I've got a testimony!

"As I look back over my life, and I think things over I can truly say that I've been blessed, I've got a testimony!"  Thanks Ms Winans! 

I have been blessed!  The year 2011 has turned my passions into my purpose!  I am taking on:

- Publishing a NY times best seller

- Starting a speaking business

- Building a home telecommunications business

- Being effective in my participation with Landmark's Team Mgmt and Leadership Training Program

- Showing up powerfully in Toastmaster's and Landmark Education

- Supporting my sister in her position of State Director

- Being love in a relationship with the man of my dreams

- Living life as if 100% integrity is possible

What a huge list but I love it!  I have so much to do, I have no time to be busy!  I am proactive and productive.  My days are filled with project manager work from 9 to 5.  In the evening, I am making more money!  I am working on my business...calling prospects...returning emails...setting up meetings...attending meetings...writing speeches...practicing speeches...coaching others...being coached...doing Zeta...falling asleep...waking up...sending text messages...confirming my beliefs...creating new ways of being...being successful...being excited...being fun!  See, I have so much to do to be busy!  I have several accountability partners who keep me in line!  They check me when I am out of integrity and praise me when I excel at meeting my commitments!  I love them!  Each day, I experience miracles!  I thank God every time a blessing comes my way.  Every time I get a green light when I was rushing.  Each time I am reminded to get my car keys which are separate from my house keys.  Each time I dress warm when going to a meeting where the room is cold.  Each time I am treated to a meal unexpectedly.  Each time I get a discount when I didn't even ask for one.  Each time I help a friend who needed help.  Each time I donate to a worthy cause just when they needed it.  Each time I make my family and friends smile.  Each time, every time, I say thanks.  I know it make a difference.  I know it does.

So when you see me checking my to do list, checking my calendar, checking my email, checking my blackberry, just know that I have plenty to do before 12/31/11.  I will accomplish it all because I know that all things are possible!  And enough of blogging for today...I got lots to do and just 11 months to do it!

All blessing to you on your 2011 journey!

MB

And take one step towards it!

So I read this quote "Dream a crazy dream and take one step towards it!"  Wow!  I love that!  Right now, I am working on all my crazy dreams!  For 2011, I want to complete my NY Times Best seller, get my speaking business off the ground and pay off all my $10K+ in credit cad debt!  My book is loosely based on my Greek life.  It will include dramatic stories about my initiation, life on the yard and grad chapter experience.  I have found that there are many people who have gone thru less than what I went thru and are now MIA.  They have left their fraternity and sorority behind after being abused and scarred.  I refuse to carry too many scars or let them hold me back.  However, every now and then, there are certain events that trigger a negative memory.  For example, I so dislike when people say that I "wasn't made right".  It just burns me as I know that there is no such thing and people use it to disrespect you.  And even tho I don't like it, I use it too and  perpetuating the disrespect.  Well in my book, I explore this myth and how it affects people before, during and after initiation.  I am soliciting help from other greeks to get some juicy stories to spice up my book.  There will be stories like the one where one Sorority sister was sleeping with the boyfriend of another Sorority sister behind her back and then when busted, the boyfriend ends up encouraging both of them to live with him.  Within 6 mos of living together, both of the Sorority sisters end up pregnant!  Or how about the one where one Sorority sister is sleeping with two line brothers and one night after a party at the frat house, she sleeps with both of them at the same time!  Or how about the Sorority sister who steals money from the chapter's treasury to buy clothes.  Ok, ok enough of that but these are somewhat true stories!  Just hilarious!  Well after writing my book, I will be going on a speaking tour to promote it and discourage hazing.  I want to talk to college students how unnecessary it is to haze and how silly it is to think that disrespect and abuse will make someone a better member.  That's just ridiculous!  I am hoping that the money that I make from the speaking business will equal >$10K so I can pay off my credit card debt.  I am in debt because I live beyond my means!  So, in order to afford my expensive taste, I have to make more money.   In order to make more money, I have to do more work.  So my work of choice is writing and speaking.  I know that it will net me some great money and great experiences!  The country is broke right now but bad times don't last always!  While the country is preparing for its comeback, I am preparing for my debut! 

The other crazy dream is that I can be an actress!  I ran across a website for One Source talent and have signed up for their services.  This gives me access to casting calls and tons of information about jobs in tv, movies and print industry.  I have submitted my name for a few positions so we will see if they call me.  I have also joined another website that allows me to apply for jobs on reality shows.  Well, since I love drama and have a magnetic personality, I would be great on a reality show!  I have signed up for several of those too.  I signed up for one about debt reduction, of course, and another about finding love cause I need some serious help in both areas!   We'll see what happens!

Well wish me luck as I continue to dream my crazy dreams and take one step towards them!  And good luck to you as you do the same!  2011 is gonna rock!

I wonder...when is it convenient to be inconvenienced?

So I am currently very active in my life.  I work as an officer with my Toastmaster club, I am an officer with my Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, I work as a project manager, I take classes with Landmark Education plus I maintain my relationships with my sister, my niece, my mom and a host of other relatives and good friends.  In addition, I am writing a book and building a speaking career.  Then God sent me a great man...not one who lives in Chicago...one who lives in ATL.  So add long distance girlfriend to the list.

I go along each day full of my life and life challenges.  I go to work, I make integrity calls, I plan and attend meetings, I write, I read, I talk, I laugh, I play on Facebook.  In between, I have to make time for myself , my man and my family.  Sometimes, this occurs as an inconvenience...or is it?

As I sit here now and listen to blogtalkradio.com, I am getting that this is not an inconvenience.  It is a blessing!  The radio show is highlighting Terrance Leftridge who is sharing that we need to have an attitude of gratitude.  So I'll take that!  It is a blessing to have family and friends that want to talk to me.  I am grateful for this!  I am always amazed when I meet people who say that they don't talk to their sister or brother.  I just can't even understand that.  My sister and I have had major arguments and have overcome them.  We actually live in the same building and yes, we get on each others' nerves but we just live through it.  Why?  Because we love each other.  Because we are grateful that we have each other.  Because we know that we are blessed to have each other! 

So next time, a friend or family member calls, instead of looking at it as an inconvenience, look at it as a blessing!  They thought enough of you to call you.  Answer the telephone with a smile on your face...they'll hear it.  Talk to them with gratitude on your mind...they'll feel it.  Keep love in your heart...they'll enjoy it.  Then watch how your conversations blossom into something convenient and loving!

The rest of the story...

So you wanna know how the detox stories end?  Hit my facebook page...Mel MeMe Byrd and visit the "Notes" tab.  All the details are there!  Suffice it to say that I finished like a champ!  I lost about 12 lbs and am now wearing a size smaller!  And I have kept it off since Oct while others gained their weight back.  I still juice about once or twice a day.  I still eat raw fruits and carrots daily.  I have oatmeal for breakfast, after my fruit juice and I have salmon or tuna for lunch and/or dinner.  I eat flaxseed cereal and snack on apple sauce for my sugar fix.  I am also following the blood type A diet which calls for a mostly vegetarian lifestyle but I can't eat only green plants...what am I  - a cow in the pasture?  Of course not.  So I have given up beef and pork, eat very little chicken and eat more fish and some turkey.  There are certain things that the book says that I should avoid like tomatoes and potatoes.  They must be tripping but I have reduced my intake of those things.  Also on my avoid list - mangos, plantain and coconuts.  What?!  As my sister said - do they know that we are Jamaican and that is a staple of our diet??  Nonetheless, I have reduced my intake of those things too.  And lastly, the croup de grace - no shrimp, no lobster, no crab.  WTF??  Do you mean to tell me that I can no longer have my small jumbo (refers to an order of small jumbo shrimp)?  I can't have my crab stuffed shrimp?  No more lobsterfest?  Awww dawg - you really tripping now!  Well, nonetheless, again I conceded.  And so far, it has worked!  I have kept off the weight, and even wore a bikini in Jamaica (the pic is on my FB page).  I didn't know that skinny could be fun!  Well, it is!  I have made it fun!  I love eating healthy - it makes me look good and feel good!  Now, I just need to conquer this exercise thing...I wish it came in a pill too!

Day 11 - Resignation shows up to the detox party!

So, I am married to my detox but I feel like cheating!  I saw a sexy burger who winked at me.  The cute slice of pizza blew me a kiss.  I swear that the shapely chicken wing twins whispered in unison "we miss you."  I’m like the Geto Boys now…damn homie, my mind is playing tricks on me!  “I have to take distilled water everywhere I go, ‘cause I’m paranoid.  I keep looking over my shoulder and peeping around corners ‘cause my mind is playing tricks on me!”  Well, for lunch, I went to Chipotle with Keith and Shaunda.  They know I can’t eat that sh*t!  But when we got there, this gorgeous guacamole was flirting with me.  Damn homie, you know I’m weak!  So I ask the lady – what’s in that?  Since I don’t cook, I don’t know what anything is made of.  She replied “avocados, jalapenos, tomatoes, onions, cilantro and chilies.”  I ask if it is fresh…she said yes…so nothing is cooked in it, right?...she said right.  Aw yeah, aw yeah (like Salt n Pepa…hey, speaking of Pepa…where is her reality show?  I loved that show!  Anyway, I digress).  Now, I’m cheesing like I got an extra stimulus check personally signed by Obama!  I boldly poke out my chest and tell the lady – give me two scoops!!  Woo hoo!  This is gonna be good!  Then I wonder if they take credit cards for less than $2.  Never mind, Keith buys it for me.  Thanks Keith!  I am walking back to the office on cloud 25!  I am breezing down Michigan Avenue in my 4 inch royal blue heels!  I am speaking to strangers and no longer feeling my pubie itching from the hair that is growing back.  Isn’t life grand?  See I remember what Landmark teaches me…it’s possibilities that get people in action.  Just the possibility of having something different with my salad put me in action!  It’s like going on an exciting vacation.  Just the thought of going on the vacation puts you in action…you buy new stuff, you tell your friends, you get work done, you stay up late dreaming about it!  So the possibility of cheating with good guac got me in action.  I got my salad and it looked a little jealous.  I carefully opened my guac and placed it next to the salad.  I didn’t talk much – I need to use my time to savor my cheating.  I ate the salad half way down.  The entire time, I am eyeing and smiling at the gorgeous guac.  Cheating can be so sinister!  Finally, it’s time.  I stack the fork with a piece of tomato, celery, and cucumber…I add the gorgeous guac..I take a good look at it’s green nakedness…it’s hot!  I slowly open my mouth and prepare my taste buds.  Incoming!!  Wake y’all asses up!  Then it hits and it is all that I thought it would be!  It’s smooth, satisfying, tastes good and so comforting!  Just what you want in a piece on the side!  It was not demanding like the veggie juice…it’s not dramatic like the effects of the spinach on my bowels…it’s not an attention hog like the 90 ounces of water I drink a day…it was just easy…easy in, easy out.  Hey – this cheating stuff ain’t all bad!  So I finish my salad…I thoroughly enjoy my gorgeous guac and smile all the way back to my desk where I proceed to take my colon cleansing pills to get that sh*t out of me!  I love cheating with the guac but it’s not worth my marriage to my detox.  Sorry guac, it’s over…I can’t be with you no more…you know I’m married…I want to be faithful…but we can still be friends, right?

Day 10 - the half way point! Yippee!!

So for me, this week is harder than last week.  I don’t know why.  I think I was able to trick my body into sitting still for 7 days.  But now, it’s like – what is really going on?  You still depriving us?  Where is the small jumbo shrimp dinner from Capt Hooks?  Yes, small jumbo!  Where is the crab cake sandwich that I like from Cosi?  Where are the Market Creation wings and mashed potatoes that I get for lunch?  Where is the ham and cheese croissant sandwich that I get from the Deli?  Where is the egg and bacon sandwich from Vista?  Where is the bag of chips that I snack on at Renee’s?  Where is the smoked turkey leg with rice that mom makes?  Where, where, oh where the hell is all that food that I like to eat??!!  Well I’m glad you asked that question.  I will tell you where it is.  It is turned into cholesterol and stuck to the vessels of my heart…preparing me for a heart attack.  It is stuck to the inside of my colon blocking me up and making me constipated.  It is collecting in my ankles and making me swell.  It is making my vision cloudy…it is making me lethargic…it is aging me…it is, it is, it is not what I want for the rest of my life.  So goodbye to all that stuff that taste soooo good!  I am not eating because things taste so good anymore.  I am eating to live!  My taste has now changed.  I have a taste for good living, healthy eating, longevity and vitality!  Now I have no idea what that looks like on Day 22!  I have no idea of what I want to eat after this is over…I need some coaching to help make this decision.  However, I do not want to go back from whence I came.  I want to keep the momentum going!  I have learned so much not only from Tam and Eric but also from Renee, Carolyn, Shaunda and Maurice.  It has been an adventure to say the least!  I have learned that I am a strong willed person.  I have learned that I can actually lose weight without exercising!  I have learned that my diet does cause my ankles to swell.  Now let’s talk ankles ladies…and some men too.  I have an overweight right ankle.  Ever since the blood clots got a hold to my right leg, they also caused some damage to my ankle.  Now my doc said that I can control the swelling with diet and exercise but since I don’t do either – here’s a pill.  I take water pills (25 mg hydrochlorothiazide) which also lower high blood pressure, which I do not have.   So now I take meds for something that I can control and choose not too and as a bonus get meds for something that I don’t want to have or develop.  What a concept!  Well since the detox, my ankle has lost weight.  It is no longer big as my right tit.  It is normal size.  Wow!  So diet does affect my swelling.  I didn’t want to believe that cause I wanted to keep eating 4 wings with hot sauce and popping a pill which didn’t work very well anyway.   So now I have a normal ankle and I want to keep it that way.  Soon, I'l be ditching that stupid pill!  Oh yeah, another thing I want to keep is this smooth skin that I have.  My husband is gonna love rubbing up against this stuff!  It’s like butter baby!!  The last thing that I want to keep is this “can do” attitude!  I can do it!  When asked – hey Mel can you really write a book?  My response is yes, yes I can!  Hey Mel – can you really wear a size 10 now?  My response is yes, yes I can!  Hey Mel  - can you make money selling stuff on the internet?  My response is yes, yes I can!  Hey Mel – can you help me detox and lose weight?  My response is yes, yes I can!  And when asked – Hey Mel – will you marry me?  My response is yes, yes I can!  Yes, yes I do!!

Day 9 - Really? Like really? From every hole?

So today my body decided to eliminate everything that it did not eliminate yesterday.  I didn’t go a lot yesterday, but I did today.  See last nite, I wanted some chips and instead decided to have chipotle cashews.  Probably not a good idea but I enjoyed them!  After eating them, I drank water mixed with superfood.  Superfood is a green, powder supplement that I take daily.  I mix it in water or with my juices.  My co-worker told me that it has the same properties as kitty litter.  WTF?  The premise is that it will bind with the mighty mighty toxins in your colon and pull them out when you dooty.  Whatever!  I take it anyway...it helps my bowels move…so I guess the kitty litter is working!  Anyway, today I had more energy.  I did not feel lethargic.  But I was kinda tired cuz I didn’t get 7+ hours of sleep last nite.  Oh, that’s so necessary!  Don’t underestimate the power of sleep.  This is when your body has time to recharge and reload for the next day.  Skip too much sleep and you ain’t ready for the day.  So I was half ready for today but charged forward…and my bowels were charging forward too!  They were running like a lottery machine on payday!  Today, I had to go when the mood hit me…no waiting today…no going up to the 9th floor.  I went in the regular bathroom and just went and flushed…went and flushed.  I am courteous of others and I know that although it might not smell bad to me, it’s noxious to others!  Now, you know there are many orifices in the human body.  As I went today, I had something coming out of the majority of them!  Sometimes when I dooty, I tear up…when that happens, my nose begins to run…and remember the menses too!  So at some point today, I simultaneously piss, sh*t, fart, bled, cried and snot up all while cussing!  WTFX2??!!  Boy, these mighty mighty toxins – I need to sue their asses for emotional distress!  The silver lining is that toilet tissue can take care of all of that in one swoop!  How?  Well women like big goo gobs of tissue…that’s where you start.  Go from rooter to the tooter!  Wipe the eyes, fold…blow the nose, fold…wipe the box from front to back…discard.  How efficient!  Ok, I usually have to go over the box again…remember, you can never be too careful.  So I go, I flush…I wipe, I flush, I go, I flush, I wipe.  Yes, it’s a big ordeal and must be timed appropriately before and after meetings.  I see this detox thing is all about planning.  Planning your meals, planning your up time, planning your down time, planning your dooty…planning, planning, and planning.  Hey – is God trying to tell me something?  Like my life - I don’t have all of my life planned out but I do know what I am working towards…writing a book (and not about dooty!) and going on a speaking tour!  One of my Landmark friends told me about an exercise where you write down what you want to accomplish by age 85.  Wow!  Or another cryptic way of saying this is…write your obituary.  What will it say?  A better question is…what do you want it to say?  You know that you control that – right?  It can be short…she was a good woman…or it can be several pages, like a published book.  You make the call.  You make the plans.  I want a published book…that is what I am planning on.  What are you planning on?