![]() Just sharing a few healthy habits that I'm trying to incorporate into my lifestyle. 1. being thankful I've been doing this challenge with myself lately. Whenever I get overwhelmed with what isn't going right in life and when I start thinking too much about the future or past, I take a second to count at least five things to be thankful for. I find that this helps me put things in perspective and get back to a peaceful state of mind. 2. being mindful of what's in your control and what's outside of it Just keeping in mind what you do have control over is helpful in taking authority over your mood and how you let people or things affect you. I saw this really cool list on Pinterest detailing what things in life are within our control and what things are outside of our control:
3. filling your space with positivity Whether it be with writing positive affirmations or seeking out positive quotes, it's incredibly important to fill your space with positivity. Space meaning your physical space as well as mental space. You've got to make it your job to keep positive energy around you and within you.
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![]() Quite recently, I've learned the importance of creating morning habits that set a good tone for the day. I want to be the first to admit, that not all of these are original ideas; however, I've kinda picked a few here and there to formulate a routine that works for me. So I figured I'd might as well share it with you all. 1. Meditate A few weeks ago a friend of mine shared one of her favorite Youtube meditations on her Insta story. I figured I'd give it a shot and see how it would work for me. I'm currently going on my third week of morning meditation with this quick ten minute video. 2. Daily Affirmations I've spoken about positive affirmations plenty of times before. But there's something beautiful about starting each day with positive speech in regards to your life and your well being. It's like a little note to yourself or prayer. 3. Delaying Social Media Check Ins One of my favorite bloggers, Amber Janae, recently wrote a post about how to stay centered throughout the day. In her piece, she wrote that it's helpful to stay away from your phone until you feel grounded and ready for your day. For the last week or so, I've been heeding this advice and, I'll admit, she's absolutely right. It feels much better to get my energy right for the day before absorbing anyone else's via social media. 4. Listening to One of My Fav Poems Reyna Biddy is one of my favorite poets. I've spoken about her work many times before. She has a piece called Ansisters from her most recent book. I can't really explain it but it has a way of making me feel at peace and optimistic about life. These four things are extremely helpful in getting a positive start to my day. I figured I'd pass it along for anyone interested in creating better mornings and better days for themselves. Just think about it, feeding yourself with good energy makes it pretty much impossible to be consumed with worry and negative thoughts. ![]() It's been about five months since graduating college and I can honestly say that life is nowhere like what I thought it was going to be. All throughout college, I had this idea that I would graduate, start a full-time job at a media company in Atlanta and move into an apartment with one of my friends. Turns out, my life path was meant to be a little different than how I imagined it. So what have I been up to these last few months? Well upon graduating, I continued working as a communications assistant for an Peabody Awards. It's a pretty dope awards program if you ask me, but I'm a little biased. I went to New York for their awards program and got to meet Yvonne Orji, Issa Rae, and Hasan Minaj amongst others. When my time with them came to an end, I headed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for an internship. Though this experience was different than what I had imagined, it was great experience in terms of building skills and gaining connections. Somewhere along the way, I gave up the news media dream and decided I was going to head to law school. Starting in July, I began preparing for the LSAT. But, I didn't get serious about it until around mid-August. My time with the AJC ended at the beginning of August. I remember multiple people asking me what was next for me and looking at me funny because I always responded with, "I'm not sure yet." Of course, this added to the anxiety of wanting to have everything together, but not really knowing what I'm doing. I decided not to focus on getting a full-time job anymore and just study up for my LSAT test in September (story on LSAT journey coming later). So here I am, late September, studying for my November LSAT and working part-time as a hostess. Not exactly the post-grad experience that I had dreamed up. I don't have everything perfectly figured out. I'm not working at a big time media company. But, I've made it up in my head that things are going to work out on this new path I've taken up. I might not see the end clearly yet, but I know I'm going to be fine. The point of this post? Post-grad life might not be exactly how we want it to be. But, I'm convinced that if we keep working towards our goals, we'll end up in the right place and on to great things. A few weeks back, I was talking to one of my best friends about how I feel in terms of where I am in life and she gave me some of the best advice. She told me to evaluate my goals by writing down the short term and long term ones. Then she told me to write a list of what makes me happy and things that I can do write now to help me get to where I want to be. This all seems pretty simple, but when things get hectic and you start to use focus, tips like this go a long way. So the other night I was writing all of this out and got to thinking, "what are some other lists for when you're feeling a little lost?" All it took was a quick search on Pinterest and I had everything I needed. I figured I'd pass this along to anybody else who feels like they need to put things in perspective. Here are a few that we can all find helpful: Lists About Your Life Dreams:
Lists About Your Favorite Things:
Lists About Your People:
Lists About You:
So obviously these don't have to be long drawn out lists. It can be a short list of 2 to 4 things for each of these. I believe it can be beneficial to us all in terms of helping us focus on what's most important to us and giving us perspective on our lives. It's definitely something I'm going to be doing over the next few days. A week ago, I was on Twitter and saw a friend of mine had quote tweeted something a random girl had said. I won’t get specific, but random girl was basically saying that she wishes she was more photogenic. An understandable comment considering our timelines are flooded with photos of people “at their best” or “looking their best.” I was taken back by what my guy friend quote tweeted though. He said that this generation is one of the most insecure. So, there are a couple reasons I got annoyed at his response. One, everybody is so quick to say that the “young generation” is this or that. But I mean, we are all human. Each generation had people who dealt with insecurities. Actually, everybody in every generation has dealt with insecurities. No need to put it all on our generation. Another reason I got irritated is because I feel like we are all so quick to judge one another. And I say we because I’m guilty too. We are all so quick to stick our noses up and frown at what other people have going on. Or we are so quick to combat them when they express a point of view we don’t agree with. (by point of view, I mean fact based opinions! But that’s a topic for another day lol). I think basically what I’m getting at here is it’d be nice if we all worked towards being a little more compassionate towards one another. We’re always so critical and judgy of what the other person is doing. It’s funny because we forget that we too have something within ourselves that needs work. Or we forget that everybody just experiences life differently. Moral of the story today: live life with a little more compassion. Learn to empathize and stop being so quick to jump down someone’s throat because of their viewpoints or opinions (fact-based opinions). ![]() So, the secrets out. I wrote a cute little poetry book: Hearts Wide Open. Not going to go over the specifics about the content of the book, but I’ll share with you a few of the main things. Why is it called ‘Hearts Wide Open’? Well, it’s called hearts wide open for a few reasons. I believe it takes hearts wide open to write the content that I’ve written. I believe it takes hearts wide open to share the content with all of you. Lastly, I believe it takes hearts wide open for you all to take the time to connect with this poetry book. It takes being open and it takes feeling. When did I start writing? Technically, I started writing the second semester of my sophomore year. I would scribble little notes in the margins of my notebooks and then finish them later on. I kept this up on and off until senior year. Not sure when or why, but I decided to compile the best works and make a book out of them. I continued writing throughout senior year and started compiling the works in March. Finished organizing the poems around the beginning of April. What’s in this poetry book? h.w.o is divided into two sections: Love and Life. The love section is a reflection of romantic relationships throughout the years. For me, they are memories. For you, I hope it reminds you of your own experiences. I hope it helps you navigate current experiences. The life section is full of positive notes and relatable life moments. Why read? I think you will find it's a very easy read. There are only 50 pieces in the book. Some of the poems are longer than others, but they are all easy to get through. I think you will find it to be relatable. I think you’ll find it to be raw and honest. I think you might find comfort in it. Hearts Wide Open is the newest DKE product. It’s my little baby, for lack of better words. It could possibly be my best work thus far. I hope you take the time to read and experience it. Find Hearts Wide Open at the link below: www.amazon.com/dp/1983248711?ref_=pe_870760_150889320 ![]() Post college life is starting to feel like a big transition period. Although I was warned of how this part of life would play out, I don't think I really understood until recently. It's a really weird time of feeling rushed to have every aspect of life figured out, while not knowing exactly what lies ahead for you. I understand how easy it is to let this period of transition get the best of you. So instead of dwelling on the negatives and "what ifs," here's a few affirmations to meditate on: 1. In this moment, I am exactly where I am supposed to be in life. 2. I know that everything in my life will work out for the best. 3. I believe good things are coming into my life. 4. My life will be full of wonderful experiences, opportunities and happiness. 5. I am not in a race with others, I am walking my life path at my own speed. 6. I will maintain a positive outlook on life. 7. My life will be as great as I set out for it to be. 8. No person or thing outside of God can dictate how my life story will play out. 9. I believe in my dreams enough to pursue them and see them out. 10. This life is my own to live out. Different stages in our lives will bring about uncomfortable transitionary periods. Rather than think about the negatives or dwell in a space of uncertainty, choose to have faith and stay positive. ![]() On Friday May 4, I graduated magna cum laude from THE University of Georgia. I must say that the last four years have been quite the journey. I was able to learn more about myself, learn more about the world and connect with people from so many different backgrounds. My college experience taught me so many valuable lessons that I will take with me as I move throughout life. Lesson Number 1: Major in something that fits who you are as a person and let it be something you're passionate about. Try not to get sucked into what your parents think is the "right" major. Somebody once told me to choose something I like and be the best at it. That's how you become successful. Success isn't major dependent. Lesson Number 2: Find a good balance between your social life and school work. It can get tricky, especially when you have the free will to opt out of going to class. But, you'll appreciate the discipline later on. Lesson Number 3: Get involved and network. I can't stress this enough. It's not just what you know, it's who you know. And like the great Issa Rae says, network across as well. Lesson Number 4: Take time to care for yourself mentally, physically and emotionally. School can be draining. Lesson Number 5: Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself. Lesson Number 6: Always push yourself to do more. Don't get complacent. Don't settle. Push yourself and try to be your biggest motivator. This doesn't mean going to the point of exhaustion. It just means striving to be better and do better. Lesson Number 7: Have people around you that are motivating, inspiring, uplifting, caring and loving. Your circle says a lot about you. Your circle can have a huge impact on where your mind is at and where your drive is at. Just be mindful. Lesson Number 8: Use the challenges and adversity as motivation. You won't be defeated. You might not have the highest GPA or the best connections, but, you do have your own will and God. Lesson Number 9: Discover more about yourself. I think one of the biggest things I learned is that I will always be life's student. Forever a learner. Each phase of life and each environment I'm placed in allows me to learn more about myself. So, just take the time to really reflect and learn you. Lesson Number 10: Enjoy the journey. The years pass by faster the older we get. So don't forget to enjoy your life journey. I could go on and on about things that I've learned in college, but I think ten lessons will suffice for now. Whether you are in college, a recent graduate, or older in years, these lessons can definitely applied to your life phase. Hope you got something from this! ![]() Lately I've been sort of obsessing over the idea of blooming. In the same sense that flowers bloom in springtime, we all go through points in our lives where we feel a positive transformation coming on. It's your blooming season, or at least that's what I'm going to call it. What does it mean to be in bloom? To bloom is to come forth and reveal your growth. To bloom is to have your inner glow manifest in your outer appearance (in terms of physical appearance and actions). To bloom is to welcome a new phase of life. For me, blooming season means that this is my manifestation period. All the things I have been working towards are and will continue to happen. All the things God has planned for me are unfolding. I guess you can say this is another one of those transitionary periods. But instead of being afraid, you're ready to face what's next. Better yet, blooming season is the breakthrough. It's the 'aha moment" after going through all of the craziness. It's a breath of fresh air when you know you can finally relax and be free. This feeling is so interesting though. Although it is overwhelming in the best way, you can't really explain it. You don't know how long its going to last, but it makes you excited. Makes you feel as though you're ready for whatever it next. All I can say is, this feeling is something to cherish. Remember it when the seasons begin to change. Remember it when the uncertainty and self-doubt come back around. If you aren't in the blooming season right now, just know your time is coming soon. Matter of fact, affirm it and proclaim it over your life. For those of you that are experiencing this feeling, continue to bloom! Continue to grow, transform and be full of light. ![]() After its February 13th release, I decided that 'A Psalm for Us' was the perfect Valentine's Day present to myself. It only took me a few days to read the book in its entirety, but it definitely left an impact. 'A Psalm for Us' was the self-love investment I needed. So, since it's still National Poetry Month, I'm going to talk with you guys about one of my favorite poets and her second book. I came in contact with Reyna Biddy's work after listening to Kehlani's album, Sweet Sexy Savage. Reyna's voice is what eases us into the album as she talks to us on Intro. After hearing this, I looked her up and found that she was a young poet who already had one book. I started listening to her spoken word on Apple Music and the rest is history. Fast forward to February 2018, I'm once again consumed by her work. Book Breakdown: A Psalm for Us is broken down in 4 chapters, with an opening letter and closing letter as well. Here are the chapters with a quick note on what I received from them. 1. the blues A compilation of sad experiences, negative thoughts, painful memories and lost loves made into beautiful poems. 2. epiphany Recognition, acceptance and honesty. That's the only way I can explain it. 3. prayer A collection of prayers, messages and talks with God. 4. rebirth Everything on healing, loving yourself, feeding your soul and moving forward. Favorites: Click the links to hear the audio versions of the respective pieces. From the blues
The messages Reyna Biddy sends through her poems resonate with me. Reading this book was like taking a journey to a better and healthier version of self. It was the single best present I've gotten myself in a long time. I can only hope that after reading this post, you allow her poems to touch you in the same way they touched me. |
Denver K. EllisonArchives
October 2018
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