Writing: The Silliest Writer Ever!

I have taken on the dutiful honor of crowning myself as ‘The Silliest Writer Ever!’ Thankfully, this official position of silliness, is only a momentary one and the crown shall pass on to the next silly writer, within moments of the writer realizing what everyone else has recognized for quite a while, as obliviously silly and the writer admitting under their breath slowly, “Oh, I get it now”.

Even now, as I contemplate my reign over the ‘Kingdom of Silliness’ and the all the silly things ever concocted by a writer, I have two people in mind I have yet to intrigue with my silly antidotes. The irony is that, as I sit here with my millennium list of things yet not accomplished, I am actually excited about the newly found wealth of information that I want to share with them. Yes, these two who have served more than 20 unforgiving years honing their specialty to become moguls of their craft. Their blood has laced timelines and their tear-soaked, cheeks has kept, the struggles and the disappointments of life from drying out their dreams and hopes of fulfilling their passion. Their passions have turned into a career that family, friends and yes-jealous enemies seek out their wisdom and guidance for. Why? Well, because unlike myself, they don’t start their dreams in January, whine that it’s too hard in February and quit by March. Only to start yet, another diversional grand scheme towards riches for the next three months and continue a madly insane cycle of starting and stopping to nothingness, year after year.

I find myself regularly encouraging everybody else, to write their life story. I always think that what they have to share is so intriguing and certainly the world can’t live another day without their carbon fingerprint carved eternally in the edges of the horizon. My journalistic brain starts envisioning inscribed pages, pages, which turn into articles, articles which turn into best selling books! I yell out to them “You should write! This is a fabulous story! It will be amazing!” They turn inelegantly towards me with utter bedazzlement, all the while  looking quizzically into my eyes searching for any type of life form.

As I reflect upon this newly found silly revelation, it has taken me too long to realize that I have been trying to encourage the wrong people to write. In fact, they despise even the thought of writing, it’s as if I had handed them a red velvet cupcake, with cream cheese frosting, with a live medallion cockroach anchored on it, singing the “Star Spangled Banner”, while I’m eagerly awaiting their approval of this fine delicacy of a thought.

I have come to the obvious conclusion that while am I encouraging everybody else to write a book or a blog about their passion, it is I. Yes, none other than ‘Your Highness of Silliness’ that should be writing. Not just in January or February and stop for several months, but I should be writing daily, weekly consistently.

Yes, I, Janice the writer, the motivational speaker, the artist, mom of five, lover of Jesus, beaches, jazz and cycling. I take a humble bow before my court as I exit stage left to woo my beloved Mr. Disciplined Consistency. For I have allowed him to allude me for far too long. It’s time I demanded my engagement ring and confirm our wedding date.

Thankfully, the season has come for me to embrace the realization of what has been an insurmountable task. To develop a consistent lifestyle of writing I must rely on someone much greater than myself as I humbly admit that the inconsistency of my dreams has been my weakness. Therein through my weakness God shall be my strength.  I have before me a moment-by-moment challenge to remind myself that I can do all things through Christ as Jon Bloom shares in his ‘The Insanity of Leaning on Our Own Understanding’, I shall not lean upon my own understanding as I continue writing.

Inspirational: Remembering His Mercies for Me

This morning I am reminded of "The Lords mercies, he doesn't allow financial concerns, job stress, life's frustration, injuries to consume me. My short comings and weakness are overshadowed by His love for me. His compassion doesnt' fail me. They are new every morning. Great is HIS faithfulness to me. (Lamentations 3:22-23) my translation.

Cycling: Just do me, Recovering of the BIG Toe

Last year, as I proceeded to set out on my new journey, a ran smack into life's detour. Which included a promotion, a move and a divorce. Once, settled in my new home. I began my training again. My goal, was to participate in a triathlon within the next year.(2011)


Before I moved from Lake Mary, last year I found an aqua Trex 7.2 FX, in Lake Mary, FL, My heart and mind was set on buying a Trek as my first professional bike.  I joined a local gym and started running and swimming. After 15 minutes of that type of exercising my big toe begin to hurt. A very dear friend, allow me to use his bike. With that bike I began riding up to 8 miles a day, before the weather turned cold and the chain came off of the spokes. By January, I had become complacent about my new lofty goals and  to get back on the road again, I vowed to myself that this would be the year. My next step was to see a doctor about my toe.


 I met with a really nice orthopedic doctor he said I needed surgery to correct 2 problems.  He also informed me that he road in triathlons and needed the very same surgery! Just a week later I discovered an African American riding club, which met only 4 miles from my home. Excited, I explained to the leader, David, of the club that I would be having surgery soon and that I wanted to purchase a Trek.
Two days before my surgery, David informed me that he had a bike for me.  Time and inconvenience prevented us from the bike exchange before my surgery. As soon as I was able to hop up, I met with David about the Trek. It was a purpleTrek1220 ZX, older model road bike! I have the bike sitting outside my bedroom door as a motivator for why I must stay focus on eating and healing properly.I'm just as excited and can't wait to start riding again. 
The bible teaches us to " Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, so he may run that reads it." Habakkuk 2:2 (KVJ)  I am writing the vision down and it is truly amazing to me how God is orchestrating the fulfillment of this goal!

Motivational: Just do me, Reinventing myself?

Just do me:Reinventing myself?

After I listened to a webcast Yahoo's Shine about how some women reinvented their lives, their testimonies inspired me too,“Just get busy”. I realized, yet again that I needed to do something different for myself. Throughout the years, I have seen many peoples dreams come to past. The young girl that I babysat as a teenager, now has a successful business selling popcorn, of all things! She went to the BET awards and placed pictures of herself and her famous people purchasing her popcorn on her Facebook page. I attended college with Larry Bird, who has retired from his basketball career already.  For the last, few years my two oldest children have discovered and are cultivating their individual talents and passions.  In my position of four years, as educational recruiter I had become a successful at encouraging people to face their fears and seeking their dreams all the while, like an unattended garden my dreams were slowly dying.  As much as I wanted too, I could no longer hide behind the excuse that success is for famous people in the news and not really for everyday ordinary people like myself.

Early last year,  like a mirage in the desert, I saw a dream formulating in the future with my new husband.  For 16 long relentless years’ my friend patiently waited for me. One day, I quit playing dodge ball with Cupid and was smitten by a very sharp arrow. It was his dream to marry me. “Janice you are my wife.” During those 16 years, I spent more time telling him to go find someone else than I than I did Photoshop-ing my own dream. I had resolved within myself that after experiencing two failed marriages. Surely, it was time for all the other ladies else to enjoy blissful marriage, for a change.  My ideal for my future was to continue enjoying my children, go back to school develop a unique trade. Marriage was not a requirement, not a necessity for me.

After careful reconsideration, I thought “I will have a purpose, something we can strive on together, our marriage.”  Three months later, I took the marriage receipt back to Cupid, he pointed out the “lemon law disclosure” which was inscribed with .16^th font on the rod of the arrow. No exchanges no returns, even if he walks away.  Music begins to fill the air…“Alone Again, Naturally” was that Simon and Garfunkel? No. Naturally, I was wrong again, it was actually sung by, Gilbert O’ Sullivan, the only relief I received at that moment was that according to an Internet search, I wasn’t’ the only person who was confused about the actually singer.  Are you familiar with the strange sensation that comes over you after you lock your car door on a cold wintery night and then you realize your keys are sitting in the drivers seat? That is the exact feeling I had when I realized how I had helped yet another person realize their dreams, while mine were over grown with weeds.

As of 2011 I have deleted my supportubutnotme.com website. I have received enough hits on it to create a new word for a Google search.  I was doing something right, even if it was for someone else. I have been the pillars for new churches, the new leg for everyone’s start up business. I have encouraged students to pursue their passion and to develop a successful career through education. I encouraged my oldest son to pursue his career in music despite the odds; and my oldest daughter to be sold out for Jesus and now she is in full time ministry.  So, what difference does it make if my husband dies lonely? I’m not mad at him, hope you are not.  He was able to fulfill his dreams, of course, with my help. What else were you expecting? Come on! In 2010 or before, if you had a dream … I would direct you to my website supportubutnotme.com. If you were a member, please unsubscribe.

For those women on the Yahoo site, for them there was a stellar event setting in motion another career much more fulfilling than the one they had left.  Me, I just needed to ‘ just do me’. There is no reinvention to initiate here. How could there be when I had not invented the first career yet? It’s time that I develop my quintessential skills and my talents for the purpose God had originally designed for my life.  It’s time to for me to; support me, fight for me and fight for my goals. Just do me! ‘For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.’  Matthew 25:29 NIV

Inspirational: Don't Forget About Joy...

Don’t forget about Joy…

I work in a sales in environment and having a positive attitude and strong numbers are very critical for me to maintain my position as the top sales rep. In 2008, my father went through surgery to remove one of his kidneys. Instead of my father staying in for a 5 days, it turned into a 5 months stay instead. A month later, my youngest daughter was jumped by two young women a few years older than she, they didn’t know she was a body builder a week. The very next weekend, my middle daughter broke her ankle while skating. The night after her surgery a glass screen door shattered over my son head. During that same month we also discovered my niece had a broken kneecap and that my youngest daughter had a hernia from body building. By the time my father was released from rehab, my niece and two daughters all had surgery within 3 weeks of each other. That particular quarter I only achieved 98% of my goal. People tried to comfort me by saying, it’s going to be alright, things will get better. What if they don’t, well that’s when I need the strength purpose and peace of God that joy can bring.

Having strength to get up and go to work everyday, to encourage strangers to pursue their dreams. Strength to take care of the healthy children as well as the sick ones, I needed strength that can only come from God. How many you have heard rejoice through the hard times? How many of you would be able to remain happy and positive through that scenario I gave. When all hell is breaking loose in my life, I had to ask myself how to I keep going. I focused on the bible promises me in Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of the Lord gives me strength”. I focused on thanking the Lord for the healthy children, for having medical insurance, for my mother who stands faithfully by my father’s side, for having a maintain a job through the recession. As I mediate on the bible he gives me direction and comfort. Focusing on joy also gives me a purpose. Joy that brings purpose, Hebrews 12:2
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God".

There was a reason why Jesus suffered the pain of the cross, not for glory, not to be a sensational movie hit. However, he understood that by dying as he did, he was representing all of our sins, sickness diseases, shortcomings and faults and for every putting them to death. Jesus is my example. What is my purpose, why have I suffered through? I knew that after my father's surgery, if he didn’t make it, he would be out of pain forever, and if he did make it through the surgery the doctors were removing his kidneys so that he could live longer. I knew the situations my daughters and niece were going through were stressful but in a years time they are all happy and healthier. Like Jesus I was able to focus on the end results, knowing that things would get better brought me joy and peace. Joy that maintains the peace of God,

When my employer told me they were going bankrupt and we would loose our jobs, I was not worried. Romans 15:13
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." I knew that God had another plan for my children and I. I remembered that God promised to take care of my us. I was able to walk to work everyday head held high. I had a smile for everyone, because I knew no matter what, God was going to take care of me and open the doors that I needed to have open and he did. People are always wondering, 'Janice I don’t know how you do it' or they will say 'It’s always something isn’t it? Those questions can be a hook to remind me to worry and stress espcially when I have made up my mind to focus on peace and joy.

Recently when all hell started breaking a loose again; one child was vomiting blood, I had to rush another child to the emergency room for abdominal pains and another child to the doctors because he was having numerous headaches, while I was seeking treatmeat for a damaged rotor cup. I had to leave work often to take care of my sick children, my numbers at work were starting to suffer. When things became overwhelming and stressful again and I sat down not knowing what to do. I asked myself how did I ever make it through before. Then I remembered by. Focusing on another level of joy...joy that gives strength, purpose and maintains the peace of God, through the darkest of hours, I don’t forget about joy. (This was presented as a speech for Toastmasters)