Today, March 13, 2015:

I am dancing into 58 years. They have been introspectively beautiful to me. I have learned to appreciate this introverted Black American female who finds her soul’s fulfillment in Black American culture and spirituality. I am waltzing into my purpose. Fifty-eight is beautiful; it’s restful; I hear my sister, “be an active learner.” Let knowledge drizzle over you. Sit quietly and watch life’s movie; let the text talk. You: listen.

My professional bucket list is my personal desire—to say YES to the SPLENDOR of PURPOSE!. Tell the whole world about the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955, the lessons. If I can get one young person to say, I will use that lesson to make my life better, I will say praise the Lord. Every person on the planet can use the lessons from the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955. I shall meet and work with Lee Daniels (lol), study the Holy Spirit, be a Great teacher, complete three books, eat 80% living foods, stop killing animals by participating in the consumption of them, smile more, and live authentically, and, yes, finally work on fashioning what I see as a beautiful physical and healthy body. I shall kneel in prayer and waltz into my purpose.

I waltz before the Lord: God does break “every chain.” I know the “rivers” of Langston Hughes. I waltz into Purpose; I am regally red with Purpose. I have psychological clarity; I now understand that I am an introvert; I receive my energy most from what I experience alone, in silence, and yet, I love people. I honor the presence of people. I have had a good year; I held my mom and dad in memory everyday. I hold their lessons in view; I have tried to walk in their shadows. They did not leave me on the planet alone; God is my comforter and covering.  I am honored to practice my craft at an institution housed on a former plantation covered by sixty-five oak trees, and brilliant young scholars who push their professors to praise God for an opportunity to teach, mentor, and be mentored by students.

I waltz authentically. I am proud to say one of my hobbies is playing and studying the game of poker. By the way, one of the young people I admire is Phil Ivy. The game of poker has a calming affect; it pushes me to pay attention. Poker and wise elders sitting around the poker table have taught me this: People come with their history; as you interact with them and they you, you experience their histories. This year I was given the gift of two movies that deepened my commitment to my service as an African American cultural worker grounded in Christian ethos and spiritual activism: 12 Years A Slave and Selma. I danced to the laughter as I had a collard green moment watching Kevin Hart. Oh, and yes, I like Gospel music, love Negro Spirituals. You Tube is my new educational institution. After all, I am learning about Hip-Hop as music and, more importantly, culture from the Breakfast Club. I felt proud as I experienced my cousin Miriam Hyman on a TV screen. I felt joy as I watched my niece Kemi as a college student. I hear her laughter and know her brilliance. And, indeed, every time I think of friends who gave me a home when I had none, I say over and again, thank you Lord for providing homes for the homeless.

Waltzing authentically, I learned I am not running after success; I am embracing my PURPOSE. This year, I learned to accept love into my veins. I was baptized by I believe I Can Fly and I heard my body tell me to honor her; that is the door to my PURPOSE. I hold my imagination as I open my eyes to African American Healers in A Multi-cultural Nation. I live inside my imagination as I receive poetry about Black American cultural workers like Jimmie Lee Jackson. I embrace my imagination as I took a commemorative march across the Edmund Pettus  bridge honoring those who sacrificed for me as they walked from Selma to Montgomery. I see myself holding the hand of young people, of helping them to shape their intellectual gifts and social commitment.

My mind’s eye sees the river that holds blood bound Civil Rights Activists. There is a vein of freedom flowing through my veins; it is moved by my soul purpose calling courage to compel me to act. That is the splendor of my 58^th year. I invite you to walk into the splendor of your purpose.