HABARI GANI?

Today’s Kwanzaa principle from the Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles) is Umoja, which means unity in English. Our purpose for celebrating this value is to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community and nation…how will you promote umoja today?

Apathy is a rapidly spreading epidemic amongst my generation. But I believe that there are still those who, like me, believe that the heart of a true visionary can affect positive change…imagine the effect we could have on the world if everyone believed in and practiced umoja. To my brothers and sisters with righteous causes: take heart and trust in your struggle. We may face obstacles, nay-sayers or doubters who seek to take us down with poisonous negativity, but we SHALL overcome, and umoja will be our key to success.

“One may hit the mark, another blunder; but heed not these distinctions. Only from the alliance of the one, working with and through the other are great things born.”

I have listed the remaining 6 principles from the Nguzo Saba below…each has its designated day in the Kwanzaa celebration, but each is equally important every day of our lives. My Kwanzaa wish is that God strengthens and keeps each of you as we walk in his love and light and that his peace permeates your lives.

-Sierra

Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Nia (Purpose)
To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

Kuumba (Creativity)
To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Imani (Faith)
To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Things I Know at 26 That I Wish I Knew at 16...

• You cannot live your life by other people's standards.
• Know who you are and what you believe and hold to that.
• Your strength comes from within, not through validation from others.
• Surround yourself with loving, supportive, positive people.
• Take inventory...if those around you don't celebrate who you are, remember that you shouldn't be in places where you're only tolerated. You are God's creation...fearfully and wonderfully made. But if you don't believe that about yourself, don't expect anyone else to believe it either. It all starts within.
• You are more than your outfit, your hair, your shoes....your greatest asset is a strong mind and an open heart.
• Do something for someone else without being asked every chance you get.
• Don't spend time and energy worrying about anything. It solves nothing. Pray about everything. You can live life in constant worry and fear over the what if's or you can simply live. You'll miss the moments if you spend them focused on what "might go wrong." At some point, you have to decide that life is worth living enough to step out on the limb and just do it. Sometimes things will hurt, but you cry and release it and embrace the lesson that it brought to you.
• Love and when you feel like you can't possibly love anymore....keep on. You'll be amazed at your heart's capacity. Just don't harden your heart...always remember to love and to forgive, even as you were loved and forgiven.

Just some lessons from my heart to yours....

Still a work in progress...

Newness!!!

I will be back in full effect with new posts (on the regular)...I'm trying to practice consistency. Bear with me...I'm a work in progress. But new posts soon, and new pics...I promise!