Why I am detail oriented

Celebrating my blackness has never been confined to black history month. Naturally, I am who I am wherever I go and every minute of every day. The other great thing is that my blackness is NOT the only thing to celebrate. My ethnicity and gender are strong and loving parts of me despite the unnoticed attention from the larger society. This does not stop me from celebrating myself and the different parts of me.

This is a huge reason why respected colleagues and friends see me as detail oriented. I never really saw myself in this way. After a number of years of hearing this word from colleagues and friends, I asked myself why am I detail oriented. I did not fully embrace nor understand why until recently.

My lenses, these perspectives you are rooted in; I have learned how to call upon them intentionally. Like everyone else, I have so many lenses. There is the gender lens, my experience of identifying as a woman, the dismantling racism view, the Afro Latina view, the Latina view, the writer view, the poet view, the blogger view, the hip hop view, the New Yorker view, the community view, the wellness view, the introvert view, are you seeing the layers?

Pulling in my different lenses when I need to, enables me to ask questions others may not. It invites me to take a larger, inclusive view. This is why having a diverse team is so profitable, effective and relevant. Diverse teams on all levels, gender, race, region, religion, etc... Are cutting edge, unique, forward thinking and realistic problem solvers. You have to practice what you preach, right? Unfortunately, I have been excluded from decisions, invitations, and so on because of some of the lenses I possess, therefore, I make sure to practice diversity and inclusion where and when I am able.

Let me take this moment to thank all of my colleagues and friends for sharing this and other feedback with me. Everyone has views of themselves and it is great to get to know the view from a different vantage point. I now move proudly between the big-picture visionary that I know myself to be and the detailed oriented person driven by curiosity and small acts of kindness that brings groups all together. I have an even deeper appreciation for the smaller things in life. I have embraced the detail oriented side of me.

What lenses do you mostly view from? What lenses do you need to explore more? I learn new things about myself when I ask for feedback from others. Having embedded the Four Agreements (book by Don Miguel Ruiz) into my life, I know NOT to take things personally, and NOT to make assumptions, I have learned to do my best to listen whole-heartedly and to keep my word. My hip hop view allows me to create, be inventive and use all available resources. I think some of you know this about me already. This is why I can say I am detail oriented.

Top Five

Since it is Black History Month, I have to pay tribute to my beloved hip hop. Hip hop has done so much for black people, and now it moves people all over the world. Hip hop was the music of the people and now it is the music of all people. You see, feel, hear and touch hip hop everywhere now. My favorite example of this is the newly premiered ABC show, fresh off the boat. The oldest son in an Asian family that has spent most of their time in the United States in Washington DC moves to Orlando, FL and he uses hip hop to guide him through this transition among other things.

The elements of hip hop have evolved along with the culture. Most would say the foundation is laid on top of emceeing/MC’ing, breaking/freestyling, DJ’ing and graffiti art. Others would add knowledge/knowledge of self to the mix. KRS one in his song, “9 Elements” (2003) adds some more, like beatboxing, street fashion/looking fly, street language, and street entrepreneur realism.

Who knew that the quiet love affair that began when I was a child over restless nights where I tuned into the Stretch & Bobbito show on the radio would blow up like it has? I was raised by and alongside hip hop so it will always be a part of who I am. The knowledge element has expanded to the point where there are hip hop based education curriculums, hip hop centers within and out of major educational institutions across the country, and a hip hop archive based out of Harvard University. I could go on and on about the books written, the movies made, and all the other ways the culture has fully infiltrated this country and the world. If you don’t know, now you know!

I am proud to say I am Hip Hop and in celebration, just like Chris Rock’s movie Top Five, I will share mine. Well to be totally honest, I will share my Top 3; I must admit that positions four and five change for me all the time. These positions are usually filled with the likes of Kid Cudi, Kanye West, MC Lyte, Ice Cube, The Game, Biggie, Heavy D, Big Daddy Kane, Wiz Khalifa and J. Cole. Although my list only has solo MCs, I have lists for duos, and groups and could easily make them for graffiti artists, breakin crews, DJs, books and curriculum... The businesses and opportunities available now that have grown upon the foundation of hip hop are endless.

Are you ready for the Top 3?:
1. Nas
2. KRS one
3. Rakim

My favorite thing about hip hop is that the debate about the hottest MC, the hottest album, the hottest group never ends and now there are more debates, who the hottest entrepreneur who ever came out of hip hop? The hottest actor? The hottest mixtape? And so on and so on.

Find your strength in love

As Valentine’s Day approaches, I recall the 1985 classic from Whitney Houston, the greatest love of all. I love the way Whitney would belt out the last line, the last love of the song, “Find your strength in love.” She would pause and get ready to make that last love go on and on.

Naturally, as we are in the middle of Black History Month, we know that Martin Luther King Jr. demonstrated how to find strength in love. He died showing the world that it can be done. Like many, it is believed that the message from the song, the greatest love of all is self-love. This is the foundation upon which love is built. You must love yourself enough to love the partner you have chosen. You must love yourself enough to grow and learn. You must love yourself enough to be open and continue to evolve.

It is also lovely to see how others are maintaining this message. At the recent Grammys, I heard the words love, and heart over and over again. Madonna sang, “Living for love.” She just oozes strength with a strong statue and dominant presence. Beyoncé won for being “Drunk in love.” I heard the words heart and love a lot in Ed Sheeran's song, "Thinking out loud" and Ariana Grande sang, “Just a little bit of your heart.”

I see a heart and know it to be the symbol of love. How do you find your strength in love? I call upon love every day to help me make better choices instead of reacting, love helps me respond. Instead of being afraid, I call upon love to assist me with taking good risks. Martha Beck, talks about this in her book, the Joy Diet: 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life. One of the elements to the joy diet is to take risks for your heart’s desire. I believe in the other nine elements as well, do nothing for fifteen minutes daily, tell yourself at least one truth a day, allow yourself to desire, create, take good risks by doing one thing that frightens you daily, treat yourself by giving yourself treats, play, laugh, connect and feast.

So for this Valentine’s Day, I ask you to look for the strength in love. Just singing and/or listening to that great 1985 classic song, the greatest love of all reminds me of my own strength and the strength of love. As I have said before when you look for something, you will find it. I will continue to seek the strength in love, it has only brought more love and goodness into my life.

Commit to your value

I want to thank Adrivo: The Travel Session and the DC Full Wellness Spectrum community for a great, recent weekend retreat. I am proud to be apart of such a community. Adrivo is designed to make weekend retreats available to DC area residents who need to get away for the hustle and bustle of hectic lives and take a moment to regroup.

During the weekend, we uncovered the storyteller in us and how to move beyond stress by connecting body, mind and emotions. There were collective definitions of spirit connection and commitments by everyone attending on how that would look like for them moving forward. We got reminded of the importance of play and the artists in all of us. We danced zumba and net walked; yes, net walk, networking while walking. There was yoga and stretching too.

Discussions of mindfulness occurred as well as a cooking demo. We crumpled up different dollar bills and recognized how their value will not change. A brief getaway within community demonstrates commitment to our value. I value myself enough to believe in and practice wellness. I value myself enough to value community especially one that is made up of like minded knowledgeable folks. I value myself enough to take a moment for myself.

The community builder in me collected and encouraged everyone to share their bearthday. I still remember everyone’s bearthday. It was great to have start up enthusiasts present too. The fact that entrepreneurs were present encouraging our community of wellness shows how they value themselves and us as a community.

Commit to your value and what you bring to the table. As Deborah reminded us, “No one can take that away from you.” Everyone has a contribution to make. You show you commitment to your value by joining our community. You can also demonstrate it by joining us at the next Adrivo: the travel session retreat. Maybe I will see you there!

For more information on the DC Full Wellness spectrum community, join our google + community, cut and paste this link https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/111633755737344743269

What organizations need...

In order for organizations to succeed these days, the need to be relevant is very essential. The following suggestions can certainly broaden an organization’s approach for effectiveness. The outside world is always changing and as individual people we learn and grow, so an organization should take these both views into account.

Organizations need:
• More love
Acting kind and compassionate with your colleagues is not the worst thing in the world. We spend more time with these people than our family members at times.
• Mindfulness
If we would take more moments to step back and look at the bigger picture, decisions would come fast and easy. It takes a breath and a moment to let options sink in.
• Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion is just at the beginning and surface with most organizations, truly integrating practicing at all levels can help innovate and strengthen an organization.
• Authenticity
If employees tap into their authenticity, their passions and core motivations will manifest in their best work contributions and as active team members.
• Cultural Awareness
Awareness of the organization’s larger cultural shifts is key to influencing and expanding all of the other elements that can maintain an organization’s relevance.

Integrating these principals and values into your work can make the difference of attracting forward thinking leaders that will move your organization in a grand direction. Mentoring, coaching, and turnaround feedback can surely support using any of the above at your organization.

Strategic Intentions

“Every action, though, and feeling is motivated by an intention and that intention is a cause that exists as one with an effect. If we participate in the cause, it is not possible for us not to participate in the effect. In the most profound way, we are held responsible for our every action, thought and feeling, which is to say, for our every intention… It is, therefore, wise for us to become aware of the many intentions that inform our experience, to sort out which intentions produce which effects, and to choose our intentions according to the effects that we desire to produce.” Gary Zukav

I have realized not only how central intention is to everything but how powerful intention is. I have accepted the importance of intention. I began to take it more seriously though books like Wayne Dyer’s The Power of Intention. His research suggests intention as a force that allows the act of creation to take place. The book explores intention not only as action oriented but as energy we are a part of.

Our intentions are usually broad. We all generally intend to spread love and light. Thinking with intention and including intention in all you do, could be more powerful than you think. Let’s dream bigger in 2015 and take intention to another level. Get specific and strategic with your intentions. Stating intentions and commitments at the beginning of an activity, new venture, your day and when any new direction in your life occurs will have an impact. Give it a try.

Intention is the starting point to fulfilling goals and any dream. Deepak Chopra describes intention as “the creative power that fulfills all of our needs, whether for money, relationships, spiritual awakening or love.” He goes on to describe different methods of harnessing intention in the book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.

I am glad I have changed the way I look at intention; it has changed the things I look at. As you practice the use and strength of intention, like me it will integrate fully into your life and eventually operate unconsciously. This is when you will feel its full power. Practice and learn how to use it so that it will have a positive impact.

Demonstrate your dignity

Demonstrate your dignity was the message I received and will carry from the film, Selma. It was such a thoughtful and intentional portrayal of the events that took place in Alabama and also of the great Martin Luther King Jr. I definitely value my voting rights a little bit more. I certainly know and should be reminded about how I stand on the backs of those who came before me.

The human portrayal of King is memorable. The Director, Ava DuVernay has roots in Alabama and makes the story a personal, identifiable one that is rooted in community. With all that is happening now with human relations in America and all over the world, this film brings hope and speaks to us at this time. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of both the Selma marches and the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

As I glance over the audience of the persons watching the Selma film alongside me, I noticed the diversity with pleasure. Sure, it is New York City, one of the most diverse cities in the world and yet like other places, New Yorkers could choose differently. The diversity of audiences is important here. Selma is a film for everyone, a film for all people. We get reminded that the progress made during the civil rights era was largely due to all sorts of people coming together for equality and justice.

My cultural roots have been infused into all my work. I proudly speak of my identity and culture as an Afro Latina now pretty regularly though workshops, panels and curriculum I have written and implemented. I believe as human beings we are more the same than different and I still rejoice in the slight differences that influence my being. This is how I demonstrate my dignity today; by telling my story and helping other tell theirs. I also demonstrate it by sharing and spreading the value of diversity.

Diversity is probably a value most New Yorkers have and might now be aware of. The world is at our footsteps and all around us in a huge city like New York. We thrive and grow in a diverse environment, at least this New Yorker does. I guess I demonstrate my dignity as a New Yorker in that way.