Flourish

Webster's definition of Flourish is:

to grow luxuriantly; thrive

to achieve success; prosper

to reach a height or development or influence

Hello everyone! Thank you for spending this year with me. it has definitely been incredible. I have grown in many ways using this platform as a way to write my thoughts out and uplift others along the way. Every year I try to pick a word to guide me throughout the year. I have chosen the word "Flourish" for 2020. This word means to grow luxuriantly: thrive, to achieve success; prosper, and to reach a height or development or influence. In 2020 that is exactly what I want for you all, as well as myself. As I began to write this post I took a moment to reflect over my life. In this reflection I learned some things.

See in 2018, I was in a season that seemed like darkness would surely swallow me. Now in 2019, I am able to look back and see that in 2018, God had in fact planted me. In this planting He placed me where He and I were face to face yet far from distractions. Once he removed the distractions from my life, He began to heal and nourish my soul. His word was the water and nutrients I needed to help my roots began to grow. In this year alone I started this blog, traveled across the world, took time to travel with my children, cultivated true friendships, finished up my 1st semester of my last semester of grad school, tried my hand at dating....(we shall discuss in a future post in 2020..LOL) but most of all I really began to do the work inside of myself to heal in preparation for growth. Throughout this year my roots have grown stronger and stronger, as God knows that even when I fully flourish I will still face adversity. Creating this strong foundation within me will allow me to stand tall in any storm.

What lies ahead in 2020? No one knows what will become of this new year but I am choosing to believe that we will Flourish beyond our wildest dreams. With graduation on the horizon and a trip to Paris, France as a treat to myself I am sure 2020 will be great!

So how do we prepare to flourish in 2020? If you have been doing the work over the last few years then you have already prepared for it. See I was planted in 2018 where God covered me and kept me safe in my darkest moments. Then in 2019 he poured his love and mercy all over me. By reminding me who I was and whose I was. So in 2020 I am prepared to bloom, to pop open, to spread my wings, to blossom, to flourish! Ya'll ready? If you haven't been doing the work it's not too late to start. Take these steps to flourish in 2020.

Steps to Flourish

1) Be yourself. Learning to accept who you are with all your flaws is the most important step in preparation to flourish. Understanding that you are enough is key.

2) Believe in yourself. You have everything you need already inside of you. Tap into it! Go back to school, start the business, step out of your comfort zone and walk in all you were created to be.

3)Choose to be happy. You are in control of your happiness. We can't always control how people treat us but we can determine how we react. Choose to find the good in every situation in life. Don't get hung up on the pain and miss the purpose. Your happiness is just that, YOURS!

After doing the work this will be an exciting moment, to finally see all your hard work come to life. We were created for such a time as this! Let's replace the I can't, I should, I ought to, I need to, I try to , I have to's with I can, I intend to, I will, I am, I choose to, I LOVE. In this new year let's remember that God has given us everything we need to flourish. Don't get caught up on the pain of your past remember it was all for purpose. Now let's start this countdown!!!! 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!!!! Happy New Year!!! Now go and Flourish!!!!