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Yesterday, our pastor, Dr. Otis Moss III tweeted “Twitter Conversation: Do u think Cornel West’s comments about POTUS are on point or a distraction to a real policy dialogue?” along with a few other questions. After some reading & discussion, I thought this would be a great topic to share my thoughts on and maybe get feedback from you. First, let me say that I’m definitely not one to incite drama, which some may argue Cornel West & Tavis Smiley have in their statements. Many of the reactions and comments over the last few days even years have been very critical of these two men. I, however, tend to have a way of looking at the good & bad in situations. I also sometimes can take things I may not agree with and see something that can fuel positivity and encouragement.

With that said, here are my thoughts on these recent events…

For those of you who may not have read or saw the Cornel West & Tavis Smiley interview on Democracy Now, check out:

See link for video & transcript.

One of main things that have stirred peoples’ reactions has been the following Cornel West statement from the interview:

“Well, one, I think that it’s morally obscene and spiritually profane to spend $6 billion on an election, $2 billion on a presidential election, and not have any serious discussion—poverty, trade unions being pushed against the wall dealing with stagnating and declining wages when profits are still up and the 1 percent are doing very well, no talk about drones dropping bombs on innocent people. So we end up with such a narrow, truncated political discourse, as the major problems—ecological catastrophe, climate change, global warming. So it’s very sad. I mean, I’m glad there was not a right-wing takeover, but we end up with a Republican, a Rockefeller Republican in blackface, with Barack Obama, so that our struggle with regard to poverty intensifies.”

I agree that it is morally & spiritually obscene to spend that amount of money on an election. Many would agree that if we could put that kind of money into our schools and our communities, it would be better served. Not too minimized West’s point, but at the same time we can look at how much some of us spend in a month or year on shoes, hair care, entertainment, and various other non-essential items. We could all be put to shame, the poor included. I say that because we all need to get some perspective on what is really our priority in this world. But I also feel the need to take a look at the fact that obviously the majority of us wanted Obama re-elected, including West, and exactly what did that take?

I searched a few articles to read about all the money spent during this campaign including this See Reuter’s article, and CBS article

Not to give any excuse for this kind of money being spent, but we all know how the game is played. Advertising, marketing, appearances, and more all key to getting people to hear a candidate’s voice, arguments, agendas, and get people to vote for you. In Obama’s case, I can’t say this amount of money was needed, but at the same time, with the election as close as it was, we can never know if the amount put into his campaign made a difference.

But moving on to the last statement in West’s quote of saying “we end up with a Republican, a Rockefeller Republican in blackface, with Barack Obama..”

Ok, I’m just gonna say this, first, Obama has a annual salary of *$400,000 and his net worth is reported between $2,801,012 and $11,830,000. He may be considered upper class or rich but he is by far no Rockefeller.

Secondly, when you have time read this: Official GOP Platform And then tell me do you REALLY think Obama is a Republican? I mean since a portion of this GOP Platform document explicitly tears down Obamacare and his agenda, along with the points below; I don’t think Obama would constitute being one.

– Extend the 2001 and 2003 tax relief packages—commonly known as the Bush tax cuts—pending reform of the tax code, to keep tax rates from rising on income, interest, dividends, and capital gains;

– We support efforts to help low-income individuals get a fair chance based on their potential and individual merit; but we reject preferences, quotas, and set-asides as the best or sole methods through which fairness can be achieved, whether in government, education, or corporate boardrooms.

– We support State efforts to ensure ballot access for the elderly, the handicapped, military personnel, and all authorized voters. For the same reason, we applaud legislation to require photo identification for voting and to prevent election fraud, particularly with regard to registration and absentee ballots.

**Furthermore, Rockefeller Republican (often termed “moderate Republican”) refers to a faction of the United States Republican Party who hold moderate to liberal views similar to those of Nelson Rockefeller. Modern Rockefeller Republicans are typically center-right, reject far-right policies, and are culturally liberal. Many espouse government and private investments in environmentalism, healthcare and higher education as necessities for the nation’s growth. In general, Rockefeller Republicans oppose socialism and the redistribution of wealth while supporting some regulation of business and federal social programs in matters pertaining to the public good. They represent a diversity of views on foreign policy, but historically most were considered “hawks” against communism and strong supporters of American business abroad.

While Obama is for investment in environmental causes, healthcare & education, but that is also part of the Democratic Platform. Unlike Rockefeller Republicans, Obama is for redistribution of wealth and because his various speeches he’s given have focused on the American people as a collective & the idea of community, some have even called him a socialist. Just because there may be some commonality, to say he’s a Rockefeller Republican is not really true.

What I do respect and agree with in West’s statement, which leads me to Tavis Smiley’s points, is that there should be discussion and a focus on poverty. What I think West & Smiley are doing and is very much needed is for Obama to be pushed to be more progressive. As Smiley states…

“..this is why we believe that the president has to be pushed. I’ve said so many times across the nation that great presidents aren’t born, they’re made. They have to be pushed into their greatness. There is no Abraham Lincoln—I just saw the movie coming out this weekend, I think, the Lincoln project. And Lincoln isn’t Lincoln if Frederick Douglass isn’t pushing him. FDR isn’t FDR if A. Philip Randolph and Eleanor Roosevelt aren’t pushing him. LBJ isn’t LBJ if MLK isn’t pushing him.”

I feel that both West & Smiley are serving to do just that. Smiley’s statements are probably a bit more palatable than West’s but they definitely strike a match to put a light under our butts to address very key issues in this country. And truth be told, maybe because the statements are so controversial that that is what’s getting our and the President’s attention, as stated in the interview when Ms. Goodman says “President Obama said to Harry Belafonte, according to Harry, “Why don’t you and Cornel West cut me some slack?”

Yeah, we can probably do without the name-calling but if you know Cornel West (and I’ve read his books, he even signed my copy of ‘The Cornel West Reader’ when I met him & heard him speak at Northeastern University some years ago) it’s part of his personality and I still love him.

I will also say that I love Michael Eric Dyson, as well, but I disagree with his statement that “the reality is that he’s the most progressive president… since FDR.”

From what I’ve heard in some of Obama’s speeches & talks, I do think he is a progressive president. Actually, I don’t’ think we’ve actually seen how progressive he REALLY is. First, it’s very difficult to live on the South Side of Chicago, and see the things you do in our communities (crime, education, low-income conditions) and not have some very unconventional and socially-conscious perceptions of what is really occurring in our society. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Obama likes West & Smiley, agrees with many of their positions and is a fan of their work.

At the same time, going from that, especially as a State Senator to President, there is a certain diplomacy that one must seek not just to get things accomplished with our current Congress, but also to try and remain in the position to be able to do something (ie. getting re-elected) about it.

Smiley and West mention LBJ. Him taking the stand he did for signing the Civil Rights Act, the War on Poverty & healthcare reform, as well as like mentioned him saying “I know that advancing this legislation, voting rights and civil rights, is going to lose my party the South for two decades” was very progressive. At the same time, LBJ ended up losing control of the Democratic Party and it severely split into different factions and he ended up withdrawing from being re-elected. I say this not to say the most important thing is for a president to have a 2nd term, but if Obama no longer has a seat at the table to be able to enact his plans, then it’s over. And we all saw how close the election really was.

I’m hoping that Obama is simply being very strategic in all this, and seeks to use his 2nd term to move FORWARD with some unconventional plans and serious risks accordingly without the hindrance of attacks to get him out office. Time will definitely tell.

Interesting enough, West’s makes a compelling statement that “Jamal gets caught with a crack bag; he going to jail. But Mr. McGillicuddy gets caught on Wall Street; he’s protected by the government.”

Yes, as many in urban & poor communities the standard is different in most cases for minorities in certain circumstances, but Dr. West, can’t you also see that’s also the case for an African American president in office. We have seen nowhere near the kind of attack on Obama on previous presidents. Looking at a Franklin Roosevelt, who initiated & established various programs under the New Deal in his first term, was truly progressive. Keep in mind it was after he got a second term, however, he even had to deal with bipartisanship preventing his plans, not passing legislation, and later abolishing many of his programs. Unfortunately, seeing that the standard is different in our current society, heavily based on race and class, I believe Obama may not have had a chance at 2nd term, if he hadn’t as Smiley said “compromised” on certain things.

One point that I want to mention from a discussion I had about all this is that President Obama is not just the president of poor people, Black people, elderly, our soldiers or particular groups. He is the president of ALL people in the United States. So not to belittle a needed focus on particular issues like poverty, but he also must preside with a level of understanding and a desire to work with and for the behalf of all – all issues, all sides, all people.

Truth be told, this is why I couldn’t be president. Like West & Smiley, I have a passion, a position and focus on certain issues from my point of view and things I’ve seen. Fortunately for us we can stand on those things as priorities for us and that is a good thing, we should. It allows us to be the ones that can push for Obama to do things about them from the position he has.

At the same time, unlike the President who must consider foreign policy, healthcare, education, civil rights, war, poverty, Republicans & Democrats, rich, middle class & impoverished, students & senior citizens, and more, we can stand for and take action to change the specific things we want to see in our communities.

As I’ve stated in a previous post, we can talk, discuss, debate, and even elect those we see fit to deal with the issues closest to our hearts, but now is the time for us all to play our part. I appreciate brother’s West & Smiley because they both have written books that serve to educate us, have shows and continue to bring light to various issues. Now that Obama will have a 2nd term, we ALL can take steps to continue a movement to act and serve these issues and needs that exist in our nation and our world.

Please feel free to share your thoughts & comments. Keep moving forward & be blessed…

Follow President Barack Obama – @barackobama
Follow Pastor Dr. Otis Moss III – @om3
Follow Dr. Cornel West – @cornelWest
Follow Tavis Smiley – @tavissmiley

* From the source: http://www.therichest.org/celebnetworth/politician/president/barack-obama-net-worth/
** Updated Nov 14, 2012, 12:31pm

So, it’s already getting dark by 4pm and getting colder out. The motivation to get out, workout & stay active, especially with the holidays coming is getting harder. Well, I’m assuming so, at least for me it can be challenge. I admit that I can go into these periods of hibernation and once the snow hits the ground, let’s just say getting in the gym consistently can be a struggle. Soooo, how do we stay motivated to stay active?

Here are a few things that I can share with you that may help…

1) Many of us are pretty diverse and have various interests, so I say first go with that. Take all the different activities you like doing, haven’t done in a while, or want to try and mix it up.

For instance, okay I do triathlons but I’m not always feeling like getting to the indoor track or outside to run, swimming, biking or weights (and that’s pretty diverse in itself…lol). So this past weekend, I ended up in a dance studio, choreographing a dance. I don’t dance as much as I’d like so it’s my way to keep me active when I’m not inspired to get in the gym. And there are other things I like doing but haven’t done in a while like roller-skating at the rink, bowling, going to the driving range with my dad, or hitting up a group of friends to play laser tag.

So take anything you enjoy or been wanting to do that gets you active; Zumba, a basketball or flag football team, ice skating, Flirty Girl Fitness class, even a long walk and incorporate that to keep you from been a couch potato during these winter months.

2) Another thing that I encourage, especially for those that find it hard to find time to exercising and have a hectic schedule, is what I call ‘just-get-it-in’. This is actually how I began my first triathlon season training. Like many people, my days were all over the place and to say I’m going to get up every day at a certain time was not going to work. So I just decided on a number of days to get my work out in, say 3 or 4 days a week. Then instead of saying every M-W-F at 7am (which is crazy because I’m not a morning person), I determined by week which days I would get my workout in. Sometimes M-T-F, other weeks T-F-Sat, but I just focused on getting my 3 or 4 days in versus sticking to a specific schedule. Having that flexibility along with changing up my activities helped me stick to it. And even if I couldn’t get to a gym; walking, running up & down stairs in a building, dancing for 30 minutes in my living room, whatever I could do, I would seek to get some activity in.

3) And one of the best things I can say helps to keep you going is to sign up for an event.

Right now I’m in between my outdoor and indoor triathlon season, so it’s easy to indulge in this break & get laxed. Since indoor season really doesn’t get going until January/February, I’ve found a couple indoors triathlons in November and December that I’m signing up for to keep me into workout mode through the holidays.

Whatever it is, a class, a 5K, a date for a dance, or simply planning and setting a date for a group outing, find something that you actually have to commit to, that will help you stick to staying active. Case in point, once you buy the airplane ticket, you have it set that you are going and the closer you get to the date, you prepare & pack for it, right? Well, the same thing applies here.

With a combination of variety that keeps it fun and diverse, being flexible with your schedule, and creating commitments, hopefully we all won’t have to worry about making New Year’s resolutions, because we’ll all be looking good and staying fit through the holidays, anyway.

If you have any of your own recommendations or personal motivations, please feel free to post a comment here and share with us.

Be blessed…

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.

Even In Our Differences, We Can Move FORWARD

No Hibernating for the Holidays

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