Lift Every Voice

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Lift Every Voice

Jan09-3I first want to wish a safe trip to everyone traveling to the DC area of the inauguration.  For those not going, join OnyxLouisville and Red Carpet Events at Fox and Hound to watch the Inauguration speech (see Hot Spots for more information).

For some odd, random, reason I was sitting in church and decided to look the words up in the hymnal to Lift Every Voice And Sing.  It’s one of my favorite songs.  We always sing songs that we’ve memorized, but how often do we really take the time out to analyze what the words mean.  Once I read the words, I realized how important they are to the events occurring next week and in the future.

Obama’s presidency is not the end all, be all.  It’s not the beginning.  It’s a continuation.  We are one step further to accomplishing success in all areas.  I don’t know if it will be ‘politically correct’ but I hope at some point during the festivities our anthem is sung.  I’ve listed the words below and hope you will really think of it’s significance in your life (past, present and future).

Lift Every Voice and Sing
Til earth and heaven ring.
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the
Dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the
present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on ’til victory is won.

Stony the road we trod,
Bitter the chast’ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat,
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears
Has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the
Blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past,
‘Til now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our of weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who has by The might
Led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path
We Pray.
Lest of feet stray from the places,
Our God, where we met thee,
Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine
Of the world,
We forget Thee.
Shadowed beneath Thy hand,
May we forever stand,
True to our God,
True to our native land.

M.Y.  January 2009

Hair Update

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“Hair Update”

For those of you new to OnyxLouisville, I cut my hair in May of last year.  Pretty much all of my life my hair was long.  My goal was to have “bra strap” hair (hair that touched my bra strap), but once it became close to that length, I realized how difficult it can be.  Working out was hard because I hated the feel my hair on my neck.  I was constantly pulling the hair out of the back of my shirt.  Of course it had its privileges like being able to pull it back into a ponytail on a bad hair day.  There were also a lot more options when it came to styles.

April 2008

Jan09-2
But I took the hair plunge and chop, chop, chopped it off. Some said “why!”  Others said “wow!”  Some just said “hmmmm”.  But I liked it.  I cut it because 1) it’s just hair and 2) I had a hair theory.  My theory is that everyone’s hair is supposed to be a certain length.  Some people will always have short hair.  You know short to the extent that if they tried to pull it back in a ponytail it looks like a little sprout.  Others are meant to have long hair.  They are the ones that will cut their hair 8 inches on a Wednesday afternoon and by Thursday morning it’s already grown back.  I thought I was somewhere in the middle.

June 2008

Jan09-2b
So, it’s been half a year and my hair has started to grow back.  It’s about halfway (I think) from where I started.  I want to try to continue to grow it out for a full year.  When my birthday comes on May 26, I’ll decide if I prefer the long or short look.

This is what we need to realize: if you’re thinking about making change in your life – go for it!  Don’t let others talk you out of it because you know yourself better than anybody.  If you want to decorate your room a different way – do it!  If it’s time to start looking for a new job – make it work (just don’t quit your day job in advance).  If you want to get a tattoo that says “OnyxLouisville” across your back – represent…  yeah, no… don’t do that one! Challenge yourself to step out of the box.  Make new friends. But honestly, leave the hate in 08 and shine in 09.  You can’t succeed if you don’t try and you never know the outcome that could happen!

M.Y.  January 2009

Make 2009 Your Best Year Yet

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“Make 2009 Your Best Year Yet!”

Jan09-1I started 2008 with the feeling that it was going to be a great year. Several goals were set and I sought out to achieve them.  The main one was the figure/fitness competitions.  I did not first start training until the end of January last year.  I dedicated my time, stayed focused and now have a mantle full of trophies from seven different competitions.  It wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t ventured to try something new.

Although I didn’t travel as much as I’d prefer internationally, I was able to go to Washington DC, Cleveland, Charleston, Fayetteville, San Diego, Chapel Hill, Myrtle Beach and Baltimore.  I took my first hot air balloon ride here in Louisville.  It was an amazing, yet at times scary ride.   Both Louisville and Southern IN both look extremely different when you are floating across.  My vote was cast for the first Black president.  Barack the Ville, baby!

It was a blessing to see two of my closest friends give birth to adorable baby boys.  OnyxLouisville grew by leaps and bounds.  I received several honors for my dedication for the community and continued to keep the vision from my parents alive. New friends were made like Alexis Mack who showed me how two people can look to each other for strength in different ways.  Although she may see strength in me, I see so much more strength in her as I watch her raise her children while setting a remarkable example.

I experienced passion and pain, laughed until I cried and cried until I laughed.  I received flowers just because.  Gentlemen showed me that you can still be courted and I was able to realize that often times it is best to “just be friends”. There was the discovery for my love of taking photographs. Comedy shows, performances, sporting events and parties were all places where I could be found.  I even walked the cat walk twice in fashion shows and graced the pages of several local publications.

Somewhere between all of those things I enjoyed sleeping, watching Grey’s Anatomy, dancing to my favorite music in my living room, pigging out right after a competition, googling any and everything, catching up with lost friends while saying goodbye at the funeral of others, expanding my dress closet, and taking time to pray at the end of each day for all the blessings that occurred.

If 2008 was a struggle for you, make this your year of change.  Think about the things you’d like to accomplish and don’t let anyone hold you back.  Make 09 your time to shine!

My jingle for the year will be – ”This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine (in 09).  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine (in 09).  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! In 09, let it shine, in 09!!

M.Y.  January 2009

Readers Are Leaders

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“Readers are Leaders”

Salvation Dec 08How do you deal with tragedy during a season that is supposed to be joyous?  I thought of this recently as I watched the father of the three Claybrooks’ brothers talk about losing his three son in a car accident.  He was a single father trying to raise his three boys to be strong men.  He got them involved with great programs like Youth Alive, led by passionate mentors like Kenny Boyd.  His loss, is our community’s loss.

One of the ways to help people deal with their loss is to help them when they are down.  Myself and about twenty other OnyxLouisville readers did just this on Saturday at the Salvation Army Distribution Center.  I was worried when I arrived at 8:30am.  Orientation had just started and none of my volunteers were present.  I remembered “CP time” and realized I probably should have told people 8:00am instead of 8:30.  But then I saw a face.  Ben Ruiz walked through the doors with a smile and I knew it would be a great day.
The warehouse was lined with rows upon rows blue plastic bags.  Each bag represented a child that would have a wonderful holiday present of both clothes and toys.  Most of us served as Runners.  We were given a piece of paper with a family’s name.  Our task was to rapidly go through the warehouse (sometimes with a shopping cart if there were multiple kids) to find the bags with each child’s name.   Others of us worked at the front table.  As the runners brought that families items, the front people called out the parent’s name and presented them the Christmas gifts.
It was amazing to see the look on some of their faces.  Although they’d waited out in the cold (some for a long time), there were all very gracious.  The thing I noticed that made a major difference was looking in their eyes to tell them “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”.  It’s almost as if they realized that I didn’t think they were just a number, and actually saw them as a person that deserved respect.
And let me tell you, OnyxLouisville readers represented.   Whether it was married couples, families or groups of friends – our presence was recognized.  Two mothers brought their sons.  The sons ended up knowing each other.  At first they seemed upset to be dragged out there.  Once I suggested they pair up, they put a pep in their step and enjoyed the task.  I thought it was equally great to see the male OnyxLouisville readers out there as well.  Not only did it show the families that Black men can make a positive difference, it also showed those two boys that it is ‘cool’ to volunteer.  By the end of the afternoon, people were asking what exactly OnyxLouisville stood for.  Several volunteers asked me if they could all have a shirt.  While some other volunteer groups quit a little early, the faces of the OnyxLouisville readers were the last ones on the scene.
I wish you all a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and/or Happy Kwanzaa.  For those that don’t celebrate any of these holidays, I hope you will still realize that it is a time of giving.  It’s not always about financial donations – often the gift of time can be just as meaningful!

I left on Saturday barely unable to move. My knees hurt from 8 hours of moving on concrete.  My fingertips were black from the floor surface.  My back needed a good pillow.  But, my heart was full of joy!  I received the best Christmas gift I’ll receive this season – seeing my vision of OnyxLouisville come together for the good of the community!

M.Y.  December 2008

1 Minute Pity Party for All

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“1 Minute Pity Party For All”
Nov08-4Okay everybody, get your stopwatch out.   If you don’t have one, look at your watch, your cell phone, the time on your computer – whatever.  Got it?  Good.  Alright, now let’s take the next minute to have a pity party for all the things you dislike about yourself and/or your life.  I’ll go first:  it saddens me that I no longer have a living immediate family.  Growing up an only child I was very close to my parents.  I’m reserved by nature, so to have nobody to go to or talk to or a regular basis sometimes makes me blue.  I grew up with various cousins, uncles, grandparents etc… but am now the only Yeager here.  It sucks.  Wahhhh!   It sometimes is not fun being single.  It’s great to meet men and go out on dates, but I seek the day I’ll once again have that connection and be excited to move to the next level.  Boo hoo, boo hoo.

Like that- now it’s your turn.  Take a minute and get out all of your complaints about your life.  If it’s easier to write them down, do it.  Shout them at the top of your lungs if it makes you feel better.  Let your tears flow if needed (get a snot rag just in case).  Remember, you have only exactly one minute to get it all out – GO!!   (quit reading this and get started).  Keep going.  Halfway there.  I know life is tough.  Times are hard.  Nobody understands.  15 seconds left.  He cheated on you.  You hate your weight.  You have no job….. time is up – STOP!

Now that everything is on the table, here is what we must all realize.  Nobody is perfect.  Nobody has a perfect life.  Everybody has some area in which they will not excel.  Your area may be job related.  You may be the type of person who has a great family, but you are always switching jobs and/or getting laid off.  Or maybe you’re the one with a six figure salary, but are always in abusive relationships.  Or maybe you have a great family and a great job, but you have an addiction to drugs or alcohol.  And here’s another one, maybe everyone looks up to you for your strength and courage, but you’re fighting cancer and your hair is falling out.

We as humans love to sit and pout about everything that happens after the BUT.  However, it’s what is before the ‘but’ that should be our focus.  Think about your five closest friends or family members.  You can name at least one thing about them that you don’t envy.  However, you stay close to them instead, because of the things you do admire.  We need to do this for ourselves.  People ask me how I function in life after the death of my parents.  What they fail to realize is that I’ve seen the positives that have come from the situation.  When I was younger my parents took me to their meetings for different organizations.  I would sit quietly in the back and color.  Who would have known that they were preparing me to give back to the community when I was of age?  I grew up in a beautiful house with a unique father that made me a balance beam in the backyard.  Right before my mother passed away, she painted the walls of her bedroom Carolina blue.  I never imagined that I would now own the house – but it was prepared just for me.  Of course I miss the traditions of the holidays that we used to do.  However, I know life right now is a transition and when the time is right I will be able to create new ones.

And even though I hate being single, I know that I am fortunate to experience so many things in life.  I have the freedom to travel when and wherever I want.  I can sleep in late, walk around the house naked and buy as many dresses as my heart desires. I get to constantly meet new people and experience that giddy excitement you get while waiting to be picked up the first time for a date.

So do this next, take another minute (your clock should still be close to you) and think about all the right things that are happening in your life.  Are you kids successful?  Is your health well?  Are you bills paid?  Does your husband love you?  Do you love your church home?  Really think about these things – and appreciate them!  One minute – GO!

Remember, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and gives thanks for all that you’ve been given.  We can’t have everything at once, so just be patient.  Life is about a series of experiences.  Appreciate the things that you have now, before they are gone.  If you don’t value the things you have currently, why should you be blessed with anything more?

I end with this.  You may not know it, but you are a blessing to me.  I hope each of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  We are all different for a reason so EMBRACE YOUR UNIQUENESS!
 

M.Y.  November 2008

 

Booty Be Gone

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“Booty-Be-Gone”
Nov08-3My body and I are having a personal struggle with each other.  I grew up always appreciating the fact that I had a ‘big butt and a smile’.  I might not have had much up top as a member of the A Team, but I knew I was okay since I was packing in the back.
Trips to the dressing room at department stores were always the same.  I’d be excited for a dress I would find and my mother would quickly say, “Michelle, turn around so I can see the back.”  It was a killer every time.  I ended up avoiding jeans all together because they just didn’t fit right.  My derrière had been described as the perfect half of a basketball, easily held with the palm of your hand.
At a friend’s house I recently discovered a magazine called Smooth.  Ladies, this magazine features the large bootylicious views of many women of color.  Most of the pictures were from behind.  It looked like the Hooters (in reverse) for Black men.  I knew that I would never be of the status to ‘grace’ those pages.  However, my romp and I were fine to exist in our own world – until this year and the fitness competitions.
The gluteus maximus is made up of fat.  In the fitness world, this just isn’t acceptable.  If you look at the pictures of tushes of professional athletes (which I hope to be next year), you’ll notice there is no major hump-age (yeah, I made up that word!) -between their rump and their hamstring.  It’s just one straight line.  Click here for a picture.
So I’m bringing sexy back in a whole new way.  I’ll be squatting, lunging, and leg pressing my way to a rock solid posterior.   The days when my female friends and I inquired if it were really possible to make out booties clap will still remain a mystery.  The second glances as I walk past may be decrease in number.   Instead, I can yearn to have a spread or the cover of the latest fitness magazine.   I can hope to inspire women around the world to work out and care for their bodies.  I can show that sacrifices can make a difference.  Hopefully I learn that sometimes you have to give up one thing in order to appreciate the other blessings God wants to place in your life.

M.Y. November 2008