Tuesday January 6th
I recently learned a lesson about approaching things. Sometimes your approach can make or break your message. Especially if your audience is not ready or open. Your approach can make it where they hear you or they don’t what I learned is sometimes a softer approach or calmer approach is needed for serious situations depending on the subject or audience we often think that aggressive approaches are going to make someone hear us when often it does not.
Generally aggressive approaches actually make someone not hear you or gives you the short end of the stick because people shut down from aggressiveness.
So I challenge you to consider your approach in your next situation, next conversation, or next time that something needs to be addressed. Remember, that approach truly can change the outcome.
All posts by Services by Brooke
God’s Angels
Saturday January 3rd 2026
I’ve been realizing slowly but surely that God has really sent rock stars to me over the years. I have a few wise men that I’m forever grateful. A gentleman,my senior, that sends me positive messages every morning. We used to work together, like almost 5 -6 years ago. Those messages really hit home and really encourage me on some days when I’m feeling down. I have another gentleman, my senior, that sends me scriptures and devotionals everyday. I grew up with his children. His messages help me everyday. I have a wiser young woman, my senior, that sends me messages daily and she truly provides a breath of fresh air. All of these messages inspire me and encourage me especially in my dark hours. We are trained to think that messages of positivity and such should come from our family. Parents siblings cousins,etc. Not necessarily true. God works thru all types of people that you run into on the streets, in stores, work, etc. I’ve always been the keeper, my whole life. Always the person that keeps the family steady, the person that put things on their shoulders. I’ve never had the opportunity to be at ease. And as I grow, I learn and I analyze myself, I’m realizing these things. These angels encourage me daily. Sometimes I do wish it was from more familiar faces, but it’s not and that’s okay. God really sends people. In North Carolina I finally noticed he has sent people to me my whole life to be encouraging spirits or encouraging people in different ways and through hard times. So I say this to say, that your encouragement might not be coming from the people or the places that you look for them to come from. However, appreciate where they do come from because you are the assignment of those people. Be grateful that you have been assigned.
Real Tears
December 30, 2025
If I focus on all that was wrong right now what I have went thru. I would really be in tears and possibly a mental breakdown. However, God’s pulled me through things like this before so I keep my head high and keep my attitude positive. I try to focus on the things that I can control however, it’s hard. It’s challenging when you have more people around you just to be around, then to actually support you. It’s hard when you have more people depending on you to support them, then even caring to support you. So I start to question things, I start to question the people that are around, I analyze people’s purpose. When you get to this point, where you don’t want to talk anymore. You really don’t want anyone around you because I’m trying to figure out why are you really here. You know, I’ve had so many people tell me what type of friend they are and you can depend on me and things like that but when it really boils down to it I can’t. That hurts. It hurts because I am the friend that you can depend on. I am the person who cares about everybody else. I see my kids they care about their friends. How do I tell them to care but not too much. Care for yourself and support others but in reason. Don’t exhaust yourself, maintain your own mental health. How do you do that, how do you show them that without shutting all the way down. There have been so many times I want to shut all the way down. These last couple of months have definitely been one of them. It’s sad cuz I can understand people that do crazy s*** and the reason behind it. Sometimes it is the easier way out. So what do you do, how do you move on. You try to find a way to some sort of peace, some sort of positivity, something to be thankful for. And hope the day goes by well. 🤷🏾♀️
Finally, At Ease!
I would be lying if I said that my mind is at ease right now. I’ve started a slight tailspin of being overwhelmed. It’s been like this for months now. Always around the beginning of the month. Inadequacy tries to creep in slowly but surely.
As I fight these feelings away, first I work towards the goal. I try again, and I redo what has been done. I reinvent what needs to be done. Perhaps I did it the wrong way the first time. Second, I review and make sure I left nothing undone. I make sure I returned all calls and messages. I made sure I didn’t delay my response or my response was received. Third, I mentally release. (You are worth it; you work hard; your work is not in vain; you’re a great mom; you’re beautiful; you are confident). I started to chant against whatever is weighing me down.
Chant your burdens away, remember life and death are in the power of your tongue. Speak positively over anything you feel negatively about. Constantly think about the good things and walk in the positive light, instead of the negative. Most importantly, break for a moment, mentally, socially, and physically. Break, even if it’s for 10 min. Break! Clear your mind. I like to go outside to the park, backyard, or anywhere, there are natural surroundings. They soothe me, they calm me. Finally At Ease. 020717
I wrote this in 2017 and I believe that this is still very accurate to this day. You must find a way through the weary times and self-encouragement is number one on the list. This past year I recovered from being physically, mentally, and spiritually broken. What did I do during my time of recovery I followed my creator. I created consistency in my life towards doing the things that I am here to fulfill. I worked towards goals that I should have never left on the back burner. I focused on myself and my growth so I can then in turn help my family and others around me. If you don’t work on yourself, your pot will be empty to feed or serve others. I focused on my podcast. Our first full year is almost complete!
You need resources and positive outlets to help you during times of overcoming. You need to sometimes get on the phone and laugh about nothing. Then there will also be times when you need someone to challenge your negative thoughts. You need someone to feed the hunger of that dream that you’ve been dreaming that is very reachable with the right support system around you.
I want you to dream! I want you to know your dream is reachable! I want you to know everything in life you wish to have, you can with consistency and determination! I need to hear this often and I’m here to make sure you hear this too!
Let’s reach our goals together!
Why God?
Why am I stuck in this position around people that don’t want me around? Either, they don’t want me around or they are just trying to be nice to me. I’m thankful for the good deeds, however, I’m hurt. I’m hurt, knowing that although I’m in your space you’ll never desire me to be there. God, that hurts bad. Why every time I’m trying to escape these situations I’m unsuccessful? Why am I stuck here? Why was I stuck there? Why am I here now? God! I’m so tired. I’m so worn down. I’m loved out. I’m tired of loving on people. I’m tired of loving anyone.
I’m drained. I’ve tried to spread agape love, wherever I go. Is this what I’m reaping? When I’m nice, people take advantage. When I love, people take advantage. When I give, people take advantage. I don’t want to be used anymore. I don’t want to feel anymore. I want my guard back up. I don’t want to be transparent. I don’t want to be honest. I don’t want to talk about real feelings. The real answers hurt, they hurt too bad. I’m tired of being the strong, never hurt girl. The girl that people see as a robot without feelings. I have feelings and they hurt. I have morals and standards. God, I’m tired, this whole mess is draining. Rejection by your loved ones, this hurts the most. I just want to be desired. I want to feel like a woman or even a young girl that a schoolboy has a crush on. I just want one human that’s not my kids to love me unconditionally. Just one, am I asking too much. I’m not strong, I’m not impenetrable, I’m soft. I’m kind, and I love everyone unconditionally. I’m weak. I can’t take it anymore, I really can’t.
As I wrote this in August I wept one early morning. I was broken to the core, and I still am. In 2017, I lost my home. In 2018, I lost my kids and business. During these losses, I lost hope in everything, as I tried to continue to find my way out of the woods. I just wanted to stay and sit and just be lost. Just being surrounded by no one. I reached the point of comfort in the wilderness. I started to try to figure out my why; my purpose in going through the things I went thru.
Now 4 years later I’m still recovering, I’m far from where I was but recovery is a process. I’ve been able to see and embrace the lessons I needed to learn. The crying out of “Why God?” was one of my many breaking points. I was lost and I didn’t know what to do. I was lost for years. Even in finding my way out and changing my surroundings, I still was lost for a very long time. My last Why God? was me asking God why did I find comfort in abuse in unnecessary relationships. Ones that don’t benefit me or aren’t true to what they put on to be. What was the comfort in abuse? Why couldn’t I shake these bad things out of my life?
Sometimes it’s just the moment of asking why that can open you up to find out the real answers that will shift things in your life. Many times we need to stop and ask why. That why can lead you to a reevaluation and a cognizant purposeful shift. Life is a journey full of lessons. So what you are going thru is only temporary and is not a permanent place in your life. You are only passing thru. Remember you got this! Keep pushing daily!
Check out my podcast Resources in the Valley for more great tidbits on getting thru the tough times in life and business!
Scheduled Chaos
Do we live in scheduled chaos?
Few can manipulate the constant demands placed by daily life, while most allow the pressure to slow them down. We need to approach chaos head-on with common sense, multi-tasking, and organizational classes to give life pointers. This would benefit our community to assist the dependent to reach their goals.
In our daily lives, we somehow find a way to normalize busyness. From waking up to start the day and possibly fitting in a workout or some other morning routine, before heading out to work. Staying at work for 8-10 hours and then returning home to start your evening activities. Between running children around, taking classes, and running errands. We have dinner and hope to get enough sleep to feel refreshed to do it again in the morning. Most may actually slightly desire chaos as they push harder with more against them. These people often work a regular FT job or 2 PTs and manage to find time to go to school or run another business on the side. Many still have families that they take care of at home in addition and they actually get bored when they don’t have that additional time occupied. Slightly addicted to the Chaos?
Is this chaos healthy or toxic? Is this a push toward the greater good or is it a stumbling block that slows us down? Perhaps this chaos separates the successful from the unsuccessful? Who’s to say what success is? There are many that feel comfortable with the glass ceiling they placed above their own head. Anything unfamiliar stops their drive to higher ground. What if we empowered people to believe in themselves for real? Like you can do anything you want to do, or you don’t have to follow the framework of your neighbor. What if we taught refocus in times of stress? How much further would our community be as a whole? I believe we need to approach chaos head-on with common sense, multi-tasking, and organizational classes to give life pointers. I’m sure we all know a few that would benefit from common sense 101.
Strength
What do you do when you notice a close family member has the same characteristics as your abuser? I decided to love both from a distance as I’m currently unable to get rid of either one of the parties. However, just like AA recognizing the problem is the first step. I’ve recognized it and now I have to put a plan in place. A plan for negative things like this to not deter me or slow me down when pursuing my life goals. So often I hear folks say cut this one off, cut that one off. However, how are you growing when you eliminate people left and right.
A talk with a long-time friend really encouraged me that I’m learning how to deal with things I can’t control but also allowing them not to affect me is key. I started to speak my truth as we were getting off the phone and she could understand so clearly that a call back was rendered. We finished our conversation in depth and we both grew from it. I thanked her so much because I needed it as much as she did. How do you deal with relatives that have the same characteristics as abusers? You love them from a distance, you steer the conversation, and you limit their time and topics that you will address with them. There is no love lost as these people are our relatives and there was a day when we would stop the world for them. However, in the growth of wisdom, we start to see things through clear not tinted eyes. We start to assess and address things for what they are.
I’ve learned that I’m actually building strength in speaking to them. I’m learning how to deal with the next person I come in contact with that has these characteristics. I’m learning to recognize the patterns immediately and how to remove or distance them from me and my mental capacity. Life is not only about learning but it is also about expanding our mental capacity and learning how to deal with and address things as soon as they happen. How to stop negativity at the drop of a dime. How to not respond to the start of a conversation addressing something negative. Is this the kind of energy you want to have in your spirit for the day? Nope!
I’ve always been a go-to person that doesn’t go to anyone. I know there are people I can call but I believe my issues are my own burden to bare. Problems and issues are also a chance to address my choices and find where I made the choice that landed me in a hard spot. We have all the answers if we will be brutally honest with ourselves. I don’t even want to use the word brutal because it’s negative, let’s say truly honest to ourselves. Truly is the only thing you should want from others and you should give to others. However many find comfort in putting on a persona. The truth always comes to light there is not even any point in lying to yourself or others.
Over the last few years being truly honest with myself has given me so much wisdom. Stopping and asking myself why I deal with people, what is the comfort in a negative relationship, what is good, and what is bad. All questions that are very telling of our mindset.
Your mind is one of your most important assets and it is a terrible thing to waste. So take a moment to pause and ask yourself, what got me here and how can I change it?
Tune in to my podcast Resources in the Valley for more tidbits on getting out of the valley and climbing the mountain to success!
So Strong
You’re so strong
And what’s your point?
That is what most would like to know when they hear this comment. What is that supposed to mean?
This phrase is often given as a compliment. However, it usually isn’t received that way. The person that someone is usually saying this to has a lot on their plate. Many of times, they are struggling to see their way out of a situation or trying to overcome a burden. Instead of giving this compliment to your friend or family. How about you offer to pray for their continued strength. I have realized that people who usually receive this “comment” are carrying a burden they are struggling with. Most of the time, it’s not the time to say this. It’s time to offer help or support.
Your strong friends are usually the ones that will not ask for help no matter what. No matter how heavy that burden gets they will do their best to push through it. These are the friends to offer help or pray for or support in an unexpected way. I know these strong friends will also reject help this is why you find a way. Even if it is to just listen so they can release some of the burdens on their heart and mind.
I was reading or watching something recently I think it was a show. The friend told the person to just be there for the other friend. “Don’t say anything just sit with them.” You truly don’t know how important this is for people who are the ‘strong’ friend. Just sit with them, have dinner, have a drink, spend some time. This will mean more than you can even begin to understand.
Support those strong friends that support you because how do they endure if no one supports them the way they support others.
Relocation Part 2
Whew, I’m a long way from leaving home for 4 years, then coming back almost 4 years ago.
As I look back on the knowledge that I have gained through various wonderful and terrible experiences. I can ultimately say I am grateful. Today I am anyway. I had a conversation with my now podcast co-host that I was going to go through a period of depression when I returned home. She asked me, “Why did I think that?’. I responded as I had visually seen the future.
Sidebar: Be careful what you speak into existence.
About 2 months later I moved back home. Depression was immediate and tough times became tougher. Honestly speaking, I knew I couldn’t depend on people but I gave them a chance, anyway. This was not just one person, this was many. In the first 3 months, I went from already being homeless to also losing my children and my vehicle, as well. Devastated wasn’t the word, not even depressed, I was defeated. I was waving the white flag, just giving up. My family and friends tried to encourage me as much as they could, however, I felt like I had totally failed at life. I didn’t even want to serve my clients. Many of them wouldn’t take no for an answer. So I straightened up as much as I could and pushed forward. That first year really was a blur. I just tried to make myself happy in all the wrong ways. Through 4 places I stayed and 2 cars I acquired but didn’t have, I was still homeless. The first day I went back to work my transmission went. It took me a year to get that car fixed.
The second-year was better than the first. I finally got my own place. A month in my own place I realized I was not in a good relationship and needed to get this out of my life. At the same time, in the back of my mind, I was scared to do things on my own and felt like I needed a person, a partner, a friend. I tried to push through unnecessary drama and still carried things on my own, I still felt like I needed him. When in reality, I didn’t. I was taking care of everything because I’m a superwoman. I really hate that, honestly, but I’ve always played that position even during the hardest of times. It took me too long to get out. I grew during that year though. I grew mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Through the even tougher times as I struggled to get back to me, I learned a lot. I assessed a lot. I asked myself why are you allowing these things in your life. I finally made up my mind to remove them in the third year. That was even more drama. However, on the other side of that relationship, I renewed my belief in myself. I realized that through all that mess, I looked for someone to save me and the only person I needed to save me was me. Relocating and removing myself from my environment created a different level of resilience that I’m not sure I was capable of before.
So this year, I’m a superwoman for myself and my children. Year four, I’m dedicated to taking care of myself. I had to embrace that I am a super and will always be my own hero. I will be a superhero, for me!
Trust
Everyday is still a constant challenge. You realize you may need a help mate in life however it’s hard to trust people. Hard to depend on others. It’s hard it truly is. Trusting some one as a friend and trusting some one as a roommate or partner are two different levels. Thru the last few years many have offered many I turned down. Not because of lack of friendship but because of lack trust. Lack of trusting someone with your full life not just part of it. I’ve mastered the trust with part of it side not the trust with all of it side. Most don’t meet that standard. I’ve realized that over this time of lack. I don’t trust anyone with my whole life, I’m not sure if I ever will.
I have a method of avoidance. Consistently avoiding fully opening up or fully disclosing. Only partial, always partial. I call it protecting my heart. However I recognize it’s toxic. Early childhood experiences from so called friends that betrayed me in many ways. I remember a distinct incident of a girl that came to my birthday party so they would have something to talk about. Through these incidents I made an unconscious choice on how to deal with people in the future. Don’t let them get too close. Moving around has driven me insane and hasn’t made my trust any better. So as I prepare to make more changes, I also prepare to open myself up to fully trusting someone.
B. Marie's Thoughts 