To Thine Self Be True

Greetings Ladies!!

Okay, so it appears that this is a holiday blog. LOL! I last posted around Thanksgiving and now here comes Christmas. Oh well, I have been a buzzzy bee lately, but I will try my best to post more often. Nonetheless, here it goes...

I am not ashamed anymore. I used to feel incomplete. I did not always make the best choices or decisions. I did not know how to love myself at one point...oh but God. As I look over my life, I have had some good times, and some not so good, but through it all, I AM STILL STANDING STRONG. I am confident and so very proud to be the woman that God created me to be. At this time in my life, I have no regrets and I love the woman that I am today. Flaws and all! There was a time when I was not sure who I was and allowed other people's opinions to play a part in defining me.

Some of my sisterfriends and I have had conversations about relationships over the years and have pointed out some of the challenges that we have faced all for the sake of what we thought was love. It was really infatuation most of the time, but it appeared so real a lot of the times. Years ago, I really began to allow God to define love, His love (John 3:16). To be honest, I asked Him to show me how to love me the way that He does. That truly opened my eyes to a whole new world. I learned that you must truly love yourself before you can love another and know your self-worth. For instance, specifically in a romantic relationship, you must be willing to walk away if you are violated emotionally, physically, et cetera. How many of us have stayed in unhealthy relationships all for the sake of what we defined as love and it was really infatuation? How many of us have made conscientious decisions to move forward because we knew we deserved much more?

Consequently, I know a young woman who was conceived in a very tragic situation. Her mother was a drug addict and was in a situation where she got raped...this was this young woman's beginning. She was raised by a close family member who challenged her to set her goals high despite her dreadful beginning. This family member also was very open and honest with her through her upbringing; she was taught to love and respect herself in spite of her challenges. Today, at the age of 23, this young woman has finished her undergraduate degree and will soon head off to graduate school. She is currently in a romantic relationship, but chose to set boundaries from the beginning that she expressed to her male friend. If those boundaries are violated, she is not afraid to walk away no matter how she feels. She should be an inspiration to us all.

Fortunately, I am very blessed to have learned what it means to love and respect myself. I won't settle for less. I have those boundaries set and will not allow anyone to challenge me about them. In the words of a popular song, "Even if my man broke my heart today, no matter how much pain I'm in I will be okay. 'Cause I got a Man in my life that can't be replaced for His love is unconditional, it won't go away..."

Love is an action word...don't settle for the substitute. To Thine Self Be True.

Have an empowered to prosper day!

Keep The Faith,

Elle Jene'

"Never Settle: You Are A Diamond!"

Greetings!!

I contemplated for a while about starting this blog. Never do I want to be perceived as someone who is judgmental although it may come across that way to some. Oh well, this is my show, as Beyonce' would say, so here it goes. Most recently, I read an article where a young woman said that after a few long term relationships where she experienced hurt and disappointment because those relationships did not lead to marriage, then the next man that she is in a long term relationship with does not have to put a ring on it. As long as he loves her and cares for her, then she is alright with that. Okay...If all of us would just be honest about it, we would all have to say that we have experienced or know someone who has experienced hurt, disappointment or both. Although, if you have not yet, as our elders would say, "Just keep living." Now, I am not here to judge the young woman or say that she is wrong for how she feels, but I would like to give another viewpoint. As a woman who serves as a mentor to several young ladies, I simply cannot agree that a woman should settle for less. I don't care what the statistics or the naysayers have to say. If he loves you and cares for you, then he should want to put a ring on it. Diamonds Deserve Diamonds!!

Although a woman may experience some feelings of loneliness when waiting on the one that God has especially for her, she must know that special someone is looking for her. Plus, no one is an island and someone is actually looking at you to see how you respond. Continue to move forward and know that you are a diamond, whether you are currently in a relationship or not.

To my peers: "The next generation should learn from us and do even better. And, we should be willing to be transparent with them. You don't have to tell every detail of your life in order to be a positive influence in some one's life. Know that one of the best gifts that we can give to the next generation is the gift of ourselves, flaws and all, so that they can stand on our shoulders and become greater."

Well, that is all for now. I will talk with you soon.

Moving Forward...