29 Gifts, Days 4-6

Hello my darlings, I'm back as promised with days 4-6 of this magical journey I am currently on of giving 29 gifts in 29 days. If you are new to this blog the introductory blog is here and days 1-3 are here.  Please note, I will be posting 3, 29 gifts blogs at a time every weekday until Thursday, June 9th which is when everything will be caught up and I will be on my 16th day. After that, you can expect much shorter posts as they will be real time daily posts chronicling this experience.

29 Gifts, Day 4 May 28, 2011 at 9:03pm

Hello friends! How are you? As for me, today was lovely... the weather was great, I had fun and all was good. I decided to base my intention on happiness thereby making my intention. "Today I give with happiness".

I must admit I was going to go stealth at first but when it started to become contrived I figured it wasn't in the cards today. My style is to allow this to flow. If I feel I'm working really hard I just let myself be still to allow the right feeling come to me. So, it did and giving happiness is what came.

As for what this looked like, I had several conversations with employees at one of my regular breakfast restaurants, I held open the door for a woman while entering a public ladies restroom, and I found myself shouting compliments out of my car when noticing a couple of really cool dressed girls I thought were rockin'.

What I got out of this was a sense of real community. People responded to me openly and my interactions were welcomed even though there were multiple occasions when I struck up conversations with people I didn't already know. Hubby also surprised me with a little cash to have in my wallet. Most of all I am feeling a real sense of contentment. A deep sense of having everything I need and being totally happy with all that I have. While browsing a couple stores today I saw some items that in the past I might have coveted but now while I liked those items there was no urge or need to have them right now. It's like I already do. :)

I hope that all of you have had a great gifting day. I've been floored at how wonderful and supportive all of you are in this wonderful community. Thank you for making me feel so at home here and sharing your thoughts by reading and then commenting my blogs. Until tomorrow!

29 Gifts, Day 5May 30, 2011 at 3:12am

2:18 am. Just back from a night out with hubby, we went to support a fellow DJ and had such a great time. Real cap off to an already excellent day. I find it uncanny that my gifting intentions come to me and end up being just right every time. Like naming a kid. Anyone else experience this? 

My first gift today was to myself. I slept really late and just let it happen. No judgements or anxiety. I just let myself sleep and rest. It was glorious. I was lost in a sea of beautiful dreams and woke up feeling like a queen. Ahhhh, thank you Lord, what a gift indeed. 

As I reflect I realize I was quite the receiver today and that is a gift in itself not only for me but to every person that gave to me. Ever try to do or say something nice to someone and they just can't accept it?? I'm realizing more and more that's bad for everyone involved. This has helped me see how important it is to be a gracious receiver as well. I feel that doing this honors everyone and who doesn't wanna do that right? Let me tell you what I was blessed with today...

When I woke up, my husband was gone for the 2nd day in a row to the gym. Major gift. I love this man and his health is top priority so anything he does to be healthy makes me happy and if he gets his sexy on in the process too... well WOO HOO!! :D I also got a lovely set of compliments and I had a great interaction with a woman who let me dash in the restroom right before her. I had been holding it a while since we had gone on a drive and I was dying! She wasn't only understanding, she was really nice about it. I was so grateful for that. 

As for what I gave today and my intention, today I went stealth...

I dropped off a box of CD's at a local store to be given away. The CD's were my original music (hubby & I comprise a Hip Hop, R&B, Pop duo called Dynamite Jive), I also filled out a thank you card for the management team here at my apartment. They do such a wonderful job I thought it would make a cool surprise. No signature necessary.. ;) Lastly, hubby gave a stealth gift too! We had gone Downtown and were at a location where you had to pay a quarter to use the restroom. Well, he paid for himself and three other people! This made me happy because I've told him about the challenge so he can think about it and hopefully be inspired. If it happens it'll be because he really wants to take it on which is why I thought his gesture was really cool. 

In terms of love and happiness, I often hear references to "the light" so when I looked up and saw this I had to capture and share because I thought it was fitting. Isn't it ironic that the light like love and happiness is also always warm? 

May we all continue to give and receive gifts. With love. :)

29 Gifts, Day 6May 31, 2011 at 1:17am

Today was slow, I was really tired after 5 hours of sleep. For some reason after going to bed well after 3 am I naturally woke up at 8. Because an intention for my giving wasn't coming to me I was going to go stealth but as the day progressed I was hit with this: "Today I give my service." This brought me to cleaning up my roommates bathroom. I gave it a hotel style cleaning not wanting to disturb his personal belongings or overstep any boundaries. I felt good about it because it happened organically. Then, without even thinking about it, when he came home I didn't say anything about it so I guess it was a stealth give after all. 

As for what I got well, I have been blessed with a lot of lessons so far that I feel will be with me a lifetime. Today's is a sense of pride from my true desire to stick with this. For some reason it seems impossible to even think of not seeing this through at least until the 29th day if not for the rest of my life. Another big thing is a true desire to continually connect with others. It seems foreign not to do so or not to just help people if I see opportunities as I go about my day. I must admit that today I wasn't as outgoing or energetic as I usually am but that's because aside from being very tired I just didn't feel too well due to starting my menstrual cycle. Sorry if this is T.M.I. but it's important to me to be as real as possible here and that very much affected my overall mood. I must reiterate though that even with these factors, I still gave, it's like I needed to. Anyone else relate to these feelings? 

29 Gifts in 29 Days. Can Everything Change In One Month?!?

Today is the day!!!!! I am bringing over my 29 Gifts blogs so you can see what I have been experiencing by being a part of this fantastic movement. For those of you that may be wondering what I'm talking about, please see my introductory blog here. Today is my 10th day in this challenge. There is a bit of catching up to do, and I was a little nervous about how to do it. I promise that the regular posts won't be nearly as long as these I just want to synchronize and since I am already 10 days deep, I will have a few posts reflecting a few days at a time. I'm thinking groups of 3. I'd like you to keep in mind there is nothing to buy and nothing to sign up for, I link to the book and to the 29 Gifts community so you have the option to get involved directly with them if you'd like. But whether you want to do it here, there, on your own, or not at all is up to you. My goal is simply to share this amazing experience and let you to decide for yourself. 


Because this blog, "Tee-riffic" is a place to house all of my blogs you can expect Tee-riffic blogs to have a normal title and 29 Gifts blogs to be titled 29 Gifts. Ok? And now, let's get started.. 


29 Gifts, Day 1May 25, 2011 at 10:11pm


Hello! I am so excited to be a part of this group and movement. I enjoyed Cami's book so much I read it all last night. I got to bed after 2 am but was happy to do so and super eager to put this idea into action as soon as I woke up today.


I woke up early and excited... even after having gone to bed late last night. The first thing that popped into my head was my intention for the day which was "Today, I give with purpose." Immediately my husband was front and center. I made an effort to give to him throughout the day. Early morning intimacy, a healthy lunch to enjoy outside, letting him know how proud I am of him and his current business accomplishments. I had signed up to volunteer for AIDS Project LA so I knew that opportunity was coming this evening but I also made a point to give with purpose to others throughout my day by providing greetings and smiles to those I came in contact with. I reached out to my daughter and one of my good friends as well.


As for what I got? Today has been sheer magic.


I felt great all day! Love seemed to be pouring in from all angles. On more than one occasion today my husband sincerely thanked me, & I felt closer to him. I also got home tonight to an unexpected invitation to a sushi dinner and news that some checks that had been of concern had arrived. Gifts for all.


Mbali, Cami, thank you for starting this and sharing it. To everyone in this community, thank you. Thanks so much for being here and providing a place for us to grow, learn, and share like this. I am truly honored to be a part. Cheers to our adventure. 


Many blessings :)


29 Gifts, Day 2May 26, 2011 at 9:52pm


Today was challenging. Last night's crazy dream and unrest had me wake up in a daze. Immediately I was attacked by negative thoughts... argh. It had a hold on me the first half of the day. After talking with my husband, I felt a little more relieved and I made it a point to have today's giftly intention in mind. Today I chose, "Today I give with love."


Amidst my tasks and the flow of the day it appeared I wasn't going to get much outside interaction. This troubled me a bit because lately being out is what I prefer and I DEFINITELY prefer giving in person. However, this is what I managed to do today. 


I gave love via the internet. Sharing kind words wherever I could. Nothing contrived just goodness I felt as I was cruising cyberspace. 


I also sent my girlfriend a gift via email. A blog I had read earlier that I felt might be the answer for her recent unrest. 


Then there was the last thing. Just like that saying. Saving the best for last....


After working from home all day hubby invites me to get out and while reluctant at first it dawned on me this would be the perfect opportunity to give a gift along with spending some time with him. So, while he stopped at the Baskin Robbins, I chose a woman that was after him and bought her ice cream cone for her. The surprise in the cashier's and the woman's eyes were enough to completely erase any madness I was in because of my rocky start today. In that moment the three of us were in on something special and there was wonder and joy just beaming from all of us. I can't even describe how amazing I feel even now writing about it. I have to say my eyes are watering a bit. 


As for what I got? Joy. Peace. And a sense of wonder that reminds me of Christmas Eve as a child. 


Thank God. Thank you. Thankful for giving.


29 Gifts, Day 3May 28, 2011 at 1:27am


12:24 am, it's been a glorious day. I would've posted sooner but I was off galavanting. Just got back from seeing "Arthur" starring Russell Brand. I really like him. He seems so genuine and the movie was so good! His accent makes me want to say things like rubbish, incinerate, and frolic. LOL, alas I digress. 


Today's intention? "I give with peace."


I had 2 giving experiences today. One of them was AMAZING and the other was quite weird. I suppose I'll start off with the weird to get it out of the way.


I was sitting reading a magazine at an outdoor mall, when suddenly a woman came up to me and asked me if I had any money to help her and her baby. She was holding something tightly wrapped in her arms but I could not see it's face, there was no sound or movement. She gestured like she was going to open the blanket while saying, "Can you spare something so I can feed my baby?" I don't know why but I found it off putting. Something about her seemed inauthentic. Still almost automatically, I reached in my bag and gave her a dollar. What was good about this for me was not thinking too much about it, judging it, or avoiding it. I was happy that my gifting happened quite automatically, it made me feel like something really could be shifting for me indeed. 


The amazing gift is one that fills me with so much joy and an enormous sense of purpose. A few weeks ago while out to eat lunch with my hubby I noticed a thrift store and decided to walk in to check it out. It was as if I had been summoned. I wasn't going there to look for a cool item, I wanted to see what they were doing because it boasted charitable works. Upon entering I met and spoke briefly with the owner and what has ensued has been simply divine. He had asked me for help. Board of Directors kind of help. I immediately felt a calling to the place and was intrigued by the proposition but was scared after having our first meeting at what type of time commitment this would mean and whether or not I was in over my head. Additionally I was worried about finances. Well, today I walked in for our 2nd meeting with the intention to give with peace. Just with that in my mind my energy felt completely different and as we spoke any doubts I had were completely erased. Even though I had l aready intended to help I feel as though today I really gave my commitment because my heart and mind were finally at peace with everything and I am no longer afraid or nervous. In addition I started giving my first of many gifts I'll give to them which is working on my first task of getting their website up and running!


The gifts I've received thus far have been tremendous. The way I feel, my energy level, a wonderful text message from the girlfriend I gifted yesterday, a wildly welcome call and visit from my daughter just to get a hug, and the feeling that I really can and will do "it". No matter what the "it" may be.... :)


Isn't it amazing how a positive perspective can change everything? I took this picture of my glass of water while working at my desk. I have a glass of water with me every day all the time yet I had never noticed this before. A rainbow, via my water glasses' reflection. Ain't life grand? <3

If you are still reading this, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart and congratulate you on your interest in this. In an effort not to overwhelm, I will be posting 3, 29 Gifts blogs at a time every weekday until Thursday June 9th which is when everything should be caught up and I will be on my 16th day. After that, you can expect daily posts chronicling this experience. Your readership already fills me up with humility and gratitude, your subscriptions send me over the moon. Either way, I thank you for spending some time with me. May you feel joyous and at peace always remembering how magnificent you are. Blessings. <3

Life Changing Stuff

Tomorrow is a BIG day. My previous post introducing my 29 Day challenge gives a little insight but tomorrow I will catch you up by bringing over my daily 29 Gifts blogs so you can see what I have been experiencing by being a part of this fantastic movement. Today is my 9th day in this challenge. Because Tee-riffic is a place to house all of my blogs you can expect Tee-riffic blogs to have a normal title and 29 Gifts blogs to be titled 29 Gifts. With that said, a quick blurb about what else is going on...

I have been chucking fear out the window and going after things in a whole new way these days. I've applied for some new opportunities and am looking forward to introducing some great new projects soon. I do not mean to speak in riddles here I just can't share details unless it is confirmed so please wish me well! I think we can all relate to how difficult it can be to reach out into the unknown and try completely new things. Each new step while scary at times once taken is it's own reward because most times we will achieve and if nothing else we confront our fears and are stronger because of it.  I look forward to sharing things with you in the upcoming days that will change all of our lives for the better. Not because I have all the answers, but because as I learn and do these things and experience these miraculous shifts in my life I want to share with YOU. It is my wish that we all have the absolute best we can see for ourselves. How do you feel about chucking your fear? Is there something you are looking forward to manifesting? Please share and know that you have someone right here, rooting for you.

With love, Tee

29 Gifts in 29 Days

My darling friends, I have been up to something and I'm afraid to say I have kept it from you. My intention originally was to complete before sharing as it is important to me to always speak from experience but this is so unbelievable that I just cannot delay telling you about this any further.

On May 24, 2011 I read a book that has already changed my life. This book I came across by happenstance, hubby had invited me to a closing Borders and I went along not intending to buy because as much as I love to read I currently have approx 4 new books in the cue waiting for me. Then, I saw it and just like love at first sight I was not only attracted, I was committed. I not only bought the book, I was compelled to read it immediately and in a day I had consumed all of it. The very next day, on May 25th, I put those words into action and have been doing it ever since.

Today is my 7th day in this challenge. I have been blogging my experiences each day. On Friday, I will be posting those experiences here so that my personal blog will be up to date and you can follow along without having to worry about going to another site unless of course you want to. I am experiencing a magic and beauty that is life changing. A series of blessings that are undeniable. I am so humbled and I feel a sense of deep gratitude at the opportunity to let you in on this. If you have been reading my blog, you know how seriously I take the uplifting of myself and others. I have love for you and wish you all of the greatness I wish for myself.

With that said, let me introduce this amazing book to you 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life

May we all realize the gift we are to each other, the gifts we have to give, and the gifts we are destined to receive.  With love, Tee

Yeah Mind, Get Outta My Mind!!!

Last night's sleep was terrible. I woke up in the middle of the night freezing and drenched in sweat. I woke up this morning in a daze straight out of weird dreams. Immediately negative thoughts pounced on me. Worry, judgements, confusion. Down the rabbit hole I went.

Lately it seems that when I really take a stance in my new life, my TODAY life (that I envision filled with abundance, purpose, positivity, possibility, philanthropy) I get attacked by negative thoughts and fear. It's like I'll have one or two amazing powerful days and then CRASH the next day or two I feel yucky. 

Trying to figure this out has been driving me nuts and seems to just exacerbate the problem. Then I read that I should allow myself to feel the emotions. Well what exactly does that look like? I am definitely feeling these emotions but gosh darn it I don't want to!!! Not only that but how long do these feelings get center stage?! Can anyone else relate to this??? 

Speaking with my husband really helped me this morning. Yes, he had sound advice to give but I also got a lot from myself because I tell you if you try to say out loud to someone else what you say to yourself a lot of the time it just seems plain dumb. If anyone else has experienced this please share because I have and it's unreal. 

I wish I had a remedy. I have been reading a lot and educating myself on these things but I cannot recommend anything right now as I am going through this myself currently. All I can say is that I WILL make it through this. If you are going through something YOU WILL make it through too. How about we lean on each other in the mean time? 

Today I Signed Up To Work For FREE & No, I'm Not A Sucker...

On this day I decided to step out and take action on a feeling I had a couple weeks ago. It started when hubby and I went for lunch and I noticed a thrift shop. That chance encounter had me going in the place, meeting the owner, and discussing philanthropy with him. I was invited to join their team. Three weeks later, I was back and ready to speak about this opportunity further.

This meeting went nothing like I expected. To be honest this whole encounter has been unexpected and yet, that is part of it's charm. I went in there ready to present. To show. To handle sh*t. What can I say? That's how I work.... Then I discovered a laid back approach and flow that I wasn't used to. There was an openness, a trust that is lovely. I was asked questions. I was listened to. I was presented with a lot of information and not very much at all. It was a whirlwind. I feel invigorated, excited, and challenged a bit. This is something completely different for me.

I am faced with the task of generating a website, marketing, online presence, and fund generation for them. I plan to do it in a week's time.

Merriam Webster defines philanthropist as "a wealthy person who gives money and time to help make life better for other people." 

This is what I see myself as. This is how I live my life. Right now my bank account disagrees with my new title. I say my bank account is a liar. Actually, I just think my bank account is taking some time to catch up to me... things move fast in my world. :D

No matter what I know I have more than enough. This notion is so powerful sometimes it's hard to believe even when it's happening right in front of me! I'm not going to say living this truth happens mindlessly for me yet but I will say that I recognize it and do my best to foster those feelings every day. It is no coincidence that blessings surround me and touch me. I had been so wrapped up in the how it recently dawned on me that I enjoy unexpected money and favor all over the place! Perhaps it's coming to me indirectly because there is something else I have to learn in the area of giving and receiving. Either way, I'm a wiling student.

Is there something you are wanting to do but taking your time on? What are some of the ways you feel you better the world?

My Best Friend's Wedding, Let Love Rule

This girl is one of my best friends...

I've known her for years and whether we are in constant or non constant communication, the mutual respect love and support never waivers. So when she asked me to be in her wedding I was overjoyed and said yes never considering for a minute what it might entail.. there have been ups and downs. There have been different emotions. I'd also add that there were moments of discomfort.

There were hair. Nail. Makeup. And shoe mandates. There was a looong wait in heels on paved rocks with no seats. I wondered if this was all normal or if my friend had turned into a bridezilla. With no point of reference, I left it as a toss up. Innocent 'til proven guilty right?

Then again...

The beautiful romantic location with so much whimsy. The delicious food. The sounds. The celebration of my friends love and brand new wifey status. The good feeling that comes from being there for your friends.

Have you ever been in a wedding? What out of your ordinary thing have you done for a buddy?

I say, cheers to all of them.... <3