Welcome to
Jubilee News!
~The 9th
Edition~
The
official relaunch!
Saturday
May 20, 2017
We…are back in
Business!
In this Edition and going forward you
Can expect more Columnists &
Artists,
More topics of interest, and more depth!
More!
More!
More!
Jubilee News!
You made us popular. Now, it's our turn
to make you proud.
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~Disclaimer~
The works, When Men
Speak, When Men Speak-The Radio Edition, & Jubilee News are the
intellectual property of its founder, creator, & Editor-In-Chief, James W.
Falcon. However, the submissions of all artists are expressly theirs. Jubilee
News wishes to thank each artist for lending this newsletter your gifts,
talents, and works. Jubilee News seeks only the best talent to convey the
sometimes complicated message of reconciliation between the sexes. Your investment
in the "relationship revolution" is greatly appreciated.
Reproduction of
material & information found in this newsletter is prohibited. All requests
to copy and or to reproduce material and information from this newsletter must
be submitted via electronic request to the Editor-In-Chief at wmsjubileenews@gmail.com. Your compliance is
appreciated and your professionalism, celebrated. Thank you.
Welcome to Jubilee News-A WHEN MEN
SPEAK Publication! Today, May 20, 2017, we are officially back in
business. This is the 9th Edition
of the Publication and as the home pages states, with this Edition and going
forward, you can expect more. The Publication now has more Columnists and
Artists. There will be even more diversity among the Columnists and
Artists. There will be more forms of artistic expression including the visual
arts of painting and photography. There will be more topics of interest
including but not limited to: body image, what not to do after a break up,
steps to take to recover from loss, managing chronic illness, mothering
pointers on the care of small and adult children. There will be more
humor and opportunities to laugh as well as cry. There will also be more
invitations for reflection as per my series, “The Daddy Pages” and
others. There will even be posts on how to maintain a good, healthy,
vibrant social life. Being mature and responsible does not mean we can’t
have fun. Expect all of these topics and more in addition to
encouragement to enhance communication and interactions with men-the
publication’s top priority. Expect to see more advertisements and much
more entrepreneurial columns. In-other-words, all of the things that may
strike the fancy of women in general, will be covered in Jubilee News going forward!
Expect more. Enjoy More. Because you deserve…MORE!
I would like to
personally thank the Columnists and Artists past and present, whose work is
highlighted in this Publication. I’d like to also thank the Columnists
and Artists that will be featured in the upcoming Editions. I honor you
for allowing me to borrow a bit of your passion and your talent to encourage
others. I thank you for putting some of your personal and professional
endeavors on hold just long enough to draft and package your contributions to
this Publication.
I’d also like to thank
my Wife for the hours upon hours she listened to me talk about the joys and the
challenges of managing an online publication. Her contributions go so
much deeper than these few sentences-in whose dependency I have come to rely
like a publication does on punctuation marks and headings, necessary at the
very least.
Lastly, to our readers
both past and present, I owe you so much more than I can ever repay.
Thank you for your comments, compliments and even for your criticism.
Thank you for the time and attention. And most of all, thank you for
sharing the message of our Publication with others. Blessing upon
blessings to all mentioned above.
Appreciatively,
James W. Falcon
James W. Falcon,
Founder/Editor-In-Chief, Jubilee
News-A WHEN MEN SPEAK Publication
PS:
Your support of this newsletter is
appreciated. Your input is craved! Drop me a note at wmsjubileenews@gmail.com if
you have any questions or comments regarding the content of the newsletter and
I will guarantee you a timely response.
Also, if you have any suggestions for
topics we have not covered, we will be happy to review those requests as well.
Once again, thank you for your support and thank you in advance for your
emails.
|---------STAFF--------|
Founder
James W. Falcon
Editor-In-Chief
James W. Falcon
Copy/Online Editor
Erica V. Falcon
Director of Marketing
Open
Marketing Intern
Unique E. Falcon
Manager, Social Media
Open
Columnists
JHL
Ms. Recia Jones
LaVerna Saunders
Kafi D’Ambrosi
Calene Heureaux
Kimberly Martin
Tiffany Lyles
Brenda Heart
NV
James W. Falcon
Jai-ree
Nekil (Emeritus)
Poets & Spoken Word Artists
Softly Spoken
God’s Precious Flower
Kafi D’Ambrosi
Ms. Recia Jones
James W. Falcon
---------------------------------------------------[]--------------------------------------------------
|----------POETS, SPOKEN WORD ARTISTS, COLUMNISTS-----------|
~This Edition~
JHL
Ms. Recia Jones
Softly Spoken
Kafi D’Ambrosi
LaVerna Saunders
Calene Hereaux
Jai-ree
James W. Falcon
~Previous Editions~
MJD
God’s Precious Flower (GPF)
MJAY
Victoria Sharrock
Memoirs of a Lady
From the Reservation
Meredith Duncan Weber
Sonja Maxwell
LaVerna Saunders
Jai-ree
Michelle Pringle
Barbara K.
Ms. Receia Jones
Kafi D’Ambrosi
Nekil (Emeritus)
James W. Falcon
I am immensely grateful for the contributions of all of the above
mentioned contributors for their voluntary support of Jubilee News. Thank
you.
This Publication wishes to honor the memory and legacy of a special partner:
Nekil R. Colden. Nekil, a former Editor-In-Chief of another publication, joined the
Jubilee News Team in 2013 and made sizable contributions with promises of more
in the future. But unfortunately, Nekil lost her battle with cancer (a war she waged oh so privately) and
passed away unexpectedly. We are grateful for Nekil's life and
contributions to Jubilee News. Our deepest sympathies go out to her
Family & Friends in their lost. This Publication will forever honor her
work and will hold a place for her here among the staff.
Rest In Peace
Nekil R. Colden
11/25/1975 - 1/29/2014
Respectfully submitted,
-James W. Falcon
Relationship Cycles
FRUITLESS CYCLES OF RELATIONSHIPS (SHE IS TIRED)
by Ms. Recia Jones
Fruitless (definition)-useless, unproductive; without results or
success; bearing no fruit; barren.
Synonyms: abortive, gainless, profitless, idle
Cycle-any complete round or series of occurrences that repeats or
is repeated.
Synonyms: chain, circle, loop, rhythm, sequel, wheel
Relationship-connection, association, or involvement; an emotional
connection between people; a sexual involvement; affair.
Synonyms: affiliation, alliance, dependence, exchange, hookup,
marriage
She was tired. No, she was exhausted from
yet another dating experience. She vowed this time would be the last time she
would do this. She was going to settle and rest in the fact that she would be
single for rest of her life and that she would have to learn to accept it. She
was tired of the fruitless cycles of relationships and the drama associated
with it. She wanted to start a movement. Fists raised high and chanting
something not sure what yet. She was sure if she had the platform to speak to
men she would tell them exactly what all women felt. She wanted things to
change. She felt trapped in a world where her old school morals clashed continually
with the new school way of doing things.
As she sat in her room, she listened to a
song she had never heard before but she adored the artist. Tears began to flow
down her face. She stumbled upon the video via YouTube and watched intently as
Jill Scot crooned her song with tears streaming down her face. Hear My
Call. She could relate to the emotionally charged video and the words sounded
familiar though she never said them because up until that moment, she couldn’t
even begin to articulate let alone to explain. She wanted to tell men that some
women are not as strong as they may think. Yes, they are strong but carrying
double the load is exhausting. She wanted to tell all men that some women are
not mean either. Women are just tired of having to show up all the time.
She wanted men to know that women do well and do what needs to be done because
it has to get done. She wanted to tell men that she was tired because she was
taking on roles that her Grandmother told her that a man should do. She remembered
how much she loved, honored, and admired her Grandmother. She wanted to be just
like her. She wanted the type of relationship that her Grandmother had. She
wanted to tell men that she wanted to be pursued, dated, courted, and taken
down the aisle that led to a name change. She wanted them to know that she
wanted him to take the lead role in the home. She wanted him to open doors for
her physically and mentally. Yes, she could think for herself but it was the
chivalry and that need for him to lead is what excited her. She sat and
listened to her Grandmother rave about her husband. She didn’t hear her
Grandmother talk about a boyfriend…but a husband who provided for her. Yes, her
Grandmother worked but she also took care of her home. She remembered her Grandmother
sharing stories as she taught her to cook. Her Grandmother shared dear secrets
with her telling her the importance of keeping a home and that included cooking
him a hot meal each day. She would listen to her Grandmother cook meals with
love. She served his meals with love too. She remembered her Grandmother would
squeal and giggle when she said he would smack her butt when she walked away
after giving him his plate. She remembered her Grandmother told her it won’t be
easy, but it’s necessary. Her Grandmother told her how they would sit and make
decisions together that would put them in a place to grow. They prayed together
and went to church together. Her Grandmother would light up every time she
talked about him. She wanted to glow like that! She wanted to feel those
butterflies for herself and not just because she was listening to her
Grandmother share her stories. She wanted that old school love but it was
nowhere to be found. This left her frustrated and sad. The cycle of bad dating
experiences started to take a toll on her. It was beginning to leave a bitter
taste in her mouth. It was likened to a gas tank. Her love tank was full when
she first started but each experience began to take from her reserve. It was
taking those memories of the stories her Grandmother told her and removing
them. And now her love light is bright red and flashing, reminding her of the
song “Five Miles to Empty” by Brownstone. The light in her eyes was growing dim
and the desire diminished by the minute. She wanted to scream because she was
trapped in a place in time that she didn’t know if her guy would show up in
time. And to make matters worse her Grandmother had passed away so who would
talk to her now? Right before her Grandmother died, she remembered the last conversation
with her grandmother. She began talking about her husband again. Though her
memories of a lot of things had faded with her Dementia, those of her husband
never did. It had been years since they talked about him. In one of those final
conversations she shared they only knew each other 3 weeks before being married
for years up until his death. She knew then because she mentioned him while
staring up into what appeared to be nothing. She figured her husband was there
waiting because she saw that glow show up again. Who was going to encourage her
now?
Sex has gotten so easy that nothing else
even matters. As a result, this was the main reason that the above definitions
hold so much power. Relationships are not coveted like they used to be. One of
the synonyms actually referenced “hookup” and that’s what it has become. She
knows this and now she has built that wall back up. Except this time, she
has hired armed security guards and she climbed inside a shell behind that
wall. She didn’t want this to happen but the last situation drained her of so
much. She doesn’t even know how to get back to that full tank of faith in
relationships. She didn’t know how to get back to that full tank of faith in
love. She wished that men would just get it. She wishes some of her girlfriends
would hold these men accountable and not make things so easy. She realized she
actually started to conform and that conformity went against everything she was
taught and raised to believe. She said that she was just going to “go hard” and
be mean. She wasn’t going let another man get close to her or to ever love her
again. She promised to buy two pit bulls and be content. But the more she tried
to get that contract drawn up and signed, she couldn’t seem to quiet that voice
within. That voice that sounded like her Grandmother talking from the grave.
That voice that sounded like a teenage girl talking about a crush. She realized
that plan wasn’t going to work. She realized she needed to try to dig
deep one more time.
So she thought about that platform-an
approach to gather every man in a room to tell them how much women need them.
She wanted to tell them they were valuable and that they did matter. All men
matter. But she wanted to especially encourage her African American counterparts
as they are being “taken out” daily. She wanted to tell them that she loved
them. She wanted to hug them and speak to the kings within them. She wanted to
also tell her sisters to do the same. She wanted to remind her sisters of their
Queenly status. She wanted to tell her sisters that it was now time to hold
them accountable and be more like our Grandmothers were back in the day. She
wanted to tell them to get back the essence and the softness of womanhood.
Now, to the woman who may feel she was trying
to take them back 100 years or so, she beseeched them to look at the message
deeper. She wasn’t saying that they didn’t have problems back then. But family
values mattered more then than now. She wanted to share with men and women
everywhere. She didn’t want to offend but encourage them to go back to a
healthy place where relationships could grow and prosper. She wanted to remind
both men and women that at the end of the day, it’s the two of them that
matter. That by day they fought many battles outside the home but at the end of
the day, they were meant to come together and rest in that safe place-the
sanctuary of “home.” She wanted them to get back to the basics of love to end
the fruitless cycles.
Reicia Jones
reidjopoetry@yahoo.com
Poetry, writing, or art from the Heart of a Woman.
Recia Jones is a healthcare professional by trade who through soul
searching and self reflection has discovered her many of her talents and
skills. Born both out of passion and a therapeutic sense, Recia is on a
journey of personal actualization in which she wields many tools and weapons to
help people, women in particular find their strengths and purpose in their
"singleness." Recia recently joined the Jubilee News Team where
she made her first appearance in the Mothers' Day Edition of the newsletter,
8.3.
Managing Breakups
MY TOP 6 THINGS NOT TO DO DURING A BREAKUP
by JHL
by JHL
I'm no relationship expert. Hell, I'm divorced
even! But I will say that I have learned from my past experiences things which
ring so true that I absolutely must share them with my brokenhearted sisters.
If you have any hope in reconciling your love relationship, or you just want to
heal as quickly as possible, then I hope you will consider taking my advice.
1. STALKING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For the love of all things holy, DO NOT stalk
your ex on social media. Trying to figure what he is doing or who he is doing
it with will only cause you greater pain. Trust me I know. I've been there and
I could tell you some horror stories. Fortunately, I learned before my final
marriage separation to never put myself through that again.
If you have any social media
"friends" that you know are really "his" friends, separate
yourself from them. You don't owe anyone an explanation, but if you are a
"people pleaser", you can be very gentle and diplomatic by messaging
that person before you unfriend them. Keep it short and sweet. Let them know
it's nothing personal against them - you just feel it's for the best as you
both go through the grieving process. In most cases, people will understand,
and some may even appreciate you making it less awkward for them.
Ultimately it's about you though. The more
doors you keep open, the more avenues you have in getting hurt. Don't trick
yourself into thinking that his friends are your friends. And if you are the
one who ends up getting blocked, just take a deep breath and don't take it
personally.
2. SENDING ANGRY TEXT MESSAGES
One of the most effective and therapeutic ways
in which I was able to move through my separation and later my divorce was
typing out long text messages, then deleting them or saving them to my phone.
When you know in your gut that there are things better left unsaid, yet you
feel so compelled and justified to say something, use this technique to release
that momentary, pent up energy.
Think about it. What good will come from
saying what you want to say? Will saying something resolve the situation or
will it only escalate it? I can tell you that every time I allowed my emotions
to take over and I expressed them to the person I was angry with, it always
backfired. So how do you prevent this reptilian reaction? I don't think you can
unless you are big on meditation and able to calm yourself down quickly. If you
are; however, a passionate, firecracker, prone to be quick-tempered, the best
thing to do is to spew on paper or in an unsent text message.
3. DROWNING YOUR FRIENDS IN SORROW
Drowning your sorrows is never a good thing.
You would not be the first to get a little wasted and poopoo on your ex, but be
very careful not to make this a regular occurrence unless you want to quickly
wear out your friendships. This was a hard lesson for me at first, but after a
while I realized that my grieving process was going to take a lot longer than
my friends had the patience or the stamina for.
You have to understand and accept that your
friends and even your family can only take so much. Negativity drains a lot of
energy-not just from you but from others as well. I will never say to someone
that they should just get over it. What I will say is that sometimes your
friends and family aren't the best people to vent to because there is a shelf
life to consider, so it's important to put other supports in place like joining
a private social media group or seeing a therapist.
4. STAYING FROZEN IN YOUR MIND
Your gears are constantly turning. You're
exhausted from crying non-stop. You're having bad dreams or not sleeping at
all. You're obsessing about the past and can't shut it off. Your chest is so
tight it feels like your heart is going to implode. And some days you pray you
could just close your eyes and peacefully drift far...far...away only to never
wake up again.
Yup! Been there too and stayed there for a
long time. It's called depression and heartache. You have two choices. Either
sit and marinade in your sorrow while entertaining suicidal thoughts, OR get up
and start moving! I know it's not easy. I cried so much during my separation
and divorce that my own child started to roll his eyes at me. I had no control
over my thoughts or my emotions. I had to do something about it. So I started
going for a walk and tuning out with music. Also, consider exercising as a good
way to cope. Exercising has been very effective for me.
There is nothing wrong with letting out your
emotions. You have to feel them in order to heal, but eventually you have to
start focusing on your mental well-being. And the best way to start that
process, I am convinced, is through physical movement.
5. KEEPING PERSONAL CONTACT
I prolonged my healing process by staying in
contact with my ex. We share a child so of course we had no choice, especially
if we were going to co-parent. But there is a fat line between necessary
contact and excessive contact. I fooled myself into thinking we could still be
"friends". I had envisioned a perfect scenario in which he and I
would be the greatest co-parents in the world. We would share holidays together
with the grandparents, and even befriend each other's new love interests.
This magical thinking only led me down an even
more painful path that could have been prevented. We ended up sleeping with
each other too many times. We created more points of argument. We probably
confused our son especially after I decided to put a solid halt on things. And
for what?
Every relationship is different. The dynamics
that existed in my relationship might be very different from yours, but the end
result is still the same. You can not hope for reconciliation until you give yourself
the time and space to be away from each other. It is only then that you can
start to see things more clearly and make your own assessments without the
influence of triggered emotions.
6. OPENING UP YOUR MOUTH
This last one I know is difficult. It's still
difficult for me at times, but I can not stress enough how important this last
one is. So many times I wanted to tell my version of what happened, but on the
very few occasions I did, I almost always regretted it. Say what you have to
say to the right people; a trusted few who know your story because they lived
through it with you, a therapist, or vent to a group of strangers in an online
support group.
I'm very close to my mother in-law, and I've
always had a special place in my heart for my father in-law. Divorce doesn't
simply dissolve that for me. But as much as I wanted to tell my in-laws how I
felt about things, I had to swallow my pride if I was going to keep a
relationship with them. When I found out about my ex husband's new fiancee, my
emotions were still very raw and believe me, I had plenty to say. Putting
yourself in the other person's shoes for a moment will hopefully give you the
perspective you need to keep your mouth shut and not make a complete ass out of
yourself. There will always be your version, his version, and the truth which
sits somewhere in the middle. It's only natural for his support system to side
with his truth, just as it is only natural for your support system to side with
your truth.
I want to come back around to social media. I
am very active on social media because it plays a huge part in what I want to
do with my life, professionally. Being open and sharing my personal story is
part of that. There is however a right way and a wrong way when it comes to
sharing about a failed relationship. The general rule of thumb I would say, is
to ask yourself why you are sharing? Is what you are about to share going to
provide value to your audience? If not, then don't share it! The very last
thing you want is to come off as bitter, negative, or without class. Be very
careful in how you air out your dirty laundry as they say, because it can
backfire in a mean way causing you more grief than is necessary.
JHL has worked, most recently in the
healthcare field but has, as of late, concentrated her focus on encouraging
women to seek healing and support needed in the areas of body image, nutrition
& fitness, emotional and mental health. JHL is a powerful voice on social
media in her frequent posts of inspirational material for both men and women.
JHL is a woman is great wisdom and will stop at nothing to share that
experience with the willing. She too is a multifaceted columnist whose gifts
and talents we have only begun to explore. This is JHL's first article as a
Jubilee News Team Member. Please join Jubilee News in welcoming JHL to the
Jubilee News Team!
A Moment in Photography
Today’s Relaunch has played host to
incredible talent and history making Publication firsts. This photograph
is a confirmation in both categories. Among the many talents listed of
Kafi D’Ambrosi, one that leaves many in awe is her eye and intelligence for
photography. Join me in welcoming Kafi’s photographic prowess as she
lends us a piece from her Walter’s Art Gallery
Kafi, as she is known in the arts community, is a poet, a spoken word artist, a photographer, a designer, a Periscoper, a marketing and business growth strategy consultant, and a Mom. Kafi is a linguist who fluently speaks 4 languages in addition to English who frequently leverages the experience she gained in her travels abroad in many ways-chiefly, delighting the taste buds of the willing with her culinary mastery. Kafi is not only an experienced artist but she is extremely well versed in the mechanics of project management of art shows and exhibitions. Kafi’s most recent accomplishment was having the famous Walter’s Art Gallery in Baltimore, host her photography-her famed black, white, and grayscale photos, in a multiday exhibit. Jubilee News is extremely proud to host the likes and talents of Kafi. Kafi made her first appearance in the newsletter in the Mothers' Day Edition, 8.3.
ALL THE TIME (A poem)
by KOTTYN, The Softest Voice In
Poetry
I think about you all the time
My heart can’t beat fast enough
To catch up to the movement of yours
I couldn’t catch up to you to save
me
My love lingers my soul bleeds and
I’m sure you’re not thinking of me
I don’t believe that you’re loving
me
I’m your past
You have a new love
So I close my eyes to sleep
Because the only time you’re loving
me is in my dreams
Softly Spoken is a poet, spoken word artist, author, a vlogger
with a sizeable collection of poems and other works on YouTube, a radio and a
television show host that has years of experience performing and hosting Open
Mic Nights with multiple books to her credit. Her smooth, sensual,
purposeful delivery sets her head, shoulders, and vocally apart from all others
of her craft. Jubilee News-A WHEN MEN SPEAK Publication is extremely
thankful to host such an immense talent as KOTTYN.
Memoir of a Survivor
A SURVIVOR
by Kafi D’Ambrosi
The one thing I am is a survivor.
I've been told that I'm amazingly strong and the roller coaster of my life is
more than most can handle. I've often been told that "God doesn't give us
more than we can handle." I have often disagreed with this, only because
of physics. In order to test the strength of anything, it must be tried,
repeatedly, with stress. I've been tested and here are a few of my survival
tactics when I've faced with personal loss, devastation, and trauma.
1. You can control your reaction and thoughts
1. You can control your reaction and thoughts
A
few years ago I found myself suddenly separated and a single mother.
Though I was raised by an amazing, single mother, I fell into my deepest
fear of raising a child alone. I got married so that I wouldn't be a single
mother or have to struggle in a single parent family. I fell into despair and
felt trapped. An old friend called me to check on me. He felt like something
was off. "I'm a single mother!", I wailed. He said, in a
deadpan voice, "Single mother's happen every day. You're not
special." It took me a few moments, but my reaction changed and my
thoughts went along with it. I got up from bed and got down to the business of
being a mother. My greatest joys have been on the other side of this
fear.
2.Avoid passivity
There
is a danger in passivity when you are trying to survive a disaster. Have you
found yourself out of a partner, a job, or health? What do you do? To
remain immobile in water is to drown. Treading in bewilderment instead of
fighting for clarity lowers your chances of coming out on the other side whole.
3. Put oxygen on yourself first
When
the process of my separation and divorce began, I found myself pouring
everything into caring for my child. She was loved, well fed, and happy. In
these moments, I forgot to put on my oxygen mask first. I became weary in
loving because I allowed fear to rule. I forgot to love myself first! I forgot
to put on my own oxygen mask so that I could nourish, keep sane, and thrive.
4. Find the emergency exit
We've
all been on the plane watching (or ignoring) the stewards and stewardesses as
they point out the emergency exits. I’ve learned that this life skill is
necessary for surviving all kinds of disaster. The key point here is that the
exit is usually visible and it's closer than we think. It is often just a phone
call away. While we don't want to go through life, sitting with our backs
against the wall, scoping faces and memorizing exits, always know that there is
a strategy for a quick escape.
5. Don't forget your voice
Asking for help is key to getting
help. It is often a very simple thing. There is often shame attached to
loss of any kind, especially in a relationship. Help, is a whole sentence. The
ability to ask for guidance, support and empathy is an emotional life
preserver.
In order to heal from the break up,
the firing, the divorce, the loss and the death, we must activate our inner
self survival switch. We must breath, live, thrive and survive. It's imperative. I hope
these few steps help you to navigate new paths.
Kafi, as she is known in the arts community, is a poet, a spoken word artist, a photographer, a designer, a Periscoper, a marketing and business growth strategy consultant, and a Mom. Kafi is a linguist who fluently speaks 4 languages in addition to English who frequently leverages the experience she gained in her travels abroad in many ways-chiefly, delighting the taste buds of the willing with her culinary mastery. Kafi is not only an experienced artist but she is extremely well versed in the mechanics of project management of art shows and exhibitions. Kafi’s most recent accomplishment was having the famous Walter’s Art Gallery in Baltimore, host her photography-her famed black, white, and grayscale photos, in a multiday exhibit. Jubilee News is extremely proud to host the likes and talents of Kafi. Kafi made her first appearance in the newsletter in the Mothers' Day Edition, 8.3.
Funny Bone
Welcome to the FUNNY BONE-Jubilee
News’ very own place for spits and giggles. Laughter provides healing on
multiple levels. Allow Jubilee News to offer you a few doses of laughter
to bring a smile to your face and a giggle to your soul.
Over the years, I have greatly
benefited from some much needed laughter to lighten my daily burdens. One
friend in particular has always been there to provide those humor filled
moments. That friend who goes by the tag of NV, has a knack at finding
the funnies. I asked her if she wouldn’t mind doing what’s she’s done for
me and others on her Facebook feeds to you. Jubilee News Readers…enjoy!
Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, the sources of these
photographs are unknown.
Unconventional Content
by Calene Hereaux
To all whom this writing finds….
There’s
going to be a lot of unconventional content in this piece. My disclaimer is
that I’m not here to make you comfortable and I’m not here for you to agree
with me. Truth be told I’m here to make you question and contemplate things.
I’m here to spark a fire inside of you so grand that it urges you to look
within and embrace your own personal phoenix rising. Everything you believe
will be transformed and you, my beloved, will be reminded of who and what you
truly are.
Have you
ever looked at yourself and wondered, who am I? Why am I here? What is this
face? This skin? Well, I will tell you what I’ve learned through my exploration
of this vast Universe which I’ve yet to fully discover. You are an unmistakably
beautiful extension of the supreme Divine energy that is love. And not just
what we look at as plain old ordinary love….unconditional love. This love is
who and what we humans call God, Allah, Yahweh, The Great Spirit, The Universe,
The Creator, ect. You are love expressing itself. That is your lineage. That is
your heritage. You are God expressing itself infinitely. We come into this
world knowing this and are quickly taught by society to forget that we have
lived and traveled many lifetimes in many different forms to simply be love
(think about the word beloved). This is because you are a soul that in this
lifetime decided to take on this female human experience. You DECIDED this
along with The Creator. Yes you, queen, co-created yourself into this
magnificent being. You sat down with God and other loving souls like yourself
and between you all decided how you wanted to come into this world as an
expression of Love and what you wanted to experience. Yes…you decided what your
purpose or love offering to the world would be! How that purpose is to be
fulfilled depends on the decisions and choices you make while you are living as
this being.
Have you
ever played the board game called Life? Let that sink in. I know it’s hard to
believe that one opts to choose a life with many trials and tribulations. I can
hear all the groans and the comments saying “This lady is out of her mind.”
Well I take that as a compliment because I am actually “out” of my mind.
I’ve stepped out of my mind and am appealing to you from a soul level. Stay
with me young Jedi master. We’ve only just begun. Now back to the life
experience. We experience happenings because they are here for our personal
growth. Remember we come into this world knowing who we are but are taught to
forget. So these experiences whether good or bad (these terms are relative) are
happening on purpose to help us grow into our purpose as we move throughout
life. Think about the Bible verse Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to
his purpose.” Interpret this how you want but think about the fact that “his”
is not capitalized. That’s because it’s “your purpose”-the purpose that you
came here for. The purpose that as I said earlier, you co-created with The
Universe by free will. So everything, every circumstance, every happenstance
does not come about by coincidence. It is part of your plan to align yourself
with your purpose and to help you bring forth your love offering to the world.
And these things are happening because of decisions and choices that you have
made. They were made from the trinity of the mind, body, and soul. Aaaaaaah
here we bring in the mind. The mind is a tool given to us that is an intricate
part of the creative process. Whatever you desire to achieve can come about
with a much easier than most people realize. In order to manifest your
desire there are three things you should do. Begin with the thought in your
mind. Clearly envision the thing that you desire and see yourself receiving or
achieving and meditate on it. Once this happens then start to speak it into
existence. Thank Allah for it. Naturally you will start taking action to work
towards that desire and before you know it things will start lining up for you
in ways that will blow your mind. And you will say to yourself YEP…I DID THAT!
It’s really that simple ladies. We’ve done it all our lives. In all of our
lives. Continuing to do this with a higher awareness will lead you to things
beyond your wildest dreams. These things will align you with your purpose; your
love offering. There is one thing I do want you to make note of. Regardless of
what happens in your life…all roads will lead you to the purpose you and God
designed for yourself in this lifetime. So relax, enjoy the journey, and get
ready for some beautiful divine moments of love, pain, passion, happiness,
sweat, tears, inner peace, triumph, failures, and joy because you can rest
assured that the end result will always be that you are fulfilling the will of
the Divine. And the will of the Divine is the will for you to succeed in your
purpose. Stay tuned beautiful goddess. We have only begun to scratch the
surface of your existence.
Namaste
Calene Hereaux is a professional of extraordinary wisdom and insight. Calene possesses an insight and a perspective on life and love that is deeply rooted in her spirituality and her compassion for others. As a mother, her understanding of the principles of nurturing are second to none. As a writer, her depth of insight explores the further reaches of the universe and the inner most parts of the human soul yet she is able to explain those dimensions in a very practical, down to Earth manner. This is Calene's first article. Please join me in welcoming Calene Hereaux to the Jubilee News Team.
STALKER-ISH
by Softly Spoken
Here is a treat from KOTTYN, The Softest Voice in poetry.
Relax to KOTTYN'S poetic rendition of exactly what not to do and of
exactly what not to be in your relationships with the men in your life.
Enjoy!
Softly Spoken is a poet, spoken word artist, author, radio and
television show host that has years of experience performing at Open Mic Nights
and has multiple books to her credit. Her smooth, sensual, purposeful
delivery sets her head, shoulders, and vocally apart from all others of her
craft. Jubilee News-A WHEN MEN SPEAK Publication is extremely proud to
host such an immense talent as hers.
Jewelry: Your Retail Therapy
by LaVerna Saunders
At one point, I was a caregiver for three
family members, and it was extremely challenging, needless-to-say. But the most
memorable moments were when a family member or friend would drop by just to say
hello or whisk me away to a flea market, mall, special event, or dinner. Those
few precious hours would do wonders for my morale. One of the most memorable
times was when a friend invited me to her jewelry party. My mother and I had so
much fun trying on different pieces. The compliments were uplifting. Multiple
times, I heard, “girl that piece looks good on you” or “you look fantastic in
that.”
My mother has always been fabulous. She looks
great in almost anything she wears. So when she put on that jewelry she
received so many ooohs and ahs! Everyone was flocking to her to see how she
looked in each piece of jewelry she tried on. She'd put on a necklace and
they'd say, “ooh” and then a ring and they'd say, “aah.” It was retail therapy
at its finest. And, it was a time of bonding, fellowship, and fun for my Mother
and I.
Another time that jewelry played a significant
therapeutic role during that season of my life was when that same friend
dropped by with suitcases full of jewelry. My mother, Aunt and I had a great
time, once again, trying on different kinds of jewelry. My Aunt was bed ridden
at the time and she had dementia but her face lit up as she tried on necklaces,
earrings, rings to her heart's satisfaction. We would put the jewelry on her
and show her how she looked in the mirror. We took pictures and urged on in
true diva fashion. “Oh, Auntie, you look fabulous” we would say as she beamed
with excitement, from ear to ear. That was a memorable moment that my Mother
and I will always have as we think of our Aunt.
Well, my Aunt has gone to be with the Lord.
And, now I'm caring for my Mom and Dad. Just the other day Mom and I sat down
at the table and tried on jewelry we ordered. My Mother had been in pain as the
result of a strained shoulder. But when she tried on that jewelry, that pain
almost disappeared. Her countenance changed. She said, “Oh my goodness-look at
that! Wow! Look at this!”
She got out her brush and brushed her hair,
put it up in a bun and quickly went into fashion runway mode as she tried on
piece after piece of jewelry. She was captivated by her own bling metamorphosis.
Lol.
These memories of jewelry have contributed
greatly to my life and the lives of my loved ones. Prior to these moments, I
never really wore much jewelry. I never took time to appreciate its value and
the impact it can have on a women’s self esteem, psyche, mood, and mindset. But
now, I am a big fan of bling. It has played such an important part in my
journey, that I want to do the same for others. Yes, laying on a couch and
talking about your problems can be a good thing, but so can some bling!
LaVerna Saunders is a professional of
highest caliber. She is a sales professional, former radio talk show host, and
my former Blog Talk Radio Co-Host. LaVerna’s energetic, upbeat approach to her
work and to life in general is unmatched. LaVerna is especially savvy in
articulating the nuances of the male-female relationship dynamic. LaVerna is an
experienced presenter, Emcee, and trainer in a variety of fields. LaVerna is
credited with bringing many aspects of Jubilee News, of WHEN MEN SPEAK and
other aspects of James’ Encouragement Is Key network from concept to life.
Jubilee News wishes to express its sincere appreciation for all of LaVerna’s
contributions both past and present.
Visual Art
Please join Jubilee News in welcoming our
very first visual art presentation. This piece is entitled, “She's Tired
of Looking for that Mustard Seed” is the work of Columnist & Poet, Recia
Jones. Thank you Ms. Jones for providing us of a visual glimpse into your
soul.
Recia Jones is a healthcare professional
by trade who through soul searching and self reflection has discovered her many
talents and skills. Born both out of passion and a therapeutic sense,
Recia is on a journey of personal actualization in which she wields many tools
and weapons to help people, women in particular find their strengths and
purpose in their "singleness." Recia recently joined the
Jubilee News Team where she made her first appearance in the Mothers' Day
Edition of the newsletter, 8.3. Please join Jubilee News in welcoming
Recia Jones to the Jubilee News Team as visual Artist.
A State of Mind
SINGLENESS (A STATE OF MIND
by Recia Jones
Single-(1) solitary or sole/alone; (2) unmarried or not in a
romantic relationship; (3) sincere and undivided
Adjectives: exclusive, individual, isolated, lone, loner, odd,
one, only, original, personal, private, restricted, secluded, abandoned,
companionless, forsaken, desolate, or lonely.
I looked up the word single for starters
with the help of Dictionary.com. I wanted to see exactly what I was up against.
Being single in 2017 is truly different. Then, once you add the dating piece to
it, it really has shown me that times have truly changed. I remember when
dating consisted of two people actually taking the time to get to know each
other. Dating was for the purpose of getting to a destination. There were
so many definitions that I could have tackled but the above three stood out to
me. I feel they stood out to be because I can relate to each definition. I
strive daily to be as content as I can possibly be. However, there is a longing
deep within that desires to make it to the other side of single. Yes, the
desire has diminished with each fleeting day and my list of absolute must haves
has drastically changed. This change is because I have evolved into a different
woman. As I am out and about, living life, and encountering many people, the
women in my line of work (OB/GYN) and I have concluded that this whole process
has left a lot of us exhausted. Whenever I hear the word “single,” it’s always
amplified in my head by way of a deep voice: SINGLENESS
A STATE OF MIND. It can be broken down like this: a condition of a
person’s way of thinking, feeling, or disposition. In other words, it’s all in
what you make of it. As a man thinketh so is he. So, you thought I had some
ancient Chinese secret? Let me tell you-nope not at all. I’m learning and
walking this journey everyday through fears, tears, and frustrations. When I am
up and at work helping and serving others throughout the day, I am fine. Even
after I get home and deal with my children, I am fine. But in the hours after I
am no longer the medical assistant, mommy, mimi, the chef, chauffeur, or the
many other hats that I juggle, it’s an altogether different story. When I am
all alone with my thoughts, that’s when I experience those feelings of anxiety.
Some of those adjectives really come alive. I feel secluded, companionless, forsaken,
or desolate. Those are the times when the feelings of anxiety overwhelm me.
I begin to question everything about me that caused me to be in this
place. And I wonder, when it will all end?
I turned 39 this year and I titled this
year, hashtag chapter 39 all about me.” I found myself dating and meeting the
same type of man over and over and over again. They say you only attract what
you are. That in mind, I decided to get to know me a little more since I’ve
obviously missed some details. I have found that I have a love for the
guitar…so I bought one. I bought a beautiful pink guitar for my 38th birthday. I started with YouTube lessons
and they seemed too hard. I could never get my fingers to move properly. I felt
like they were too short. I remember the look on my children’s faces when I
would be up in the wee hours of the morning strumming my guitar and singing and
carrying on. I wanted to learn so I needed to apply myself a little more. I
have always had a love for writing so I’ve picked my pen up a little more and
started writing again. I want to publish some poetry and put out some novels.
So I write a little every day and that has been great. Then out of nowhere, I
had this overwhelming desire to paint. We had a snow day from work sometime in
March I believe and I bought a small art kit from Walmart. I looked at a
few videos on YouTube and the rest is history. I have been painting alone in my
bedroom for weeks now. I see life in pictures anyway. When I can’t sleep and
those feelings of discontent try and envelope me, I get up and I turn on some
music and I simply paint them away. Before I know it, I’m scrambling to
get cleaned up and get in bed for the next work day. It relaxes my mind and
allows me to go into a place within. I’ve shared a few of my pics on my social
media page…and get this, I actually sold one. It was truly not my intent. I
planned on hanging them in my house for my personal viewing pleasure. Well, it
seems that was not part of the plan.
I say all this to say, I’m learning about
me. I am creating more opportunities to get to know more of the gifts that are
apparently locked within me. I want to encourage you as you are reading this.
Begin to get to know yourself on a deeper level. I encourage you to create more
opportunities for you to grow as a person. If you have dreams that you have put
on hold, wake them up! Take an art class or a gardening class. I started going
to the gym and losing weight and realized I actually like working out. I love
cooking as well as eating too. Do something for you. I go out on dates by
myself. I challenge you to do so as well. If you desire to meet
someone, first get totally wrapped up in you. And if you are so wrapped up in
yourself, that feeling of inadequacy won’t overpower you. You never know.
While you are out one day enjoying you and having fun, someone may be watching
you from a far off place and decide that they need to find out more about you.
Life can be hard as a single person-trust me, I know. But it can be done
and done successfully. Yes, I still desire that special someone to come in and
enhance my life. Note: not save my life but enhance it. But because I
have created outlets for me to release and express myself in the meantime, it’s
not so bad. I crack myself up too. I now don’t look at dating as a task. I
purposefully take every interaction good, bad, or indifferent and try to find a
positive in it. It’s not always easy but it’s necessary for my personal sanity.
It’s not always easy but it is necessary for me to continue to grow and become
a better me for me-for now at least. I don’t know what my future holds at this
point. But I can say that I’m enjoying this new found artist inside me.
I’m even excited about this venture in writing for this newsletter. Being
able to share a little of me. If I’m able to be a blessing to someone who reads
this that will make my heart smile.
I have always wanted to write in my spare
time. My love of writing started as a child. I remember writing a paper in 5th grade about a terrible spanking I got as a
child. I wrote from my heart. I remember getting an A+ on that paper. My fifth
grade teacher, Mrs. Ricketts, told me that I had a gift within me for telling
stories and that I must share my gift with the world. I never forgot that. I do
have gifts within and I want to share them. I believe my season has come. And
guess what? With all these new ventures, I do still want a boo thang. But if I
wasn’t single during this season, I wonder if I would be looking within myself
to be better? So that alone gives me comfort that I’m still single for a
reason. And, so are you. Look within and unlock those gifts and watch how
much more you will love yourself.
A Single Haiku for you!
One
It’s a whole number
Individually sound
My faith sustains me
Written by:
Ms. Reicia Jones
reidejopoetry@yahoo.com
HIS MUSIC NOTES (A poem)
by KOTTYN, The Softest Voice In
Poetry
Holding her like she is his last
Her flow has erased his past
He’s making love right here in
public
Fingers touching one note at a time
playing her like she’s his only instrument blowing into her
Telling the audience “that she’s all
mine!”
His baritone sends notes into her
sweet nectar as she bellows out a melody for the world to hear
She speaks back creating a sound of
love
They unite together
They are what you need
What you seek to feed from to become
one
Their sound circulates through your
body like a moment in a movie with Diana Ross and Billy Dee
Poppa may have but Momma did!
This is the ultimate feeling and
it’s real so sit back and enjoy this ride
Pout yourself a glass of Moet
For God has introduced “The
Saxophonist” to “The Soft Spoken Poet.”
Softly Spoken is a poet, spoken word artist, author, a vlogger
with a sizeable collection of poems and other works on YouTube, a radio and a
television show host that has years of experience performing and hosting Open
Mic Nights with multiple books to her credit. Her smooth, sensual,
purposeful delivery sets her head, shoulders, and vocally apart from all others
of her craft. Jubilee News-A WHEN MEN SPEAK Publication is extremely
thankful to host such an immense talent as KOTTYN.
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