“Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off.”

Yes, I just quoted Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” lyrics!

It’s New Year’s Day and I just spent my early afternoon watching her “Reputation” tour with my eldest daughter Bianca, a somewhat reluctant fan. Despite her issues with T-Swift, she still cannot help but like her! I could understand why. (My apologies to all you “Swifties.”)

This morning, as we watched the concert and Taylor sang “Shake it off,” I was reminded of a time last year when feuds stirred up at my work place. During that season a coworker sent me an email. “Rosa, like Taylor Swift, you need to shake it off!” The email made me laugh, but in all seriousness, at that moment it was the exact sentiment I needed.

“Shake it off!”

You see, I had major work business to attend to, and I couldn’t allow simple disagreements or misunderstandings to keep me from getting my job done.

I am a thick-skinned, let-it-roll-off-me, resilient kind of south side Chi girl! But still, there are moments when the daggers cut just a little too deep. I get all up in my feels, and forget to– rise above, shake it off, and focus on what God says of me!

Last New Year, I set out to not allow unhealthy relationships or boundaries to consume my 2018. “I want to remain focused,” I wrote. “There is no need to be involved in everything, no need to defend or explain myself, no need to feel accepted or understood. This year I am standing on the ROCK, and I am not leaving it. No more detours! It’s a year of completion! No more stepping away! It’s time for some GREAT WORK, or what I like to call GOD’s WORK!  #Nehemiah6”

Did I completely accomplish this goal? I would like to say, “why yes, I sure did.” But, I didn’t. Did I improve at all? I think so.

A few days ago, I wrote, “Sometimes we have to CHOOSE to be above reproach, mature, & better than our flesh wants us be. God’s word should be the measuring stick we use to measure our choices. Regardless of the unfairness in life and the shade it throws at us (even when it comes from the people we love), we must choose to be obedient, and not let circumstances keep us from God’s plans… #toriseabove #nehemiah” 

Without planning, I made a full circle on my Facebook page.

I am NOWHERE near perfect! But God is doing a mighty work in me, and I am welcoming His pruning in my life. At times it hasn’t been easy, but I am finding that the more I keep my eyes on my creator, the more I vividly see His promises for me! So, like Taylor, I am going to continue to “Shake it OFF!”

“Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” Psalms 62:6

“I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down.” Nehemiah 6:3

 PS: As I post this on New Year’s Day, I feel it necessary to add while I like Taylor’s song “New Year’s Day”, I much prefer U2’s song of the same name.