FREEDOM (audio)

http://youtu.be/TlnsCFMx-z8

If you were brought in for questioning

and many things were before you

would you be able to identify

and recognize

freedom

or look yourself in the mirror

to see it

living in you?

Living and breathing out

all of you

before you were consumed

by a non-existing

box

as a looking glass to gaze through,

use as a format,

example,

blueprint

of the stamp and label

placed upon

many

too few to count

who have yet to identify

freedom

therefore given and believing

something false

to know

and trust

as their truth

So

when we say

FREEDOM

oh so often we use it

as a tool to stand

and declare

but some of us

don’t even know

its name,

the characteristics,

its personality,

the uniqueness of its fame

I’d rather tell you

You are free

than ignore the truth

of you being bound

by reality

not yours

but the one

re-created

told to you

and delivered as the accurate genuine inner makings of you

yet to be realized

because it is disguised

as your ________<<< “truth…”

when you look in the mirror

let’s all finish the line

 ______________ <<< “Do you really know you????”

Not a personal attack

but for me to even write,

Right this

I have to look within

day in

day out

and humbly admit…

do I really know freedom,

and do I live like it knows my name

Bigger than any word

you could ever pronounce

A gift we’re all given

but many of us refuse to live it

Afraid we will miss out

On this movement

that movement

Top Twitter trend

and the number of everybody talking about this

It’s cool,

I’ll give you a minute

it is a constant self-reality check

If an interviewer asked

“Is it a fight to be you,

the real you?“

Would you really say,

“YES”

Given the moment

to be introduced to

Freedom,

the stress and pressure

that you were actually built

to push through and progress

No faking the funk,

taking time to open up

and no longer masking

The privilege,

the true

and accurate

genuine

inner makings

of the

FREEDOM

to be

YOU

go wherever that may lead

Fight to consider

only your designed beautiful truth

Leaving behind

all the re-this and re-that

…that just really isn’t

REAL

But a prison with an indefinite sentence.

Take

Make

Time

To reflect

Realize

Recognize

That

FREEDOM

Knows You

And requests that

You know It!

If you were brought in for questioning

and many things were before you

would you be able to identify

and recognize

freedom

or look yourself in the mirror

to see it

living in you?

Hello You! Yes, YOU…

We meet every morning

like it’s the 1st time

forgetting that I was

there

as your personal commentator

at your

best and worst times

from your brightest smile

to the forced moment

when you faced me

admitting

you were hurt

tears filled your eyes

bloodshot red

cold rag to the face

then looked at me

to confirm if others could tell

I was there

with nothing to say

but everything

of your perspective

Mimicking whatever

precious emotions desired

Not your definition

but this time I bet your wondering

what voice is this you’re hearing?

not an imitating

self-degrading

voice that only follows

A voice that has decided to

replace follow

with lead

Before you stop me

to say

 I don’t know

what I’m talking about...

I’ve had enough of you

Looking at me

And not seeing what I see

Don’t tell me your lie

Before I tell you my truth

Which happens to be yours

One of purpose

promise

passion

determination

humility

and beauty

That whatever is for you

is for you

And will be found

You think because I look like you

I am your reflective truth

Well I’m not

I am not a reflection

You have distorted me

into an ever-growing scrapbook

of your moments on a rollercoaster

So let me tell you what I am

I am a sign that

YOU Are Still Here

While many wish their

Loved ones could make the

Same sign re-appear

I am a reminder

of the truth

that there is a rainbow

after rain

and as long as

we can see each other

Your focus shall

know and remain

far, far, far, FAR

away

from

The peddling of many hustles

in a struggle

that surely has no gain

integrity

dignity

only a route where

Your name will be known

But YOU won’t recognize your name

THEN… 

 we’ll have this same discussion

AND...

You would never believe me

So I am serving you

notice

Right NOW

I will no longer be your

"Magic Mirror on The Wall"

That’s in a movie

Your purpose goes beyond

The writings

directing

of a man-made script

Not fit 

for the already written script

of your dreams you were

Meant to live

You’ve

Picked it up

Put it down

Imagined

read it

forgot that it was around

Now pick it up again

to see

what I attempt

to declare and define

every morning when we

meet like it’s the 1st time

the beauty of being YOU

which no one but YOU

can experience

perspective of design

with a sign for every reason

why your purpose is still

alive and well

So when you see me

I see you

I am not a reflection

I am the definition of your truth

Beyond aluminum

silver

And glass

No longer will you ask me to

mimic you

help rehearse things from the past

But allow me

 to remind YOU of who you are

A definition created with 

promise & truth!

Hello You! YES, YOU…

 Checkout What Is Beauty? Campaign Promo click here

I am my own definition.

“If I compromise who I am, I will never know who I was yet to be.”-Mirror Conversation

“I am my own definition, I live it daily.”-My Truth

“If I allow your definition to take the place of my own, I will never see the vision that was only meant for me to see.”-YOU, Me, We Acknowledging Our OWN Unique Purpose

It seems like my latest posts have been about being the true self and recognizing that there is more to you than you actually know…

We all are setup to succeed because we were designed with a purpose, and if we are connected to it…and live it out day-by-day, minute-by-minute and step-by-step we are a success and possess a direction to go.

That sounds just about right…Right?

Well,

Coming into the launch where GYC is partnering with Endless Dreams Foundation, Inc. for its What Is Beauty? Campaign (oh yes!)… I can’t help but speak what has already been spoken to confirm and reaffirm that we all have our own definition. A definition with a specific place in this world where no one is designed to fill it and know it but the one the space/place was made for!

I am my own definition is a declaration that we don’t just speak but we live.

Sometimes we get caught up on so many others definition that we forget our own. Then think… we are a failure because the imitation we convinced ourselves was real…didn’t accomplish what we thought it would... like it did for the person it was designed for!

Personal GYC Story

One of the biggest places if not many times before that where our definition is tested, forgotten, realized, and/or given a temporary leave to explore is…COLLEGE!!!

I tell you… when I arrived in NYC for the 2nd time in (my) life, I just knew who I was, what I was going to do and how I was going to do it!!!

++New York is just one of those kind of cities that place you in an “I know who I am” attitude…can I get a witness…any takers???++

Okay…

But it was in my Senior Year when “a reality”…not mine but “a reality” began to float my thoughts that I did not know what I was going to do…and only a little bit of how I was going to do it.

Everyone had their opinion of what I was to do next, and their “oh so right” reasons behind why their opinion was the right direction for me and the so-called key.

Then, this “promising” introduction and that “promising” introduction…that all lead to nowhere!

I finally had to reevaluate…or as I’ve called it before…put pride aside and look in the mirror. I was about to graduate and I was fighting everyone’s definition while neglecting my own.

I think the biggest reason why I reclaimed my definition was because everyone wanted to help but no one wanted to tell me the truth… that this after-graduation mission I was on…was not my own.

Know your truth and live it.

If there was one thing I learned, it was teach me to know and accept only my truth, and to remain in remembrance of my purpose and definition.

Honestly, the only times I came face to face with “Girl YOU Crazy” was and is while I’m living out my definition…NOT while others were cheering me on to live a life that really had no hope because it wasn’t my own.

And

Let me just tell you one thing…after all those other things I said…

If you are going to say, “Girl YOU Crazy” to ME…I had better be living courageously, neglecting fear and being free... IN MY OWN DEFINITION.

RISE ABOVE THE COMPROMISE.

Last Thoughts

+Girl YOU Crazy…to not be courageous!

+Girl YOU Crazy…to live someone else’s definition!

+Girl YOU Crazy…to give air to anything not connected to your purpose!

GYC Side Note Rant: This does not mean that you can’t help, promote or be happy for another or that you are supposed to be all about yourself…it means, YOU know who you are and you don’t allow others to distract you from your purpose, which involves understanding the definition to give without there being something to receive, and that there are some things you get paid for and other things you volunteer for…don’t confuse the 2.

+Girl YOU Crazy…to not be free!

+Girl YOU Crazy…to walk around with a frown like you have no hope or promise in your purpose!

+Girl YOU Crazy…to think that your dreams are but a fantasy or agree with anyone that says it is and not tell them the truth!

I am my own definition…I don’t need yours and I won’t be tempted by want.

Some more GYC Quotes for YOU!

“I like to see people succeed and be all of who they are meant to be…it makes my heart smile.”-GYCGirlYOUCrazy

“Having a relationship within means that you will never be dry or without a direction to go, after all, it all starts with a thought…think for yourself.”-GYCGirlYOUCrazy

VERY IMPORTANT GYC MESSAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be speaking at one of the “What is Beauty? Campaign” Google+ Hangouts on June 27th, 2013 7pm EST about “I have a purpose” and the beauty of it! The campaign launches this May till August 1, 2013! Be clear: Beauty is…YOU! Click here for more information and please checkout and follow us on Tumblr >>> www.WhatIsBeautyCampaign.Tumblr.com  

Be sure to checkout this week’s Question for Thought…it is all about “I am my own definition”!!!!

P.S. I really enjoy writing for and with you all…thank you for accompanying me on this process called life. Oh and quick side note...this post is the 50th www.GYC-GirlYOUCrazy.com post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, Yes baby!

Xoxoxoxoxo

----------------Lauren Alicia, Queen of the Process & Miss GYC ☺

Freedom

If you were brought in for questioning

and many things were before you

would you be able to identify

and recognize

freedom

or look yourself in the mirror

to see it

living in you?

Living and breathing out

all of you

before you were consumed

by a non-existing

box

as a looking glass to gaze through,

use as a format,

example,

blueprint

of the stamp and label

placed upon

many

too few to count

who have yet to identify

freedom

therefore given and believing

something false

to know

and trust

as their truth

So

when we say

FREEDOM

oh so often we use it

as a tool to stand

and declare

but some of us

don’t even know

its name,

the characteristics,

its personality,

the uniqueness of its fame

I’d rather tell you

You are free

than ignore the truth

of you being bound

by reality

not yours

but the one

re-created

told to you

and delivered as the accurate genuine inner makings of you

yet to be realized

because it is disguised

as your ________<<< “truth…”

when you look in the mirror

let’s all finish the line

 ______________ <<< “Do you really know you????”

Not a personal attack

but for me to even write,

Right this

I have to look within

day in

day out

and humbly admit…

do I really know freedom,

and do I live like it knows my name

Bigger than any word

you could ever pronounce

A gift we’re all given

but many of us refuse to live it

Afraid we will miss out

On this movement

that movement

Top Twitter trend

and the number of everybody talking about this

It’s cool,

I’ll give you a minute

it is a constant self-reality check

If an interviewer asked

“Is it a fight to be you,

the real you?“

Would you really say,

“YES”

Given the moment

to be introduced to

Freedom,

the stress and pressure

that you were actually built

to push through and progress

No faking the funk,

taking time to open up

and no longer masking

The privilege,

the true

and accurate

genuine

inner makings

of the

FREEDOM

to be

YOU

go wherever that may lead

Fight to consider

only your designed beautiful truth

Leaving behind

all the re-this and re-that

…that just really isn’t

REAL

But a prison with an indefinite sentence.

Take

Make

Time

To reflect

Realize

Recognize

That

FREEDOM

Knows You

And requests that

You know It!

If you were brought in for questioning

and many things were before you

would you be able to identify

and recognize

freedom

or look yourself in the mirror

to see it

living in you?

Checkout the audio version>>> http://youtu.be/TlnsCFMx-z8

Very Important SIDENOTE:

Use your voice! Share your truth! Join the #WhatIsBeauty Campaign as GYC partners with Endless Dreams Foundation for its first campaign. Click here for more details.

Dear Life…Signed Girl YOU Crazy!

Have you ever taken a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come and where you’re going, the next step you should take and if you took no steps at all what would really happen?

Writing Life a letter this week is all about self-reflection, moving forward, walking in your purpose and…defeating crazy with courageous…no matter the obstacles in front of you!

When was the last time you wrote Life a letter…and just let it all out?

I personally have never really written one, well I have in this book I’m writing (another part of my process)…but it goes in a completely different direction…yea, that’s another story for another time…but I have never written one that was just to Life in general like this one.

Pre-GYC-Disclaimer: We have all written or spoken a letter to Life and the way we write or speak it depends on our relationship with it…therefore, as some may know I am ALL, all over the place and this letter will more than likely read this way but I mean…this wouldn’t be Girl YOU Crazy if I didn’t right? Right.

Let’s get into it…

Dear Life,

It’s funny how we live you everyday, yet we question the reality we see…I guess you know where this is going!!!

But when I’m left with my thoughts, I just wonder…

Why are you not as pure and simple as this paper?

Maybe that’s too deep… let me start again…

You must get these letters a lot…?  I guess I could say, “I hope this letter finds you well” but I guess this letter is not about you but me writing you, and telling you what is on my mind…

HMPH…

I’ve come to a point where it seems as though you are seriously pressuring me and everywhere I turn is a LESSON… (I’m not yelling, I just want you to know that I recognize/acknowledge/know these are LESSONS).

Learning one thing after another…encountering this crazy, that crazy and they have the nerve to think I’m crazy but Life when will they learn, my crazy is in perspective, profitable and we call it courage…Can I get a witness???

But honestly, the reason I am writing you…since you already know all of this stuff is…

The different experiences of the past and present seem to keep placing me at sink, sail or swim back to shore moments, which ultimately remind me… “don’t let go…”

There comes a time or many, and I believe this is mine, since we have been creating aha moments and all that but it’s time to look at the process (my process) and recognize where I’m going and did I volunteer to go or did I just end up here…and is there a reason to stop, start over or keep going?

Whatever the answer is…Am I actually in Operation Forward Motion?...because none of this matters if I am not moving forward and just making noise where no one is listening…been there, done that, saw it and continue to see it…and I don’t like it for myself or anyone else!

So as I write this letter, I will explore these questions...

Personal Open Reflection for us to explore in a conversation with our beautiful Life:

+Where did I start?

+Why did I start?

+How did I start?

+Do any of my where, why, and how’s relate to each other???

+Where am I now?

+Do I want to be here?

++If not here, Why? How will I get somewhere else?

+This is where I want to end…

__________________________________

+But where will my actions/decisions allow me to actually end?

The other day, I made a sticky note about all of my experiences to see how and why I could move forward…and you know what I realized Life???

That this life me you live together was (past tense) missing some understanding in my actual experiences…and I have way more experience than I knew I had…and at age 23, so I’m wondering, how many of us have really taken the time to know what we have experienced???

Do we give ourselves proper credit? (Please refer to Don’t Take the Elevator…)

Do we know and appreciate the journey we are on?

“The person I am is the person I have become, the process can attest to the journey that has only begun.”-My truth

I know we sat down before and had a conversation about stop being nosey but all of these lessons I’m learning, those questions above really place things in right now perspective…and the two of us have greater things to do…I know it!!! So, I refuse to let/allow/approve any of things or people that will keep me from receiving my directions and instructions, which is a serious fight and strengthens my knowledge to know that the best IS yet to come…

But can I just vent…because that’s what I do??? Cool? Cool.

I’m almost done…but what I don’t say here, I say in my thoughts and actions---

GYC Girl Girl GIRL YOU CRAZY Rant…I have to! And yes this is like 1 sentence)!

When I think about my life and the lives of others that face criticism by those thinking they’re doing a favor for something bigger than them or even a favor to you without genuinely asking YOU, about YOU before talking negatively/criticizing/bashing YOU…I remember that in actuality it’s just a response of their own self-reflection or lack thereof…but I won’t retaliate/argue/give any more air than this quote (I wrote) below because I know that you, beautiful Life, have great instructions and directions for me to live and be all of me, so when people see US (YOU, ME, WE) may our confidence, strength and boldness shine, maintain it’s character and say…

“If you don’t understand the vision (the vision for my life)…don’t criticize the image (me)!”

Life, thank you for showing me how to be in Operation Forward Motion, and reminding me that I am going somewhere that I am supposed to be voluntarily…I love you…but you already know that!

Sincerely ME,

GYCGirlYOU…know the rest!

Your turn, what letter will you write Life…

Dear Life,

P.S. GYC The Shop is open…and you can send someone the perfect card that can make them smile, cry and laugh in your own “Girl YOU Crazy” way…Check it out: GYC The Shop