Extend love

Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again - Og Mandino

None of this "if you did that for me, then I'll do this for you." Or "if you weren't there for me when I was down and out; don't expect me to show up for you." Or "since I was the one that called you the last time; then you should be the one calling me this time."

Whatever happened to missing someone and you pick up the phone and call. Or blessing someone with some cash; but not expecting it back or back with interest. Or just exercising some good ol' fashioned kindness and friendliness.

If you have ever tried loving someone else and giving of yourself freely; then you know how rewarding it gets. On the other hand, if you do not practice this often, then you are unfortunately living a life that isn't very pleasing to God and is hence limiting you of heavens blessings.

This is a big one ..... Meditate on it ;)

Happy Monday and New Years Eve!

Laughter

Laughter is the shortest distance between two people - Victor Borge

Don't be so mean-looking all the time. Things are just not that serious. It's ok to laugh a little, and a lot :) - try it!

One of my mentors would say "smile a while and give your face a rest"!

It's good to have a sense of humor. You can be much more approachable and friendly if your attitude isn't so tight all the time!

Happy Sunday!

Vision

When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us - Alexander Graham Bell

Don't get too caught up in life's challenges. Learn to pick out the good from every situation, wipe your tears and prepare to reboot! Clear your thoughts of negativity and press on forward to better things.

But, know when God says no, nobody can say yes AND when God says yes to another possibility, trust Him and live it out!

Happy Saturday!

You

I always knew I wanted to become somebody when I grew up. Now I realize I should have been more specific - Lily Tomlin

If you continue in life with an "undecided major"; you will always be labeled as a part of the masses. Nothing different, nothing extraordinary.

You have got to decide how special and different you want to be. You don't have to be a public figure; but you should be a person of great influence.

If you don't set this goal and follow it through, you will find that you will blend right in with everyone else, nothing will distinguish you from the other person and you'll be just an anybody!

Be specific and become the you you need to be!

Happy Friday!

Offense

You can't avoid offending people from time to time. When you don't mean it, apologize. When you do mean it, accept the consequences - Eric Zorn

Of course, there are some people that can't help but be offended by everything you do but as leaders, be conscious to them and sensitive to feelings.

It's not worth having to always apologize if you can control your responses to them and it's not worth always being over sensitive if you can avoid it all together.

Mercy triumphs over judgement.

Happy Thursday!

Plans

Just remember that if you're not working at your game to the utmost of your ability, there will be someone out there somewhere with equal ability who is. And one day you'll play each other, and he'll have the advantage — Ed Macauley

Last night, my brother shared with me how he stayed motivated and focused in his early years with going to school and getting it done! And how friends from the past who had the same opportunities like him made a decision (back then) to party, go out with girls, drink etc while he made the decision to stay-in studying.
Sadly, the same friends who did "other things" now call him for monetary assistance.

If you continuously neglect what needs to be done, you'll end up always looking for a hand-up.

Prioritize well and success will be yours!

Happy Wednesday!

Merry Christmas

It was about this time in 2009; I was preparing to have my first "Righteous Woman" brunch. Tho, I was extremely nervous, I am glad that I got over it and made it happen.
For that I have to thank my wonderful and really amazing hubby - Gene Quiocho for always encouraging me to keep doing what needs to be done. I also want to acknowledge a few specific people who with much prayer and great motivation, propelled me to "just do it" - Gene Quiocho Lynn Emma Shimuli Hoskins Liz Oseso Erika Price, Shelia Spencer, Amani Love, Mel Drake, Marcy Lawani, Verisedale Green Treva Reid, Lori Archie Priscilla QuiochoSandra Uwa (to name a few).

Because of this, we reach about 100 women and men daily with words of encouragement via blog, text, email and other forms of social media.

Thank you to all the readers (here in the states and abroad) and to my awesome mentor Margueritte Champion for keeping me focused and in the right direction. Lots of love !!

I appreciate everyone for all of your support over the years; you too have been a blessing to me!
Remember, "Righteous Living" is a deliberate action to live a life that pleases God not man. And that, my friends is worth living for.

Merry Christmas to you and your families.

Give

Some of the biggest challenges in relationships come from the fact that most people enter a relationship in order to get something: they're trying to find someone who's going to make them feel good. In reality, the only way a relationship will last is if you see your relationship as a place that you go to give, and not a place that you go to take - Anthony Robbins

It can be frustrating if you are always the giver in any kind of relationship; and on top of the world if you are always the receiver.

Relationships (or any type of commitment/covenant that you go into with another person) have and always will be two-sided. One person isn't emotionally able to sustain the needs, care and attention that both people need and desire.

So, do your part and learn to be a giver; and a good one too! Don't worry about what you get in return; God will take of that ;)

Happy Monday!

Mistakes

A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them - John C. Maxwell

You may be able to get away with covering your wrong doings for a little while. But there will come a time when you will not be trusted for anything you do or say if you don't start admitting to your mistakes.

Admitting to your mistakes keeps your integrity, makes you respectable and allows you to be trustworthy.

Happy Sunday!

You

The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others - Dr Sonya Friedman

People will only do to you what they see you do to yourself. If you honor yourself and respect yourself, folks will do the same.

And on the other hand, if you de-value your opinions and your self worth, then that's what you will get from others.

There are definitely some people that will try to dampen your joy for sure BUT if you are solid in your frame of mind; nothing will shake you.

Remember, your ultimate standard is God's love for you. If no one comes anywhere close to that; then they aren't worth your time :)

Happy Saturday and be safe out there!

Pray

Don’t settle for anybody just to have someone. Set your standards. What kind of love do you want to attract? List the qualities you really want in the relationship. Develop those qualities in yourself and you will attract a person who has them - Louise Hay

Being desperate will lead you to a deadly relationship. It's important that you reflect on your intentions to "date"; because if it's just to have a bf/gf because supposedly everyone else has one....then you are in trouble.

Listen, please pray hard, think carefully, get counsel and listen to what you have to say about you; before such a serious decision.

You will be glad you did! ;)

Kind

Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle - Philo of Alexandria

Think about how many folks you walk by, pass by, bump into, talk to on the phone etc.

Then think about you.... And how somedays are tougher than the last. Or how you could often use a good Samaritan. Or how a single phone call could make things better. Or how a "hi, I'm checking on you" from a friend/family makes all the difference!

In that respect, try your hardest to express a bit more compassion and sympathy when you meet others.... You too might need it someday.

Happy Thursday

Strength

Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles - Alex Karras

Sometimes we look at people and how they look and we immediately assume that they are weak or can't handle challenges in life.

You never know what someone can handle until you see them come out of it or hear them talk about it.

Often times, the "tough" sounding and "tough" looking are actually quite fearful and un-brave.

Strength is within, not on the outside.

Happy Wednesday good people!

Love

Love your neighbor as yourself - Bible

We have all heard the saying - "do unto others as you will have them do unto you". This is very true.

You can only do what you know. The way you treat others, is a reflection of how you think about yourself.

This is not something that happens once a year, it's something you practice for a lifetime.

Love yourself, and take that same love (100fold) and extend it to the person next to you - with no reservations.

Enjoy your Tuesday!

Something different

Look for the good and praise it - Unknown

How often do we find yet another reason to avoid someone? How many times do we continuously judge someone by what they did to us yesterday, 3 months ago, 5 years ago?

Here's our challenge for the week: don't find someone new...but go to or call someone we already know that we have judged (maybe rightfully so); and try something different.

Find something good in them, because everybody has at least one; and praise them for it.

Yep.... Let's try something different to a familiar person :)
Can we do it?

Happy Monday all!

Help

The love of our neighbor in all its fullness simply means being able to say, What are you going through? - Simone Weil

Yes... And if you do say it, mean it!

Imagine how many people we pass by each day with no idea as to what they are facing and going through.

Every now and then, slow down. Think of someone else and really care about where they are in life. If you can help - make no excuses, don't hesitate - go right ahead and extend a hand.

Because one day....regardless of how rich, popular, important, or confident ... you too will need someone to do for you the same.

Happy Sunday!

Efforts

Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it nothing great was ever achieved - Ralph Waldo Emmerson

If you are excited about something, you will easily achieve it. If its something you aren't passionate about, then it'll be equally as difficult to accomplish it.

If its important, you will find a way to make your efforts match your enthusiasm.... Right?

Happy Saturday!

Excellence

Excellence is never an accident; it is the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities - Anonymous

Yea.... I wish we could just snap our fingers and excellence arrives!

But yup....sorry, you actually have to put in the work! :)

Good Friday!

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. ~ Romans 12:9-11

This scripture is clear.  If you are going to love someone, then be sincere about it.  And in that sincerity, comes vulnerability, honestly, loyalty, care etc.  It wouldn't be real if these things are not accompanied with your compassion for someone.

In this age we live in, we are taught to think of ourselves first, consider our thoughts first, look out for your protection first and so on and so on.  But its clear in the bible that we are to do otherwise, why? Because God takes care of us and our demonstration of our love for our fellow brethren is important for others to see....this is what changes lives.  NO ONE is going to change their live based on how much you love yourself, or how much you buy things for yourself, or how much your status elevates, BUT lives are touched around you because of how and what you do for someone else. 

We have got to get better at this .... :)

Love builders:
Pick someone this week and do something nice for them.