Testimony

Growing up in a Southern Baptist church, I always looked forward to testimony service. It was the one time besides announcements and “the welcome” that the members got the mic. Depending on who got the mic, determined how entertaining the service would be that day. You never knew what people were going to thank God for doing, or even give credit to God for doing in their lives. As I grew older, I began to recognize the importance of sharing my testimony. It really wasn't me as much as it was to encourage those who hadn't made it to the testimony stage yet. They were just being tested. Every opportunity you are given to share what God has done in your life, do so. You never know how your testimony can bless someone else.

Heed

As a child, I loved reading Aesop's Fables. I loved storytelling with lessons embedded within them. I always wanted to know, "what's the lesson?" Even in life, I find myself asking, "what's the lesson?" I've always believed that you were bound to repeat something if you didn't learn the lesson. For a season in my life, I dated the same person over and over again. They were different people, but the results were the same. They all had the same character flaw. I had to learn to pay attention. I had to take heed. I had to learn not to ignore the red flags. Is there something you need to take heed of? Is there someone you need to take heed to? Pay attention. Slow down. Don't ignore the signs. Take heed. Proceed with caution.

Narrative

Growing up in New Orleans was a fascinating story all by itself. Add in Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Essence, and Bayou Classic and you've got stories for days. I went to a very Afrocentric Baptist Church that had the seven principles of Kwanzaa on the wall. I knew what the African Diaspora was before I learned American or Louisiana History. Adella Adella the storyteller visited my school and told me stories about Flying Africans. I read all about Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters. I learned all about my rich history, and what the African American narrative had been in this country.

Currently, that narrative is changing. We are reconstructing that story. We are our ancestors wildest dreams, and we have the ability to rewrite our narrative. We no longer have to stay within the confines of the page. We are telling our own stories in film and television. We are launching lucrative businesses. We are entrepreneurs. We are writing our own narrative. What's yours?