Author: JustAskMaia

This week has definitely been ‘one of those’ weeks. I am sleepy and cranky and have no desire to do anything.

I am not one normally known to be a quitter but, I QUIT!

I do not want to do anything but sleep for the next few weeks and when I awake I would greatly appreciate being rich.

UGH! *spins around exhausted in work chair*. Why is this so hard? Do you ever find yourself mentally asking questions like this and then answering in the most logical manner that you disgust you for being so wise? yea, me either.

Nothing comes easy… or does it? Life is so conflicting. I tell my clients that a blessing that is for you, you will not have to work for because what God gives you is yours. But now I sit and I ponder in my wiseness, yes because the dumb parts of my brain cannot answer, duh.

I want to be rich but in order to be rich I must do something and that something is work, some form of work. Even if I hit the lottery I have to go get the ticket, hence, work. BUT, there is a difference between the blessings I want and the Blessings God has for me.

I do not know how many of you that read my blogs are religious- Does anyone read my blogs? Religious or not I believe in God and all his infinite powers and blessings. I am currently reading a book called Rooted by Banning Liebscher, it is like common sense and spirituality got married, It is an amazing read. Anyhow, it speaks on the made up image of God that we have created in our minds and brought God down to a natural level thus capable of thinking as we do. How we cannot wrap our minds around the concept of love in the capacity of Him. I am going to type an exerpt from the book for you to mull over tonight.

Pg 46

This aspect of God’s nature is hard for us to wrap our heads around, because we have the ability to lie, mislead, and deceive ourselves and others, and we naturally project this onto God. We usually don’t admit it, but sometimes we have a picture of God that includes the possibility He could mislead us. We imagine Him placing a dream, a word, or a promise in our hearts, then stepping back telling the angels “Check this out. They’re going to spend quite a few years going after that promise but its not going to happen. I just wanted to see them scrambble for a little while.” One of the greatest disciplines of trust is to take such thoughts captive (see Corinthians 10:5) and require our imagination to line up with the truth of His character. The one who promised cannot lie, so no matter how many highs, lows, twists, or turns He takes us through in His process, we can trust that His word is true.

It goes on to dicuss a father as a natural man will give his child what he needs and asks for because he loves his child, naturally. But God’s love is so much greater than natural love that He will do that and much more. The bible speaks of the worries of tomorrow and how we shouldn’t. Yet we run around stressing and worrying. Wondering and fretting.

I too am guilty of the naturalization of my spiritual God and that is why I am glad to be reading this book, it puts me back into alignment of my place as a child. It is not my children’s place to worry about what they will eat tomorrow because I already have it covered. (Read that line again and imagine your Father saying that to you. Now rest in that peace.)

You guys be good so you can be blessed. If you need me, call me.

-Rush

It is 11:17 and I have decided to take a break and blog as opposed to blogging, possibly incoherently, at 4 a.m. in the morning like usual.

Today has been a tedious day. I had a ton of errands to run which consumed the mass part of my day. Last night I ran out of socks so I continued to prep but that’s all I could do. I ran all over town to find the particular socks I use which I normally order but I did not know I had so few left, remember the disorganization I told you I have going on with Slips, Socks, and Bows, well that is why I had no idea I would run out of socks.

I really am hoping to sell out but if not, my girls can wear them and be walking advertisements.

I took a moment to check in mostly because I needed a mental break. I am currently closing out the books for May, June, and July. To say I am backed up would be an understatement. I declare that I really need two of me.

I bought the last of the school supplies for my homeschooling adventure. I will say that I am a lot less anxious about it today. Yesterday was the last day to register your children for school and I was second guessing my decision. It was like my brain was saying :Dun Dun Duuunnnn… last chance to chicken out!.” But I stuck to my guns and am ready to start this sub chapter in the iRush brand.

I almost don’t want to go back to the books…okay, I REALLY don’t want to get back to these books. What do you do when you really need to hire someone but cannot afford to because that is where I am right now. I have accounting and quarterly taxes, then I have marketing, promoting, and branding. I have blogging and contracts, research and administrative, then I have websites and social media posting and to add to all of that I have a teenager, a preteen, two divas and a tomboy, a whiny four year old and three children in diapers. Then to top it off I have to remember to eat. Today I ate a bite of Ham and cheese croissant my husband bought me from Starbucks (because I abruptly remembered I stopped eating pork) along with a Grande Marble Mocha Macchiato, my favorite drink in the world! Then later I had another Starbucks Coffee with almond milk. Now, at 11:00 at night, I am eating a bag of gourmet popped popcorn. Yes, I do know how unhealthy my eating habits are and I will be sure to mention that to my chef. Wait!!! I snacked on an activia and some blueberries earlier…. I tried.

Welp, now that I have checked in, I am going to go finish my books. Party Time!!!!

-Rush

 

I honestly have no idea what day it is. Here it is 4:07 a.m. and I am just climbing into the bed, not even to sleep but to read and blog.

I just completed prepping another 42 pairs of socks to sew tomorrow. I am so exhausted. My 2 year old and my 15 year old are up keeping me company, if that’s what you want to call it. Donte sat at the computer playing a game while I had T.D. Jakes playing for some morning motivation, that man can keep you amped up! And Gabriel helped me make a huge mess of our living room. I really need a designated workspace, I am all over the place in this house and therefore very unorganized with my inventory.

I am kind of excited to be doing an event for slips socks and bows but to say I am not prepared is a serious understatement. Procrastination is a curse that is generational in my family. I refuse to be consumed by it because so many of my family members have not reached their breakthrough because of it. Perhaps that is why I tend to be so overzealous in what I do while at the same time adding more to my plate as if it were not full enough as it is.

Speaking of which, It is official. I will be homeschooling my bunch. I informed their schools today and registered them with K12. I chose this platform over Connections because of the curriculum. K12’s curriculum is more challenging for my children. I do not want them to get bored or feel like they can breeze through at anytime thus slacking of whenever they want to. I am still very nervous but now that it is official I am more excited than nervous. Who knows, maybe I will learn how to properly phrase sentences so I get more followers and readers.

This is a short check in because I can barely keep my eyes open and my leg is swollen so I am in a little bit of pain. I have been pushing past it all day but now I am at the point that I just want to scream. A couple of days ago I hit my thigh on the corner of the Transit door. It hurt so bad! I knew I was going to bruise but I did not think it would swell up. I can barely bend my knee. I took a few Excedrin because that’s all we have but Thomas, being my knight in shining armor, even while at work, is bringing me some Motrin

Well, Gabriel just fell asleep so that is my cue to hit the sheets too because the rest of the gang will be up in about 3 hours.

-Rush.

As if I do not have enough things to do in one day. I have decided…..to homeschool my children, yes ALL of them. I just don’t know why I feel the need to bombard myself with more. If I could just evolve this habit I have into more money then all will be right with the world.

I have decided that I would like 800,00 dollars. I do not know how or where, I do not even know when, although soon sounds very nice. Sometimes I daydream of how lovely it would be to have an over abundance of cash flow and that is why I work so hard at everything I do. I have never been a settler, in fact, my father calls me a gypsy because I refuse to grow roots anywhere. I have been in South Carolina far too long, I find myself picking up geechie. Now, I have nothing against speaking geechie….okay, yes I do. Its just country deep deep deep country. I am a city girl at heart although I have no desire to move back-Been there, done that. That was one of the deciding factors in homeschooling my children. I want to be able to travel at will without having to wait for a break in the school calendar. Another one is The school system has really failed my children. It is a shame the way some teachers are so care less in the advancement of these children. I have a very good friend who is a teacher and she absolutely loves what she does so I know it is not all teachers but there are plenty of them. My eldest son had a few good teachers but Isaiah, all I can do is shake my head. The way they choose to teach is confusing and I believe it has a lot to do with this country trying so desperately to bring our education rate from the bottom in comparison to those such as China. So what, the people of China are smart, kudos to them. sheesh! (okay, rant over). One of my other deciding factors was, I do not like the way the education system is going. They are not teaching the truth about history, science, and geography. I may not be an ace in the bucket but I know facts, facts that I want my children to know. So with that being said, I trust no one to teach my babies the way that I can. The best part is, I can teach the littles that will not be going to school this year as well so they will be a cut above, like the Chinese. just kidding.

Honestly I am a lot nervous about it. What if I fail them? I mean, educators are smart, some of them are just not so nice. I am not an educator. I went to school about pre-law academics, my husband studied medicine but can we teach math? I sooooo hate math. I have a tutor in mind though.

Although I am a little hesitant I know I will do well. I have a knack for setting out to do something and fulfilling it to completion. It’s like an adventure, I feel so mischievous. Homeschooling will be like a drama-horror-comedy. My children keep me laughing, and they are so dramatic in everything, plus I will be with them twenty four hours a day (hence the horror) but I am sure we be fine because at the end of the day, even with all the fussing, bickering, tantrums, whining, and stubbornness we still love each other. I think.

 

-Rush

Welcome to the life of Maisha Rush. The lady of the iRush brand, the worker behind Rush Consulting firm,  the lead in Heels&Hustle, the mother of the RushBunch.
It is hard work being a mother to nine while running businesses and promoting a brand and to be honest, I have not been putting forth my full effort. I have been neglecting myself therefore neglecting the legacy I am leaving behind.
I had a heart to heart with myself with the help of my amazing coach and I had to get real with myself and realize that the areas I am not doing as well as I would like to in is simply because I am not putting my best foot forward and that is horrible. Its horrible because I have been cheating myself from the greatness within.
While I lay awake at night sorting through all of the things I did not get to on that particular day, usually feeling flustered that there aren’t enough hours in the day or me’s to keep up, but in actuality I start off wrong and I was also failing at something worth more than all three of the businesses and the iRush brand combined.
I was failing at maintaining myself, my health both mentally and physically. I have become so used to jumping up and getting started on my day that I don’t take the necessary time needed to make myself feel good.
I have been coaching and consulting people on loving themselves and embracing their goals and dreams while all the while, unbeknownst to me, I was neglecting those very things myself.
I have allowed the traumas and troubles of my life to go on without being dealt with in the proper manner. While I am known to brush things that really bother me off and always look at the brighter side or lesson in every situation and finding forgiveness in those who have hurt me I was really only suppressing the pain and trusting that I will move past it. What I was really doing was saving it for all the times I felt bad about myself. I allowed all of the troubles fester in my life an in my spirit which in turn was kind enough to hand to me daily insecurities.
As I smile and carry on I was angry and resentful. I was hurting and bitter. The thing is, I never realized it. All this time I thought I was just being real with myself when in actuality I was being a liar. I lied to myself everytime I looked in the mirror and thought to myself how ugly I was. I was lying to myself everytime I failed at somethong and said I will not be able to do it. I lied to myself everytime I said I can’t.
Loving you starts with you. If you have someone in your life that tells you are amazing and beautiful and kind thats great but if you are not telling yourself then you are failing yourself.  If you are allowing what you have been through to define who you are then you are failing yourself. You are not defined by what you have been through, you are defined by the way you treat yourself. No one should ever treat you better than you treat yourself.
So as I type this now, I dedicate myself to myself. I promise to be better to myself for myself. I implore you to do the same because until you are truly good to you, you can never be truly good to anyone else.
-Rush

May you be obedient in direction.
So often we find ourselves at an imaginary fork in the road, one that we have placed there out of fear and mistrust even unbeknownst to ourselves.
We spend all of our lives hoping, wishing, and praying to make it to some [unreachable] point in our lives but really sabotaging our own true happiness.
Have you ever heard the statement that to whom much is given much is required? Sure you have. Do you know what that means? Good, now do you know what that means to you?
Most times we have a tendency to place glass ceilings over our heads and after awhile feeling like we cannot break through it. Why is that? Usually it is becaise we have found complacency in the safety net of ‘right now’.
Everyone that I coach and even those that I speak to or even consult with will always say they are not where they want to be but when asked to elaborate why they feel that way the response is usually ‘I don’t know’.
Why don’t you know? Because you have never given it any true thought.  Just a ponder here and a tinge of envy there, now you feel like you deserve more but more what? More of what someone else has? What is it that you really want out of life?
I challenge you to sit in a quiet moment and ask yourself, what would make me happy? Nothing materialistic because that is not true happiness that is a perk of happiness. What makes you happy is that thing that makes your heart skip a beat and your lips turn upward inadvertently in a smile. That is happiness. Happiness is when you lay your head on the pillow and doze off as soon as you close your eyes because there are no serious thoughts to ponder.
Find rest in trusting yourself. Just take a moment to find out what you really want in life and set it in motion to make it happen.
-Rush

I miss you guys! http://rushprosperity.blogspot.com/2016/07/i-miss-you-guys.html

Once upon a time we only had six children.

As I stood in the mirror sadly wiggling my arms, like most women do I had an epiphany. I noticed my arms were bigger than I would like them to be so I began to mentally assess the rest of my body. I imagined my mommy pooch that I am completely embarrassed by despite the fact that I have birth more children than are common for this generation. I do not like that my thighs are not as toned as they used to be (I am certainly grateful that they do not rub).

I oftentimes spend more time than naturally necessary to get dressed in the morning, or afternoon depending on my mood, due to my dislike of what I see in the mirror. I have some of the most appropriately adorable clothes hanging in my closet. Some of them never worn with tags still on them. Everyday I go to the closet and pick out what I want to wear all the way down to the coordinated jewelry. I jump in the shower feeling confident in my upcoming cuteness only to get dressed and hate what it looks like on me. It kind of like that feeling you have when you go to the store and see an outfit all decked out on the mannequin only to try it on and feel like a modern day umpa lumpa.

Why? Why must I feel shamed so deeply to the point of considering… well I haven’t quite gotten to that point but I do desire change.

Then I thought, why do I complain about every aspect of myself instead of loving my what I have been given. I mean, what is complaining going to do? What is hating myself going to do? Nothing, absolutely nothing. So I am left to ponder, when am I going to do something? I mean, I can do one of two things. I can learn to love me and my sexy chunkiness and keep it moving (also shop for better fitting clothes), or I can get my eating habits in line with healthiness and go to the gym. Those are my options. Complaining is not an option. I hope as you read this and think on your own insecurities you begin to feel the same way. Confidence in life is very important because without it we will fail in life miserably because the affects of our own body discomforts will begin seap into every function in life, so much so to where it will bury the true emotions of what really is bothering us. That is where depression comes in and frustration and hatred and anger. None of these are meaningful in life for the purpose of happiness and prosperity. So I urge you today to love who you are even before you decide to make life changes, I know I will. Will you join me?

-Rush

It saddens me to a deep extent that my husband and I are on opposite ends of the spectrum on many life issues. Almost every event in life we have different views on. We have different interests and different peeves. We come from different lifestyles and different backgrounds. We do have some things in common but its not nearly as much as our differences. I am pretty much an open book but him, he is like a locked roster. I have to bite my tongue a lot of times on the account of how my husband may feel about a certain issue and letting people know too much detail in our lives. He was raised in the country, I in the city. I found my independence at 16, he at 27. I had my fun in the world sowing my wild oats, he was a good guy always home at a decent hour. I smoked drank cussed tried drugs and he did none of that. I am a news junkie always knowing whats going on around the world, I love to read self help and development books. He’d rather watch comedies and tinker with the latest gadgets. I want to change the world by the masses and he’d rather do it one person or step at a time. I always jump right into everything while he would rather test the water with his thermometer. Its funny how different we are sometimes though. I just smile at how calm he is as the world around him is at war he is just as happy as God made him to be. Me, I’m affected as soon as I hear “BREAKING NEWS” on the television. Thank God our children, for the most part, inherited his calm and assessing demeanor. He keeps me grounded. I don’t know if I would be sane if it not for him. I tend to go into information overload where I cannot even function until I have processed every thought I have taken in and in America today, thats alot.
Still, I wish sometimes that we could see eye to eye more. Its hard to plan when you aren’t in agreement. Most times he just goes along with what I want to do or what I feel is best because he just wants me to be happy, but to me, I feel like, now he’s not happy.
Its crazy because we both try to please one another which ultimately means someone has to compromise and with both of us willing to do it we oftentimes find ourselves back where we started.
At the end of the day we find comfort in our common ground we did manage to make and that’s all that matters.
-Rush

I do not know what to say. I remember the stories my grandmother used to tell me about the coming of the last and evil days. I also remember my mother telling me the same thing. Not too long ago I was telling my son the same thing. And today the evil has made its presence ever so prevalent. I suppose in hindsight it has been here all along. I have never seen a man take his last breath of life, yesterday I saw two. Senseless as it may be it is only the beginning of even worse evil to come.

Last night, after seeing Philando Castile and Alton Sterling take in their last breath and release its counterpart, the reality became more, realistic. When my husband leaves for work he may not return. When my son leaves for school he may not come home. There is currently a standing order in my home and that is, no one leaves out of my site until further notice. Even I may leave and never return home again.

Something has to give, someone has to give! It took a lot for me not to cry myself to sleep but I am not normally an emotional person (I used to be but life has hardened me a little). Crying is not logical. All of the cryings in the world will not bring these men back or these women. They senselessly and unapologetically lost their lives because they were black, period. They continue to try and explain them away by bringing up their past or systematically call out lies like, “he’s got a gun” or “Don’t grab my gun”, or “Stop resisting”.  Lies.  Sadly we are becoming desensitized to all of this going on around us until someone we know and love becomes the next target; the next victim. I don’t want to die like that. Honestly, I don’t want to die at all but that isn’t happening.

Today I have decided to shift my focus. I have always believed that black people should own their own businesses or at the very least if you have to work, do what you want not accept whatever you can get. I always stand on the platform of ‘You Can’ because you can but now You MUST. It is imperative to take back your dollars by taking back your communities. Take back your families and take back your lives. I will no longer be passive with my tactics of stepping up. STEP UP. Take charge of your life and all that you own even if it be just the clothes on your back, or less. Stop settling for life and live life. It is time to stop sitting in your living room blaming someone else and Stand up! Step UP!

My heart has been beating double time since seeing these men gunned down and murdered in cold blood and even though these lynchings, yes I said lynchings have been happening for many years, we are now in the era of technology and now what has been happening in the dark is now coming to light. I do not believe that some police suddenly have the urge to kill and destroy black men; I believe it has been part of the agenda for many years and many more years to come. Let us not forget that policing originated specifically to keep the black race feeling inferior by harassing and beating them in their place. Unfortunately, it’s worse than that. What’s worse than that you ask? The facts that we inadvertently have succumbed to maintain the mentality of the former day slaves when the Jim Crow letter was written to keep us separate by complexion. What foolishness and how foolish of us to continue to allow this hatred and anger and bitterness to seep into our very souls to the point where we as women cannot complement one another on our daily walks of like, or where our brothers are constantly plotting and scheming against their very own. What madness we have created by passing it down to our children to continue this vicious cycle of self-hatred and mass destruction of our own people. Shame on you! Shame on me! Shame on us!

Even in this moment of murders by government officials, we refuse to stand united. Why?

I implore you to take a look in the mirror and take inventory of what you can do to better not just your life but the lives of the people around you. What can you do?

While this is not just a black issue it begins with us and I assure you that it needs to end with us.

So I ask you again, what are you going to do?

-Rush