Sacrifice

One of the awesome things about planning our parent’s joint 80th birthday party was discovering information, hearing stories and finding pictures we had not known, heard or seen. I came across this never-before-seen-by me picture of my impossibly fresh faced, impressively attired, and incredibly gorgeous Mom and Dad before they became parents.

It was a reminder that my Mom had an identity before she became a mother, and enjoyed activities that didn’t involve my siblings and me. And that my Dad was barely out of college when he temporarily sought employment in Chicago to support his growing family.

The picture led me to a greater appreciation of all the sacrifices they made that allowed us to soar.

Inhale Gratitude, Exhale Taking for Granted…
Inhale Appreciation, Exhale Disregard…
Inhale Acknowledgment, Exhale Dismissal…
Just Breathe

#Gratitude
#JustBreathe

Life Decisions

A friend of mine said she was mad at God when the choice she made didn’t work out the way she planned. And I started to question her… then I remembered the stupid thing I did when I didn’t pay attention to my inner knowing, the God voice whispering, the feeling in my gut.

I thought about the clear revelation I didn’t hear … the thing right in front of me that I didn’t see … the mistakes made more than once.

And I shut my mouth.

“People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get blamed?” Proverbs 19:3 MSG

Inhale Discernment, Exhale Disregarding Your Knowing…
Inhale Action, Exhale Discounting Your Options…
Inhale Ownership, Exhale Diminishing Your Responsibility…
Just Breathe

#Leadership
#JustBreathe

Unwitting Entanglement

When I was a freshman at the University of Alabama, I did some advertising for a friend from high school who was running for SGA president. I didn’t know he was the candidate of The Machine, the not so secret, secret society of white sororities and fraternities that has controlled politics at the school for over a century.

I was the unwitting, token black supporter.

I wonder if rapper, activist Killer Mike feels as used as I did…

“My interview with said organization [NRA], who we all don’t agree with, was supposed to be something that continued a conversation … about African-American gun ownership…I’m sorry that an interview I did about a minority…and gun rights was used as a weapon against you guys [March For Our Lives Organizers].” ~ Killer Mike

Inhale Discernment, Exhale Disregard…
Inhale Perception, Exhale Propaganda…
Inhale Wariness, Exhale Carelessness…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe

Motives

When we are plugged in to the Source of All Knowing, All Power and All Creation, when we pay attention to how we are being in the world, when we care how our actions are impacting others and our universe, then we make choices that will benefit the whole.

“A bad motive can’t achieve a good end; double-talk brings you double trouble.” Proverbs 17: 20 MSG

Inhale Discernment, Exhale Disregard…
Inhale Perception, Exhale Prejudice…
Inhale Intuition, Exhale Indifference…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
Reflections with Renita

Memorial

My curiosity about regular Germans’ attitude regarding the Holocaust led me to visit the Dachau Memorial Museum while stationed in Germany. Dachau was one of the first concentration camps opened by the Nazis and became a training center and then “model camp for the SS in the perfection of the inhuman concentration camp system, a training ground for the extermination camps of Auschwitz, Majdanek, Treblinka, etc.” 1

SS 2nd Lt. Heinrich Wicker surrenders Dachau camp to Brig. Gen. Henning Linden.

Over 200,000 prisoners were registered to Dachau from 1933 to 1945; approximately 32, 000 were liberated by the U.S. Seventh Army on April 29,1945.

Walking the grounds and being in the barren barracks was a somber and sobering experience.

To compare that hallowed ground to the delusional monuments celebrating the confederate leaders of a failed, treasonous effort to dismantle the United States is beyond disrespectful.

Inhale Recognition, Exhale Disregard…
Inhale Respect, Exhale Disdain…
Inhale Reverence, Exhale Delusion…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
Reflections With Renita

1 Barbara Distel, Ruth Jakusch. (1978).“Concentration Camp Dachau 1933-1945”.

Freedom Fighters

I was reminded, once again, while visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture that Americans of color have fought just as hard and sacrificed just as much as those who would exclude us from claiming America as ours…

Off to War by William Johnson, depicts a young GI leaving his family to defend his country.

Inhale Service, Exhale Exclusion…
Inhale Sacrifice, Exhale Segregation…
Inhale Satisfaction, Exhale Disregard…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#MyAmerica
Reflections With Renita

Signs

I get why it’s so hard for us to admit we were wrong about something or someone. Trusting, believing and being proven wrong can cause us question our judgment, our discernment.

At least that’s what I experienced after a failed relationship. But I finally realized I didn’t miss the signs, I misunderstood what I saw.

“My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.” ~ Proverbs 3: 21-22 NIV

Inhale Wisdom, Exhale Oblivion…
Inhale Discernment, Exhale Disregard…
Inhale Understanding, Exhale Unconsciousness…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Clarity

Authenticity

People treat us the way they see us treat ourselves.

If we respectfully reject disrespectful behavior aimed in our direction, our action conveys a sense of self, maybe even an inward calm.

If we are comfortable asking for what we want and consistent in our refusal to accept less, we will attract more of what we desire.

There is a risk in demanding what you desire, what you deserve. It could mean you loose what you have. But it could also mean you get what you want.

And isn’t it better to be without, than to settle for less than what you really want?

“The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” ~ Joseph Campbell

Inhale Awareness, Exhale Disregard…
Inhale Authenticity, Exhale Safety…
Inhale Acceptance, Exhale Detachment…
Just Breathe…

#JustBreathe
#Authenticity