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The Swirl World

Celebrating and Elevating Black Women - mind, body, soul and spirit!


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#290| A Bountiful Crop

October 17, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 2 Comments

shareasimageBlackWomanSleeping

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.

~Ovid

Who doesn’t want the ability to do more, give more . . . be more?

We focus so much on productivity (I’m guilty) and output.

I admit I’m all about setting and reaching goals.

Despite my “Type A” personality, I’m finally learning the value of rest.

After I rest, I’m refreshed and energized.

My “tank” is refueled and I’m in a better position to do more.

Here’s to rest – make sure you get some this weekend!

Join in the Fray: How much more could you accomplish if you rested?

 

The Swirl World Team is committed to sharing 365 days of inspiration in 2015. Our goal is to help you stay motivated and inspired by bringing you positive, uplifting images and corresponding thoughts.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Copyright ©2015 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™, The Swirl World Inspiration Daily™, Swirl Nation™, All rights reserved. Photo property of The Swirl World™.

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Filed Under: Black Women Living Well, Goal Setting, Health & Exercise, Inspiration Daily 2015, Swirling Singles Tagged With: Black women, bountiful crop, goal setting, goals, Health, life, living well, rest, sleep, wellness

#31| Rest and Rejuvenate

January 31, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

shareasimageSleepingBaby31F

If you’re anything like me, the weekend is a time to get caught up on projects and get some uninterrupted work done.

That’s all well and good, and yes, staying on your grind or working that side hustle is important.

Yet, with five days of work and more work on the weekend, when do we rest and rejuvenate?

This weekend, let’s employ the wisdom of a baby and get some rest – no, some sleep. Our bodies and minds can be renewed, and we can get back to business with renewed fervor.

Z z z z z z z z z z . . . . . . .

—

The Swirl World Team is committed to sharing 365 days of inspiration in 2015. Our goal is to help you stay motivated and inspired by bringing you positive, uplifting images and corresponding thoughts.

If you’d like to share your photos, please send them to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com. We’d love to feature YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts!

Copyright ©2015  Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, The Swirl World Podcast™, The Swirl World Inspiration Daily™, All rights reserved. Photo property of The Swirl World™.

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Filed Under: Inspiration Daily 2015, Uncategorized Tagged With: grind, hustle, rejuvenate, rejuvenation, relax, relaxation, rest, side gig, sleep

What To Do When You Run Out Of Steam. . . .

June 22, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

This:

keep-calm-and-get-some-rest-8

‘Nuff said. 

I’ll be back next week – with some great news!

Join in the Fray: What do you do when you run out of steam?

Copyright © 2013 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, All rights reserved.

 

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Keep Calm, news, rest, tired

How to Have a Quiet Moment

March 30, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

 

How To Have A Quiet Moment

When we were little kids, my Mother developed a little practice that she still uses to this day. Whenever she felt the need to have some space (in hindsight, I kinda think she’d do this whenever she just wanted a nap), she would go to her bedroom and close the door. Just before she closed the door, she’d tell us: “Ok; I’m having my quiet moment.”

My two brothers and I knew and understood exactly what “I’m having my quiet moment” meant. Unless the house was burning down or one of us was bleeding, Mother was not to be disturbed. It also meant that we needed to keep our voices down – or better yet, go find a book to read.

March has been a very eventful month – in a good way – so today, I’m having a quiet moment. I’m sitting outside soaking up the sunshine, enjoying the Spring breeze, and relishing the stillness. My mind is clear; my body and spirit are refreshed.

So, you wanna know how to have a Quiet Moment?

  • Retreat to your “peaceful place.” That place can be your bedroom, front porch, deck – any place where you can enjoy some uninterrupted time.
  • Take some deep breaths, refocus, and re-center. Shut down any clamorous thoughts, and shut out any “duty oriented” thoughts that try to creep in. The goal is to clear your mind – the same way you would take a broom and sweep away leaves.
  • If you’re outside, enjoy the elements: The feel of the warm sun against your skin, the delightfulness of the cool air, the sounds of nature. Remember, you’re having a Quiet Moment – so luxuriate and enjoy those things you normally wouldn’t even notice.
  • If you’re inside, turn off the television or radio. Refuse to allow yourself to be distracted. Get in tune with you, and release everything else.

Today I’m fortunate enough to have the time off and on all day to enjoy some quiet moments, and I’m taking full advantage of them.

On April 1, I’m planning to post a recap of the events that made March such an awesome month. Rosetta Thurman, blog mistress over at Happy Black Woman, inspired me with her advocacy and example of engaging in a reflection of each month of a year. At the end of the year, you’re able to look back and reflect on the entire year

Even though January and February were a bit of a blur, I captured January because I blogged every day. I blogged every week in February (and made sure to keep up with my  journal) so I have that month as well. March is going to mark my “official” start of reflecting on my months, so stay tuned for that post on Monday morning.

I believe I’m going to take BlogHer’s April NaBloPoMo challenge for April, which means I’ll be blogging every day (obviously I’m a glutton for punishment).

I’m so excited and grateful for the things happening in my life – I can’t wait to see what April holds!

Join in the Fray: How do you have a Quiet Moment?

Copyright © 2013 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, All rights reserved.

 

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Filed Under: Black Women Living Well, Health & Exercise Tagged With: Black, Black women, Black. White, blogging, dating, interracial, interracial dating, interracial relationships, March, quiet moment, reflection, relaxation, rest, Spring, swirling

What I Want You to Do

December 25, 2012 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 2 Comments

I want you to enjoy this thing we call the holidays.

Regardless of your form of celebration, please do get some rest. Spend some quality time with the people you love the most – and spend some quality time with you.

Enjoy your meal(s), and try to not over-indulge.  (I know, right? I did say try.) Since we had such a huge meal for Thanksgiving, the Christmas Dinner Planners (a committee consisting of my cousin Janelle, my aunt Doe, and me) decided to scale back on the offerings for Christmas dinner. This year we’re dining on Creole jambalaya, Southern fried chicken, green bean casserole. various salads, and multiple desserts.

I’m doing something special: I’m making Cajun crackers! 

 

It’s too late for you to try them in time for Christmas (this photo is from Day 1), but here’s the recipe so you can have them with your New Year’s meal:

Recipe:

1 large pickle jar (or other wide-mouth jar. You can also use an extra-large Ziplock bag if you don’t have a jar).

1 box Saltine crackers

1 cup canola oil

1 package ranch dressing mix

2 heaping tablespoons red pepper flakes

Place the 4 packs of Saltines in the jar or Ziplock bag.

Mix the wet/dry ingredients together and stir well.

Pour the mixture over the crackers and seal the jar.

For the next three days, occasionally roll the jar (or carefully flip the Ziplock bag).

Open the jar on the third day and serve. These taste great plain, with cream cheese, or with pepper jelly.

Merry Christmas, people. Have fun today!

Join in the Fray: How are you celebrating today?

 Copyright © 2012 Michelle Matthews Calloway, All rights reserved.

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Filed Under: Special, Uncategorized Tagged With: Christmas celebration, Christmas dinner, Family, food, friends, fun, interracial, interracial dating, interracial marriage, interracial relationships, relaxation, rest

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I’m Michelle Matthews-Calloway, and I’m A Swirl Girl! Greetings to you from The Swirl World. We encourage Black women to expand their relationship options by dating and marrying interracially. Our overarching mission is to see Black Women live their best life. Come Swirl with us in The Swirl World™, where we celebrate Black women and the diverse men who love us!™

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