Oh, Back Then!

 

I have wonderful memories of back in the day. People were even different than they are today.

Times have changed drastically. Things are nowhere near as they used to be.

I am glad I had a good childhood and grew up during the time/decade that I did.

I was born in the 70’s, came up in the early eighties to being able to leave our doors unlocked in the spring and summertime when us children would and could stay out all day long running/playing around our neighborhood without a care in the world.

Going back and forth to the store to buy goodies, going back and forth in and out of the house for whatever activity or sport we had come up with, or planned. Whether we had to get or take our bikes, hula-hoops, jump ropes, a bathroom break, a drink of water and whatever else tickled our fancy.

And to speak about getting water, us children used to take short cuts just to head to the backyard to splash and drink from the water hose!

Our parents did not constantly have to keep an eye on us- we ran free.

None of us were in danger of violence or any violent act happening, or committed upon us.

We knew to be cautious or careful, in general, but our lives were never in danger as are today with stray bullets flying, assaults, kidnappings, and the such.

All we worried about was not missing out on all our fun, having enough money to catch the ice cream truck on time when he came around, and hoping not to get called in the house too early after nightfall.

We loved to get the chance to stay out until 10pm or a little later enjoying those innocent fun-filled summer nights!

 

Strive For A Healthy New Year

 

Another new year is here!

Everyone should always endeavor to love and respect themselves along with striving to constantly stay in good health.

Eat healthily, live healthily and think positively!

Have a healthy New Year.

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Because a savior was born everyone can spiritually be born again to live forever in eternal glory with our heavenly Father.  

While everyone continues to have breath within their body and wake up to see another day here on earth it is not too late for them to accept and receive Jesus if they have not already done so.  

This is the true celebration for a Merry Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Thanksgiving is a day celebrated once every year.

A time of gathering for family and friends to spend quality time with one another and to enjoy the feast at a table giving thanks for everything that they fortunately have.

I stopped officially celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas around the age of twelve along with certain other holidays.

To me, they were just ordinary days that were commercialized.

Like I have said many times before- every day is a day to be thankful.

Christmas is really in honor of the birth of Jesus, not a day symbolized to give out and to receive presents.

Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus not a day to acknowledge the relation of any “bunny”.

Nevertheless, Thanksgiving serves a purpose.

Not the purpose in the design of false stories of history or for profit, but for the purpose of a reminder.

A reminder to always be grateful and to show gratitude to God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Beauty And Power Of Love

 

I am not one who loves easily. If I love someone they definitely have to be worth it- latoya lawrence

 

Love is beautiful.

I had a lot of love in my life growing up, true unconditional love.

Real love never dies.

There is strength and confidence within love.

 

 

Love cannot be bought or sold. The price of love is invaluable, immeasurable, and worth more than what anyone could ever be able to afford.

So precious is this life-giving emotion, so wonderful is its essence.

Fortunate is those who have loved, and who know the genuine meaning of love.

 

Allude To The Mood

 

Depression is normal. Everyone feels down once in a while about something at some point in life.

There are circumstances that may affect one’s mood and when those trying, or unfavorable situations come to an end or get better their mood usually tends to improve.

For certain others depression is clinical. A chemical imbalance that may need to be stabilized with medication.

Some people who do not have imbalances sometimes require a prescription for anti-depressants.

A lot of these medications do more harm to the body than good turning some people into zombie-like characters.

People should not be experimented on within this manner. Harsh pharmaceutical drugs are not the perfect remedy.

Instead, each person should be evaluated thoroughly on an individual level.

There are nuts, though, walking around on the street who have not been diagnosed who actually do need medicine.

Doctors who are impetuous often assume, generalize, and do not take into consideration the variety of factors as to why one may shift emotionally.

Medication should be a last resort.

Getting down to the underlying issue through communication, understanding, open-mindedness, patience and personal healing (whatever that may be) is what is key.

 

 

 

 

Fruit For The Spirit: Crucial For Life

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. -Philippians 1:6

Just as our bodies need vital nutrients to sustain our physical health we need the essential nourishment of the mind, spirit, and soul as well. But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” -Matthew 4:4

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. -John 15:4-5

Get encouraged and motivated by inspiration that will enrich your daily walk in life with my scripture and faith based self-written devotionals.

God has prompted me through the holy spirit to utilize my talent of writing to share and spread the message of hope, truth, and salvation to all who are called.

I also share my life experiences and encounters through all seven of my websites/blogs through the gifts, wisdom and knowledge bestowed to me as I travel through as a sojourner on this earth.

This world will eventually come to pass. Until then, let us be prepared and ready to store up treasures for ourselves in heaven.

We are not to live for this temporary life here on the present earth, but for the new Kingdom to come.

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear.
Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.
And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:19-34

Morning Start

We should wake up each day giving our thanks and praise to the Lord. Then, we should continue to speak to him all throughout the day as often as possible.

We need his comfort and guidance. He is always with us his children, ready to hear and to instruct us within our daily walk with him. -latoya lawrence

 

After my initial morning talk/prayer to God, the first thing I did when I got up this morning was take my vitamins then I fixed me some breakfast.

I peeled and ate five tangerines along with two bananas, and then a while later, I made myself a full small pot of oatmeal.

By the grace of God I’ve been eating even healthier meals. Mostly fruits, vegetables and legumes.

It’s important for us to watch the things we eat and to prepare our own nutritious meals instead of buying heavily processed foods that aren’t beneficial to a good well-being.

 

 

Reading

Isn’t it wonderful to have a mother or parent who loves their child so much and who invests the time and effort into the ultimate welfare of providing for their child?

One of the most beautiful things to share with a child at an early age besides care and attention is a book.

Early learning and development is one of the most important bestowments that a parent can offer to their child along with it being another way to enhance a familial bond.

My mother always had books around me as she was an avid reader and she taught me how to read by the time I was two and a half years of age.

Reading is so conducive as it takes one’s mind on a journey to discovery, contemplation, imagination, adventure, and communication.

I loved the numerous types of books that my mother had purchased for me and I’d read them over and over again. One of my favorite childhood literary anthologies was the Bank Street Readers series of books.

My mother often took me to the library to borrow books that held my interest, and for the study of autobiographical book reports that I had to turn in during my elementary school years. It was both fun as well as educational.

Till this very day one of my favorite hobbies is to read. I was even presented a gold pen when I was eight years of age for being one of the best readers within the entire school.

All is owed to having a parent who prepared me for the world ahead of time.

 

 

Exercise

I never considered myself an exercise person due to the fact that I don’t exercise.

Then, I had to remember and realize how walking is a major form of exercise that I’ve done frequently for quite most of my life.

I use to enjoy walking to a high degree so much that on days of beautiful spring and summer weather I’d walk home, and to a relatively long destination, instead of taking a cab or public transportation if the stroll was within a considerably reasonable distance and location for me to attain.

I don’t do arobics or stretches the only type of stretching I do is when I wake up in the morning or to flex when my limbs and body gets stiff or tired.

Nevertheless, I am very energetic and I get a workout from the exertion of my everyday activities, especially while I’m at work and constantly on the move.

So while some of us are not into the strenuous or disciplined acts of routine exercise we have the unintentional ability, and result, of being bodily toned and healthily fit simply by doing our regular movements through out each day.

 

Bullying

Bullying doesn’t just only happen amongst children, many adults bully, and go through the oppression and torment of other domineering adults.

I don’t understand the intimidation and submission as I’ve never let anyone bully me with bullshit, the notion is very inconceivable to my logical reasoning.

I’m the extremely stubborn type, born under the zodiacal sign Taurus, no one could ever persuade me to do anything I didn’t want to do, or to go along with, I dared anybody in general to coerce me. They’d deeply regret it.

As a child, when I was in the fifth grade, I remember a girl by the name of Sandrine Adams. She was of Caribbean descent, and she was black and bruisy-looking, ugly and doofy.

She, with the help of unnatural circumstances, that was negatively occurring around me at the time, turned all of the other children within our classroom against me in order to scare me into joining her group of “colored kids”.

I, of course, refused as I would not subject myself to one ethnic group of children simply because I was also a shade of brown skin.

My mother had bused me out to a predominantly caucasian elementary school to learn at my high pace with all different spectrum of nationalities and ethnicities, not to be subjugated and segregated.

Who was this disturbed fellow student trying to divide up other students, and why were other children within her influence following behind her? The audacity had really pissed me off, and the situation had me all the more determined to stand, and hold my own ground.

I wasn’t a passive kid.

The need to control and to harass other people, especially at such a young age, stems from insecurities and/or mental issues arising from deep within.

Therapy Dogs

 

When I worked at one of the assisted living facilities I often occupied there were therapy dogs often brought in to offer emotional support, mental stimulation, and companionship toward the elderly.

In my opinion, therapy animals are lovely resources for any age group to pleasantly and significantly benefit from.

For those who are receptive to canines therapy dogs are a great enhancement to the lives of people and within the lifting up of the spirits to those in need of a humane connection.

It is particularly very assistive within the elderly environment to receive the therapeutic attributes in which a loving, friendly, affectionate, and comforting trained dog can provide to them.

The dogs themselves deserve the proper care and respect in return for all they do and the sacrifice they undertake in order to cater to our charitable (human) causes.

Canines have feelings and needs too and sometimes people don’t take into account how they may get overwhelmed and taken advantage of within their own doghood life periods.

Dogs are living beings also and shouldn’t constantly have their precious moments stolen away.

They need our therapeutic modes of solicitous and considerate treatment as well.

Singer Prince And Society’s Veneration

 

The radio station is still continuing to celebrate The Purple Man’s life throughout the weekend since his birthday was yesterday.

People keep reminding the public that Prince didn’t celebrate his birthday because he was a Jehovah’s Witness. One female dee jay even praised Prince for having had to receive a sort of enlightenment from “above” for the instance.

I was twelve years old when I stopped celebrating my birthday and I was born with a Caul/Veil. I became a vegetarian at that age also, and I knew what life was all about back then as I avoided partaking in the so called “worldly things” of society as I had no desire to, and I’m forty-four now and have so much peace.

Many of us have already experienced revelations, have known things, and have lived accordingly to our spiritual alignments far before mainstream society became aware or fully aware of particular things, before the media reported findings or developments of certain things, and before many famous people came to know and incorporate circumstances into their own lives, yet because these people are in the limelight they receive special credit when all along there were people like us at earlier stages within our lives who were the ones to make the same discoveries.

I am not at all knocking Prince, nevertheless, I also have to mention that if Prince was a woman he would not be receiving all of this favorable attention and celebration as he had once lived a scandalous lifestyle. As sexually promiscuous and provocative as Prince was during his early days on up to the point where it eventually haunted him he would never have gotten so far with approval.

Of course, he had haters and those who weren’t fans of his just like others because everyone has their own preferences and taste, however, if Prince was female he would have been called every derogatory name in the book, and considered unacceptable to be revered in such a positive way for his talents and achievements.

If a woman behaved in the manner in which Prince did the instance would not have literally taken anything from her. She’d still have all of her faculties whether mental or physical but with the ridiculous double standard all her value would have just been focused on how many times she used her vagina and with how many different men.

To me, there is no difference because I am realistic. It is not always what someone does it is why they do what they do that justifies or excuses the situation.

I don’t care what anyone does with their body as it is of no concern to me, though, a man, in my opinion, who has many sexual escapades and encounters is not someone that is projected as maintaining his worth in comparison to a woman who is suppose to lose her’s within my eyes.

I am one who never went along with society’s bullshit and what is deemed as acceptable or appropriate.

This society is in no position and does not have the knowledge or authority to define what it is to be a woman and what contributes to her value and worth as only an individual within her own is able to define her own true identity.– miss latoya

 

 

The Purple Man

I am not at all the starstruck type, never was, and I never will be. To me individuals who are famous are just that-well known people-who are just mere human beings with popular notoriety.

The Doves are not crying as they reign in peace-miss latoya

Fame doesn’t mean greatness as there are many with talent, character, and ability, who have never been widely recognized. There are those who get too much unnecessary media attention and I don’t really understand what they’re famous for.

However, it is a dinner tempted in individuals nurtured by the hungers distributed within the “belly of the beast”.

Many get famous not by worth or accomplishment but by deed or advantage.

Some who are blessed don’t even want the fame just the fulfillment and fortune within their own natural passion and drive through answering the callings urged from the bestowals within their everyday lives.

Today is singer Prince’s birthday and as he is deceased his life is again being celebrated as a tribute to him by many.

The radio is sharing memories of him and playing many of his hits. One of my favorite songs of Prince is “Raspberry Beret”.

In my opinion, Prince had a very unique style, was very talented, and made a lot of great music.

Full Figured Women

 

I come from a family of women that are within all sizes. Some are petite, some are average, and some are heavy.

My relatives are native southerners rooted in Meadville Virginia (Halifax County) and they weren’t ashamed of anything. The women were strong and independent and very hard and good workers. They didn’t get vexed by nonsense and persevered through grave times.

Weight had never been an issue with the women on my mother’s side of the family they weren’t self conscious about anything concerning their bodies. And I relate to them so well within mindset.

Often in general, there is talk among and about many women as well as men who are overweight, plump, or even considered too skinny. I never understood the degree in which some individuals place themselves in as well as others.

I and the particular members of my family would neither desire nor attempt to meet anyone’s criteria of what their appearance should resemble. Approval depends on no one but us and within our own selves and to our own liking. We weren’t the type to seek out acceptance from anyone including the world around us.

I can see if ones weight is a problem due to health matters and ease of comfort and the such but for mere public opinion I don’t see it. If one is happy with oneself that is pounds enough to carry around proudly.

The heavy women in my family were literally beautiful. They kept themselves neat and clean with stern and pleasant attitudes and confidently wore their weight well.

 

 

For The Love Of Books

 

With all of the technology out there I’m someone who still appreciates the pleasure of holding a book in my hand.

As an avid reader of all sorts when it comes to my favorite interests in novels I prefer admiring the jacket of a paperback illustration, taking my time out to search through the aisles of a book store to read the back covers, and skim over the pages upon deciding the perfect choice of my particular selections.

Online reading is a great and convenient option and resource for all, however, I love the old fashion way too and hope hand-held books are here to stay during this vast computer age.

I’m not into ebook reading when it comes to novels. I like to lay comfortably in bed turning the pages of a book that will keep me up all night and with anticipation or one that I just can’t put down for long. I just love that shit!

I remember B. Dalton bookstore and Borders Books and how they’re nolonger in business to shop at though we still have a Barnes And Noble to walk into.

Mind, Body, And Spirit

Food (any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink or that plants absorb in order to maintain life and growth).

Our mind and spirit also need to be fed just as well as our bodies.

Harmonic alignment within personal environment promotes physical comfort, mental stimulation, and a spiritual peace which creates balance.

It is not about what is so-called normal as much as it is about what is healthy when going about individual well-being and how a person obtains fulfillment.

If we don’t pick out and wear the correct fit within accordance to our own specific foot size in proportion to area to breathe we just make the walk unnecessarily hard to bear.