Chronicles of Janice B. Life from the “A” – No the Other “A” – Asheville

Change

Ok I have a confession to make.  This week I freaked out and all hell broke loose!  I was like OMG what the hell did I just do?  I moved to a place I know no one, I had some serious financial challenges, and the job hunt was going a little slow! I must admit doubt and fear crept in.  So what’s a girl to do?  Pray of course.  Ah yeah that didn’t work!  I still felt lost, scared, and confused.  I was like if this was the right move for me, why are all these bad things happening and happening all at once.

After seriously panicking one night all night, the next day I got up the courage to call one of my close friends, who happens to have a very good spiritual eye. She said and I quote “Janice, that’s just the devil trying to block your blessing.  With all these things coming at you, you must have a mighty blessing coming your way.  Must be some kind of windfall!!  And she laughs.  Then she said now go play the lottery and when you win big remember little ol me!”  Then I laughed.  She was right when you are on the right track for your life, all hell will break loose!  Things will come at you that you wondered where the hell did that come from! So I thank God for my spiritual sisters out there!!!

Now the funny thing is, when you get real spiritual advice God has a way of confirming what you heard was right and of him.  So this morning when I was doing my morning devotions I came across this passage:

Change:  The old spiritual reminds us, “Nobody told me that the road would be easy…” and it’s not! It is not easy to shift out of what we do and how we do it.  It is not easy to shift our views in order to see new things in place of the old.  It is often confusing and frightening to make a shift away from the familiar in order to embrace the unknown.  Yet it is a necessary labor we must undertake in order to grow.  No matter how difficult, challenging, or hard it may seem, shifts are necessary when the time comes to free ourselves from the confinement of mental, emotional, or physical boxes.

All shifts create a vibration which in turn affects everything around it… Sometimes, in fear of the effects our changes will create, we delay making a much-needed shift in our minds and behaviors.  As a result, our lives and everything around us remain stuck.  When the time comes to move, we must move.  The longer we fight against it, the harder and more painful the movement becomes.” Iyanla Vanzant

So it was confirmed that no I’m not crazy for making such a drastic change to my life.  It was just time for me to shift gears.  It was time for me to start living my life that was authentically me.  And come to think about it I made that decision years ago while in high school to never follow the road well traveled but to follow the road less taken.  So I leave you with one of my favorite poems by Robert Frost:

Robert Frost (1874–1963)

The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5 Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, 10 And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. 15 I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. 20

Until next time!!!! 

Enjoy the Journey

(Please feel free to check out my awesome novels: From the Brink of Insanity Comes the Light and The Forgotten A Love Story!)

Chronicles of Janice B. Life from the “A” – No the Other “A” – Asheville

Shazam! I am in the land of the Birkenstocks, tied-died tunics, incense and 70’s music! So you may be asking yourself what’s a big city girl well maybe I should say semi big city girl going to do in this strange land! Yes strange indeed.  I feel like I have been transported to another planet. Me no understand, slow moving, meditation, relaxation, friendliness, and everybody speaking to me!  (Side note: people bring their dogs everywhere here! I even saw this lady bring her dog inside White House/Black Market boutique! I couldn’t believe it as that is an upscale boutique! I think Sasha is going to love it here!) This land is strange indeed! However, I am forging on and I will conquer this strange terrain. 

My goal and purpose for uprooting and coming to Asheville, was to practice what I preached:  get still, get centered and find out who you are.  So I had to tap into those powerful words.  I was tired of talking the talk but not walking the walk.  I was also tired of being who everyone else thought I should be.  I would cringe at the thought that my father didn’t approve of what I did with my life.  I felt an obligation to my younger siblings show prosperity.  In my family prosperity looks like this: Big house, 2.5 children, a job that you stay at for 20 years, and marriage.  I have none of that!!! So I had to ask myself is this my truth?  Have I been happy striving for this euclid prosperity?  My answer was a resounding NO! I had to be true to Janice.  My truth is I am a woman of words and I have to strive to make a living using my words.  In order to do that I have to come to terms that I may never be what my father wants me to be.  I have to come to terms with me and love me for who and what God made me to be.

I’ve come to learn that the most important relationship I have right now is the relationship I have with myself.  I once read that you have to love yourself including the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between because you can never get away from yourself.  Part of this process is getting still and meditating. Going inward helps you become not only in tune with yourself but with a higher power.  A deeper spiritual connection helps you become free.  When I started out on this journey to discover who I was and what I wanted out of life, I never knew where I was going to end up.  I know that my journey is so far from over.  But so far I’ve discovered that I like a slow pace.  I like that I can pause and think in the middle of a café and no one is pretentious, posturing, trying to see or become the next great celebrity. I think I’m going to like this strange and interesting land!! So I want to leave you with this:

“The world we see that seems so insane is the result of a belief system that is not working.  To perceive the world differently, we must be willing to change our belief system, let the past slip away, expand our sense of now, and dissolve the fear in our minds.” William James.

With that, I encourage you to see your insane world differently or pack up and move to a place that you know you will absolutely love even if it’s only in your mind! J

Until next time!!!! 

Enjoy the Journey

(Please feel free to check out my awesome novels: From the Brink of Insanity Comes the Light and The Forgotten A Love Story!)

Chronicles of Janice B. Life from the “A” – No the Other “A” – Asheville

Chronicles of Janice B.

Life from the “A” – No the Other “A” – Asheville

Oprah Winfrey said “The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” Well I took that to heart! I did it! I packed myself the wonder dog - Sasha up and moved to the “A” – Asheville, NC that is.  We are off on a new and exciting journey. Just moving was an adventure in itself!  You know when you are on the right path for your life the forces of darkness try to stop you at all cost! The first thing that happened that led me to believe I was heading in the right direction, although at the time I thought it was an omen, my apartment got rented to someone else. I couldn’t believe it.  See I am very proactive.  I called a week a head to make sure everything was ok and good to go.  I rented the apartment in February. The conversation went a little something live this:

Ring.

“Hawthorne at Northside”

“Oh I think I have the wrong number” I said because my complex was named Colonial Village.  So I check the phone number again. Ring

“Hawthorne at Northside” the person said again.  I panic and hang up the phone.  With fear gripping my hart, I tried looking up the management company’s name.  I found an “800” and called.  A recording came on “You’ve reached the main office, please contact the property direct…” 

“Ugh” So I ended up calling back and telling the person that I hung up on twice what I was looking for. They said that the property was being taking over by new management and that they had me in the system to move on 08/14.  Great, however, about 30 days ago, I called and was told that I could move on 8/03. “Well that apartment has been rented” came the nonchalant reply. So tell me what’s a girl to do?!  CRY!!!!!!!!!  I totally freaked out.  I was like oh my God what am I going to do.  I just quit my job all deposits were paid, the truck has been rented, and people were in place to help load. The person on the other end assured me that they would be able to help me and someone would be contacting within the hour, as I was boo hoo’ing uncontrollably on the phone.  I waited an hour but no one ever called!

After calling the apartment complex several times to no avail, I just didn’t know what to do.  I would like to say I handled this situation with my normal take-charge personality but I didn’t.  I went home, cracked open a bottle of wine, and pulled the covers over my head thoroughly convinced I made the biggest mistake of my life!  But then one of my friends called.  She encouraged me to contact the district managers and or go over the district managers heads if need be.  So I mustard up some courage from deep within and called the district manager demanding action or my deposit back within 48 hours so I could locate another apartment.  I then researched and found the names, addresses and email addresses of the executive board.  The Internet is a beautiful thing!  As I was drafting my tell all, email to the executive board making my demands, the district manager called me back stating that all was ok and I could move on 08/03. This convinced me that prayer and action works!

As planned my friends came loaded me up in Atlanta without a hitch! So we were off driving down the interstate and Sasha started to get suspicious.  She realized that this wasn’t our usual short drive to the doggy park.  She panicked and tried to jump out of the window while we were on the highway doing 70 MPH!  I have never been so frightened in my life! We were heading up the mountain so I couldn’t stop.  The very first chance I got I pulled off the highway and let Sasha out.  She used the bathroom and off we went again.  She continued to freak out but I refused to open the window until we got to our destination.  Because she tried to jump out the window, I believe to try to trek back to Atlanta (Atlanta or Bust – must have been her mantra), she will be forever known as Sasha the wonder dog – meaning I wonder what the hell that dog is thinking!

The next thing that happened was a little mishap with the movers in Asheville.  THEY DIDN’T SHOW UP!!!!!!! Again I panicked.  OMG what am I going to do.  I called my Mom and she told me to relax, get some rest, and call someone in the morning.  So not what I wanted to hear at the time.  I wanted something done and I wanted it done now – what that something was I had no clue.  It was 5 PM on Saturday so it was too late to do anything anyway.  But I still wanted justice!  However I took my mother’s advice.  I showered, ate, cracked open a bottle of wine, laid on my mattresses that were on the floor (my bed was in pieces), pulled the covers over my head, and cried! (see a pattern here J)

I shall not be defeated!  I got up early the next day not because I wanted to get up early but Sasha the wonder dog had to go potty! But non-the less I got up with a renewed spirit. I pulled up a list of people to call to possibly find movers and to see if someone could come out that day!  Lo and behold, I was able to find someone to come out on a Sunday.  I called at 9:30 AM.  They got there at 11:00 AM. They were done by 1:00 PM and by 1:30 PM Sasha and I were off to find the dog park! Again, prayer and action works!

I think that’s enough for now.  More things happened but I don’t want to scare ya!  You guys get the picture!  When you are following the destiny that God has for you, the enemy will attack you but rest assured, the plan has already been laid out.  You have the victory!  So here’s some morsels that I’ve learned along the way thus far:

1.     Tears solve nothing – (Always add wine with your tears to get better results! - just kidding!)

2.     What a difference a day makes – Sleep on it the sun always comes out tomorrow sprinkled with joy!

3.     God sends Angels to help you along the way

4.     I’m resilient and so are you!

 I would love to give a shout out the all the wonderful Angels that helped me in Atlanta: Mel G, Shanna G & A, GB, B-Payne and Joshua C.  Thanks so much for your help, love and support!  You guys Rock!  Also, my Angel in Asheville: Mike G!  You’re my hero!

Until next time! 

Please feel free to check out my books and past blogs at www.janicebrantle.com or www.poetryinmotionii.com!