Making Progress One Step At A Time...

During a time of reflection today, I pondered my activity with Back2Basics over the past fifteen months.  What's that I see?  It's a bird!  It's a plane!  No it's…PROGRESS!

Back2Basics Is Not Just My Journey, It's A Movement...

Last week something hit me, Back2Basics is not just about my personal journey…It's A MOVEMENT…

Happiness On The Journey...

I woke up on this past Thursday with a song in my heart…well actually one word of the song and a tune.  I didn't even know where I heard it before.  I didn't even know who sang the song.  All I know is I needed to hear this song in it's entirety.  Perhaps there was a message in it for me…

Note To Self: Stay True To The Authentic You...

It has been a while since I've written any posts…

When I started this blog, it was a complete act of faith.  I didn't know anything about blogging.  In fact, I'm still learning.  All I knew was that I wanted to chronicle my journey or process of getting my life back2basics.

For some crazy reason (not really) I wanted to use my voice, even my writing voice, to transparently share my thoughts, feelings and experiences to encourage both myself and someone - or perhaps many someones - who might be on the same path.

For the longest time, I really struggled with publishing what I wrote from the heart.  Oh I wrote lots of stuff but by the time I edited and re-edited the post I realized that I wasn't being authentic.  No bueno…considering the purpose for this blog.

Surveying The Landscape Part Two - Courage For The Journey...

Rollo May said in his book Man's Search For Himself , "the opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice.  It is conformity."  

I would probably have continued on my previous path if it were not for two things...the dream and the dreamer in me.   In order to transition from doing what everyone else was doing (conformity) to doing what's been in my heart for years (passion) I've had to embrace courage. 

Courage was expedient for beginning my journey back2basics...

Coach Says It's Time for Goal Setting...

I heard someone say the other day that just because you have a dream or vision, without a clear and definite goal, that dream will never become reality.

Today I had a powerful and productive meeting with my coach Angela!  While I've accomplished quite a few of my smaller goals for Back2Basics so far, I've yet to tackle my core goal of finalizing the plans for developing and implementing the infrastructure.  

It's been a long time coming but I've finally turned this corner and I feel so excited I can hardly stand it!

Do I Really Need A College Education To Make It Rich...

Throughout my life, I've gone back and forth over whether to pursue higher education and specialization in order to procure a better employment opportunity.

Until recently, I'd seriously considered taking advantage of the tuition reimbursement benefit my employer offers in order to pursue my higher learning degree.

Time For A Realignment Of Priorities...

The past two weeks have been quite a swirling experience...



I discovered that I was juggling too many things at once.  I decided that It was okay to scale back and I certainly don't need to micromanage myself.  So I'm realigning my priorities.

An Attitude Of Gratitude For Mondays...

What has Monday gotten such a bad rap?  Of all the days of the week, Monday seems to be the most hated.  

I happened to be looking for the perfect Monday quote for a project I'm working on.  To my surprise,  I noticed that about 75% of the quotes I found were extremely negative.  So much so that I stopped reading and decided to pen my thoughts on this topic instead.

Here are some examples of what I found...

Surveying The Landscape Part One - Negative Words Hurt...

Today I woke up with this thought on my mind.  Is living the authentic life we secretly dream of truly  possible?  Is conformity inevitable? 

Unfolding Purpose...

Today has been quite an interesting day for me.  I have been a literal water pot!

It started with me watching via a friend's page on Facebook entitled New World Trend which is a video compilation of a group of individuals endeavoring to start a "new" trend.

Insight Into Personality...

My Pastor often says, if ten people tell in one night say you're drunk...SIT DOWN!

Several weeks ago I took a Meyers-Briggs Testing Instrument (MBTI).  Well, the results are in and it's just like I've said all along...I'M NOT WEIRD I'm just YOUnique!

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the MBTI, it is a personality test which can be used for instance to determine what career might be best suited for you based on your natural bending.

According to the MBTI, there are sixteen (16) personality types.  If you are interested in finding out your personality type, there are many sites online where you might be able to take the test.  Although some sites allow you to take a free version of this test, there is a fee to take the MBTI.

Celebration of Independence...

Today I watched a documentary on the life if Kim Peek...

Meet Kim Peek..."The Real Rain Main."  Kim is perhaps the world's most famous savant.  He's referred to as a megasavant. Many may remember the movie Rain Man starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman who portrayed Kim.

When Kim was born, it was discovered he was developmentally delayed.  His brain lacked the main connector for his left and right brain to function properly.  His parents were told he would never be able to walk, talk or learn etc. They were also encouraged to institutionalize Kim and just forget about him.  I'm so glad they decided not to listen.

Exercising My Power of Choice...

The greatest hinderance in exercising my power of choice has historically been rooted in fear.

I can remember being very young and wanting a puppy.  My Dad didn't want me to have the puppy and made a great argument for why I couldn't have one.  Despite everything he said, I begged and begged until he finally agreed.

His agreement came with a contingency.  I, at roughly eight years old, would be totally responsibly for the puppy.  I was charged with cleaning up after him, feeding him, and whatever else owning a puppy entailed.

Of course, being that young, I had no idea what I was committing to.  All I knew was I was getting a new, beautiful and chubby little friend with whom I would enjoy hours of endless play.  So...we brought the puppy home that night from my aunt's house.  I don't even remember naming him at that point.

Out of the Shadows...

Earitha Anderson
Publisher of Back2Basics: Spirit.Soul.Body Blog

Well...today I did it!!!

I decided to emerge out of the shadows and put my face with my name.  Today this thought exploded in my mind...If I'm going to get back2basics: spirit.soul.body then why am I hiding?  Why am I afraid of people associating my name with my face and my feelings, heart or vision?  After all, I have NOTHING to fear or be ashamed of!

So HELLO world...My name is Earitha "Chani" Anderson.  Welcome to my commitment to locate and live back2basics: spirit.soul.body!

You may be asking, what is back2basics: spirit.soul.body all about?  Glad you asked!  For me it's about going back to the place where my life seemed to get off track...where I ceased being my authentic self and started living as someone I eventually couldn't recognize.

Signs Are Everywhere...

One of my favorite movies is "Fools Rush In" with Matthew Perry and Selma Hayek.

I make reference to this movie because of the fight the two main characters Alex Whitman (a city boy and architect) and Isabel Fuentes (a"free-spirited" mexican photographer) find themselves faced with making lifelong decisions after sharing a one-night stand.

We rarely sit and think about the impact some of our fleeting decisions have on our forever.  Both Alex and Isabel never bargained that out of one night of passion, they would conceive a baby and both face having to live up to their responsibility to "do the right thing."

Eventually...as with any good love story...the couple abandon their own personal agendas, and they decide that being together and raising their baby as husband and wife may not have been in their plans however it was the right choice for them.

The Journey Begins...

I finally did it! After much circling of this runway, I've finally landed! My feet have touched ground and I am ready for the journey that lies ahead. 

My heart dances and leaps on the inside of my chest. I am in eager anticipation, to say the least, of finally hearing what SHE has to say...unfiltered...to me and other hearts like me.