3.14159 Types of Mail I Get

This pi related post is about a week late but who cares! Enjoy this pie chart. Message below.

ALL JUNK

It's always a waste of my time and I wish I could just unsubscribe like to do with spam e-mails. It's also one of the only reasons the United States Postal service is even around. 

*Update* I found this 

JUNK + BILLS

I've accidentally thrown out bills before. The bills seem to camouflage themselves in the grocery store newsletters that I immediately  throw into the recycling bin.  Why do I get paper bills in the first place? There are some companies (like Comcast) that I just don't feel comfortable allowing take my money automatically. So, I've demanded they send me a formal written request that I'll usually ignore and pay online as soon as I get the  "your bill is almost due" email.

AMAZON SURPRISE!

 This is almost my favorite kind of mail.  It's usually something I totally forgot I ordered weeks ago. I always ask myself, "What is this? It's not my birthday or Christmas. Who would send me a gift?" Then when I open it I'm like "Ooh, it's that thing I wanted. #treatyoself" Yes, I say hashtag out loud. 

HANDWRITTEN LETTERS

These are actually the best. I have two books of forever stamps and a bunch of stationary just waiting for messages from other people who also have stamps and stationary. It's personal, intimate, and always makes me smile.  I'm not sure how to make this cool again. Maybe I'll start an exclusive club of pen pals or create country wide scavenger hunt where I  mail handwritten clues to the next destination. 

What do you get in the mail?

What Pokemon Taught Me About Life

Here's a few quick things I feel like I was subconsciously taught about life while playing Pokemon Blue. 

Gotta catch 'em all

Meets lots of people! It's not about what you know, it's about who you know. Other people have wisdom, maps, fishing rods, and other items that you'll need in the future. The only way to get those things is to talk to them. Sometimes there will be errands you need to run first but it's just the beginning of what could be a mutually beneficial relationship. Strangers can turn to life long friends and even family.

Explore the world

Have lots of experiences! Maybe you're not trying to be the best like no one ever was but I'm sure you have something that's driving you. Use that motivation to give you the courage to get out of your small town comfort zone and in to the great big world. Those adventures fill your life with stories that you can share with others to encourage and inspire them.

Don't be afraid of what's in the tall grass.

Fear is cage that at some point in our lives we have to break out of. Sometimes our fears are right in front of us and in plain sight and sometimes they lurk in the unknown. Do not be held back because you want certainty and comfort. Take risks and create a beautiful life full faith, hope, and strength. 

It's okay to start over

One of my favorite parallels between life and the Pokemon game is that no matter how far in the game of life we've gotten, no matter how many badges we've collected or mistakes we've made, we can start again. It's not as simple as overwriting a save file but we can choose to give ourselves  and others a clean slate to become the champion we've always wanted to be.

Enjoy this awesome pump up music!

I prefer lame to shame

At the end of the day I would prefer to be called "lame" for not doing something than to wake up the next day full of the shame that follows most bad decisions.

I can live with not being socially accepted by other people. It will be hard and I will probably get invited to less things but I can deal. I can't live with the deep emptiness that comes from letting down yourself and those who truly care about you. I can't continue to accumulate more and more personal regrets in exchange for a few moments of acceptance.

Instead of continuing to be mocked, heckled, or peer pressured it's probably better that I spend some time surrounding myself with people who have similar values, beliefs, interests, and that make me feel loved and comfortable rather than to continue outcast and alone.

I wish I could go back and tell this to me in high school or college.

Computer Science Education Week!

Here's a cool article I was in for my work at Microsoft.

When it comes to coding, ‘Everyone starts somewhere,’ and these Microsoft pros are proof

No Stress November

I can't grow a beard or a mustache so I'm going to try something else to pass the 11th month of the year. I want to commit to no stress November. I'll comment below if I let stress get to me. I'm going to try to focus on the fact that time is infinite and that the tiny things I'm struggling with right now are so infinitesimal that they're probably not as big a deal as I'm making them. I will try not to let my emotions get the best of me, to hear and to listen(these are different!), and to focus on all the good things rather that the things that are still on their way to being good.

I could use some help. Feel free to share your best ways to avoid or deal with stress. Thanks!

You can do anything

You can do anything.*

I'm not just saying that. You really can do anything you want. The
first step is wanting something though. It can be anything really and
the best part is: you can change your mind whenever you want!

You have a powerful and unstoppable drive within you. Don't stay on
cruise control! Set a course to your destination and re-route as
necessary. There will be traffic and someone will probably change the
roads but it's not really about getting somewhere. The joy is in the
journey.

You will touch lives. You will make change. You will overcome
obstacles and solve big problems. You will also struggle, freak out,
cry, get stressed, want to quit, feel lost and have doubts.

But you don't have to worry about any of that. You serve a God who is
faithful and who never gives us more than we can bear. Your life is
for his glory. You exalt him in your success and you lean on him in
your time of need.

It's your life. Your choices and your actions matter. If you stand
still the world will keep moving on with out you. So dream, run, jump
and grab onto something you believe in. Look inside yourself and
follow your heart. Live to serve and love unconditionally.

Do anything, because you can.

*Note: These are the things I tell myself

My First Magazine Cover

2nd Issue of Beautiful Brown Girls digital flip book magazine is set to be released on Sept. 15th! Our covergirl is the CEO and Founder of EDEN BodyWorks. Can't wait to share Jasmine Lawrence's story of how she grew her natural hair and body care products into a multi-million dollar company! Make sure you've signed up to the Beautiful Brown Girls newsletter list to get your copy in your inbox on the 15th. Sign up at http://www.beautifulbrowngirls.com/ #sisterhood #womenempowerment

BET: B* Real EDEN BodyWorks Celebrates 10 Years

Thank you BET for a great interview celebrating EDEN BodyWorks 10 year anniversary. Watching this really made me see myself as a ‪#‎GrownWoman‬

Oprah: Where are they now?

I was recently featured on the show "Oprah: Where are they now?". They caught up with me from the last time I chatted with Oprah in 2007. Enjoy!

[TEDxRVA] What's the future if there is no one to build it? - by Jasmine Lawrence

The one thing I kept telling myself during this whole process, from writing to re-writing to rehearsing and finally performing was this:

I know you think you can do this alone, but you don't have to.

So I poured not just my heart into this talk but everyone's who has ever shown me love, acceptance, support, and care. Thank you.