Staying Positive in 2025

• How do you stay positive when YOU are backed up against the wall?
• What do you do when you’ve done all you can do in order to stay uplifted?
• Who do you go to to vent? Whose shoulder do you lay on to cry?

There are times when I struggle keeping Upbeat. I can wake up feeling Good, Grateful, Positive and then out of nowhere, I will crash. Zero to One Hundred Real Quick.

I’m at that age where I say, IM AT THAT AGE,,, and it kills me because I use to hate when older folks said it to me in order to make a point and prove they were old enough to know what they were talking about!

What’s crazy is how we all live similar lives when it comes to Trials and Tribulations. If you really think about it, and have been around a balance of older people you Ovastand my point. They say, “You Live and You Learn.” And its true.

We all go through hard times and we get better at dealing with life as we grow older, wiser, and smarter. We make better choices. We keep people in our lives who make our lives better. Get rid of those who don’t support us and keep negative energy around them at all times.

Here are some ways I try to make my day get off to a Great Start… And to be Transparent, It be Hit or Miss.

WAKE UP WITH PRAYER:

• I find that when I wake up with Prayer; Thanking GOD for allowing me to not only see a New Day but waking me up in my right mind, my day tends to get off on the right foot. We have to give Thanks and be reminded, not everyone woke up or made it to see the New Day.

• You can also read a scripture from the Bible or sometimes, as an example, I will read a scripture from Proverbs each day for an entire month. And although I am not Jehovah Witness, they still be OUTSIDE!, Literally, and I always appreciate a WatchTower or an AWAKE to read. (iykyk)

*FOR THOSE IN A ‘RELATIONSHIP’*

This is when, after you finish Thanking GOD for an amazing night of Loving, you wake up ya’significant other and proceed to get some A.M. Loving just to help put a lil’bit more Pep in ya’Step for the day… *And this would also include those of us who keep our ‘Relationship’ in our NightStand* LMAO

LISTEN TO MUSIC/SOUNDS:

• Gospel: I will put on some Gospel music to help get me up moving around. I will either listen to songs I’ve purchased on iTunes or the Playlists I have on Spotify.

• Mixes: I have a few dope DJs that I know with some FRESH Mixes so I listen to them. They have a variety of mixes from HipHop to R&B classics to House Music and Reggae. It really gets my body ready for the day. I dance as if noone is watching. Here are 2 of my favorites. Check out there mixes below:

DJ Battle: Reggae Classics

DJ Bee: Soulful Music

• Meditation sounds: There are also days when I need sounds to Meditate to. I will listen to 1111 (for Mental Clarity and Inspiration), 528 (Reducing Stress and Positive Transformation) or 432 Hertz (which does what 1111 & 528 does but at once). I listen on Youtube.
• Inspirational Talks: There are also days where I need to be uplifted and I need help getting out of the mental funk I woke up in. These times is when I will listen to Oprah’s SuperSoul Sundays or Seasoned Dialogue w/ Lisa Marie. Deepak Chopra is someone who motivates me and keeps me grounded with his meditation prompts, too. All of these podcast shows I listen to on Spotify.

FACE WASH REGIMEN:

I start my Face Wash regimen as I listen to whatever genre of music I decide and its usually according to my Mood. Some days are harder than others. You’d be surprised the difference it makes when you start the day with a good clean face. I use a good Refreshing face wash, then Dickinson’s Witch Hazel or Dr. Teal’s Witch Hazel facial toner (Rose Water). Following up with a good serum, shea or coco butter to keep the melanin poppin’. And if you still live in the Old School, Vaseline still works fine.

YOGA/WORKOUT:

• When I lived in NY, my auntie Bubbles was teaching Bikram Yoga (heated Yoga in a room 105°F/40°C) in Brooklyn. I was at class Every Saturday and Sunday. Then I moved to Virginia and I was forced to continue the practice of (regular) Yoga, sometimes with the memory of my aunts teaching or I would watch an Amazing Yoga teacher named BIRD on Youtube. YOGA WITH BIRD

• On days I don’t want to do Yoga or if I need an extra kick to add to my Yoga stretches, I will do a basic workout of Crunches, Push Ups, Squats, as well as some Zumba routines to get the heartrate pumping that I’ve found on Youtube.

• I try to make sure I walk daily. At least 30mins per day as a minimum. This could be me simply walking around my neighborhood or walking to a store and browsing around a bit. I use a pedometer when I want to count my steps. On my days off and most weekends you can catch me out Skating to and from the store or around the neighborhood as well. I also skate outside because I like the outdoor vibes of Roller Skating instead of inside of a Rink.

WRITING/JOURNALING:

• I light a candle, Sage and/or Palo Santo stick/Incense and then I brain dump all the thoughts I woke up with. This could be good or bad thoughts but either way it’s a great way to release and clear your mind.
• I keep a journal and pen in my nightstand because there are time in the middle of the night where I may have a thought or worry or dream and it helps to write it down so I can figure out what it all means in the a.m.

• I have another journal to write my Affirmations and at least 10 things I’m Grateful for and then going over each one; reading them back to myself, as I say, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU after each one.
• I have a few “Prompt” books that will guide me with Questions, Suggestions and Ideas that get you started with conversations to yourself or help you heal through things and set goals. You can find books and journals like these at your community book store or even Barnes & Nobles.

REACHING OUT:

• I am a strong believer that we should keep an open communication with loved ones because tomorrow isn’t promised. I make it my business to text or call my kids daily. The days when I am slacking or its past the time they should have heard from me, they then reach out to me. They understand that I have good and bad days and I need to be checked on, too. I appreciate when family and friends make sure I’m good like I do them.
• There are some people who I wish I had better relationships with and I hope things can get stronger in time but for now, I keep them in Prayer.
• You should have someone you can call each morning to Pray with or just to discuss what your plans for the day are. It doesn’t have to be a long conversation. Sometimes it helps saying and hearing the plans out load and its good to have someone to hold you accountable.
• You also have the option to Text the ones you love and wish them a positive and productive day. Sometimes we don’t want to talk or are unable to talk so shooting a text is another option to utilize.

*One thing we have to remember is tomorrow isn’t promised and you never know when it will be the last time you get to speak to the ones you love.*

TyeClaimer: Please note, there are days where none of the things listed above are done. Those are the mornings when I’m struggling the most. Life really be taking its toll on me. I have to remind myself in those moments WHO TF I AM! and remember I will, as always, bounce back no matter what I’m going through. GOD will always hold me down. HE allowed me another day to give this thing called LIFE another try.

There are also days when I do some or all of everything above and still end up having a crappy day but then I realize it may be because I’ve allowed someone to piss me off or get under my skin to rub me the wrong way. This is when I must remember #2 of THE FOUR AGREEMENTS:

Don’t Take Anything Personally:

“This principle emphasizes the importance of understanding that people’s words and actions are reflections of their own beliefs and feelings, not necessarily about you. By not taking things personally, you can reduce emotional distress and cultivate greater self-awareness.”