Nice TEA

..It was never in what I would say, but how and how many times that I would say it, as if there were verbal voids to fill, that only my words of sacrifice could satisfy...

Bendable Planets                                                     In the midst of your day, one of the most awesome things that you can do is...PAY ATTENTION, and be intentional about not going broke. (Get that somebody). We move so quickly through our lives, and leap from one moment to the next, as if we own them and are ones that we hold the keys and promises to.  By rushing through life, we accumulate "baggage", you know those things that you wish you could get rid of, when you all of a sudden find a "good cause".  Our hearts become heavier, minds become weighted, intentions confused and outcomes less desirable.  Oftentimes, we begin to over compensate by adding a really nice "Breastplate of Flakiness", or a "Sword of Witchiness", in all we end up becoming someone we don't want to be, then can sometimes spend the rest of our lives trying to find ourselves. We begin to bend and compromise our humanity for the sake of the moment and others just to get by, when we already have all of the tools that we need in order to learn how to COPE, GET BETTER, GROW, SOW AND LIVE.

PerPHect                                                                                       Now if you can't relate,then good for you and GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!  If you keep no living, believe you me, you will have an issue or two that will show its special head in some way, shape or form...I used to be one of those people that was convinced that I was "Issue-less" ohkay!  Honestly, I knew that I had things that I had to deal with, but believed that my dispositions were covered and balanced by my "Over the Top Positive Attitude". 

Well not so much...In this season of my life, I discovered something very interesting about myself..that there was something fundamentally broken, in the spokes of my "Life Cycle".   I constantly apologized (sometimes for things that I didn't do), I'd over "Please & Thank" people, pay more than my share, sacrifice myself so that I could make peace, etc.  It was like I had some kind of deficit and needed to compensate for it.  I also realized that I would take on "Other People's Stuff" and blame myself for it, or find some kind of deep interest that created a cross to carry that wasn't mine.  What a time, what a time. REAL TALK

Off Course     ...I tell you, keeping it real and facing the truth is where TRUE FREEDOM RESIDES.  Oh yes its right there, and if anyone else among the perPHECT people tell you different, then they haven't lived yet.  See what I realized was that somewhere along the beautiful journey in my life, I became a "Glutton for Pain and Punishment", almost running toward it, if you will. It was like I was on fire, and there were buckets of water on my left and a nice forceful breeze on my right, I would look to the left and smile and take off running to the right, then wonder how I would patch me up and try to heal my wounds from the consuming fire.  THANK GOD THAT I WASN'T CONSUMED IN THE FIRE, Amen!

Amen somebody!  When frowns, bad attitudes and heavy spirits would make their way into the lives of some that were around me, I would automatically assume that it had something to do with me, then I would waste time asking questions, like, "what's wrong, are you okay, is everything alright, did I do something, do you want to talk about it, can I help, will you be okay, are you mad, are you sad, etc...". I tell you that was the most tiring thing to do, when I had my own life to live and own growing pains to give attention to.  Now because I had become weakened by the weight of life's Lemons (and didn't think to pick up the Sugar, water and pitcher), I believe that I became an easy mark to be mistreated at times.  Its true what they say about nice people, they are always easy to strengthen so that they can carry the stuff that pains you to carry. Hummmm

Epiphany                                                            So guess what fell out of the tree of life within this season, already?  Some wisdom and a multitude of AHA Moments!  I felt a wave of relief, an internal shift that felt like I just had a chiropractic adjustment.  What I realized is that I had been living with a peculiar self-centered sense of unworthiness ~to some degree.  It's significant that I had this Epiphany at a time in my life, when I am preparing for the Awakening & Ascension of The Most Powerful ME TO DATE, all while I hold my heart, mind and soul in the palm of my diamond grazed hands...This new sense of awareness of myself, forced me to shine a light on my shadowy areas, it was like turning a huge spotlight on myself.  I realized that if I was obsessing about my own feelings, that I was not present and truly engaging with those around me, and would frankly not have the complete affect on them that I had purposed in my heart. Honestly, what I found was that my inability to LET GO and allow everything around me to cease, work itself out, settle, etc...was a disturbing distraction and could ultimately change the course in which I desired to trot.

naKED PHReeDOM                                                                                     I'm grateful for the opportunities that I am granted to learn how to become a better me.  Today, if that instinct to want to take on other people's stuff and blame gets triggered, a mechanism inside of me kicks in and starts playing, "Got to Give it Up" By Marvin Gaye and I get to jooking and shaking that feeling off of me.! (Real Talk).  It's helped me become a better friend, partner, mother, business woman, writer, motivator, counselor and an all around more effective person.  I have learned that its hard to focus on what someone else needs when you're focused on what their problem could mean about you!  I still have to take a deep breath every now and then (Because I am human), and collect myself, and remember that I AM MORE VALUABLE THAN the simple disregard for my feelings and substances.  I no longer live inside of that little gray box, dressed with moss and grapevines, with little cute misplaced emotions, but instead I am present, standing in the open and distributing my care using THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF MY OWN WISDOM.

My Dearest PHAMLI,                                                                                         The writing of this piece was PEACEFUL AND THERAPEUTIC, because the choir took 5 and I decided to sit in their place and tell the pianist to play me in C!  Honestly, with the Newness and Truth of Every moment I am becoming more free than I was the next. I embrace the value in sharing my story, because when you sow the truth into some one's life, it never comes back to you void.  At a time in my life, I honestly believed that my personality was only molded by my environment, but what I failed to realize was that if I took time enough to look at the options that were placed in clear view, I always had a choice. 

I could choose whether to allow what someone else was going through that had nothing to do with me, affect me or I could be who and what I needed to be, and remain a beacon of light.  Although this is only an excerpt of this piece, I pray that you find something within what I've written that you can use.  I honestly feel that people shouldn't speak too much if they don't have anything to say, otherwise they will just birth confusion and waste a lot of time.  I send a spirit of courage, wisdom and peace to all who will receive it and to all of those o don't know that they need it. I pray that you evaluate your interactions with others and make sure that they are healthy.  Until next time, be well, take care of yourself, reach to grab the stars, smile much, take care of your temple, reflect much, pray often, and keep it positive and moving.

Belazadu'm

YMC

May you be strong enough to stand still                                                                       have enough integrity to keep it real

Adjust your vision to be clear

and love yourself enough to release fear

Black and White RAINBOWS

"What manner of Freedom IS THIS, that we have the Opportunity to take all of our Character Building Experiences, and use the Gifts that we've been given, to EXPRESS THEM THROUGH POWERFUL WORDS, THAT CAN CHANGE, RESTORE AND HEAL THE WORLD ONE HEART, MIND AND SOUL AT A TIME." Be Intentional about sowing Positivity into the atmosphere, because everything that YOU do CAN AFFECT SOMEBODY, SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY..."YMC Minah 3:33

excerpt from

Seasoned Lips

...Seasoned Lips

and Broken Hips

Curved backs

shame filled grips

bowed heads

broken nails

and dirty beds

domestic refugees

selling sleds

to get into places that they once called home

alone little ones left to raise themselves for fun

while mentors give up integrity to cop another one

rescue ships that leak

broken walls that crumble when they speak

communities giving away hope, while chasing burning dreams

human beings misusing themselves and others to survive

when the last of the good ones, marvel from vengeance that they hide

with all jokes aside

ministries plucking out trees, from the souls of the "trying to be's"

and money coveted like honey, things worshipped more than

April's Spring...

Yahminah McIntosh Copyright 2010

A True Blessing

For quite some time now, I've been writing, reciting, learning my crafts, understanding the significance of what I express and becoming strong enough to carry the weight of my own Visions.  My journey has not come without the trials, tribulations, road blocks, forks and sabbaticals that sometimes follow those of us who passionately live to learn, reach, teach and grow into who we know we need to be...Recently, I was honored to learn that a graduate read a piece that I wrote called,"We Emerge" at her High School Graduation.  This piece is one that I wrote in 2008 in honor of  Barack Obama's Victory into his presidency. 

The most amazing part of this is that I have never met this young lady before and it was her parents that wrote to me to share this blessing.  To this young lady and her Family, thank you for supporting PHAMLI (People Having a  Mutual Love for Inspiration).  My goal is to Encourage, Edify, Educate, Motivate and Inspire all who I come in contact with and read and see my work.  To my young supporter, I am humbled by your presentation and ask that you never stop dreaming, reaching and desiring more and better.  I pray that you keep good and positive people around you and Dare to Be Different, always.  To your parents, may the Power that HE has rest upon your Family and may you ALL see the fulfillment of the desires of your heart, IN THIS LIFE.  Azuelo and God Bless you Jarrett Family.

Below I've shared the piece that was read at the graduation, as well as two other pieces that I decided to write today, if there is anything that I can tell you, is that no matter what you do, what you write and what you say someone is always watching...

Until Next Time

Be Well

Belazadu'm

Yahminah McIntosh

..Enjoy

WE EMERGE...The Heaviness of our serious presence
A positive creative nation
Full of growth, knowledge, culture and richness
A beautiful collage of experienced great minds
A strong voice speaking loudly but eloquent
Thorough and direct, articulate and effective
Audiences applaud our originality
Using our methods as directives
Gift voices singing in harmony, always on key
Bands battling with rhythm and instruments creative spontaneous symphonies
An effusion of life changing events
with historic relevance
Touching the inner most parts of those who refuse to appreciate
The words of wisdom, knowledge and love that we as accomplished ones make
A True manifestation of our confidence
Felt throughout the veins of our respective communities
Understanding that we have risen out of an obscure position
Fine tuning our presentation so that all will pay attention
Possessing visions and stepping out on faith
Executing goals and judgement, not allowing them to go to waste
Changing perceptions, creating new ideas and possibilities
Winning cases, finding cures, educating nations and effective campaigning
We are Entrepreneurs, Leaders, Educators and Presidents
and Beings that change mediocrity into magnificence
and walk in sink, on the road paved with excellence...

Yahminah McIntosh Copyright 2008


Ameri'CAN
America The Beautiful
but then again, really only when she was youthful

but with all formalities set aside

its survival, crucial

Don't worry about what its giving you

Focus hard on what you can do

Complainers Hush

and politicians you must

fuel the continuance

of real change

I don't know about you, but the flag is

remembrance of the blood that wears the Human Stain

and bells ringing that freedom game

play it no more with the whispering of justice's name

Us hopeful ones stand tall and strong

with sleeves rolled up and victory pumping through our veins

Yahminah McIntosh copyright 2010

The Rules

Boo Hoo
Don't cry the blues
you say you don't know what to do
listen up cause here's what I can tell you
Mothers nurture your kids
Contractors be good stewards of your bids
Fathers be providers
churches remove your dividers
families pray together
and couple's stay together
Celebrities give back to your communities
and ballers make atonement and get off those streets
missionaries take care of the business that lies within this country
and teachers care enough to teach our youth
out of the trap of statistical
illiteracy
leaders, blaze trails of positivity
bridging gaps and showing
them that, we're seeds growing the same tree
of peace...

Yahminah McIntosh Copyright 2010

Morsels of Wisdom for the Spirit

From my Heart to Yours

Today is a good day, and regardless of where YOU might be, or how many days you've sat shedding tears or walking to the wall so that you could wrap your head around what BREATHING felt like, you are still HERE!

May you be satisfied with the "Davyine" Clarity that is destined for you in this day.  May all of your needs be met and you experience receiving the desires of your heart, may you have no lack.  May you lift your head high and have HOPE today, and appreciate the color of the sky, for there is no limit at its end. May you smile, may you laugh, may you dance and may you grow, and succeed in all that you do. May you be Healthy and Selfless, Expressive and Helpful. May you treat others the way that you want to be treated, and never disrespect those that love you. Don't forget to sow if you expect to reap and May you find value in YOU, and solace in the POWER of your gifts. May you dream and may you create an atmosphere of expectancy and may all be well with you today.  Indeed YMC

                                                                                                   

"When you come out of the cellar, equipped to rebuild after a storm, and look around and all that you see is disaster, and those that began with you are moving on in rebuilt shacks, pay that no never mind about being forgotten, but be grateful that you have the strength and GOOD land to build upon. Minah 7:11 

"Those things that make you Unique, make you Beautiful, don't allow anyone or anything to ever define who and what you are." Minah 10:12

  

"If getting out of bed is the hardest thing for you to do, and under covers or in hiding is where you'd rather be, then think of this...If you desire light, love, peace, joy and happiness, the only way to get them is to meet them at the threshold, when they are delivered, so get up, get out and STAND."

Minah:8:16

"There will be some days when your words and actions won't coincide, and moments that will be filled with unexplainable bouts of confusion, this is when stillness is the remedy and reflection is key."
Minah 3:19

 "You are what you think, sustained by what you eat, Moved by what you hear, changed by what you feel and affected by what you see." Minah 7:17

"Let today be the day, where the major resurgence of your hope is seen, felt and heard." Minah 11:11

"See the possibility of Growth in every Opportunity that Knocks, but don't forget to answer the door." Minah 6:17

"Don't rely on disconnected ego strokes to get you across the ocean during a storm, because like paddles of ice they will dissolve once you're far away from the shore." Minah 4:64

"Never value yourself by how someone treats you, but find satisfaction in the value of how you love and treat yourself, because the love from others can sometimes be conditional and leave you feeling worthless."

Minah 3:33

"If you want to be right, then you have to do right, and if you want to teach and inspire, you have to be willing to learn, and if you want to grow you have to be willing to be chastised, and if you want to be loved you have to learn to love." Minah 1:11





"When you love someone so much that you trade the heart of your smile for the occasional glimmer of hope for theirs, you build a ladder from a whirlpool where the only word you see at the top is JUMP." Minah 6:67


"The things that you come to understand when you hibernate by choice for a season to heal, force you to chisel away at bricks and stones that you've caught and carried while gardening outside your glass house." Minah 7:3


"Remember that no matter what you've done, if your choice is true and intentional redemption the spirit will intercede with a prayer of leniency on your behalf, so that your New Life Moments are filled with Grace & Mercy." Minah 5:9

"A good person is without honor in their own circle, and their value is usually determined by their past, but since their focus is higher ground, their spirit speaks, wisdom will be remembered, love is good and their heart is pure."
Minah 8:1


The things that will make you laugh, can make you cry, and the things that you are drawn to, can one day chase you away, and the things that break your life can be the catalyst to helping you becoming whole again. Minah 4:55


"If you find yourself under a rock where gravity sits, because you've been dismissed, thrown away or treated insignificantly, raise that rock, brush yourself off, lift your head up, change directions and walk...the sun will shine again" Minah 5:51

  When you think that you have too much time on your hands, and still have so much work to do, make better choices in taking care of your business so that your cup will overflow with peace and satisfaction, than disappointment and procrastination." Minah 2:24



"When you say, "I Love You" mean it, act like it, and get to where you need to be, so that you can give it, its proper treatment." Minah 5:75


"Never forget what you should remember, and never destroy what should live, don't make a mess of things that you don't understand, and don't take for granted the things that you should hold dear." Minah 9:16


Until Next Time
Be Well
Belazadu'm

Yahminah McIntosh Copyright 2010