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My Life List

Today is my half birthday.

Yes, I still celebrate half birthdays at the age of 34.

Usually this is the time of year I evaluate my birthday list — the list of goals I want to accomplish before my next birthday. But when I got ready to do so, I realized I didn’t make a 35 before 35 list this year.

On Sunday my pastor started a new sermon series he’s calling Dream Again. During his message he shared his bucket list. And as he was talking I realized I didn’t have one anymore.

How can a dreamer, a self-proclaimed “goal digger” like me not have a bucket list.

Lately, I’ve been so caught up in my daily to-do lists, I’ve abandoned looking at the big picture.

And so in honor of my half birthday, I’ve written a bucket list or, as I prefer to call it, a life list once again.

The things on my list range from the frivolous to the grave and if you aren’t a writer or entrepreneur you probably won’t find it too interesting. But here goes…

Be a guest on the Melissa Harris-Perry show.

Be a full-time entrepreneur.

Have a gorgeous home office.

Have an office for my business outside of my home.

Have a six-figure launch for one of my programs.

Pay off credit card and student loan debt.

See my byline in Essence.

See my byline in Bust.

See my byline in Glamour.

Speak at BlogHer.

Speak at Blogalicious.

Be featured on a Forbes list.

Write and publish a book on feminism.

Go to New York with my husband.

Travel internationally with my husband.

Fly first class.

Run a full marathon.

Meet Marie Forleo.

Meet Melanie Duncan.

Go to Essence Music Festival.

Attend Black Girls Rock.

Buy myself a Kate Spade bag.

Buy myself a Prada bag.

Hire a personal chef.

Name an Essie nail polish.

Buy a brand new car.

See Priscilla Shirer speak live.

Finally make peace with my spiritual beliefs.

What’s on your life list?

lifestyle

30 Things I Love Right Now

I could listen to this song all day long.

30 Things I Love Right Now is a blog feature created by writer TJ Bietelman.

What do you love right now?

goals lifestyle

Dream Again

Today my pastor started a new sermon series he’s calling “Dream Again” and he says he hopes the messages will encourage us all to do just that — to dream again.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have no problem dreaming and dreaming big. So I figured this sermon series would be one I’d listen to so that I could pass on encouragement to others. But as soon as my pastor started I knew that this was a message I needed to hear.

I realized today that I have been unintentionally placing a partition between my spiritual life and professional pursuits. Sure, I’ll pray before hosting a big event or making a big decision and I thank God for my successes, but until today I hadn’t realized that I need to see the pursuit of my dreams as a spiritual act in and of itself.

“Dreams are the language of God,” my pastor said. God speaks to us by giving us certain passions. I may not hear God speak audibly and God may not be setting bushes on fire to give me a sign, but the undying passion I have for empowering women, for writing, for blogging and for entrepreneurship tells me that it is my calling to help women be the author of their own lives.

“Dreams are the target of your faith,” he continued. When you have a dream you have a focus for your faith. This fall I am entering a new coaching program that’s going to help me write a vision for my business and help me create an action plan to help bring that vision to fruition. And it will come to fruition because, as my pastor declared today, “Dreams have a habit of coming true.”

He went on to warn us that a God dream will seem risky and that it will requite God’s involvement. It will be too much for us to do in our own strength. But it will be worth the hard work because a God dream will change lives.

Are you willing to dare to dream again?

lifestyle

Even a Girl Boss Needs a Break

Dear Girl Boss,

Tomorrow is a national holiday, July 4th. Since this holiday falls on a Saturday chances are you don’t have to go to your 9 to 5 today.

You’re tempted to work ALL DAY. You’re tempted to spend the next 8, 10, or even 12 hours working on your business and blog, working on that after-hours side hustle, that part-time project that you hope will one day become your full-time career.

But don’t do it.

Today I want you to give yourself permission to take the day off.

Even a girl boss needs a break.

I used to have an all-work, no-play attitude. I called myself Javacia “No Days Off” Bowser. Then I hit the wall. I broke down. I got burned out and discouraged and wanted to quit EVERYTHING. Even my health was affected. It was not pretty and a lot of crying was involved.

After that I committed to taking off one day every week and that has made all the difference. I think you’ll find it actually makes you better at blogging and business. I did. Writers and artists call these breaks a creative pause because as you’re resting you’re actually allowing your creativity to flow more freely. So when you get back to work your ideas will be bigger and better.

I don’t always keep my promise to myself to take a day off and when I don’t I certainly notice a difference — the tears and self-doubt quickly come back.

If you’re anything like I was, Girl Boss, you probably don’t even know what to do with a day off! Here are a few things you could do that will help you relax but also keep you inspired:

Go for a walk or run on your favorite trail.
Spend time with family.
Get a mani/pedi.
Have brunch with your best friend.
Get a massage.
Catch up on your favorite magazines or TV shows.
Read a book (that’s not about business).
Spend the entire day on the sofa in your pajamas watching movies.

Do you have the day off? How will you give yourself a break?

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