The word for 2024

 Interestingly enough,  your humble blogger doesn't really do New Year's resolutions. They're too vague for me. What came to me recently is a word that would guide 2024-intention. If anything,  2023 taught me that that word has to be my guide going forward. While the concept of doing nothing without intention isn't new and the idea of using a particular theme as a guide for the new year was introduced to me a while back in a Facebook group I belong to, the soul clock is saying this needs to be the move for yours truly in 2024. 

Praying the best for you and yours in the coming new year,

Msranadee 

For the month of All Souls

While tears fall

Light reflects 

Forged in love,  hope and gratitude 

Shining on you 

As we remember 

News for Ace Week

Your humble blogger's Ace Week poem from last year made it to Sheauxtime Collective's upcoming short film, The Ace Files: Opening Act. Sheauxtime Collective is a platform for creative that highlights underrepresented voices. Check out their work here.

(Video via Sheauxtime Collective's Instagram)

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A post shared by SHEAUXTIME Collective, Inc. (@sheauxtime)

Grief and Imagination

 It's funny how serendipity works. A post on X about an article on grief led to finding Nnenna Freelon's Great Grief podcast. A standout episode was this one, in which grief speaks for herself. For your humble blogger, the concept that particularly hit was that of imagination being the secret. "I'm not one to give advice", she says, "...but I will share this with you. Imagination...There's your secret." Grief, playing a teacher role for me right now, has shown me that imagination is an especially necessary tool in the kit to deal with her. When grief hits, it's not easy to see beyond sorrow. Imagination is definitely helpful when trying to put one foot in front of the other. Imagining (or at least trying to imagine) something beyond the pain of loss is important when dealing with death is essential or else you'll be stuck in the pain. 

How is imagination working for me now? It's seeing grief as the aforementioned teacher, or a wave to ride when it comes, like surfing. Sometimes, it's a moonlit river coaxing you along the path laid along it's banks. Many times, it's picturing yourself getting through each movement you have to make through the day. That's where your humble blogger is at right now.

Ode to JEH

 

I just saw a homily 

Where the deacon mentioned 

It is what you value that makes you rich.

If we're to go by that, you were the richest man on Earth.

Your heart was big as the ocean

and valued life, love, and everyone.

Fly high, dear crow.

Black Business Month Highlight-Denisio Truitt Atelier

It's Black Business Month and your humble blogger is all about supporting Black business. Right now, the love is going to Denisio Truitt Atelier. Denisio is an artist in every sense of the word and I'm proud to be a customer. My most recent purchase was the icy shoulder knit top and cowrie mini hoop earrings. The top is custom made (you have to submit your measurements when you check out on the website) and fits like a dream. The fabric is thick without being bulky. Put it it together with the earrings and you have the perfect look for a night out or just because. On top of that, the price point is out of this world-in the best of ways. Get thee to Denisio's website for some truly remarkable items for your wall and closet.

Back with another plant update

Your humble blogger is continuing with the plant journey. Ms. Owlivia, which I talked about here, bit the dust recently. Now I'm back with a new plant, which I dub Asia Pleshur. It's giving a lush vibe, and so I had to name her after my favorite singer's new album,  The Age of Pleasure, which has also been giving lush vibes. It's been serendipitous in that Asia is a ZZ plant, which is of Africa origin, and Janelle describes The Age of Pleasure as an ode to the diaspora. Interestingly, as of late, my mind has been trying to draw a deeper connection between the two- specifically, the fact that Asia's plant species is one that thrives in dry environments, and Janelle, in talking about the album, has mentioned the idea of choosing joy in the midst of heaviness. That's speaking a personal word to yours truly right now, as I'm still in a season where applying this to my life is crucial. Now to put these lessons into practice.

The Word for Right Now

It's honesty hour again. Unfortunately, your humble blogger has been dealing with a lot. One month ago today, the love of my life passed on. In the midst of it all, a thought came that felt necessary to share,  thanks to the inspiration of the Wondaland crew:

Blessings,

Msranadee 

I'm on Black Catholic Messenger Again

 Yours truly has some new-new at Black Catholic Messenger. Check it out here:

https://www.blackcatholicmessenger.com/africa-and-the-early-church-review/

Honesty Hour, or the Struggle of Originality

Your humble blogger wants to be honest for a moment. It's been a struggle to come up with original content. Writer's block has been plaguing me-especially given one of my goals with this blog has been to not to be just a rehash of ideas that have already been around (and expressed by more brilliant minds). In the struggle, though, the thought came to mind of something I've alluded to in past posts. Sometimes some things are worth reiterating, because they're great ideas, and the more the good is reiterated, the more it gets ingrained. Having a good thing ingrained is, well, a good thing, right?

Best,

Msranadee 

Faith as History

The Lenten reflection book your humble blogger has been perusing for the season had a passage from Pope Francis for yesterday that hit like a ton of bricks- "Faith becomes history ". It had me thinking, and it made sense. What we put faith in shapes our history-individually and collectively. It could be our faith in people, money, ideas, or a higher power that forms the path on which we live our lives. And so, the question is posed to you, dear reader: What have you put faith in that became your history?

Works cited 

Catholic Near East Welfare Association. Lenten Reflections With Pope Francis. New York. NY 2023.

To Gamma Phi Delta on Founders ' Day

 She dons pink and blue

Feet shod in peace and harmony 

Holding fast to the path

Laid by the 13 pearls

That set forth the foundation 

Of refinement and culture 

That is 

G A M M A

Why the Excitement for "Bloody Hell"



 Your humble blogger just saw on Twitter that a movie about a variation in sex development will have a premiere at SXSW and is beyond excited. Bloody Hell, written, directed and co-executive produced by Molly McGlynn, according to the SXSW website, is a "coming-of-age 'traumedy'" about a 16 year old with MRKH, a variation of sex development. This is huge news in that on screen media representation of such variations (sometimes referred to as intersex) are few and far between. SXSW is a major platform. In addition, another one of the executive producers is none other than your humble blogger's fave, Janelle Monáe. 

Such a move could be considered par for the course,  as Monáe is all about highlighting underrepresented voices. This also hits close to home for your humble blogger,  as she has a variation of sex development called Turner Syndrome which was diagnosed at 17. Though MRKH and Turner Syndrome are different, the fact that a variation in sex development is getting representation on the big screen brings a sense of solidarity for your humble blogger.

This movie is also significant given, as noted in the SXSW article,  McGlynn  herself has MRKH. We're not only getting an underrepresented story,  but one being told by a member of that underrepresented group. From all these angles,  the excitement is real. Your humble blogger is looking forward to watching it.

Thank you, Molly and Janelle,  for making such a necessary story available. 

Source:

 https://schedule.sxsw.com/2023/films/2079262?_ga=2.178641508.1558548870.1673467896-445338556.1673467896