Tonight I am mentally and physically drained so I will just share the deep sense of gratitude I have for Election Day. Many before me have lost their lives to ensure that am able to cast a ballot in each eletion.
This is right I take seriously even when the candidate I am supporting doesn’t win.
Thank you to all the men and women who sacrificed so much for this right.
Until we meet again I send peace and blessings,
As I work to complete thirty posts in just as many days I am also going to open myself up in a way I have never done in this space. There are many things in my life for which I am grateful but at the top of that list is my family.
Today I’m grateful for the time I was able to spend with my younger sister this weekend. We started with her daughter’s band performance at the Shaker Heights High football game on Saturday and concluded our time with the Cleveland Browns defeat of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today.
The latter experience was made possible by my niece. At this point in this post I’m experiencing a block because the simple act of speaking of myself in this space makes me uncomfortable.
That’s a good thing because I will now be forced to evaluate this experience and hopefully rectify it in future posts.
Not the greatest but this is a successful post, so NaBloPoMo is met for the second day in a row.
I am so FULL right now! The joy and sense of accomplishment is overflowing. This past Saturday I had the pleasure of bringing a flash of hope to more than 75 individuals (representing about 20 families) through the Help-Portrait movement.
We gathered at the Cleveland Salvation Army’s Harbor Light facility in downtown Cleveland. Joined by five local photographers and a team of volunteers we set up mini-studios in the gymnasium and before we knew it, the eager subjects were packing in and patiently waiting for their turn to shine.
Unfortunately I did not get to experience a lot of the joy that went along with the process as I was buried behind a computer screen printing out photos. I have been reliving the experience vicariously through the words of my friends who gathered to assist with this day.
The accolades have been many, but the true determination of the success of the day is seen in the smiles and the shimmer of light that shines in the eyes of the recipients of these portraits.
Today and over the course of a few days I will share some of that beauty with you. Can’t wait until next year!
~Enjoy
This has been a Fantastic Friday, and I’m so happy to join the ladies over at Reflection of You had decided to bring this link-up party back to life. They have added a new twist – no longer do you have to share just Facts, but you can share five of ANY little thing you want!
When I received the notice, my plan was to use this opportunity to catch up on some of the photos I have taken in recent weeks, but then my telephone starting ringing and I had to change things up a little.
So here are my 5 on Friday:
1. As I have mentioned here, and here I have been working on organizing a Help-Portrait event in Cleveland. Not a simple task I must say, but I decided to persevere and boy has it paid off! I now have three organizations really excited about taking part in this worthwhile project! The glee has to be tempered just a little because there are always challenges, but I am ever so grateful to the agencies that have shown some interest!
2. I have joined the annual Nanowrimo this year, and although I am behind schedule I am proud to say that I have officially completed 2200 words! That’s only a drop in the bucket, but that’s the furthest I have gotten in three years!
3. I am grateful to the City Mission, in particular, Laura’s Home for their interest in Help-Portrait Cleveland.
4. I am grateful to University Settlement for their interest in Help-Portrait Cleveland
5. I am also grateful to the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland for their interest in Help-Portrait Cleveland.
So, have a great weekend, and as always,
~Enjoy!
Inspiring. Heart wrenching. Brilliant.
Speaking from the heart and from life, Cleveland’s The Writers Block stood up and represented during the closing session of The Nia Coffeehouse’s 15th year. The Coffeehouse is a gathering of creative souls who come together to share their visions of the world through poetry.
This past Tuesday the group was treated to the words of Cleveland students who are part of The Writers Block and are students at Cleveland’s School of the Arts. Leading the students is accomplished teacher, writer, poet and musician Daniel Gray-Kontar.
Words can’t capture the warmth that filled my heart as I listened to this group of mostly young ladies paint a picture of the world they live in through words. That world is not always a pretty place.
Anger. Frustration. Determination.
Those were some of the common themes. The messages that caused my heart to crumble. I was filled with pride, but I was also filled with shame.
The world in which they have to navigate is not a pretty or friendly place. As adults we must question what we are doing and leaving to them and most importantly WE MUST DO BETTER!
We need more Daniel Gray-Kontar’s in our communities. This is not a battle these children should have to wage on their own.
I applaud Kontar for his commitment to our youth and for showing them a positive way in which to channel their feelings. If you have the opportunity to hear these extremely talented students please do, and let’s all begin to LISTEN to what our children are saying and work HARDER to make the world a better place for future generations.
Pictured above are only a few of the students…more photos to come at a later date.
I can’t close without offering gratitude to Vince Robinson and Cavana Faithwalker for leading the charge and giving poets a place to express themselves through The Nia Coffeehouse.
Enjoy!
Shelley Shockley's Views from Collinwood 