The Eye Sees Better

Hello Everyone,

Before I begin, I have an announcement, Dr. Kris Marsh, an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of

Maryland will be a contributing blogger.  She is also a demographer  with a concentration on the African American experience.  Here in America, we are required to identify ourselves on all applications job, school etc. as Caucasian/white, African American/black, Native Indian, Asian and so on.  So, I categorize myself as black.  Dr. Marsh, will share the experience and bring to light views and conditions of the "black experience."  She will be coming soon.  Click the link below to see Dr. Kris Marsh on CNN.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfEC1_SjCxA&feature=youtu.be

Now, on to my entry for the night.......

Have you ever heard, "there is peace in the eye of the storm?"  Literally, within the middle of a storm there is a middle space/zone area of the storm that is still, a plane can fly into it and fly out without incident.  So is life a storm sometimes.  We go through these very turbulent storms and get tossed around, because we do not find the center, the eye, where we can think clearly and have peace.  It does not have to be so loud all the time just because, there is chaos in our lives, we can go to that hiding place in our heart and find refuge to think our way through certain things, we can decide not to conclude gloom and doom, but to embrace strength and endurance.

When in the storm we can go back to the middle/the eye and see our circumstance from a more positive viewpoint transforming the problem into an opportunity to flow with calm, to get a good night sleep, to pray and believe, to hold our head high, to not be a worrier and to have joy in the struggle.  If we can come back to the center, the center will ground us and keep us from over reacting and going over board about things that are not in our control.

My Dad told me one day, "Oreadea, even if you are on your back, if you can look up then you can get up."  Well, all I could do was smile that was my eye, it brought me to the center.  I could look up, I could see the break of day, my perspective changed and in faith, I walk today.

That eye is the compass that leads us to important quiet times to hear God speak to our hearts and tell us what to do about our situation.  It could be for us to wait a little longer about something or to move on something.  Whatever it is, in the middle, we can hear.   Is it not better to be still and know, than to move in haste and regret?

With inspiration,
Oreadea

Stepping Out on Faith

So many people step out on faith, but why have I decided to step out on faith?  Well, let me share some of my story.

Throughout my life I have always wanted to help others and I did.  There came a point in my life when I needed help and those that were charged with helping did not. Once I stood up and spoke out everything I have always felt rushed back in a strong way.

Now, I am stepping out on faith to help others in a way that I will ask God to lead. 

As I go through a situation, where I have the support of family and friends,  I want to also encourage anyone that reads my blog and is going through a situation.

 I never asked the question as to why this happened or why it is happening.  I am simply grateful that God has my back and I will stand strong.  It does not mean that I will not have not so good days, but it does mean that I will stay in faith.

So, with that said, this blog will be dedicated to life's ups and downs and just ordinary everyday stuff.  It will also invite others to share stories of ups, downs, pics, fun, education and opinions about current subjects and events. Most of all, being your true self and having a voice that shares your true expressions. 

To tell you a little more about me, I am in transition from perm to all natural hair.  Wow, what a great feeling.  One Saturday, my daughter (who is transitioning) and I cut all of the perm out of my hair from the top to the back.  Currently, I am growing my length in the front so that I can say, "see ya" to the permed ends in the front.

As I mentioned, I am going through a situation on which I can not comment.  However, I will say, stand up for yourself,  do not feel that anyone can control your place in life.  Even when you are most afraid pray, then stand up.  Fear will hold you back, I know, it held me back.  Now, from knowing what fear can do, I now say to you, in the face of fear you must stand. No one is greater than you and once you understand that as in the words of Maya Angelou "no one is more human than you," then you will think differently.  I would also venture to say that no one has power over you.  If you walk in faith you may not see initially how great you are, but just walk in it, and you will become so strong that those things that appeared so much bigger, you will see in its real form and size.

As a means of encouragement, I will post poems of inspiration.  Yes, I am a poet and will not only post my poetry, but will ask for submissions to post readers poetry as well.  So, start composing to inspire.

To start, I will personally post on this blog once a week, maybe more if time permits, and soon I will welcome contributors to True Youness.