Hi! I hope you've enjoyed my posts on www.michellegcameronwrites.com. I am also the author of "It's My Life and I Live Here: One Woman's Story" and "I'm Single. Now What? 13 Steps on How to Live Single and Free." I am also the author of "The Power of Purpose: Living Your Destiny" and "Write That Book: Tips For New Authors." They are available on Amazon, B&N and everywhere that books are sold.
Feel free to connect with me on Instagram at @michellegcameronllc & on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CameronMichelleG
My website is www.michellegcameron.com
See you again soon!
About 2 months ago one of my coworkers began to HARASS me about hosting a graduation party. I had just completed my MBA in Global Management and I was telling her how I felt as I clicked “Post” to submit a paper for the last time.
I was really NOT hearing it. A HOUSE party? At MY place? I wanted to find every excuse why I could not afford to do this. She kept coming back to me to ask: “So how are plans coming along for the party?” After I had a war in my head, I reluctantly sent out invitations. People began to respond and my panic level began to rise.
I had to overcome my fears and insecurities as I had never opened up my home to a large group before. Thankfully I was able to pull it off this past weekend! I had THE BEST TIME! Most of my friends did not know each other so this was a great way to get all the people together who mean so much to me in one place. The love and excitement was contagious. The children/teens who came were happy to be there. My son had a BLAST!
Here are a few photos from my awesome event:
Graduation Cake! (Delicious)Fun times!!!Grad walk down the imaginary aisle….Friends and Family!
I had an opportunity to fly out to Atlanta this past weekend. I was refreshed and encouraged. I laughed A LOT, and had some heart-to-heart conversations with a couple ladies. I hugged some people for the FIRST TIME who I met on Twitter and on Facebook at least 1 year ago. I also reconnected with someone who knew my family before I was born! I was challenged and inspired as well. I’ve learned that I’m not the only one who is learning how to face life’s challenges with the determination to overcome.
Thank you Lord for my new friends! Thank you for their words of encouragement, wisdom and challenge. As my seasons change and as our life paths cross, may God continually receive the glory in ALL of it.
We are all on a journey, on a path that will define our lives and will impact how we will be remembered.
What do you want your loved ones to remember you for? What is your “life-theme”? I realize that many of us live from day to day, just trying to keep things flowing and together – but we must realize that each moment that we are alive is fleeting. We cannot go back to that minute we missed. Those of us who have lost loved ones can attest strongly to that fact.
I’ve been seeking God for years now in an effort to understand my true purpose. Why was I created? I know it’s to serve God and to love others, but what is it specifically? I know some of it, but I don’t know all of it yet. I know that writing is one of the mediums that God is using to make a significant impact in the lives of many. In fact, by you reading this post, you are part of what God is doing in my life.
Sometimes I look within (and at the mirror) and wonder what does God really see in me. As flawed as I am, He has decided to use me anyway! Every time I think of it I am humbled and I feel unworthy. With all my issues, setbacks, thought-processes and pain, He STILL decided to choose me.
He has chosen YOU as well! Did you know that?
Ask God to show you why you were created. Most times our purpose is connected to our passion for something, or it is linked to an issue that has irritated or hurt us, or has impacted our loved ones. Living out our purpose fixes problems! Our purpose fulfills us and gives us that fuel to keep moving forward.
When someone is living out their purpose, they may seem driven and they succeed at what they do. Walking into their purpose comes naturally to them, and even if hard work is involved they are almost magnetized to the work that they have to do. Purpose-driven work doesn’t feel like work. Visionaries will put in hours and hours of work and still feel rejuvenated afterwards! If failure occurs (and it will), purpose-driven people will get up, dust themselves off, ask God for more clarity and keep pressing forward. Not because God gave us a vision of what He wants to do through us it means that our execution will be 100% perfect and error-free.
People who are living out their purpose aren’t too concerned about what they may be missing out on today. They are focused on building what is important to them, and they know that during the “grinding” process a solid foundation is being laid. After the foundation is built, then all that they seemed to be missing out on becomes a reality – and typically it happens on a much grander scale than they had ever envisioned!
People walking into their purpose are not afraid to walk alone. They are actually prepared to take the journey alone because they realize that the vision was given to them, and not to someone else.
Walking out one’s purpose is a pathway of faith that typically has a very small, seemingly insignificant beginning. Ideas are birthed in the hearts of God’s purpose-filled people. As time goes by, purpose-driven people begin implementing the vision in small steps. The process is bathed with prayer, fasting and intentional study of God’s Word. Meditation and introspection occurs frequently. Actions become more intentional and focused. Time management now becomes vitally important. Godly connections with like-minded people are made, and God is glorified in every stage of development. Some of us will reach national (and international) platforms with our purpose. Others of us may remain in our local communities, but will make a profound impact that has a long-term ripple effect. Regardless of where your purpose takes you, NEVER play small! Your God is too big for that!
Lift up your heads with boldness, courage and determination! Never give up! Allow God to speak to you and to show you what to do next. As I said at the beginning of this post, I do not know exactly where my purpose will take me, but I am open to what God wants me to do and to where He wants me to go.
Let us remember the vision that God shared with us in the beginning, and let’s walk into our purpose today!
I celebrated a milestone birthday in March (40!!!).
One week and 2 days ago I submitted my final paper for my MBA – FIVE YEARS in the making!
This morning my boss surprised me with an early celebration: My 15-year anniversary at my company (which is actually one month away)! I already ordered my gift. I don’t waste time! 🙂
….and in the mail, my regalia for my MBA graduation later this year!
What will happen next? I don’t know, but I am giddy with excitement! I sense that God is reminding me that all the years of hard work, dedication, determination and sacrifice are about to help me “hit the jackpot!” When we are faithful to God, He will be faithful to us. He has never failed us.
Although all these exciting things are happening, just like everyone else I have areas in my life that I wish I could change right now. But I am not as panicked as I was a couple days ago. My discouragement is waning and fading. He is sending me help because He knows what my needs are before I even mention them, and that is some “blessed assurance” RIGHT THERE!
My Prayer:
Thank You God, for helping me to get here. A single mom, a divorcee, celibate and sold out to You and to Your purpose, preparing for what’s next, I humbly bow to You and acknowledge the significant role You’ve played in my life up to this moment. I know that more is in store, and that You won’t leave me nor forsake me. THANK YOU for life, health, strength and peace in the midst of chaos and distractions. You have surrounded me with wonderful people. Thank You God for supportive friends, family, coworkers and others. Thank You FOR everything, DESPITE everything! I am in awe of who You are and of ALL You have done, all You are doing, and WILL DO!
Now that I am single again, I realize that I was not prepared to be a wife the first time. I have spent the last few years preparing for my future husband. Here are some of the ways that I’ve been preparing:
I faced the pain I experienced because of my failed marriage and divorce. I also took responsibility for my role in its failure. This meant that I had to evaluate each situation that occurred, and realize that we both made choices that caused the marriage to fail. This was the beginning of my long road to healing.
I sought godly counsel from experienced leaders, and I also sought professional counsel. This was an important step in preparing for my future. I had to process the events that occurred in my past to understand where I went wrong (and why I made those choices) so I would not make the same mistakes again. I also learned not to own issues that did not belong to me, as some things that happened were not my fault and I had to accept that. I also read (and re-read) many Christian-based books on preparing for marriage, including “Can You Do It Standing Up: A Different Position on Relationships” by Kenny Pugh. Reviewing books I read in the past has been very helpful, as I look at the information now with a fresh perspective and a healthier mindset.
I stayed single. This means that I did not get involved in a relationship during my time of emotional healing and heart-mending. I thought I needed to be involved with men a time or two, but God stepped in and ended potential disasters immediately.
I began to journal. My journaling started as an open diary of sorts on social media. As my readers commented on my posts, I became encouraged and my emotional burdens began to ease. After many requests, my posts evolved into my first published book where I shared many of the lessons I learned.
I have a mentoring couple in my life. I was blessed two years ago when I was assigned as a mentee to a happily married couple with adult children. They have been married for about 50 years, and they relate to me well. The wife and I have a special relationship. We are both busy, but we make an effort to greet each other weekly (we attend the same church) and update each other on special milestones and celebrations. I am blessed.
I discovered who I was. I lived most of my life based on what I was told, or based on what was expected of me. These expectations even affected how I wore my hair and how I selected my wardrobe. As I learned what mattered to me (regardless of others’ opinions) I discovered the REAL me, which was TRUE FREEDOM! It was refreshing to unveil my true self, who was unknown to most of us, including me! I am now more in-tune with my emotions, my boundaries, my likes and dislikes, and what I truly desire in my future mate.
I am taking better care of my body. I am making an intentional (and meticulous) effort to take care of my appearance and grooming. It matters how you look every time you leave your home! I am also making an effort to eat more healthily than I used to. I am still working on exercising consistently. (sigh) I plan to maintain these habits even after marriage, as it is important to maintain visual appeal and I want to live a long, healthy life. 🙂
I am now more open to learning and embracing new things (and new people). Going out to meet new people, seeking to understand different perspectives and embracing new experiences makes life richer! This level of activity also opens the door to meeting eligible single men who may be like-minded. You never know where that can lead! :))
With consistent prayer, Scripture reading and meditation added to the steps outlined above, I am preparing for that special day when I will stand at the altar before God, my new husband and witnesses, and say with full assurance “I Do.”
I have never broached the subject of my hair before.
I am of African and European descent, but you can already guess what part of my genes dominate my hair texture. I used to HATE getting my hair combed as a little girl. That was before chemicals or heat ever touched my scalp. Every other Saturday they would “come for me” to take me to the sink to get my bushy, very thick hair washed. It was a crazy ritual that took almost half a day. Wash, condition, rinse, towel-dry, grease, comb (with repeated slaps from the comb – ugh), twists and bantu knots (we call them “chiney bumps” in Jamaica). If we’re wearing bangs the next day to church, the bang would be perfectly parted, a piece of paper would be twisted and turned into a make-shift roller, the bang would be dampened and super-oiled then wrapped for a set. That night we would wear scarves to not mess up our hair. (Me and my sister went through this grueling ritual together.) On Sunday morning our bangs would be carefully unwrapped, our bantu knots unknotted and pulled into one or two puffy pony-tails with ribbons and we would be ready for church.
If you read “It’s My Life and I Live Here: One Woman’s Story”, you saw where my mother joined my dad in the United States and left behind her two older daughters (me and my younger sister) with my grandma. (Mommy took our youngest sister with her.) Before Mommy left for the U.S., she took me to a hairdresser for my first perm. I was so excited – until the chemicals ROASTED my scalp! I was horrified at the experience. I loved how straight and long my hair became after each perm, but I hated the torture I endured each time. I had the same hairdresser for five years until I moved to the United States with my sisters to join our parents.
As I grew older and became responsible for my own hair appointments I began to experiment with my hair. I chopped it low on the sides and back and kept hair on top, I tried streaking to get highlights, I twisted or braided my hair numerous times, and so on. I enjoyed precision bob haircuts, angle bobs, finger waves, the flip, you name it, I’ve done it:
Cornrow Braids
Angle Bob
TwistsFlat-twists and ponytail
The Flip (no weave!)
Then I went through a painful divorce.
At the time of my divorce, I looked in the mirror and realized that I did not really like who I saw. All my life, up to that moment, was based on what others thought of me or expected from me. This included my hair and appearance. I was very plain, and I really did not want to perm my hair anymore. I tried a more conservative approach to changing my hair, which was to grow it out by braiding. I braided my hair for 1 year. After they pulled my braids out for the last time and I saw the damage to my hairline, I decided at that moment to “chop it all off”. The lady asked me about 5 times if I was sure this was what I wanted to do, as my hair was shoulder-length at that moment. I told her I can’t think of any other way to do this. So this was the result:
The BIG CHOP!
I was a bit nervous, as I knew that people (including fam) would talk. But at that moment I decided that I would be BRAVE and be ME! I always wanted to stop perming my hair, and this was my chance to stop! No braids, either. I started thinking of the major benefits. No more long prep time in front of a mirror to style hair. No more mandatory trips to the hair salon that took all day. Financial FREEDOM! So I started shopping for hair products to keep it moist and fresh. It was so easy to maintain that I ignored all the statements that many would make. I was happier. I felt like I could adequately represent myself and not put on an image to please others. Soon I began trying colors to give it a different look, and I even allowed it to grow higher at times:
Red Curly Hair
I LOVED IT!
After wearing it short for 3 years, I began to wonder what my natural hair really looked like. The short version was very manageable (still thick, but manageable) so I figured a longer version would not be too difficult to maintain. So I started growing it back last year:
Short with twists
Today, my hair is a reddish-brown and much longer. I have been stopped more times than I can count to be asked: “Who did your hair?” I get a kick out of the responses when I tell them “I did it!”
Longer reddish-brown twists
There is a song by a famous artist entitled “I am not my hair”.
For me, that is partially true. My hair is only a part of who I am, yet it plays a huge role in demonstrating who I am. I am free to be me, regardless of what others may say. I LOVE my look, and I am thankful that I gave myself permission several years ago to be ME.
Thank you to all who love me regardless of how I wear my hair.
Life, Love and Other Topics: My Commentary 