At 23, I witnessed my father's passing, followed by my mother losing her battle with cancer a year later. I stood by helplessly during their final days. Witnessing my mother's battle with cancer was the toughest thing I’ve faced at the moment. Until a week later as cleaned my mother's room, my sister handed me a letter addressed to God that my mother had penned. Among other sentiments, she expressed...

“God send me a man to help me financially as I fear not being able to help my kids especially Jamel who’s in his senior year of high school…I just don’t want him to fail in life.”
This letter crushed me. She had several letters she had written over the years and mostly all involved a prayer for me and my sisters. This is understandable from a loving mom but not one time did she pray for anything for herself. My mom spent her last days not thinking about herself but fearing for us. I often find myself wondering what she would have done if it weren't for her worrying about me and my sisters. Not love us less but love herself more. This letter crushed me as I felt guilt. It also opened my eyes. We can literally pour ourselves empty by caring for everything besides ourselves.  I vowed to never allow myself to run empty no matter the person or thing. In relationships and financial stability I’d commit to pouring into myself as a way to attract everything I’ve always desired instead of chasing.

Over the years of teaching I learned that everyone to some degree finds themselves pouring out more than in. Common cases have involved similar to mine; being drained by the care of love ones,pouring into jobs,relationships or in lot of cases pouring into the pursuit of a relationship.People have sought “peace” for years but rarely have they taken the time to identify what peace is for them. 

This pain is what led to the Mindful Visions framework. I sought to create a straightforward approach to identify what peace is to you not the world. To identify fears,pains,stressors and positives in your life while also setting an aim for who you wish to become.  I don’t know this to be a fact but I feel if my mom set her aims on things that she desired instead of worrying about us,recognized the stressors in her life and learned what worked and didn’t work for her wellness. She possibly would still be here today.

 That's why the Mindful Visions Framework will act as a springboard for the T.R.A.P. Retreat 48hrs of “You” a commitment to loving on you.

 I will help you increase your confidence to pour into you and face the fears,doubts holding you back from pouring into you first as a lifestyle instead of a treat.

 Leading up to the retreat I’m doing a series of mindful visions workshops where I will guide you through every layer of the stories that lie at the feet of your greatest desires. What are the things you aspire to do and even the steps needed to make this happen. The Mindful Visions Framework workshop is a prerequisite for the T.R.A.P. Retreat because in order to discover your peace, you must identify all the things surrounding it. At the retreat you will face the things you write as the retreat challenges are spontaneously set to take you out of your comfort zone and into your desires. Don’t fret, you'll have a community behind you.