Who do you represent? ( Dedicated to EVERY Person and LadyDiva who died in Haiti)

Dear Diary,

97 years ago 22 young women found the courage to say NO MORE! They defined the words, " Curse-Breakers"....

My living room is always very peaceful. Even on the days that I bring my drama to it's comfortable floor- it still demands peace out of me. Sometimes, we take the beauty of simplicity for granted. But, this morning I found it irresistible. My eyes stayed fixated on the gorgeous Crimson and Creme jacket, draping my dining room chair that reads, " Dream Girl" on the rear. As I zoned in on the jacket that was given to me as sign of my new found sisterhood, I began to think...

" What exactly does it mean to be a Dream Girl TODAY?"

There I was breathing "NEW" air, staring at my Delta Jacket, eating a fresh bowl of Co-Co Puffs, feeling the aches and pains of the morning resting in knees, trying my best to FIND time to hit my knees and spend time with MY "Secret Keeper". The television was still blaring a story that nearly stole my joy the night prior. However, this time there was a number, " Hundreds of Thousands" of people were killed in Haiti.

Diary, how is this possible? They were here a moment ago? But now, gone.

I then closed my eyes to see the vision of a little girl carrying what little she could offer her family to eat. I see her piecing together pages in a worn down book. I see her determined to read... I see her dreaming of a freedom that I have taken for granted. She is the REAL LadyDiva... she is the real curse breaker...

Diary, on this day that I am so proud to call my self a DELTA, a woman, a LADY, a HUMAN... I've decided to learn from this tragic event.

WHAT LESSONS CAN BE LEARNED FROM HAITI?

1. DreamGirls aren't just in movies that are based on the Supremes! DreamGirls are everywhere. They walked the streets of D.C for women's suffrage while ignorance threw rocks. They walked the streets of Haiti, searching for the God in their circumstances. He was there for them, and he is there for us.

2. DreamGirls don't just wear Shiny Red sorority jackets ( Although I absolutely LOVE mine). They wear business suits, police uniforms, and rags. They can't be placed in a box. They are too focused on their CHANGE and making CHANGE. Our DREAMGIRLS in Haiti are visionaries and can teach us not to take our blessings for granted. They found an inward treasure in dreaming... where as we focus deeply on the outward "gifts" of the world...

3. DreamGirls still believe GOD even when things aren't ideal. It's no secret diary, Haiti is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. Prior to this catastrophic event, our little LadyDivas there were hurting. Struggling with the same issues that I dealt with, however I woke up to a life of ease- although I pretended it was strife. Those young ladies just keep on moving... and more importantly, they kept on dreaming...


97 years ago today, the founders of my illustrious sorority made it possible to learn what a TRUE DreamGirl is, and TODAY hundreds of thousands of Haitians are no longer with us.... teaching us to hold fast to our DREAMS... and to realize that the ability to dream is a privilege.

They are the ones to be celebrated TODAY... And always...

So Diary, I've decided to wear my Sorority Jacket TODAY with pride, not just because it's FOUNDERS DAY, but because I represent EVERY DreamGirl from here to Haiti....

It's a lofty responsibility... but some one has to do it.

I'm just glad I'm that somebody.


In Sisterly Love,

THELadyDiva

Embracing the New Thing...

Dear Diary,

I woke up this morning feeling exhausted! It wasn't your typical tired. You know, the kind that was created by lack of sleep or nightmares. I woke up tired because my mind was running in the greatest race of it's existence! Oh Diary, how do I quiet my creative mind when I feel like it is the only thing besides God that is keeping me going? How do I believe in myself enough to make my dreams a reality?I digress. Allow me to explain myself.

My beloved pastor Jimmie Ellis III(www.vccphilly.org) charged me to dream bigger than I had ever thought possible. The question that he issued was, " Why don't you believe the promises of God? What has happened in life to prevent you from embracing the "New" you rather than the "Old" you?

My "Old" you is a peculiar young women. She was designed to be a leader but somewhere between her father's addiction and her first heartbreak she began to see herself as less. You wouldn't know it! She achieved, achieved, achieved and made the people around her think that she was fine. But, deep inside, in the place where her spirit and soul found each other irresistible- she was hurting. My "Old" me then found it hard to achieve.... My "Old" me found the it hard to believe God.

Diary, sometimes we forget that we aren't what we do, we are more than the awards and honors. We are more than the bottle that we can't make it through the day without. We are more than mothers. We are more than our bad habits. We are more than our good deeds. We are souls meant to fly free, not bound by chains or painful moments. We are designed to like butterflies, discover our beauty in the intimate processes that God graces us with. They are special... we just find it hard to embrace them.

I've come to realize that embracing the truth about yourself is not as easy as most folks may think. Although we easily embrace our shortcomings, we rarely embrace God's truth. For example, Believing that we are fearfully and wonderfully made or that we were designed to be leaders not followers. I, like most people, struggle to believe this when everything around me says different. Nonetheless, I've decided that it's time to embrace the "New" thing once and for all. So, I've designed a model to keep me focus and I may share this with other LadyDivas as well:

3 REQUIREMENTS TO FACING AND EMBRACING THE "NEW" YOU

1. Have FORTITUDE: Fortitude is defined as strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage. Lets face it, renewing your mind is going to take mental strength. You must have the focus to see the process to the end. You must know before you start the process that it won't be easy. Fortitude will give you the courage to see yourself with new eyes.

2. You must walk in FORGIVENESS: I know it sounds crazy but walking in forgiveness is the only way to truly embrace your newness. You have to forgive every person who made you question the beautiful flower that you are. More importantly, you must forgive yourself. I have come to learn that when you withhold forgiveness from yourself, you are encouraging the "Old" you to live on! Walking in forgiveness is mandatory if you truly want to see the "New" you flourish.

3. You must have FAITH: I have come to KNOW that that without faith it is impossible to please God, but it is also impossible to live an ABUNDANT LIFE. There was a time in my life when I could barely pull back my covers to see the beauty of a new day without wondering, " Why am I here?". But just then, God came riding in on a white horse and he carried me away on an amazing journey in faith. I now know that he is the solid foundation by which I must build on- not my beauty, nor my achievements. He is the ONLY sure thing in life and that is what we must all put our faith in.


I'm still tired, diary. But somewhere in the midst of my sleepy eyes and morning breath, I feel empowered. Yes, I have tons of work to do... but I'm determined to see the beauty that the day holds. I must work to see what the end will be. I owe it every LadyDiva who is standing between the "Old" and the "New". I owe it to Little Shayna Rudd, a beautiful flower who didn't ask to struggle, but inherited it in order to empower young women across this nation. Fighting has always been "my way" of dealing with hurt ( Especially the hurt from my past that found its way into my present), but in this season I am going to fight for my destiny and for the creative mind that I possess. It's time to embrace the NEW!

And IT feels good...

With all I am and will be,
THELadyDiva