Always loved the way this opens and closes...

Wordless Prayer

He sat with me in silence. The sound of the pencil sketching swiftly along his notepad. We sat so long, I became unaware of his presence, the room taken over by the sound of him working feverishly to finish this task.

Abruptly he glanced at me and said, "I'll be the first to admit it. There are moments in my solitude when my soul needs to relieve small burdens, but no words come forth. What do you call that? I inquire, 'Does he still hear me?' ...Search my inner depths for the perfect words, I swear I do, because I never want to go to heaven and hear him say, 'Well you didn't ask.' But they never come out...NEVER! I continue through my days... skipping the cracks where I have strength enough to jump. Sometimes I don't discern the cracks' locations and stumble. I'll be the first to admit that too. Situations, ya know... they come, go, begin and end. Did I not pray the right words? I laugh to myself because I know I prayed the right words, I just didn't heed to his guiding. Next time, maybe next time, I will listen. One thing I do listen for is my mission. To feel that feeling that vibrates through my body in a color and a note made for me. So I know what I am doing is RIGHT, JUST and LEGACY worthy. Sometimes I'm not so sure about my prayer for that either. Maybe soon he will show me. Until then, my soul does this word less prayer. Meaningful, but word less...have you ever had one of those? You know, when your soul says it all, but no words come forth. What do you call that?"

I shrug, slightly confused and lovingly intrigued by this rhetorical conversation gifted me.

He replied, "You don't know?"

Stared blankly in my direction, almond eyes wide, and softly mumbled, "Me either."

His head dropped in humble understanding as he continued his sketch.

There's something I wanted to know... *sways hips & snaps fingers*

MY HISTORY...

My dad had this up as a profile picture on facebook...it's something I saw constantly growing up! The warm feeling I got after having this memory rekindled in my mind made me smile!!!!! Rev. Dr. Jesse L. Douglas, marching to the left (your viewing right) of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is the CME preacher I was raised on and that baptized me! HISTORY CAN NOT BE BOUGHT! THANK GOD for a LUCID vision!!!!

I'm a giver; not a taker...

"Then Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all that she had to live in" -NIV Mark 12:41-44

Moving to Houston changed me forever. Immediately I understood what Southern Hospitality was, outside of what I learned from my immediate family's hospitable ways, and was given plenty of opportunities to show hospitality to others. During a hurricane I was housed by a then stranger's family; the young lady is now one of my closest friends. I housed a then acquaintance, who is now one of my close friends as well. FRANKLY, the only reason I was able to move to Houston was because of a close friend's hospitality. She probably gets tired of me thanking her! (lol...I LOVE YOU) The point of it all, is that the cycle of giving is a blessing!

I often inquire of myself, "Why do you give continuously, knowing that it may not be given in return?" The reality is that I enjoy being friendly and sweet. This is not to say that I don't have a malicious side; that "Darlene" is a doozy! But I quickly learned that the tighter I hold onto things, the harder they are to maintain. Everything I give with an open heart comes back to me tenfold. I'm still learning, but as I get better, my heart gets lighter! I've become grateful, not necessarily for the ability to give, but for the joyful heart I've developed as a result of giving.

Peace & Blessings,

Nina B.

When Art Imitates Life

In my past life, I was a painter! Definitely a hobby I enjoyed as a child (shout out to my aunt that kept me with canvases, brushes and acrylic paint). I hope to have a mural painted on the wall of my first home, possibly in what I would like to be a "music/reading room" with a record player and a huge library of books and records! But to the topic at hand, when I stumbled upon the art series sponsored by Okayplayer, I was kinda interested in seeing what it was about. Musical visionaries creating and selling limited art... interesting! Black Thought just signed on, can't wait to see what that looks like. Check it out: When Art Imitates Life

Ode to February... 28 Days of Truths

Most folks do 30 day challenges, but seeing as how February is my Bday month, I'll do a 28 day challenge. Yes, I'm early I know, but who cares! Here's the list I will follow, sounds fun right?! **side eye** lol See ya in February!

Day 01- A recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself
Day 02- The meaning behind your Blog name
Day 03- A book you've read that changed your views on something
Day 04- A habit that you wish you didn’t have
Day 05- A picture of somewhere you’ve been
Day 06- Favorite super hero and why
Day 07- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you
Day 08- Your vocation (why are you here on earth)
Day 09- Someone you met randomly that's made an impact on your life
Day 10- Songs you listen to when you are Happy, Sad, Bored, Hyped, Mad
Day 11- Discuss a spontaneous moment in your life that that turned out to be fantastic
Day 12- Something about which people seem to compliment you
Day 13- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Day 14- Something you're looking forward to this year
Day 15- Put your iPod on shuffle: First 10 songs that play
Day 16- Views on religion or politics
Day 17- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why
Day 18- Plans/dreams/goals you have
Day 19- Nicknames you have; why do you have them
Day 20- Someone you see yourself marrying/being with in the future
Day 21- A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 22- A band/musical artist whose music impacted your life
Day 23- Something you crave for a lot
Day 24- A letter to your parents
Day 25- What I would find in your bag
Day 26- What you think about your friends
Day 27- A picture of you last year and now, how have you changed since then?
Day 28- In this past month, what have you learned

Randomness...

At one point in time I meditated every morning! Woke up at 5am, went jogging to catch the sunrise and then came home to read my bible and meditate. I'm a Christian, Jesus is my Lord and savior, but meditating helped me go to another level within my religion and within myself. I've been feeling off balance lately, took a Chakra test and you can see my results to the left. I'm pretty centered, but I talk too much, can easily feel nervous and I can be attached/overemotional. Well well well... ain't that about nothing! "Talking too much" I've dealt with all my life! The nervous issue does a JOB on my stomach, it twists and turns like nobody's business lol! I must say, however, that when I meditated I was the most calm thing walking! Rent could be late?! CALM! Paying for three flat tires in a month on top of rent?! CALM! Hurricane in Houston!? CALM! Death in the family!? CALM! Fall out with the boo?! **major shruggage** lol It was like nothing could get to me. Needless to say, I'll be setting my alarm clock at 5am starting next week! It's all about balance! More set-aside time for prayer and meditation does wonders for the soul!

*SN*

• Don't knock the open crown, third eye, heart and navel though! I'm assertive, sensual, intuitive and compassionate! True, True, True aaaaannnnd True!
• I'm sitting here wondering what life would have been like if I kept my fro lol...
  

Beyond This Moment

Stationary. Momentary. Beyond this point my vision expands and unfolds to a vast array of opportunities. Open variations. Must. Focus. On. One and then move along. Roads end and begin, again... It's all repetition. I am more than today. I forgot my yesterday, but it haunts me to stillness. Late nights I feel myself whimper. Snow covered roads don't mean the road isn't there. The plowing makes me appreciate the road more. Spring arrives and gives way to blossoming tulip trees. As messy as they are, I've always loved them...I see more than a tree shedding it's petals. Beyond this moment I see a tree that continues to grow, and will bloom again and again, all the while knowing its petals will fall. Life. Cycles. I...am more than this moment. Everything goes beyond this moment. Anything goes beyond this moment. Some things aren't meant to last beyond this moment. Some people can't see beyond this moment.

*expressions by Nina B.*

Roy Hargrove

To know me, is to know that I love Jazz... well, music of all sorts really. A HS and College friend took me to see the Roy Hargrove Quintet and I enjoyed it! We were scheduled to go to the 8pm show, but it was sold out, so we waited for the 10pm. Now, my granny-esque lifestyle prevented me from really staying wide awake, so I drank coffee. It was an awesome set... you should check him out! I posted an old Youtube for your convenience. Nice to hear GOOD music! Even better, it's a great feeling to have friends that enjoy a vast array of things. We swapped "new music", hit a party and ate breakfast, I ended up being out wayyyyy later than my usual late night! But... fun times are meant to be had!

Marsha Ambrosius "Far Away"

I have close cousins that practice an alternative lifestyle, so this video was particularly touching for me!

NO explanation needed! LOVE HIM

"She"

I had this song, among others, on repeat when I first downloaded this album!