Hello, everyone! I hope each of you are well and gearing up for great weeks. I took a break last week, as I was celebrating at a wedding...Tonight's blog post is from three years ago...I hope that it connects with you all in a positive way...I've been marinating on a particular blog topic for a minute now...I'm hoping that it will be the next week's post....Take care!!
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I received this in an email today (04/28/08)and wanted to share my thoughts....
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Beautifully Stated

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn’t supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it’s harder every time. You’ll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You’ll fight with your best friend. You’ll blame a new love for things an old one did. You’ll cry because time is passing too fast, and you’ll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you’ve
never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you’ll never get back. 

Don’t be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.
~anonymous~

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I think that sometimes we expect those we care about in our lives to be perfect. But as we grow, we realize that this will not be the case and understanding that is the beginning of being content with those we love and loving them unconditionally.

We are only human. This statement should not be an excuse, but a reminder that we are going to fall short. But as long as we have the desire and are willing, we can pick ourselves up and start anew. That is what is special about our free will. It is
amazing to think about the ’audacity of hope.’ In spite of, we can press forward in any situation because with perseverance and faith, we know that we will prevail.

Nothing can ever stay the same too long because anything that is stagnant dies.  A dear friend of mine has a quote that says:
’I am just like the PHOENIX, I continue to die and then I am reborn from  the ashes of my former self. I rise stronger, more powerful, and a significantly wiser human being than ever before. I shine even brighter. As I carry my light to the darkest sectors of our world.’
--Eric Michael Brown

With each new day we have an opportunity to be better, to grow wiser, to live passionately, to care and to love more deeply, and to live life like we mean it.

LIVE with pUrPoSe.
LIVE for pUrPoSe.
LIVE on pUrPoSe.

That's my twenty-nine cents. Blessings.

I wish more of us realized that connection to God is the key to everything truly fulfilling in life. We totally cheat ourselves when we do it any other way.

That's my twenty-nine cents. Blessings!

Driving home from church today, I thought about a portion of the song, “God Bless the U.S.A.” by Lee Greenwood.  I actually began to sing: “I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me and I gladly stand up next to you and defend her  still today. ‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land. God bless the  U.S.A.” I then began to think about those words and questioned whether or not  they in fact are true.  As a teen,
I heard this song and sang it sincerely without reservation. I even got chills.  As an adult, I sing the song and really consider the words and ask myself: "Am I proud to be an American?"

Ummm, most days I am proud and grateful to be an American, who lives in this country.  However, other days I am not because if being an American is synonymous with a person who is kind, respectful, and unbiased, then being an American is
not in fact something I can wholeheartedly be proud of.  So many of us are the opposite of the previously stated adjectives. Many of us think an American looks a certain way, lives a certain way, and acts a certain way. And because we feel that way we treat others poorly. But if I am saying I am proud to be an American, who is a black woman standing on the shoulders of those who came before me and endured unspeakable atrocities and hardships, then, “Yes! I am proud to be an American.” I am proud to be the American that my ancestors who lived as slaves after being brought to this country were not permitted to be. I am proud to be an American for the servicemen and women of color, who years ago when they returned from war were
met with disrespect and on some occasions death. I am proud to be an American because I believe that I was blessed to be born in a country during a time when I could at least have a shot at experiencing the American Dream encompassed by
the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I am proud to be an American because my Uncle, my Mother, my father, my step father, my Godfather, and many of my mentors and dear friends have served this country. I was going to
serve until I realized that based on the branch that was recruiting me I was to go to Basic training rather than to college right after high school—a deal breaker. So I found other ways to serve by sending care packages to troops
overseas in the war and by sending cards of encouragement to Marine recruits.

One can say that I wrestle with fully being able to say that I am proud to be an American because I think about all of the things that happen day-to-day within our borders that do not support equality and justice for all. If all means all then why do not all Americans experience the ‘liberty and justice for all’? Do I say the pledge daily? Yes, I say it daily to show  appreciation, to show respect, and to set example for my students, who barely  utter the words.

It may seem like I am not grateful to be an American, but the truth of the matter is, I am grateful. I am grateful that I live in a country during a time when I can go wherever I want to go and if at some point  I am violated I can take legal action, something my great, great, great  grandmother was not able to do. I am grateful that I can take advantage of the educational and career opportunities that were denied to my ancestors and even  to women in other parts of the world. I am grateful that I can live where I  choose to live, shop where I choose to shop, and be who I want to be. Yes, I am  grateful.  I am even grateful that I have the right to respectfully share my thoughts, more specifically this post that reveals the inward battle/ongoing conversation that I have with myself, as a woman in America. I am proud to be an American, who respects the people of the world that live outside and beyond her borders.

Is it fair for me to say that I support the men and women who serve our country whether as the President, an advisor, a congressmen, a service member and so on without having to digest that this country sometimes operates based on personal agendas and not universal ones? Internally, I feel like I am countering my morals and values if I say that I am proud to be an American  without clarifying what that means to me.

If supporting each other as fellow Americans was truly embedded in our history and day-to-day actions, then we would not need reminders to reveal the importance of unity. Honestly, if it was not for my faith, I would be discouraged more often than not by the state of our country and the world.

I am proud to be an American, who is thankful for physical freedom and spiritual freedom. I am proud to be an American, who stands with  other Americans who believe that all men, not just Americans, are created  equal. I am proud to be that American. 

Why can we not be 'one nation under God' all of the time and not just today when  we are honoring the lives of those we lost and honoring those who answered the  call? Not just on Veteran's Day? Why? Do we truly believe the words of "The Pledge of Allegiance" or understand Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech? Maybe we should see this day as a reminder to remember those we lost, to thank God for those who answered the call, and as a call to action--one that we answer daily, one that reminds us that ‘all are created equal.’                                                

That's my twenty-nine cents. Blessings!

Affirm that this day, at this hour, at this minute that you will stand up and walk in knowing that you are an amazingly divine and powerful woman who has unyielding and multi-faceted potential to the offer the world.

Stand up and affirm that on this day, there is no one like you and there is no one who can do what you can do! That your very gifts to the world are tailored-made to be administered by you and you alone!

Stand up and affirm that you are beautiful in all of your glory from your hair follicles to your tiny baby toe….girl look at you! You are a sight to behold!

Stand up and affirm that this day you will no longer take down so that the next doesn’t feel slighted or insignificant, but instead hope that she will be inspired by you and stand up and affirm herself because we all are divine and we all can be great in
our own right.

Stand up this day and affirm that you will achieve each and every goal you set. Let nothing hold you back, not even yourself. 

Stand up this day and affirm that you are the manifestation of His divinity, splendor, and intelligence. 

Stand up, my beautiful SISTERS.  STAND UP!

That's my twenty-nine cents( again). Blessings!

Dear Young Black Men,

Young men. Young men. Young men. Our black young men. Can you speak up? Will you speak up? Why won’t you
speak up? We need you to speak up. Speak up and speak out. I understand that the hip hop world, the rap world, the music world, and the athletic world are knocking down the door. The get-rich-or- die- trying world isn’t far behind. The different woman in your bed every night world appeals to you greatly. The shiny rims world, the tatted up world, the gettin’ high world, the felony world, the poor planning world are all knocking down your doors.

Young men? Why get caught up in that world/those worlds--the world that takes you away from the community, the world that
distracts you from your amazing purposes, the world that stifles your/our growth and progression, the world that says you are nothing more than what society deems you to be, the world that locks you in and tells you who you are, the world that categorizes you and conditions you into thinking that “baby mamas” are cool, that selling drugs is the way, that owning an illegal firearm is a necessity?  This world is catching you by surprise and catching you in a whirlwind of false hopes and false
promises. It is happening so quickly that you can even process what is going on. This world is killing you. These worlds are depleting you. Can you not see? The diamonds are cubic zirconium, the gold is not 14, 12, or 10 kt, but rather gold-plated, the weed is laced, the rims are fake, the cars are leased, and the women are searching for themselves just as you are.  
Wake up! Wake up and stop regulating your lives to outside influences that do not mean well. Wake up and be proactive about your futures. Stand up and stop allowing the excuses of yesterdays to determine your tomorrows.

Young men, you are descendants and living testaments of the  resilience, perseverance, and tenacity that our ancestors passed down to us.  Living haphazardly, as you are, on such a large scale would make their  sacrifices and hardships for naught if you all do not WAKE UP! You are more  than your clothes, your car, your rims, your prowess. You are more than that. 

“You know what I’m sayin’,” “Ya dig,” and “Fa sho” are not acceptable standards in English when attempting to navigate in America. Using those phrases in mixed company perpetuates negativity and the ignorant justification of acting  entitled by those who categorize and stereotype you. Using the public language  does not mean that you are “talking white.” It means that you understand and  have a command of the English language so that you can network, navigate  business deals, and earn that college degree and training. Understanding public  language expands your opportunity base, rather than limits and confines you the  way private language does. When did it become okay to sound ignorant? That does  not add to your cool factor, player card, or homie quotient. I promise it does  not. Think about this: Our ancestors, who thrived in Africa before they were  brought to America as slaves, were so intelligently creative that they had to  navigate learning a new language and not only did they learn the language, but  they also modified it so that they could speak in code to help others to  freedom and to relay messages. So they had the public and the private language,  but remember they mastered the public first. Be wise. 

As an educator, I tell my students to master English and grammar,  so that after mastering it, they can use it to be creative. Our voice is  nurtured by our ability to write and intelligently express ourselves. Confining  yourself to private language keeps you mentally bound and as free walking  advertisements, who unbeknownst to themselves are puppets that perpetuate  cycles of ignorance that keep our communities from thriving and progressing. 
 
Walk out of that stupor that keeps you immobile and essentially keeps us from moving forward as an impactful force. Walk out of the stupor that celebrates having children to and fro. Walk out of the stupor that keeps you confined to a minor space. Walk out of the stupor that keeps you working and only focusing on “souping” up a car. Walk out of stupor that keeps you spending
money on items that depreciate. Walk out of the stupor that fuels the negativity. Walk out of the stupor, step up, and use your intelligence and  brilliance to incite change, to impact change, and to promote change. Young  black men you are at the vanguard of the community. We need you to band  together constructively to stop the cycle of ignorance that is breeding  incarceration, single-parent homes, poverty, poor medical care, dangerous  neighborhoods, poor health conditions, and the like. 

Walk out, step up, and speak up!

Word Up!

Sincerely,
Your Community

That's my twenty-nine cents. Blessings!


 

Say what you want to see. Say what you want to be. Say what you want to do. Say it and your thoughts, body, and actions will align! Speak it!

Have a great week!!

That's my twenty-nine cents. Blessings!!

Believe....It is honestly just that simple. Believe. There are plenty of factors that can influence us and cause us to doubt, but there are also plenty of factors that can reinforce our decision to believe. Find and nourish those factors and influences.

Believe in yourself. Believe in your purpose. Believe in your dreams and goals. Believe that you have been created for an amazing, divine purpose. Believe it because when we believe in something our actions and thoughts align with that belief and manifestation is inevitable.

While believing, move forward in confidence knowing that you are equipped for each and every moment. Each moment prepares you for the next and the next and the next and the next, so keep moving forward in belief.

Believe! Why not?

That's my twenty-nine cents. Blessings!

Unity in mind, body, and spirit can only exist when all three of those entities are healthy and nourished daily. When all three components of our core are balanced, we have peace in the midst of and in spite of the craziness that exists in our external worlds. Think about it, no matter how chaotic the outside world is, it will not have an adverse influence on us if we nurture and protect the unity of our core components. There's no need to allow ourselves to be tossed to and fro like a ship without a sail, if we understand the value and importance of maintaining our peace. Peace does not mean that we ignore what is going on around us. Having peace simply means that we are not allowing external factors beyond our control to negatively influence things that are within our control. Choose Peace in spite of! You deserve it!

That's my twenty-nine cents. Blessings!!

MEANingful vs. MeaningLESS. What does it all mean? We determine the significance of something and whether or not it is important. Our life experiences and angles of vision determine significance/importance. What is important to one person may not be important to the next person and vice versa. There are various influences, internal and external, that determine MEANing in our lives. Some examples include our upbringing, our beliefs, our environment, the media, our relationships, our experiences, and the like. It is easy to say to that finding MEANing is easy, but that clearly is easier said than done because if the framework of our life lacks depth, consistency, and substance, then our angle of vision and actions will lack meaning, as well. Consequently, we will fall susceptible to fillers that drive us further into ourselves, further into debt, further into relationships that lack substance, further into our careers, and the like that we use to define us externally because we lack something or somethings internally.

Our lives have MEANing when we identify our strengths and use those strengths to serve others, which simultaneously teach us to think from the inside out, rather than the outside in. Life has MEANing when we realize there is something bigger than us; when we realize that it takes more than one person to make this amazing world go around. If each of us realized that we have gifts/talents/abilities that we are a part of a larger scheme in the upliftment of wo/mankind, we would not be so selfish. We would be selfless and in becoming selfless we would experience the law of reciprocity. Just like a closed mouth does not get fed, a closed fist cannot receive. In fulfilling our dreams and goals, we simultaneously contribute to the larger picture of life—the life that celebrates and reveres each and every individual as one special and needed. The life that inspires each of us to step outside the box of conformity and our comfort zones to realize and to appreciate the fact that in doing so we become better people and our world becomes a better place.

We find MEANing by connecting healthily with other people, as well as in constructively identifying our gifts/talents/abilities and using them to serve. Connect and MEAN it.

Make life MEANingful.

That's my twenty-nine cents. Blessings!