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Celebrating my village!
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
I’m over here still celebrating my super cool village! You can’t pay for the levels of dopeness that I have been surrounded with all of my life. I know I am extremely blessed and before I go any further I want to thank my Mother for her part in all of this!!! This week I am celebrating my awesome Godmother! I do believe that Godmothers are pretty necessary and very awesome. I wanted to take the time for Women’s History Month to celebrate women who are close to me and who have truly inspired me in many ways. My Godmother is surely one of those women for me. She has been around for most of my life and just like any relationship, there were moments when I was not her favorite person and vice versa. Lol! But, today I can honestly say she has been around giving her opinions and thoughts on pretty much any and everything that I do and for that I am thankful. She was even a huge help when I launched my blog. She helped me with everything from editing blog posts to helping me finalize my logo. Fun Fact: She bought me my first Coach purse when I was 12! lol!
I sent her the same questions that I sent my Aunt and just like my Aunt’s answers, hers are GOOD!
Here we go!!!
Here we go!!!
In her own words………Meet Delayna!
Having a village is so important, that “you never outgrow the need for a village”. People grow up with a village and are still in need of the things that comes along with a village. Or are we to call them accountability partners? Therefore the question now turns into who is your grown village? Let's move into these questions before we go too deep! HA!!
What’s something that amazes you?
God amazes me! Confident people amaze me!
What do you think about more than anything else?
How I can be the best me that I can possibly be, in order to be just that to someone else.
Who has had the greatest impact on your life and Why?
That’s easy … my mother, Levonzell Arnester Merritt! My mother was my “main village” and I owe all that I am to her. She raised me as a single mother and I believe she did an amazing job (look at me now)! My mother and I spent a considerable amount of quality time together. Growing up, I remember what used to always call out “it’s time”: “movie time”, “puzzle time”, “banana split”, etc. We spent countless hours in conversation and just laughing about life and all it encompassed. She was not a strict parent at all, but when she meant business, “she meant business”! My mother was extremely creative, she crocheted, knitted, and hosting New Year’s Day for family and friends was her favorite. She was a great financier and expressed the importance of “good credit”, which I later in life learned did not mean “a lot of credit”! We bowled together and traveled together, she was my best friend. I guess I said all that, to say all this, the things my Mother instilled in me are things that I can pass onto “my village”. Thank you Ma!
What is the latest lesson you have learned?
Be confident! Stop flying under the radar! Step outside of your comfort zone!
Yes, I am confident! Yes, I am fun! Yes, I can make you laugh! Yes, I know what I bring to the table! But am I actually confident in my God given potential/abilities or do I underestimate myself?
This assignment from Tot quickly became "are you worthy"? Huh? Yes, I had to ask myself that question and the answer is, yes I am worthy!!! Then, I begin to ask myself questions like, well, if you are worthy, then why are you so hesitant about stepping out on faith into God’s purpose for your life? Why do you limit the possibilities? What is holding you back?
Although most of us grew up with a village doesn't necessarily mean that our village knew what we needed to be great. Don't get me wrong, my village was amazing and it encompassed a vast variety of amazing people, but I can honestly say, encouragement is something that my "little girl" lacked and it tends to spill over into my life today. That is why I chose to become a village and pour God-stuff into others because they too, “are worthy"!
I continue to choose to be a village to make the next one feel worthy to be who God called them to be. By showing love, listening, and encouraging them to be the best that they can be.
Over the years, I have learned that encouragement creates confidence and confidence goes a long way.
Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Do you know which way they should go? Do you see that special gift in them and know how to help nurture it? Are you a good village?
We always hear “It takes a village to raise a child” what does that saying mean to you?
As the old saying goes, “no man is an island”! It takes all kind to make the world go around. “Team work makes the dream work”.
Who was in your village growing up? What did you learn from them?
I grew up an only child, so my village was friends and family members. Unlike today, I would spend any given weekend in different villages. Back in the day, the moral compass was set to being a good person and doing the right thing, which made the rules of the village were easy. What I learned from that village do good things and good things will follow you
When did you decide that I was your favorite Goddaughter?
Lol!!!That’s easy! Your first is always your favorite. Your first job, your first car, your first love … I was the first to know your mom was pregnant (don’t tell Auntie Crissy). I told your mother I was going to be your Godmother and suggested the name Tatiana. You were always such a pleasure to be around and sweet. A person couldn’t help but to love you.I attribute my “village input” into who you are today. I remember saying, "we don't wear phony Coach purses" and at that point I had to back up that statement and start buying you Coach bags! And to God Be the Glory, look at you now, style coach, fashion blogger, motivational speaker (she has definitely motivated me with this piece)! The possibilities for you are endless, I see your potential because your village trained you right!
What is the most difficult part being a part of your Godchildren's' villages?
I wouldn’t say difficult, I can just say that I tend not to be as sensitive as they may need at that time. This is something that I acknowledge and am making progress and trying to change. It’s not that I lack compassion, I just want to always stay in a good place with them, which may put me in a different category because I am not all so sensitive. But God is still working on me!
What is the most rewarding part being a part of their villages?
I am able to give wisdom based on my experiences and because of my relationship with the Lord and with them, they receive where I’m coming from. Although my tone tends to throw everyone off, they get the point.
What advice would you give to others who are considered to be the village for young people?
Be confident! Be yourself! Be a leader! Nobody can be you but you, therefore, be the best you, you can be!
Are you more inclined to “build your own empire” or unleash the potential of others? Why?
Unleashing the potential of others comes so much more easily for me. I currently serve on the Children’s Ministry at my church, Valley Kingdom Ministries International, and the response I get from the children when I encourage them creates a feeling, that actually motivates me as well. Like the song says, “when I encourage you, I encourage myself."
What in your life has brought or given you the greatest satisfaction or fulfillment? Looking back, what would you have done differently? What would you do again?
My relationship with the Jesus Christ has definitely given me the greatest satisfaction. My mother passed in 2006 and I can note that as being “the hardest time” in my life. However, Psalm 28:7 carried me through: “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”
Looking back I would actually do two things differently. I would have taken my education further and have had biological children (with a husband, of course). Watching the accomplishments of my Godchildren are awesome to witness, but to experience motherhood seems like a pretty cool job and I believe I would have been kinda cool at it! I truly believe I would have needed a village, but who doesn’t?
I want to end this
by saying: You are worthy and so am I!
MIC DROP!!!!
MIC DROP!!!!
YASSSSS!! I am so thankful and blessed to be surrounded by such amazing women! I hope you enjoyed! Take a moment and celebrate your village today. Keep scrolling for my outfit deets!
My outfit details:
Skirt is from Target 3 years ago. Here is a similar one:
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