Quell the Rebel

Quell the rebel within

Rain on a roof made of tin

Lullaby it to etermal sleep

Wrap it in peppermint and lavendar linen sheets

Do not dare to weep 

For this is not a loss

not a defeat

Found finally

Unbound to being lost

Absolutely Free of exhaust

The fare paid

The trail laid

Look! Follow the road 

Long ago paved 

Quell the rebel within

Only way to a sure fire win

Peace & Blessings
Vannique

If You're Reading This...

If you're reading this... 

Then you've made it to 2019!

Congratulations.

Many of those whom we love didn't have the privilege.

SIDENOTE: Is it me... or doesn't it seem that at the end of every year there's a rash of people who "check out" of the "Hotel California"?

But if you're reading this... then you've been blessed with more time.

So, what do you plan to do with the time you've been given?

Social media takes a seriously cynical approach to: Clearing negative energy, seeking to get closer to God, resolving to eat better, live better, exercise more or be more productive.

I know you see the sarcastic memes. Now I'm not promoting New Years Resolutions. I'm promoting positive resolutions at any time of the year.  I'm saying if you want to clear negativity do it. If you want to get closer to the creator then do it! And so on. You've been given more time to improve matters in your life. To mend fences, to make all sorts of progress. Don't listen to social media as it continues to engineer our thoughts and trivialize positive change. It could be that they don't want you to get productive and positive. That would mean less time scrolling, clicking and buying from them. You can do it! Whatever you have set your mind to: It is Beyond Possible. It is tangible! I say start with the time you've been given today and GO FOR IT! Whatever it is that is truly positive!

Peace & Blessings
Vannique

BlackBerry

Sweet Juice

Sugar On My Lips

Drips On My Chin

My Hands Sticky

I Catch It With My Tongue

Stained

My Taste buds Dance Ballet

With The Juice Of A Fruit

Perfect Plie

What A Seductive Taste

Drip Drip

On The Tip Of My Taste buds

Sweet Yet Acidic

Thick Like Fresh Honey After It's Dried

Yet 

Fluid And Wet At The Onset

Can't Get Enough Of The Taste

I've Been Brave

But Now It's Water I Crave

I'd Consume Till I Burst

I'd Consume Till It Hurts

Eat Or Starve

Which Is Worse

A Blackberry Will Never Quench My Thirst

The Wrapup 2018

Pardon my French but...." Quelle putain d'année?!"

 

Like a speeding bullet, it flew by didn't it? And true to the nature of a speeding bullet, to be honest, all I can remember is the painful moments. In my subconscious they far outweighed the prideful moments. However, I remain grateful because the cleansing that resulted from this is phenomenal. Not only the cleansing but the internal reckoning of power, purpose and passion, within myself is incomparable and priceless. I would go through all those trials again in a millisecond to be in the constant state of self awareness that I am blessed to carry into 2019.

The Uncovering

For some reason, in this year it was revealed to me the innate nature of all those I adored. I was surprised to find most of the people I placed a high value upon were well below undeserving.  It felt as if I was at a soiree, draped in my finest attire, smelling of frankincense, myrrh, and lavender. My face painted by the illustrious Sir Prater of Mac Cosmetics. My glass full to the brim with the sweetest of Sangria, my heart full of good intentions, my head inflated with positivity and pure intentions carrying me high above the headwinds and into the thickest of clouds. Then "Down goes Frazier!" I came crashing when it was realized everyone else in attendance with me was in a costume.  There were wolves dressed as sheep, clowns dressed as confidants, assassins clothed in a lovers garb , foes draped with the cloak of family. So never mind what I was wearing! I may as well had been buck naked. The taste of my Sangria soured and my deflated head sent me spiraling back to the earth just as I was halfway to heaven. I came to the realization that baring your soul genuinely is the opposite of freedom in the wrong hands. I was awakened to the fact that I had held in esteem the very hands of those who: reviled in my captivity, who coveted my security and sought to sully my sincerity and tarnish it with either their jaded view of life or jaded view of me.  But not all who launched assault were jaded some knew my nature to be true, and saw me as a target to aim their missles and went on offense. Perhaps a light in me shined too bright for their eyes. Who really knows? I've resigned to not try and figure these ones out. Enough energy has been wasted on them well outside"why and what for." Action was required.

The Separating Shield

Costumes forsaken, I had been attacked by the wolves and the assassins and berated by the clowns when I readjusted my crown and cleared the court. The late Maya Angelou wrote: "When someone shows you who they are, believe them." The clearing of negative interference left me a bit empty at first. After all these were not strays or people I just adopted and let in. These were family, dear friends and lovers. People that I felt loved me simply because of how much I loved them. Let me be the first and hopefully the last to tell you: That's not how any of this works! Although I believe it should, it just doesn't. It is not a given that because they are family they will do you right. It is not a given that because you are sincere that they will be. It's not a given that because you will give to them your last dime that they would ever give you a red cent. It is not a fact that because you bend backward they will be impressed enough to move a muscle. It is not a given that because they know better they will do better! Do not ever make those assumptions that would be a fatal mistake. I've never been a pessimistic person and these experiences haven't made me one. If I turned my tuner to a pessimistic channel that would mean they all succeeded in stealing my joy. They did not! What they did do though, is held up a large mirror facing me. In this mirror I was able to see clearly that I hadn't been guarding myself with a complete suit of armor. I was leaving my heart completely exposed. They showed me I had forgot to carry my shield.

 The Ship of Thanks

The intent of these attacks were to chisel away at my buoyant spirit; with the hopeful intent to sink my ship. Instead it carved in me a discerning heart free from naivete. It sculpted a healthy consciousness of self completely free from undue or unworthy self sacrificing. It fashioned a form of energy that will not abide the slighting and cannot tolerate insincerity.

 In short those chisels have created a ship that is sailing into 2019. Yes, Kings and Queens this vessel is sailing into the New Year with no heavy (in every sense of the word) cargo.  And for that I'm grateful! My advice: Look at your vessel is there any cargo weighting you down? I know you may have loaded the cargo for the longhaul but it could be doing more damage on your voyage then it will ever do good once you reach your new fertile ground. Throw it overboard and let it sink to the floor of the sea! True to myself, I was able to find the silver lining and learn from pain. Now I can truly say looking forward with a new pair of glasses... my future looks very bright. 

Sail On
Peace and Blessings
Vannique

Thrive

The Point Podcast
365°
THE POINT PODCAST 365°" on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/vannique-s?at=2129822

December 31 2017-Jan12018
A new years experience to remember.
I went to an NYE PARTY at a  Cambodian home. The joy, the fellowship, the smiles, the positive energy was incomparable and infectious. The crowd greeted my brother and I with cheers when we entered the room, followed by a swarm of drinks...Top shelf stuff Jameson, Remy Martin, Champgne but first..."medicine" at least that's what they called it... a root and herb mixture.. zesty tangy and looked much like a tea. They danced all night.. live music with singing included karaoke style and passing the michrophone. I sat and watch a man and a woman disagree push and shove and no one flinched... me I sat down and out the way thinking "Ohh no drunk NYE COUPLE FIGHT" then as quick as it began it dispelled. A passionate people indeed. They kept me dancing all night! Every time I took a seat somone else said...come on.... the men and the women! Everyone danced and sang into the 1st day of 2018 Celebrating life, celebrating reaching the marking of a new year others were not as fortunate to meet.
Then the dancing and singing stopped around 3... some had fallen asleep...others slept through the party and were now awake... they got out blankets and pillows and huddled together on the floors couches.. and talked for hours to each other... very welcoming and friendly people they
freely spoke to me as well. Engineers, day traders and small but thriving business owners. Each of them smiled while we engaged in conversation... not just because we were all drunk.. but it was clear they were actually happy. They knew a secret.. infact I walked in and the joy took over me... I was smiling... I hadn't even drank yet...A woman came to me and said... Why are you smiling... I answered because I'm happy and she invited me to dance... But even by the end of the night the sense of family, contentment, and joy prevailed. Net the final moment of my Cambodian Experience I spoke with someone who explained to me.. they were all family.. though marriage of through blood. They had come here years ago... Refugees from a cruel leader who had killed off the countries influential families including some of their parents and grandparents. The detachment from the traditional ways of their culture slowly increase however what they've created is a grand substitute for the real thing. They've made a choice to continue living and create a family, a community, and a legacy outside of the ones cast on them by life.

So what's the point?
The Point is... they had several excuses to fall apart as a group but they have thrived DESPITE the pain. SO THRIVE  DESPITE THE PAIN.

Listen to my segment "THE POINT PODCAST 365°" on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/vannique-s?at=2129822

KILIMANJARO

Theres something that won't let me QUIT
No matter how tired  I GET
Its something INSIDE
not PRIDE
Pride hates VULNERABILITY
What ever it is
APPEALS TO ME
"You quit now and youll be SORRY"
And so I keep GOING
Taking a chance
Jumping in the ocean
UNKNOWING
Whats BENEATH
is it the bottom for ME...
Or is it the coral REEF.
BEAUTY I pray it IS
DUTY to stay it IS
Mine
Stay ALTHOUGH I KNOW
It could be the bottom of the ocean
Stay knowing it could be the top of KILIMANJARO
Stay because yesterday is gone
Today is here
But theres no promise of TOMMOROW
IF i die at least I lived and did a life of what i loved
Instead of 1 I BORROWED

The Shadow and The Entry

Theres a doorway you must walk through.. and you would except... you can't see what's right past the entry.. a little afraid to know you hesitate...procrastinate..and reject anyone who pushes you toward it. Everytime you move so does a darkness near the entry... What is this darkness? Why does it mirrior your moves?  You wonder will it consume you. Would you already be through the entry if it weren't for this darkness... Damn this darkness..curse it to the heavens...this darkness has declared war...and you have declared it your enemy...As you back away from the entry..the darkness grows.. now bigger than the entry itself.. you look around for help... you feel you can't beat this alone...when you turn you see a lamp brightly shining toward the entry of the door you must pass through.... the darkness is you.... you've cast a shadow over the entry and made it ominous...get out of your own way.