Hope

The world is experiencing a crisis that is unprecedented, perplexing, and down-right scary! Coronavirus-COVID 19 has undoubtedly disrupted our lives physically, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, and socially. Were you familiar with the term social distancing before March of 2020? Did you ever imagine that your son or daughter would not participate in their prom or graduation ceremony? Moreover, did you ever imagine that your state governor would mandate the closing of all non-essential businesses? I do not even believe the most anointed profit or gifted psychic could have foreseen how life would look today.

Yet, I believe there is hope. Hope for the senior citizen who can not attend their weekly exercise class. Hope for the patient who has to discuss their current medical status via telemedicine. Hope for the small business owner who had to temporarily close their business. And, yes there is hope for the graduating senior who will not participate in prom or graduation.

Hope is defined as, “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” Hope is also defined as, “a feeling of trust.” For those who have faith, many of us have been forced to rely on God in ways that make us vulnerable. The busyness of life and managing daily life responsibilities often distract us from communing with God the way our heart desires. However, the seriousness and severity of Coronavirus-COVID 19 has required us to stop and have some very intimate talks with God. Moreover, we are listening, we are waiting, and we are hoping for His positive response.

While we are listening, waiting, and hoping, in what feels like a season of things surrounding us that we cannot control, there are things we can still do through a mandatory stay at home order and social distancing to maintain self-control, as well as, hope:

Daily Devotionals or Guided Journaling

Look through your bookshelf, coffee table, or nightstand and dust off a devotional or guided journal. Create a schedule to include when and how much time you will set aside for completing daily devotionals and journaling exercises. The good news is that you can also conduct a simple Google search if you need daily devotional or guided journal exercises.

Exercise

Dust off your old treadmill, free weights, old DVD workout tapes and start with 30 minutes of exercise each day. If you are comfortable, go for a brisk walk in your community while maintaining social distancing. Another option is the plethora of work out routines that are available on youtube and apps.

Serve

If you have friends or families who have children who are still in school at any level (elementary, middle school, high school, college, or graduate school) focus on an area of expertise for yourself—contact them and offer weekly tutoring sessions via phone or zoom.

Set Long Term Goals

Take time to evaluate what you hope for following the end of Coronvirus-COVID-19. What are your personal goals, financial goals, professional goals? What do you want to accomplish when life returns to normal?

While life is difficult today and tomorrow looks bleak—together we will get through this. I am praying for each of you daily and I am hopeful for our future!

Self Reflection & Gratitude

“Reflection is a gift for your spirit. It lets deeper parts of who you are come forth and be discovered. It makes it possible for you to create something new.” Unknown 

My husband and I went to the 8 am church service today and afterwards, I decided to go to my office and organize it in preparation for the upcoming week. I am far from an overly organized person and I do not have a “Type-A” personality. However, as a life-long educator, I have learned the professional benefits of exercising effective time management, organization, and preparedness. I love the art of teaching and teaching college students brings me so much joy. Therefore, I desire to present my best self to my students daily. So, I decided to make the unplanned drive to campus this afternoon to ensure an effective week. While I worked for a few hours to prepare for the week, I spent most of my time reflecting on my professional life outside of teaching. Perhaps, I was able to do this because my cleaning, organizing, and preparing were without distraction. Ironically, I went to work for one reason; yet, so much more resulted from the experience. It enhanced my view of my work not just as a teacher, but as a speaker, writer, and consultant that focuses on planning empowerment conferences for women.

My professional life outside of teaching is often complex, requiring me to consistently engage in self-reflection. I have done this intentionally every day since my company, Professor Brown LLC, hosted our first annual women’s conference on January 5, 2019. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and I have been encouraged to host another women’s conference in 2020,  so stay tuned. I am so thankful that the vision of the conference was successfully achieved and that it blessed the lives of the women who attended.

As a result, I have engaged in self-reflection that is focused on gratitude, humility, and the future. One of my mentors asked me during the conference planning process, why do you have to thank everybody? My response, “Not expressing gratitude is not an option for me; it is non-negotiable for me.” I value expressing gratitude and letting people in my life know (professionally and personally) how much I appreciate them, as well, as their acts of kindness. Thus, I enjoy moments of self-reflection, which have repeatedly filled my heart with gratitude for the many individuals who helped to make, “There’s Nothing You Can’t Do” a success:

1. Sponsors

Several individuals and businesses served as sponsors for, “There’s Nothing You Can’t Do” that led to the ultimate success of the conference. In addition, to the monetary investment, I am eternally thankful for the business relationships formed between Professor Brown LLC and the community.

2. Conference Presenters

The conference presenters for, “There’s Nothing You Can’t Do” were exemplary and they shared from their heart, as well as, their professional experiences. These women are: physicians, mental health professionals, dentists, fitness instructors, wellness coaches, attorneys, wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. I was honored to stand in their light for a day!

3. Conference Participants

The ages of the women who attended the conference ranged from 20 years old to 80 years old, and this is what one conference participant shared, “Thank you so much for planning and executing a phenomenal women’s conference! It was a fantastic event and touched my heart in so many ways! I am very proud of your efforts to make this conference so inclusive and informative! So proud to be a participant!”

4. Friends

My girlfriends are amazing!  I am so thankful to have girlfriends who attended the conference, sponsored the conference, volunteered, and coached me through the logistics process of conference planning. My heart is forever grateful for each of them.

5. Negative Nancy’s

In my youth, I was defeated by, “Negative Nancy’s!” Today, I thank God for them because they challenge me to consider aspects of an event that my team and I might innocently overlook. Further, I understand that people can only operate from their current paradigm. Therefore, I now know the importance of listening without engaging internalizing their words. “Negative Nancy’s can keep you on your toes if you are strong and this was the case for me while planning, “There’s Nothing You Can’t Do.”

6. The Dream Team

The Dream Team that worked and volunteered for Professor Brown, LLC is dynamic beyond description. These ladies are amazing, and they were truly the heartbeat before, during, and after the conference. I truly value the gifts and talents that God has given them and truly appreciate them sharing their gifts and talents with Professor Brown, LLC.  

There are so many benefits of self-reflection and moments of silence. For me, this is when God speaks to me and to my surprise, I do not speak back--I am listening. Engaging moments of self-reflection and listening to God can result in proactive behavior as opposed to reactive behavior. Further, it is the pathway to embracing gratitude, self-care, and self-love. Will you try it?

It’s Okay to Take Care of You

"There's Nothing You Can't Do" Self-Care conference is an inspirational and educational one-day experience on Saturday, January 5, 2019 in Columbia, Maryland. The conference theme is New Year, New You and will include the following featured speakers:  

• Tyree Ayers, Esq.-Yoga Instructor

• Angela Donn, LCSW-C-Social Worker

• Dr. Francine Edwards-Educator

• Dr. Kellyn Hodges-Orthodontist

• Robin Robinson-Group Fitness Instructor

• Joanne Smith-Weight Watchers Leader

Along with, Tonya M. Brown, the conference speakers will share their professional and personal experiences on: health, nutrition, time-management, exercise, weight loss and maintenance, self-care and achieving your personal goals. To learn more and register, click here: https://www.tonyambrown.com/events/jan-2019-conference .

See you in January

"There's Nothing You Can't Do" Women's Self-Care conference is a one-day educational and inspirational experience on Saturday, January 5, 2019 in Columbia, Maryland. The conference theme is, “New Year, New You!” and the conference will empower women to embrace positivity and healthy lifestyle changes. Setting and completing goals results in: increased self-esteem, as well as, self-awareness, and inner peace.

With this in mind, “There’s Nothing You Can’t Do” Women’s Self-Care Conference will also serve as a stepping stone for equipping women to reach within and unlock the hidden potential that will result in personal growth throughout 2019! To learn more and register for, “There’s Nothing You Can’t Do” Women’s Self-Care Conference” click here: https://www.tonyambrown.com/events/jan-2019-conference.

New Year, New You!

We are excited about “There’s Nothing You Can’t Do” Women’s Weight Loss and Self-Care Conference and how the conference will benefit women who desire to live a healthy life. Check out a few benefits of attending the conference below:

1. Support

We will help you to identify your team and subsequent support group that will empower you to achieve your 2019 health, wellness, and self-care goals!

2. Accountability

Accountability and the process of being accountable goes hand in hand with support. Identifying specific and realistic health, wellness, and self-care goals is an important element of embracing or maintaining health lifestyle changes. Next, it is also important to share the goals with an accountability partner and assign a time line tо achieving the goals.

3. Inspiration

Inspiration is powerful and surrounding yourself with like-minded women will help you achieve your goals. The featured speakers for, “There’s Nothing You Can’t Do” Women’s Weight Loss and Self-Care Conference will share practical tips for living a healthy life, which will serve as an inspiration to you!

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, January 5, 2019! Click here to register and enter coupon code HOLIDAY20: https://www.tonyambrown.com/events/jan-2019-conference.