Posted in don't stop

Don’t Stop!

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

    I am beyond blessed, to have had the privilege to speak with low-income, first generation high school students, at a high school located in Alabama! As a Motivational Speaker, one of the things I pride myself on, is being authentic and most important, transparent with my audience. As I made the 3.5hr drive to speak with these students, I immediately realized where I was going….back into time!

    I was taking a trip down (an unforgettable) memory lane, and let’s just say, although I have survived my past experiences, they sometimes still bother me. As I walked into the school doors, I was immediately met with students who looked just like me, when I was a teenager. They didn’t have the best of clothes, they looked worn, and most noticeable, they were poor….not just in terms of finances, but attitude, spirit and self-esteem.

    When I saw them, they’re eyes screamed, “Help” and “Save me”, but the only thing I could offer, were words of wisdom and something they definitely needed, HOPE! As I spoke, I surveyed the audience, and often found myself staring at “me”. I felt bad for them, and there was nothing more I wanted for them, but for them to get out of their situation (whatever it was). Financially, I desperately wanted to help, but that would only solve a small portion of their problems.

    Physically, emotionally and mentally, these young Kings and Queens were drained and beat down. They had little support, if any at all, and they needed to be saved. I felt so helpless, because essentially, there was nothing I could do, but offer them something I wish I had when I was in their situation….HOPE and example to live by! After speaking with them, they treated me to lunch and a book signing. Although it was a paid speaking engagement, the positive comments I received from the students was “worth more” than the money I received!

    I’m so grateful to be a servant, but most importantly, in a position of power and influence! I am purposed to live the life God has set out for me, and I am so happy to be able to bless others! I am living out my dreams, while having the position of my dreams! I couldn’t ask for a better life, and so thankful that I am enjoying mine! Whatever it is you aspire to be or do, DON’T STOP, until you’ve reached your destiny!

    Until next time my NOTE takers!

    Writefully yours!

    Deetra La’Rue

    Posted in Standing Out

    Go on….don’t be afraid!

    Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

    Ever been at the Fair or Carnival, and you refused to ride the roller-coaster or Ferris wheel, because you were afraid of heights? Better yet, have you seen a baby attempt to walk for the very first time? If so, you’ve witnessed the horror on their face as they took their first steps, because what they we’re doing was unfamiliar to them, and it created fear. However, after several bouts with falling and getting back up, they continued to walk, although their balance was still shaky.

    Guess what? That’s life! Sometimes, it’s going to be shaky, scary and you will be afraid, because like the roller-coaster, you’re going to be taken on a “whirlwind” of emotions. However, life has its ups and downs and is full of the “unknown”, but you shouldn’t allow it to stop you from getting out there! Who cares if you fell down, got hurt or are struggling to get back up. It’s okay to fall down, just as long as you don’t stay there!

    I used to be afraid of flying (although I had never flown before), particularly, due to my fear of heights. Just the thought of being in the air made my stomach queasy, and sent me into panic mode. However, once I flew, I enjoyed being in the clouds, and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. To think, the very thing I was opposed to doing, ended up being something I actually enjoyed. I’m almost for certain there is something that you want to do or a place you want to go, but you’re scared.

    Your fear may range from “doubt” to “what if”, but “what if”, you decided to take a chance? What do you stand to benefit? More importantly, what do you have to lose? As scary as it may be, life is a lot like flying. You’re takeoff maybe rocky, you’ll experience some turbulence even, but your Pilot (God) will always ensure a safe landing! So go on…..don’t be afraid!

    Until next time my NOTE takers!

    Writefully yours,

    Deetra La’Rue

    Posted in Happiness & Joy

    !

    Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

    Afternoon, NOTE takers! I purposely didn’t put a title for this post, but rather a punctuation mark, because it represents how I currently feel. I have been VERY busy with school, my full-time job, running my own business, maintaining/updating my website, and booking speaking engagements along the way, that I’ve forgotten I’m only one person and sometimes I get tired. BUT, no matter how tired I am, I still keep moving forward, because I am receiving things I have prayed years for, and I couldn’t be more happier!

    In 3 days, I will be speaking to RA High School 9-12 students, about my personal life experiences and how I overcame them. On top of that, I’ve very fortunate and blessed that they also will be having a book signing for me, and I feel so honored! Sometimes, I sit and ask, “Why would they want me to come speak”?, but I realize I have a very awesome and brave story to share, especially to those who are in need of hope, and are going through what I’ve been through.

    In the words of Drake, “What a time to be alive”! I couldn’t be anymore happier for the way my life is currently going, and hopefully, I won’t see a period (.) anytime soon. I want this train to continue going, and we all know that a period (.) represents the end, and I don’t want to be stopped! Praying that you too are experiencing complete joy, and all of God’s blessings! Keep going……it’s only the beginning!

    Until next time my NOTE takers!

    Writefully yours,

    Deetra La’Rue

    Posted in Outside the furnace

    Beyond the flames (Life outside the furnace, Part I)

    Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

    When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, were thrown into the fiery furnace, they never allowed fear to settle in. One, because of their faith in God. Two, because they knew what was beyond the flames. Before we discuss life outside the furnace, let’s talk about why so many people are in it. We can either walk in, because of our own wrongdoing, or we can be thrown in, all because our beliefs, morals or values don’t align with that of another.

    In Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s case, they were wrongfully thrown into the fiery furnace, because they refused to worship and acknowledge King Nebuchadnezzar as their “god”. In this case, they stayed in line with their beliefs and denounced anything that wasn’t of their God. Angry with their “disobedience”, King N decided to punish them, by putting them in the furnace, while hoping and knowing, they’d be dead.

    However, he couldn’t harm or kill anything that was meant to live! You see, there was life outside the furnace for all three men, so there was no way God was going to allow them to die! Ultimately, a lot of us “die”, because we allow people to “kill” us off. We are confident and know who we are, but then we foolishly allow doubt and fear (King N) to creep in. Suddenly, we ferociously fan the flames, in attempts to put out the fire. But, how can you put out something you are partly responsible for?

    We were not created to be confined or restrained to someone else’s ideologies of us. We owe it to ourselves to walk in our purpose, and live life outside the parameters of what someone has tried to hold us to. Anything besides this, is what I view as mental slavery. We’re too afraid (fear) to think and act for ourselves, so we relinquish the power to someone else. Rather than stand up for who and what we believe, we stay in the furnace, because the risk of speaking up is far greater than being burned.

    No matter what the situation is, always choose to stand up for yourself and what you believe in. Had Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego not stood up for themselves, they too would’ve been enslaved to King N’s ideas and practices. However, you were created for a purpose and with a purpose! Continue to speak up for yourself! You may get burned a few times, but you’ll never become engulfed by the flames. Understand and realize, there is “life beyond the furnace”.

    Until next time my NOTE takers!

    Writefully yours,

    Deetra La’Rue

    Posted in Choices

    Happiness is a choice!

    Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

    Are you happy? Sad? Negative or positive? Everybody is responsible for their own decisions, and I’m sick of people allowing others to influence theirs. The moment we give someone control over our emotions, essentially, we are saying, “Do as you please…….I give you all power”!

    Why would you want someone to control or determine how you feel? How you live your life? How is it, that you can allow them to dictate how you feel, when half the time, they don’t even know why they’re sad? It irks me when people throw themselves pity parties, extend an invitation, and then get upset when you refuse to come.

    I made the choice to make my own decisions. Nothing or no one controls me, so that way, when things don’t go as planned, I can only fault myself, because ultimately, it was “my choice”. When I got tired of struggling and playing the cards I was dealt, I “made the choice” to do better for myself.

    Everyday, I choose to be happy and try not to allow what’s happening around me, to effect me! Everybody has choices, so if you are choosing to be anything other than happy, then you have to live with your decision! Stop misplacing blame and accept responsibility for your feelings and actions.

    Happiness is a choice, so if you aren’t, it’s because you chose NOT too!

    Until next time my NOTE takers!

    Writefully yours,

    Deetra La’Rue

    Posted in All that glitters isn't gold!

    Glitter but no gold

    Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

    I titled this post after the name of my first book, “Glitter but no gold: How I turned my wounds into wisdom”, because perception is everything, but our false reality is not! Have you ever logged onto your social media account, only to see people hashtag, #goals?

    Completely unaware of what’s behind the images they see, all they know is, it’s (or they are) their “goal”. For all we know, they can be modeling themselves or life, after someone who’s not even living theirs! Like a child, we see nice, shiny things, and automatically equate it to gold, but everything that glitters is not!

    This is one of the biggest things I preach constantly to my students and strangers even, because for some apparent reason, they think I “have it all”, when a lot of days, I’m falling apart at the seams. I keep telling them, they don’t want these problems! However, all they see is a very nice truck, beautiful clothes and shoes, a great personality and someone who’s outgoing, but they don’t know what lies behind a “smile”.

    I mask a lot of things, but one thing I won’t ever do, is sell someone a dream, that even I can’t afford to have! We’re so quick to envy, lust and want what others have, but deep down inside, they’re desperately trying to give it away, because they don’t want the negativity that’s attached to it. It could be abuse, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts and so much more! Who knows, but all I know is, I don’t want anything that someone else has!

    Keep in mind, it can sparkle, glisten, be radiant or shine, it still doesn’t make it GOLD!

    Until next time my NOTE takers!

    Writefully yours,

    Deetra La’Rue

    Posted in Be not afraid!

    2 Timothy 1:7 (No fear)

    Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

    What makes us afraid? Why do we fear people, places or things? Most important, what is the point in having fear? By having it, we gain nothing, but can lose everything, sometimes even ourselves. Fear can take on many forms, but irregardless of where it stems from, it can paralyze and inhibit you from doing a lot of things.

    “I can’t do that, because……..”

    “I’m scared of………..”

    “I’m afraid, because………”

    All three of these phrases, are the most common (and senseless) reasons people fail! They lack the “belief” (see previous post) and faith that they can do anything, all because they told themselves they couldn’t, without first giving it a try. What’s sad is, we’ve become critics. We mentally scrutinize ourselves, which results in fear and causes us to become paralyzed.

    Now, we’re stuck and unable to move forward, because we’re afraid of what’s to come next. How do you even know what’s to come, if you are too scared to “pass go”? What if success lives down the street, but you can’t get off the porch, because you’re fearful of what might happen, if you leave your front yard? Well, have you ever considered what might happen if you just stayed there?

    Is fear ruining or running your life? Are you scared of the unknown, so you remain “unknown”? How can you ever expect to live your life to the fullest potential, if you’re so afraid? 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us, “God did not give us a spirit of fear or timidity…..” So, why are you so afraid?

    Now is the time to step out and leave fear behind!

    Until next time my NOTE takers!

    Writefully yours,

    Deetra La’Rue

    Posted in More than deserving

    You deserve this (reaping the harvest)

    Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

    Employee of the year…..check!

    New truck…..check!

    Promotion…..check!

    Published Author…..check!

    Business owner…..check!

    I’m extremely blessed, but sometimes, I feel as though I don’t “deserve” any of it! I’ve had my moments of “Why me”?, but hell, “Why not me”? I’ve worked extremely hard to have everything I want, need and so much more, so I deserve to reap the harvest. After all, I planted it and was able to acquire it, with the help and by THE grace of God.

    Stop allowing people to stop you from enjoying your life, living your life, and most importantly, enjoying the fruits of your labor, all because they were too lazy to “lay down roots”. You deserve everything you have, and if you think otherwise, then what’s the point in you even working? Exactly what are you working for, if you are uncomfortable or ashamed to reap the benefits of your hard work?

    Everything you have……you’ve earned!

    Anything you want…….put in the work, until you get it!

    Live your life to the fullest…….you DESERVE it!

    Until next time my NOTE takers!

    Writefully yours,

    Deetra La’Rue

    Posted in believe

    Do you believe?

    Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

    “Oh ye of little faith”? Does your disbelief in whether or not you can obtain success or be anything you want to, holds you back from executing your ideas? Do you personally feel as though you’re not capable or has someone planted the seed and told you so? A lot of times, people are reluctant to step out on faith and “go get their blessings”, all because they don’t believe in themselves.

    I used to struggle with self-defeating behaviors as a teen and in my early twenties, because I constantly told myself I wasn’t capable of doing half (if not all) of the things I wanted to do. I didn’t believe in myself, largely due to my lack of assertiveness. I sat on a lot of my dreams, aspirations and goals, because “I” didn’t believe in me. To make matters even worse, I didn’t have anyone to dispel my crazy unbelief.

    However, I couldn’t depend on anyone to tell me something, and expect me to believe them, when I was in disbelief. This path of destruction continued for years, until I got even closer to God. My thought patterns changed from negative to positive, my attitude improved and I went from self-doubt to knowing I could, even if I was told I couldn’t.

    Just imagine, had I stayed down and never come up, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m certain my misery and lack of confidence would’ve kept me low, when it was meant for me to go high. I must admit, there are still times I second guess myself or hesitate at ideas, but even I have to “check myself”. I know my worth and value, and that is what keeps me moving forward.

    When was the last time you believed in yourself? Or, are you one of those people who base and measure their self-worth off of someone else’s opinion? Is there anything you’d like to pursue, but you don’t believe you can do whatever it is you are seeking? Let me guess, you gave up long before you even started. I’ve been there, but like me, you’ve got to get rid of your self-defeating behaviors.

    Besides, you can’t expect anyone to believe what you are selling or take you seriously, if you don’t even believe in yourself!

    Until next time my NOTE takers!

    Writefully yours,

    Deetra La’Rue

    Posted in Keep Going

    Miles Away

    Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

    You want it…..you can smell….you can even taste it, yet it’s so far away. Success requires hard work, yet some people don’t want to do what it takes to get it, because the distance is a little farther than they’d like to go. You see, some people just aren’t willing to go the extra mile, because they’re complacent where they are.

    Don’t be one of those people! If success is what you’re after, it doesn’t matter how long it’ll take you to get there, because no distance is too large or great to stop you from achieving your goals and dreams. That’s the difference between “those who want it” and “those you just want to talk about it”!

    All my life, I’ve envisioned being my own boss and having a successful writing career and bookstore. I’ve talked about it for years, and five months ago, I finally started my writing company, CH1. Although I didn’t generate thousands of dollars in revenue within the first month or few, my business has started to pick up and take off.

    I’m already successful, but I know the monetary success that I aspire to have, is going to take me some to attain. However, rather than being one of those who just want to talk about the things I want to have/achieve, I decided I “wanted it”, and put in the work to get it. I’m fully aware that success doesn’t happen over night, and I’m realistic when it comes to my goals, so I refuse to settle for complacency, all because I’m miles away from my goals.

    Whether it be 5, 10, 20 or 100 miles between me and my success, I’m going to continue trekking, because every step I take, is only making me that much closer to my goals!

    Keep going NOTE takers!

    Until next time!

    Writefully yours,

    Deetra La’Rue