:: Aham Prema ::

In high school I wrote this story about my beloved Grandpa Chuck.  I just read it again yesterday for the first time in 15 years to my son.  I am very thankful to remember these details I had forgotten and to share the essence of such a wonderful man with my boy.   I also realized how much of an impact he has made on me that still holds in my character today.  In memory of grandpa, here is the story.  Slightly edited. :) Licorice Grandpa My grandpa was simply the best.  There is no way I can describe what an incredible person he was.  He seemed to be the only grandpa alive who was still "a kid" inside.  It is because of these reasons that my grandpa Chuck has made an impact on how I live my life today. One of the best memories I have of my grandpa is going to his house every holiday.  My family would enter my grandparent's huge immaculate house and be overtaken with the strong thick smell of my grandpa's pipe.  As soon as we ...

From my American Studies 301 Class: American Character.  Lawrence Levine writes, a Culture is not a fixed condition but a process: the product of interaction between the past and present. Its toughness and resiliency are determined not by a culture's ability to withstand change, but by its ability to react creatively and responsively to the realities of a new situation. (Levine, Black Culture and Black Consciousness, p. 5, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1978).  Using Levine''s idea as a jumping-off point, below I discuss the emergence of the musical form "the blues" as a response to the situation in which Blacks found themselves in the generations following emancipati on. The blues gradually emerged in African-American culture as a response to their daily life after emancipation.  Freed slaves ran into a whole new set of struggles with emancipation.  They learned that they were not free to enjoy life at all and had extreme hardships to overcome.  A...

Today was my first time being back in school after taking a few years off.  I’ve enjoyed school a lot for quite a while now.  I noticed last time I returned to school, about four years ago after taking a break for nearly five years, that I had changed my attitude about learning.  I went from feeling bothered that my time was being used for something that I didn’t value to feeling very appreciative for the opportunity to learn.  It wasn’t easy to squeeze into my schedule, it was hard to afford to go, and it was tough the first day of class, but I realized the wonderful benefit of learning in an environment dedicated to teaching me.  Although I appreciated learning, it was very hard to give up time with my young son at the time.  I decided to put my education on hold for a few more years to focus on treasuring the time with him while he was so little. Well, it’s finally the right time to return to school.  I have a wonderful support network and all...

This timeless phrase expresses a feeling many of us have reached at least once in our lives... probably much more often than once. Simple, yet profoundly true, it reflects a shift in perspective - wisdom attained. We all learn as we go.  As we grow, we reflect back on past actions that could have had extremely different results if we had more experience at the time. Isn't it amazing how much more we can see in the same situation after a few lessons are under our belt? Imagine going back to a time in your life in which you were hesitant or unprepared and having the opportunity to relive it with all you are now. All those little steps we took led to our current foundations of wisdom. Had we not had all those realizations, we wouldn't be where we are at today. In light of this, we can be very thankful for all the small (and not so small) lessons along our paths. Recently having a birthday and going through many large life changes, it's been so interesti...

My boyfriend told me he wanted to volunteer on Christmas day.  I thought he was insane, "Why not volunteer any other day of the year?  Christmas is for family!" A few weeks later I watched my niece star in a Christmas play put on by her church.  I'm always moved when I see young kids in action, giving it their all, and doing their best.  Especially the kids that I love so dearly.  However, what was most touching about the play was a slideshow that was put on in the middle of it.  It showed people volunteering their time to help others.   All the sudden, it clicked.  I finally understood what my boyfriend wanted to do.  He wanted to be there for others on a day that it mattered a lot to them, a day that they may not have anyone else to turn to or may feel forgotten.  Suddenly, I felt a strong desire to volunteer on Christmas as well.  Although it's my favorite day of the year with my family, I wanted to give to those who are les...

Inspired by the heights of my jaw pain after my wisdom teeth extraction, reflections of gratitude for the things we often take for granted. Yes, its repetitive, but slow down and open up to the purpose of each word! :) Every time that you feel no pain in your body, give thanks. Every time that you wake up in a cozy place, give thanks. Every time that you have food to nourish you, give thanks. Every time that you come home to a nurturing space, give thanks. Every time that you get to enjoy a friends smile, give thanks. Every time that you have some love in your heart, give thanks. Every time that you are there for yourself, give thanks. Every time that you make it through a tough part, give thanks. Every time that you get a hug from the youth, give thanks. Every time that the sun brings a new day, give thanks. Every time that you can give to your elders, give thanks. Every time things do go your way, give thanks!!! In Gratitude of All of Life’...

Summertime reminds me of beach days, timelessness, family, friends, and fun. It’s always been my favorite time of year. What I treasure most about it is the essence of it. Beyond the details of plans, to do’s, and work, remains the grand feeling of this season. What stands out most are the long days, afternoon walks, and family gatherings. Now that I’m older it’s easy to get caught up in “shoulds”. I could busy myself with them for a lifetime or more. I can think of plenty of tasks that will help me farther my goals, bring in some dough, or get things off my plate. And it feels wonderful to accomplish them. However, looking in the eyes of my beautiful children, I’m reminded of what truly matters most. A simple family game or a walk under the stars – the time shared together is what these young hearts hold dearest. And thank God for their welcome reminders. Tuning into their natural state, I can feel so much wisdom: Slow down from time to time Enjoy those aro...

I have been opening to feelings on a greater level. I am learning to honor them as divine signposts rather than seeing them as problems. Why the hell would I do this, you ask? I assure you this decision was reached with reason. This isn’t something I thought might be a fun exploration.     I have realized that as I open to really feeling my feelings, I can feel much more of the beauty of life. As I pay attention to them, my life is more rich and free. I feel a surge of happiness in my daily being naturally when I am clear with what I feel. When I look at the feelings that make me feel bad, it releases those negative charges and I exude gratitude much more naturally. Living from this emanation of thankfulness and appreciation for life makes my days a whole lot more enjoyable and real. "The lightning flashes and the thunder roars and the superior man does not drop the ceremonial spoon." But there’s a reason this was hidden to me for so much of...