Do you know what the richest place on earth is? Bet you will never believe this but the richest place to be is the graveyard.

Les Brown said, “The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry our their dream.”

Therefore, I’m waging my bet on the graveyard. With its odds, I’ll win every time. Have you been working on your gift? Your dream? You haven’t. I’m winning already. If you are reading this, I’m sure only 95% of you, wait that’s too low, 99% of you are NOT working on your gift or that dream of yours. Whhhaaaattt! How dare you Nakia? “How dare you _______.” Put your name in that line and call my bluff!

How dare you sit idly on that gift God gave just to you. I’ve said this before. But Dr Myles Munroe said it best when he preached that God gives us all gifts for our generations. So when you look around thinking someone ought to be doing this. Someone should do that. Ummm He is waiting on them too. He has given us all the things we need to flourish right now. That means He gave you something too and someone is suffering right now because you are sitting home in front of the tv with your phone in your hand scrolling through someone’s timeline either smiling or frowning at what they are doing.

I wonder if we even realize how much time we spend on different social media sites on a daily basis. Looking at the lives of others as they make themselves appear polished at all times. We see their families and wish they were ours. See their kids and wish ours obeyed or did so good in school. We see many working on their craft and what do we do? All of a sudden we get in the judges seat. Our gifts go on the back burner while we sit and admire or criticize others for what they are doing. That’s why I go off on myself each time my mind wanders and starts questioning if people will approve of what I’m doing with this blog. I simple ask myself, “and what is it again that they are doing whilst they shake their heads at you? Nothing. Thank you. Carry on.”

Stop focusing on others gifts and get back to yours! Work YOUR gift! Yes…You have a gift! Yes you do have a gift. Yes you!

One reason you can’t find glory in your gift is because you are too busy coveting someone else’s gift. Look I can’t sing but I can speak and motivate someone. I’m for real, can NOT hold a note but I can talk your ear off if you let me. I can dance a little, love dancing but that’s not my gift. My knees hurt and maybe I even look stiff after years of not dancing. Besides a couple months ago, I hadn’t conducted a speaking event in over 3 years, yet it was still easy for me to get back on stage. I was extremely excited about the event as well. Many of you missed my mistakes and said I did a good job.

I’m going somewhere with this. If you are an artist and stop drawing or painting, years later you don’t forget how to draw or paint. You just have to say “you know, I think I will start back painting, I miss it. Miss how it makes me feel.” And just like that, you paint. You may feel that it’s not your best work but you are proud of it and know that with a little bit of practice you will be back into the swing of things. It comes easy to you and you enjoy it. That’s because it’s your gift.

Let me tell you this. All bull to the side. Every since I started back working on my gift, my life is so much brighter! Like my weeks don’t just simple fly by without me feeling fulfilled. I no longer regret Mondays. There was a time if my weekends were full of events (I.e. Games, birthday parties, etc) I felt like I just wanted to get those things over with so I could get back home and rest. Not anymore. I’m now cherishing each event. I feel more relaxed yet I’m busy. Life is just so much better.

And you can have that same feeling…with a life that is with purpose. Life with drive. Life that is lived with you walking through the paths of your mind through the manifestation of that dream as it is now real. Imagine that.

“You will either look back in life and say: I wish I had OR I’m glad I did.” ~Zig Ziglar

Thank you for your attention. Remember you are your own competition.

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