Keys to Living - Pearls: Part 2 © By JT Morris

My last entry was meant to drop a few pearls into your spirit derived from my 40+ years of walking this planet.

I walk it like I talk it though. 

In order to get to a level of healthy Self-Awareness, you have to make the "deep dive." To look at yourself so introspectively that it makes you uncomfortable. With that said, I figured I'd reserve Part 2 of my Keys to Living for going over my most intimate "lessons learned":

Lessons Learned 

I’m ok. I'm lovable. I have worth.... but external factors and material possessions do not define who I am. My love for the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and myself does. I define things.... things don't and will never define me.

I am no longer afraid to lose because with loss comes learning.

I no longer intend on being loyal to anyone or anything that is not loyal to me.

I've lived with Rats and Roaches, but I've never had a poverty mindset.

It's not my job to change your mind or convince you to do anything. My only obligation is to provide you with the information that you need to make the decision that best suits you. What comes next depends totally on what YOU choose to do.... For better or for worse.

I am an Empath. I have to be careful of who and what type of feelings I let in. I have a tendency to empathize when I shouldn't care. Everyone doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt.

A lifetime full of lessons has taught me how to maintain a decent quality of life by not making the mistakes that I have witnessed other people make (a.k.a I don't have to touch the stove to know it's hot).  However, I have also been blessed enough to watch my setbacks turn into set ups. Patience is most definitely a virtue. The key is to keep moving. Movement is life. 

Allow yourself to heal after every loss or tragedy. You can move on after them a lot better if you're not dragging along a lot of unnecessary baggage.

I had to realize and accept that sometimes, you're not the right person for certain people....and that's ok. Life has taught me that we can't be everything to or for everyone and to stop driving myself crazy trying to be.

I hate having my time wasted....in any capacity. I absolutely don’t mind wasting my Money, Material Possessions…. Or hell even my Food. All of those things – over time – can be recovered and/ or recouped. However, I value my time above anything else in this life simply because once time is lost…its gone forever.

This Blessed Life of mine has taught me the following things: 

• What to Agree with
• What to Agree to
• What to Respond to
• When to Respond
• How to Respond
• What to Fight for
• What to Release
• When to stay Silent (Still working on this last one though) 

Life has taught me that you tend get back what you put out. Don't expect someone's best when your effort is mediocre at best.

I tend to only see "it" when I have to see "it” or when I WANT to see "it". However, when I do see "it", my vision is 20/20.

We are so much more than what we "appear" to be. We can miss out on something special being so judgmental while harboring poorly conceived preconceived notions. I am most definitely tired of living in a world where I work just as hard as anyone else to get what I have, yet still having to justify my very existence and the have the very value of my life marginalized simply because of the color of my skin.

Just based on the sheer ignorance I hear coming from people who are rich and well off, I feel it's way past time for some rational people with a little common sense to have abundant wealth and resources. It's out there for the claiming. 

I try to be the very best version of myself every single day. Some days I succeed, some days I miss the mark, some days I barely get there, some days I surprise myself with the level success that I obtain (scary).... but I try to be the best version of myself for that day.... because as I stated earlier in this entry, God honors effort.

It’s ok to “be in your feelings.” You’re human after all.  However, the trick is if those feeling are harmful to your serenity and peace of mind to not let them stay in your spirit. The Good Book says that to every thing there is indeed a season. With that being said there is most certainly a time to “Be in your feelings”. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to share with you some of the keys to not being overwhelmed by them:

• Let them in
• Learn the lesson
• Find the Good in it/ Purpose of it
• Use the energy
• Let the rest go
• Keep moving (Movement is life)
• Fight for what you Love
• Don't quit

I never asked myself or was ever asked what I wanted to be when I "grew up". I missed out on a lot of support and affirmations when I was younger. Which is probably why I'm such a mess now emotionally (I'm working on it, though). However, what I have realized is that everything I have ever needed to become whatever it I was destined or decided to be... was/ is already within me. For better or worse.

So just to sum things up......

This Blessed Life of mine has taught me that: 

• The past is the past and not to dwell in it.
• The present is a gift, live fully in the moment for the future is not promised to anyone.
• Never forget to plan for the future whilst hoping for the best and absolutely preparing for the worst.  

Plant the seed (God honors effort..), allow God to nourish it (Psalms 37:25).....then watch it grow (Proverbs 10:22).

So, there you have them folks, my Keys to Living.

I’m sure you have your own. 

I was raised to share my blessings no matter the form in which they are bestowed upon me. 

We are blessed so that we may be a blessing to others. 

I truly in my heart of hearts hope that these words have blessed you.

Be easy out there Fam and may God continue to bless and keep you.

Peace and Love