2016 is here! I feel like every year around this time I have the same mantra: Let’s dream big again and blah blah blah. But for real this time, let’s do it. We can renew our minds, our hope and our thoughts. It’s as if we get an opportunity to reset and start over! How many of you can use a do-over in life? We may not be able to go back in time and change things (however if you’ve figured out how, please send me a message… thanks), but this is a good time to mentally make changes that will, in fact, change the way you do life.
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Let’s reconnect with God and the desires He has put in our hearts.
I moved to Hollywood with a dream in my heart to be an actress. Over the past 13 years I have been blessed with some amazing opportunities and some hurtful experiences. Although I could go for less of the hurtful experiences this year, I have to admit that both have taught me so much. Sometimes I get discouraged and doubtful about who I am and what I have to offer. Sometimes it’s hard to dream, or it hurts too much to hold onto that dream, for fear of failure.
Sometimes it feels as though the colors of my dreams have been dimmed by rejection, opposition and comparison. As a wise man (Theodore Roosevelt) once told me (he actually just said it out loud and someone wrote it down and then the Internet told me later), “Comparison is the thief of all joy.” This year, let’s remember that our journey is our own and that we are right where we are supposed to be. Let’s pick ourselves up and keep marching forward, keep taking risks and keep dreaming for amazing things.
What if that next idea that you dare to dream and put into action becomes the idea that blows up your spot and catapults you to the next level? You never know unless you try. Don’t be afraid to fail (says the girl who hates to fail so much that she would rather just watch another episode of Law & Order SVU that she’s already seen three times instead of writing a new joke that might end up being stupid).
Failure sucks! But it’s apparently part of the journey. We don’t get to avoid that part, but we do get to learn from it. A wise girl (me) once said to me, “In order to stare failure in the face and say, ‘you can’t have me,’ you have to get close enough for it to hear you.” Basically be brave and take risks! I believe in you! I believe in me. Let’s do this. 2016 here we come.
You need to come out to the east coast!!! We got love for you out here!!
Saw your Eugene, OR show. You rocked it!!! Meeting you was a great experience. You are genuinely an amazing person with a great heart. Stay you Anjelah.
Saw your act in Yakima last night. Not bad, but not as good as you where made to be by friends. Wish you would have spent more time performing the characters and telling us where to watch them on You tube. It was the first time I seen your act and felt like a outsider looking in.
Dear Anjelah,
As a Christian with 34-years of prison ministry (33 in Southern California), I love your humor. Clean is funnier. Thank you.
Congrats on your marriage, too!
Keith
Saw you in Ft. Lauderdale! Whoop Whoop! Had a good evening. Bought some T’s & BQQ cd. I laughed all the waaaaay home! Be Blessed and walk mightily in your gift. BAH!
I am really happy that I got a chance to see your show and you. You’re such a cool,down to earth person. Oh yeah, did I mention FUNNY? You make people happy, what a gift huh? Keep it up ?. 1Tim 1:11.
Whoa, that T. Roosevelt quote really hit the spot at this particular moment! It reminds me of my faves from al-anon- “Don’t compare your insides to someone else’s outsides.” Which has saved me much angst, but the one u quoted is so great because it explains WHY.
Thx, love yr work, bought 2 tshirts, come to Boston! (cause God knows this place could use a laugh 🙂
So glad you are coming near New Orleans! Bought tickets, along with 2 other couples. Hard Rock rooms rather pricie. $300. Per night. Can’t wait to laugh!
Dear Mrs.Anjelah Johnson/BonQuiQui,
My Fiancée and I think ya’ll are RUDE!for not coming down to chicago while on tour. Ya’ll need to grow some skin and bring yourselves down to the windy city! ? We will look out for ya’ll next year hopefully!
Wassup um lemme just say that you hilarious Anjelah and you are an inspiration to many young people in my town. You encourage us especially me to not really focus on what other’s think of me and to really just focus in God’s plan, even if at first it might seem a bit bumpy, we Hispanics are fighters lol we don’t back down. From the Boricuas to the Mexicanos unity is power. So as Caleb stood by Joshua, and how Jesus stands by us, I support you all the way in your dreams. Keep doing what you’re doing it means more to people than you know. 🙂 Dios the bendiga !
great show last night!! great meeting you! have fun in STL this weekend!
Can you come to Chicago?? thanks
No Arizona tour dates! 🙁
Last year was really tough for me, I went through some horrible depression. I wanted this year to be better so my wife and I just went to see you. My heart is full of laughter, thank you. I grew up in a mostly Hispanic neighborhood in the east bay so your “style” felt very familiar but your comedy made me laugh until I cried. We both loved it and you set the pace for this year! Laugh, love and trust in God. God bless you, you touched my hand as you walked off stage, I feel special! Thank you for doing the nail salon joke, I know you’ve done it a million times but for us, it was the first time live and you rocked it girl!!!lol Thank you, so much! Happy New Year!!! Craig
Thank you Anjelah for being YOU! After a rough homeschool day with my 3 kids (I pour a glass of mommy juice 😉 watch me some ANJELAH JOHNSON. I would still like to think my dreams can happen, but I know I have an opportunity to help my girls dreams come true and they feel that by watching you. Thank you again and I hope to see your stand up live some day.
You rock Anjelah!! I look up to you so much!! 🙂 I think you’re the coolest person ever. Could we be besties for a day and do lunch when you come to Ft. Lauderdale??? I wanted to do the meet and greet, but I as a graduate student, every dollar counts. PLEASE MAKE MY DREAM A REALITY!! I love u! fuh-real doe…you my girl! Sincerely, Chiluban girl–That means I am 1/2 Chilean, 1/2 cuban.
So excited to see your show on the 23rd … It’s my daughter Jessica’s 15th birthday. . No quiencenera but tickets to your show was just as exciting for her… Can’t wait
Amen to all you said. Thank you for being you. You gave me hope for 2016. God bless you. We need more like you. just got done watching you on Netflix. Loved it. Probably older than your parents, but still love your shows. Pilamaye (Lakota for thank you)!
I was at your sow last night and loved your show so much! I was the “one other Native American” in the upstairs audience. Anyways, you are a blessing and don’t listen to the negative comments because we have to “die” to other people’s acceptance of us or lack of and know that His opinion of you makes others opinions irrelavent!
Wonderful words to hear at the start of 2016. Thanks for posting and for keeping us laughing.
Great show last night, you’re my favorite comedian and I have been waiting to see you for years…
C’mon now!!!
Thanks for the encouraging words. I look forward to the next one. Happy New Year! God bless.
Very well said. We have spoke brief a few times. My mom.has terminal cancer. This will be the year she goes to our heavenly father. My road is hard. Failure I get as I am up 24/7. This woman is my best friend and best mom ever. This post hit home. Psalms 91.
However, your stand up gets me through every single day. A laugh. So remember that when you feel you have failed or discouraged.Your jokes help me get through life. I know it does others. GOD gave you a gift. Satan wants u to doubt. Don’t. You change and help peoples lives like mine.
Thank you.
Kelly
My friend, thank you. Thank you for being afraid to fail and then trying anyway. Thank you for putting yourself out there. Thank you for dreaming and marching and taking risks. We are all blessed for it!Best wishes in the coming year(s) to you, your hubby and the whole fam damily!
If only you knew how much a part of my circle of friends you are! You may not remember it but you celebrated NYE in Melbourne Australia with the best bunch of peeps (and wicked good wood fired pizza) thanks for bringing joy, being real, and for the endless quotes! #2016goal #seeyoulive
Thank you❤
I needed to hear that.
Just needed to laugh today…rarely watch TV, in fact all I have is a Roku and my son left my ex hub’s password to it…so I scrolled thru, found Not Fancy and you made my January 1st, 2016!!! I too want to write a blog and your words already inspire lives. I researched your hubby and he blessed my day too!! When are ya’ll coming to Houston again?
2016 #Intentionalliving In the name of JesusChrist the Lord! Amen Sista! *;-) <3
Thank you for the positive thoughts. Don’t forget to listen to yourself! You had some good things to say. Happy New Year to you and yours.
Amen! Hope to see you soon! Love all of your shows! You are haha-larious!! On a side note: Law & Order SVU ?!?!?!
Happy New Year to you & Manwell!
Like you & many others, some of my past New Year’s resolutions and goals ended within the 1st week or month. I want that to change; and change can begin today. Your choice of Proverbs is an eye-opener and it should remind us that our thought life, even for those who might not be familiar with the Bible, directs our actions. I want to keep that in mind along with Proverbs 3:5-6; “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways of knowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” I’m thinking about retiring after having recently completed 33 yrs as a police officer. I’m praying and asking God for direction as I don’t want to retire to idleness. I want to continue to make
a difference wherever the Lord should leave me. Like many others, I’ll reflect a bit on the past; I’ll try to identify areas of my life which need improvement; and I’ll start one day at a time. May God bless you and keep you and continue to refresh your spirit through His Word as He directs your path. ?
Anjela thanks for those inspiring words! I hope to continue to support you through your career as best as a fan can. We (My lady and I) met you at your Charlotte NC show (you said she looked like your back up dancer) traveling over 8 hrs to see you and going to multiple of your shows. I will try my best to share and read each one of your blogs.
I wish you luck and love. Enjoy the year. Let’s make 2016 bigger and better than 2015.
Thanks for your encouraging words! Awesome way to start this year right! So happy new year to you and the hubster. Please do not ever give up because you are awesome and as your fan I need you in my life! Stay awesome!!!!
Love it!! Thanks for always keeping it real and staying humble!! Have a wonderful 2016!!!
Just want to be first to say Happy New Year! I will try and read each of your blogs. I wish I could be a stand up comic too.
Amen, Anjelah. Let God tell you who you are this year.
No one else has that right.
Blessings!
Thank you for being real and encouraging. I’m excited for what God has in store for you this year! ???