YOUR LIFE A-Z: KWANZAA

The Holiday Season Continues.  Joyous KWANZAA

KWANZAA

JOYOUS KWANZAA IS THE PROPER GREETING FOR TODAY.  YES, KWANZAA IS A FAIRLY NEW HOLIDAY MAKING ITS WAY INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, BEGINNING DECEMBER 26 AND ENDING ON NEW YEAR’S DAY.  IT ORIGINATED IN 1966 BY DR. MAULANA KARENGA TO CELEBRATE THE AFRICAN FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND CULTURE.  THE WORD KWANZAA MEANS, “FIRST FRUITS” IN SWAHILI.  SWAHILI IS THE WIDEST SPOKEN AFRICAN LANGUAGE AND RECOGNIZED THROUGH ALL OF AFRICAN DIASPORA.  KWANZAA CELEBRATES THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OVER ITS SEVEN DAYS.  THOSE PRINCIPLES ARE: UNITY, SELF-DETERMINATION, COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY, COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS, PURPOSE, CREATIVITY, AND FAITH.  THE KINARA, WHICH IS A SEVEN CANDLE CANDLESTICK, REPRESENTS EACH ONE OF THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES.  THE BLACK CANDLE IS LIT FIRST REPRESENTING UNITY AND THE OTHER SIX PRINCIPLES BALANCE THE HEART OF THIS HOLIDAY OF SOLIDARITY AND COMMUNITY.  KWANZAA WAS BORN DURING THE HEAT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AS A WAY OF OFFERING A STABILIZED IDENTITY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ANGER AND HATE OF RACISM.  HERE WE ARE FORTY -EIGHT YEARS LATER AND OUR NEWSCAST ARE FULL OF VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE. LET’S PULL TOGETHER THIS KWANZAA TO STAND TOGETHER WITH OUR AFRICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS AS THE STRIVE TO FIND FAITH AND HOPE IN A COUNTRY THAT IS OFTEN HOSTILE AND HATE FILLED TOWARD THEM.  WE ARE IN DEEP NEED OF PEACE WITHIN OUR OWN COUNTRY THIS YEAR AND I FEEL IT IS FOOLISH TO FOCUS OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN BORDERS UNTIL WE HAVE PEACE WITHIN.  WATCH THIS THREE-MINUTE VIDEO AS AN ACT OF SOLIDARITY TODAY: HTTP://WWW.HISTORY.COM/TOPICS/HOLIDAYS/KWANZAA-HISTORY

YOUR LIFE A-Z: NAUGHTY OR NICE

NICE IS SOMETIMES OVER-RATED!!! 

NAUGHTY OR NICE

These two words, NAUGHTY or NICE have been traditional words flowing from Santa Claus’s mouth from the beginning of time.  Santa is checking to see if you have been NAUGHTY or NICE speak to the duality of the western mind.  It is as if we are preconditioned to an all or nothing way of being in the world.  Life is not intended to be measured by the words NAUGHTY or NICE.  The dictionary definitions of each word are miles apart.  NAUGHTY implies being disobedient where NICE implies being pleasant.  NAUGHTY is a direct bad action whereas, NICE is sort of innocuous, a non-action neither positive of negative.   If you are honest with yourself, NAUGHTY seems more interesting whereas NICE seems boring.  Thus, I invite you to break free of this Santa of duality, NAUGHTY OR NICE and enjoy being a person who practices meekness and allow yourself to be truly present to life’s situations as they comes at you. Sometimes saying “no” to a situation or an invitation is going to feel NAUGHTY.  However, in this instance, not over-extending yourself is a NICE thing to do for you and your family.  Do not allow yourself to spend endless moments of anxiety worrying about other people’s feelings and expectations.  Be NICE to yourself and everything else will fall into place.  Reducing your stress and discovering that not everything has to be completed perfectly, more times than not will feel NAUGHTY. But the reduction of stress will feel so NICE.

YOUR LIFE A-Z:FOCUS

By Training Your FOCUS, Can You See the Elephant Napping in the Grass?

FOCUS

What does that word FOCUS really mean to you?  THE TWENTY MINUTE COACH wants you to learn to bring into FOCUS the life you want.  Sometimes it is helpful to create a vision board to help you FOCUS.  Separate your life into eight distinctive threads and name it, “My Life’s Tapestry of Eight.”  Here are the eight threads: self, health, relationship (family), career (vocation), financial health, social system, spiritual health, and recreation (hobby).  Each of these threads deserves FOCUSED attention in order to achieve a balanced and happy life.  If you don’t FOCUS on self then the rest of your FOCUSED tapestry is going to be out of sync.  FOCUS on self requires an examination of what is that I like about my life, my values, and my life’s direction?    Next is your health.  If you don’t have your health then you have nothing.  FOCUS on your health in ways that will optimize it.  How is your relationship working for you?  How many diverse threads do your relationships extend toward such as partner, children, and family of origin etc.? Continue to FOCUS on the other five threads until you have written below each of the eight separate threads.  Once you have a map of words choose eight different pictures from magazines that represent the tapestry thread and place with glue on a poster board.  Make sure that when you look at the vision board that it makes you smile and shout out a big yes inside of yourself. FOCUS on the board everyday and watch as your positive energy begins to shape-shift your life into a FOCUSED adventure.  

YOUR LIFE A-Z: PRICELESS

BREATHING IS PRICELESS-KEEP IT UP

PRICELESS

There are some things in life that you cannot put a price tag on.  Take a moment and close your eyes and breathe deeply in and out slowly as if you are blowing out a candle.  Bring into your mind your family members, friends, colleagues, and connections.  They are PRICELESS.  Next, think about these realities: you are reading this and comprehending it, you are breathing, you are able to imagine blowing out a candle; and you are here.  Those gifts of life are PRICELESS.  If you are reading this, you probably have a roof over your head and food to eat.  That is also PRICELESS.  Other PRICELESS gifts in your life today are your health, your mobility, your heart’s desires, and you.  Yes, this sounds like a gratitude list and in one way it is.  

The TWENTY MINUTE COACH does not think that you can be reminded too often to reflect on the PRICELESS gifts of your life.  It is easy to get lured into the Western mind of advertisement and seducing unnecessary necessities, but the real day to day joy comes from everything around us that is in and of itself PRICELESS.  You cannot buy happiness, joy, or health.  Thus, it is important to focus on the PRICELESS gifts, which in reality you cannot live without.  PRICELESS is your brain.  Protect it, nourish it, and feed it with positive thoughts, exercise, and good food everyday.  Take care of your brain and it will take care of you.  Take care of your family and friends and they will be PRICELESS to you.