Skip to main content

Blinders

During horse races horses wear blinders. Race horses don their blinders to remain focused on what’s in front of them, all while not being preoccupied with what’s behind them, beside them and ultimately mastering the skill of remaining focused on their individual course to win the race. These blinders help keep the horses from getting distracted or disrupted with what’s going on around them. This concept was a refreshing reminder to me of the importance of staying on track and making sure I’m mindful of my own blinders being on. I pray about this often.
Are your blinders on?

In the past, not having my blinders on have gotten me off focus, upset, frustrated and disappointed about things like…
Caring what other people think.
Dwindling seasonal relationships.
Past failures and setbacks.
And comparisons.
All of which ended up being energy drains on my spirit, mind, body and time.

These days things like comparison traps and trying to keep up with what any and everyone else is doing can easily deter you from making sure your own blinders are on. And if you’re not careful, caring what others think or focusing on what someone else has going on in their life that you may perceive to be appealing or missing from your own, can cause feelings of bitterness, jealousy, insecurity and discontent to ease in, even without you realizing it. But if you have your own blinders on, you won’t turn into a hater, you’ll grow to care less about the opinions of others, and you’ll be focused and occupied with your own race, and also be able to be happy for others, their good news and the exciting things happening in their life as well as your own, too, no matter what season you happen to be in (even in those darker seasons when things seem and feel awful. Your perspective is what will make the difference.)   

Believe me. I know what it’s like to be in holding patterns, watch others be blessed with things I’ve prayed, labored for, waited on and dreamed about for years (even the most ratchet of people.) I've also had to clap for others and be supportive when I didn’t feel like things were fair, and take back seats I didn’t want to take. However, I’ve seen God shift things in tremendous ways that let me know He’s got me. I always have to be mindful of my own blinders, though. And you should do the same in your own life. Run your race and keep moving forward. Blinders on.

Check out the link below about the importance of blinders. Enjoy.

Popular posts from this blog

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

Dear Young Black Professionals

As you embark on your career, I want you to know some things and stay woke about what you’ll be up against. Please understand that no matter what, you have value, and you matter. Always remember that. As progressive as this world and different workplaces may seem, every workplace has a culture. You’ll be in different places where a lot of people who don’t look like you will be in the room. But know that you belong in those rooms too. Spend some time observing and studying those spaces and learn as much as you can. There will be people you work with who will make presumptions about your competence, education, and ability to fulfill your job duties. There will be more who will think less of you because of the color of your skin and try to disqualify you the moment you make an error, mistake, or ask questions about things you may not understand. This will all feel uncomfortable and you may get insecure, feel like you’re all by yourself, and think you don’t belong there, but ride it out...

The Day I Became A Homeowner

One Sunday evening as I was lying in bed, my phone rang. I saw my realtor’s number across the screen, then I sat up and immediately answered. “Guess what?” she said. “What?” I replied while smiling. “They accepted your offer.” I tried to stay calm, but it was hard to contain my excitement. A long-time goal that I’d been working on and praying about was finally coming true. I was officially becoming a homeowner! This was a goal I started working on last year but when the pandemic hit, I was nervous about moving forward. So I put things on pause… until some of my confidants asked me why I wasn’t moving forward anymore. I came up with a handful of excuses: the pandemic, the timing, and more praying and fasting (which was honestly me procrastinating from a place of fear – God had already given me His approval). I even started having dreams that I was already in a new home. The more I stalled, the more I felt something on the inside of me saying,  it’s time.  And as I proceeded, I ...