Trinette Collier Greene

Q: My husband has recently been released from prison after three years and my family is treating him differently. They are bringing up his past mistakes every time we get into a discussion. I’m feeling a bit torn because I want everyone to be happy…we were all fine before he went in. How do I make it like it was before?

B.T. ~ Locked In Love

A: I’m glad to hear that you are reunited with your husband after three years. I know that had to be an adjustment for you as well as your family while he was away. Now that he is home, you will have to create a new life for you and him. You will have to establish a new life. This will require some time and won’t happen in one day so don’t become overwhelmed. Pace yourself and embrace the new beginnings.

It sounds as though you care very deeply for your family and that is a blessing. However, this is the time that you must focus on your husband and self. Your family must learn to respect you, your husband, and the healthy boundaries you BOTH set. Bringing up someone’s past is not healthy and your family has to be mature enough to acknowledge that that’s not good to do. God forgives us so we must do the same for our brothers and sisters. You may never get back to how it was before because this is a new beginning for everyone. Don’t try to make it like before…God gave your husband a new beginning and that included reuniting with you.

Until next time, laugh, love, live life.

Love,
AunT

Trinette Collier Greene is a Certified Relationship Stylist and Contributing Writer

Submit your relationship questions to AskAunT@gmail.com

Mindset Matters by Cassandra Williams-Herbert

Abandonment a Heartfelt Issue

There are so many life experiences that can cause issues of abandonment. Many are very obvious; some lay dominant. Abandonment issues carry wounds that can be hidden from individuals such as family and friends that are with you on a daily basis. They are often wounds and hurts that have a lot to do with past and present generational dysfunctions. Some people take on the biggest why and that is - trying to answer someone else’s why. These heartfelt issues (you may encounter) - understand that you can not take ownership of someone else issues or their reason(s) for abandonment but understand that they are also dealing with an issue you didn’t ask for, nor answer for. The only way to get rid of abandonment issues is to heal them at the root.

Abandonment is related to fear, insecurity, rejections, unhealthy relationships, low self-esteem, whatever area that might affect you, chances are they did not appear overnight.

When faced with trying to deal with these issues, you are somewhere between denial, discouragement, despair, and deep thought. You may be dealing with the silent killer Depression, making you feel alone in your ability to be able to maintain healthy relationships and find the happiness you want in life.

As I look at the loss of my father which I speak about often, I feel so lost at times trying to process my moment of saddest denial, despair, discouragement, and my deepest thought of why?

The feeling of these emotions is tough and terrible. How do I know, because I have been there. The most difficult part is trying to work through the pain and how the pain carries you through life; then it’s like pouring salt in an old wound when you've been dealing with things that shift your feelings or thoughts. A stage I would call the awakening to some issues that you suppressed, through your own way of self-healing.

It’ s not easy but finding ways to heal is possible. I didn’t think it was possible for me but I have came a long way since Jan. 3, 2010 and you can, too.

The process is key to working through your abandonment issues. What I know is, the truth about your feelings will help bring you into a place of healing.

When you look at healing your heart and mind, you condition them to help discover the process that can immediately pinpoint exactly what’s happening with your breakdown by identifying the who, what, when, where, and how - so it can finally heal and shift your mindset.

My encouragement is to know the cause to help find the cure. Healing is a process. Life happens and there are some questions about life that may not ever give or allow you to get the answer of your desires; there will be some things that only God can help you with in your soul to find peace and joy. Your Mindset to all matters of life is essential to your healing.

Cassandra Williams-Herbert
Contributing Writer

Line Dancing with Kisha!

        Trinette Collier Greene

Q: How do you tell the relatives of your significant other that your relationship is fine? They are very overprotective and always want to know details.

V.W. ~ Man vs. Family

A: This is a common problem when it comes to dating someone and it will never go away, even after you marry. Family will always stick with each other, no matter what goes on. The need to protect is natural and expected. It can be due to previous relationships that were unfavorable or it could be a close-knit family. Whatever the case may be, you will have to make it known that you are in a relationship with him and him only. However, everything can be handled respectfully and in good taste.

As you approach his immediate family, be mindful that you will be treading those waters alone. However, he should be there with you to support and defend you if needed. Don’t be intimidated because you may become united and there must be boundaries in place. Be calm and respectful. Let them know he should respect your wish and support you. If this doesn’t happen, then you may need to invite a mediator to help resolve the issue IF it continues to be an issue. Just reassure his family that Y'all are fine and you have his best interest at heart. Sometimes calm words can soothe the most fiery spirits.

Until next time, laugh, live, love and stay faithful!

Love,
AunT

Trinette Collier Greene is a Certified Relationship Stylist
Submit your questions to AskAunT@gmail.com

Cindy's Featured Artist of the Week - Valecia Carter

VALECIA CARTER

Valecia is a native of Wisconsin and is currently working with the Public-School System. She is a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother. She followed her dream of owning and operating Lecia’s Loving Childcare Center, LLC, for five years launching in 2002.

While owning and operating her business, she assisted her husband by being the Vice-President of his Home Improvement company for four and a half years where she took on the responsibility of Accounting, Human Resources, Dispatch, and Manager. 

Valecia decided to pursue her dream of becoming a writer in 2017 while taking care of her grandson who was diagnosed with Chronic Lung Disease among other health issues. She loves being his caregiver which gives her more drive and motivation to succeed at everything she puts her mind to doing with extreme determination.

From middle school to adulthood, Valecia has expressed her emotions through writing poetry. She is a Freelance Poet, and Author with a book release, October 2018. She decided to write her book with the hope of helping other women and men who struggle in relationships. There are so many ways to do things, but doing things the right way is what turned her test into a testimony. Writing started out as her outlet and has now become her passion. She has the vision to be successful and knows that failure is not an option. She continues to stretch herself as she walks by Faith with the Spirit of expectancy in her endeavors and will continue to pursue her dream of publishing multiple books.

Facebook: Author Valecia Carter
Instagram: authorvaleciacarter
LinkedIn: Author Valecia Carter
Email: authorvgcarter2018@yahoo.com

Georgia State LIFT - Entrepreneurship Symposium by Dr. Pia L. Scott - FREE EVENT

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/entrepreneurship-symposium-registration-45696408187

Cindy's Featured Book of the Week! God Says by Angela Edwards

God Says
by
Angela Edwards

Abuse presents itself in many forms: physical, emotional, sexual, mental, neglect, and verbal—just to name a few. It does not discriminate, either. Abuse affects women, men, children, and even animals on unimaginable levels daily.






Have you EVER been:

· Heartbroken?
· Devastated?

· Molested?
· Raped?
· Abandoned?
· Neglected?
· Depressed?
· Rejected?
· Misused?

With the onset of the #MeToo Movement, women are now using their voice to expose abuse at an alarming rate. They know there is a freedom for their hearts, minds, and souls associated with the power of their words. Even animal abuse victims have advocates! #ThinkAboutThat

What about “the others”? Who is publicly giving them a voice?

The God Says I am Battle-Scar Free: Testimonies of Abuse Survivors book series—now in its fourth year of publication—provides women, men, and teens the opportunity to pen their abuse stories…100% anonymously and 100% free. Their transparent testimonies are compelling and purposefully-penned to speak to others who are or have been victimized. They share their painstaking processes leading to wholeness and FREEDOM from the abuse.

Today, they are SURVIVORS!

The Battle-Scar Free series includes over 60 testimonies and provides resources to help you break free…before your name becomes a simple hashtag due to another life lost too soon at the hands of an abuser. 

You are invited to do two things:

1. Contact Angela Edwards at BestSeller@PearlyGatesPublishing.com or via Facebook Messenger at Pearly Gates Publishing to inquire about having your survivor testimony included in the upcoming 5th publication in the series; and
2. Visit http://bit.ly/2shu5A0 to shop for the previous best-selling books in the Battle-Scar Free series. No two testimonies are alike—as I’m sure YOU have a unique story to tell as well.

Don’t wait any longer! You no longer have an excuse. You ARE significant. YOUR story and YOUR life matter. The doorway has been opened; walk through and get your healing on the other side! I’ll be waiting to hear from you!

~ Angela Edwards, Survivor

“Weeping may endure for a night, but JOY comes in the morning.”

Psalm 30:5, NKJV

Model P31 Moms by Bridget McCray

Humble Pie!

The mom, who woke up early to take her son to an athletic camp, only to discover that the camp doesn't meet on Fridays, and her son says, "I tried to tell you, Mom," and she "rips him a new one," only to find out that he was correct, after she called her husband to verify what was on the flyer and realized that she did, indeed, overlook that important piece of information, then bursts into tears for "chewing out" her son for no reason: Yep! It was I!

This happened last summer, yet I can still see it as clearly as if it were yesterday. I cannot explain how incredibly small I felt in that moment. Immediately after hanging up with my husband, I apologized to our son and asked if he would please forgive me for what I'd just done. His response, without a hint of anger or frustration in his voice: "Yes, Ma'am."

What did I take away from that situation?

(1) Effective communication in any relationship is critical. We all want to be heard, but how often do we listen… really listen?

Our children are people, too. They want to be heard, as well. If we don’t actively listen to what they’re saying, it is likely that they will stop talking to us, telling us what’s in their hearts. Is that something we would truly want to happen? I know I wouldn’t!

Why was I so busy or distracted that I did not allow myself to stop and listen to what my son was trying to say? What a relief that there wasn’t something more serious he needed to voice at the time!

(2) I was reminded that since I have two ears and only one mouth, perhaps I should listen twice as much as I speak. Hmmm…

(3) I was able to reflect on how imperfect I am as a mom. Even more so, I couldn't help but reflect with gratitude that despite my imperfections, I am forgiven.

Thank you, Son, for being an example of one who extends forgiveness. Thank You, Father, for Your Son, Jesus, Who offers forgiveness for all who come to Him!

I will choose to put my active listening skills to work so my children will know that they can share their thoughts and concerns, whatever they may be, with me. Will you commit to doing the same?

Bridget McCray

Contributing Writer

Author, H.E.A.L.T.H.: It’s Not Rocket Science (My Journey to a Healthier Me)
Available now on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats!
http://a.co/6QWpcgO

Theo's Sports Corner by Theo Abbott

The Washington Capitals and Superstar Ovechkin overcame the Curse and made the Stanley Cup Finals

The Caps Superstar Alex Ovechkin was so excited after the Washington Capitals beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in a decisive Game 7 to earn a birth in the Stanley Cup Hockey Finals. Ovechkin wore an “Eastern Conference Champions” hat for the first time saying, “Oh my God! It’s unbelievable. I can’t explain my emotions. I’m just happy for my boys, for the organization, for fans. Finally!” There's an excitement in the Washington DC area because for the first time in 20 years the Caps will play for the hockey championship. It’s a journey 14 years in the making for Ovechkin after being the first overall draft pick in 2004 to the greatest goal scorer of this generation and a player who until this year hasn’t made it out of the second round and received a major proportion of the blame.

The Caps destroyed the narrative that they can’t get the job done when it matters most. Led by Ovechkin and a young core, the Caps have stepped up and overcame each challenge in this year's playoffs. First, in the opening round they were down 0 – 2 after losing two games at home to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Then they rattled off four straight wins. Next, they finally slew the mighty dragon in the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round. The Penguins had owned the Caps in the playoffs in years previously. In the third round, the Caps took the Lightning to a Game 7 in their building and dominated them on the road to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Caps will play the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Finals beginning Monday, May 28, 2018, on Memorial Day. It is a best of seven series. The Knights are an amazing team themselves being one of the only expansion franchises to reach the championship round in sports history. Washington, DC is buzzing right now in the hopes that the Caps can deliver a championship to the City. DC fans have a lot of pride and would love for the Caps to end its championship drought and deliver the championship cup to the City. Will the Caps and DC get its long-awaited championship parade? Tune into the Stanley Cup Finals to see the drama play out.

Theo Abbott

Contributing Writer

Divine Wellness by Traci A. Fonville

Getting my weight under control has come from a process of treating myself as well as I treat others in every way. -Oprah Winfrey

Why Weight? Diets Don’t Work

You can’t turn on the TV, drive down the street or go to a party without being confronted with America’s hottest obsession: weight. Diets are a billion-dollar industry; companies spend millions and millions luring you to try the latest diet (low carb, high protein, low fat, no fat, you name it) with promises that this will (finally) be the solution – your shortcut to a thinner body. Advertising efforts also deeply affect our children, who develop distorted body images and are often on diets as early as nine or 10 years of age.

Our culture touts diet pills, celebrity workouts, convenience foods and trendy diets to help us achieve our desired weight, but these quick-fix solutions have backfired. America’s populace has reached its highest weight in history. About half of Americans are overweight; one-third are obese. Diets steer us away from our common sense and dip deeply into our pocketbooks while eliciting few, if any, lasting results. Why?

• Diets don’t work because each person is unique, with different needs based on gender, age, ancestry, and lifestyle; how could one diet be right for everyone?
  
  
• Diets don’t work because they are extreme solutions. As in physics, if a pendulum swings to one extreme, it has to swing equally to the other. A diet might work for a short amount of time, but research shows that almost all diets result in a 10-pound gain once off the diet.
  
  
• Diets don’t work because they are too restrictive. People who fail on diet plans are not flawed or weak. Diets by nature require discipline and restriction at levels that are unsustainable by a healthy human body.
  
  
• Most people are disconnected from why they gain weight and see diet as the only culprit. For example, ignoring or discounting emotions is often the first thing to cause weight imbalances.

In our fast-paced world, we have lost sight of many aspects of life that truly nourish and balance our bodies, such as slowing down, eating a home-cooked meal and spending quality time with loving people. Eating consciously and making simple lifestyle changes will create positive results and release you from the endless cycle of dieting.

Given half a chance, your body will balance out by itself, but this is only possible by getting out of the diet mentality and listening to what you truly need. Imagine taking all of the outward energy you expend on diets and fads and turning it inward so that you can listen to your heart and inner wisdom. There is no such thing as a quick fix; you already have everything you need within you. With careful thought and loving reflection, you can free yourself in a nourishing way. Working with your body rather than against it will bring you increased energy, stabilized weight and sustainable health.

Traci A. Fonville is a certified holistic health coach, a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and a registered yoga teacher. She is the owner of I Affirm Wellness, which specializes in health coaching and beginner yoga classes. She is a Wellness Advocate for dōTERRA Essential Oils and educates on proper usage and benefits. 

Traci is also a Brand Ambassador for ItWorks! Follow Traci on Instagram and Facebook @iaffirmwellness. Log onto her websites for health and wellness products at 

www.mydoterra.com/iaffirmwellness and www.iaffirmwellness.myitworks.com.

Traci A. Fonville

Contributing Writer

         Trinette Collier Greene

Q:
My faith is being tested in this season of my life. Seems like everything in my life is going wrong. I know God is real but sometimes I feel like He has forgotten about me. What should I do?

Signed: G.I. ~ Want to Believe

A:

Thank you for being honest with yourself and with God. I know life can seem dim at times but God has NOT forgotten you. As Christians, we are often tested in our faith. Often times it’s not fair, especially when you see others prospering, situations working out, other peoples prayers are answered or everything is just peachy! You think to yourself, I attend church regularly, I faithfully pay my tithes, I treat people with Godly love and respect and truly try to live a good life. Why is my life going wrong? What’s wrong with me? 

I can tell you from experience that nothing is wrong with you. God gives us situations that require us to rely on our faith. We believe in Him when things are going great in our lives but when trouble appears, we question Him, we began to lose hope, faith, etc… He sometimes just wants us to keep our eyes focused and really trust Him. These are the moments that we should continue building the relationship with Him.
Whenever I feel as though God has forgotten about me, I do these few things:

1. I talk to God. I have an honest conversation about what I’m feeling and express to Him that I need help with my unbelief.
2. I feed my spirit with affirmations, scriptures, positive music, positive places, and even people.
3. I unplug from the world and meditate. God likes to speak to us when we are quiet and still.
4. I like to use a visual such as a mustard seed and think about how much faith God wants us to have… just the size of a mustard seed. It’s pretty amazing when you look at it.
5. I tell myself that each day that I wake, it’s a new beginning with new chances.

As always, I pray that this will help and everything will be all right. Stay faithful.

Until next time, laugh, live, and love life!

Love,
AunT

Trinette Collier Green is a
Certified Relationship Stylist
Submit your questions to AskAunT@gmail.com