2009

This was my talented friend's end of year poem. it sums up how she's feeling about 09 and what she's looking forward to in 2010. Love it! She's a great poet! Please don't steal any parts of this poem. She is founder and owner of YUR Magazine, an online urban entertainment/informational magazine. She has big things coming soon and very soon. The Lord is watching and taking notes. Be Blessed! Enjoy.


2009

Arriving in a chariot pulled by horses of promise,

promise of wealth, good health and a long awaited success,

each New Years Eve praying the same prayer and making the same proclamation.



This is My Year, last year almost took me out but this is the year.

365 days lead to 10 years.

10 years, 3 months and 20 days later of the same proclamation,

now anger and discouragement sets in,

bitterness towards “passa” for saying your change is gonna come.

Well my change has been coming since Sam Cooke bellowed those notes.



A degree, house, 3 cars and 3 death certificates later,

feeling as stable as a mobile home on a vault line in Cali .

Heart been broken so much from disappointment that its consistency can be sifted like sand be the sea shore.



Perfectly wearing that smile written about by Hughes,

faking the funk so much that even I began to believe the lies that rolls so sweetly off the tongue,

fooling surface friends and concerning those who know me too well,

unaware of the rise and fall of the sun and moon,

stars go unnoticed,

even the trees and flowers are ignored for more important things like

bills and bill collectors

late mortgages,

and notes that were not left by ones of unconditional love,

shivering with fear at the buzz of the phone,

buckling at the knees with the open of mail stamped with last notice.



You see it was divine in 05, fixed in 06, clever in 07, late 08, left behind in 09 and now we stand at the threshold on twenty ten

baggage in tow

every dream, vision, and promise

tucked neatly in K Mart luggage awaiting for it’s time of exposure to light

shaking with anticipation of manifestation



I feel like a soldier

battle scars and war wounds

memories of yesterday haunting me,

got people in my ear telling me to forget about it and

focus on a brand new tomorrow.



The day I had to pick up 3 death certificates, were once tomorrows



brand new tomorrows



As I take one step to the door of 2010 and reflect on 2009

I can’t help but remember soulful songs that pricked my heart and drew tears of happiness,

words of poetry from the lips of homeland soldiers in community trenches that

spiritually see the bright future of a discarded generation.

familiar gestures of kindness acted out towards a stranger,

friendships bonded,

and blessings of the Almighty coming forth from unfertile stones.



As I enter into 2010 I can’t help but awaken and shake my faith,

the size of a mustard seed but has the power of an unseen yet Powerful God,



As I move into a new decade,

I feel grateful for second chances,

thankful for joy, peace, protection and favor,

all of that overriding past hurts,



I am here

now

here

present

alive

here

walking

here

breathing

here

alert

here

I step forth

take another step

and another

and await for the new chapter to unfold.

-----LaToyur S. Tisdale

Email repost: 2010 Handbook

This has been going around in emails since forever. It's pretty good so thought I'd post it hear for safe keeping and clear my email :-)

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile..

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control.. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree....

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy

HAPPY NEW YEAR

So what is my mood for the end of 2009? Do I feel accomplished as far as my goals? Yes. I have done or at least attempted most of the things I set out to do this year. I know there's a list around here somewhere. I just have to make and effort to locate it :-) It's probably on my pc. That sounds technical and practical of me.

What's new for 2010?

1/2 marathon

loose 20 pounds

tighten up body

smile more (thats always on my list)

prep for phd program 2011

read the word more

completely read bookclub selections

no sex ( think last time was june 09)

no more irrelevant relationships just to be with someone

drink more ...just kiddin

cook a new dish a month

buy a house

create and live on budget

develop yur teen nonprofit

less timewasting net browsing

less non-work related net browsing

this list is around somewhere as well. there are many more ideas to list. but thats about all i can think of at the moment. what are yours? the most significant ones. ones that are so important to you that you have already started working on them as early as october or november maybe.

DAMN THOSE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

Good Morning Good People! Lets make today a good day! I have to tell myself this everyday because I get so bored with my daily routine in spite of the efforts I make to change it. My bishop's motto for the New Year state: "IT'S DELIVERY TIME IN 2009"! He keeps coming with them don't he :-) Delivery of course is an acronym but since I didnt attend watch night service I can't honestly tell you what it stands for lol! I do know that some of the message is a repeat from last year. So we have yet another time to get it right. Don't waste it because you never know when this time might be your last time. God keeps waking us up to give us another chance to get it right. Try not to disappoint him or yourself. Live your best life is easier said than done, but I believe it is doable no doubt! Make habits not resolutions. I am officially boycotting that whole resolution thing! BAH HUMBUG to false expectations! Get a grip! Do you for you for life not just for a moment of inspiration. Set realistic goals not just for the new year, but every single day. It takes a constant check and balance to become who you want to be for yourself and others. If you have a strong desire to make changes make them a little at a time. Just like we cancel debt in small increments so should your quest of something new. Never forget to celebrate the small victories. It takes small victories to make it big. Nothing is overnight. If you wake up in the morning that is the day for you to do something different, something right, something spectacular, something habitual. Life is destined to end no matter what. The only opportunity you have to create something spectacular is from dob to expiration. Make it worth something. Believe it or not, Souljah boy actually has the best motto for life...WALK IT OUT. Don't play, do and be for real about it. Be adament. Be nerve racking to the point you can't stand yourself if you don't do it. :-)
Peace, love, blessings, and increased income lol!