We The People Matter (Updated)

Credits: cnn.com

I wasn't going to speak on this here, but I must say the last few weeks have been frightful. From BREXIT, and the apparent lack of leadership in the UK to the senseless mass killing of people like you and me in Orlando, and the exposure of police brutality and execution of a specific section of society in America.

This might not be my most popular blog post, however It just didn't feel right to continue to speak about wedding plans and chocolate hearts when so much injustice is going on.

The truth is that this kind of injustice have been going on for years in recent history. Think about Rodney King, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, and now Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. I remember about a month ago, watching a BBC documentary about US police brutality, and feeling enraged. But somehow my anger felt unjustified. How can I be angry at something this is not even going on in the country I live in? How can I comment on an experience I do not share in? Who will listen to me? Who would take me seriously?

Credits: thinglink.com

Then last week, when I watched the execution of Alton Sterling on Facebook, and felt sick to my stomach. The same sense of unjustified rage consumed me, and rendered me sleepless that night. I kept replaying the video clip in my mind. Sometimes mentally exchanging Alton Sterling's lifeless body for different family members. 

The morning after, we were all confronted by the execution of yet another African American male. Philando Castile. This time, it was live streamed, so we could all see the events being played out as they happened. For the sake of your sanity, and mine I will refrain from posting it here. If you would like to see it, please google it.

Credits: Seen.co

Later, I read that Philando Castile, wasn't a weed smoking, cigarette (or CD) selling gang member disrespecting the police, whilst waving his blue flag or red flag in their faces. He was a respectable family man, loved by the children he served at work and ready to comply with the police. And because it was all live streamed, the police and media alike could not tarnish his image, his life and his story with a bucket full of lies.

Having said that, I would also like to extend my condolences to the families of the five cops who also lost their lives to senseless violence. 

Credits: crisismagazine.com

A week later, I don't feel the same emotions of anger, but I still do feel frustrated and afraid, and a desperate need to do or say something to help. To those families mourning the loss of their brother, sister, son, daughter, father, mother or friend due to excessive police  brutality, I would like to say that SoulJourner's Story deeply empathises with your loss and  is in full support of the campaign.

#BlackLivesMatter

P.S Our hearts go out to the victims and families affected by the brutal attack in Nice, France

What are your Q2 Results?

As we are rounding up the month of June, a.k.a. the first half of 2016, many businesses will be making public a financial analysis of the last three months. This is often called The Q2 Results. This is a roundup of revenues earned and expenditure made in the months of April, May and June, and a final conclusion of whether an overall loss or profit has been made.

Back in March, we took you through the Q1 results, why companies do it, and why it is important for us as individuals to also take a stock of  our  achievements and shortcomings, and everything else we feel may add to or take value away from us.  We also made mention of the fact that your Q1 results is a good indication of the way the rest of the year will go if current trends continue.

Similarly, by the end of Q2 you should have a very good indication of whether you are on track to achieve some of the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the year. It’s probably also time to make some major changes - be it of habit or of mindset - if you would like to stay on track to achieving success, whatever that means to you. 

Organising wedding favours is no joke!

Just like the shock BREXIT results which has almost all European businesses in every industry reeling, there might have been occurrences in the last three months that might have caused us to tumble. And that is OK, because it is not a crime to fall, but I do consider it sinful to stay down!  I also faced a few curve balls which literally knocked the wind out of my sails, namely the sad passing of my grandfather. It is something that tore my heart into a million pieces. But I take comfort from knowing that he has joined the saints, rooting for me to succeed. 

It’s not all bad though. In my post about Q1, I did mention that my fiancé and I have been heavily investing time, money and energy in a few projects which I couldn’t reveal at the time. However, as we get ready to step into the second half of the year, I am now ready to reveal that a) I have been planning my wedding and am getting ready to be a blushing bride in October; and b) my fiancé and I have launched our facilities management company!

Alpha & Diamond is a first class facilities provider 

Amongst all the all the chaos there has been little time for rest. There is no doubt that a lot of blood, sweat, tears, sleepless nights and many heated discussions have gone into both projects! I promise to document each separately, and take you through how to do both - launch a business and plan a wedding successfully.

That's it for now guys. What things have been going on for you in Q2? Click here to read our post about Q1 Results. Not before leaving a comment though!

Birthday Frolics, Antwerp and More

If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see that my latest photos are hashtagged #birthdayfrolics. Yes, SoulJourner's Story and I have our birthdays in the same month! Whilst last year was spent partying it up in Las Vegas, this year my birthday was spent in the more sober and more cultured Antwerp.

It must be because at 29, I am feeling more pensive and reflective. A lot of investment and planning for the future has been going on this year so far. Also, there have been some disappointments and major losses which have all forced me to step into my grown up shoes and keep my balance despite the challenges.

Just touched down in Antwerp Town!

The next few blog posts, will be reflective. I think with my twenties drawing to a close, I have learned a thing or two about life, which there will be no harm in sharing. Also, this blogging journey has also presented some life lessons which I feel will be beneficial to share to those about to embark on a project - blogging or otherwise. So watch this space.

Anyway, back to Antwerp. The beautiful city of Antwerp in Northern Belgium, is just a hop, skip and jump away from London. (Well, actually, we took two trains!), but honestly it was no effort at all, and the journey itself was so much fun!

Like most European cities, the architecture stands out. In fact whilst approaching the exit of Antwerpen Centraal Station, you are greeted with a very beautifully decorated glass wall, with a large clock feature and gold intricacies. I must say that as far as first impressions go, this is not too bad!

As we only had one full day with half days on either side, we didn't have time to explore the whole city (lesson learned for next time!) but what we did do, was spend half a day at Antwerp Zoo! The zoo, located just behind Central Station is in the ideal location for tourists. And at only €19 per adult, it's a winner.

Aside from the zoo, we also enjoyed shopping in the historical town, gushing at the large rocks at the many diamond shops, and enjoying the ambiance at some of the outdoor eateries. 

Antwerp is definitely a place I would love to go back to and enjoy more of. Where have you visited lately? Is your birthday around the corner? How will you be celebrating?

Happy Birthday Souljourners!

Happy Birthday to us!

Today marks SoulJourner's Story’s one year anniversary. Whilst yesterday was spent in Paris, taking clients to see the very exclusive Maison de Pierre Hermé, and sampling delicious macaroons,  on the 15^th day of May one year ago, it was the last day of my one year contract at my previous job. Recent tensions in the office had been grating on me. I was exhausted, but also relieved to be finishing, and excited. (I was going to Las Vegas to celebrate my birthday the following week). That day for me, marked the conclusion of a long awaited last chapter, but I was also on the cusp of something new and exciting.

Luxurious, hand crafted macaroons created by celebrated chef Pierre Hermé

I remember, the weather being glorious, and as I walked out of the office block and towards the London underground, I guess I felt like a freed prisoner seeing daylight for the first time. It didn’t matter that I was saying goodbye to the comfort of routine I had become accustomed to, or that I didn't know what next my professional life would offer. In fact I couldn't care less. All that mattered was that I was ready to embark on the next adventure. And that adventure was Souljourner’s Story.

Pierre Hermé also creates beautifully rich chocolate tarts

I had stories, experience, words of encouragement, ramblings and musings brimming on the inside of me, and I was in a hurry to pour it all out, to turn them into blog posts, and to share them with would listen read. I wanted to have a voice. I wanted to change my life.  And so, once I reached my stop I rushed off my train, walking briskly and  avoiding all the idle perambulators until I got home. Once inside, I turned on my laptop, opened Word and for a second didn’t know exactly what to say, or where to begin.

Enjoying the sunshine on the balcony of the Maison de Pierre Hermé

“How about you start by introducing yourself?”, a thought rang in my head.

"Hello World", I cautiously typed. It sounded like an OK place to begin. So I continued, and by the time I had finished, I felt like I had begun the process of unburdening myself for the first time, in what felt like ages. The next day, I transformed that word document, into Souljourner’s Story’s first blog post.

Heart shaped feature inside the creative space of Pierre Hermé

Since then, Souljourner's Story has continued to educate and encourage. We haven’t always got it right, but we have always come from a good place. Sometimes, it has been exhausting, and even frustrating. But I have learned loads on the way, and have formed some great relationships with a handful of my beautiful “blogging sisters”. 

I have both squealed in excitement at blog posts that have been unexpectedly popular, and cried over the times a “cut and paste” job has gone wrong and lost all my hard work!

One thing for sure is that it’s you readers and commenters (both negative and positive) that have given me the zeal to keep going.Thank you so much for clicking through, reading, following, commenting and sharing.  God bless you all. We are definitely not finished yet. Watch this space!

Pierre Hermé's book collection

I leave you with this

First Blog post: Hello World

Most popular : Organising Your Team Christmas Dinner?

Least popular (lol!): Closed Doors, New Beginnings

Most controversial: Four things we could all Learn fromDonald Trump

My personal favourites (I have two!): Study Time: Five Scriptures to Encourage the Young Professional and Commuter Reads: Foreign Gods, Inc

Four Things We Can All Learn From Donald Trump

Disclaimer: This is by no means an endorsement of Donald Trump. I could have written my blog post on "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People", but this is the positive zone, so...

With people in the UK voting for assembly members, councillors, mayors and police commissioners, today is the UK's biggest election day, and in keeping with the theme, I have decided to speak on something a bit controversial. Whatever our sentiments are towards Donald Trump's presidential campaign, there is no denying that there is a lot that can be learned from this man's apparent success.

Credits: Wikipedia

1. Have an unwavering belief in yourself
When Trump announced that he was running for presidency in June last year, I am sure we all laughed collectively. After that I didn't give it a second thought, because I actually thought there was no way this announcement could be serious. However, with the ever increasing amount of coverage Mr. Trump was receiving I began to realise that this guy is not a farce. But a full on presidential candidate. With a whole team behind him, and a small following of supporters! The lesson here? No matter what you are aiming for, believe in yourself, and others will believe in you too.

2. Be persistent and fight resistance!
After hearing that all the other republican candidates had fallen off the presidential wagon one by one, and that Trump will be THE likely republican nominee to face off the opposition, I could only stare at my TV screen in amazement. Like Trump, you need to keep going, even in the face of criticism and ridicule. 

Credits: cnn.com

3. Stand out from the crowd
Whilst the other candidates ((republican and democrat) have been blazing their campaign trail with talk about the economy and foreign policy, our friend Trump had other more pressing issues to speak about.  In this modern age, I can actually say I have never heard of any presidential candidate saying they will build a wall to keep immigrants out; or making lewd comments about a female reporter's monthly cycle . However, the joke that is Trump's presidential campaign has marked him out as the subject of many a discussions. I am by no means saying you should be as lewd, however I am saying that you can never expect to stand out if you are always trying to fit in.

4. Talent will get you there, determination will keep you there!
There is no doubt that Trump is a very successful businessman and TV personality. It is this success, that has catapulted him into popularity. But did you know that Trump has NO political experience? But what he does have is determination (and an amazing PR team!) What am I saying? Talent can only get you so far. 

Credits:abcnews.com

Sorry, I know you'd have  rather read about something else today, but what do you think? Are the any additional lessons we can learn from the man that is Trump?

Study Time: Four Scriptures to Encourage the Young Professional Part 2

I hope last week was good for you. For me the last week and a half has been a very busy week, as we celebrated four birthdays in our family – the last being my fiancé’s. He didn’t want a fuss made, but seeing as birthdays only come once a year, I thought to myself “why not go out and celebrate?”. So off we went, last Monday night to one of our favourite Thai restaurants in Stratford City, East London to eat, make merry and to generally be thankful for another year (I hope you like the pics!)

Birthdays aside, I wanted to continue with a discussion I started a few months back, and which many of you got in touch with me over, to tell me you found helpful. 

The work environment is a peculiar one, because you are thrown in with people who you have little in common with, except the job! But, as work is where we spend most of our time, it also happens to be a significant aspect of your life. But sometimes dynamics can be a little awkward, for example when you are forced to work with someone you might not necessarily get on with; or when you have to look your manager in the eye whilst you hand in your resignation. 

So I have compiled a short list of scriptures to encourage you as you survive in your career. Admittedly, this blog post will not be for everyone. I know I might have already lost a few readers just by mentioning the word "scriptures". However, if you have read up until now, I do urge you to stay. A lot of wisdom can be gained from from the Bible as you will see...

1.  When a colleague does something to upset you

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honourable in the sight of all (Romans 12:17 ESV )

Sometimes it is easy to lash out , or to choose hostility for a colleague that is grinding your gears. But trust me, it only leads to a work environment, which is dense and difficult for everyone to work in. I am not saying that bad behaviour should not be addressed or confronted, but what I am saying is that it should be done with some decorum. The workplace can be a tricky one, and very easily the one who confronts every situation is often branded uncollaborative and difficult to work with. As a side note, most employers will look for employees who are  able to work amicably with all kinds of characters.

2. When your colleague persists in antagonising you

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, (Titus 3:10 ESV )

As a continuation from my last paragraph, what do you do when a colleague continues to deliberately step on your toes after you have spoken to them? It gets to a point where you’ll just have to just forgive and love them from afar, keep it strictly professional and keep it moving.

 3. When you have handed in your resignation

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust (Peter 2:18 , ESV).

I must admit that the socio-economic context of the Bible does mean that the language can appear extreme. But fast forward to 2016, all this verse is simply saying is to respect whoever your boss is. Even if he or she is a monster! If you have to address an issue with your boss, do it with manners and in keeping with your company’s policy. Maybe his or her character has led you to hand in your resignation, but even so, that does not mean you should be a jackass whilst you work your notice. Continue to work with a good attitude until your last day, and even after you leave avoid airing out your grievances on social media, or to your new employers. Trust me. It is not a good look!

 4. Considering a career change?.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.(Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) .

I think, most people at some point in their lives will think “why am I still doing this job?”. And to me this is quite normal. As growing, and ever changing entities, it is inevitable that our interests will change at some point. However, speaking as a human, I would say it's a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly; and as a Christian, I would say don't move an inch without praying over it first. When you do this, God will definitely send you clear signs on the next move to make.

Thank you for reading. Are there any words of wisdom you have to encourage the young professional?

If you enjoyed this post, you will like part one of this series: Study Time: Five Scriptures to Encourage the Young Professional

Retreat and Restoration: Ashburnham Place

Can you believe we are already halfway through April? The year is not so young anymore. If you have been sitting on all of your lovely plans for this year, thinking, “I’ll start tomorrow…or next week…maybe next month…actually, later”, then it is maybe time to repent, and kick start your projects into motion! However If you have been busy “doing you”, well done. If you are ready for a well deserved break, you might want to consider what I have to say next.

Just over a week ago, I and a group of ladies (comprising of my mum, and a few friends) took a weekend vacation to Ashburnham Place, a sanctuary of escape tucked away in the Sussex Countryside, isolated from all of everyday life’s noise.The trip came at a good time because the majority of the group (excluding my mother who had just got back from a trip to the states!) was feeling a bit worse for wear and in need of a quick, and inexpensive getaway which did not require the need for passports, visas and boarding passes! We simply hit the motorway and were there in a couple of hours.

My initial reaction was that the facility and rooms were pretty basic (albeit clean) not with all the perks that one might be accustomed to. The rooms are twin rooms so I shared with my mother. But for less than £100 for two nights (with breakfast and dinner provided) what else was I expecting? 

On second thoughts, the point  of the weekend away was not to sit in the room all day, but to explore the bookshop, make use of the library, prayer rooms or the music room, all at hand to help you switch off. This explains why wi-fi was non-existent in the communal parts of the grounds, and why there were no TVs anywhere (doing away with worldly distractions, eh?)

The beautiful landscape makes for enjoyable and peaceful walks by the lake. Or you can be even more chilled and have a spot of afternoon tea at the Orangery Tea Room. 

On the weekend we went, there were two pretty large (well known) church groups holding a weekend retreat. They had booked out a few of the larger meeting halls to hold their church services/ prayer sessions in. Ashburnham is very ideal for large groups wanting to escape the hustle and bustle to focus on prayer and restoration for a few days. But in my honest opinion, you might end up hearing the sound of your own thoughts a little too loudly, after a day, if you go alone.  

We booked our stay when there weren’t many activities happening, but I do know that at various times of the year, they hold  themed weeks, such as an Arts & Poetry week, for creative minds, or a Musician's week for musical minds. They also invite speakers to hold talks on various faith based topics from time to time.

The staff are all very polite and are more than happy to go the extra mile to make guests feel comfortable. The ladies and I had a lovely time in each other’s company and spent the two days in quiet reflection, prayer, rest and D&Ms! (deep and meaningful conversations). I came back feeling fully rested, and with a more positive outlook on my future!

For more info, please visit Ashburnham Place’s website (http://www.ashburnham.org.uk/)

This is not a sponsored post or collaboration. All opinions are my own.