Category: weekly inspiration

April 1: Weekly Inspiration: “Is anybody listening ?”

The shuttle from Grand Central to Times Square is almost always featuring at least one singer songwriter asking for a few dollars and sharing their gifts. It’s always hit or miss, but if I get a chance and like one or two, they’ll end up in that day’s Instagram story.

This is not to mention the performers within the subway itself.  

A trip last week to the Festival I had a hand in producing in Manhattan was almost musician free when a thin-framed man with Michael Jackson-esque sequined pants hopped on with a piece of paper folded in quarters, printing on one-side and scribbled notes on the other. His wardrobe was black and white and more worn than dirty. It’s rare that I can get a good look at the performers this way, but that day was different.

Weekly Inspirations are part of gifts I give to my patrons at every level.  This is the most basic gift that all patrons receive.

To Unlock the rest of this post, Join me on Patreon for as little as $1 / month, where all will be revealed … ?

 

 

Weekly Inspiration #1: Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama

When I was re-vamping my Patreon rewards this year I wanted to do something that really connected you to what my inspirations might be and who I am looking to in the world.

From that idea was born the Weekly Inspiration Post.  For now, these are public, but eventually they will be for Patrons only.  As my dear Patrons, you will have access to these posts via the patron-only patreon feed.

Plus, there is a level where I’ll compile each month’s worth of posts in an e-book for your e-reading device pleasure!

So let’s begin!

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January 15, 2017

Weekly Inspiration #1

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama

1st Lady of the United States of America 

What might feel like a cliché or redundant inspiration is where my mind currently rests.

This is a transitional week for the United States.

On Friday, Donald J. Trump will take office. ( ? that was hard to type… )  In all seriousness, I have a lot on my mind this week and last night, found myself in some deep nostalgic Obama moments, Michelle Obama to be specific.  I watched the DVR’d CNN special on her legacy as a style icon and the 1st African-American 1st lady, I watched her last appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon as The First Lady and the Oprah Interview last month.

I just wanted to sit with her.  Hear her voice.  See her… a black woman with hips and curves and arms that I saw my own in.

I cannot tell you how much it is going to hurt to see her replaced…er leave.

But why is she an inspiration?

Even though I’ve been busy with having and raising kids over the last couple years, every time I saw her or read something that included her, I felt I could connect to her in a way that was unattainable with other public officials at that level, so my little YouTube binge the other night maybe showed me some things I did not know.

She always remains familiar by connecting people from multiple backgrounds, and socio-economic levels.

That is a big deal.

She exudes a passion for what she believes in and follows through with her goals as evident by her successful White House initiatives.

She ignites in me a feeling of wanting to complete big projects and I bounce when I hear her speak….really.  I found myself bouncing, on the tips of my toes or leaning forward to soak her up…  I want to bask in Michelle Obama’s sun-rays because while she is not going away, the role will be different.  It will not be a role and we cannot forget what she did.

I want to bask in Michelle Obama because her words are careful and deliberate and when she chose to speak it had more meaning than 100 politicians put together.

I want to bask in Michelle Obama because she is Black.

I want to bask in Michelle Obama because she is Black —and it took me years to love and embrace my Blackness because I did not see anyone like a Michelle Obama the way we saw her in the world.

So this week as I put a few essays into the world, I am channeling Michelle Obama.  Her drive to move beyond what was expected or what others thought she was going to do or could do in her life and her dedication to healthy eating, higher education, service members and their families and the education of adolescent girls around the world.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

from one mother to another

from one black woman to another

from one woman to another

 

Hump Day Inspiration: Do You Believe in Angels?

Do you believe in Angels?

If you don’t believe in non-mortal beings who earn their wings everytime a bell rings, then maybe you believe in people put here to give us messages exactly when we need them…

Monday afternoon, following regular labs for my son’s rare and genetic, yet completely managed blood disorder, I was crossing the street to Mount Sinai’s parking structure when an older white gentleman walking with a cane spoke to me.

“I was watching you in there”, he said as we crossed the street together.  
“Oh”, I remarked, pleasantly surprised and pleased to be having a conversation with a stranger once again in the city.    
There was a time I craved these interactions…looking for the amazing people of the world on the streets, in the cafés and on the subways of this city.
Having traded that in for “mommy-hood”, I am eager to interact with others once again and rekindle friendships possibly staled by my temporary yet necessary absence.
“You are very good with him”, the gentleman said glancing at my son, nestled in my carrier.
I smiled, thanked him and bid him to have a great day!
“You are great“, he said.  Not a response to my telling him to have a great day, but a statement.  An affirmation of my abilities should anyone ever make me feel inadequate or sub-par.
I didn’t turn around to see where the man went after we crossed the street.  I did, however, notice that he was wearing only a sweater.  Not even a hat… And it wasn’t that warm.  His presence warmed my heart and gave me a little boost that day.  What exactly he had seen, I do not know, but I am sure he is always watching.