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Since its Friday, I wanted to post something that’s fun. One of the coolest things about working with and just being around little kids and teens is that I get to let that youthful, fun, innocent, idealistic side of me just hang out. Don’t get me wrong I’m also a very serious, get-down-to-business, focused individual, even as a youth development professional, but I think it’s important to be ‘present’ and seize each moment.

A lot of real young children have this natural inclination to simply be…ask or say what’s on their mind, run or dance like no one’s looking, read or play without having a care in the world.

As we grow up learning rules and structure, being told what not to and what we should do, even at times before we are teenagers in many cases, we often lose this sense of freedom. Not to say we shouldn’t have structure or learn societal norms, but sometimes we allow those things to be so engrained that they diminish our natural sense of individuality.

To put another way, how often have you:

– Had an idea but waited to get someone else’s approval or thought it was so big you talked yourself out of it
– Wanted to do something but gave all kinds of excuses for why you couldn’t or pushed it off
– Seen someone or felt yourself the desire to dance at a place/event & because no one else was, you didn’t or you waited til others were
– Wanted to or felt you should say or express something to someone but you didn’t out of fear, rejection, pride…

We all at some point may have experienced things like this. Not to say you shouldn’t think about things, heck I’m probably one of the biggest philosophizing, accessing, analyzing, considering other peoples feelings person I know; but sometimes we have to ask ourselves is that stopping us from being who we are meant to be.

I think it’s cool to get in touch with that 2yr old self we all experienced and dance, play, act, sing, love out loud. It reminds us of how to live without barriers or holding ourselves back. You may be surprised what’s simmering just under the surface, waiting to come out…a new business, a new project, a relationship, a connection with a family member you never had before, or getting involved in a cause that’s important to you.

My challenge to you today is to tap into that childlike spirit and do something fun, silly, a lil crazy, or that takes you out of your norm..

– Call a relative you rarely ever speak to and just talk and see what’s going on in their life
– Go to the gym, a dance class, the roller rink, or something that you haven’t done in a long time but been wanting to
– Email to friends or post that poem, that short story, that song you recorded that no one has heard
– Heck, go kick it with a 2-7yr old and actually ‘play’ with them, not supervise

Whatever it is, find something to do today or sometime this weekend that takes you out of your comfort zone and allows you to be’ free to just be’. And if you enjoy it (which I’m sure you will), challenge yourself to do things like that every week. Get into the habit of stepping outside your box.

Have an amazing day!

A Night To Remember..Moving Forward

Coming off of my post from yesterday morning (What’s Next? After the #VOTE), I thought it was amazing that President Obama spoke on the very same point of not simply moving forward but the importance of each and every one of us to play a part.

I won’t reiterate his speech as I’m sure you can find it online. I also won’t recap my last post as you can check that out, but I do want to challenge us ALL by asking..what will you do now to move our communities, our children, our nation forward? If there are some things you don’t like about the state of your life, family & friends, relationships, neighborhoods, schools, laws, finances…what are YOU going to do to be the change you want to see?

Trust me, I’m asking myself the same question, because we are all hyped right now, coming of the elections (or maybe not if you voted for Romney), but I’d hate to see all the energy and excitement dwindle away in a week, a month, or a year.

So I think it’s important for us all to answer that question daily.

I’ve had many ideas about connecting with young boys out here involved in violence in our communities, young ladies and how particularly black women are portrayed that lead to lack of self-worth, awareness, understanding and valueing themselves in our girls & young women, the use of music and artistry to speak to our inner spirits and the power of us as God’s creations to do so much more. Now it’s time to ACT on these things.

This site is a part of that, as well. Therefore, instead of waiting to launch next week. Today, which interesting enough is the 7th of November, I’m officially launching this site.

Already in the last 5 days this has been up I’ve gotten sooo much positive encouragement, responses, feedback, and folks wanting to connect, I’m just going for it. So you will still see more added and evolving, but to understand the purpose and intention behind F7LN, check out About F7LN and especially the first post, Reawakening of Purpose.

So with that stated, as I know we are all busy and have our own agendas & challenges, I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas on YOU moving FORWARD. Feel free to post them in a comment. If you’re willing, include in your post your email as I’d love to stay up-to-date on your progress and send you encouragement.

Be blessed…

Election day…Ok, I get a lil emotional at times when I think about our elders and the things that they went through for us to have the opportunities we do. I feel honored that they dealt with so much not just for themselves because they wanted us to have better. I feel a strong sense of obligation to our youth and the next generation.

I loathe when people complain about our kids and neighborhood and at times will challenge them by asking what are they doing about it. We can sit here and criticize them or we can use our own gifts, talents, and time to dedicate to them so that they have better. And as of now, I look at our schools, our communities and I often feel like we are failing them. Our parents, grandparents…went above & beyond and endured many things they didn’t have to. And here we are, and I will acknowledge even myself, comfortable, lazy, not feeling like stepping up, when I see the things around us (ie, violence, lack of education, lack of opportunities) that our young people and communities are dealing with.

Yes, I do work with children and teens, but I can admit, I can DO more. Honestly we all probably can. Things such as:

– taking time to assist a child reading that you know is struggling in school
– volunteering at schools or community centers
– taking time to talk to a group of young people on the bus simply to engage their thoughts and possibly inspire them
– using your gifts & talents to give kids a skill or teach them something new
– having an intergenerational discussion to close the gap that exists in our communities
– starting or being a part of a female or male mentoring group
– helping a struggling single parent out that you know is falling short or about to lose a kid to the streets

A week ago I participated in a discussion with a group of 7th graders. The topic for them was ‘Is it important for them to know and care about the issues of their community and voting?’ They had a lot of thoughts about Obama and Romney. They shared that they thought they were important and what issues mattered to them. It was encouraging to hear their passion and even knowledge on the two candidates and their stances. Though one thing that was shared was that some felt that based on the things that they see in their community, nothing was really going to change. These kids on the south side of Chicago hear, see and are affected by violence just about every day, and so it was discouraging to hear their hopelessness.

Then I asked them 2 questions. I asked who could name 3 people off of ‘Basketball Wives’. The hands flew up. Then I asked who could name 3 alderman or their state senators. No hands went up. Honestly there was a time I couldn’t answer the latter question, even as an adult. But I was reminded of the challenge for me is to do what I can to educate and inform our youth so they are prepared to use their voice and act on their behalf to make change in their communities. I expressed to them that we all tend to look around waiting for someone else to DO something. Expecting Obama or Romney or even other political figures and leaders to DO something or make a CHANGE, like they are some magical individuals that can do all the work. I told these 7th graders, that looking in the mirror and out into their faces, those are the ones that make change. We all can and must play a part just like our ancestors did to impact the world around us.

For many of you who already do sooo much in our community, you are a blessing and I want to encourage you to keep doing what you do. With that said, I pray today that you get out and vote, but then think about what next steps you can do to be the CHANGE you want to see…and the ACT on it!

Be blessed..

** Featured photo: A few years ago I asked my dad, who was good friends with slain Civil Rights activist, James Chaney, to come speak to my group of InnovaTeens, Girl Scouts, & community youth.

Conversations with God-an uncommon dialogue:Book 1 – Neale Donald Walsh

I’ve always loved books and reading. It’s funny how I find myself, especially lately reading quite a few at the same time. One of the 3 that I’m currently reading is ‘Conversations With God: Book 1’ by Neale Donald Walsh. Seeing that it was published in 1995 and was on the New York Bestsellers list for 137 weeks, I’m feeling like I’m serious late and out of the loop in just discovering it this year. Yet like many books that I read, they seem to come to me at the time and place which they were meant to.

As I began reading, I instantly was drawn into it and have found myself spiritually and mentally re-awakened. Not that I’ve been sleeping, but I find that as I experience things in life and am continually seeking answers, growth & discernment. This book has been providing an insight that is stimulating, refreshing, and challenging to various philosophies and ways of thinking.

So I decided that I wanted to share some with you that it may encourage, incite & perhaps open the doors to something you may be seeking for yourself.

The book begins with these questions that Mr. Walsh poses to God as a result of frustrations in areas of his life, in which I can relate. Written in a dialog form, God challenges him back asking if he really wants to know the answers or is he just venting. From there the book reads like a series of questions and answers as well as a dialogue between Walsh & God. Many of them are questions and thoughts that we ALL have and wonder.

One of the initial points is God communicating to us all through ‘feelings’, ‘thoughts’, and ‘words’.

* “Words may help you understand something. Experience allows you to know. Yet there are some things you cannot experience. So I have given you other tools of knowing. And these are feelings. And so to thoughts…The challenge is one of discernment. The difficulty is knowing the difference between messages from God and data from other sources.”

“Mine is always your Highest Thought, your Clearest Word, your Grandest Feeling. Anything less is from another source…The Highest Thought is always that thought which contains joy. The Clearest words are those words that which contain truth. The Grandest Feeling is that feeling which you call love. Joy, truth, love.”

For someone who has lately been constantly questioning if thoughts, desires, feelings, and dreams are from God, this has given me something to take on in my search of God’s will & what is meant for my life.

Prayer is a stronghold in my life. I’ve learned how not just to speak to God but to listen. I greatly recognize and value the power of prayer. The book makes a declaration about things we ask of God and praying for things that we want in stating “The correct prayer is therefore never a prayer of supplication, but a prayer of gratitude.” In effect, when we ask for things, we come from a statement of lack and in a sense of faithlessness. The book explains how in appreciating and expressing gratitude, we come in a space of affirmation. This is our expression of faith.

One of the statements that the book addresses that moved me was *“All human actions are motivated at their deepest level by one of two emotions-fear or love. In truth there are only two emotions..” I’m always seeking to act in love in everything that I do. This had me thinking a lot about human nature, especially when the book breaks down our nature “to love, then destroy, then to love again”. I also then began to challenge myself by asking what am I really afraid of, what are my fears, and why? (I’ll provide insight to that in upcoming post, but let’s say I had a profound moment in seeking to discover hidden fears.)

The final thing that I will share in this post about the book, which was definitely in-line with where I am in my life and oddly enough with the launch of F7LN.com, is the statement made:

* “The deepest secret is that life is not a process of discovery, but a process of creation.”

I’ve always looked at life as being about learning and growing, yet one thing to thing about is looking at life as the chance to recreate Who We Are.

The book explains..

* “Life (as you call it) is an opportunity for you to know experientially what you already know conceptually. You need to learn nothing to do this. You need to merely remember what you already know, and act on it…Yet knowing is not enough. The soul seeks to experience…It is your soul’s only desire to turn its grandest concept about itself into its greatest experience.”

When I thought about how God made me & my ending after this life is over is already determined, so what is the purpose of my life? To understand and establish myself as the person who I was made to be. Self-actualization. And is that something to learn or rather something to create so that I know myself to be who I am in actually experiencing it? I thought this was a profound point, especially seeing that along with myself; a lot of people I know seem to be questioning and trying to figure out what’s next in life.

Well, though this was brief and doesn’t remotely get into the depths that the book truly goes into, I hope this blesses you in some way. Feel free to check back as, I’ll be sharing more as I read. I do recommend reading the book yourself and if you do decide to, let me know via email or Twitter and share your thoughts.

**Peace & blessings**

* excerpts from Conversations with God

For someone who’s pretty active and is a triathlete, I try to have a healthy diet. Though I must admit I like fried chicken and have an insane sweet tooth, however, I’m constantly educating myself and working on nourishing this temple that I’ve been given to ensure I take good care of it. That along with my constant desire to express my creativity always leads me to having fun in the kitchen.

I love being artistic and making “pretty” food. More and more I find myself baking, mixing, preparing cool dishes or drinks and then sharing them and photos of them. So I decided to share a few new healthy items that I’ve made along with how to make them. I will admit my measurements are estimates, since while I made them, I really approximated the amounts based off look and taste but feel free to try them and let me know how they worked for you.

Mango Pineapple Salsa

Mango Pineapple Salsa
I love tropical fruits and just this last week or so made this twice and enjoyed as snack food.

3/4 cup of diced fresh mango
1 cup of diced fresh pineapple
1/4 cup of chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup of chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon of sea salt

Mix and enjoy with your favor tortilla chips!

Apple Pineapple Mint Refresher

Apple Pineapple Mint Refresher
I literally just tried this yesterday, but it came out so good that I drank 2 cups of it.

1/2 cup Simply Apple 100% pressed apple juice
1/2 cup 100% pure pineapple juice
2 cups mint tea
1 cup ice
Sugar in the Raw

Mix juices, tea and ice in a shaker. Shake well. Add sugar to your preferred taste. Shake again. Pour and enjoy!

It took a while for me to decide on what would my first post be about and then it came to me. It speaks to the meaning behind this site…PURPOSE. The last 2 years has been a collage of experiences in my reawakening..to challenge myself in growing, transforming and continuing to evolve in fulfilling my purpose. I want to share that same challenge with you.

For not just myself but many people around me, we all have experienced challenges, difficulties, hurts, and struggles. Personally, my life in a way came to a halt. I’ve found myself and others seeking direction and not quite clear on life and where it was meant to lead.

I often say that God uses pain and struggle as a megaphone to speak to us. As difficult as it can be to embrace pain, change, and lack of clarity, it’s necessary to step into it and through it so that we can come out of the other side victoriously.

After spending much time being still, silent, reflecting, praying, fasting, seeking, learning, I am reawakening. I feel this time is necessary in all of our lives and that it’s part of our continual journey of self-actualization.

No matter where you are in life, it is perfect. You are exactly where you are meant to be, so embrace it. To truly do that, I say ask yourself and keep digging and seeking to answer the questions:

Why is this happening? What am I meant to learn & get out of this?

What am I truly here for? Is what I’m doing fulfilling that? If not, why am I doing what I’m doing?

I’ve let go of doing things that when I asked these questions I realized that they are not contributing to my purpose. And I’m challenging myself to use all areas of my life spiritual, family, work, hobbies, gifts, and more to fulfill and embrace my, Fredi Nyashia’s purpose. Hence, this site, F7LN.

F7LN has a double meaning:

First it stands for ‘For 7 Loves: Nstruments of Nspiration’: art (visual), music, creativity, spiritual gifts, talents/abilities, daily experiences, and life’s journey…with a focus to uplift, and inspire.

Secondly, F7LN represents me, Fredi NyAshia, the 7 is my favorite number but also symbolic in so many spiritual aspects (you will often see 7 represented in features on the site), and ‘L’ for LOVE.

All of this with the simplest purpose: to embrace, show & share with you LOVE.

So, with that said..Welcome to F7LN.

Free To Just Be

Ready To Move FORWARD…F7LN Officially Launched!!!

What’s Next? After the #VOTE

Conversations with God: Part 1

Fun With Food..Here’s To Your Health

Reawakening of Purpose