November 2018

#bloglikecrazy: Day 3 – This is America

The Good

#3 – I enjoyed a dinner party with people I didn’t know!

That’s right. You read correctly. What’s the big deal? Because dinner parties can be draining for introverts and this was the complete opposite!

photo of a toast — Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

After Dance Across Birmingham, I drove to my friends’ home and tried not to look like I had just tangoed with a tiger. My friends had just moved into a new home and invited others in their circle to an intimate dinner. I didn’t know what to expect other than what I was told – “It’s a just a few of our close friends getting together… nothing special. We would love for you to come and really hope you can make it.” I knew I wouldn’t be able to change clothes, but I could freshen up a bit and look decent. I showed up in my Troupe t-shirt, a blazer, black slacks, and black Keds, and my naturally brown face. I was the only (visible) person of color and no one cared. I was welcomed, I was equal, and I had an absolute blast. I met amazing people that thought I was amazing too. We ate, we chatted, and we laughed. We sincerely enjoyed the moment and I left spiritually full instead of physically drained… plus, my friend cooked an impeccable meal fit for a Food Network feature and my tummy was satisfied too.

The Lesson

The more we polarize each other, the less we accomplish together.

I know there are many moments of loud discord among the masses and our colors clash like hurricane waves into a building, but this doesn’t represent all of America. I’m not jaded and I don’t live in the “woke” fight/flight stage either. I just allowed myself to be saturated in the Good. I appreciated the fact that a group of people could stand in the hearth of a kitchen and sit around a dining room table and the conversation was alive and sincere. This is the version of America that coexists with the bad stuff. The intelligent conversation and camaraderie walked followed me to the car and I drove home with the reminder that everyone is an individual and deserve to be treated as such, just like I was that night. And my friends? They were simply glad I came and our smiles and hugs solidified our appreciation of each other’s existence.

In the midst of all that is despicable, can you think of one interaction with someone that doesn’t look like you that you treasure? Nourish that. Unapologetically and often.

Peace & Thanks for listening!

November 3, 2018 2

The Good

#2 – I danced and mimed at Dance Across Birmingham!

Why is this significant? Because I didn’t die doing it!

Dance Across Birmingham is hosted by the Alabama Dance Council (ADC) and is a creative ritual for me. My adventurous self gets to frolic between any dance genre that tickles my fancy. For one Saturday out of the year, members of ADC provide free dance classes for the Birmingham community and beyond. You can learn everything from ballroom dancing to salsa to belly dancing to Bollywood. I love it! It gives me a chance to stretch my dance limits and be uninhibited with a group of strangers. No one judges your stumbling feet and flailing arms as you also learn with those who are classically trained. The instructors make sure that you have fun in all of your awkward glory and you meet some incredibly cool people in each class.

During lunchtime, the instructors become the performers and you watch them explode with excellence in their respective genres. Asian-inspired awesomeness, hip-hop glory… it’s a beautiful parade of talent, skill, and passion.. and I’ve always wanted to know what it would feel like to be on that stage.

*Dancing with Nathifa Dance Company & Outreach, LLC*

Well, that dream became a reality this year thanks to Sistah LaVondia Smith, Founder and Artistic Director of Nathifa Dance Company & Outreach, LLC and Rosemary Johnson, Executive Director of the Alabama Dance Council. I was elated to dance with Sistah LaVondia and NDC because of their powerful and colorful African dancing and drumming. They are a sight to behold and a force to be felt! I had admired them since they began 25 years ago. If that wasn’t enough excitement, I performed a mime piece with my Troupe and was infused with strength! What an awesome 1-2 punch of goodness!

The Lesson

Fear is the only thing standing between you and Glory.

For decades I was scared of African dancing because of my respiratory issues. I was haunted by a fear of having an asthma attack mid-performance, so I cowardly never tried to learn it with full capacity of heart. Wow… to think of how much I was missing out! After that performance with NDC and a few others, I was offered the opportunity to join the Company. I was grateful and honored, to say the least.

*What can I say? We get down and dirty for the sake of the Message.*

The other fear I had was that my Troupe wouldn’t appear good enough to perform on that stage. We are a comprehensive powerhouse, but I honestly wasn’t sure if we would be accepted as equals. We are a group of faith-based performing artists that come from various backgrounds and our puzzle pieces fit perfectly to create movement that touches the soul. We unapologetically seek to reach an audience of ONE, but I couldn’t help but think that our colleagues wouldn’t understand us. I was emphatically wrong. Not only did they get it, but they enjoyed it!

All it took was a resolve to stand in the face of fear, push it down and walk over it. Sounds easy, but it wasn’t. I just did it anyway. If I had not done so, I would have missed out on two beautiful milestones and someone could have have missed a moment they may have needed to experience.

What is one thing that scares you, but you want to do it more than you’re afraid of it? I stand with you and pray for our boldness to run right over it. Will you get the tingle of timidity every now and then? Maybe. That doesn’t mean that you can’t conquer it, again and again.

Peace & Thanks for listening and “see” you tomorrow for Day 3 of #bloglikecrazy!

#bloglikecrazy: Day 1 – Open Season

Hi Sweethearts! It’s that time again!

For this year’s See Jane Write #bloglikecrazy challenge, I am sharing 30 Days of Good that happened this year despite the not-so-good. There’s no use in throwing a whole year away when 1) there were definitely happy moments in it and, 2) the year isn’t over yet! So, each day will have a brief synopsis of the experience (what I like to call the good) and the lesson that tagged along with it. Ready? Let’s go!

The Good

#1 – I was able to attend therapeutic massage school at my place of employment! Why is this a big deal? I’m glad you asked.

Unfortunately, soon after I was hired at my institution, the policy that allowed employees to attend classes on their campus was overturned and I would have to either pay higher tuition somewhere else or drive 1.5 hours to another campus every week day for 9 months. My father was sick at the time and being over an hour away Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM was not complementary to being a caregiver. I needed to be closer to my parents. After 5 years, I was convinced that the protocol had a permanent place in the books and I gave up on that dream. Then, the Holy Spirit nudged me to ask again to see if the rule had changed. It was a Monday afternoon and I was completely disobedient. I walked by my friend/ financial aid representative’s office (only 3 doors down from mine) without stopping. I didn’t want to be disappointed… again. See, my former supervisors and the therapeutic massage program director had pleaded on behalf many times for an exception and each time, we were denied. I didn’t see the point in asking, but truthfully, my attitude was “Fine. Whatever. I’ll ask her.”

the little (taped up) notebook that changed the game. *Photo courtesy of moi*

So, Tuesday came. I picked up my little yellow notebook, walked toward her office, then turned the corner like I was an undercover spy. This time, the Nudge was more like a shove and I took a few backward steps and walked inside. I sat across from her desk and watched her face light up like the 4th of July. “Actually, they changed that yesterday!” she said, smiling at me. My face? Fallen and flabbergasted. I couldn’t believe what I heard, so I asked to her to repeat it. She said confirmed that I wasn’t being punk’d and I sat there speechless. I asked her when was the next class and she said January 3rd. The whole trajectory of my 2018 was about to change and I had no idea it was coming, but as we sat there and crunched some numbers, my dream-deferred was becoming a plump and juicy reality and I got excited like it was harvest time.

The Lesson

Open doors are everywhere, but they have their own timing. So, don’t get discouraged by closed doors. Just be ready when it’s open season. I was reminded of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:8-37. If you’ve never read that chapter, do it. It’s dope. She had let her dream of having a son die over time and when it was time to believe again, she reminds prophet Elisha that she didn’t want to get her hopes up again (verse 17). All it took was one more ounce of belief + action to change the story.

What in your life needs a breath of fresh air? What is your dream-deferred? What action is needed to move it from conception to delivery? Pray about it and listen for the answer everywhere you go.

Peace & Thanks for listening to mine!

November 1, 2018 0

Listening at the Speed of Life

– by C. J. Wade –

Month

#bloglikecrazy: Day 3 – This is America

#bloglikecrazy: Day 2 – Do It Afraid

#bloglikecrazy: Day 1 – Open Season

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Listening at the Speed of Life

– by C. J. Wade –

Month

November 2018

#bloglikecrazy: Day 3 – This is America

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#bloglikecrazy: Day 2 – Do It Afraid

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#bloglikecrazy: Day 1 – Open Season

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Social

Blogs I Follow