This blog was created to serve as an inspiration to all who read it..........to aspire, to love and to live a life of purpose.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Tantrum: I want it & I want it NOW!

Tantrum: an uncontrolled outburst of anger and frustration, typically in a young child.
Typically a young child.

My younger brother KK used to throw the loudest tantrums as a child. He'd scream and shout- throw chairs and scratch the walls when he didn't get his way. Last born syndrome maybe?

When he wanted more candy and the answer was no- Tantrum.
When he didn't want to go to bed, and it was past his bed time- Tantrum.
When "playtime" was over and it was time to do his homework- Tantrum.
When he woke up at 3am and wanted "Babaa", which was his codename for his chocolate drink - Tantrum.

Over the years, my parents used various strategies to address KK's tantrums. Sometimes, they ignored him. Sometimes, they disciplined him. Sometimes, it was time out. The one thing they never did was give him what he wanted. The more tantrums he threw, the more it became just background noise.

I remember once we pulled up to a Chinese buffet after church and all jokingly got out the car, and absent-mindedly told KK we were about to go in and eat and come back, then we proceeded to walk away from the car. KK was only 4 years old but I'm surprised his scream did not immediately send an "abused child" signal to Child Protective Services. Our continuous laughter and attempts to explain that we were joking, did not help matters. He continued to kick and scream until he smelled the General Tso chicken.

We all throw tantrums. True, tantrums are most commonly seen in young children. But we, as adults throw tantrums too. We throw them when we choose to dwell on unanswered prayers, instead of the bounty of life we have. We throw a tantrum when we blindly chase what we think we "want" without first seeking God's face. Then we get upset when it doesn't turn out the way we planned. We throw tantrums when we "think" our prayers have gone unanswered...that God is ignoring our "needs". 

Anger and frustration at God is equivalent to throwing tantrums.

I sometimes throw tantrums. Because there were things that I wanted. And I wanted it NOW. Because in my head, NOW is perfect timing. If I could just get it, then I'll be happy. Then I'll be content. Then I'll know Jesus loves me. 
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8
But I'm already happy. Because God has blessed me beyond my imagination. Because I know He sees the things I need....not the things I want. Because my life is not mine...it's His glory that comes first. And so, the only things that qualify as a "need" are things that will bring Him glory. There's a peace that comes with giving up control...giving up the tantrum.
"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Luke 12: 7
KK is almost 21 years old. If there's anything I learned from watching him throw tantrums growing up, it is that tantrums never got him what he wanted. It was when he was sweet and kissed my mom good night, that she'd say "Okay you can stay up an extra 30 minutes." It was when he cleaned his room, that my mom will say, "You can go the party. Just be home on time." It was when he showed a little bit of discipline that my dad said, "Keep the change from your school shopping."

In the same way, God does not hear us through our tantrums. The anger and frustration only exposes our human need to be in control of our destinies. 

So, this year 2016...all my hopes, all my dreams, all my plans, I'm leaving them at His feet. It's not been easy. It's only January 19th and I've already been tempted a few times to throw one. But I'm making a conscious decision to "sugar" God up with praise till and even after he says, "You can have that and more, child".

Stay Inspired.....
NwaVic

www.nwavic.blogspot.com|||dearnwavic@gmail.com |||Instagram @dearnwavic  ||| Twitter @nwavicesq

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Red Carpet Fashion + Complete List of Winners: 2016 Golden Globe Awards

Happy New Year!

The stars kicked off the 2016 Awards season in style as they graced the red carpet at the 73rd Golden Globes Awards at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California to honor the best in film and American television of 2015. I say, #Slayage!


 Jennifer Lawrence
 Jennifer Lopez
 Cate Blanchett
 Zendaya
 Taraji Henson
 Alicia Vikander
 Brie Larson
 Julia Louis-Dreyfus
 Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
 Regina King
 Olivia Wilde
 Kate Winslet
 Sophia Bush
 Kate Bosworth
 Jamie Lee Curtis
 Rachel McAdams
 Laverne Cox
 Emilia Clarke
 Kirsten Durst
 Amy Adams
 Viola Davis
 Gina Rodriguez
 Amy Schumer
 Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
 Kate Hudson
 Felicity Huffman
 Zoe Kazan
 Queen Latifah
 Lady Gaga & Taylor Kinney
 Malin Akerman
 Taylor Schilling
 Olivia Palermo
 Amber Heard
 Lily James

 Eva Longoria
 Jenna Dewan Tatum
 Giuliana Rancic
 Maria Menounos
 Emy Rossum
 Jamie Alexander
 Helen Mirren
 Katy Perry
 America Ferrera
 Angela Basset
 Julianne Moore
 Ricky Gervais & Jane Fallon
 Maggie Gyllenhaal
 Leslie Mann
 Natalie Dormer
 Lily Tomlin
 Heidi Klum
Jane Fonda

Full list of winners. Winners are noted with an asterisk (*) 

Best motion picture, drama
"Mad Max: Fury Road"                    
"Carol"
* "The Revenant"
"Room"
"Spotlight"

Best motion picture, musical or comedy
"Joy"
"Spy"
"The Big Short"
* "The Martian"
"Trainwreck"

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama
Saoirse Ronin, "Brooklyn"
Cate Blanchett, "Carol"
Rooney Mara, "Carol"
* Brie Larson, "Room"
Alicia Vikander, "The Danish Girl"

Best performance by an actress in a motion picture, musical or comedy
* Jennifer Lawrence, "Joy"
Melissa McCarthy, "Spy"
Amy Schumer, "Trainwreck"
Maggie Smith, "The Lady in the Van"
Lily Tomlin, "Grandma"

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, drama
Bryan Cranston, "Trumbo"
* Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant"
Michael Fassbender, "Steve Jobs"
Eddie Redmayne, "The Danish Girl"
Will Smith, "Concussion"

Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a motion picture
Paul Dano," Love"
Idris Elba, "Beasts of No Nation"
Mark Rylance, "Bridge of Spies"
Michael Shannon, "99 Homes"
* Sylvester Stallone, "Creed"
Best performance by actress in a supporting role in a motion picture
Jane Fonda, "Youth"
Jennifer Jason Leigh, "Hateful Eight"
Helen Mirren, "Trumbo"
Alicia Vikander, "Ex Machina"
Kate Winslet, "Steve Jobs"

Best director, motion picture
* Alejandro González Iñárritu, "The Revenant"
Todd Haynes, "Carol"
Tom McCarthy, "Spotlight"
George Miller, "Mad Max: Fury Road"
Ridley Scott, "The Martian"

Best performance by an actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy
Christian Bale, "The Big Short"
Steve Carell, "The Big Short"
* Matt Damon, "The Martian"
Al Pacino, "Danny Collins"
Mark Ruffalo, "Infinitely Polar Bear"

Best screenplay, motion picture
Emma Donoghue, "Room"
Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer, "Spotlight"
Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, "The Big Short"
* Aaron Sorkin, "Steve Jobs"
Quentin Tarantino, "The Hateful Eight"

Best original score, motion picture
Carter Burwell, "Carol"
Alexander Desplat, "The Danish Girl"
* Ennio Morricone, "The Hateful Eight"
Daniel Pemberton, "Steve Jobs"
Ryuchi Sakamoto, "The Revanant"

Best motion picture, animated
"Anomalisa"
"The Good Dinosaur"
* "Inside Out"
"The Peanuts Movie"
"Shaun the Sheep Movie"

Best original song, motion picture
"Love Me Like You Do," "Fifty Shades of Grey"
"One Kind of Love," "Love & Mercy"
"See You Again," "Furious 7"
"Simple Song #3," "Youth"
"Writing's on the Wall," "Spectre"

Best motion picture, foreign language
"The Brand New Testament"
"The Club"
"The Fencer"
"Mustang"
"Son of Saul"

Best television series, drama
"Empire," Fox
"Game of Thrones," HBO
* "Mr. Robot," USA
"Narcos," Netflix
"Outlander," Starz

Best television series, musical or comedy
"Casual," Hulu
* "Mozart in the Jungle," Amazon Video
"Orange Is the New Black," Netflix
"Silicon Valley," HBO
"Transparent," Amazon Video
"Veep," HBO

Best television limited series or motion picture made for television
"American Crime," ABC
"American Horror Story: Hotel," FX
"Fargo," FX
"Flesh and Bone," Starz
* "Wolf Hall," PBS

Best performance by an actor in a television series, drama
* Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Rami Malek, "Mr. Robot"
Wagner Moura, "Narcos"
Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul"
Liev Schreiber, "Ray Donovan"

Best performance by an actor in a television series, musical or comedy
Aziz Ansari, "Master of None"
* Gael García Bernal, "Mozart in the Jungle"
Rob Lowe, "The Grinder"
Patrick Stewart, "Blunt Talk"
Jeffrey Tambor, "Transparent"

Best performance by an actor in a leading role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television
Idris Elba, "Luther"
* Oscar Isaac, "Show Me a Hero"
David Oyelowo, "Nightingale"
Mark Rylance, "Wolf Hall"
Patrick Wilson, "Fargo"

Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television
Alan Cumming, "The Good Wife"
Damian Lewis, "Wolf Hall"
Ben Mendelson, "Bloodline"
Tobias Menzies, "Outlander"
* Christian Slater, "Mr. Robot"

Best performance by an actress in a TV series, drama
Caitriona Balfe, "Outlander"
Viola Davis, "How to Get Away With Murder"
Eva Green, "Penny Dreadful
* Taraji P. Henson, "Empire"
Robin Wright, "House of Cards"

Best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television
Uzo Aduba, "Orange Is the New Black"
Joanna Froggatt, "Downton Abbey"
Regina King, "American Crime"
Judith Light, "Transparent"
* Maura Tierney, "The Affair"

Best performance by an actress in a leading role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television
Kirsten Dunst, "Fargo"
* Lady Gaga, "American Horror Story: Hotel"
Sarah Hay, "Flesh and Bone"
Felicity Huffman, "American Crime"
Queen Latifah, "Bessie"

Best performance by an actress in a television series, musical or comedy
* Rachel Bloom, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"
Jamie Lee Curtis, "Scream Queens"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Gina Rodriguez, "Jane the Virgin"
Lily Tomlin, "Grace and Frankie"

Stay Inspired.....
NwaVic

www.nwavic.blogspot.com|||dearnwavic@gmail.com |||Instagram @dearnwavic  ||| Twitter @nwavicesq

Sources: Huffington Post, Getty Images, and CNN.