via About ME; THE PRIORITY!.

“12/22/11 SPICERISM: Distractions ROB OPPORTUNITY! Enough! FOCUS FORWARD; THAT IS WHERE THE VICTORY LIES!™” www.epiphanyprnc.com

 Your life is an eternal reflection of the seeds of action or inaction that you sow while you have the chance.

What you do or don’t do will determine a productive and bountiful life’s harvest OR one of struggle, mediocrity and perhaps misfortune.  It’s UP TO YOU!  I wrote before in another SPICERISM that, “As long as you’ve given it your best; there’s NOTHING MEDIOCRE about the Outcome!™”  What’s your harvest going to be?

“Sowing…..REAP; YOUR action(s) determines the harvest!™”

Need help to get started toward that road called destiny? Let Epiphany Public Relations, LLC of North Carolina launch you on that springboard of action! “We see your vision. We lift your voice!™” http://www.epiphanyprnc.com

What is even more amazing is that these championships came without the convenience of collegiate level facilities!!! Let me say it again. The University doesn’t have a football field, track, tennis courts or baseball diamond and the teams have to go off campus for these sporting events. Yes, the athletes most certainly would love to have their games played at facilities on their home campus but the lack of these facilities HAS NOT stopped or remotely impaired their quest for excellence, winning and championships. Make no mistake about it; Shaw University is NOT a substandard institution because they lack these athletic facilities. What they have shown is that they are a prototype for academic and athletic excellence. Many of the nation’s finest students matriculate at Shaw University. Any collegiate program that has done what the Shaw Bears have done deserves the respect and attention of the coverage and “publicity” of NCAA programs. These students have the hearts, souls and minds of champions; they have the trophies for their mantle cases to prove it! They are SECOND TO NONE and also win in the classroom!

Their programs don’t get the attention that they deserve for their winning tradition. I know first hand because I used to write the stories and send them out. I guess it’s hard to let some traditions go including my pride at witnessing the teams earn the championships; I was all three championship games this year. I saw the football team take it in Durham where they played for a season and I saw the men and women’s teams at the CIAA Tournament in Charlotte. Why? Because I love the students and I have been and always will be committed to the academic and athletic programming of Shaw University students! They have a special place in my heart and I value their excellence. I still get calls, emails and tons of love from them; it makes me so proud. We should all be proud of their commitment to excellence. Congratulations to the coaching staffs of these programs!

A historic icon, Shaw is the first historically black college of the South. Graduates from all walks of life have walked the hallowed halls of Dear Old Shaw U and remain as proud alumni! The traditions of excellence at Shaw University should be written about, spoken about and forever etched in our hearts and minds; both alumni and community. Banners should flank the campus showcasing the winning tradition of the University. Shaw may not have the facilities but what they do have is the winning formula of tenacity, fortitude and excellence! Hats off to the Shaw University Bears! Momma Spicer (as the kids used to and still do call me) is proud! Keep up the awesome work! Congratulations and yes, there will be many more to come! I’ll be right there to witness them also! Make it count in His name!!

I hadn’t revealed to the world until now that I applied with thousands of others from around the country for the position of Advice Guru on Good Morning America; my favorite morning show. Months ago when I heard GMA announce the opportunity for this Advice Guru position, the world around me disappeared. I am sure that I heard and saw Robin Roberts looking at me saying, “Terry, this is just for you. It’s who you are. What are you waiting on?!!!!” My heart raced with emotion and I felt so much excitement at this new announced opportunity, this new possibility. I had to immediately apply; I felt this pulling at my heartstrings with relentless abandon. The possibility of being able to sit next to Robin on my favorite show blew my mind; after I have a morning dose of Robin and Sam, I am ready to hit the pavement running as they inspire me and bring me joy. Robin doesn’t even know that she is one of my “Sheroes; an unknown mentor.” I have tremendous respect and admiration for her.

This morning on GMA they showed Fran Harris; a tall, polished, professional African American woman from Texas who in many ways reminds me of me. She is one of the four finalists for the position that are being showcased now to the public as they field questions on the spot. They showed her life’s story and I felt that same tugging at my heartstrings from the morning when they announced the position. Her personality and past experiences have prepared her for this appointed time and I can say the same for my own experiences. She has been giving advice all of her life; just like me. She is outgoing and super friendly, quick with resolution and advice; just like me. At least that is what people continue to tell me.

What I realized even before seeing her this morning on GMA is that I felt blissful peace from not making the final cut on Good Morning America. I won in my own way from the very moment that I hit the submit button to compete for the opportunity. I had only told a few people and they said, “Terry, you had better apply. This opportunity screams YOU!!” My hubby and son said, “You are so qualified and can handle that job like a breeze; it’s what you already do.” I realize that I had won because I had the courage and relentless fortitude, the nerve to think that I could do this. I wasn’t afraid to try. Remember, I’m always saying, “I fear God more than I fear failure.” I realize that I am living my best life and that God has given me phenomenal mountaintop experiences that continue. The Advice Guru position on GMA wasn’t meant for me. In His own sweet way, God allowed me to see that I do have what it takes by way of someone else. I am pulling for Fran Harris because she deserves to have that position; she can handle it beautifully. If it is meant for her, she will have it.

God has given me a platform of voice that ALREADY reaches folk that I don’t even know personally. I get emails weekly from people telling me that I encouraged them, empowered them, made them understand and see what they needed to do. God had already given me the position of Advice Guru without even applying for it. The satisfaction is knowing that I stepped out on unwavering faith to try. Many of us only dare to dream a thing; I am living proof that all you need to do is take the first step in His name. What God has for you is just for you. The blessings that He has for me are mine and I’m racing against the sun daily to take claim to all of them. Failure and rejection are His gifts of fortitude and strength. I didn’t roll over because I didn’t get THAT position. What God made me realize is that I already have THE ONE THAT HE MADE JUST FOR ME! Make it count in His Name!

This morning I woke up remembering them; remembered my long ponytails and how my Mother and Godmother would comb all of that hair as I twisted and complained with a tender head. Those long strokes with the hair brush imparted their invaluable life lessons into the head under all of that hair, strand by strand. Those lessons and pearls of wisdom have impacted all that my life has been to date. The woman that I am started as that little girl with long hair and long legs with knock knees; I grew with their loving guidance and unwavering love. I grew up believing that I could do and be anything because they believed it and they made sure to tell me so continuously. I grew up on the heels of racism but these women sheltered me and my siblings from the hate of the world around us. We believed that we lived a perfect life and the world at large couldn’t shatter their protectiveness; Mother’s are fierce when it comes to protecting and nurturing their children. I had Mother’s who loved me so tirelessly so the term, “double portion” applied to my life for all of my life. Wow! I was truly blessed to have that and I know without any hint of doubt that my relentlessness is directly a result of theirs. I AM My Mother’s Daughter; ALL of THEM!!!™

My 50th birthday was amazing and over the last year of my 50 years of living, I reached that apex of accomplishment and success that I had longed for; I longed for MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCES and my 50th year provided them continuously. God honored me and truly allowed the skillsets that He gave to me to flourish as an aspiring and now accomplished entrepreneur; on my own terms. Oh my goodness!

My family has been phenomenal and I am so grateful to God for favoring me with His grace and mercy. I have worked to be faithful to Him and even in my shortcomings, He has remained faithful to me. I am EXCITED about everything yet to come in my life. The doors that continue to swing on open hinges are His doing; I live to honor Him in all that I do as a great steward of His kingdom. I am so honored for the family that I have; the highest accomplishment of my life! I’m so honored for the relationships that I have; the students that I get to touch and have touched over the years; the personal and professional growth that has gone far beyond my imagination. I look to this 51st year with great anticipation and expectation because I’m JUST GETTING STARTED. Thank you all for believing in me and supporting me. To my Mother’s and to all of the powerful women that have influenced me over the years, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR HEARTS, MINDS and LOVE TIRELESSLY! I will honor your stewardship and I will build a legacy for my son and his family to come.

Happy Birthday Terry! Buckle up as the best is yet to come! Today has been one of the best birthdays of my life. I’m living my best life and in the words of Jill Scott, “I’m Living My Life Like It’s Golden!” God said I could; enough said!