Wordless Wednesday 12/26/2012

Hi All! 

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Michelle

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 5 NIA. What is your PURPOSE in serving the greater community http://bit.ly/tuuIOD AfricanAmerican#Wirequeen#Community.

Kwanzaa Day 1 Umoja Unity

What started out as a way for African Americans to reconnect with self, family and community has now been embraced by many worldwide.


The guiding principles of Kwanzaa (the Nguzo Saba) are;
1. Umoja-Unity
2. Kujichagulia-Self determination
3. Ujima-Collective work and responsibility
4. Ujama-Cooperative Economics
5. Nia_Purpose
6. Kuumba-Creativity
7. Imani-Faith

I have celebrated Kwanzaa for many years. I like the fact that it comes after Christmas. We have used Kwanzaa as a time of reflection and to share as a family and community. What's especially nice is the ceremony of lighting a candle each day as a family. I have celebrated this day by myself when I was single, but it is much nicer as a family.


There are so many ways you can share Kwanzaa. My single friends and I have each taken a night to host the celebration so that we didn't have to do it alone. Great way to strengthen the bonds of your Sister Circle. There are so many activities that you can find on the net for the kids to do each day makes Kwanzaa a wonderful way to make family memories.


Today is the first day of Kwanzaa titled Umoja which is Unity. For me this is a time to reflect on how I can make a difference by bringing people together. I use my facebook page (http://facebook.com/MichelleSHawkins) for this purpose. My page is like the United Nations. You will find many races,cultures and opinions. People I may totally disagree with on some issues and share the same positions on others. Yet we are adult enough to agree to disagree with out animosity or snideness. If you can't handle that then you leave my page.


Do you celebrate Kwanzaa? If you do how do you celebrate? If not, why not? Please leave a comment.


As always you can shop with me to keep this blog going.




Michelle