Your Light

Believe it or not, we all have a light. Whether you chose to let that light shine or not is up to you. I didn't realize that by using my light in almost every situation that it would mean a lot to other people. I'm a people person, and I love to be around people I know and those don't. I love the people who are stand off-ish, people who love to hug, people who love to hide, and people who love to talk. Watching people and seeing how they move, seeing how they lie, seeing what makes them uncomfortable is interesting to me. Odds are I'm that wierdo on the bench at the mall smiling at strangers as they walk by.

I speak and say hello to those who make eye contact with me, for some, this is some type of weird act to say hello to a stranger. I ask how you're doing and truly care to listen if the answer isn't "I'm great!", which of course is out of the norm, "What someone who actually cares? What is wrong with this human?"

By being myself, and never changing no matter where I live or what job I have, I'm happy. I truly love me, and what I show despite how others might receive it, is true to who I am. Recently, I've been told almost on a daily basis how my energy is amazing. How it's hypnotizing and draws you in. Someone asked me, how I do it? What's my secret to being this way, and honestly it's all about self love and not caring what others think of you.

I know that a smile, a hug, a door hold, a hello, a "hey nice shirt" can go a long way. I'm aware that you never know what the other person is going through and by you being nice it can change their whole attitude for the day. I've met some miserable, sour people; and when I choose to give a compliment to them, even knowing that their face says "do not speak to me", their posture changes. They smile, their shoulders drop, their chest opens up and they seem a little easier.

So when you're out, think about how you're using your light. Know that others can see it, and you can make a difference in plenty of peoples lives if you use it for the better.

<3 Ebony

The Lesson of Appreciation

You know, for so many years I've been a little jealous of those who knew how to appreciate things. It may sound silly, but whether you're a person who appreciates friends, family, current situations, the ups, the downs and everything in between; I was jealous of you. Here I am someone who was always on the go. I always had my future and where I wanted to be in my mind. In every state I lived, at every job I was blessed to have, I always wanted the next best thing. Problem with that is, that I was missing some of the best things in the moment.

I never sat and truly thought about why God brought me to a certain place at a certain time. 

I don't know why that was what it was. It maybe because I already knew where I was going to be and what I was going to do. It might have been my inability to be happy knowing that better was out there. It could have been that I simply was unappreciative. Which my friend, is true, I was very unappreciative. I now look back at all that I've done and I'm proud of my achievements, but I'm not proud of the fun that I missed.

I was so focused on working, going to school, making sure that everything was lined up that I missed out on key events of certain friendships. I decided to work very hard and to make sure my shows were top in the market. I decided to put out one book after another and write two more that I have yet to release instead of, going to a club and being able to share that "inside joke". I decided to be submerged in my writing of scripts that I missed out on drunken nights that wouldn't have been remembered the next day.

Although I do love where I'm at and what I sacrificed to get here; I do wish that I lived in the moment at certain times. This has taught me to love and appreciate all those around me right now. Because of what I missed out on, this has taught me how to be a better friend. Because of how far I've come, this has taught me that taking a break isn't a bad thing. After all, what a good friend told me makes perfect sense:

What God has for you will forever be yours. 

So although I'm a little sad that I missed certain things, I'm also proud of how it's helped me be who I am today. My hope for you is that as you chase those dreams, as you decide to follow your heart that you also love where you're at. I hope that you take a seat, a real seat, and look around you. I hope that you look at your friends and family and love them. I hope that you give yourself a break and live every once and awhile. I hope that you love life even when you're struggling to get to your destiny.

You will make it to your dreams, why not have a little fun on the way? 

<3 Ebony