Hey y’all!

For my returning readers, I see you! To my new readers, I’m so glad you chose to stop by!

The first thing we gone do is give God praise for allowing us to see another 365 days! He didn’t have to do it but he did! He kept us, he provided, and he loved us! We still have purpose! Give him GLOOORAAAYYY!!

For some of us, 2023 was our year. We succeeded, we accomplished our goals, made good on our resolutions, and we’re living our best life. For others, 2023 was another year of being on God’s trials and tribulations subscription and his strongest soldiers squad. We started the year declaring, decreeing, and manifesting that 2023 was going to be our year but it didn’t go as planned.

Or did it…?

What if it went exactly as planned? What if this year was to show you how strong you are? What if this year helped you prepare for the things you prayed for? What if God orchestrated this year to do the very things needed to push you into your purpose? What if this year was the year, you learned who God is and how he’s always in control?

I’m not trying to be the toxic optimist, but I’ve learned to understand sometimes the very thing that shoulda broke you is the thing that brought you to break through. For the record, I absolutely do not agree with how God does things sometimes; however, his word is true that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (James 1:2-4)

2023 was a hell of a year for me. There were many disappointments, heartaches, lessons, pains, and tears. My 2023 was nothing that I declared, decreed, or manifested. This was God’s year.

God used this year to align me to His will. (I still don’t know what it is but I’m getting close.) He pushed and stretched me in ways I didn’t think I could handle. He challenged me to trust him completely, solely. He made it where I didn’t have a choice because I leaned to my own understanding, did things my way, and it didn’t turn out well. I see him sitting there just shaking his head like this child of mine…

I fought, kicked, and screamed trying to force things to happen, make people be who I wanted them to be, be someone I wasn’t, hide my pain, and I got exhausted. I had to surrender. I listened to “I Surrender All” for weeks, that became my posture. When I surrendered God said, “Good, now I can work.”

There are times we stand in our own way and block God from doing what he does best. He will knock at the door but he’s not busting it down. He may spin the block a few times but, eventually, God will go about his business and let you find him.

This year brought some of what I wanted and all of what I needed. I met some wonderful people, reconnected with old friends, made new friends, learned more about myself, and learned valuable lessons.

The gift of goodbye! Saying goodbye is not always a bad thing. There are good goodbyes. I didn’t know that existed until this year, while in my sister circle. You can say goodbye and be good, just not good good, like Usher said. Sometimes saying goodbye is the greatest gift you can give yourself. This year I realized that everyone around me didn’t deserve to be part of my circle or have access to me. Some people used me to make themselves feel good, others needed me for what I had access to, and others were around to be nosey. Don’t get caught wearing rose colored glasses. When people show you who they are believe them, the first time! Take stock of the people you interact with, if y’all are moving in different directions, it may be time to say goodbye and that’s okay! Everybody isn’t meant to go with you on your entire journey. Some people don’t have the capacity to watch you succeed while they are standing still.

Nothing is permanent. People, places, and things come and go; nothing in life stays forever. Enjoy what you have while you have it because there will come a time when you don’t. Lean into the moments where you find joy, love, and peace. Don’t take it for granted. Love those around you because the inevitable will happen. We are all living on borrowed time. Don’t be arrogant and assume God will give you another chance to do what you could have done today, tomorrow.

You may be the one, but you’re not the only one. You have an assignment, but it doesn’t mean you don’t have support. You have to stop running yourself ragged. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to accept help. It doesn’t make you weak, it doesn’t make you less of a person, it shows your humanity. You don’t have to do it alone. YOU ARE NOT A SUPERHUMAN! You are simply human.

Let go of what no longer serves you. Listen suga’ if it doesn’t bring you calm, joy, love, money, or peace… it has to go! If it’s not aligned with your morals and values, it’s not meant to stay. Sometimes we hurt ourselves by holding on to people and things that cause us more harm than good. My grandma used to say sometimes holding on hurts more than letting go.

Love isn’t enough. Relationships aren’t sustainable on love alone. There must be honor, respect, reciprocity, and consideration, that’s just naming the top ones on my list. As much as I love some folks, I had to love them from a distance. Setting boundaries is a form of love, self-love to be precise. You do not have to overextend yourself, play yourself, or get played, in the name of love. If all they can do is love you, love them back by only giving what you can afford to lose.

I have to say I’m excited to see 2023 go. I don’t know what 2024 has in store but I can tell you I’m letting God lead. I’m not walking into 2024 with a list of expectations and resolutions. My only resolve is that God will do what he said he would do, he will stand by his word, he will come through.

I pray 2024 gets in here, sits down, touches nothing, and acts like it has sense. We do not need a repeat of any of the last 4 years. For all of you, I pray you take time to reflect, recharge, and reset. Know that whatever you accomplished was enough. You are enough. You did a great job this year and I’m so proud of you.

Until next year…peace like your mama’s hair grease!!

Healing is a journey; you decide where you want to go.

I love y’all 🤟

~Dee