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2012 RESOLUTIONS. RESOLVE. RE-SOLVE. HMMM.

2012 Resolutions. Hmm. It is already the end of January and 2012 is not feeling so new anymore. How are you doing with those resolutions?...

I AM READY!

I am ready. I am resourceful. I am prepared. All too often the universe presents us with a new circumstance. We deem it as unrealistic or...

DID YOU KNOW THAT JULY IS NATIONAL MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH MONTH?

Did you know that July was National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month? Well I only learned of it this year. It has been my honor and...

BUTTERFLY KISSES

I first heard this song on March 3rd, 2012 as I strolled through Central Park. I had almost walked 2 miles before I realized that I was...

SIWE GAVE BIRTH TO ME

I gave birth to my daughter and she give birth to me. It has been 9 months since my daughter died on June 29th, and my birthday was March...

SIWE: MY BLACK BUTTERFLY, A SHORT STORY OF TRANSFORMATION

Afua Pili Busisiwe "Siwe" Ayo Monsanto My Black Butterfly March 8th, 1996 - June 29th, 2011 My due date was March 8th, International...

SANKOFA. DO YOU JOURNAL?

Sankofa Sankofa is an Akan word that means, "We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we...

SUN MOON CHILD

I love this song it speaks to my soul. I can finally listen to it without crying. The video explodes with talent and passion. Thank you...

MAY ALL YOUR DAYS BE HOLY AND HAPPY

2011 has been an incredible year of growth through pain and suffering. I have been all too close to death several times. I am filled with...

THE SIWE PROJECT: YOU ARE NOT ALONE

The launch for The Siwe Project is in Washington, DC on Wednesday, December 14, 2011. There will be a launch event and an after party. I...

CONFESSIONS. GRIEF. LOSS. THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

Forgive me Father for I have sinned. It has been 159 days since my last confession/blog. I have thought of you often and talked to you...

THE POWER OF WORDS

If you were a reporter for your local newspaper, what would you write a story about and why? Siwe had to answer this question for a HS...

GRATITUDE: SIWE "ZIPPEE" MONSANTO

There are no words to express for the outpouring of love my family has received since Siwe's passing. I am humbled by the magnitude of...

LIVE THE LIFE YOU NEVER LIVED

Afua Pili Busisiwe Ayo Stewart-Monsanto has joined the ancestors and is at peace. I hope all that love her and love me will find peace in...

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING IN THE MOMENT

So we have been getting to know each other for a while, right? And, well, you know I have 3 children, but I don't talk as much about my...

DO YOU PASS YOURSELF WITHOUT WONDERING?

I love traveling. People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the...

JOY IS WITHIN ME AND ALL ABOUT ME

I love LOVE love when my readers send me things that remind them of me and my blog. Apparently this was the posting in the Daily Word...

THE FOUR AGREEMENTS

We have creative behavior modifications (punishments) in my home. So my fabulous strong-willed daughter Siwe had to read a few books and...

IT IS NOT THAT EASY BEING GREEN.

I grew up on Sesame Street, Ray Charles, Zoom, Miles Davis, the Electric Company, Mr. Rogers, the ORIGINAL Saturday Night Live, Muppets,...

JUST ANOTHER DAY...

I can be pretty wordy on my blog but it was a truly fun and interesting experience to meet the challenge of the3six5project, 365 days, as...