When It's Your Time...

When It’s Your Time….

As I’m looking out the window reflecting upon this cold spring day in Atlanta, I notice this beautiful fully bloomed Cherry Blossom Tree. I begin to ponder is the tree confused because the weather contradicts the season. Immediately it dawned on me, the circumstances surrounding the cherry blossom tree did not prevent it from blossoming, because it is its season to bloom.

How may this correlate to your life? I’m glad you asked the question. In this great economic hardship of recession, living in the era of all time high divorce rates, massive employment downsizing, and diseases running rampant; the circumstances surrounding your immediate environment will not prevent you from reaching maximum levels of success when you are in your season of blessings. YES!!! You will stand as the above mentioned cherry blossom tree. People will wonder how you are blossoming when the season you’re in contradicts the “weather”. They will believe it is impossible for you to reach the level of success that awaits you. You will be noticed. You are in your season of blooming!!!
Always Speaking Above Mediocrity,

Latrina "SAM" Johnson

Article: When It’s Your Time
By: Latrina Johnson
Copyright © Speaking Above Mediocrity 2010

Latrina "SAM" Johnson is an International Life Transforming Professional Speaker, Author, and Life Coach. Contact Speaking Above Mediocrity, LLC to book her for your next event.

Please visit her website www.speakabovemediocrity.com or send her an email request at: coachmesam@ymail.com
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I Have Been Rejected But That Does Not Stop My Destiny

I Have Been Rejected But That Does Not Stop My Destiny!

Reject (n) the person or thing set aside as inferior in quality.[define.com]

There have been some networks I’ve tried to establish that failed. They failed because they/the networks perceived me as inferior in quality.

As I think on the above statement I am reminded of the time in which I decided to take swimming lessons as an adult.

Here’s an excerpt from my book, ‘Change Your Life by Changing Your Mind’- “The male instructor welcomed all of the returning students. I was shocked! I didn’t do enough research. This class was a continuum session from the previous summer. Please do adequate research! I was totally taken off guard and embarrassed. The instructor and the class began doing warm-up exercises in the pool that I was not capable of doing. The female instructor took me by the hand and led me to the three feet end of the pool. Actually, it was a different pool all together. She asked what my level of experience was and I said, “Bathtub.” You have to be honest with yourself as well as others in order to grow or go to the next level. If God sends someone to assist you along your journey they will need to know exactly what type of assistance you need. This is a time when you are embarking on a journey and taking the necessary steps to equip yourself for what lies ahead. She began by teaching me how to hold my breath beneath the water. Every time the water touched my chin, I felt as if I were drowning. I would begin to panic. I would frantically gasp for air. The instructor would calmly say just stand up and I would have to remind myself, “Oh yeah it’s only three feet of water.”

There will be times obstacles that you are facing will seem like mountains but they are hills. Just stand up. Don’t allow the obstacle to overpower you. Remember you have in your ability to subdue and reign. Just stand up. Stand in the power within you. The entire first day I spent time only with the female instructor; separated from the rest of the class. I felt humiliated. At the end of the session the female instructor and I joined the other instructor and students. The class was then dismissed. As I was walking to my car I was hoping the other students didn’t happen to notice they were more advanced than myself, then all of a sudden I began to vomit. I mean everywhere. The entire class made a complete circle around me and watched me vomit. I wanted to just vanish at that very moment. They all showed genuine concern making sure I was ok and asking would I be able to drive myself home. I wallowed in the hugest pot of embarrassment. I got into my car and drove off. I vowed to never return. Day two I showed up because I am no quitter! I am relentless and the object of the goal was to learn how to swim. I had to face all of my classmates and continue to reach for my goal in the face of my humiliation. Just remember the same ones to see you fail will be the same ones to see you succeed.
The Same Ones To See You Fail Will Be The Same Ones To See You Succeed.

The male instructor looked at the female instructor and said in a very mean tone with aggravation on his face “Are you going to help her (referring to me) because she is so far behind the other students, I just don’t have time.” The female instructor took me by the hand and said, “I would love to help you.”

The male instructor rejected me because he saw me as inferior to those he were surrounded by. At the end of the ten day swimming class, I was more advanced than all the students in the class. I was swimming from one side of the pool to the other, diving off of the diving board, doing the butterfly, backstroke, and etc. YES!!!! The male instructor was impressed. He offered to pay for my next lesson. I declined, because I did not set out to impress him, but to accomplish the goal of learning how to swim. And although he rejected to assist me…please my destiny could not be stopped!!!!

So, when you are rejected because they can not foretell your end result, honey keep on pursuing your goal. You have the capability to surpass those you sought connections with and be grateful to those who take you by the hand until you have reached your destination. Others value of you, do not define your worth or your destiny.

Excerpt from Latrina “SAM” Johnson’s book, “Change Your Life by Changing Your Mind” due for republishing fall 2010

Always Speaking Above Mediocrity,

Latrina "SAM" Johnson

Excerpt: Change Your Life by Changing Your Mind
By: Latrina Johnson
Copyright © Speaking Above Mediocrity 2010

Latrina "SAM" Johnson is an International Life Transforming Professional Speaker. Contact her to book her for your next event.

Please join Speaking Above Mediocrity FaceBook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speaking-Above-Mediocrity/363918764700?ref=mf

I Don't Need Your Approval To Be Great!

I Don’t Need Your Approval to be Great!

Transforming into the fullness of which you’re destined to be, is a vigorous process and sometimes a lonely one. Much like the caterpillar, it is first birthed as a worm. It is a well able, functioning body. It moves, eats, and breaths. Now the caterpillar could settle at this point in his life. The caterpillar could decide this period of his journey is good enough. But God has shown the caterpillar his purpose. God has given the caterpillar a vision! The caterpillar knows if it stops at this point it will not fulfill its destiny. The caterpillar’s purpose is to become a butterfly.

When the caterpillar goes into the next phase of his life, he enters the womb of a cocoon. He is placed in isolation. During this time he is being reconnected to his Creator. His Creator has to isolate him, because once he comes out of the cocoon, he has to do something he has never done. The caterpillar will have to fly! Can anyone other than God, turn the caterpillar into a butterfly and command it to fly, without lessons? I never heard of anyone other than God being able to make such a command. When the caterpillar is in the womb of the cocoon, God is preparing him to step boldly and confidently into his purpose. God knows that once he emerges from the cocoon, immediately he will be told that he cannot fly. God wants to encourage and esteem the caterpillar.

God knows that he will hear immediately from others, “I remember when you were a caterpillar, what qualifies you to fly? Who told you that you could fly? And how did you get those wings? You are just a worm with wings. Common sense should tell you, you cannot fly. Surely, you don’t think you can fly?” The caterpillar will also hear, “No one taught you to fly. What qualifies you?" The butterfly will say, “God qualifies me.” The butterfly will begin to testify, “When I was in the womb of the cocoon, God fellowshipped with me. God told me that I am a butterfly, wonderfully and beautifully made and I will fly. So, when I emerged out of the cocoon, out of my lonely place, out of my place of isolation, out of my place of struggle, I believed what God said and I can fly. I fly with the assurance of being processed by God. And can’t anybody talk me out of who I am. No, I’ve never had flying lessons and yes I was a caterpillar and yes you are amazed. I fly boldly because my elevation came from God. And can’t you or anyone else talk me out of who I am. I am a butterfly. I fly without your permission or approval.”

Many had the opportunity to witness the caterpillar in its ugly phases, in its trying phases and in its challenging phases. The same ones will also see it in its fullest manifestation of a butterfly. Some will not witness the process, but marvel at the final manifestation. The butterfly fulfills its purpose.

Excerpt from Latrina “SAM” Johnson’s book, “Change Your Life by Changing Your Mind” due for republishing fall 2010

Always Speaking Above Mediocrity,

Latrina "SAM" Johnson

Excerpt: Change Your Life by Changing Your Mind
By: Latrina Johnson
Copyright © Speaking Above Mediocrity 2010

Latrina "SAM" Johnson is an International Life Transforming Professional Speaker. Contact her to book her for your next event.

Please join Speaking Above Mediocrity FaceBook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speaking-Above-Mediocrity/363918764700?ref=mf

She loves the man that rapes her mother…

She loves the man that rapes her mother…

She turns her face towards the wall
Her head is bowed as her tears drench the cherry wood floor
She wipes her tears with her braided ponytail so cleverly wrapped in a yellow and white polka dot bow
She lifts her head up towards the sky
Her tattered voice cries, “God please help momma”

In the late night hour, the shattering of breaking dishes awakens her
Her mother screams for help
The sun shines bright, but there is darkness in the home
Mother arises with a black eye
There are no words exchanged between her and mom
Silence
Mom combs her hair and says, “Do not be with a man that beats you”
Mom is crying
Daughter is sitting still

Daddy loves her tenderly
Daughter loves him immensely
He treats her like a fragile dandelion
Daddy kisses her on the forehead and protects her

He calls mom a bitch and a whore
Throws her down on the floor
Why don’t the neighbors come help her
God help her PLEASE

Mom says to daughter, “When your father is beating me go to your room and don’t come out, I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Daughter is five years old
Daughter's existence is consumed with confusion
Best daddy in the world
Worst husband in the world

Momma went to the hospital today
She came back with a broken arm
Daddy broke mommy's arm
Mommy stays
Why does mommy stay

Daddy tells daughter that she is the most precious thing on earth
Daughter adores daddy
Daddy beats mommy
Daughter loves mommy
Mommy protects daughter
Daddy loves mommy and daughter

Daughter is walking dead
She is numb
She has lost her laughter
This has to be an awful type of wicked to love the man that rapes her mother
She lives daily with the guilt of loving the man that beats her mommy

TAKE A STAND AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE…IT IS EVIL

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Always Speaking Above Mediocrity,

Latrina "SAM" Johnson

Poem: She loves the man that rapes her mother…
By: Latrina Johnson
Copyright © Speaking Above Mediocrity 2010