Writing Prompt: How Do You Express Yourself?

I express myself

through the joy that spills out of me in a sing song voice

rather than words simply spoken

the slight dance in my seat when the food is too good to enjoy sitting still

through the sway of my hips as I walk up to him

smile on my lips

butterflies as I plant a kiss on his grin

through the shy glance that I give when everything's not alright

the sternness in my voice when a subject arises for which

I'd fight

the clothes on my back

every shade, cut and color

the style of my hair

influenced by none other

the weight on my shoulders when times are too tough to bare

through the inflection in my voice as excitement squeals out of me

as I sulk on the couch

and hide tears that I don't want the world to see

through the embrace that I give after too much time spent apart

the tighter I squeeze,

the dearer to my heart

I express myself

when I press pen to paper

capturing moments in time

with every line

after a long day

ordering vodka, no chaser

at the top of my lungs as I belt out my favorite tune

as I strut through the place like there is no one else in the room

I express myself through the color of my nails

through the battles that I choose

the markings on my body
that I will never lose

my expressions are dramatic

and at times rather subtle

my expressions are mine, no room for rebuttal

-shari renee

RIP Maya Angelou

'My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style'

 

 

25 Powerful Insights From Maya Angelou That Will Change Your Life

Bus Boys And Poets Open Mic Feat. Rudy Francisco 5/27/14

Last night I finally made my way back to Bus Boys and Poets (14th and V) to take in a night of open mic poetry. It was the first time I'd been back in months and immediately I remembered why I love this place so much. The feeling of being in such a close vicinity of such creatively talented people is overwhelmingly inspiring. My favorite is when the most unassuming looking people saunter onto the stage and kill it. Rudy Francisco was the featured poet of the night and he covered a range of topics far removed from the emo 'I love you/ I hate you' poetry that we so often see at these type of events. He is definitely worth googling/ scouring Youtube. Please try to ignore my giggling throughout the videos. I couldn't help myself. If you ever find yourself stumbling into Bus Boys and don't want to partake in an alcoholic beverage. Try the 'Big Daddy' with vanilla milk. It's amazing. I had two and was wired for the remainder of the night.

( SIDE NOTE: The last post isn't quite a poem.. more so a drunk man rambling, but entertaining nonetheless lol. "Follow Your Dreams!" )



Goddess x Banks



Lust List: NCLA AFRIKA Inspired Nail Wraps

Fell in love with these fabulous Afrika inspired nail wraps at Nubian Hueman over the weekend. I didn't leave with them and now I'm suffering from non-buyers remorse. I'll be returning for them later in the week.

 

 

 

Buy them here:

Musings x 5/27/2014

rededicating myself to doing what I love

want: a dream catcher

never allow someone to make you feel bad about taking time to work on and better yourself.
it shouldn't feel like pulling teeth...
we live the life we design
'the world is mine when I wake up'
Me.
wish I could go back

Xmen was great

found a vintage Bob Marley concert poster at the wine fest. score!

wine > stress
I believe in people
3 Ways to Shift Unconscious Patterns That Are Holding You Back
season change
hopeful,
looking up flights is so therapeutic
just knowing that you can get up and go at any given moment is liberating
shot so many videos saturday riding around in the car with Ash

don't assign responsibilities to people who didn't ask for them
the next two weekends shall be epic
some people will forever try to force a square peg through a round hole
..let them
excited for the new season of orange is the new black!
the last five trips I've taken have been solo
never thought I'd become so comfortable
law and order: svu marathons
the sad truth of it is, sometime we build things up in our head to be more than what they are
YouTube this ---> Hidden Colors 2: The Triumph of Melanin

"your judgment/ view is altered when you're too close or in too deep."

I like to keep my calendar as full as possible. down time is dangerous.
running
“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” –Christopher Columbus
2014, the year I stopped waiting on others to live my life


( SIDE NOTE: It wouldn't be Memorial Day weekend without crashing a few cookouts. This one was fun. )

“Strange as it may seem, I still hope for the best, even though the best, like an interesting piece of mail, so rarely arrives, and even when it does it can be lost so easily.” 

― Lemony Snicket

 

 

 

 

TRIBE:

How To Wear Edition



Thoughts On An Airplane Napkin, Revisited: Love, Happiness, Freedom - Trifecta

Love, Happiness, Freedom: Trifecta

in pursuit.

Love and freedom aren't as traditionally linked with the idea of "pursuit" as happiness. However, I find that in discussions with my peers and through self- reflection these three always seem to come up.

love,

of self

reciprocated love of others

happiness, 

defining what it means and being true to self

accomplishments/ with where we are in life

freedom, 

to be proudly and unapologetically who we are

to live the life we dreamed for ourselves


In these discussions the 'what' is so clearly defined. It is in the 'how does one get there' that it all begins to become cloudy. There is such a demand for immediate results when we set our minds to something, especially in this generation, that we want to have it instantly. The sad (although not really if you think about it) truth of it is.. it often times doesn't work out that way. These three ideals are so closely linked that it almost seems that you can't have one without the other. We all want to be loved. Even the biggest cynic in the world can deny it until they're blue in the face, but without the love of self or the true reciprocated love of another our happiness suffers. And what is happiness without someone you love to share it with? How happy can one be if they feel trapped or cornered into not living or pursuing the life they envisioned for themselves?

While there is no set formula for achieving this "trifecta" and everyone's journey will be unique to them, I find that in my personal experience I've learned (and am still learning) to pursue the freedom aspect first. It is in pursuing freedom, going out and discovering the life that we want to lead, that we are being the truest to ourselves and thus will find happiness in that aspect alone. In finding happiness through doing the things you love you will in turn come across people with similar interests and values, and have a greater chance of finding a fulfilling love to share it all with.

- a few thoughts that I captured on a napkin while in flight a few months ago. 

when I fly my mind tends to wander. and again tonight.

revisited.

Weekend Recap: Henna Party

 :)

I like to feel secure.

in myself,

my relationships

and my decisions