Delaware's Diversity

     'Dela-Where'? 'HellaWare' as some call it, even 'DelaWhack' , but something that I have come to realize over the years is that where ever you are, you have to make the most of it. Delaware is known for its farm land and country-like culture; it is a place that seems to lack variety. But as the eye looks deeper, it can see the bright colors of diversity. A blend of various backgrounds that almost seamlessly unite as one minority, and we all have something unique to bring to the table!

#Delaware'sDiversity

Individuals involved: (Manny, Chelsea, Jaelin, Luah, Kenon, Kenon's Dog, Grace, Me)

Photography: Noah DuQue 

Instagram: @dirtyduu

"YOU DON'T NEED A JOB"

     When I say this, I don't mean you should abandon the fact of making money, I only mean that why waste your time and day working for someone else, when you can create your own source of income? Everyone has a gift, right? You need to tap into your gift and make something great out of it. What do you find the most joy in? It could be painting landscapes, or even writing songs. But the issue a lot of us face is that we look at our gifts as hobbies, we don't see the benefit out of them, but that is where we are wrong. Make a list of all of the possible business ideas that you would be interested in. Then, cancel out all of the ones that you feel you couldn't 100 percent be accountable for. After you have a list of all of the possible business idea you are confident in, pick two. Pick two and focus on them both. You will see that as you focus on the two business ideas, you may flourish at both and do amazingly well at keeping up with them, or you may struggle with one more than the other. If you see yourself struggling with one over the other, drop the difficult one. I'm not saying you should abandon it completely, but the easier idea will facilitate life in the long run and you will be able to provide for the other one, if still pursued. Here are some tips in summary and new when creating your own business:

1. choose your hobby.

For example, teaching drumming classes, it can even be as simple as tutoring in a class you're really good at

2. Always have a plan B.

Never give up so easily, always have a side hustle, but don't forget the final goal is to work for yourself

3. Take your time.

Your best work is never rushed, the more time you take, the more respect you will receive from customers and the more positive feedback you will receive

These are some of the things that I have learned in the past year and I am happy to share this info with you. I hope that everyone maximizes their potential and realizes how great of an impact they can  make with their talents. Blessings and more life to everyone!

What does Self Worth Even Mean?

     Every day, thousands of people preach this thing called "self-worth" and I've been trying my best to tag along. I've realized over a long period of time since about the seventh grade that I've been writing songs, poetry, and free-writing about being strong, overcoming, and being beautiful. I've come a long way, but somewhere between I still have some issues that have strung along. I embrace my beauty and embrace having passions for several things, but no one really knows that. And even though I try to convince myself that I don't do things for the acceptance of others, I realize that I've been lying to myself. All these years trying to look different, act different, and break conformity, a part inside of me wanted to feel apart and included, I didn't want to isolate myself. Me being different gave me the idea that I needed to act even more different so that people that are for me will be able to relate to that "me", not knowing that "me" wasn't even me at all. I was basically trying way too hard. I ended that phase with the understanding that I have to continue to love the quirky and awkward person that I am. I now know how to love my awkwardness and regard negative comments towards it. But the side I don't embrace includes the goofy and confident jokester, no one other than my close family and loved ones know that side. Unmutual people that have seen me leave my shell, tell me that I don't even act like that; that I'm faking, and that hurts sometimes. Why does it hurt? Because I still allow the opinions of others to affect me. I know who I am, so why do what they like, what they do, or how social they are, really matter? If they aren't me it shouldn't matter. This is where self-love and self-worth start. Your life shouldn't depend on another man's standard, it should depend on yours and that's why you're you. You have to block everything out and become conceited. Yes! You may be thinking what is she talking about, but that is exactly what you have to do. You have to be the happiest person in the world. Start with being selfish for a week.  It doesn't matter what your past consists of, who you've hurt or what you've done, forgive yourself and take the time to become reborn. Remember that this doesn't have to include material things, because at the end of the day when your material lifestyle is gone, what will you have left? It starts with knowing what you love and being great at it. Be the best at all that you do, and when you start that way, happiness will automatically enter your life. This is something I learned this past year in which I fully understood my self-worth and I plan to be completely selfish this year until I reach accomplishments that will cause happiness never to leave my heart. I hope you do the same too!

Thank You.

How to Deal With Uptight Parents

Hey! If you're a youth who understands what it is to live with overbearing and protective parents, this read is for you.

     Do you find yourself questioning why you can't go out with your friends at night? Do you wonder why you're parents feel the need to force you to stay at home all the time? Do your parents always say no to everything you ask relating to anything that seems fun? Ask yourself this question first, "what am I doing that is wrong?" If you refuse to finish your chores, if you don't focus in school, and if you laze around the house, you are giving your parents a reason to hold you from enjoyment, point blank. But I'm not pointing fingers, this was me. When you do as they please, you give them a reason to deem you responsible, they'll look at you as a good child, and may even reward you for it. If you are already doing these things and are still given the answer no to go to that party, it may be deeper. You may have the "fearful for their lives" parents or the "God says no" parents. These type of parents will usually throw you one in a million reasons as to why you shouldn't go. For example, they may say that at prom, people get pregnant, or at prom, people drink and drive and then die. Although this may occur to few, assure them that you won't dabble in such activity, if you have to, refer to an older friend or family member who they may love who went to prom, this is known to lighten up such a parent's decision. For the Strong in Faith parent, they may be quick to give scriptures as to why you shouldn't go and why certain things are wrong. They may even speak of having dreams, which is very popular in the African community lol. If you don't feel a personal conviction, honestly my best advice is just to pray about it, ha!!! There's not much to advise in this area other than that because I myself am a witness when I would go against the word, God would easily, sometimes in a scary way, wake me up. This is my own experience and may differ from person to person. You may be able to get away with certain things that I just could never even penetrate the surface of because my journey was different. Although sneaking around may be easier, it is better to be honest and open with your parents so that the relationship can grow, and so that they see how serious you are about what you want. Even though we as kids want to persuade our stubborn parents and have it our way, we have to remember they were once kids, and life recycles, so a majority of what we go through, they have experienced or heard of. So it is wise to at least listen to them before you go ahead and screw up because it will benefit you in the long run.

Thank You

Why I Haven't Yet Exploded

I feel as if I am pressed back. I feel like I can't do what I have set out to do, there's always something in the way, and I know that saying that says "You are the creator of your own obstacles, and that they do not exist" but they feel solely present to me. There are so many things that I write lists about every year that I tell myself I need in order to be successful, but what I have yet to realize is that if that success already lives in my mind, it's just the matter of what platform I choose to use and how I will get that dream out there. I wanna be big, let me rephrase that. I'M GOING TO BE big, and so are you. You have to let that dream wake up and come to the realization that it's real. It's not another realm, it pre-exists here and is waiting for its blooming season. I do this a lot, I go into a rambling motivating sh-peel to myself, but one thing I don't do is follow through. I can inspire anyone, but I myself struggle to do it, every day. I have helped others maximize their potential while I'm still living in a circle. I want to strive and cry. I want the type of success story where you stay up late and cry because you deprive yourself of food and sleep, but one day no longer deprive but abundantly provide. I'm waiting for that day and the day it will start. Because we all have to start somewhere,

Good Blessings.

Standards

   
      If you're like me, you may have lowered your standards to be more like the people around you. You may claim to never lower your standards, but in reality, a lot of us do, whether they were the most or least important on our lists. We may choose to have something rather than choosing not to have anything at all because we sometimes think we're stuck with nothing so we rather settle. When you lose faith and lower your standards, you place yourself in a long-term realm of "oh, What-could-have-been". Why would you want to live your life feeling like you could have had more than the little you've allowed?

     Sometimes we know we can have better, but because we don't want to lose what we think we have, we don't leave. We stay in situations that can eventually kill us because we rather endure some pain as well as hope and pray for a better outcome. Usually, those situations weren't even meant for us. We may even have a better purpose and allowed our "go with the flow" attitude make our destiny. If we let God lead what we choose to do, a lot of the issues we face in life wouldn't be. And I know that everything that takes place in life has a purpose and can still bring us to our expected end, but not everyone is given that opportunity.

     It takes discernment and working on your skills to be able to reach the standard that you set for yourself. And sometimes that standard you set is way too high. You may receive everything you deserve in life from marrying the poor man who genuinely loves you over the obnoxious rich man because if God has a greater plan for the poor man, he could end up being the provider you've always dreamed of. It starts with faith and the gift of discernment to know what will benefit you and what can destroy you. Say someone very smart in the health field and in science wants to become a doctor, but because of fear from people who gave their own tragic personal stories during medical school, that person shies away and becomes something less impactful to the lives of people. That would be minimizing potential because that person has the skills to be it, but let their fear of what the future holds guide them. If you have the willpower and the brains, don't shy away, run for it.

     I find it very important to create visuals and write down your goals for every year towards maximizing your potential. With this, you can easily map out your needs from there and make them happen by praying over them, using affirmations and speaking positivity while working. When I say work, I don't just mean making money, but you have to perfect and gain a confidence that allows you to tap into the help you need in order to aid your destiny. For example, say you want to become an artist, but you're too shy to perform in front of others. There might even be several people who you know that are willing to take the next level. But if you're afraid or too lazy to take the time to speak to others, you'll never know how successful you could be. You should use your resources to help you line your way and allow you to become a success. Never settle because it's comfortable, make it a point of duty to be as uncomfortable as possible because, in the long run, you'll enjoy the benefits.

(PS, I'm not saying you should wild out and lose your sense of morals and go all the way as to injure people because you want to be uncomfortable, but if you know something will benefit you for a greater good, you need to:))

Thanks and love from,

Ayo

untitled awkward diaries for the awkward young lady

(from left to right; Camara, Alexis, and Ayo)

For the awkward young lady, 

   When I was younger I had a speech impediment that kept people from understanding me, this forced me to exclude myself from many school activities. By the time I was confident in speech everyone had their cliques, making me even more of a loner. So I slowly became awkward and shy. Being awkward and shy with a resting bitch face has always been a struggle. See the thing is I was never a stuck up person, in all actuality I can't pull together the words to even start a conversation. I'm a cool person, approach me and you'll get nothing but smiles. I am awkward, cute, goofy, smart, and artsy. I am a hibiscus flower grown from concrete. 

    - Camara

For the awkward young lady,  

     Uhh, How can I put this? I'm not really awkward, just more of misunderstood by the ones who don't know me. Others who don't know me try and label me as something I am not. I might seem a little reserved for specific reasons, but I'm very outgoing, to say the least. People from back home, especially friends and family wouldn't look at me as a shy girl. They would know me as a nice, funny, outgoing. and the stylish girl that I've always been. 

    - Alexis

Dear Me,

     I just want to tell you that you're beautiful. You started this life journey looking at yourself as a nobody, as someone who didn't believe that they could make an impact in another person's life. There have been many factors in your life that made you who you are, but those factors don't define you as a whole. You're an intelligent being with many ideas, and instead of you throwing that away trying to be like others, continue doing what you've been doing and pave your way to greatness. There will always be factors in your life that attempt to destroy your name, and if you fall for them, I need you to get back up and continue to strive. Many of the greats have fallen for some craziness so you're not alone, but don't continue to fall, become an unshakable tree. There is still so much to learn, but don't learn with a negative spirit, keep your head high and move with authority!

With passion and love,

Your Light

    - Ayo

Empower The Black Girl; The Queen

Black Girls are an absolute ray of sunshine. We are sometimes told otherwise in the society that we live in, but it is necessary that we continue to love ourselves and put ourselves first. It is also important that we continue to spread awareness of the beautiful black girl and get her to the level of  enormous recognition. There are many factors that don't want the average black girl to win, but the more awareness there is, the stronger our bond will be and the more opportunities that will be given to her.

As we stand up and continue to let our voices be heard, we need to come to the realization that we are all sisters. No matter where you come from, whether it be Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, or North America, we are all family. There are many sisters who fail to realize this fact and we bash each other and neglect each other to make ourselves feel better. This is an issue I feel isn't brought up enough, but it is a true reality and is an experience faced daily. This is true for many other groups and communities, but as a minority and a people that have already experienced oppression, why add to the fire by hurting our own? We need to encourage each other. 

The only way we can improve as a whole and take back what is truly ours is to boost each other up. There should be an encouragement given to black owned businesses. There should be an encouragement forcing each other to not give up. There should be aid when there's a cry out for help. And I know not everyone is deserving and some may cause you pain, but the more good, the less evil to come. It takes an act of kindness to change a community, but if no one is kind, how will there be change? As humans, we love to attack issues with violence or get our revenge on those who did us wrong. In any time you have acted out of anger, what did you gain? Usually we don't gain anything other than the short-lived joy of our actions. We need to love each other and stop the bullying and become one of a stronger nation. We need to beat out the negativity and claim the royalty! 

(Thanks for reading! Comment down in the comment section so I can get your feedback on this post!)