Author Archives: Ebony Brown

Testimony of A West Elm Walker | AIDSWalkNY 2013

Drenched and soggy, the West Elm team schlepped, trooped, laughed, and danced in the rain, through a six mile stretch of puddles, mud and pavement, in New York City’s Central Park and Riverside Drive for the 28th Annual AIDSWalk New York fundraiser, this year.  Collectively, West Elm raised $19K+ and counting, including some awareness along the way. We sported T-shirts that read, “Walk = Learn, Walk = Love, Walk= Life.”

All of us had our own reasons for participating. I walked in memory of my father and my half sister’s mother who both died from the disease. My sister, in her mid-twenties, a strong mother of four, lost both of her parents to AIDS; a woman 20 years my elder, who was raised with me when I was younger is currently living with HIV, and so, one foot in front of the other guided me from the moment that I told myself that I could do this AIDSWalk, to the moment that we reached the finished line.

I’m grateful to have been part of the West Elm team of spirited walkers, especially those who allowed me not only to huddle under their umbrellas, but to clutch their arms, while they held it up for two and half, maybe three wet and windy hours. I’m grateful to Marisa Mariani, West Elm Scarsdale’s General Manager who sponsored me, and William Kissel who led our team, as well as my Facebook friends and family who supported me and this cause, collectively contributing $500, in a period of six days. I’m hopeful about the difference that it will make in the lives of those impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Thank you Joseduarte Alves, Alex Allen, Dominique Brown, Keishia Brown, Clarice J. Epps (Smoothskate), T.G., Dion Griffiths (Dee Griff), Jay and Caroline Jaffe, Marisa Mariani, Latisha McCracken (Jus Listen), Kristin Price, Paul Widerman and an anonymous angel for your donations and an unforgettable experience.

Ebony Brown

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At the finish line! I’m behind the phone, snapping the photo!

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At the finish line take 2!

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Front of our T-shirts

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During the Walk….

20130519_110821Back of our T-shirts

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This is the halfway mark, 3 miles done, 3 more to go….

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Halfway mark, take 2….

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I’ll always remember that umbrella and the beautiful person holding it!

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FINISHED!!! AIDSWalkNY Certificate of Completion! WE DID IT!

Even still, our work for this cause isn’t done. The CDC.gov reports that nearly one in five people who have HIV, don’t know it, and so, this is one way that it could continue to be passed on. How we choose to live our lives and care for ourselves is our prerogative; I’m hopeful that we take more and more responsibility for our health as we learn more, going forward.  If you want to support this cause, but thought that the deadline passed, please know that donations are still being accepted through Friday, June 14, 2013:  http://awny2013.kintera.org/ebonybrown

Sponsor Me For The AIDS Walk New York On Sunday, May 19th

AIDSWalkMay19EbonyBrownWith great pleasure and some palpable sadness, as of today, May 13, 2013, I will be participating in AIDS Walk, New York taking place on May 19th. I’ll be there in memory of both, my late father and my (half) sister’s late mother. I will be there for a close friend/practically a family member whose been living with the disease for 20+ years; for strong individuals/Facebook friends like, Rob Vassilarakis (also known as “Simply Rob”) whose resilience continues to empower and educate both youth and adults, through his original poetry and public performances about his HIV positive status. I’ll be walking for those who I don’t know at all, but a human bond and care connects us; and lastly, for those who I may know by name, or face, but have no idea that they may be living with AIDS or an HIV positive result, or caring for someone who does, or did, and isn’t here anymore. My heart is with you. Everyone’s story is different, let’s support, rather than judge.  If I asked you to sponsor me, would you? If so, I’d be honored. You could do so via the link provided: http://bit.ly/10up0w3

b_logoI’ve set a bit of a lofty goal to raise $500 by May 18th, and so I’ve got less than 6 whole days to do it!  William-Sonoma’s, West Elm will be matching your donation too! I’ll be walking with the West Elm team. Please don’t wait, it’ll be Sunday, May 19th before you know it, please donate today!

If you want to donate by phone, you could call 212.807.9255 (WALK) and provide my name, “Ebony Brown” (Team: West Elm | ID#6080) when donating.

I look forward to your support.

Warmly,
Ebony Brown
http://awny2013.kintera.org/ebonybrown

Making HEART Decisions

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When you make a real HEART decision, its pure, and no matter the outcome, you should feel good about it, because for what its worth, you took the risk. Hopefully you did your best, or tried and you no longer have to wonder, or question, or be involved in something that doesn’t serve you, or those involved.

When you make a decision stemming from an unhealthy EGO, and insecurities (like the things that YOU fear, or worry that others are thinking about you, or will eventually do to you, or are doing, that doesn’t have anything to do with you, but you assume it does, because you think that you know, but actually, you have no idea, because you are not in their shoes, nor skin, but you keep wrongfully projecting), then you will lose, and you will live with it. This isn’t a heart decision, its a fearful, paranoid, worrisome, guarded effort to keep your ego safe. Think about it.

Everyday is an opportunity to choose better, to DO better. So just do it without obsessing over what is already done – you can’t change it. Start with you, you can change you. Those who truly love you will allow you to make mistakes, and stick around even after bad decisions, so long as its not damaging their lives, or person. They’ll support you and allow you to learn, and grow, and even GO if you need to. Let the “heart and soul” YOU, lead you.

-Ebony Brownegovsheartebonybrown

[ Image Top: "Ego" via amenaskhan.wordpress.com | Image Bottom: "Ego Soul" via livethelifeyoulove.net.au | Image on home page: besomebody.com ]

West Elm Goes Floral With Joseph Richard

What the in the world is in Joseph Richard’s flower water?  A week after floral primping, posing and installation at Williams-Sonoma’s, West Elm Scarsdale store (aka home decor heaven), Joseph Richard’s flowers were still perky, vibrant and happily greeting. Fun and flirty, I think a few of them blew kisses at me, and I’m not really a flower kind of gal. I’m a plant lover, they last longer, despite my lack of a green thumb, but Joseph Richard’s flowers were all proud and committed for the long haul.   They really complimented West Elm’s latest, summer color crushes of hot pinks, yellows, greens and ‘beachy’ blues. I just had to snap and share a few photos, courtesy my Samsung Galaxy s3 phone.  Joseph also worked with West Elm shoppers, helping them to create their own, home floral fabulocity and arrangements. I missed it, but I’m lucky to have captured some remnants of the floral eye candy left behind. Thank you Joseph Richards! Until next time.  Check out Joseph Richard Florals, Inc. via his  Website and on Facebook .

- Ebony Brown, your West Elm Scarsdale insider!
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…and there was so much more! Until next time!

Can’t Hide From Karma

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An unspoken, spiritual and universal system of accountability, Karma returns beautiful and amazing deeds, or favors in various forms, including the unfavorable where its due. Karma, the good, the bad and unimaginable skips over no one, not over him, or her, or me, nor you. We WILL experience the wonder, or wrath of our actions, be it beautiful, awful, or both at some point. It depends on what we’ve done, regardless of who we are now (hopefully, someone better than we were). We can’t hide from Karma, so I don’t even try, and questions like, “Why me?” matters less than our next step and getting through whatever it is. The important thing is to learn from it, and to commit to doing better.

Everyday, I am humbled, grateful and determined to continue this path towards my better self, with a bit more humility, consideration, respect and love, a bit more  compassion, listening, learning, understanding, forgiveness, intention, conviction, more heart, more hope, more spirit and gratitude for all things and folks in my experience. Although I’m almost always able to appreciate and find the good in anyone and anything, I’m also slowly creating a healthier habit of refraining from making excuses for how or why people treat me (or other people) the way that they do. I can’t account for someone else’s behavior or energy, I can only take responsibility for me, and so should you – take responsibility for what you do and the the energy that you put out in the universe.

Wayne Dyer said it best, “How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.”

Love, Light & Peace…

-Ebony Brown

We Are More Than Words & Actions

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I’d like to believe that most of us are comprised of the stuff that love is made of, but not all of us will act in this vein.  So what are we doing? What are we contributing? What kind of energy are we harvesting, harboring, harping on, or emitting into the universe, or onto each other? Is it our best, our worst, or somewhere in between? Do you even care? How are you doing, I mean, not superficially, but deep down? Do you feel spiritually clean [whatever that means for you and how ever you define it]? What is your energy like? And don’t even think about lying to yourself. The thing is that, we can’t hide from ourselves, but you already knew that.

Should we expect the best outcomes for ourselves, when our spirit and intentions are otherwise? I mean like if we’re carrying around negative energy and giving off that vibe, how can we expect some positivity to come to pass? Easy. We just do, but this makes no sense. I’m convinced that we are more than words, actions and physical things, we are energy, like frequency, unseen, but felt like, soul, aura and vibes. Our truth runs free in this form and no matter how much we try to hide, lie, or push things deep down into our flesh; it will all surface and show up via our spirit. And so, might it serve us and others in our experience well, to check our spirit, our energy and all those things that we can’t really see, just as much as we’re willing to improve all that’s visible on the surface?

Just a thought.

Love, Light & Peace…

Ebony Brown

[Artwork by Minjae Lee]

Thankful!

Did I mention that I’m thankful for LIFE, not only on Thanksgiving day but everyday? I love life, even when it feels like it doesn’t love me back and the unimaginable happens. I’m also thankful for the angels who’ve come, gone and who are still with me, filling me and the world with doses of their “beautiful”. Did I mention that I’m thankful for you! Yes, YOU!!! I am :)

I am thankful for videos like the one below, I love the story of the brick wall, uughh! Go Will Smith!

Photo of Ebony Brown by Michael Towns

Forgiveness

Tomorrow may never come for someone that you may have in mind, so if you’re holding thoughts of them with unsettled tension, please consider releasing them now. Dare to reach beyond the hardness of your ego, until your fingertips find a soft spot, somewhere deep in your spirit. Allow your hands and heart to close around it and bring about some true forgiveness. Everyone does things at their own pace, however we must remember that tomorrow isn’t always promised regardless of our hopefulness.

If you like this post, you may like one of my previous posts, “To Forgive or Not to Forgive” here: http://bit.ly/Wi5cdV

Photo of Ebony Brown by Michael Towns

Cherish The Moment

Immersed in autumn’s beauty, I had no idea of Sandy’s wrath, nor of the cold, thicket of snow that would make things evermore difficult for those still without electricity and recovering from this east coast storm. Stay strong, this is an opportunity to connect, to bond, to live and build again, and to begin somewhere, somehow right now. If your life is all that you have and your possessions were washed away, remember that your life is all that you need to begin again today. Cherish the moment, even the tough ones and allow your inner peace to feed your resilience.

Photo of Ebony Brown by Michael Towns. All rights reserved.

Evolve, Grow, Do Better

There are those who will remind you  of your missteps and ill choices, despite your growth and progress, regardless of  the many layers that comprise you and so, we must stay strong.  There are those who will attempt to keep you in a box, like a snapshot Polaroid picture, remembering you as the exact person that you ONCE  were and reject, refuse to accept, learn, or even experience the miracle and beauty that you’ve become, or possibly WERE ALL ALONG. Some will  choose to amplify your shortcomings and flaws, but the thing is, that’s their prerogative – let them! Just live your life and do what makes you happy.

There will be folks who will  opt to tolerate you, rather than celebrate you, and in such a situation you have a choice to stay or to leave. Is anything in between ever worth it? There are those who will claim to love you and say that they’re just being tough on you because they want the best for you. Sometimes they are the very same folks whose presence is most felt when they’re  criticizing, judging and rejecting you. When this happens we have the option to be thankful and to bless them for showing us who they are (in that moment) and even still understand that they too may be going through something.

There are those who’ve gone through their own growing pains, who sometimes manage to speak and act in such a way that comes off as if they’ve forgotten that others grow and learn at their own pace too and in such a case, a little bit of humility goes a long way. Why put down the next human being for where they are in life? I believe that if we can’t extend our hands, then we should close mouths and try opening our hearts…even more than we  may think we have.

“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. We need not wait to see what others do.” -Ghandi

Love, Light & Peace,

Ebony Brown

[Photo by Alex Allen]

How You Respond Makes The Difference

Energy. I like to surround myself with a lot of it, the good, the great, the creative and beautiful kind, but as we all know, otherwise is inevitable. Negative energy is 24/7 relentless, intently working to sabotage us if we let it. What makes the difference in our stress levels is how we choose to respond to it, including ignoring it. While we may think that we’re being positive, or well intentioned when responding, at times our own negative energy comes to the surface, heating every word spoken, sometimes without us even fully knowing just how ugly we’ve become. Is it always easy to admit when you’re wrong? Who’s never gotten mad and said some things that they realized later on wasn’t the best thing to say?

We could choose to respond better and some of us do, but too often, we opt out and react with the first thing that fills our spirit. For some of us, its some level of anger, or display of defensiveness, as opposed to simply taking things in and allowing it to fully process.  Somehow, yelling or worst tends to feel better in that moment of hurt, rage or out right disappointment. The thing is, while we’re experiencing some type of bad or negative energy in the presence of another human being, it IS possible to ask ourselves, “Will what I’m about to say, heal or hurt, will it build or break?”  and  “Am I thinking, speaking or doing to cut into nerves of the other person, or am I expressing myself to create understanding, peace and resolve? What is more important?

I’m a believer of the powers of the universe and that it ensures that our offenders, violators, haters and trouble makers will encounter the kind of energy that they’ve put into the universe, or in our our path. We need not allow negativity to infect, possess and drive us off a mental cliff, especially because we can choose to not internalize, instigate or perpetuate it, we really can. We only get ONE life! Is any minute of it worth spending on responding erratically or unproductively to whatever has managed to get underneath our skin?

“Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” -Lincoln

Ebony Brown

OUR LIFESPEAK

What is Our Lifespeak? Our Lifespeak is what we tell ourselves and others everyday. I’m convinced that whatever it is that we’re saying throughout our day to ourselves, out loud (not too loud hopefully) or in our heads and to others, play an important role in what WILL manifest that day, the coming days, or in our lives. If we made deliberate efforts to pay attention and take inventory of our self talk  and what and how we speak to others, then we would discover something about ourselves that we may not have really known or have been unconsciously ignoring – be it how negative or positive, or discouraging versus encouraging we really are.

Some of us are already in the habit of being highly conscious of the words that escapes us, and sensitive to it’s potential impact on others and ourselves, and if you are, more power to you! Each one teach one!  Some of us are not very mindful of such and could also be in the habit of asking why (in general, regarding the things that happen in our lives), or why ME, more often than we’d like, and to this, I say, we must ask ourselves, why NOT me (be it good or bad) and really tune into our self-talk, namely our lifespeak.

I realize that I can be really tough on myself and on those closest to me through my lifespeak. I also recognize that there’s a difference between being tough and being negative. When we’re being tough on ourselves or on others, the intent is to encourage better, but when we’re being negative or saying negative things (sometimes not even fully aware of it), we couldn’t possibly be pushing ourselves or anyone else towards better. In actuality, we’re breaking more than building, discouraging more than encouraging,  amplifying more than diminishing our fears and worse, we’re possibly projecting such negativity onto someone else. STOP! Take stock of your thoughts, your words, your actions  and become acquainted with your lifespeak - an ongoing process for me. The learning never stops.

Surviving The West Indian/Labor Day Parade

Its that time again, and the annual West Indian Day/Labor Day Parade in Brooklyn, NY is upon us and  is not to be attended “as a matter of factly”, doing so, could get you hurt or killed, literally, but  it is an experience to be had at least once, especially if you live in New York and definitely if you live in Brooklyn.

My first experience was my last (for now, anyways). I’m no longer hard pressed about attending, but I’m glad that I did, and would recommend:

1. Going with friends (the crowd will thicken and you’ll need to work harder to stay together.  Charged phones  may help, but it will become insanely hard to hear one another. Loud doesn’t even describe the volume and intensity of this event.)

2. Bring lots of water (despite vendors, unless you want to lose your awesome viewing spot, if you have one. Plus do you really want to be carried away on a stretcher due to fainting and dehydration – oh it happens! Hundreds of thousands, up to a million folks are reported as attending this event annually)

3. An open mind (because anything is possible, like voodoo powder, vulgarity and dancing police – in full uniform – on duty – did I mention, “on duty”?)

4. Your own bullet proof vest if possible (because it seems like someone is always getting shot. I wish I was kidding.)

5. Your best attitude or else fun could fizzle into unnecessary drama or worse, danger.

Besides the aforementioned, this event is pure beautiful, musical madness, comprised of  colorful,  carnival, glittery, slippery, feathery extravagant,  costumes, near nudity, dirty dancing, rocking concert-like floats, celebrities, beads, flags, flags and more flags – get one and rep your country! All nationalities especially of Caribbean descend unite, dance and wave their flags with pride and ferocity at this event. Dress comfortably and lightly, no need for purses, Ipads and valuables, but you’re going to do what you want to do anyway – don’t say that I didn’t warn you. Stay alert, be safe and enjoy!

_____________________

Brooklyn Labor Day Parade
Fast Facts (courtesy chiff.com)

When : September 3, 2012
beginning at 11AM

Parade Route : Utica Avenue to Grand Army Plaza along Eastern Pkwy.

Subway Directions :
2 train to Grand Army Plaza or Franklin Avenue
3 train to Grand Army Plaza or Franklin Avenue or Utica Avenue
4 train to Franklin Avenue or Utica Avenue
5 train to Franklin Avenue

More about Labor Day, the Holiday

Have you ever attended the West Indian Day/Labor Day Parade? Are you going this year? Any thoughts?

[Photo by Ebony Brown (@fotojunki)]

Think With Your Heart


Don’t allow the over thinking of the mind to blur the vision of the heart, is something that I tell myself.  I think way too much – waaay too much! And why do I do this?  One word: Control. I like to be in it – in control. Where I get in trouble is when I unconsciously desire to control more than what is in my power, like the actions and words of people, especially folks who are the closest to me. Do I really want to control people? Of course not, but something about  a person’s incongruent words and actions, like saying one thing and acting in a manner that I receive as completely opposite or contradictory drives me nuts! In such situations, my “fix it” sensors and instincts kick in, where I’m literally trying to bring about some sort of parallel or bridge between what someone is saying to me and what they’re showing me. I tend to do this so that some real learning, connecting and understanding could be won, but of course the other party has to be willing, and that’s where I could stand to pay more attention. At the end of the day, I know that it is not within my power, or our power to control a person’s thoughts, words and actions. We could however, influence or impact them, and remain hopeful for as long as our hearts are open. Breathe.

Awake, tuned in, everyday I learn more and more about who I am. I like to be in control and I accept this part of me. I accept it with a greater sense of responsibility and accountability, essentially with deliberate awareness of the intention behind my words and actions. Specifically, whether my words and actions are motivated by my heart and a real yearning to connect and understand or by my ego and its yearning not to be hurt or deprived of a certain attention or recognition. See the difference? I’m guilty of  hurting folks in my quest to understand them, and in my attempts to get them to GET me, or understand me, because I am unrelenting and persistent when I’m trying to make sense of things, and it could be received as overbearing, especially to someone who is resisting, and so I get this. I admit, I don’t always recognize certain gestures as resistance because either I’m too focused on what I want or because its not always obvious. Such as, people lie, make up excuses and reasons, and convince you that “its not you” and that things are ok) when its precisely you (me or us), who is the problem.

Our desire to control is unveiled when we vehemently want someone else to stop saying what they’re saying, doing what they’re doing, or being how they’re being AND they resist, and we persist with our efforts to MAKE them hear or understand us. Our desire to control is evident when we lash out and tirelessly express something over and over again to a person, attempting to get results that we think that we need from them. I’m convinced that all of this stems from over thinking. And so, we need only to quiet our minds and tune into our hearts and souls, where a certain level of self awareness and clarity has been waiting all along. We know way more than what we give ourselves credit for, we need only to shut up and listen to the whispers fighting to be heard inside of us. Let  our actions take direction from our hearts, because the mind can be brutal, for it is the home of the ego, and a bruised ego is usually a reckless driver; such a force should not guide one’s actions, unless the end result is some sort of creative contribution, thereby offering some sort of positive end, or beginning.

Love, Light And Peace,
Ebony Brown

Stay Strong

Pay attention to where the love, the support, the compassion, the healing, the understanding, the encouragement or overall LIGHT and lightness IS FLOWING IN and less attention to where it is not. SO WHAT if you think or know that someone else is hating, jealous, resisting, not where you are in life, or is expressing themselves in ways that you  don’t like, nor agree – SO WHAT!  These things are distracting and are intended to throw you off focus – stay FOCUSED. Continue to be the change in this world that you proliferate, or are capable through whatever means that ignites your soul and unites it with those radiating love and support around you. Stay centered and strong. I believe in you, for what its worth; we’re all human, and so there’s this inherent connection – how far we develop it or explore it is up to us.

Regardless of all the negative energy, or people out there, we all have a choice in how we respond, AND how we respond or react is telling of our maturity and our HEART.

That said, yes, there’s this thing called, CHOICE, and it can precede and  intercept our reactions and ugly actions or words. Acting and conducting ourselves from a place of love, support, compassion, healing, and light, will always be more productive than otherwise. Acting from any other place opposite of these things could only further stir, instigate and perpetuate the negative and unnecessary.  I was guilty of such, but I’ve learned and I’ll continue to learn.

There will always be those who will stop at nothing to peck away at your joy and sanity, for some, its just what they do. Negative energy will always exist, accept that fact, and learn how to deal with as productive as possible.  Those who you  regard as haters, jealous or any other unbecoming words could be exactly that, but so what! Alternatively, they could also be, at best, lost and still finding their way, unaware of how to be supportive, humble, positive, or relate because of whatever they may be going through, or have gone through. Most are judged before they are viewed as in need of help, healing, guidance or direction.

What would happen if immediately after feeling offended, nerve wrecked, upset, or worked-up you dared to stay strong and you stopped to think for a moment to consider the notion that hurt people hurt people? What if you saw beyond your ruffled and agitated ego and imagined that whoever is offending you is like a child, who hasn’t learned any better, even though you think that they should know better? What if you saw beyond the immediate injury of their words or gestures and refrained from retaliatory, aggressive words or actions towards them because that’s not true to who YOU are deep down inside, or is it?

Who are we to condemn them? Why take their regard so personal?  Truth does have a way of striking nerves – and in such a case we must check ourselves and attend to further inner work – introspection – and call up every fiber of  our inner strength. Stay strong. Glow from the inside out and let our walk, our talk, our deeds and contributions align and reflect that. Give your haters, joy takers or the negative folks in your life a pink slip and the space to grow, as you would want when going through a trying or dark time, instead of internalizing and harping on the ugliness that they have put into the universe; focus on what you’re contributing. Perhaps they’ll grow, and learn by your example, or maybe they won’t, but surely you’ve experienced something that has forced you to wake-up and learn, and even rethink how you handled some things or negatively regarded some folks.  Have you not…EVER?

Whatever the case, just stay focused, stay strong, stay beautiful, and just do what YOU do from the depths of you, and from a place of love, sincerity and positive affirmations and contribution.

LOVE begets LOVE! Let’s GO!

[Photo of EbonyBrown by: Michael Towns, edited by Ebony Brown]

Hello

Hey there,

Missed you!

I’ve been somewhere between meditative and contemplative, listening and feeling every bit of my heart beat, my heart speak and its teachings and truths. Lately, life has been symphonic bliss – beautiful, like nothing short of  love in the nude – transparent and tangible, like open, endless, no guesswork, pure, oozing, unmistakeable flooding embrace, like unity, like tree and roots – loyal, intertwined like hem tight and lifted, like him – the most high, like hymn – song penetrating and soulful. I feel you, like joined hands – spiritual, like answered prayers – faithful, like happy tears – grateful, yes “I SEE YOU”, I love you and so, I smile, exhaling my regard and inhaling yours – clarity. I smile beyond motion of lips,  I smile oceans of love – massive, energy like swelling waves working through me – climatic, building and hopeful that it tides and tips and crashes into hearts, like rocks, breaking through and creating new sedimentary layers of  “hello” or “Hi”, reaching out and stretching like river, lingering like kiss, warming like hug, or even better…welcoming like HOME.

And so…

Hello.

How are you?

Let’s Roll

Let’s roll, and if you fall I may not be able catch you, because I may fall too. Then again, I’ve already fallen and although there were no broken bones, there were black and blue bruises on my soul – so hurt, that I couldn’t move. My heart stopped like record scratch, like cassettes trapped in tape decks.  I fell and my heart ripped like those tapes, but something amazing happened.  My tears created new riffs and rhythms, and my heart beat louder with conviction and hope in its cadence, that things will be even better than, anything that you, or I, or we could have ever imagined!

Internally wounded but healing, I’ve pulled myself up from the pavement over and over again, and this time is no different. I must admit that I didn’t expect to fall and then have to get up without your hand – although, I am used to holding my own. Palm to palm like in prayer mode, still and silent, I am receptive, monk-quiet; my eyes trace where I’ve fallen like the unlucky outlined in white chalk, but I am still here – breathing. Flashbacks, I recall when, where and how I’ve risen and managed to learn, GET UP and begin again, not just to skate but to continue living, and loving and giving my all. Grateful for every scab and scar, my heart remains open, like it was never broken. Skates on wood or pavement, I’m rolling as if I never fell, completely aware that I will fall again, be it on my butt or flat-faced in love, I’m open, and so I welcome it.

Life is amazing!

Isn’t it?

…….Let’s Roll!

Photo of Ebony Brown by Michael Towns

Speak Your Heart

No walls. No doors. No fences. No guards. I am open and so blessed to be the bearer and recipient of genuine love. When people in my life speak and act from their heart, I am forever touched. The song below by Lizz Wright appeared in my Facebook news-feed today (via Kristin Price), I pressed play and WOW! Moved by the sincerity of her words, the strength of her heart and the warmth of her voice, I just had to share.



Photo: Michael Towns shot this photo of me and I edited it.

Violins Beat Violence in NYC

If he were Trayvon Martin (R.I.P.), I would have never heard his music, their music, the sounds of this brother and sister violin duo playing in New York City’s Grand Central subway station at 42nd Street.  Jackie, their mom who was encouraging and open said that they performed at the world renowned, Carnegie Hall. Instantly, I felt my body swaying and my hands clapping once again on Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall stage, where I performed as a member of the Soul Voices Ensemble with jazz pianist and Steinway Artist, Pete Malinverni – a beautiful soul. Snapping out of those memories and back into the rancid, pissy, New York City subway stench, I continued to spectate and listen, and eventually captured these two images with their mother’s permission.

Today in 2012, I cringe at the thought that this young man who chooses to play his violin over engaging in violence could still be targeted for racial profiling, or an unjust, bloody bludgeoning, or worse, getting shot to death simply because he is black.  Although we may have come far as it pertains to race, evident in the president elect – a black man,  the human race continues to be plagued, so long as cases such as Trayvon Martin and Sean Bell proliferates, time and time again.