Thursday, May 3, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Something about Irma
Your favorite
escape from reality: Sitting near the ocean
One thing
you would change about the world: Erase homelessness, hunger & hatred
What do you
dislike about your appearance? My bald spot
The worse
idea you ever had: To stay in a dead relationship
What do you
really believe? I believe that I can leave the world a better place
Your
favorite animal: Dogs
Your
favorite food: Cornbread dressing & turkey (I’m getting hungry! J)
Your
favorite form of exercise: Speed walking
Least
favorite food: Okra
Pet peeve: Wasting
time or tardiness
Favorite
sport: Drag racing followed by basketball & football
Something
that causes you to walk away: Negative people
Hobbies: Gardening, reading, writing, decorating, landscaping, traveling & photography
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Santa's Undies Might Be in a Bunch, But He's Jolly
Santa's Undies Might Be in a Bunch, But He's Jolly
By Irma Givens
The stats prove that the number of people struggling with depression, during the holiday season, is extremely high. Could it be the result of family members who have died before us, the cost of the holidays and the economy or perhaps it's our expectation of what it felt like as a child. The answer could be one, some or all of those mentioned. As children, it's the best time of the year. The shopping is not our duty, paying the bills is not our responsibility but the magic of it all belongs to every child leading up to that special moment on the morning of December 25th each and every year. Well, as adults it plays out a little differently.
Once you become an adult, the magic somehow starts to fade. Your focus is no longer on the jolly guy in the big red suit for you've now met him. You understand the story behind it all and for many you wish to simply put Christ back into Christmas and dismiss all the hassle and headache of shopping, wrapping and eventually paying for gifts. Once you reach a certain maturity you begin to understand there are some things that are far more important than material goods.
During down economic times, especially, people are forced to make some sacrifices and a large number of consumers are still spending more than they can afford only to please everyone on Christmas day. The children would be disappointed not to receive gifts. However, these "grown folks" need to step up and say this year we cannot do what we have done so many years before. We need to come up with a new way to express our love and gratitude this year. Who knows you might just be starting a new family tradition among the adults in the family.
Just like Santa, in the photo above, check your pockets and if the only thing you feel are your undies bunched in your rear, straighten them out, smile and be jolly...this too shall pass! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours! May the holiday season be filled with peace, love, happiness and prosperity. Don't let anyone or anything take the joy out of the season.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
What Makes Us Help, When It Hurts?
What Makes Us
Help, When It Hurts?
by Irma Givens
If you continue to lie there, you will continue to be walked on.
We tell ourselves it is a new day
and I will not continue to help those who continue to hurt and disappoint
me. Soon we find ourselves right back
there helping them again and again. The
question we need to answer is what makes me continue to help, when it hurts so
much.
How many times have you found
yourself in this position? Knowing that
you are a helper and you have a burning desire to help others. However, the same selected few seem to hurt
you over and over again. Could it be the
satisfaction that we get from helping, the love and attachment we have to this
person or these people or is it that we make ourselves believe that this time
will be different? Whatever it is, we
need to get to the bottom of it so that change can take place.
The first thing that we must accept
is that we can’t change anyone other than ourselves. The next thing is that others will only
change when they have a sincere desire and the will power to make those
changes. The third thing, if we keep
doing the same thing, we will keep getting the same thing.
We are the common denominator, the
enabler and ultimately we are the only ones that have the power to change the
situation. We have always being the
doers, even when we said oh I’m not doing this again. We continue to be sucked into helping one
more time. We know the outcome before we
step into it, yet we step on in anyhow.
To those looking in from the
outside, we are being fools because we continue to allow them to take advantage
of us. Your very kind nature has become
a weakness as it relates to these relationships in your life. As you cry through another painful
experience, another point of disappointment, you somehow think why do they keep
treating me this way? What am I doing wrong? Why can’t they love me as much as
I love them? They just don’t care about me or how I feel!
Those feelings are real and some of
them valid. However, we must focus on
the “I” questions taking responsibility for our part in all this. Why do “I” keep allowing this to happen? What
is it that “I” need to do to change it? Do “I” need to discontinue this
relationship? Can “I” help in a way that will not cause me pain &
disappointment? Can “I” love and support them in another way? What can “I” do
to make me feel whole? Can “I” forgive and move forward? Am “I” an enabler?
Once you begin to focus on you, you
begin to feel better and see things a little differently. Rather than simply placing the blame, you are
taking responsibility for your actions which will empower you to make the necessary
changes. Perhaps this has been happening
to you for years, the difference is now you are fully aware of it, empowered to
change it and you can own it. Take the
steps needed to heal your hurt. You may
fear what will happen to our relationship.
It’s ok, look at what’s happening in your relationship now. Everybody was not intended to be with you
every step of your journey. Some folks
have reserved seats on another flight and during a layover, such as this one
right here; they will board a different plane.
Take care of yourself, first! When
others do not value you for who you are and the contributions that you make in
their lives, perhaps you need to re-think the value of the relationship. Keeping in mind this goes for all
relationships. Many times we allow our
family members to get away with everything and we justify it by saying they are
family. No, family needs to honor,
respect, love and care for one another too.
Family is not a free pass to treat you like crap!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
What Gets You Fired Up...
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| www.IrmaGivens.com |
What Gets You Fired Up In All Cylinders?
By Irma Givens
Today I am totally fired up and ready to get it done, my purpose that is. My first social media post of the day read, "Good morning! No matter which side of the bed you woke up on, it does NOT matter. You are equipped with everything you need to serve a greater purpose. Hold your head high, put your armor on, set your eyes on victory, block distractions, dodge negativity, aim high & keep marching! Let's get it done!!!"
I had to ask myself a number of times, OK more than a small number of times, what is it that gets me all fired up. Initially, I had all these random and even petty answers that really did not answer the question. So, I kept asking and kept searching. I evaluated what things I liked, which ones I really liked and noted those that I loved. Soon I was able, not only to put my finger on what I was passionate about but, I was able to tell others.
There is something that just makes you smile brighter, walk taller, laugh louder, jump higher and want to sing and dance in the aisles. That something, no matter what it is for you is the something that you need to be doing. Even if only part-time initially that's a great place to start. You might be asking yourself, how do I do that. Well, perhaps the first step is to find someone who is doing that thing that you have a desire to do and volunteer, seek that individual as a mentor and gain as much knowledge as you possibly can about it.
Don't hesitate, begin seeking your passion and your purpose today. Time wasted cannot be regained. Besides don't you want to start doing what you love right away? I know from experience there is no greater feeling than doing what you love and living life on purpose with passion. It's a freedom like none other. So, I urge you to put down this article and get started now. Here's to you living your life on purpose!!
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