Tag: society

Categories
Poetry Topic Words of Wisdom

Through The Narrow Lens

Through The Narrow Lens

Through the narrow lens
is a big bad world
take a step back
sit for a minute
absorb
assess
process
the ways of denizens
in the big bad world
hurrying, night and day
bumping shoulders
not breaking stride 

Through the narrow lens
we venture to the street
no clear destination 
evaporation into the night

Thank you for stopping by to read my poem, Through the Narrow Lens! 💞

I drew inspiration from the prompt for WDYS by Sadje. Thank you as always for the prompts each week.

Image credit: Rafael Garcin @ Unsplash

Categories
Diversity Poetry Self Awareness Topic

Employed and Unhoused-What’s Wrong with This Picture?

Man holding paycheck with nowhere to go
The dawn’s early light 
Tells of a downward plight 
Or the perilous fight 
Nearly fifty percent 
  
Land of the free 
Home of the brave  
Depraved of housing 
A basic human need 
 
Nearly fifty percent 
Work for mere cents 
Either part time or full time 
Heavy bombs on descent 
 
Unhoused, homeless, no roof 
Paycheck in hand is no proof 
Proof of simple liberties 
Nearly fifty percent 
 
Show up every day to work 
With income, not enough 
To secure a dwelling 
Prices ever going up 
 
Nearly fifty percent 
No place to call home 
Across the U S of A 
Shall free men stand 
Be free in this land? 
 
In God we trust 
Always a must 
Walk by faith 
But not by sight 
 
Nearly fifty percent 
Not of unemployment 
But homelessness 
 
Nearly fifty percent

Image created with AI using Copilot

Categories
Poetry Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

Place of Peace, Interrupted

That one place 
Place no one knows 
Knows not where to look 
Look but unable to find 
Find your place of peace 
Peace not to be disturbed 
Disturbed for only one minute 
Minute that feels like eternity 
Eternity only an exaggeration 
Exaggeration of time 
Time only imagined  
Imagined to be infinite 
Infinite it is not 
Not by a longshot 
     
That one place 
Place now found 
Found, no longer sacred 
Sacred, private, peaceful 
Peaceful once, now tarnished  
Tarnished, perturbed, just bothered 
Bothered, tense, no longer a place of refuge 
Refuge from the outside noise 
Noise like loud and quiet chatter  
Chatter unnecessary and shady 
Shady in times when light is needed 
Needed to block out murder masked as self-defense 
Self-defense now used as a cover up 
Cover up for ill behavior of the letter groups 
 
Can’t we all just get along 
Along with each other 
Other people, faiths and skin tones 
Skin tones, just the outer part 
Part of the core of a human 
Human, we bleed the same as you 
You are not entitled to harass at will 
Will led by your lack of understanding 
Understanding nothing when it comes to rights 
Rights to which you are not the dictator 
Dictator to all people you deem unworthy 
Unworthy to be here just like you 
You in all your glory are delusional 
Delusional, unfair, self-righteous to a fault  
 
Place of peace, interrupted

As I write this, I am thinking about everything going on in the world right now and in the recent past. Too many people are senselessly losing their lives, and for what? People who feel that they are more powerful than you. People who feel that we are not worthy of life on this earth. The same way they are living and breathing; we have the right to be here too. The world is in chaos and a lot of us are experiencing unrest. Any semblance of peace, fading away. It is a sad state of affairs.

I can go on, but I think from the poem, you get where I am going with my sentiments. The price of peace should not be this expensive. Such a simple concept seems like too much to ask. Peace looks different for all of us. Be it 10 minutes alone with your thoughts, a one-hour nap, 20 minutes of meditation or cherished time with loved ones. Maybe, a day of not having to look over your shoulder in fear of being snatched up on the street.

Thank you for taking the time to read the post. My hope is that sooner rather than later, things will look up. I know in my heart that better days are to come. Prayer is always bigger than any problem.

Stay well and be blessed🙏🏽💞

Categories
Poetry Topic

Tempered Sentiments

Tempered Sentiments- a Poem

Virtuous woman, what 
A thing of the past 
Resolve, compassion, dignity, and the like 
Dissolving over time 
Into the abyss 
 
Softness given freely 
Hearts willing to give 
Discarded, taken for granted, time again 
The point of no return 
Is when she says, No 
 
Get out my face and go 
Softness gone, heart shut 
Willing, no longer, spent are days in limbo 
Virtuous she remains 
Now, the wall is up

Check out Delicate Flower, She Be

Thank you all for taking the time to read my poem. 🙏🏽

Categories
Info Topic

The Link Between Heirs, Inheritance and Hereditary

The Link Between Heirs, Inheritance and Hereditary

The connection that links

Heirs, inheritance and hereditary are all the same in different ways. Confusing; I know. So, look at it this way. If you are an heir, you may be sole or jointly next in line to inherit property. If there is a will prepared by the decedent of such property this eliminates any confusion about who the said property belongs to. The absence of a will is what creates the heirs property situation.

Heirs property can create in-fighting among families who may feel that they are the rightful owner. Court papers need to be filed in the state if someone would like to transfer ownership into their name.

Inheritance can be something medical or tangible like real estate or money in the form of a trust fund. Other property can be named and left to a person(s) when someone dies. Family heirlooms or automobiles, art collections and/or coin collections. An example of a medical inheritance can be in the form of a genetic abnormality. You might inherit sickle cell or a heart condition. These conditions are passed down from one or both parents to their children.

High blood pressure is a form of hereditary disease that runs can run in a family. It is just one of a host of other medical conditions that get passed down from generation to generation. Going back to heirs property which is something passed down from generation to generation.

As you can see, heirs, inheritance and hereditary are the same in some ways depending on the context of how you are using it. What a confusing trifecta!

Thank you for stopping by to read! 💞

Image credit: S K from Pixabay

Categories
Topic Words of Wisdom

Connect the Dots Interview with O’Nika

Interview with Founder of Inspire By O’Nika

In this video is an interview with me about the blog, Inspire By O’Nika. Why it was started and when. Connect the Dots host, Louis asks questions about the content of the blog and the motivation behind it. We talk about other ventures like the IBO Podcast and the You Tube channel, by the same name which I also started. The interview gives a little insight into the person behind the blog.

Connect the Dots interview with O’Nika-founder of Inspire By O’Nika

Inspiring and lifting other’s up is what I love. Check out a throwback post, Re-create; Dare to be You.

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to watch🙏🏽 Thank you for the interview, Louis! Don’t forget to check out Connect the Dots podcast on You Tube.

Categories
Self Awareness Topic

Does Social Media Strengthen or Destroy Meaningful Connections?

Social media is here to stay. Do you think it strengthens or destroys meaningful real-life connections? It can go either way. I think it all depends on how you use it and how much of it you consume.

Some people live by social media. What I mean by that is that some people take what they see and hear online and apply it to their personal lives. They start to believe everthing they see and they lose the autonomy of their own personal beliefs.

Social media is used for a variety of reasons. Some people use it to help boost their business. Others use it for personal entertainment, recreational use. It can be a tool to use to showcase your hobbies and personal endeavors. If you are a singer or an artist. Maybe you want to share some educational information.

SM can strengthen connections because you can find useful information about some things in your life and gain a better understanding. You may be looking for a way to empathize with someone in your life and form a better relationship with them. It can open the doors for communication and bridge the gap for some situations.

It can be destructive when people are purposly using it as a means to hurt others. Trolling and saying hurtful things to others. It’s like cyberbullying. Other times people hear stories about infidelity and then they start thinking negative of their mates.

The key to it, in my opinion, is to limit the time spent on social media. Also, know what you believe in and stay true to that. We all are entitled to our opinions and that’s what it is, opinion. Sometimes we confuse it with facts. Just remember that we had real life before social media. Real life is always better than the internet. Have fun with it, make others smile, inform, share your gifts.

As always, thank you for reading! 💖🥰

Categories
Topic

What Is the Biggest Misconception About Human Connection?

What Is the Biggest Misconception About Human Connection?

Human Connection

We make all kinds of connections in the world. We connect with each other in person, by email and online. Do you ever stop to think about these connections and how they are formed? Some of us connect by a common interest; say music for example. We might have a quick conversation with someone at the record shop. Yes, there are still some around. But outside of that, the conversation is null and void.

Does it mean that since the two of you love the same kind of music that you are friends?

The misconception is the thinking that because you are in agreement with something or someone, that you have a deep connection. I’ll give another example. If you see someone who wears the same type of clothing as you, you assume that the two of you are the same. I caution that this is a misconception. Just because someone looks like you, does not mean that the two of you think alike or have the same interests and can form a bond on just the outer looks alone.

Another misconception is that if a person does not really talk to you often but you cross paths with them, that they do not care for you or are not fond of you. Sometimes, it can be that that person is shy or afraid to spark up a conversation. Do not assume that because you see someone frequently and the two of you exchange few words that there is animosity.

We can also confuse a person doing a nice gesture for us as their way of inviting us into their lives. It can just be that; a nice random gesture.

What I am trying to get at is that sometimes we connect with others solely based on one mutual interest. Does that mean that we can relate and connect with them in most other areas of life? Values such as their beliefs about family, marriage, children. Their opinions about politics. This is always a slippery slope. Maybe they have different beliefs on religion that are opposite from what we believe in.

Can you answer this? What is the biggest misconception about human connection?

Photo by Seljan Salimova on Unsplash

Categories
Diversity Topic Words of Wisdom

Black Music Month 2025

Black Music Month 2025

Vinyl albums- Public Enemy, Duke Ellington, McFadden & Whitehead

Music is a universal language. Jazz, rhythm and blues, rap, gospel, house, soul, rock and roll, disco and go-go. Some of these styles of music are a fusion from multiple genres. While some don’t want to admit that, just read the credits and you will discover. Groups that you thought might have been considered a “black” group, have some origins from other cultures.

Nonetheless, June is Black Music Month or African American Appreciation Month. President Jimmy Carter declared it in 1979. However, it wasn’t until 1998 that it was officially acknowledged.

Music has a way of getting a message across in song. Some people use it as a way to express their feelings. A way to release and purge. Music also brings about feelings of happiness. Others use it as a way to promote consciousness or bring awareness to the injustices going on in the world. Music has a way of uniting and bringing people together, no matter where you come from. It is so uplifting to hear the right song and it gets you singing along or dancing.

It amazes me how much music has changed over the years. New styles and artists emerge. Languages change too. Meaning the way artists enunciate in their music, sometimes you can’t understand a word. Some songs sound like the chorus is just on repeat and not many lyrics to it.

The one thing that I noticed is that songs in today’s time are much shorter. Back in my day, songs were an average of 8-12 minutes. Today, songs are averaging less than 5 minutes. To me, that is a snippet! Oh well, what do I know right?! Music can make you dance, cry, sing, smile and so on.

What is your favorite genre of music?

Hip Hop Music Culture Of the 80s and 90s

Thank you for reading. Stay well and be blessed! 💕🙏

Categories
Diversity Self Awareness Topic

Racial Profiling, Why Are You Shadowing Me?

Racial Profiling, Why Are You Shadowing Me?

Racial profiling while shopping-video message

Shopping in peace is all we want to do. Why is it that African Americans and the Hispanic populations get followed around the store? Racial profiling exists and it is time to put these stores on notice. Why Are You Shadowing Me? is a video message about just that. What can we do to stop the discrimination and unfair treatment?

Share your thoughts about this issue.

As always, thank you for watching! 🙏 Stay well and be blessed! 💕

Categories
Self Awareness Topic Words of Wisdom

Thought Of The Day

Thought of the Day

“Hate is too great a burden to bear. Hate injures the hater more than the hated. “-Coretta Scott King

Life is so precious. Why live with hatred in your heart?!

💕 Stay well and be blessed🙏

 

Categories
Topic

Where Are You From?

Moving from one state to another is something that we see often. There are many cities and places in the world where it is a melting pot of people from different areas who have set up shop and made a home away from home. A person who moves to another place is referred to as a transplant.

How much time should pass before you consider yourself from the new area? I hear differing opinions on this. Some people say if you are living in a new state for 5 or more years, you are from that place. Some say 7 years or more. I have even heard less time than that. 🤔

What do you say? For me personally, I will always say my original place of origin is where I am from. What about you? Do you adopt the new location and cite that place as the answer to the question,, "where are you from?". Tell me your side of the story. Please share how you feel about the subject.

As always, stay well and be blessed💞😊

Categories
Poetry Topic

Corner Store Bodega

The door to the bodega

Opens with lyrics

🎶🎶 Aguanilè

Aguanilè, mai mai

Feeling like you stepped right onto an island

The groove moving up your spine

Bop your head move your feet

Lips turning upward forming a smile

Let me get a Ham with American cheese

And a buttered roll on a Kaiser bun

A grape strawberry Mistic, a quarter water too

🎶🎶 Aguanilé

Aguanilé, mai mai

Waiting for your meat to be cut

The lyrics fill the air

You start to dance, salsa or two step

You get to the front to pay

Bum at the counter beggin’, “let me get two loosies man!”

In a hurry to get back, you get mad

Then you hear

🎶🎶Aguanilé

Aguanilé, mai mai

Forgetting the unfolding drama

You move your feet, your hips, your butt

While waiting you go to the lottery case

Slipping a piece of paper to the cashier, play these pick 3 numbers

Oh and a pack of watermelon, grape and apple Now and Laters

🎶🎶Aguanilé

Aguanilé, mai mai

The door to the bodega

Closes behind you

Ears flooded with police sirens

Horns blowing

Arguments and expletives

Feeling like you stepped back into a war

As always, thank you for reading! 💞🙏

Categories
Poetry Topic

Theoretically Speaking of Morbid Curiosity

Theoretically Speaking of Morbid Curiosity

What’s going on…
Theoretically speaking, you wonder if 
Happenstance has come to the forefront
Eliciting answers about this thing
Offering no more cues than when it began
Responding with conjecture, whispering, gossip
Entertaining the masses with your theory
Trying not to let others around you 
In on the fact that you want to know
Curiosity killed the cat
And still, you don't stop 
Letting your mind drift about the situation
Learning that this is someone else's reality
Yearning for truth about today's morbid curiosity

Theoretically Speaking of Morbid Curiosity is written in response to the word prompt by Sammi Cox.

Image by Alexandra_Koch from Pixabay

Categories
Self Awareness Topic

Public Service Announcement- Who Are “They”?

PSA- Who are “They”? asks the questions about how society puts a certain demographic of people in the same group. The talk in this post is not my usual content but I felt the need to speak on this topic. I have been seeing and hearing people on various platforms discussing this, and it piqued my interest.

Are black men being judged unfairly? Are they being crucified by public opinion? What do you think? Is there some magical potion or spell on black men being cast by “They”? Just curious about your thoughts on the subject. Please share your perspective.

Video Message- Who are “They”?

As always, thank you for watching! 🙏💗