Listen to conversations with everyday people who are doing extraordinary things. Tenacity Talks are inspiring listeners to dream bigger and do bigger as they hear the guests share stories of their journeys to visualize their dreams and make them a reality. Our hope is that listeners will be encouraged to do the same while having fun along the way. Two interviews are posted every Tuesday. Be encouraged! Be inspired! Become a monthly listener supporter. Please tune in – you’ll be so glad you did. Thanks for your support!
It’s still all about love We all want to be loved Even when we do not act in a loving manner Even as the tears are shed And the stinging words Are said As we wait by the phone Longing to hear a ring Hoping the voice on the other end will sing Sing and chime notes of goodness
It’s still all about love And some other stuff Even as the sexes battle And the hormones rage The money earned Bills paid and unpaid Babies crying Friends and family dying Dinner ready Can’t seem to rock steady We all want to be loved still
Hoping and praying Believing that we know what God is saying Not hearing what He has been whispering Not sensing what echoes Not seeing what’s more than obvious Or at least it should be Desperation is the mask Deception Doubt Destruction Hate-where is the love We must all be brought to task
It’s still all about love and some other stuff Other stuff that we step into Walk in (Did I say step in?) Beg for-lie for Die for-sell out for Settle for and call love The other stuff Which we say Will do Must do We just gotta do The other stuff That disappears
It’s still all about love And some other stuff Feeling? Choice? Decision? Work? Effort? Openness and willingness God help us God show us God love us He does already He already does
Read more in my collection of poetry, It’s Still All About Love and Some Other STUFF. This collection is dedicated to love and the search for more. You’ll smile and maybe shed a tear as you read this book. You’ll want to share it with others. Available on Amazon and every where books are sold https://www.amazon.com/dp/1436392969 .
We are quickly entering the 3rd quarter of 2021, the time for self-reflection is making a grand entrance. Cries of coulda, woulda, shoulda, along with courageous declarations of, this time I can, I will, and I must, echo in our hearts, minds, and souls. One of those declarations might just involve you telling a story or delivering a message to the world. Do you have a story to tell? Have you ever thought about writing a book? Do you have an idea for a book? Have you started writing and now you are stuck? Did you finish a writing project and now either you are afraid to share it or you don’t know where to go from there?
I’ve enjoyed reading and writing ever since I was a young girl. Reading was such a vivid adventure for me. I was overjoyed when my daughter first started reading, from turning pages, following along from left to right, identifying letters, sounds, sounding out and defining words, to bringing it all together. I knew she had it when she was about 5 or 6 years old and she told me reading was like watching a movie. Reading and writing go together in countless ways and I have been fortunate to live my life choosing, using, sharpening, and sharing this perfect combination. From my days of writing in a diary as a young girl; beginning to write poetry and stories as a teen; earning a degree in Mass Media Communications; working in the field of journalism as a magazine editor; teaching reading & writing; forming book clubs; writing groups; becoming a published author; and writing in a journal even now, writing has been and continues to be my source of self-expression for personal inspiration, teaching, growth, and overall joy. Go for it! Think it! Write it! Live it!
Think It!
Write down any thoughts you have about writing. You may have a list of topics, phrases, paragraphs, or pages. Your thoughts may be relaxing in a journal; hiding on the back of an envelope for a bill you received in the mail; or attempting to leap from the store receipt tucked in your pocket or purse. Whether your thoughts are stashed away in a manila folder or saved on a flash drive, now is the time to uncover and bring out all your treasures. Gather your stacks of thoughts and take everything to the next stage.
Write It!
Go ahead choose a direction and begin to write. You have your topic, maybe even a title for this project, so write. Write daily, every other day, weekly, monthly, or however and whenever your story or message flows. Write it out long hand on a note pad or type it out on your laptop, whichever method is comfortable for you and will then catapult you into getting your thoughts out of your head and down on paper. This is another step closer to the manifestation of your book. Remember, to go with the flow, revising and editing will come later and will be plentiful.
Live It!
Begin exploring and selecting a format for your book, print, e-book, or audio. Investigating printers, publishing outlets, traditional, self-publishing, subsidiary, and more will add to you tasting the reality of your dream come true. Finding out about copyright, ISBNs, barcodes, and registering your book adds to the excitement. Finishing, marketing, promoting, and selling your book is rewarding and contagious. Once you write one book you’ll be driven to write another one and another one.
Yes, it’s your turn to take it to your next level. Your writing and publishing journey is a personalized one. In your admiration for other published authors of international, national, local, or neighborhood fame, know that Yes, You Can Write Your Book, Too!
Terry Ann Williams-Richard is an author, educator, book writing coach and founder of Personalized Educational Services, LLC.. You can contact her at terry@yeswithpes.com to request a FREE copy of Your Personal Writing & BookPublishing Plan (Parts I & II) Checklist. For a list of her books or for more information log on to https://yeswithpes.com/my-books/ . You can also go like her on Facebook Personalized Educational Services, LLC
God Is Waiting on You by Terry Ann Williams-Richard
I’m waiting on God is something I hear much too often And decided to drop it from my vocabulary after a more sobering analysis I realize God is waiting on us God is waiting on me God is waiting on you Through His Holy Word He has Made His presence clear He has made His promises known He has made His plan accessible God is waiting on me God is waiting on us God is waiting on you To walk in His fullness To live abundantly To accept the reality that we are free God is waiting on you to truly live
Copyright 2009 It’s Still All About Love and Some Other Stuff
Terry Ann Williams-Richard, Your Personal Book Writing Coach and Founder of Personalized Educational Services, LLC
We are Courageous VoicesCasting Visions while Celebrating Victories! This Writers’ Showcase is in celebration of completing our 30-Day Writing Project Challenge 2020 (July 13 – August 11). I am grateful for 16 other Sister Writers who agreed, on a variety of personalized levels of participation, to accept the challenge to join me on what turned out to be a transforming adventure. Daily Encouragement e-mails with inspirational quotes & writing tips; Weekly Zoom Call Check-Ins; access to daily interaction in the “A Writing Party!” Facebook group; and an occasional nudge or push from me are some of the benefits of this experience designed to promote daily writing, reaching writing/publishing goals, and uplifting each other. Over the next few days I will spotlight a sprinkling of the writing gifts from this magical group of courageous creatives. Today we celebrate Jackie Clark! Write On, Sister Writer!
Contact me: at tutor4utoday@gmail.com for your own personalized transformational writing experience.
Family Dinner and Living Ma’at
by Jackie Clark
Family is an especially important part of our lives! We support, encourage, and take care of one another. Well over 10,000 years ago ancient African civilization existed. Our African ancestors taught and lived by something called ma ’at. Many will ask, “What is ma ‘at?” Ma’at is an African divine concept that gives balance and order in the way we live our lives. There are very many countries, cultures and customs all throughout Afrika. One common thread among them was the practice of ma ‘at. The concept of ma ‘at include living out the concepts of truth, justice, balance and order among many others.
Honoring Foundational Customs
As families, how can we begin to recognize and honor some of the most foundational customs of our culture and began to see the benefits today? Let me suggest starting Family Dinners. We began having Family Dinners with immediate and extended family members. First, it was very celebratory! Whoever was assigned prepared the meal for everyone and went all out. Practicing the concept of order, each family team was assigned their week to prepare the meal. Family members who had not prepared the food performed the setting of the table and cleanup activities.
My favorite thing about Family Dinner was the opportunity to be together as a community and promote family love and support. It is the time to share our truth. Many discussions were held about individual and group challenges and goals. It was at Family Dinner that you arranged your ride to next week’s appointment, sought out information or help for something you were working on. A time to share new information you learned that week and always a fun opportunity to celebrate birthdays and achievements. Ma’at instilled a sense of responsibility of community and society to the earth and all existence.
Opportunity to Stress Integrity
The concept of justice is also practiced at Family Dinner. When we are all together, we debated current affairs, whether voting, education, policing and work challenges, making suggestions and sharing our views. It is also a time to talk out any conflicts brewing and teach the children how to resolve conflicts justly. There are many opportunities while together to stress the importance of integrity and doing what you said you would do.
Living ma ‘at is a very valuable concept that originated in our African culture but was lost over the years. It is something that you do and practice as you live an exemplary life for those following you. Help your family reawaken values we have lost from our Ancestors and reignite the power that results from living ma ‘at. One last critical key is to remember to thine self be true! Living ma ‘at you are being true to a part of yourself from which you have long been separated. Practicing ma ‘at is a valuable tool in instructing our lives and the lives of our families.
Copyright 2020 Jackie Clark
Help your family reawaken values we have lost from our Ancestors and reignite the power that results from living ma ‘at.
Jackie Clark
Jackie Clark is a happily married mother of two daughters and four grandsons. Since leaving a corporate marketing position, Jackie volunteers for an organization called Pass It On MAAT that promotes literacy and African American History and Culture
Terry Ann Williams-Richard, Your Personal Book Writing Coach and Founder of Personalized Educational Services, LLC
We are Courageous VoicesCasting Visions while Celebrating Victories! This Writers’ Showcase is in celebration of completing our 30-Day Writing Project Challenge 2020 (July 13 – August 11). I am grateful for 16 other Sister Writers who agreed, on a variety of personalized levels of participation, to accept the challenge to join me on what turned out to be a transforming adventure. Daily Encouragement e-mails with inspirational quotes & writing tips; Weekly Zoom Call Check-Ins; access to daily interaction in the “A Writing Party!” Facebook group; and an occasional nudge or push from me are some of the benefits of this experience designed to promote daily writing, reaching writing/publishing goals, and uplifting each other. Over the next few days I will spotlight a sprinkling of the writing gifts from this magical group of courageous creatives. Today we celebrate Antoinette Bell-Claytor! Write On, Sister Writer!
Contact me: at tutor4utoday@gmail.com for your own personalized transformational writing experience.
A Little Humor: In the Care Giver’s Corner
by Antoinette Bell-Claytor
Photo Credit: Google Images
Today we drop in on three care professional’s conversation as they take a 15 minute break together. Let’s listen in on Frantic Frankie, Flip Flop Flow, and Funky Freda.
Freda really girl, how many times did you shower Rose? Hon-na when I tell you that she was humming I don’t mean a song. I had to raise rolls and dry out cracks that clearly no one has touched. By the third shower she smelled like the flower of her name and not like the pile of fresh manure.
Frankie you need to calm the heck down. Honey you are going to burn out quick. Take a lesson out of my book. They don’t call me Flip Flop just because of my shoes. Life is too short to be so stressed. Trust the D.O.N. cares more about how many gloves you are using than the care you are providing to old man Charlie. My attitude is clock in check and change and keep them laughing. Feed them Shower them and put them back to bed. See the job is not that hard. Life can be flowers and rainbows even in this hell hole.
Flow everyone cannot walk around with a hint of cannabis in their hair. Sometimes you have to consider what can happen if you get fired. Ha Ha yeah right Frankie like there aren’t a hundred more of these jobs. Girl you making 8.50 an hour to feed, clean, comfort, and console people you don’t even know. Do not make the mistake of getting attached.
You sure are quiet today Freda, where is that funk we all love. Naa just trying to digest what the hell I just heard 45 say today about Mr. Lewis. Did you watch the funeral? I did-dent even know he got down like that with the civil rights movement. Folks was trying to say Black lives Mattered years ago. People need to wake up about shit. The system is so messed up everywhere and we got this fool running the country. This crap here seems so small in the greater scheme of things.
All right now listen to you girl. Hush Flow cause you aren’t bout ta try tell me we all just need to hit yo peace pipe. Ok ok baby Angela Davis damn.
I think you both need to stop. Did you guys look at the stats? They gone have the state walking through here. They could shut this place down than what are we going to do?
Oh Lord………. Freda and Frankie we gone leave that for right now. Ladies it’s time to check and change. Break time is over let’s go spread some sunshine.
Copyright 2020 Antoinette Bell Claytor
Antoinette Bell-Claytor is a certified health professional. She is also a proud Mom of two adult daughters and two teenaged sons; a doting grandma of two; and her 84 year-old Dad’s caregiver. God is her wisdom, strength, and how she is able to find humor. Crocheting and sewing are two of the main ways she is able to steal away for a break, get relief, and find joy in times when life seems overwhelming. She is excited about accepting this writing challenge.
Terry Ann Williams-Richard, Your Personal Book Writing Coach and Founder of Personalized Educational Services, LLC
We are Courageous VoicesCasting Visions while Celebrating Victories! This Writers’ Showcase is in celebration of completing our 30-Day Writing Project Challenge 2020 (July 13 – August 11). I am grateful for 16 other Sister Writers who agreed, on a variety of personalized levels of participation, to accept the challenge to join me on what turned out to be a transforming adventure. Daily Encouragement e-mails with inspirational quotes & writing tips; Weekly Zoom Call Check-Ins; access to daily interaction in the “A Writing Party!” Facebook group; and an occasional nudge or push from me are some of the benefits of this experience designed to promote daily writing, reaching writing/publishing goals, and uplifting each other. Over the next few days I will spotlight a sprinkling of the writing gifts from this magical group of courageous creatives. Today we celebrate Ashley Aya Ferguson! Write On, Sister Writer!
Contact me: at tutor4utoday@gmail.com for your own personalized transformational writing experience.
No Takeout
by Ashley Aya Ferguson
Photo Credit: google images
I want someone to cook for me.
I want him to scour through recipes for the one he
knows I’ll enjoy because he’s been listening as I talk
lovingly about food.
I want him to think of me at the grocery store or
farmer’s market
while picking the perfect peach, or potato, or pear.
I want him to inspect for perfection,
and consider how each will complement the dish at
peak harvest
I want him to know my tastes and know my faces
when I try a new thing and
I want him to aim to please, to care enough to get it
right
To let me rest as he perfects.
I want him to think of my smile when he’s mixing,
my laugh as he’s folding,
my curves as he’s simmering
I want him to want me to melt when I taste the meal
he’s prepared
I want him to anticipate my eyebrow raise at the
flavors and my long blink as I savor each bite of
goodness prepared with love.
Copyright 2020 Ashley Aya Ferguson
Ashley Aya Ferguson is a writer, single mother, and full-time content professional who spends her days, nights, mornings, evenings, and weekends with words.
Terry Ann Williams-Richard, Your Personal Book Writing Coach and Founder of Personalized Educational Services, LLC
We are Courageous VoicesCasting Visions while Celebrating Victories! This Writers’ Showcase is in celebration of completing our 30-Day Writing Project Challenge 2020 (July 13 – August 11). I am grateful for 16 other Sister Writers who agreed, on a variety of personalized levels of participation, to accept the challenge to join me on what turned out to be a transforming adventure. Daily Encouragement e-mails with inspirational quotes & writing tips; Weekly Zoom Call Check-Ins; access to daily interaction in the “A Writing Party!” Facebook group; and an occasional nudge or push from me are some of the benefits of this experience designed to promote daily writing, reaching writing/publishing goals, and uplifting each other. Over the next few days I will spotlight a sprinkling of the writing gifts from this magical group of courageous creatives. Today we celebrate Deborah Samuels! Write On, Sister Writer!
Contact me: at tutor4utoday@gmail.com for your own personalized transformational writing experience.
The Dream is Real: D. Bra Boutique
by Deborah Samuels
“Every woman needs a bra! This was how my award-winning application for the Retail Lab in Downtown, Ohio started. I had to get the reviewers attention immediately and compel them to read my entire application. It worked! I was picked out of 50 applicants as one of the top 11 businesses for this pilot project. I prayed as I do with my grants for my clients before submission and thanked the Lord in advance to bless me with my own Bra Boutique. He answered my prayers. In December, for the holidays, I will open D. Bra Boutique!
Fitting a woman for a bra has been my passion since I was 15. I started fitting my mother for a bra over 40 years ago. I would come home from school and see the horrible indentation marks on her shoulder that looked like burn marks. I went to the store immediately and helped my mother by purchasing all these different types of bras to try on. She was in so much pain out of the discomfort of her ill fitted bra. She tried it on, the joy she felt, the way she walked and talked was so amazing to me. I thought if a bra could change her attitude and her image, I know I had to do something about it.
From this experience, I found my passion. I felt if my mother was having these issues and had a hard time finding the right size bra, this could be a business. I wanted to make sure all the women in my family, in churches and in the community were fitted and they knew what size they wore.
This opportunity to open D. Bra Boutique in Downtown Dayton, Ohio is my answered prayer from 20 years ago. I did not give up on my dream. I went to the Las Vegas Lingerie shows while I lived in Vegas for over 27 years. During this time, I sold so many bras I could not keep up with the orders, raising 5 young children and a husband. It was a lot to handle and I had to put my bra business on the side to raise my wonderful family. Now, at 55, I am ready to thrive! My children are young adults and I am excited to see them go to college and allow me to grow with my business!
I feel so blessed to be a blessing to my family, friends and to the community in which I live in and serve, Dayton, Ohio. This is the platform I will use to educate and motivate women of all shapes and sizes, 30A to 60Q to monitor their Breast Care Health. I will also have the accessories needed to make sure every woman that comes into D. Bra Boutique looks good underneath their clothing. I want them to be happy with their Bra and feel wonderful and confident with their purchase from D. Bra Boutique for many years to come!
Copyright 2020 Deborah Samuels
From Deborah Samuels “In churches, people witness to save souls. Through the Witness Project, we witness to save lives by educating women about Breast Cancer! This is my passion! I love what I do, making women feel wonderful! “
Terry Ann Williams-Richard, Your Personal Book Writing Coach and Founder of Personalized Educational Services, LLC
We are Courageous VoicesCasting Visions while Celebrating Victories! This Writers’ Showcase is in celebration of completing our 30-Day Writing Project Challenge 2020 (July 13 – August 11). I am grateful for 16 other Sister Writers who agreed, on a variety of personalized levels of participation, to accept the challenge to join me on what turned out to be a transforming adventure. Daily Encouragement e-mails with inspirational quotes & writing tips; Weekly Zoom Call Check-Ins; access to daily interaction in the “A Writing Party!” Facebook group; and an occasional nudge or push from me are some of the benefits of this experience designed to promote daily writing, reaching writing/publishing goals, and uplifting each other. Over the next few days I will spotlight a sprinkling of the writing gifts from this magical group of courageous creatives. Today we celebrate Carmen B.! Write On, Sister Writer!
Contact me: at tutor4utoday@gmail.com for your own personalized transformational writing experience.
The Wrong Stop
by Carmen B.
On the Bus
Have you ever taken a bus and got off at the wrong stop? What was your first thought? Wait for the next bus, or start walking? Well, that is how I look at my failed relationships; I got off at the wrong stop! See, the way I look at it, all relationships are like embarking on a journey. It is always a sightseeing journey initially. You start out at the station, excited and eager for the trip. Along the way you might look out the window and see sites you really want to stop and immerse yourself in but life is about lessons and sometimes you should have stayed on that bus and just watched that stop pass by! Some stops are just bad for your health: mental, physical, and of course emotional. Some stops tear you up, put you through the ringer of life and spit you out like so much trash; all wrinkled and torn. Let me introduce of my least favorite stops on this journey called life. I am no expert (unless it is on failed relationships) and do not have any statistics to back up my theories just so you know.
The Stop
The Sweetshop Stop is where you meet a guy who is all about everything sweet. Flowers, dinner out, movies, boring sex, and sloppy kisses. Everything is just so mellow about this guy. This guy should have been named BORING instead of Barry or Bryan because he puts the B in BORED. He never experiments and only likes the missionary position. Sounds like a bad horoscope prediction, right?
Mr. Wonderful?
It is all about You and what you want. Now, do not get me wrong, what woman does not want a guy that is all about her to the exclusion of everything else? Maybe, I am weird because dude needed friends! I am not the type of female that wants a guy all up in her face on the daily, 24/7 because I have things to do, places to go, people to see and I do not need or want a man that sticks to me like mold on bread. Just no! When I got off on this stop, I thought I had finally met Mr. Wonderful but no, he was more of Mr. OhJeezWillYouGoSomewhere I am just here to annoy and bore you to death type of guy. I am just not into this type of guy, I got off at the wrong stop!
Copyright 2020 Carmen B.
From Carmen “Hello, My name is Carmen B. and I have had an ongoing love affair with words all my life. I live in Dayton, OH. I am married with 3 children. This is an excerpt of my writing project called Men Are Like Buses. I have a long way to go but am excited about this challenge forcing me to put it on paper.”
Terry Ann Williams-Richard, Your Personal Book Writing Coach and Founder of Personalized Educational Services, LLC
We are Courageous VoicesCasting Visions while Celebrating Victories! This Writers’ Showcase is in celebration of completing our 30-Day Writing Project Challenge 2020 (July 13 – August 11). I am grateful for 16 other Sister Writers who agreed, on a variety of personalized levels of participation, to accept the challenge to join me on what turned out to be a transforming adventure. Daily Encouragement e-mails with inspirational quotes & writing tips; Weekly Zoom Call Check-Ins; access to daily interaction in the “A Writing Party!” Facebook group; and an occasional nudge or push from me are some of the benefits of this experience designed to promote daily writing, reaching writing/publishing goals, and uplifting each other. Over the next few days I will spotlight a sprinkling of the writing gifts from this magical group of courageous creatives. Today we celebrate LaJenine Wilson! Write On, Sister Writer!
Contact me: at tutor4utoday@gmail.com for your own personalized transformational writing experience.
The Power of Fish and Grits
by LaJenine Wilson
Photo Credit: La Jenine Wilson
“Get your behind out the car!” That was Nicole, just as loud and wrong as ever, posted right outside the entrance to the restaurant. She had one hand on her hip, the other rapidly fanning her neck and face, as if it was making a difference in the stifling Georgia heat.
“Make me,” I dared her. Then I started to gather my belongings from the passenger seat. “Got my purse, my shades, my cell and about to lose my freakin nerves.”
I wanted to run. Then I remembered my sister Nicole, a.k.a. Nick, possessed all of the speed in the family. Not to mention how Rainy always pounced on cowardly behavior. As kids, he’d look us dead in the eyes and say, “The only chickens allowed up in my house are baked or fried.” Then he’d strut around the room clucking and cackling like an intoxicated bird until we saw things his way.
Growing up, people said I was my father’s twin, smart mouth and all, but times like these made me wonder if that were true. Rainy James would never run from a fight, never.
My name is Monica James-Morgan, Mona for short, and this time Sunday I was trapped in the grip of southern heat with beads of sweat racing down my face, trying to remember the drama-free lines I’d rehearsed during my flight from Los Angeles to Atlanta.
My mother, Eva James, underwent heart surgery six months ago, but I just found out last week. Let Nicole tell it, she forgot to mention it during our last phone conversation. But I suspect that even in pain and discomfort, our mother wasn’t real eager to see me.
The last time I’d gone home was for Rainy’s funeral. Seven years and a few strained conversations later, the relationship between my mother and I had not improved. I was still the one who had chosen a career in television over working in the family’s restaurant.
Eva’s Fish and Grits has long been a fixture on Atlanta’s east side. Started by my grandfather Robert and named after my mother, Eva’s has been a part of our family for more than 60 years. With only two card tables, some folding chairs and a lamp, my grandfather had started serving his first customers in the basement of his modest two-bedroom home.
His menu, like the accommodations, had been simple; catfish, pork chops or fried chicken, your choice of five sides, buttermilk biscuits or corn bread, lemonade or sweet tea. His first customers had included civil rights leaders, ministers and politicians from all over the state. And his staff had included everyone from Grandma Day to Aunt Natalie, Uncle John to Cousin Rob. Just about every member of my family had worked there, except me, Ms. I-Got-Other-Dreams. I’d been too busy planning how to shake up Hollywood to be caught frying fish or refilling glasses of sweet tea.
LaJenine has written for the Atlanta Voice, Atlanta Tribune, Rolling Out and Gainesville Times. Her short stories and poetry have appeared on For Harriet and Gifted Women. She released her first book of poetry, Tip of My Tongue, in 2009. LaJenine currently lives in the Atlanta area with her son Keyon.
Personalized Educational Services, LLC (P-E-S) 