memphis blogger – Nikki's Confetti Life

Are You Successful?

What is success to you? Do you get to define success for others? Who defined success for you? I mean really think about where you got YOUR ideas of what success is. Did you get it from your parents? Friends? TV? Social Media? Society? Religion? Yes. I said religion because some of us were taught incorrectly about being wealthy based on the lack of proper explanation of several scriptures. So, I encourage you to take some real time to define success for yourself without comparison to other people.

I recently out of frustration thought “I should be further along than I am.” And then a friend said it too about herself. And an associate said they felt they should be further along. But this is what was given to me when I said it: “By who’s standards? In comparison to who? You? Observing everyone around you and comparing yourself? Maybe by your own nice, little, neatly mapped out plans of your life on a whiteboard or in a notebook? Perhaps in your mind? Further along?”

I thought about this. I honestly was thinking about where others were and my own plans. I couldn’t be further from my plans if I intentionally diverted from them. This is why I wrote the affirmations in the blog yesterday: https://nikkisconfettilife.com/2023/05/24/where-are-you/ . But what was expressed to me about this statement was some of what I wrote in the above paragraph and also what is in the next few paragraphs.

You are where you are supposed to be. You are where you need to be. You are where you are however you think you got here. If hearing you are where you are because you made the choices you made seems too lofty or a dump reasoning, then hear this: “I am where I am because of some choices I made and some choices I did not. I am here because of myself and others whether I consciously or subconsciously (willingly or naively) allowed certain things to take place. I take responsibility for that but I do not take responsibility for the things I could not control. I take responsibility for my healing and I choose to make better decisions and choices.” I wrote all of that because it’s more complex than “You are where you are because of the choices you made.” And people never stop, nor do most care to see that. It requires thought, rationale, comprehension, and compassion and who has time for that today?

Feel the difference in “I should be further along” and “I am right where I need to be for change. I am right where I need to be for growth.” Say it aloud. Feel it. Remove the weight of “I should be further along” and see that feeling as an indicator that you are ready for change or growth. “Oh! I am ready for change. I am ready for a new adventure in life. This is getting boring or old.” You feel much lighter. You are more apt to take action for the right reasons after you FIRST define success for yourself based on YOUR internal dialogue. Not what the world or people say success is.

The heart of a human plans their course but the Lord guides their steps. Proverbs 16:9

Many plans are in one’s heart but the purpose of the Lord will prevail. Proverbs 19:21

~Nikki

Have you defined success for other people? Why? What is success to you?

Are You There God? It’s Me, Nikki.

FROM MY SPIRIT

I used to think that when I asked or talked to God about something and God gives me an answer that seems unrelated, way out in left field, God didn’t care about what I was talking about. Since I’ve grown, I have learned that it means these things thus far:

1. I hear you but that’s not the pressing issue right now. We’ll get to that later.

2. I’m telling you this, showing you this, because this is what I want you to focus on.

3. Let me take you forward and then back to what you were talking about and it will all make since soon.

4. This is a piece of the puzzle. Hold that until you find the other piece. Let’s go on an adventure to the answer. Guided footsteps. (Sometimes, I don’t “be” feeling like going though! )

5. That is the answer. Look again.

6. That’s not your business.

7. You wouldn’t understand it right now. Wait until you grow some more.

8. I’ll tell you when you get to the next realm and even then you wouldn’t care as much about it as you do now. So, be at peace with never knowing some things and never understanding some things. (How? Trust God. Accept the peace Jesus willed to us.)

~Nikki

Hey, Bloggers! What’s New for 2022?

FROM MY SPIRIT

New year 2022 and old year 2021 on sandy beach with waves

What are you doing different with your blog in 2022? Are you making big changes, tweaking things? Or is your blog running smoothly and you plan to keep doing what’s working?

I’ve already changed my plan to give my site a different and fresh look for the new year. I think my popular post, “Sunday Morning Coffee Musings” deserves its own category, so I created one for it. I also removed several categories that I felt could be combined into one or eliminated altogether.

Another thing I am working on is giving my blog a total “energy” makeover. While “confetti” is symbolism for variety, I’d like to pull it together and give it some uniformity. “They” told me I had to pick one thing and blog about it if I wanted to have a successful blog. I thought how boring that would be for me. I opted to blog about a variety of things and to forget having a successful blog if that’s what it would take. With that being said, there is a way to bring variety into uniformity and this is my attempt at it.

What about you, my friends? What are you doing with your blogs in 2022?

~Nikki

Nature Walk/Thoughts on a Celebrity Rapper Murdered in My City

FROM MY SPIRIT, Uncategorized

I found out on my nature walk that a well-known rapper, from my city was murdered today in my city and not too far from my house. Breathe (saying to myself). I am really saddened and angry concerning his death because of what he does for the city and in particular his community. I am really saddened by the loss of life and violence in my hometown. There have been 5 murders in this city spanning several hours. I feel angry that people, PEOPLE do not care about life. I feel sad for friends and family of the victims. Sometimes, I feel fear when I leave my home and when I am in my home. I have to remind myself, first the natural then the spiritual. First, do my duty to ensure safety and to remember I am protected by my Creator. I ALWAYS pray for safety.

People are seemingly out of control as they use the city streets and highways as race tracks. They rob, break in, and murder over the most insane things. I dare say, where is the march for CRIME and VIOLENCE PERIOD. Yes, there can be two, three, four dynamics to “protests” and “marches” but, what I want to figure out is HOW do you get people to change their hearts? It’s a collective effort and not a “religious” or “governmental” effort only.

Breathe, Nikki.

I walked nature’s path today with so many conflicting thoughts and emotions but, as I observed nature itself, I felt a sense of “peace that surpasses (all of my) understanding” of the time I am alive in. “What a time to be alive!” my dad said last year in the middle of a pandemic. I wondered why he said that. He explained it’s a time for faith and hope. I thought about that on my walk. “What a time to be alive!” A time to offer hope, encouragement, solutions, and change.

~Nikki

Sunday Morning Coffee Musings: Setbacks & Perseverance & Birth

FROM MY SPIRIT

It seems as though this week, this year has been filled with setbacks. Individual setbacks and when you look at it, setbacks across the nations. It seems as if we take a step forward and two steps back. It’s a push against some invisible force. It’s what I talked to you about in the beginning of the year. It’s the tearing down and building up. What’s it going to take to clear the debris of this year, or the last four years for some, is perseverance.

Perseverance

noun

persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

I know you must rest. You must rest and get adequate rest in order to clear the debris. This is hardcore labor. This is blood, sweat, and tears, It’s ugly and you can’t be cute or handsome with this. You are going to need some perseverance. You need determination. Make up your mind and set your face like flint. This means: Whatever comes your way, don’t change your mind about the outcome. Don’t change your mind about the business. Don’t change your mind about education. Don’t change your mind about your goals and dreams. Set your face like flint. Get it done in the face of the harsh winds that may blow.

I was worried about my big birthday plans. I was worried about not being able to travel. I was worried about my business and not making money. I was worried about not being able to gather with friends. I HAD PLANS! BUT…

Thank God, I knew how to adapt. I knew how to adjust. I knew how to accept. IT WAS HARD. BUT I DID IT. YOU DID IT. AND NOW IT’S TIME TO REMOVE THE DEBRIS. I also learned what and who was really important in my “plans”.

I found out who I was this year. I found out who others weren’t. I found out what I was made of and I found out what I wasn’t. And now it’s time to clear out the debris. It’s time to wash away the losses and look at what has been born. What did you birth? What came out of this? What can you do with what’s left and what can be tossed? What can you clear out?

Make way for the new. Take off the sackcloth and get on with your “it” in a NEW and PROFOUND way.

~Nikki

Travel Confetti: Vegas, the Usual Frontier

TRAVEL, Uncategorized

In my casino resort, there was the temptation of this place and not the slot machines. Every day I passed by this place and STOPPED for ice cream!

My three moods while waiting for coffee to brew in the morning.

If you are a foodie, Las Vegas is the place to get your gastro grub on! So many restaurants, so little time!

Lots of Creative Spaces utilized in Vegas.

The Mob Museum

The most interesting part of my trip was The Mob Museum. If you want to talk about organized crime, the mob museum is the place to understand where it all started. The Italians and the Jews, the Irish mobsters and gangs were a very very violent and ruthless group of people. They had the means and money to import illegal things into the country and they did. I find it normal how these gangs are glamourized and many look at the violence in the cities, such as Chicago, as if these gangs have anywhere near the capacity to do what the mob did and continues to do.

Freemont Street

Vegas during the pandemic was different but, I still had so much fun making memories with my family and friends. We made sure followed the protocols and the places we visited did as well. I felt safe the entire time and remained vigilant.

~Nikki

Where Have You Been Nikki? Vegas In A Pandemic

TRAVEL

Where have I been? M.I.A indeed. I took the yearly trip to Vegas with family, half of the crew, during the pandemic and it was STILL a great trip. I was nervous as one should be during these uncertain times but, from the time we left things were in place from the airlines to the resorts, the city of Vegas and the businesses that we went to. They all had Covid protocols and were very strict about it. However, the Vegas hospitality remained in place.

That is my view from the room. The hotel is one that I really don’t like but, it was chosen as a throwback before the pandemic hit. And although it’s my least favorite because the rooms need a MAJOR overhaul, it is the best location and is connected to some of the best resorts. It also has great food accesses within the hotel itself. And, if you are on the Resort side you have a better view of the mountains.

I enjoyed waking up to the mountains, watching the sunset over the mountains, and getting so much inspiration from watching each day of sunrise and sunset bring a different view and mental perspective. It was less crowded but, still crowded. It was seeing Vegas in a way will probably NEVER see it again. It was not people on top of people and I liked being able to move easily through the casino, resort, streets, and shops.

These are photos from my first evening there.

We had reservation at the Beer Park Rooftop and it was an awesome view of the strip and the food was really good!

I will share a bit more next week but, just wanted to say hello and let you know that I am still here. All is well! It just takes a while to recover for one that has Rheumatoid and Fibromyalgia. There is much to discuss!

~Nikki

The Heart Epiphany: Part 9 “Boundaries”

FROM MY SPIRIT

Artwork by Nicole Jackson and is available for sale. It’s actually one of my favorite pieces.

Self-love is setting boundaries and enforcing them. SETTING AND ENFORCING boundaries is hard work. Especially, when you love that person. Especially, when people don’t understand your journey or your vision. And let me just say this, they don’t have to, and you need to learn to be okay with that. Self-love and setting boundaries is hard work. You have to stand your spiritual ground.

~Nikki

Sunday Morning Coffee Musings: Un-churched and Unhinged

FROM MY SPIRIT, Uncategorized

My artwork. It is for sale but not my mug.

“They are going to back to church! Can you believe it?!” and “We are going back to church! We have faith over fear!” this is the talk of social media. Some are stating their thoughts (opinions), some are stating their overly righteousness, and some are stating their concern or outrage. You’ve got those that use to go to church, never been to a church, against going back to church. And those that use to go to church and those that have never been all for people going back based on freedom. You’ve got churches against other churches for going back, and you’ve got churches beating other churches over the head with faith over fear rhetoric.

Christians are people first. People are allowed to have difference of opinions. It’s obvious by the many denominations and divisions of churches. However, most people do not realize that their opinions are not facts even if they present them as facts. You can form an opinion (or draw conclusions) based on facts, your faith, your experience and your belief. What gets to me is when either side presents their opinion, laced with insults or superiority. When I see they have their minds made up, there is no need to engage in a “what do you think?” because if they can’t present their thoughts without insults or superiority I highly doubt they can engage in a respectful debate.

How do you quiet the noise of two toddlers arguing over a blue ball? One is saying the ball is round and the other is saying the ball is blue. Guess what? You tell them they both are right. Blue is a color. Round is a shape. They are essentially arguing over two different things and on a higher perspective, they are arguing over nothing. You know this.

First rule of maturity, “I cannot control other people. However, I can control my response and my OWN actions.” If gathering is permitted with guidelines for a church what can I do about it? If that church doesn’t implement or follow the guidelines based on “we have faith over fear” (which makes me cringe and I will be happy to tell you why), what can I do about it? I can NOT go to that church. People don’t determine my faith or how much of it I have if I don’t do what they do. They don’t get to call it fear. I can call it wisdom. You remember, we as Christians are always saying call it how you want to see it in your life. I can continue to worship on line, drink my coffee or tea and mind my business. I can put on my mask, wash my hands, and keep my distance because I may come into contact with the “faith over fear” crowd. Also, I can’t say ALL of the churches will not follow the rules because I can’t visit ALL of the churches to see what they are doing. I can however, SEE if my place of worship is following the rules and go with that. It’s actually easier for smaller congregations to do. Especially, if you have a leader with some respect for the law of the land, wisdom, faith, and a plan. Faith without a plan, works, is dead. Dead is not so good if you still have work to do.

Secondly, on the road to maturity, SONS and DAUGHTERS, you put away childish things. It’s childish to argue over something that is going to happen whether you like it or not. It’s not childish to have an opinion, to discuss or debate it. It becomes childish when you shout, insult, demean, and stink up the room with your arrogance. It’s not a sweet smelling fragrance at all. It doesn’t smell like Teen Spirit. 😀 Sons and daughters understand their duties to their collective and individual calling. It’s not to sit around and go back and forth with children about a ball. Sometimes sons and daughters get caught up, but they quickly realize they are trying to discuss calculus with elementary students. There is nothing wrong with elementary students. We all were elementary at some point and well, some of us still are. Hence, the constant bickering over much to do about something that you can’t control. We ALL have some childish ways and there very well may be some mature people going toe to toe about this issue.

Thirdly, recognize a hot topic. This is a hot topic. You don’t have to tell people how you feel or what you think just because they ask you. I learned from one of my great spiritual teachers when someone asks you as a leader or Christian about a hot debatable topic to pull you into a heated discussion, you can simply say “I don’t think about it or I don’t.” Nikki, what do you think about people going to church?” I don’t think about it. “Nikki, do you feel they are right or wrong?” I don’t feel about it. You see, I’m not going to go back and forth because I have already processed it in my mind and heart or it could be a topic I truly care less about. Furthermore, I can’t “be living my best life” if I am going back and forth. Back and forth means I am going nowhere! And neither are you!

All I know is you can be about your Father’s business, your life work, your journey in a building or outside of a building and both. All I know is, I can continue to pray for those I don’t agree with, for their safety and protection just like I do for those I do agree with.

I’ll say this, I think the phases of opening up in some cities are moving too fast and without caution or plans. This is very American arrogance to me. In some cities, I think they are taking the appropriate time. This is very American Care to me. The four sentences before this one are all…opinions. The fact in that is cities are opening back up.

~Nikki

Woman Powered Up: The Epiphany

FROM MY SPIRIT, Uncategorized, Woman Power Up

A few weekends ago, I did something I’ve always wanted to do. I held my first public gathering for women. A seminar? Luncheon? Empowerment? Yes, all of that, BUT so much more. My goal was for it to be non-religious, more spiritual and diverse experience. What I mean by that is you’re free to be yourself, say what you REALLY say to your girlfriends when the cameras are off and Sunday is over. The speakers were allowed to TRULY be themselves. The women were free to come as Buddhists, Christians, nonbelievers, etc. It was all inclusive.

20200307_132441 — Harmony & Balance in Color UNPLANNED ❤

It was impressed upon me by Spirit to have the purpose to be something of an “epiphany” of the HEART, MIND, SOUL, BODY, & SPIRIT. Each speaker addressed that area with complete honesty and authenticity. One spoke on SEX and HIV. Safe sex and the high rate of HIV we have in the city of Memphis. This was the Body Epiphany.

FB_IMG_1583618249603 — Tell ’em Giovanni about the power we have over our bodies!

Next was the Soul Epiphany. This speaker spoke on the “SOUL of a WOMAN” and the Power that is embodied in that soul. It is the fuel of life! The power of the soul of the woman changes the atmosphere it is in and out changes lives.

FB_IMG_1583618269245 — Power in the Soul of a WOMAN

The Heart Epiphany was about self love and the hard work it takes to TRULY love yourself. It’s important to know the difference between self care and self love. You can go to a spa for a week and come home to the same chaotic relationships, family-ships, and friendships.

FB_IMG_1583618222570 — Serious Business, Reap the Rewards of Self Love

The Spirit Epiphany…wow! Merging the traditional religion of Christianity with WHO you really are and WHAT you really believe is something that takes courage and authenticity. And this speaker has them both. She gave us a glimpse into her journey.

87834290_10220691438303154_7709464234735697920_n — A Freed Spirit! Namaste and Amen!

What can you do without your mind? The Mind Epiphany was about the importance of mental health, well being, redefining the narrative, and what to do if you discover…YOU ARE THE PROBLEM?

FB_IMG_1583618279170 — Mind Boss, Straight Talk and No Chaser

ALSO on deck was a very important agency in my city, Memphis, known as THE CORNER. Free testing for STDS and HIV, information, and the help for anyone who finds themselves in this situation. This organization is vital in our community and one of their representatives, Queen was a jewel of knowledge!

Queen on her knowledge of facts on facts! Stats on stats!

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to step out into my own. I may not have gotten the chance to do everything I wanted to do for my birthday month, but I got to do the most important thing and this was it!!!

88302194_10159506582208266_4014767688353054720_n — JUMPSUIT on clearance from Lane Bryant $39 was $89.99

The vendors were spectacular! I’m sure they made their vendor fees back and enjoyed the event. I can’t wait to improve this for next year. Let’s GROW!

~Nikki

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	Rick Phillips on Are You Successful?
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