HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!! to Kieala's Blog!!!!!!

Not sure if most of you know, but I write a fictional blog entitled, Kieala's Blog for Associated Content. I'm very pleased to announce that this month marks the 1st year anniversary. When I dreamt up this blog I honestly didn't know what to expect. I didn't know if I was going to have followers, if people was going to like it and read it - I just had no idea. But I am very please to say that I do have continual readers who read and I'm getting new readers every day.

Here's an excerpt from my newest posting entitled, "Talking In My Sleep."

Now they say women are the best when it comes to cheating because we know how to hide things and not get caught....they say we only get caught if we want to.

Ok so I'm not actually cheating on Calvin...I'm not sleeping with Mr. Handsome or anything like that. I guess what I'm having is this new term called an "emotional affair." It's what you do with another person, when the one you're with meets some of your needs but isn't there for you emotionally. So you have an emotional affair with some unsuspecting person that comes along and says all the right things to you. You don't mean to do it, but you've tried and tried to tell the one you're with about you needs and they seem to care less about them; therefore you have some one like Mr. Handsome waiting to step in and do what you need him to do...

You can check out the rest of the story by clicking the link:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/5739862/kiealas_blog_17.html

I need tons more support for this project that I'm endeavoring in. If you're reading this right now...check out my previous post of the blog by going to www.associatedcontent.com/tywaller. If you like what you read, go to my main website www.youngdreamsbig.com and fill out a contact form and I'll put you on my mailing list for anything Young Dreams Publications does!!!!!

REALITY AND FREEDOM!!!

You may not can tell that I'm a new natural by my profile pic, but a week ago I cut all my hair down to the natural hair (unrelaxed hair). Currently I'm rocking some micro braids while I grow it out to a comfortable length for me...

Anyway, I read and saw a very inspiring Natural Hair Story today about a young lady named Lala08 on curlynikki.com. It wasn't so much of what was said in the story, but it was one picture in particular that made me think of reality and freedom. Anyone that is currently natural can relate to the pride you get from being natural. Pride of being who you were created to be. Now I do want to say to all my relaxed beauties, there is nothing wrong if you want to keep your hair relaxed...it really takes some courage and getting use to, to go back to your natural tresses after being relaxed for so many years. It's almost unfamiliar territory dealing with hair that not bone straight and the EXTREME thickness that some of us have. It took me a year to really embrace not having a relaxer and get the strength to start the transition from relaxed to natural.

Many of us spend so much of our life trying to fit in to this ideal story of what our lives should be like. I watched a lot of family TV growing up, so my ideal life was suppose to be a straight American story (even if it was only really geared towards white-America). I wanted the husband, to be a stay-at-home wife, raise my kids, the house with the white picket fence, the dogs...the whole shebang!!! But let me tell you it surely has not happened like that.

So when I saw this young ladies picture I thought..."REALITY AND FREEDOM". My reality is, I currently find myself in a life situation that's not ideal to what I originally wanted. Reality that life success doesn't just fall into your lap, it's something that you have to work for and take a great deal of planning and having a plan a, b, c, d and maybe even an e. Reality is that all things don't always go according to your plans, because we're not in this world alone - many other humans are interconnected in our lives, therefore another persons victories or even mistakes can change your path in life.

My freedom is, getting away from what others think I should do. Freedom in knowing, that just because America sets a standard of success doesn't mean that I have to incorporate that standard into my life. Freedom in knowing that I was fearfully and wonderfully made in God's eyesight and it's OK to be just who he made me to be.

I think about the people who don't fit the norm. They have a definite unique state of being. Many things in their lives don't make sense to us, but some how it fits them perfectly and you can't see them any other way. Imagine if we were all our own definite unique person; would the make-up and fashion industry be so lucrative? Would plastic surgeons be one of the top paid doctors in America? I doubt it. But because we've allowed the world to tell, most of us, what we should look like and allowed to them to define success for us - sometimes we wake up and find ourselves in a world that's not quite our own.

Are you living in your own "reality and freedom" or find yourself in a world that's not quite your own?

A Life Stamp Moment...

Yesterday I met a really nice young lady that left a great impression on me. I went to the Sprint store so that I could get a new line and a air time card for my laptop...in the midst of getting this I unintentionally spilled out my personal issues on this young lady. But she was so kind to listen and even offered a listening ear if ever I needed to talk. In the interim we found out that we had a few things in common...both married, been married the same amount of years, both the same age...

Upon the advice of a wise older friend, she suggested that I give the young lady a thank you card. And I did. I appreciated her genuine concern. Also I didn't realize just how much I needed to talk to a "girl-friend"....I bring all of this up because just when you think that this world is full of selfish, unruly, simple-minded people, God allow you to meet someone to show you that there's still hope.

What I experience yesterday reminds me of a movie....a tale of two friends who meet in a very unassuming way and end up being friends for years...

Friendships are a lot like a dating relationship or marriage...when you first meet a person you have no idea what lies ahead, but if they last, you look up and say, "Wow!!! I remember how we met!" But also they take a lot of work if you're going to hold on to them forever. Which also convicts me because I have a friendship that need to be patched up even as we speak...but when you can't find the words...days go by and you say nothing...

Do I have a real point in today's blog???? Not really, but I just wanted to share it, because like I said, it really made an impression on me. I wasn't looking for it - I simply was going in there to handle business, but came out with an life stamp.

What is a life stamp you ask? It's an event or situation that will be in your long term memory that you won't forget.

Get back up and try again!!!!

Why do I always have to get stopped in my tracks; just only to get back up and try again. Life fuels the passions that are inside of me. When my marriage is rocky - I write and remember that I'm an artist. When I'm having trouble in my salvation; the inner Psalmist is regenerated. When I'm having trouble on the job; the other career that's being hidden suddenly is trying to escape.

What will get me to stop falling and stay on the path????

I've recently made some changes in my life...I went natural. I BC'd July 9th,(for our non-natural audience, that means I cut off all my chemically processed hair straight to the natural roots. We call it the BIG CHOP). I love the fact that I am no longer slave to the "creamy crack" (lol gotta love 'em for coming up with that name). But the next morning I did go and get some micro braids put in. Such a contradiction: I cut off all my hair but then put some braids in. I need a little bit more length because I just couldn't work with the inch and a half hair.

Any way I'm still working on my book, which I think will be great....when I finally finish it. And then my blog that I was working on, that definitely needs to be continued. I have so many people asking how did I just leave it open-ended like that...simple answer MY HUSBAND!! Not that he wasn't supportive, but you know how us women are we get wrapped up in a man and everything else goes out the window, lol!

So I'm getting back up and trying again.....ARISE MY LOVE OUT OF YOUR SLUMBER!!!

I love the writer in me. It's my connection to everyone else out in the world. When I write and people read it, it make me feel like I have a million friends and they all love me (lol that sounds a little Hollywood). I love it when people say, "Girl that sounds like me and I can relate to the character you wrote about." I just love it!!!! But why isn't that motivation in itself for me????? Simple answer, but complicated to get a way from...EXCUSES AND LIFE! But I definitely want to break this cycle.

I have a lot to say and one day I will be able to get it all out....

Round and Round

I need to devote more time to myself. I spend so much of my time trying to take care of others that I just neglect the things that I need to do for myself.

I've finally got the exercise thing under control. I've been jogging with my husband every morning Mon-Fri; and I must say that I'm proud of myself. I took this week off though because I was just have a horrible "monthly" and it kept me in the bed.

But I have a lot of projects that I'm working on that I must get in order to accomplish my goals. Also I got a lot of things I want to talk about but just don't know how to say them...

Obviously I'm just rambling...I do this when I get a reality check and realize that I have a 101 things that I need to correct or finish.

So my personal challenge is CONSISTANCY. I've realized if I stay consistant in a lot of things, then I'll accomplish more things and this nagging feeling won't creep up on me every few months.

No Motivation

Ok so obviously my little challenge is not going well. I just can't get up at 5am and I haven't been exercising consistantly. It just feels like my life is too busy.
So I'm scratching the 5am thing.

This issue reminds me of my early salvation. I totally lacked motivation in getting saved; but one day too many burdens and trials and tribulations led me right to my Savior and I made up my mind that I was going to walk the narrow road.

So I'm wondering what will it take to get me to live a more healthier life????? The borderline diabetes scare should be enough, but I just convinced myself if I eat right I should be ok, right??? WRONG!!! LOL

Ok so I say lets set some realistic goals.... I know for sure that I can get up at 6am, so I decided that I'm going to give 30 minutes to the Lord. Maybe the things I'm lacking is help from the Lord. This should be part of my "getting healthy" routine, first acknowledging the Lord in all my ways so that he can direct my path (Proverbs 3:6). My husband and I have to walk the doggies no later than 6:30, so from 6am to 6:30 I will give God my first fruits.

Now I have a really busy schedule, Tuesday and Wednesday I'm at church and really my only open days through out the work week are Mondays and Thursdays, so I will workout on those days after work. Fridays are up in the air depending on what's going on....and Saturdays and Sundays I'll just have to hustle my way through a morning workout. So I should at least do 4 workouts in a week and if I have any open time on those other days I will throw in a workout.

Huh....I sure hope I can stick to this plan. I do want to look good for my trip, but I'm sort of content with the way I look now, but I do want to look better. I know that it's going to take some really hard work and commitment from me in order to do what I need to do. So my prayer will be, "Lord give me the strength!!!"

Blah, blah

Ok so this get up at 5am things just isn't working. I haven't gotten up once on time all week. I didn't get a chance to do exercise Tuesday or Wednesday night because I had other activities to do. But I'm going to do my exercise tonight it needed; I got a little tension and stress that I need to release.

But other than that nothings going on.....

Day 1-not off to good start...

Ok so I didn't wake up at 5am this morning and I didn't complete my whole workout. I was sooooooo tired. Let me explain....

Yesterday (which was Sunday) I went to church got my praise on then came home and I was pooped! :( I shouted all my energy out. I came home and then I went to sleep. Hubby wanted me to fix him dinner so badly but I really didn't have the energy to do so; thank God that he put a sleep spirit on Hubby too, cause as I took my nap, he took one too. And he got up and cooked his own food (bratwurst and some french fries).

I didn't wake up 'til 8pm Sunday evening, I warmed up some left over jerk catfish from the previous night and Hubby and I watch a movie. By the time the movie was over, which was around 10:47pm, I was pooped again and we turned in for the evening. I already knew that I wasn't going to get up at 5am because of the time that I went to bed.

So when I woke this morning I was EXTREMELY exhausted, I didn't even want to get up to walk the dogs with Hubby - I have a 4 year old beagle named Salsa and a 1 year old boxer named Buddy - but I made myself get up any way and we walked the dogs. The rest of my day was hazy and cranky.

I was half awake while driving to work, when I got there I sat in my car for 30 minutes and took a cat nap, then I was half awake while at my desk.

I know, I know, you're thinking with all this tiredness how did I come home and do my workout... I almost didn't. I came home walked the dogs, then sat down and read my Bible. I absoultely had no intention on working out today. After my Bible study I was going to get in my bed. But God has a way of making you do things that you know you should be doing.

When I opened up my Bible study the verse shot right out at me... 1 Corinthians 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." Right then and there I knew I had to do my workout. I know I need to get in shape for my health and I have been praying and asking God to help me...I wanted him to give me the strength, but he showing me that in some things that if you get babied through the process then you'll never learn to lesson the experience is trying to teach you. So it was either obey the Word of God or disregard it...

So after meditating on a few scriptures I put in the workout dvd and hustled through it....well 3/4 of the way...y'all when I say I really didn't have energy, I really didn't have it to complete the workout, but I guarantee you I gave it all that had....God knows!!

So day one not too good but I give myself credit because I could've wussed out...I will try to wake up tomorrow at 5am and do my morning workout. Hubby has his bowling night tonight so I have nothing keeping me up so I should be able to get to bed on time to wake up on time.

About to embark on a new journey!!

Ok I have two issues: I'm not a morning person and I really need to get some excess fat off of me.

So I'm going to spend the next 92 days transforming my body and my mind. Let me explain...

I'm going on a western Caribbean cruise in May so I really want to get my body in tip top shape. Right now I weigh about 175-180 (my weight flip-flops all month long) and my current measurements are arms 12", hips 46", waist 36", thighs 25". When you look at my pictures you may not think I have much to work on....but oh do I know how to camouflage. So my goal weight is 160-165 and just to lose a few inches...

But that's really not the real reason I want to get into better shape, I'm border-line diabetic (because of the weight, doc said if I lose a few pounds I can reduce my risk) and Hubby has a fascination with Serena Williams muscles - so I'm going to attempt to get better toned.

Also, as stated earlier, I'm not a morning person so I'm attempting to change my natural body alarm to be an early riser. So for the next 13 weeks (the time until my cruise) I'm going to wake up at 5am and do my workout. This will hopefully kill two birds with one stone - get me in shape and hopefully change me into an early riser.

To add a little incentive I'm going to put $10 into a savings account each week I successfully get up at 5am, Monday through Friday, and complete my workout (which is approximately 60 minutes). I want to maybe give this money away at the end of these 13 weeks, although I know $130 is not a lot of money these days but I would like to give it away to some charity or someone who may need it.

I have no ideas about what to do with the money, so if any body is reading this and will follow me in this journey maybe you guys can help me come up with something.