would love to share a story with you.
let’s learn about one another;
other.
a loving soul;
mission may soon be on the roll.
never grow older.
gone by;
awareness, and an enlightened sky.
that our families will be proud of.
Bible Reading & Spiritual Connection
Proverbs 28:25 & Galatians 6:7
You have the chance to make the most out of your life, each day that you are graced and blessed to have breath in your lungs and the sun shining in your face. If you are not taking the time to sow seeds into your field, you cannot expect a harvest. In all that we do, we cannot work in evil ways, greed, or internal “ugliness”. When we are gifts and lights to the world, that which we are faced with grows into something much more valuable and worth residing in. You have the exact key that you need for the door of your destiny, so enjoy the journey toward claiming your victory.
Be blessed and be at peace.
#KayLasPositivityCorner
©KayLaN.Allen
I give too much…
I give too little…
I give just enough…
Are you giving enough according to what you believe, practice, and value?
How many times have you told yourself that you were going to give something your all?
How often do you stick to giving that “thing” you all?
How often have you only giving something a bit of your effort because you weren’t really concerned about it?
When you did that, did you find even more disappointment or go back and wish that you had given it more effort?
Have you given too much of yourself to someone or something? When you do this, you can leave yourself with emptiness, lost hope, brokenness, and lost will to even love yourself or make yourself happy.
How about this?… Have you ever given just enough effort/time?
Who says that enough isn’t enough? I can’t tell you who first said it, but you can start saying when enough IS enough.
You see, for everything that you delve into whether it is a new job, school, writing a book, building a home, buying a car and everything in between you can say when enough is enough.
What does enough mean?
Amazing and wonderfully, your life is your own- meaning it is unique and no one else can live your life. God built a specific life for you to lead. The Universe works in your favor in accordance to what you do, think, practice, and meditate on; it shapes things for you.
Since your life is uniquely put together shouldn’t you be the one to say when enough is good enough?
Let’s think about this a little deeper…
1. You must be mindful and aware of your actions and behavior. Saying that people should accept you for who you are does not apply if you are choosing to be immature, ignorant, foolish, prideful, or negative. Be aware that enough is enough applies in this one if you are being your best self.
2. When taking on a new endeavor of any sort, you must determine what is enough. If giving your all is enough, stick to that and do not give up. You see, you can’t start off giving what is enough to you and then one day decide that you are tired of doing that (without seeking positive change first). You are in charge…so what’ll it be?
3. In a relationship, again you determine what is enough. Truly take self-inventory before you decide what is enough, though. Are you being a good listener, compassionate helper, cheerful giver, etc.? If you are, then you are doing enough…don’t let anyone make you feel or think that you are not doing enough or that you are not good enough at your core. Don’t be afraid to Break The Silence and claim your excellence; your live is yours and you do not have to prove yourself to anyone.
4. Give enough to everyone that you encounter. You were granted tools and also have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. For every person that you run into, you have something to give. Give from your heart whether it is in words, a story, a smile, or your business card…do what you can to give enough. This can be connected to giving back to your community or an organization like Break The Silence Against Domestic Violence; give what you can, volunteer, run for a cause, support a mission, help your friend/neighbor…simply give enough according to your heart. Everything happens for a reason, so make the most of the meeting, mission, or conversation.
5. Giving enough to your family is equally defined by you. Do not burn yourself out; if you need to do something for yourself and have the ability to do so, practice self-care regularly. This can mean a walk, pampering, reading, meditating, exercising or anything else that makes you feel at peace. Schedule your love and care for your family and yourself; you need it and deserve it.
The moral of the story is that for everything and everyone in your life you are in full power of determining what is enough. You must take the time to understand what that looks like and execute whatever it takes to achieve that. You do not have to push yourself so far that you lose sight of yourself or get to a point where you are feeling empty or broken- you deserve so much better than that.
Matthew 6:21
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Think about it, if you are giving enough and happy with what you are putting in, the action is directly connected your heart and can literally give you a sense of fulfillment. Even if you aren’t in the place of where you aim to be, you can embody that sense by planning out all that you aim to do; work to truly feel how you would if you were already at that level of success or happiness.
Proverbs 10:4
“Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Think about what you consider to be enough, are you truly putting in the effort that you need to? Is your enough, your work, your push, your mission going to bring you success at the level or space that you are actively living in? God gave and is still giving and revealing to you gifts, angels, words of wisdom, lessons, values, and places to be amazing…are you really giving enough?
The Universe is a place and part of you that is defined by you, your actions, and everything that lives inside of you.
So….I’ll ask you again are you giving enough?
Be blessed and be at peace.
#KayLas Positivity Corner
***Health Spotlight*** Gonorrhea
Prevalence: this STD can infect anyone that is sexually (vaginal, anal, or oral) active- ejaculation does not have to occur to get the infection. Pregnant women can possibly pass the infection their babies during delivery. According to the CDC there are an estimated 820,000 people infected with gonoccoal infections every year in the U.S.
Symptoms: (in men) burning sensation when urinating, white, yellow or green discharge from penis, painful or swollen testicles ; (in women) painful or burning sensation when urinating, increased vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding between periods. Rectal infections: can be asymptomatic or cause symptoms in men and women such as discharge, anal itching, soreness, bleeding, painful bowel movements. If you do not get treated pelvic inflammatory disease is possible (in women) and sterility in men, pain in testicles are possible; also, increased risk in getting HIV and life-threatening issues due to gonorrhea spreading to the blood or joints are possible.
Treatment: treatment can be difficult as there are some drug-resistant strains, but it can be cured with the right treatment. There is a form of dual therapy using two drugs to treat the infection; permanent damage cannot be reversed. If symptoms continue after finishing medication, you need to return to your physician/clinic.
Prevention: use condoms, know your sexual partner and their sexual and medical history, or don’t engage in any sexual encounters.
Giving Enough…
If you ever feel forced to have unprotected sex with someone, you may need to re-evaluate your situation and seek help from the authorities, if needed. Giving enough in intimacy is definitely defined by both parties; do not push yourself into a realm that you are uncomfortable with. Protect yourself at all cost. Know that you do not have to go to a major physician (and pay a high out-of-pocket price) to get help, community health clinics are in many places. Talk to your friends and family about their health. Communities both near and far are impacted by the good and bad in health choices and delivery of care, so do what you can to bring tough conversations into the light. Seek the help that you need as soon as you need it. Talk to someone; talk to me, I will listen without judgment and help you in any way that I can.
Let’s lead healthy, happy, prosperous, lives from the inside-out! We deserve it!
©KayLaN.Allen
When the storms come and the rain falls it pours; you can get blinded by it all and feel like giving up (trust me, I know).
On your journey of evolution or when seeking to become the best version of yourself, you need to know that the battle and the storms are worth it.
How can you think otherwise?
How could you allow the bad to take over and then let everything shift into a negative space?
Why would want to? Because it is easier….? Because it will please someone else…?
Stop…now. Shake it all up.
Mental and physical health mean so much to not only you, but everyone around you.
When you think about battles that affect you, how do you handle them?
You need to put your everything into all that you do no matter how hard it may seem or who may say something negative. Do you know why? Simply because you have to. You must dig deep, fight hard, and believe in something.
FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!
If you are pushing for something, growing into yourself, revolutionizing your life, doing something new, etc. fight for it!
I promise you no matter what it is that you are fighting for, everything that you feel leading up to that moment of achievement matters.
The empty spaces, tear-filled eyes, lost voice, long nights, stressful papers, terrifying exams, closed doors, and everything in between is worth it.
Keep fighting!
Keep pushing!
Think about people all around the world and how so many people have to fight to have food, clean water, medicine, warmth, a doctor’s visit, etc. Now, think about yourself…what are you facing? Not to say that one problem is greater than another, but you are already blessed beyond measure and have so much to offer others even when the storms roll in.
If you don’t have that fight (will) inside of you, you will not get where you are trying to go.
If something has been placed on your heart, (some will to do good things), you owe it to yourself and the world to fight for it like you have never fought for anything before.
How you fight and what you are willing to put in says a lot about your character…shouldn’t you be showing yourself that you are worth fighting that good fight? Of course you should!!
Isaiah 1:17
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” If your friend/neighbor/family member needs help fighting their fight, do whatever you can (within personally-set boundaries) to help them…this is what you are supposed to do. If you have the space or the platform to do good, even if it is as small as a call, post, speaking engagement, listing on an information board, do it! God sees that spark lingering inside of you and I promise you that if you do something with it, you will do so much good for the world. Do not give up now.
If it is your health that is ailing you or failing you, fight until you cannot fight anymore; ask for help if you need to/want to. Do not let anything stop you.
If it is your business/school that is making you fearful, concerned, scared of change or anything else, remember that change is good; even if you can’t see that now, let me tell you that you will one day understand. No matter what don’t give up and don’t give in.
Believe me, God and/or the Universe are making a special place for you to do all that you are working toward activating.
Galatians 6:9
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” No one knows your reason nor your season except you and God, so keep it in your bubble if that is where you want to keep it-that is fine; sometimes it is best to keep things to yourself. Please, promise yourself that you are only keeping it to yourself for safe keeping, not to hide it and dim your light/opportunity to do something good.
Whether there is a shift in love, education, business, finances, growth, opportunities or anything
else please fight the good fight. Work with what you have an make a difference…because you can! I believe in you.
Fight the good fight, and don’t just do it for you, do it for me, your neighbor, your family, your community, and the world…we all need you.
Be blessed and be at peace.
#KayLasPositivityCorner
***Health Spotlight*** Acute Flaccid Myelitis (CDC Research)
Symptoms: respiratory illness, fever, weakness and/or pain in legs or arms, changes in movement of eyes, drooping in face, difficulty swallowing or slurred speech. Respiratory failure is one of the most serious symptoms.
Prevalence: still considered a rare and serious illness but there has been a significant rise since 2014; mostly young children are affected, but adults can contract the disease. Less than 1-2 in a million children in the US will get AFM annually. There has been over 500 confirmed cases since 2014 (CDC).
Possible causes: viruses such as enteroviruses (poliovirus, enterovirusA71, and West Nile virus). Of course there is not a certainty about what causes the condition, but it is up to you as parents/family members to vaccinate your kids. Do not jump into the hype of non-vaccination, as you can very much be putting your child’s life in danger. Do real research, it matters. We didn’t come this far by ignoring sound research and healthy developments in medicine.
Prevention: Vaccination, protect against mosquito bites, get rid of stagnant water, wash your hands appropriately and often, avoid close contact with those that are ill.
Treatment: not one route of treatment; physicians may recommended physical therapy along with other treament options.
©KayLaN.Allen
If you have ever jumped in a pool, you definitely know how necessary it is to be prepared to hold your breath and go for it in a flash.
Thinking about how this may work in life is quite interesting.
We all have different hopes and dreams, but where would we be if we did not hold back the fears/doubts and would just dive in?
It can be difficult for many to do this because they are afraid of the outcome. Still others may not be able to go for their dreams in a flash because the timing simply isn’t right.
What if you didn’t think about all of the possible outcomes and you did whatever you could to focus on the best one?
What if you were able to ignore any thoughts of failure?
Let’s prep first…
With anything that you want in life or that you dream of you must start with a vision/dream.
Get creative and put that vision on paper, I know that I love to see my vision and dreams in front of me so vision boards and affirmations are a significant part of my life.
When you can see it, you can further believe that it will be and already is true.
After you can see it on paper, then you need to plan things out. Ask yourself and in a timely fashion get answers to how you can make things happen.
Make a logical plan internally, only then can you fully execute your mission.
Step by step and piece by piece you are preparing for the greatest dive of your life. How does it feel? You ought to feel amazing and empowered.
For every moment that you choose to sit back hoping that something will happen magically, there is someone else with the same original thought that is pushing and pushing forward and getting where you may be still simply dreaming of.
Now that you know how to prep for your dive, let’s think about the why…
Belief in yourself is an internal action that can be released into the external world through your actions and practiced faith. If you exercise that belief and create actions that are attainable, then everything changes for the better.
Why should you prepare for a dive into your highest goals/dreams? Simply because you deserve it and it is the only way that anything will come into fruition.
Even if that dive seems deep and the current is against you, you have got to keep fighting and maintain your breath. Work in your own favor.
Job 12:10 “The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind”. If we can hold firm to the fact that God literally has everything in His hands, can’t we rest assured that our future and our present are covered and blessed according to His will? The Universe is working in your favor, so be mindful of what you do and/or don’t put into your life (in thought or physical action).
Psalms 56:3
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you”. Even if one step on your journey may seem too big or very scary, trust that everything will turn out just fine. Trust in God, trust in yourself and believe (from the beginning and during the tough days) that all will be amazing. Creating shifts in the Universe means that you release the negativity and create better thoughts.
Every day there is a new lesson to be learned, so why not use those lessons to become fully prepared for your life’s big dive?
Push your own limits and challenge yourself to be the best at everything you do, you deserve that and so much more.
I believe in you, do you?
Are you ready to take that dive? If not, get ready…time waits for no one.
Be blessed and be at peace.
#KayLasPositivityCorner
***Health Spotlight***
Diphtheria (an infection)
Symptoms: Weakness, sore throat, fever, swollen neck glands, gray coating in throat/nose, breathing difficulties; potential for damage to heart, kidneys, and nerves also exist. (CDC)
Prevention: Vaccination is recommended; it was once a major cause of illness and death in children, so be mindful of what people can face without vaccination and attempting to prevent disease/infection.
Treatment: Physicians can swab the throat to test for the presence of bacteria that causes Diphtheria. An antitoxin/antibiotics are used to stop the poison and to kill/get rid of the bacteria, respectively. Treatment does not mean that all are saved, though.
Prevalence: Even with treatment 1 in 10 die from Diphtheria. In some countries there are upwards of 700 people cases in a year; even though there are very few reports in the US, it is very necessary to protect yourself as best as possible. WHO
Public Health Connection: Because Diphtheria is spread through droplets from coughing or sneezing, it can easy be transmitted to others. A person can also get Diphtheria from touching a object (like a toy) that has the bacteria on it. Be mindful of everything that you/your children come in contact with. Seek a physician if you are ill; do not wait, try to find out about what you are experiencing by using the internet, or try to self-medicate. There are many inexpensive clinics that you may have access to. Work hard to protect yourselves and your family. Practice proper hygiene and proper sneezing/coughing techniques- do so in your elbow, not your hands. Dive into being mindful about your health and that of your family; you can’t live your best life if you are not taking care of your physical health.
© KayLaN.Allen
If everything was meant to be easy, then everyone would have everything and probably still not be satisfied.
When you are faced with barriers, as always, you have two options: accept them as what they are and blow right through them and break them down.
When someone tells you no, that may just mean no in that space or with that person and that is okay.
Breaking down barriers is your right. You can have it all and I can guarantee that in the back of your mind you have thoughts about this. Check out Luke 13:7 if you need a reminder: “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
How many different people seem to be doing the same thing and are successful? You are special and what you have to offer gives you the key to unlock doors that no one else can access.
The challenge here is for you to remember that those barriers are perceived and not necessarily your reality.
Brokenness can teach us that we are only allowed to be in one space or able to do one thing and cannot go beyond that level. The trick is to re-train your thoughts.
How do you think people bring together ideas to bridge gaps? They use what they have, they collect their experiences, and keep pushing forward.
A closed door is not the end and in actuality it can be one of the greatest blessings that you could ever ask for.
What if your barriers weren’t there? Would you do things differently? Would there be a fire under you? Would you be happier? Would you even think about anything that could stop you?
I ask you all of those things to make you think differently. Why treat yourself as if those barriers matter? Who is stopping you from being happy in creating your success? Why can’t you create a new train of thought and shift the Universe’s process in helping things to come into fruition?
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
If you ask and allow God to travel with you on your journey everything will change, I promise you. It is the ideal version of strong faith being executed. If you are already putting in the effort to be an amazing version of yourself, those barriers that present themselves will continue to be broken down.
Psalms 119:105
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
You have the guidance that you need…are you listening? Are you paying attention? God is with you at every turn, do miss out because of that barrier that popped up. Fight because just beyond there, God has prepared something special for you.
1 Peter 4:1-4
“Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
It is up to you to keep fighting for what you want. No one wants to be stuck in a place or space where they cannot grow. No matter what you have faced in your past you can change it all by believing in yourself. If you tell yourself that a barrier cannot be broken, you will not be granted opportunities for growth and success. Pay attention to your thoughts and actions; accept the light that is set forth for you and ignore any darkness that tries to seep in.
Treat barriers as though they are hurdles and jump as if your life depends on it…because it does. Taking the time to understand those barriers and not get swallowed by the pain of their appearance will save you tears, fears, and pain. It is not always easy to see past those feelings of sadness, anger, confusion, and frustration…but it can be done. Don’t cling to your pain fight through it and work to cope/overcome it; these barriers can seem like mountains, but do let them stifle your growth.
Put in the work, I promise you it will be worth it.
Be blessed and be at peace.
#KayLasPositivityCorner
***Health Spotlight***Brucellosis– an infectious disease due to bacteria contracted from infected animals such as cattle pigs, dogs, and sheep.
Symptoms include: fever, malaise, headache, pain in muscles, and fatigue
Treatment: antibiotics after the infection is found by a physician; recovery time depends on the severity and death is rare.
Prevention: do not consume undercooked meat or unpasteurized dairy products; if you are a hunter or herdsman wear protective gear such as gloves, aprons, and rubber gloves.
You can break barriers in access to healthcare by the use of public health services; things are not perfect but from a future public health leader to you there are many people that deliver and are concerned about compassionate care. We all have the tools to help break barriers in access to care, it takes special people with unique gifts and talents collaborating for the greater good to evoke lasting change. Don’t believe me? Let’s talk about it. I will do whatever I can to help you.
©KayLaN.Allen
We often get caught up in our own webs, visions, and plans; becoming entangled in these spaces is not necessarily a good thing. When we choose to think about a path that we have set forth for ourselves, we subconsciously block opportunities for other (better for us) outcomes to come forth.
Rolling through the “if I could”, and “I wish I could” phases in our lives can blind us and bring shadows in front of us. When this happens we can not see some of the amazing things that are happening right in front of our faces.
As difficult as it may seem, sometimes you just have to allow life to happen. Those difficult times that we encounter and those trying storms that we endure can simply happen. We are regular people living regular lives no matter what our bank accounts say, and because of this we have to remember that life happens.
When we are able to realize that our sense of perfect timing is not actually perfect, and God’s divine timing is essential for our lives we revamp our opportunities and we challenge the way that we see the world.
Allowing life to happen does not mean that we sit back and watch things fall apart but it does mean that things can happen and we are not always in control.
You must learn to accept that things are not going to always happen the way that you want them to. You will not always be in control. There will always be people and circumstances that come about that may not seem to be in line with your vision, and that’s okay.
In every part of your life there’s a reason and a season. In every part of your life, there is a reason for the journey that you’re taking. In every part of your life, there are new mercies and opportunities. In every part of your life, there will be good and bad days. In every part of your life, as long as there’s breath in your body there is an opportunity for better days.
Oh, those dark days can seem so difficult… but remember that last storm that you made it past? Hold strong, allow God’s plan to work itself, it’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to be worried. It’s okay to have moments of anger. It’s okay to have fear about what is coming in the future. It’s okay to be sad at times.
Proverbs 13:12
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Even if you have moments when the rain of your storm blocks your vision, do whatever you can to capture a glimpse of your rainbow.
I say all this to say whenever a storm is raining directly over your head get your rain gear, suit up and be prepared to endure the store. There is a reason that you go through storms and it is not your job to understand the how, the when and the why. It is, however, your job to keep pushing forward no matter what you face.
Allow the good to come and the bad to exit. Allow change and evolution to occur in your life. Allow people to leave if they want to leave. On the same token, don’t try to force things to stay when really it is time for them to go.
Often times you can’t see the direction that God is going and that’s alright too. As long as you continue to take steps forward, continue climbing, and continue reaching for those stars, you’re on the right path. Try to think deeply: the universe is activating steps and plans for you- imagine what would happen if you continued to block yourself from greatness because of pride or needing to have control over everything.
1 Peter 2:15 “For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.
Not all advice is sound advice. Sometimes advice that comes from people that you “respect” is not the advice that is for you to hear. Use your knowledge, wisdom, and experiences to make sound decisions for your life. Don’t allow what someone else thinks is best for you to overtake your judgment. This may mean if someone says, maybe you should just wait to do something, maybe actually you should be taking steps instead of sitting still.
Sometimes you will have to think outside of the box, and that’s a good thing. No matter what you do, allow life to happen; allow mistakes to occur.
You deserve to lead a life of happiness, success, pure joy, peace, wonder, adventure, and love; these are not things that someone can make you have- you find these things inside of you.
Be blessed and at peace.
#KayLasPositivityCorner
***Health Spotlight*** Adenovirus
Symptoms: cold-like symptoms, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea and pink eye
Spread of Infection: personal contact, air droplets, touching surfaces then touching mouth, nose, or eyes
Prevention: wash hands with soap and water, cover mouth when coughing or sneezing, avoid contact with others when ill, do not sharing drinking glasses or eating utensils, avoid kissing.
Prevalence: there is no exact prevalence as it can vary
Treatment: no specific treatment as most infections as mild
-Seek help when you need it, help your fellow neighbor, know that people care about your well-being.
One more thing and I’ll leave you to your thoughts…what if the world was never granted the blessing/opportunity to see and be a part of the effect that many great dreamers brought to the world? What if the world’s greatest leaders, musicians, physicians, etc. didn’t follow their passion? Where would we be? Where will you leave the world, if you do not keep follow your passion?
**Health Spotlight**
Take the time to have passion about life, and encourage yourself, your friends, and your family to be aware of the things done and consumed. Being passionate works from the inside out. You can and will lengthen your life by taking better care of yourself. You need it and your family needs you. Visit the CDC website and teach yourself about these: pneumonia, prostate cancer, and pulmonary hypertension; you may save a life.
Be blessed and be at peace.
#KayLasPositivityCorner