Moving Onto things That Inspire Vivid images in an Almost perfect Time of reflection Involving Ongoing and uplifting Nuances ---O'Nika McGill---
Written in response to Sadje’s prompt#156
What do you see #156- October 17, 2022
Majestic eyes see many a thing some of which makes my heart sing People take one look at me they often wonder is this a fierce beast or do I see majesty A big lion with small eyes eyes that observe much from a vantage point fit for the likes of a lion and such Such beauty in the wild things that we ignore slow down, take stock these things you will flock Flock to observe these majestic creatures their imposing size, big mane mighty roar, intoxicating gaze among other features A fierce beast or a big cat what do you see? ---O'Nika McGill--- Written in response to Sadje's picture prompt #153What do you see # 153 September 26,2022
Holding you close
Showing you love
Is what mothers do
A bundle of joy, so pure like a dove
As Mom’s doing our best
Protecting from the elements
Of hurt, pain and disappointments
Is something that one must not jest
A child and their mother
Is a lifeline like no other
Hearing your child’s laughter
Is a sound not comparable to another
Seeing your child grow
Acceptance encompassing you both
Supporting notions and dreams
Sharing with each other, letting them know
Through a mother’s embrace
You are loved and accepted
– – -O’Nika McGill- – –
In response to picture prompt what do you see #152
September 11, 2001 was a day of mass casualties and destruction. The United States was attacked by a terrorist group known as al-Qaeda. This act against the country not only changed the landscape of the City but also the landscape of people’s lives.
Compassion is what we need. Not only for people we know and people closest to us. But we must have compassion for everyone. I know it is not easy to do in every situation, but a simple kind word or smile can do wonders.
Time to re-create ourselves. Let’s do something different. Dare to challenge the norms and go outside of your comfort zone.
Re-create means to create again.
Transform your life by taking up a very different job or adapting a new way of life. Re-create is a verb which means that we have to take action. We can’t just sit on our ideas. We have to take action toward our goals. I know you heard the saying, “don’t talk about it, be about it”. It is not easy to start something new. Sometimes we need a little push or some motivation. The good news is that once we act on our vision and ideas, it gets easier every day.
Speaking from experience, it is hard for me to start something new, or just keep up with something that I know I should do. But once I get started it makes it a lot easier to keep going. After I force myself to do something I feel a lot better afterwards. Yes, I said force. Meaning that I went against what my mental was saying at the time and did the physical work.
Re-creating ourselves can come in several forms. We can take on a new hobby, start a business, adapt a new lifestyle, exercise more, eat a healthier diet, and we can elevate ourselves mentally also. Thinking in a different way can change our whole outlook on life.
If you are a creative person who likes to make things, a new hobby may be just the thing for you. You might think about making clothes for yourself or other people. If you can draw you might become a tattoo artist. You might even think about painting portraits for people. If photography is your thing, start with that.
This newfound hobby may lead to you starting your own business. The possibilities are endless when you start receiving good feedback about your side hobby and people are liking what you do. Who knows where it might lead! Therefore, don’t wait. Start now.
Adapting a new lifestyle will take some time but begin slowly. If you want to start exercising more, for example. Start off by walking or using a treadmill or stationary bike. Don’t try to do too much in the beginning. You have to work your way up and increase your activity over time. If you try too much in the beginning, it can cause injury. Also, you might feel frustrated that things are not progressing like you expected. This might lead to you quitting altogether before you even get started. We don’t want that.
Exercise keeps us healthy and helps us live longer. It keeps us out of the doctor’s office, and we are less prone to certain types of illnesses and/or injuries. Along with exercise we can also try to eat better. This is my struggle! I am a junk food junkie!!
Any action starts with a thought. So, as you can see, how we think dictates what we do. If we just try to see things in a different way and explore things from another angle, we discover so much that we have been missing.
Remember to re-create, if we want a healthier lifestyle. We have to stop saying it and then keep doing the same things. When we fall back into our old habits of not exercising, just remind yourself that this does not lead to the ultimate goal of living a healthy lifestyle. If you come home and sit on the couch or in front of a video game, stop yourself and re-direct. Get off the couch and start moving, doing anything other than sitting on the couch. Alternatively, if you pick up the video game controller, put it back and do something more productive. We have to re-direct our old way of thinking to form new and healthy habits.
In order to improve our diet, we have to do just that. When grocery shopping; don’t load the cart with a bunch of junk food. Try some healthier choices. Even though you might not like fruit, just think how much your body will love it and how much of an improved quality of life you will have. Indulging in a sugary or salty treat is ok, only on occasion. That is of course, if you have the goal to improve your diet.
Think about it. Write it down. Research your ideas and any equipment you may need to get started. Take Action. Reap the benefits. You get the idea! It all starts with how we think. Making a change is not easy but we can do it! Do not expect immediate results, it takes time. Slow steady progress is better than no progress at all. So, start where you are and be consistent. You will not regret it.
| For anyone who missed the show, Da Hip Hop Barbershop Presents on iHeart Radio- WDRB Media- The Voice of the Community. You can check it out here. Thank you all for listening! |
The host, Ock the Barber will be interviewing me to promote my blog, Inspire By O’Nika. Topic discussion will include my posts on Hip Hop Music Culture of the 80s and 90s, Gun Violence- We Can Do Without It, Self Esteem and Why It’s Important and a host of other things. A little about the show, Da Hip Hop Barbershop Presents. The host is Ock the Barber and he is also the owner of a mobile barber shop. As the name of the show indicates, the show is related to Hip Hop. You will hear Ock along with Louis Hicks, Jr. tackle some subjects like stress, ghostwriting and a tribute to DJs. Even if you do not listen to Hip Hop, you will hear about other things happening in the community. The show will not disappoint. If you want to hear some grown up, clean discussions and music which also includes other things going on take a listen to this radio station. Da Hip Hop Barbershop Presents airs on Sundays at 12:00 am on iHeart Radio-WDRB Media- The Voice of the Community. I want to give a big thank you to Ock the Barber and Louis Hicks, Jr for making this opportunity possible! |
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
With all the airbrushing we see in magazines and online., there is a lot of pressure to try to look like these “unrealistic” images. Just use what you have naturally. There is nothing wrong with just being you. Sometimes we do too much in an effort to fit in. Come with me on this comical but true journey about some of the cosmetic changes we make. I know you will smile or laugh at yourself at least once. If none of these apply to you, at least you know someone who fits the description.
Lashes, lashes and more lashes, you know who you are. Let’s talk about these extra-long eye lashes. Just one question; why? Are you looking for shade for your face? Why do your lashes need to be this long? I know you can’t wear sunglasses or any kind of eyewear with these long lashes. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to have full lashes. But…when your eye lashes look like you have a caterpillar or roach on your eye lids, that ain’t cute! Stop it with these extra- long lashes, it’s too much. You are going to mess around and get those lashes caught in something then what are you going to do? We don’t need those problems.
On top of having full lashes, it is nice to have a neatly shaped brow. There are a few ways to get them into the shape you want to fit your face. Please remember that you DO NOT want to have the surprised look on your face. You know, when the brows are arched so high that you look surprised all the time… Come on now, admit that at least once you arched your brows too high. Tell the truth! But seriously, arch the brows but not so much so that you look like you are in amazement all day, every day.
If you have lips that are thin and you want them to look fuller, just try lipstick that has “plumper” added. There are a lot of shades on the market these days. But, when you get your lips injected with filler and your lips are abnormally big for your face; Houston we have a problem! You want your lips to look natural, not like they are swollen and you can stick a pin in them and they will deflate. Or so big that it looks like you had an allergic reaction to something. Also, when applying clear lip gloss; don’t put on so much that it looks like you stuck your face in a bucket of greasy chicken! Just use enough to cover the surface for moisturization. Remember, less is more.
Now, some of us have a butt and some of us don’t. It’s okay. If you need a little extra cushion or padding, you can always buy butt pads. They look like a girdle but have the padding sewn into the butt area. It’s the same concept of a padded bra. The benefit of wearing butt pads is that you won’t need surgery to achieve the look you want. On the other hand, if you get butt injections to make your back side look bigger, be weary! Some people get too much and it looks so unnatural. If the rest of your body is not proportionate to the size of your butt, it will not look right. Just keep that in mind.
Nails, nails and more nails. Whether you wear your natural nails, acrylic, gel or press-ons, let’s not get out of hand with the length. The nails are so long that they start to curl under or the press-ons are so long you can’t do certain things. It doesn’t matter how nicely the nails are painted with the colors and designs. You can still have the same look but with a length that is workable. The longer the nails the more germs get under the nail beds. It also makes it harder to perform regular hygienic tasks.
Beauty is important but let’s not sacrifice our health with the unhealthy fillers and injections we get for bigger lips and a bigger butt. The pressure is real, but it is not worth the harmful effects it can have on us later on. What do you say on the subject?
Who is your inspiration?
Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash
March is Women’s History Month and with that in mind, what woman would you say is an inspiration to you?
I’m going to be a little biased in my answer. My mother inspires me. She is understanding, kind, and strong. The love that she has shown over the years is why she inspires me. Just the lessons that she has taught me growing up and watching how she conducts herself. She has taught me a lot and her wisdom has shaped me into the woman I am today.
There are a lot of women who inspire me but too many to name. They have set an example of what is possible. I have highlighted a few.
Vice President of the United States. She is the first woman VP, also the first African American woman and South Asian woman to hold this office. If you have political aspirations, just look at what she has achieved. And know that it is possible for you too.
Tennis star who started at a young age. She kept on keeping on even when people doubted her abilities. She speaks out about gender pay equality and racial equality as well. Her fearlessness is an inspiration to me.
Gymnast who has won numerous world championship gold medals. Outside of her athletic abilities, she has partnered with Mattress Firm Foster Kids. This is a charity that helps kids in foster care. Simone Biles, in spite of being diagnosed with ADHD was able to persevere. Just goes to show that we all have something to deal with in life, but we must not let it hold us back.
Former First Lady. She is not afraid to let her truth show, even with the country watching her under a microscope. Also, her mission to help prevent obesity in children. Her initiative, Let’s Move focuses on physical activity and healthy eating in an effort to fight childhood obesity. Our children are the future, so what a better way to ensure that they grow up healthy.
Business woman, humanitarian and philanthropist. She implemented a school in South Africa for girls. She has won 2 humanitarian awards in 2002 and 2011. Oprah Winfrey has influenced people all over the world with her talk show and her various projects in show business.
Look at the wonderful things that women of the world can achieve!! Who would you name as your inspiration?
You ask, “what is inner peace”? It is your state of calm, your state of peace for yourself. Inner peace is like calm, serenity, tranquility, etc. It is something that is meant to be cherished and it is also different for everyone. Think of it as your coat of armor or your shield. Once you find inner peace you are already prepared and equipped to deal with any negative and/or stressful situation that may arise.
With the holidays approaching and all the other life stressors finding that positive head space is important. This time of year for a lot of people is busy, busy, busy. Having a way to take a quick break when you feel overwhelmed is important.
You may find inner peace by listening to music. You might find it by doing Yoga. Maybe you can find your inner artist and try sketching or drawing. Everyone has something or some way of finding their own inner peace, serenity or calm. It has to be something that is fun and brings a smile to your face.
No one can achieve this for you. Looking within is the key to this. So, finding inner peace is something that must be deliberate. Otherwise, we fall victim to other people’s drama. When we let people suck us in with negativity and drama, it can cause internal conflict. It causes stress and this is no good for anyone. With stress comes other things down the road like diabetes, hypertension, etc., etc.
Achieving inner peace means to do whatever it is that brings you calm when you need it. Remember, do not look to others for your state of serenity and calm.
For instance; if you are at work and you have a coworker(s) coming to your office and spreading gossip. You know that gossip is nothing good and you don’t want to participate. What do you do? You can politely say something like; I am really busy and I need to finish my work now. Walk away. Go to that place in your mind that allows you to destress and dismiss the negativity going on around you. If you need to just go somewhere and be alone. Do it!! It will be the best thing you can do for yourself.
I achieve my inner peace by going for a walk when I feel stressed or if I feel negative emotions creeping in. Additionally, I listen to music, with headphones on. Using headphones makes the sound a lot more clear and prominent. Sometimes, I picture a place that I have been to where I felt at peace. These are just a few ways that I find my inner peace.
A few ideas to get you started are:
In conclusion, finding your calm and inner peace is very important. With the things happening in the world today, we need this. Let me say again; we need this! I hope that I have helped you find ways to your peace and tranquility. I would love to hear from you to find out what method(s) work for you. Feel free to comment by clicking the comment button at the top of the post.
