Serendipitous Musings

I can't breathe. A man's final words that have become the mantra of a renewed civil rights movement; right on the back of a global pandemic. Our way of living has significantly changed forever. How do we find calm in all the chaos? Whether you're on the front-lines, side-lines or somewhere in between, you've been touched by the tragic events that have plagued our nation.  Chaos is natural - if you look at the world. It's everywhere - but to find you peace in the midst of chaos is something that you have to do for you. Life is unpredictable, if the year 2020 has shown us anything, it's that fact. Some of us have faced the most difficult and challenging times of our lives. But beneath it all there is a still and calm place you can rest in. 1. Meditation Meditation has been known to have the following effects: Lower blood pressure Improved blood circulation Lower heart rate Less perspiration Slower respiratory rate Less anxiety Lower blood cortisol levels More feel...

Covid-19. It's everywhere. Everywhere you turn and look the pandemic crisis seems to be omnipresent. No wonder the beaches and bars were crowded this past Memorial Day Weekend. People have reached what is being called "Quarantine Fatigue." People are basically tired of staying home with no breaks and no end in sight. We need people. We are created to bond and connect. We suffer when our social bonds are broken. However, we also need time to ourselves. Part of not being quarantined included breaks from our loved ones. We need breaks. Let me alleviate your guilt. Just because you don't want to be around your family 24/7 does not mean you don't love them. You need time to recharge, refresh and renew. You cannot pour from an empty cup. Here are three things you can do immediately to unplug while you're inside: 1. Switch up your media diet: There is no reason to watch CNN 24/7 - set your phone to send you breaking news or check on the state of affair...

Do you ever look back over your life and ruminate on the exact moment a monumental event happened in your life that made it change course? May 13, 2017 2:33PM Not again. This is what I thought as I looked down at a Snap Chat message from a woman who was claiming she was the girlfriend of the man I was currently dating, who happened to be sitting right next to me. I turned to him, "Who is this?" while holding the phone up to his face. He looked bewildered. "I don't know," he replied. The initial message read: Hello Aisha, are you of relation to Desmond Price? I was puzzled and turned to him. He looked clueless. I responded to her, "No, I'm not. Why?" I'm his girlfriend. My hands started to slightly quiver. She's his girlfriend? I looked into his eyes, searching for something, or anything to be quite honest to confirm that this was not true. How could she be his girlfriend if in the 3 years we've been dating (with a 6 month...

Can I just say I love me some me?! Narcissism aside, I am NOT who I was at 25 yrs old. I'm not even who I was at 28 years old. It's like God pushed the fast forward button on my spiritual and emotional growth in the last five years. All for His glory of course! I am proud of the woman I have become and strive to be even better at 40 yrs old!  Looking back, I have no regrets. Everything that has happened to me has happened for a reason, whether it was my disobedience to the Lord's promptings or whether it was me actually listening to Him for a change; God will turn everything around for His glory. I am grateful to be alive; to be able to love God; to love others. Blessing #1  My son, Joshua. :-) See ya tomorrow!  ~Aisha Antoinette

Today was such a great day of epiphanies. The total realization that we are only here temporarily seems to elude me from time to time. So wrapped up in the carnal world where I am only visitor; stranger; foreigner to this land. So many people tell me I'm selfless yet I seem to be self-led more often then not. What am I feeling today, how do I feel about this, that, you, me, her, him, things, life, strife, struggle, etc. Pause. It's so overwhelming. It's all so overwhelming. Do you ever dwell on problems that you can't solve? Like world hunger? Yeah. I'm that girl. Worry. Anxiety. About the future. About the past. Never about the present. Always trying to get to happy. When happy can be found now. Today, I was reminded that I'm going to Heaven. It was the greatest feeling ever. To be reminded that I am always longing for Heaven because that is my home. Heaven is a physical place. Transformed bodies. No sadness. No sickness. No death. Rejo...

"I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” ~Psalm 40:8 I was meditating on this verse this morning and something stuck out to me. "I desire to do your will..." How easy is it for us to desire to do God's will? According to Paul, our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). The second part of that verse goes on to say that God's law is within the Psalmist's heart.  That's the key.  Continuous time spent with God in His word will cause you to desire the things of the Spirit. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11 Just a reminder this morning that if you're feeling out of sorts or off track in your walk, you may want to go back to the Source for refreshing spiritual renewal. You can start with s pending time in the Word learning His voice. Pray that He reveal Himself to you before you start reading. He's there to listen and respo...

I believe writing for me is cathartic. It helps when I share my life experience with others because I am reminded that 1) I'm not the only one going through this, 2) It encourages others, and 3) I get encouragement and support from others. No matter what we like to think - we cannot do life alone. So... Welcome to September 1st, 2012. We will never see this day again but thank God He has seen fit for us to live it. As I sit here and sip on my Celestial Seasoning Peppermint Tea, I'm thinking of the past few months that have brought me to the place that I am at now - still, at peace and with my joy firmly in tact. God has really been speaking to me as of late. He will use a number of ways to speak to you (especially if you are ignoring his direct counsel). He will speak to you through people, places and things. In my case, it was through the person I was seeing. He had, so eloquently, pointed out during a discussion that I was flip floppy in my faith and sometimes-y with...

This torrential love This back and forth love This love because I can't help but love Love You are my eternal love In my mind love When will the fairytale end love? When will this all come crashing down love? My high love Get low love Better not see you with another chick love This heartsick love This I need you love This I can't breathe without you love This I can't think about anything but you love This isn't really love Love Infatuation... As deadly as one of the seven sins Where do I begin To separate from you? When we touch I don't know where I begin Where you end Lost in your eyes Passage way to your soul Take me away Mesmerized This can't be life... To be continued...

Its about that time. Imma tell you why I'm mad, son! Our society sickens me. Don't worry, Michelle O., I got this. I'm not proud to be an American. Why? Because of what our society condones. The smut on MTV and VH1 is our idea of entertainment!? Who's "reality" is reality tv based on!? It was all fun and games in the beginning! I'll admit to loving the Real World. Things just really got out of hand. The Real World......Jersey Shore. I see no positive growth. I see a steady climb of filth. I don't let my son watch much tv. Why? What can he learn? Fist-pump and how to smoosh!? America: dumbing down one person at a time. Sigh... If Housewives (not even married or with someone), Dirty Shore, and things like that float your boat: #NoShade But, if you have millions of 15-25 year olds thinking this is life and how you get down...Lord, help us beacuse they will inherit the Earth! Lord, it seems the last generation with sense was born in the 80's. God ble...

5...4...3...2...1.... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2011   Hello, darlings!  I hope your New Years was amazing! I was thinking about new years resolutions and the sort and realized that I never actually keep any. They are down the drain in less than one month. As the daily grind begins we go back to the way we were. I wondered what would happen if we got an accountability partner. If someone holds you accountable for what you set out to do...it just might work. I wanted to work out more, go to church more, not procrastinate so much...I already have a few friends in mind to help with these feats. Hopefully, I'll persevere.  I hope that God blesses whoever reads this with love, joy and prosperity this new year!

I have SO neglected this challenge! Things got so hectic with the end of the semester and whatnot! But - I refuse to quit! LOL! So, day 5 it is, like 20 days later! Day 5: Your Siblings Carleisha We'll start with the baby. My sis is now 17 years old and 18 years ago I asked for a sister and my mom gave me one! Thanks, mom! Talk about fulfilling a request! I love my sister dearly. My brother O'mar and my grandmother FREE GREASY My brother is locked up right now but he's doing well and we expect him home soon! <3 My brother and I are 4 years apart (making him 23 years old right now) I love my brother and can't wait for our family to be reunited. My oldest brother, Unie. I crapped on his arm as a baby. He will tell anyone who will listen. LOL! I love my big brother!  So, these are my siblings. They have a very special place in mi corazon! xo

Hello! I'm exhausted as all get out but Day 4 cannot be missed! I only have one parent who's been consistently in my life... So, that's my mother and I on mother's day, in our jammies. I heart her. She's my world and we are so much closer now than we've ever been. God is good. I love you, Mommy.

So, Day 3: My first love...I remember this like it was yesterday...I was 7 years old. I had never experienced anything like this in my life. The only word I can use to describe it is: rhapsody. That word has a dual meaning which fits this particular blog post well, you see, my first love was music . Mainly in the form of Mariah Carey .   You might not recognize her so let me introduce you. This is 1991 Mariah Carey. My first love. Hearing her sing back then was to know what music was. This birthed my love of music and my love of singing. (I can sing. Raise your hand if you knew that about me. Most people don't. LOL) As I grew up with Mariah Carey through the years it was amazing how each album told the story of my life. I can go back to a different point in time with every song. Every great relationship; break up; spiritual breakthrough, etc. can be traced in the deep lyrical content of her songs. I appreciated Mariah making me break out the dictionary at the age of 14 to find o...

Meaning behind my blog name... Serendipitous Musings Serendipitous - come upon or found by accident; fortuitous Musings - contemplation; reflection. In life it seems that almost by accident you find yourself aware of things you never were aware of before. Going through life you "accidentally" find out who you are, through mistakes and triumphs, tears and joy, and even loss. This blog documents those reflective moments I happen to come upon at any given moment.

Hi! My name is Aisha Antoinette Picott.  This pic was taken right after I got this shirt. I love this shirt. It sums me up pretty well. lol Also, in this pic I am sporting my new transitional hairstyle. I'm going natural (that's a whole different blog post lol). 10/2010  15 Interesting Facts: 1. I really like my middle name now and wasn't so fond of it in my earlier years. 2. I was a cheerleader. 3. As a cheerleader I dropped one of the girls I was holding up in the air (oops!). 4. I love the smell of gasoline. 5. I was a pregnant teen but not a teen mother (Pregnant at 19 yrs old and gave birth when I was 20 yrs old) 6. I've changed my major four times. 7. I've changed schools five times. 8. I am allergic to an unknown substance so I walk around with an EPI-PEN to inject myself if my throat closes again 9. I love small poison dart tree frogs 10. I've had my nose pierced three times and my navel pierced twice 11. I have two tattoos 12. I stoppe...

So, I have neglected you for a total of 3 months. I am sorry about this Blog...the semester started...things got busy. I mean, I thought of you. I even visited a time or two. (Your background is really pretty. I just like to look at you sometimes) I know, I know. This doesn't make up for my blatant negligence. So, after reading Ashley's blog, a very lovely and talented young lady (and you can find her blog here ), I was inspired to do this 30 Day Blog Challenge. I, like Ashley, have a hard time being consistent with things I plan to do (exercise, writing for my column which I kinda left you for, Blog, devotionals, etc), it would be nice to challenge myself to do something...consistently...for a change. I encourage you to do it to if you need a little motivation! Here it is: 30 Day Blog Challenge Day 1:Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts. Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name. Day 3: Your first love. Day 4: Your parents. Day 5: Your siblings. Day 6: A pictu...

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My love, take my breath away...