Category Archives: About Me

About Me, Chapter 2

The Prototype.

I daughtered on Saturday. I drove my Mom to complete her normal weekend errands. It was quite an adventure. We stopped at 4 different grocery stores. Each with a different list of items because you cannot get meat from just any store according to my Mom. I, on the other hand, typically buy all my groceries from one place. Target. I love the ability to get grapes, a cute journal and light bulbs all from one stop. Note: I prefer to shop online then open my front door and my groceries to be perfectly positioned at my doormat waiting to be put away. 

Stock image that understood the assignment.

The second to last stop had trouble with the air conditioning. It was 90 degrees in Louisiana on Saturday afternoon. I started to feel overheated. My Mom said the same. I headed to the checkout looking for an ice cold water to hydrate. I checked all the lines and all refrigerators containing cold drinks. The choices were Fanta, Red Bull, Gatorade and Coke. Not one cold bottle of water was available in the store. Surprised by the lack of water but also not surprised at the same time. I settled with Gatorade. 

Well, hello there.

Once my Mom got in the car I selected parent’s home as the destination. However, I was then told we had to get gas before going home. I was a bit confused. Seeing that we had ¾ of a tank, more than enough gas needed to get home. Why do we have to get gas now in 90 degree weather when we are BOTH exhausted? My Mom prefers to get gas from Sam’s Club. It is less expensive. We were already close to Sam’s which is twenty minutes away from my parent’s home. I headed to Sam’s Club on Siegen Lane.

Just Keep Swimming.

Even though my Mom had declared that she was hot and tired, she was able to keep going anyway. Just keep swimming. One of the most significant moments from the animated movie Finding Nemo was Dory telling her new friend Nemo to just keep swimming. The idea of just keep swimming gives us the hope we need to achieve the goal, to finish strong, and to persevere through the hard times. My Mom is a real life illustration of “Just keep swimming.” She has trials and tribulations in her life, yet she doesn’t give up. She just keeps swimming. I am incredibly thankful for the lessons that I have learned by simply being in her presence.

Happy Mother’s Day.

XOXO

Lesson: Prototype. Noun. The original or model on which something is based or formed. 

Question: What lessons have you learned by watching the actions of your Mother?

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About Me, Love Life, Mental Health

California King Bed

There was a time when I would spend entire weekends in the bed. Of course, I would get up to use the restroom and get something to eat. I would just get back into bed. I would rarely answer the phone. I would occasionally respond to text. I set the thermostat on the coldest temperature, restarted Grace and Frankie from season 1 episode 1 over and over and then get comfortable in bed ready to sleep the day away.

It did not dawn on me that my sleeping was a faint cry for help. If I did not have any obligations to go anywhere, then I would be in the bed. Was I depressed? The thought often crossed my mind. But if I was depressed then why wasn’t I also in bed during the week I wondered? I convinced myself that it wasn’t depression.

In hindsight, I believe it was a case of high functioning depression. My last relationship had ended. . . very badly. I thought he was my future Mr. I was entirely wrong about him and his intentions. I was sad and extremely lonely. The break up felt like a punch in the gut. Ouch! I didn’t want to show up for myself on the weekends. There was no cleaning routine. My place consistently looked like Hurricane DDC had ransacked everything. There was no desire to workout. There wasn’t a relationship with the Lord. I was grieving. I didn’t know it then, but I can clearly identify it now.

This was several years ago now. I was up this morning pulling the sheets off of my bed getting ready to wash (Wednesday is the day to clean my bedroom) and the thought crossed my mind of how I used to spend entire weekends in this bed. Thankfully, I am pass that phase of life. I function. I clean. I pray. I meditate. Occasionally I work out too. I do not want to go back to that place. I will not go back.

XOXO

Lesson: You never know the battles that people are fighting daily.

Question: Do you notice when the life of the party stops living?

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About Me, Chapter 2

Wants

I want to be an 180 pound (or less) financially secure active Christian women with a stable career that inspires good vibes and is stress free. I want to have a clean organized home of essentials only. I want to set daily priorities and cross them off the list by the end of each day. I want to have an active prayer life where I spend quality time in conversation with the Lord. I want to be an avid reader. I want to feel complete even in times when I am physically alone. I want to be in a steady committed relationship that is full of laughter but there is still room for tears together when it is warranted. I want to live a healthy life where I experiment with new vegetarian recipes sporadically but still includes Peanut Butter Snickers Pie from City Works every once in a while. I want to crave physical activity. I will start my day with a 30 minute workout Monday through Friday. I want to complete a Lovely Bodies 90 minute workout on Saturday mornings at least once a month. I want to talk to my counselor, Hope, on a monthly basis, I want to talk to my behavioral therapist, Tara, on a weekly basis, and I am going to add a trauma therapist in on a biweekly basis. I want to live by a daily cleaning routine. Bathrooms are on Mondays. Sundays are to reset for the week.

I have a lot of wants. Wait, are there a lot? Hmmm. They aren’t too much to want. I could want a million dollars too. Well, I do want a million dollars too. What I am trying to say is that I want a lot of things but I do not want too much. All of these things are completely doable. Consistently doable.

I have some very doable wants. I can do all that I want to do, but why don’t I?

XOXO

Lesson: Wants without actions are meaningless.

Question: What am I prepared to do on a daily basis to achieve the life that I want?

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About Me, Chapter 2, Love Life, Mental Health

A New Subscriber

I met a guy on Coffee Meets Bagel a couple of weeks ago. I am doing something different to get something different. I started the chat by making my goals for online dating very clear and asked what did he desire. I no longer want to waste my time pursuing f*ck boys. Therefore, I need to know that a guy has some serious intentions with dating from the very beginning. Let’s call this one Coffee.

CMB

It has been a great two weeks. It is as if seeds are being planted. He plants the seeds and he waters them daily. We initially matched on February 13th. I started the chat. He responds in complete sentences (not just “k” or “that’s great” when I sent an essay). He doesn’t use text speak (i.e. wyd?) and I appreciate that. Reading complete sentences on dating apps is a huge turn on for me. Our first phone conversation was three hours. We talked about anything and everything. I felt like Alicia Keys singing, “Teenage Love Affair.” Coffee has an amazing sense of humor and he laughs at my jokes. He’s intelligent. He likes to go outside. He initiates outings. We have future plans to attend a wine festival after I get settled in my new place.

Spending time with him feels comfortable. We have easy conversation. I am able to be my natural weird self without judgement. I love that he laughs at my humor. Coffee is an introvert. Very different than my extrovert ways. He’s more reserved opposed to my outgoing, open and free spirit. He’s slim and I am thick. He only wants to sit in the front row at a concert while I do not mind touching the ceiling of the venue. They say opposites attract.

Since I started this blog I wondered how I would feel when a dating prospect read my words. Especially if I wanted to write about them! I mentioned my blog daily to Time Warner. I hoped at some point he would ask to see it. He never did. I want my mate to be an avid reader of my blog. He could give his honest opinions in response to the questions posed. I want him to quote a my words the way Dre quoted Sidney in Brown Sugar, “simplicity provides a fine line between elegance and plainness.”

Coffee read my blog today.

XOXO

Lesson: I like my Coffee, tall bright and handsome.

Question: How should a love interest demonstrate their interest for you to receive it?

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About Me, Chapter 2, Mental Health

Balance

What are your thoughts on meditation? I used to think it was just a gimmick. It was silent breathing, sitting cross cross applesauce and chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Shout out to Tina Turner and Angela Basset. Meditation was for people who were holistic, who use the word “chakra” and buy natural deodorants from Sprouts. That is not me. However, recently I started practicing meditation as a part of my morning routine and I can testify that meditation is a beneficial practice.

For the last 21 days I have been practicing morning meditations. Sometimes twice in a day using the Balance app. I like a mid day reset to conquer my afternoons. I feel mental clarity, increased relaxation and focus because of meditation. The ability to focus on the task at hand has been amazing. I am typically very easily distracted by shiny objects. My BFF calls me Squirrel. SQUIRREL!

I have tried to meditate several times in the past. I could not stop my mind from wondering to other random thoughts. I’d think about to do lists and what groceries I needed to restock. I would give up after 2-3 days. What a difference timing and motivation makes. Now I crave meditation. A mid day reset does the trick to get a renewed dose of focus for the second half of the workday. My new clarity has encouraged the desire to learn more about all of the benefits of meditation. Did you know that meditation can increase imagination and creativity?

The Balance app is great for meditation beginners. The app asks questions daily about my experience with meditation and uses the answers to tailor the days guided meditation. There are two choices for meditation coaches. I chose the Black male. His voice is calm and familiar. The app also has meditation plans designed for your specific need at the time I.e. relieve stress, find focus, ease loneliness, facing fear, and pain relief. I will be sure to practice the meditation that eases loneliness when neccessary.

XOXO

Lesson: Download the Balance app.

Question: What does meditation do for you?

Note: Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is a Buddhist chant the enables chanters to embrace the entirety of the text and uncover their Buddhanature. It actually has nothing to do with meditation.

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About Me, Chapter 2, Humor, Love Life, Mental Health

Mittens

My dating life has been filled with heartbreak and disappointment. The trails that I have endured have lead me to ask God, “what are You trying to teach me?” What am I to learn from these trials? I am obviously not getting it. Whatever IT is. There has to be a reason for this heartbreak to keep coming one after another. What is it, God? Can You make the lesson clear to me?!? I must be doing something wrong to not have experienced the love that I long for. Does this mean I need to stop trying? Should I get a cat or two and settle into being a fine ass auntie (with no niece or nephew)?

Ironically, I do want a cat. I want to have something to talk to in my empty nest. I have been wanting one for a few years now. The stigma around single women and cats is the major reason I do not have a cat. Hmmm. On some level, I care about what other people think about me. I know I am not supposed to care, but I actually do. I don’t want to meet a guy and he shame me for having a cat. I do not want to have to pay for the boarding of a cat when I travel. My parent’s would never allow the cat in their home. My mom already told me that I would have to leave my cat in the garage when I came home.

I am going to put some thought into what I will do with the cat when I travel.

XOXO

Lesson: I do not know the lesson today.

Question: What is God trying to tell me?

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About Me, Chapter 2, Love Life

Boo Boo

I met a man. Well, I rekindled a 15+ year old fling.

Have you ever been to Cigars International? Last Saturday, I felt like stepping out. Sent a text to a girlfriend and asked if she wanted to be seen as much as I did. She declined. It doesn’t bother me to go out solo solo. Actually, I enjoy it. I got dressed up real nice with my big ass black hoop earrings and headed to Cigars International.

Men love cigars. I love men. The mean at Cigars International always love me. I get chose every time I am there. I like going. A lot. It is nice sized, has a huge patio outside with a fire pit and ample seating. I need access to a seat in order to leave the house. Inside there are several big comfy leather chairs in the center.

I walked in and all I could see were men. Black handsome men. I love that place. Smile. I might go tonight. I walked around looking for a suitor and an empty chair. I walk by the big comfy chairs and I hear my name. “Danielle!” It was a familiar voice. I looked down and sitting there was (let’s call him) Time Warner looking damn good with a new to me beard with shades of gray. Mmmm. Well okay Time Warner. Time has been good to you.

Many moons ago I called Time Warner Cable. My cable had been turned off for nonpayment. Hehe. I think I called to negotiate and Time Warner was the customer service representative. His voice was so sexy that I got his information and we started seeing each other. I can remember chilling at Maxwell’s Lounge with Time Warner. He was always very nice and treated me good.

We sat at Cigars International together for the rest of night catching up. He’s still really nice. I enjoyed being with him again and then he asked me to be his girl friend. Just like that. I said yes. Me. A whole girlfriend!

We starting hanging out daily. It feels so good to have someone.

XOXO

Update: Time Warner and I are not equally yoked. I am a single woman.

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About Me, Career, Chapter 2, Love Life, Mental Health, Multiple Sclerosis, Personal Finances, Where to?

Do You Wanna Be Happy?

Tara, my Program Therapist, asked if I had ever thought about becoming a life coach at the end of our last session. Look at God! It is wild that she would ask. Especially right now. Perfect timing. I put “life coach” all over this year’s vision board(s). 

I love visioning. I have 4 pages of visions in my Day Designer planner, my laptop wallpaper is a vision board, my iPhone wallpaper is a vision board and I have recently started putting a vision board at the start of every week in my Savor planner. . . Yes, I have two planners.

Day Designer Vision

Thrive. Conscious spending. Weight loss. Reading. A beach with my boo. Mentorship. Professionalism. Intention. Affirmations. Contentment. Strength training. A trip to Jamaica. Execution. Pilates. Endless streams of income. Healthy living. Yoga. Deloitte. Love. Peace. Intimate moments. Savings. My tribe. Consistency. Mental health. Thrive.

My word for 2023 is THRIVE.

I am on a self love journey full of self care, establishing systems, and execution. It is a journey, not a destination. Thoughts of love and beauty come to mind in my day dreams. I am equipped with resources to find the answers to life’s questions. There is happiness in my life. Peace that surpasses all understanding. I have joy in my soul.

I want to share that happiness with others. I want them to look past their adverse circumstances and focus on the blessings in their lives. I want to walk them through the steps that I took (and others) to establish systems. I want to be there when they reach their goals.

Therefore, I have completed my certification in life coaching. As of this morning, I am officially a certified Happiness Life Coach.

XOXO

Lesson: You can be a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time.

Question: Do you wanna be happy?

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About Me, Love Life

A Stop Sign

A guy told me that if his significant other left the house to go on a girl’s trip, then her stuff would be packed once she returned. He believes that women who take girl’s trips are not faithful on those trips. Dude was so very adamant about it. As if he had conducted scientific research analyzing every action on every girl’s trips. 

I’ve been on several girl’s trips in my life. Infidelity is not the cornerstone of a girl’s trip. I have never been in a relationship when I was on a girl’s trip come to think about it. But, I do not see anything wrong with it and I would also encourage my mate to take a guy’s trip from time to time. His thinking is a definite red flag. A stop sign actually. The same guy also says that he will never get married. He expressed his feelings regarding marriage while we were on our first date. It was a brunch at Ellen’s in Deep Ellum. The food was amazing as usual but the conversation had its challenges. His ideas regarding marriage were his first red flag.

The second red flag was when he was telling me about his experience at a cigar bar. A lady felt compelled to list her accomplishments. He didn’t like that. She must have also said something regarding a height requirement that he did not meet. This brought the ugly out of him. In retelling the events of the night he called this young lady out of her name with such conviction that it stung to hear it. 

That’s three red flags. How many are too many? I guess it would depend on what they are . . . or does it?

XOXO

Lesson: Consider ending the talking phase at the first red flag.

Question: What are your red flags?

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About Me, Chapter 2, Humor, Love Life, Mental Health

Bye Bye 2022

What are you leaving in 2022?

I am leaving my old identity and becoming Danielle 2.0 in 2023. Previously, I identified myself as lazy. I thought it was just who I was. I was lazy. I did not keep promises to myself. Promises of productivity. Whether it was to make my bed up or to wake up at 5am. I didn’t do it. Well, at least not consistently. So I am leaving “lazy Danielle” in 2022.

What else? 

Stupid girl behavior. I am no longer running after these no good dudes who are not worth my time. This one may be a challenge for me. I have exhibited stupid girl behavior for so long that it is second nature to me. I will clean my phone out and block a few dudes that do not belong in 2023. They probably should have already been deleted. But hey, I have to start somewhere.

Confessions of a shopaholic. Have you seen the movie, Confessions of Shopaholic? The main character’s name is Rebecca Bloomwood. I named my car after her because I bought the car at a time when I definitely did not need a shiny new car, could not afford the car note and my credit rating made the interest rate incredibly high. I saw an advertisement for a similar car. Went to test drive it, then saw the car I bought and new I had to have it immediately. I am leaving impulsive shopping in 2022.

Unhealthy food choices. The human body is a beautiful thing. God made us in his image and therefore, I want to show appreciation for this vessel that HE has bestowed upon me in the way I choose to nourish it. Am I saying that I will give up sweets completely? Absolutely not! But do I need to order two cheesecakes from The Cheesecake Factory to be delivered to me at a bar that ran out of their desserts, no. Not anymore.

Ashy knees. Well ash is general. I am leaving ash in 2022. I bought a large Nivea recently and I will use it. Daily. Not only on the skin that is showing after I put my clothes on, the entire body. 

XOXO

Lesson: I get to determine who I want to be. Danielle 2.0 is here. 

Question: What are you leaving in 2022? 

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