Month: February 2020

Enjoy

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

Have you ever been so happy and excited about the great things that are taking place in your life, that you can barely wait to see what happens next? Do you find yourself rushing to get to another adventure, although you’re not finished with the one you’re on? Great! Because, I thought I was the only one. The last few years have been pretty amazing for me, and I couldn’t be more happier. However, I couldn’t be more impatient either, because I’m constantly in a hurry to get to the next phase of my journey. Yet, I have to question myself, “Are you really enjoying the journey”? After all, how can I be, if my mind has left the “party”, only to plan the upcoming one. Rather than “bolting” like Usain to the next level, I’m just going to sit still and enjoy the fruits of my labor!

Don’t get so caught up living your life as though you are in a race. Slow down and appreciate the small things, as you look forward to the bigger ones to come.

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

More than you’ll ever know

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

When I look back on my awards, degrees and times of recognition, I say, “Wow! You did that! I’m so proud of you”. Today, I understand the value of all those accolades, because I didn’t see it then. To be honest, I didn’t look at them as accomplishments, but merely something I “had to do”. I’d literally “live in the moment”, and quickly move on to the next thing. “You can’t dwell too long”, I’d tell myself. “Keep it moving, or you’ll be put in a position where you can’t”. Good riddance! No wonder I couldn’t enjoy the fruits of my labor. However, I now realize, they are worth more than I’ll ever know. I don’t take any of it for granted or think so little of it, because there are many people who didn’t have the privilege of going to college and earn two degrees like me, let alone one. I’m grateful for every accomplishment, because it lets me know I not only “did that”, but I EARNED it….and all the adoration as well!

Anything you do, regardless of how big or small, always be proud!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Struggling to succeed

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

You’re looking at a lifeless situation, but not to the One who can help

You’ve tried to do things on your own, but you can’t do it all by yourself

The hill of burdens sits so high, and you’re afraid to make the climb

You’ve attempted before, but you didn’t succeed, so you don’t see the point in trying

Winds of doubt surround your faith, and threaten to blow it away

So run for cover, into the arms who loves you, and promises to keep you safe

Defeat shines brighter than the sun’s beam, and it’s more than you can withstand

But all it takes if for God to speak, and it disappears upon His command

It may seem as though you’ve lost, but look again, for you’ve been deceived

No matter what you’re up against, you’ll win, if only you just believe

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Clarification

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

Give me the credit when it’s due, but you can keep the exaltation and praise

I could never take the place of God, nor would I have it any other way

People are quick to place you in a position, that’s greater than ones wants and needs

But, I’m not above anyone else, so lower your pedestal and bring me down please

There seems to be a misconception, surrounding my identity

I’ve been “branded”, “labeled” and “stereotyped”, but none of it is a reflection of me

The center of your focus should be my work, so please pay the woman no mind

I don’t want the fame nor exposure, I’m anointed, I ALREADY shine

For the people who “think” they know all about me, you have no clue of my situation

And for those of you yet to know me, I hope this offers you some clarification

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Taking it back

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

You have something that belongs to me. I’m not sure why you took it, when it wasn’t yours to begin with. However, I need it back! It’s been gone for so long, that I forgot what it felt like. I’ve become so weak, because it held all my strength. No matter what I was going through, it always reminded me that everything was going to be okay. To be honest, I didn’t know that I could miss something so much, until I was without it. I’ve lost my mind, because I no longer have peace of mind. So, hand it over, because I’m taking it back!

Stop letting thieves steal from you. You saw what it did to your “joy”.

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

THE CHASE

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

YOU ARE ABOUT TO TAKE THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE! IN FACT, IT’S PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES YOU’VE EVER TAKEN. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU’VE ALWAYS “DREAMED” OF, AND THE THOUGHT OF IT BECOMING A REALITY, IS MORE THAN YOU CAN STAND. AS YOU PREPARE TO EMBARK UPON THIS JOURNEY, YOU WILL ENCOUNTER SOME ROADBLOCKS AND TEMPORARY DELAYS, BUT NOTHING YOU CAN’T GO AROUND. YOU WILL EXPERIENCE SOME CROOKED PATHS AND ROUGH PLANES, SO DON’T THINK EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE PERFECTLY “STRAIGHT”.

TEMPORARY DELAYS

YOU ARE HOT ON THE HEELS OF “CATCHING UP” WITH YOUR DREAMS, BUT YOU’RE COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS. BECAUSE OF BLIND SPOTS, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE AND THINGS YOU CAN’T SEE, THAT COULD “CRASH” DIRECTLY INTO YOUR DREAMS. WITHIN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, YOU WENT FROM BEING WELL ON YOUR WAY, TO SUDDENLY A TEMPORARY DELAY. ALTHOUGH YOU’RE AT A STANDSTILL, EVENTUALLY, THINGS WILL LET UP AND YOU WILL GET GOING AGAIN.

ROADBLOCKS

AS THE TRAFFIC AND DISTRACTIONS CLEAR, YOU CONTINUE IN YOUR PURSUITS. TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING, YOU SPEED UP, BECAUSE YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO LET YOUR DREAMS “GET-A-WAY”. YOU WILL HAVE TO DRIVE UP SOME STEEP HILLS (TRIALS) AND GO DOWN SOME DANGEROUS PATHS (TRIBULATIONS), BUT YOU DO WHAT’S NECESSARY, BECAUSE OBTAINING YOUR DREAMS IS WORTH IT. THAT IS, UNTIL YOU ENCOUNTER A FEW ROADBLOCKS (OBSTACLES). DESPITE THINGS CONSTANTLY “GETTING IN YOUR WAY”, YOU CONTINUE THE CHASE, BECAUSE YOU’RE ALMOST WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.

REAR VIEW BANDITS

YOU’VE COME SO FAR IN YOUR PURSUITS, BUT SOMEONE ELSE HAS TOO. IN FACT, THEY HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING YOU THE ENTIRE TIME. WHILE YOU WERE SO BUSY FOCUSING AND LOOKING AHEAD, YOU DIDN’T NOTICE THEM IN YOUR “REAR VIEW”. YOU’RE CHASING AFTER YOUR DREAMS, AND THEY’RE CHASING AFTER YOU, SO THEY CAN CAUSE A COLLISION AND THROW YOU OFF COURSE. STOPPING AT NOTHING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION, THEY FLASH THEIR LIGHTS (SHIELD YOU FROM YOUR GOALS) AND HONK THEIR HORNS (CAUSE A MAJOR SCENE), BECAUSE THEY KNOW IF YOU TAKE YOUR EYES OFF YOUR DREAMS FOR ONE MINUTE, THEY’LL HAVE YOU WHERE THEY WANT YOU; “DISTRACTED”.

PERFECT GET-A-WAY

HOWEVER, BECAUSE YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERED A FEW TEMPORARY DELAYS AND ROADBLOCKS, YOU DON’T LET WHAT’S BEHIND YOU, TO TAKE YOUR MIND OFF OF WHAT’S IN FRONT OF YOU. THE MORE YOU CONTINUE TO DRIVE (EXCEL), THE MORE FURIOUS (JEALOUS) THEY BECOME, BUT YOU’VE GOT TO KEEP ON MOVING FORWARD. YOU MIGHT GET REAR-ENDED, WHICH CAUSES YOU TO SLOW DOWN, BUT IT DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE TO STOP. BESIDES, YOU’VE TAKEN A FEW “HITS” BEFORE AND MANAGED TO SURVIVE, SO DON’T ALLOW INTENTIONAL THREATS TO CAUSE YOU TO “BREAKDOWN”. KEEP DRIVING AND STOP FOR NOTHING OR NO ONE, UNTIL YOU REACH YOUR DESTINATION!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Robbing Joy

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

Three years ago, I was held hostage and I thought of all the things I had to lose

I wanted to escape and run for it, but I was afraid to make any sudden moves

I was nervous, scared and terrified, because I thought my life was done

Little did I know it was far from over, and things had only just begun

My days went from sunny and bright, and darkness slowly seeped in

I didn’t understand the sudden sadness, no matter how hard I tried to comprehend

For months my mood was dangerously low and I couldn’t get out of that rut

I tried all I could to feel better, but there was no way I could pull myself up

I was down for a very long time, which was all apart of it’s ploy

I lost myself when comparison came, and robbed me of my joy

We all know that “comparison is the thief of joy”, so guard yours at all times! It’s so easy for us to compare our lives to someone else’s. We can be the happiest person in the world, and then money, status, or someone’s relationship will cause it all to change. Suddenly, our contentment cease to exist and what we have no longer looks good to us, so we start to lust after things that was not meant for us. However, if God intended for you to have what your neighbor does, don’t you think He would’ve blessed you with the same? You have exactly what you need, and I’m sure it’s more than enough. “Be appreciative of what you have, before it becomes what you had” (church sign).

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

FAVOR

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

If I walk a little bit different, it’s an indication that some things have changed

If I speak in a way that I normally wouldn’t, don’t panic, because I’m not the same

To you I may be “acting funny”, but to me, I’ve only improved

Because once you reach the level I have, there’s nothing you can afford to lose

The negativity, foolishness and senseless things, I used to be apart of

No longer exists within me, because I’ve chosen to rise above

My starting point was at the end of the line, while everyone else was so far ahead

They told me I lost and considered me finished, but “It’s not over”, I victoriously said

I continued to run, against all odds, as they tried to sabotage the race

They couldn’t stand to see me coming, because they knew I was headed to 1st place

No matter how much they delayed my progress, they never once broke my stride

And through all the adversities and tribulations, I left everyone amazed and surprised

They gave up on me and counted me out, because I started out at the very end

But God gave me what they didn’t have, FAVOR, which positioned me to WIN!

“All you have to do is ask, BELIEVE and you shall receive”!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Worthy

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue
Legacy Awards 2020 Recipient of the Coretta Scott King Award

On Sunday, February 09, 2020, I was awarded the Coretta Scott King Legacy Award, for my Community Service, Human Rights, and Social Justice efforts. As I should have been overjoyed with excitement, I really couldn’t be, because I was too busy questioning God, “Why me”? When my sisters recognized me at our family reunion last year, I was honored, but internally, I questioned “There’s four of us, so why me”? When I was asked to serve as Keynote Speaker at church, I screamed, “Oh no! Dear God, why me”? I couldn’t fathom or understand how someone so undeserving as me, deserved to be recognized, because in my eyes, what they saw, I couldn’t see.

Not a day goes by that I don’t receive an email, text or phone call, from someone thanking me for what I’ve done for them, yet I can’t seem to recall what I did. There isn’t anything distinctive that comes to mind, except there’s nothing extraordinary about a woman who’s so ordinary. So, again I ask, “Why me”? After many self-reflections, I no longer question, “Why me”? Instead, I just thank God for using me! I’m not sure why I was chosen, when He had so many other options, yet He left me with none. I didn’t get a chance to say, “No”, or “This is not what I want to do”, because God had already made His plans, and I had no choice, but to follow them.

I’m grateful, because of whatever “it” is that I’ve been called to do. I’m thankful for all the accolades and praise, because to them, I’m everything I told myself I could never be….WORTHY!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Lois Lane

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

Do you want to go the rest of your life, being Ms. Lois Lane?

because every time problems arise, you call for help once again

Rather than wiggle yourself out of trouble, you choose to remain bound and tied

but the minute I set you free, suddenly, your hands are stretched open wide

Not to show any gratitude, appreciation or thankfulness

but to save you from the ——- you’ve created, as a result of your carelessness

You are not helpless. You just refuse to help yourself!

There will be many people you encounter, that are looking for help and a handout. All their lives, they’ve had someone to give them everything they wanted, but not what they needed….which is responsibility! Quickly, your role has changed from “helper” to “enabler”, because you aren’t holding them accountable for themselves, because they know they can depend on you. It’s okay if you want to be kind and lend someone a “helping hand”, but make sure they’re using it to pull themselves up, and NOT bring you down!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue