VOL. 1 • ISSUE 1 • JAN 2022
THE YEAR THAT WAS ..."2021"
AHHH 2021...YOU WERE SO MUCH If I thought 2020 was the year of mixed emotions and heartstretching occurrences, then I'd say 2021 couldn't decide if it was on steroids or not. So much happened and so much didn't happen. I had great plans for 2021. In November 2020 I committed to monthly newsletters, more blog articles, more YouTube videos and so much more. Then December 2021 arrived and I realized just how much of that I hadn't accomplished. But you know what? 2021 was the year for me to just survive, discover, allow my emotions to flow, and be present for myself. Basically, the year of cleansing, coping, and recovering. There was so much I was holding on to, so much I'd dealt with in the past few years, and so much that I was carrying. I'd to do a lot of self-love, letting go, bawling, accepting and healing. It was worth everything! And in the end, I may not have accomplished the things I set out to do originally, however, I accomplished so much more. Now, I'm ready to tackle my goals with a clearer, more focused mind-set. Not to mention LIVE-OUT-LOUD. 2022 here I come! I'm good. Life is good. God has been, and continues to be, good to me.
This issue: Ahhh 2021...You Were So Much PAGE 01 The Stories of 2021 PAGES 02-04 My Top 10 Songs for 2021 PAGE 05 Every Picture Has A Story to Tell PAGE 05 Highlights of 2021 PAGE 06
"The giver of life is also the renewer of hope, and He is ready and waiting to fill you with new life, new hope - to transform your heart and lift you out of the pit. All you have to do is ask."
What's Next PAGE 07
BARBOUR BOOKS DEVOTIONAL JOURNAL
THE YEAR THAT WAS..."2021"
PAGE 01
The Stories of 2021
BOOKS I ACTUALLY READ IN 2020
HOW FULL IS YOUR LOVE TANK?
10 WAYS TO THRIVE IN 2021
I read a total of 40 books from varied genres. This is a first time ever occurrence. Now to top that for 2021 and beyond.
Is your love tank full and overflowing, or empty and on the brink of nonexistence? Just like the gas tank in your car, when it's full you can go anywhere; however, when it's nearing empty, you have to choose where you go .
My top ten (10) thoughts on how to thrive, using my favourite words: Inspiration, Love, Faith, Hope, Fearlessness/Courage, Humour, Persistence, Resilience, Creativity, Excellence.
15 LESSONS LEARNT FROM MY PLANTS A garden delights in the senses. The smells, the beautiful sights, birds chirping, or if you're lucky enough, to hear the humming of a butterfly; the feel of wet grass on your bare feet; the sense of relief felt after getting down and dirty with your hands in the soil; not to mention the pleasure of tasting the fruits of your labour. My senses come alive when I become one with my garden; it's a feeling that quiets the mind and feeds the soul.
THE YEAR THAT WAS..."2021"
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OPPORTUNITY IN CHAOS Every chaos is an opportunity to learn something and once you learn something, to me that means you can translate that into growth. Remember, not every bad situation is bad. I believe the problem why we can't see beyond the chaos is that we are programmed to think that every opportunity has to have a monetary component, and it doesn't. As Henry Miller said, "Chaos is the score upon which reality is written."
THE LIGHTNESS IN ME by Deon Cecile
It's the lightness in me. The lightness of my smile. The lightness of my walk. The lightness of my speech. The lightness in my eyes. It's the lightness that surrounds me. The lightness that radiates from me. It's the lightness in me that is me. That lightness is the bravery in my smile And the lightness that bears the burden of my walk. That lightness is the fluency of my speech when I'm made numb. The sparkle in my eyes when clouds of tears cast their shadows. But never mistake that lightness for weakness Because that lightness is my strength! I am the lightness and the lightness is me.
NOT KNOWING We go through this life not knowing what to expect. We laugh, we cry, we hurt, we smile. We dance in the rain and laugh with the sunlight. Our eyes gleam at the sight of a loved one and our bodies quiver with excitement at the twinkling of stars under the moonlight. Read more on the blog...
THE YEAR THAT WAS..."2021"
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In Memory of My Mom NOVEMBER 26, 1943 - DECEMBER 02, 2020
7 lessons my Mom thought were the most important lessons she learned during her lifetime (taken from one of her many journal writings). She said: 1. Do not procrastinate. 2. Believe in yourself and always follow your instinct. 3. Train children during the formative years; never after they have grown. 4. Do to others what you would have them do to you; just in case their shoe gets on your foot. 5. Love God, live honestly and righteously. 6. There are three things that don't come back: the spoken word, wasted time, and neglected opportunity; so be careful of your actions. 7. Show love, give love, live loving.
"Embracing The Body You Have "
Click here to read article
"Don't wait on your weight to live the life you want." CECE OLISA
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." ~ Maya Angelou
THE YEAR THAT WAS..."2021"
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EVERYBODY HAS A FAVOURITE SONG My Top 10 Songs for 2021 (in no particular order)
1. Something New ~ Zendaya feat. Chris Brown 2. Meant To Be ~ Bebe Rexha 3. Good Morning ~ Meghan Trainor 4. Sidung ~ Kranium 5. Issa Snack ~ Nessa Preppy 6. People Like You ~ Gramps Morgan 7. Splash ~ Nessa Preppy and Patrice Roberts 8. Blessed ~ Charlie Wilson 9. Your Spirit ~ Tasha Cobbs Leonard feat. Kierra Sheard 10. Perfect Spot - Busy Signal
eVERY pICTURE hAS A sTORY TO tELL BE YOU! "being somebody you aren’t or hiding your authentic self leads to stress, anxiety and fear. It makes you live small.”
My Words for 2021
love & Inspiration
Perfectly PERFECT in my IMPERFECTIONS! Now that your eyes are open, make the sun jealous with your burning passion to start the day. Make the sun jealous or stay in bed. MALAK EL HALABI
THE YEAR THAT WAS..."2021"
www.reallygreatsite.com
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Highlights of 2021 1. Wrote my 1st poem (well, my version of poetry) 2. Did my first voice-over...click here to check it out 3. Recorded & uploaded my 1st on-camera YouTube video - "The Talking Chair" 4. Achieved my 50 book challenge by October 5. Got my 1st tattoo and then went back for seconds 6. My "Mango Salsa" recipe was featured in The Beyond Woman Magazine's 10th ed. 7. Made it official - got my Proofreading & Editing Diploma 8. Did my 1st set of PAID Proofreading & Editing jobs (the freeness is semi-over) 9. Started my "Declutter Tuesdays" Series 10. Started Meditation Had a lot more firsts and celebrated a lot of small wins - but I'm gonna leave it right here. Subscribe to my website to learn more.
THE YEAR THAT WAS..."2021"
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WHAT'S NEXT? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
I'll be back on track with my Organizing and Decluttering Tips More "Talking Chair" YouTube videos...coming soon More Collaborations Series II of my "Women Over 40"...coming soon New & Exciting Ventures More Explorations More of ME...My Stories, My Journey, My Lessons
MY WORDS FOR 2022 GRACE & CREATIVITY
L o o k i n g b a c k , I m u s t s a y , d e s p i t e t h e f a c t I d id n 't a c c o m p l is h t h e g o al s I'd s et f o r 2021, t her e a r e s o m a n y o t h e r t h i n g s I ' v e a c c o m p l is h e d , w h ic h w e r e n 't e v en o n t he t ab l e. T hes e w i l l a c t u a l l y p r o p e l m e t o w a r d s a c h i e vin g s o m e p r e vio u s l y s e t g o a l s and d i r ect m y f u t u r e p at h. I'l l s a y t h i s , G o d k n o w s w h a t ' s b e s t a n d H is t im in g is f o r e ve r p e r f ect . W hat w e need t o d o i s t r u s t t h e p r o c e s s ; c e l e b r a t e o u r w in s , b ig o r s m a l l ; a n d h a ve a h ear t o f g r at i t u d e.
Welcome to My World, My Journey IAMDEONCECILE.COM
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