Unlikely places

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

We might not know the circumstances that led to an individual’s behavior or unsound choices, but sometimes, good people do bad things. Trust me, I know. I used to be one of the “bad guys”. Granted no one is perfect, it doesn’t mean that what they’ve done, should be used as a measure as to how they should be treated. I know people make mistakes, so I don’t try to hold them hostage to their past, especially when they are trying to get past it. Love and friendship are two of the best things you can have, and are often found in the most unlikely places. I’m fortunate to have found both! Although it’s unconventional, it’s not understood either. While I understand the reservation, I also understand that people do change, because I have.

Please, don’t be so quick to overlook people, just because you can’t look past their mistakes. When you do, you miss out on knowing some really good people, because you’re too busy remembering the bad things they’ve done!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

When everybody is moving, but you

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

One of my biggest pet peeves, is being stuck in traffic! Just the mere thought of waiting, let alone for hours, is enough to make my blood boil. As a struggling waiter (not to be confused with stewardess), sitting still drives me insane, because I know what needs to be done, yet I have no control over the situation. You see, I have got to get going, because I have somewhere I need to be, but I can’t regulate traffic. So, I have no choice but to sit in frustration, have patience and wait until the “way is clear”. Inch by inch, I’m progressing, but I’m just not going fast enough. I look to the right of me and see an opening, so I quickly try to jump into that lane. However, the car that sits behind notices it to, and immediately pulls forward, leaving me right where I’m at, stuck. But, the thing about it is, I’m not really stuck; I’m just at a standstill.

The paradigm that I just used, is a true representation of my life, and no doubt some of yours. Although I’m extremely successful and thriving, I’ve got a meeting with my purpose, and I can’t afford to be late or wait. Rather than stay in my lane and sit still until it’s time to move, I try to jump in someone else’s lane, because theirs is moving faster than mine. Damn! When is it going to be my turn, I constantly ask, while sitting in suspense and enduring the delay. However, I have come to the realization that, God is not on a timeline, I am. God is not in a rush, I am. God is not going to give me what I want, when I want it, especially if it’s not intended for me. Just because you see someone else is moving, doesn’t mean you’re not. You’re just not moving the way you want to, because God knows what’s best for you.

I know a lot of us are in situations that we’ve grown beyond tired of. We want out so bad and will stop at nothing, to be let loose. But, God is not going to release you, until it’s time for you to move! It doesn’t matter what you do to expedite the process, it won’t become complete, until He says you’re done!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Time off

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

Sometimes, you just need to take some time off, to get yourself together. When you’re so used to doing a thousand things at once, it can be a bit overwhelming and mentally exhausting. There are days I don’t know if I’m going to keep going or crash and burn. To avoid the latter, I decided it’s best I give myself a break, because I need it. In fact, I need to relax. I need to regroup. I need to quit acting like I’m superwoman, but more than anything, I need to know when to stop!

Whether it be for your mental, physical or emotional well-being, don’t be afraid to take some time off! Remember, the work will still be there, even when you aren’t!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Follow the leader

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

Clinginess is a bad habit! Holding on for dear life, people will keep things that they know aren’t good for them. They’ll come up with a thousand and one reasons as to why they’ve got to have it, when they really don’t need it. I can be stubborn when it comes to releasing things, but even in the midst of my foolishness, I still manage to “dodge a couple of bullets”. Besides, I’m not taking any unnecessary hits, when I don’t have to.

I know you are afraid to “loosen up your grip”, but it’s time to just let it (or them) go! When God removes you from a situation, don’t ask any questions. Just trust His judgement and immediately follow His lead. Not only does He want what’s best for you, He can see what’s ahead of you! Just ask yourself, would you rather walk away in disappointment or filled with regret?

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Repaired

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

Nothing is more frustrating, than preparing to leave for work in the morning, only to find your car won’t start. To worsen your headache, you’re already late as hell, and the last time you were, your supervisor threatened to fire you. To add to the ever growing list of problems, your supervisor calls and tells you, “It’s okay, you can just stay at home, because you’re fired anyway”. “WTF”, you murmur to yourself. Up to your eyeballs in frustration, you don’t know whether to crawl and hide under a rock, or use it to break the windshield of your car, because you’re angry.

You’re depressed, because your life is in shambles, you’re in financial straits, you’ve just lost your job and now you’re on the brink of a breakdown, all because your car broke down. Although you’d like to blame the car for your misfortunes, you were already broken in the first place. Pacing back and forth, you continuously ask yourself, “What to do”? Hours later, you have no game plan and still no money. Like space on a thumb drive, you’ve “run out” of options, and just don’t know what to do!

“This is so unfair, you scream”, because no matter how many times you’ve tried to “fix” your situation, like the car, you just couldn’t make things “work”. Scatterbrained, you try to make sense of everything, but you can’t, because you just keep taking blows. Having seen no way out, you contemplate ending things, yet you can’t muster up the strength to do it, because you’re too worn out from the attacks. You’re hanging, and that thread is not giving you much support right now. In fact, you pray that it gives way, because you just can’t take it anymore.

Rather than let go, I encourage you to hang on. Like this individual, many of you are beyond broken. You have no hope, you’ve lost your faith and you feel like giving up. Truth of the matter, I don’t think you realize you already have. However, I know one of the BEST mechanics in this world, and He is able to “repair” you! It doesn’t mater if you have to crawl your way to Him or if you need someone to “tow” you in. His shop never closes and He’s always ready to “fix” you up and get you “running” back again!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Little means a lot

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

How do you explain to the person that has it all, but still complains, the importance of being grateful?

How do you tell the person that’s always asking for more, to be more thankful?

What do you say to the person who isn’t satisfied with what they have, that “What they have, can become what they had”?

When you ask the person who has NOTHING, what he/she thinks of those who have SOMETHING, what do you suppose they’ll say? “If I just had a little of what they do, then I’d have a lot“!

Moral of the story: Your complaint, is someone else’s prayer!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Backseat riding

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

“I’m sitting in the back”, is the first thing I love to yell when I’m about to go somewhere, specifically on a road trip. I absolutely hate driving, especially if the ride is more than two hours, so I try to limit my time in the driver’s seat as much as possible. Besides, I enjoy site seeing and allow my mind to escape, whereas I’d have to be present, if I were driving. On the contrary, I’ve always been the “take charge” kind of girl, so relinquishing control can be a bit scary, because “I know what to do”, as opposed to wondering if someone else does. Then too, I’m so used to being in control and taking the lead, so it can be hard trusting others, which is another issue in and of itself, that I have to work on.

Nonetheless, this unhealthy behavior has caused me to be overbearing and quite obsessive at times, because I just don’t know when to let someone else “take the wheel”. I’ll be very honest, I love being in control, but I’ve become so tired and drained. I’m beyond overwhelmed and juggling is something I’m no longer good at, or pretend to be, at least. I understand that I can’t do it all, even if I want to (and yes, I really want to). It pains me to say (and type), but I’ve realized it’s time for me to become a passenger, and allow someone else the opportunity to “drive”. It’s not to say that I won’t lead again, but sometimes, it’s good to let someone else do it. I don’t need to always be in control, for things to go right. I’ve just got to trust that they will.

And I TRUST that God will make things right! Do you?

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Who are you?

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

You’re a liar, thief, cheat, and so much more, I honestly don’t know where to begin

Since I don’t have anything nice to say about you, I’m no longer going to play pretend

Sometimes, I wish you were more like her, because she’s so successful and incredibly smart

You’re a failure and have nothing going for yourself, because you always quit before you start

The picture above is so ugly, yet it’s hanging in your home. As each day passes, the painting becomes more and more real. After looking at it for so long, you notice it starts to resemble you. Rather than take it down, it continues to hang, because you’ve accepted the image to be true.

If people know they can get to you, they’ll destroy you everytime. But, tell yourself, “They can think what they want, because those are their feelings, not mine! Words have power, consequences, bring pain, but most importantly, they are weapons too! People are going to talk, and when they do, let them. Remember, everyone is going to have an opinion and have something to say about you, but who do you say you are?

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

If tomorrow never comes

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

Do it now, because tomorrow is not guaranteed

Apologize today, because tomorrow is not promised

Live for the moment, because tomorrow you might not see

Don’t wait until tomorrow, because tomorrow may never come

I’m quite guilty of saying, “I have all the time in the world”, or, “I can always do it tomorrow”, when I want to forgo doing something. I’ll procrastinate and make every excuse possible, knowing very well, I could possibly not make it to tomorrow. However, because of the severity of things happening in the world, I now know that I shouldn’t take anyone or anything for granted, especially time. I know you may be overwhelmed or have your plate full with so many things you are doing, but I don’t care how busy you get, “Don’t put off the things you can do today for tomorrow”! Do it NOW!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

It’s not over

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

When you feel yourself slip, tighten up your grip

If you want to reach the top, keep going, you mustn’t stop

When things get rough, you don’t have the option to give up

You’ve been running a race for quite some time, but keep pushing until you cross the finish line

It’s easy to throw in the towel, when things aren’t going your way, but success takes time and doesn’t happen in a day

You want to be twenty steps ahead, yet you keep getting knocked back to one, but no matter how many setbacks you encounter, it’s not over until you’re done

To all my “quitters”, stop quitting! You’ll be amazed at how far you get or how much you can accomplish, if only you continue on! Things will be hard, but they’ll get easier with time!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue