Dear Rebirth, ft. Simone Higginbotham

Sincerely AngieLeave a comment

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Last week, I had the extreme pleasure to sit down with a real life superwoman. This was my second time meeting her but first time with a one on one conversation and I was truly blessed by it. You can listen to the podcast episode here.

Simone Higginbotham is a positive force and it’s apparent that her calling is to serve. When I first met her on The Ron Richardson radio show on WGSO 990am back in February this year, I was introduced to The Weekend Girls. There was an upcoming brunch that focused on empowerment and self care for women. I later found out that she created the Legend Awards in Baton Rouge to shed light on the many unsung heroes in her community and beyond. She’s also the founder of Rebirth magazine. I told you, she’s Superwoman!

Simone Higginbotham

What really stuck out to me back in February was that she did not show up to the radio station alone! The group, they were not her entourage! It was a group of about six women she wanted to introduce to Ron Richardson’s corner of the world. I was in complete awe. The radio host Ron encouraged me to speak and interject but I said I wanted to sit back and let these women shine. I didn’t want to shortchange the less than hour we had with them. As each one shared who they were, I could easily tell that no matter how big or small your role could potentially be, Simone was going to make sure you shined in your area. The group of ladies consisted of a planner, a real estate agent, a travel agent and more.

After sitting down with Simone this time around, it confirmed what my spirit already knew. This was a woman who wants the best for everyone she comes in contact with. She wants everyone to win. She doesn’t need the spotlight. She is not going to gatekeep and best of all, she does it all from the heart. If my words don’t encourage you to get to know Simone Higginbotham, listen to her in her own words on this week’s podcast episode.

Follow Simone on all social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook) and visit her site https://www.rebirthmagazine.com/ for all things women, empowerment, self care, mental health, and how you can support the movement.

Sincerely,

Angie

God is Guiding

Sincerely Angie2 Comments

I was listening to an IG video and the woman in the video said “God is Godding” but the auto-generated caption read “God is Guiding”. And immediately, I started to draft this post. I have no bullet points or talking points. I’m just writing. Because as soon as I saw it, that familiar feeling hit me. It’s the same feeling I get when I find a title/topic for a podcast episode. It’s placed on my spirit. Thank You God. There You are at work again.

He’s at work because my theme this year is to lead with God. Let God lead and let Him order my steps. When you trust God, he gives you, what I call, “breadcrumbs” to lead you in the right direction. The obedience to follow and listen to Him, comes with spending time with God and strengthening your relationship with Him. You learn His voice and the way that He speaks to YOU. He is a guiding light.

Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

I was very young when I learned the meaning of my name and it was not by coincidence. It’s all a part of His plan. “Angela means heavenly messenger.” So for a long time, I’ve been cautious and careful with what I say and how I represent myself and God. I pray before many situations for Him to bridle my tongue. But don’t get it twisted, I have not been perfect. I have said some things, thought some things and sinned, a lot! While I may not have always looked the part, in the eyes of people, thankfully, God knows my heart.

With that being said, I pray that everything I say, be God led, God fed and God said through me. I don’t know who this post was for, and I hope something I said resonates with someone. Even if it doesn’t right away, I was obedient because God still works on His timing and whomever, will see this whenever they’re supposed to. Letting God guide you means doing things and not knowing the reason. Just be the vehicle and enjoy the ride!

Sincerely,

Angie

The Last Straw

Sincerely AngieLeave a comment

If you read my last post, I briefly spoke of the last straw. Well, considering Tyler Perry’s latest movie Straw, I figured I’d go ahead on and drop a few lines on Straw and the double entendre of it all.

For the movie Straw, I get it. Women, specifically Black Women are tired and at their breaking point and the next incident to happen, could be the very last straw. The straw that breaks the camel’s back. To summarize in a few sentences or a few breaths, A single mother loses her child, her mind, her car, her job, her apartment, and essentially her freedom, all in the course of 24 hours. And because it was so much happening, all of it was probably not to the extent she imagined in her head. Because at some point, she was merely just existing and not present mentally.

While I pray to never be able to relate to this black woman trope, I know that when it rains it pours. And I don’t know anyone personally or even heard of any one person going through that much trauma in 24 hours. Over the course of a month or year, maybe even a few weeks but never 24 hours. Regardless of the time frame, I understand that life happens and not everyone is built like Job from the Bible. I haven’t experienced the level of trauma that Janiyah(Taraji P. Henson) or many other women have experienced. I also have a different outlook or perspective on life and life lessons.

Most things we encounter are happenstance while others are a direct consequence of our previous actions or seeds we’ve sown. Insert cliche here, “what goes around, comes around” “you reap what you sow” etc. So most times, if something happens, I imagine it’s happening for a reason. I believe that there is a lesson that will come out of the situation. I refuse to be a victim or have a “why me?” attitude. Maybe it’s my faith or maybe it’s my self proclaimed avoidant personality but either way, life is supposed to life. It is inevitable to go through life without some type of hardship. It’s all in how we handle what life throws us.

I am highly aware that everyone’s chemical makeup is different and our balances and imbalances cause us to react to negative things or trauma differently. I don’t expect people to respond how I respond. I accept life’s curveballs and handle them with grace. It’s no one’s fault, it’s no one’s responsibility, it’s mine. Don’t get it twisted, my mind is orchestrating a million scenarios but crashing out, is not an option. This is no shade to the person who does crash out. Our mental bars and/or limits differ per person.

The last straw for me, is just that, the last straw. Now it’s time to make a move, cut ties, sever the relationship, quit the job, move, etc. But what I refuse to do is take out my frustrations on innocent people. I’m not knocking anyone who has done that, I just pray that we all learn to give it to God and trust Him. Honestly, no one wants the last straw. The last straw was the one that broke the camels back. It was one straw too many. I encourage you to remember that God WILL NOT put more on you than you can bear. Seek Him and trust Him. If a lot is happening to you, just know a breakthrough is closer than you may realize. You are stronger than you know and you got this! Someone before you survived worse and maybe, just maybe, you surviving this will be a benefit and blessing to someone else.

Sincerely,

Angie