courage

STRENGTH BEFORE PATIENCE IS IMPOSSIBLE

~ Nikki's Cookies

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 A considerable amount of time taken to cleanse and adjust my brains’ pallet, that of which induces my heart for the birth of another of “Nikkis’Cookies”.

    Strength before patience is impossible.  We first need the proper preparations and training.  Wisdom inspired words snipped from a popular song… “we have to get back to the family, we have to teach each other, especially if we think we know a thing or two!”…(Maze).  Everyone knows something about something, and everyone can be taught something about something.  Knowledge is truly powerful.  Think about the strength that it can bring you.  Think of the strength that it can bring a family united by it.  It’s our most unique key that unlocks pieces of our heart and soul.  The most powerful tool we possess though, is love.  It is knowledge and strength in itself!

     Contemplate the power of knowledge in its intirety.  In the beginning there was TRUTH.  And from the truth, stemmed the curiosity of KNOWLEDGE.  Imagine newborns and toddlers, which naturally learn from their parents.  And with that, they are nurtured and cared for to become self-sufficient little people, (or individuals).  Now back to knowledge which is gained through teachings and being trained.  Think of grade school and compare the two similarities.  Now upon graduation, you are prepared technically, to fend for yourself. (Fortunately for us, there’s tons more to be learned!!!)  Last but not least, there’s WISDOM that stems from the STRENGTH of the knowledge that is in you, that was gained.  Quite powerful, if I do say so myself!  See, the more knowledge you gain, the more power you obtain.  Not to mislead you with the common perception of “power”, which can be clouded by an individuals status or title.  I’m not using it to define your current status, nor the title(s) you hold to your name or brand.  I choose to use it as a platform, defined by the inconclusive number of lives you touch.  You never really can tally them all, because only GOD knows the amount of lives you are destined to change or impact!

     Take into consideration higher learning.  Why do you think that its such a lucrative business?!  We use education to enhance our natural abilities and to move ahead.  This has been a part of our very existence since the beginning of time.  To share the truths of what we know with others.  Whether it be spiritual guidance, domestic guidance, higher education, or simply, leadership at home or generally living life!  We have all been shaped by knowledge of some kind, somewhere.  Think of all the knowledge you’ve gained and were able to convert into power.  Think of your family and how you affect each of them, or the role you play in their lives.  Think of your successes as well as your failures. (Could you have used more training and/or preparation?)  No ONE is perfect, so your lists should consist of both!  Mine does!!!  Think of knowledge that has been passed down from generation to generation.  Think of all the students currently enrolled in grade school, trade school, home school, community college, or universities.  They are all in for common factors….EDUCATION.

     You can Never know enough, and you can Never know it all!  But, you Can continue learning and gaining power.  The TRUTH behind your knowledge can in fact allow the wisdom you’ve gained to become a power source in someone’s life.  This principle leads me back to why “strength before patience is impossible”.  It takes patience to teach and be taught…but it first requires to be taught to gain your strength by knowledge and wisdom to have power!

#STRENGTHANDPOWER

*(BONUS COOKIE:  You can never know the extent of your platform if you don’t embrace the power you possess as an individual….so use it.)

I Still Choose U!

~ Nikki's Cookies

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Do you believe that we each get better with time?  I do…at least for the most part.  Time is part of our development.  I view time as life’s’ obstacle course, and the obstacles are the very events that change us.  Usually the events at the start of the course are simple and uncomplicated tasks.  Unfortunately, the tasks may appear increasingly challenging near the mature end of the course.  The primary source for our development of the very essentials needed to carry out our purpose in life, starts with our, “life’ obstacle course”.  The obstacles can be anything from a bad break up to a relentless bully at school; anywhere from discrimination on a job, to having trouble even finding a job.  Life’s course can tend to be painful and exhausting.  Just keep in mind that the course is actually your LIFE!  So it’s wise to NOT GIVE UP!

The anticipated reward is crossing the finish line.  When the ones you love push you down, get back up.  When tough times come and attempt to strip your worth, don’t let ’em!  Choose to not give in, or give up on your life.  Stay in game mode, putting your best face on.  Knowing new opportunities lay ahead.  If we throw in the towel too early, we won’t be able to see how far we’ve come.  Many challenges may push us close to the point of “no return”(quitting).  We may even get to a point in our course where we just flat-out feel stuck.  And in those trying moments, we should exercise “reflection time”.  A time spent reflecting our past transformations from the countless events in our lives in which we’ve overcome, apparently.  The moments when you felt like giving up, or it was too much to handle, or you thinking that your not good enough.  You should find confidence, knowing that you are a lot stronger, and wayyyyy smarter now, than when you first started.

Whether it was ten years ago or ten days ago.  Every time you face a challenge or difficulty, and manage to overcome, know that its strategically developing a better you!  So strap up your “billy-bad-ass” boots, and stop doubting yourself!  We will never truly unlock all of our special gifts and talents if we choose to give up after a single obstacle in our course.  We may need that very event to help prepare us for what comes next.  So tell yourself that after looking back over my life’s’ obstacle course….examining all that I’ve overcome thus far……I conclude that..I Still Choose U!!!!!!

#NEVERQUIT

Keepin’ Up With The Jones’…(“ain’t nobody got time for that!”)

~ Nikki's Cookies ~ 1 Comment

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Have you ever been caught on the wrong side of the street?  Think a bit longer.  I’m slightly uncomfortable admitting that I’ve found myself there a few times.  Ugh.  I live on planet Earth, what can you expect?!  That’s old news now, or “cold tea”.

I’m a mature, confident black woman, cosmetically inserted into “today’s” society.  Of course, I come equipped with my own morals and values, but the daily pressures, (consciously and unconsciously) fashioned around every trend setting merchandise or upgrades of the latest anything, seems to blind us all.  Not forgetting the permission slips that we first ought to have had an option to sign!  I’m guilty of pinching from savings on many occasions, from trying to “keep up with the Jones'”.  I think about the little nest egg that would’ve developed, that I could be adding to.  No need to ponder over spilt milk now, is there?  I look forward to sharing this next cookie…(because I do like having a point..when I’m talking..right?..LoL!!!).

We aren’t designed to be categorized by no means.  Not even identical twins!  We may indeed come from the same factory, but we have different ingredients.  We may all utilize the same recording studio, but we create and produce different music.  We may play basketball for the same team, but we each possess a unique skill set for each position.  We may blend in corporate america, but we each hold separate titles.  It’s okay to be versatile, updated, even cultured, just master your assignment first!  And that’s being, YOU.  Some are familiar with the phrase, “Only the Strong Survive”, you can apply it to this topic.  Reaching for stars that don’t even have your name on them will have you spent in no time!  Don’t allow yourself to become something that you were never destined to become.  Allow yourself the custom fit opportunity of becoming EVERYTHING that you are designed to BE!!!

It’s not easy trying to address the semi-sweet flavors of this cookie…but its not such a challenge when prepared with love.  The effort and energy (almost forgot MONEY) spent in trying to “keep up with the Jones'”, should be time invested in following your passions, dreams and pursuing goals.  Being the best You, anyone can try to be!  How you like them cookies?  And don’t fool yourselves with that silly prankster, “denial”.  Be mindful that “The Jones'”, can come in any form,..(i.e.*an array of colors, shapes, sizes, personalities, habits, dysfunction, mistrust, abuse, neglect, self-esteem, jobs/careers, social status, marriage, children, aging, lust, jealousy, betrayal, eagerness, boredom, and false sense of direction.  There are countless more distractions, these are just off the top of my brain.

When we are off focus or distracted from our destiny, pulling attention away from steps in creating our own legacy; we fall weak to compromise.  Compromise within our lifestyles, therefore, leaving the true desires of our hearts on hold.  And delay our dreams until further notice.  Just for a shot at walking in someone else’s shoes, when they don’t even fit your feet!  Only the strong survive.  So survive a day in your own lives, and be content with yourselves.  Waste little time proving nothing to no one, other than yourself, because you never really can trust the morals or motivation behind anyone’s actions like you can your own.  So explore your own reasoning behind what makes you happy, and nourish your purpose.  You will see that keeping up with YOU is far better flattering than, “keepin’ up with the Jones'”….because, “ain’t nobody got time for that!!!”.

#BU