Month: September 2019

35

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

In 4 days, I’ll be celebrating my 35th birthday, and I can honestly say, I have never been more blessed! Aside from the obvious, I have a pretty good life and would have never imagined this for me. I’ve been through the trenches and have weathered a many of storms, and although I’ve made some strides, there’s still a slight overcast looming ahead.

I wish someone had told me years ago, that the place I’m in now, would be one of the most rewarding ones I’ve ever experienced. Had that been the case, I probably wouldn’t have worried, stressed and obsessed ridiculously over my life and whether or not it would turn out right. Although I can’t revisit the past (and I surely wouldn’t want to), there’s “35” things I would like to tell my younger self:

  1. You’re beautiful! #period
  2. Everything is going to be just fine
  3. Be patient
  4. Anxiety is hard to deal with, but you’re tougher
  5. Who cares?
  6. If people choose to talk about you, let them
  7. Don’t be afraid….of ANYTHING!
  8. You are loved
  9. Let them go
  10. Never change yourself to fit the description of what someone says you should be
  11. Live your life
  12. This too shall pass
  13. Wait! It gets better
  14. You’re not always going to be happy
  15. Don’t give up so easily
  16. Do what makes you happy
  17. Not everyone is going to like you…and you’ve gotta be okay with that
  18. Watch your mouth!
  19. You’re not for everybody
  20. Keep going…it’s only UP from here
  21. It’s okay to fall down sometimes, just don’t stay there
  22. Everybody can’t go on your journey with you; it’s yours for a reason
  23. Keep smiling
  24. There’s nothing wrong with your skin….it’s them
  25. You should wear red lipstick more often
  26. You’re not going to experience all W’s
  27. Get over it
  28. Don’t hold yourself hostage to past mistakes
  29. Move on
  30. It’s okay to cry
  31. Just do it
  32. Forgive
  33. You’re going to be a multi-millionaire
  34. Does it really matter?
  35. You are MORE than enough!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

You can work your way to the top

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

Do you remember my two friends Barbara and Jane from my previous post, “Broken ladders”? If not, go read it asap! I’d like to give you an update and stress the importance of working your way up, as opposed to expecting someone to put you there. For those of you who need a reminder, Barbara and Jane were good friends who started at the bottom of the totem pole together. They made a pact that whoever was the first to “make it”, would help the other, but sadly, Barbara didn’t hold up her end of the bargain.

Left with no other choice but to do it on her own, Jane found success, but it was only because she “worked her way to the top”! Sure, it would’ve been easier and quicker for Barbara to put her there, especially considering the fact that she has so much power. However, because Jane knows the importance of working to get what you want instead of someone giving it to you, she appreciates the success more, because it was all her own doing.

A lot of people need to come to the realization, that they don’t always need someone for everything, let alone to do anything for them. I guess one of the largest reasons why people have shied away from this way of thinking, is because they are so used to being leeches, coat-riders, and recipients of handouts. Besides, nobody wants to work for anything anymore, because society has somehow led us to believe, “It’s not what you know, but who you know”. You see, the “benefit of being” (friends, partners, etc.) gets us jobs, advances and careers, not our hard work.

Make no mistake about it, regardless of how you get to the position you’re at or desire to be, it’s always going to boil down to hard work and how bad do you want it. Barbara could’ve placed me in a position of “winning”, but once I got there, I still would’ve had to put in hard work to stay there!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

You got it made

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

In 11 days I’ll be 35 and over the past 6 days

I experienced firsthand what it meant to “live”

I was scared, to say the least, because it was something

I hadn’t done in forever

Due to the life I “lead”, others may differ,

but it’s only because “they’re out” and “i’m in”

Spectators are funny, yet so fortunate, because they feel as though

they have the worst view, when indeed they have the best

My “glamourous” life has obstructed them from my truth, and honestly,

it’s the best protection they’ll ever receive (you’re welcome)

Admiration is one of the finest compliments you can pay me,

but there’s no amount of money you can “pay me” to be envious of me

Remember, I know what’s really going on

You only think you do

To be fair, there are some areas of my life that are doing well

and I’ve come a long way from where I started

but those few areas will never compensate for the s***load of things I lack

Thanks, but I’m not your #goals, especially when I’m still trying to conqueror mine

You’ve gotta be careful “clicking” and “liking” what you see

because the things that social media can’t display

are the very things you don’t want (and neither do I)

So, the next time you wish for my life, just STOP and thank God for your own!

Besides, compared to me, “you got it made”!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Traveling through impossible circumstances

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

“I’m tired, and I just can’t do this anymore”! Would you believe me if I told you, you can? Probably not, considering the fact that your circumstances has somehow convinced you that it’s the “end of the world”. However, I’m here to tell you that it’s not! I talk a lot about adversity, hardships and struggles, and it’s because I’ve been met with them more times than I’d care to acknowledge, and you’d like to read.

However, although my journey has been tough, one thing that I vowed never to do, was to stop traveling, regardless of how bad the circumstances are. Besides, if you give up, how will you ever know whether or not things will get better? Like me, you’ve been through plenty of hard situations, and are probably still entangled in some. Granted, they absorbed all of your energy and took a toll on you mentally, emotionally and physically, but you eventually got through them, right?

One of the things I appreciate most about “traveling through impossible circumstances”, is no matter how many obstacles I encounter, I know that if I see them as an opportunity for challenge and growth, instead of a roadblock, it increases my chances of actually overcoming them. Remember the age old expression, “Nothing is impossible, because the word alone say’s, “I’m possible”! So, stop throwing in the towel, because it’s the easiest thing you can do.

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

A little piece of heaven

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

So, I’m currently in the “Windy City”, sitting in the Corner Bakery Cafe, eating my “curds and whey”. No, seriously, I’m eating bananas foster pancakes, which are to die for! Chicago is my home for the next 5 days, and as I sit and reflect over my life and all that has happened to me in the past two years, one phrase comes to mind, “A little piece of heaven”.

I can honestly say, I would’ve never imagined this for my life, especially considering the trials and tribulations I was met with early on. I was born below the poverty line and brought up in some undesirable circumstances, so my mindset then was, “Things are never going to get better”. Now twenty (plus) years later, things have been beyond better.

I’m very blessed and fortunate to travel and visit places that have been on my “to do list” for years, and every time I scratch another location off, it feels like “heaven”. “Note takers”, don’t ever stop living, dreaming or stop in the pursuit of your happiness. Things may be rough for you now, but eventually, they’ll get better!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue