Rising Up

Today, I was drawn to Valentine's photographs of two years ago.  I sent out an Evite to my couple friends to celebrate Valentine' Day called 'Bowl-for-Love.' In hopes of being unpredictable, I surmised that a few couple friends celebrating relationship and love by going bowling would do the trick.  About six couples met at 300 Dallas and enjoyed in food, fun, laughter and celebration of love.  Stealing from Forest Gump, life really is like a box of chocolates.  You truly never know what you're going to get, moment-by-moment.  Wisdom, the great teacher, is reminding me of the EVER importance of family and authentic friendship. If I were being honest, I would have to admit that I haven't lived an authentic life.  I have sporadically tried to conform to whom society, friends and family wanted me to be. Though it may have made them more tolerant of me, it dulled my shine; thereby, threatening to steal away my little slice of sunshine.

I was recently reminded of Maya Angelo's poem, Still I Rise.  I, like many of you, have recited this gem over the years.  What a beautifully written poem about continuously rising victoriously in spite of life's burdens, and the spoken and unspoken venom from villainous observers? Because of spirituality, family, and friends, I, too, have continuously risen from dark places.  It is my hope to continue on life's journey clinging to the mystery of all things that make me whole and rise victoriously. 

Still I Rise

By Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history   

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt   

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?   

’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells   

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,   

With the certainty of tides,   

Just like hopes springing high,   

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?   

Bowed head and lowered eyes?   

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,   

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?   

Don't you take it awful hard

’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines   

Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,   

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds   

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,   

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,   

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.   

I rise

I rise   

I rise.

Photographs from Bowl-for-Love:

http://www.threehundred.com/dallas.html