Pressing On: Women Chronicles

Empower other women

God has connected me to some ah-may-zing women! 

Their stories, their ability to overcome, their beauty, their intelligence, their strength, their grace; I am moved by their essence. This thing, this life, is so much bigger than us. We are all connected through our womanhood, our experiences, and our message.

I am a firm believer in spending more time collaborating than causing dissension and drama. With every inch of my being I really dislike drama and the inability we can possess to work together for a greater good. I am a constant learner and I am energized by women who are on a mission to leave their footprints on the world. 

In the process of sharing my story and empowering you through On the Heels of My Father I wanted to celebrate some of the women I admire and share their stories with you these last few weeks of May. 

I want women, who feel defeated by the chapter they are living in their story, to know that God has the power to shift atmospheres. He can change your playgrounds and playmates but you have to be willing to yield, be honest about where you are, and remain faithful about the season changing. 

Empower, Uplift, Purpose:
This too shall pass. 

Heads up, #nomakeup, #noweight, Press On!

Share a time when you felt spiritually abandoned

Last year the saying, “if it ain’t one thing it’s another” was the theme and I kept wondering where God was in the midst of this chaos. Giving up our house, losing a car, behind on bills; I felt like my prayers were stopping at the top of my voice and never penetrating the atmosphere. It’s difficult to see your way out of a situation you are walking through and I honestly couldn’t see beyond that place.

On the Heels of My Father: Removing the Weight While Walking into your Purpose (Pre-Order)

The movement starts within

God takes my breath away; I am speechless.

  

How God will sit you down, teach you a lesson, and then shift you into the very place you thought you missed.

Have you ever had a bad day? A bad month? What about a bad year? A year where you wondered if God noticed your situation. Money was kinda funny, more bills than bucks, repossession, foreclosure, solitude; Moments when you felt so disconnected from your purpose that you felt like everyday was a walk in the season of winter: Lost, frigid, lonely.

I spent the past year just trying to keep trying. I wouldn't have imagined that God would call me to SHARE this experience. Because it wasn't your usual down on my luck type of situation. I watched God take my broken places, my foul attitude, my JUNK and turn it into a message that makes ME cry every time I read it. He showed me that there are so many people in this same situation but they lack the strength to press on. I wanted to give up and when He told me I would be the messenger I wanted to RUN. Just hide in the very place I had been hiding while being angry with where I felt He was holding me hostage.

30 poems. 30 days: National Poetry Month

Poetry is my first love.

Common Ground days-College

Featured Poet-Tuscaloosa, AL

1st edition of my book

My first book is a compilation of poetry (not for the faint at heart).
I discovered poetry in my aunt's attic one summer at the age of 11.
Paul Laurence Dunbar; The first time I learned about the power of words.
How, as a shy girl, I could still have a HUGE voice through pen and paper, line by line, sharing my peace. I discovered my purpose through writing. A gift I never knew existed but one that I cherish with all that I am. Believe it or not that shy girl still lives within me. I often write those things I'm too bashful to hear pierce through my lips. It's where I can be free to be me; In all that God has created. Speaking on every subject, every issue, every passionate moment that flows through my veins; I am poetry in motion and I love everything about her.

30 poems. 30 days. 

Check it!

April 1:

We must learn to think for ourselves. I see so many people walking around doing the same thing everyone else is doing. Afraid to be who they were created to be. Clones. We will forever be mutts until we learn to expand our minds, step out of the box, and stop chasing the dream of society. 

YOU have a #Godsaid! Remember it and BEyou!

#nomakeup

Expansion

She flows freely like friends watered down.
Wanting a little more, than some cheap coke and crown.
Wanting, just like you, some sleep that’s a silent sound.
But only missing you, as you firmly stand your ground.
Spelling out let’s try, without you saying why.
Giving you the most, without filling you up with lies.
Jokes that have no punch lines, chorus’ with no hooks.
Beats with no rhythm, a library with no books.
And anyway she wants to look,
Rolls eyes that her momma shook.
Robbing men , a crooked crook.
Burning water, a lazy cook.
Riding bikes but forgot to duck.
Running a marathon while "running amuck."
Losing money, low on luck.
Killing toy soldiers, a Tonka truck
Give me some green and call it a buck.
Lost in the forest, a gingerbread hut.
Throwing you a phrase and you label it schmuck.
Breeding our minds…
And they call us all mutts…

4 opening our minds

April 2:

How many times has your MOUTH gotten you in trouble. You talk too much, gossip too freely, laugh too loud in quiet places (this is my issue), you speak negative energy into your own life, you cuss people out all the time; your mouth is wreck-less. And you don't care. You don't care that you can build up those around you, speak to your mountains, sing songs of praise, laugh loudly (at appropriate places and times), speak words of affirmation, PRAY... 

Make sure your mouth, your WORDS aren't keeping you out of tune. 

Get on accord so WE can live in harmony! 

#noweight

On Accord

We use them.
We discover them.
Riding across pink trails.
Flying off of salmon cushions.
We kill souls that never had a chance to survive with them.
We encourage winners to loser from beginning to end.
We need a manual of direction on how to appreciate their existence.
We would probably lose it, because we are careless individuals.
Selfish in our own right because we can’t give credit where credit is due.
We’re users.
We’re irresponsible.
Until we can learn self-control…
We will always be a slave to words and never come to a common ground…

4 living

#nomakeup NEWS:  

*My home chapter Lambda Zeta donated my book Smeared Eyeliner & Faded Lipstick to the LUNAFEST Film Festival for their silent auction. I was super excited and extremely honored as the festival is designed to raise awareness about women's issues, highlight women who have made an impact, and raise money for the Breast Cancer Fund. If you haven't gotten your copy of my book visit the link above or if you are a student at The University of Alabama you can pick up your copy from the SupeStore in the Ferg. :)

Instagram shoutout from my homie Merk!

*Many people missed the t-shirt campaign so I opened a 'removethemakeup shop' (See Shop: Behind the Makeup tab) and added some new designs (#Godsaid, #noweight for men, #noweight for women) Seeee:

So get your shirt and get one for your mother, sister, brother, cousin, neighbor, students; everyone! ;)

*I recorded some poems via SoundCloud. It's been hard for me to get out to some events because they usually occur on Sunday or when I'm not in town so this was my in the meantime decision. Check them out and leave a comment of your thoughts!

As always thank you for reading, sharing, texting/emailing me your thoughts! I REALLY appreciate you and your words! A movement is about doing something that will impact someone and encourage others to impact someone and encourage others in order to make a change! I praise Him for the areas of change you have decided to make or become because of something I shared.  Be the ripple; share your story!

#OurJourney

#nomakeup #noweight

All my love,

Caneeka

Date night. Amazed at how much my hair is growing!

Bedtime silliness with the baby bear!

Watch! Learn! Listen! Obey! What's your position?

I'm very focused on my position on this next journey and making sure that I don't miss out on the voice of God in any area of my life. I don't want to look back at this moment, time, space and think if only I would have stopped trying to do my own thing and really spent more quiet time sharpening my ears to God's command. This is a great encouragement for that desire to get still and get quiet because God will be revealing some things and we need to make sure we are in the right position to receive it!

What does your attitude towards your atmosphere say about your alliance with God... Goodbye 2012

2012 began with sacrifice. 

And I don’t know if you’ve have ever had to give up something you love but it’s not easy. When Scott and I were dating I had this sweater duster that I absolutely adored. I guess after seeing me in it morning, noon, and night he informed me that when we got married that duster would have to go. (Sad face)

Rollerskating

At the beach

In New Orleans

Spoken word event with my bestie

  

Seeing how serious he was I wore that mug out leading up to the day we got married and sure enough the time came for me to part ways with it. 

Some “stuff” we hold on to represents a time/season in our life that speaks to who we were. We find comfort in keeping these things close by because they make us feel, well, comfortable. But there will come a time when God will ask you part ways with something much bigger than a duster and you can choose to swallow your pain and be obedient or you can choose to rebel. I love my Daddy too much to rebel against His requests and no one ever said that submission and obedience were the easiest task to complete. This year we let go of so much (I would say lost but that would indicate regret) to find ourselves in a place of simplistic living very painful to endure. 

Letter to my younger self...

My friends know how to push me. I mean that in a good way. I have the type of friendships where there is always some uplifting, praying, laughing until we cry, out of breath, asthma attack type of friendships. Friendships where I can always count on hearing a "now Caneeka you're wrong" or a "I see where you are coming from and I agree with you." There isn't a sugar coat of fake, condescending tones but an overflowing love that screams I care for you beyond this title. I don't have to think twice about if my friends care about me, or if they are praying for me, or if they are truly my friends. God has aligned them for a specific purpose in my life and for that I am grateful!

Game ran....

Absent Fathers

Flipping through letters that once excited me.
I never thought that I would ever get in contact with him again but when I did I was very proud of myself for being so persistent.
For believing in when most would say was impossible.
For having faith in someone I only shared genes with.

I'm flipping though letters written to me...

but the context, 7 years later, confuses me.

Looking like Celie from the Color Purple as I flip but feeling the way that she felt when the content didn't match the reality.

"She say only death can keep her from me... maybe she dead." ~Celie

He said nothing but death could keep him from my graduation... from high school that is.

I have talked to him since then so I know he is still alive.

He said he has nothing but pain if "any man" makes me cry....

and I wonder if he included himself in that.

He said he will never let me down again.

I mean he promised that.

He said he needed me.

and that I was the best thing that has ever happened to him....

ha!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have had game ran on me

by my own father.

Little girls grow up thinking that the man in their life should be just like their father.

But I don't want the man in my life to be like mine.

A pathological liar....

I can do without.

I have been yearning to see this person that looks just like me.

I have prayed and maintained perfect peace because I don't see this lifetime ending without my seeing him.

Sometimes I wish that we would pass each other on the street and not realize it.

Or bump into each other in a rush boarding planes.

Just to have felt his existence.

To know that I haven't created this reality up in my dream life...

Or sometimes

like maybe twice a year

I just wish

that he would think about me hard enough

just to pick up the phone

and call me.

Or call someone else and just ask about me.

You said you will always love me no matter what....

That's nice.

Because no matter what Mr. Stykes

I will always love you too.

#nomakeup

All my love,

Caneeka