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Only the Survivors…

Posted on by serenitisparkles

If you haven’t had to fall, then you can’t possibly understand what low means.  What it means to begin with nothing or to lose everything.  To have never felt indescribable pain, you are unable to feel true peace.

Many that fall, however, will never get back up.  Many will lie down and let the world fall down upon them.  Then, there will be some, survivors.

A survivor is one of the most powerful and influential people ever known.  Not by their wealth in property or material, but by the wealth of their spirit.  They will captivate your circle as they speak through their eyes.

A survivor will have a sparkle, that others cannot generate.  Not because they didn’t have the chance to be the survivor, but they allowed hopelessness to bleed into the deepest parts of their soul.

Hope, Redemption, and Love are vital to every survivor.  Because without those, they too would be drowning in the vault of emptiness.

When you have a survivor in your life, their number one goal is to influence others.  To drive away despair with the energy they have come to know in their fight.

A survivor has hope, beyond your imagination.  They have been to the darkest places in their lives, found a way to rise up, and smile to light up a room.  They use their pain to give other’s appreciation and humility.

A survivor won’t give up on themselves or the rest of the world.  They will believe in redemption and reclamation of the young child they once were.  They will remember the innocence, focus on that, and heal.

Most of all, the survivor will give love.  The feeling of their energy will make you feel lifted.  Without a word, they can speak to your heart.  Their experiences will allow you a space to comprehend what it truly means to pick yourself back up.

A survivor, gives. 

I am a SURVIVOR.

I learned to accept and respect all of it, take something good out of it, and I chose to rise above it.  I chose to give my deepest emotions. It’s the reason I still believe. 

This world is not walking all over me, I am walking.  I am not a victim of circumstance, I am a survivor and teacher.  Life doesn’t happen to you, you happen to it.

We all have the opportunity to overcome, but we all can’t remember how we began in this place called earth.  Can You?

My Paschal’s Experience, in honor of MLK Jr.

Posted on by serenitisparkles

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To everyone that know’s the name, Paschal’s Restaurant located in Atlanta, GA, they understand it to be a staple in Atlanta.  Paschal’s Restaurant has been around since the civil rights movement when Martin Luther King Jr. would organize at their dining room tables.  It is a restaurant that speaks to the core of Atlanta and the United States.   To me, Paschal’s Restaurant is so much more than that.

To explain more about this feeling, let me begin by addressing who I am.  I am a 35 year old caucasian female.  Raised around my father’s Italian mother, and my mother’s best friend, Ruby and her daughter Angelique.  At a young age I knew what it meant to be of a different culture.  I also was aware of, the oppression that came behind it.  They say, don’t speak on another person’s journey, as you know not.  Always speak from your own experiences, always from the heart.  Growing up, I was consumed by Hip Hop music and culture.  My favorite dance music has always been and will always be, Dancehall.

When you think about why you find your best friends in life, think about the bond that ties you.  Mine was music.  Most of my friends growing up did not look like me.  We connected through the music.  Yet, there were still things I needed to understand.    I remember being in a heated conversation about race and what my white privilege meant for me.  At 14 years old my best friend, Venice, brought me to tears because I would never truly understand what it meant like to feel the systematic oppression that was placed on people of color.  As I grew up I began to understand what she meant.

Over time I experienced being with my black friends, getting refused to use a bathroom for a sick friend, being pulled over for no reason by the police, and being escorted by military officers out of City Walk when Cash Money was performing.

No I didn’t walk everyday as an African American, but my whole life, I have been walking beside them.  Watching all the injustices unfold.  Decades after the Civil Rights movement, being Black in America was still a stigma.

I made it my purpose to break the stereotype of the “white” American.  I needed to show the better side of who we were.  Love was how I would lead.

One day, I decided to move to the mecca of music, ATL.  When I got to Atlanta, I had to get money as soon as possible.  Within a week, I had an interview.  Paschal’s Restaurant had called me to interview and I was so excited to be working downtown Atlanta.

When I researched Paschal’s restaurant online, I was intimidated.  Such a statue in the south, such a monumental name.  I hope I was good enough.  I was so excited to walk through those doors.  paschals2.jpg

When I got to the interview, tall Photos of Martin Luther King Jr. hung on the walls.   Every server and bartender was African American, and then there was me.   Blonde hair, blue eyes and ready to work.

I remember phone calls, while bartending at Paschal’s from elderly African American people asking me, so politely, if I was caucasian.  I would always smile, because my love for Paschals and Paschal’s love for me was exactly what Martin Luther King Jr. fought for.  Not only to coexist, but to treat each other as family.  To find our likeness and walk together.

To say I was accepted by Paschal’s was an understatement.  From the bartenders, servers, and kitchen staff, Paschal’s became my family and remains that way 4 years later.  mlkday.jpg

Everyone has experienced that place that you finally feel at “home”.  Home can mean many things to many people.  But my feeling of home comes from a place, that has always seemed to be a monument in my life, even before I knew it existed.  

So today, as I sit in my favorite spot, at my home away from home, I can’t help but remember the great words of MLK Jr.

“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

The Influencer; The NEW type of Celebrity

Posted on by serenitisparkles

An Influencer is an individual who has the power to affect purchase decisions of others because of his/her authority, knowledge, position or relationship with his/her audience.

Social media has created a new kind of celebrity, the INFLUENCER.

In one of my past blogs, I wrote about getting 100% off if you are famous.  The Influencer knows all too well what that means.

There are people that make funny videos, do makeup, play video games on camera, that have gone “viral”.  These people aren’t necessarily extremely talented or skilled in any unique manner.  They do what we all do.  However, for one reason or another they have captured our attention.

Once they become an influencer, they have power to work the barter system.

Usually, one needs money to purchase products, attend shows, nightclubs, restaurants, etc.  The Influencer is able to use their influence to obtain all of these things, for FREE.

Why do they get so much free?  Easy.  Brands have become very calculated on knowing their demographic.  In fact, they know which influencers are followed by their demographic. They also know things like, what kind of music, what days they work, who their friends are etc.  There is an enormous amount of data that tells the brand everything they need to know on how to get the consumer’s attention.  Using an influencer, is the most economic way for a brand to get in your vision.  The greatest thing about influencers, is many don’t get paid from their promotion.  They get free things from the company, they promote those things, they create sales for the brand.  Even the Influencers that get paid for promotion are way less expensive than an actual Pop Star or Icon, and many times just as effective.  This is because influencers are people like, your next door neighbor, the lady who works for Macy’s, the couch potato.   Influencers have content that has gone viral, gained a substantial social media following, and are now able to capitalize off of everything they do once they reach their “influencer status”.

Some influencers have even turned that notoriety into multi million dollar companies.  These Influencers are definitely business savvy and had a plan.  They cashed in on their Influence and Power.

Either way, the Influencer is the new “Famous”.  It is what many young people aspire to be.

Have you had “The Talk” with your kids?

Posted on by serenitisparkles

20 years ago “Having the Talk” with a parent was about the birds and the bees, it was about sex and safety.  Now, we face an even more imminent danger.  A danger that lives in every hand of every child.

Introducing, the “New Talk”, Being Safe Online.

Let’s begin by addressing the dangers of the Internet and Social Media;

  • Cyberbullying. …
  • Cyberpredators. …
  • Posting Private Information. …
  • Phishing. …
  • Falling for Scams. …
  • Accidentally Downloading Malware. …
  • Posts that Come Back to Haunt a Child Later in Life.

Each one of these threats is happening every second of every day to a child.  It has never been so in our face.  And, it is something, that if not addressed, will happen to your child at least once in their young life.

Here are the ways to make being online and connected, a safer experience:

  1.  If you don’t know a friend on your social media list, DELETE.  This is a way for predators to get into our homes.
  2. Adjust the privacy settings of each device.  We so quickly hop in and out of our apps.  When you adjust who can see you, how they see you, and who can’t harm you, it allows you to block any unwanted viewers.
  3. Remember to never give all of your REAL personal information.  (Never give out your age, location, or real name to anyone you don’t know)
  4. Beware of Online Gaming (This is another way criminals find your child)
  5. Use Strong Passwords.  The best type of password utilizes :  UpperCase, LowerCase, Numbers, Symbols, and it at least 10-12 characters.
  6. Whatever you do, DO NOT SHARE YOUR PASSWORD.  (Not even with your best friend.  Once I know your password, I can get anything I want from your space online).
  7. Remember that GPS locators make it easy to find places, and make it even easier to find you!
  8. Common Sense.  This is probably the most important item on this list.  Put your parent hat on, and think, what would I not want my child seeing or doing?  Protect them and be smart about it.

 

Note from the author:

I wrote this piece because it affected me recently while overhearing a video that my daughter was zoned in on.  It was about the dark web and spying on children.  It wasn’t so blatant to her that this was a bad thing.  It was a very colorful video, talking about kids jumping on the bed, everyone laughing.  Then I heard one of the guys say “Like this Dark Web Video” and “Subscribe”.  When I looked at the video, it was these two young guys, watching footage from webcams of children.  It wasn’t vile or perverted.  But now, it seemed as if it became a game to hack into the privacy of a home, and they are using our children to do it.

Electric Collars; The Story Behind 5G

Posted on by serenitisparkles

In late 2018, I was working in downtown Atlanta.  My job required me to visit different businesses and therefore I grew to know the various city streets.  One day, as I was out buying lunch, I met a technician who worked for Sprint.  I had previously noticed that these contractors were digging up the city streets.  I began a short conversation about what was going on.  The technician explained that they were getting ready for the Super Bowl by installing 5G stations everywhere.  I had no idea really what that meant so I began my search to understand why the city was being torn apart underground.

While researching 5G, I noticed how hard it was to find authentic, non-fiction data regarding the evolution of 5G.  As I searched the internet, I many times, had to go 10 pages into my search to find scientific data or market data.  (This will help with your own research)

Because my background is tech, I understand what to look for and what data matters.  But for someone who is less tech savvy than I may be, let me explain what 5G is.

5G is the 5th Generation of our wireless connectivity.  You may be more knowledgable of it’s predecessors, 4G and 4GLTE.  It is a system installed around the world, with stations(Cells) all over.  4G and 4GLTE are a system that connects through cell towers and transmits data into our smart devices.  5G is so much more.  5G will build the most massive system on earth by adding millions of Macro and SmallCells everywhere being sold to the highest bidder.  It will increase our connectivity.  Our cell phones will even be used as SmallCells(Mini Cell Towers).  Our smart devices will have a speed like never before seen.

3 words come to mind; At What Cost?

  1. Science doesn’t lie; The Freiburg Appeal-Ten years ago, physicians of the Freiburg Appeal called on their colleagues, the public, and the politicians and health officials in charge because they were deeply concerned about the health of their fellow citizens. This Doctors´Appeal, in which they strongly warned about the dangers of wireless radiation, was translated into many languages and supported by more than 1000 physicians and more than 36,000 people worldwide.Over the past decade, the evidence of serious risks has been increasing and accumulating worldwide. As physicians, we observe a clear increase in health symptoms when radio-frequency exposure levels increase with regard to distance and time—especially in the case of heavy cell phone use, and in the vicinity of DECT cordless phones, Wi-Fi, and cell towers—including problems falling asleep and staying asleep, chronic fatigue, headaches, migraine, vertigo, tinnitus, unhealthy blood pressure levels and arrhythmias, concentration and memory problems, learning and behavioral disorders, a more frequent incidence of ADHD among children. And numerous studies of independent scientists have now confirmed many of these observations made by physicians.

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  2. Have you ever been hacked?  Think About It 71% of Americans can say yes.  With 5G adding millions more stations around the world, this allows for hacking to be more powerful and harder to defend.  As we connect more, and the security is not there, we open ourselves to being completely destroyed.  It is said in the US Government’s Federal Register that minimal security protocols are in place because there is just not enough data at this point to seek more.  It states that through public use of 5G they will amend the protocols.
  3. 5G has not been Federally Tested. We are the Guinea Pigs.  It is in the Federal Register, dually noted, that there is little research about 5G and the effects on our Environment and Humans.  The Federal Register clearly states that in the market of which “unfriendly” companies can participate, there is no real way to control a monopoly.   Think about a foreign enemy, owning all of your data.  Remind yourself that when a new drug comes out that wants to go public, it has to be federally tested after years of private trials.  5G is being placed every 100 meters and none of us have any say about it.

5G is something that is already here.  It is something that is in and around your home.  The very least you can do, is become aware that we are all being gifted, Electric Collars.

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To find out more regarding 5G and its dangers, click here.

 

Media Mind Control

Posted on by serenitisparkles

 

def; noun Mind Control is a process where a group or individual uses methods to persuade others to change their basic beliefs and values.  

Imagine you are introduced to a new friend.  A friend that is so captivating, you can’t take your eyes off of them.  This friend becomes the best keeper of your deepest, darkest secrets. They become your counselor, constantly steering you.  

Now imagine that this person has become the ONLY one in the world who knows you, COMPLETELY.  But this friend, was not a friend. This friend was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This friend only wanted to profit off of everything they knew.  They wanted to sell your thoughts in order to control your next move. They had their own agenda. It was an agenda that if carried out, would end in you living every moment to maximize their profit.  

Most wouldn’t want a friend like this.  But we all HAVE this friend. Say Hello to MEDIA!

When I speak about media, I speak on it in a broad sense.  Media, in this instance, ranges from social media, streaming media(Youtube, Netflix, Hulu, etc), Search Engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc), and any other platform that DIRECTS and MANAGES end users.  

The media’s primary goal is to get closer to each end user(us), in order to analyze our behaviors, collect data, create a profile unique to each user, and then sell who we are to drive up sales for anyone willing to pay for our information.  All of the media platforms are built to know as much information as possible about each individual. Things like;

 

  1.  What time are we most active online?
  2. What memes do we share?
  3. What restaurants do we eat at?
  4. Which articles do we read?
  5. How long did we watch that viral video?

 

The fact that every platform knows this information is disturbing, but what’s far worse and more dangerous is that they also know things like;

 

  1.  Who your family members are.
  2. Who are the closest people to you?
  3. That you were sick last week.
  4. Today, you celebrate the birth of your newborn.

There will be a time when few can resist the life the Media has painted for you.  Few will turn everything off, look inside themselves, and find what they want in life.  We ALL have the capability to think for ourselves, and create an image of the world as we see fit.  If you “follow” the media, there will come a day when you can no longer LEAD. If you are a leader, BE a Leader and shut everything off, create your own thought process.

 

Look In The Mirror; The Art of Self Reflection

Posted on by serenitisparkles

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When you look in the mirror, who is staring back at you? Do you even take the time to look under all of the layers that have become you? What do others say about you, the ones who are closest? What do they say is your greatest gift and your biggest fault?

It took me a long time to even start to evaluate these things for myself, until I became a mother. It wasn’t just that I became a mother and decided to self reflect. It was that I became a mother and was pushed against the wall and on the brink of losing everything, including my self worth. It was the moment that I no longer had the answers or direction. It was a feeling of pure helplessness that brought me to stand in the mirror and dive into my deepest layers to discover how to dig myself out of the madness.

As I would look at my daughter, a gift.  She must have meant that I was worth something,  right?  I created a miracle. A healthy, happy beauty in this world, yet I couldn’t enjoy it. I was fighting my faults and my light was beginning to burn out.

Luckily, I began to stare into the mirror. I began to identify what and who I was in this world and to be honest about my weaknesses.

By identifying my weaknesses, I was able to search for ways to become stronger. One weakness in particular was my inability to be consistent. Scatterbrained is what most would call me. So I searched for books and people who were organized. I searched for the things that I was not so I could learn the HOW.

I read, “Think and Grow Rich” and there was a chapter on Auto Suggestion. It described how to trick your mind into doing instead of thinking. And there it was, a eureka moment. So I began with putting my keys in the same place everyday. Then going to the gym every other day. Then writing down notes to myself. I realized the key to my weaknesses was being open. I had to be open to the strength that others possessed. I had to be real about the fact that I did not. I had to be humble about starting from the basics.

If you have even one more year on this planet, what would you do with it? Who would you become and HOW would you do it? The answer is simple. LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

A Letter To My Daughter, Before I’m Gone

Posted on by serenitisparkles

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My Dearest Sereniti,

Once upon a time there was a little girl who, by losing her dad, gained the mental capacity that could withstand even the darkest moments and smile. This little girl learned one thing when she grew up; To leave a message to her daughter so that the day she is no longer here, her daughter is assured of her absolute purpose. She realized from her father’s death that without a letter like this so many questions go unanswered. So my darling, today, I give you the gift of an eternal message. I have always feared writing this letter because it is the utmost acceptance of death. It is truly the most important thing I will do in my life. One day, far off in the distance, I will no longer be here. You will only have my energy and my memories that remain. My words to you, are very simple. They are simple because though I have had many experiences in this life, only moments matter. The invaluable lessons I have learned from these moments are worth listening to. First my sweetheart, you should understand that from the moment I saw you, I realized what a miracle felt like. I realized that there is a God and only God could have allowed me to build such a beautiful human being. These words, are yours. I remember holding you as a newborn baby, waiting for you to take a breath. As I watched you sleep, I basked in you. As I watched you grow, you became better than me. With you by my side I had wings and infinite possibilities. You would teach me lessons I didn’t know I had to learn. Most importantly, I would listen to you, more than anyone else, because I knew you held my answers. I was to show you the world through my eyes, and learn from your perceptions. Hope became an everyday feeling. Sereniti, I thank GOD for you. You are truly magic. And here is my message to you;

1. Love EVERYONE without judgement because they too have feelings.

2. Don’t be afraid to try something new.

3. Find your happy place that is special to only you.

4. Understand that EVERYDAY is a blessing.

4. Wake Up with a purpose to inspire your generation and others that will live beyond you.

5. Have the strength to love without barriers, but also have the strength to walk away when it hurts your soul.

6. Remember the magic in our hugs so you will feel them for eternity.

7. Others opinions do not DEFINE YOU.

8. Realize that a day didn’t go by where you weren’t my lifeline. You were truly my air. I’ve loved you since I felt your heart beating inside of me. I could have never imagined a more beautiful human, but God gave me his BEST.

You are my greatest accomplishment. I was meant to be your mommy, and you my baby. Thank you my love for showing me the bright side of life.

I AM VENEZOLANO (Spanish/English).

Posted on by serenitisparkles

Never could I imagine being separated from my parents, thousands of miles away, only with my young siblings.  Never could I imagine, standing in the streets all day, selling candy, hoping to make money for food.  When kids around the world would be in school, I would be standing in the heat of the sun.  Being forced to leave my home country because it was my only chance for food and shelter.  Though this is a reality I cannot imagine, being from the United States of America, it is a reality for the children in this video.  As I visit the beautiful country of Colombia, I can’t help but notice the many Venezuelan’s in the streets.  They have come to Colombia for the simplest of things; Food, Shelter, and Medical care.  There is a crisis in Venezuela right now that is catastrophic.  I couldn’t ignore what was standing in front of me.  This blog is dedicated to the people who have been pushed into extreme poverty by a corrupt government.  It is dedicated to…..The Venezolanos.

 

Time is Our Most Valuable Resource

Posted on by serenitisparkles

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If I lose a dollar, I can replace it with another, but, If I lose an hour of time, I will NEVER get that hour back.  My father once said to me, “I’ll sleep when I die.”  This was a man who woke up every morning at sunrise and didn’t go to sleep until 1 or 2 in the morning.  He couldn’t have been more right.  Today, that same man is asleep forever, may he rest in peace.

Watching so closely the full cycle of life, from my daughter being born to my father’s untimely death,  has taught me a crucial lesson.  Time is my most valuable resource.  Every moment of each day is an opportunity.  It can be an opportunity to share time with a loved one, an opportunity to write, an opportunity to take a chance, and the most beautiful fact is that every moment is an OPPORTUNITY.

Many of us live in the past, or look to the future.  How many of us actually live in the NOW?  Since my father’s passing I try to ALWAYS live in the present.  I am constantly asking myself, am I happy with my moment right now.  If I am not, then I quickly adjust myself to think positively and change course.  I do not know many things, but what I am definite of is that this is my moment.  My life span could last another 50 years, or 50 seconds, but what I choose to do with my moment is vital to my quality of life.

When we fail to look around us and bask in our present, we fail to see the beauty of living.  Life is a gift.  No matter how many times we fall short, we are alive.  We have something that is so precious.  We have something that for all of us, will run out.  So when you wake up in the morning, appreciate and utilize the time you are given because it will be gone before you know it.