ISSUE NO. 3
SHE IS CHERI A WOMAN’S MANIFESTATION
FEATURING
ANITA SCIPIO ERIC BROWN SHAQUITA SMITH AND MORE...
A NEW DECADE
THREE COMMON MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESSES BY: NOAH H.
e h t om Letter fr editor. While creating every issue for the magazine my goal is to remain centered around inclusion. The key to success, in my opinion, is growth. In order for LUL Magazine to grow, we must put ourselves on the front line for Others. We must be willing to learn and empathize for those who do not have a voice of their own; or those who have survived or accomplished their dreams. We must try to understand exactly what life is for so many others, and not just ourselves. Let Us Live Magazine isn’t only a publication. To some we are seen as just a right now fad; but to others LUL has become a movement. It is important to carry out actions that generate solutions in life by to bringing awareness, creating safe spaces for conversation about financial,health, social and economic issues. Education will always be the gateway to higher levels of success. With time and growth the mind can obtain anything. The tittle of “A New Decade” is the theme of Issue #3. It signifies the change in us all as an entire human race, learning and evolving every day. At first I was unsure about the title, but after taking time to think and really hone in on where we are today, I realize that the world is shifting, we must shift as well. Ready or not we have to understand what the word “Decade” means, and why it is so important. The definition of Decade means “a period of ten years” which is just a big piece of chapter within our lives.
Each moments we breathe defines who we are and the decisions we choose to make. I observe a lot around me, and I have come to realize that as a human race, a lot of us are shaped by our pasts and allow it into our present deterring us for our “best” future. If you look at how things are progressing now, our past is like a vehicle in which we can navigate through life. In some cases we had to learn from those experiences to help us figure out what we should do next. For most, this is just another DECADE, but that’s the not focus, as our focus should be centered around what we will do to make this new decade in our lives different. Think about your personal life, your businesses, your family, relationships, finances, new opportunities, commitments, dedications, etc that you can ultimately change in this NEW DECADE. It will challenge you on a new level, require you to think more about what it is that you want to do to potentially make this decade one of the best ones ever. Your decision will shape the next 10 years, and you must ask yourself… Do I want to repeat the last ten years, or do I want to create a whole new chapter that you can be proud of for another decade after? FOUNDER AND CEO
Dwyane Stovall Photographer: Ralph Edwards Instagram @iamredbrand
ISSUE 3
A NEW
DECADE
04
“Dear Black People”
05
Quinn G: “The Tale of the Stubborn Tree”
07
Eric Brown: “Cooking is EZ”
09
Shaquita Smith: “I’ll Set My Stage”
12
Cheri Smith: “A Woman’s Manifestation”
15
“Dear Fellow People of Hispanic, Latin, & Spanish Origin”
16
“I Wear Me”
19
Covid-19
20
Three Common Mental Health Illnesses
23
Natalie J
25
Anita Scipio: “Call Me Mama”
27
Cyn The Great: The Journey To Cyn
30
I Am Me
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ISSUE #3 | 2
SHEDELLA REOVAN
Business owner / Event Coordinator
Shedella Reovan was born in Beautiful Grenada Spice Island. As a child she discovered that she had a passion to become a fashion designer. Ms. Reovan decided to come to America to pursue her dreams where she had the opportunity to work in retail, but the the bigger picture was to have her own online clothing boutique, and so she made that vision come true. During the building of her business, she also realized her love for events began to grow while setting up events. Like any boss, she combined the two together allowing her to tap into both worlds ultimately giving her the experience & the best of both worlds. Apart from her own dreams, this Proud mother of 5 children loves to spend time with them, her family and doing the things she loves the most which is helping others, when she’s not working on fashion ideas for her boutique or putting events together. Please check out her work on her website www.oceanglamboutique.com where you can find her most up to date fashion designs and the time and dedication she puts into her business.
www.oceanglamboutique.com
A WOMAN’S
Cheri
n o i t a t s e f i n a M
C E
veryday I wake up around 9:00am and sit in my bed and scroll through Twitter. Then about 10 seconds later I see a couple tweets that instantly remind me “Oh yeah, we’re in the midst of a pandemic”. I’ve come to realize that I am living through one of the most unprecedented times in history. I’m in an era where my children will look through their textbooks and ask me about the times that were currently living in. And the worst part is no one really knows how this story will end. No politician, religious leader, or news anchor knows the true ramifications of Covid-19. As of now, we’re about a month into quarantine, with approximately a little over 60,000 deaths stateside and almost 227,000 worldwide. These are the increasing numbers as of April 29th. People are perishing at an alarming rate. In the midst of this pandemic, the American people are looking for sound leadership. Successful leadership of any organization starts from the top down. If the structure at the top is insufficient, then the organization is doomed to fail. President Trump’s role in the escalation of Covid-19 in the United States should not be excused in the slightest. His administration represents failed leadership. From the early stages of this pandemic, Trump downplayed and minimized the threat of Covid-19 to the detriment of the American people. Some of Trump’s alarming statements include, “We have it totally under control. It’s one person coming in from China. It’s going to be just fine.”- Trump in a CNBC interview. I’m well aware that he is our President, and it is his job to console his people during times of uncertainty but, as the leader of the free world, he knowingly downplayed the virus and its seriousness. Now , the citizens of this country are left to prematurely adjust because we are left without direction ,except “Stay inside. Wash your hands. Where a mask.” Even on the home front, life has changed drastically
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since March 11 - the day the World Health Organization declared this global outbreak a pandemic. The decisions have been swift and disheartening, starting with Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp, and his reopening plan. Currently, the state of Georgia is in phase one of this plan, which allows for certain businesses such as hair and nail salons, barbershops, massage parlors, gyms, restaurants, and theaters to open for business under restricted guidelines. This is especially frightening, because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is a United States Federal Agency under the Department of Health and Human Services, which is located in Atlanta,Georgia, the capital city of the state which Kemp governs. So, if any state should be able to use science and human intelligence to be modeled by other states, it should be Georgia. Instead, we’re on the other side of the spectrum being one of the first states to reopen. Valuable lives are now being viewed as statistics and test dummies. We now have to ask ourselves, “What line is our government willing to cross?” Are we choosing commerce over lives? At what risk is caution thrown to the wind and an Ivan Drago approach is taken - “If he dies, he dies.” In metropolitan Atlanta, things haven’t been quite as peachy. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was sent a very racist and distasteful social media message, all because she does not agree with Governor Kemp’s position on reopening the state. Don’t get me wrong. We’re all entitled to our own opinions, especially right now, but in the middle of a crisis, the last thing we should do is create strife between the Atlantians. Mayor Bottoms has done nothing, but tell her constituents to stay home and protect themselves, even when their government won’t. Our lives have changed so much over this last month. We can only wonder how long we’ll need to fight this invisible threat. Most of us have already made major adjustments. From working from home, to not being able to go to eat and grab drinks with a friend. Things are changing right before our very eyes. Use the time you have wisely. Sit and plan your future, while we are in pause. by Noah H.
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One of the most prevalent mental illnesses is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. As defined by the American Psychiatric Association PTSD is “ a psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a serious accident, a terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault.” PTSD can be grouped into 4 types: intrusive memories, avoidance, changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. When an individual is living with PTSD they can experience symptoms like reliving a traumatic event or avoiding places,activities,or people that can spark a memory of an event. Furthermore, when coping with PTSD it is normal to feel Irritable, have an angry outburst, and tend to have aggressive behavior.
PTSD
by Noah H.
Have you ever wondered why people say your brain is the most important organ of your body? It’s not a visible piece of a person’s structure, like your arms or legs. When detached, the brain is a jelly-like mass connected to you through your spine. So what makes the brain so valuable? The brain is the engine to one’s central nervous system, being the most complex part of your body. It has the unique ability to send massive amounts of information such as controlling your actions and reactions. It also has the capability to create emotions, memories and most importantly make us human. Although due to its complexity, the brain is not fully understood by doctors and scientists alike, making mental health awareness of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, the brain can develop illnesses that prevent it from performing as it should. These illnesses can be described as health conditions that can change your behavior, thoughts, and emotions.
Doctors are not certain why some individuals develop PTSD and others of the same caliber do not. It is widely understood that the metal illness is a complex mix of inherited mental health risk and inherited features of one’s personality. People of all ages can develop some form of PTSD, some factors make you more likely than others. Military veterans and first responders are some of the first occupations that come to mind when discussing PTSD due to the nature of their position. Experiencing intense or lasting trauma can also lead to the development of PTSD. For example, a military veteran who experienced deployment or battle would be more susceptible to the effects of the mental disorder than a civilian. As there are many uncertain causes of PTSD, is it critical that you are aware of signs and symptoms. Once identified please speak with a healthcare professional such as your local practitioner or psychiatric physician or nurse. As someone who can speak to the hardships of PTSD, I stress that you are not alone and who you can fight this. Please do not feel afraid to reach out to your loved ones as they are your support system to assist you with getting your life back on track.
ISSUE #3 | 20
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