BE STILL

Mornings are diamonds in the rough. Mornings are new beginnings. Mornings are the nothingness that can become something big. Mornings are like untouched clay you can mold and make into what you want it to be.

My best time of the day is mornings… the quiet, the nothingness, the peace, innocence, tranquility, my prayer time, but more than anything, the stillness.

If you’re anything like me, you rise up early, just to have that cup of coffee or tea and time alone. The rest of the family and the world are still asleep and don’t seem to exist. Your thoughts are not bogged down with the worries of what’s going to happen next, because your morning is just you, the sunrise and stillness. Then daybreak!

So, what are your days like? Do you take any YOU time? If I were to tell you that taking that short period of time is medicinally invigorating, would you believe me? It is medicine for the soul. It’s an exhalation of heavy weights. It makes you ready for new tasks. It replenishes the spirit. It gives a better perspective on what your next move will be. It’s basically parallel to a power nap. Please don’t go on a guilt trip, or think it’s selfish to have some ‘you time.’ This is not an age appropriate suggestion. We all need that time as mothers, grannies, fathers, grandpas, aunts, and the list goes on.

Imagine this:

Dark space - just before God created heaven and earth, there was nothingness. Genesis 1: 1 states “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep…”

This biblical depiction goes way beyond the actuality of what our mornings look like. But the similarity is there for those who can take themselves to that place of the imagination. It’s clean. It's pure. It's uninhabited.

And then in verse 3, “and God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light. 4. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from darkness…” Thus, the beginning of our day and night!

Ever thought about the fact that when you open your eyes to daybreak, it doesn’t belong to you any longer? You become discombobulated as your space gets occupied with other things be it family, jobs, or the hustle and bustle of daily goings-on.

So, before daybreak, if you were to take just a moment... or maybe you're not a morning person, whatever your preference of day or night, to just meditate on some things, I truly think it would make for a purer, clearer picture and outlook on life. Just try to find your ‘before creation’ time, Be Still, and listen…

Blessings,

PJ Payne

Make the Call

Decisions, decisions! Has there ever been a time in your life when you were left to make an impacting decision on something MAJOR? All eyes were on you and you couldn't bail out because your responsibility dictated that YOU had the final say. The ball was in your court!

Problem: Even if you're passionate about a cause, the execution of a decision you make may not bear the assertive boost needed to execute it, in its entirety. That’s because your demeanor is passive, with a tad of aggression. You generally hesitate to make 'big' decisions for fear of failing, hurting someone's feelings, much less making an 'unpopular' call.

With that being said, how did you get yourself into this situation? Well, as you think about the Chrono-logicality of events, you realize the initial concept was yours; you put it out there, so your counterparts just ‘ran’ with it. Talk was cheap, but now those ideas have begun to come into fruition. The next step is to execute and finalize what YOU had started. Now you've got to step up your game, make a call or foul-out!

Realization: Somebody believed in you, "Now what?” You started this and you've got to progress to the next level. HOW do you muster-up the courage to pick up the ball and run with it... or just pass?

Answer: Don’t EVER make a decision hastily, no matter if you’re under the pressure of a time frame or talking with the ‘head of heads,’ make a carefully thought out, and logical call.

You won’t regret it!

Blessings,

PJ Payne

Remember When...

Reflecting back on life, it seems times really have not completely changed. Sometimes the memories make you want to go back to those young carefree childhood days. Unfortunately, you have to move forward with the times.

I remember when my mom use to say, "Don't worry about what's going on now or the past. It will come back full circle." Never would I have dreamt that shoes, furnishings, toys, cars, music, styles of clothing, jewelry, even hairdos would evolve. We see this all the time in our children's choices, trends on TV, and social media. The change may be that a style has a different name or different hue in color, but in essence, it’s the same. Somebody just revamped an old style!

Don’t you just hate it though! Think of all of the older styles of clothing that have made a comeback... a complete circle. Makes you think you should have kept that paisley blouse, hoop earrings, or clog shoes you use to stylishly flaunt. But of course fabrics, colors and cut have changes. And ‘new age’ folks can tell the difference, so “Nah, it wouldn’t work!”

Have you ever asked yourself, what will styles be like in twenty years? Who knows? But what we do have are the memories... unless, medical issues arise, they won't leave and sometimes we can vividly go back. They are etched and fixed! 

Deep-Seated Memories

When I was younger, I use to stay in the mirror.  A flip here; a curl there. I couldn’t get enough of trying to find a superior look, to the other look of my hair, I had already done in the mirror.

I was hoping to wear uniquely, a style never worn; never to have it said that I was ever outdone... setting the trend with classiness, not a gimmick. And a leader on my own that others dreamed to mimic.

And now, the mirror I try to avoid. Reflecting back and my recollection of that age, only annoy me; Lol! That hair, my flair, flairs up nowhere. But!  If I look a little closer, I know I’ll find it there.

When I was younger, I use to stay in the mirror! :-)

Ahhh, memories...

PJ Payne