Washing Away 2016

I cannot believe that 2017 is just a few hours away! Where has 2016 gone? It seems like it just ran past us. I can still remember the super bowl party I attended as if it were yesterday. Wow! Time is surely flying.

2016 was not kind to many. The greatest loss for me was the loss of my favorite musician, Prince. I Adored Prince! My heart still aches. Such a sad loss. Rest well your Purple Badness. You will live in our hearts forever. 💜☔️🙏🏽

I know a lot of people that have had a rough year, lots of lessons. If 2016 affected you in a significant way...What did you learn? Have you reflected? Have you set your goals for 2017? Without set and written goals, our ideas are just mere thoughts. Surely you've learned something. None of us are perfect. We are all here to learn and grow. Sometimes we get so caught up with what we're going through, we don't digest it to learn and grow from it. Take a few moments, relax, and breathe. Breathe in and imagine the good, breathe out to release the bad. In time, you will learn to just be still. You will notice the tests and lessons, and your spirit will give you the answers to address them properly. 
To bring in new energy, you have to release the old energy. Don't drag toxic energy into 2017. Be mindful that forgiveness and release are the only ways to move forward. 

Lord knows the last few years have been quite a roller coaster ride for me, personally. I've had non-stop crash courses of tests and lessons. I'm thankful that 2016 (though there were some hick ups) was much smoother than the past few years.

So as I Reflect, Release, and begin to Restore mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for the new year, I think about the specific lessons that 2016 brought to me. 

I learned 4 things: 

1- Always follow my intuition because it has never failed me. 
Our intuition is our Spirit leading us, learn to trust and follow it.

2- Don't allow things to build up. Address situations as they present themselves.

Open, honest communication is important to all relationships be it personal or professional.

3- Stop analyzing everything. I had a bad habit of observing situations, people, behavioral traits, and patterns. Analyzing leads to over-analyzing and causes things that weren't there to be created. Everything is not meant to be dissected. Learn to live in the moment, don't try to rush the process.

Because we are creators, anything that we focus on eventually materializes in our current reality.

You'd think I would already know that right? I did, and do, and though I've seen it happen to people around me, witnessing it happen in my reality, knowing I caused it, well, it hurt. 

When something hurts your spirit, you'll feel it in the pit of your soul. It will disturb you, that's how you recognize the major lessons that are intended to grow you.

4. Listen effectively. Not everything deserves a response. 

I remember reading something once that said, "People don't listen to understand, they listen to respond."

I've been told that at times I only listen to what I want to hear or only see the projection I have of a situation. So I will listen to understand, and not project.

These 4 points are what stood out to me in 2016. This is what I need to hone in and address going forward and through 2017.

Start by addressing what you need to work on, set your goals for 2017, and then state your intentions for the new year. But don't be so hard on yourself if you don't start right away, or complete what you set in that time frame. Understand that although this is the beginning of the year calendar wise, it's only man made. The calendar year is a factor only by condition and learned behavior. Don't let society dictate when you can start or finish something, and don't let this be a deterrent for you to start something new in the middle of the year or whenever your timing is right. 

Universal time is infinite, so whenever something is supposed to be it will be. You can't force it or put a date on it. Sometimes the universe has its own due date and regardless of how much you try to make something happen, it will never work because according to universal law, when the time is right it will be right, and it will get done at that time.

Hold the people that believe in you, who love you, don't give up on you, and are there for you near and dear. They are irreplaceable. Understand that Time is valuable, so don't waste time trying to restore friendships, relationships, and partnerships that are not serving you, and not matching your energy and effort. Wish them well, and send them love, then release them to move forward.

Know that You are the Creator of your life. Create with those that match your vibration, release those who don't. 
Learn to be happy with yourself and where you are throughout the process, and be sure to:
#SpreadLove
#BeALight
#PreachPeace

I hope 2017 serves you well, and brings you an abundance of what your heart desires. 

Have a great 2017 everyone!!!

Peace, Love, and lots of Light, 

~A2

Washing Away 2015

 

 

We're going into a New Year.

What are your plans? What goals will you set? 

Which of your goals did you achieve in 2015?

What will you do differently in 2016? 

Some of us are stuck on the same ride, doing the same thing, with the same people and wonder why we're in the same position. 

Sometimes, just like rebooting a computer, we have to reboot our circumstances and ourselves in order to reprogram our lives. 

Like I've said in the past..

sometimes you have to sit back 

-review your situation 

-release it from your soul 

-in order to restore your spirit

As we near 2016, take a moment and reflect- think about your experiences in 2015- what have they taught you? Did you grow emotionally, mentally and spiritually?

What have you learned through those processes? Think about the people in your life, your family, friends, associates? Are you valued, or just a commodity? Are these people bringing peace and harmony into your life, or chaos and agony? Are they mature enough to acknowledge their errors in order to grow, or shifting the blame and living in a smokescreen?? 

Are/were you in distress? Who caused you to be in distress? Sometimes we think people care, when they don't. Stop making excuses for grown people and bad situations. You have the right to a peaceful and happy life, however, you have to rid yourself of the dead weight and toxic energy. 

Happiness and peace reside in YOU. 

No one can make you happy, and give you peace. People, situations and material things don't bring genuine happiness and peace, these are only temporary filling yet fleeting moments. 

Think of your situations? Who is/was there? Some people come into our lives to serve themselves- they have an agenda. When you don't serve their agenda, their true colors appear. Let them go. Understand that some people regardless of age, education level, titles, will never grow mentally and spiritually. Recognize that, and let them be. You can't fix those that don't think they're broken. 

Start 2016 by releasing all that has not served you in in a healthy, positive manner in 2015. 

Go where you're valued, and appreciated.

Quit pouring and draining your energy onto people and situations that are only wasting your time. It's okay, we all fall short into thinking certain situations/people are genuine- don't be so hard on yourself, that's life! 

But this is a fresh year, close the chapters on negative and toxic situations. You don't owe anyone an explanation. Process things for yourself. Forgive them, forgive yourself, then release them. This is a new chapter, and you are the author of your story. 

 

You are the authority over what continues and what stops in your life. 

Who/what you let in, 

who/what you ALLOW to stay, 

and who/what you dismiss. 

If a situation is hard for you to leave, ask God (or whomever you pray to) for guidance and assistance for the strength to walk away. 

And don't be mean, acknowledge it/them, but don't let it/them in your space, wish them well, and release it/them with love. 

TIME is the most expensive asset we have in this world, once gone, we can never get it back, so use it wisely my friends. 

Don't allow anything or anyone to steal your joy, disturb your peace or waste your precious time. 

I hope this new year brings you all that your heart desires, you deserve nothing short of the best. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

~ A2

 

 

The Charleston 9 Did Not Die In Vain

Well, the confederate battle flag has finally been removed from the SC State Capital. That's great news! One small step for man, one huge step forward for mankind. What was a part of a painful past to many is now put to rest, figuratively. We can't erase the past or the unfortunate incident that led us here- the Charleston 9 did not die in vain; sometimes it takes a tragedy to move us forward and to bring us together.

However, let us be aware that flags don't kill people, guns don't kill people, religions don't kill people, PEOPLE filled with hate, that are misinformed or have been raised/bred with hate, people with a lack of respect for human life kill people!

Use this unfortunate incident to be a LIGHT and redirect the lost, enlighten the misinformed, and be an example of love to ALL. You don't know the thoughts or upbringing of the people that you encounter day to day. Be KIND. Learn to appreciate the differences in others. Research what you don't understand. No, this world is not a perfect one, and I doubt it will be in our lifetime, but we can be an example of the change we want to see. 

Stop separating yourselves from the Whole. We are ALL connected. Spread LOVE, and Pray for PEACE. 

God Bless Us ALL. 

~A2

Love Jones Charlotte

For those of you that want to hear me recite my poetry in person::: JOIN ME July 13th 9pm-12am 

ivory lounge @ label charlotte

#LoveJonesCLT is back!! 

Chat • Drink • Listen

Love Jones is an event that explores various relationship perspectives of those who are single, in a relationship  or even confused. It serves as a hybrid open forum and lesson of sorts... Spoken word, soothing music interactive games and brief discussions will add for an atmosphere we are sure you will enjoy. 

I hope to see you there... 

Peace, Love & Light, 

~Amani 

USWNT 2015 FIFA Womens World Cup Champions!!!

This was an exciting game to watch from the beginning to the ending ceremonies! 
Congratulations ladies!! 
#USAwins 5-2 vs Japan!
#USWNT #2015WorldCupChampions
#USA2015FIFAwomensWorldCupChampions⚽🏆

Shades of Beauty

I'm not going to call out a country for its hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is a worldwide issue. I don't care if you claim to be a so called Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist or whatever! We all pray to and seek the same Infinite Energy Source. Yet, we judge people by the color of their skin. How do you consider yourself a religious/spiritual  person, yet condemn, judge or think you're better than another person with a different color. God, the Infinite Energy Source, created everything. So you think you're heaven bound because you pray, fast, go to the Mosque, Church, Synagogue or Meditate in the Himalayan Mountains? If you can look at someone, and say something negative in reference to their color or judge them based on their skin color, you're a racist. Period. By judging and looking down at God's work, YOU are not acting God-Like. What you're saying with your racist heart is that God made a mistake. So you might as well stop thinking you're special, perfect or preferred. Beauty of color is in everything. God is a master artist. Look at the butterflies, birds, flowers, animals, sky, oceans, trees...all have various shades. Learn to appreciate all beauty and God's creations. Learn to see people's souls, spirit, and character, that's what defines a person, not their skin color. 

LOVE all. Be KIND to all. Judge NO ONE for any reason, as that is NOT your job. 

And then you just may be considered to enter The Pearly Gates!!  

Peace, Love & Light.

~Amani Abdul aka A2

Chasing Peace: Freeing Your Spirit and Releasing Your Soul

Coming soon my first full book, 

"Chasing Peace: Freeing Your Spirit and Releasing Your Soul"

Earthly life is about Tests & Lessons. This book is about finding your way through those moments by releasing societal changes, long-term conditioned strongholds, and breaking through your multilayered self. 

It breaks down life in a simple format, and shares tools to assist you in looking into your inner self in order to Free Your Spirit and Release Your Soul and uncover the inner Peace lying dormant within you.

Cover design by Mark Dorsey and The Lunchboxx @thelunchboxxapp