Be Realistic? For What?

“Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity…Why would you be realistic? What’s the point of being realistic?” – Will Smith

This quote just changed my point of view on chasing my dreams. Of course my goals and dreams are unrealistic because no one has done it yet. I won’t share what my ultimate dream is just yet because I don’t mention everything I dabble in until it has been realized.

Will Smith made some really good points in this video about being GREAT. There is no reason not to be successful.

Watch this video. I loved it! I hope it motivates at least one person

Lost Footage

I’m a Moscato wine lover, but ever now and then, I’ll try new drinks. After tasting the drink Four Loko a few years back, I did things I didn’t know I could do, so umm, I won’t be drinking it again lol.

It’s called having fun. Live a little, life is too short to be so uptight

You Have A Pulse? You Have A Purpose!

With a little more experience about life under my belt, I am realizing that when someone feels threatened by your presence, they will try to make you feel like you don’t belong or you are less than.

NO! NO! NO! If you have a pulse, if you got hired, if based on your qualifications you were chosen for a task, job or assignment, then you ARE WORTHY of it. Point, blank period!

“Don’t ever let them make you feel as if you don’t belong”- Martin Luther King Jr.

**Raise your hand in air if you can relate to this scenario:

You are in an environment where someone really doesn’t like you for whatever reason, and they make it their mission to make you feel as uncomfortable as possible.

Day in and day out, you get this gut feeling that there is tension or slight animosity between you and this person and you have NO idea where it comes from?

You do your work well, you are polite, yet this particular person looks at you with “those” eyes, or they make under handed comments about your appearance, mannerisms and whatever else they can find to make you feel uncomfortable?

After awhile this can make you question yourself like:

“Am I doing my work well enough?”

“Did I say something they didn’t like?”

“Am I crazy?”

If you are completing your work in an efficient manner and if you are polite to them,  then it’s NOT YOU! You see, some people are not comfortable with who they are…

They are not confident in their own skin and when they see that someone else, like YOU, they will try to tear you down (whether directly or indirectly). You will feel it. You will see it in the way they look at you.

All you can do is be yourself. Stay on task and pray that whatever is ailing them, stays with them is does NOT touch of harm you. There are spirits in the world we live in.

YEP! Spirits that walk among us that need a body to occupy. Many people don’t understand what I am talking about, but for those that get it, then GOOD!

This link might help you understand more about spirits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ns3_q_Dpgm8

If you are full of confidence, God, and knowledge, then you will not fall prey to those  people’s negativity. Trust me!

All you can do is pray for them. Stay strong and confident in who you are and where you come from.

I did some soul-searching for the past month. To get a better understanding of who I am and where I’m from. I am confident in my roots. I know my strengths, weaknesses and areas where I need to improve.

From this day on, you better believe that NO ONE will ever make me feel as if I don’t belong! I’m sure I’ll run into many more people who try to make me uncomfortable, good luck in advance ahahaha!

I have a pulse; therefore, I have a purpose.

I am Nathalie, I am from Oussouye Casamance in Senegal, West Africa. I belong to the Diola (Jola) tribe.  If you don’t know where that is? Look it up. I will not apologize for my talents, intelligence and physical attributes. Don’t like me? I shrug my shoulders. That won’t stop me from living

My First Radio Interview!

Attending a community college was the BEST choice I made academically. My professors Clover Baker Brown and Sherelle Williams have really inspired me to challenge myself to become an ambitious and self motivated woman, especially in this field of Journalism.

I was so excited and flattered that my community college wanted me to share my experience since graduating from Prince George’s.

Listen to the interview below… (17:25 mark)  Transforming Lives 04/08 by Transforming Lives0 | Blog Talk Radio.

Listen to internet radio with Transforming Lives0 on Blog Talk Radio

The Instagram Dating Game

On Saturday April 6th 2013, I joined my crew as a member of Abomination Nation. We performed a funny Instagram dating skit  at Georgetown University. We had a blast! Watch it below It’s a movement!

TagNation.com    <——————— Keep checking this site for more skits and posts!!

Food, Sex, and Piece of Mind! AskCheyB

Everyone is a stranger until you have a conversation with them right?? Well, I met a very stand up guy in NYC!!  He is the author of my new favorite book titled Food, Sex and Piece of Mind. This book gives you the 100% truth about how men really think about relationships and dating!!!

Those who know me know that I could use some tips on relationships, haha. A little advice never hurt anyone.

Based on AskCheyB, who happens to be a life and  relationship coach, Food, Sex and Piece of Mind  are three essentials that most men need in a relationship. Of course being the curious type, I had to investigate and see for myself if this book was right.

It’s an easy read and it’s broken down into common sense chapters. This book became my go to read while taking the Q train to and from my internship in NYC. People on the subway would ask me what I was reading just based on the title of the book, LOL!!

What did I learn? ALOT!

1. Men are rather simple straight forward creatures. They know what they want! They will hunt it down!

2. Friends with benefits NEVER work to a woman’s advantage in the long run…

3. As a woman, you can set the standard for what you attract

4. Confidence will get you a lot further than you think ladies

5. Men need 3 things…FOOD, SEX and PIECE of MIND! <—– It’s THAT simple.

6. Put God into your relationship and you will truly find peace within yourself and your partner.

The book also encourages women to be single to find inner happiness BEFORE dating. After all, you attract people based on your inner happiness and self-esteem. I am “single by design”. Want to know what that means? GET THE BOOK!!!

My fav chapter was about friends with benefits…Without giving away too much about the book, I learned that men will use you ONLY with your permission!!

Another really funny lesson I’ve learned from AskCheyB himself is that when a man tries to compliment you or get your attention ladies, at least thank him for his attempt because it takes ALOT of courage for a man to approach a woman. They have feelings too, so don’t be mean and brush them off rudely. They don’t like rejection.

Last but not least…I learned that if a man is “too shy” or “too intimidated” to approach you? Then he is NOT the man you want to be with.

Hmmmmm. All this relationship talk makes me want to ask men if they agree with this book. I just might interview a few guys to compare notes. Stay tuned

Buy the BOOK!!! Find out what men really think about relationships. It will shock you into awareness LADIES!!! DO you have a girlfriend, sister, mother, cousin, best friend or coworker that needs advice on love and relationships? This is THE perfect gift.

I plan on having a book and wine night with my closest girlfriends to chat about the REAL scoop from this book. Girl talk is so therapeutic sometimes.

To find out more about AskCheyB, check him out!!

Twitter

Facebook

and AMAZON.com

It’s 2013, that means it’s time to change the routine! I’m sure YOU want a man you can show off to your family and friends that will adore you and really love YOU for who you are right?? RIGHT!!

Happy Birthday Evelyne!

There’s nothing like having supportive family members! That’s all I need for real. Success, Happiness, Faith, and Family!

Happy birthday to my sister Evelyne God bless you and watch over you. Glad I got to spend time with you and mom this week!!

Saw the word “Pray” again this week! March 20th at 8:42 pm

We Got Three Weeks? Astroids!

Wait! So NASA’s advice about a potentially deadly astroid hitting Earth is “Pray”? Never thought I’d here this!

Yet again, never did I think I’d get to witness a Black President get re-elected, or did I think we’d have a new pope…

Ever stop and take it all in? Since October 22nd 2012, very major events has manifested. Moving to New York was one of them. Going to L.A. California was another. From the way it’s looking, 2013 is about to be one AMAZINGLY unique year in history and in my life.

Apparently this is the “Year of Faith” for Catholics: October 11th, 2012- November 24th, 2013.

Listen to what NASA’s administatrator Charles Bolden had to say about an Astroid hitting NYC in three weeks…

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50143210n

 

In the past two weeks, I keep seeing the word “Pray” scattered in NYC. Hmmmm…

Written on the wall in the NYC 34st Subway March 18th 2013 at 9:51 PM

On the Q train NYC Subway March 14th 2013 at 2:05 PM

 

 

The dots are starting to connect… So on March 10th I posted a blog titled I am…  I was pleasantly shocked to see that Oprah Winfrey and her OWN Network launched their 21-Day Meditation Challenge on March 11th.

I now pay attention to life. I see the message and I follow it. Documenting this will be fun

I am…

It feels like I am in the middle of some type of transformation. I wish words could express how mentally free I feel at this very moment. Since my huge announcement, I feel more comfortable in my own skin, literally! Haha.

I am… Happy

I am…Blessed

I am…Brave

I am…Humble

I am… Intentionally flawed to make me unique

I am…EXACTLY where I am supposed to be in my life

I am… Living life to THE FULLEST!!!

Things are beginning to fall into place in a way I could never have expected. I am very very excited for the month of March and April.

Wearing this hoodie makes me smile, not to mention people are starting to ask me where they can get one! Well, it’s for everyone to own and wear proudly! HUGE shout out to my mentor Ms. Kita Williams!!!

Checkout this website to find your size in your favorite color ——> ***Raw Beauty*** 

***Need translation services? Know someone who might need an interpreter? CHECK out SEMBE International Inc for all of your language NEEDS!

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OH! and since I like to dabble in a bit of everything, check out MY CREW! I just joined the cast of Abomination Nation. Stay tuned for some FUNNY on camera videos. Super excited!

The Doctors Tv Show: Medical Mystery SOLVED?

We all have flaws right? ***My flaw was a medical mystery for many years*** Until TODAY!

[ Please take time to read EVERYTHING about this post!]

I have been to countless doctors and dermatologists that just couldn’t figure out why my knuckles and feet have been progressively darkening and changing texture since I was a teenager!

Frustrated! My self-esteem took a HUGE hit which could explain my lack of motivation for the past few years.

I was made fun of by someone I cared so deeply for which led me down a road of negative decision-making and mistakes that I now frown upon. BUT! With the motivation and constant encouragement of my AMAZING parents, I contacted the Doctors TV Show in hopes to maybe I could get a diagnosis on my worsening condition. I went all the way to California to experience this!

Here’s a PART 1 of the clip. I will post the rest of the clip soon.

http://www.thedoctorstv.com/videolib/init/8680

I have a condition where my knuckles and feet produce a thick extra layer of tough skin that was onset by puberty.

***THERE IS NO cure for this condition!!!*** The best solution thus far is opting for bleaching creams to lessen the BLACK shiny look on the surface of my skin.

Not only do I have discoloration,  the skin on my knuckles AND feet are growing extra layers. It has gotten worse in the past three years, and sadly, it will continue to grow UNLESS I continue to search for a cure which they say doesn’t exist…

Texting in public, holding the rails on NYC subways and even going to get a mani and pedi at nail salons gives me ANXIETY!

Although my condition is not contagious, nor does it itch, it worries me that once I get on the journalism platform, people will mock me because of my condition. Trust me people in media can be vicious.

I chose the Doctors TV Show because they are a team of professional experts in the medical field. Not only that, I used their platform to put my flaw on full blast  in hopes that maybe there are others who have this RARE condition. There is comfort in numbers.

I used to be a Biology major years ago because I wanted to find out what was forming on my skin. But I bravely decided to switch gears and try JOURNALISM which was always my PASSION. Life influences our decisions doesn’t it??

I still wonder if this condition will go away by some act of GOD!? But until then, I only have one life to live, why hide under a rock?

http://www.thedoctorstv.com/videolib/init/8684

All in all, everyone has insecurities. Some people’s flaws are worse than others. I feel slightly relieved that I have a diagnosis which can bring me one step closer to fixing this condition.

This condition will not deter me from fulfilling my dreams of becoming a media professional. Yeah it saddens me that there’s no cure, but at least I have good health and ambition to continue with my endeavors.

Society and people can be cruel. If you’ve ever been made fun of or looked at strangely than you understand my frustration.

I will post the rest of the video where The Doctors explain this condition along with my actual diagnosis.

I have managed to hide this from my friends for a LONG time! Notice that even in my pics I’ve learned how to strategically cover up my fingers and toes?

***Take a look through my FLICKR photos and even many of FACEBOOK pics (located on the left side of my blog)***

Since this is NOT something I have control over, I have trained my mind to overlook what some deem as a FLAW. I thank God everyday for my parents! They are so supportive and it is with their constant reassurance that I have come out to share this which I second guessed as I flew from JFK airport to LAX airport in California just a few weeks ago.

Life goes on. If you have a medical condition that you can’t figure out, ask questions! Don’t just settle for the first diagnosis they give you. Get as many sources to compare your condition to.

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P.S.

You! YES YOU! that made fun of my knuckles and feet, your words haunt me NO LONGER! I cared for you flaws and all, I’ve carried that heartache and burden and low self-esteem long enough and today I revealed it. I feel GREAT and your words have no shackles on my mental state. You laughed hysterically back then remember? LOL, I will have the last laugh! Don’t believe me? Just watch!!