Goodbye 2013! It's Been Real!

Wow, it’s hard to believe that today is the last day of the year 2013. This morning as I stood waiting for the bus to go to work, I began to think back on the year and how much has changed in my life and our world has changed over the past year. I think back to the emotional mess I was this time last year. I am so much stronger and resilient than I ever imagined I could be. I won my first 5K race this past year (no easy feat!). I changed careers. I moved to a new city. I became a published journalist. I stopped focusing on what I am and more on who I am. 2013 was a year of me becoming radical in my actions as well as my thoughts--less talk, more action. I learned to savor life, not just in being but in doing. Each experience, whether bad or good, should be embraced. Experiences shape your character. We should use them as tools to become who the Creator has made us to be. I have been blessed by the love I seen on the faces of new brides and grooms, new family members (blessed Prince Amir), and by the many children of friends, near and far. I have gotten to see friends accomplish great things, grow as individuals, come into their own, become business owners, and share pearls of wisdom that I use each day. Thanks to you all. My life is more enriched by you all.  In regards to my children, they have really grown over the past year. They are amazing and I am blessed to be their mother. This year is ending on a positive note. I can see things more clearly now than ever before. I am more grateful than I ever have been. I could go on and on with the many things that the Most High has done for me, my family, as well as all of those connected to me. I used to pray that my reach would be extended and God is doing that each day. Through writing, reading, speaking, praying, my outreach into the world continues to grow and strengthen. More things are to come for 2014. I have an intense feeling of anticipation…….I feel greatness arriving.

“Change your mind and change your life.”

 

Peace & Blessing,

A

Enjoy Your Life

Have you ever come to the realization that you are not over a particular thing in your life, whether it was a traumatic experience, a bad breakup, or the loss of a loved one? I personally have had my share of bad experiences, much like anyone else. But, what I have realized it that some of these things greatly affect me today, as much as it did when it happened. It may be something that someone says to you or the way they treat you that leads you back into that dark place of pain. How do you release the pain? How do you truly move forward? Well, first of all, you have to admit that it happened and that it affected you. Then, you must allow yourself to “feel” the emotions related to the event.  I did not allow myself to feel. I worked myself into a frenzy and refused to cry. I placed myself into a prison of sorts; impervious to the raw pain, not allowing myself to feel weak. And lastly, we must continue to live. We should savor each moment of our lives. Allow ourselves to love. Embrace change in our lives. Experiencing new things in our lives, no matter how small, is enriching. The older I become, the more I relish life. Life is good.

 

Peace & Blessings,

Andréa

Definition of a Nigga

"Nigga"-the word is for some a source of pain; for others it is a term of endearment. But, I submit that there is a subset of individuals that do not know that they are "niggas" in its definitive description. According to dictionary.com, nigga or nigger is "a person of any race or origin regarded as contemptible, inferior, ignorant, etc. The one word that stands out in this definition, in my opinion is ignorant. Whomever coined the phrase "ignorrance is bliss" was sadly misinformed. An ignorant person is often insensitive of how their behavior negatively affects others. For an individual to prejudge you based off your race is unfair but yet it continues. To not be given a fair shake is plain, to not be allowed to play on "an even playing field"; all are aspects of the Black American experience. It is a sad world we live in. People often say "here they go playing the race card" or "Racism is over, it's a thing of the past". But, that is so far from the truth. We, as Black Americans, continue to have daily struggles that White America has no idea about. We are looked at wrong, we are held back, we are disproportionately incarcerated, our communities are struggling, our children displaced and abused. Misconceptions about who we are continue. I am not saying that no other race is without struggle, but the struggle of us ebony toned individuals is not only here but in every country on the planet. But why? Not every black person calls them friend "Nigga". Not every black person smokes marijuana. Not every black person drops out of school. There are some great people in the "hood". This system in the United States was established without regard for us as a people and those barriers continue to cause us to have to struggle in the way that we do today.
We must come to the realization that the only answer is the destroy and rebuild. The destruction has to come from within. We cannot require others to treat us in high regard when we do not require that of ourselves. I would like to submit also that we are not without blame. We must find our way back to "Black Pride". We must learn to love ourselves at our very core. Time out for minds being led by materialism. Black zombies--I have had enough of you! Educate yourself and your children. Let go of the slave mentality. Demand more of yourself and the world will have to give us more. Raise your standards. We are beautiful black people! I love each of you. Nigga is not a black person! You are the descendents of Kings and Queens, not thugs and hoodrats.We come from kingdoms not projects. Our blood flows like the Nile River and if united we cannot fail. We are conquerers! If you do not believe, research Chaka Zulu and you will see an example of what we can accomplish if we utilize the strength within.

Wake Up!




Peace & Blessings!
Andre'a

Black Woman

Black woman, where is your pride? You are the mother of nations. You have history coursing through your veins. I am disturbed by the images of us that I see each day. Are we only a set of thighs, breasts, and a behind? Is our flesh the only portion of us that is valuable? What about our daughters? What lessons are we teaching them by “twerking” and posting picture of our bodies on Social media for likes? Is your worth only found between your thighs? I am sorry if it sounds like I’m preaching but I wanted to address this issue. Why are we so quick to talk about one another and put each other down? We are sisters and we should uplift one another. We are the backbone of the family. Our family needs us. Our community needs us. Our sisters need us. I love you my sister. I love you Black Woman. Have fun but never lose respect for yourself. You are rarer than a ruby. You are more precious than the rarest jewels. You a worth more than your fleshly weight in gold.

 

 

Peace & Blessings,

Andréa

Perseverance

In the realm of ideas, everything depends on enthusiasm; in the real world, all rests on perseverance.”

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Perseverance is defined in Webster’s dictionary as being “ the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult”. In my life, perseverance is my creed; it is in my blood. As a little girl, I would watch my grandmother work, care for her family, care for others (often people that the world had turned away from), as well as friends and any and everybody in between. She was not rich in material things and sometimes I would wonder how she could do so much for so many people continuously without losing her zeal. She never drove a car a day in her life. She once told me that she just did not trust the open road. She did attend college for a time but had to return to the farm in the “Skillet” because her family needed her to help so, she gave up her aspirations to be a cosmetologist and became a well-loved cook at the Glass House. Now, in order for you to know what the Glass House restaurant is, you have to be from the metropolis of Latta, SC and you have to be of a certain age! Nevertheless, she touched many people and she would fight every day to do the best she could. I learned with her that no matter the obstacle, you must continue. Life is full of trials, but you must continue to fight in order to win. Perseverance- it is what makes a mother who has been up with a newborn all night, still make it to work on time each day. Perseverance-it is what makes the father who has worked all night, still make it to his child’s school performance later the same morning. Perseverance-it is what drives the boy whose parents are addicts to continue to go to school and do well even though the condition of his life is one of degradation. Perseverance-it it what makes that teen mother continue to go to school and work for a better life for her child and herself when the father is nowhere to be found. Persevere through the obstacles. God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers.

 

Peace & Love,

Andréa

To Nelson Mandela

Dear Nelson,
I never met you physically but I have admired you all of my life. You were a great and powerful man with a heart of gold. You inspired nations of people to stand for what was right. How you must have felt when you were imprisoned all those years? How many tears did you shed? Your walk of life was emblazoned with an amazing light and your words pierced the heart of your oppressors. When I received the news of your passing, my soul cried because one of our pioneers, one of our fathers had passed on. But, oh, what a gift you were to us all. I have been moved to my core from your struggles and you made me want to do better. You gave us all hope that things can change--one person can truly make a difference. Nelson, I love you father. I hope to inspire change in the way you have. You have left an indellible mark on this world and will forever live on in us. I pray that we do not disappoint you, that our ways are not offensive. Some of us do care about the plight and condition of our people. Some of us still fight. We are here dear Nelson, we are here...


Peace & Blessings,
Andre'a

Gratefulness

Life’s inconveniences can cause a person to be become more humble and grateful for each and every blessing. How often do you go about your day, not considering how you would function without your sight, a home, a reliable means of transportation, without food? Nine times out of ten, we get out of bed, begin our day, go to work, eat dinner, etc, all without thinking about how we would function without. I saw a blind gentlemen on the bus yesterday. I thought to myself, how must he feel to not be able to see where is going, to see people, places, to function each day without his sight. I did not feel pity, I more or less felt disappointment in myself because I often focus on things that are not anywhere s necessary as my sight. So what I have to get up a little earlier to get to work! So what I cannot afford to eat out everyday! What would I do without my sight, my hearing, my intellectual abilities, my health? I am challenging myself to not only be more grateful, but to bite my tongue if I even think about complaining. Gratefulness is a choice. If we were to take time to list all the blessings that we have, it is my belief that we wouldn’t be able to. We do not recognize what we have until we no longer have  or its in jeopardy. Challenge yourself to meditate on your blessings—it will improve your day and change your attitude.