We are Orlando!





It's hard to believe that exactly one week before the Orlando Massacre shooting On June 11, 2016, Pulse; a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, two dear friends and I were only 15 minutes away

at our first Diva Showcase (with a primarily LGBT crowd) enjoying a drag show at a nearby restaurant called

The Funky Monkey.

Just days before the hate crime that left 49 dead and more than 53 wounded;

 we left thinking of Orlando as a warm

(literally and figuratively speaking)

and welcoming place.

We were in Orlando as visitors on that day. 
My friend, a fantastic stylist and co-salon owner in the Charlotte area had booked her trip to the 2016

Premiere Orlando

International Beauty Show

an annual event that attracts crowds of  Over 57,000 visitors from 45+ countries. The website invites salon owners & managers, stylists, colorists, nail technicians, beauty students, instructors, distributors to the show.

The event is a recurrence in Orlando and my friend made plans to attend the hair show long before realizing that she would be carrying with her a special visitor.

A few months before the show she found out that she was pregnant and asked if her mom and I would be willing to come along and keep her company on the trip.

Sunny Skies

Great Shopping

International Food 

not to mention some of the

Best...People...Watching

on the planet made it easy to say

YES TO ORLANDO!

She also planned our itinerary

(which was a refreshing twist to the vacation)

including reservations for

Greek Cuisine at Taverna Opa,

Cuban Cuisine at Cuba Libre

and of course...

The Diva Showcase (which is a fan favorite of hair show goers)

at The Funky Monkey.

The room was filled with a variety of interesting people as the MC traveled around the room. There was a mother and daughter celebrating a daughter's 21st Birthday, several couples (where the men seemed a little shy about the show) and then there was us...

a slightly awkward-yet playing it cool- table of straight women (one visibly pregnant) awaiting a Vegas Style display of costumes, cosmetics and charisma worthy of a standing ovation.

  

One of the Divas from the showcase performing as Beyoncé

We left the city thinking of Orlando as a wonderful place filled with loving people- and still do. That's why it's so hard to believe that just a week later, one of the largest acts of terrorism would take place blocks away from where we celebrated such 

beauty, love & inclusion.  

I want to join others in lifting up the names and stories of the victims of the most recent violence. 

#prayersfororlando #weareorlando 

Today we remember the names and ages of the victims were confirmed by the City of Orlando after their next of kin were notified:

• Stanley Almodovar III, 23
• Amanda Alvear, 25
• Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26
• Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
• Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21
• Martin Benitez Torres, 33
• Antonio D. Brown, 29
• Darryl R. Burt II, 29
• Jonathan A. Camuy Vega, 24
• Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28
• Simon A. Carrillo Fernandez, 31
• Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25
• Luis D. Conde, 39
• Cory J. Connell, 21
• Tevin E. Crosby, 25
• Franky J. Dejesus Velazquez, 50
• Deonka D. Drayton, 32
• Mercedez M. Flores, 26
• Juan R. Guerrero, 22
• Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
• Paul T. Henry, 41
• Frank Hernandez, 27
• Miguel A. Honorato, 30
• Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40
• Jason B. Josaphat, 19
• Eddie J. Justice, 30
• Anthony L. Laureano Disla, 25
• Christopher A. Leinonen, 32
• Brenda L. Marquez McCool, 49
• Jean C. Mendez Perez, 35
• Akyra Monet Murray, 18
• Kimberly Morris, 37
• Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27
• Luis O. Ocasio-Capo, 20
• Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25
• Eric I. Ortiz-Rivera, 36
• Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32
• Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25
• Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24
• Christopher J. Sanfeliz, 24
• Xavier E. Serrano Rosado, 35
• Gilberto R. Silva Menendez, 25
• Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34
• Shane E. Tomlinson, 33
• Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
• Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37
• Luis S. Vielma, 22
• Luis D. Wilson-Leon, 37
• Jerald A. Wright, 31

We will always want more of Maya Angelou

Just Sayin'

Documentary salutes Angelou's rise

Antionette Kerr

Published in The Dispatch on Wednesday, April 6, 2016

This week, Winston-Salem (and the whole world) celebrated the colorful life of Pulitzer Prize-winning author, actress, poet laureate, activist and storyteller Dr. Maya Angelou. Unto the world, in St. Louis, Missouri, Marguerite Annie Johnson was born April 4, 1928, with a profound story to tell.

I had the privilege of celebrating her legacy by prescreening the first feature documentary “Maya Angelou And Still I Rise” (2016), which will be shown at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Arts during the annual RiverRun Film Festival in Winston-Salem on Monday and Tuesday. Directors Bob Hercules and Rita Coburn Whack (both of whom are rumored to make appearances at the festival) have provided a phenomenally honest tribute to the life, passion and legacy of the late Angelou. The documentary, described as “love letters” from around the world, stars Angelou, her son, Guy Johnson, Terry McMillan, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Cicely Tyson and a host of voices inspired by the beloved Maya.

Of course, Maya’s regal voice shined through with cameos intertwined in the adoration. She engaged in vivid descriptions of being sent away by her divorced parents to live in racially segregated Stamps, Arkansas. Her assent, part African fable and rags-to-riches, is moving. The biography is named for “And Still I Rise” from 1978, which became one of the most well-known repetitions in Clinton’s 1993 inaugural poem. Who would have imagined that at the height of her glory, she described being nervous when invited to write a poem for Bill Clinton’s first inauguration?

Watching Maya reflect on writings about love, butterflies and caged birds shed new insights for me. I’ve often questioned the myth that readers will ever fully know what a writer means. Truly inspired writing seems to blossom over time. I returned to highlighted sections of her writings and reread them in a different context. I even went back to previous columns about Angelou, one in particular titled "Columnist Reflects on Impact of Angelou," published shortly after her death June 11, 2014, that aren't quite true for me anymore.

“I only knew her through words," I wrote back then. "She used them to paint pictures of women growing upward despite dampening oppression. At times, she wrote as if she was scolding us because we ‘knew better’ as a country built on the backs of immigrants. She spoke with a wisdom so loud that it leapt off the pages. These are a few of the reasons why people across the world felt as if they knew and loved Maya.” The documentary added a layer of context to the pictures that are so vividly painted in her writings.

I had never before seen Angelou speak of the pain she suffered at the hands of her mother's boyfriend. When Angelou's uncles killed the man responsible, Maya, so traumatized by the experience, stopped talking. When I read that painful part of her story from “Caged Bird,” it infuriated me that something so valuable could be taken from the world (even if only for a brief time).

Her description gave insight on how, at age 7, she could overcome such an evil experience and find strength. She recognized that there was power in her words. She returned to Arkansas and spent years (that others have described as “virtual mute”) writing poetry. The documentary led me to re-read her description of those years of “listening” to learn how she exercised her power. I had never really focused on what Maya gained during that time of controlling her words. She got busy writing, reading and memorizing works of great American writers. Eventually Maya liberated her voice through poetry, explaining, "I had a lot to say!"

I have gained more of an appreciation (if that is possible) of "Caged Bird" from what I once described. “She spared no detail in her accounts, forcing those who spoke about her rise to also acknowledge her tribulations. She said, ‘We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.’ Those who followed her writings had the privilege of traveling alongside of her struggle to this glorious arrival as the statuesque woman we came to treasure.”

The world will always want more of Maya, and this documentary is a special gift at a time when courageous storytellers can hardly be heard above all of the "noise." I felt as if I lived the legacy through “Maya Angelou And Still I Rise.” The film reminded me that stories of suffering, struggle, strength and overcoming must be shared through the ages, lest we forget how to rise.

Antionette Kerr is a syndicated writer and author of “Just Sayin’: Conversations My Mother Would Never Let Me Have at a Southern Dinner Table.” You may email her at kerr@thewritefolks.com.

It has been described as “A reverent documentary love letter shows how her life has inspired countless people around the world.”

"Angelou: And Still I Rise” sponsored by Wake Forest University.
Where Angelou she served as the University’s first Reynolds Professor of American Studies in 1982.

_______________

Screening Times: April 11 / 8 p.m. /SECCA

April 12 / 7:30 p.m. /SECCA

About RiverRun: “The Film Festival is a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to the role of cinema as a conduit of powerful ideas and diverse viewpoints. Founded in 1998, RiverRun is a competitive event that annually showcases new films from both established and emerging filmmakers around the world.”

Tickets for the 2016 Festival are on sale via www.riverrunfilm.com

 

More on Maya

Columnist reflects on impact of Angelou

(Read More "Just Sayin' " in http://www.the-dispatch.com/section/living)

Antionette Kerr

Published: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 3:28 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 3:28 p.m.

The New York Times headline read "Maya Angelou, Lyrical Witness of the Jim Crow South, Dies at 86." An onset of stories, memorials and epitaphs followed as the poet genuinely touched the hearts and minds of so many across the globe. The world exchanged touching Maya stories, and it seemed as if we all knew her.

That was her way.

She once wrote, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

I only knew her through words. She used them to paint pictures of women growing upward despite dampening oppression. At times, she wrote as if she was scolding us because we "knew better" as a country built on the backs of immigrants. She spoke with a wisdom so loud that it leapt off the pages. These are a few of the reasons why people across the world felt as if they knew and loved Maya.

To see our nation not only mourn but celebrate Angelou's ascent reminded me of the hymns she often sang. There will be trials, as the song leaders in church remind us, but Maya chose to rise. She bravely led readers through her journey as a dancer, calypso singer, streetcar conductor, teen mother, magazine editor, administrative assistant in Ghana, Wake Forest professor, actress and poet laureate.

She spared no detail in her accounts, forcing those who spoke about her rise to also acknowledge her tribulations. She said, "We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty." Those who followed her writings had the privilege of traveling alongside of her struggle to this glorious arrival as the statuesque woman we came to treasure.

But I must be honest. For as much as I personally admired the poet, I was surprised by the showering of praise shared by so many distinct types of people. Her words, influenced by Shakespeare's style, will continue to transcend generations and cultures. Her wisdom, poise and grace were honored by prominent people from presidents to dignitaries. Gov. Pat McCrory's orders for flags to be flown at half-staff Saturday affirmed why she proudly called North Carolina her home. We in the Old North State are thankful to have shared this tribute with the world.

As a youth, I selfishly thought Maya wrote for little girls who grew up just like me. In college, I was naive enough to think that one must comprehend the nuances of the African oral tradition to truly "get" Angelou. Often the poet spoke with coded words that referenced fables, African proverbs and mimicked the oration of Southern pastors. It wasn't until we dissected those references (yes, in the ever-controversial African-American studies department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) that I fully understood her meanings. But her stories about the human condition, courage and compassion are universal.

In 1969, she was brave enough to publish her autobiography, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." There she highlights a brutal period in her childhood so tragic that she refused to speak about it. I recently listened to her interview with Fresh Air's Terry Gross in 1986. You could hear every breath of the great orator. She paused often as she described her temptation toward silence and how her words were almost lost if not for her love of poetry.

Angelou recounted those voiceless years, and her autobiography highlights why she withdrew into herself and was mute at age 11. It wasn't until a teacher noticed her love of poetry and challenged her to read it aloud that she broke her silence. She shared the story of Mrs. Flowers saying, "You do not love poetry, not until you speak it." Young Maya was afraid that someone would try to take away her friend poetry, and she recalled running under the house with books. "I tried to speak, and could." She testified in life, and now even in death, as to the power of words and courage.

In honoring her, I thought back to the ancestral West African culture and her response upon the passing of the late author, playwright and activist James Baldwin, whose poem was the inspiration for the title "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." Angelou wrote a touching piece in his honor: "When a Great Tree Falls." West African cultures have many symbolic beliefs regarding trees, and these beliefs are woven throughout the culture. In fact, trees are often the gathering place for storytelling and funerals. So Angelou wrote:

"And when great souls die,

after a period peace blooms,

slowly and always

irregularly. Spaces fill

with a kind of

soothing electric vibration.

Our senses, restored, never

to be the same, whisper to us.

They existed. They existed.

We can be. Be and be

better. For they existed."

So in the spirit of West African tradition, we paused to honor the falling of a great tree. We prayed that peace blooms where turmoil exists and that courage be our guide. We are thankful that the woman we came to know as Maya grew, but not in silence, and that her legacy of wisdom will continue to rise. We can be. For she existed. Asante sana!

Antionette Kerr is a freelance writer. You may email her atantionettekerr@alumni.unc.edu.

March Madness from a UNC Fan's Perspective

Welcome to the final days of March Madness 2016, a month of late night games riddled with mythology and lucky charms that extend from locker rooms to living rooms. 'Tis the season when emotions run higher than a long leaf pine.

We devote ourselves daily to watching college basketball, especially those in the Tar Heel state. Despite our rich basketball heritage, we understand that tournament time can be unpredictable. Regardless of ranking, seeding and predictions, we know that anything can happen. The most zealous coaches, players, and fans aren't content with leaving it all up to chance. Superstitions lead the way.

As a die-hard Carolina fan, I have learned all sorts of rituals and/or tourney traditions. I joined the ranks of the superstitious in 2012 when my alma mater was more likely to win when I watched the games on the couch with my Grandmother Gladys. Our tradition involved Gladys wearing her Carolina Grandma sweatshirt, and I would wear my spaghetti-stained Carolina Alumni sweatshirt. Although we didn't win the national championship that year, we had a great season. Gladys and I shared special moments that I will always cherish.

My good friend Kelly shared a childhood memory of her beloved Gigi, Arlene Sturdivant. When the Tar Heels are down, she swears that she can still hear the sounds of her late grandmother's upright Wurlitzer piano. When the Tar Heels started to struggle, Gigi used to head into the parlor and begin tickling with ivories with motivational tunes from the Methodist hymnal.

One of the most well-known superstitions in basketball started with my all-time favorite Tar Heel, "His Airness" Michael Jordan. After leading UNC to a national championship in 1982, Jordan believed the uniform shorts he wore that year were lucky.

He continued wearing the shorts under his uniform during his wildly successful career with the Chicago Bulls (rumor has it that he never washed them). In order for Jordan to wear them under his NBA uniform, he needed to wear longer Bulls shorts to cover them. He is often credited with creating the style of wearing longer shorts in the NBA and solidifying the way for several other superstitious rituals.

The NBA changed the rules for Jordan, but the NCAA has had pressure to deal with its fair share of superstitions from players and coaches alike.

I recall people making a fuss in 2012 when Baylor won all four games in which the team wore new glow-in-the-dark neon green Adidas jerseys. They were quite ugly, but the superstitious Bears coach, Scott Drew, petitioned the NCAA to allow the team to wear the neon jersey in the Elite Eight match-up with Kentucky. Baylor was considered the "road team," which would indicate a change in uniform. The NCAA denied Drew's request, and the Bears lost 82-70. Some say it wouldn't have mattered against a dominant team like Kentucky and suggested that Baylor's coach should be more concerned with who the team was playing rather than superstition.

I didn't pull out my lucky sweatshirt when Notre Dame made history last year by winning its first ACC tournament against my beloved Tar Heels. I didn't think we needed good mojo until I realized that the Fighting Irish were wearing lucky shoes. The New York Times writer Ben Shpigel described them best in his article "Notre Dame Rides a Streak with Shoes like Highlighters." "It was as if they had been marinated in puréed Skittles, coated with ectoplasm and then dunked in Citrus Cooler-flavored Gatorade."

The loss was bad enough, but for superstitious fans like me, those shoes added more insult to injury.

"Those hues have streaked across basketball courts over the last two and a half weeks, offending traditionalists, clashing with the Irish's gold jerseys and blinding viewers at home. As the Irish are quick to mention, the colors have also propelled them to six straight victories, including in the ACC tournament championship game against North Carolina."

I haven't read much about UNC basketball rituals for this tourney. Years ago, former UNC players Kendall Marshall and Harold Barnes reported Coach Roy Williams had a few rituals. They claimed Williams usually throws away his tie and suit after losing a game. I've watched carefully to see if this is true, but it's hard to believe. Roy is a fashionable guy and wears some bright and colorful ensembles. I am almost certain I have seen a repeat tie or two after a loss, but I can't confirm that fact. I would hope that rather than throwing away things, he would donate them to worthy causes.

We have some challenges ahead and, needless to say, I am interested in what the superstitious are doing in the locker room, the benches and their living room couches. From temporary tattoos or lucky underwear, what are people willing to do to bring luck to our favorite team in the Sweet 16?

Win or lose, I suspect there will be a moment of looking to the Carolina blue skies with nostalgia. Memories of being Tar Heel Born and Tar Heel Bred never die, and I am thankful for the opportunity to celebrate traditions of all kinds. I have calmed down with my rituals, but it looks like this Tar Heel tourney team might motivate me to pull my lucky sweatshirt out of retirement. It started getting a little smelly, so I haven't worn it. That being said, does anyone know how to remove a spaghetti stain out of a Carolina sweatshirt without washing it?

Click Here To Read
More

Just Sayin' by Antionette 

The Devil wears a dark shade of blue

Antionette Kerr is a freelance journalist and author of "Just Sayin': Conversations my mother would never let me have at a southern dinner table." You may email her at kerr@thewritefolks.com

Don't Dab Through Black History Month

I feel a column coming on. This is coming from a Cam Newton fan who wants to celebrate unapologetic, "true to yourself," confident role models but look forward to the days when that extends beyond quarterbacks, rappers, people who have slept and/or been in videos with Kanye (I know the Amber Rose/Wiz Khalifa/Kanye West feud is SO last week)

Breaking News: Amber Rose, Wiz Khalifa just friends despite spending time together after Kanye West feud

Dr. Charles Stone, Courtesy of
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

But what if we spent time trolling the internet for gifted "thinkers" like Melissa Harris-Perry and the late Dr. Chuck Stone Sr., both North Carolina educators that have changed the FACE of journalism? Stone, author of "Tell It Like It Is," challenged bias reporting. 
The reporter- turned professor- turned advocate- turned role model was often called "flashy" by his colleagues. A.K.A. "King Strut" seemed to understand that leadership would require more than walking around UNC's campus showing off his wide brim hats, colorful suspenders and designer bow ties. When Stone was threatened, he rushed into the fight for social justice, and never seemed intimidated. Dr. Stone didn't "break the internet" for a day ...the man “broke” journalism in a way that changed the spread of mainstream information. His lessons influenced many including the late Stuart Scott. What if we searched for role models in classrooms? What if we celebrated the gifted intellectuals who share their skills daily? 

I've enjoyed dabbin' with Cam and the boys during this awesome football season, but it’s Black History Month and time to salute those who have something more precious than a football to hand to our children.  

Just Sayin'

Radio fun with the folks at WLXN/Majic999

I've always enjoyed working with Willie Edwards! He has been great to work with throughout the years and has provided information to our hometown about upcoming events and opportunities. So when the women of WLXN1440/Magic999 stopped by my office to ask when I wanted to be "on-air," 
I literally rushed at the opportunity 

(that's right I showed up on the wrong date).  

When asked if I would come back, the next day, 
to promote our agencies new Financial Fitness program, 

Photo Courtesy of Corie Odden

Willie pulled me aside... 

"I almost never do this but, what do you want for breakfast?"

Leave it to me and Willie's co-anchor Corie Odden to put his secret out  

on social media. 

The Majic999 website describes it best...

Photo Courtesy of Magic999

  "Wake up to a fresh and fun start every weekday morning from 6 am - 9 am with veteran radio host, Willie Edwards and newbie, Corie Odden.  You will get what you want to know before you walk out the door.  Stay up-to-date on happenings around the Triad from entertainment news, traffic and weather!"

These two are a lively addition to my morning commute. 

Tune In!

Celebrate National Hugging Day

Just Sayin'

Embrace the habit of hugs

Read the full column online at The Dispatch.com

Thursday is National Hugging Day. It’s a perfect time to celebrate the deed of opening our arms in acceptance. While it may seem silly, yes, there is an internationally recognized day of observation. Surprisingly, those mere seconds of simple embrace have legitimate health benefits.

Why do I say this? Well--- I suddenly found myself in a relationship with a hugger. And before you judge me for being too mushy, know that hugs also have scientific benefits. Neurologist Shekar Raman, MD, said in the Huffington Post "A hug, pat on the back, and even a friendly handshake are processed by the reward center in the central nervous system, which is why they can have a powerful impact on the human psyche, making us feel happiness and joy.

”

Full Disclosure: I was not the “huggy” type and had been somewhat perturbed by the people who insist on entering my personal space without permission or consent -- well, that and a breathing problem that was aggravated by certain fragrances.I’ve taught others (especially younger women) the subtle skill of avoiding creepy hugs at functions ranging from business meetings to family gatherings. Behind the scenes, friends giggled at my convoluted maneuvers designed to avoid unsolicited hugs. As a side note, announcements such as "Get over here, I'm a hugger," or "You can hug me, I will not bite" do not ease the angst of non-hugger types. Some of my best tricks include a stiff-armed hug, aversion handshake and a hugless high-five. Hug-enthusiasts in my circle have called me out for such antics.

I commend the hugger in my life for his determination. He began by soliciting lots of hugs (because he needed them), but then I found myself needing them more and more. At least one friend declared that I’ve “gone soft,” and I tend to agree. Consider me a recent convert to what my beau and I jokingly call the “Hug Life.” I'm not out hugging everyone, just yet, but I am certainly embracing the benefits at home.


Hug skeptics needing more empirical evidence should check out the "Meanings of Hugging: From greeting behavior to touching implications" by Sweden’s Lena M. Forsell and Jan A. Åström in Comprehensive Psychology who write, “The aim and focus of this article is to present some circumstances under which hugging occurs, as well as to describe its development from a focus on greeting behavior to therapeutic effects, reflected in emotional, physiological, and biochemical alterations.”

Who is your hug dealer?

I've been practicing the one arm polite pat and the full bear hug in preparation for the National Hugging Day festivities. So go ahead huggers out there and spread the sweet love! It is your official day to hug it out. I promise not to resort to any of my old aversion tactics, but may I still suggest asking first?

Timeless Lessons Learned From Star Wars

Click here to read my full column in Published in The Dispatch

  Lesson VII: Everyone needs a common sense friend like Han Solo.

At first glance, Solo seems like a reckless gambler, but his appearance in Episode VII solidifies his heroic status. Harrison Ford’s character was introduced in Star Wars in 1977. He and his furry pal Chewbacca accepted a request to transport Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO and R2-D2 on his ship, the Millennium Falcon. Eventually, the common sense guy was swept up in a plot to save the galaxy from evil. He fell in love with Princess Leia Organa on board The Millennium Falcon, and declined a reward in order to rescue their friends. He didn’t just fall in love with Princess Leia, he fell in love with the idea that good can overcome all evil circumstances. Han possessed something that the powerful Jedi force did not, a connection with the ruffians of the galaxy. Despite his fate, Han Solo’s friendship can be summed up by the essences that he's the lovable cowboy kind of friend that everyone needs.

Lesson VI: One must learn to walk that thin line between love and hate.

This will make perfect sense for those who followed the love story of young Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader) and Queen Padmé Amidala. At the risk of losing his Jedi status, Anakin married Padmé on her planet of Naboo. The marriage remained a secret, as Skywalker would have been expelled from the Jedi Order. Ultimately, his marriage to Amidala is blamed for his fall to the dark side of The Force. While watching his wife die during childbirth, the evil Darth Sidious was able to seduce Anakin to the dark side with the pretense of saving her life. The Jedi Knights emphasize teaching the control of one’s emotions to those in power, and Anakin Skywalker is a prime example why this lesson is important.

Lesson V: Be careful who you vote for.

As a pacifist, Queen Padme’ rallied the Senate to vote for new leadership; a vote that ultimately led to the rise of Darth Lords. In the midst of her planet being bombed, Queen Padme’ said it best “Wake up, Senators…you must wake up! If we offer the separatists violence, they can only show us violence in return! Many will lose their lives. All will lose their freedom. This decision could very well destroy the very foundation of our great Republic. I pray you, do not let fear push you into a disastrous decision. Vote down this security measure, which is nothing less than a declaration of war! Does anyone here want that? I cannot believe they do.” She would later learn that indeed some politicians would profit from war, especially her colleague and confidant who goes publicly by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine but is actually Darth Sidious.

Lesson IV: It’s impossible to see the future so trust your instincts.

In episode I, II and III, the Jedi council could sense that there was a disturbing element in training Anakin Skywalker. Throughout the films they expressed a sense of concern but ultimately even the wise Yoda defied his instincts with words such as this, “Impossible to see, the future is." They moved forward with training the being that would become Darth Vader, who in turn set out to murder all Jedi Knights.



Lesson III: In the powerful words of Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi, “Strike me down, and I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.”

As we approach the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  holiday, we have a real life example of how legends can impact policy and change. That lesson needs very little explanation.

Lesson II: The language of love and loyalty are both universal.

We see this demonstrated in Star Wars from the squeals of the stumpy R2-D2. Although he speaks in droid throughout the films, his sentiments are clearly understood. And then there is the huggable Wookiee warrior, Chewbacca, who continues to help humans restore freedom to the galaxy in past and present trilogies. Han Solo's fuzzy side-kick only speaks Wookie (which sounds like a series of groans, grunts, and growls) but is armed with a big heart and an unwavering loyalty that translates easily; reminding us that the social construction of language is not the only form of communication.

Lesson I: “Do or Do Not, There is No Try.”

This, one of the most well-known slogans in the film series, made its debut in The Empire Strikes Back as young Luke Skywalker is training to use the Force. When Master Yoda instructed him to lift his ship out of the water, Luke doubted his strength, saying that a whole ship was different than a rock, but Yoda insisted that the difference was only in his mind. When Luke said, "Okay, I'll try," Yoda responded, "No. Try not. Do or do not. There is no try."

This year you could look to Star Wars for inspiration and approach your goals with

a Jedi-syle mindset.

Peace, love and may the Force be strong with you in 2016!