Mind

Mental wellness thoughts

Airport Blessings

by ladypbwiggins

Airports are rarely where you expect to receive blessings. Tuesday I arrived at Hobby Airport in Houston expecting long lines and chaos. I was faced with minimal line lengths. There was only one person in front of me in the wheelchair registration.  But the real blessing came in the form of a young man whose job was to get me through the TSA madness and to my boarding gate. He was very personable. We laughed through the whole process. Blessing number one. 

It was early, so I wanted something to eat. We stopped at Starbucks: Lots of people. When it was my turn to order and pay, a young lady reached around me and paid for me. My look was surprised and asked the question, why? She simply said my mom’s name is Pat. Blessing number two.

My daughter and I had a conversation on the way to the airport about talkative seat mates. I hoped the person sitting next to me was nice and quiet. My whole row was nice and quiet.  Blessing number three.

When I arrived at LAX, I received another wheelchair attendant that took good care of me. She made sure I got my baggage quickly and safely. Blessing number 4.

Finally, an efficient and helpful flight crew. I especially enjoyed the landing. It was the softest landing I have ever experienced.  Blessing number five.

I know these are small things to many but to me they are blessings that made for a stress-free  flight. In this stress-filled environment in which we live they are huge.

My soil was greatly enriched.

Woke, Wisdom or Fear?

by ladypbwiggins

Just read an article that asked the question, When did woke become a four-letter word? I have that same question.  You see I was a child in the late 50’s and 60’s. I grew up in the Jim Crow south and the Civil Rights Movement. I remember that word being used and it was used to mean what it meant; be alert, aware

Considering I grew up in the town where KKK grand wizard lived it was imperative that every black person had to be woke, i.e. aware, alert. The training we children received about staying alert was necessary for survival but our parents had the wisdom to do it so we could enjoy our childhood. I learned how to observe my surroundings and know when I needed to prevent unintended offense to the white people and still be me.

We were very aware and alblacert when we were not in our own communities.  Neighborhoods were segregated then. Many of us are alive because we were woke. Yes, it was also used to reference awareness of social injustices and legal ramifications. But I never noticed people changing the word to be a negative thing like it has been in the last few years. In fact, I don’t remember that much attention being paid to the use of the word. More focus was on the actions in the Movement, Dr. King. More attention was paid to the word power. Power to the people.

The thought came to me why it was made to be a negative thing. When it was mainly used in the black community and as a slang, non-blacks didn’t really care. What we did and thought was dismissed. But now, our voices are heard and has weight .

The powers that be don’t want people to hear and understand.  So let’s make them fearful so they will think it means something more than being aware, alert. Basically, we don’t want you to pay attention to what I’m really doing. The weaponizing of the word did not deter us. We, most of us, became more aware , more alert. Standing over my stove I realized, therein lies the power they are afraid of. Our awareness is our power. Your awareness is your power. Every person who is paying attention and using their own mind to process what they see and here is the danger. Every thinking person holds the power. That’s the fear. Lets make woke mean something other than aware. Throw in fascism, Marxism, all of the trigger words that threaten democracy. Label those thinking people as anti-American if they are not extremely conservative. Label those thinking people anti-Christian because they dare to question actions that are not biblical, not really Christ-like. When you see, you see. That’s what they are afraid of. Loss of control and power because you see.

You are Woke.

Watch What They Do

by ladypbwiggins

He(she) who goes about as a tale bearer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his(her) lips.  Proverbs 20:19

Remember when you get that call which purpose is to spill the tea about someone, those same lips will possibly spill the tea about you to them.

My restatement of the next part is, “Don’t get caught up with smooth, complimentary conversation. Watch what they do. Compare it to what they say.”

I wish I had listened to a version of this advice when I was younger. My grandmothers had their version. One in particular I remember.  Lips all the time flapping are probably lying. Your ears are not trash cans.

So hear me young’uns, 😉, Listen closely through the filter of honest and clear observation. Don’t be blindly swayed by gossip wrapped in flattering words.

Love, Hate  Indifference

by ladypbwiggins

I heard something today that made me say, Hmmm. Here it is.

We think the opposite of lov e is hate, but it’s not. It’s indifference. The reasoning is hate implies there is still some emotional tie. You have to care or feel something to hate. Indifference, you feel nothing. You don’t care.

I would love to hear your thoughts.  Comment, subscribe and share.

Unexpected, Simple and Powerful

by ladypbwiggins

My Soil was so enriched Sunday at Church. It came from fellow members who went beyond to show me care and love. You see our church greeters are warm and kind to everyone who enters the doors. But what i’m about to share was beyond that.

I walk with a cane most times because of lower back problems that affect my balance. All of the senior parking spaces were taken. The only one possibly open was reserved, so I had to park a little farther away. As I crossed the parking lot I heard someone behind me call my name. The person wanted to give me her parking spot that had been reserved for her because she had to unload some things so she had to be close. I told her, No but thanks. I walked on.

I must tell you it was a very cold morning. When the greeter saw me nearing the door he opened it. He asked me if there was anything I needed and that he could help with, I said, just to get inside. He smiled and said, May I hug you? It was like a son hugging his mother. I’m not old enough to be his grandmother 😀. It was purely kind affection. He’s kind to everyone but there seemed to be something different, something special, something tenderer than usual. A little later the same gentleman’s wife walked past me on her way to the sanctuary. She realized I was sitting there in the foyer, backed up and gave me a hug and a kiss. She interrupted her purpose to step back and hug me. ❤️.

I had only one student in my Bible study class. She and I had a good discussion. We had fun. We shared, laughed and learned together. I realized the fire I felt when teaching had been missing. It returned. Richness.

During the service, we had a consecration ceremony for all leaders; ministers, elders and ministry volunteers. We were prayed for and anointed with oil. At the end of the ceremony we were asked to tell the people around us that they were a gift. This is our theme for the year. We did. The person behind me leaned over and with emphasis said, I know you are a gift. I didn’t know who it was until I turned around but I still didn’t know why she said it like that. It didn’t matter. Yahweh had just dropped some more nutrients to my soil.

The final additive was made by another son-like relationship. I had gotten in my car and was looking for a phone number to order lunch. There was a knock on my window. I lowered the window and the person who was studying there said, I just wanted to share some love with you and leaned in to give me a hug. I didn’t know I needed that but I did. Yahweh knew. He sees. He walked out of his way to do that.

Now, alone each encounter may not seem like much but collectively, they meant more than gold. They were simple, unexpected and powerful. My soil darkened several shades of blackness. The blackness signaled the richness, the added nutrients, that which will nourish, and strengthen me for days.

Rich Black Soil. Healthy Growth. Blessed Life.

The Fast Has Ended

by ladypbwiggins

Like many churches across the country, a corporate fast began. On January 1 many people declared resolutions.  For the Fast, I set goals. Goals that I expect to enrich my Black Soil.

  • First priority obviously was spiritual. The goal was to resume personal bible study aside from studies in Bible study groups.
  • Reset healthy vegan eating. Depression pushed eating out, fluctuating between pescaterian and vegan. I enjoy seafood but my health demands veganism. I win my blood pressure war when eating clean vegan. I must also lose weight to mitigate the pain in my degenerating L4-L5 vertabra.
  • Sew/knit one garment a month. I began to crochet a baby sweater. In progress. Practiced hand-knitting techniques. No sewing.
  • Hang a picture. Purchased but unhinged.
  • Organize my files and desktop. Still have a week in January. 😆

The first two were the highest priority and I got those done. I am now back in the habit of making my meals. This is not only healthier but economical. With food costs, actually all costs, rising, this helps.

I will continue working on these goals and replacing them with new goals as they become habits.

Sadly, What We Share

by ladypbwiggins

Last night I attended Praisesongs of the People curated by former poet laureate Amanda Johnston held at Kindred Stories Bookstore, Houston,  TX. The event featured 6 of the poets in Ms. Johnston’s anthology of the same name. It was an uplifting and entertaining poetry collection of people of color on this MLK Day celebration: Asian, Black and Mexican,  all Americans. There were 3 poet laureates in the house: Amanda Johnston  and Lupé Mendez. TX state laureates and Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, Houston laureate.

The poems were also educational. One specific poem really hit me with a fact I suspected but had not given it much thought.

Lupe shared a poem that let us into a part of a conversation with his father. His shared some feelings about experiences growing and living in America as a man of Mexican heritage. What really hit was the similarity wisdom he shared with his son that happens in Black families. It was “The Talk.”

“The Talk” is instruction on how to survive as a black male when confronted by police or any other white person who believes he/she has the authority to control your life. It doesn’t matter if you have done or are doing something that provokes this confrontation. You’re black, therefore you are probably guilty of something. This is not paranoia. It’s fact. So “The Talk” gives wisdom that increases the probability that you will make it home safely.

I spoke with Lupé after the event about this and to get his permission to use his name and story. He told me :The Talk” was very definitely a part of his community’s conversation and life. My observation is that it is even more imperative now in this Age of I.C.E..

While forces try to divide us, this reminds me that we have more in common than we have differences. Let’s protect and support each other when it is right to do. Let’s work together.

Thank you Amanda for the duration. Thank you Kindred Stories for the hosting. Thank you Poets for sharing you life. Thank you Lupé for letting us into your reality.

Back in the Lab

by ladypbwiggins

For those who are not aware, I do not like to cook. Here is a quick recount of my entry into the lab. First thing was to change my attitude. I changed how I viewed my kitchen. It was no longer a place to cook food but a place to experiment with food. So it began.

The first thing that changed was my husband and I deciding to stop eating beef, pork, chicken, and dairy; but not all at the same time. We still ate turkey and seafood. I decided one day to stop buying ground turkey and sliced turkey for sandwiches. I thought why not break down the turkey and grind some, and cook the rest for different uses. I did and it was a fun, time consuming endeavor. Next experiment was bread. I did like to bake so I expected this to be a more enjoyable experience. I remembered when my children were young how much fun we had baking bread together. This is how they learned fractions. At the same time I began to grow peppers. I wanted to make my own hot sauce, mustard and ketchup. I was on a natural food kick. LOL.

When my husband was treated by Dr. Baxter Montgomery for heart issues, a raw vegan dietary plan was the main prescription. This was a new challenge. We had moved to Texas and anticipated eating Cajun and creole dishes. I know it was not New Orleans but the influences are alive and well in Houston. That dream died. We became not only vegan but raw vegan. The lab was revived. Enough of that. You get the point.

In these past three years I have fluctuated between vegan and pescatarian. I have gained all the weight I had lost during the years we were raw vegan/vegan. We ate no processed food. (Side Note. When the doctor told me I didn’t have to prepare everything from scratch, I tried the closest to clean processed vegan food. Big mistake.) I began gaining weight and got lazy because of the convenience. Not only have I gained weight but joint pains, brain fog and fatigue have returned.

Like many churches in this country, my church began this new year with a corporate Daniel Fast. The dietary portion of this fast is much like I eat anyway, so there was no sacrifice for me in that area. My fast had to take a different form. My fast was eliminating convenience. If I purchased prepared food, it had to be strictly clean and vegan. This could only be done once a week at most. This requires me to prepare all the other meals. I am vegan . I have to cook or make raw preparations. This requires discipline and planning. This is my fast.

So now, I am back in the lab. To get started I decided to make a salad dressing that I enjoy at a salad restaurant I go to. It is jalapeno avocado dressing. They told me no dairy was used to make it but I am not sure.(I just checked. It does include dairy products.) My experiment uses no dairy. Mine is avocado, non-dairy milk, seasonings, vinegar and habenaro. It tasted okay  but I have to adjust the flavor profile. Too mild.

Avocado & Habenaro Dressing and Hot Sauce

On my way to the lab to try a new burger recipe with lentils and quinoa.

See you soon.

Committed

by ladypbwiggins

I just took that step that requires commitment.  I have just registered my domain name. It is blacksoilliving.com. So why is this a big deal? Well, it requires me to commit to consistant posts. It also allows me to upgrade my site. So stay tuned. This is the beginning of the Redefining.