Where Do I Stand?????

        I had an interesting conversation with a young woman last week. She asked me where should she stand in the fight for injustice. Find myself fielding questions like this all the time, young people just want to know what is  the right thing to do.  Some of them have no clue what they should or should not do.  As mentors, educators and leaders we may think we know what they should do.

       The reality is and what I told her was,  that I can't tell you where to stand. I can provide you with  knowledge and lead you to sources that can educate you, but I can't tell you what to do. You have to sit and think, look inside your self and find your direction.  What is right for me, may not be what is right for you.

      Before you decide to tell someone how to join this battle remember  we are not all the same  and what might wok for you, wont work for someone else. Our goal above all it to make sure our children learn how to think critically. The key word is THINK!!!!

 

Motivational Minute

Removing Silence Brings Happiness

It has been such a long time since I decided to post because I have been dedication my time to the Silence No More Project and  my Dissertation.  I want to  come to you today and express joy because I feel like I am on top of a mountain, I went to church today and felt joy instead of pain.  That for me was such a big deal because I used to go to church and purge pain. Today I rejoiced and that was the best feeling I  have ever had in my life.  I may have lost some things or people but the gains are beautiful. I felt my feelings and removed the silence from my life. Now I am experiencing  a freedom that I never have felt before.

I say to you all go forth, push through the process and there is joy the end of the process.

Loving myself as I am!

Authentically Me!!!

Fourteen years ago I decided to go natural. I was tired of the relaxers and perms breaking my hair. I also wore braids most of the time anyway.  My boyfriend at the time laughed at me after I cut my hair and said I look like a boy. 

Needless to say neither he nor the hairstyle lasted. Six months later with him gone I went natural yet again. My hair for me has always been a part of my identity. Ask any black woman and many of your childhood memeories has something to with getting your hair done. 

I have always loved the look of Locs on other women but my excuse was that I change my hair too much to get them myself. The reality is I was scared and not brave enough to do it. Just like going natural I tried it a few times and went back to naturally loosed. 

I knew when I was ready to be authentically me my hair would reflect that. 10 months ago, healing really occurred in my life. I decided I wanted the world to see me. The real me not the person that had represented me for so long. So I started my Locs.  Honestly from the first day I was in love with myself.  I saw me everyday, in the mirror and it did not matter to me what anyone else thought about it.  To some this may seem silly. They found that freedom a long time a go but when you have lived the live I have,it take a little bit longer to get where you need to be. 

So this post is celebrating the fact that the real Keisha finally stood up!!!

Silence No More

The book has been sent to the publisher!!! #silencenomore

The website is almost complete!!!!!!  Hoping we can roll it out on May 1 but may have to wait until June. I am so excited this is finally happening!!!

If you would like to submit a video about how silence has been present in your life. Don't wait contact me. All it take is for you to record a video on your web cam and send it to me, I will do the rest!!!!

Silence No More

I have sat down to write my story many times and most of them have been failed attempts.  I had to realize that this my story, the one I consider part of my life and I decided that I am going to tell it my way and on my terms.  So for many this may not be the way they feel the story should be told but I don’t care. I was silenced as a child and told not to share our business with world. Most of the time I walked away from writing this story out of fear, fear of losing my family and never being able to talk to them again. I thought that my silence would keep the people I loved close and they would at least love me for it.  The funny thing is that without me telling my truth or this story out loud it allowed  people to mistreat me. I am writing this story for all the women I met along the way that have been afraid to tell their truth. For those women and girls who have been made to sit in silence while dealing with their abusers on a daily basis. I am also choosing to share experiences in my life that we don’t talk about that I think we are silenced about or are considered taboo topics. Silence will not dominate my life anymore, I am telling my story, I am telling my truth. These stories of my life will be the beginning of my project: "Silence no More".  Where I will allow women to tell stories on their terms about how not talking about taboo issues have created silence and damaged their lives!!!

#silencenomore

Pushing Forward and Going Against the Feeling

I have been in the position where I have to push forward. To keep moving despite the trials and tribulations that I am going through. 

It bought me to this idea that I thought I would share with you all tonight. 

Doing the opposite of what you feel. So if you are sad find something to laugh at or that will make you happy for a while. Sometimes you have to go against the grain to survive. I have found that even though my problems are still going on daily. I am happier each day when I go against the feeling to hide and be alone. 

Give it a try. It may take some practice but we all know that the more you do it the easier it gets. 

When You are Not in Control!

I have so many things that I must be doing right not but I can't.  My 5 year autistic son cant seem to fall asleep and my mind is racing.  I am fixer and I spend my time fixing things and looking for solutions to problems. So you can imagine that I have been researching and trying to fix this for him.

Today, I realized that I was not in control, I cant cure or fix this. I can help him and provide the service he needs but I am not in control.  That is difficult thing for me to do as a mother and a type A personality. I see how this is affecting my family, marriage and our daily life. It is the most difficult thing  to see your child in chaos.  I want so much for him to be who he is destined to be. I think that he is a brilliant child who just cant see the world the way we want him to.

So today I realized I am not in control, I got down on my knees and prayed for him. I prayed for us

Blessings K