Most dancers know that one of the most challenging things about dance is finding your center. In dance your center is the basis for everything, you cannot master any moves without it. I think of life in the same vein. Life is all about finding your center, when you're off balance, not focused you will fall off of your center and sometimes that means taking a few moments to re-focus before you move forward.
There are three times out of the year, where I loose control and begin to exhibit some self-destructive behavior. Most of the time it's when all of the things I'd been holding in for months finally find their way to my brain and/or heart and escape from my body and cause me to loose my center. I do things that are out of character, sabotage relationships; I let stress get the best of me and I loose sight of the small things that are essential to me getting closer to my goals. To make matters even worse, I am my own worse critic, so when my center is off I beat myself up about it.
Finding your center again...
When everything seems out of place and you've made one too many mistakes over a short period of time it's hard to figure out how you can get back on track and leave all of those things behind. What I have to remind myself of every day is that I am human and that the only person that I am accountable for is me. So when my life spirals out of control, I am the one who has to put back the pieces.
One of things that I do to find my center is have a retreat for myself. This means taking a few days to spend some time with myself, not being caught up at work, in other peoples lives and drama, not worrying about what's going on around me, getting into my daily routine with a clear mind and lastly doing a few things that offer me a sense of peace. For me that's working out and taking walks. This retreat begins with me taking a vacay from the world as it is in that moment to get a sense of what it needs to be in the next. It ends with me getting clear about what it feels like to be in that space where I've lost my center, dealing with those feelings that got me to that place and letting go of them. It ends with my clearing out any negative energy around me and drawing into my life positivity and peace.
I know all of this may sound like something from a self-help book. But my way of making sense out of the moments in my life that have an impact on who I am is by putting things into this kind of perspective.
My center is a place where I feel secure, have some clear direction and know that I am living my life organically and with purpose.
Today is day one of me regaining all of this...I am finding my center.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
If Women Spent More Time Getting Money than Worrying About Their Relationships We'd Be Rich!
Tuesday night out with the girls was fabulous! Some Sangria's, great food and disturbing conversation. More often than not when my and my girls get together we rant on and on about the men in our lives or men in general, relationships and anything else that has to with the opposite sex. While my purpose of the night was to indulge in some "liquid deliciousness" to de-stress, I too fell into a deep fixation on trying to figure this relationship thing out. In 3 hours we covered everything from past loves to current loves to future loves, leaving nothing behind. As I took a second from our engaging dialogue, which I felt was garnering a little too much attention with our bursts of laughter, dramatic hand gestures and thoughtful reactions to one another, I looked around the room to find 6 other tables of women who seemed to be enthralled in similar conversations. At the moment the energy and the vibe in the room grew heavy and dreary! Why were we all spending a beautiful night out amongst friends talking about men!!!!
When I went home that night, I thought about all of the topics that could been covered at our table as well as those of my fellow single women....business ventures, investments, fashion, current events. Why did we all spend so much time reliving our past relationships? and our pessimism about future ones. I thought to myself, if we spent as much time talking about business that we did on relationships we'd be rich!
We live in the day in age where more young professional women are finding more value in nurturing a family than a career. While we all have moved through the ranks of higher education, Corporate America and have indulged ourselves in philanthropy, we've come to a point where other things start to become more important to us. One of the problems is that there are too many of us that are ready and not enough men to go around that are on the same page. So many of us wander around in limbo going about life feeling like we have no control over what's next in our lives.
I have to admit that I'm guilty of it as well, but I am sick of all of my conversation with my girl friends being centered on relationships and men. Most of which is never good news. While I spend my day reserving my energy for business ideas, searching for second jobs, thinking about where my next vacation will be, that's all wasted with a 5 minute conversation with a friend with the moral of the story ending in N.A.S...Talk about an energy drainer.
My message to women in guess what men talk about when they're not around us....not us! Women we spend too much time focusing on other people, and not enough time on ourselves. We look for validation in our relationships that we don't even know how to validate ourselves or each other. Guess what, while you're wrecking your brain thinking about how to jump start your business idea or how you can improve on some kind of operation at work and about that new PhD program you were thinking about, your girl that you spent 3 hours on the phone with last night complaining about "Jethro" just started her own business, has some connections with some investors and just enrolled in a PhD program last fall...
All I'm saying is there is life outside of a man! What about you? and what you want. Stop worrying about why he won't commit, how about worrying about how you can commit to that project you started a year ago. Stop worrying about when you're going to get married, worry about when you're going to get discovered...Women has so much power, we need to focus our energy on that and NOT on trying to figure out how to get to Venus!
When I went home that night, I thought about all of the topics that could been covered at our table as well as those of my fellow single women....business ventures, investments, fashion, current events. Why did we all spend so much time reliving our past relationships? and our pessimism about future ones. I thought to myself, if we spent as much time talking about business that we did on relationships we'd be rich!
We live in the day in age where more young professional women are finding more value in nurturing a family than a career. While we all have moved through the ranks of higher education, Corporate America and have indulged ourselves in philanthropy, we've come to a point where other things start to become more important to us. One of the problems is that there are too many of us that are ready and not enough men to go around that are on the same page. So many of us wander around in limbo going about life feeling like we have no control over what's next in our lives.
I have to admit that I'm guilty of it as well, but I am sick of all of my conversation with my girl friends being centered on relationships and men. Most of which is never good news. While I spend my day reserving my energy for business ideas, searching for second jobs, thinking about where my next vacation will be, that's all wasted with a 5 minute conversation with a friend with the moral of the story ending in N.A.S...Talk about an energy drainer.
My message to women in guess what men talk about when they're not around us....not us! Women we spend too much time focusing on other people, and not enough time on ourselves. We look for validation in our relationships that we don't even know how to validate ourselves or each other. Guess what, while you're wrecking your brain thinking about how to jump start your business idea or how you can improve on some kind of operation at work and about that new PhD program you were thinking about, your girl that you spent 3 hours on the phone with last night complaining about "Jethro" just started her own business, has some connections with some investors and just enrolled in a PhD program last fall...
All I'm saying is there is life outside of a man! What about you? and what you want. Stop worrying about why he won't commit, how about worrying about how you can commit to that project you started a year ago. Stop worrying about when you're going to get married, worry about when you're going to get discovered...Women has so much power, we need to focus our energy on that and NOT on trying to figure out how to get to Venus!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
In a Vulnerable State of Mind~
Life happens and then what? When you grow up feeling like you u have no choice but to be in control of every situation, what do you do when you don't have control? I am strong minded, stubborn, persistent, ambitous and to a certain extent spoiled rotten and most of the women in my life are the same. Like me, they often struggle with letting go of that need for control and letting life happen. In my mind, vulnerability comes from suppressing your feelings, not having a say so, holding something in to the point that makes you feel helpless. I feel like everything is a direct reflection of the effort you put into it, so I go hard with whatever it is I decide I want. Sometimes we can be so convinced that something or someone is what we need or want for our lives, but without any assurance that that is so, we are left in a vulnerable state of mind. Vulnerablity makes me feel weak and if it's one thing I fear it's weakness. Right now the only solution I have for curing vulenerablity is to withdraw yourself from the situation to regain control of your feelings and your thoughts...But does having control mean that much to me that I'd be willing to risk accepting what God has in store for me?t'
Friday, June 19, 2009
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater
Here's is some footage of a phenomenal dance company that I worked for. If you ever wanted to truly experience the power of dance you must see this dance company!
Arts, Advocacy and Activism Workshop 2007
Here's a link to a workshop that I created while at the YWCA in partnership with the Institute for the Study of Women and Gender at Columbia College. Check it out!
http://chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=10643
http://chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=10643
She Speaks Volumes Poetry Slam 2007
Here is some footage of an event I created and managed that was featured on Chicago Public Radio. Enjoy!
http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=10965
http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=10965
About Me
Youngest daughter of LaTanya and Wayne Pleasant. Born on the 31st of October in Chicago, IL, Tanisha literally came into this world on her own. While mom and dad watched the basketball game on tv at the hospital, mom felt a dull pain and looked under the covers and there she was, looking up at her mom and silent. How she entered the world is a direct reflection on who she's become. A quiet behind the scenes powerhouse event planner, at the age of 27, Tanisha has created and managed events for some of Chicago's most valued instituions.
Tanisha received her B.A. in Speech Communications and African American Studies from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, completed advanced coursework in Arts, Entertainment and Media Management at Columbia College Chicago and received her Masters of Business Administration and Marketing from Keller Graduate School at DeVry.
Early on Tanisha discovered her passion for the arts. She led her college dance team and choreographed for and managed one of the University's cultural dance workshops. Tanisha fostered her passion for the arts after college by joining the Joffrey Ballet as an intern in the Development department. From there she moved on to working as the Program Assistant for the DanceAfrica Chicago Festival at Columbia College. Falling in love with the people and business of the arts, in 2004, Tanisha accepted a position as Company Manager for Deeply Rooted Dance Theater. Working with Deeply Rooted was a life changing experience for the arts enthusiast. In addition to being enthralled in the management and operation of a growing non-profit, she also got a spiritual lesson in self-actualization, a concept based on the organizations mission. After a year, Tanisha was promoted to the Management Coordinator for the organization, working closely with the Executive Director to manage the organizations' financials, programs and day to day operations.
In 2005, Tanisha joined the Executive Offices of the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago as the Development Coordinator and soon after promoted to the newly created Special Events Office position. While at the YWCA, Tanisha was responsible for created the She Speaks Volumes Poetry Slam and Fundraiser, an event that gave women a voice to talk about issues in race, gender and sexual violence. The event featured world Renowned poet Staceyann Chinn and various Def Poetry Jam artists. The event became one of the organizations most recognized events.
Tanisha moved on into the corporate arena to Macy's Chicago Flagship store as a Catering Event Specialist, managing high profile events for brands like Estee Lauder, Coach and Eileen Fischer. Today Tanisha worked as the Senior Events Coordinator for the University of Chicagos newly created Office of Event Services.
In 2006, Tanisha launched her own Special Events Consulting Company, Meridian Special Events, a company committed to creating and executing events driven by inspiration and engage audiences in ways that speak to the soul.
When she's not up to her knees in events ~ Tanisha enjoys being a self-proclaimend "Urban Girl", which involves getting dressed up and attending swanky events with her girlfriends, shopping and getting in touch with her inner gym junkie.
Tanisha received her B.A. in Speech Communications and African American Studies from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, completed advanced coursework in Arts, Entertainment and Media Management at Columbia College Chicago and received her Masters of Business Administration and Marketing from Keller Graduate School at DeVry.
Early on Tanisha discovered her passion for the arts. She led her college dance team and choreographed for and managed one of the University's cultural dance workshops. Tanisha fostered her passion for the arts after college by joining the Joffrey Ballet as an intern in the Development department. From there she moved on to working as the Program Assistant for the DanceAfrica Chicago Festival at Columbia College. Falling in love with the people and business of the arts, in 2004, Tanisha accepted a position as Company Manager for Deeply Rooted Dance Theater. Working with Deeply Rooted was a life changing experience for the arts enthusiast. In addition to being enthralled in the management and operation of a growing non-profit, she also got a spiritual lesson in self-actualization, a concept based on the organizations mission. After a year, Tanisha was promoted to the Management Coordinator for the organization, working closely with the Executive Director to manage the organizations' financials, programs and day to day operations.
In 2005, Tanisha joined the Executive Offices of the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago as the Development Coordinator and soon after promoted to the newly created Special Events Office position. While at the YWCA, Tanisha was responsible for created the She Speaks Volumes Poetry Slam and Fundraiser, an event that gave women a voice to talk about issues in race, gender and sexual violence. The event featured world Renowned poet Staceyann Chinn and various Def Poetry Jam artists. The event became one of the organizations most recognized events.
Tanisha moved on into the corporate arena to Macy's Chicago Flagship store as a Catering Event Specialist, managing high profile events for brands like Estee Lauder, Coach and Eileen Fischer. Today Tanisha worked as the Senior Events Coordinator for the University of Chicagos newly created Office of Event Services.
In 2006, Tanisha launched her own Special Events Consulting Company, Meridian Special Events, a company committed to creating and executing events driven by inspiration and engage audiences in ways that speak to the soul.
When she's not up to her knees in events ~ Tanisha enjoys being a self-proclaimend "Urban Girl", which involves getting dressed up and attending swanky events with her girlfriends, shopping and getting in touch with her inner gym junkie.
On...Becoming a Woman
Today, I realized that I am incredible!
Spending the past few years completing school, establishing a career and recently becoming single, I thought about the number of times I've read off my credentials to instituitons, employers and prospective companions. Today I overheard myself rambling off my accomplishments, status, etc... and thought to myself, is this really me? Did I do all of those things? Outside of my accomplishments I find myself grounded in a place where I know who I am, what I stand for, where I am in this moment, where I want to be in the next. That's a phenomenal feeling. Today, I realized that I am in love with the woman I've become.
While a work in progress the journey is one I now take with full strides forward instead of baby steps forward, with an agressive and positive energy that's guided by God. A journey that has me searching for what makes my heart smile, heart beat rapidly and mind filled with clarity.
After years of working with non-profits I learned the significance of developing mission statements. A mission statement is definied as a brief written statement of the purpose of a company or organization. Ideally, a mission statement guides the actions of the organization, spells out its overall goal, provides a sense of direction, and guides decision making for all levels of management.
At this juncture in my life, I've decided to write a mission statement for my life to provide me with a sense of direction and overall goal and guide my decision making. Now, mission statements go through numerous drafts before one is created that captures and reflects the organization or in this case the persons' purpose.
Draft:
Tanisha Pleasant,
Ambitous woman whose purpose is to lead a life driven by passion and integrity for my family, business ventures and community. Everything I do will be done with positive energy, must make me happy and followed through to completion. I will practice love, loyalty and patience to with my family. I will create a life for myself where I control my finances and career. I will devote time and resources to my community.
Spending the past few years completing school, establishing a career and recently becoming single, I thought about the number of times I've read off my credentials to instituitons, employers and prospective companions. Today I overheard myself rambling off my accomplishments, status, etc... and thought to myself, is this really me? Did I do all of those things? Outside of my accomplishments I find myself grounded in a place where I know who I am, what I stand for, where I am in this moment, where I want to be in the next. That's a phenomenal feeling. Today, I realized that I am in love with the woman I've become.
While a work in progress the journey is one I now take with full strides forward instead of baby steps forward, with an agressive and positive energy that's guided by God. A journey that has me searching for what makes my heart smile, heart beat rapidly and mind filled with clarity.
After years of working with non-profits I learned the significance of developing mission statements. A mission statement is definied as a brief written statement of the purpose of a company or organization. Ideally, a mission statement guides the actions of the organization, spells out its overall goal, provides a sense of direction, and guides decision making for all levels of management.
At this juncture in my life, I've decided to write a mission statement for my life to provide me with a sense of direction and overall goal and guide my decision making. Now, mission statements go through numerous drafts before one is created that captures and reflects the organization or in this case the persons' purpose.
Draft:
Tanisha Pleasant,
Ambitous woman whose purpose is to lead a life driven by passion and integrity for my family, business ventures and community. Everything I do will be done with positive energy, must make me happy and followed through to completion. I will practice love, loyalty and patience to with my family. I will create a life for myself where I control my finances and career. I will devote time and resources to my community.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)