When We See Our Younger Selves

Our older selves don’t see the zit on the face

…or the hair out of place.

No, we don’t see the clothes we had to wear

…or even the ones we maybe had to share.

As bad as things might have been at the time—

We later find we’ve turned out just fine.

What we now see—

Is how we came to be.

In the end maybe all we really fear—

Is that no one will know that we were here.

Copyright 2019 © by Charlotte R. Beard

25 free copies of my book are now available on BookGrabbr! Click below to Grabb it
My book Inspirations by Char - Words for the Heart

Sometimes things shatter....

http://charsglasshouse.blogspot.com/2016/01/lesson-from-broken-plate.html

Days of PURPOSEFUL Thankfulness – Day #125

Note: Refer to day number 1 (July 25, 2015 post) if you do not know what this is all about.

Happy Thanksgiving Day everyone, today and every day! WOW! There has been one hundred twenty-four past days of finding ways to be thankful! What a journey…huh? On July 25, I started at the very bottom, having you be thankful with me for the simplest thing as a TOILET! It is not so simple when you need to go and do more than release fluid. Sorry, I had to take you there, but some of you are still just as ungrateful as ever. Yes, I said it. Anyway…we started day one with the toilet and yesterday we were (I was) thanking people who have made a certain impact on my life this year. I do not know about you, but I am certainly MORE aware of the things for which I have to be thankful than I was on July 25, 2015. I hope you are too. In addition, if not, then it is time to start your own journey of thankfulness. Go into the year 2016 with a more thankful heart than you have had in 2015.

So, to all of you who took any time whatsoever to stop at my blog to boost thankfulness in your day or just to see what this girl was talking about, I hope this has enriched your life just as much as it has enriched mine to write it. I am sending a special thanks to all those who shared my postings or commented. You did not have to do that but you did and I am truly grateful. I pray you always keep a thankful heart.

This is just the end of the Days of PURPOSEFUL Thankfulness. I am still here to inspire. J God bless you!

Days of PURPOSEFUL Thankfulness – Day #124

Note: Refer to day number 1 (July 25, 2015 post) if you do not know what this is all about.

I tell ya’…God certainly has ways of using people and events to orchestrate my life, getting me to where I need to be. I had to go all the way to Cape Girardeau for an introduction to Hustle and Flow—The Experience, an open mic event that takes place the end of every month right here in St. Louis. Therefore, I am thankful for the experience of finding out about the Missouri Writer’s Guild, which let me to attending a writer’s conference in Cape Girardeau, I heard about through the guild.

There I was at the conference, browsing my phone while on a break. I was waiting for the next session, so the best way for me to pass the time was—Facebook. Ha ha! I was in my own little world until two women walked up to me that I had seen in one of my other sessions.  One of them said, “So what are you writing?” Caught off guard, I must have looked like a deer caught in headlights when I think the first thing that came out of my mouth was “Uhmmm…” with a smile. I was at a WRITER’S CONFERENCE browsing Facebook. (Hey do not judge me…sometimes I do the oddest things to deal with my nerves) I thought she was asking me what I was writing on my phone, but she went on to explain that she was talking about what form of writing I do or what writing projects am I working on. In addition, we joked about what she thought she was reading on my face in response to her initial question. LOL! That was funny. Anyway, the three of us discussed what each of our writing interests were and surprisingly, they travelled from St. Louis as well. I mentioned that I had just started going to share my poetry at a monthly reading in Kirkwood but I was looking for something else. That is when they told me about Hustle & Flow—The Experience. Thank you Mocha Williams and Chan Poetrynmotion Davis for introducing me!

In July, I presented my first piece to the crowd of new ears. If you want to know what I shared, go here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYQIGAAK90w. In August, I presented another piece. A week ago, I decided to cross over into Fairview Heights, IL from Florissant, MO just TO LISTEN at the My First Love Is Poetry series (presented by the same group for Hustle & Flow—Secure Entertainment (http://www.secure-ent.com/)). However, the host called me to share!! I used to do sermonic solos at my old church—I have been trained to be ready at all times (I had two poems folded in my purse—he he!).

So, little steps in my passion this year for writing but all things for which I am VERY, VERY thankful! It has been an adventurous year!

Please be sure to visit one of these young women’s pages on Facebook. You will be able to say you had a firsthand look at the book while yet in the works before it goes to print: https://www.facebook.com/CeeElleReid/?pnref=story

Days of PURPOSEFUL Thankfulness – Day #123

Note: Refer to day number 1 (July 25, 2015 post) if you do not know what this is all about.

Today the person to whom I want to say thank you and focus on has contributed to my passion for writing. Never in a million years did I expect or anticipate the support received from this person. Sunday afternoon, January 18, 2015, while the team for the hair salon owner’s video shoots was setting up, I became “tutorial-ready” as Ms. Sherri Thomas’ demonstration model. “You are going to need to lose the gum…it can pick up sound…” was one thing said to me by this person who told me he was in charge for the day. A little later, I guess he came up with a thought or already had this idea formed in his head because he asked me, “Can you dance?” My head was hanging over in the shampoo bowl at this point, “Ha! NO!” I laughed. I thought to myself, the only dancing I did was with my older sister growing up, most times in our bedroom in front of the mirror—PRIVATE DANCERS! Anyway, he had this whole idea created in his brain. At the end of the shoot for the tutorial, I was thinking “what in the world…” because someone literally had her son come to the salon to teach me the Sha-nay-nay in the matter of minutes (I guessed I spelled it right. I never heard of it until that day). This writer, producer, and director had me humiliating myself repeatedly until he was satisfied with the shot. (Seriously, everyone said it was fine, I just felt ridiculous…lol!) This is how I met Mr. Michael D. Francis.

Michael specializes in taking projects from concept to completion. He has worked in various production roles for many shows, to name a few: Nellyville, Judge Judy, Survivor, Biggest Loser, The Voice, America’s Got Talent, Let’s Make a Deal, and Judge Faith. So for a writer like me, where writing is not my actual field of work, it is humbling to have someone who is “walking in” their craft every day to pull you into one of their personal projects they are working on to help someone else. For some reason they believe you can do what they need done. He has taken time to pay attention to the fact that I write without me ever mentioning it or hinting for him to notice. He has taken time to make me aware of workshops/events or other opportunities for writers. Michael even recently took an opportunity to recommend me to a university professor to write a piece for a film project still under production. These are all the types of things that make me thankful for Michael’s thoughtfulness and generosity. So that generosity deserves just a little bit of embarrassment from me. J

Michael prides himself in helping others achieve their dreams and reach their goals. It shows and I can definitely vouch for that. A Californian, he keeps many St. Louis people in the entertainment field working. Michael shares that he is working to bring more production and entertainment options to St. Louis. The hope is to expand the opportunities for the talent pool that exist here. You should also know that Michael has written, shot, produced, and/or directed web content that has captured millions of views for up-and-coming comedians to comedic veterans, like Mike Epps. However, do not be fooled, Michael’s production work reaches beyond the entertainment arena into the world of unsung heroes like the non-profit, The Korey Johnson Foundation (http://www.koreyjohnsonfoundation.com).

A guy who likes to stay behind the scenes without a lot of fanfare, Mr. Michael D. Francis is developing multiple shows of his own based right here in or “about” St. Louis. He hopes to have them on the air within the next year. Yeah, I think it is time for someone to come out of the shadows.

https://www.facebook.com/michael.d.francis.10/about

 

 

 

Days of PURPOSEFUL Thankfulness – Day #122

Note: Refer to day number 1 (July 25, 2015 post) if you do not know what this is all about.

I was gone from Facebook for over a year and this year I returned to help promote the work of a young woman that I believe in very much. I have talked about her maybe a couple other times before in two of my postings. One of those times was in my other blog if you do not recall or never read it: http://charsglasshouse.blogspot.com.  I have benefitted greatly from her background in Trichology due to my permanent hair loss. I am truly grateful for this owner of The House of Raw Elegance, Ms. Sherri Thomas, for giving me back part of my freedom. As of December 30, 2015, her gift, knowledge, and wisdom will have freed me from wigs for 2 years now. I am also thankful that she asked me to participate in her video tutorial for other clients to view. Sharing my secret was a big deal but I already knew it was something I needed to do for other women. After all, for many of us, seeing is believing…unfortunately.

Well, you know WRITING is my passion—right? Tomorrow you will see how saying yes to revealing my secret opened the door to writing opportunities and connections with others that have absolutely nothing to do with my hair. This person deserves a GREAT amount of my gratitude.