While I’m currently in the works of creating a new website/blog for my creative outlets, I wanted to share one of my latest poems with you all.
This is a poem about my hometown, Detroit. Please check it out and please VOTE for me to help me in the #ChallengeDetroit competition I am currently in. Voting ends tonight at 11:59pm ET and all votes are needed and appreciated!
Challenge Detroit is a non-profit organization that unites individuals to work in the city to help contribute to the city’s success as well as finding innovative and creative ways to challenge the city to help it grow.
I hope you like this poem and that inspires you to reflect on why you love your hometown. I also hope you vote for me.
Image courtesy of John Kasawa at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
While some people decided to spend Spring Break relaxing in sunshine in states such as Florida, I decided to stay home and catch my breath in Michigan.
This semester has been a whirlwind spinning me in all sorts of directions. Halfway through, I feel as if I’m still walking on a tightrope trying to secure my balance.
Spring Break came right in time to allow me to have one week to ease my mind and catch my breath.The only thing I wanted to do more than anything was to use this time to inhale and exhale. During that time, I needed to breathe by letting go of the stress and worries that followed me from Central Michigan University to home.
I found myself looking for motivation to keep me going because like all good things, Spring Break would eventually come to an end.
I found exactly what I needed while listening to a remarkable speech by a motivational speaker named Eric Thomas also known as “ET The Hip Hop Preacher.”
He was talking about how you’ll experience those moments where life is unapologetically and unashamedly kicking your ass.
Just like a boxer, you’re going to get hit from the right and the left. You’ll see some of the swings coming at you and some of them will catch you off guard leaving you on your knees bent over in pain.
I feel as if he was talking directly to me. I was thrown into a boxing ring and needless to say, I didn’t have any boxing experience. I felt as if I was the amateur rookie who was forced to compete with a professional champion boxer.
However, ET said something that really stuck with me giving me that I would never forget.
“There’s some things in life that all you have to do is outlast. You just have to learn the secret of how can I survive these next couple rounds because if I can get pass this, then I can knock you out.” -Eric Thomas
At this point I learned just because this semester has been a whirlwind so far doesn’t mean it will continue to be a whirlwind when I get back. I just have to figure out how to divide my energy between defending myself, fighting back, and saving energy for the next couple of rounds.
My Spring Break was the refuel that I needed. It was the water break to restore my energy and the echoes from my trainer to keep me going.
And now I’m ready to fight back.
I’ve learned how to stand my ground and I refuse to let this trying time in life get the best of me. This doesn’t mean I won’t fall to the ground with a black eye or busted lip.
It means that I will fall to the ground with those things, but find the strength within myself to get back up before the referee counts to 10.
Today is the final day of my Spring Break and tomorrow classes and the drama that comes along with it resumes. Instead of stressing out about it, I’m going to splash some water on my face and knockout whoever and whatever is trying to pin me down.
I’ve learned life is not necessarily about punching the person countless times until they fall. It’s about letting them waste all of their effort and energy in throwing those punches and learning to dodge them and outlast them.
At the end of the day, they’re going to get tired and while they’re stamina decreases, you’re going to utilize your saved energy and win the fight.
“One of my goals is to write for Cosmopolitan or Seventeen Magazine someday.” Photo | Charnae Sanders
Lately, I’ve been battling two thoughts in my head:
Which thoughts are thoughts that deserves to be acknowledged or talked about?
Which thoughts are thoughts that deserves to be ignored or kept to myself?
In the past, I felt more comfortable keeping all of my thoughts to myself because I wouldn’t risk the chance of sounding like I complain about everything or being overly emotional.
However, I soon learned that keeping everything inside is an unhealthy way to live and a recipe for disaster, which leads me to back to my question: to express or not to express?
Something I feel that deserves to be expressed by human being is the way you feel about yourself. Are you happy? Are you accomplishing the goals you set out for yourself?
While I do consider myself a happy person and feel that I will accomplish the goals I set out for myself, I can’t avoid the thought that the progress that I’m making just might not be enough.
I’ve got big dreams and I don’t want to just do one thing. I want to be a lot of things, but this post isn’t about that.
It’s about the fact that I know I’m not alone, and that a lot of you too want to do different things that make you happy. You’ve got goals on your bucket list that you’re trying to achieve as well.
But what if…the effort you’re putting in…the time your sacrificing…and your determined mindset to succeed isn’t enough?
What if you don’t get that promotion at that job you’ve been busting your ass off for over the last 4, 5, or 6 years?
It’s a frightening and terrible feeling because if you’re like me, I’m thinking about all of the blood, sweat, and tears I’ve invested. I’m thinking about all of the stress and migraines I’ve caused myself by going above and beyond and carrying more on my back than I could bare.
Was it just for the hell of it only to end up with a “no” or sign of rejection?
No, it isn’t.
If you spent:
Additional hours working outside of your office
Asking your boss for more assignments and taking on more than you can bare, and completing it all by deadline (with the exception of having a breakdown or two)
Just as much time working as having a social life or more
Time researching what you needed to know and doing whatever had to be done to achieve that goal
Years and counting striving to achieve specific goals you feel are tailored perfectly for you.
Then, no you should not be satisfied with a “NO” because you deserve a “YES.”
You don’t have to sit down with anyone to show him or her your resume is proof that you’re a hard-worker. They will already know because it says ENOUGH.
You don’t have to beg for that job promotion or that entrance way into the job of your dreams because your work ethic, time management, and ability to persevere through multiple obstacles says ENOUGH.
And no, you shouldn’t have to worry about the haunting thought, “What If” after you take that chance and go after your goals because the commitment, time, and how bad you want something should be HEARD just as loud (or louder) through your actions than words.
This is what I have to remind myself time and time again when I courageously set out to pursue a new goal of mine, that I am enough.
Why? Because I know my worth and I see my potential. I also know what God has put me here on this earth to do.
And I want YOU to feel the same. Regardless of how out of reach your goal may seem or what your religious beliefs are, you are capable of achieving some spectacular things in life, my friend. And you are worthy of turning every single dream you have into reality!
You just have to remember that you will have to work very hard and very smart for it, and that it is possible.
So keep putting in the work and grind to achieve whatever your heart is beating for, and remind yourself that you are capable of being enough. You just have to spend as much time working and sacrificing all you have for those goals and letting your actions speak just as loud (or louder) as your words to achieve them.
Image courtesy of Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
This is for the little girls who just want to be liked.
This is for the little boys who want to prove their tough enough to play with the big kids.
This is for the teenagers who are still searching for themselves and a place to fit in.
This is for the college students who wonder what their future holds after they walk across the stage.
This is for the women building a career while managing to pay her own bills and invest her time in a relationship.
This is for the men who stay busy working in order to provide for his family who knows he’ll settle down someday.
And this is for anyone who dares to dream big while everyone else around them told him or her to dream small.
Writing has been my passion for as long as I could remember, and I didn’t think I quite knew why until now. With writing, I am able to express myself in the most effective way possible and reach out to people who I believe I share something in common with such as obstacles.
It’s nothing new that we all go through quite a few obstacles throughout our lifetime. While some may be expected, there will be numerous that aren’t. Just like there will be numerous that you learn to face with the crowd around you, and numerous that you must come face-to-face with on your own.
Lately, it feels like I’ve been jumping and dodging through obstacle after obstacle as if I’m trapped inside a board game with no finish line.
Sometimes it feels like these challenges are personal and you don’t want to talk about them because it seems that no one will understand. People don’t understand the things at risk if you don’t prosper or the stress this challenge is giving you.
Since I know this feeling all too well, I made the decision to be more open and expressive because I know someone somewhere can relate to my situation and the obstacles I’m going through.
There are millions of us who cried the same tears, share the same fears, and are facing the same battles. I want my words to travel to inspire my generation and those to come because I need to know that I’m not the only one feeling this way, and someone somewhere feels less alone and better understood.
From this day forward, I promise to write without shame. Think without guilt. Feel for the words my heart is beating out. And to say what my mouth was once afraid to, the truth.
Charnae Sanders is enjoying the cold Michigan weather as the snow falls during the winter season. Photo: April Jackson
Magical. Surreal. Mind-blowing. Intense.
These are only a few words to describe the way I felt about the year 2013.
Out of the many words found in the Webster dictionary, the best word to summarize what 2013 felt like for me is “satisfying.”
I feel content with the effort and time I’ve sacrificed throughout these 365 days. I’ve accomplished the goals I originally set for myself. I’ve raised the bar and succeeded in doing things I didn’t even imagine would happen so suddenly.
No matter how many times I pinched myself and told myself I must be dreaming, I continuously realized I was wide awake.
Though there were disappointing moments this year in life when I lost innocent friendships, let people who believed in me down, and hid the light inside of me in a dark tunnel.
There were also beautiful, magical moments as well such as getting a promotion at my job at The Grand Central Magazine, developing a higher sense of esteem and confidence, and discovering myself and who I am all over again.
It brought me to the realization that the beautiful thing about life is it’s what you make it. You can’t control the disasters or hectic things that happen to you, but you can control the way you respond and how you allow yourself to grow from each situation.
I’m excited about 2014 and everything that will come along with it. For the last month, I’ve been working on things I’m planning to release on this blog that I am very proud of. Not only do I think these pieces capture a great depth of emotion and creativity, but vivid images to give readers a picture of exactly how I was feeling at the moment.
In 2014, this blog will be bursting with creativity and imagination. I am excited to reveal several new things in the upcoming days and throughout the year.
Though I can’t necessarily tell you what to expect, be prepared for something exciting and hopefully something you’ll enjoy reading or watching.
The year has just begun and sparks are about to fly!
(The iconic Detroit Tiger statue at Comerica Park in Downtown Detroit. Photo: Victor Sanders)
For as long as I could remember, I’ve always been naturally shy meaning I would never be the first person to start a conversation and I would never walk up to a guy I had a crush on and just say hi. I always found it incredibly nerve wrecking when it comes to talking to new people, especially guys I’m attracted to.
Well you would think now that I’m a sophomore in college, I would have grown out of that stage. Wrong!
Every time I see the guy I have a crush on, I find myself coming up with excuses such as, “I don’t think I look nice today” or “He’s sitting with too many people so I can’t go over there!”
I tend to bite my tongue a lot out of fear. I fear what I want to say will come out wrong. I fear I’ll make a fool out of myself feeling nothing but embarrassment and humiliation. And above all, I fear rejection.
The thought of not being liked or respected by someone because of my appearance, personality or some other reason still weighs on me because I’ve never had thick skin and words can be just as painful as weapons. However, I have to remind myself it’s important to remember that words can’t kill you and with the right attitude, they’ll make you stronger.
I’m beginning to realize more and more how important it is we challenge ourselves to speak up when we feel uncomfortable. We have to stop making excuses such as “I can’t say this because this could be the wrong time.” The truth is there may never be a right time. The only thing you have is time and you have to take advantage of it before it runs out.
What good will come out of speaking your mind if you keep shutting your mouth and keeping your voice silent? If you keep everything you feel inside, you’re only hurting yourself and you’ll never know what could’ve been. You’ll only be left with the thought of “What if?” and those two words can haunt a person leaving them with the painful feelings of regret.
I have to remind myself it’s not about the outcome of what will happen once you say the words. It’s about finding the courage and the confidence to say the words.
If I continue to stop myself every time I’m presented with an opportunity, pretty soon either I’m going to get tired and give up or I’m going to run out of chances.
I’ve finally reached the conclusion that this moment right now is the perfect time for me to raise my voice and speak up.
Hopefully this entry will motivate you to make your voice be heard as well if you feel the same way about a certain someone or situation.
Remember speaking up doesn’t necessarily mean saying anything that pops into your head. It’s about acknowledging the way you feel about a certain someone or situation. If it’s been bugging you for sometime, I think you should let it be known.
Find your courage and raise your voice and as Katy Perry would say, “ROAR!”
(Charnae Sanders at Taylor Swift’s Red Tour at Ford Field in Detroit. Photo: April Jackson)
Have you ever heard a song that relates to your life perfectly?
The subject of the song focuses on the situation you feel like you’re currently in and you can easily relate to every single lyric.
That is exactly how I felt when I heard “Teardrops on my Guitar” by Taylor Swift. If you’re unfamiliar with the song, Swift talks about having a crush on a boy who basically has already fallen for somebody else and doesn’t appear interested in her whatsoever.
This song was basically the story of my life in middle school. I had a huge crush on this guy who I thought was so cute and funny (cute + funny = crush-worthy). The only problem was I was totally invisible to him and he seemed interested in another girl.
She was popular, beautiful and on the dance team. I was a shy, quiet and kept to myself and spent my time writing poems and stories. So, I easily went unnoticed by him. The only few times he actually spoke to me was when he wanted to copy answers off my classwork.
The point I’m trying to make is though I didn’t get the guy I had a major crush on, I found someone who experienced almost the same thing I was going through at the time. That song not only introduced me to the person who would become my favorite singer but would change my life because through her music, somehow I felt understood.
Swift’s music has been the soundtrack to my life because of how relatable and personal her music is. She doesn’t hold anything back and she knows how to craft a song focusing on the different emotions women experience throughout their lives.
I consider myself to be lucky to have come across a musician like Swift because not only has her music introduced me to some great people, but has also made me happier and feel less alone in this world (especially when I go to a Taylor Swift concert).
I think when you find someone who is able to talk or write or sing about something you can easily relate to and does a good job at it, you feel happier. You feel more upbeat because you don’t feel like you’re totally alone in this big world and I believe loneliness, right next to rejection, is one of the worst feelings someone can ever experience.
Now that I think about it, Swift actually helped inspire me to write this blog. Swift helped me realized when you put yourself out there for the world to see by being more open and expressive of the way you feel, you are able to share your story with a larger audience who hopefully might feel the same way.
Of course, putting yourself out there takes courage as well. However, I’d like to think the reason we have voices is because we have the right to be heard.
By creating my own blog, I guess I’m telling the world I’m ready for my voice to be heard like it’s never been before.
So, thank you Taylor Swift for boosting my confidence and giving me the courage to not be afraid to express myself. Maybe, I can share my stories with the world like you (through writing instead of music) and make some other person smile or feel less alone too.
As Told by the Girl Next Door 