Kwanzaa Day 7 Imani FAITH

Habari Gani       Response  Imani

Kwanzaa Day 7  IMANI (eeMAHnee) Faith  

Today is New Years Day and the last day of Kwanzaa. It is fitting that it is IMANI, which represents our faith that a better world can be created for the community now and in the future. Take note that each day of Kwanzaa focuses on how we can serve and be a part of the larger community. This is a cultural celebration not a religious one. It doesn't matter what your religious believe is or even if you are an Atheist. Use Kwanzaa to step out of  yourself, your small circle of family and friends.  Look around you to see what you can do to impact and make the larger community and world better. Have the believe that, "Yes, I can make a difference". Then just go out and do it. 

Photos are from here http://bit.ly/vqxZc3

Peace

Michelle

Kwanzaa Day 6 KUUMBA Creativity

Habari Gani              Response Kuumba

Kwanzaa Day 6 Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) Creativity

This should be a special day for all the artists who follow my blog but everyone has creativity in some fashion. Are you the go to person when folks need to know how to decorate for an event, do public relations for an event, raise money to buy instruments, or bake goods for the church bazaar. Well guess what you that's your Creativity.

I am amazed when people look at my work and say I can't do that I don't have a creative bone in my body. My response is always what do you like doing? As we talk I find that the people who say this first are some of the most creative. I am amazed at the creative people who make this statement. Usually its the people who are the most creative in their community. Creativity is not always working with your hands. To me its using your mind's power to make something come into being. School needs to raise $5,000 to refurbish the playground. You pull the various parties together, raise the money and get the job completed. Organize a neighborhood cleanup and get it done. Yes, my dear you are very creative. So don't sell yourself short.

Kuumba asks us to make the community more beautiful. Everyone admires your yard or garden, then SHARE with the community how you do it. All of us do not have green thumbs so we NEED the help. Smile. What ever you can do to make the community more beautiful then do it. Start in your own space no matter how small its yours and go from there to the larger community.

You are not an island, go out into the larger community and make a difference.

Today is also the day for the Karamu feast (http://bit.ly/sRrv1S). I use this time to bring friends together early enough so they can go out to celebrate before the New Year comes in.

Peace

Michelle

kwanzaa Day 3 Ujima Collective Work and Responsiblity

Habari Gani      Response is Ujima


Today is the third day of Kwanzaa "Ujima" which stands for collective work and responsibility. We see this happening across the country in the Local First movements, domestic violence, community gardens and so many other areas. People are trying to regain that "community feeling". We have become such a mobile society in the past 20 or thirty years that community has been lost. 


I personally love it when I see people come together to create a community garden or to refurbish a park or play field. To see folks come together for something other than a funeral. Yes it is important that we honor tragic victims and see to it that they given honorable burials. We also need to come together to create the kind of community that we are proud to live in. We can no longer hide behind closed doors and hope someone else takes care of the problems. We have to stand up and be a part of the solution. Saying ,"I'm only one person and can't make a difference " was never valid. Each of us no matter how small can make a difference. Combined we are an engine that can. (Ask Former Arizona Legislator Russell Pearce). http://bit.ly/ryA15l


What are you doing to be responsible and work collectively in your community? Please share what you're doing, another community may be able to use your project or action.


As always you can shop my store on the right to keep this site going.

Michelle