It should be a crime to be this cute!

Posted April 27th, 2010 in Beautiful babies by Gina Ayanna

I must say that when I met this scrumptious little one; he had my heart from the moment I laid eyes on him.  Wyatt is a deep thinker and curious little guy but once you get him to smile, it is a smile that will melt hearts… he sure melted my heart.

Take a peek and let me know what you think.

Celebrating love and life

Gina

Real Women Series-Yolanda Marshall

Posted April 20th, 2010 in Real Women Series by Gina Ayanna
Our real woman this month is Yolanda Marshall, an author, poet and all around beautiful woman.  Yolanda has such a vivid way in which she tells her stories that draws the reader in, her stories are filled with humor, real life situations and the joys of her childhood.  Most of her stories are based on reflections of growing up in Guyana.  You can pick up Yolanda’s first book Obayifo at any Chapters book store.  Yolanda is currently working on her second book of short stories and poems entitled Brown Water Baby.  You can follow Yolanda’s blog here.
Thank you Yolanda for taking the time to be our guest blogger.
Gina

Pliable to Perfection

I went searching for perfection
Believing I am capable of being that perfect person
Plausible was my approach to mold a personality
This warm blooded form into ‘pliable me’
Complaisant presentations
A prosaic simulation
Pausing to inhale the aroma of my pride
Patiently, behind shadows I hide
Just to prance suddenly
Proudly displaying the new décor of me
Mental punishment through superficial modifications
Pointlessly, I tried to alter my mutation
Forgetting I am a pure-blooded human
With life so unpredictable,
It leaves no room for perfection.

Written by Yolanda T. Marshall


This short piece is one of my favorites. On those days when I feel I should look like a “Super Model”, I remind myself that I am Yolanda T. Marshall – a natural, beautiful woman who cannot be perfected with air brushing or cosmetic procedures etc.
This poem is saying, ” I tried to alter my looks for the false idea of perfection but realized that I am not easily influenced or easily shaped by superficial modifications”. We are all humans and nowhere on my birth certificate did I sign a contract with society to be “perfect at all times”. Sometimes, us women need to remind ourselves that we all cannot look like we stepped out of a magazine. We sure can feel like it if we learn to love ourselves internally and externally – cellulite and all!

My poems reflect the many moods of the universe. Any topic or experience can inspire me to express my view using poetry. It is an art I always loved as a child to this day. I strongly believe that life itself is poetic – the flow of nature, the imperfections of our society, the unfair judgments of unique cultures, to the mischievous grey hair reminding me what time it is. I write fast to capture the moment my mind is at it’s richest peek.  A few of my Professors in university were very impressed at my ability to write a one page poem, in less than 30 minutes. It is something I cannot fully explain and would rather share.  I am not one to perform on an open mic or attend the parties where you will find other Authors or Poets. Some of my fans once called me a “humble, hermit Writer”.  I have to admit, this describes me best.  I am satisfied when my readers can relate to the emotions of my writings. I have many more to share as I continue my Journey in life.

A message from Tyler Perry

Posted April 13th, 2010 in Miscellaneous by Gina Ayanna

I came across this message today from Tyler Perry and it resonated with me; first off it really helped me to see the importance of photography in our lives.  More than that though, it has helped me to see that I need to be present in more family photographs.  Sometime we as women shy away from photos because we don’t feel beautiful in that moment.

This piece reminds me that our family photos will be treasured memories in the years to come.  Thank you Mr. Perry; you have helped me to remember how much photographs will mean to the future generation.
Celebrating life and love,
Gina

A Picture is Worth More Than 1000 Words
by Tyler Perry

I was looking through my personal photo album the other day, and I ran
across some pictures of my mother from last year. I was looking at her
face in these pictures…she was so happy. I had asked her to take a walk
with me, as I was trying to get her to do a little exercise. She was so
tired since she had just come in from dialysis, but whenever I asked her
to do something she would always put on a smile and try it. She and I
walked very slowly up her driveway. She was laboring but still so happy.
She was telling me how much she loved her house and how thankful she was.

She said she never would have imagined being able to live in such a fine
house (her words). She said she always wanted to know what it was like to
live like Mrs. Chancellor (from “The Young and the Restless”) and wondered
what it would be like to have a maid and “now I know” she said. We
laughed about that for a second and then I asked her how that made her
feel… she quickly said “loved.” So, as I looked at that picture, I
thought about that moment with tears in my eyes and I began to get really
sad. Then I looked down at the bottom of the picture and saw the date, it
was January 4th 2009.

I asked myself this question, if someone had told me that by the same time
next year she would have passed, would I have any regrets? I thought
about it for a few seconds and I can honestly say that I have no regrets.
With that thought, I felt the greatest sense of peace come over me. I
have no regrets. That is the best feeling. I know that I did everything
in my power for her. I can truly say there is not one thing I would
change. I didn’t realize how much of a blessing that was until I thought
about it.

I want to ask you that question today. Think about this…if I said to
you, by this time next year, someone you love the most will not be here,
would you have any regrets?

What a thought, right?

We waste so much time on petty grievances and arguments, being angry about
things that don’t really matter. If I can tell you anything, it would be
to fix the things you have done wrong. We live in so much fear by not
telling the people we love how much they mean to us, or never even
revealing to them that we love them.

You don’t want something to happen to the person you love and not have had
to have a chance to fix it. Or, for something to happen and you let that
person go to the grave not knowing they were truly loved. The guilt can
be overwhelming.

So take some time today to mend some fences and make peace. Give some
love and get some love. Even if you try and the other person doesn’t want
to hear it, you will rest better knowing that you tried to fix it, that
you tried to share it. Just knowing you tried, period, is enough to give
you peace.

This life is short and no man knows the day or the hour.

Tyler Perry

To respond to this message, please go to
http://www.tylerperry.com/messageboard

Thank you for visiting http://www.TylerPerry.com

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