Revamping My Groove...

I can admit that I have become so focused on being successful I forgot a couple of things about myself on the way.

1. I appreciate great shoes! Why don't I dress the part?
2. I love to write and create stories that capture my readers minds. Why haven't I created anything new?
3. Networking makes the dream work. Why haven't I gotten out to any events lately?

These things just weigh heavy on my mind and heart. I feel like I have become lazy. However, I know that it's just that I am working so hard trying to do too many things at one time. Therefore, for the remainder of this month I am going to focus on Envisage Publishing and my new diet. Everything else will have to eventually fall into place, right?
Now as part of my committment to Envisage Publishing, I must freewrite daily. Freewriting is something I learned in English Composition. It's like a worm-up exercise for a writer's mind. Freewriting will help declutter my thoughts and allow my creativity to flow. Tomorrow I will challenge myself to first do my physical exercise and then my mental exercise.
We are in the second half of 2012 and rapidly approaching my 36th birthday. It's way past time to get back on track!
Who is ready to Revamp their Groove with me? Let's get on it! Where are we on our goals list? Have you charted your goals? The time is now. Let's do it!

Books, Beauty & Bliss,
Danette Maroney

Just Because...

I have once heard someone say, "Man proposes and God disposes." I must say I have never heard wiser words be spoken.

All week I have been beating myself up about the things I need to get done. Me, of all people, should know that it will get done when God sees it time to be done. I have planned to write a Coupon 101 - Beginner's Guide for all my friends and fans who are also looking to stretch their dollars. As much as I try, something keeps me away from the computer. I blamed it on my crazy work and school schedule but that wasn't it. I know because in the midst of all that I found time to do other things, like fix a home meal for my significant other and son, home-school my 15 year old, do laundry, go shopping and rest. I began to feel that maybe it just isn't my story to tell. Yet these words continue to ring in my ear. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” So I began to ask myself, am I trying to share this information with people that want to learn, or am I trying to force people to change their ways? And there it was, I was begging people to listen to my coupon adventure and force feeding them knowledge they actually were never going to use.

My dilemma...

I need to learn how to allow people to stumble, fall and get back up and try again on their own. When, and only when, they asks for my assistance should I lend a hand. Lending a hand does not mean taking over and doing it myself. But holding their hand as they cross that road or motivate them through their transition.

Just because I have mastered, or at least come close, to certain lessons does not give me permission to take the opportunity from someone else to learn. To all my friends, fans and otherwise associates, please know that I will always be here to offer words of encouragement and share lessons but only if you are truly ready and willing to use this information/ support to move forward. Otherwise, it will be a waste for everyone involved.

Books & Blessings,

Danette Maroney

Truly Amazing! The Wonders of You.

It is absolutely a mind-blowing experience when something that you have been praying on for so long start to come to light. Over the last month, I have been beating myself up. Feeling like you are not productive from day to day can take a toll on you emotionally and mentally. I began to feel as if a lot of the steps I had taken towards securing my financial future were actually going to be my financial setbacks and that I would have to give-up on a lot of the hard work I had already put into these projects. However, I am beginning to see my hard work bring my dreams to fruition.

As the saying goes, God will never put more on us than we can bear. These are our test. If we stand true to our heart desires than anything we set our minds to can become a reality. I see now that I was just being tested. I asked myself over and over "What am I doing?", "Why am I trying so hard to make this happen?" and "How do these things relate?". Now I can see how all these things correlate. My dream is to be a mentor, a motivator, a teacher to anyone who can learn from my mistakes both personally and professionally. I used my books as a way to reach those individuals who feel shut out and lost. Yet I still felt unsatisfied. I start my career in Mary Kay to connect and network with like minded ladies that we dreaming big and 'doing it for themselves'. Still a void lived within.

It wasn't until I began to talk and actually listen to myself and those around me. I am here for a grand purpose. God has brought me through many struggles and somehow I buried the message deep within. The message was meant to be shared, to inspire and motivate. The more I began to open up and release that hurt, anger and lies, the greater my purpose became. The picture became crystal clear. My goal is is right before me. The more I accept who I am and where I have been, the closer I get to where I am supposed to be.

Lately, God has been placing the ideas right in front of me and now I understand. People and opportunities are falling into my lap. Life is turning around in a way I would have never expected. It started with first learning who I really am so that I know what I have to offer. This is key in relationships of any kind. Knowing what makes me tick has shown maturity in my thoughts, decision making and lifestyle. Finding my drive was next in my journey. Once you come to realize that you are living your dream, you smile without thought. That's joy! You're happy from the heart. Now you are ready to grow, be strong and spread your wealth. Not financial wealth. Knowledge.

In 2012, find your worth. Discover the gem that has been hiding inside of you. Dream and believe in yourself. There is an untapped happiness within that will take you to places you have only prayed to find. Reach out to someone. Be their support and in turn they just might be what you need to find what makes you, YOU! We all have a purpose in life. Let's start defining who we are.

Books, Blessings and Bliss to you all!

Danette Maroney

What I Know For Sure...

Inspired by Oprah, I have decided to dedicate a blog to my readers sharing my knowledge with those seeking direction and wishes for the future.

What I Know For Sure...

I always knew what I wanted to accomplish in life and where I would be in 5, 10, 15 years. I allowed too many non-factors to cause me to deviate from my path. So, what I know for sure is that you should never let anyone ever stand in the way of your true desires.

My goal in life was to help my young sisters and brothers avoid some of the rocky roads that I have traveled and climb the mountain to success. I have been told many times that my stories of trials and triumph could be motivational to someone who may not see the light at the end of the tunnel. In writing my novels, I felt that I was providing hope and encouragement to my fellow sisters who have been abused, homeless, abandoned and still struggling. Still there is so much more I can do to reach so many more women.

I have been that sister that has lived in an abusive relationship for over 7 years. I know the feeling all too well, feeling like you have to stay because there is no place left to go and after a while to try to rationalize the beatings. However, what I must share with my sisters is that it is never permissible for a man or other partner for that matter to physical, mentally or emotional abuse you. We owe it to ourselves and our children to want better for ourselves. Recognize your self-worth and live to see bigger and brighter days. Yes, the days ahead may look scary, to some the fear is being alone but if and when you truly love yourself, you are never alone.

It is my hope that in this upcoming year we all achieve those goals we set out for ourselves. In this coming year, I am going to open myself to give a little more. Not financially, for sure. I want to be inspirational to someone that may not realize how beautiful life is when we learn to appreciate the cards we were dealt as a life guide. Sometimes we must go through the bad to understand the good. Life is never going to be easy. I learn with each obstacles to appreciate something new in the world and something new in me.

Next year, 2012, I claim it for myself and those around me as the year to value ourselves. We are going to to learn how to put ourselves first and prioritize our lives (home, work, etc.). Set ourselves up for success and not let the troubles of our past dictate our futures. I invite you all to challenge yourself to be different than your usual. Reach out to someone and offer words of encouragement and praise. You will see that it will change you both, lifting your spirit and filling you with a joy that no one can ever take away.

What I Know For Sure is that for every one of us that takes the time to get to know ourselves we will in turn motivate someone else to find that peace within themselves by discovering that special person eager to come out. We keep so much of ourselves bottled up after each hurt that we wind up closing ourselves off from possibilities. What I Know For Sure is that everything happens for a reason and it is always best to find the brighter side to every setback.

I am ending this year with a special blessing for all of my sisters and brothers that feel that life has let them down. Life has only just begun and I will be here with you to make the best of every day to come.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Books, Blessings and Bliss,

Danette Maroney