Wide Eyes Open Wednesday

Its time we take the blinders off -regarding the health of African Americans. 3.2 million African Americans ages 20 years and older (or 13.3 percent) have diabetes, one-third of whom are undiagnosed. On average, African Americans are 1.8 times more likely to have diabetes. The CDC reports- Obesity is disproportionately higher among African Americans. It is estimated that 80 percent of black women and 60 percent of black men are overweight or obese. Mental Illness- not the type recognized by the "experts" -psychiatry and psychologist- yet more destructive the type we continue to repeat in our minds and lives-the mentality of struggle! We struggle in our lives to "just get by" we struggle in our relationships- to "just making it" we struggle with the day and can't wait and pray "Thank GOD it's Friday"! Its time to open our eyes to the fact that the solutions are within. Diet- we MUST eat better-less processed foods, more fresh fruits and vegetables & less sugary drinks Mental- we must start to change our language from struggle conversation to one of possibility and success and talk it-believe it and live it. The passing of Bernie Mac and Iaasc Hayes, the passing of your uncle, aunt, mother or father to preventable dis-ease, crime in the neighborhoods or stress of daily life-can be prevented- not by a doctor or the government-but by US. Our eyes must remain open to the change many others are taking (better eating habits , exercise and uplifting the mind- because what we are doing now is not working! Open your eyes and see where you are going- if its not working- are you ready to change or keep masking the pain? Mahatma Gandhi: You must be the change you wish to see in the world. Are we ready to change our world? In think we have started we need to expand and hold each other by the hand and each one of us- must teach more of us! Darrell Nobles

Mindful Monday

Honor the gift of time the creator has blessed you with!

What will it take for you to realize your greatness?

The passing of two great men this past weekend - one a musical genius and the other an actor/comedian- yet both at an early age…makes me ask this question.

What will it take for you to see that you don’t have unlimited time to express your creative gifts and share them with the world?

Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac knew they had a mission- musical expression and making a better life by using humor.

Does your time, talents and 10th deserve any less expression? Whatever you are doing while reading this daily devotional… working.. up early in the morning to have a moment of peace.. or just sending a few emails- after your task-take time for you! Look at your life and decide what will it take for you to see and use your greatness.

The Holy Trinity

Success quote- We cannot discover new oceans unless we have the courage to lose sight of the shore Men - what are you looking for in a woman? Someone who is intelligent, beautiful or sensual? All of these would be nice to have in one person- yet do we truly look only at one of these aspects of the women at a time? If you watched the CNN special on Black in America- or Soulmates or Diary Of a mad black women or any host of movies and specials on the lack of quality black men to date and marry- who is to blame? Men we must wake up and stop playing games with the feelings of our women for the sake of a one night stand or long term relationship with no ring in hand. We must eliminate the word "player" from our vocabulary as a term of manhood or rite of passage! If we are truly serious about changing the statistics of black men in prison, on the DL, under-employed. low self-esteem and beaten down by "the man"etc....its time we start on the positive with the women in our lives. See the real woman( Friend-Lover-Help Mate), stop denigrating our queens and little princesses with words and images that they have embraced as normal and acceptable. It is time to lose sight of destructive cultural attitudes, practices and values that are destroying our core- The African Women-our Holy Trinity I would love to hear your comments.