Enjoy! March 2006 Celebration of Awakening Vow that this will be a year of awakening and celebrate as you embark upon a “Renewed You”! “This is the day the Lord has made and we shall rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 Favorite Quote: “Let Your Manners Speak, Your Deeds Prove and Your Delivery Impress!” -Contributed by D. Widdoes Fairhill, MD “Sistah Quote” “Be MINDFUL of your past, and MIND your Future that it may be FULL.” - Lorie “Looking Back, Moving Forward!” This Adinkra West African symbol represents, Sankofa, which means "We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today.” “Knowing Who You Are……” It seems that many of you have taken my advice to make "Me" time a priority. This is great, because it allows you to see clearly without distraction or contradiction from another person. We are all deserving of someone who treats us with the utmost respect and shows true appreciation of our worthiness. You must believe that the trials you face are simply tests. These are character building seasons of growth. You will find that your faith, strength, courage and wisdom will become heightened to help you make it through. You will develop what my cousin likes to call “Tough Skin”. I define this as the barrier we create to protect ourselves from negative penetration of our mind, heart and soul. We become conditioned and our expectations for man and in self are lessened, but our faith is increased to higher levels. I have made a personal commitment this year to self-reflect and create a safe haven for myself and my feelings. If someone is continuously bringing negativity into your life and has misconceptions about who you are; it should not become life's goal to convince them otherwise. It is very important to know who we are so that when someone mischaracterizes us, we recognize it for what it is. "Someone else's Perception is not your Reality.“ So often we confuse our desire for happiness [in things] for our quest for joy, which creates feelings of emptiness. During these times of emptiness our spirits are easily disrupted. We must be complete within ourselves to be productive in any relationship. Peace, Happiness and Joy comes from within. We are taught that two halves make a whole, but when referring to relationships; it takes two “whole” people to complete one unit. This month’s issue is focused on "Renewing Your Faith and Spirit." Although we all have different circumstances we can relate to one another in our plight to press on. “ Renewing Yourself!” Taking time to renew your Faith and Spirit may be one of the most valuable gifts you give to yourself. Don’t be afraid to expose your fears and move forward to create new ideals for living. Re-evaluate your lifestyle – is it conducive to the goals you are trying to achieve? They say that we are our own worst critic. So let’s get serious and “critique” our past shortcomings. We need to use reflection as a verb, not noun, take action and catapult to the next level. Part of knowing where you’re going is understanding where you’ve come from. Don’t let the past dictate your future, in essence it should be your foundation for upward mobility. We offer advice to our friends, family, co-workers, etc. to expand their minds and learn from past errors. We should practice what we preach. It is imperative that we be examples of the ability to move beyond circumstance. God made us emotional creatures, and we should use that emotion for the purpose of transition. The old adage that says, “A Woman’s work is never done”, is not to be taken lightly. We are nurturers, caregivers, spiritual advisors, financial planners and the list continues. It is for this reason that I believe women’s daily devotionals were created. We spend the majority of our time trying to make sure that everyone else has a place of solace. We take little time to devote that same effort and energy in securing our own peace of mind. That is why it is so important to renew your faith and be steadfast in your spiritual walk. It is indeed a journey that may carry much distress at times. It may well be an uphill battle; but the rewards are priceless. Renew your spirituality and encircle yourself with positive, loving and compassionate people. Some people are in our lives by default – the others we choose. Make sure your choices hearten, not hinder your well- being. You are only good to those you love, if you are good to yourself! - Your Editor Lorie McEachin Sistah Circular Volume 1, Issue 3 Editor: Lorie McEachin

2006 Events: The Color Purple - Musical From the classic Pulitzer Prize- winning novel by Alice Walker, and the moving film by Steven Spielberg, comes a soul-stirring new musical and landmark Broadway event. The Color Purple is an inspiring family saga that tells the unforgettable story of a woman who - through love - finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world. Set to a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, and blues, The Color Purple is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love and a celebration of life. Venue: Broadway Theatre 1681 Broadway (Between West 52nd and 53rd Streets) New York NY Tickets: Mar 1 – Mar 31 Saturday 2pm/8pm Orchestra: $ Front Mezzanine: $ Rear Mezzanine (Rows A-C): Rear Mezzanine (Rows D-J): $86.25 Rear Mezzanine (Rows K-P): $66.25 Rear Mezzanine (Rows Q-R): $26.25 BOOK OF THE MONTH: “Your Best Life Now ” Joel Olstein – Author -contributed by Krysten Dean Newark, DE SONG OF THE MONTH: “I’m Blessed” I'm Blessed, Lord knows I'm Blessed. When I look all around me, I realize that I'm blessed. Over and over the Lord keeps on blessing me. Over and Over the Lord keeps on blessing me. I can't explain it, it's so amazing, the Lord keeps on blessing me. -contributed by Wanda Toodle, Manassas, VA DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT WOW GOSPEL 2006!. “ The Coal Basket” The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of eastern Kentucky with his young grandson. Each Morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could. One day the grandson asked, “Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?” The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water.” The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You will have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was “impossible to carry water in a basket, “ he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water, I want a basket of water. You can do this. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he went out the door to watch the boy try again. At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was empty. Out of breath, he said, “See Papa, it’s useless!” “So you think it is useless?” The old man said, “Look at the basket.” The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean. “Son, that’s what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out. That is the work of God in our lives. To change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the Image of his son. Take time to read a portion of God’s word each day. -Contributed by Madilyn Nieves, Newark, DE “Transformation from the Inside, Out!” Transformation really does begin from the inside out. My Grandfather used to say that “Someone may glitter like gold, but it still doesn’t hide a tarnished soul.” It sounded like just a rhyme at the time, but life experience has shown proof of this. If you measure yourself by who you are on the outside, you have truly not defined who you are on the inside. Let your inner spirit shine through and make your life one of purpose. We all have something unique and special that God has given each and every one of us. Allow your gifts to aid in making a difference. - Lorie McEachin Power……. Right here and now, this very day, you have the power to think, the power to Dream, the power to make decisions, the power to act, to create, to learn, to Influence others, to change things, to experience and enjoy. On top of all that, you have the power to invent, to innovate, to change your mind, to understand, and to move in a new direction. You have the power to persevere, to work with discipline and focus, to manage your time, to recognize opportunities, to take responsibility and to act responsibly, to solve problems, to effectively utilize your resources, and to make a positive difference in your world. Some people take these very same powers and achieve great things. Others live as if they didn’t even know they had them. Still others destroy the value of their own positive, living powers by directing them toward negative pursuits. You have the power to do great things. How will you make use of that power today? It is an incredible opportunity and an awesome responsibility. It is real and it is yours. Challenge yourself to transform that power, with your thoughts and actions, into your own special greatness. favorite motivational reading - contributed by Tunisia Williams, Brooklyn, NY