I began to hear this voice early in life. I wondered what more there was to life. You just go to school then work? Is life just going to school and getting a job? Is getting a job, my only option? The voice grew strong and loud during the college years. The time and space lead me to learn about and research women like Madam CJ Walker, said to be the first self made female millionaire who built a hair business and product empire in the late 1800s. I started to hear some of the answers to the questions I had been asking. I started to learn this powerful part of me.
Growing up along and with hip hop, no surprise that such a voice emerged. I bared witness to examples of how to get your voice heard, grow the voice and add the voice to wanted and unwanted circles. I also took notice of how leaders like Russell Simmons and P. Diddy built on top of hip hop, with clothing lines and various products and services.
(The voice speaks) I build on ideas and mental capacities to bring them to life. I build with community to touch and positively impact as many people as able. I inhale partnerships and bringing people together. I am rooted in intellectual curiosity, creativity, courage and compassion. I stem from the parts of me that are student and teacher that continue to strive for growth, inspiration and challenges. I read and write about current and anticipated community issues. In this present day & age, I am aware that teamwork, community building, and offering & seeking solutions are essential to being heard successfully.
I am thankful for the cracks in my voice pursuing risks and the desire to stretch myself and others. I attract opportunities to sing, dance and even move choirs. It does not work without intuition and what appears in front of me. It does not work without good and meaningful feelings. The result has been participation in never done before projects, pilots, and programs.
I surrender to the drive and ambition of working through purpose, passion and possibilities. I surrender to the sounds of what sometimes feels and appears to be magic. I surrender to the natural solutions that present themselves. I surrender to engaging in dialogue vs. debate. I surrender to opening up the conversation to all that would like to speak and listen. I surrender to the unknown and imagination.
I hear the voices of others with similar intentions; we carry the same tune sometimes. We exchange verses and build new songs. We spread the lyrics around and ask if they truly are a reflection of more than just one experience. The communities of voices transform and grow into businesses, unique partnerships and innovative programming and ways to make life better. Have you ever heard such a voice? Are you willing and open to listening?
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Lessons of Leadership
The current US President Barack Obama has definitely changed the way many look at leadership. I don’t think I have ever heard of so many children and young people that know who the President is and even have thoughts of becoming the President one day. Lessons from Presidential leadership can be applied to your life, work and who you are. Presidents, certainly work under pressure, make hard decisions and develop relationships that impact the entire world.
Have you looked at your leadership? How do you problem solve? Build community? How do you lead and manage? What is your favorite part about leadership? How do you handle power? Who do you learn from to better your leadership?
I look at my leadership all the time. I believe there is a difference between leadership and management. I believe in power with as opposed to power over. What are your leadership traits and strengths? What do you believe in? Leadership is largely rooted in values and beliefs you live by. I believe in leading with heart and courage which I am thrilled is discussed in books like Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis & Annie McKee and the Leadership Challenge by James M. Kouzes & Barry Posner.
Winston Churchill reminds us, “To improve is to change, to be perfect is to change often.” I believe he was referring to the growth process. As change is constant in all lives, I think it is important to look at your leadership from time to time. Growing and evolving is apart of the human experience and as the process takes place, your values and beliefs need to be updated to stay aligned with your true self. The most difficult part is to let go and unlearn old ways that no longer serve us and others anymore. Staying relevant allows us to apply new ways to tackle challenges and decisions. It invites us to learn new things and allow growth to take place.
The image of leadership that our society amplifies is one of Presidency, one of visual, take charge leadership. It is a picture of a very masculine, one sized leadership that fits all. Everyone is a leader and leads in their own way. There are loud and quiet leaders, leaders who lead from the front and back. Which one are you? Discover for yourself the leader that you are and embrace it. Be sure to examine your leadership and challenge yourself to expand on your strengths and improve your weaknesses. As the well known philosopher Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Have you looked at your leadership? How do you problem solve? Build community? How do you lead and manage? What is your favorite part about leadership? How do you handle power? Who do you learn from to better your leadership?
I look at my leadership all the time. I believe there is a difference between leadership and management. I believe in power with as opposed to power over. What are your leadership traits and strengths? What do you believe in? Leadership is largely rooted in values and beliefs you live by. I believe in leading with heart and courage which I am thrilled is discussed in books like Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis & Annie McKee and the Leadership Challenge by James M. Kouzes & Barry Posner.
Winston Churchill reminds us, “To improve is to change, to be perfect is to change often.” I believe he was referring to the growth process. As change is constant in all lives, I think it is important to look at your leadership from time to time. Growing and evolving is apart of the human experience and as the process takes place, your values and beliefs need to be updated to stay aligned with your true self. The most difficult part is to let go and unlearn old ways that no longer serve us and others anymore. Staying relevant allows us to apply new ways to tackle challenges and decisions. It invites us to learn new things and allow growth to take place.
The image of leadership that our society amplifies is one of Presidency, one of visual, take charge leadership. It is a picture of a very masculine, one sized leadership that fits all. Everyone is a leader and leads in their own way. There are loud and quiet leaders, leaders who lead from the front and back. Which one are you? Discover for yourself the leader that you are and embrace it. Be sure to examine your leadership and challenge yourself to expand on your strengths and improve your weaknesses. As the well known philosopher Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Love is everywhere
Love, dove, glove- what is that romantic love feeling? Are poems, chocolate and roses the only thing that comes to mind when you think of love. Love is at the center of everything and you can find it anywhere. Yet, how often do you speak of love? Think of it? Act on it?
Just like the monthly themed celebrations, holidays are just a beginning point that should go beyond what others may or may not honor. I am not sure of the meaning and background of Valentine’s Day anymore. I see it as another Love day. My hope is that everyday is love day and certainly anytime is the time to celebrate and honor love.
Folks usually do something special for their romantic partner on Valentine’s Day. It gives everyone the excuse to get as emotional and excited about their romantic love as they want. Why do we need an excuse to behave in this manner? Why is it that the expression of love and demonstration of love is associated with being weak and uncool? After all, we all are human and have feelings, fact?
I hear of love mostly in the context of romantic relationships. Parents, how often do you say and express love explicitly to your children? Children, how often do you say and express love explicitly to your parent(s)? Same goes from sibling to sibling, friend to friend, another family member to another family member? How do you show love at work? How do you show love of self? That is where love really begins.
Love is everywhere. You love what you do; it helps to have love for those you work with. Why do we only speak of love interests and feelings for our romantic partner? Why not acknowledge love everywhere? You find love in hobbies. You find love in who you are. You find love in feelings and doing your best. You find love in miracles, the unlikely and the likely. Love is in the smallest of things, moments and places and in the biggest of things, moments and places. Where are your favorite places you uncover love? Connect with love?
What is love? was the most googled question in 2012. For me, love is that natural indescribable good, positive feeling that expands from the heart. Whenever you allow the heart to connect beautiful feelings flood in. Being present in the moment enables the possibility. Allowing your heart to open and expand, not only do you feel love, other good feelings will be experienced like compassion, peace and joy. I wish you all love, on Love day and everyday. Carry in your heart and bring it to all the places and all the people you come in contact with. Love is contagious and someone needs to be the instigator. What if that instigator is you?
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Celebrate yourself
As we move through February, Black History Month, let us be reminded to celebrate ourselves. Avoid waiting until your month, to celebrate yourself and see yourself in the world. Every month has a theme to raise awareness and to drive inclusion. Celebrate yourself by being who you truly are every single day.
We still need the black history month, and other months that recognize and uplift stories that otherwise would not be told. Diversity and inclusion are significant to a well rounded and productive future. After all these years of Februaries and other months, there are still stories that I hear for the first time. There continues to be stories that I am proud of and that inspire me. A month may not be enough and it is a start. Imagine those who do not embrace diversity, at least they may have to put up with it and maybe they just might learn something.
Stories, our stories, different stories should not be contained to a month. Black History Month is still necessary and relevant otherwise there are folks who would go unrecognized, not celebrated and overlooked. I believe in these monthly themed celebrations. The intention is to practice inclusion and educate. Everyone should have the opportunity to tell their story, no matter where they come from. Everyone should have the opportunity to be celebrated and recognized as well.
Recognition is something for everyone to learn and embrace. Studies have shown that employee recognition is linked to positive performance and retention. It is about being accepted, being seen as true and valid. There are certainly a number of months that I can relate to and I also do not wait until these months to know who I am and celebrate. At times, these months make it easier to secure that I am included and recognized.
As the United States continues to diversify, these months should be natural practices not just a set aside celebration. How can we recognize ourselves, regularly? How can we celebrate different cultures and different stories? How can we make diversity a natural part of everyone’s life? How can we embrace the invisible as visible, somehow?
Celebrate all of you. It should not only be about celebrating accomplishments and positive feedback. We need our shadow side and mistakes to be celebrated because they teach us and allow us to grow. How can we embrace our shadow side fully so that we celebrate everything about ourselves not only the things we like?
Celebrate yourself by treating yourself with kindness and compassion. Forgive yourself when you need to. Honor yourself and honor your history. When you celebrate yourself, you celebrate those who have come before you. I am thankful for Black History month because remembering who you are is priceless.
We still need the black history month, and other months that recognize and uplift stories that otherwise would not be told. Diversity and inclusion are significant to a well rounded and productive future. After all these years of Februaries and other months, there are still stories that I hear for the first time. There continues to be stories that I am proud of and that inspire me. A month may not be enough and it is a start. Imagine those who do not embrace diversity, at least they may have to put up with it and maybe they just might learn something.
Stories, our stories, different stories should not be contained to a month. Black History Month is still necessary and relevant otherwise there are folks who would go unrecognized, not celebrated and overlooked. I believe in these monthly themed celebrations. The intention is to practice inclusion and educate. Everyone should have the opportunity to tell their story, no matter where they come from. Everyone should have the opportunity to be celebrated and recognized as well.
Recognition is something for everyone to learn and embrace. Studies have shown that employee recognition is linked to positive performance and retention. It is about being accepted, being seen as true and valid. There are certainly a number of months that I can relate to and I also do not wait until these months to know who I am and celebrate. At times, these months make it easier to secure that I am included and recognized.
As the United States continues to diversify, these months should be natural practices not just a set aside celebration. How can we recognize ourselves, regularly? How can we celebrate different cultures and different stories? How can we make diversity a natural part of everyone’s life? How can we embrace the invisible as visible, somehow?
Celebrate all of you. It should not only be about celebrating accomplishments and positive feedback. We need our shadow side and mistakes to be celebrated because they teach us and allow us to grow. How can we embrace our shadow side fully so that we celebrate everything about ourselves not only the things we like?
Celebrate yourself by treating yourself with kindness and compassion. Forgive yourself when you need to. Honor yourself and honor your history. When you celebrate yourself, you celebrate those who have come before you. I am thankful for Black History month because remembering who you are is priceless.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
A moment for poets and the creative
Creativity is an undervalued part of ourselves. As a community we downplay the arts in schools and how it opens us to grow, focus and learn. I never considered myself a creative person although I have been writing poetry since I was twelve. Over the past two years, I have changed my perspective on creativity and have committed to this blog, and embraced that writing is one of my creative outlets. I am also contributing to the book, “The Empowered Woman; Purpose, Passion & Possibilities” out next summer.
I am a poet and it’s not too surprising being that my generation grew up on hip hop. In fact one of my classmates from junior high school became a rapper, a female rapper. We would listen in on the boys when they formed their ciphers before and after school. I lived with insomnia those days and would happily tune in to all the latest hip hop at 1 and/or 2 am in the morning. I would often tape these early morning radio sessions and share the music with friends to discuss, debate and enjoy.
We are all born with our gifts and talents. Most of them can be part of our purpose. It took me a long time to treasure mine. I encourage you to embrace your creative selfs and use your gifts and talents as outlets. Take pleasure in your gifts and the best way to do that is to share them! These talents and gifts can heal you and others; and allow you to become that peaceful warrior when you need to be. How do you channel your creative and positive energies? What is your creative outlet?
With the recent passing of Amiri Baraka, I felt even more compelled to celebrate poetry for a moment. How many poets do you know and celebrate? How often do we celebrate creativity and our creative selves? Everyone should enjoy and pleasure in their creative outlet. Commit to an acting class, dancing class, painting class, writing class, and/or anything else you always wanted to try and have denied yourself.
Let me end with another moment for poets. Let’s take a moment for Russell Simmons for his successful attempts to celebrate poetry and bringing it to the masses with HBO series like Def Poetry Jam, and Brave New Voices; and bringing Def Poetry to Broadway and across the country. Let’s take a moment for the film, Slam for its popularity and critical acclaim. Let’s take a moment to salute poets like Amiri Baraka for such bravery in his story telling in poetry. Let’s take a moment for poets. Let’s take a moment for creativity. Who are your creative s/heroes? Who and/or what do you need to take a moment for?
I am a poet and it’s not too surprising being that my generation grew up on hip hop. In fact one of my classmates from junior high school became a rapper, a female rapper. We would listen in on the boys when they formed their ciphers before and after school. I lived with insomnia those days and would happily tune in to all the latest hip hop at 1 and/or 2 am in the morning. I would often tape these early morning radio sessions and share the music with friends to discuss, debate and enjoy.
We are all born with our gifts and talents. Most of them can be part of our purpose. It took me a long time to treasure mine. I encourage you to embrace your creative selfs and use your gifts and talents as outlets. Take pleasure in your gifts and the best way to do that is to share them! These talents and gifts can heal you and others; and allow you to become that peaceful warrior when you need to be. How do you channel your creative and positive energies? What is your creative outlet?
With the recent passing of Amiri Baraka, I felt even more compelled to celebrate poetry for a moment. How many poets do you know and celebrate? How often do we celebrate creativity and our creative selves? Everyone should enjoy and pleasure in their creative outlet. Commit to an acting class, dancing class, painting class, writing class, and/or anything else you always wanted to try and have denied yourself.
Let me end with another moment for poets. Let’s take a moment for Russell Simmons for his successful attempts to celebrate poetry and bringing it to the masses with HBO series like Def Poetry Jam, and Brave New Voices; and bringing Def Poetry to Broadway and across the country. Let’s take a moment for the film, Slam for its popularity and critical acclaim. Let’s take a moment to salute poets like Amiri Baraka for such bravery in his story telling in poetry. Let’s take a moment for poets. Let’s take a moment for creativity. Who are your creative s/heroes? Who and/or what do you need to take a moment for?
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Becoming a peaceful warrior
We are all in a battle with our minds, weeding out different messages that harm us, lift us, don’t come from us and sometimes destroy us. The war in our minds is won by reviewing your beliefs from time to time. Always detox your beliefs and release those that no longer serve you. Should you believe or not believe these messages? Do they still serve you in this moment? Where did current beliefs come from? What are the values and beliefs that have been with you through the good, bad and indifferent?
In this life journey, your peaceful warrior engages less and less in battle when you decide to learn the dance within your mind, quieting it and listening to your inner true self and what you truly need in the moment. Once you have figured out your dance with your mind, you can expect to win battles faster. The stories we tell ourselves, the excuses, and “the gremlins” as Brene Brown in her book, the Gifts of Imperfections refers to the negative noise from your ego are only distractions that prepare for your defeat.
The peaceful warrior uses all the non violent skills in their tool box for a victory. Tools like emotional intelligence, being inclusive, practicing and role modeling compassion even for one’s self. I agree with the words from the Dalai Lama, “World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.”
When you reach a point where you are winning more and more battles within your mind, you can gather the strength against the external forces that want to dominate faster as well; like when others are calling you names, and spiting out negativity. Be such a peaceful warrior that bullets just roll off your back and all you feel is forgiveness for the person in arms and gratitude it is NOT you anymore. Naturally, every once in awhile you will get hit with that bullet and have to remind yourself of the peaceful warrior you know yourself to be. How do you arrive to your peaceful warrior?
Let’s foster goodness and more mental stability; I believe this to be the inner peace that the Dalai Lama was speaking of. Fight the mental unrest and confusion with your quiet time and learning your individual dance with your mind. In this world that is moving so fast, we need to aspire toward honesty, patience and peace. Allow your peaceful warrior to emerge through activities and practices that calm and quiet you.
In this life journey, your peaceful warrior engages less and less in battle when you decide to learn the dance within your mind, quieting it and listening to your inner true self and what you truly need in the moment. Once you have figured out your dance with your mind, you can expect to win battles faster. The stories we tell ourselves, the excuses, and “the gremlins” as Brene Brown in her book, the Gifts of Imperfections refers to the negative noise from your ego are only distractions that prepare for your defeat.
The peaceful warrior uses all the non violent skills in their tool box for a victory. Tools like emotional intelligence, being inclusive, practicing and role modeling compassion even for one’s self. I agree with the words from the Dalai Lama, “World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.”
When you reach a point where you are winning more and more battles within your mind, you can gather the strength against the external forces that want to dominate faster as well; like when others are calling you names, and spiting out negativity. Be such a peaceful warrior that bullets just roll off your back and all you feel is forgiveness for the person in arms and gratitude it is NOT you anymore. Naturally, every once in awhile you will get hit with that bullet and have to remind yourself of the peaceful warrior you know yourself to be. How do you arrive to your peaceful warrior?
Let’s foster goodness and more mental stability; I believe this to be the inner peace that the Dalai Lama was speaking of. Fight the mental unrest and confusion with your quiet time and learning your individual dance with your mind. In this world that is moving so fast, we need to aspire toward honesty, patience and peace. Allow your peaceful warrior to emerge through activities and practices that calm and quiet you.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
A call for peace
A call for peace
As we celebrate another Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, let us call for and on peace. Let’s call for peace in our lives, in the lives of others and in the world. To be in peace does not mean to be in silence and in isolation from what is happening around you. In fact, it is about allowing the deepest parts of you to feel at peace despite what is happening around you and in the world. This perhaps may be an invitation to raise your awareness of your response ability. How can we as individuals and communities move more peacefully and meaningfully in the world? What small steps and commitments can we make to ourselves, each other and our communities?
Many of us idealize Martin Luther King Jr. and Ghandi for that matter for their tenacity and dedication to peace and nonviolence. Perhaps we should do more than idealize them and commit to ourselves and each other to adapt some of their values and life strategies they influenced the world with. Both demonstrated that a single person with strong values can spark movements and inevitably bring larger change for the good of so many.
Celebrating leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. can cause us to view leadership from an impossible lens of responsibility and sacrifice that can be overwhelming. Instead of comparing ourselves to such a leader, we should spend time finding the parts of ourselves that connect us and allow us to bring them to life in our own way. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the troubles and challenges many of us face, let’s look at how we can meaningfully contribute the gifts and talents we have right now. Whether you touch one person or many people, a positive and peaceful impact is what it is. Are you ready and willing to practice more compassion, more love, and more peace?
Peace for me also means to act in non-violent ways. Non-violent ways is simply making choices that don’t hurt yourself and others verbally, emotionally and/or physically. Non violent practices use faith, healing, courage and gratitude over fear, judgment and being right. According to Marshall Rosenberg, the founder and director of educational services for the Center for Nonviolent Communication, “Two things distinguish nonviolent actions from violent actions. First, you don’t see an enemy and second, your intentions are not to make the other side suffer.”
What will it take for each of us to be more peaceful in the world? Could you be more kind to yourself? Could you commit to an act of kindness once a month? Once a week? Everyday? Could you commit to being kind in the absence of a natural disaster and/or tragedy? Could we commit to being happier people? Living happier lives? Decide what commitment you can make for yourself, today. This is how we can honor Martin Luther King Jr. and ourselves at the same time. Let’s remember, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”- Martin Luther King Jr.
As we celebrate another Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, let us call for and on peace. Let’s call for peace in our lives, in the lives of others and in the world. To be in peace does not mean to be in silence and in isolation from what is happening around you. In fact, it is about allowing the deepest parts of you to feel at peace despite what is happening around you and in the world. This perhaps may be an invitation to raise your awareness of your response ability. How can we as individuals and communities move more peacefully and meaningfully in the world? What small steps and commitments can we make to ourselves, each other and our communities?
Many of us idealize Martin Luther King Jr. and Ghandi for that matter for their tenacity and dedication to peace and nonviolence. Perhaps we should do more than idealize them and commit to ourselves and each other to adapt some of their values and life strategies they influenced the world with. Both demonstrated that a single person with strong values can spark movements and inevitably bring larger change for the good of so many.
Celebrating leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. can cause us to view leadership from an impossible lens of responsibility and sacrifice that can be overwhelming. Instead of comparing ourselves to such a leader, we should spend time finding the parts of ourselves that connect us and allow us to bring them to life in our own way. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the troubles and challenges many of us face, let’s look at how we can meaningfully contribute the gifts and talents we have right now. Whether you touch one person or many people, a positive and peaceful impact is what it is. Are you ready and willing to practice more compassion, more love, and more peace?
Peace for me also means to act in non-violent ways. Non-violent ways is simply making choices that don’t hurt yourself and others verbally, emotionally and/or physically. Non violent practices use faith, healing, courage and gratitude over fear, judgment and being right. According to Marshall Rosenberg, the founder and director of educational services for the Center for Nonviolent Communication, “Two things distinguish nonviolent actions from violent actions. First, you don’t see an enemy and second, your intentions are not to make the other side suffer.”
What will it take for each of us to be more peaceful in the world? Could you be more kind to yourself? Could you commit to an act of kindness once a month? Once a week? Everyday? Could you commit to being kind in the absence of a natural disaster and/or tragedy? Could we commit to being happier people? Living happier lives? Decide what commitment you can make for yourself, today. This is how we can honor Martin Luther King Jr. and ourselves at the same time. Let’s remember, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”- Martin Luther King Jr.
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