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Satisfaction Guaranteed?

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Is it possible to provide a service or produce a product where satisfaction can be guaranteed?  Well, when humans are involved, you already know the answer.  Some businesses claim this is as their motto and that you should expect a full refund if you don’t get what you were expecting.  But it seems that no matter how much effort is made, some folks will never ever be satisfied.

What if we were to flip the script?  What I mean is…is it ever ok not to be satisfied?  Consider what’s at stake when you become satisfied:

  • You stay in your comfort zone and never venture past your front door
  • You’re never woke—so you can’t relate to important things happening around you
  • You develop couch-potatoitis; a disease with symptoms that include laziness, apathy, and a big sloppy butt
  • Your answer to most things is, “I just don’t give a _____”

I’d rather stumble, bumble, and fumble at trying to do what I can to make change than to sit back and be a passive spectator in Life.  The motivation to avoid the things abovementioned is the ever present need to do what I feel I’ve been called to do.  In this way, I’m able to remain true to who I am as one who is part of the Struggle and to encourage others on the journey.  Be ever curious, wanting, expecting…

Comments welcome!

Preponderance

Be a Mosquito

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“The squeaky wheel gets the grease” is one of those sayings that has stood the test of time.  Check it out:  You’ve planned to do the weekly grocery shopping and while walking the aisles you take the opportunity to do some leisurely thinking, mindfulness, whatever.  Suddenly, there’s an ear-splitting, screeching, fingernails-scratched-across-the-blackboard noise that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck.  Someone has grabbed that shopping cart with the squeaky front wheel and now the annoying buggy that needs a lube job is all you hear for the rest of the time you’re in the store!  Great—so what’s the big deal?

There’s something to be said about getting others to take notice; similar to the way we get annoyed by mosquitos buzzing around us.  We make sure to pay attention to where it is and what it’s doing—killing it if we’re quick enough—so that we can avoid getting bitten.  How about when it involves things we’re passionate about or believe in?  Like when you’re trying to get a new business idea going, sell your latest product, drop a new beat, or pursue a new relationship.  Being persistent, refusing to give up, and staying the course are what it takes to be this kind of insect.  How much are you willing to be a “pest” to do what you need to do?  Only those with a coat of armor, tough skin, and not being afraid to get in folks’ face while ignoring haters need apply.  But in the end, it will be worth it.  Comments are always welcome.

“You are so annoying!”

What’s A “Mother?”

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On the heels of the past weekend’s Mother’s Day celebrations, I wanted to explore the meaning of the term “mother.”  For me growing up, a mother was someone of the female gender in relation to her children, While the traditional gender roles in which I was raised by my family of origin are still valued, I believe that being a mother or father does not necessary equate to being of the female or male gender.  Females who give birth may not be “mothers” in the sense of what this may mean to some (e.g., primary nurturer) as males adapt to this role based on family dynamics specific to their experiences.  Likewise, males whose sperm produced offspring may not be a “father” in the sense of what this may mean to some (e.g., provider) as females adapt to this role based on family dynamics as indicated by their experiences.  In addition to the traditional mother and father roles defined by society is there is place or latitude for freedom and the importance of not being limited by social constructs which often change.

I embrace my identity as an African American female and mother and I do not have any concerns or desires to change how I see myself.  As a person of color and woman of faith living in today’s world, I see myself in a position of great influence.  Who said that windows of opportunity have to be shut after a certain season has passed?  Beyond my eyes, I see huge living rooms, corners to turn, a full basement, and open doors to where the roles of nurturer, provider and more can exist and thrive.  The needs that others have in this heartless world are never-ending. Instead of ignoring, hiding, or downplaying the seriousness of people’s concerns I act.  Yes, in witnesser role I have “pulled a uey” to watch how Po Po handles the person of color he just pulled over or stopped.  Who are you and what about it makes a difference?  What doors will you walk through?  Comments welcome as usual.

FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE

Humpty Dumpty Revisited

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Most kiddos can quote this famous nursery rhyme by heart.  Visually, I can imagine what it looked like to see Humpty “lose his stuff” on the ground beneath the wall he fell from.  Not only did he look like a hot mess—perhaps bewildered with what caused him to stumble in the first place—but he also had to endure the shame and disgrace of onlookers who were helpless to do anything.  Now, what if we could rewrite the story to have Dumpty survive the trauma that befell him?  What if he was a boiled egg instead of raw?  After he slipped, he would still be intact; perhaps only having suffered a hairline fracture.  It’s not hard to compare the resiliency of a boiled egg with a raw one.

But consider if you will a group of people whose very existence is born out of survival and the audacity to fight back although faced with a dilemma similar to Humpty’s.  Last week we saw the beginnings of what life might resemble if Justice is allowed to dress in her Sunday’s best.  Will the George Floyd verdict signal the beginning of changes in law enforcement practices?  Instead, maybe ask: What will need to happen in order for police brutality and systemic racism towards African Americans to cease?  Better still, when will African American parents no longer have to have “the talk” with their children hoping they will make it home that evening?  Yes, we come from ancestors that despite a history of unspeakable shame and disgrace have endured.  And just like a boiled egg that can hold up under tremendous pressure and still look pretty good, we remain resilient. You already know, comments are always welcome.

  • Trayvon
  • Michael

The Beauty of Simplicity

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In a world that spends a lot of time obsessing over things that are unreachable, unsolvable, and unchangeable it is refreshing to get back to the basics.  How often do you think about what you are involved in and why?  Adhering to the “Joneses” mentality is like the futility of a dog chasing his tale.  We can spend our entire lives working extremely hard to get, succeed, and achieve that we fail to take time accomplishing that which is most important.

Think about the source of oppression, disenfranchisement, and social injustice.  So many people live with feelings of being unfulfilled, having low self-esteem, and suffering from identity crisis—all the while striving to get all they can.  Corporate says its greatest asset are people.  However, this claim becomes suspect when sickness, day care problems, or other personnel concerns loom large taking away from the bottom line; and its never ok to say “production must go on” when someone has endured discrimination! Should caring for others be our primary focus?  What is yours? Think of those resultant dividends.  Simply put:  love, serve, invest in…others.

Comments are always welcome.

“You, Me, We…Are NOT Alone”

Can Hope Remain?

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It was an absolutely gorgeous day when I made a recent visit to the MLK Memorial—Out of the Mountain of Despair a Stone of Hope—in D.C.  As expected, there were a minimal number of visitors that day as social activities slowly return back to pre-Pandemic life.  As I walked along the wall where some of King’s notable quotes were etched, I experienced many emotions simultaneously.  Surely, it was not the first time I had read these quotes.  But what struck me the hardest was the reality of how far we’ve regressed as a Nation almost back to Jim Crow and lynching days.  Are we a failed State?

The birth of a newborn and the accompanying excitement it brings signals hope.  It’s a wonder how much fuss, toil, and attention are given to that small frail soul.  Could it be that the promise of a changed future is neatly swaddled within that soft blanket?  Having this outlook is akin to holding on to a weakening tree branch for dear life when the only alternative is_____.  It takes genuine optimism not to give in to apathy when everything and everyone around says that fighting back for change is too much effort.  And, yet another wave of “nothing will ever change,” it’s happening again”, and “there’s been another one” is upon us.  No matter how bad it gets, I will hold onto that branch frantically believing something firmer will take its place.  What will you feel this time and what will you do?  Your comments are always welcome.

  • MLK Memorial
  • Audacity of Hope I
  • Audacity of Hope II

How You See It/How I See It

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Why are we sometimes errant in our thinking when it comes to having an opinion on a subject?  It may not be cool to have a ‘my way or the highway’ world view.  Someone once shared with me a problem they were going through.  As I listened and thought about what they were saying, the convo gradually became about it being just a bad day—not a bad life.  Although the problem still existed, I was intrigued at how the individual was able to see things differently despite still being knee-deep in it.

Perhaps one reason people hold tightly to what they perceive as important may be the need to maintain normalcy for them.  Could it be that one’s opinion is closely tied to their self-worth or identity?  My perspective, though important is mine and often may not jive with your perspective that is just as noteworthy.  But somehow it does matter, doesn’t it?  For some people, this is the major way they differentiate themselves because after all God didn’t create us to be robots.  Can we learn to appreciate another person’s footprint even if their shoes don’t fit us?  Comments are always welcome.

“You are Significant“

Can You Feel It?

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Waves crashing against rocks on the seashore, a baby’s first cry immediately after birth, and the rumbling sound of a strong wind against a window have in common a constant theme we all experience daily—struggle.  It’s no mystery that life is hard and we all have issues—some of us more than others.  Most smooth surfaces have to be made that way; naturally their rugged and coarse.

This is why texture is germane to my artmaking and art practice.  It is an integral part in the process of how I create no matter what media I choose to use.  For me, including texture goes way beyond a style, look, or feel in the way I want to represent my art.  It is the what and the why which seeks answers where there might not be any.  It is like the stranger who steps in to help a poor soul digging through garbage for his dinner while allowing him to maintain his dignity.  Or the meaningless cruelty of a teenager brutally murdered for merely walking down the street. Only God knows.  Simply put I purpose to have my art speak to the reality of life.  It is gritty, gracious, rough, dirty, joyous, fulfilling, empty.  My art must be able to manifest that somehow.  It is what it is.

Comments always welcome.

“You Feelin’ Me?”

A Little Chaos

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Routine is good and can be a welcomed constant when life in unpredictable.  Do you think there’s ever a time when being in a groove is not good? Have you ever noticed that no matter how bad things get, humans have the ability to find a silver lining in the most dire circumstances?  Perhaps we possess an indomitable desire to refuse to lose or admit defeat.  Life these days is nothing short of navigating chaos as seen in failing school systems, health care disparities, untrustworthy information sources and, of course misgovernment—just to name a few.

One blessing or positive takeaway resulting from the Pandemic has been a spirit of inventiveness exuding from being abruptly thrown into the unexpected.  Before March 2020 most of us never imagined we’d be in such a dramatic life-changing situation!  These stretches out of our comfort zone have been catastrophic—there is no way to process the enormous losses that have occurred and I won’t even try.  We have been forced to come up with new ways of thinking, doing, producing, communicating, living.  Yet, because of COVID there have been new markets for designer masks along with other creative business startups, renewed focus on healthcare research, boons in video communications, huge changes in our relationships and family dynamics, and so on.  Shaking things up is unsettling and nothing is ever the same afterwards.  This is the mark of chaos.  Comments are always welcome.

Why You So Messy?

Exploring Intentionality

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What is an intention?  I recently asked someone this question and answer was, “Uh-h, umm something you intend to do?” Granted this came from someone one on the youngish side; however, when I’ve asked this of others there seems to be some hesitancy.  Could it be that the meaning brings with it the need for time-consuming brain work or deep reflection?

When I think of intentionality two different ideas come to mind.  Most times whenever someone thinks of intention—they think in terms of something they need or want to do such as I intend to start my spring cleaning or paint the garage.  However, one can also set an intention to simply be.  Who were you in the past, who are you becoming, who will you be in the future?

Whatever meaning you’re drawn to, one thing may be worthy of consideration; how can one live with intention in everyday life?  Now you might be thinking, Uh-oh I knew it here comes the brain strain!  No. Without much effort we can learn live in ways in which intention comes naturally.  Taking a break to unplug from social media; noticing one’s surroundings; being around people who support and encourage you; and taking time for self-care might be a start.  Your thoughts and comments are welcome always.

Intention Dolls