Passion for Fashion

So since I've been on this quest to find my purpose, I have returned to my passion for fashion.  When I was a teenager, I developed a strong interest in the fashion industry.  I would sketch clothes for men and women, and I considered going to school for it.  However, I never did. 

So I've returned to my interest in fashion, and I know now that there are more things that one can do in the industry, besides designing, which is what I originally wanted to do, and I still do eventually.  But for now, I will just become a retailer of someone else's designs.

My brother and I will be going into business soon, opening our own shoe store.  I realized that I love fashion, no matter what shape it comes in.  Since I don't have the necessary tools to start making and selling my own designs, I can sell someone else's.

I love, love, love shoes, and I know many women who can relate, and will purchase from me because of the different styles that I have that noone else does.  I couldn't be happier that I get to embark on one of my passions, and if all goes well, I may find my place in the fashion world after all.

I will keep you posted on the upcoming store and website.

PASSION, PURPOSE AND LIFE

Okay, so I am a fan of the Basketball Wives shows, and currently I've been watching the 1st season of Basketball Wives LA.  On Ep. 2, the ladies go to see Imani Showalter's, life coach, Akema Johnson-Day.  Ironically, or maybe not, the topic of their discussion was Passion.  Akema said something that really hit home for me, and is something that I have been saying since I've been on this quest to find my purpose.  Her exact words were, "when you follow your passion, you discover your purpose, and success is sure to follow."

I couldn't agree more, and I know this to be true.  However, some people might ask, "what if you don't know what you're passionate about" or "what if you're passionate about many things, where do you start?"

I say, keep it simple.

I love to write, so whenever I get ideas about anything, I write them down.  Usually, my brainstorms or idea clouds include a mini-plan of how I think I can reach this goal, or how it can be obtained. Usually I do some research to support my ideas and I may or may not pursue it right then.  What determines if I do pursue them at the time or not, are timing and resources.

I ask myself, "do I have the time to put into this project," or "do I have enough money to get started," or "do I have the necessary tools, products, or equipment that I need?" 

But my first step is to always WRITE IT DOWN.  When you write things down, you can get all of your thoughts out on paper, so you can better evaluate the situation or idea, and return to it later for further review. 

To see how to organize your ideas, please read Discovering Your Purpose: Narrowing Down Your Options.

How To Determine What You Are Passionate About?

Basically, being passionate about something, means that it is of great importance to you.  It could be what get's you up in the morning, what calms you down, what gives you peace, what makes you smile, or even what makes you cry.  It could come from a strong interest in something or someone.  It also could be something that you love to do. 

Ask yourself these questions:

If you had 1 million dollars, what would you do with it?

If money nor time was not a factor, what would you be doing right now?

What makes you feel important?

What makes you happy? Smile?  Laugh?

What gives you hope?

If you could change anything about the world, what would it be?

If money, education or skills was not a factor, and you could do anything, what would you be doing right now?

If you honestly answer these questions, you will probably find that you would have answered some, if not all, of them with some of the same answers.  Those repetitive responses, are more than likely what you are passionate about.

Next, take the necessary steps to follow your passion.  Research, research, research.  Find out everything that you can about what you desire to do, and start making moves toward them.

Discovering Your Purpose: Narrowing Down Your Options

The first step to narrowing down your options of things that you want to do or can do, is to make a list.  Write down everything you've ever wanted to do, still want to do, everything you've done and maybe enjoyed doing, and what you're good at.  This is the brainstorming session.  I start with the things I love to do, then add things that I might have never done but want to do, then add the things that I know that I am good at doing.

After I've gotten it all down on paper, then I prioritize my list into what can be done in a few days to a few years or more.

The things that can be done sooner, I make a plan to get them done.  

For example:  I am planning to get my Real Estate License this year.  First, I have to take the class, which only takes about 2 months to complete.  Then, I have to take the state board exam, get my fingerprints and background check completed, and everything else that that involves; all things that I can accomplish by December of this year.  I have registered for the class, and I will take the exam upon completion.

The plan is to make your list, put in the order of what is most important or desirous to you, then put in order of what can be done the quickest or easiest, research and make a list of what each goal entails, and work your plan.  

You may end up finding your purpose with the first try, or it may take you trying a few things before you discover what you're supposed to be doing.  But it can't hurt.  You're doing things that you want to do, or enjoy doing, or are good at doing and maybe learning some new talents along the way.

The History of Me

Wow, where do I start?  I could start all the way from the beginning and give you a long drawn out biography of my life from my younger years until today, but even I wouldn't want to read through all of that.  So I'm going to try and keep it as simple as I can without skipping the major events.

To make a long story short, I was raised by both of my biological parents, both of whom were what I consider to be sort of lower middle-class citizens.  Both born and raised in Jacksonville, Fl.  I had a pretty good child hood, no major traumas or misfortunes, but I did watch my parents struggle and work very hard to take care of me and at some point, my siblings.  See, I'm the baby by at least 13 years to my 5 older siblings.  So I kind of grew up alone, for the most part.  

Since I can remember, I've always wanted to do big things, and I've always believed that I could make a difference in the world. As child I dreamed of being a veterinarian, a doctor, an architect, a lawyer, a dancer and a singer.  When I became a teenager, I wanted to be an actress, a singer, a dancer, a fashion designer, a restauranteur, and just an entrepreneur in general.

I was always an excellent student, who didn't have to do much to maintain above a B average.  After graduating high school, I went straight off to college, where life for me changed.  I never really understood what the Cosby produced show, "A Different World," meant by that title until I went to college.  It was definitely a different world.  The things that I used to do to in school that earned me A's and B's, were now only good enough for maybe a D.  I was not prepared for what I experienced, but I must say that those years were the most exciting, fun, lonely, and sad years of my life...lol.

But after 2 years, I didn't have to worry about that anymore, because I returned home to give birth to my baby boy.  Yes, I got pregnant, and now that I look back at it, coming home was probably the worst mistake I've ever made.  I was very lonely and homesick, so at the time it seemed like a good idea, but if I had known then, what I know now, I would have stayed and raised my son there.

Anyway, after returning home and having my son, I had to face the real world.  I worked and tried to go to school, while living at home with my parents.  My mom was a big help, but I just couldn't bounce back.  Soon school became harder and harder, and I found myself withdrawing from semesters left and right.  I had always wanted to go to college and graduate, so I was determined to accomplish this goal, but every time I got started, it seemed like I couldn't finish for one reason or another.  So it took me 6 years just to get my AA degree, and who knows how long it will take me to get my Bachelors or Masters, but I know that as long as I have breath, that I will accomplish this goal.

So since I've come back home, I have worked, doing everything from warehouse work to being an insurance medical underwriter, which is my current job title.  I have had a pretty good permanent position at an insurance company, that I quit to go back to school full time to get my degree and work at a gas station over night.  I have worked in the entertainment/music scene in my city with local artists, managing and assisting them.  I have done Multi-Level Marketing companies, all of which have not been successful for me.  I have tried my hand at sales, which I'm not very good at because I don't really like talking to people...lol.  Recently, I tried going to school for Cosmetology, because I really wanted to learn how to do hair and all that stuff, but I just couldn't find my place there either.  My next plan includes getting my Real Estate license by the end of the year, which seems easy enough.

In 2009, I met my husband, and we got married after knowing each other for only 6 months, 3 of which he spent in jail.  Crazy, I know.  But I felt like he was the one for me.  And there is some method to that madness.  My inspiration for jumping into this was this: my parents only dated for 3 months, before they married and they have been married for 32 years now.  So that's my justification for that.

My husband has 4 children, 3 boys and 1 girl, and I have 1, a boy.  Nevertheless, I love them all the same.  They definitely keep us young, although 2 of them are old enough to be my younger brothers, instead of my sons, but they know mama don't play.

I attempted to go to school for Alternative Medicine in 2010, because I became overly obsessed with all things natural, more about that later.  Also, I decided to go all natural and I chopped off all of my hair in November of 2010.

So here I am.  A wife, a mother, an underwriter, and what else is there?  Those are the only definite titles I hold.  I am a tryologist, I will try anything at least once.  There is so much that I want to do, that sometimes I don't know where to begin.  But, I've figured out a solution for that.  If you would like to know how you can start on your journey of discovering your purpose, please read Discovering Your Purpose: Narrowing Down Your Options.

I know I promised this post wouldn't be that long, but the more I typed, the more details I realized I was missing that needed to be shared, so that my reader would understand some of the things I talk about later.  If you have taken the time to read this entire blog, I thank you and I welcome you to comment and share your story with me as well.