“There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” - Proverbs 23:18 Sometimes what we expect isn’t what actually happens. Honestly speaking, it seems like things rarely go as planned and most of us are coming to terms with it this year. How many trips, events, or other activities did you have planned for this year that have been cancelled abruptly? How has your vision for the year 2020 compared its reality? Are you dealing with the disappointment of plans that never came to pass? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, I’m right there with you. I’m slowly processing all of the plans that haven’t happened this year. I’m sure that most of us didn’t expect to still be dealing with the pandemic raging out of control this far into the year and yet here we are with the death toll rising daily. But even before COVID-19 showed up, this concept rang true. Much of our disappointment comes from life not matching our goals and plans. How can we learn to manage our outlook and the resulting emotions when expectations are not met? I believe that this takes a few steps, which might not be easy but are possible with God.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28 Expectation isn’t always reality – life doesn’t always go as planned and that’s okay. God’s presence and love never change. He is working in all situations. He will bring you through the reality successfully and things might end up better than you expected. <3 Beryl
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“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” - Micah 6:8 It’s been a tough week. It’s extremely exhausting to be black in America. I’ve felt hopeless, frustrated, angry, sad, disturbed, uneasy, and fearful all in a matter of days. I’ve cried. I’ve asked myself how can there be change when there has been a longstanding pattern of lack of concern for the black man for so long? I’ve prayed and prayed and tried my best to believe in faith that God will work everything out. But through it all I’ve felt challenged. How can I live up to my blog’s name and bloom, even while black in America? As we all know, George Floyd’s life was suddenly taken from him two weeks ago by a police officer with other officers standing by. A death like his was shocking, disturbing, and saddening. Perhaps the saddest part of all is that this is nothing new. Police brutality against black people has been occurring for years. The only new concept is that in recent years smartphones have become widely available, so more incidents have been caught on tape and distributed. The many injustices, racism, profiling, and violence perpetrated against black men and women needs to stop. But for this to stop, it will require major changes to occur in this country. This issue is deep. It began hundreds of years ago when we were taken from our homes in Africa and thrust into slavery. Unfortunately the truth is that racial injustice has been part of the heart and soul of America since the first slave ships arrived on our shores. Fast forward to 2020. We’re STILL dealing with systemic racism, white supremacy, non-overt racism, implicit bias, mass incarceration, racial profiling, and more. (*please look into each of these terms*) For those who think that there isn’t a problem, and that you have no role to play in it, that is not true. It’s no longer enough to not be racist. We need a new generation that is anti-racist. We have so much farther to go. How can I bloom while being black in America? How can I hold my head up high as a black woman and still succeed against all odds? How can others and I be a part of change and contribute to racial reform? How can non black people be allies, support the cause, and unashamedly speak the truth to others? The following list is by no means exhaustive, but it is my two cents. And this list is for everyone. Despite the title of this post, everyone has a part to play, and regardless of your race you CAN help. You CAN bloom as a beautiful black person in this country. You CAN bloom as an ally to your black brothers and sisters.
This list and this article are by no means exhaustive. It’s just a place to start. As Martin Luther King Jr once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” This fight is not just the black man and woman’s fight. It should be the fight of everyone who believes in justice and what’s right. Please continue to use your voice for change and I believe change will come.
<3 Beryl Resources: https://lectureinprogress.com/journal/resources-for-supporting-black-lives-matter-movement https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234 https://readlikearockstarteaching.com/blog/ https://www.usa.gov/confirm-voter-registration https://www.standwithbre.com/ https://www.change.org/p/human-rights-campaign-justice-for-ahmuad-aubrey-2 https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd Let’s face it. Most of us have been in the same sweats for the past month and forgot what it’s like to wear real clothes and leave home. But being at home doesn’t mean you have to look raggedy all the time! At some point you might want to look halfway decent even if it is just to walk to the mailbox! This blog post will give you outfit ideas to stay cute while staying home. I’ve created a few simple outfits to rock at home, on a zoom call, at the park, or the grocery store, seeing as these are probably the only places you’ll be going unless you’re an essential worker. I’ve linked each item below the picture. Stay tuned for some inspo to look cute from home! This pink basic long sleeve tee from Target is comfortable and adds a nice pop of pastel color! I paired it with leggings from Old Navy and some sandals from K&G Fashion Superstore. Leggings: https://oldnvy.me/366W2NK Top: https://bit.ly/2zQ3i4k Similar Headband: https://bit.ly/3bFnPWL Here you'll find that I've paired the same leggings with this green love sleeve tee from Old Navy. Super simple but cute! Leggings: https://oldnvy.me/366W2NK Top: https://oldnvy.me/2zJE4Vp Sweater: http://bit.ly/3cJYHQc If you live a state with unpredictable weather like I do, throw on a long cardigan to stay warm. This athleisure duo is made up of a basic creme tee and pink leggings from Old Navy. Wearing this combination might inspire you to get a work out in! Leggings: https://oldnvy.me/368oLl8 Top: https://oldnvy.me/2z5xKaP Want to dress things up a little more? Try out a flowy, bohemian dress like this on e from Walmart! Unfortunately I bought it so long ago and I can't find the link of the website but I hope you can find something similar! The outfits were pretty simple overall but I hope you found some inspo for how to look cute while #stayingathome. Look your best and stay safe out there!
<3 Beryl “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” - Proverbs 29: 18 “And the LORD answered me: ‘Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.’” - Habakkuk 2:2 We all need VISION. VISION is a dream you visualize and believe in faith until one day it happens. VISION is the ability to look beyond this very moment and look to the future. I believe that VISION is critical for success. To have VISION is to clearly and confidently see things that haven’t taken place yet. You must believe that present circumstances will not hinder you from obtaining future blessings. Beryl circa 2009 was still a high school student in Kennedale, TX, studying hard to get into college, working part time at an ice cream stand, and slowly growing closer to God. And yet she saw herself building a beautiful home and a family as a young professional in the next decade. At this point in time, it was a still a dream… Likewise, in August of 2018, a vision of my own blog (which would one day inspire many young women to bloom wherever they are planted) began to take root in my mind. Within a few months this vision became a reality and now the rest is history. “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” - Habakkuk 2:3 Why is vision so important?? Day to day life can make you complacent as you get caught up in the today’s tasks. It’s easy to lose sight of the dreams you have. Having a vision and regularly revisiting it allows you to think about the impact you want to make and the legacy you want to leave. What you believe God in faith for will affect your habits today. One very important aspect of having a VISION is writing it. The verse from Habakkuk 2:2 tells us that we should write our vision down. I recently took some time to start jotting down my vision. Begin brainstorming by considering those dreams you have had on your heart for some time. What would you do if you knew it would come true? Write down the big, crazy dream you have and the individual goals that it takes to get there. Consider the following categories as a template for your vision – spiritual, professional, financial, and familial/social. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” - Proverbs 16:3 God has amazing plans for each of us if we would just have faith and dream big. Take some to develop your true sense of vision – think about where you see yourself in the coming years. Be patient with yourself. Write it down and refer back to it often. Cast your vision wide and see your dreams come true. <3 Beryl Are you starting to get bored at home with all this extra quarantine time? Like many of you, I’m stuck at home too. So I’ve decided to view this time at home in a positive light and use it do all the things I haven’t had time to do in the past! This blog post will build on the previous post and leave you with tangible ways to stay occupied and make the most of this time at home. My previous blog post was all about shifting your perspective in order to find peace in the midst of a pandemic. I hope you leave this blog post viewing this quarantine time as…
Here is a comprehensive list of activities to do while home when boredom hits: #1 – Take care of your body. Eat healthy home-cooked meals. I know its tempting to eat junk food all day and stay in bed but you’ll feel so much better if you’re eating right and staying active! Develop healthy eating habits that will stay with you post-COVID-19. Try some at-home workout routines. I would recommend Popsugar Fitness on Youtube – see the link below: https://bit.ly/3a4kVKv #2 – Bond with family and friends (virtually of course). Whether this is in person or via video chat, take time to talk to friends and family everyday. #Socialdistancing doesn’t mean you can’t be social. Go through your contact list to find people that you haven’t spoken to recently, and call one person each day. It will help you to feel less isolated to chat with someone. You can even have group videos chats or a group bible study. #3 – Go outdoors. Take a walk outside everyday to get fresh air. Stepping outside makes it feel less like you’re trapped at home. It‘s so relaxing and comforting to feel sunlight and wind on your skin. You can even make a trip out of it and go to a local park. Consider taking up a new outdoor hobby such as gardening and plant some flowers. #4 – Do spring cleaning! Use this time to spring clean your home. Go room by room and decide what you need and what you don’t need. Reorganize and make your space more functional. A clean space will boost your mood. #5 – Do something new.
- Take an online class – there are many available on YouTube, Udemy, Skillshare, etc. - Read books. It’s easy to spend all day scrolling Instagram, but instead tell yourself that you’ll spend an hour per day reading and you’ll find that it was time well spent. - Cook. Experiment with cooking, try new recipes, or perfect an old tried and true recipe. This goes hand in hand with taking care of your body (see quarantine activity #2) #6 – REST, RELFECT, RENEW, and RECHARGE. Use this as a time to truly rest. Make it a must to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night and nap during the day if time permits. Avoid leaving this season of quarantine tired when you could’ve used it to rest. There are so many ways to relax – reading a book, watching a movie, listening to music, writing, baking, the list goes on and on. Find what really relaxes you and spend a little time doing it. These are just a few of the ways you can productively pass the time during quarantine. Let me know what you think! Leave a comment below on what you’re doing to pass the time. <3 Beryl “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7 These are crazy times. We’re facing a pandemic of unparalleled proportions and people everywhere are fearful and anxious. There are so many questions. When will we reach a peak in coronavirus cases? Am I safe? Does someone around me have the virus and not know? How will I pay my bills if I get laid off? On and on the questions continue and if you allow your mind to wander, it will lead you to imagine the worst. The number of cases is on the rise worldwide and that doesn’t help with anxiety. However, in the midst of all this craziness and the spread of a virus with no real cure, God is still sovereign. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33 Is it possible to find peace in this time? Is it possible to find a positive perspective? Can I truly experience peace AND perspective in a pandemic? The answer is, yes, with God. When this whole coronavirus thing started, I was freaking out. The height of my panic occurred when I went to the grocery store and saw that many items were completely sold out. That’s when it first hit close to home. I was overwhelmed with fear.It wasn’t until later that day that a still small voice, which was God, reminded me “I’m still in control. In all things I’m working. I’m using this whole situation to make you pause and be reminded of some things.” Here are a few lessons that have been impressed upon my heart over the past few days:
If you’re home quarantining and #socialdistancing, then use this as a time to rest, reflect, renew, and recharge. The beauty of it all is that it is possible to find peace and perspective in the midst of a pandemic. God is able to give us peace that makes no logical sense as he shifts our perspective. Even if it’s for the first time, say a prayer today. His peace alone will get us through this. <3 Beryl This blog post is all about outfit inspiration for the workplace! As a dentist, I wear scrubs to work 99% of the time. But I recently went to a week long company conference and decided to showcase a few of the outfits I put together that week. I'll go day by day and hopefully you leave with some new ideas and inspiration on workwear fashion. I'll link as many items as I can throughout this post! (many are just similar items) mondayOne thing you'll realize by the time you finish going through this post is that I love all things pink! I'm not sure how my obsession with pink began but I incorporate it into many of my outfits. This outfit was a simple pink button down from Old Navy paired with black pants and a thick sweater from Walmart! The button down shirt brought the whole look together and made it look professional while the pants made it easy to wear. oldnvy.me/3cAwR94 http://bit.ly/3cJYHQc tuesdayTuesday was a pink and nude combo with a pop of black leather. These skinny pants were super comfortable and versatile so I paired them with a pink lacy top, nude flats, and a boxy baby pink bag. And a pink scrunchie too of course! wednesdayI felt great in this outfit on Wednesday! Anything look familiar? These are the same pants from Monday except in green, and for just $24 who wouldn't buy two pairs?? Unfortunately the store I bought the pants at doesn't list products online so I won't be able to link them below. The store is called K&G Fashion Superstore and they have some great hidden finds, so check them out! http://bit.ly/3aK5HLr http://bit.ly/38FyG1y thursdayI wanted to be a little more dressed up on Thursday because we had a dinner that night. This sweater dress from Old Navy did the trick! A sweater dress is a quick way to look put together easy and quick! https://oldnvy.me/39AG9QG https://jcp.is/2IsNiGI fridayIt was a pink, casual Friday! On this day, I went sightseeing around Chicago and also flew back home so I wanted to go with some stretchy jeans that I could walk around in and travel in as well. This headband from Francesca's tied the whole look together. http://bit.ly/38FyG1y http://bit.ly/330zuwA http://bit.ly/2IBsBIx https://oldnvy.me/3302WCM I hope you got a few outfit ideas for work from this blog post! Leave a comment and let me know which outfit you liked the best!
<3 Beryl “Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” -Isaiah 25:1 Take a moment and reflect on how far you have come in the past decade. Over the past ten years, I’m sure that God had done amazing things in your lives – growth of many kinds, lessons learned, new relationships, degrees earned, friends made, moves, etc. As I reflect on everything that has taken place from 2010 until now, I’m sincerely amazed. God has consistently exceeded my expectations. I’ve basically spent the last decade as a student. As a student in both the classroom and life, I’ve learned countless lessons. My word for the past decade is FAITHFUL. Our God is extremely faithful and has proven this in so many ways. Take a walk with me down memory lane. h2010 – Junior in high school. I decided that I wanted to become a dentist in the future. At the time this felt like a random decision but I would soon find out that my journey to dentistry was a part of God’s plan. This dream wouldn’t become a reality until nine years later and along the way God was FAITHFUL and allowed the challenges of the process to make me a stronger person. 2011 –Senior in high school. I graduated from high in the top 10% of my class and began the next phase of my journey – undergraduate studies with a full ride to the University of Texas at Arlington. 2012 – Freshman in college. My dad passed away – such a significant, difficult challenge but God was FAITHFUL and provided me more strength that I knew was possible in the face of loss. See blog post on “My Testimony” 2013 – Sophomore in college. I decided to travel to California to visit the Loma Linda Dental School for a summer program and somehow met a guy named Prince, whom I had no idea would one day become my husband. 2014 – Junior in college. I took the Dental Admission test and applied to dental school, unsure if any school would accept me. Somehow that year, I was accepted to five different dental schools AND I was offered thousands of dollars in scholarships. God is FAITTHFUL. 2015 – Senior in college. What a big year! I graduated from UTA, Prince graduated from medical school, Prince and I got engaged, and I made my big move down to Houston to begin dental school. This transition was difficult to say the least. I spent many days lonely and struggling to keep up with the curriculum in dental but God brought me through this season. 2016 – DS1 in dental school. I got married and began forever with my real life Prince. #BerylMetHerPrince 2017 – DS2 in dental school. I reached the halfway point in dental school! This was a year of visiting new places and seeing new things. I travelled to the east coast, back to Texas, and to the west coast within a few weeks to enjoy time with family and celebrate a wedding. I also went to Florida with Prince for a late honeymoon! 2018 – DS3 in dental school. I look a leap of faith and started my blog, Bloom, Beryl! This soon became a platform for faith based encouragement, lifestyle content, and more! The following month, I found out that I was pregnant with my beautiful daughter and began awaiting her arrival. 2019 – DS4 in dental school. This was the biggest year of my life by far! Where do I start? I completed my clinical requirements for dental school, passed my licensure exam, and graduated with my doctorate of dental surgery. A week later I moved across the country to be reunited with Prince where he’s doing his fellowship. All this took place while I was seven months pregnant! So two months later, I gave birth to my daughter and became a new mom. *See blog post on Sacrifial Love* Finally, I began working as a dentist and finally achieved my dream that I set out to accomplish back in 2010. WHAT A YEAR! WHAT A DECADE! 2020 – What’s next?? Judging from all the things God has done for me in the past decade, I know there are big things in store in the next 10 years. There will be highs and lows, losses and gains, BUT through it all I know I can look back and see how faithful God had been. <3 Beryl “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” – Psalm 100:4 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. “- 1 Chronicles 16:34 What are you thankful for today? Can you make a list of all the things you’re grateful for? Or are they too many to count? How often do you stop to give thanks or to express gratitude for the things you have? Thanksgiving is the day that we pause from our busy schedules to gather with friends and family, overeat, and reflect on what we’re thankful for. Although Thanksgiving is a great holiday and allows us to share in a time of appreciation, this attitude of gratitude can tend to be confined to one day, and that isn’t what God’s will is for us. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 This verse is saying that God’s will is that we give thanks in ALL circumstances. Imagine that! God’s intention is for us to be thankful regardless of what is going on, whether good or bad. Thanksgiving is more than a holiday or a day to put on an extra five pounds without guilt. Thanksgiving is a concept of being regularly thankful and a mindset that we are blessed in the midst of the everyday challenges of life. This blog post serves as a reminder to take time on a daily basis to be thankful and to recognize all that we’ve been blessed with. And more importantly, I want to leave with you the message that thanksgiving is a way to remember who has blessed us. God is the giver of all things and a good father who has blessed us with so much. He wants us to pause and praise Him, not only because He deserves it but also because praise has a way of transforming the way you look at things. When you express praise, your mindset will shift from what you don’t have to all the many things you do have. Praise opens the gates of heaven. Praise reminds you just how blessed you are. We live in an age and culture of constant complaining. Thus gratitude stands out amongst the continuous discontent, and is a beautiful way to let your light shine brightly for others to see. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” – 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Let us all strive to live a life of gratitude and let it transform our life. Happy Thanksgiving today and every day! <3 Beryl “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” – 1 John 3:16-20 These popularly quoted bible verses are all about sacrificial love. Chances are high that you’ve heard these verses quoted in sermons, books, etc. They stress the fact that love involves the sacrifice of laying down one’s life. But what exactly does this mean?? As a new mom, I’ve learned firsthand what it really means to show sacrificial love. Love is more than just a word or a feeling. True love always results in action. From the moment I found out I was pregnant, the sacrifices for my unborn baby began. During pregnancy, I sacrificed my body, my energy, my plans, my schedule, my sleep, etc. And since her birth these sacrifices have continued through the pain of labor and delivery, the difficulty of recovery, the fatigue of sleepless nights, and hardship of breastfeeding, the loss of my pre-pregnancy body, and the list goes on and on. Every mom can identify with the feeling of losing her former self as she births new life. What makes motherhood a reflection of sacrificial of love is that all of this is worth it because of how much I love and care for my baby girl. You see, my daughter Thea doesn’t understand any of what I’m doing for her right now. And she will never repay me for it, but I do it all anyway because of how much she means to me. This is the type of love that Jesus displayed during his life and ministry on earth and ultimately at the cross. Jesus Christ died for mankind because of how much we mean to Him, fully knowing that we may never really understand the depth of his sacrifice and that we could never repay him. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8 True love produces action. As Bob Goff put in his book Love Does, “The kind of love that God created and demonstrated is a costly one because it involves sacrifice and presence.” Such love is difficult to exhibit on your own but through God’s help we can all be the kind of people who love unconditionally. Motherhood has taught me so much in just a few months and this lesson seems to be the starkest so far – sacrificial love goes beyond words to deeds. I pray that I will continue to reflect Jesus to Thea through the love I show her. <3 Beryl |
Author - BerylBeryl has a passion for writing pieces that uplift, inspire, and encourage you to bloom. She's been blogging since October 2018. Archives
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