PEACE BE STILL!!!

So here we are! December 31, 2014! Knocking on the door of 2015!

You’ve updated, or plan to update your dream keeper (DK)!  You’ve finalized plans to start your good time fund (GTF)!  And you’ve already identified which resolutions you intend make!

You’re all set to start 2015 on a high note!

Well before your rocket takes off, I’ve got one more challenge for you.  (Oh stop rolling your eyes and stomping your feet! You’re acting like a big baby!)

Now that your tantrum is over, my challenge to you is to find a hobby!  That’s right – a hobby.  Many of you don’t have one.

(hands up!) Before you open your mouth! I enjoy alcohol as much as the next person but getting drunk is not an acceptable hobby!!

Why do you need a hobby?  So that you can hear and think. (right now you’re thinking….what the heck is she talking about?!)

Just stay with me!!

A wise woman once told me that you need to quiet your mind so that you can hear God.  If you think of God as positive energy, then positive energy can flow through negative spaces.  Your mind in turmoil and chaos is a negative space.

In addition to quieting the mind, I also believe you have to quiet your spirit.  A hobby will help you do both!

A hobby, in my mind, is that activity which relaxes you.  Brings you peace.  Reading, sewing, painting, drawing, home brewing your beer, making your own wine (they have kits for these), feeding the pigeons, watching grass grow…….whatever!!

Many of you are in your late forties early fifties now.  Tale end of the Baby Boomers! You find now you stress over things you didn’t use to stress over.  You worry more about your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, the mailman.   Your mind is always active!! You wake up mentally exhausted because your mind didn’t rest while you slept.  Ergo, you need a hobby.  You need to give your mind something to do besides worrying you to death.  And stress is a killer!!

Engaging in a hobby is your down time.  You’ll find you’re able to shut out the world around you.  If you tried the hobby thing before and it didn’t work for you, that’s because you chose the wrong hobby.  You will find that with the right hobby you don’t like being interrupted.  You’re not texting as often, and even willing to let some folks go to voicemail.  Hobby time is your time!

 If you find jigsaw puzzles relaxing, then get one with lots of pieces!

If you enjoy art, take trips to your local museum.

If you enjoy the paint by numbers kits, get a few.  You can probably get some really good ones cheap now that Christmas is passed.

Whatever you choose, practice it at every opportunity; even if it means only being able to dedicate 30 minutes before bed time.

Don’t carry today’s stress into tomorrow.  Let tomorrow be a new beginning; a fresh start.  Putting fresh eyes on a problem will often reveal a solution you couldn’t see through yesterday’s chaos.

To all my people in the struggle:

            May everyday of 2015 be a new beginning!

            May old and new problems find swift resolution!
            May Peace be Yours! Always and Forever!!

 LOVE YOU, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!!

OMG!! WHAT?! I haven’t blogged at all in 2014? I know it feels like this year went by fast but geez!!

Now that I’m over the shock (and ready to strangle my agent/editor for not keeping me on task), let’s get to work.

So 2015 is almost upon us! Many of us will make the traditional New Year’s resolutions – will lose weight, join a gym, go to church more - etc., etc., etc.  Those of you that followed the blog in the past will remember to declutter, update, and elevate your Dream Keepers.

You go through each and every year trying to juggle and shuffle bills whenever you want go out and have some fun.  You give PSE&G a little less cause you want to go to the movies and Applebees with your crew.  You pass up going to the Essence festival because you had the car note due, and had to give the cable company some money to turn the service back on.

Well, I think we’ve had enough of that crap!  Enter: THE GOOD TIME FUND

What’s that?

It’s the money you set aside for YOU to have a good time.  It’s not for your husband, significant other, children, or PSE&G.   The Good Time Fund is for YOU!

Here’s how to get started:

1.      THE COMMITMENT - Prepare yourself to commit to the fund! This fund has a specific purpose and should not be tampered with.  Find extra lunch money someplace else.  Don’t you dare touch the fund because it’s time to get your eyebrows done!

2.      THE PARTICIPANT(S) – Yes your Good Time Fund is for you.  But that doesn’t mean that you have to be the only one contributing.  Perhaps you and some friends want to save for a trip, so you start a Good Time Fund for that. Maybe you’re going to save individually or as a group. It's all good as long as everyone commits!

3.      PURPOSE – Now you can designate your Good Time Fund for all around general fun, or make it more specific.  You’ve been wanting to see a Broadway show, but the ticket prices are crazy. So your fund’s purpose is saving for a ticket to a show! EXCELLENT! You found a 4 day, all inclusive (airfare, meals, everything!) Grand Bahama vacation on Groupon for $499, and you don’t have any money! In 2015 your Good Time Fund will be able to cover a trip like this.

4.       GOAL AMOUNT – Now it’s not necessary to set a specific amount you want to reach in your fund (unless you have a specific purpose in mind), but it does help to set a regular contribution amount and period (best if set on your payday).  Be realistic here, and don’t set yourself up to fail. You know that saving $100 a month is going to be a real struggle so set a lower amount.  If your budget can only allow for $5 a week right now, then go with that! If it’s $2 a week, go for it! It will be better for you psychologically to set a lower amount and be able to increase it later; than to set a high amount you probably can’t reach. When this happens you’re more likely to become discouraged and give up.  So set yourself up for a potential psychological boost!

5.       THE VAULT – Basically, where are you going to keep your fund? If you know you have enough discipline not to touch your fund then keep it in an envelope in your sock drawer if that works for you.  Open another savings account if you want.  If you’re a dipper (you know that’s when you take out a little but plan to put it back but never do) then you may need something more secure.  LOL! Get someone you trust to hold your money (this can also be someone who’ll remind/pressure you to make your timely contributions), or get a little bank you’d have to break to get into.  Whatever works for you!

6.       WHEN – When to start? Uhhh…..how about your first pay in 2015! You already set the budget for January? NO EXCUSE! Remember the $5 rule! Take your lunch one day, and put the $7 - $10 you would have spent into the fund instead.

7.       UNDER FUNDED – There may come a time when there is something you want to do, but there isn’t enough money in your Good Time Fund.  If you can make up the cost gap without breaking your budget, then go for.  If not, then pass on it.  It’ll be disappointing but that may simply mean you need to reevaluate the amount you’re contributing.  You may have gotten comfortable with your $10 a week contribution because you were playing it safe, but your budget would have allowed for a $15 a week contribution. Difference between $40 and $60 per month, between $440 and $660 between January and November ($660 would have paid for that all inclusive Grand Bahama vacation!).

So! Take the next couple of days and work out the details of your fund plan. Put all the pieces in place. When 12:01 a.m. hits on January 1^st you can hit the ground running!!!  

Me? I’ve got my heart set on a trip! Groupon has a 6 night all inclusive with air to the Dominican Republic for $699. But I don’t have my Good Time Fund! SMH!