Blessings, affirmations, grace, and reflection

I'm not usually one to get hyped about Memorial Day but this year temps are grazing the 90s, and the official "unofficial" launch of summer is here. How do I know: -sidewalk BBQs -sherbet or popcicles always in the freezer -water, water, water -cold beer!!! -sudden thunderstorms -shorts and sandals -water balloon fights -air conditioners humming and spitting -open windows -fresh fruit for breakfast, lunch and dinner

I used to be a swimmer. After almost drowning twice before the age of six I finally had to learn how to swim. Especially since we moved to an island and I was always at the beach. So, my mom and I started making regular trips to the public pool where she would swim and I would sit on the side of the pool watching too afraid to even enter the water. One day, a man named Francois noticed me sitting forlornly on the edge of pool and he convinced my mother to let him teach me how to swim. This probably didn't take much convincing since Francois was gorgeous. He was half Guamanian and half French. He was raised in France and had a thick French accent. He also acquired the best features of his bi-racial heritage -- thick, black wavy hair, rich bronze skin and he was slim and muscular. Naturally I was totally against the idea of learning to swim but Francois was able to build my trust. Patiently Francois introduced me to the pool. First holding onto me, then insuring me that I w...

For some reason, Ntozake Shange's Choreopoem "For Colored Girls...." has always struck a chord with me. The lady in brown opens up with: dark phases of womanhood of never havin been a girl half-notes scattered without rhythm/no tune distraught laughter fallin over a black girl's shoulder it's funny/it's hysterical the melody-less-ness of her dance don't tell nobody don't tell a soul she's dancing on beer cans & shingles Other days the lady in orange speaks to me with: ever since i realized there waz someone callt a colored girl an evil woman a bitch or a nag i been trying not to be that & leave bitterness in somebody else's cup/come to somebody to love me without deep & nasty smelling scald from lye or bein left screaming in a street fulla lunatics More often than I would like the lady in green starts screaming: Somebody almost walked off wid alla my stuff not my poems or a dance i gave up in the street but somebody almost walked o...

Results of "The Test" How gutsy are you?Your score = 45 What does your score mean? Your test score reveals that you've got major cojones when the situation calls for it - but at other times you prefer to play it safe. Perhaps there are certain things you will do, despite the risk involved, because they are important to you or the possible pay off makes them worth it. Or maybe certain consequences of such chancy behavior just don't scare you - we all have different fears. Some people, for example, are terrified of spiders but wouldn't hesitate to fling their bodies out of an air-borne plane. Whatever your case, carefully weigh the possible benefits against the risks before you make any hasty decisions. Test your Conjones I found this little quiz after reading a post by Buffy about a girl named Flynn with major cajones. She is an interesting storyteller. Most of the time I am a peaceful person but don't let someone try to cross me because they will see a side o...

MK Asante, Jr. Renaissance Towers - Press Room 111 Mulberry Street, Newark Sunday, May 21, 2006 3 p.m. $20 500 YEARS LATER is the multi-award winning documentary written and produced by the 23 year old Asante, Jr. directed by Owen Alik Shahadah. The screening will begin at 3:00pm on Sunday, May 21, 2006. The evening will continue with a multi-generational panel discussion based on MK Asante, Jr's Feb. 7th San Francisco Journal article "WE ARE THE POST HIP HOP GENERATION" to be held following the screening. 973.688.8802 MK Asante, Jr. email to a friend Support my best friend who is promoting positivity through her business See, Do, Be If you can't attend the event then spread the word.

Yesterday, I cried. I came home, went straight to my room, sat on the edge of my bed, kicked off my shoes, unhooked my bra, and I had myself a good cry. I cried until my nose was running all over the silk blouse I got on sale. I cried until my ears were hot. I cried until my head was hurting so bad that I could hardly see the pile of soiled tissues lying on the floor at my feet. I want you to understand, I had myself a really good cry yesterday. Yesterday, I cried, for all the days that I was too busy, or too tired, or too mad to cry. I cried for all the days, and all the ways, and all the times I had dishonored, disrespected, and disconnected my Self from myself, only to have it reflected back to me in the ways others did to me the same things I had already done to myself. I cried for all the things I had given, only to have them stolen; for all the things I had asked for that had yet to show up; for all the things I had accomplished, o...

Everyone Can't Be in Your FRONT ROW. Life is a theater so invite your audiences carefully. Not everyone is holy enough and healthy enough to have a FRONT ROW seat in our lives. There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships, friendships, fellowships, and family! Everyone Can't Be in Your FRONT ROW. Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention to: Which ones lift and which one lean? Which ones encourage and which ones discourage? Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are just going downhill? When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse? Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know and appreciate you and the gift that lies within you? Everyone Can't Be in Your FRONT ROW. The more you seek God and the things of God...