Plant Where YOU Prosper

“It’s funny how some want to withdraw where they never deposited.”-Time & Effort

“Plant where you prosper, give where you need and want for nothing…”-YOUR Inner Wisdom Speaking

I’ve thought about this topic/subject/issue/whatever you want to call it… so much in these last weeks with the end of 2012, and beginning of 2013.

In moving forward, I thought about the many times we question why we don’t have what we want or feel like we lack what we “think” we need…many explanations come to mind, some we consider and others we don’t even contemplate their possible truth.

So…with all those thoughts in a bubble, I’m wondering…

When you hear:

+ Plant where you prosper…

+ Sow where you wish to reap…

+ Deposit where you want/need to withdraw…

+ Etc….

…What do YOU think about?

+ Thoughts

+ Time

+ Money

+ Relationships

+ Efforts…

ALL OF THAT!!!!!????

Yea me too…

Let’s talk about it…well some of it, then we’ll be creative and relate the rest of it (On our own time)...Deal? Deal.

Sometimes pride will keep us from getting to the answer, or knowing the truth because its weight may be too heavy to handle (at least it appears that way).

Personal GYC Story

Year after year, I tend to let go of a lot of things, I call it “clean house often and with caution”… and 2013 is no different.

For this cleanup, I needed to focus on my time, attention and relationships, specifically friendships (or the lack thereof, it is what it is). I kept getting distracted, frustrated and mad with an expression of

“WOW…These people must be Crazy!!!”

In the midst of these emotions, and eventually coming back to reality where change begins in the mirror, I began to evaluate why and where does my focus go and paying attention to the parts/aspects/details that bothered me, and obviously not helping me move forward.

1.    My time and efforts. I really had to zoom out to zoom in on what is for me…right now. If you can tell from past GYC posts…my mind and ideas travel here, there and everywhere, so, I’m willing to give some opportunities thought before I say “no,” or decide to go for it with or without training wheels…including suggestions from others.

However…in the desire to pursue and peel back all the layers of who I am, I realized that the I, I am today is right on track for peeling each layer back for its pre-set time…and to just RELAX and Be! (This sounds a lil like “Don’t Take the Elevator…” ---Some days YOU, ME, WE have to be our own inspiration and reminder…)

*Side Note: As amazing as our ideas are right now or will develop to amazing-ness (new word on the scene), we don’t have to worry about someone coming out with it first or stealing our essence because the ideas that are really ours were given to us for only us to create, develop and actually be profitable…successful and achieve that which we started.*

2.    Relationships…friendships. I’m not a fan of 1-sided friendships…at all. I see friends as teammates that need you well and in the game to win, and if that “teammate” decides to just be a quiet bystander when things look unsure…they most definitely will not be appreciated when things are sure and everybody is cheering. *Many “Girl YOU Crazy” faces (to them) in all that above either in my own life or observing it in those younger, young and older.*

What I have come to know and accept is…

My preparation positions me for my ability to stand when it’s time to live out what I was designed to be.

As in…watching this activity, in the process…opens our eyes to receive people as the person they want to be in your life versus forcing them to be someone they are not equipped to be for you…and you for them.

The truth still remains that some need to be loved from a distance…which is Courageous.

And in all of this “cleaning often and with caution”…a friend of mine had a birthday, and I GYC’ed her gift all the way!!! A box full of random items that somewhat told a story…but the fact that the items were so random, I wasn’t sure if she would understand it and think that it was as funny as I thought it was…

At midnight on her birthday, she calls laughing and basically says… it was the best random birthday gift box ever!!!!! And we LAUGHED.

“OooKay Girl!”

BUT…what really stuck out in cleaning house and the topic “planting where you prosper” was the special note she wrote on Tumblr describing the gifts she received from her friends/sisters that go back to their own homes. The note meant my thoughts were appreciated by knowing that I am on a team and someone appreciates me being on theirs even when we get on each other’s nerves!

I can appreciate my teammates/friends/comrades…(YOU get it), when I recognize and accept people for who they show me…they are.

GYC Rant…admit it, YOU knew it was coming (or you probably thought the whole post was a rant…)!!!

I’m going to be completely honest…more because I’m not a good liar… but many of us (myself included) give so many people and things… opportunities and attention that he/she/it should have never received/gotten/possessed because we gave access…Now we’re wondering where the real stuff/people are because we’re over the temporary things that once had our attention.

It’s up to us to deposit where we want to withdraw, to give where we want to receive, to plant where we want to prosper…and recognize that YOU, Me, WE DO have “it” in us to change what is in front of us.

I’m almost done with my declaration to stop planting seeds in the fools’ garden…Mmm hmm…

Say “no” to the things that will keep you from saying, “yes” to the things and people that will embrace you and help you grow.

GYC Girl YOU Crazy Quotes…although all the other quotes are GYC too…

“Sometimes we think we're investing where we'll see a profit when honestly…it is a waste of time draining us of our present joy and resources.”

“Let passion breathe and it will show you where to plant/give/sow/deposit so you’re not surprised by the result.”

“Sometimes you have to let go of things/people/whatever that could possibly be hindering you from withdrawing because you’re not able to deposit.”

“Planting where you prosper, sowing where you reap, depositing where you can withdraw…IS positioning yourself to be all of who YOU want to be.”-Life as We Know It

----GYC Girl YOU Crazy

I got a voice & I use it!

"Many will listen but only few will talk…dare to grab YOUR ‘mic’ and be bold."-YOUR Inner Boldness

Past Facebook post: “I got a voice and I use it… I can’t be muted, see the foolishness disputed yea I see right through it, so my strength is confident, that’s a fact we take the stairs no elevators, they got my back.“

“My boldness to believe opened me up to receive, now I have a voice…and I use it, I will not be muted.”-My Truth

Remember the first time/day/moment when you defended yourself against whomever about whatever? It was groundbreaking/liberating/exhilarating… just a bunch of “ing-ing” all over the place. Verbalizing that what was, will no longer Be!!!

            Whether it was:

a.     Somebody teasing/picking on you…

b.    Someone taking credit for your work…

c.     Not receiving the grade, pay or recognition you believe was deserved…

d.    OR…all of the above… in the same week (hey, it could’ve happened)…

We all had our moments when we awakened the courage within to defend ourselves.

The topic of finding, knowing and using your voice is not new but in thinking/developing ideas to move GYC and myself forward, I was reminded of my own voice, responsibilities, and the events leading to finding, knowing and using…Plus YOU haven’t heard GYC’s version where thoughts go in every direction, so…my “Girl YOU Crazy” thoughts are written accordingly.

Let's get right to it...

What are you using your voice for?

a.     ___________________(Fill-in-the-blank something crazy)

b.    ___________________(Fill-in-the-blank something temporary)

c.     ___________________(Fill-in-the-blank something famous)

d.    ___________________(Fill-in-the-blank something ridiculous)

e.    Or… “I don’t have time for any of the foolishness above, I use my voice as a tool for living out my purpose and staying in my own lane…Girl I would be Crazy to use it for anything outside of that…”

Wow!

GYC Personal Story

I remember when I recognized, for the first time, a desire in my heart with a fight that a simple but firm no could NOT stop.

It was my life-long dream… until the 5th grade when everything changed… as I faced the then results. I wanted to be in the fashion industry as a model…or so I thought.

Pause for GYC Dramatic Effect…

My dad forbid it for the sake of my feelings, and my mom pushed back for the sake of my confidence…even though she didn’t want me to do it either, go to an agency casting call (aka scam but that’s not part of the story…I don’t think…).

“I didn’t want you to think that you couldn’t do/be whatever you wanted to do/be.”-My Mom

So we (my mom and I) went to the casting call, they didn’t pick me because I had braces, we went home, I didn’t cry (or maybe I did and don't remember the full emotions of that event...possible block out...) but worse than that, I was confused… My first real dream, in an industry that I can talk for hours about…coming to an end because it was modeling or nothing.

Yes...I am still that passionate till this day...yep!

The next year in the 6th grade, I decided that it wasn’t over…and if I could not model the clothes…I WILL DESIGN them, and the rest is growing history…(by the way that same year, the agency called, assuming I didn’t have braces any more…I was over it…especially after we found out it was a scam…live and learn, live and learn).

It was in all of this… that I realized sometimes finding your voice means taking another look. Yes…they both have struggles but one I was actually designed with the ability to fight through the struggles... as non-relatives that believe in me and my dreams, listen and encourage me along the way.

Today my heart continues to open up to more dreams and “stations” for my voice…as I learn that the assumed position in these different industries…is not mine and yet to be created by me.

Some have a love for a certain thing/industry/area but don’t know their position in it.

GYC Last Thoughts with a couple Rants (run-on sentences are involved):
Fashion only opened me up to my dreams and waking UP my fight... but it was in the seeking that I found my voice, and the ability to understand that my voice is for a particular thing/area in everything I do and desire to do, and not to force it beyond but lead it where it's to designed to be.

Speak while you have the “mic,” don’t miss your opportunity by not taking YOUR chance.

Be the definition of Courageous and words alike:

Not deterred by danger or pain; brave, plucky, fearless, valiant, valorous, intrepid, heroic, lionhearted, bold, daring, daredevil, audacious, undaunted, unflinching, unshrinking, unafraid, dauntless, indomitable, doughty, mettlesome, venturesome, stouthearted, gallant.

Quick GYC Rant:

Use your voice, in your lane, which is where your audience is listening. Don’t give your attention and voice to issues that you have a temporary opinion on for a moment of attention, when there are issues in the world that only your actions and voice were designed to change with a collective whole.

We all have beliefs and opinions on certain things but there are some designed to speak on it (publicly) and possess the ability to deal with the possible hostility/struggle, and others who are not. We don’t have time to give our voice to everything but to the things placed in our own lane.

So I must ask…If you were given a “mic,” “pencil,” “stage,” “computer,” or whatever tool you have been intentionally or unintentionally longing for…what would you do and who would be in your audience?

Sometimes we forget…

How many people spoke out so that WE could speak up.

“I got a voice and I use it… I can’t be muted.”-OUR Declaration, GYCGirlYOUCrazy

Another Chance to Dream

“I didn’t settle, it paid off...and I got another chance to dream.”-YOU, Me, We…speaking as Victorious Winners

“I went into the battlefield…too early, realized the equipment I had was for the pre-battle…and I went over there.”-Memoirs of Another Chance to Dream

I didn’t lose focus, my heart just expanded.

Sometimes we think we’re only given one dream, one BIG goal to achieve, you dream a new dream after we reach the “top”…

Or so I thought!-It’s cool, I’ll be the honest one here, whatev’s.

It’s that moment when we feel the need to give whatever “it” is, all we have. Then when we do, and the results don’t appear to be in our favor, we go back to drawing board and wonder…:

“Was this really my big dream?!?!?”

Maybe I need to try a new route, maybe I need to do this, or maybe I need to do that? Maybe, maybe…Maybe!

But in the moment of thought...reevaluating/reflecting/just really thinking about how YOU, Me, We got here…

We pause

Side Note: This post is not about getting rid of the bigger dream but recognizing you have been given room for other dreams in between.

GYC Personal Story (that will make sense…if you want it to)

I know I’ve talked about running track…and discontinuing “that” but you should know, I played soccer next (for a moment).

Honestly, I’ve never wanted to play team sports…because it required a team effort…all at the same time, not like your appointed/designated/given time on the track.

I learned what it’s like be on a team and need a team to win. Class projects can need teams (groups) but when it's all said and done, it may be a lot of work but you can do it all yourself (been there, got the t-shirt to prove it)…BUT it's pretty hard to win a game all by yourself.

“Girl I don’t care about you playing soccer!”---Just wait…

When I first started, I played on the indoor soccer team where the coach explained my role/position on the field as all of them… “You’re fast enough to play the entire field (of course the field was much smaller than outdoor) so that’s your job when you’re out there”…and I did, although I was terrified and setting myself up to possibly be embarrassed (no, I did not play this sport before hand). ---And yes, my dad flipped and was all “Girl YOU Crazy” as did other parents and coaches from the track team…I never needed or more importantly wanted sports to get into college or be my career. *Quick Note: I knew enough about myself to be myself.*

Indoor soccer was my 1st forced and known encounter with versatility (giving all I had at one time)…yep!

But what I learned was…

Versatility opens your eyes to many things… but when you’re so focused on the one big dream…it gets hard as you appear to have moved on from waiting and preparing for the big dream. Even in starting GYC, I was asked many times about my dream to be a shoe designer and if that was still there…it is.

However,

Really, really Quick Rant…I had to…

One day I sat down to really think about all the things I wanted to do (after I realized it wasn’t time to pursue shoe design in the way I had planned)… 

A vision of me doing these other things (pre-Big Dream) started to form as I began to start all of these ventures such as writing a book…no, not “Don’t Take the Elevator…” which you should read, share and print…gift…all of that…have fun!

As these visions birthed as my own and not as ventures that I wanted to propose to businesses, I realized that I got another chance to dream, think and live more than one dream, be the steward over more than one gift and realize that it all can and will happen in its timing.

Example: The Truth about GYC Girl YOU Crazy

GYC was no way near my idea of giving back nor the non-profits that I had dreamed about owning and running after I was full on grown (and had all of my businesses in full swing). HOWEVER, as GYC began to take form in front of you all…as it still does today (6 months strong and counting), a friend of mine told me that GYC Girl YOU Crazy is just like me.

Open your eyes to more…you never know what is waiting to be birthed RIGHT NOW! The bigger dream is amazing but the journey can be greater.

What do people always say on Twitter…“Be the YOU…YOU always dreamed of being…today”---I don’t know something like that… well…that’s the GYC Girl YOU Crazy version of it (quote me)!

GYC Last Thoughts

Every now and then again…You, Me, We need to wake up and get lost in our dream(s) and the possibility of all of them happening… by developing their details.

Live and pursue YOUR own dreams for the love of YOUR sanity.

“I tear up at the thought that my heart had room to dream more dreams.”-Lauren Alicia

We always have Another Chance to Dream…as long as we have today.

"Print me"

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays from GYC Girl YOU Crazy

Don't Take the Elevator... the GYC Book

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Enjoy GYC Girl YOU Crazy's Gift from me (Lauren Alicia) to YOU! View it, Print it, Share it, Re-gift it. Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!