Sunday Special: Liebster Award Nominee

For seven years I lived in the Ukraine, studying at the Kiev State University. During that time, I travelled extensively across Europe and very frequently to and through Germany. West Berlin was one of my haunts, however, the word "Liebster" meant nothing to me until a message popped up from a Google+ friend and fellow blogger.

We first made contact a couple months ago, after she read my post on sex. Hardly surprising that it caught her attention, as she like me is seemingly no prude. Since then, I have had the pleasure and enjoyment of reading Abby L.'s blog. She is funny and a straight talker - no holes barred kind of writer.

Then she turns around and surprises me with a nomination for the "Liebster Award."

Sunday is not a day that I normally blog but Abby's nomination had made an exception to that rule. The meaning of "Liebster," according to her and she ought to know as she is German, is "the Loved One."

Again quoting copiously from Abby as I had no previous knowledge of not only the word but the award, here is what being awarded means:

"...Lots of love is being shared together with this award (basically it's a bit like a chain letter sent to bloggers of choice in the name of love, friendship and mutual support).

- Since it works like a chain letter, we have the choice of accepting or refusing to participate (especially if we've been already awarded in the past).

- As part of the nomination, we have to answer a few questions about our blog and us, thus making others discover our digital musings, as well as introducing new friends to the blogging community."

Touched, honoured, privileged and feeling blessed to be nominated by the community, and in the company of some awesome bloggers here are my answers to the questions.

*************

1. How did you decide on the name of your blog?

Years ago prior to migrating to Canada, a tarot reader told me that my daughter and I are old souls with strong ties to Egypt. My daughter has always been fascinated with Cleopatra and I with the Queen of Sheba so his message to us did not feel too far flung. When I became a spiritual counsellor and decided to start a private group on Facebook for women, for empowerment, inspirational but more than anything straight talk - the Queen was my natural mother node.

2. Where does your blogging inspiration come from?

Without attempting to sound anything but honest, I arise very early each morning and ideas, thoughts for the day and often times the opening paragraphs for the essay is "downloaded" to me. It spooks me sometimes - the flood of information and guidance that fills my consciousness but I just go with it.

3. What is it that you love most about blogging?

Sharing my journey in an honest and open way without fear of censorship. It is my story and my experiences so no one can tell me how to tell it.

4. What is your favorite food?

The Jamaican national dish - Ackee & Saltfish with fried dumplings and plantains.

5. What is your favorite thing to drink (alcoholic or not)?

Coffee.

6. What is an item you cannot live without?

I can live without anything but would be hard pressed for a few days without my smartphone or a laptop.

7. What are eleven random facts about yourself?

Hmmm, 11 random facts:

1. My eyes are dark brown
2. My hair is getting gray all over and I'm embracing that.
3. I love solitude (not so random)
4. Ripe banana fritters is my favourite childhood food
5. I sucked my thumb well into adulthood
6. I am known to drive pretty fast
7. I love President's Choice vanilla ice cream with strips of chocolate
8. Paintings of nudes intrigue me
9. Had a television stolen from me off of a train in Poland in the 1980's
10. I hate folding laundry
11. As much as I share my story, identifying 11 facts about me is a challenge.

8. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Wherever my daughter and granddaughter are, there will always be home.

9. If you could meet anyone from history, alive or dead, who would it be?

The Queen of Sheba. Strong women who are humble because they know their power intrigue me and she is said to be one such.

10. What is your favorite outdoor activity?

Walking along a riverside, deep into the woods and stopping for a picnic.

11. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Writing, coaching and counselling (spiritual) full time from anywhere in the world, returning to home base at the end of a trip to savour the giggles of my daughter and the dancing of my granddaughter, Mahalia.

I now nominate the following awesome bloggers of Women of Midlife who have befriended and supported me. Some may have more than a 1,000 followers:

• Abby L.

• Antoinette Blake

• Carol Cassara

• Diane Tolley

• Lana L.

• Leanne Le Cras

• Susan F.

Instructions for the nominees of the Liebster Award:

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to do the following:

• - Write a post about the fact that you’ve been nominated for the Liebster Award. 
•  In this post, link back to and show some love to the person who nominated you, also nominate 11 (or less) other new blogs that would not have more than 1000 followers. Let these nominated bloggers know that you have nominated them and provide a link back to your page to ensure that they are familiar with the Award. 
•  Display the Award in your post and in your side bar.
• Answer the questions about yourself.
• Put your post with your nominated blogs for the Liebster Award, on social media. 

Here are your questions:

1. How did you decide on the name of your blog?
2. Where does your blogging inspiration come from?
3. What is it that you love most about blogging?
4. What is your favorite food?
5. What is your favorite thing to drink (alcoholic or not)?
6. What is an item you cannot live without?
7. What are eleven random facts about yourself?
8. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
9. If you could meet anyone from history, alive or dead, who would it be?
10. What is your favorite outdoor activity?
11. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Let's spread the religion - Love!

Namaste

Claudette

InHerSight: Best Resource of The Week

Drumroll....It's Friday and that means I get to chill, sleep in and turn up my days to the max...and so do you!

Sure you love your job but you also want to have a life outside of work and time to enjoy it. Work/life balance is key to setting you on the road to wellbeing.

It seems that everyone who reads this blog agrees with you as the Wellness essay was the most read post of the week!

The InHerSight resource will prove invaluable to many women seeking a new place of employment, entering the workforce for the first time or merely wishing to provide information to other women about the best employers on the block. Thanks to BlogsRelease for bringing it to my attention!

Wherever you fall, check out the essay of the week and InHerSight as you kick back and relax over the weekend! Also, do Join my exclusive mailing list for unpublished updates, tips and special offers. Would love to have you on the Long Bench.

Catch you on Monday!

Alzheimer's Disease: The Thought Scares Me

Second to an heart that bounces back and expands after every tear, crack, break or smashing, a functioning brain is one of my most cherished gifts from Source.

Ever wonder why the part of the body that is most used for your income generation and/or your passion is the one first to go? 

I have.

Take a girlfriend of mine - a most gifted and celebrated Jamaican photographer. About 20 years ago, as her career was setting to take off to heights she was yet to experience, her eyes, the very tools that made her work so precise and insightful (no pun intended) started to fail her. We were all panicked; she tried to remain stoic and confident that Source would not be so cruel.

She was right. Today, I watch from the sidelines (our friendship drifted) as her career soars well beyond what any of us could have then imagined. Her eyesight seems to be fine.

• The pianist who develops arthritis in his fingers.
• Sprinters whose back or legs give out.
• Me, whose memory and brain's ability fades and get jumbled.

My daughter protests each time I instruct her to take me out back and shoot me should that happen. I do hope I will find someone who will and this will be a living testament of my request.

Illnesses and diseases are not things that I ponder or dwell on. Some think that I am cold because I refuse to engage or join a pity party on these topics. Neither is true. My belief, one that I have oft repeated on this blog, is that we get what we seek, eventually. Therefore, I prefer to seek love, wellbeing and peace.

Yet, I also get it that the human body was not meant to last forever. Death is not my enemy. However, the dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease is not the way I would like to leave this Earth plane.

What brought this on?

Yesterday, my boss was virtually in tears as I stepped into her office to share an important bit of information with her. I did not immediately see her upset only recognising it when her cracked voice responded to my "Do you have a minute," with a "Can we do this tomorrow?"

Without getting into too much detail, here is a woman, a friend, a blessed soul who has been guardian, Chief supporter and Advocate for her childhood friend who a few years ago was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

The story admittedly scares me as I see myself in it - as the one who at the prime of her life, firing on the full cylinder of her intellect and boom...loses it.

Memory loss due to Alzheimer's is one of the many accompanying ailments. The Alzheimer's Association's website states: "Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks."

Not meaning to make light of it but some may say my behaviour is already problematic. Add a medical complication to it and "Houston, we've got a [real] problem!"

Very few things scare me and this would be on the list.

As my boss dashed out to be with her friend who often forgets who she is, I said a little prayer - for my boss that she continues to have the strength to journey with one who clearly needs the support.

I said a prayer for the friend that in the midst of her "blankness," The Comforter is there. I prayed that when she reconnects with the memory of a past she lived that they are sweet.

My final prayer yesterday as I stood in the corridor outside my boss' door was for me.

"Dear Source, if it is Your will and Alzheimer's is my exit door, I know that there will be a lesson for me to learn. I pray that I may be so blessed to have a caregiver or two, to lead me through. May I not be a burden and may Your Grace fall gently on their hearts that they have the strength to be by my side. If or until that day comes, may I always remember to be love, to be grateful and fill my walk with precious moments to sweeten my blank days. Amen."

Claudette

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Everywhere is War!

Over the last several months, there has been a seeming flare up in violence and racial tension in several communities across the United States. Given that I do not indulge in nightly, afternoon – not even morning – television or radio newscasts, my only source of information has been my Facebook news-feed.

Many of my friends are ardent followers of the news, current affairs, politics and social justice issues. Then they are a few others who have no interest whatsoever. I fall somewhere in between.

For a longtime, politics was my life line. Social justice issues flowed through my veins instead of blood. Yes, I could and was called “an angry black woman,” “a communist,” “a faggot,” “bra burning feminist,” and many other names that I dare not write here.

Then I turned 40 years old and something changed in me. I took stock of my journey along the angry, black, communist, same-sex loving, bra burning, bitch road and saw that nothing had changed for all my fighting, pumping of fist in the air, stealth operations, propaganda training, rhetoric spouting ways.

“The more things change, the more they stay the same,” one famous Jamaican radio commentator, the late Wilmot “Mutty” Perkins would daily quote during his show.

He was right.

As I watch the evolution of Barack Obama’s presidency – the wind that was certain to blow "Change" across a racially divided United States of America – the truth of Mutty’s words rang home. Obama was expected to change America, change its history, change the off balance playing field for long and historically marginalised, racialized, discriminated against people of 'Those United States'.

Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America was supposed to change the world.

Some have said he will go down in history as the worst President ever. Others believe he will be sanctified and taken straight to God’s feet when he makes his transition – which I hope is not anytime soon.

It matters not to me and it hardly seem to matter to those fighting, looting and shooting across America – in Ferguson, Baltimore and more recently Waco.

Yesterday, as I contemplated how to approach this essay, my daughter sent me this picture on Facebook and provocatively asked, “Claudette Esterine, what do you think?” A black man stringing up a member of the much hated Klu Klux Klan.

What do I think? What did I think as I saw the pictures of gang violence in Waco? What did I think as I glimpsed clips and images from Ferguson and Baltimore?

Here is what I thought:

• Violence begets violence
• Hate invites more hate
• Screaming, wringing our hands, pointing fingers at the problem will result in more screaming, wringing of hands, pointing of fingers

No, I have not lost my fire, my passion or my concerns regarding social justice. However, with all the hating, screaming and shouting that I have personally participated in – while some gains have been made, after all here I am a black woman in a white majority country writing a blog post on race relations without fear of censor - the battle wages on.

Therein lies the problem.

All of us and I mean all of us – black, white, men, women, people of all races and culture – are convinced that there is lack in this Universe. That was my belief for the longest while. I grew up spoon-fed on the idea of oppressors, mostly Caucasians. “They” were always out to get “us,” was what we were taught. Sadly, it is still being taught. It is still being lived in communities, countries and regions across our world.

We have not done anything different. We have changed the script. We have changed the locale of the anger. The faces of the oppressors have changed – “whites,” “men,” now the “Chinese,” I am reliably informed, want to take over. That may very well be true.

What is not true is that we have changed the one thing capable of transforming lives, community, in fact,  the world. We have not changed our hearts.

As humans be-coming, we have not learned to Love.

We prefer the other four letter word and we prefer to F*** each other:

• Up
• In the rear
• Out of an opportunity

As I look at the images of 911, domestic violence, white supremacy, black on black fighting, white on white wars, police excessive use of force, the fighting in Iraq, segregation in South Africa - need I go on? I see one thing, a changed face but the same thing presented in different forms.

In response to my daughter, in response to the absence of the one change that is needed to transform our be-ing, I borrow the sentiment from Bob Marley who co-opted the words from Haile Selassie.

"Until the philosophy which hold one race superior
And another
Inferior
Is finally
And permanently
Discredited
And abandoned -
Everywhere is war -
Me say war.

That until there no longer
First class and second class citizens of any nation
Until the colour of a man's skin
Is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes -
Me say war.

That until the basic human rights
Are equally guaranteed to all,
Without regard to race -
Dis a war.

That until that day
The dream of lasting peace,
World citizenship
Rule of international morality
Will remain in but a fleeting illusion to be pursued,
But never attained -
Now everywhere is war - war.

And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes
that hold our brothers in Angola,
In Mozambique,
South Africa
Sub-human bondage
Have been toppled,
Utterly destroyed -
Well, everywhere is war -
Me say war.

War in the east,
War in the west,
War up north,
War down south -
War - war -
Rumours of war.
And until that day,
The African continent
Will not know peace,
We Africans will fight - we find it necessary -
And we know we shall win
As we are confident
In the victory

Of good over evil -
Good over evil, yeah!
Good over evil -
Good over evil, yeah!
Good over evil -
Good over evil, yeah!"

May there be Peace on Earth and let it begin in me, in you, black, white, Asian, man, woman, gay or straight. Let us walk in perfect harmony.

Namaste
 
Claudette

Some photo sources: 
m.mic.com
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pinterest.com