Ramblings, Reflections and Referrals

I don’t know about you but around here at Becoming Today’s headquarters,things have really been heating up. Both literally and metaphorically.  That has me trying to beat the heat by offering some random thoughts, recalling some more Becoming topics and offering some suggestions for your pre-Summer reading and research.

Still more than a week till Summer officially arrives and already we’ve seen temperatures here reach 100 degrees and with it the unfortunate human costs. As the thermometers reached for the sky, the old adage, “when it gets hot, people get shot” held true with four homicides in less than three hours on the first day of the Excessive Heat Warning being prompted. 

Proof positive, once again that Life Happens

There is no doubt about that. Sometimes when you least expect it; hopefully as a joyous celebration. So hoping for cooler heads to prevail and praying for the inspiration necessary to advance those associated attitudes, I am restating my call for this month to be all about renewing.

When this month began here at Becoming Today I declared June to be the Month of Renewal. Yes I said declaring it, and boldly so, because it is something that not only am I feeling strongly led to for myself, but as I look around we have such a need for it.

On the 1st of June this year of 20/20+1,  I am renewed in my commitment to not going back to anything. Forget all the chatter and nonsense about getting back to the way things were pre-pandemic. What passed for normalcy was anything but. It is time to renew our vision, refresh our focus and restore our true paths.

In my thoughts that makes this a landmark, a milestone, a point of demarcation. Now that we understand that things are no longer how they once were, we can more easily accept that  how we need to prepare, what we can expect, and even how we anticipate the next changes beyond the next corner are Becoming to us from a new point, perspective and even view of life.

Starting this step along our shared journey with the wisdom of hindsight, we are able to clearly see what did and didn’t work for us in the past. What we need to fully release. What we truly cherish, and desire to recreate in beauty. 

What a gift!

Another recollection from the past week, we spoke about the declining value of words. While more words are being used than ever before their meanings are not being held to the same standards.

 A recent study reveals that last year we , as a collective planet, used more words than ever before. That’s a fact that has been noted regularly throughout this century, however in our  pandemic readjusted realities, it’s been further accelerated.

However the quality of our words is declining greatly. The meaning,associated with our word choices, the tone and the acceptance of them has also been marginalized like never before.

That’s a part of why I have been remaining forbearant in our discussions examining the power of words, the need to effectively communicate and how we can empower ourselves and our messages. 

Choosing your words carefully can lead you to great success, while not guarding your vocabulary can have the opposite effect: ensuring your failure. Remember words have meaning directly impacting actions and outcomes. 

BTW, forbearance has been a word I’ve been stuck on lately and combined with positive responses received for posts that have included alternate word lists, beginning Monday on our Bonus page we’ll launch a word of the week feature.

Continuing on with this free flow stream of thoughts, as you consider your words and the intentions behind them, here are some thought starters for you to ask yourself:

1. How do you feel connected?

2. What inspires you to be connected?

3. What prevents you from forming a connection?

4. How do you allow others to connect with you?

5. What does a true connection mean to you?

When I first launched this project, I wrote,

“How do I, as an individual and we as a society, focus on “Becoming” what we are truly destined to be? How do we become all we can be? How do we further enrich our lives and those of our families, friends, communities and society as a whole?  What exactly is it we want to become today? Each and every day, becoming the best at whatever we desire, hope for, have set goals for, prayed for  and how do we achieve this state? 

Those are questions we’ll focus on together in this new year of 20/20+1.”

-Rochelle Jeanette

And I hold true to those thoughts.

Keeping that in mind as we look ahead to next week, the third week of our shared month of Renewal, we’ll discuss three thingsI believe every person on this planet not only wants but truly deserves. Plus get ready, on Monday I may even lead us in a rousing rendition of “You’re a Grand Old Flag!” 

🇺🇸 I pray each and every one of you enjoys a peaceful, safe and resplendent weekend. 

Until we speak again, may you always have a smile.