Who is your favorite comedian? We have so many performers who have a natural gift to make others laugh. Who do you admire for their talent to lift others up through laughter? It is not an easy thing to stand up in front of a crowd of people, not knowing how your jokes are going to be received.
Acting in movies and performing improv are some forms to the art of comedy. What a talent to bring a smile to others and make people laugh. Who are your favorite comedians?
I can only read so much Of this BS and such and such Who in their right mind This info is so maligned Where are the hopeful stories Of animal rescues and watching lories Of good-will and cheer Of not crime and fear Stories about curing cancer Slashing grocery prices like a lancer Restoring faith in the system Less about being a robbery victim Thieves need to get a job Stop stealing and being a slob People work hard for their money This is not the land of milk and honey What about affordable housing and gas Less homelessness, are these things of the past Where are the stories to make you smile Laugh inside and not bring up the bile Bile that makes you want to gag Reading news about this mixed bag Report on something better About successes and the go-getters Maybe then I can read this thing See a story that makes me want to sing And not want to set the pages ablaze Watching the ashes blow away in a haze Written in response to Sadje's prompt, what to you see #174What do you see # 174- Feb 20, 2023Mixed Bag of Trash was first published on Inspirebyonika.com on February 25, 2023
Bring it down a notch. Be humble for Humble Day.
What does it mean to be humble? What do you think of when you hear this word? On Wednesday, February 22 it’s all about being humble. Take this day and ground yourself. Bring it down a notch. Do not brag, boast or exhibit pride. It is a day to come down to earth and come to grips with the fact that you are not perfect. Think of ways to humble yourself.
Remember that we are human and make mistakes. Accept that and embrace it. Even if you do not accept the faults and imperfections of others, do it for yourself. Put your ego aside. For some, this is a hard thing to do. Just practice some humility and you will see and feel the difference.
Being a well-accomplished person is no small feat. Just try to keep it under wraps for the day. It does not mean that you have low self-esteem or are downgrading what you have achieved. Instead, about having that personal knowledge of your achievements and not feeling the need to verbalize them at every turn.
Listen to others who are speaking, without interrupting. This shows the person that you are truly listening to what they have to say. You are putting them first in that moment and not just concerned with what you have to say.
Pride has no place on Humble Day. Put others first. Doing so opens us up to new experiences. When we get out of our own head, we have room to grow and see things from another perspective.
Be mindful of your actions and words. Being mindful shows that even though you may feel a certain way, keep it to yourself and consider the other person’s feelings. Little things do matter.
For those with children, teach them how to humble themselves. Explain to them why it can change their outlook and make them go deeper to learn some things about themselves.
Instead of seeking out attention, give attention to someone else. See how you feel afterward.
Come to the realization that life is not always about ourselves but about embracing others too. When we celebrate others, it is all a trickle affect and it comes back around.
Know that boasting proves nothing. Keeping it to yourself sometimes can be a good thing. Your accomplishments will be obvious. No need to brag and tell everyone. Your inner light will shine through.
Humbling yourself does not diminish who you are. The practice of being humble gives us the chance to look outside of ourselves and see other things and people. It forces us to see life through a new and different lens.
Putting away the selfishness and pride truly does make a difference to all mankind. When we humble ourselves, we are more likely to help others. This practice lends us with more awareness of what is happening around us and in the world. It is a way of enlightenment.
Humble Day is on February 22nd but who says it has to end there. If you have a humbling experience that changed your life, consider sharing. It may inspire others and let them see the light. If you don’t want to share, that’s okay too. Go back to that moment and use that experience as an example to guide your actions on Humble Day.
Image credit: Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
Body, hair and cleanse is the topic today. Things that we do for ourselves on a regular basis and not think twice about. It just comes naturally. While doing these things sometimes we get bombarded when trying to decide on just the right product for these regular rituals.
Welcome to my first review of products for hair, skin, and body. I have chosen some products that I have tried in the past, as well as some that I currently use. If you have ever considered using some of these products but just wasn’t quite sure, take a look.
Keeping the body smooth and moist is very important. It helps to slow wrinkling and keeps the skin looking healthy. Especially, during the colder months moisturizing is a must.
Pros- Nourishing and truly moisturizes the skin.
Cons- Highly scented. Using this, you do not want to wear any perfume on top of this product.
This lotion does moisturize the skin but is highly scented. It contains shea butter which always does the job. You will feel like you are wearing perfume. If that is the desired result, then this is the product for you. I would caution on using this in the summer, it might attract bugs due to the highly perfumed scent.
Pros- Moisturizing. Lightly scented.
Cons- Does not really have the scent of pomegranate, which is why I made the purchase.
This body cream is okay. It is worth trying. Does provide moisture but not very long-lasting. Other scents are available to try. If you are looking for a cream that smells like pomegranate, you might want to skip this one.
Pros- Great moisturizer for the skin. Best if used during cooler months when skin is extremely dry. It has a light scent to it, not overpowering at all.
Cons- Very thick texture, so avoid using during summer months. It will just sit on top of the skin. Especially, if you perspire a lot.
Great moisturizing lotion. Inexpensive and easy to find at most retailers. Any of the Jergens nourishing lotions work great for maximum moisture protection for your skin.
Either of these two products are used after washing and conditioning the hair. You can apply these and sit under the hooded dryer or use as a detangler for wet hair then blow dry. If you want to wet set for a curly style these are good choices. You can also use them for wrapping the hair.
Pros- Sets the hair. Foams nicely. Helps with detangling wet hair.
Cons- The smell of this product is not pleasant.
Overall, I did not like this product. It does what it should to set the hair. The smell of it and its polishing qualities fell short for me.
Pros- As the title says, lotta body. This product delivers on body and bounce. Easy to find at most stores. This product does not flake. It also works as a detangler. Use while hair is wet and curl or wrap the hair, sit under the dryer and hair will have shine and bounce.
Cons- Formula is very concentrated, do not use too much.
Great product to use for wet setting the hair or wrapping. You can also use as a detangler if you want to simply blow dry your hair, after washing and conditioning. Smells nice too.
The products below are for those looking for a body cleanser without harsh chemicals. If you have sensitive skin and are looking for something that will not irritate or dry out your skin, these may be a good alternative.
Pros- Love, love, love this soap! Did I mention that I love this soap? Very gentle to the skin, no harsh chemicals, long lasting bar. Cleanses the skin well.
Cons- A little pricey. Hard to find in most stores. May have to order online.
This soap leaves the skin feeling clean and non-drying. Even though it is pricey, it is worth it. You get what you pay for, and this is worth a try.
Pros- Long lasting, a little goes a long way. Cleanses the skin and leaves it feeling moisturized. Can buy it as a single bottle or a double pack. Works as well as Dove for sensitive skin soap but less expensive.
Cons- None
This body wash works well and lasts a long time. You only need a small amount to lather and clean the skin. The price is affordable, especially for a sensitive skin formula. The double pack is more cost effective.
Pros- Great soap to use for sensitive skin. Leaves skin feeling moisturized and supple.
Cons- Soap easily dissolves. On the pricey side. Can leave skin feeling moist in areas that you do not want moisture.
Dove sensitive skin soap is a good soap for those with sensitive skin. It is also, highly recommended by doctors. Great skin moisturizer. Be careful not to leave this soap sitting in water, it easily dissolves.
If you currently use any of these and have a similar experience, I would love to hear from you. Also, if you have tried other products that are worth trying, please share your experience. I hope you have enjoyed the reviews and I will be back in the future with more.
Illustration credit: Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
Disclaimer: Please note, this is only my opinion, based on my personal experience with these products. I am not receiving any monetary compensation for said opinions.
Both men and women have lost in love at least once. Some are fortunate enough to have found their true love. I say true love because there is a difference in saying you love someone and showing it. Do you think men are more capable of love than women? It depends on who you ask and their experience with love.
In my opinion, I think women are more capable of love. The reason is because women are nurturers and mothers and as such, more accepting. I don’t believe that you can be accepting without love. You have to start with love in order to accept or nurture something or someone.
Don’t get me wrong, men are capable too. I have seen it. It does exist. We must give them credit. I think the thing that holds some men back is feeling less masculine when showing their loving or nurturing side.
Can you answer this? Is a man or woman more capable of love? What do you think?
Let’s take a minute to bring attention to something that is happening all over the country. African Americans have lost their lives due to police brutality. It does nothing for the officers who honor life and truly believe in the notion to protect and serve. When you see officers on both sides of the coin, how do you discern between the ones who uphold the law and those who do not?
Being in a role of authority, there comes great responsibility. Responsibility to uphold duties for the community in its entirety. More frequently these days this is not the case, the opposite is happening. Basic human rights are being taken away at the hands of people who took an oath to protect and serve. Preserve life, not take it away.
Too many times, certain people take their authoritative position to the extreme. When people see you, they should not fear for their lives. They should have the opposite feeling of comfort and/or safety. When people see you, they should not run away from you. Instead, walk towards you with a general feeling of trust. What happens to the world when the people who are meant to be in place to help others are the real perpetrators!
It is a form of abuse of power. Taking advantage of individuals because you are in a position to temporarily control a situation. Using phrases such as, “I felt that my life was in jeopardy”, as an excuse. An excuse to beat, choke, kneel, shoot, choke and kill another human being. And, why? Because you can. Because you hide behind a piece of metal that you wear on your chest. You escape prosecution because you are upheld by some who wear the same piece of metal.
Protect people, preserve life. That piece of metal does not give you rights to take another’s life. Those people have families, just like you. Some also have children, just like you. They have people who love them and are looking forward to them coming home safely. What kind of protection are you providing when people have to take out their cell phone to record a routine traffic stop? Disrupting people’s lives with your contempt is not acceptable. What happened to trying to restore order by using the least amount of force? Thank you to the officers who help people, who are serving all people. To the ones who are not, shame on you!
As a uniformed person, working under the law. Honor that! Serve the people. Serve us with dignity, respect, kindness. I know there are encounters that you experience where you are not met with kindness. You are trained to handle these situations. This is what you signed up for and are trained to handle such situations in the least harmful way.
I implore you to approach your daily interactions, while on the job with humility. Please, do not wake up and put on that uniform with contempt and hatred for people and your profession. If you find it so hard to go into it with some semblance of humanity, stop and think. Think before you take someone else’s life. Stop and ask yourself if this is the profession for you. We all deserve to live. We all deserve to go home at the end of the day.
Let’s take a moment to remember some of the people who lost their lives due to brutality.
Tyre Nichols
George Floyd
Tamir Rice
Eric Garner
Walter Scott
Breonna Taylor
Sandra Bland
Philando Castile
Unity is peace, Unity is the umbrella Being united means coming together Together for whatever comes our way Differences, views and opinions The issues will come our way almost every day Unity will be the saving grace Grace keeps our sanity together in every way Grace begets compassion and understanding Compassion for what is different than us Understanding for things we don’t know In our hearts grace and unity will overflow Equality, acceptance, hope and love Is what a sense of unity does For communities both below and above We may look different on the outside But we all have blood running through our veins Let not those things make us collide When we have grace, love remains Unity not division, lets love take over What we thought we knew about one another Take the time to speak Speak to that sister or brother Resist the urge that breeds Hatred, violence and racial bias We may not always agree Unity is what frees Black history month and year long Promote unity not the same sad song Songs of brutality, racism and wrongs Unity pushes everyone along ---O'Nika McGill--- Unity was first published on Inspire By O'Nika Feb 5, 2023
February is Black History month. In order to understand the present, we must look at the past. Let’s give credit where credit is due. The farmers, boaters/fishermen, and Olympians oftentimes get overlooked and left out. Although, we will never forget about civil rights leaders, freedom fighters who have paved the way, years ago.
Daisy Gatson Bates Day is Feb 21. We can credit this Arkansas native for being an activist against racial discrimination. During her civil rights work, she was the president of the NAACP, Arkansas chapter. In 1957, she played a major role in desegregation at Little Rock Central High School. Read “The Long Shadow of Little Rock: A memoir” and learn about her legacy.
NAACP Day is February 12. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People sets out to help with equality and civil rights for all people. The NAACP is about addressing issues of racial discrimination. Throughout its history, this organization addresses immigration issues, misconduct by police, voting rights and economic development.
One way to honor the NAACP’s mission is by making a donation. This group has made strides for centuries since its inception in 1909. If you feel that you can contribute to their causes for job equality, voting rights, healthcare and education, please do. In an effort to combat fair education, they have partnered with other organizations to provide scholarships for African American students.
Farming-John W. Boyd, Jr, founder of the National Black Farmers Association is instrumental in advancing rights for black farmers. Agriculture is a very important part of the foundation for the entire world. Mr. Boyd had to take legal action against the government over financial relief for farmers that was promised but did not happen. He is painfully aware that African American farmers do not get the same relief and support. In light of that, he tirelessly champions on to get what is only fair for farmers.
Fishing-The Ebony Anglers is a black, female fishing team from North Carolina. This is a competitive fishing team who is making history. Look them up and see if they give you inspiration to branch into a field where both women and African Americans are under-represented. The Ebony Anglers have passed on their efforts to the youth. Black Boys Boat and Black Girls Fish was formed by this amazing group. They make what they do look easy, but it is still hard work. Kudos to them for passing down their knowledge to the youth about the fishing and boating industries.
Swimming-Who is Simone Manuel? She is the first black woman to win an Olympic Gold medal in swimming in the year 2016. Simone is setting the bar and inspiring other young people to follow their dreams. Even though there are so few black swimmers who compete; she is proof that it is possible. Feeling left out at times in her swimming career, she is a strong advocate for inclusivity. Simone Manuel is a young, black athlete who can use her platform to influence positive change in the swimming arena and worldwide.
African American Coaches Day is Feb 7. Coaching is not just related to sports. Today, we have life coaches as well. This is a lucrative profession. Coaching helps people attain their personal and career goals. It gives people something to strive for. Life coaching may be an avenue to explore for those who are known to be procrastinators. It helps with holding yourself accountable and sticking with a plan.
Coaching a sports team for the youth is a way of mentorship. It helps give the children structure, discipline and a sense of high self-esteem. Also, it teaches team building. When you have kids working together it also builds friendships and creates a positive atmosphere. Skills learned from playing on the team are skillsets that stay with them well into adulthood. Coaching is time well spent. Let’s continue to shape the future of our youth.
As you can see, African Americans of the past and present are making history. While we might not have been around in some of the times when they were making their impact, we can still live and feel the effects of their hard work. Black history is history for all. African Americans have felt the strains of society for centuries. In the face of hardships and hard times, we have still managed to hold true to ourselves and make a positive difference in the world.
Lets continue to encourage and support our young athletes, farmers and communities to make for a better world. We can all benefit and live together and have more equality, if we put our minds to it and put in some effort.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ” I have a dream”
Malcolm X- “By any means necessary”
Harriet Tubman soldiered with the underground railroad. “I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger”.
Gordon Parks changed the world behind the camera. “The subject matter is so much more important than the photographer”.
Football Fans- Super Bowl Sunday
February 12th
Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles
Feb 13- Black Love Day
Black Love Day is about all kinds of love. Be it love of Black culture, romantic black love, love of African American people. Any kind of admiration for Black creatives, musicians, performers, inventors, entrepreneurs, etc. Alternatively, some will celebrate their special someone on this day instead of Valentine’s Day. Show love on this day and think about how we can instill more peace and less hate in the Black community. We have Ayo Handy-Kendi to thank for this celebration of Black Love. Practice self-love and forgiveness. Take a moment to share your personal stories of affection/admiration for African American people on social media. Volunteer, educate others and/or support African American businesses. Celebrate in a way that is the most meaningful for you.
February is the time of year we focus on heart health. Even though we focus on taking care of it all year long. It is an important organ and I know we don’t think about it, but it works hard for our entire body. The heart pumps blood through our arteries to all the vital areas it needs to go. Without proper heart function, we can have health problems. Some of these may not be obvious at first. The heart symbolizes love, so we should show our bodies some love. Nourishing ourselves with healthier foods to contribute to better functionality is the key. Exercise also helps to keep the blood flowing and bring oxygen to our heart.
Feb 14- Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is usually a day for couples to celebrate and show their love for each other. February 14th is one of the top spending holidays. You will see people wearing red or pink. A lot of flowers, candy, balloons, jewelry, personal gifts and dinner dates will be had on this day. Everyone shows their token of love in different ways. You may have a personal ritual that you partake in on Valentine’s Day to show your love. Send you Valentine’s Day wishes to yoru closest friends, relatives and loved ones.
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
Luis Muñoz Marín was the first governor to be elected in Puerto Rico. He was re-elected 3 times. The Puerto Rican native was instrumental in efforts to improve farming and housing on the island. In addition to his political pursuits, he was a journalist. The airport in PR is named after him, as well as part of 116th Street in Spanish Harlem, NY.
In 2023, President’s Day is February 20th. Take this day to learn about the past presidents. Finding out what happened and how these men changed America will help to understand some of the customs of the present day. Do you know how cherries are associated with today? Hint; think George Washington.
Pistachios are nuts that come in several varieties. Buy these shelled, roasted, unsalted or without the shell. Although these nuts provide health benefits, be careful not to eat too many. Pistachios are packed with protein and fiber. Therefore, they help in losing weight. By keeping you feeling full, they help you to consume less. Pistachio’s aid in lowering high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Try incorporating these into your diet and see the changes in your health. They are also good for heart health.