Another Funeral by Lady PJ

Another Funeral

Written by Philessa Hooks Jenkins

Aka Lady PJ

All Rights Reserved

Monday, June 16, 2014

     I had another funeral to go to this weekend.  It feels, to me, like I’m going to a funeral every year and it’s always someone that’s lived seventy years or more; this time it was my Great Aunt Willie Mae.  I recall just a few months ago sitting on the porch with her at her home in Marion Junction Alabama watching the birds as they flew by.  She was naming the birds for me and I sat there amazed at the fact that we both enjoyed just sitting there watching the birds fly by.  It was such a calm and peaceful moment for me.  I’m glad we shared that moment.  It’s a very nice memory.

     My Mom and I drove up there to put flowers on my Grandmother’s grave for her birthday and now, some three months later, we’re saying goodbye to Aunt Willie Mae.  The craziest thing is my Grandmother passed away two years to the day we buried my Aunt, June 14. 

     I don’t think it got real to me until they lowered her casket in the ground, that’s really the time when it hit me… her ending is final.  She was the last link to my Grandfather’s hometown and the last link to my Grandmother because they were such good friends; now if I go back there it would be to visit graves.  How sad is that?

     I sat in the church for about fifteen minutes or more and the lives of my loved ones flashed right in front of me; the times I shared with my Great Grandmother before she passed and her burial at the Moore family cemetery, the times we drove up there when I was a child to visit the house on the hill where my Uncle Berry and Aunt Willie Mae lived, and the times I sat in church after church saying goodbye to someone I loved one last time.  It made me realize how fleeting life really is and that eventually someone will one day say their goodbye’s to me.  Hopefully that’s a really long time from now.  I’m just saying!  Much love to you all, Lady PJ.

My KeeKee is a college Graduate!

My KeeKee is a college Graduate!

Written by Philessa Hooks Jenkins

Aka Lady PJ

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

     I went to Morrow Georgia last week to see my step-daughter (I call her KeeKee) graduate from Clayton State University.  It stormed on the way there mind you; I had a very rough drive but I was determined to get there.  I remember thinking, “it would rain… and I hope this isn’t a hurricane.” Just my thought process going “to the left” again; but then again I live in the South and hurricanes are a possibility.

     Of course, I wouldn’t have missed that day, her day, for anything in the world.  I can’t tell you how amazing it felt to see this child that I helped to raise walk across the stage.  She was all smiles, dressed in her graduation gear; blue with a bit of an artistic flare (black and white stripes) on the cap.  I took plenty of pictures.  The whole family did the graduation cheers, screams, and waves.  As I sat there in my chair her whole life flashed before me; I remember seeing her as a baby, then the first day of school, and the day I had to give her that last spanking.  Yes, I remembered that!  What can I say, “It was a sentimental moment.”

     I shed a few tears, of course I didn’t let anybody see it but it was a teary moment none-the-less.  It was like seeing her go off to school (Elementary School) for the first time.  I felt so proud of her.  She did it!  She graduated college and I got to see that accomplishment; her accomplishment.  My mind is now thinking of the next big challenge; a new job, marriage, maybe kids.

     I took a deep breath of relief, okay… maybe a few deep breaths!  My child is an amazing woman with a good head on her shoulder; which means that I can stop worrying about her… so much.  She has a direction she’s going and she has goals that she set for herself.  She’s already knocked down one wall so why not sledgehammer the next?  

     I can only hope that I gave her a solid foundation to build her life from because that’s important.  I hope and pray that I taught her to be wise and patient, loving and compassionate, strong and determined yet yielding when the time comes.  Most importantly, I hope she knows how much I love and adore her.   Enough muss for a day already; love you all!

Lady PJ

My Review: "Super Soul Sunday"

My Review: “Super Soul Sunday”

Written by Philessa Hooks Jenkins

Aka Lady PJ

4/21/2014 4:01:30 PM

     There was a time in our not so distant history when the old taught the young; knowledge that was passed down from generation to generation on how to live life.  It amazes me to this day that we’ve lost touch with that very crucial aspect or essence of who we are as a people.

     Our children are now forced to seek that knowledge, good or bad, from “the streets.”  Yet, we wonder why this generation of young adults is so lost; many are now going to prison at an alarming rate for crimes against humanity (drug trafficking, shooting up the neighborhood, breaking into the neighbor’s house, identity theft, and the list goes on…). 

     To me, “Super Soul Sunday” is that much needed show for people who are seeking the joy of living life in its simplest form.  I for one am thrilled that Ms. Oprah Winfrey has decided to do this type of show on her network (OWN channel 189) and I really do encourage you to watch it on Sunday.  I promise you it will enrich and enlighten your soul; plus there’s the possibility that this show will answer some of those questions you have in your head that nobody has been able to answer.

     To me true knowledge is not obtained unless you first seek it because if you obtain knowledge without reason it has no purpose to you; at the moment it has no value.

     It’s my strong belief that Oprah Winfrey’s show “Super Soul Sunday” is at best a starting point for getting back to the basics of life and the essence of who we are as a people in our communities.  I imagine that if you and I take small steps in the right direction we can make big strides towards keeping our children safe, obtaining peace (with self and in our homes), finding and maintaining balance (work and life), and finding that road to happiness that we all eventually look for.  First we must find our truth and learn to make peace with it; in essence we must conquer the monsters in our own closets.  How do we do that you say?  We learn.

     I’m thrilled that Ms. Winfrey is on this personal journey and I can’t wait to see where she takes the show because right now her only choice is to come down off the mountain; if she wants to reconnect with her fans.  I’ll be cheering her on from the sidelines and it’s my hope that you will too.  I just think that anyone that’s willing to teach you how to live life better through peace and harmony with self is pretty damn amazing in my book.  There you have it!  I said it, and I’m an Oprah fan; now the world is truly changing.  I’m so laughing at myself right now.  

#Adyashantis, #LadyPJReview, #LadyPJ

Words Of Wisdom

Words Of wisdom

Written by Philessa Hooks Jenkins

aka Lady PJ

April 19, 2014

If we let fear control our lives, we cease to live.  We choose to kill off parts of ourselves; a slow death.  

If we see only the wrong, we are blind to the good that surrounds us.  Be mindful of all the good things that surround you and learn to appreciate them.

When we live in the world of what ifs, the now slowly ceases to exist.  Instead we reside in a world that we create in our minds, a world of fantasy.

Awareness is the key to change and hope is the door you should walk towards.  Too many times we walk away from the things we want the most.

Today is a new day and you can make your life different by living it differently.  Be aware that your happiness is in your control.

These are words of wisdom by Lady PJ.

#LadyPJ, #wordsofwisdom

Questioning life?

 Questioning life?

Philessa Hooks Jenkins

Aka Lady PJ

Thursday, April 17, 2014

    A friend of mine is going through a very rough time and is questioning her life.  I think at some point we all come to this very unsettling question; we all must think what if we did it different?  My thought to her was to not linger on what cannot be changed. You remember the serenity prayer?  It reads…

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

     Boy, is this an easy thing to say but then we all at some point or another take a look backwards at where we've been.  Unfortunately, the end result is always, "it cannot be changed."  I’ve been doing that myself recently and talking to her really made me realize my mistake. 

     Don't dwell on what you did or did not do because in actuality it doesn't really matter what you didn't do or what you did because it's all in the past.  If you want to change your life then you can only change it in the present, the now. It has taken me a really long time to come to that conclusion.  I know!

     I’m a very reflective person and I like to sit down and think things over before coming to an enlightened conclusion.  I exhaust all other possibilities because the options can sometimes be infinite.  In the end I always try to find a solution that I can live with today as well as tomorrow.  It always fits in with my personality and my character, but I’m not always right.  I’m wise enough to know this and accept it.

     When I want to change something in my life that displeases me, I just change it.  I do what I can and I try not to worry so much about what I cannot do.  There's this saying that, “A steady horse can win the race if he keeps a steady pace."

     Figure out what you want from life and set a course to get there and remember this is your life.  If you don't get to where you want to be in life at least enjoy the ride knowing that you gave your all then in the end that knowledge should give you peace.  I just think that it’s useless to beat yourself up over something you have no control over and no matter how much you go through it the end result will be the same.

     If you too are questioning your life; I’m saying enjoy your present but always plan for your future and find a way to let your past go.  It’s your girl, Lady PJ, saying “much love to all of you and enjoy your weekend by doing something different for a change.” 

    

#questioninglife, #lifelessons, #lifemistakes, #yourpath