Saturday, November 19, 2011
Be Positive, Be Balanced, Be Beauty-full: How I fell
Be Positive, Be Balanced, Be Beauty-full: How I fell: I had stumbled on occasion, But always managed to stay upright. I had tripped several times, Yet maintained my composure. As I felt ...
Saturday, August 13, 2011
See Into My Love
My debut compilation of poetry is finally available. Get your copy today!
https://www.createspace.com/3653786
https://www.createspace.com/3653786
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Masculinity...revisted
What defines a man? Is it his accomplishments? His level of education? How about his possessions? Well, I would like to argue that it's his interpersonal relationships. There are many accomplished individuals with no social ties or skills. There are many intellectuals who live in solitude. There are many wealthy people who are isolated.
Science tells us that the more positive, emotional connections a person has, the healthier they are, the longer they live, and they can be more productive. In my opinion, that gives these relationships the same value as any credentials, possessions and accolades.
How do we achieve, accomplish, and attain things? By putting in time and hard work. If we were to put that same energy into our interpersonal relationships, family life, social connections, community involvement...the sky would be the limit. It is here that the conflict often begins. In churches, masjids, and other places of worship...we often see more involvement by women. In the African American, social media often talks about the accomplishments of the Black Woman, and how they are surpassing Black men in academia and the corporate world. When we look at popular culture in the African American community, emphasis is placed on making money and viewing women as objects of pleasure.
African American men are being given a set of criteria to define their masculinity, and it directly contradicts their conditions. Those men who have sought to steer away from these mainstream social constructs get little or no recognition. Those who are advocates for emotional intelligence often take a backseat to the hype. However, when we look to those African American men who have accomplished great things, they seem to be balanced intellectually and emotionally. They have found a way to sustain family life while pursuing their goals. We don't see them covered in tattoos and wearing their pants mid-thigh.
Nonetheless, in many cases, they are not the bar for which we set our standards of masculinity. The uber-aggressive, emotionally stunted, pillars of manhood that we have in abundance have led to a crisis in our community. Women are saying that there are no good men. Wives are saying that they don't feel connected to their husbands on an emotional level. Mothers are watching their sons fall victim to their inability to express themselves on an emotional level. The predominant emotion conveyed is anger, and this must change. Not only must we move in a different direction, we must all take responsibility for creating an environment that will facilitate this change.
There is a movement to redefine the social constructs of masculinity in our community. It is necessary to be involved in the lives of our children, to show them what healthy male-female interactions look like, to show them good etiquette--to be ladies and gentlemen, to value themselves as beings of creativity and light.
I'm excited and encouraged by the increasing number of African American men who are stepping up and taking a stance as positive, productive male role models and leaders. And I'm proud to be one of the women who are supporting them. I'll be posting about different individuals and events that are going on related to these issues. I'd also like to close by saying that, while I focused on the African American community in this piece, I know that these issues are widespread and go beyond the bounds of culture and race. Stay tuned!
Science tells us that the more positive, emotional connections a person has, the healthier they are, the longer they live, and they can be more productive. In my opinion, that gives these relationships the same value as any credentials, possessions and accolades.
How do we achieve, accomplish, and attain things? By putting in time and hard work. If we were to put that same energy into our interpersonal relationships, family life, social connections, community involvement...the sky would be the limit. It is here that the conflict often begins. In churches, masjids, and other places of worship...we often see more involvement by women. In the African American, social media often talks about the accomplishments of the Black Woman, and how they are surpassing Black men in academia and the corporate world. When we look at popular culture in the African American community, emphasis is placed on making money and viewing women as objects of pleasure.
African American men are being given a set of criteria to define their masculinity, and it directly contradicts their conditions. Those men who have sought to steer away from these mainstream social constructs get little or no recognition. Those who are advocates for emotional intelligence often take a backseat to the hype. However, when we look to those African American men who have accomplished great things, they seem to be balanced intellectually and emotionally. They have found a way to sustain family life while pursuing their goals. We don't see them covered in tattoos and wearing their pants mid-thigh.
Nonetheless, in many cases, they are not the bar for which we set our standards of masculinity. The uber-aggressive, emotionally stunted, pillars of manhood that we have in abundance have led to a crisis in our community. Women are saying that there are no good men. Wives are saying that they don't feel connected to their husbands on an emotional level. Mothers are watching their sons fall victim to their inability to express themselves on an emotional level. The predominant emotion conveyed is anger, and this must change. Not only must we move in a different direction, we must all take responsibility for creating an environment that will facilitate this change.
There is a movement to redefine the social constructs of masculinity in our community. It is necessary to be involved in the lives of our children, to show them what healthy male-female interactions look like, to show them good etiquette--to be ladies and gentlemen, to value themselves as beings of creativity and light.
I'm excited and encouraged by the increasing number of African American men who are stepping up and taking a stance as positive, productive male role models and leaders. And I'm proud to be one of the women who are supporting them. I'll be posting about different individuals and events that are going on related to these issues. I'd also like to close by saying that, while I focused on the African American community in this piece, I know that these issues are widespread and go beyond the bounds of culture and race. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Stick to the essentials, please
We work together, live together, play together, and so on and so on. Who, you ask? Men and women.
Men are from Mars, and women are from Venus. Yet, we find ways to coexist peacefully....well, most of the time.
In a time when the vast majority of marriages end in divorce, one might ask what has changed. Well, we have. The standards for propriety, morality and integrity have changed. Good old-fashioned values have become antiquated as we have become more "liberated."
Let's go back for a minute. When we attended gatherings with our parents, what were the demographics? You saw the elders sitting and reminiscing. You saw our parents and their peers in groups. The dads were usually outside playing ball, at the grill, or watching the game. The moms were easily found in the kitchen, drinking tea at the table, and talking about work, kids, and the like. The kids were everywhere, depending on what they wanted. If they wanted to horseplay or learn how to ride bikes, they found the men. If they wanted something to eat or fell off the bikes, they found the women.
As teenagers and young women, we vowed that we would never let ourselves fall into the "gender trap." And we didn't. But, at what expense? Many of us are educated, but useless in the kitchen. If our babies need costumes for school, we often have to run out and buy one...who can sew? Bake sales....buy some cookies from Kroger, and stick them in your own Tupperware. Many of us are too busy competing with men to simply be women.
That brings me to the crux of it all. What is at the heart of all this man-woman stuff, and how can we improve the conditions of our society...especially the African American community?
For starters, we have to acknowledge and accept that relationships are based on respect and reciprocity. The family unit is a team, and the team comes before the individuals in it. Each team will have its own dynamics, but there are some essentials needed for it to function effectively.
The team has to have a leader, and the leader needs a partner. Decision-making needs to be a collaborative effort between the two. Each brings something vital to the process. In most heterosexual partnerships, the man has the leadership position, and the woman is the support. While we know that the support is typically the foundation...the position of the leader should still be respected. What does this mean?
Well, ladies, it means that you can't throw your salary in his face whenever you have a disagreement. Fellas, it means that you have to put your family ahead of your individual wants and needs--no video games or gym shoes, the kids need summer clothes. It also means that you have to rid yourself of non-essential relationships. As adults, we all have histories, but we can't carry our histories into our futures. The only thing you should be bringing from previous intimate relationships is wisdom. You can't bring your ex along. You cannot put your partner in a position to be disrespected. You can't invite folks over for dinner who have previously had you for dessert. It just doesn't work in the long run...it will become an obstacle at some point. An obstacle to complete commitment, and obstacle to the overall betterment of the team, and an obstacle to letting go of your past. While men and women have to interact, we can learn to do it wisely...stick to the essentials...clear boundaries, clear intentions, and clear communication.
Look at your interactions...are you "keeping it professional," or are your boundaries a little blurred. It's almost impossible to regain your footing in these situations. One dirty joke, one flirtatious moment...that's all it takes to undo it all.
Look at your intentions. Are you really just offering him dinner because he has no family here? Or, are you trying to let him know that you have some skills in the kitchen?...just in case he might be interested. Are you really just trying to spend time with her kids for the sake of being a positive male role model?...or, are you just banking on the fact that you can win her heart by winning over her children first? Really, what is your motivation?
Are you being honest, open, and transparent in your communication? Are you listening to his/her relationship problems out of concern? Or, are you just learning the situation so that you can be there to help "pick up the pieces." Can you see yourself in a relationship with this person? Have you talked about it? If you did, were you truthful?
Again, stick to the essentials...it will help take a lot of the drama and confusion out of our relationships.
Men are from Mars, and women are from Venus. Yet, we find ways to coexist peacefully....well, most of the time.
In a time when the vast majority of marriages end in divorce, one might ask what has changed. Well, we have. The standards for propriety, morality and integrity have changed. Good old-fashioned values have become antiquated as we have become more "liberated."
Let's go back for a minute. When we attended gatherings with our parents, what were the demographics? You saw the elders sitting and reminiscing. You saw our parents and their peers in groups. The dads were usually outside playing ball, at the grill, or watching the game. The moms were easily found in the kitchen, drinking tea at the table, and talking about work, kids, and the like. The kids were everywhere, depending on what they wanted. If they wanted to horseplay or learn how to ride bikes, they found the men. If they wanted something to eat or fell off the bikes, they found the women.
As teenagers and young women, we vowed that we would never let ourselves fall into the "gender trap." And we didn't. But, at what expense? Many of us are educated, but useless in the kitchen. If our babies need costumes for school, we often have to run out and buy one...who can sew? Bake sales....buy some cookies from Kroger, and stick them in your own Tupperware. Many of us are too busy competing with men to simply be women.
That brings me to the crux of it all. What is at the heart of all this man-woman stuff, and how can we improve the conditions of our society...especially the African American community?
For starters, we have to acknowledge and accept that relationships are based on respect and reciprocity. The family unit is a team, and the team comes before the individuals in it. Each team will have its own dynamics, but there are some essentials needed for it to function effectively.
The team has to have a leader, and the leader needs a partner. Decision-making needs to be a collaborative effort between the two. Each brings something vital to the process. In most heterosexual partnerships, the man has the leadership position, and the woman is the support. While we know that the support is typically the foundation...the position of the leader should still be respected. What does this mean?
Well, ladies, it means that you can't throw your salary in his face whenever you have a disagreement. Fellas, it means that you have to put your family ahead of your individual wants and needs--no video games or gym shoes, the kids need summer clothes. It also means that you have to rid yourself of non-essential relationships. As adults, we all have histories, but we can't carry our histories into our futures. The only thing you should be bringing from previous intimate relationships is wisdom. You can't bring your ex along. You cannot put your partner in a position to be disrespected. You can't invite folks over for dinner who have previously had you for dessert. It just doesn't work in the long run...it will become an obstacle at some point. An obstacle to complete commitment, and obstacle to the overall betterment of the team, and an obstacle to letting go of your past. While men and women have to interact, we can learn to do it wisely...stick to the essentials...clear boundaries, clear intentions, and clear communication.
Look at your interactions...are you "keeping it professional," or are your boundaries a little blurred. It's almost impossible to regain your footing in these situations. One dirty joke, one flirtatious moment...that's all it takes to undo it all.
Look at your intentions. Are you really just offering him dinner because he has no family here? Or, are you trying to let him know that you have some skills in the kitchen?...just in case he might be interested. Are you really just trying to spend time with her kids for the sake of being a positive male role model?...or, are you just banking on the fact that you can win her heart by winning over her children first? Really, what is your motivation?
Are you being honest, open, and transparent in your communication? Are you listening to his/her relationship problems out of concern? Or, are you just learning the situation so that you can be there to help "pick up the pieces." Can you see yourself in a relationship with this person? Have you talked about it? If you did, were you truthful?
Again, stick to the essentials...it will help take a lot of the drama and confusion out of our relationships.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Trust in Yourself and Others
Trust, according to Dictionary.com, is reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence. The integrity piece is straightforward, as are surety and ability. The tricky piece for me is strength. What does this mean? In the most concrete sense, one might think of physical strength...will you catch me if I fall? Can I trust you to protect me from physical harm? Can you carry that all by yourself?
However, there are other types of strength...namely, spiritual and emotional. To trust in the spiritual and emotional strength of another person is to recognize your own vulnerability. Can I place my safety in the hands of another person? Can I admit that I neither want, nor am able to, be totally independent? Do I see something in you that I lack in myself? Do I trust you to fill that void?
We can say that we do, and mean it in the most superficial way...but unless we have allowed that trust to penetrate the essence of our being, we are lying to ourselves. Our ego, our history, our pain, our fear, our lack of trust...they all allow us to delude ourselves about how we exist as spiritual and emotional beings.
We can engage in religious practice without spirituality. This is not necessarily hypocrisy, as it may seem initially. Some of us are just so spiritually stagnant that we believe we are swimming in a depth of spirituality when, in fact, we are simply treading water.
Likewise, we can interact with people constantly, without being emotionally engaged or available. I mean, totally engaged or available. We often engage with contingency plans. Or, we base our availability on what we expect in return. In either case, we are not emotionally trusting or trustworthy.
Some people live their whole lives without ever learning how to, or allowing themselves, to trust. For this reason, they miss out on love. Without trust, love cannot flourish. In the ocean of emotion, they are watching from the shoreline. Many are so entranced by the view that they don't realize they could be a part of it. Then, there are those who realize it, but are afraid to swim out. What if I drown in all that emotion? What if I lose myself? In the right situation, you will be able to trust that other person to rescue you...throw you a lifeline. You will trust that they will be able to dive in and drag you out if necessary. :)
However, there are other types of strength...namely, spiritual and emotional. To trust in the spiritual and emotional strength of another person is to recognize your own vulnerability. Can I place my safety in the hands of another person? Can I admit that I neither want, nor am able to, be totally independent? Do I see something in you that I lack in myself? Do I trust you to fill that void?
We can say that we do, and mean it in the most superficial way...but unless we have allowed that trust to penetrate the essence of our being, we are lying to ourselves. Our ego, our history, our pain, our fear, our lack of trust...they all allow us to delude ourselves about how we exist as spiritual and emotional beings.
We can engage in religious practice without spirituality. This is not necessarily hypocrisy, as it may seem initially. Some of us are just so spiritually stagnant that we believe we are swimming in a depth of spirituality when, in fact, we are simply treading water.
Likewise, we can interact with people constantly, without being emotionally engaged or available. I mean, totally engaged or available. We often engage with contingency plans. Or, we base our availability on what we expect in return. In either case, we are not emotionally trusting or trustworthy.
Some people live their whole lives without ever learning how to, or allowing themselves, to trust. For this reason, they miss out on love. Without trust, love cannot flourish. In the ocean of emotion, they are watching from the shoreline. Many are so entranced by the view that they don't realize they could be a part of it. Then, there are those who realize it, but are afraid to swim out. What if I drown in all that emotion? What if I lose myself? In the right situation, you will be able to trust that other person to rescue you...throw you a lifeline. You will trust that they will be able to dive in and drag you out if necessary. :)
Letting Go...
So often, we come through learning experiences feeling like we did better than we ever expected. We didn't stop breathing, we didn't hurt anyone, and we dodged that lightning bolt. So, we think that we are ok. Many times, we are not. Resilience and resolution are not one and the same.
This is especially true for relationships. We often come out of relationships of any sort with a "I won't do that again" perspective. We rarely talk about what we WILL do the next time around. Will you listen to your friend lament about her latest date without criticism and judgment? Will you let your child wear that raggedy pair of jeans? Will you buy him tickets to the game...so that he can hang out with the guys?
What will you do? If you focus on what you won't do, you won't do anything differently. You'll just find a different way of doing the same thing. If you don't let go of the pain, it will be a third party to every conversation. If you don't let go of the hurt, it will join you on every date. If you don't let go of your past, you're bound to repeat.
We are all infinite beings with infinite possibilities. Starting out at a similar point doesn't mean you'll end up with a similar outcome. Let go, and let the possibilities in. Let yourself be different. Be the change you wish to see.
This is especially true for relationships. We often come out of relationships of any sort with a "I won't do that again" perspective. We rarely talk about what we WILL do the next time around. Will you listen to your friend lament about her latest date without criticism and judgment? Will you let your child wear that raggedy pair of jeans? Will you buy him tickets to the game...so that he can hang out with the guys?
What will you do? If you focus on what you won't do, you won't do anything differently. You'll just find a different way of doing the same thing. If you don't let go of the pain, it will be a third party to every conversation. If you don't let go of the hurt, it will join you on every date. If you don't let go of your past, you're bound to repeat.
We are all infinite beings with infinite possibilities. Starting out at a similar point doesn't mean you'll end up with a similar outcome. Let go, and let the possibilities in. Let yourself be different. Be the change you wish to see.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Positive Lyrics
You help me to discover me
I just want you to put trust in me
I kind of laugh when you cuss at me
The aftermath is you touching me
It's destiny to we connected girl
You and i we can affect the world
I'm tired of the fast lane
I want you to have my last name
Come Close
Common
I just want you to put trust in me
I kind of laugh when you cuss at me
The aftermath is you touching me
It's destiny to we connected girl
You and i we can affect the world
I'm tired of the fast lane
I want you to have my last name
Come Close
Common
The Moody Foodie--Feel-Good Foods
Comfort food. While some of us are comforted by the act of eating, much of the comfort may actually come from what we eat.
There are many neurotransmitters that are stimulated by food. Oxytocin, the love hormone, is the brain chemical that bonds lovers, as well as mother and child. Norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, the "feel-good chemicals," are brain chemicals that affect our mood and how we handle stress and anxiety.
Foods that promote a variety of feel good brain chemicals (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, oxytocin) include:
- Protein rich foods: eggs. chicken, beans
- Apples, bananas, beets, watermelon
- Wheat germ
There are many neurotransmitters that are stimulated by food. Oxytocin, the love hormone, is the brain chemical that bonds lovers, as well as mother and child. Norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, the "feel-good chemicals," are brain chemicals that affect our mood and how we handle stress and anxiety.
Foods that promote a variety of feel good brain chemicals (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, oxytocin) include:
- Protein rich foods: eggs. chicken, beans
- Apples, bananas, beets, watermelon
- Wheat germ
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Moody Foodie--Fill Up on Folate
You've heard the old saying...You are what you eat! At the very least, what we eat impacts how we feel. Low levels of folate have been linked to depression. In fact, a Harvard study showed that 38 percent of depressed women are deficient in folate.
According to the DSM-IV*, a medical reference commonly used by health care professionals to aid in diagnosis, a major depressive episode consists of many of the following symptoms, occurring nearly every day for at least two weeks.
Depressed mood most of the day; feeling sad or empty, tearful
Significant loss of interest or pleasure in activities that used to be enjoyable
Significant weight loss (when not dieting) or weight gain; decrease or increase in appetite
Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
Agitation; or slowing down of thoughts and reduction of physical movements
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
Poor concentration or having difficulty making decisions
Thinking about death or suicide
Folate Rich Foods
Foods that are naturally good sources of folate include many beans and vegetables and some fruits:
•Black-eyed peas
•Lentils
•Okra
•Kidney beans
•Great Northern beans
•Broccoli
•Iceberg lettuce
•Beets
•Lima beans
•Sunflower seeds
•Spinach
•Brussels sprouts
•Corn
•Asparagus
•Baked beans
•Green peas
•Baked potato
•Cabbage
•Avocados
•Peanuts
•Romaine lettuce
•Tomato Juice
•Orange juice
•Strawberries
•Oranges
•Eggs
•Bananas
You can read food labels to see how much folate your kids are getting from each of these foods.
Folate-Fortified Foods
In addition to the many vegetables, fruits and beans that are naturally good sources of folate, many foods are fortified with folic acid. Serving your kids folate-fortified foods is a good way to make sure they are getting enough folate in their diet:
•Malt-o-Meal cereal
•Fortified Breakfast cereal (Total, Product 19, Special K, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Raisin Bran, Wheaties, Honey Nut Cheerios, etc.)
•Fortified soy milk
•Enriched pasta
•Enriched egg noodles
•Enriched bread, bagels and muffins
•Enriched white rice
So, remember to fill up on folate at your next meal. Ciao!
According to the DSM-IV*, a medical reference commonly used by health care professionals to aid in diagnosis, a major depressive episode consists of many of the following symptoms, occurring nearly every day for at least two weeks.
Depressed mood most of the day; feeling sad or empty, tearful
Significant loss of interest or pleasure in activities that used to be enjoyable
Significant weight loss (when not dieting) or weight gain; decrease or increase in appetite
Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
Agitation; or slowing down of thoughts and reduction of physical movements
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
Poor concentration or having difficulty making decisions
Thinking about death or suicide
Folate Rich Foods
Foods that are naturally good sources of folate include many beans and vegetables and some fruits:
•Black-eyed peas
•Lentils
•Okra
•Kidney beans
•Great Northern beans
•Broccoli
•Iceberg lettuce
•Beets
•Lima beans
•Sunflower seeds
•Spinach
•Brussels sprouts
•Corn
•Asparagus
•Baked beans
•Green peas
•Baked potato
•Cabbage
•Avocados
•Peanuts
•Romaine lettuce
•Tomato Juice
•Orange juice
•Strawberries
•Oranges
•Eggs
•Bananas
You can read food labels to see how much folate your kids are getting from each of these foods.
Folate-Fortified Foods
In addition to the many vegetables, fruits and beans that are naturally good sources of folate, many foods are fortified with folic acid. Serving your kids folate-fortified foods is a good way to make sure they are getting enough folate in their diet:
•Malt-o-Meal cereal
•Fortified Breakfast cereal (Total, Product 19, Special K, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Raisin Bran, Wheaties, Honey Nut Cheerios, etc.)
•Fortified soy milk
•Enriched pasta
•Enriched egg noodles
•Enriched bread, bagels and muffins
•Enriched white rice
So, remember to fill up on folate at your next meal. Ciao!
Culture v. Cultured
So often we hear of people attributing their ideas, habits, practices, and routines to their culture. Likewise, we often hear those who live a certain way being called cultured. What does this really mean?
Wikipedia states:
Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate")[1] is a term that has various meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions.[2] However, the word "culture" is most commonly used in three basic senses:
-Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture
-An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning
-The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group
When I look at these definitions, and take time to reflect on them, I think of the culture that I try to adopt and maintain. I want to live in a culture of positivity, tolerance, and love. I want to eat what I like, dress as I like, and worship as I choose. I also want the same for others. For me, there is beauty in diversity. I regularly rock a pair of jeans with espadrilles, paired with a colorful kurti and flowing hijab. My culture is multicultural. I see that we can pull from many directions to become beauty-full, we just need a positive attitude and balanced perspective.
Wikipedia states:
Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate")[1] is a term that has various meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions.[2] However, the word "culture" is most commonly used in three basic senses:
-Excellence of taste in the fine arts and humanities, also known as high culture
-An integrated pattern of human knowledge, belief, and behavior that depends upon the capacity for symbolic thought and social learning
-The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group
When I look at these definitions, and take time to reflect on them, I think of the culture that I try to adopt and maintain. I want to live in a culture of positivity, tolerance, and love. I want to eat what I like, dress as I like, and worship as I choose. I also want the same for others. For me, there is beauty in diversity. I regularly rock a pair of jeans with espadrilles, paired with a colorful kurti and flowing hijab. My culture is multicultural. I see that we can pull from many directions to become beauty-full, we just need a positive attitude and balanced perspective.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Beauty in All Shades and Colors
Woman is beautiful, woman is full of beauty.
The power to carry, birth, and sustain life.
Woman is timeless, the gift of femininity.
Woman is your mother, sister, daughter, aunt, wife.
Woman is a confidante in times of need
Woman is a comfort in times of difficulty
Woman is your partner, your greatest fan.
Woman is reflected in both you and me.
-Tiece
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Positive Lyrics
Then I look at you,
and the world's alright with me
Just one look at you.
and I know it's gonna be...
A lovely day
-Bill Withers, A Lovely Day
and the world's alright with me
Just one look at you.
and I know it's gonna be...
A lovely day
-Bill Withers, A Lovely Day
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Beauty-full poetry
A beauty indescribable,
Gaze upon my tapestry.
Even the imperfections,
Enhance its unique beauty.
The colors, the patterns,
All in Divine design.
This masterpiece is my life,
The story it tells is mine.
-Tiece
Gaze upon my tapestry.
Even the imperfections,
Enhance its unique beauty.
The colors, the patterns,
All in Divine design.
This masterpiece is my life,
The story it tells is mine.
-Tiece
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Think Positive...and Positivity Will Come
We all have those moments. Those moments where we have to choose between what's right, and what's easy. Occasionally, the two merge...those are the golden moments. However, that isn't the norm. We tend to be our own worst enemy. We fall victim to the "what if's," the "but, if's," and the worst of all, the "I don't think I's..."
What would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail? That the "if's" didn't exist? That what you thought could, would be...what you could? Start low, and go slow. Would you make your bed every morning? Would you remember to tell people that you love them? Would you go back to school? Would you quit playing around and marry that person already? Would you learn to play an instrument? Learn a language? Travel? Start a business? Free yourself from the confines of negative thinking?
Do it! All you can do is fail. And if you do...try again. This time, with a little more wisdom and experience. Immerse yourself in positivity. Pray. Recite those positive affirmations. Reach out, and allow yourself to be within reach. Reflect. Meditate. Look outside of yourself. Be of service.
Wherever you draw strength from...surround yourself with the positive energy it brings to you. Your spirituality. Your connection. Your Supreme Being. Your Love. The Universe is just, and has balance. You reap what you sow...the negative and the positive. Karma is indifferent, develop a good relationship with her.
I also want to take this opportunity to send lots of prayers and positive energy to those in Japan. This is a big planet, but a small world. Embrace the connection.
What would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail? That the "if's" didn't exist? That what you thought could, would be...what you could? Start low, and go slow. Would you make your bed every morning? Would you remember to tell people that you love them? Would you go back to school? Would you quit playing around and marry that person already? Would you learn to play an instrument? Learn a language? Travel? Start a business? Free yourself from the confines of negative thinking?
Do it! All you can do is fail. And if you do...try again. This time, with a little more wisdom and experience. Immerse yourself in positivity. Pray. Recite those positive affirmations. Reach out, and allow yourself to be within reach. Reflect. Meditate. Look outside of yourself. Be of service.
Wherever you draw strength from...surround yourself with the positive energy it brings to you. Your spirituality. Your connection. Your Supreme Being. Your Love. The Universe is just, and has balance. You reap what you sow...the negative and the positive. Karma is indifferent, develop a good relationship with her.
I also want to take this opportunity to send lots of prayers and positive energy to those in Japan. This is a big planet, but a small world. Embrace the connection.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Welcome
I decided to introduce my blog through a vehicle I find comfort in...poetry. It is my hope that this blog will be a place of empowerment, motivation, and inspiration. I hope to create a space that is grounded in positivity--positive thoughts, positive interactions, positive topics. I will strive to create a balanced space--none of us exist in a one-dimensional way, so I hope to reach out on multiple levels...the spiritual, the physical, the emotional, the mental, the metaphysical, and the social...just to name a few. Most of all, I am inspired to create a space that is cognizant of the beauty that exists in all of that which surrounds us...to be beauty-full. I will discuss a few of my own projects along the way as well. Blogging is new for me, so, as with all things...it is a work-in-progress. Welcome.....Be Positive, Be Balanced, Be Beauty-full
Join Me On My Journey
Walk beside me
See into my reality
Reflect on my perspective
See me through the lens
Of my paradigm
Share in this space
This time, and this place
Be recharged
With Positivity
Be Whole
Seek and find balance
Be Beauty-full
Finding beauty in all things
Walk beside me
See into my reality
Reflect on my perspective
See me through the lens
Of my paradigm
Share in this space
This time, and this place
Be recharged
With Positivity
Be Whole
Seek and find balance
Be Beauty-full
Finding beauty in all things
Walk beside me
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