From the Desk of Phaedra G. Saunders - New Blog Post - Living in Atlanta - Signs... important messages we some how ignore
So
I woke up this morning with a lot of things on my mind. That’s unusual
for me as I tend to stay in a calming state of mind. It is important
not to suppress your thoughts. Let them come and go as quickly as they
appeared. But this morning for some reason...continue reading
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
SIGNS…important messages we somehow ignore
So I woke up this morning with a lot of
things on my mind. That’s unusual for me
as I tend to stay in a calming state of mind.
It is important not to suppress your thoughts. Let them come and go as quickly as they
appeared. But this morning for some
reason thoughts were swirling fast, one after another, and staying with me.
Thoughts like “can I get these deadlines met at work today”, “what bills needed
to be paid this week”, “why did my ex who I haven’t heard from in in six years
call me at all places, at my office…what does he want”, “I need to call my
mother”, “what’s my next move in my career”, “did I unplug the coffee pot”? I mean everything that I could possibly think
of was coming at me this morning and it was hard to shut it off.
I went downstairs to warm up my car and
put in my earplugs. I searched for songs
from two of my favorite female artists Jill Scott and Erykah Badu. I love Jill for her truthful, righteous words
and Erykah for her soulful vibration that flows from her soul to mine. It calmed me but I was still thinking. As I pulled up to a red light, I was directly
behind a black car, all I could see was the back, the trunk. Then all of a sudden, out of nowhere the word
FOCUS appeared as big as day. The car, traffic, red light and music all
disappeared and all I saw was that word.
I sat there for what seemed like a long time just staring at this larger
than life word in front of my eyes, and then it clicked. FOCUS Phaedra, yeah that’s
what I needed to do. FOCUS on one thing at a time…inch by
inch, minute by minute. The car behind me
blew its horn because by now the light had turned green. As we went through the light that’s when I
noticed that the black car was a Ford Focus.
I giggled to myself because it’s not unusual to see this car on the
highway. Only today did I notice it in a
special, different way.
In the parking deck at my job, I turned
off the car engine, closed my eyes, took three deep meditation breaths, said a
prayer and got out. All day, focus
flowed through me and I met the work deadlines,
I knew exactly what bills were to be paid and who cares why my ex called, I’ve
moved past that and him. I called my
mother, figured that I was blessed to have a job with such flexibility and yes,
I even remembered that I did unplug the coffee pot. All is well and I know that whatever needs to
be taken care of has already been taken care of. Such is the state of a calm mind.
It is amazing the signs spirit gives you
on a daily basis to help you when you are thrown off track. The question is can you recognize them? As for me, a little Jill, Erykah and a black
Ford Focus were the signs I needed to help me through my day.
Until next time my lovelies…Peace and
light.
Phaedra
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Welcome to Living in Atlanta: It’s not about the year, it’s about YOU.
Welcome to Living in Atlanta: It’s not about the year, it’s about YOU.: I’ve been on hiatus for the last 3 months, moving, spending time with family and ringing in the New Year! But now I can say…I’m bac...
It’s not about the year, it’s about YOU.
I’ve been on hiatus for the last 3 months, moving, spending time with
family and ringing in the New Year! But
now I can say…I’m back!
We are mid way into the first month in the New Year, how’s it going for
you so far? I have given great thought
to what this New Year means to me and I have to tell you…I’ve got nothing. I don’t mean that in a bad way, it’s just
that I have decided this year not to put any type pressure on the year 2016. Sure,
I have goals to meet, but in the words of Ray Charles “I’m gonna let it do what
it do baby”!
I’ve read countless posts and memes on social media on how 2016 will
be a “YEAR of SUCCESS”, the “YEAR of YES”, “THE BEST YEAR EVER”. I have to tell you that each year, month day
or second that I get to see is ALL of the above. When I first said this to a friend she said,
“I understand what you are saying, but many people feel that the start of a new
year is a time to reset, a clean slate”. But isn’t that what we do every day
our eyes open in the morning? We reset,
we give thanks to god for granting us the opportunity to get something right
today. So why would we abandon our daily
appreciation for just one specific year?
Let’s be honest with ourselves, 2016 will present some pretty
significant challenges, its inevitable.
But the good news is that with each challenge, we have yet another day
to conquer it, and with every success we have we also have the opportunity give
thanks for it and to do just a little bit better. Hopefully, in 2015, we learned a lot about
ourselves and made changes in our lives physically, mentally and spiritually. We had the fortitude to keep moving forward,
so carry that momentum into this New Year and keep going! Remember, it’s not about the year…it’s about
YOU!
Until next time my lovelies…always peace and blessings.
Phaedra
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Misty Sunday
On this cool, misty Sunday morning, I watch my favorite Sunday morning television
program. It fills my mind with useful
information and it appeals to my trivia side.
Tidbits of knowledge can go a long way.
I drew a hot bath of lavender scented bubbles with a hint of eucalyptus healing
my mind and my senses as I forgot about whatever it was that was on my mind
prior to that point. In my kitchen, I
prepared a meal that was only to my liking and tried a new wine, a blend of
Syrah and Merlot. It’s what I like to
call a “grown” woman’s brunch.
On my misty Sunday, the Grantham family and I spent the afternoon
together catching up on what was happening at Downtown Abbey, I just love the
Edwardian period with all its grandeur and social graces…the life of Aristocracy,
all the while completing a craft project of my own that prepares me for the
cold winter days.
On my misty Sunday, sounds of jazz greats like Nina Simone, Stan Getz and
Tito Puente waif through my house.
The melodies and words mirror my life, the joys and challenge’s my
family and I face, yet we get through.
It puts me in the mood to be just like these artists, creative and
working on my craft. So many good things
happened during the course of this day.
I’ll hold that sacred only for me to experience. Of course, I will close my evening with my
love, my passion, my release…my writings.
By now you may be wondering why I chose to write a blog about how I
spent my Sunday. Well, so often the rat
race some refer to as “life” leaves one with little time for self. We spend our free time in different ways,
most spend time outside of the home, others inside. I have a busy life, often times hectic but
always rewarding. But there are moments,
days like this in which everything slows down and I can once again appreciate
the manner in which I like to spend my free time. This day brought me back to who I am and some
of the many things that I love. It’s not
an every Sunday occurrence, so when it happens it become that breath of fresh
air needed to take me to my next breathing
space. One in which I will
appreciate, cherish and definitely enjoy.
So my lovelies, what takes you to your next breathing space? Whatever it
is, take the time to recognize and enjoy it.
Don’t just go through the motions because you are use to doing it, take
the time to be present in that moment, drinking it all in and being grateful
that you are able to experience it…just where you are.
Until next time my lovelies…there’s only love.
Peace and blessings,
Phaedra
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Welcome to Living in Atlanta: Domestic Violence, The Not So Silent Killer
From the Desk of Phaedra G. Saunders - New Blog Post- Living in Atlanta - Domestic Violence, the Not So Silent Killer
I
read a quote which said, “be kind to those that you meet, you never
know what they had to endure just to wake up this morning”. I think of
this quote when encountering women who rarely seem happy, stand offish,
closed off or attitudinal for no apparent reason...continue readingWelcome to Living in Atlanta: Domestic Violence, The Not So Silent Killer: I read a quote which said, “be kind to those that you meet, you never know what they had to endure just to wake up this morning”. I...
I
read a quote which said, “be kind to those that you meet, you never
know what they had to endure just to wake up this morning”. I think of
this quote when encountering women who rarely seem happy, stand offish,
closed off or attitudinal for no apparent reason...continue readingWelcome to Living in Atlanta: Domestic Violence, The Not So Silent Killer: I read a quote which said, “be kind to those that you meet, you never know what they had to endure just to wake up this morning”. I...
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