Love, Laughter, and EVERYTHING in Between: Faith

Imani/Faith: The duty to trust and believe in our parents and in our capacity as family, community and a people to achieve at our highest potential.

• Let us continuously cultivate that “something within” that allows us to trust beyond all doubt the spirit and truth of the principles, practices and symbols of this Kwanzaa/Nguzo Saba tradition will lead us to the righteous victory that our struggle pursues – a world more hospitable and nurturing for our families and communities and the whole human family.
• Let us always trust in the infinite ability of the Creator to show us the more effective way to use the energies and impulses of the sacred image and essence within, to go over, under, around and through the ever-evolving challenges and obstacles that stand before us (and within us). 
• Let our faith be informed, inspired and strengthened by the large and small lessons of love, diligence, determination, compassion, forgiveness and positive transformations wherever life presents them.

Candle Lighting:  Light your last GREEN candle and commit to being more  trusting  in each other in the coming year.

~Until Next Time
SimplySHAY


Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Love, Laughter, and EVERYTHING in Between: Day 31- Creativity

Kuumba/Creativity:  Leaving our families, community, and world a better place to live, work, and love.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater ~ photo credit: Andrew Eccles

• Grow in knowing that the energy and impulse of the Creator’s image and essence within you is the power that drives your desire for a world that ismore hospitable and nurturing for human existence.
• Grow knowing and showing that the talents, skills and resources entrusted unto you are never to be used without respect for the greatest good for the greatest number of family, community and humanity. 
• Always be pro-active to share and utilize this consciousness and energy everywhere you go, with everyone you meet. 

Candle Lighting :On the sixth day of Kwanzaa the family lights the RED candle. This candle is symbolic of struggle- continuous effort and work. The placement and order of the Kwanzaa candles teach and reinforce valuable lessons for the family. The lesson here is that we light the red candle to reinforce the value and priority we place struggle as the method for creating progress.

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Love, Laughter and EVERYTHING in Between: Day 30- Purpose

Nia/Purpose: "Commitment, duty, and obligation to contribute to the morally serious purpose and noble goal, of nation building, i.e., the quest to recover and restore the  African American family, community, and people as a whole”

• Are you growing in realizing and appreciating that our traditional greatness includes the fact that our African ancestors were the fathers and mothers of humanity and civilization?
• Grow in knowing, receiving and revering inspiration from such a commitment (and its results) in people in every period of our history, in every geographic location.

The African proverb is insightful in illuminating the centrality of the family in the nation building project, declaring: “The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.” And, conversely, the development and elevation of the nation begins in the home. This is an affirmation that nation building begins at the smallest level, the family.

Candle Lighting: On the fifth day of Kwanzaa, the family lights the GREEN candle.  This candle is symbolic to the collective prosperity; Kwanzaa commitments are made around the Purpose principle.

~Until Next Tiime
SimplySHAY


Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Love, Laughter, and EVERYTHING in Between: Day 29-Cooperative Economics

Today is the fourth day of Kwanzaa, a celebration of the Kwanzaa principle which is Ujamaa/Cooperative Economics sharing and pooling our financial resources and goods and services for the common benefit of family and community participants with the goal of building and sustaining cooperative economic enterprises.  To build OUR OWN Businesses, control the economics of OUR OWN Community AND share in ALL its Work AND Wealth.

Vow to the following:

• Strive to become increasingly proficient in discerning and developing family-based and community-based enterprises and sharing those visions with others
• Be studious to understand the best ways to maximize the buying power of our dollars in the local, national and global economies.
• Strive to have a serious and consistent savings program in order to accumulate the wealth required to develop or participate in significant economic endeavors. 
• Be pro-active in finding and working with others who are striving to grow according to the challenges of this Ujamaa principle.

Candle Lighting:  On the fourth day of Kwanzaa, the family lights the RED candle. This candle is symbolic of the collective work and effort. Kwanzaa commitments are made around the principle of Cooperative Economics.





~Until Next Time
SimplySHAY

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Love, Laughter, and EVERYTHING in Between: Day 28- Collective Work and Responsibility

UJIMA (00-GEE-MA) Collective Work and Responsibility: To build and maintain our community together and make our sister’s and brother’s problems our problems and solve them together.

• Are you your brothers or sisters keeper?
• Are you willing, compassionate and pro-active in extending the knowledge, abilities, energy and other resources at your disposal to help members of your family and community to achieve the best outcome of a given life or situation?
• Can you extend yourself in this manner without the expectation of some immediate material return, but with the satisfaction of knowing that helping others in this fashion is, in the long run, help and reward for you also?

Candle Lighting: On the third day of Kwanzaa the family lights the GREEN candle next to the black candle. This candle is symbolic of future success and achievement.

~Until Next Time
SimplySHAY

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Love, Laughter, and EVERYTHING in Between: Day 27- Self Determination

Self-Determination/Kujichagulia To define the world in our own image and interest, placing African people and our history and culture at the center of our worldview and social reality.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Who am I? 
• How well do I know the history of achievement and excellence of my people? 
• What am I doing to further and deepen that knowledge?
• What contributions am I making toward restoring and continuing the ethic of intellectual, analytically and visionary excellence in my family and community? (Overthrowing the ethic of anything goes, self-hate, hopelessness, mediocrity, violence and self-destruction)
• How much am I influenced by the images of my people in the media?

Candle Lighting: On the second day of Kwanzaa the family lights the RED candle. This candle is symbolic of the effort. The placement and order of the Kwanzaa candles teach and reinforce valuable lessons for the family. The RED candle is symbolic of the effort a person, family, school or community makes. The lesson is that we light the RED candle to reinforce the value of work and effort.

~Until Next Time
SimplySHAY

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Love, Laughter, and EVERYTHING in Between: Day 26-UNITY

Umoja (OO-MO-JAH) Unity begins the Kwanzaa celebration and stresses the importance of togetherness for the family and the community, which is reflected in the African saying, "I am We," or "I am because We are."

Another symbol that could be useful for Umoja reflections is the Nkonsonkonson – Chain Link – a symbol of unity and human relations; a reminder to contribute to the community; that in unity lies strength. It signifies the strong bonds between people of common blood relations that are difficult to break apart. The belief includes ancestors who are constantly protecting the living. It can also serve as a reminder to give a helping hand to strengthen the communities we live in, and encourages the veneration of the ancestors in order for them to keep in touch with the living. Baba Mxolisi T. Sowell

Candle Lighting: Today we light the BLACK candle or Umoja candle. The black candle symbolizes black people. So the lesson is this: We want to build up the capacity of unity in the family, our neighborhoods and among our people. To achieve this, we discuss ways which we will build, enhance, strengthen our family bonds and community ties.

What ways have you and your family practiced this principle?

~Until Next Time
SimplySHAY

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Love, Laughter, and EVERYTHING in Between: Day 26-Celebrating Kwanzaa

Just what is Kwanzaa? Unlike Christmas, Ramadan, and Hanukkah, Kwanzaa’s unaffiliated with a major religion. One of the newer American holidays, Kwanzaa originated in the turbulent 1960s to instill racial pride and unity in the black community.

Established in 1966 by Ron Karenga, Kwanzaa aims to reconnect black Americans to their African roots and recognize their struggles as a people by building community. It is observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 annually. Derived from the Swahili term, “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first-fruits,” Kwanzaa is based on African harvest celebrations such as the seven-day Umkhost of Zululand.

Starting today, December 26th, through January 1st we will focus on the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

~Until Next Time
SimplySHAY


Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Kwanzaa: Day Five

Habari Gani (what's the news for today?)  NIA (Purpose)

To commit ourselves to the glorious duty of restoring our families, our neighborhoods, and our people to their historical greatness.  This principle presses upon our family and community members a commitment to make our families and neighborhoods function in a manner that affords children and adults the maximum conditions for success.

Family becomes the starting point for restoring our people to their traditional greatness.  The context of family fits into that of the neighborhood, and the context of the neighborhood into the larger context society and culture. What am I saying? Greatness of the nation begins at HOME.

What is your true purpose? What are you doing while here? Are you a giver or a taker? Are you a benefit to your community?

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. You or your brand want coverage at an upcoming event? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Kwanzaa: Day Four

Habari Gani (what's the news for today)?  UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics). 

On this day we build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.


We know about small business Saturday but small business owners need more than one day to be successful.  If you are thinking about starting your own business, do so now.  Be knowledgeable about your craft and fair in your practices.  In addition, be sure to provide exceptional customer service.  If you are a consumer, know that a man is worthy of his hire.  Stop expecting something for nothing - this is how we will profit together!

What are you doing to practice this principle?

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. You or your brand want coverage at an upcoming event? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Kwanzaa: Day Three

Habari Gani (What's the news for today)  Happy Ujima! Day Three of Kwanzaa focuses on collective work and responsibility. It involves taking a vested interest in the well-being of our families and communities - "I am my brother's keeper".  It is a requirement that we work together in ways that benefit everyone. With this concept, the problems of our brothers and sisters must be our own problems and we must solve them together.

How do I practice this principle?  My sister and I have a non for profit called DITO (daughters in the open) where the goal is to encourage women of all ages to walk through their door of opportunity.  We have "nieces" meetings where we mentor young ladies and they are able to share their concerns in a confidential and safe environment...
Another way I give back to my community is to share my experiences on college recruitment and help young men in any way possible see their potential of higher learning through athletics while expressing the importance of being a STUDENT and good citizen first.

I am really amazed how each of these concepts of Kwanzaa actually builds upon the founding principle of the first day: Unity. What are you doing to practice these principles?



Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. You or your brand want coverage at an upcoming event? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Kwanzaa: Day Two

Self-Determination/Kujichagulia - Today we focus on ways to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.

When a person or group is self-determined that makes for a powerful force to be reckoned with. When we practice the principle of Kujichagulia other principles come into play. We accept responsibility for determining what happens in our community rather than waiting for someone to do it for us.

When we practice the principle of Kujichagulia we don't whine about our problems, we solve them! Kujichagulia allows people to experience a sense of freedom to make positive change as individuals and collectively.

I posted today on FB that if we allow foolishness and fuckery (a west indies term meaning nonsense) into our lives (and community) we should expect it. I'm sure we've all heard the statement "People only do what you allow"  Starting today, speak up and know who you are for your name is VICTORY!  Take responsbility for what enters your space and be determined to make a positive difference by creating and maintaining peace in your own lives and your community. "Simply Peace, 2012"
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Be determine to step out on faith and do something for yourself that you thought would be impossible. Live TODAY with no limits.  (Vennie Tolbert-Rodgers, Mother of twins and Owner of Se'Relasse DaySpa and Wellness Center)

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. You or your brand want coverage at an upcoming event? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Kwanzaa: Day One

Unity/Umoja
To strive daily to engage in practices which build bonds of affection and attachment to our family members, our school teachers, and our neighbors.

Unity Day begins the Kwanzaa celebration. Each family/community celebrates Kwanzaa in a way that is most meaningful to them. Unity is the spiritual and social gravity which pulls the family together- husband and wife, parent and children, and family and neighbor. At its core, the principle unity is about attachment- attachment to each others and most importantly to the values which define us as family, as community and as a people. On Unity Day, the family celebrates its togetherness, the achievements of family members.

That being said:  What did you do to celebrate?  I had a good time with my family over the holiday.  Encouraged disconnections to be reconnected; took in my nephews basketball game with the family, fixed them brunch which led to a group nap and later enjoyed the McDipper (traditional holiday basketball tournament) with my sister.  For me celebrating my own family as well as the achievements of others is the true meaning of Unity.

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It is told that it take a village to raise a child. Let's take that same concept & apply it today.  Let's come together, lets be unified and become one. We need one another whether you realize it or not!!! (Vennie Tolbert-Rodgers, Mother of twins and Owner of Se'Relasse DaySpa and Wellness Center)






Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. You or your brand want coverage at an upcoming event? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.