Goddess Inspiration: Lauryn Hill

What's My Name?!

I absolutely love this song! It gets me hype before meetings and keeps me awake when I'm making long trips on the road. Oh yeah, It's a good work out song too! Nice beat, slightly raunchy lyrics, cute video. Check it out!

The Prayer and The Answer

I was looking through my files today for something specific, and I came across a poem I wrote in early 2005 called The Prayer and The Answer. This was my one and only attempt at writing a spoken-word piece. When I reread it today, I thought, not bad. I was 23 when I wrote this, and I have no idea why I was praying for a man! At any rate, this poem is a prayer and God's answer.

The Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father

why do I continue to bother

night after night and day after day to pray

for you to bring Mr. Right my way?

See, I've tried to be patient

and wait on your revelation

but Lord, on the real, I'm getting tired of waiting

and on the real, my faith is fading.

I don't understand.

You've given me everything I've asked for except a man.

I mean, is me being single from the rest of my life part of your plan?

Well, if it is, I'm not feeling that.

And if that's how you're going to do me, I'm taking control back.

I'll go find my own guy

because the one's you've given me only cheat, complain and lie.

First there was Dre

who insisted on pushing me away.

I do believe he wanted to love me

but his heart couldn't keep up with his brain.

Matter of fact, him getting brain was what extinguished our flame.

His lust he couldn't contain.

He thought all women were one and the same,

so he couldn't realize I was his gain

who became his loss.

So what was the opportunity cost?

A dude named Cintron Jones

who, come to find out, just didn't want to be alone.

I was simply an answer to his lonely syndrome.

He finally admitted to me he was wrong,

so to keep me, he started singing this ole sad song.

And once again, I wasn't feelin it.

So I moved on to Cai Rymans

who now plays football for the Tennessee Titans.

But before that

our relationship was on track.

He told me that money would never change him,

but that wasn't true.

So after about six months we were thru.

So then I moved to Chicago and met plenty of men

who pretended to be my friend

so they could get in my skin.

But you taught me better than that,

so I didn't fall for their tricks

'cause tricks are for dogs , and I ain't no bitch.

So, we're at the end of my list, and I'm back to square one.

I sure hope, Lord, you've had fun.

Amen.

The Answer (from God)

So, I was done praying

then God started to speak,

but I couldn't hear what he was saying

until I started to listen.

He said, "Candace Avont Doby,

NOTHING is what you've been missing.

so stop worrying about your current condition.

I gave you your first heartbreak in Dre

so you could learn to appreciate yourself.

I had to teach you that you belonged on the top shelf,

and only the worthy would be brave enough to reach that high.

Most guys confuse that high pedestal with high maintenance.

So they never get passed square one to see your true radiance.

I gave you Cai Rymans just so you would know

there's more to life than what a man's wallet will show.

Matter of fact, true wealth

comes when you love me, your neighbors and yourself.

Every experience I've given you comes with a lesson

and once you decide to start learning, you'll stop stressin.

I have a specific and distinct purpose for your life

so stop guessin.

So, let's go back to the original question

you asked me.

I believe it was, 'why have you left me lonely?'

Well Candace, you have to be very specific with me.

you see,

you've been asking for the wrong thing.

I would never give you merely a man

when you're only worthy of a king."

30 Day Do It Group

About a month ago, one of my dear friends from college sent me an email about joining a 30-Day Do It group. As I read her email, I learned that the 30-Day Do It movement, created by Jullien Gordon, was a committed and group-based goal system that sought to end the concept of New Year’s Resolutions and introduce the idea of New Month Resolutions to the world. My friend sent the email in hopes of starting a 30-Day Do It group among friends and colleagues.

I have long been a fan of eradicating the belief that dreams and goals are indefeasible and can only be set at the beginning of the year in the form of New Year’s resolutions. I’ve written about it before. So, I was interested in my friend’s message but had a few reservations. My first thought was that this was something that would require me to pay into monthly or give up personal information so someone could harass me about attending seminars or buying books. So, I disregarded the first email.

Then my friend sent another email about two weeks after the first one as a reminder about the upcoming conference call to discuss the 30-Day Do It concept. I responded and told her that I might attend. She communicated back and said that she hoped my “might” turned into “would.”

And it did.

I joined the call and learned that the 30-Day Do It program was exactly what my friend explained in her email and carried no financial obligation. Its aim is simply to get people to break down their large, daunting goals into pieces that they can conquer month by month. And the group format adds a layer of accountability to help each member actually get it done.

My friend led the call and went through a worksheet that each member filled out during the meeting. We identified our 30 day goal, the benefits of accomplishing it, the costs of not accomplishing it, and how we would celebrate once we achieved it.

The meeting was held on November 17th, so I’ve got just about two weeks left to realize my goal of finishing a writing project. I can say that writing down my goal and having group members hold me accountable for completing it has given me the momentum and motivation I need to get things really moving. I'm sure I'm not alone when I admit that I generally keep goals in my head instead of making them real on paper. So, it's very easy for daily distractions to push them aside.

If your goals have been trapped inside your head, like a few of mine, without much attention directed to them, the 30-Day Do It program may be just the thing you need to help you get started.

If you would like more information on the 30-Day Do It Movement, click here. If you are interested in joining our next 30-Day Do It call on December 15th to set your goals in motion, please email freethegoddess@goddesszuri.com.

Don't Forget To Be Thankful For Yourself

I look forward to drinking Yogi tea every morning, not necessarily for the tea itself but instead for the message attached to the teabag. Many of the notes have made their way onto my facebook status, and now I find myself turning this morning’s message into a post. It read, “Appreciate yourself and honor your soul.”

What a timely message for Thanksgiving. During this holiday, we routinely reflect upon the people and things we are thankful for: family, health, stability, love, friends, and the list goes on. But how many times have we been thankful for ourselves?

How often have we verbally given thanks for simply being us? I know it sounds like some kind of crazy Kanye exercise, but I think it’s important for us to appreciate ourselves just as we do the people and things we name in our Thanksgiving prayers. Appreciating ourselves also leads to the second part of this message, “honor your soul.” I think we are far less likely to commit treason against our spirit if we’ve truly learned how to appreciate it.

So, as you and your family go around the circle and announce what you’re thankful for, don’t forget to be thankful for yourself.

Happy Thanksgiving from Goddess Zuri.

YOU'RE AMAZING! Just The Way You Are

I don't know what to say about this song other than I love it! I think it's what every woman wants to hear her love interest sing or speak. Take a listen. Nice job Bruno Mars!

New Adia Bracelet For The Holidays!

SPECIAL HOLIDAY ITEM ~ SPECIAL HOLIDAY PRICE

The Adia ("gift") Bracelet is made with wire and brown bone beads from Ghana, and it makes a perfect holiday gift. The bone beads are separated by brown glass beads, which help give the bracelet an overall sophisticated look.

It measures 3 inches in diameter and fits most wrists. This item is only available through the end of the year or until supplies last, so don't wait!

Price: $15