The Celebration

Live and Online: Expression Session is a monthly writing workshop which culminates in a featured performance by an internationally recognized artist. For this month, we're happy to present spoken word poet and artist, Forressa Harrison!

As my friend and one of the coolest poets around, Forressa sat down with me for an interview before the main event. Forressa is a woman of many hats including being a poet, musician, singer, artist, and entrepreneur. She performs her work all around Texas and is a Poetry Slam champion.

We discussed the passion of poetry and what it can mean to the poet and to the audience. Forressa also shared some of her beautiful work with me as well. Join in this month for much inspiration and deep expression!

One way I am finding balance is by asking: What do I really want? In the past, I have confused the small tasks on the to-do list as the mission. Even those rare times I would complete my million to-dos I would still be left with that feeling of standing still. More often though, I wouldn't be able to finish everything on my list and would feel like I was constantly chasing a run-a-way train.

Shifting my focus from to-dos to outcomes has been an impactful and liberating shift in focus. With a to-do, there is only one path to completion - checking it off the list. With an outcome - there are unlimited paths to success.

Check out the podcast as you start to think about "What do I really want?"

I'm so excited that my dad, Tom Earl Sr., joined me for an interview this week! My dad and I have a special relationship that I am so grateful for. Not only is he my dad, but he is also my friend, my mentor, an inspiration, and one of my heroes.

My dad is super humble, so let me brag for a second: he's a self-taught artist and landscape architect, a Vietnam veteran, he raised my oldest sister as a single dad, he started his own business back before it was cool to be an entrepreneur, and he's my dad :).

It took me over a year to convince my dad to do this interview. And it was well worth the wait.

On this week's episode: My dad shares some cool stories about my childhood and what it's like to be my dad. We also talked about his own personal life journey. Dad imparted some great knowledge about life, entrepreneurship, being unafraid of failure, following passions, and never giving up.

Check out this very personal conversation between my dad and I!

I'm so excited to celebrate my 30th birthday! Wahoo! One of my birthday rituals is to celebrate one one thing I love about myself, for every year of my life. Which means, this year I'm sharing 30 self-love affirmations :).

My intention is to give closure to my 20's and step forward boldly into my 30's by sharing this part of my story. Recording this has been one of the most vulnerable and freeing experiences of my life. I am honored to have you be a part of it.

Enjoy this week's episode, as I share with you my birthday stories and celebrate 30 self-love affirmations!

Live and Online: Expression Session is a monthly writing workshop which culminates in a featured performance by an internationally recognized artist. This month, we’re excited to
present Sam(ira) Obeid as our feature!

Before the event, Sam joined me for an interview. We talked all about her non-profit work and political activism along with her personal journey. She gave us some dope poetry as well!

We went into depth about embracing identity and being a part of the LGBT community. Her powerful work regarding gender encompasses spoken word and activism. Tune in and get inspired!

Register at: tomearl.com/events

This year I am asking, "Where can I find balance? Where can I invite balance?" I’m bringing balance to the time I spend in creating BIG, BOLD BEYOND THE STARS DREAMS.

I’ve noticed a lot of my dreams only go a little bit outside of my comfort zone. Or I dream, but I let my limiting beliefs bonsai my goals and visions.

This year, I am ready to have rocket ship dreams! Dreams that take me to my highest potential and more! I’m spending quality, intentional time in creating big, bold beyond the star dreams.

Not only are beyond the stars dreams amazing but they also impact our lives in tangible and measurable ways. For the Type A people out there, for my high achievers who want to know, "Okay, well how will this get me towards my goals?"

Here are Five Outstanding Benefits BIG Dreams Bring:

1) They Bring Clarity

2) They Make Your Dreams a Reality

3) The Clarity and Reality Generates Excitement

4) They Pave the Way for Transformation

5) They Remind Us that We Are Magic

Check out this week’s episode and Dream Big!

This week’s guest is a leader and coach who’s had a major impact in my life. At the beginning of my entrepreneur career, I received an invitation to be a part of Francesca’s BETA GROUP. This group coaching program connected me with inspiring leaders and shaped my vision. It was truly transformative.

I loved getting to ask Francesca how we can all create transformation in our lives. I am excited for Francesca to share her gems of wisdom and magic with you!

Check out the video or podcast below.

Have you ever said yes to too many things and started to feel like you've over committed yourself? Have you ever said yes to a meeting that you knew you weren't going to be on time for? Have you ever said yes because you didn't want to hurt somebody's feelings or you wanted to please somebody?

Learning how to say no has been one of most liberating experiences of my life. By unpacking the baggage I had around saying, “no,” I have found endless happiness :).

This week’s T.H.E. Celebration episode continues my Year of Balances by diving it:

My journey of learning to say no.
The ways we undermine our yeses by not saying no.
Accessible, polite and well tested ways to say no.

Please note: This episode and blog post is talking about “no” and “yes” in the context of time and life management. I am not talking about “yes” and “no” in the context of abuse, assault, sexual violence, and consent.

In that context, it is a no unless there is ENTHUSIASTIC CONSENT. Here are two great article/resources:

I Didn’t Say No But It Was Still Rape - https://goo.gl/UcRsQK

5 Reasons Not Saying No During NonConsensual Sex Doesn’t Make You Weak - https://goo.gl/p2T9s8

This is my Year of Balance. Learn why!

This week on T.H.E.Celebration, I had a blast interviewing the ever inspiring and brilliant poet author(Delta Sigma Theta soror, INFJ, self taught on YouTube knitter... among many other nouns!), Shelby Birch. We talked all about her journey as a poet, her new book(Lit), of course, she performed some of her poetry!

We went into depth about her ideas on love, womanhood, Blackness, awkwardness, and heartbreak. I can’t even describe how much fun this was. Tune in and get inspired… Who knows, maybe Shelby will awaken the poet in you!