It's A New Year

As I reflected on the holiday season I found myself viewing it through different eyes. No, I didn’t turn my back on Christmas, but I am blessed to have had the opportunity to share the true meaning of the celebration with friends and family.

Continuing on to Kwanzaa (for those who observe the celebration), focus is placed upon its seven principles:

Umoja (oo-MOH-jah): Unity / Success starts with Unity. Unity of family, community, nation and race.

Kujichagulia (koo-jee-chah-goo-LEE-ah): Self-Determination / To be responsible for ourselves. To create your own destiny.

Ujima (oo-JEE-mah): Collective work and responsibility / To build and maintain your community together. To work together to help one another within your community.

Ujamaa (oo-jah-MAH): Collective economics / To build, maintain, and support our own stores, establishments, and businesses.

Nia (NEE-ah): Purpose / To restore African American people to their traditional greatness. To be responsible to Those Who Came Before (our ancestors) and to Those Who Will Follow (our descendants).

Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah): Creativity / Using creativity and imagination to make your communities better than what you inherited.

Imani (ee-MAH-nee): Faith / Believing in our people, our families, our educators, our leaders, and the righteousness of the African American struggle.

The principle of Faith – Imani is one that has held my attention for the last few days. As I reflected I thought it ironic that faith was the principle of reflection as we begin our new year. Faith is that thing, that belief, that fire that drives us to believe when all hopes seems gone, when others tell us we cannot make it, it compels and gives the strength to try one more time as you expect a positive result.

So I ask, as you go into this new season, what are you expecting? Do you have the faith to believe you can accomplish more as it pertains to your writing in particular and life in general? Do you have the faith to believe beyond boundaries and limitations set by others, or perhaps, you?

I encourage you to have faith that you will overcome obstacles that have been strongholds. Have faith that through hard work, patience and obedience that you will achieve all that has been ordained for you in this season.

As we head into this new year, my prayer for you is that your faith faileth not.

Linda!