The Magic and Power in Believing

Have you ever took notice to a child's conversation? The excitement they exude when they are in the midst of identifying an object they have recently learned; "Mom, an airplane" as they point to the sky, or "Mom, that's a bug".  Have you ever paid closer attention to the fearlessness they exhibit? You can tell them to stop jumping, but they jump anyway, even though we fear they may get hurt, but they have no fear. They strive in testing their limits, believing that they are invincible in many ways. As adults, the older we get, the more we lose this ability, most of us any way. We stop trying, we stop testing our limitations, we stop believing that anything is possible.

Our mind is a very powerful tool, and most days we don't even use half of its ability. I know that what I carry in my heart, is what ultimately inhabits my thoughts, which transcends into the world I've created.  But, my word is as big as I make it! My circumstances are as small as I allow them to be, not as big as I can make them. Currently, I am operating within this world where what I love near and dear is what I concentrate on and its what will be manifested into my reality.  I am imagining myself where I wish to be, and steadily expanding my world to include those who are established in the areas I wish to be.

Today, I am believing in what I want, asking for what I want, even if 10 people tell me no, I believe that someone will tell me yes. There is power in your dream, but we must do the work to make our dreams come true. In addition to believing it will come to pass, we have to be fearless enough to do the action required to bring the thing into fruition! We also have to be bold enough to remove the road blocks that we have created for ourselves, especially removing the hold that past experiences still have on us. The past is behind us and we must move into the realm of forgiveness and healing, and believe in the future that awaits.

I encourage you to use the power of belief today, and everyday to create this world that you could never imagine, this world that continues to grow and expand from the love and positivity that you have nurtured and cultivated it with. Push, do, live this day and your best life possible, set your own standard. What are you waiting for? There is magic and power in believing good people, and today I am imagining myself as the poet, writer and activist that I am.

Peace and blessings,
Shamina

BELIEVING

 Gonna close my eyes, reach the sublime and meet the whispers of my unconsciousness in my dreams

Open my mind; it’s a new day filled with new times, new adventures to find

This is my ship and I am the captain, here my limits are non-existent, the waters uncharted, so magnificent

I've met my peace with sheer will and grace, I am not who you say I am, I am a beast at what I do

I believe in me, I’m a dream maker, dream catcher, dream releaser

The writing is literally on the wall for you all

I’m hitting the stage, far from dismayed, my words filling your soul, stirring emotions, and your brain is working

I’ve met my peace and there is no turning back now, the road is narrow, but I’m still in pursuit

My heart is no longer heavy, my words are no longer stuck in my throat, my past has left me and my future awaits me

The hurdles I’ve jumped, the race I’ve won, the victory is mine, and I’ve only just begun

I refuse to stop at the ceiling when God has given me the sky

I’ve met my peace, my passion I will pursue, and my purpose He will continue to reveal
I believe in me and therefor believe in you

Preciousness

February is a month of love, Black history and culture, remembrance.  This month of February I have been reminded of all of these things, especially how precious a day is, the preciousness of life itself.  I have reminded my children about the struggles we have dealt with as a race and culture and that we must do the very best that we can to walk into our purpose and passion.  Our ancestors didn’t do much complaining, with far less resources, and they simply did what they had to do to survive.

It appears that I am still in this season of lack.  Lacking the necessary resources to live comfortably and do some things that I haven’t been able to do the past few years.  Travel as I wish, family vacations, treating myself to a gift that’s slightly extravagant.  But I am reminded of the resources that I have within me, to write and encourage others.  This month I finally finished my first work, my anthology of poetry, and I finally have a work that I am proud of.  And in reading it, I truly realized how far I’ve come.  I also realized that people are simply who they are.  Most don’t mean to hurt you, offend you, beat you down, but they do.  Some people love to hate you, others hate to love you, and some love you unconditionally, without limitation or stipulation.

                I am finally coming into myself, having a better understanding of what my purpose is, and knowing the difference between my purpose and my passion, and it feels great.  During our precious journey through life we encounter many obstacles and road blocks, but we still muster this courage to do incredible things.  We somehow come to this place where we beat insurmountable odds with grace, dignity and faith, and during the days and times that I feel defeated, I think back to my ancestors, my grandmothers.  How they were able to do so much with so little.

                During this month I was reminded again of my hometown and the senseless inner city shootings and killings of innocent people.  Two individuals that I have known personally were shot, one has survived, and the other is a young woman, not even 25 years old and leaves two children behind.  Again, I am reminded of the preciousness of life, a day, my daughter’s smiles, touch and laughter and I am reminded that my life isn’t so bad at all. 

There are some men who are not men at all.  Some men who think that they are men because they have fathered children, some men who are not raising their children, who are not spending quality time with their children who make all types of excuses to not be men and fully involved, especially if they are outside of the home.  There are women who are settling for anything, not living by a standard for their lives and the lives of their children, not protecting themselves against allowing men they hardy know into their homes, giving of their bodies, finding themselves deceived, allowing themselves to be deceived just for the sake of having some man.  While I’m here, I will do, breathe, and love, through lack, hurt and pain, I will embrace the preciousness of my life and continue to set a standard for my children and knowing that I am flawed, but still precious.  We make time for the things that we want to make time for.  So today, I ask you to make time for a friend, a family member, your children and recognize the preciousness all around you.

Peace and blessings,
Shamina

Still I Rise

You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise. Angelou, Maya  http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/still-i-rise/, Web. 28 Feb 2012.

Can You Use a Tune-Up?

Happy New Year all!  The month of January is when we usually think about the new year resolutions we will set for the upcoming year.  But do we ever consider the service we will give, especially since January is also the month we celebrate Dr. King's birthday?  Last month my blog was short and sweet, and it was about giving some to yourself.  In giving to yourself, are you giving to others?

I am doing both.  It is important that we give back to our communities in any way that we can, but we also have to keep healthy, mentally and emotionally to do so.  I must admit, giving to others the past few months has proven to be challenging because I can't seem to create balance and consistency in my personal life.  It appears once I have a schedule for the kids and free time to focus on what I need to, things change and prevent me from committing to dates and times to get things done.  It appears that folks I depend on will shift gears with no notice or consideration for my schedule, and it throws me totally off balance.

With that being said, I realized that I must have a plan B and C.  It makes no since to depend on folks who prove to be completely unreliable and inconsistent, so those who are depending on you most lump you in the same category, and I refuse to be a part of that category.  So, I realized, like a car, my life needed some special attention.  I can't run right if all my parts aren't right, so, I needed a tune-up.  I needed to re-evaluate my situation, enlarge  my support system, and create a network of supportive and reliable folks in order to take care of the business I need to do.

The fall and winter months are also times for healing, restoration and solitude.  I spent the past two years angry about things that were beyond my control, not realizing I had full control over my anger.  To find that space of forgiveness, I opened myself up, and still found much hurt, but the anger has finally subsided, and in the midst of it all, the peaks and valleys, I am being restored, renewed, refined, tuned-up.  When I am giving myself what I need without neglect, I find it so rewarding to give of myself to someone who is in much greater need.

So, moving forward, I have no more excuses.  I can serve others when I best service myself.  I will continue to build and foster healthy friendships and give of myself, once I have given to myself.  Giving is one of the most selfless, unselfish acts you can do besides, loving, especially when you learn to take control.

Peace and Blessings,
Shamina

Thinking

I’m sitting, listening to the sounds around me

Sitting still and peaceful like an owl watching out for his night’s prey

Sitting still, thinking, of all my wants and wishes, some of which I thought I had let slip away

The quite, the peace, its music to my ears…almost virgin as I use to fear the total peace and quite of my innermost thoughts

Connecting with my soul and binding up all negative thoughts

Some of which were hidden fears, silent cries and tears

Others of conquer, conquest and making a difference in anothers life

Closing my eyes, breathing deep, with every inhale speaking “Be still” and with every exhale “Know that I am God”

There are so many wonders, so many treasures hidden in a day, just take a moment to be still, listen, and enjoy the night turning into day

Read to an elder that has lost his sight, have a conversation with a mother whose 93 and gain some insight

Help a kid with homework whose parents are overworked and underpaid, whose not home in time to play mother/father and maid

Take clothes to the womens shelter and share a word of conquering and overcoming a situation that has a young lady dismayed

Sit still, hear your thoughts and dreams and bring them into fruition with full pride and self-esteem

What’s most rewarding about sitting still is the fact that you have tomorrow to do it all again