Month: June 2022

Categories
Words of Wisdom

Silence The Noise

Silence The Noise

Image by Jean-Marc Baum from Pixabay

Silence the noise means to trim the fat

Trimming the fat is the extra, this, this and that

The extra is the desire to vent

Venting feels like time well spent

But it requires bending someone’s ear

Usually, this is the person who is most near

Whether they want to hear you or not

Doesn’t matter to you, you are just hot

Hot, sick and tired and mad

Just sitting back wishing you had

Had only spoken your mind

Now you wonder, how you got yourself in this bind

The bind of not knowing what to do

The noise, the noise it’s too much ado

The noise that only you can hear

Playing over and over and is causing you to fear

Fear the thing called negative self-talk

Stop playing this negative self-talk and walk the walk

Walk the walk of the powerful person you are

It’s only you who can set the bar

How low or how high is up to you

Silence the noise, silence the noise

Remember; it’s up to you

O’Nika McGill

Categories
Words of Wisdom

Believe In Yourself

Photo by Katrina Wright on Unsplash
Categories
Topic

Thank You for Your Support

Thank you for your support!

Video of gratitude

Calligraphy image by Ka Young Seo from Pixabay

Categories
Diversity Info Topic

Latifah and Shaq Putting Newark on the Map

Image by Bruce Emmerling from Pixabay

Big ups to Queen Latifah and Shaquille O’Neal for their efforts with affordable housing in Newark, New Jersey. This is much needed in the Newark and surrounding areas. I know families who live there are grateful to have housing that is not breaking their pocket.

People who love their community should not feel pressured to leave because it costs too much to live in the area. A lack of resources can put a strain on the pockets of many. Newark has definitely changed over the years. You can see some revitalization happening in different parts of the city. It is nice to see.

Queen Latifah’s Project

Affordable units called Rita Gardens will be available and are located at 650 Springfield Avenue, Newark, NJ. Springfield Avenue is one of the major streets that continues into neighboring cities like Irvington, Maplewood, Union, Springfield, Vaux Hall and towards Jersey City going in the opposite direction. An electric car charging station, business center and fitness center are some of the amenities you will find. There will be market priced units in addition to the affordable units made available.

Shaquille O’Neal’s Project

777 McCarter Highway is a project underway, close to Newark Penn Station. This will be a mixed residential property with 20% of the units affordably priced. This high-rise property will feature an indoor pool, roof top lounge, a gym and concierge service. Space for retail businesses will also be available at this location.

What a great effort by Queen Latifah and Shaquille O’Neal! It goes to show what is possible by teaming up with others who are passionate about the communities they grew up in. Newark is steadily changing, and it seems to be moving in the right direction. Thank you to Queen Latifah, Shaquille O’Neal and all the partners and investors who are making this possible for the community in Newark, New Jersey!

Categories
Topic

Losing a Pet is Losing Family

Losing a pet feels just like losing family. As I see it, pets are family too. They have their own personalities, they bring us joy and happiness, they chew or scratch on things that they shouldn’t, but we still love them anyway.

Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary of my dog’s death. His name was Max and on June 14, 2021; he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He was a short-haired, Red, Dachshund. It is hard to believe that he is gone, and it still hurts. Max was a senior dog and he developed health problems as he got older.

People say that he was just an animal. Well, anyone who has lost a dog, cat or other pet knows different. He was more than just an animal he was family. Max brought me many years of happiness and companionship. He made me smile and laugh. At times, he was messy and I would get upset, but I would take care of him all over again!

  • Where’s my food?
  • Max loved to ride in the car
  • Snuggled in his blanket
  • I dare you to come on this porch
  • Do you mind… I’m trying to nap
  • This blanket is so comfy
  • Outside in the snow
  • Max and Frosty

Max used to dance with me. When he was younger, he would lay on his back and wait for his belly to be rubbed. That was one of his favorite things. He also liked to “kill” the squeaker out of his toys. It would take him under 10 minutes to get the squeaker out of his toys. He loved that and I enjoyed watching him. He was so intense. Max also loved to snuggle under his blankets.

Dachshunds are small dogs but they are brave. Max was never afraid of dogs that were 2-3 times his size. He was a great protector too. He protected his people and his home. Also, if you know about his breed of dog, they are very vocal. Dachshunds will make themselves known and if anyone walked up to the door, they knew he was there. His bark sounded like he was a big dog and people would be surprised to see that he was so little.

Max and His Extended Family

Max also had neighbors, Mister and Celie; they were Dachshunds too. The three of them would talk to each other by the fence in the backyard. Max would go over to the fence looking for either Mister or Celie. Sadly, they have crossed the Rainbow Bridge too. I understand what their family is feeling during this time of loss. Listen to them during one of their “talks” at the fence.

Saying Goodbye

It is very hard to say goodbye to the fur babies in our lives. They enrich our lives in so many ways. We also help them and make their lives better too. Max is definitely missed but I know that he is no longer in pain. I focus on all the good times we had together to get over him not being here.

Categories
Info Topic

What’s Happening in the Month of June or Junio

June 12th- Puerto Rican Day Parade in NYC

Image by Ken Rogers from Pixabay

The celebration is back! The Puerto Rican Day Parade is a celebration of the Puerto Rican culture and heritage. You will hear music, see dancing, and smell good food! The parade is a long tradition in NYC. It showcases Puerto Rican pride, and you will see the different Latino dances and costumes. You will have a chance to see a glimpse of Puerto Rican people. Enjoy and have a good time! WEPA!

Juneteenth- June 19th

Image by Wynn Pointaux from Pixabay

Juneteenth is an important day in history. June 19, 1865 was the day that slaves in Galveston, Texas found out that they were free. Juneteenth also known as Freedom Day, Black 4th of July, Emancipation Day or June 19th is now a federal holiday declared by President Joe Biden in 2021. Celebrate Juneteenth in the way that is most meaningful to you. Some things that people do are to patronize black owned businesses, have a cookout, gather with family/friends or go to Juneteenth events held in their local area.

Father’s Day- June 19th

Image by Lawrence Crayton from Pixabay

Happy Father’s Day! Let’s celebrate all the dads out there. This is an important time to recognize the fathers out there who are taking care of business. Thank you!! We need the men who have children to realize the important role they play and how much they are needed in their children’s lives.

LGBTQ- June is Pride Month

In the month of June, we can learn about the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer community. This is a time to acknowledge the challenges they face and learn about how society can help to overcome the stigma surrounding people of this lifestyle. The LGBTQ community faces discrimination, hate and inequality. They just want to enjoy basic human rights and be themselves FREELY, like everyone else.

Image by Filmbetrachter from Pixabay

June is National DJ Month

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

This month celebrates DJs (disc jockeys). A lot of DJs don’t get the shine they deserve but they are a vital part of the entertainment industry. DJs get the crowd moving and ensures that everyone have a good time. Disc jockeys showcase their spin skills for radio, TV, public/private events, and parties. Music is a universal language and when you have someone who knows how to play some vinyl it’s a win-win for everyone. When we dance it releases endorphins and helps to reduce stress too. Thank your favorite DJ the next time they play something you can shake your booty to. 🙂

National Headache and Migraine Awareness Month

A headache and migraine are two different things. A headache is not as debilitating as a migraine. Some people with migraines can be sensitive to light, sounds and even smells. Usually, you can take over-the-counter medicine to relieve a headache. Migraines on the other hand require a bit more medical care. One way to show support for sufferers of migraines and chronic headache is by wearing Purple. Also, learning more about this and talking about it helps to raise awareness. For information about causes and how to relieve these symptoms click the link from the National Institutes of Health.

Headaches: What You Need To Know | NCCIH (nih.gov)

Gemini and Cancer- Happy Birthday to the Twins and Crabs born in June!

Image by Impermanent from Pixabay
Image by Impermanent from Pixabay