don't let your wants and desires cast such a dark shadow on your needs that you lose sight of them..


but with that said, you need to be able to identify what your basic needs are in order to recognize if they're being met or not.




the power is in your hands,



are you allowing your want for certain things to outweigh your needs?

Must Watch: Dark Girls

'Dark Girls' documentary now on Netflix.

 

This is a must see.

 

 

“When you think about it, what could be more superficial than somebody’s skin color? It’s not their mind, it’s not their heart, it’s not how decent they are, not how hard working they are...” 

 

 Flashback to another inspiring video on the subject of shadeism, here

Sunshine x Lupe Fiasco

take me back

Links We Love: Souljor.com

 

My friends are so Awesome!

(in my best Shy Glizzy voice)

Here's another example of just that. My friend Jordan dropped Souljor.com, "The Musings and Findings of A Hip Hop Fiend." Hip Hop heads unite, this one's for you. 

 

 

 

Rouse.

Lust List: Dreamcatcher

  I rarely have dreams I can remember. But when I do, it is usually in times when I'm having an inner conflict with myself. It's as if everything in the back of my mind runs wild and forces itself to the forefront of my consciousness. It can become overwhelming to have your mind so restless in times when you're supposed to be peaceful. I have a slight obsession with dream catchers and their Native American origins. I love the beauty of the design. The idea that they are hung above the bed to protect the sleeping individual from negative dreams, while letting positive dreams through. The design was created to capture the negative dreams that would get tangled up in the web, while the positive dreams would slip through the holes and slide down the feathers to the sleeping person below. Currently seeking out a dream catcher that speaks to me.. until I find the time to make my own.



Food Porn

hiiiiiiii *love eyes*



Natural Love

So I stole this picture of my cousin and his girlfriend from her Instagram (@designsbyshirabenson). To be fair I announced that I was going to do so, so in a way I asked permission lol. I immediately stopped scrolling when I saw it because it's such a dynamic shot. It truly captures the love shared between the two of them, all the while triggering a double dose of natural hair envy (those locs?!). It reminded me of another adorable picture of a natural couple that I came across earlier in the week. How beautiful is Natural Love?

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!" )