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Well, I had plenty of time waiting in the police station to think about this one. I wasn’t sure how or if to share this, as it took a while to set it, but as in many circumstances there are lessons, moments of clarity, and opportunities to bless someone else.

Yesterday with it being sunny and in the 40s, I thought it would be a good day to run by the lake, which I’ve missed since November. In the 1pm hour, I was heading back towards home finishing up a 5 mile run on the bike/walk path on Lake Shore Drive, when someone grabbed me from behind and pushed me towards the ground. Not to give too many details but turning to realize this was someone I didn’t know, I was fearful. I feel like it was God’s strength in me and his protection that allowed me to fight my attacker off, get up and get away.

Yet, even in being able to get away from him as he fled, something told me to get help and alarm people. Not only did people stop their cars for me, as I ran out by the traffic on the Lake Shore Drive, people, including one amazing guy passed me to jump out and get him. Another remarkable guy, who let me in his car and drove towards where the offender was, already in an altercation with others, got out to grab and keep the offender down until the police came.

Now, I’m not detailing this to give some dramatic elements of a crazy day for me, but moreso to share with you what I took from all this.

First I shared this yesterday on Facebook because I thought of the numerous friends, family, acquaintances that often walk, run, do errands by themselves not thinking that this could happen. Heck, even I didn’t think so with it being the middle of the day off one of the busiest streets/drives in the city. And it’s important to simply take stock and be mindful of not just your surroundings but also how you can be prepared in the event something like this happens. I don’t carry much when I run but I will be getting an id bracelet, carry some kind of light/easy to carry mase, try to run with a partner or group when outside, and if alone run with only one earphone in my ear.

Also, though we often mainly hear about people doing bad things to others, know that there are many people out in our communities that still care. There are people who are willing to help when in trouble. And especially there are people who will go above and beyond to do what’s right, ensure safety, and show compassion. There are many angels walking amongst us in various shapes and forms. God knows who, how & when to provide, protect & bless.

And finally, perhaps the biggest reason I felt like I should share this is while I was waiting in police station, what kept coming to me was a general message from our pastor’s sermon this past Sunday, which could be summed up in these words:

“Don’t diminish who you are so that you can accomplish what God has for you. You are not a grasshopper, you are not small in the eyes of God. You are not a grasshopper, “There is a hero in YOU!””

My friend, Seven stated it best, “Everything happens for a reason. Today dude chose you as a victim, and God chose you as an end to this dudes reign of terror. “

I don’t regret what happened nor am I sorry it did. It’s good that it did, in order to keep him from doing it someone else. And I’ll do what I can to ensure that his terrorizing actions stop with this. God has a plan and He uses both good things and things we may not think are so good to see it thru. So I’m learning to accept it all and not be small. He may use the craziest, hurtful, fearful situations to accomplish what He intends. And even in those times, they can be a blessing, shining and inspiring moment to us all.

So I know I didn’t post to F7LN last week. It’s not that I didn’t want to. I usually post based on things I feel led or inspired to share and there wasn’t anything I seemed to be moved to post. I even got a little bothered in trying to, but as I’ve come to realize especially in the last 2 years or so, there are times when I’m being brought to a place of stillness. It may be a day or two, a week, some months or longer, but I’m learning to be present to that spirit that brings me to a stop. At times it may be for replenishing of thought and spirit. Other times may be for reasons I will come to know.

Trust me, I know it can be a challenge or even frustrating, especially if you’re a mover & shaker, get things done, to-do list having, on the go, working on projects, and innovator, like myself. When I first realized I was moving in a phase of my life where I was to be still, it was incredibly difficult. Though I embraced the calmness of it, coming to a space where I was unsure and even how long I’d be in it brought about anxiety and was uncomfortable.

As time passed, I came to see a variety of things that God was showing me, how He was moving in my life, growing me and in many ways still readying me for what’s to come. At times we are so used to our own plans, living life and doing what we feel we should, but God will slow us down or put us in a space to be still to hear His voice. In that space we can focus on Him, and in many cases stop and give Him time to work on things we have no power over or even the sight to see.

Last weekend a friend out of the blue texted me and asked if I was feeling frustrated or worried about something. In the past year or so there has been much on my mind and heart that I thought, prayed, and at times simply didn’t understand, which had me feeling frustrated, unsure, and even disappointed and confused. Though I still may think and feel unclear at times, I no longer feel frustrated or anxious and I shared that with her. However, she replied back saying that she was being led to tell me to relax and be easy.

I very much believe that God speaks in various ways to us; through His word, inklings that we sense or feel, in a song or expression, and through messengers. For me, her text was a confirmation of what I was sensing, to take some time and replenish, to get clarity on things, people, situations and messages that were happening in my life.

I even find that at times when things seem to just be going all wrong, my hands are tied about a situation, I don’t have an answer or a clear way I should go about things that may even get me upset. It’s as though God says “well I tried to whisper in your heart to just hold on, but just to be clear…not yet, sit your butt down.” LOL. I have and continue to learn to listen with my heart, to know the seasons to which life will bring us. I think of Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8, but specifically verses 5-7. In life’s peaks and valleys, there is a time for many things including, searching, refraining, gathering, and silence. Even when we don’t understand or have things that concern us, keep seeking but simply trust when you are being led to do nothing for there is a plan and purpose even in that.

I felt that I should share this, because unlike many of the messages that we get that are equally important, that express us to move, be powerful, create our life, touch others, and DO so much more, there is also a time for us to not do anything but listen and wait.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,a time for war and a time for peace.

Her last tweet…”I’m tired.” Yes, I’m tired too, baby girl. Tired of the senseless shooting of innocent children. Tired of hearing yet another gun claimed the life of another brother or sister. And I’m long past the point of taking this anymore.

For those that have not yet heard about the shooting & killing of 15 year old, Hadiya Pendleton, this has created a major outcry over the last 2 days in the Chicago.

Though I’ve known many youth at King High School and other CPS institutions, I did not personally know Hadiya. But I cried yet again in hearing another bright & beautiful child was shot & killed. Though I have no children of my own and work with numerous youth, I have a deep sense of feeling connected to my community, to our children, as if they are each my own.

Even as I write this, my eyes swell with tears, because of the hurt I feel knowing our children are dying, my children are dying in the streets. If we all look at all of our children this way, then our hearts would be breaking right now and we’d be at a point where we can no longer tolerate this. We ALL have an obligation to protect, nurture and love our children.

It’s very shortsighted to say, “Well, I’m just focusing on mine” or “they aren’t MY kids”. Whether we realize it or not, we are interconnected. Like Hadiya, even if you didn’t know her, she probably went to school with someone you know, or a school you used to attend, or is related to someone you know, or was part of an organization or an event that either you or someone you know attended. Even the president can admit that. My point is for us to realize that she’s family, we are family.

With that said, do these words, still ring true?

“I am my brothers/sisters keeper.”

Yes, I am.

And if that still holds true for you too, then we can no longer afford to let the violence we see continue, escalate and keep claiming our brothers and sisters. We need to actively engage in “keeping” one another.

Do I have all the answers? No.

But in each of us, is a portion of the solution. In something laid on your heart to do, in some gift instilled in your abilities, talents, and skills. Be it knowledge, a responsibility, and urging you feel, in some way, each of us has something to contribute to the solution. Hadiya did her part to speak and act in addressing the violence in our community. (Hadiya in PSA on gang violence: below) We owe it to her memory and the lives of our children to do ours.

Hadiya’s life was a gift. And perhaps even in her death, we have ALL been given an opportunity to wake up like never before and start changing the face of our community. How many more Hadiya’s do we need to see for us to be tired of hearing these incidents claim our youth and be determined enough to engage in “keeping” our children…ALL of our children. I pray not one more.

Well, this past Sunday I kicked off my indoor triathlon season at the Midwest Indoor Tri-Classic Series in Wheaton, IL. It is a great way to get into the groove of training for the new year. This was the first in a series of 3 that take place every 2 Sundays and I like this one because they take place in really nice facilities that are large enough to house a track.

Though, I haven’t gotten into full training, I’m trying to get into the gym at least 3 times a week, which can be tough with the weather and sometimes my schedule. I need to drop a few pounds to get into my best form (you know how those holidays can be..lol)

I must say this was a good showing and I enjoyed it (Check the pics below!). My bike was stronger than I thought it would be seeing I haven’t biked but once since outdoor season. I still was hoping to place, but got squeezed out by individuals in the last 3 waves (5th place-age group..ugh!) It’s cool, that definitely gets me going on setting a few goals for the next ones. And yes, I’m geared up for the next one in 14 days! #LetsGO

http://www.active.com/triathlon/various-locations-il/midwest-indoor-tri-classic-series-2013

I love to cook & get creative in the kitchen & since I haven’t posted more about foods since the site’s launch week, I thought I’d share some goodies I’ve been making lately. Now forgive me if some of these recipes aren’t exact, next time I promise to be more mindful of measurements, but if you have questions or want to know more feel free to shoot me an email, tweet, FB

Vegetable/Chicken Stew (Nigerian)

I have to thank my good friend Kudus, who’s from Nigeria, for showing me how to make this back when we were in college. I affectionately call the dish Dus-Dus Chicken Stew.

2 green peppers
3 tomatoes
1 or 2 onions
2 cans of tomato paste
20 dried chili peppers (usually sold in by bag)
2-3 cups water
8 – 12 chicken legs
½ cup vegetable oil
Salt
Pepper
3 Yucca or Potatoes
Rice
Blender
* Note: this is typically a spicy dish, if you don’t want it to be spicy or want to cut the spicyness, use less or no dried peppers.

Blend 1 pepper, 1 ½ tomato, 1 onion, 1 can of tomato paste & 10 dried chili peppers so that it liquifies. Add water as it becomes too thick to blend. It should be a thick soup consistency (not to watery). If you have a huge blender, you can add the remaining of the 1st five ingredients, otherwise, pour in a large stew pot then blend the rest and add to pot. Rinse & add the raw chicken legs to the stew. Add the vegetable oil (this will keep stew from sticking). Season with salt & pepper (2 tbsp – salt, 1 tbsp pepper). Cook over a medium heat for about 1 hr, stirring every 5-10 min. While this is cooking, cut up the yucca or potatoes into about 16 pieces each. Add them after 30 minutes. In a separate pot, cook rice according to its directions. After you stew has cooked an hour, I usually taste a potato piece. Once the potatoes are tender, it’s done, if not, cook for another 15 minutes. You can also add salt/pepper to season to taste before it’s done cooking.

Sangria & Granny Smith Apple Chicken

I tried this over the holidays with flavoring Cornish hens and it was soooo good, so I decided to do it again with baked chicken. It’s really simple.

Chicken wings
White Sangria
Granny Smith apple
Salt
Pepper
Italian seasoning

Wash and place chicken wings in a cooking dish. Cut up the apple into small pieces and spread over the dish. Pour sangria over each chicken wing (coating it). Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, sifting it over each piece. Turnover each wing, pour sangria again and season other side. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Turn over each wing, Bake for another 30 minutes.

Strawberry-Angel Cake Dessert

Angel food cake is a great low calorie and low fat dessert to eat if you’re a sweet-lover like me. I don’t recall which brand of angel food cake mix I used, but just try getting a box in your local grocery store. Mix and bake according to instructions.

Angel food cake
Strawberries
Glaze for Strawberries
Whipped cream

Cut a slice or two of angel food cake into small squares. Place them in your dish. Cut up the strawberries into ¼ pieces and add them. Spoon some glaze and drizzle it over the cake & strawberries. Add whipped crème on top. If you really bad, you can also add ice cream.

“Nonsense. You’ve the power and the ability right now to end world hunger this minute, to cure diseases this instant. What if I told you your own medical profession holds back cures, refuses to approve alternative medicines and procedures because they threaten the very structure of the “healing” profession? What if I told you that the governments of the world do not want to end world hunger? Would you believe me?”

This is a brief snippet that I read from “Conversations With God: an uncommon dialogue” that prompted me to write today’s post. Well, for anyone who has had a relatively in-depth conversation with me, they already know I’ve made similar statements and very much believe this. The book continues to state:

“..This is not malevolent, yet it is insidious. The profession doesn’t do this because it is evil. It does it because it is scared.”

I stumbled on to this way of thinking quite some years ago. I used to get a cold at least once perhaps up to a couple of times EVERY year. The one and only time I got a flu shot in college, I got the flu right afterwards. Since then I refused. Then I started to read about natural health and learned about herbs, medicines, elements and their effects on our body.

What still baffles me is the amount of people that still take cold medicine like Theraflu, Tylenol Cold, and the like. I included a sample photo of what one clearly states on its label (see below). So for example, when you’re sick, some of your symptoms are coughing, sneezing and having a runny nose. Most medicines include ingredients to suppress your cough, relieve you from sneezing and your nose from running. Yet why would you want to suppress your cough and keep yourself from sneezing or your nose from running as these are the very ways your body is getting rid of the contamination that is causing you to be sick? Though we don’t like to, nor want to do it around other people (which is why you should stay home or avoid contact with others while sick), it’s how our body fights the cold. In other words, if you simply want to treat symptoms, then taking all those drugs is fine, but how do you solve the problems?

For me personally, I foremost began to focus on having a healthier diet. However, when I do start to feel a little under the weather or know I’m not getting enough sleep or food, I take echinachea, a natural herb that helps my immune system naturally fight anything that I may get. Some people take zinc and other herbs or supplements. I swear by Echinacea, lemon juice, teas, and ginger. I also decrease my sugar intake when feeling weak, because sugar suppresses our immune system. Since then, I hardly ever get sick (maybe 1 or 2 times in the last 8+ years). (http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/10-immune-system-busters-boosters)

So, what does this have to do with the snippet from the book?

There are various industries that profit off of our lack of knowledge and ignorance, as well as by attempting to implement propaganda and fear. They do so because they are afraid of losing money if we change our current way of life.

For instance, we are all aware of the so-called “flu” epidemic that seems to arise every winter. We even had some years where all kinds of swine-flu, bird flu, and various forms of viruses seemed to run rampant. Even in the last year or so, for healthcare workers the flu shot is mandatory and possibly could be for all in the future. The health care industry makes money off of us being sick.

That industry combined with the food industry profit on people not taking care of their health. If you ever watch documentaries like Food, Inc. or Supersize Me, you’ll understand how this manipulation of our food, us not making the best choices and not having the information or the option to take care of our bodies helps these industries save money or profit.

I often wonder how a country like Canada can offer free healthcare to their citizens, but we in the US, one of the superpowers of the world, can’t seem to do the same thing.

I shouldn’t say can’t, but rather won’t. This along with our education system, our military, prison systems and other national structures are all in the shape they are in or have an agenda that allows people, companies, and industries to profit off of the way they are now, therefore, there is a resistance or reluctance to change.

This country makes money off of war. Heck, violence is a principle that it was founded on. Part of why Dr. King was so dangerous is because he spoke out against the war.

Our inner city schools are in such mess and understandably so when you realize that over the course of the last 20 years, the amount of money spent on prisons increased by 570%, while the money spent on education increased by only 33%.** You might be shocked at the list of companies that make money of prisons and putting people in prison. This also speaks to why this country doesn’t invest more in our children’s’ education.

So, why am I bothering to even post this? Well, half the battle is being informed. This post isn’t sufficient enough to serve by giving a lot of detail though I can point you in the direction to learn more. Hopefully, it will grab your curiosity enough to do some reading, research and assessing. I plan to do more posts including discussions on these various topics and include books, paper, documentaries, and people that serve as resources. Once we collectively become more informed and talk, then we can start planning and acting on making changes within ourselves, our families, our communities, and ultimately our world.

Yet, for now, I want to encourage you in seeing that you first and foremost have the power to start creating change right now. Starting with you, your family, friends and beyond…

Ask yourself, how informed and active are you in your own health? Are there people in your own family or friends that can benefit from your knowledge and encouragement?

If you’re interested in the education and state of your community, how can you get involved? Do you have some ideas or areas you are passionate about that can contribute to youth, adults, seniors, schools, or the community at-large?

Do you have a drive for being an activists or mentor for young men or women? Are there organizations that address violence, gangs, or any type of lack or issue you see in the community that you’d like to get involved in? If not, why not start one?

How can you lend your voice, your talents, skills, relationships, or connections to give voice or serve a particular issue?

These are just a few things to not just think about, but challenge yourself, this week to get out and act upon. And if you would like more detailed information on a specific topic or issue I referred to OR if you’d like to serve as a resource for a future post, please email me.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-981-ECHINACEA.aspx?activeIngredientId=981&activeIngredientName=ECHINACEA

** https://sites.google.com/site/educationvsprisoninamerica/facts-about-america-s-education-system

As we celebrate the birthday of a phenomenal man, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., there is so much we can take from the example he was, his life, and what he stood for. He was a person who stood for justice, equality, peace, and so much more. At different stages of my own life, there are things about him that I embraced and spoke to me, causes my life would impact, and the person I would become.

In a previous post, I shared how last year I read his book “Strength To Love”. One of the things that reading this book allowed me to see in myself was an incredible capacity to love. Even though it’s something I’ve always known as God-given gift, I really began to embrace and live a life of loving despite anything, loving all people. I began to have a greater understanding of Dr. King and how he was able to choose LOVE in every instance and circumstance, despite hate, persecution, and oppression.

Imagine a world where everyone chose to love, to act in love, not just their family and friends, but people they don’t even know, people that have hurt them, people that don’t like or hate them.

I know it may seem impossible, but to even begin to take it on in small ways would slowing begin to change the world we live in.

Tomorrow I have a court date with individuals that stole my car this past December. Though I do feel that we all should deal with the consequences of our actions, honestly I’m not so quick to think just lock them up and throw away the key. (There are a few other issues around my thoughts on that but I won’t go into right now). Even those brothers, that did that to me, I love, I pray for, I want them to succeed in life. I don’t agree with what they did, but I don’t hate or harbor disdain for them either. Maybe I’ll have a chance to sit and talk or get an idea of why and where their heads are and speak a word of encouragement to them. However, at the end of the day I believe acting in and putting out into the world the spirit of love, will go much further and bring us all closer to being the great people we are meant to be.

This is why I feel Dr. King was so amazing. He understood and died for the fact that it is LOVE that is our ultimate reality, what we seek, what we desire at the core of our being to experience in the life we are given. It is the gift that God’s given us that we are continually seeking, embracing, and driving us and our very lives. Unfortunately, not everyone has been able to experience it, don’t realize they already have it within themselves, don’t see, seek or share it with EVERYONE else and in ALL situations, and that is why we have a world that chooses fear, harm, inequality, hate, and war as alternatives. We have yet to recognize and be the gift that we already are.

And if there is anything that I feel we can take from the life of Dr. King, we can see, share, and be that which we are…the gift of LOVE.

The time is way overdue for the brakes to be pulled on a lot of these reality tv shows. And for those that enjoy many of them or will state ‘it’s just entertainment’, I get that perspective, but as in anything, I think it’s important to do some simple critical thinking and analysis of exactly what is distributed in today’s society.

Just like we know that many of the foods we eat, may be good tasting (ie. Flaming Hots, Oatmeal Crème Cookies) but not good for us, it’s important to know and understand exactly what we are intaking and the consequences of it.

I could get into a whole other discussion on food, music, movies and other forms of media and propaganda, but for the sake of this post, I’m focusing on reality tv shows.

Last Monday, I kept seeing #BestFuneralEver trending on my timeline, so I looked it up. These were the links that I found:

*Note: Video in the first link and seemingly all original videos of the ‘Singer Of Chili’s ‘Baby Back Ribs’ Jingle Barbecue-Themed Funeral’ seemed to have been removed

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/best-funeral-ever-singer-bbq-theme-video_n_2422725.html
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/other-shows/videos/best-funeral-ever-coming-jan-6.htm
http://blogs.discovery.com/tlc-new-now/2013/01/sneak-peek-is-this-a-funeral-or-a-christmas-pageant-.html

Ok, MY reaction and personal opinion after seeing this was.. “this is an absolute display of buffoonery of our people. And though it’s a show on TLC channel that could cover any ethnicity, I instantly knew that this would depict mostly black funerals and was confirmed by the few snippets I was able to find online. SMH!”

Though I’m not speaking to all reality tv shows, but there are many of them that I’m not a fan of and simply won’t watch. However, as an individual that works with youth, it’s important that I stay abreast of what they & our society are exposed to as well as be aware and actually observe some of the thing they embrace.

I agree with Jennifer Pozner’s view in her NY Times article of how a lot of reality tv shows exploit people of color, women, and children. (http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/10/21/are-reality-shows-worse-than-other-tv/reality-tv-exploits-women-minorities-and-children)

So, I just have to go there…

From ‘The Bachelor’ to ‘Flavor of Love’ to ‘Bad Girls Club’ to ‘The Real Housewives of ATL’ to ‘Sisterhood’ to ‘Best Funeral Ever’ and many others..we have got to be mindful of what we watch, listen to, support and ultimately feed our spirit.

I often look at tv shows and media in general as commercials and propaganda to promote certain images that are NOT exemplary, uplifting, or even remotely acceptable. I personally am fed up with seeing images of people of color or women shown in ONLY or predominantly a certain light. In the example of women, as Pozner points out, on many of these shows, find me one woman or representation of a woman that is not one of the following: “The Slut”, “The Catty Backstabber”, “The Weepy Waif”(desperately competing over female beauty or male booty), “The Angry Black Woman”, “The Gold-Digger”, or “The Dumb Bimbo”.

With the premiere of ‘Best Funeral Ever’, we have taken the sensationalizing of a person’s funeral or homegoing and turned it into entertainment, with a subconscious message of portraying cultural and religious rituals as a mockery. I mean praise dances with gigantic ribs and dipping sauce…c’mon people!! WAKE UP!!

These are the kinds of images, portrayals, and messages we are allowing our children to grow up with, numbing our own minds and intellects with, and allowing to be representations of people in our society? They started calling the television ‘the idiot box’ for a reason. More children spend more time in front of the tv than have face time with their own parents. Then we wonder why we see 4th and 5th grade girls snapping their fingers, rolling their eyes, and quick to have attitudes. Well, they see it on ‘Basketball Wives’. So, much so that about a year ago, at an all girls overnight where few young ladies got into a small altercation, one even stated that they don’t like being around a lot of females because “..‘we’ (ie. black girls/women) can’t get along anyway”.

And the same type of negative imagery applies to images of black and other men of color, youth, and others groups of people. We can say it’s just entertainment, but we need to also be aware of the impact they have on how we perceive ourselves, other people, and overall what they promote and intend beyond simple amusement.

I could continue with a variety of different matters that relate to this topic, but you will see a few various upcoming posts that relate to this very concern. I’m also working to engage in project(s) to promote more positivity and uplifting depictions as well as educate on the significance of addressing what is lacking in our current forms of media (tv, music, etc). But for now, feel free to share your own thoughts and opinions. I very much welcome your comments. Be blessed.

If you could have any singer, musician, artist… perform at your wedding/reception or renewing of vows, who would you choose and what song(s)?

During your lifetime what world or national event(s) changed your life, way of thinking or impacted you deeply? And how?

From a Frightening Instant to a Shining Moment

Being Still

“I’m Tired” – Hadiya ..Now, Are YOU?

Indoor Triathlon Season 2013 Kicks Off

Foods by Fredi

To Your Health..Knowledge: The Power to Make Change

Dr. King – A Gift Of Love

Time to Get REAL With Reality TV

Topic of the Day: Monday Music

Topic of the Day: Throwback Thursday