Issuu

JANUARY 2023

LILY SHEPARD MOVES It's All About Self-Discovery

“EMBRACE YOUR COMMUNITY”

@UjimaMagazine.com

VIE W PO I N T ~ M OVING AHEA D new year brings promise,growth, and renewal. Some use the new year as a “start over” time to reflect and determine which way to move forward. The decision to move includes how, where and when. I’m a planner, and making a map of where I’m going is very important.

One last thing about moving forward is letting go of fear. A lesson that I have been learning throughout my personal life and Ujima’s life. I can’t let fear stop me from moving otherwise I will be still, stale, and without growth. What keeps you from moving forward in life and your career?

Ujima Magazine is moving forward. We have plans to tell more stories using different tools to get news and stories out. I have learned you can’t use one or two ways to get things done. I have to take advantage of all options that will move Ujima to the next level. I want to level my business and my life. I welcome 2023!

I hope you will push hard and move your life and career forward in 2023. If you are an entrepreneur, don’t give up. You may have to take some side roads, but keep your mission at the forefront which drives your creativity and your business dreams to success. I will hold myself accountable by taking my own advice.

Damita Miller-Shanklin Editor-in-Chief Damita@ujimamagazine.com #ujimamagazine #ujimaatx #embraceyourcommunity #collectiveworkandresponsibility #blackowned #womanowned

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What is your Word Mantra for 2023? Source/Credit: @ask.jen

friend posted on our chat this word mantra idea. The question was the ﬁrst 4 words you see in the photo will be your mantra for 2023. My mantra for 2023 based on the words I saw ﬁrst was: 1. Love 2. Connection 3. Change 4. Self-care I added a bonus for myself which is 5. Be Me!! This was fun but I decided to adopt my words and see how they will play out in my 2023 year. What are your words that will guide your intentions for 2023? Share with us on our Ujima Facebood Page to let us know.

@ask.jen #mantra2023 #ujimamagazine #ujimaatx #embraceyourcommunity #collectiveworkandresponsibility #teamujima #blackowned #womanowned @meintheatx @ladymadelynpatterson @iron4mysisters @coachqharris @jacquieooh @mlxgls @brzbty

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RENEWAL, REJUVENATION IS MORE THAN JUST GOING TO A SPA by Jacquie Johnson, founder of Jacquie ooh we must leave everything behind. In fact, I think it is just the opposite, we need time to reﬂect and to learn about our patterns in relationships to start anew.

s I have been thinking about what to write for this month’s issue, I began to think about the topic of relationships. How do relationships fit with the theme of renewal and rejuvenation? I started thinking about the topic more, and I realized that renewal and rejuvenation are necessary components of establishing, maintaining, and ending relationships. If we look at intimate relationships, many people try to figure out ways to navigate their relationships; some are dealing with recent breakups, some are struggling in their current relationships, and some are searching for new relationships. Building and creating healthy relationships is all about renewal and rejuvenation. There are certain times in relationships where renewal and rejuvenation can be instrumental in our relationship growth and development. Meaning… We all know the saying, “the only way to move forward is to leave something else behind,” but when relationships end, sometimes we aren’t quite ready to just leave everything behind. We need to find time for renewal, which can take many different forms. We need time to grieve, we need time to process, and we need time to reflect on the experiences in the relationship to grow. We should be able to reflect on the end of a relationship and mourn the loss of someone instrumental in our life. It allows time to process, reflect, and renew ourselves, before we begin the next relationship. Often, we think to move forward, UjimaMagazine.com

Relationships (and this does not have to just be an intimate relationship; it can be friends, or business relationships) can be some of the greatest teachers and learning experiences in our lives. Sometimes, we need to rejuvenate a current relationship that just doesn’t seem to be working properly. It’s okay to take a step back and reevaluate the toxic patterns that may be holding us back in our relationships. It’s okay to hit the reset button! Maybe it is resetting how we talk to one another, maybe it is resetting the focus of a relationship, or maybe we need to rejuvenate the relationship sexually, spiritually, or in some other way. It’s also possible that we just need to ﬁnd time for ourselves, independent of the relationship! I think renewal and rejuvenation of ourselves can be the very way we discover our life partners, and a way to start new, healthy relationships. When we take time to work on, invest in, and learn more about who we are, we become attuned to our own needs. When we are more aware of our needs, we can communicate these needs, and goals. Relationships are not always easy; they require a time commitment and an emotional investment but thinking about renewal and rejuvenation can be helpful in the growth and development of these relationships. Contributing Writer, Jacquie “ooh” Johnson Jacquie Johnson is a native Texan who resides in Denton, TX with her husband and two daughters. She has two older sons who reside in California, and one grandson. Jacquie is the founder of Jacquie ooh an online resource hub for women. Her goal is to provide resources to help women think well and live well. She is the creator of the Glow Collection by Jacquie ooh, an organic skincare line where she provides gourmet food for your skin. Jacquie is heavily involved in her community where she has been sworn in as a precinct chair for the Democrats of Denton County. She is also a new author to two books: Glow Through It 21 Day Devotional Journal for Women and Dare to Sparkle Entrepreneur Startup Guide+Dream Big 4 Day Devotional. For more information on Jacquie “ooh” Johnson please visit her website at www.jacquieooh.com

HOW ABOUT A MIND DETOX?

Mental Health Is Not A Joke

Source: yourheights.com

ur mental health is something we need to all take seriously. My own journey with mental health at times has been a struggle. The recent death of DJ Stephen tWitch Boss last week really bothered me. I had no connection but the outcome of his life based on alleged mental health issues, I realized there are many of us in pain.

By: Laura Sugden

by Damita Miller-Shanklin

I hear people say “he had everything,” “he had money and a family, he had nothing to worry about.” Well, in my opinion, mental health has nothing to do with your status in life. It doesn’t matter how much money, how many beautiful children you have, homes you have, it's not about things, stuff or people. It has to do with a deep pain that only you can feel.

We all get a lot of information in our heads. Our brains work overtime trying to keep our thoughts clear. It has to remember everything from names, birthdays, and more serious things like when are school holidays or your next doctor appointment. Have you thought about doing a mind detox? This is how you do it. Here are ﬁve, simple, mindful activities to work into every day, to leave your mind feeling cleansed and positive: 1. Take time to focus on your breathing 2. Write down three things you are grateful for 3. Set your priorities 4. Integrate small meditation sessions 5. Journal to reﬂect I hope you will try this when you feel overwhelmed or stressed out. It can possibly slow your heartbeat down, take away your anxiety and provide you some peace. For more information, go to Mindfulness. #minddetox #laurasugden #stressfree #ujimamagazine #ujimaatx #embraceyourcommunity #collectiveworkandresponsibility #teamujima #blackowned #womanowned @meintheatx @ladymadelynpatterson @iron4mysisters @coachqharris @jacquieooh @mlxgls @brzbty

Because suicide is the last thing you can do to end the pain, many people ﬁnd that it will eliminate their pain but they forget about the people they leave behind. I feel bad that Boss felt he had to end his life. Maybe he was tired of wearing the mask. We all wear a mask, but I feel those of us that struggle with mental health, wear it to where it becomes a habit. We won’t take it off and deal with what is really happening inside. Take it off and seek help. I send prayers to the Boss family and especially his wife and children. It hurts when someone can’t ﬁnd their way out and just end it all. If you are wearing a mask and thinking about hurting yourself, please get help. Call our mental health line at our Psychiatric Emergency Services 512-472-4357. Reach out to your physician, reach out to someone. #mentalhealth #suicide #seekouthelp #wearingmask #takethemaskoff #speaktosomeone #ujimamagazine #ujimaatx #embraceyourcommunity #collectiveworkandresponsibility #teamujima #blackowned #womanowned @meintheatx @ladymadelynpatterson @iron4mysisters @coachqharris @jacquieooh @mlxgls @brzbty

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LILY SHEPARD: Working Towards Self-Discovery By Damita Miller-Shanklin

Selfacceptance, dance, movement, yoga and breathing work are all the tools used to facilitate

self-discovery.

tarting a new year is always exciting and a time to reflect and renew our lives. As Ujima Magazine celebrates and embraces our renewal I wanted to discuss how we should ensure we look at our mind, body, and soul. This is my conversation with Lily Shepard, Founder of Lily Shepard Moves. Lily Shepard Moves has been through a bunch of different iterations since Shepard moved to Austin seven years ago. She first started teaching classes, and producing events. The first name of the business was Body Bloom ATX. However after a few years, she decided she was doing more than body work and she wanted it to go beyond ATX. That's when Shepard decided to transition her company name to Lily Shepherd Moves because movement is at the heart of

everything she does. And it's a personal brand. “You know a lot of what I share and what I teach is connected to my story so it made sense.” Shepard thought, “this can be a brand, this can possibly be a business and yeah, that's how I started.” When Shepard was asked if dance was the foundation of her business, she responded, “I wouldn't say dance is the foundation. I would say self- discovery is the foundation and dance is one of the tools I use to facilitate that.” Dance is a tool that she’s most comfortable in and familiar with, but the real heart of it all is, is self discovery. Selfacceptance, dance, movement, yoga and breathing work are all the tools used to facilitate self-discovery. Feature story continues on p6

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Shepard ﬁnds her interaction with people interesting because they interact with her in different ways. Sometimes it’s through a public class or an event that she is hosting. Shepard wrote a book called Pleasure Principles for Driven Women, reclaiming pleasure through movement. And so through the book, people have come from having read the book and made the decision to work with her. Right now she primarily focuses on working in more one to one relationships with clients. But she really enjoys the groups. Shepard explains when someone comes to work with her they're looking to shift something. They're looking to reconnect to their body. They're looking to feel more fully expressed in their life and oftentimes in their career. And so they usually are coming to her from a place where they are not altogether unhappy or feeling like life is terrible, but feeling like there's something missing. They do not feel like they're living in the fullest expression of who they are and they don't feel connected to their inner self. The women that Shepard works with have a lot going on in terms p6

The body is a masterful keeper of all of our experiences, and our emotions. We need to have tools to process those things, as well. With changing our mindset, or whatever we need to do intellectually, we also need to work on that from an embodied perspective. A lot of self trust starts with the body too. Shepard means our body gives us very clear signals about danger, about when things feel really good and really right. Shepard feels we have been taught to only regard the mind and our thoughts as the main source of information and to disregard what our body is saying. We end up pushing our bodies to the max and to capacity without ever really caring for them or trying to understand what they're trying to tell us.

of career success, family dynamics, marriages and children and they are caretakers, and they have a lot going but their connection to self is lacking. They come to How can Shepard's Work provide Shepard for support. It can assistance to help us look at manifest in a lot of different ourselves differently and feel ways. She thinks that there's differently about ourselves, often a feeling of moving especially Black through life on autopilot, women. Shepard and just doing the thinks one of the Shepard things they are main things is explains when supposed to do. black women are However they are someone comes to starting to view not really being themselves as work with her they're present or really people who are looking to enjoying any part of deserving of that. Comparing our pleasure. It is our lives to other people birthright. She or what they have thinks women need gone through can also to see themselves as look like shame. Just holding people that do not have on to shame and feelings of guilt guilt and shame around rest. around ways that we wish we Shepard speaks to the fact that were, and are not, that's where “there is just something about us the acceptance piece comes in that is hard. The badge of of how can we move through life busyness and being the and understand that we may matriarchal ﬁgure and taking not reach every goal we may care of everyone we hold in not be everything to everybody, such high esteem. I think it but how can we fully accept represents a standard that's ourselves for who we are and really hard to live up to and then where we are.

shift something.

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we start to feel like that's the measure for us. We don’t take care of ourselves as we should.” Lily Shepard Moves is a 12 week program. She meets once a week on Zoom and she works through three different principles or aspects of what she likes to call Embodied Feminine Leadership. “This relates to being a leader of your own life, being able to to command your life and to steer your ship the way that you feel it needs to go.” The three tenets are regulating your nervous system of self-calming, presence and sensuality. Shepard spends time on 1. Regulating the nervous system, learning to calm ourselves, having the ability to self-soothe to have techniques to calm yourself in stressful situations and to discharge negative emotion, UjimaMagazine.com

make eye contact, the tone of voice, just how comfortable you are in your being

2. Working on sensuality. Getting back connected to that womanly essence. 3. And then presence, which has to do with the perception that you want to impart on others out in the world, how do you want to show up? What is your energy saying? You can feel all of these things through your posture, the way you

The one thing that Shepard would leave with you is that the basis of her work is self- inquiry. You can work with her which is an investment. It's an investment of money, it's an investment of energy. But there is a way for someone who says, I have no time, I don’t have money, no energy, what can I do? Shepard says you can do this if nothing else. You can start with self inquiry and asking yourself the following questions. Are you taking good care of yourself? Are your needs being met? These questions will help you start your journey to selfdiscovery. For more information about Lily Shepard, visit lilyshepardmoves.com. p7

active LIVING

ENERGY BOOSTERS FOR OLDER ADULTS Source: sunhealthcommunities.org

Mary Linnen Editor

Goal Enhancements Each year many new resolutions are made. My personal choice is enhancement’s to existing goals. Taking a stronger management of my mental health is front and center. Self care is very important and it’s a much needed part of our daily life. Eating the right foods and exercise at any age is something that is very important and there is helpful information available. Taking advantage of it is on my list of goals. Make a list and do what works best for you. Stay positive and make it happen!

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aving strength and stamina is important. Because we are older, we need to ﬁnd ways to increase our energy so we can play with our grandchildren, run errands, and be much healthier in general. I wanted to share with you energy boosters you may want to consider to help keep your energy levels at a working place. 1. Proper Nutrition-A balance diet 2. Eat Breakfast- It helps keep your energy up throughout the day

3. Green Tea- Better option than coffee-smaller amount of caffeine 4. B-Vitamin SupplementsExcellent energy booster. Found in most energy drinks 5. Drink Water- Drink water throughout the day, even if you are not thirsty For more on the list visit 9 Unexpected Energy Boosters for Older Adults from Sun Health at Home

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Making Soup! Source: https://tccp.coop

It’s that time of the year where a good soup is always welcome.

Do you want more customers? We are extending our holiday sale. Call today for great rates!! We want to help you reach your goal.

Everyone has their own choice of soup, my favorite is chicken vegetable soup. Try these steps to give your favorite a big step up !! What are the 7 steps to making soup? 7 Steps to Soup Heaven 1. Build a base. Aromatics are the start to any successful soup. ... 2. Spice it up. Herbs and spices add another layer of complexity to even the simplest soup. ... 3. Use in season produce. ... 4. To puree or not to puree? ... 5. Pick your protein. ... 6. Make it healthier with grains. ... 7. Take it over the top.

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