Tag: encouraging

Relieved

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

August 27th, I received a blessing guised as a loss

So, I still consider myself winning

Although one would think I’d be sadden and depressed

I’m thankful and grateful for this new beginning…….

On yesterday, I received news that I had been relieved, and I couldn’t have been more relieved. I had been preparing for this day for 1 year and 3 months, and after what seemed like forever, it came. I wasn’t shocked, surprised or caught off guard, because I knew it was only a matter of time. The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that, “There is a time for everything”, and I’m so glad MY TIME has finally come. God has brought me to the end of a chapter, but it’s not the end of me!

To be continued…..

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Climbing Mount Everest

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

The top can look pretty intimidating when you’re at the bottom. Just thinking about going up has your stomach in a knot, because you do not want to fall……again! Do you climb up or not, is the question you keep asking, because the last time you did, you regretted it. However, the only thing you’d regret is not going after what you want, because you allowed fear to convince you to come down! Dammit! Just when you thought “this is it”, turns out “it” was not enough to send you up! We all have been scared at some point or another in our lives. We’ve gone over the “what ifs” time and time again, and rather than try to succeed, we simply fail to start. But, one day, you’re going to muster up enough courage and strength to reach your peak, and when you do, you’ll look down and be glad that you did!

What’s your “Mount Everest”, and why are you so afraid to climb?

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Discredited dreams

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

You’re excited! I mean, really, really excited and you want everyone to hear about it. You can barely contain yourself, because things are about to get “real”……..your dreams, that is. Until, you find out that what’s everything to you, is nothing more than a “fantasy” to someone else. In fact, they have a hard time believing “dreams do come true”, because they don’t have any. As a result of their unbelief, they will discredit your dreams, and consider them mere fairytales, because they know that rarely do they exist. Although you want them to share in your joy, they can’t find any. You see, those are your dreams and what you see for yourself, they don’t. So, don’t expect them to support your dreams when they can’t understand why you have them. In the words of my Therapist, “Giraffe’s can’t share their dreams with turtles, because they can’t see what you do”!

Remember, you have the ability to “see things far away”, and ever so often, you’ll find people trying to obstruct your view. Whatever you do, don’t let them “get in the way” of your dreams!

Until next time my NOTE takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

Words are weapons too!

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me”. I can still hear the chant echoed by my elementary school classmates. However, truth of the matter, words do hurt! A lot of power lie within the tongue, so when speaking to someone or about someone, use caution with your words.

I’m pretty sure we’ve all heard the saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all”. People need to understand that just because you have a negative thought or the right to “speak your mind”, doesn’t mean you should say whatever comes to mind. Some people are incredibly sensitive, and even the smallest thing you say, can offend them.

I used to be the type of person that “whatever came up, came out”, but when I realized how damaging my words were, I quickly did away with them. I wanted to use my words to inspire and be uplifting, not insulting. Besides, my careless use of words to retaliate against others temporarily made me feel better, but left them with everlasting pain.

Rather than keep people down with my words, I chose to raise them up instead of lowering them. I had to (eventually) learn that every action doesn’t require a reaction or rebuttal. So now, when people speak negatively towards me, I let them!

It took me a while to be able to take the high road, I’ll admit. I had to remember that hurt people, hurt people. However, don’t become one of those people! Always turn the other cheek and walk away! Be careful of your thoughts, because they turn into hurtful words and ultimately bad actions. Just think about it, if you have to ask yourself whether or not you should say something, or question if anyone would get offended, it’s best to just keep quiet!

Until next time Note takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

If you move, they’ll fall

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

I can remember as child, “testing my faith” (I didn’t realize that’s what it was back then), while playing a game with my acquaintances. I’d close my eyes and fall back, “trusting” (and praying like hell) that the person behind me would catch me. Just as I was falling back, it felt like I was inches away from the ground, but there would always be two arms to break my fall.

I often wondered what would happen if the person behind me, suddenly decided to move. Obviously, I’d fall and possibly get hurt. However, I was very fortunate to always have someone who “had my back”. Have you given any thought as to what would happen, if you “moved” and took a step back away from your family and friends?

Like me, I’m assuming they’d fall and become hurt. Although their pain would not be in the physical sense, nonetheless, they’d still get hurt. People are needy, and sometimes (more than we’d like to be) we’re the very ones they need. We lift them up, keep them encouraged, motivate them and support them….some of us, financially.

We began to question their motives and suddenly our natural instincts kicks in and tells us that we may be being taken advantage of, because we put out more than they pour in. But, how can they inpour anything into you, when they don’t feel as though they have anything to offer….and money is not what I’m speaking of.

If you’re anything like me, innately, you’re a very caring person and want to see the best in everyone, and the best for everyone. My students are my biggest and greatest examples, because everyday, they tug and pull on me until I beg them to save just a little bit of me, for me. Many of them have their reasons for requiring what seems like all of my attention, but none more than “Lisa” (obviously not her real name).

I see her just about everyday, and every time she comes into my office, she always has a “911”. I never understood how someone could need help all the time. However, I thanked God I wasn’t in her position, but in a position to be of help. Four months ago, “Lisa” came to support me at my first book signing, and after the fact, she came to me fragile and crying. I didn’t know the reason for her tears, nor did I question them. I just fell into routine, hugged her and told her “it was going to be alright”.

“Lisa” proceeded to tell me how “proud she was of me”, and as silly as I am, I laughed and told her, “that’s no reason to cry”. However, before the conversation ended, I was the one who needed the tissue. “Lisa” (who’s in her 50’s, by the way) told me “I was her role model and the reason she decided to stay in college. She continued by saying, out of all her family, I was her biggest supporter and the ONLY one who had her back”.

I was completely honored and happy, but most of all, disappointed in myself. All the times I questioned why she always came into my office, and the heavy breaths I let out when I saw her coming, suddenly were irrelevant. If anything, I felt bad and wondered what would’ve happened had I decided to “step back”. Would she still be in school? Who knows, but what I do know is, had I “moved, she would’ve fallen”.

You maybe in a position where you’re more helpful to someone than they are to you. Tired, used and overextended is how you maybe feeling, but do know, it’s all for a reason, and the reason is simple; THEY NEED YOU! It may take them some time (a little more than you anticipate) to get to the point where you can “step back and they not fall”, but whatever you do, don’t desert them when they need you the most!

Until next time my Note takers!

Writefully yours,

Deetra La’Rue

NO WHITE FLAGS!

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue

“It’s okay to fall down sometimes, just don’t stay there”! ~Deetra La’Rue

People are so quick to throw in the “white towel”, because it’s so much easier to just quit.  However, what they fail to realize is, the moment they give up, they forfeit their hopes and dreams.  Hope nowadays, seem to be the very thing a lot of people don’t have.  As I mentioned in my book, “Let’s TALK”, so many people are okay with falling down and remaining there, because it’s too much of a hassle for them to get back up again. 

Rather than use their strength to get up, they lie there, because they feel as though their situation isn’t going to get any better….which is something they don’t want to face anyway.  Every body has had their fair share of failures, and will probably expect more throughout the course of their lifetime. We all know it doesn’t matter how many times you fall down, as long as you get back up.  For some, getting back up is almost instant and adds fuel to their fire, which gives them the drive they need to succeed. 

For others, falling down just confirms the idea that they aren’t meant to succeed, so what’s the use in trying, right? #Wrong! Our mind wants us to believe that when we aren’t experiencing the success that we envisioned so quickly, we need to “wave our white flags”, because we’ll never achieve our goals.  That’s the problem, too many of us are still waiting on the microwave to go off at any moment now, because it’s much quicker than allowing our hard work to bake, while we sit through and enjoy the process. 

That’s it! Nobody wants to endure the process, they only want the results.  But, how can you honestly appreciate and enjoy your success, if you didn’t do anything to get it? If anything, it should make your success that much sweeter to have, because you know of all the hard work, sweat (stress, yes that too) and tears you put behind it.  Nobody ever said it would be easy, but rest assured, it’ll be worth it in the end! 

So, resist the urge to “throw in the towel” and “wave the white flag”! Success is hard work, and again, it doesn’t equate to how much money you have, so stop beating yourself up about it! Remember, “It’s okay to fall down sometimes, just don’t stay there”! 

Writefully yours, 

Deetra La’Rue

Let’s TALK!

Posted on by Deetra La'Rue
When was the last time you’ve had a conversation? 

A lot of times we keep quiet and reserve our opinions, because we don’t want to offend anyone, especially those we love. However, there comes a point in our lives where we have to have some “uncomfortable conversations” with people, although they aren’t easy to initiate.  The things we say are purely for motivational purposes, and although it may sting, it’s what’s needed most. Don’t allow the preservation of one’s feelings to stop you from helping someone who can benefit from your life experiences, wisdom or knowledge, especially if they are struggling with issues you can identify with. Sure, no one wants to be the “bad guy”, but what “good” are you, if you don’t open up your mouth and TALK!

When I wrote this book, I was fearful of what others might say, think, or how they would perceive me even, but I knew I had a lot of things to get off my chest! To be honest, anytime I write, my mind starts to race and wonder if people would like what I say, or hate me for it.  I’ve always been sort of a “people pleaser”, because I just didn’t want to endure the backlash from people, when I didn’t give them their way.  However, as I’ve matured, I don’t focus a whole lot on the things people say about me or how they view me, because I know those are their feelings, and I don’t ever try to make them mine. 

 I know a lot of people may feel like they “don’t know me”, although they know me (if that makes sense), but this book will give them a more in-depth look at me, my life and how I’m able to go on as I do.  Let’s TALK! is basically a collection of different conversations that I have with my readers, in regards to colorism, friendships, walking in God’s purpose, instead of your own, and so forth.  I always tell people, if you are looking for the perfect book on how to be the best YOU possible, then this book is for you.  If not for you, then maybe someone else who is experiencing some tough times, and need reassurance that everything is going to be okay. 

Please support me and purchase a copy (or two) of my book, Let’s TALK! It’s only $16.95 and it’ll be one of the best investments you’ve ever made, and greatest gift you’ve ever given! You can purchase from my website today (see right hand side panel)!! As always, I hope this book does the same for you, as it did for me….give me the courage to do, feel and be anything I always wanted to be, regardless of what others think of me! 

Writefully yours, 

Deetra La’Rue