#norebfree

[lenoraelaine]

I'll also be performing here this Saturday! Hosted by the marvelous @masieblu also featuring the amazing @aethonblaque & @anilimars...and then @cloudatrium will be too!! These are some of the my fav music artists in Philly. . Come build, heal, & jam with us! . . . #keepitcominguniverse #phillyartists #norebspittin #norebfree #love (at Selah Moon)

[lenoraelaine]

#NoreB90 - Day 12 - on coffee and night mares

I drank Coffee Trying to wake up From a nightmare i had last night Made this heart Skip like Breakfast On a Tuesday When its to late to ask you questions When all i wanna know Is why You stayed And/or Why i didn’t leave

[lenoraelaine]

#NoreB90 - Day 8 - She got her Groove in a Gift Box

Her face look like its made out of molasess and shea butter Guess that’s why he came to her Smooth and sweet Taught her to eat mangoes with the proper tongue Let her know All fruits arie Soothe her to sleep Wake her up with the sun And he a son to somebody Could be son to my momma too But he trying to give her her groove

Like she lost it Like she ain’t got it caught between her tooth and toes Like she ain’t so fly 

she got hummingbirds jealous of the Anti gravity pull on her fro Rainbow on her throat When she talk with her Missippi Twang Be we all from the contitetent So joy sound the same This boy know he breaking her down Ready to bow when she drop legs Making art of melanin and atmosphere She reflect of Jah’s light So he made a temple of his heart For her Call it Irie Big men of Jamdown get bad mind for him When she laugh loud at his language When he tickle her tummy from the inside out When make her feel like sunrise on montego bays She act like he ain’t bae But she surely pick up his calls My momma don’t fall easy But this young yardie make sure he stay on her mind Give her groove in a gift box Like she ain’t already best friends with time

[lenoraelaine]

Reflection Sunday #1

“I’ve got myself to remind me of love”  -- Maze and Frankie Beverly

I am finally ready for my lonely season. Happy Feelings came on right when I recognized it. I have been waiting for this moment for over a year now. I have been open my path way for peace and I now feel like all my bags have been dropped to hold on to it. I have met amazing people on this path back to myself. Allowing myself to be myself. Me. Myself that is goofy and sensitive, nerdy and clueless, lazy and ambitious, dedicated and flowing, let myself be peace. I’m ready to take on the responsibilities of an educator and a community member with the knowledge that in whatever position I play, I am a leader and a follower. I am a child and a mother. I am learning and open to wisdom. I’m am teaching and open to wisdom, unafraid as long as my mind and heart are connected to the Most High. And finally, I am ready to connect to that Most High by myself with out help or depending on some source outside of me to tell me how. I got myself to remind me ...

[lenoraelaine]

Living Defeats Shame

I remember when I was in first grade, all four students at the table had a name that started with the letter D, except me. I automatically compared and felt ashamed because everyone else had something in common except me. Funny thing is, I was also the only 5 year old first grader at that table, reading and writing at a 2nd grade level. That may be a silly example but a sure example of what I see happening around me. In conversations with others, I sometimes see we are so used to being ashamed of what makes us different it can be hard sit and be proud of that which makes us loved, wonderful, unique. We look at people with their iPhone 6 and and wonder why we still rocking the iPhone 5 (or in my case, a very cracked LG Samsung Android...thing). We look at people with their great jobs and wonder why we aren't climbing that ladder of success. We feel unworthy and quiet ourselves, make ourselves small and put ourselves in positions not to take up space lest those who see us notice we are different and thus inferior. STOP IT! My friends and I are at the age where we are defining ourselves based off the first 25 years of our lives trying to make sure the next 25 years are meaningful, successful, and joyful. Because some of us are not where we think we "should" be, we live according to the rule that pressure makes diamonds but lately I have seen this self-inflicted pressure deny us true joy. We seek parties, drank [sic] or drugs to find our balance but all we need is (self) love. We heard this before but what does this mean in 2014? There are more hit and quit songs than love songs, people measure their ability to be loved based on how many likes the get on their selfie, and World War III seems three days away. How can we love self through that? Well  if we stop watching the news, get off facebook/instagram/twitter and only listen to uplifting music, that could be a start to becoming finding joy. I think the main thing is finding peace within. Know that the dreams we have are ones no World War or Top 40 song can destroy. It is divinely given to us from a divine source. Study the children. See how they have fearless belief in their imagination. We got that same childlike hope with in us. We have dreams that will be accomplished. The universe always conspires to fulfill our desires. It is important to take action steps but often the work it requires to be successful is emotional and mental. We must work to be mindful of our mindsets. We must truly protect our spiritual and mental space as clarity makes way for positivity. We must stay in the position for peace and be adamant about not letting anyone destroy it. Shame gives power to outside circumstances. That power belongs to you. Hold your head high and know that you have ancestors, elders, family, friends and a universal force. There is not anything you can do to allow the blessing of the heat of the sun lie on you. But here you are, breathing, reading, and sun kissed. You are beyond blessed. You are here. You are enough. And you have no reason to be ashamed. Know this and pursue your dreams knowing they are there with a purpose. 

[lenoraelaine]

Some Things...

Things my mom taught me when she left

1. Fight hard for yourself

2. Being selfish brings out your inner God

3. Make sure you pray

Things my dad taught me when my mom left

1. Face facts early to avoid confusion

2. Love fiercely anyway

3. Make sure you pray

[lenoraelaine]

Trying to get comfortable with self-indulgence 

[lenoraelaine]

Deconstructing What Mama Taught Me

Today, I met with some sistah friends for my second writing circle entitled "Deconstructing What Mama Taught Me".  It was beautiful conversation and writing that led to self-realization. We cross referenced the knowledge handed down from our mothers and helped teach each other whatever went missing from our mothers' lessons.

Through this discussion, I realized how lucky I am to have a mother who is confident, free minded and loving. I never fully acknowledged how much I admired my mother. She taught me so much by her being herself. She taught me to embrace my natural beauty, the power of forgiveness, how to create strong friendships with men and the sexiness of confidence. She taught my sisters and I how to hustle and the power of prayer. She also taught me through a non-example at times. Sometimes I have to let go of those lessons by non-example and realize that her mistakes were her mistakes, not mine.

The healing came from the fact we all realized that through out the good and bad that mama taught us or didn't teach us, it is our responsibility to take control of our lives. We wake up and realize all the power and beauty mama has endowed us with, we also need to realize how to use those gifts. We can choose to use them wisely and push through our fears or we can choose to repeat mama's mistakes. This is our lives. We choose the steps.

I am excited for the next writing circle on February 23. Our topic for that day will be "Father: man, method or missing?" If you are a woman in the Philadelphia area looking to heal through conversation and creative self-exploration, feel free to contact me so you can attend.

I believe it takes a village to heal a soul. The more we heal ourselves with the love we give to each other, the more powerful we become as individuals and a community. We are the change we are looking for.