.  Was unemployed, and wrote.  Moved back to Chicago, and wrote.  Got a divorce, and wrote.  Met new love, and wrote.  Lived my life, and wrote some more.  Found a new job, and wrote.  Do you see a pattern here?  I WROTE no matter what was going on around me and what was going on in my life.  That, my friends, is how you see results to the dreams you have and how you don't get comfortable in your mess.

It tickles me when people tell me that they want to publish a book or write a book.  My first question is always to them, "Where's what you've written so far?"  The looks on their faces tells me everything I need to know......they haven't began writing yet.  You can't behold something you can't see.  My favorite scripture is Habakkuk 2:2 "Write the vision.....".......The first word is WRITE that is an action word.  So many people will never fulfill their dreams of anything because they simply haven't written them out to see it for themselves, but want others to invest in the dreams that lie in their heads.

We often times get complacent in our situations or "mess" as I like to call it.  We except the environments that we live and work in or maybe co-exist in with others, whether those environments are healthy for us or not.  We'll find new love and then it fastly becomes the norm.  Whatever your mess is in life, don't get comfortable in it! Get up, talk to someone about it, take a walk, read a book, hell work on writing your own novel, exercise, what ever you choose to do, just don't stay down, don't get comfortable in your mess.  Rejection hurts like hell, I'll be the first to admit.  But rejection to me is actually the component needed to elevate you to something greater and what was exactly meant for you.  So the next time you've been rejected from a career opportunity or promotion you wanted or rejected by someone, don't stay down too long in that "mess" or don't stay "in your feelings" too long, get up, do something about it.



What mess in your life have you become comfortable in?  What can YOU do to get out of that mess and not stay down too long?

STEPPING OUT ON FAITH

Ecclesiastes 1:9

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again.

Stepping out on faith isn't easy but sometimes, I believe God pushes us out there sometimes to give us a head start on what's to come, so that, we can walk into what He has for us.  Stepping out on faith is one admitting that you will be in the midst of the unknown but yet you rely on and are aware of the complete control that God has on your life.......Let that soak in for a minute .......

I've been placed in so many uncomfortable positions and situations in the past four years and God has opened so many doors for me to walk through, but because of fear, I chose not to walk through those doors.  It wasn't until a few weeks ago, I was pushed out of a familiar door in my life, yet another time.  I was ready to wait on God's direction, yet again.  It wasn't until this past Friday morning when I cried because I realized that God had moved me to the only option left which was to step out on faith and away from those uncomfortable positions and situations, I mentioned earlier.  I felt Him say to me, "Felicia, leave fear behind because it's holding you back from what I have in store for you!"  For more clarity, (sometimes we all feel like we need more clarity after God has spoken to us), some people in my life, spoke of those these same words to me, in various ways and conversations that further lets me know that it was God speaking to me through them (He knows I'm hard headed at times).  I am confident that God is in complete control over this NEW move I'll be making soon.

I will be cutting the cords of fear and doubt which have been my safety net and walking out on faith like never before and boldly into the unknown.  Though I'm aware that the attacks from the enemy is about to be an upgrade, but with God on my side, I know during those attacks, it will be as smooth as a walk in the park on a cool spring day.

If God has been pushing you out of some doors, uncomfortable places or situations, it's because He has equipped you to walk into something NEW and long lasting.  He is your safety net.....TRUST HIM!!! 

Sometimes, Just Let Your Hair Down A Bit

In case you've been wondering where I've been or what I've been doing with A New Me Foundation, Inc., I'll tell you.....LIVING MY LIFE!  That included going through an unexpected break-up from a man I loved, trying to remain sane through College Algebra (I passed both classes by the way), financial hardships with my job, enhancing my skills through professional development trainings, symposiums, workshop, etc., working on sketches for new books to publish and DATING can you believe it? Me either!!!!!


I've just been enjoying this cruel world at times.... CARE FREE!!!!! I got so caught up in my career and business as an entrepreneur, that I chose to take a hiatus for awhile to enjoy the many other outlets in my life that I may have taken for granted because I was "too busy" changing the lives of others.  Hey, I'm human and who doesn't want to live a productive life? 


I'm very proud of my fellow sisters whose businesses have grown, gained NEW partnerships and collaborations, NEW milestones they've reached and NEW communities they have provided services to in my absence.  I know some of their personal stories of fear, low self-esteem, lack of resources and this list could go on but they stuck through it all and now their visions are on the surface for the world to have access to and they are soaring with planting seeds of greatness in our communities.  


I actually enjoyed my hiatus because I simply let my hair down a bit and enjoyed my life, even survived the chaos that has hugged me tight in the last year.  It's amazing what a year can do to bring about change in a person's life.  Sometimes we plan ahead for a year and other times, just getting through it all day by day, leads us to a year later and we get a glimpse of the progress we made.  I'm excited, moving forward for the NEW great things that ANMF will be doing in our communities as well as NEW programs we will be providing services to our clients, in this year.   


It's ok to be a successful person in today's society but please, please, please, take the time to let your hair down a bit and enjoy life because in the field of social services, where you are constantly taking on case loads of other people problems, you will get burned out and overwhelmed if you don't take some "me" time everyday, take vacations, step away from the computers, laptops, cell phones, etc and just LET YOUR HAIR DOWN A BIT!!!!!!!

ANMF FEMALE MENTORING PROGRAM (Ages 13-16)

A New Me Foundation, Inc.

Greetings,

We at A New Me Foundation, Inc. offer a Female Mentoring program for teen girls, ages 13-16.  The girls will meet monthly to develop and build their self-esteem, confidence, empowerment, feminine hygiene, maintain abstinence with an option to discuss sex in a confidential setting, understand the importance of sisterhood and creatively learn how to express their concerns as teen girls while working together in group settings as well as individually. 

We understand the challenges that arise today with our youth in their home, school and community, so we are offering them our best resources and services to remain in a safe environment by providing them with age appropriate life skills as they develop into their own being and embrace it.

The fee for this program is $50 (after 2/14/13 and $25 early registration fee), which includes:

• Individual Feminine Hygiene Kit (tampons, sanitary napkins, panty liners, soap, body wash, feminine wipes, etc)
• Journal Kit (journal, folder and pen)
• ANMF Female Mentoring T-shirt

We are excited to work with your teen and we are here to help assist you and your teen in any way that we can.

Thanks,

Felicia T. Simpson

Founder/Executive Director of ANMF

SUPPORT SYSTEMS.....ARE THEY IMPORTANT TO HAVE?

Support systems are not only effective in working with domestic violence clients, but also individually as a citizen that connects with society.  I look back over my experience as a victim of domestic violence and can honestly say that, I survived that experience because of the great support system I had.  Sadly, many other victims in society today and even back then, do not have support systems, partially due to their lack of knowledge and/or resources they feel are available to them.

Briefly moving past victims of domestic violence, let's look at an individual who is a professional and feels the weight of the world on his/her shoulders because they are experts in their fields which demands a lot of their time, maybe deadlines are due for reports and life is just too much for that person, momentarily and the clock is steady ticking....oh,  add a spouse and children for luxury if you want in this scenario.  

This person I'll call "Jane" from here on out, could reduce the stress in her life and possibly some of her case loads in her career, if she had a support system of techniques to use as well as key individuals or a "go to" person, and trusted people in her life, the balance of life would be her outcome.

Support systems of people help you out when in need to support you financially, emotionally, spiritually, etc.  You can't obtain a support system by sitting behind a computer wishing for some type of support, laying on the couch stressed cause you need support.....No! No! and a capital, NO!!!!!  You must get out in this big world and NETWORK with others to find out in what capacity can they support you and in return you could be of some support to them.  Sometimes, if you're blessed as myself, your family will be that front line of a support system.

Family:  My family sees  the success and failures of my life first!  So naturally they are the greatest support system for me.  I have a cousin that supports me emotionally, whenever I need it.  Rather it be to listen to my problems, concerns, issues, etc....she gives me feedback and honest honors either from her experience or someone else's knowledge that she trusts to pass on to me.  For me, that's all I usually need in a support system.  I have other family members that support me by praying for me in difficult times and never letting me know that they are praying for me, but their actions show me that they are on my side.

Friends:  I have a diverse group of friends who support anywhere from the small steps I need to get through a difficult moment to friends that see a larger picture and can advise me on down the road or journey that I'm on.  Notice I didn't say cheerleaders.... I said FRIENDS.  These friends are very similar to me in their passions, weaknesses, strengths and anything else that builds our bonds collectively.  Some of these friends I talk to daily, monthly, yearly or just whenever I'm in a specific season of my life.  It's not to say that I only need them when I'm in need, clearly we have had previous conversations that identified that they were the best fit to help me handle difficult things.

Colleagues:  Recently, I had a family emergency and needed someone to step up and fulfill my duties in my absence.  I did not want to cancel the event that I and others spent months creating and planning, for my emergency.  My Supervisor, the school liaison and my Project Officer, all showed up and supported the project and assisted where needed in my absence.  On that day, I knew I had a great support system, even amongst my colleagues in this field.

Bottom line...... identify and connect with people that can support any levels in you life, and at which paths you cross throughout your journey in life.  Whether it be a friend or family member that can pray for you, pray with you, help assist you financially or emotionally or a colleague that if God forbid, you get sick or like me, have a family emergency on the day that you have an event or presentation to facilitate, they can assist you with it or possibly take on that task, in your absence.


I'm forever grateful of the support systems I have and am always reminded that they are there any time I need them.

So my question to you is: Support systems....are they important to have?  Why or why not?


#breakthesilence