We Are The Champions

I watch alot of television. My mornings are comprised of Paw Patrol, Sesame Street, Morning Joe and Curious George. After I get my daily Law & Order fix I must admit I LOVE reality television. I watch it all. I don't discriminate. The Love and Hip Hop franchise by far is my fave. I like Real Housewives of Atlanta, Beverly Hills and New York as well.

Most of us don't watch different genres so we don't know how to discern the contrasts. Yet it plays out right in front of our eyes each and every episode. All of these women are dealing with similiar experiences. Ambition, Family Relationships, Infidelity, incarceration, financial instability. They're trying to juggle the same things us "common folk" may be dealing with.

The differences in the women are the levels of respect. I blame alot of how things are filmed on the producers. They have the discretion to portray "us" in a positive light. I know some situations can't be avoided but discretion can be used at times.

Everything that happens in Atlanta happens in Beverly Hills. Similiar situations occur on each show but our culture is belittled and shown from a negative angle.

I know I may be biased because I am a woman of color but we age better, look better and dress better so we need to ACT better. Now I have at times come out of pocket and been a little ratchet too. To err is human. To continually display negative images on television is disrespectful to our race and gender. Every scene-like we don't know how to act. We don't cut up on our jobs because we want to remain employed.

I have experienced so many disrespectful instances where I chose to take the high road. I am the Queen of Pettyville. There's a time and place for everything. The other casts may throw a glass or two but they are not messing up each others events. They attend and throw shade but they sit there through it. You never see them getting  put out of anywhere. That's why when affluent minorities patronize establishments the service is inferior. Or anyone of color looking to enjoy themselves.

Im not going to front I will continue to watch it. It just saddens me that given a platform to empower and uplift its always some drama. Except with Remy and Papoose. Their love story and blended family is genuine and inspiring. It doesnt hurt that she will shoot you if you cross her. We can still be entertaining we just need to tone it down a little bit. We ALREADY all the way up!

What a Mighty God We Serve

Sundays are considered the day to rest. To prepare for the upcoming week. This year has been a very pivotal one in my life as well as many others. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy. We must give it to God and leave it with Him.

One of the greatest compliments ever bestowed upon me came recently from my son's friend. She said "you don't look like you just had a baby". I don't feel like it either. I was so scared about so many things and everything worked out great. She's the same age I was when I had David. The years will fly by so fast. My Pootie will be grown with God's Grace before I know it.

Everything that we go through both good and bad prepares us for what lies ahead. People come to me for advice alot. I try to be objective and truthful. We don't see what others do. That by no means says be a fool-but we tend to be too hard on ourselves.

I know I can only speak for myself but I cannot waste any more time. I don't have it to waste. I used to mourn the life I led but life is about evolution. About new experiences, broadening our horizons.

J.J. really keeps me going. It's so hard for me to be happy. I have for a long time dealt with things by pushing them down deep inside me. It's not healthy. So now I write. Every day.

J.J. is so smart. I KNOW he's my child and he's only seven months old but he is so intelligent. I try to follow the model my mother set for me. She read to me all the time. She taught me a vast array of words. Sure Daddy did the homework with me and helped with the projects. But the foundation of my intelligence began with my Mommy.

It's so hard at times to live your life wondering what someone who was always there might do now that their gone. My Mother was always there for me in every way. When I hurt she hurt harder. When I cried she held my hand tight because she wasn't very emotional. Even at the end when I wasn't there for her she still was worried about me because that's what Mothers do. I find myself letting go of so much stress by finding solace knowing not only is my Mother watching over me but she wouldn't worry about it. So why should I?

I used to get mad because it felt like nothing I ever did was good enough for her. Now I know she just had lofty goals for her daughter. When I got the job at Verizon the former Bell Atlantic she said "that's great but you never listen to me I told you to be a Customs Agent". When I was young she got me an opportunity to go to Texas for two months and train as a Customs agent. But I was "grown" and declined. Years later we talked about it and she said" as a black woman I always wanted you to work for the government so you would always be employed". She was just so HAPPY I acknowledged it. I HATED working at the Post Office. Now I look back fondly on the times we spent together in that building.

I may not physically see you Mommy but I know you walk besides me. I know you want me to write. I know you want me to live my life. I know you want me to take the gifts God and you gave me and use them to help others. I know you want me to enjoy my children and not worry about anything.

My faith in God has gotten me through so much! I was raised in the Church. My late Godmother Sis. Audrey Davis was an Evangelist. So I know The Word. Proverbs 3 5-6 verse "Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding". Everything in life is preparation for what is coming next. It is already written. Because God and Ginny told me so.

A New Day Has Dawned

Every day gives you another opportunity to reinvent yourself. The one constant in life is that it does change. We need to embrace change instead of remaining stagnant and complacent.

I do find that with difficulties comes growth. We are sometimes forced to step outside our comfort zones. To think outside of the proverbial box. Situations and circumstances are placed in our way to allow us to tap into our underutilized potential.

We have to set goals and obliterate them. One of my idols Ashley Graham is a 2016 Glamour Woman of the Year. In the December issue she shares "Everything that's happening was on my vision board." Social media played a big role in her catastrophic rise. Using our time online productively can create a global brand. The possibilities are endless.

I see pictures of Senator Clinton. I feel no pity for her at all. History will be kind to her even if America wasn't. She may have not been elected to lead the greatest country in the world(as of this writing) but she has accomplished so many wonderful things. Her greatest legacy will be SHE TRIED. My father always said "I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man that had no feet." She will be okay. God Bless her. She didn't do anything wrong but be born with the same thing the victor likes to grab-a vagina.

The only person that can create the life you desire is you. Others can support and cultivate your ideas. It's up to you to hone your craft. If you have a passion for anything research, dedication and drive can enable you to attain success.

I have accomplished more in the last 30 days then I have in a really long time. I am so proud of myself. My sons are my world and they deserve the best me I can be. No dream is too big. No idea too lofty. In order to succeed you must reach for the moon because even if you miss you will land amongst the stars.

Dear Mama

My two loves. After God and before writing my sons are the two things I love most about life. They bring me joy and happiness each and every day of my life.

Born almost 19 years apart to the day my relationship with them is so beautiful. I love them separately but equally and they brighten even the darkest hour.

My oldest David and I grew up together. We are also 19 years apart. Born in a prosperous time in our country all we did was cash out-literally, figuratively and emotionally. I worked many years in a career that wasn't an ideal fit to afford him a life most people coveted. I volunteered at his school and tried to raise him the best way I saw fit. Through many trials and errors we made it to adulthood better and not bitter.

My youngest Jermaine and I are growing together. My saving grace who I affectionately call Pootie in homage to my late friends Chevelle and Tyneesha's daughters is my lifeline. He gives me a reason to get up and keep going. Born during the period immediately following my mother's death he is my link to her and God. You can't be mad at someone who sent you an angel to replace the one he took back.

And Ginny. I called my Mother Mommy and Mama and Ma but I also called her Ginny because my late Grandfather called her that as well. My beautiful, talented, loving and kind, sweet Ginny. These adjectives I use are not the faux praises that we bestow upon the dead. These are true descriptions of the woman that gave me life. See my mother wasn't just one of those people who everyone respected-she was also loved and adored.

The void her passing has left in my life defies a description. Each day I have to make a choice-mourn her passing or live the life she would want me to. I was extremely depressed when she died. I still am. I just choose to live each day with pride and purpose. My Mother did just that each and every day of her life.

My passion for writing was cultivated by my Mother. She believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. To honor her memory I'm going to be the best me I can be. I'm going to set goals, reach them and keep striving. I'm going to let the world hear the song that is inside of my soul. I'm going to give my kids the life that they deserve. I'm going to help and heal others one word at a time.