Myisha Cherry

Funny!

Great video. Informational and Inspirational.

I went to an amazing gallery in my neighborhood of bedstuy a few days ago. Brooklyn photographer Laylah Amatullah Barrayn has an exhibit at the Skylight gallery with women writers such as Jessica Care Moore, Susan Taylor, Sonia Sanchez, and many others. The exhibit runs until March 31 and The Daily News did a cool article on the show for more info. It’s inspirational and simply marvelous so please take a trip.

before

after

New Headshots. Courtesy of Sir Miles Davis

While hanging out in downtown Brooklyn yesterday, I came across this awesome community art project called “before I die”. The creators simply provided a wall and some chalk and participants answered the existential question with heart, honest, and creativity. It was amazing to participant in and also to read.

I’m a new writer for the Huffington Post Religion Section and I recently wrote an article called “Joel Osteen and the Lack of Argument Construction in Religious Moral Conversations”. Its a philosophical and also spiritual response to what I call the “because the bible says so” rhetoric that’s being used in moral dialogues.

Please check out the article here. Don’t forget to like, comment, and share via the site as well. I would love to know what you think and let the Huffpost know that you all are interested in what I write. Thanks a million!

REST IN PEACE

I Headed to the Brooklyn book festival last weekend. I Enjoyed the tables upon tables of book viewings and authors speaking to the people. I also checked out a few panels such as the Walter Mosley one on crime fiction, a poetry and politics panel, and an artists and kickstarter talk featuring Nelson George and a few others. Just a few of the reasons why I love the literary arts and also enjoy being a resident of the planet of Brooklyn.

Now I turn to Myisha, all 33 chapters of you,

You’ve been down for too long. You have felt a pain that you have not experienced since your mother died. A deep pain that you feel like no one understands, a pain that you feel does not have to be here, a pain you wish could go away so you can live again.

Pain is not an odd part of the human experience. Suffering is apart of it. Name one spiritual teacher, one successful person, one neighbor who have not experienced it and I will suggest that they are either dead or just haven’t been born. Today you can barely wake up in the morning, smile, or operate fully in your purpose because your mind and your heart is occupied with pain, and a yearning, and a sense of hopelessness that you feel you can do nothing about.

So I’ve come to tell you dear myisha, that there comes a time where things can no longer be spoken about physically. Let me remind you that everything is spiritual. And when you begin to question your life, begin to stray away from peace and happiness, and allow your life to be filled with pity and tears, I must speak to your soul; that real part of you.

First let me tell you that suffering comes as a negative boaster of sorts. It infiltrates the mind and tells it that it has lost, that the situation will never change, that what you feel now will only get worse. It will paint a picture of tragedy and gloom. But you know that the truth shall set your free. The lie of suffering’s purpose is to hypothesize your mind and take over the centerpiece of your consciousness so that it can inevitably control you.

But you are much too smart and much too strong to fall for this trap. I declare that a peace that surpasses all understanding will fall on you like…love. I believe that God will grant you a focus and a vision that will defeat every negative thought that you are having right now. Doubt and depression should no longer have a hold on you. As long as the sun is still shining, you are still living, and God is still on the throne, you have a reason to smile, to be happy, to not only make it through the day but have amazing days again.

People make decisions. People change their minds. And all of those things can radically effect you…. but only if you let them. You too must make some decisions. You too must change your mind…. And the decision you must make today is take control of your soul, kick depression out, and look your anointed self in the mirror and smile at it, talk to it, allow it to remind you of who you really are.

Don’t allow other peoples misconception of you make you forget the strong woman you really are. Your mother raised you right. God has trained you well. You know the person that you are!!!! Trouble should be scared of you. Sadness should find you unattractive. Your karma and God will follow you all the days of your life and that’s should be enough to keep you secure and content.

Stop spending all of your energy trying to convince others of who you are and start reminding yourself! They were too blind to “see it”, But lives depend on you for you to “know it”.

Troubles don’t last always. Your days should not be lived in order to make it to its end. Your mind has too much creating, too much innovating, too much inspiring, too much philosophical and spiritual thinking to do than to be preoccupied with gloom; a gloom that one person controls, doesn’t see anyway, and probably doesn’t even care about!

Time will heal. Victory is on your side. God will give you peace. Get your life together. Wipe your tears. Live your life. Lift your smile. Love again. Laugh again. You are too beautiful, too anointed, too wise, and too you…. To not be “you”!!!!!!

So “let not your heart be troubled”, as you “walk through the valley of the shadow of death, fear no evil, God is with you”, allow the “peace of God that surpasses all understanding to guide your heart and mind”, allow the “Lord to fight your battle’, “be still and know that he is God”, for you are “more than a conqueror”, and in the end myisha… “all things worketh for the good”!

Make this time “well with your soul” and I bet you will begin to see how amazing God has made your life…. a life you should start living again right now!!

So my bud, Tara, did a recent editorial spread on essence.com around the theme of gorgeous elopements. The pics are so pretty and I am so proud of her!!!! You can check out the awesome pics below and also more pics here. Also visit her blog right over here.

Saturday was game night over the bud, Tahira’s crib. We tore up the pie and cheese bread, played some great rounds of taboo(my team won) and boggle. And just enjoyed the simplicity of play.

Went to the Toure Book Launch Party here in Brooklyn this weekend. There were a few literary notables there like Terry McMillian and Nelson George … and Me. lol Great welcoming of a new text celebrated like only Brooklyn can. Get more info about the book here.

I saw a guy with this tattoo on the train and it is indeed my prayer today!

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference… trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life…”–Reinhold Niebuhr

I define success as being the best “you” that you can be. Its not about what others think of you or how far they think you should go. Its about that inner knowing who you were truly born to be and moving towards that goal each and every day.

I found a video recently produced by GreySkale Media of Eric Thomas, an author, founder of the Advantage Program at Michigan State, motivational coach, and pastor. The video below uses the audio of Eric speaking here. The athlete in the video is former ECU running back Giavanni Ruffin. who is journeying soon to the NFL. Giavanni actions in the video paints a good picture of hard work, training, and dedication. Ingredients I believe is needed in being the best you. Both Eric and Giavanni are dedicated to success and great reminders that it takes work, time, and energy to really get there.

So my Baltimore bud Carolyn Malachi is a true star. Her light shines so bright when she sings. Her music is so pure and refreshing. I’m grateful for her gift. Her Jazzy bright self recently debuted a new music video called “Beautiful Dreamer”. Its about overcoming and living! I think you would love it. So here it go.

My thoughts up there
create my world down here
one that philosophers & political theorists should envy

I close my eyes real tight
and summons positive light
and they draw master of peaces to me

Ive known the pain one feels
when you allow the voices in your head
to sing you a song of blues

So instead I think
in colors of clouds and pink
then imagine and then live real cool

The negative of life
cant pierce my vibrant life
no matter what type of change flies by

So Just in case real pain
attacks with vivid disdain
my mind protects my inner smiles

I am what I know
and what I know grows
to the innermost parts of my life

So I declare that Positive is my Profession
Peace is my protection
and as long as I carry both
I’ll be just fine

On labor day, I headed to the Brooklyn Bridge Park to enjoy the weather, the sky, the water, and the breeze. While walking in the neighborhood I came upon some nice street art. It was a collection of a few Brooklyn emcees and some other abstract interesting collectables.

One thing I love about this city, is looking at its walls and seeing something that really captivates me. Even if “legally” its not suppose to be there.