A Little Bit of Sunshine

  Leopard Ladies Everything great about me  came from a woman Pouring into me,  shaping, correcting me Collecting me from my cocoon of safety Encouraging me to fly, to try Kind words washing over me  like warm water Salt of the earth preserving me Through the drought  I wouldn't be who I am if I wasn't a daughter  A sister, teacher and a friend.  My best friend tells me  I have a beautiful mind My sister can practically read mine  Everywhere there are old ladies

As the youngest of three sisters, I have always been someone who values counsel. 'Feedback culture' makes a casual appearance on every cover letter I've written. And I mean it. I'm of the opinion that you can never know enough. You can learn from anyone; people you like or dislike; people you agree with or disagree with; people younger than you or older than you. As such I am always searching for the lesson behind any situation, negative or positive.  It's why I admire collaboration so much... how someone's contribution, support and skills can accelerate your success far better than you could. I believe in shared goals and visions, in pinky promises made on coffee dates. But even I must confess:  There comes a moment, time, or boundary line, when no one else's opinion matters. It often comes in the form of a gentle but firm voice, or a life-defining choice. That is when something deep inside me stands on its hind legs and refuses to budge. For the life of me...

Always taking comfort in the fact that Maya Angelou liked to rhyme In and out of time That John Keats fell in love too easily We all lived on the same block  James Baldwin's nose tucked in his newspaper  While the radio crooned Marvin Gaye Across the street, Toni watered her marigolds  Alice took a short stroll A young Nikki saved a spider  caught on the path And Zora, bless her,  ran in the middle of the road. Gcina carried her wares on her head and did not leave until every last one sold. After dark, we will all gather on a table That wraps around the block Share stories of the day and pass the salt Potatoes and greens We will pour the sweet tea And sink our teeth into every morsel.