My LIFE ... 10-7-07

Thirty things I would like to do with my LIFE: 

1. Grow spiritually.


2. Grow mentally.


3. Grow socially.


4. Grow sexually.


5. Stay in shape.


6. Read more.


7. Become successful.


8. Become a better woman.


9. Keep my hair done at all times.


 10. Keep my nails done at all times.


11. Keep my physical appearance up.


12. Become a better parent.


13. Learn more about a Christian relationship.


14. Become a leader.


15. Become a positive role model.


16. Become a mentor.


17. Be a virtuous woman.


18. Establish healthy relationships.


19. Be more open minded.


20. Be more diverse.


21. Be open to more change.


22. Be a receiver.


23. Be submissive.


24. Be humble.


25. Be a servant of GOD.


26. Not settling for less.


27. Live for righteousness.


28. Becoming more grounded in the word.


29. Have more wisdom.


 30. Enjoy LIFE.


31. Empower women.


32. Better mom.


33. Spiritual wisdom, understanding.


34. Become more educated.


35. Continue to LOVE others as CHRIST commanded.


36. Be able to enjoy my grandchildren.


37. LIVE long enough to see my grandchildren future.

 I know I went over thirty things. In my journal this is exactly what I have. This was my very first journal ever in my LIFE. I want to begin to share pieces of my LIFE with you all. Ultimately, my journals of my LIFE will be a book that will not only inspire, however, change LIVES. Make sure you subscribe to my blog. One of these days my book will be out, and I want you to be the first to get a copy of it! ;)

How to Overcome Your Fears in LIFE

Finally Ready

I am finally ready for LIFE! For the past 2 and half years, I've literally zoned myself out from the world. One of the main reasons why, I had to find myself. I had to find out who GAIL GARDNER was. I needed and wanted to know what my purpose was. In order for me to find out, I had to shut everything down. From watching t.v., being on the phone having useless conversations, going out just to "show out", not doing anything productive at all. I did this for 2 and half years. After finding out who I was, I knew what I wanted in LIFE. Being in a relationship for 11 years with 2 of the most amazing young men in my LIFE, I chose to invest into my LIFE. I reconditioned myself mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially. I chose to learn how to take control of my LIFE. In the midst of getting myself mentally fit, I used social network to stay in tune to current events that were going on across the world. Today, I empower young women. I read a lot. I'm investing into my LIFE now. I now know what it means to be productive. Back in the day I had no interest in the things I'm doing today, only because I was never introduced to it, until I was 26. It all began with a seed of greatness that was planted into my LIFE at 26 years young. Since then, that very seed has been manifesting itself, and is still growing. I always say LIFE is beautiful! It truly is, with all the opportunity and gifts it gives. From my own experience with LIFE, I can truly say that it's never too late for anything that you want to do, or haven't done yet. Today, I've been getting back out into the WORLD  little by little. I'm LIVING my LIFE!  I just want to leave a legacy of LIFE behind for those who were told they would never mount to anything, didn't have anyone believe in them, and for those who haven't taped into their greatest just because they didn't know how. I'm using my LIFE to LIVE and GIVE. I am finally ready! 

The TRUTH shall set you FREE

Is it really hard accepting the TRUTH or telling the TRUTH? Why is that you walk around in your own reality as if you want it to be "this" and its not? Why is it so hard to accept the TRUTH and tell the TRUTH? Just be HONEST about whatever you got going down in your LIFE. Just accept LIFE for what it is, and not what you "believe" it should be. Better yet, just tell the damn TRUTH! Life is so much BEAUTIFUL when your HONEST. Being honest about your LIFE makes a difference in your LIFE, and it shows how responsible you are as an individual. In LIFE we ALL make mistakes. LIFE is ALL about trial and error. What makes a difference is how we take our trial and error and learn from them, to create and make better choices. What do you have to hide from those you don't want to know what's really going down? Why don't you want them to know? Why are you hiding from how you really feel? At least be responsible and give the people your LYING to an opportunity to choose. Are you afraid that the TRUTH will destroy something that was never meant to be in the first place? Why keep things a secret? WE CANNOT HIDE FROM OURSELVES. No matter how much paint you put on a wall, you can still see the markings IF YOU'VE NEVER SAND THE WALL DOWN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF PAINTING. No matter how much you try and try to cover the truth, it will soon come out. LIFE presents itself in a way that it will shed light on those who live righteously. It will show them the markings on the wall you try to cover up with so much layers of paint. While your putting so much time and energy into putting on layers and layers of paint, I can still see. I can still see the TRUTH.  I can still see what your wanting to hide, because your afraid of not letting the other person know the TRUTH about how you really feel, and what you really want. I can still see the pain, the hurt you still have for not being able to hold it down when you knew and believed you could. I can still see the tears you shed when you said "baby don't leave me". Don't be mad at me, for accepting LIFE for what it is. Don't get upset with me, because I've moved on. Don't get fake fly at me, because I choose to RESPECT you, when I know you don't deserve it. Better yet, I know this may sound harsh, however, I must tell you the TRUTH. How you feel and how you choose to treat me, is what your sowing into your LIFE not mine. LIFE only treats you the way you treat it. FORGIVENESS ladies and gentlemen is the BEST thing you could ever INVEST in you. You deserve the very best, that LIFE has to offer. You deserve just what you want in LIFE. The TRUTH shall set you FREE.

You can't be serious!

Okay, okay, okay... I think I get it! I see FB being used in many ways. Like, creating a deception of who you really are, promote your business, look for a mate, playing eye spy, connect with friends and family, look for missing people, crack down on criminals, express opinions, have fun, networking, looking someone up, and many other things I just can't name at the moment. Even though everything I've named so far is just the basics of what I've seen so far as to what FB has been used. What I think is just unrealistic, is when a person is creating a false perception of who they really are, by simply trying too hard to fit in. Deception is the biggest thing a person can create in terms of who they are, the way they think, and what they bring to the table. Eventually the FB world is going to see you for who you really are, and that's ONE thing you cannot hide, YOURSELF. Always wanting to FIT IN isn't good at all. People will tell you first hand about me, "Gail do what she wants to do, not what she can do". This is who I am. I want to empower our young women, because I want to. I want to create a movement where everyone is involved in our community some kind of way. I want to show my children who are men by the way, that its never too late to get what you want in LIFE. I want people to know that I will help them no matter what. I love serving others, not because I have to, because I WANT to. LIFE is the most beautifullest, the most priveligded gift anyone is GIVEN. I LOVE IT! I love it because I want to give others what has been given to me. For those that are decieving folk by creating a deception of who you really are, understand what your putting out there. LIFE presents itself in a way where you can't hide from yourself, and who you really are will reveal itself sooner or later. Let's just say, you don't know who are? All the time and energy your taking to decieve others, use that same energy and time to find out who you are. Or better yet, begin to UNDERSTAND meaning apply the knowledge you have into your LIFE. With all that time it takes to create a false image of who you are, you can't be serious!

                                                                

Net worth vs. Self worth

Your net worth will never surpass your self worth. You have to create what you want in your LIFE. Our lives is a gift that's been given to us to use to create, to accept, to change, to help, to increase, to live a LIFE of abundance and prosperity. In the midst of creating, you become more exposed to LIFE, and your dreams become BIGGER and BETTER. You have to always have your hand open. A friend was giving me an illustration on how to be able to recieve by always having your hand open. When you have your hand closed holding on to old things, nothing new is able to get in it. Likewise with our dreams, you can't dream BIGGER when your still holding on to your old dreams. As LIFE goes on and move forward, you have to be able to adjust to LIFE callings. Never set limited goals in your LIFE, because it causes you to live a limited LIFE. When LIFE begins to call you, and you make adjustments along the way, your net worth will never surpass your self worth.

Mirror

Have ever wonder why certain types of people are attracted to you? Have you ever thought about the people who do approach you? What about why they are in your LIFE? A lot of times people who are in our LIVES or who we attract in our LIVES are simply mirrors of who we are. Some of the time people are used to remind of who we are. We get caught up in our busy lives that we tend to forget about ourselves. We forget about our worth, and who we really are. We forget we have standards, and we forget that we no longer want to go back to where we fought so hard to come out of. People. Thank the most high for people. People show us who we are, they remind us of our worth, and we're all used to help one another recognize our betterment. One day a girlfriend of mine said, "Why are all these hood guys approaching me, as if I'm attracted to them? I want a guy that's career driven not from the streets." Or what about this one... "Why do I keep running into the same type of men?" We hear a lot of these statements, and often we try to figure out why, instead of acknowledging the individual as "could this be me". Is is possible that the reason why your attracting these people in your lives is maybe because of what your throwing out there, in terms of your personality, characteristics, what people see you do, or simply by who you are? Maybe there's something they see you that you don't see in yourself. Maybe there's something you did, that gave out this persona about you. Maybe your attracting what you don't want simply because you have no control over your emotions, ans you seem to be vulnerable. It could be a lot of different possibilities as to why your attracting these people in your LIFE. Bottom line to all this, people are sent to us either to show us who we are, help us acknowledge our worth, remember where we just got ourselves out of, and mostly to improve ourselves. Who are you attracting in your LIFE?

Positioning and Preparation

LIFE is all about positioning and preparation. We go through LIFE obstacles to prepare us for preordained destiny. To position us around the right people in LIFE. Always ask yourself why is this person in my LIFE? Everything we g through in LIFE helps us become stronger, and wiser. What you choose to do with what you know is up to you. Hopefully you choose to do the right things with your knowledge and wisdom, like exemplifying leadership in the most high way. LIFE. It's what you make it, it's what you create it to be. Today, ask yourself what am I creating in my LIFE, in my relationships, and everything I want. LIFE is like that boomerang, what you put out there, comes right back to you. What are you sowing when you talk to people, and in your relationships with people? What are you wanting to accomplish? You have to know where your going, and you have to know what you want. Let's say maybe you don't know how to tap into what you want, or who are, and even maybe you don't know how to create what you want. If you want to know who you are, just ask questions as if you were wanting to get to know that other person. LIFE is so beautiful, and never taking for granted. We all make mistakes in LIFE, what makes us different is that we want to become better and do better. God is good all the time yall! He makes a way out of no way indeed. He will prepare you for your preordained destiny, and position you around the right people. He's your alarm clock when you forgot to set yours, or when youdidn't hear it go off. He's my everything no doubt. He's my reminder. He is every thing, even the air that I breath!! He's was my daddy when my daddy wasn't at home at times. He's my provider. He is LIFE!

Have you ever...

Have you ever faced a challenge in LIFE where your electricity was off due to non payment? Or your car was about to get taken due to non payment? Or maybe you were about to loose your wife, or husband in your marriage? Or maybe your house was looking to get foreclosed and you didn't know how you were going to get it out? Or maybe you were facing 2-10 years in jail? Have you ever... been in a situation where you should have looked like your situation? Despite of all the calamity that's going on, have you ever took the time out to really appreciate what you do have in your LIFE? Let me give an example of what I'm talking about. Let's say Duke and Energy came out to your house and disconnected the electricity. First of all, clearly you didn't have the money to pay your bill. Now you really don't know how your going to pay to get it turned back on. One day goes by without electricity, and now 3 days go by. Just think of how it would be without electricity. If you have an electric stove, how would you cook? How could you see at night? You can't iron your clothes, you can't do what you were doing when you had electricity. Have you ever faced a challenge in LIFE where you your circumstances was the biggest mountain you've ever seen in your LIFE? You don't know how, you don't know when. However, despite the challenges in LIFE you still press through no matter what. You still walk as if this mountain never existed. You don't look like your situation. When you sit back and reflect on your LIFE, and you see where your going, and the success your embarking on, there's nothing that will stop you from accomplishing a goal unless you decided to quit! Next time you face calamity in your LIFE, know that its only temporary. Know that all things happen for good reasons only. As for me, LIFE right now has never presented itself more fulfilled than ever! The secret to success, is all about how you choose to perceive LIFE. I may not have everything I want in this time and moment, however, I also know that as long as I stay FOCUSED and CONSIST I will have everything I want and more. Everyone in LIFE has gone through some challenges where didn't see a way out, and made it out eventually. Have you ever...

Who's with me?

I'm raising money for Blossoms, a program I started through volunteering last year at a Public School here in Cincinnati. I empower young women 9-12 years old, and raise academic achievements in Public Schools. This is an after school program 2 hours a day for 28 weeks. Now I didn't create Blossoms alone. Last year I had the honor of meeting different people from all walks of LIFE, and careers. TOGETHER, we created Blossoms. Because we're not as of yet in a position to receive grants and funding, I'm out here with the help of others, raising money the old fashion way. I was ask to do Blossoms at four different schools, and I have to admit, we need money to pay for our materials, to make sure their bellies are full when they get out of school. As of lately, I been privileged to raise money at a many events, and even been giving the opportunity to raise money at our most popular market, Findlay Market. Since I've been out asking for donations, I had the pleasure of encountering a lot of different people along the way. The givers understand the need of helping our young women in terms of, creating a new way of thinking and how we help them create that. They understand and see a need in not only our schools, our homes, and our communities. They even understood their purpose in giving or wanting to share their time as well. People who really want to be part of the solution, and not the problem. Then I came across those who were skeptical about our fund raiser, and that I can understand why. Then I came across those who just weren't interested. Bottom line, all I'm saying is, it takes EVERYONE to make a difference in our future. I can't do this a lone, and I've stressed this to EVERYONE I've came in contact. No matter what, I know we're going to make this happen for our young women. We will make sure everyone young woman, and woman, experience Blossoms. We've been giving the authority to move mountains, and right now with all this pushing we're doing with the help of the people, this mountain may seem to be the biggest mountain to move, however, this too shall pass. It takes all of people to make this happen. When we come together as one, we're the most powerful people in getting results. We get results when we stick together. Most of our young women are falling by the way side, and we need to pull them back to LIFE. We need to teach and show them that calling each other the b-word has no value in it, in fact its degrading who they are. We need to teach and show them their worth. We need to let them know they are valuable, powerful, and leaders for tomorrow. I'm challenging every WOMAN out there to step they game up and take responsibility in your accountability with our young women. Girls Scout, Girls On The Run, and all these other organizations aren't really tapping into our young women like they should. Our young women deserve our time. I'M EVERY WOMAN, IT'S ALL IN ME... By Whitney Houston, and it is true. We are every women you see that is successful and not successful, powerful and not powerful. Who's with me?

The Garden

Where are YOU?

Where are you today in your LIFE? Are you where you want to be? Are you where you wished you'd be? Where are you right now in your LIFE? For those who seek to become better, and do better, often times we're always asking God to give us directions. In the midst of asking you know he gives us just what we want. Now your going through trial and tribulations of LIFE, and God is giving you directions, and using people, situations, and circumstances to shape and mold you. In the midst of the shaping and molding, there are tests along the way to test you, to show you who and where your really are in your walk with Christ. In beginning the tests are easy, only because your mind at that time and moment was ready and prepared. Once you past the first couple of tests you begin to feel like you pretty much conqured LIFE. However, the tests doesn't end there folks. Now your being tested even more, only this time the test has become harder and it feels like its even harder, until you give up and ship out, or hold on to the big picture that we tend to loose because it seems impossible or too complicated, or too impossible. Ladies and gentlemen, that is when you are really being tested to see if everything you've read, and learn has been understood and put to work. We speak a lot about FAITH, however, without WORKS (actions) FAITH is DEAD. And guess what? It doesn't end there. You have a lot to learn, meaning whatever it is that your reading, studying, asking questions (just to know), you have to really, really, be utilizing it in your LIFE. This is called development. When you THINK you have it ALL figured out, you really don't, because there's more to be learned. Excuse me for not knowing everything. In the midst of my LIFE, I'm still growing, and developing, puting everything to use as I understand. I can't help who God has created me to be, and what his plans are for my LIFE. Where are you? Are you where you want to be? Are you where you'd wished to be?

REALLY!

I know its been awhile since my last blog. I just gotta say "REALLY"? Under no circumstances will you insult my intelligence! I don't know about you guys, but I don't like it. Which boils down to telling the truth to yourself at all times. Now we all know when someone may be faken the funk, and sometimes its cool. However, when your faken the funk as if the other person don't know, now your just doing too much! Then you know you can tell by what they say, and the questions they ask. Then when you confront them they lie and say "nae I didn't". "REALLY"!lol Its hilarious to me!! That's why you have to learn to be honest with yourself first. One lie will lead up to another, and another, and another one. Next thing you know you have to keep up with this lie and continue to lie. Why? Then while lying or trying to keep up with the lie you try to outsmart the individual. You know what people, at the end of the day your absolutely right. I say that because there's is no way you can reason with an individual that's lying about something you know happened, and how you even know it happened by the questions they ask, or what they say. That's why I titled this "REALLY". See if you do right from the beginning, you'll do fine. When you do wrong from the beginning, you will continue to do wrong until you do right. The next time you think you getting away with something by lying, your only hurting yourself, not the other person. Know that in the midst of lying to yourself and others, your missing out on your blessings.

STOP THE VIOLENCE?

So yesterday for the first time in my LIFE, I participated in a "STOP THE VIOLENCE WALK". I made sure I was there promptly at 9am, I was wearing my Blossoms t-shirt where I empower young women, and it started raining. When it began to rain, all I could think about was flashbacks of black activist, civil rights movement, walking and marching in the rain to fight against discrimination, and equal rights. Looking at the people who showed up today said we can do whatever we want to do. Seeing our people come out to support a very serious cause in our communities said we care so much that rain isn't going to stop us. Then the high school band came along and watching them march in rain gave me so much inspiration. The fact that young folk younger than me was out there, just touched me. We walked and then we ended at the local community YMCA. Inside we sat, and I was honored to hear personal testimonies of loved ones being killed due to violence. Others came up to motivate, to solve, and to uplift all that was there. Men and women who want to see violence stop in our community. Some stood up and said "its all of our responsibilities", and some said "its the fathers". Another person said "we have to change our mentality, its all about how we think". A young lady said "we have to show them love, because no one is telling our men how much we love them". One person really hit it on the nose when they mentioned "WOMEN". Now understand this person wasn't blaming us for the violence. He was simply saying don't forget about our women, they are apart of this just as much as the men are. Everyone had a solution to how we can stop the violence. Whether it be "changing our mindset", "showing love", "being accountable and responsible". We as "women", as a "culture", as the "power house", as "the ones who makes the world go round". We as women who "birth" and "raise" our children, and "others children". Understanding our capabilities, and recognizing our gifts as women says we can do all things through Christ that strengthen us. We do have to change the way we think. We do have to be responsible and accountable. We do have to not only tell our men we love them, but show them we love them by teaching what love mean. There are many of us who simply just don't know what love mean, or what responsibility, accountability, or even legacy mean. We just don't. However, we have the power to ask. We have the power to learn. We have the power to teach. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to work with our young girls at a crucial age of 9-12 years old. I am grateful to introduce a new way of thinking, and teach them what love means, instead of just saying I love you. I am grateful to teach them how, instead of just telling them what they can do, when they don't know how to. We as "WOMEN" simply do the best we know how, and we pass that on to our children, not realizing that we're lacking in some areas, simply because we don't know. I am blessed an honored to have an opportunity like this. When you empower a man, you empower one person. When you empower women, you empower a nation. Think about it.

What are you SOWING?

Every action you take is a seed you sow, and every seed you sow is a harvest you'll reap. In everything that we do, you have to look at it literally as a seed that your sowing. Karma always says, what goes around, comes around. From what we say, to what we do, we are sowing that same thing into our lives. I was telling the girls how we can so life, beauty, greatness, knowledge, and wisdom, simply speaking them into ourselves. When we all come to a closing, we say "I AM .......", and we fill that with a positive word. So you hear young girls saying "I AM AMAZING, I AM PHENOMENAL, I AM UNSTOPPABLE". Not only do we learn to speak greatness into our lives, we learn to speak greatness into each other lives. There is nothing more powerful than sowing seeds of greatness. In every seed that you sow, it will grow. The next time you go to say something, ask yourself "What kind of seed I am sowing?". Asking yourself this question not only makes you think, however, your becoming aware of your thoughts, and action.

CONFIDENCE is beauty!!

The most beautifulest thing about a woman is confidence. Knowing what you can do as a woman is a powerful thing. There are a lot of women who don't know what confidence mean. Confidence just means "knowing" how to do something. We limit ourselves as women when it comes to learning something new, or trying something new. Confidence also relates back to loving thyself. When you love yourself, your forever learning, because your growing. LIFE doesn't stop when you graduate from school, or college. LIFE is forever living, not meant to be wasted which is considered DEAD. Confidence is not about what you have, what you own, but what you KNOW. I remember this commercial use to come on every Saturday morning when I was a kid that said, "The more you read, the more you know.", and there was was a star that came across the t.v.. This commercial is so true. A lot of times we all get caught up in the glam life and forget about the real life. We forget why we were created in the first place. In society today its all about the appearance, and not what's on the inside. Beauty is always recognized by confidence first. Its also recognized as the most sexiest thing about a woman. Don't take my word for it, ask and find out. When you find out, then you'll KNOW. Its all about what you know ladies. I don't know about you, but its time for some reading!!

Cleanse Your Path!!

Becoming an amazing woman means to first cleanse your path. We have so many past things in our lives that clouds who we really are and shows who we really are. We carry so much in our lives that it shows in our homes, and in our relationships. How can we make room for better things to come into our lives if we still have the old stuff around? How can we improve in our relationships when we hold on to things that they've done to us? How? There's a saying that when one door closes, another door opens. First we have to know how to close that door, for another one to open. Have you ever went into someone house, and there was so much clutter, clothes, collected items, and items around that were never used but there for decorations? We are the same exact way. Think of yourself as that house. We have so much in our house that we have no room to add greatness. We can't even find the couch to sit on, and if we find the couch there's belongings, decorations, and clutter there too. We have to find ourselves first. Finding ourselves means to clean up and ship out. Think about your past relationships, think about the mistakes you've made, think about the times when you should've, could've and would've. Think about all the pain and suffering you had to go through. Think about all the men you have been with. Think about those things, and notice your patterns. Pay attention to what it was that your were doing. Everyone has a pattern of how they do things. Once you have accepted everything that has happened, and everything that you've done in your past, you are now ready to get rid of them. Throw all that pain, past relationships, suffering, clutter, the should've, could've, would'ves out. Now your path is clean. Now your path is ready to accept greatness. Now your path is ready for that amazing newness of you. Now your ready for that amazing date, that amazing relationship that you've deserved all this time. Cleanse your path, set your self up for success and not failure!

Will These Trials and Tribulations Ever End!

Man oh man, when things get rough, things get tough. During these times of roughness, I feel like I'm on an airplane going through turbulence. You know that feeling of uncontrollable shakiness on the airplane, you don't know what's gonna happen, then you look around and see those who are used to the turbulence, and others are afraid, and then those who are just looking to see other people facial expressions. You don't know if the plane is gonna make it or fall. However, 9 times out of 10 the plane makes it through, and when it lands on the ground I say to myself, "whoa, that wasn't bad at all I feel so much better". In the midst of going through your circumstances and situations, you know its only temporary, however, because so much is going on, it tends to cloud the knowing that it will be alright. I'm reminded by this gospel song by Vickie Winans, called "Long As I Got King Jesus, I Don't Need Nobody Else". 

 In this song she talks about how people have lied on her, talked about her, did all kinds of mean things towards her, she talks about everything a person goes through in LIFE. However, in the midst of it all, she has King Jesus. I was recently lied on and because of it, I'm in the midst of loosing my job. I've been at this job for 6 six years and when I tell you that most of the people there love me, they truly do, and there are some people who just don't. Whenever I'm going through some trying times, I'm always reminded of the troubling water, and in this troubling water there's my healing. In my healing there's a breakthrough. We go through things to have a breakthrough moment in our lives. LIFE gets tough for some of us, and it seems as if it will never end. If we never go through the birthing process of what's on the inside, the pain, the agony, the frustration, the holding on, the never giving up, the fight, then we'll never get to the next level of our destiny. So in my troubling water I pray for those who lied on me, and I ask King Jesus to bless them anyway as if they never did me wrong, or falsely accuse me. With it being resurrection weekend and all this happening recently last Thursday, says a lot right now to me. He says forgive them for they know what not they do. He says I'm here for you no matter what happens, and I will comfort you in the midst of all calamity. He says hold on because in the midst of this birthing process there's a breakthrough of prosperity. I have the opportunity to always look at challenges of LIFE two ways, positive or negative. I always make sure I look at things from a positive stand point no matter how hard or how much I may be going through. I don't see myself loosing a job, I see myself gaining something much greater than a job. I see my job letting me go, because maybe I'm afraid to let go, to do much greater things for Him. Will these trial and tribulations ever end? No, they're not supposed too. If they did, what's our purpose here? I'm grateful for my troubling water, even though when they come, they come HARD. See we never really know why things happen. We know things happen for a reason, and truthfully they happen for all good reasons. Always remember in the midst of your circumstances and situations there is greatness in store for you! There is abundance and prosperity in store for you! There is something on the inside that must be released! Hold on, and know that He is always there no matter what happens!! 

WOW!!!!

So as I go to check my email account on yahoo, I come across this picture of Obama and its talking about "every 21 minutes, our next possible Leader is Aborted"... That statement brought a WOW to my conscious!! I continue to read more about this statement, and you mean to tell me that our African American race isn't safe in the womb too? I love the fact that they're bringing the issue to attention, however, the truth hurts. So you mean to tell me, we our African American culture is literally participating or finishing what was once started years ago, genocide? I remember taking Sociology at Cincinnati State, and I'll never forget watching this tape called "The Genocide Movement". I'm watching this tape in class and I'm seeing all cultures being enslaved and all countries wanting to take over a country. At that time and moment, I thought African Americans were the only ones that were slaves, however, everyone on this earth was at some point. When the tape got to the part of how Caucasians Americans treated African Americans then and how they went about exterminating, it was mind blowing. I was going through so many emotions watching this tape, and thinking about how far we've came as a culture and as people, you would think we deserve whatever it is that we want! Let alone looking at the fact that we're so God fearing to where we're the only culture that can move forward and not want to smack the other cheek in terms of getting back at them. Watching that tape I saw the most brutality way of systematic killing ever. Hitler ain't got nothing on the "white man"!! I say this because the "white man" was the only who was successful in exterminating our people. We can only go back so far into our ancestry, the Jewish people can go way back, farther than we can. Today, word on the streets is, we're killing our own not only in violence, however, in abortion too... This even makes me think about this book I read about Lynch. So now we're finishing what the "white man" started... WOW!!!! Now we use a picture of Obama in hopes we can have an emotional, educational, impact on our community. To each its own, however, for how long will it be that way? Whatever happen to UNITY? Where we all at least stood together for something we believed in. Today its for every man for himself. I was talking to someone the other day about our charismatic leaders like Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson, Malcolm X, Elijah Mohammed, and Al Sharpton. I notice how through the years we've had leaders way back then with Harriet, Fredrick, and Nat Turner. If you think about it, through the years we've had examples of leadership in front of us. There was always more than one too. Who will be our next charismatic leader for our community? Today we still have Jesse, and Al Sharpton. Even more today we have Obama as an additional leader. What will happen after they're gone? Who will lead us or be that example of leadership? Sometimes I feel like starting a movement like the black activist did back in the day and even today. I was at the Greenwich for the "Village Walk" that was hosted by J and this guy said, "Its not about the moment, its about the movement". Maybe everyone is caught up in the moment of LIFE, and not focusing on the movement. However, we need a movement of our people to grow in all areas of LIFE and not just in that moment. Going back to reading that article they showed another picture of a African American baby that says, "Black Children Are Endangered Species".  WOW!!! We're endangered now, like some animals are because of people killing, or dying off, or the getting rid of... I apologize for this blog here, however, this is truth!!!

 WOW!!!

Its Either ALL or NOTHING

To whom is given, much is required. A couple of years ago, a very close friend of mine use to tell me that all the time. And for the life of me, I couldn't figure out what it meant exactly. As time went on I grew, and went through some experiences and realized what it really meant. When your given so much in terms of knowledge, wisdom, and honesty that will soon better you as a person, you give your all. You don't just give what you think you should give. You don't give half or what you want to give. To someone that pours LIFE into your LIFE, you give it your all. However, a lot of times we're not consciously aware of what we do, until it's brought to our attention, and that sometimes that doesn't work. I was told over, and over again, "Its either ALL or NOTHING". Not understanding what it meant until it was no longer said to me. I guess that's how I learned.(smile) In the midst of it being told to me, I wished it was explained to me what it really meant to give ALL. Then again, would it had mattered? To whom is given, much is required. It's so easy to say, and hard to do. In our everyday relationships with people we share intimacy with, and you pour everything out on the table, and you go on no matter what being honest in ALL that you do, and you don't get it back. Not that you were looking for anything in return, because it started off what seemed to be on the same page, and now... Much that was required, is no longer notice because you continued to pour your ALL on the table ALL the time, and they become immune to it. So what do you do? Do you say something? Do you acknowledge what you have given just so the light bulb will come on? Its Either ALL or NOTHING. Now you don't give as much as you too, because the LIFE you have been pouring the entire time, is not giving back to pour LIFE into you. Its so hard to come across a person who is just completely honest about it ALL. Its like a best friend, someone who knows you like a book inside and out, and you know them as well. They know your next move before you do. LIFE is a beautiful thang... Learn to be consciously aware of what you want, when you do that first, you become what you want. When you become what you want, you get what you want. 

To whom is given, much is required. Its Either ALL or NOTHING.

Self or Selfish?

A lot of us don't know the difference between self and selfish. When some of us say we love ourselves so much, you get this look as if your selfish from those who really don't understand what it means to love self first. We have to love self first in order to love someone else. Loving ourselves first mean we love the good, the bad, and the ugly while continuously aiming for better, and accepting where we are in our lives today. So does it mean we're selfish when we have set standards for ourselves? Does it mean we're selfish when we don't accept certain behaviors in our circle of LIFE? Does it mean we're selfish when we don't consume ourselves into things that will not help us become better while we help others? A friend of mine posted "SELF LOVE IS THE GREATEST LOVE! WHEN YOU HAVE THAT, YOU CAN LOVE, FORGIVE, AND CONTINUE TO EVOLVE. EVOLUTION BRINGS ABOUT CHANGE!" Does this statement mean that maybe they're selfish? In order to gain the most high understanding about self and selfish you have to really know what the terms mean. Once you know what the terms mean, ask yourself if your selfish or if you love self first. Listening is the most beautifulest thing, because you learn so much. Giving your opinion all the time is not always best especially if you haven't took time to give any thought or time to educate yourself about what you just heard. We do things differently depending upon our understanding, wisdom, and knowledge. Next time your being a listening ear, don't state your opinion too quickly especially if it's based on emotion. Things always happen for a reason in your season. Is it self or selfish?

Thanks Shanel couldn't of said it better than that!! 

Standards. Do you have them?

Do you have standards for yourself? So many people complain about a lot of what they don't like. They complain most of all about how they are being mistreated by another. I hear about family not being right, and even close friends not being right. Why is that? Why is that every now and then you get mistreated, disrespected, and even played by another? Do you have standards for yourself? So much time and energy get wasted into allowing someone to come in and basically have they way, all because you don't have standards for yourself where you say without talking," I'm not on it!". So much time and energy get wasted explaining why you don't have to deal with certain types of behaviors... So much time and energy get wasted for those you do play you, mistreat you, and disrespect you, all because they don't at least have standards for you. I always tell people to surround yourself around those who see you higher than you see yourself. Talk to those you see greatness in you. Spend as much time with those who want to see you more successful than you see yourself. Why? Because these people won't play you, mistreat you, or disrespect you. These people set standards for you when you don't have them for yourself. Eventually you will get tired of the emotional roller coaster. Eventually you will begin to become consciously aware of what your putting out, and what your allowing to receive. Listen, nothing you do to better yourself and others is personal. This is you, its all about investing in you first so that one day you can help someone else what you learned. The next time you don't answer a phone call or email know that its okay, and eventually the person on the other end will realize without you having to tell them "I'm not on it!", and guess what... They will begin to treat you like you should be treated, they will begin to set standards for you when you don't set them for yourself, they will begin to see greatness in you, and they will begin to want to see you more successful than you see yourself! By the way... if not, they are not in your favor. 

Is It That HARD???

Challenge means demanding or a stimulating situation according to the dictionary. For some, challenge is just another word for HARD. I have been mentally challenged this week. I found out that there is another Blossoms program. This program was started a year before and doing the same exact thing as ours, the vision, the mission, and all. I am extremely grateful that there is more empowering our girls, and for the sake of the girls, I'm willing to give up our Blossoms name to change it to another name. Now what's challenging is coming up with another name that will say the same thing as Blossoms. This right here is HARD for me. However, it's not so much of a challenging when its for a good cause, and a perfect reason, to empower our future. A lot of times with get hit with some HARD situations and circumstances. What do you do about them? We know we have to pick our battles... However, what if all our battles were worth fighting for? Things may seem as though it didn't take much, when all the wild it took a lot of HARD work to make it seem as though things are EASY. A lot of times I feel like that MaryMary song It's The God In Me. I love that song, because not only does it mention all the good things, it mentions HOW she obtained them. In concluding on  this challenging time that's only temporary, I will keep the big picture in FOCUS, and keep moving toward it no matter how I get there as long as I'm still moving forward. I encourage you too who may be facing some challenges and HARD times to keep your FOCUS on the big picture and to not give up no matter what!

It's not our circumstances that steal our joy; it's our attitude during our circumstances.

If you thinks hard on this one, it is really not our circumstances or our situations  that steal our joy, it is how we view our circumstances and situations. We are always thinking that maybe if I had more money, a bigger home, a better car, and maybe a better life, that we will be happy. If that's the case you'll be unhappy for a long time or until you obtain those things you want. The secret in happiness is being happy with what you have today. Some call it being content, which differentiate being satisfied. Satisfied means you are already fulfilled. For those who are looking for happiness, start looking within yourself first. If you find something your unhappy about within yourself, then simply change it. Do the same thing for everything else you have today. However, understand to be happy with what you have first. Then what you want will come. For years successful people have known this secret, and it has been very easy for them to obtain a happy lifestyle. For a lot of us, it's very hard to obtain what's so simple because of who we surround ourselves with. Everything depends upon who you talk to, what your talking about when you talk to them, and who they are. How are they living their life? Are they successful? These are things you ask yourself when you begin to evaluate with what you have. The first thing in acquiring what you want, is being happy about what you have today! 

Don't know where to begin, or ask me!!

Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me. 

In life your giving choices. These choices your giving, you have the opportunity to think through your circumstance or situation to make the ultimate decision for your life. To even begin to move forward, you have to acknowledge and learn from what had just happened. You have these desires, goals, and wants, however, do you really know how to obtain them the right way? There is a right way and a wrong way of handling things. You know if you made the right choices depending upon how the outcome ends. Always remember people have choices as well. Just because they don't agree, doesn't mean rejection. It just means you were going in the wrong direction. We all have the opportunity to learn from everything we encounter. Initially there's gain in terms of growth, which is always and will be a wonderful thing. Just know that in your relationships, you are not alone. You have to consider the other person as well. You may be moving forward alone, or may not be moving forward at all. At the end of the day, LIFE is a lesson learned journey, and we are extremely blessed to have the opportunity to make choices.

The Parable of the Talents

You all heard of the parable of the five talents. A lot of people use this parable to teach us about investing money, or our gifts that we have. I tend to look at this parable differently.
Here's a link for those who may want to glance the scripture: http://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/passage.aspx?q=matthew+25:11-21.
When God gave these men talents, all except for one took their talents and came back with more. The one, took his talent and buried it in the ground. God was glad to see the four men who invested in their talents and came back with more. The one who buried his talent came back with just that one he was given, and in his case God casted him away. I look at this parable differently than its used to adapt to money, or our gifts, or anything that pertains to self. This parable is an amazing example of how to use what was given to us to empower others. We have been given so much, and I call the Bible the Book Of Life, just because it teaches everything you need to know and more. It teaches us about LIFE. How we should live, how we should be, how we should treat others, how we learn about who we are, and our worth, and the list goes on. I receive this parable as... What God gives us, use it to bring more back to him. So now your bringing more back to him. This parable is a deep parable that has been used in many different ways. You have to literally invest what you know, and share it, so that you impact those around you where ever you go. Remember the one who was given a talent, took his talent and buried it? He kept the talent all too himself, which caused him to be cast away. It's an honor and privelegde to run into someone who's passionate about helping others become better, because their going to help you as well. Realizing that we help eachother. You don't get that a lot. I love running into those who want to see me become better, who want to see me be successful. I love running into those who love life and sees life for what it is. There is a gain for us all, because there's more than enough. What will be your gain? 

Public Schools Need "Empowerment"!!

I was on FB the other day. I saw one of my high school teacher making a comment on a friends page. I was so blown away that she was even on FB. Now, I know FB has become extremely popular, however, there are still not many people utilizing FB. I figured if my high school teacher was on FB, I knew the other one (her partner in crime) was on there as well. So I looked her up, and BAM! She's on FB too. All of a sudden, memories of my experience in high school started popping up... Because I was not taking life SERIOUS according to a couple of my teachers, I was unable to attend a tour at University of Cincinnati. I was told that I wasn't going to mount up to anything. I wasn't able to be a part of different activities because I didn't have a GPA of 2.5 or higher. I was young who loved life and people. I was considered a class clown, and at that time, who wasn't? In fact, it really had nothing to do with my behavior, because I was still growing and still learning who I was. Something you don't get taught at Public Schools. I am a high school graduate of a Cincinnati Public School.

I have no regrets of my past experiences or certain comments that were made towards me. In fact, I felt like Jay-Z in his track called "So Ambitious". On this track he goes completely off on the teachers who told him he wasn't going to mount up to anything, because he rapped all the time, and possibly was a class clown too. Creativity. We all were born with it. Why take it away? Why not use what we have to empower tomorrow? I say that a lot. One, I say it to constantly remind myself, two, to remind others. Now Jay-Z and many others are living the LIFE they want to live. Maybe a LIFE those past teachers dreamed about. When those memories came back to me, I began to think... I wonder if I'm living a better LIFE than they are? I wonder being as young as I am, am I living a better LIFE than they were when they were my teachers? 

I'm not talking about being able to go on trips when I want to. I'm talking knowing who I am, my passion, what drives me, and where do I want my LIFE to go? Knowing who you are, you know what you want to do, you know your passion, and your purpose. Knowing your purpose on earth is the most important thing people yearn and search for. Who am I? This is the million dollar question. When I wonder if I'm living a better LIFE than my teachers back then, and today, I just let my light shine. The experience I had in high school was fun, sad, and very effective. I want to say thank you to all the teachers who had a pinch of doubt about in me. I want to say thank you to all the teachers who made negative comments about me. I say thank you to all! Today, I know my purpose. I know who I am, and I know what I want to do. I'm being a positive impact on the young, the old, and the restless. No one cares about how much you know, until they know how much you care. I wished my parents were able to afford a better learning environment. I came from a dysfunctional home setting, and there's no telling how many others came, or come from that same circumstance that attended public school back then and today. Then to go to school, and still go through a dysfunctional setting. Not saying all teachers were negative in their approach, however, most were. I wish children were able to give their opinion of Public School teachers, or do a survey on teachers who chose to teach at a Public School. Maybe we'll have a much more greater outcome on graduation rates, and a less academic achievement gaps. Know your purpose, know who are, know what you want to do. If you don't know how, ask me or seek a mentor that will help you. A lot of times we just don't know where to begin... 

"Use what you have today, to empower tomorrow". ~Gail Gardner 

Blossoms Empowering Young Women

 Blossoms… This is a national organization I have where I empower girls 9-12 years old, and raise academic achievements in Public Schools. Blossoms was founded in the beginning of last year and began Sept. 17, 2010. With the help of so many people who I cannot name in this blog. After completing this course called PLI(Parent Leadership institute), I had to come up with a program where parents, students, and teachers came together, along with raising the achievement gap in our Public School. I was told by my principal at my Public School, that she wanted me to do something with her 9-12 year old girls. She began saying her score was very low, and the girls argue and fight a lot. She also mentioned how she wanted me to focus on bullying issues with the girls as well. Now I did approach her with something totally different, like having an after school mentor program. Well my principle needed help with the girls so bad, and thought I would make a perfect fit. With the idea of my principle wanting me to do this, it gave me a lot of lead way, in terms of being able to utilize whatever it was going to take to make this happen. Like I mentioned before with the help of others Blossoms was born. Today Blossoms is still going through trial and error. We’ve had a successful year so far, and plan to have many more to come. The girls are blooming into beautiful young women. They are being empowered, and learning who they are. Life doesn’t get any better than that at their age. If you would like Blossoms to come to a Public School near you, feel free to contact me. If you have any suggestions or would like give monetary donation, contact me.

Relationships

Relationships… So many people end up in unhealthy relationships. The reason why they end up in unhealthy relationships is because they get involved for all the wrong reasons. Is it lust? Is it love? Do you really know the difference between lust and love? What is lust? What is love? Today love mean so many different things. Some believes love means affection, attention, and even an emotion. However, love goes beyond what we can see, touch, and feel. Lust? Well, lust is what we can see, touch, and feel. The Webster dictionary, or dictionary.com doesn’t really explain the truths about love and lust. They both only go by what the majority says. Love has no emotion. 
Love is unconditional obideiance. Love is all about respect, and loyalty. Love is unconditional. However, when you know what love means, you began to know that it is unconditional no matter what. Why did you fall in love with that person anyway? Is it because of their physical characteristics? Or is it because of their inner characteristic? Or, is it because they turned you on physically? Why? Do you guys have anything in common? Think about it. What? At least you know the difference between lust and love. At least you know to think about some things before you make the ultimate decision to be in a relationship with someone. Remember you always have choices. When making a decision, you should always feel at peace. Whenever feeling a little doubt, you need more time to think about what your getting yourself into. Know your worth, and know who you are… To be continued.

MUWAH!!!

On my facebook http://www.facebook.com/gailinc I'm always giving away a kiss. You just never know what others are going through, or the challenges they face. All a while they may not feel loved or cared for. I do this to let others know I love them, and that I'm here for them. At times it may go out of text for those, however, they know what it means. I remember watching CNN, and there was a young lady giving away hugs. Can you imagine how they felt after receiving a  hug from her? All it took was one person. However, if there were more of her giving away genuine hugs... Things may get better. People love to feel loved. They love knowing that there's someone out there who's thinking of them. To everyone who reads this blog, receive me knowing that I love and care for all. No matter what happens know that your being loved. Life is what you create it to be. In return, all I ask is that you give it to someone else. MUWAH!!!  

Limited goals create limited lives.

Limiting goals create limiting lives. Anthony Robbins couldn’t have said it better than that. When I think about limiting goals, I think about limiting self. When you limit yourself, your only able to do what you set out to do. However your life is now, is how you want it to be. Don’t like your life, change it. What do you don’t like about your life? Do you know how to make the change that’s needed? After the change what do you do? Questions like these makes you think about what you have to do, and how your going to do it. A lot of times we don’t know how, or what to do. There was many times in my life where I knew change was needed badly. However, at many of times, I didn’t know how to make the change, and when I did make the change I didn’t know how to take the change to the next level. For me, it took a lot of hardships, and pain to learn how to make the change, and how to take my life to the next level. Today I teach people how they can make the change, and take their lives to the next level. Always know limiting goals create limiting lives. I always say, use what you have today, to empower tomorrow! Learn how to take control of your life, and ultimately do what you want to do, enjoying life to the fullest!

My First Time

Hello everyone! My name is Gail Gardner. This is my first time blogging!! I was told from an inspiring peer of mine, that blogging was very essential in connecting with others. This will be my way of you getting to know "more" about me. I have a organization called Blossoms where I empower 9-12 year old girls and raise academic achievements. I also help others become successful by motivating, inspiring, and encouraging. I always say use what you have today, to empower tomorrow. I used to think I needed so much to give back to the community and to help others, when what I had already was more than enough. I encourage people to use the tools and resources you already have in front of you, to help others. Stay tuned, because there is more about me to come...