January's Diva of the Month!

There's a new Diva of the Month, check her out tomorrow (January 1, 2014).  

LeJanaro Barnes

Happy New Year! from The Diva Journals

Promise Yourself

"To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity
to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them
To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.”

― Christian D. Larson, Your Forces and How to Use Them

Life

“This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And baby, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soulmate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.” 

― Marilyn Monroe

Out of Order!

So lately I've been a little lethargic.  Feels like my moving parts need lubrication, some cleaning; need to get rid of corrosion that's trying to set in. My mind is tired. 

I got to myself, did some praying, some meditating, did some thinking, and the Holy Spirit showed me; I'm not as tired as much as I am out of order.  Let me explain - (in my Kevin Hart voice).  

I've not been getting up 1 to 1.5 hours earlier than my usual time; which would allow me to communicate with the Father and prepare myself for the day ahead of me. Thus I'm not prepared.

I've not been eating properly; although I'm not eating poorly, my diet could use a small overhaul. I'm depleted of vital nutrients.  Thus I'm tired.

I've not been exercising my usual 3 to 4 times a week; lucky if I get in 1 day.  I'm taking on projects during the day, and not carving out my exercise time.  Thus I'm sluggish in my thoughts and my rest patterns are interrupted.

I've not been getting enough sleep, watching those exciting shows after 9:00 p.m. and not utilizing the DVR.  Thus I'm out of whack because I'm sleepy.  Oh yeah, the struggle is real!

Totally Out of Order!

So, now that I've identified my issues, what do I do? Stop doing the things that I'm not suppose to be doing, and start doing the things I'm suppose to be doing? Yes, that's a start, but how about I acknowledge the signs that I DO SEE when they fast approach me, so that I can get a head start on and cut off the spiral effects before they hit me hard. Then be thankful I can hit the reset button on my mind and my though process, be thankful that I can change some things.

We all get out of order from time to time; but if we sit back, think about what's really going on with us, and acknowledge it, then we can help ourselves.  If you have a layout of what helps you get through your days like I have (mentioned in my list of things I haven't been doing), then utilize it. Nine times out of ten if we have taken the time to jot these things down, they really work, but we have to work for them too. 

We've all heard that it takes just 21 days for habits to form, truth is some habits take just a few weeks, others take much longer. I've read the time to change a habit from non-existent to automatic ranged from 18 days to over five months. The average was 66 days.  Wow.

One thing we do know is repetition is important; for example if I've set my alarm clock to wake up at 5:00 a.m. Monday through Friday for the past six months and I've actually gotten up at that time, chances are that I am going to wake up at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, regardless of whether I've set my alarm for 5:00 a.m. or not.  Because of the repetition, I've formed a habit. Since it's up to me what habits I form for myself, I might as well form some healthy ones and stick to them; part of forming the healthy habits is, again....identifying the damaging habits that will subtly sneak into our psyche to aid us in sabotaging the plans we have to live healthy.

I'm on the road as of late this afternoon to getting rid of the out of order sign attached to my forehead.  I'm hitting rewind, punching reset again, just trying to do better. Join me.  Blessing to you in your efforts to getting your sticky note on your forehead to read operating at 100%.   

Feeling Blessed By God is Like....

Feeling blessed by God and not sharing it with others is like wrapping a beautiful gift for someone and never giving it to them.  Share your gift of gratitude today.  Let someone know what great things He has done for you.

We have a new Diva of the Month

Please check her out.  Her article is awesome.

November's Diva of the Month

OOOOOOHHHH!

October's Diva of the Month is here!  Please go visit the site and read up on her!


http://thedivajournals.wix.com/ready2journal#!b_our_story/cy2g

We've been busy!

But it's a great thing! Twelve interviews have been secured and completed for 2014. We're excited, we've had so much fun picking the minds of these women and our one gent.  Stay tuned, we are absolutely positively sure that you're going to enjoy TDJs and the Divas and gent for the upcoming year.

clip art from www.homeimprovementbasics.com

Don't forget!

To stop by and visit The Diva Journal's website to check out September's Diva of the Month

http://thedivajournals.wix.com/ready2journal#!b_our_story/cy2g

September is here

and it's about that time.  Time for the leaves to take on the powerful colors of burnt orange and brown, my favorite time of the year. Enjoy the last several weeks of warm weather, because cooler days and nights are ahead. Yep, September is here.

Productivity; the emptying of a Diva's Mind

My earth beneath me feels dry and barren, like a piece of land unable to bring forth any vegetation.  My earth has become sterile. It was once plush; harvesting ripe for the picking fruit.  My earth can’t mold with dry clay.  It can’t be fertilized with poison.  My earth can’t bring forth creativity from a bleak and desolate darkness.  

My earth needs light.  My earth needs wetness. My earth needs to be fertile. 

My earth thrives off of sultriness; damp and hydrated precipitation.  Sticky even, at least with this there is the presence of moisture.  Ah dripping, oozing perspiration.  All it takes is a mist, and my earth is wet again.

For several mornings afterwards, I will see fog and dew; that’ll be lovely, for I will know that my earth beneath me is just as it should be.  Productive. 

Just draw it

"Genius - to know without having learned; to draw just conclusions from unknown premises; to discern the soul of things."-Ambrose Bierce

Magic

Magic is entering a woman's heart, without ever even touching her.  Are you a magician?

Our Deepest Fear

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - MarianneWilliamson

I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities. - Dr. Seuss

Hello out there!

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July-from The Diva Journals

A Mind

A mind at peace, a mind centered and not focused on harming others, is stronger than any physical force in the universe.
-Wayne Dyer 
 

Create your peace.

“Peacefulness is an inner sense of calm - it comes from becoming still - in order to reflect and meditate on our inner wisdom and receive answers. A peaceful heart is one that is free from worry and trouble. It's becoming quiet so we can look at things quietly so we can more clearly understand them and thus come up with creative solutions. It is learning to live in the present.”- Barbara Jean Olson

"Don't push my buttons without reading the manual." - Gadgetmobile, Inspector Gadget

New Music

The Diva Journals is proud to present the new album Black Revolution "Inside Out" for the movement by Vigalantee.

"To my supporters I humbly ask for your likes to turn into downloads.  Support  a true movement or this type of thinking at least in music will become a thing of the past, help my David mentality towards Goliath (the industry) land a powerful blow.  I got the sling shot,but your support is the rock and God is the aim and change will be the result........the Revolution Begins Now! Viga-Truth!"-Vigalantee

Positive music promoting positive results.  Download from PayLoadz today, and enjoy good music.

Download Black Revolution "Inside Out"

The 2013 Urban Youth Mentor of the Year Award Goes to....

Rapper and hip-hop artist Vigalantee, also known as Roger Suggs 

 "I stand by my kids through thick and thin,” Suggs said about the young people he mentors.  ”Hip-hop has an obligation to lead our kids to light and not into the darkness.  That’s what I try to do with my music and mentorship, which go hand-in-hand.”

Congratulations from The Diva Journals on an honor well deserved.  To read more click here.

Some Steve Harvey Wisdom

“Nothing on this planet can compare with a woman’s love—it is kind and compassionate, patient and nurturing, generous and sweet and unconditional. Pure. If you are her man, she will walk on water and through a mountain for you, too, no matter how you’ve acted out, no matter what crazy thing you’ve done, no matter the time or demand. If you are her man, she will talk to you until there just aren’t any more words left to say, encourage you when you’re at rock bottom and think there just isn’t any way out, hold you in her arms when you’re sick, and laugh with you when you’re up. And if you’re her man and that woman loves you—I mean really loves you?—she will shine you up when you’re dusty, encourage you when you’re down, defend you even when she’s not so sure you were right, and hang on your every word, even when you’re not saying anything worth listening to. And no matter what you do, no matter how many times her friends say you’re no good, no matter how many times you slam the door on the relationship, she will give you her very best and then some, and keep right on trying to win over your heart, even when you act like everything she’s done to convince you she’s The One just isn’t good enough.

That’s a woman’s love—it stands the test of time, logic, and all circumstance.

Well, I’m here to tell you that expecting that kind of love— that perfection—from a man is unrealistic. That’s right, I said it—it’s not gonna happen, no way, no how. Because a man’s love isn’t like a woman’s love.” 

― Steve Harvey

Some Bell Hooks Wisdom

“Usually adult males who are unable to make emotional connections with the women they choose to be intimate with are frozen in time, unable to allow themselves to love for fear that the loved one will abandon them. If the first woman they passionately loved, the mother, was not true to her bond of love, then how can they trust that their partner will be true to love. Often in their adult relationships these men act out again and again to test their partner's love. While the rejected adolescent boy imagines that he can no longer receive his mother's love because he is not worthy, as a grown man he may act out in ways that are unworthy and yet demand of the woman in his life that she offer him unconditional love. This testing does not heal the wound of the past, it merely reenacts it, for ultimately the woman will become weary of being tested and end the relationship, thus reenacting the abandonment. This drama confirms for many men that they cannot put their trust in love. They decide that it is better to put their faith in being powerful, in being dominant.” 


― Bell Hooks

Some Anaïs Nin Wisdom

“I, with a deeper instinct, choose a man who compels my strength, who makes enormous demands on me, who does not doubt my courage or my toughness, who does not believe me naïve or innocent, who has the courage to treat me like a woman.”

― Anaïs Nin

Dedicated to Men!

The June issue of The Diva Journals is dedicated to men in honors of Father's Day.  That's right, the entire issue, all month long is for the Gents.  Stroll through and meet the June Gent, Mr. Gerald Murray, get the scoop on some really cool  Father's Day give-away's, plus there are blog and website links there just for men.  Happy Father's Day guys to all of you who make it happen.  

http://thedivajournals.wix.com/ready2journal#!b_our_story/cy2g

How's your Mood?

 Earthing.  What is this?  According to the authors of the book Earthing, the practice of earthing basically involves coupling your body to the Earth's surface energy by walking, sitting or sleeping in direct contact with the Earth.  

The solution for chronic inflammation, regarded as the cause of most common modern diseases, has been identified! And it is not blueberries. It is something right beneath our feet-the Earth itself!

Throughout most of evolution humans walked barefoot and slept on the ground, largely oblivious that the surface of the Earth contains limitless healing energy. Science has discovered this energy as free-flowing electrons constantly replenished by solar radiation and lightning. Few people know it, but the ground provides a subtle electric signal that maintains health and governs the intricate mechanisms that make our bodies work-just like plugging a lamp into a power socket makes it light up. Modern lifestyle, including the widespread use of insulative rubber or plastic-soled shoes, has disconnected us from this energy and, of course, we no longer sleep on the ground as we did in times past.

Earthing introduces the planet's powerful, amazing, and overlooked natural healing energy and how people anywhere can readily connect to it. This eye-opening book describes how the physical disconnect with the Earth creates abnormal physiology and contributes to inflammation, pain, fatigue, stress, and poor sleep. By reconnecting to the Earth, symptoms are rapidly relieved and even eliminated and recovery from surgery, injury, and athletic overexertion is accelerated.

This never-before-told story-filled with fascinating research and real-life testimonials- chronicles a discovery with the potential to create a global health revolution."-Amazon, book description 

According to research some of the things Earthing can be very beneficial in are:

• Improving eyesight
• Improving sleep
• reducing chronic pain
• Alleviates mood, decreased stress and depression
• Improves blood circulation
• Reduce or eliminates snoring
• Relieves muscle tension and headaches
• Reduces fat from the body

It seems that walking barefoot or earthing has major health benefits on our bodies; it is said that earthing increases endorphins, which are the feel good hormones that alleviates our mood.  

So let's get moving Divas!  Get Barefoot, and I don't mean the wine!

Purpose

"Don't confuse your path with your destination.  Just because it's stormy now, doesn't mean that you aren't headed for sunshine"-J. Johnson, The Growth Campaign

It's true.  We all have dreams, and we all have paths to take to reach those dreams.  Some of the paths we  take or have taken to reach desired goals and dreams are like driving over rough, hard, rocky terrain.

But don't be fooled.  Your dreams are not hallucinations, which are perceptions of objects with no reality; nor are they like mirages which are deceptive appearances of distant objects.  Uh-Uh.  Get this, your dreams are like a reality.  Your reality.  And they have purpose.  

Whatever your path looks like, however hard your path may be while you're on it, remember it's an hallucination.  Your destination is a reality.  Don't confuse the two just because it  gets tough.  Remember you have a purpose, and He has a plan for you.

So please come on in.  Make your way to the sliding doors. At the bottom of the stairs, you'll find the island gazebo.  Please be my guest for drinks, appetizers, soup and salad, then the main course.

I'm looking ahead, still traveling on my path, but welcome to my destination.  Welcome to my reality.

Quotes, Quotes, & More Quotes

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.” 
― Jim Henson

“Whenever I feel the need to exercise, I lie down until it goes away.” 
― Paul Terry

“I'm not afraid of death; I just don't want to be there when it happens.” 
― Woody Allen

“The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits.” 
― Albert Einstein

“The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four people is suffering from a mental illness. Look at your 3 best friends. If they're ok, then it's you.” 
― Rita Mae Brown

“Ever notice how 'What the hell' is always the right answer?” 
― Marilyn Monroe

“Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead.” 
― Charles Bukowski

“Two wrongs don't make a right, but they make a good excuse.” 
― Thomas Stephen Szasz

“There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line.” 
― Oscar Levant

“I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I don't know the answer” 
― Douglas Adams

“When you're in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, 'Damn, that was fun'.” 
― Groucho Marx

The Marriage Box

Most people get married believing a myth that marriage is beautiful box full of all the things they have longed for; Companionship, intimacy, friendship etc … The truth is, that marriage at the start is an empty box, you must put something in before you can take anything out. There is no love in marriage, love is in people, and people put love in marriage. There is no romance in marriage, you have to infuse it into your marriage. A couple must learn the art, and form the habit of giving, loving, serving, praising, of keeping the box full. If you take out more than you put in, the box will be empty.

– Unknown

You can have friendship and you can have love, but it’s only when you have both together that it will be a great love.

Remember When

Remember when Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-moe"Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do over!""Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "monopoly"It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.

Remember when Being old, referred to anyone over 20.
The chance to skate as a couple at the local roller rink was like winning the lottery....
The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was the lurgi.

Remember when Nobody was prettier than Mom
Nobody was cooler than Dad
Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better
It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the fair...
When playing nintendo was the hardest thing ever.
When ninja turtles ruled the world.
- Rebecca Jackson

I've Learned

I've learned-
That you cannot make someone love you, all you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.
I've learned-
That it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it. That it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.
I've learned -
That you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you better know something. That you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do. That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
I've learned-
That it's taking me a long time to become the person that I want to be. That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
I've learned-
That you can keep going long after you can't. That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
I've learned-
That either you control your attitude or it controls you. That regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is a first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.
I've learned-
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. That money is a lousy way of keeping score.
I've learned-
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you are down will be the ones to help you get back up.
I've learned-
That sometimes when I get angry I have the right to be angry, but it doesn't give me the right to be cruel. That true friendship continues to grow over the longest distance, and the same goes for true love.
I've learned-
That just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I've learned-
That you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what tragedy it would be if they believed it. That no matter how good your friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while, and you must forgive them for that.
I've learned-
That it isn't always good enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you must learn to forgive yourself. That no matter how bad a heart is broken; the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned-
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for whom we become. That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean that they don't love each other, and just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.
I've learned-
That we don't have to change friends, if we understand that friends change. That two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I've learned-
That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you. That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
I've learned-
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
that the people you care about the most in life are taken from you too soon
I've learned-
That its hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting someone's feelings or standing up for what you believe. That no matter what happens to me on earth or how much my faith falters, God's faith in me never dwindles or fails.
I've learned-
That life's lessons never end and wisdom can always be passed on.
- Susane Pieffer

Things that make you smile

1. Love.
2. Knowing you're missed.
3. Doing the right thing and being appreciated for it.
4. Making a joke that everyone laughs at.
5. Eating amazing food.
6. Taking a really long, hot shower/bath.
7. Watching a movie that makes your jaw drop to the floor.
8. Reading a book that makes you speechless.
9. No lines at an amusement park, a store, or anywhere, really.
10. Having an amazing dream.
11. Missing out on flu season.
12. Getting hit on by an attractive stranger who doesn't seem like a creep.
13. Finding money on the ground, or in the couches or the laundry. 
14. DVR.
15. When a season premier or finale is just awesome.
16. When your friends ask you what's wrong when you look down.
17. Being able to surf the web all day without your parents nagging you.
18. The sky, no matter rain or shine, it's always beautiful.
19.Getting praised on your assignment by the teacher in front of the entire class.
20. Getting compliments.
22. Pets.
23. Buying new gadgets or clothes.
24. When technology advances.
25. When you have a really good day.
26. When it's midnight and you're riding in a car, the cool night breeze in your hair.
27. Getting presents. 
28. Giving presents.
29. Affection.
30. God&Jesus and all the Great things They do.

-InsanityisLogical

April's edition of The Diva Journals is here!

Meet April's Diva of the month, Ms. Clolita Castleberry

Try and Love. Try and Understand. Just Try.

I spent a lot of time away from home this past weekend traveling with my better half.  We got a chance to visit and spend time with a lot of friends.  Had a fantastic time.  For a moment The Diva Journals and the reason I started it were temporarily buried in the recesses of my very busy mind.  But then, I observed on several occasions, on several different days, the behavior in which women display towards each other.  Some behaviors were deep  acts of kindness and love shown towards each other.  The kind of love that lets a woman know "hey, I got your back in this  random, chaotic motion which can sometimes be your life".  That love will sustain you through some pretty hard times in life.  Then there was that other emotion I saw displayed, jealousy. 

Yes! I called it an emotion, because according to my good friend Merriam-Webster, jealousy  is an emotion and it typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, particularly in reference to a human connection.  Wow.  The green-eyed monster is eating us alive women.  If ever we are going to have any kind of unity on any kind of level, we have got to start recognizing and understanding the damaging traits and devastating results of jealousy. 

Sistas please understand, and hear me well.  Insecurity, fear, or anxiety are NOT friends of ours, and neither are the people whose existence in our lives are the center of which these horrific aforementioned nouns adjectives, and verbs breathe life and take form from.  Get rid of them.  And if this means letting go of that someone who always seems to bring anything except peace into your life, then get rid of that DRAMA.  

We need to, as a matter of fact we have to save each other from our attitudes, not enslave each other with them.  We have the ability to lift each other up, instead of knocking the hell out of each other. 

When we look at ourselves in the mirror, we have an opportunity to see several things; what we look like, what we use to look like, and what we want to look like.  And we don't have to look deep inside ourselves to see the difference in all three, we already know the difference.  We are very smart creatures. We know when we want to change, when we need to change, when we should change, and if we can change.  Nobody has to beat us over the head to let us know that we are sometimes screwed up; and a lot of times we are screwed up because of another person's behavior close to us in our lives. Either way, it's time out for the excuses we use to mistreat each other.

It's time to take out the garbage in our lives ladies before we get trash bugs, because like some people in our lives, they too are predators. We can be better to each other.  You recognize the hurt some one else has caused you, start recognizing the behavior you exhibit towards others, and how you can potentially hurt people.  This is not hard to do.  Treat each other like you want to be treated, and kick that something or some one in your life to the curb when it becomes a stumbling block to your success.  

Reach for something higher than someone else's dreams, reach for your own, and if you don't have any, get some!  Be yourSELF! and if you don't know who or what that is, guess what?  it's o.k.  Just strive to be better, and know that EVERY WOMAN was created with a purpose and a plan. No exceptions.  If you are still alive, that means there is still a purpose and a plan just for YOU.  Start creating a welcoming atmosphere for what could be the master plan for your life.  Kick damaging behavior patterns in your life.  Before you turn the corner let people see the light of your countenance approaching before they see you.  Treat each other well.  Love each other well, or at least try and understand the reason why it may be difficult for you not to.     

Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess

Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from becoming too talkative, and especially from the unfortunate habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and at every opportunity.

Release me from the idea that I must straighten out other peoples' affairs. With my immense treasure of experience and wisdom, it seems a pity not to let everybody partake of it. But thou knowest, Lord, that in the end I will need a few friends.

Keep me from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.

Grant me the patience to listen to the complaints of others; help me to endure them with charity. But seal my lips on my own aches and pains -- they increase with the increasing years and my inclination to recount them is also increasing.

I will not ask thee for improved memory, only for a little more humility and less self-assurance when my own memory doesn't agree with that of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be wrong.

Keep me reasonably gentle. I do not have the ambition to become a saint -- it is so hard to live with some of them -- but a harsh old person is one of the devil's masterpieces.

Make me sympathetic without being sentimental, helpful but not bossy. Let me discover merits where I had not expected them, and talents in people whom I had not thought to possess any. And, Lord, give me the grace to tell them so.

Amen”
― Margot Benary-Isbert

For Divas everywhere

Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.
Coco Chanel

 

Happiness Is

Happiness is:
1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket.
5. A special glance.
6. Getting mail.
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favourite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Chocolate milkshake ... (or vanilla ... or strawberry!)
12. A bubble bath.
13. Giggling.
14. A good conversation.
15. The beach
16. Finding a 20-pound note in your coat from last winter.
17. Laughing at yourself.
18. Eye contact with a hot member of the opposite sex.
19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
20. Running through sprinklers.
21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful/good looking.
23. Laughing at an inside joke.
24. Friends.
25. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
26. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
27. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
28. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
29. Playing with a new puppy.
30. Having someone play with your hair.
31. Sweet dreams.
32. Hot chocolate.
33. Road trips with friends.
34. Swinging on swings.
35. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
36. Making chocolate chip cookies (and eating them...!).
37. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.
38. Holding hands with someone you care about.
39. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.
40. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much-desired present from you.
41. Watching the sunrise.
42. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.
43. Knowing that somebody misses you.
44. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.
45. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.
-Author Unknown.

What are you listening to right now?

It's Friday, what am I listening to?   I got the iPod turned way up; this is the only way I like to listen to the reggaefusion  Say Hey (I Love You) by Michael Franti & Spearhead featuring Jamaican soul/dancehall singer Cherine Anderson from his All Rebel Rockers album.

I put this on, immediately I envision myself riding around in a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, reggae bouncin.   What are you listening to right now?

The Journals has a new Diva!

Meet Stephanie Lewis, The Diva Journals March Diva of the Month.
March Diva of the Month

The Diva Journals is still reading!

"Slavery robbed us of so many critical pieces to the puzzle that when we started writing our own history, we told only stories of tragedy, struggle, and loss. The other stories of triumph, beauty, and achievement, faded into myth and left our young people wanting to be part of someone else's history." - Daniel Black, Author of Twelve Gates to the City.

The Diva Journals is reading Twelve Gates to the City, the sequel to They Tell Me of a Home, by Daniel Black.  I am captivated by the storytelling of this gifted author.   I find myself trying to read at a slower than normal pace, because I just don't want the book to end, but because the book is such a page turner, the chapters are flying by.  If you are in need of some good reading material, first get a copy of  Perfect Peace, then you'll be anxious to get these two sequels.

 I am enjoying the savor of remarkably written novels.  Aah. The bliss of being engulfed by a good book.  

February's Diva of the Month

Ms. Angela Ferrell-Turner is the Diva of the Month.  Check out her article, and other interesting topics at The Diva Journals February edition.  Enjoy.

Don't let the cold kill your stroll

Hey Divas! With most of the country experiencing cold winter and in some places brutal weather, exercise seems more appealing if done indoors or not at all.  Walking and running are still great cardio exercises, even in the cold.  Here are a few tips to help you continue on in exercising and staying fit during the winter season.

• Remember to layer.  Wear several light layers, and be sure your first layer is made of one of the synthetic fabrics that wick away perspiration and let it evaporate. Your outer shell should be made of a breathable, wind-repellent fabric, to let the heat escape, but not let cold winter air enter. 

• Don't forget your hat and gloves.  Body heat escapes through the body especially through the top of your head and through your hands.  Walkers need heavier gloves than runners, so please invest in a wool pair if you're strolling instead of running.

• Pay attention to the wind chill.  Even if you are dressed properly, windchill extremes can make exercising outdoors unsafe by penetrating your clothes and removing the insulating layer of warm air that is surrounding your body, and it can make any exposed skin vulnerable to frostbite.  If the temperature is well below 0 F (-17.8 C) or the wind chill is extreme, consider taking a break by choosing an indoor activity instead.  If you choose to exercise outdoors still, use extreme caution with weather conditions.  Be safe.

• Stay hydrated.  Drink plenty of fluids when exercising in cold weather, just as you would when exercising in hot weather.  Dehydration may be harder to notice in the cold, so drink water or sports drinks before, during and after your workout, even if you're not  thirsty. 

Hey!

The Diva Journals has a new Diva of the month, Kristin Dexter.  We got new ideas, new recipes and new health tips. Take a look at January's edition of The Diva Journals.  We'll be waitingand hoping to see you.