Return On Investment

ROI

Today I feel proud.
I stick my chest out
And pat myself on the back
Appreciating me
Celebrating the beginning of small dreams
Recognize the small steps
I’m making towards responsibility
No longer will I be set back by insurance premiums due
No shame face when retirement is discussed in groups
I am investing in me
Swallowing my elephant piece by piece
Breaking off small chunks
Chewing it thoroughly
Swallowing each
Not choking in defeat
I am investing in me
Taking the match the re-source provides
Putting it with mine
Stretching the length of my stride
Handling with wisdom
The lot that is my own
I am finally making a home
And I am investing in me
Planted a seed to grow a tree
Watering it with responsibility
Trimming back the dead leaves
No more NSF fees
Illuminating my greed
Or taking enough of my pay
To purchase the newest technology
I’m acting my wage these days
Not over taxing my talents
With frivolous trips to Wally world
Buying food that goes bad
I’m listening, not just hearing
Something my mom would smile about
I’m applying, not just knowing
And it seems things are coming together
For the better
I have decided that I can love
Even though it’s still a mystery to me
The process of letting go
Releasing intentionally
No longer are things stripped away violently
I am giving
Out of necessity
The need to be me
I now believe in
The gift of me
I’m opening my hand
Releasing my clenched fist
Giving my 4 and a half cents
And religiously my 1st 10th
Even if
It’s all I have
Realizing it’s still investing in me
Nothing is being taken away
Not today
And my gift
Gets leverage
Being currency
Flowing through me
So I,
I cast my bread upon the waters
I know soon
Somehow
In time
Or in eternity
They will return to me
And I then will eat
Because I am finally
Intentionally
With destiny
Investing in me

2/12/2009
8:56AM

Signing my name...

Today

Today is all I have

Yesterday is gone

Tomorrow hasn’t come

But now, right now

I have a chance

To do something

To take a stand

On what I hold as true

So what will I do

I will act

Out on my heart

And shun fears thoughts

And make a start

Take a step

Towards my wildest dreams

Walking forward means

I’ll soon be free

CKG

2/11/09
7:48 am

This morning I'm dreaming wide awake thanks to Amy, my coworker and a musician stuck in the accounting world. As she was passing by this morning I asked her a question, "are we still dreaming?" to which she replied, "well... actually I am," and passed me the piece of paper she had just retrieved from the printer. The header read "The Profession of Music Therapy" and she told me the story about her exposure to the field and that she'd been looking back into it recently. I got excited because one of my neighbors across the street did music therapy for a living and before she moved in about two years ago, I had never even hear of the profession. Amy closed her spill of her research with "... so that's my dream for the week... what about you... you still dreaming?" And I thought about what my dream is and I immediately thought about the ongoing book project I've been "working on" forever it seems and I replied with a hesitant "Yea... still working on the book..."

So this morning, here's to all the dreamers, who dream wide awake in spurts, every two or three weeks or so, then succomb to regular living in areas we have a lack of passion.

I encourage you, do something today to feed the dream... don't let it die. It's like your body, each day you eat, you nourish it and encourage it to continue.

Do the same with your dream today, whether its doing some research on that business you want to start, or writing a blog you want syndicated, or taking 30 minutes to exercise hard, or whatever it is, feed your dream.

I wrote this poem inspired by Amy. And surprisingly, when I sent it to her, she printed it out and had me autograph it, a gesture that encouraged me and gave me a glimpse that someday, I will catch cramps in my hand from autographing my books.

Thank you Amy. I'm working on my autograph...

Together, We Have It All

This morning I drove into work listening to the Tom Joyner Morning Show in the midst of regular rush hour traffic on I-459. Wednesdays on the show is Christmas and Tom Joyner reads a letter received from a listener who is asking for a favor for a person/organization that is in needs or merits rewarding based on situational character. This morning the letter was from a Sumpter County Head Start program director, a nationally funded program, asking for computers for its facility. Tom went on to read that because of a shortage of national funding and cut backs, the facility which served 400 children were unable to repair its computers and were in dire need of new ones to facilitate its technological initiatives with the students. Tom, being the wonderful benevolent person that he is, granted them 5 brand new computers to "jump start" their technology objective. Tom Joyner's continuous acts of kindness reminded me of Rev. Joseph Lowery's words during the 2006 Southern Leadership Conference I attended here in Birmingham

"Will words create deeds that meet needs."

In his case, they certainly have.

Listening to that brings me to this. As a person recently engaged in community philanthropy through the Birmingham Change Fund (http://www.birminghamchangefund.org/), it never ceases to amaze me the needs in our commmunity and the ways in which we have historically risen to meet those needs, as much as we could. My group is ending a grant cycle now that is resulting is giving grants to grassroots organizations that are addressing the needs of the community. Our task is to assess those in need, the area of need, and the capacity at which we are able to assist them. There is a growing network of giving circles like ours that are doing the same thing. http://www.thecommunityinvestment.org/

But what if, in a more informal sense, we all looked around our community, assessed it's needs, the area of need, and the capacity at which we personally are able to assist. Historically, African Americans have followed this model of philanthropy. We all can remember neighborhoods giving money to David, Sadie's son, as he headed off to college, or taking up a special collection during Sunday school to give to Lou Ellen because she just had surgery. Small gestures of kindness like these are what brought my people through the rough times of days gone. I know that a return to these gestures is going to sustain us through the tough economic times we face now as a nation.

Here's one example that came to mind as I was typing this just now. The Head Start program in Sumpter County was in need of computers. I currently have two PC's in my home that I don't use. I have friends in the business of rebuilding computers and for less than $400.00 I can have both of them refreshed and available for use complete with all the basic Microsoft Office tools and the like for another small organization in need of computers. I'm sure if I continue to poke around my home, there are many more items, resources there that will be very useful and can be very critical gifts to my community to help it reach its goal of developing the next generation.

Just last week I received 6 cds in the mail from a former coworker of math software that they used to help their daughter through some difficult classes. Since they were no longer using them, she mailed them to me to use with our youth at my local assembly. I'm not sure how much the software cost them but my budget and the church trustees will be glad about not having to spend that money in these lean budgetary times.

I'm not very knowledgeable about economical issues. I know enough to make me dangerous and able to handle the basic conversation about the "bad" economy and the inevitable cuts that are going to take place in areas that we really need more funding. I'm not adept at policy making, neither do I know the ins and outs of what it takes to get more money in the budget for key programs. But I am good at writing and I think I'll do a lunch and learn on essay writing for high school students. And perhaps my musician friends can help me put on a small recital for the kids in the community that play instruments.

What I'm saying is that each of us have, in our hands, some capacity to help meet the needs of our community. I encourage you to look in your houses, think about your skill set and knowledge, and find small ways that we everyday folk can make up for the lack in governmental support with support from our gifts and personal talents.

I'd like to hear about some ways you have thought of to "meet the needs" in the areas you are in. Let me hear from you....

In closing, a couple of weeks ago I attended a leadership training at my local assembly where our dynamic assistant pastor and pastor facilitated two great sessions. During the first session we learned about teamwork and how it accomplishes goals that feed into our overall mission. One thing she said that stuck out to me was this: "I don't have it all together, but together, we have it all."

So I leave that with you: I don't have it all together, but together, we have it all.

Before Daybreak

Last weekend was one for the records. It was perfect in its own mystical, dreamy sort of perfect way. I traveled to Gulf Shores to stand beside my best friend as she began her new life with a new permanent piece of jewelry on her hand. I must be honest. Initially I had doubts about this weekend. It was the weekend before Christmas, one of the most busy weekends in my personal life and I have been juggling a couple responsibilities that are very involved this particular weekend. Add to that a slight hitch in finances, lodging arrangements, and stress from all the internal chatter going on in my heart and head and you can imagine how i was feeling driving the 5 and a half hours down to gulf shores.

As i started my journey, I was nervous and frustrated and as i say "not cool". So I prayed a prayer I think all of us have. The "here i am Lord, its' me" prayer. It was a simple: "God, I can't do nothing with this. So fix it." He first fixed me. Then he fixed it. I love the way music has played a part in my sanity. Thanks to some musically keen friends I have acquired quite a vast collection of music I consider quality, and about an hour into my journey, after listening to the tracks, my spirit calmed, my mind opened, and my countenance had changed.

I drove the speed limit for two reasons: one, there were state troopers everywhere. Seems like every 2 or 3 miles or so one would pass, usually travelling in the opposite direction, but ominously looming, daring me to kick it up to 90 mph. More personally, i drove the speed limit as an attempt to enjoy the journey. It was one of my commitments to myself this year, that i would slow down enough to enjoy getting there, wherever there may be. Its a character trait that my friend Dwight has always encouraged me to develop, one that my mom Gwen has egged me on to embrace, and riding on I-65 S Friday afternoon, one that the Holy Spirit reminded of. So instead of being a speed demon and racing down to Gulf Shores, I took my time, reveled at the beauty of the Alabama countryside, stopped at Priesters Pecans near Fort Deposit and wondered in the huge gift shop for 30 to 45 minutes, stopped in Foley at the outlet mall, and finally made it to the Beach Club resort in time to make it to the meet and greet opening dinner.

The people who surrounded me demonstrated a view of love this weekend that most try to skip over: sacrifice and selflessness. One of the bridesmaids drove two days from Baltimore, MD to be there with us. When she arrived, she was tired, beleaguered, and hungry, but she was there. Each person there made a sacrifice to be there. It was a perfect wedding. Intimate with family and only the closest of friends in attendance on a deserted beach on the Gulf of Mexico.

The morning of the wedding, it was gloomy outside. It was overcast and foggy, so foggy one could hardly see the water from the balcony of our condo on the beach. My friend, however, was energetic, dancing, smiling, excited about the day. (If you know her, you know that overcast rainy days are her favorite- the same is true for her husband- two people who love rainy days- can we say perfect for each other? So this was their kind of day.) I know she was sleepy because we had stayed up until 3 that morning (or rather, she stayed up til 3 that morning; me, an in and out of sleep bobble head) two strand twisting my hair. So to match her energy, I turned on the Brown Sugar soundtrack and proceeded to boost my own energy through dance and silliness.

We headed down to the locker room (it was soooo gorgeous in there) to dress her and meet the photographer. The other bridesmaids joined us for a photo shoot preparing her and then it was time. We walked down the boardwalk, careful of the wooden slats, being sure we didn't pick up any splinters in our bare feet, as we walked to join the awaiting family and friends on the beach. The fog was clearing, but not completely gone. As we walked, you could see small particles floating in the fog and I'm not sure if it was sand or what, but it made it sort of dreamy.

I was concerned that the fog would make for a nuisance, but when she began down the boardwalk, I was glad for the fog. You could see the outline of her form only, the large Afro and her flowers and she looked as if she was a mythical character. A princess fairy perhaps, an angel even, gliding on the clouds to pay us a visit. And she was beautiful. Absolutely stunning.

The ceremony was sacred and loving and moving and even had its humorous moments where i couldn't help but burst into fits of laughter, trying to keep my composure and prevent the best men from losing theirs as well.

After the 8:30 am ceremony, everyone met at the Village Market for brunch and had the entire day to rest, enjoy the resort, and relax. I slept until about 4, went down to the beach and caught the sunset with the bridesmaids. Unfortunately, the water was too frigid for me to talk myself into getting in, but the breeze was perfect and fresh, clear.

I met a fisherman who spent 6 months living here, on the beach, along with his wife. He told me things about the fish and the area and pointed out places i should visit and try out. The girls and i played in the sand, wrote messages in them, took pictures, and enjoyed the feigning sunlight until darkness engulfed us and we were forced to retreat to well lit areas.

That evening, at the cottage the newlyweds were housed in, we shared Italian cuisine of vegetarian lasagna, chicken tetrazzini, meatballs, some of Shawn's famous gumbo, an array of cupcakes: red velvet, lemon, carrot cake, and plenty of water to wash it down. The couple had surprises for each other, birthday gifts for parents, custom maid Christmas gifts for each person us, and it was just wonderful. I'm wearing my Christmas gift now, a set of earrings that were created just for me.

Sunday morning, the girls and i poked about, actually missed our check out time by about an hour, not purposely, just ignorantly. We packed up, caught a Waffle House breakfast (fast and cheap), and parted ways, myself, headed back to the Foley Outlet, one headed to ATL, the other back to Birmingham. I wondered around the mall by myself until i was able to contact my Gwen and purchase a few more gifts.

On the way back, i sped. I didn't forget to enjoy the journey, however and i stopped in Pine Apple (Greenville), AL at a barbecue place called the Smokehouse that one of the wedding guests had told me about. I bought 2 pork sandwiches (sorry Hadiyah) and corn fritters and carried them back to Birmingham to share with a friend. And just like on the way down, I let my music get me back. I stopped to visit a friend and during my visit I was reminded about just how special people can be.

This morning I had questions about timing and if there was a set amount of time that you needed to know someone before you should register their importance to you or your care for them. I had questions about whether I had the heart that could love like my two friends who married each other this weekend. I have questions about how to love, when to love, how to show it, when should i show it. My spirit reminded me that Jesus' commandment was to love others. So I'll keep showing that love. That agape love. I know how to show phileo love- or at least I'm learning how to show it better as each day passes.

I think, however, that I am teetering on the edge of another love. And watching my two friends and the surrounding couples from this weekend gave me glimpses of what that may be in the future. I think love between a man and woman is a choice, but as a friend pointed out its more than just a choice; its complete with feelings, thoughts, and work. It's serious, as they put it, and not to be played with. Its a risk. I talked to Madea about two weeks ago and she opened my eyes to the staying type of love. The love that's strong enough to face the days and the nights. I admit, I have much to learn. I have few answers at this point. When asked questions about it, i can't explain it. I don't have an instruction manual on this. This is a new road i travel. But I have vowed to myself that will enjoy the journey, wherever it may take me.

All in all, I'm so blessed to have been a part of the exchange this weekend. I walk away full of questions, full of wisdom, full of examples, and full of gratitude of how God loves us and how we ought to love one another.

And to the bride and the groom, may you enjoy your journey together.

Unfortunately, I drifted off to sleep twice on my way home, and it scared the snot outta me when i caught myself. The angels had me. I made it safely and was greeted by two loves, my mom and my sister, who embraced my sleepy but full self and sent me off to bed with hugs and kisses.

If I don't see you, talk with you, may you and your family have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!

Diligence, Perserverance, or Insanity? You Choose, Then Pray

Ok so this morning when I arrive at my carpool, one of our occasional riders (she’s occasional because she drops her child off at school each morning) is at the stoop waiting on us. When she emerges from the vehicle, she’s got a face towel covering her mouth, like she’s in pain or is spitting into it or something. She gets into the backseat of my car, eyes barely open, and gently rests her head on the head rest and closes her eyes. I ask her if she had some dental work done the day before and in a muffled groan says “uh huh”. So I’m thinking she’s had some wisdom teeth pulled or something of that nature so I inquire.

I hated to ask her because I knew it hurt her to talk but after several attempts at an explanation, I make out that she’s saying “bone.” “Bone” I say, “uh huh,” she replies. I say, “What did they do to your bone?” “Shaved it down…” The word shaved hit my eardrum and I immediately winced and contracted my face as if I could personally feel the pain she may be experiencing. “The bone in your face?” I ask mortified and wondering how they did that. I suppose they probably had to cut her gums and ….. its disturbing just to think about…

I asked her if she had any pain killers with her, and she shakes her head no, all this while still holding the face towel over her mouth. My colleagues, looking very concerned attempt to talk her out of coming to work, vowing to do her work to keep her caught up if she just wanted to go back home and rest and give it time to heal, but to no avail. “I’ll be fine once I get to work,” she holding up her hand in expression that she’ll be fine. “You don’t have to suffer through this day,” they plead but again, she stays their pleas with a raised hand.

Concerned for her health and pain control, they drive one more vehicle just in case we need to drive her home before the day is out and she remains in the vehicle with me. She removed her hand and the face towel, looks at me and asks “is my face still swollen?” And when I see how swollen it is, I realize that I would be doing her a favor by turning the Honda Civic around and giving her curbside service to her front door, valet style. Not to be funny (even though it looked funny) she looked like a chipmunk with a mouth full. I ask her if her dentist released her to come back to work today. She says “I told him I needed to come to work today,” of course in a muffled and strained voice. I just chuckle to myself, look at her and shake my head. “What on earth is going on at work that you need to be there?” “Its payroll week…” she replies, indicating to me that she’s got tons to do. I think in my head, if you’d pass into eternity this morning, it’d still be payroll week. But those are just my thoughts. I make a pact with her that if she can make it through the pain and finish most of her work by lunch, I’d take her home at lunch time, but at any junction during the morning, if she needed to leave, I’d take her home, no questions asked.

I then called another colleague, asked her to bring a face ice pack sling (you know the one you get when you get your wisdom teeth pulled) if she had one and some pain killers with her this morning as I didn’t have any.

So this is a tribute to the diligence, and dedication (and perhaps insanity) of my colleague to come to work to do her share of the load for this week’s goals.

It’s also a request for special prayer for her as she diligently works through the pain.

It’s also a reminder that sometimes, staying at home SHOULD be your only option. Take care of yourself people. Your body needs you too.

An Open Letter to Barack Obama

www.theroot.com

Alice Walker on expectations, responsibilities and a new reality that is almost more than the heart can bear.

Nov. 5, 2008

Dear Brother Obama,

You have no idea, really, of how profound this moment is for us. Us being the black people of the Southern United States. You think you know, because you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But seeing you deliver the torch so many others before you carried, year after year, decade after decade, century after century, only to be struck down before igniting the flame of justice and of law, is almost more than the heart can bear. And yet, this observation is not intended to burden you, for you are of a different time, and, indeed, because of all the relay runners before you, North America is a different place. It is really only to say: Well done. We knew, through all the generations, that you were with us, in us, the best of the spirit of Africa and of the Americas. Knowing this, that you would actually appear, someday, was part of our strength. Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.

I would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles so lacking in joy that they remind us of scissors. This is no way to lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate. One way of thinking about all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax. From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the reach of almost everyone.

I would further advise you not to take on other people's enemies. Most damage that others do to us is out of fear, humiliation and pain. Those feelings occur in all of us, not just in those of us who profess a certain religious or racial devotion. We must learn actually not to have enemies, but only confused adversaries who are ourselves in disguise. It is understood by all that you are commander in chief of the United States and are sworn to protect our beloved country; this we understand, completely. However, as my mother used to say, quoting a Bible with which I often fought, "hate the sin, but love the sinner." There must be no more crushing of whole communities, no more torture, no more dehumanizing as a means of ruling a people's spirit. This has already happened to people of color, poor people, women, children. We see where this leads, where it has led.

A good model of how to "work with the enemy" internally is presented by the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul as he confronts the Chinese government that invaded Tibet. Because, finally, it is the soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and soul, that, kept happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us, lighting our way, and brightening the world.We are the ones we have been waiting for.

In Peace and Joy,

Alice Walker

I Woke Up Early to Stand For Them

This morning I debated whether to go to the polls before work or after work. And after thinking on it while laying in bed, I looked over to my left and there, on top of the messy comforter and between pillows was the book I read before drifting off to sleep: We Are The Ones We Have Been Waiting For by Alice Walker. My mind immediately envisioned the small green frame and the picture of Leah Ross within its confines. In the photo she’s wearing pearls, a single strand over a v neck wide collar blouse, matching earrings. Her hair is styled and her face is clear and although the photo is black and white, I know she had on lipstick. Her face is relaxed, almost expressionless, but not really. Maybe you can tell me what its saying when you see it. But she’s looking dead at the camera man, eyes invading the space. She’s who comes to mind as I get out of bed to dress and go on to the polls early. I went early because she would have. She and my granddad Kenneth Hudson Byrd, and my great aunt Winifred Beldon, and my great granddad Carey Nall, and my great uncle Herbert Byrd, and my great aunts Beverly and Hedda and Carolyn, and every person whose blood flows in my veins and upon whose shoulders I stand. They would have gotten up before I did, they would have made sure they were the first ones at the polling place because their bodies and souls and faith understood that today was an important day. Today was a day you wore your best because you wanted to remember what you had on that maroon trumpet skirt dress with the matching duster and the camel pumps and matching pocketbook the day you were able to vote for a qualified presidential candidate who you felt represented the best in you who also happened to be a black man. I went early because they woke up early for years, making sure breakfast was made, the house was swept, the kids dressed, to walk, ride the bus, to work the job they could get because they had something to give to the world. They would have brought breakfast for the others in line and coffee to make the wait a little more bearable and blankets and folding chairs in case someone wanted to “sit a spell” to rest their feet. I got up this morning and voted early because I represent the best in them, I encompass their dreams and as their living representative, I thought it best for me to represent them the best I knew how: by getting there early to let their voices be heard through me.

No matter the outcome of the election, know that our ancestors are watching, smiling, and cheering each of us on…

Side note: My coworker, who hasn’t voted in YEARS voted today. How’s that for change. The first change that has occurred is a change of heart for many Americans. That’s change I can support!