Sunday, February 18, 2018

#BlackPanther

Show them who you are...this affirmation is such a powerful spoken word and sets the tone of Black greatness, unity and devotion to family that was so definitively portrayed in the movie "Black Panther." There were so many hidden gems in this movie that I unearthed, but the ones that stood out to me among the many were the homage to our ancestors, the deep devotion and consistent commitment to family and culture, the flow of order with the man being the headship and the journey of two men whose fathers had deeply impacted their future. 
    Black Panther's homage to our ancestors was intertwined throughout the movie from the beginning to the very end. It powerfully sent the resonating message that we are who we are because of who they were. In reference to commitment to family and culture, the movie did an amazing job of conveying the need and power of a man leading his kingdom in order and the success that comes as a byproduct of male leadership and structure. T' Challa's father said it best, "A man who has not prepared his children for his death has failed as a father." I also loved how Black Panther showed the navigational journey of two men and how the presence of a father laid the foundation for one son and the absence of the other's father led to his inevitable failure.
    The timing of Black Panther's release was impeccable and rejuvenated a fire in me concerning where I come from and gave me an eternal hope concerning the direction I am going. I absolutely loved the theme of #BlackLove and how the movie so powerfully conveyed the love, adoration and honor that Black women have for men who sincerely love them and respect them. What spoke to the depths of my heart was how the movie allowed its audience to see a Black woman speaking life into the darkness of her soulmate's heart. One of the most touching scenes was Nakia telling T'Challa "You define the King you will become." It is my hope that through these healthy depictions of authentic love, as a culture we start to redefine who we are to each other and what we can become to the next generation. In the words of Nakia, "Wakanda is strong enough to protect itself and help others."





Thursday, January 18, 2018

#2018

Isaiah 43:19, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do yo not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

Blessings and Happy New Year!! By now mostly everyone has settled into 2018 or at least began the process of living your best life in this new season of your life. As you move forward in the affirmations, vision boards, resolutions and plans you have positioned in strategy, be mindful of being realistic and ensure that everything you are preparing to pursue is measurable. Many people go into a new year sincerely expecting newness and change, but we forget to insure that the foundation of the outcomes are staged from a place of long-term devotion and effort. While working on my Master's, we learned a term called "incremental steps," meaning that true change and big results are birthed through small steps. In life you can't get everything over night, but you can receive some things over time. I admonish you to receive this and remember this as you focus forward in your 2018 endeavors. God is truly doing a new thing in your life and as He springs up insight, wisdom, and blessings upon you, pray that He gives you the clarity to understand it and discernment on how to handle it-overflow can't be truly appreciated until one has an appreciation of their wilderness seasons. Here are a few pearls to cling to as you navigate through 2018...
  1. Go with God and allow Him to order your steps.
  2. When you make mistakes, allow them to develop you not demote you.
  3. Be okay with pulling away. Everybody isn't worthy of having a seat at your table.
  4. Always see GOD in the BAD.
  5. Your goals should be measurable and create a time frame for accomplishing them.
  6. Your cash should reflect your character. Be a good steward of your resources.
  7. Unapologetically choose you and what works for you.
  8. Schedule your Schedule.
  9. Create goals and plans monthly, quarterly and yearly.
  10. Trust and treasure your instinct.