Relevance by Ebony Pollard

I watched the sun rise this morning (because Lovebug—that’s what I call my baby girl—woke up at THEE crack of dawn). I couldn’t help but appreciate the sound of the birds singing their morning songs as the yellowish-orange glow of the sun filtered through the living room window. Lovebug, content in my arms, was quiet in that moment and I drank in the peace. Moments like these, my mind tends to wander; sometimes to a specific place and other times, nowhere in particular.

Well, this time, my mind did wander to a specific place—a place it didn’t need to be. An issue that had been bothering me for quite some time permeated my thoughts. Almost immediately, the peace that I was feeling just moments before began to contend with an anxiousness that was welling up inside me. Anxiousness soon grew into irritation and, before I knew it, I was on my way to being a little miffed!

Then my daughter, who recently discovered that she can make all sorts of neat sounds with her little mouth, began to blow spit bubbles—her most favorite! Because I think everything that my infant princess does is pretty much awesome, I turned my attention to her (and wiped a little baby spit off of my cheek).

Just like that, spit bubbles brought me back to my sunny, peaceful place.

“This moment, right here, is relevant. This is what I should be focusing on.”I said out loud.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Too often we waste time and energy concerning ourselves with things that we can’t do anything about or that just don’t matter … or both … when there are lots of positive things taking place.

I am a thinker. That isn’t always a good thing. Sometimes, I think myself into a frenzy. I told you all, in a previous post, that I was on a mission to identify the things that keep me from moving forward. Thinking too hard about things that can’t be controlled can be something that could keep any one of us from moving ahead in life.

Obstacle identified. From now on, I’m focusing on things that are relevant.

Thank God for spit bubbles and sunshine, huh?

So, what irrelevant thoughts are standing in your way? Change your focus. Change your mind. Change your life.

The only thing holding you back is YOU!

In a previous post, I briefly wrote about moving forward. Shortly after posting, I realized that I think, talk and write about this subject quite a bit. It must be pretty important to me, huh? Still, I find myself stuck in the same spot in a few areas of my life and I’m asking, “Why am I still here?” For me to feel as strongly as I do about the importance of moving forward, in anyone’s life, I certainly haven’t gotten very far in my own, it seems.

I am glad that I made this realization, though. It caused me to take a moment and reflect on the possible reasons why I haven’t progressed in certain areas. Willing to be honest with myself, I see the things that I have allowed to stand in the way of progress.

There are obstacles—both self-imposed and those beyond my control—blocking my view of my goals. It is time to clear the pathway.

Moving forward isn’t just about advancing your hopes, dreams and aspirations. It is also about internal growth and maturation, a constant process until we take our last breath.

I intend to explore these obstacles in my life. Removing them will be a process but, I am willing to stay the course.

What are some obstacles that are standing in your way? Which obstacles are self-imposed (things you brought on yourself) and which are out of your control (resulting from your environment, upbringing, etc.)? What needs to take place in your mind and heart to eradicate them so that you can move on with your life?

True to my candid and transparent nature, I will share my revelations about my own obstacles on my personal blog, as they come to me, in hopes that my experiences can help others. So, by all means, feel free to check out my personal blog as I look for the deeper meaning behind the phrase moving forward!

Do you know what the best thing about being a Fontbonne University student is? Personally, it is the sense of pride in knowing that I am a part of a respected institution of quality education.

I didn’t go to college right out of high school. I went into the military, instead. When I returned home, I started seriously thinking about my education. Fontbonne University was high on my list of possible schools to attend. I even set up an appointment to take a tour and speak with an academic advisor. Unfortunately, I let some negative life circumstances get the best of me, and I didn’t enroll at that time. Fast forward to several years later and here I am, in my early thirties, a mom and a Fontbonne University student after all!

So, in addition to my sense of pride, I feel accomplished. I am finally enrolled at a school I have wanted to attend for years. And, when I graduate, I can say, with a dignified smile, “I obtained my business degree from Fontbonne University.”

That means more to me than anyone will ever really know.

“How do you study?”

I’ve been asked this question a few times over the course of my higher learning journey. The answer is always, “It depends.” On what? you might ask. Well, for me, the way I study depends on the class, my mood and surroundings.

The one thing that is constant, however, is my need for silence and order. So, I don’t study well in groups. The only exception to the silence rule is music. And, like I said, depending on my mood, my studying soundtrack could vary a great deal. You might find me listening to anything from the Beastie Boys to Beethoven or Mozart to Israel Houghton.

I’m kind of all over the place, to be perfectly honest. I don’t know if that’s such a great thing. Hmm …

Don’t get me wrong! I do take homework and studying seriously. I just don’t have a specific studying style. I could probably stand to be a little more grounded when it comes to that but, what matters most is that I understand the subject matter. Excellent grades are important to me as they provide a visual representation of my effort. Studying plays a huge role in getting acceptable grades.

I wonder how my fellow Fontbonne students get their study on?

So, there’s this song by The Pussycat Dolls that I love! As soon as I hear the opening chords, I’m up dancing, preparing to sing along. It’s called “When I Grow Up!” As someone who finds inspiration in almost anything, this song made me think of myself the first time I heard it. What do I want to be when I grow up?

Anyone, that knows me well, knows the answer to this question. “Ebony wants to be a writer,” any of my friends would tell you. And they’d be correct! I want to support myself through my writing. To be on the New York Times bestseller list would be divine! I also want to be a creative consultant, using my artistic nature to help others achieve their dreams.

When I graduate with my degree in Business Administration, I will use the knowledge and skills obtained at Fontbonne University, to start a consulting firm. At the same time, I plan to continue my studies and obtain a degree in English, as well.

With both degrees, I will achieve my goal of becoming a successful consulting firm owner and published author. Fontbonne is going to be with me every step of the way!

What do you want to be when you grow up? I know Fontbonne University can help you get there!

Each new day is an opportunity to be better than you were the day before. With a sunrise, comes the chance to forgive and release yourself from the past and make a decision to move forward. Too often, we look back and get caught up in the what-ifs. But, if we would just continue to move forward, we would see that the future can be greater than the past. We just need to change our attitudes.

Don’t let your past paralyze you with fear and keep you from moving ahead. Instead, use your past failures as a launching pad to catapult you into your destiny. Allow yourself to learn the valuable lesson that comes with each failure, apply that lesson to your life and make wise decisions from that point on.

These thoughts can definitely be applied to your life as a student! Being a student isn’t always easy. There may be some challenges along the way to obtaining your degree but, as long as you stay determined, you will get there!

Have a great week!

–Ebony

Times are hard in more ways than one. And, in this depressing economy, even inspiration can be tough to come by. I am a firm believer, however, that every cloud has a silver lining. Many times, when asked to name the person that inspires them, people credit Mom, Dad, a favorite teacher or coach. I have been inspired by all of these but, no one has ever motivated me as much as my new daughter, Joy. For the clouds that currently hover over my life, Joy—and her smile— are the silver lining.

I’m told that children have a way of “pushing one toward purpose.” I thought I knew purpose before she was born but it wasn’t until I heard Joy cry for the first time, that I gained a new reason for breathing—to be the absolute best mother I could be by raising a well-rounded, happy individual. To me, being a great mom means striving to live a productive, exemplary life—a life that my daughter can look at, be proud of and, in her own way, emulate.

I am more passionate about the things that I loved before Joy came along. Things such as my faith in God, my relationships, writing—she is sitting on my lap as I type this—and the pursuit of higher learning. All of these things have a hand in the person I was, the person I am now and the person I will someday be. So, naturally, I want my experiences in each area to be positive and fruitful because my daughter is watching!

I am thankful for her existence and, in a lot of ways, my daughter has saved my life. Thanks Joy!

Well, hello everyone! I am Ebony, no stranger to the world of blogging but brand spanking new to the student blogging community here at Fontbonne University. This is an exciting opportunity and I look forward to sharing with Fontbonne’s faithful blog readers.

Now, let me tell you a little bit about myself.

First of all, I love being a student (I know. Nerd alert, right?)! I came to Fontbonne from another institution in search of a better quality business degree program. I enrolled in courses through the Options program and have been pleased with my decision ever since.

I enjoy reading good books while sipping a chai tea latte, writing poetry and working on a novel that probably should have been published years ago, movies starring Johnny Depp and sushi. Oh, how I love sushi (and Johnny)!

I am a regular on a few different blogs, including my own. I volunteer for a non-profit organization geared toward mentoring young ladies ages 8 to 18 and am an active member of my church. And, a lover of politics, I may have a slight addiction to CNN and MSNBC. I’ve really got to stop watching those channels!

Lastly, I love spending quality time with my new baby daughter, whom I affectionately call Lovebug. She was born over the summer and has completely changed my life for the better. Lovebug is barely three months old, but that didn’t stop me from lecturing her on the importance of higher learning the day I brought her with me to the main campus’ bookstore. “Someday, you’ll go to school just like Mommy,” I told her. She yawned several times during my lecture but I am certain that I got through to her! Ha!

As a writer, I strive to entertain my readers as well as provoke thought on issues that affect our individual lives. I hope that I can do this, throughout the semester, for you all! Thank you for the opportunity and I wish you all a great school year!

Ebony