Much of my life has been an open book. I share many of my highs and lows for the purpose of trying to help and encourage others on their journey. Those who have heard me speak or read my books know the trials and tribulations I experienced as a young girl, from sexual abuse by my father and being abandoned by my mother.
We are in challenging times where things seem to come at us from all directions. The recent torrential rainstorm we experienced here in California brought water into our home from above and below the surface. Truthfully, my patience and nerves were tested.
February is the month we celebrate love and Black History Month. I love Black love. I am of mixed heritage, and I am proud of my entire cultural heritage, but I identify as a Black woman.
Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and small nonprofits have a lot on their shoulders to help make sure they run a successful and productive business. There are so many components that must be attended to daily to keep things running.
By now, we have all heard about the passing of Dexter, the son of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Coretta Scott King. He passed away at the young age of 62 from battling prostate cancer.
When I was running my event management company, I had the privilege for many years of working on two major celebrations honoring the memory of Dr. King. First, King Week under the direction of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles (SCLC-GLA); second, the Kingdom Day Parade with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).
Why does it take some of us a lifetime to learn our value? Why do we so willingly, consciously or unconsciously, give up our power, especially to those who do not even deserve it.
The hands of time have passed once again to the dawning of a new year. It is time for us to realize our true potential and really go after it. We do not have to play ourselves small in order to help others feel big.
When you are invited to visit a place that is historical and welcoming, do not hesitate. Recently, I had the privilege of visiting a very special place called Stone of Scone Farm in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, right outside of Gettysburg. I was the guest of Patricia Green-Rodgers and her husband, Bob Rodgers, and their hospitality was exceptional.
When I think of Christmas, I always think back to the days I grew up in my grandmother’s house in Riverside. We did not have a lot of material possessions, but we had a big family that would always come together from across the various roads of life we were traveling.
For over 30 years, I have owned a company that started as an event management firm. I was blessed to work with some of the best companies, organizations, and individuals helping them with various events. I especially appreciated when I was able to work with groups that not only held an amazing event, but their main goal was to party with a purpose. Their desire was to raise funds and awareness to help others.
I once heard a pastor say that if you stop and count all your blessings and all the good things happening in your life, you will think twice before you start to complain. Although our world seems to be in chaos, when we look around there are still many things we can pause and be grateful for. As my grandmother used to say whenever you wake up above ground you have the opportunity to do something new or different with your life.
Getting our finances in order is always something good to do. Staying on top of and understanding where we stand financially is critical. October is Financial Planning Month, so if you have not taken a good look at your portfolio in a while, I recommend you do it now. As the saying goes, “keep your mind on your money, and your money on your mind.”
Spring and Fall are good times to plant trees because the soil temperature tends to be mild. As I ponder what is best to do during the various seasons, one of the questions I ask myself is, “What trees am I planting today that will provide shade for future generations?”
I moved to Los Angeles in 1979 from Riverside to attend the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). During those days, Riverside was considered a small town. Moving to the big city, I was excited, and I could not wait to see what my future held.