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, May 23, 2017

21 Things I Wish I Knew at 21- Part 2

Happy New Week!

In continuation of my May 9th post on 21 Things I Wish I Knew at 21, and as promised, here's Part 2. 
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow,. The most important thing is not to stop questioning. - Albert Einstein

12. Travel, if you can afford it.  This is the time to do it- before you have kids, before career commitments and before marriage. With age, comes responsibilities and limited vacation time. 2011 was my self-declared traveling year. I visited 4 countries and it is still one of the most memorable years of my life.

13. GET A MENTOR. In fact, get two- one in your career and one who you admire personally.  Actually, get as many as you want. Reach out to someone you look up to,  more likely than not, s/he will be honored.  I have about 5 mentors and I still have "mentor openings". For me, my criteria is to find someone who "seems" to be where I want to be, then I connect with them and find out "how" they got to where they are. Remember, you have to humble to learn.

14. Network- Make good impressionsIt IS a small world. 

Two months ago, I attended a Continuing Legal Education seminar for lawyers in my area. I was fortunate enough to sit beside a lovely lady. When we took a break for lunch, I introduced myself and we got to talking. It turns out she was a lawyer looking to quit her job and start her own law firm, a move I had made just three months prior. This got us to talking some more. We exchanged business cards. She later contacted me to set up a time to get together. She had plenty questions about how I overcame the fear of abandoning a steady handsome paycheck to dive into the unknown. Our meet-up was awesome, to say the least. We had an honest conversations and she left feeling inspired. We kept in touch and soon, she indeed made the leap. While she was getting her firm set up, she got a lead in a practice area I knew more about and sent the client to me. That client is one of my highest paying clients till date. Just yesterday, I found out she was neighbors with one of my very good friends and that they had each talked about me to each other on several occasions and did not know they were talking about the same person till my friend posted a picture of me on her Instagram.  What a small world!


15. Guard your reputation- it's an investment account that you only returns what you deposit.   Simply put, in metaphoric terms, it is better to be "reserved" than to be known as the community "whore". See Number 6. 

16.  When it comes to "hanging out", trust your instinct. Do not do anything just to fit in. A few years ago, I mentored the female youths (aged 14-19) in my church. After one of our meetings, one of my mentees came up to me and asked if she could pick my brain. She told me this colorful story about a recent fight she had with her friend. Her friend accused of her of being boring and uptight, simply because she didn't want to accompany her to hang out with two boys to a beach picnic. I asked why she did not want to go, she said she did not trust the boys and that it was a secluded area. I told her to stick to her grounds, but just accept it might cost her friendship. Two weeks later, she thanked me for my advise. Apparently, her "friend" went on the trip with another friend and they both got raped. 

17. Face your demons. Own your life experiences and how they have made you who you are.  You are only human. There IS nothing wrong with YOU.  Stop looking back. Move forward.

18. In life, everyone has a different question paper. Stop trying to copy others. Create your own path.

19. Do NOT believe the hype. No one's relationship is perfect. People who make an effort to continually boast about how their relationships or marriages are perfect only do so to hide the truth. 

20. Let go. Let God. The only person grudges imprison is you

21.  Don't chase after people who don't want to stay. Any person who makes you work extra hard just to stay close to them, does not deserve you.  Your time and emotions are better spent loving those who love you, instead of worrying about those who don't.


Stay Inspired.....
NwaVic

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

Image source: Google images

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

#LegendsNeverQuit! #LegendsKeepFighting

Success is defined as "the accomplishment of an aim or purpose."

Thanks to the #LegendsNeverQuitCampaign, here's a snippet into the "rags-to-riches" story of 11 successful celebrities. My favorite? Mark Wahlberg! :-) These images speak for themselves, loud and clear.  Hope they are a source of inspiration for you today!

Just incase you're struggling today to meet up with your story....just remember...
"Your incredible brain can take you from rags to riches, from loneliness to popularity, and from depression to happiness and joy - if you use it properly." - Brian Tracy 











Like MLK once said, "Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” 

Take that one step in the right direction today!

Stay the Course!

Stay Inspired.....
NwaVic

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

Image source: #LegendsNeverQuit #LegendsNeverStopFighting

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

21 Things I Wish I Knew at 21 - Part 1


I wish I started making lesson lists earlier. Before life taught me lessons that forcibly whipped me into an understanding that self-reflection is the fastest way to grow...The older I get, the more I realize that life is an unending lesson. Sometimes, I wish I could crawl back into the studded shelter with pink roses my parents let me live in for years, unaware of the tornado that life has to offer. The things I know now,  I wish I knew at 18 or at 21 or maybe, yesterday.  Maybe I would have saved myself some heartbreak...But then again, I can't have any regrets. Because my experiences, the good, the bad and the ugly, are part of my journey.... And tomorrow, I will wish I knew what I know then, today.

The best any of us can do is to learn as much as we can, when we can. And keep on growing... In putting together this list, I looked back on the years since I turned 21 and put together the happenstances n my life and each lesson it taught me. I also conducted a small poll from young ladies aged 29 to 35...this list does not only reflect lessons we all wish we knew at 21, but ones which continue to be valuable in our lives everyday and will continue to be even at age 55.

This blog will be in two parts. Here are the first 11 :-)



1.  Fear God. Let God matter to you, personally. Don't just attend church but seek to know God for yourself.  Allow His word guide your feet in your daily dealings, and you will see a change in your path.  Actually take the time to read the Bible your parents bought for you. You can also sign up for the Bible app and get daily verses.  The Bible is unmatchable wisdom and you will find that the word will get you through life's toughest seasons.
Joshua 1: 8-9


2.   You ARE the average of the people you surround yourself with. Choose friends who enrich your life and purpose. "Proverbs 1: 10: "My Child, sinners will try to lead you into sin, but do not follow them."

3. Be serious with your education.  Education is fundamental. Even if you don't want to be a professional, there are so many life and common sense skills that education gives. Relish it.  Allow the educational experience to pass through you. Enjoy it. Make the best of it. IT is YOUR means to change the world.  Take Mandela's word for it.
4.  Stop being so fascinated with the popular ones. The geeks (like Mark Zuckerberg) win in the long run. For real, ask someone who is at least 30 years old, "how many of the "popular kids" win your class ended up being CEOs or world leaders?" The answer will be the same: very very few. 

5. Treat people well. The person you took for granted yesterday may become your lifeline tomorrow. This is a principle my parents take so seriously, my middle name reflects it. Integrity is wealth. 

6. Be careful of social media. Everything you put online is permanent. Really. AND remember there is social media, and then, there's reality...two separate things. Take everything you see on social media with a grain of salt. People only show you what they want you to see. No one's life is that perfect, but you know this already. So don't let anyone's appearance of perfection cause you to count your failures. 



7. Respect and listen to your parents.  This does not mean you have to do everything they say, but at least give it value. Because there will come a time, you wish you had them to counsel you. Most of the time, they are right. The Bible mentions it twice:  Proverbs 1: 8-9 and Proverbs 6: 20-23.  

In fact, there's a promise attached to it- LONG LIFE.
8. Stay Close your family. Friends come and friends go. No matter how far you run, you will realize family is always home, and there's no place like home. Form and maintain bond between you and your siblings. They are your first friends, and most likely, against all odds, will be the last ones standing. 
9. Do not settle. That boyfriend that puts you down and makes you believe he's the best you can ever get, is NOT as good as it gets. YOU deserve better.

10. Don't play "wife" to a man who is not your husband. YOU know what I mean. So, enough said.

11. Get to know yourself. Find out what you like and what you dislike. Pay attention to your feelings. What makes you happy? What can't you tolerate? In what areas do you feel most accomplished? Knowing the answers to these questions is the gateway to figuring out a lot of aspects and making important decisions in your life- your career, your spouse, your friendships, etc.  It is only in recognizing your strengths and flaws can you flourish AND grow!

Stay Inspired.....
NwaVic

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

Image source: Google images