I was just thinking about independence day and what it means to me. I decided to brush up on my history and read about the historical importance of today: the American Revolution, the Declaration of independence and what it meant as far as solidifying the United States as an independent country. Then I made an important decision, I am truly proud to be an an American.
Saying this out loud sounded weird to me. I have probably only said this phrase less than a handful of times in my life (that I can recall): September 11, 2001, President Obama's inauguration,...and today. And then I thought about it. How many times have I said to anyone, "I am American"? I'm black, yes. But, American? I'm not so sure. Does the fact that I was born in America make me American? Sure. If I was born in Germany, I guess I'd be German. *shrugs* What does it truly mean to be American? The few times I can recall telling anyone I'm American was meeting a group of people from the Caribbean and the first question is "What are you?" (Jamaican, Lucian, Bahamian, etc.) I would reply (as I identified myself), "I'm black," and someone would politely say, "No, where are you from?" "Florida!" LOL...I never really thought of myself as American. That's not really what comes to mind first as far as how I identify myself.
I am American and proud!
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy Independence Day !
Thanks to the men who were brave enough throughout the American Revolution to establish our freedoms...and the soldiers today who fight to protect them!!
I haven't posted in a while. I'm on so many different social networking sites (facebook, twitter, tumblr, this one..I think that's it lol), I figured I share enough of myself everywhere else. I've kind of neglected my blog, which is the one place where I feel like I can share my inner thoughts without worrying about a stupid character limit. Alot has changed and happened since my last post in April...
I talked about the change of major. I'm currently considering my options and trying to put together a plan for what I'd like to do after graduation in December 2012. I have recently opened up to the idea of teaching out of state. I have currently added Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia to the list of places I wouldn't mind moving to. I'd have someone I know, either family or a family friend, in each of those places. If moving can't happen for me, I'm working on making it a possibility to teach at the high school I went to. I've been trying to meet with someone to make sure I'm qualified and see what openings they may have within the next year or so. I'm realistic about the cuts in education and the fact that it may not be as easy as it sounds to get a job as a teacher. My dad proposed the idea of me joining the Navy, which I almost did right out of high school. I'm not opposed to that, but that option is only if I can't find a job within 6 months after graduation (gotta get those student loans paid!) OR if I do start teaching and maybe it isn't exactly right for me. The biggest pro for me about the Navy is that if/when I get my Master's degree, I have a sure way to pay for it without taking out anymore loans or living like a broke college student again. I just know that whatever happens after graduation, I'll be FINE!
I've also had ridiculous amounts of roommate drama. Living with friends can either go great or horrible. We've had some great times, but boy when things are bad, they're BAD. I don't really care to get into what happened.
I don't know what else there is to say. Life is good right now. Summer classes started about a week ago and are going well so far, despite how much work it is. No one said it would be easy. Once the summer term is over, I have 11 classes until I'm finished! It feels good to have come this far! This school year is going to be a lot of work. Depending on how I work my schedule, I could graduate as early as next summer. By December of next year, I'll for sure be finished!
As always, thanks for reading!
~LaDai
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Window Seat -- Erykah Badu
http://universalmotown.com/videos/playlist.aspx?plid=1457712391&v=76010451001&aid=0
I am so excited! I have not seen a music video or heard a (current) song that inspires so much thought! I have always been a fan of Erykah Badu. She bares her soul in every song! And that's what I love. She takes everyday issues and just puts them in words on a beat we can all relate to. REAL MUSIC !!
I know I'm super late seeing this video and hearing this song, but I just saw it tonight and I had to get my 2 cents out there. I've been hearing alot of people say what they do and don't like about the video, but personally I don't see anything NOT to like!
The video definitely represents the process of groupthink and how it's destroyed us as a people, collectively. Alot of people claim to be individual thinkers, but if we all say the same thing, then we too are participating in a form of groupthink! As much as we all want to believe we are truly individual thinkers, I just don't think it happens as often as we'd like. The force of media alone kind of herds us to believe what "they" want us to. Badu shows this in the end of her video in 2 ways that I thought about it: 1) Assassination of group think can only get us to see the greater good. 2) Assassination of the individual thinker/the mind/the soul is where we are now. The fact that this happens in the same spot where JFK was assassinated...I bet the majority of people who saw this video didn't even pick up on that!!
Another thing that I noticed in this video as Badu sheds her clothing, is the concept that we must shed the preconceived notions that people have of us. At the end of the dare you can only be you. People's thoughts of who and what they think I am, majority of the time are wrong. Although she's literally taking off her clothes, it's the thought that people need to stop hiding behind what others want for them. I am not who you think I am or who you think you want me to be. I don't want what you want for me and your expectations for me are not the same expectations I hold myself to. I don't hide behind those false thoughts. I can only be me. Until people realize that, they shouldn't let what others think of them affect them. If not, then we'll all be fooled by the ravening wolves disguised as sheep!
I like that she's not afraid to get naked even though they have to censor it. It shows that through her music (one of the things I'm sure she's the most passionate about) and anything else she does, she's not afraid to be herself and bare her soul, essentially showing who she really is at the end of the day. You either love it or you don't!
[[I'll post what I think of the lyrics later]]
~LaDai
I am so excited! I have not seen a music video or heard a (current) song that inspires so much thought! I have always been a fan of Erykah Badu. She bares her soul in every song! And that's what I love. She takes everyday issues and just puts them in words on a beat we can all relate to. REAL MUSIC !!
I know I'm super late seeing this video and hearing this song, but I just saw it tonight and I had to get my 2 cents out there. I've been hearing alot of people say what they do and don't like about the video, but personally I don't see anything NOT to like!
The video definitely represents the process of groupthink and how it's destroyed us as a people, collectively. Alot of people claim to be individual thinkers, but if we all say the same thing, then we too are participating in a form of groupthink! As much as we all want to believe we are truly individual thinkers, I just don't think it happens as often as we'd like. The force of media alone kind of herds us to believe what "they" want us to. Badu shows this in the end of her video in 2 ways that I thought about it: 1) Assassination of group think can only get us to see the greater good. 2) Assassination of the individual thinker/the mind/the soul is where we are now. The fact that this happens in the same spot where JFK was assassinated...I bet the majority of people who saw this video didn't even pick up on that!!
Another thing that I noticed in this video as Badu sheds her clothing, is the concept that we must shed the preconceived notions that people have of us. At the end of the dare you can only be you. People's thoughts of who and what they think I am, majority of the time are wrong. Although she's literally taking off her clothes, it's the thought that people need to stop hiding behind what others want for them. I am not who you think I am or who you think you want me to be. I don't want what you want for me and your expectations for me are not the same expectations I hold myself to. I don't hide behind those false thoughts. I can only be me. Until people realize that, they shouldn't let what others think of them affect them. If not, then we'll all be fooled by the ravening wolves disguised as sheep!
I like that she's not afraid to get naked even though they have to censor it. It shows that through her music (one of the things I'm sure she's the most passionate about) and anything else she does, she's not afraid to be herself and bare her soul, essentially showing who she really is at the end of the day. You either love it or you don't!
[[I'll post what I think of the lyrics later]]
~LaDai
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Back 2 This Hair Thing Tho...
I am so insprired to go natural!
I always have been, but lately I'm really feeling like I REALLY want to go natural. I'm tired of wearing my hair short now. I've been doing this for 2 years now, a little on and off in the beggining, but pretty steady in the past year or so. It grows fast (and I LOVE how my new growth feels!), but styling it, it doens't grow long without breakage. Even before I cut my hair short, I've never really had problems with my relaxed hair that alot of other women experience. The biggest problems I've had with my hair is breakage and I completely expect that with a relaxer and the amount of styling I do (on a daily basis).
I'm tired, though! I'm tired of doing my hair everyday. Tired of sitting in the salong for cuts every so often. Within the last week or so I've had this urge to just take some scissors and cut it all off.
My biggest worry is that I won't like my hair THAT short. I'm just ready for something new. Originally, I planned to just get my hair cut shorter and shorter each time, but my hair stylist won't cut it short how I want. I don't know if she does that on purpose or if she really just likes my hair the way she does it lol... Then I said I'm just going to get a fade by the time the summer comes. I'm getting restless. I'm ready to start over asap!
I'm telling you, if I keep feeling this way....*eyes the scissors*
~LaDai
I always have been, but lately I'm really feeling like I REALLY want to go natural. I'm tired of wearing my hair short now. I've been doing this for 2 years now, a little on and off in the beggining, but pretty steady in the past year or so. It grows fast (and I LOVE how my new growth feels!), but styling it, it doens't grow long without breakage. Even before I cut my hair short, I've never really had problems with my relaxed hair that alot of other women experience. The biggest problems I've had with my hair is breakage and I completely expect that with a relaxer and the amount of styling I do (on a daily basis).
I'm tired, though! I'm tired of doing my hair everyday. Tired of sitting in the salong for cuts every so often. Within the last week or so I've had this urge to just take some scissors and cut it all off.
My biggest worry is that I won't like my hair THAT short. I'm just ready for something new. Originally, I planned to just get my hair cut shorter and shorter each time, but my hair stylist won't cut it short how I want. I don't know if she does that on purpose or if she really just likes my hair the way she does it lol... Then I said I'm just going to get a fade by the time the summer comes. I'm getting restless. I'm ready to start over asap!
I'm telling you, if I keep feeling this way....*eyes the scissors*
~LaDai
Monday, February 1, 2010
2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore if anyman be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new."
-KJV
_______________________________________________
So I've had a slip in my fast. I know it happened, but I've been sitting on it and really trying to re-evaluate things for myself and figure out what I can do to really strengthen myself in and through this fast. In the bigger picture, if I can stay faithful to this fast, I can do anything and it's just few steps on my spritual journey, but it really matters.
I'm coming to see that partying is really my vice. I really enjoy it. It's a good release to me after a long week of hard work. BUT... like I said before, it's become a distraction so I'm trying to cut it out for a while. I partied twice this past weekend. But I got a good message tonight that I believe has definitely given me more strength to make it through the time period I said I wouldn't party (until Sprink Break).
So I was at this event tonight and the theme was "Living Faithful in an Unfaitful Environment". It definitely put in perspective what I'm trying to accomplish with this fast, and made that picture clear to me. I know what steps I need to put in place and become accountable for what situations I put myself into that will lead to the success (or failure) of my goal. I will share this for anyone maybe going through the same thing of just trying to stay focused on a goal or anything else you want to do to become a better person.
The question asked was basically "What kind of person would I be if I were truly faithful?" You can apply that to any aspect of your life: in school, in a relationship with someone or your relationship with God, a friendship, or even just within yourself. The speaker used Proverbs 3:5-6 to paint this picture. He was saying that we must have visions for ourselves and our lives, particularly about who we want to become as a person. In our walk in faith, not turning away from God, His presence will give us the power, love, peace, and strength to accomplish those things.
If I am truly faithful to God and to myself in this fast, I will make it through with no problem. Of course it's not going to be easy. With anything we, as imperfect humans, strive to accomplish, we'll always have setbacks. It's what we do in the setback, in that moment of darkness, that defines who we truly are. In this setback I know that there are steps that I need to put in place so that I can enjoy success in the long run.
First thing I want to do is to become prepared. Before I set out on my fast I didn't really prepare for what I would do if I were to be in a situation where I'd be conflicted. I know I'm on this fast, I'm trying not to party so I have to remove myself from the situations where someone says "Okay what do ya'll want to do? Ya'll wanna get a bottle or head downtown?" Nope. LaDai wants to go home n chill. So then I can say, "Okay ya'll go out n have a good time. Call me in the morning, tell me all about it." I didn't have that mental preparation before. I believe I do now.
Second thing I want to do is stay consistent. With anything I do, I never want to say one thing and do another. If I can't stay true to my fast, I'm not staying true to myself and thusandsuch [yes, I did say thusandsuch lol], how can you expect me to stay true to you as a friend or anything else? So, I have got to get my actions and words to stay consistent in this vision of who I am aiming to become.
The third step in this is to stay optimistic and realistic. In any goal, a person has to be optimistic and realistic in what they want to accomplish. Specifically with my fast, I know I'm not just going to stop partying and never party again. I just have to learn moderation. Cutting it out for a while, helps me to accomplish this. As far as being realistic, I started off saying I wouldn't party all semester. That's not realistic for me, so I shortened to Spring Break with the intention of partying in moderation any time after that!
Lastly, knowing who I am and what works for LaDai is my last step in being successful at this fast. This step ties in with the 3rd one as far as being realistic. I know what works for me and I just have to stay steadfast and true to myself and success is mine to claim!
~LaDai
-KJV
_______________________________________________
So I've had a slip in my fast. I know it happened, but I've been sitting on it and really trying to re-evaluate things for myself and figure out what I can do to really strengthen myself in and through this fast. In the bigger picture, if I can stay faithful to this fast, I can do anything and it's just few steps on my spritual journey, but it really matters.
I'm coming to see that partying is really my vice. I really enjoy it. It's a good release to me after a long week of hard work. BUT... like I said before, it's become a distraction so I'm trying to cut it out for a while. I partied twice this past weekend. But I got a good message tonight that I believe has definitely given me more strength to make it through the time period I said I wouldn't party (until Sprink Break).
So I was at this event tonight and the theme was "Living Faithful in an Unfaitful Environment". It definitely put in perspective what I'm trying to accomplish with this fast, and made that picture clear to me. I know what steps I need to put in place and become accountable for what situations I put myself into that will lead to the success (or failure) of my goal. I will share this for anyone maybe going through the same thing of just trying to stay focused on a goal or anything else you want to do to become a better person.
The question asked was basically "What kind of person would I be if I were truly faithful?" You can apply that to any aspect of your life: in school, in a relationship with someone or your relationship with God, a friendship, or even just within yourself. The speaker used Proverbs 3:5-6 to paint this picture. He was saying that we must have visions for ourselves and our lives, particularly about who we want to become as a person. In our walk in faith, not turning away from God, His presence will give us the power, love, peace, and strength to accomplish those things.
If I am truly faithful to God and to myself in this fast, I will make it through with no problem. Of course it's not going to be easy. With anything we, as imperfect humans, strive to accomplish, we'll always have setbacks. It's what we do in the setback, in that moment of darkness, that defines who we truly are. In this setback I know that there are steps that I need to put in place so that I can enjoy success in the long run.
First thing I want to do is to become prepared. Before I set out on my fast I didn't really prepare for what I would do if I were to be in a situation where I'd be conflicted. I know I'm on this fast, I'm trying not to party so I have to remove myself from the situations where someone says "Okay what do ya'll want to do? Ya'll wanna get a bottle or head downtown?" Nope. LaDai wants to go home n chill. So then I can say, "Okay ya'll go out n have a good time. Call me in the morning, tell me all about it." I didn't have that mental preparation before. I believe I do now.
Second thing I want to do is stay consistent. With anything I do, I never want to say one thing and do another. If I can't stay true to my fast, I'm not staying true to myself and thusandsuch [yes, I did say thusandsuch lol], how can you expect me to stay true to you as a friend or anything else? So, I have got to get my actions and words to stay consistent in this vision of who I am aiming to become.
The third step in this is to stay optimistic and realistic. In any goal, a person has to be optimistic and realistic in what they want to accomplish. Specifically with my fast, I know I'm not just going to stop partying and never party again. I just have to learn moderation. Cutting it out for a while, helps me to accomplish this. As far as being realistic, I started off saying I wouldn't party all semester. That's not realistic for me, so I shortened to Spring Break with the intention of partying in moderation any time after that!
Lastly, knowing who I am and what works for LaDai is my last step in being successful at this fast. This step ties in with the 3rd one as far as being realistic. I know what works for me and I just have to stay steadfast and true to myself and success is mine to claim!
~LaDai
Friday, June 12, 2009
My First Official Blog
Just wanted to establish my first official post for my first blog.
Well, I'm starting this blog as another way to connect to other people out there and share my experiences. I am thinking of blogging about my hair experiences and other things as they come along. I'm not much of a writer, so what you read here is just me and my thoughts and/or opinions, take it or leave it. I believe that's all. So, when I get my thoughts together, I will be back!
~LaDai
Well, I'm starting this blog as another way to connect to other people out there and share my experiences. I am thinking of blogging about my hair experiences and other things as they come along. I'm not much of a writer, so what you read here is just me and my thoughts and/or opinions, take it or leave it. I believe that's all. So, when I get my thoughts together, I will be back!
~LaDai
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)