The Most Important Thing

Greetings and Happy Holidays to all! I pray that you all had a Merry Christmas and will have a safe and prosperous New Year. The highlight of 2009 happened for me on Saturday, December 26, when I was blessed to be with my entire family. Me, my five (5) children and eight (8) grandchildren (+ one daughter-in-law) gathered at MacGregor Park to do our first family photo shoot! It felt surreal and it felt so fulfilling. This is an event I have been wanting to take place for quite some time, but one of my granddaughters lives in Dallas and I could not schedule it until she was in town. The idea of doing it without her was not an option, because the picture would not have been complete. Well, God allowed her to come for the holidays and that was just perfect. It was the best gift I could ever receive and the meaning goes so deep I can't hardly describe it.
The purpose behind this endeavor was to instill in my grandchildren ( and my children too) the phenomenal importance of family. I know better than anyone just how critical family support is, and have been blessed with it most of my life. When everybody and everything gives out, family will still be there for you. I am very grateful to God to have been chosen to bring forth the five wonderful human beings called my children, and I thank him profusely for my grandchildren because they are the joy of my life. My youngest son Victor wrote a song titled "Ain't Nothing Like Family" and it tells the story quite well. I wish for everyone to have the opportunity to experience this awesome blessing and pray it will light up their life just like it did mine. After all, the most precious commodity we have is our family. Peace to you all.

Being a Part of Something Great!!!

November was a great month! Aside from the usual blessings of being allowed to see all 30 days of it, I was graced with some awesome events that occurred.

The first and most profound was the premiere of my son Deric Muhammad's documentary "Raising Boys: Tips for Single Moms, Pt.1. It took place on November 5 at the Angelika Theater in downtown Houston. The documentary included interviews with single moms who are raising boys, including myself, and provided pertinent information from Bro Deric on coping with the challenges involved. There were testimonials from two boys (my grandsons) about being raised by a single mom that brought the audience to tears and to cheers. The turnout was fantastic and the support was awe-inspiring. The documentary itself created a huge buzz on all the social networking sites as well as the community at large. The producer was Lawrence Moody of Moody Entertainment and without him it would not have come to life. It was attended by City Councilman Jarvis Johnson, State Representative Sylvester Turner, our next City Controller Ron Green, and the CEO of the Black Broadcasting Network, Entertainment Attorney Ricky Anderson. There were also family members, friends and constituents of Deric's present for this auspicious occasion. I was honored to be the Mistress of Ceremonies and thoroughly enjoyed the entire evening. It was a bit surreal to watch myself on the screen, but I felt like a real star! I am posting some of the pics and look forward to the next chapter. (DVD's are available, contact myself or Bro Deric for info).

More of November to come!! Stay tuned!

I'M B A A A CK!!!!

OMG!!!! I have had a heck of a miscommunication with my blog! As you can see, I haven't posted anything since September and have a little catching up to do. I have to say that the problem wasn't that complicated, but you know us humans, we manage to complicate the simplest things, which I did. After consulting with my blog specialist, (Thanks, Bro Jesse), it was suggested that I try the simplest thing, and (bam!) it worked. I am so relieved and really missed blogging, so from now on I will be more regular than I was before. You know, one of those "don't miss something until it's gone" things?!

Not a whole lot took place in October, but I did have a couple of firsts. One was I took my first ever Defensive Driving Course online and it was quite painless. It was 6 hours long, but it had breaks and everything so it wasn't so bad. Besides, it was worth it to keep my driving record clean. Another first was a belated birthday gift from my son Jesse and daughter-in-law Shareefah, which was a FULL-BODY MASSAGE! That was a fantastic experience and I vowed to treat myself to one as often as possible. It was very relaxing and I learned a lot about my body which is always a plus. The final first I had in October was going to the Kemah Boardwalk with my son Deric, Sis Oni, her mom, her aunt, my son Edward and his date Tammy. We had dinner in this cool restaurant that looked out over the water and boy was it nice! The company was great, the food was good and the conversation was enjoyable. Incidentally, it was Halloween so we got to see people dressed up in all kinds of costumes. Overall, I had a blessed and healthy October! Next post will be about exciting November!! Comment and tell me how much you all missed me!LOL Peace

New Beginnings-Rebirth of My 31-yr old Son

Greetings all! I have not blogged in a while, but this topic was a true motivation for me to do so. As you read in the title, it's about a new beginning and a sort of "rebirth" of my 31-year old son Jesse Muhammad (he's the tall one on the left in the pic). Allow me to share the details. Immediately after his 31st birthday on September 4, my son told me that he set a goal of finding out who his biological father was by his next (32nd) birthday. You see, he had presented me with the question of his lineage a while back and I had to honestly share with him that I was not sure. In the past while he was growing up I named the man I was in a relationship with when he was born as his father, however, after much soul-searching and recollection I recalled getting out of another relationship and quickly getting into that one. Long story short, my son set out on his mission for answers. One man is deceased, so God allowed us to contact the other one, who consented to do a DNA test. If I tell you God gave my son immediate answers, believe me it was so! It was just like the scripture says in Matthew 7; Ask, Seek and Knock, and God will give you what you want. The test results proved that the deceased man, Joe McCray is the biological father of Jesse, not Earl Rideaux, the one I had initially tagged. The weird thing is that, up until the day he died, Joe insisted that Jesse was his son, and loved & provided for him like a father.
I gave this post that title because it describes this momentous event perfectly. It is a new beginning for my son as well as myself. We have been blessed by God to not have to question his lineage anymore and for me it is like giving birth to him all over again. What a beautiful process it is, and this time it wasn't physically painful. LOL I had to share this blessing with you all and may God show favor on anyone else who embarks on the journey of knowing who you are! Peace.

September- The Month I Love!

Greetings Readers!

This year has just flown!! It is already September and I must say the year has blessed me in many ways. I love this month for two reasons; 1) it is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month and 2) it is the month that I was born. There will be many observances held in honor of NADAR month and one is the “Families Aiding In Total Healing -Solving Together Every Problem” (FAITH-STEP) two-day drug prevention/drug free recovery conference. It will be held September 17-18, 2009 at Texas Southern University. The issue of drugs throughout the city of Houston and lack of effective wholistic drug reform has prompted Councilmember Jarvis Johnson to partner with many in hosting this first of its kind event. I was invited to be a part of it and Councilmember Johnson unveiled details of this solution-oriented conference at the Official Press Conference on Friday, August 28, 2009 on the steps of TSU Granville Sawyer Auditorium. The press conference also featured TSU President John Rudley, Conference Co-host Mrs. Cleo Glenn Johnson-McLaughlin, Rev. James McLaughlin, community activist Deric Muhammad, myself Mavis Jackson (LCDC,CART), Atty. Michael Harris, Janice Paul of the City of Houston Health & Human Services Dept, TSU Provost James Douglass, and more. Sponsors of the 2009 Recovery Conference also include Communities Of Tomorrow’s Economic Redevelopment/Gift OF Life Drug free, (COTER/GOLD), TSU Center on the Family (TSU/COTF), and the Black United Fund of Texas (BUFTX). This event is well-worth the registration of $199 and even more. For registration information about the FAITH-STEP Conference log on to: http://jarvis-johnson.com/. I am posting pics from the press conference and I hope to see you all there! Peace & Blessings

Texas Business Alliance One Woman Business Conference

Last weekend I attended the 1st Annual Texas Business Alliance One Woman Business Conference and it was phenomenal!. The focus of the conference was minority, women-owned and small businesses. It included a plethora of information and networking with all types of professional business women and men. The workshops included: "Tweet What?"Social Networking Revealed; Business Enterprise Academy Mini-Seminar; and "Be a Marketing Maven" which had a panel that included my marketing genius of a son, Brother Jesse Muhammad. There were many other workshops that covered topics ranging from beginning business information to financial empowerment. We were entertained by local and national television personalities, and enjoyed scrumptous food for breakfast and lunch with some panel discussions on various subjects. There were businesses from all over the city of Houston and some from other cities and states who offered tips and advice to everyone who seeked it. On the final day there was a "Soaring Heights Awards Brunch, Live Entertainment & Keynote address by Comedian Joan Rivers. Needless to say, she put the icing on the entire cake! There were vendors from a myriad of businesses and authors with inspiring and informative books on hand.

Overall, the conference left me and many others highly motivated to continue in our endeavors as new business owners. I left there a smarter, more informed woman who has additional knowledge, resources and connections to be successful! Thank you to Jeffrey Boney and the Texas Business Alliance!! And a special shout-out to Margo Williams Handy for the fantastic job she did coordinating this event, and to Stephanie McKenzie , who I discovered is not only a great marketing expert, but a fellow CME as well!

IT FINALLY HAPPENED!!

Well folks, it finally happened! That Today Show segment that I taped back in May aired on July 27 at 8:30am our time. It was surreal to watch myself on television and the show was totally cool! They say that the camera adds ten pounds, so the good news is, all they showed was my waist up! (LOL) The taping can still be seen on the Today Show website and I have to be honest and say I watched it more than once. That experience is one that I will take with me in my future endeavors. I can proudly say that I was a television star for a day! Of course I don't plan for that to be my last appearance, there will be more to come!

You can go to BGDL.com and see photos of the entire shoot and other information about this fantastic organization that I am blessed to be a part of. The big payoff for my television debut was that a woman new to the alopecia areata contacted me after viewing the show. Now that is real success!! I am praying that we can reach all women with this condition to let them know they are not alone. "I'm ready for my next close-up, Mr. Director"!!

AND THE BEAT GOES ON!

Wow!! A lot has happened since I last blogged. Some good things, some not so good things and some total shockers. The main good thing is that I am still alive and kicking along with millions of others. For that I have a multitude of gratitude. The not so good for me is the monster of unemployment, which occurred unexpectedly and has things in a bit of a disarray. But I remind myself everyday that it could be worse. The shockers of course, are the deaths of so many famous as well as some not so famous people. I think the biggest one being the King of Pop Micheal Jackson. As a counselor, I can only imagine a different outcome if he had been receiving and receptive to therapy and treatment for his addiction. As a recovering addict, I can definitely testify to a possible different or more delayed ending to his life. And as a fan, I can express my sorrow at a extraordinary talent having left us. My sincere condolences go out to his family and friends and also to the families of others that transitioned. Life surely has no guarantees except that one day we will all make that final transition, and when we do, the beat will surely go on.

The Source

I decided to come off my hiatus and post something today. I am truly motivated by the topic of this post, namely, The Source. Guess you ask, Who is this source?? Glad you asked. The Source of my life is Almighty God and right now, at this point in my life I have never been more in touch with that fact. Right before the last post I did, I was terminated from my job and the results of that event have been phenomenal. I have been experiencing more peace and serenity than I had in a very long time. I am getting things done that had been placed on the "back burner" which are integral to my having a successful future. It feels like I am really taking care of myself mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. And all this is made possible by The Source. Don't' get me wrong, I definitely know that I need a job to meet financial obligations, but the loss of a job is sometimes a blessing in disguise. But you won't be able to appreciate that blessing unless you truly understand about The Source. Today, more than ever, I see evidence of that Source working for good. I have lost nothing, not been evicted, not gone hungry or without clothing and still have a roof over my head. In other words, all my needs are being met in spite of my not having a job. For me, that is nothing short of a miracle (another one) and I believe those only come from one Source. I pray that everyone will experience this awesome spiritual awakening at some time in life. To miss out on it is to miss out on the real meaning and pleasure of life.
An extra added bonus to this wonderful time is my being allowed to find a new Women's Program to work with, and guess what the name is...The Source. Do you know The Source?

LIGHTS, CAMERAS, ACTION!!!

Well, I am now officially a television star! I traveled to Chicago, Oak Brook, Illinois specifically, to be part of taping a segment of the Today Show. This dubious honor was the result of being a member of the Bald Girls Do Lunch group of women with Alopecia Areata. We had a wonderful time and I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the shoot. I just had to post the pictures and show you all what a great time I had, and so you wouldn't think I was making it up. The photos are of me and the other ladies that were there, including the founder of BGDL. The one with just two of us is me and my makeup consultant., and boy, she did a fantastic job!

I believe this is just the beginning and that God has some more really special tasks for me to do and the best is yet to come!! Enjoy and tell me what you think. Peace

OH!! THE TAPING WILL AIR ON MAY 26TH SO BE SURE TO TUNE IN TO THE TODAY SHOW & SEE US AND SEND IN REVIEWS!

Life Has A Mind of It's Own

I saw this title somewhere recently and it came to my mind today as a result of current events in my life. What it says to me is that we are not in control, God is, because life is a gift from Him and is dictated by Him.
The most recent event that has made this so apparent is one involving my mother. This is May, the month honoring mothers, and is also the month of her birthday. She will be celebrating 80 years of life on May 11 and I feel so blessed to have been blessed with her love and wisdom for that many years. My sisters and family all came together and planned a huge birthday party for her today, May 2. We acquired a caterer, a facility for the event and invited all the people whose lives she has touched and whom we know love her. We managed to sneak and get names, addresses and other information we needed to pull off this wonderful surprise. But as it turns out , we were the ones who got the surprise.
To briefly give a little history, for the past 5 or 6 years my mother has suffered with a respiratory condition that occasionally worsens with certain atmospheric exposure, and about a week ago it was very noticeable that this had happened. In spite of suggestions for her to go to the hospital for some treatment, she chose not to do so. Now comes the evidence of the title, because I believe that even though she did not follow the suggestions, life/God took charge of the situation.
On yesterday my mother called me and stated she was having my sister Beverly to take her to the hospital to get some x-rays. It wasn't much of a surprise to me, knowing what her present condition was, but it was unexpected. Well, long story short, we will be celebrating her 80th birthday in her absence. After getting to the hospital, the doctors immediately decided to admit her and keep her there for treatment for a few days. We could not postpone or reschedule the event for many reasons, so the show must go on. It is going to be little strange to celebrate my mother's birthday without her being present, but it will be very interesting to see how it turns out. After all, life/God is in charge of that too.

Are We Really Free?

This topic came to my thoughts as a result of circumstances in my life today that prompted me to give it some serious pondering. I can honestly say that they are not the point of this posting, just the deciding factor in it being written. So in that, I am grateful for them, for if they had not come, I most likely would not have received the spirit to post this.
I read a meditation this morning about needing help and it stated:
"Free...What can that word mean , When my life belongs to so many other people, When I get squeezed between the generation gap And the tax bill, And I want to walk out the door and keep on walking and never stop...Then what does it mean to be free?"
That passage hit a spot that made me take a look at that question from several aspects of life. First, from the aspect of family, children in particular. Family can be a deciding factor in a person feeling free. They can be those "people" mentioned in that quote as well as a part of that generation gap. We feel obligated and sometimes even responsible to family and will allow them to own or lay claim to so much of our lives. This becomes unhealthy for us when we allow their wants and needs to become more important than our own. We eventually become resentful and unhappy, blaming them, when in fact it is us who have failed to set healthy boundaries. Some of us were not taught to do that, but today there are too many resources available for anyone to not have knowledge of that process. A good friend of mine said something just yesterday that went "Parent/Child relationships are the only relationships that are strengthened through separation; all others strengthened with closeness". And if those of us who have children will be honest with ourselves, we know that is the truth.
Secondly and no less important, I thought about our freedom as a people, Black people. We are told that the slaves were freed by Abraham Lincoln, but who freed us? We are not and never have been slaves, but are descendants of slaves, so we are expected to have gratitude. Well, the job where I work today feels like a plantation and the owner is White, so it makes me wonder, am I really free? I know of course I have to make a living, but when am I supposed to have a life if the "boss" wants me to spend the majority of my time working for him/her? Now don't get me wrong, I definitely am grateful for any and every Black man and woman who fought and died to bring about some change for us in this world, and am exceptionally proud that we now have a Black President of the United States. I would never discount the progress that has been made, I only present the question "What does being free really mean?"
In my profession as a Counselor we teach that real freedom starts in your thinking, and I am a firm believer of that. But changing one's thinking is only the beginning of the discipline needed to experience real freedom. I also read this morning that "You will only discover excellence on the other side of hard work", and "the principle ingredient of success is discipline." So I think real freedom does not come from anybody else but from within myself. No one can provide the freedom I need to enjoy my life, to be successful or to have what I desire, except me. So I conclude that if I want real freedom, I have to apply discipline, pray and strive for it each day.
One of my favorite quotes that I share with clients is what I call the 10/90 principle; and it states: "Life is 10% what happens around me, and 90% how I let it affect me", and today I choose to keep my 90%. How about you?

Domestic Violence; A Real Issue

The topic of Domestic Violence is one that is constantly swept under the rug in today's society. The gravity of this issue and my collaborating in the creation of an E-Zine designed to help address it, prompted this post. I am also currently pursuing training to provide counseling services to victims and offenders of domestic violence in the criminal justice system, so it has a special interest to me. There have been laws passed and bills created to punish offenders and to protect victims while assisting them in life challenges that result from being involved in these types of situations. However, are these avenues or resources really accomplishing the ultimate goal of rehabilitating the offenders and educating both them and the victims?
In spite of the primary intent of programs created for this purpose, most times they neglect to adequately address core issues that usually induce the behavior. Both offenders and victims need access to long-term counseling and guidance to truly recover and change. The temporary and brief services they sometimes receive can be compared to covering a gunshot wound with a band-aid.
I was a guest speaker and participant in the first Hurt2Healing Rally & March on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in July 2006. It was sponsored by Nation of Islam Ministry of Justice in collaboration with Rev. Kirbyjohn Caldwell. The theme was "From Hurt to Healing, Protecting the Essence of our Sisters", and it was an awesome experience. It was organized by men for women, and the men marched right along side of us. The most memorable part for me was when we ended the march at Reliant Arena and the men placed rose petals on the ground for the women to walk on going in the door. That was one moment I shall forever cherish because if a man never does it for me again, I can hold on to that memory.
I am a survivor of domestic violence and understand the helplessness of a victim and the damage that occurs to a woman's self-esteem. I can relate to how one can become comfortable in unhealthy relationships and not love themselves enough to leave. I also understand and am a living testimony that a woman can overcome that bondage and grow into a healthy person with positive self-worth. I am a firm believer that with the help of God and caring people that he places in our lives, we can get to the other side of any life challenge.
The E-Zine of which I spoke at the beginning of my post is titled "Hurt 2 Healing E-Zine, Overcoming Emotional Impediments to Inner Peace" and is published by Sis Ebony Muhammad. The new April 2009 issue was just published and I am a guest columnist as well as an advertised consultant. This small step to reach out to those who need help with this and other emotional challenges is one way I pay it forward.

Taking Care of Body and Spirit

Greetings! Wow, time just flew since the last time I posted, but I am back by the Grace of God, healthy and well. My recent experience definitely brought to my mind the importance of taking care of my body and spirit. I believe that had I not been doing so, my illness could have taking a totally different turn. So on that note, I wanted to share this message with you all. Enjoy and take care of yourselves!

In Line With Spirit; Staying On Track

In a world where we have routines for nearly everything—our route to work, our physical fitness regimen, and our weekday schedule—it’s amazing how many people forget to create a routine for meeting their spiritual needs. We run around in an attempt to be at our many appointments on time and meet our many obligations. In our efforts to be as productive as possible, however, our spiritual needs tend to take a backseat. After all, taking care of our spiritual needs doesn’t directly pay the bills or tone our abdominal muscles. We may even wonder who has time to meditate or write in their journal when there are more pressing matters to see to. The truth is that nurturing ourselves spiritually is what gives us the energy and grounding that we need to make sure that our lives stay on track.

A "Spinning-Wheel" Experience

I'm back after an unexpected hiatus, and ready to share. I just had what I am calling a "spinning wheel" experience, and I will explain that as I go, but first let me tell you about it. On January 28 at 1:30am I was transported by ambulance to the ER due to severe chest & arm pain. It had began innocently enough earlier that day, but like most of us, I dismissed it as "gas pains" and continued on as usual. Well, by that night it became obvious to me that it was something else and the rest is history.
After being admitted to the hospital and having tests run, it was discovered that I had blockage in three of my arteries. I remember when the doctor came in to give the results and it seemed so surreal. Here I was, suddenly laying in a hospital bed, being told that I had something wrong with arteries attached to my heart. Specifically, I had 80-90% in one, 70% in one and 50% in another. Just two days before that, I went to aerobics (two days consecutively) and worked out on the treadmill with no problems! Guess that's where the saying came from of "what a difference a day makes". I was informed that I would be getting a "cardiac catherization" the next day so they could see if this blockage could be fixed with stents or if I would need open-heart surgery. Boy, talk about life changing events.
In the midst of all this pain and life-threatening news, I managed to stay in touch with my faith. In fact, I watched a preacher on television that Friday morning who talked about that very thing, so I had a special gift from God before the procedure was even started. As you all may or may not know, I rely heavily on my spiritual base and have strong beliefs in the power of God. So seeing that message that morning was no coincidence for me. Long story short, I had the procedure done, they fixed the 80-90% blockage with two stents and I will schedule the procedure for the 70% in the near future. The doctor said the 50% should be fixed with the (four)medications I am now prescribed. Thank God for modern medicine! I could write a book about the experience and I do plan to do that, but let me share why I call it a spinning wheel experience.
This morning while reading my daily meditations and scriptures, I read about Mohandas Gandhi,a famous Indian leader. After each public appearance or event, this man would always go back to his original home and sit in front a the spinning wheel making wool. The purpose was so he could put and keep his life in perspective; so he could get back to the center of his gravity; and so he would not be pressed into the world's mold. I now consider my blockage event and all other life-changing events as spinning wheel experiences, because they present me with opportunities to refocus and put things in their proper perspective. I get the chance to get healthier outlooks on myself and the relationships in my life, and do some serious soul searching about the present and future. This amazing revelation gave me the answer to my 'WHY?" and it also gave me peace. (Thank you, God.)
Today, I know that God is greater than any heart disease and He turns any difficulty into an opportunity for spiritual growth. I believe that any and all events that touch my life snugly fits into God's awesome plan for my life, and that we each receive what is truly necessary to our personal growth. As I traveled through this new "tunnel of growth" I ever hold onto my favorite scripture; Philippians 4:13-"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". So until next time, live one day at a time, because you never know what growth the next day will bring.

A HISTORICAL EVENT (OR TWO)

Yesterday Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. This was truly a historical event because for the first time in the history of this country, a Black man was elected to the office of President. The experience itself was one of awe and inspiration. I was at work but the whole place was in an unexplainable excitement all day. We watched the inauguration and witnessed history being made. The most beautiful part of it for me was seeing the older people moved by their having lived to see this come to pass. Their genuine emotion was something I will always remember and cherish. To see the sparkle and amazement in their eyes, hear the relief in their voices, and feel the joy in their tears was a blessing from God. I am so grateful to have been a part of history and know the best is yet to come. I believe if we do our part, then the President (& God) will handle the rest and some positive change will occur
The other historical event that occurred was my son, Jesse Muhammad, who is a Motivational Speaker, came and shared his message with the Cheyenne Center Drug Treatment Center where I am employed. He is a messenger sent from God to inspire others and I am so very blessed to be his mother. The men at the center as well as the staff were all inspired by his words and expressed a unanimous desire for him to return, which he plans to do. The most extraordinary thing is that he normally gets paid very handsomely for this service, but he is donating them to the Cheyenne Center. That in itself speaks volumes about his character and his honest desire to help others. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day!! Post your comments about this historic day, I would love to hear them.

A NEW YEAR??

I was surfing as usual, and came upon this wonderful article by my son, and since he is my son I knew I could post it on my blog. It really hits home with the concept I always quote "If you keep doing what you've been doing; you'll keep getting what you've been getting". So read on and resolve to have a true "New Year"! (Check out more of his stuff at JUST US with BRO DERIC MUHAMMAD)

10 New Year’s Resolutions for a Revolution
By: Deric Muhammad
A wise mentor of mine used to tell me that there is no such thing as a “new” year if you do the same things you did the year before. It is just a continuation of the same agenda, schedule, way of life and way of thinking. In order to classify January 1st as a new year you have to do something “new”. If the only thing that changes in your life is the number on your calendar we may as well wish you a happy “last year.”
If we reflect on 2008 and realize that it was a near mirror of 2007 then it was not quite a new year. If we’ll be honest many of us have not had a new year in many years. The current social and economic challenges that we face in this country should force us to step outside of our comfort zone, challenge our fears and do something to better our condition. We can all agree that the old way of doing things as failed us.
The year 2008 was highlighted by something that was new to us all. Barack H. Obama became the first Black president of the United States of America. If that is not classified as “new” then nothing does. Our brother sang the timely song of change all the way to the oval office and we all became filled with hope and a new spirit. On January 20th he will take his inaugural oath. But, according to Obama, if we don’t help him to dig America out of the ditch that she is in he will not succeed. This means that we must take an oath right along with him.
Before the Black community can help anyone we must first help ourselves. Here are 10 New Year’s resolutions that I believe will help make the Black community a strong community.
1. STOP BLACK ON BLACK VIOLENCE AND MURDER
2. Learn the difference between spirituality and religion. Strive to become a more spiritual community where neighbors pray together as much as they party together.
3. Eat to Live. Improper diet is generational and so are the illnesses that kill us as a result of our diet. Our forefathers ate certain foods on the plantation, because they had no choice. Why are we still eating the same foods 459 years later? Healthcare starts at home.
4. Each ONE Teach ONE (Mentor Neighborhood Youth). We have to mentor based on the talent and interest of our young people. Link Black professional with young brothers from the hood.
5. Natural Disaster Preparedness-Every year we are caught off guard during hurricane season. We seem to always be at the end of the line for government assistance after a natural disaster. This year we must put ourselves at the front of the line. The way to do that is to be better prepared.
6. Build and patriotically support Black-owned businesses that supply the needs of our community
7. Save your money. Stop spending money on unnecessary luxuries that you cannot afford. Mr. Gucci’s says you have to pay him hundreds of dollars in order to wear his name on your purse. He makes billions and sends his children to get the best education so that our children end up coming to them for a job.
8. Develop a political agenda. Support local, state and federal candidates that pledge allegiance to that agenda and politically punish them if they fail to keep their word.
9. Study Black history year-round. Make sure your children know who they are and where they come from.
10. The Golden Rule: treat others the way you want to be treated.

These are just a few thoughts that, if executed, could equal a truly “new “ year for the Black community.

LET'S SHINE IN 2009!!!!

Well, here we are in a brand New Year. I don't know about you but I have a whole lot of gratitude for making it here. The past year was a good one in spite of any challenges that came, in fact, those are what made it a good year. Let me explain. If those challenges had not been placed in my path, I would not have experienced any growth, and I would not be the wiser today. Today I know the value of trials and tribulations, and I thank my God for allowing them in my life. Sure, none of us welcome them, but once we get to the other side, if we were paying atention, we understand the value or the lesson.
I don't make "New Year Resolutions" but I do set goals for myself. They include areas of health and well-being, finances, spiritual and most importantly relationships. All of these are areas of immense importance and I plan to enhance them while cultivating a better self. What I know I have to do is keep a positive attitude about any task I undertake, and the rest will follow. John Maxwell says "We are today where our thoughts brought us; We'll go tomorrow where our thoughts take us". That tells me that the success in any area I choose to improve depends on the attitude I maintain while the change is taking place.
I believe that we as human beings can acheive anything we want or desire, and that the only real limitation is the one we accept and set up in our minds (Napoleon Hill-"Think and Grow Rich"). In 2009, I am planning to shine!!! By the Grace of God and my God-given talents, I shouldn't have any problems. Set yourself some goals and do what J. Paul Getty suggests:
Get up early, Work hard, & Find Oil!!
It's going to be a great year, after all, our 1st Black President will take office on January 20! After the previous administration, there is nowhere to go but up, so let's get ready to support him and prosper in the process. I believe there will be more and better opportunities for those who had none in the past. I believe that we as a people will be more self-confident which will result in us being more successful. I believe that if we set our minds to it and work together, there is nothing we won't accomplish.

Have a Happy and Safe New Year!! and share your goals on my blog so we can support each other.