A Love Letter to My Sistas
By Aishah Jeffries-El
My life has taken many unexpected turns, what I once viewed as disappointments and heartaches, I now see as opportunities to learn humility, patience, compassion, understanding, and most importantly, how to have the courage to go after the things that are in my heart.
I think I could have written a book One Thousand and One Reasons Why I Haven’t Reached Any of My Goals Yet, or at least I could have co-authored it. Over the years I have come up with so many excuses and pointed many a finger at the imaginary "thing" that has held me back from reaching my desired goals. I’ve read Essence, I’ve watched Oprah, I’ve listened to T.D. Jakes and I’ve bought one self-help book after the other. Yet, but when it came down to it, it was tough love that won out.
There are some facts that once accepted can really be life altering. Did you know that everyday isn’t going to be a great day? There will be times when things just WILL NOT go your way. You’re never going to know everything there is to know. And sometimes you’re going to want to give up. Do you know how much pressure you can take away from yourself once you’ve accepted these things? It means you don’t have to be perfect (because you can’t be anyway). So the next time you’re trying to achieve something and it doesn’t work out the first time, then you simply say to yourself, "This must be one of those times things aren’t going to go my way," then you modify your strategy and try again. And when you feel like throwing in the towel, throw it, and then after you’ve had your temper tantrum, go pick it up, modify your strategy and try again.
Every one has to go through their own personalized Life Lessons. No one is exempt. The good news is that there are many others who have experienced similar trials and tribulations and have come through with just a few bumps and minor bruises, but with many inspirational stories.
I’m here to tell you that all the positive thinking that the world has to offer does not mean that things will work out the way that you plan them to all the time. You have to learn to be okay with that fact or you’ll find yourself stuck in the same place for a very long time. I have spent the last 15 years doing Word Processing at law firms. It started as a part time job during the evenings to help pay for my college education. Then I got pregnant during my third year of college and had to stop going to school so I could work full time to take care of my son. I never had any intentions of doing Word Processing at all, let alone make a career out of it, but here I was 15 years later still processing words. Once I stopped feeling sorry for myself, I began taking steps toward changing my circumstances. I had to come to terms with the fact that I would have to make a few sacrifices. I am now the Assistant to the Art Director of the Children’s Book Department at a large book publishing company in New York. I also did a voiceover for the same company, in their Books-On-Tape department. This was one of my dreams come true. I have many more responsibilities, but the work is more fulfilling and the room for growth is only limited by as I allow it to be.
We are living during a great time for following your heart's desires. This is a great time to follow your heart’s desires. It is a time where information is completely around us. Technology has opened many doors that were once closed. The Internet and the World Wide Web has given the average person new opportunities that were not available to us before. Anything you have a question about, any idea you need more information on, you can use the Internet to research it further. Even if you don’t have a computer at home, the local libraries in your neighborhood have computers with Internet access. Or perhaps you could even borrow a local relative's PC.
Incidentally, I found my current job on the Internet. Also, there are books on just about any subject you can think of' something that was not the case just a few short years ago. Let me summarize with a quote by Thomas Edison. He said "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Yes, ladies, that's right. You're going to have to roll up your designer sleeves - and get to work!
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