Pandem Magazine Vol. 1.3

PANDEM

CONT ENTS

20

SHED THE A HOLIDAY WEIGHT

11 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

26

THE AUTHOR CHALLENGE

05

HOW MANY TRIBES CAN YOU NAME

33

BUSINESS START UP

07

NATIVE LIVES MATTER

38

THE CURE FOR COVID STRESS

10

ENDURANCE

07

UP TOP

BY TINE SCRAPIE

14

A FAMILY DIVIDED

03

Pandem Presents The Author Challenge Launching January 2022

EGAYOV • 3 EGAP

STAR DILLON CYPRESS 10 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

1. We are not a monolith or homogeneous ( google the terms if you really don't know 2. indigenous people are everywhere in America. Just because you don't recognize us without "traditional" clothes does not mean we went extinct.

3. We come in every shade, race, and ethnicity (Black, Hispanic, Caucasian, and Asian) and political part

4. know the difference between ethnicity and nationality. These terms are not interchangeable.

5. Just because you met one Native doesn't mean they represent or speak for all others 6. To what degree someone expresses their indigenous traditions and identity is a personal choice and not a reflection of how more or less indigenous they are.

7. Native people have their own media, celebrities, and historical and political heroes.

8. Affiliation or Tribal membership is a political association much the same as Citizenship of a country rather than what race or races a Native may be related to. 100's of the year of intermarriage makes tribes every bit as complex as any other society.

MEDNAP • 4 EGAP

STAR DILLON CYPRESS 11 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

9. Native people are resilient because of their ability to adapt to mainstream culture while keeping their own religions and practices in private. Some of that happened by force, but mainly it occurs for survival. So when you make assumptions about why Natives don't fit a romanticized version of the American West, consider that blending in is a survival mechanism, not a reflection of how "traditional "or not "traditional" they are.

10. Native American religions are not institutions like Judeo Cristian or other world religions. Different tribes practice different ways. Most importantly, No One is entitled to demand a Native share their religious or tribal customs with you just because you're curious or feel like relating to them. Natives don't go around converting other people to their religions. If you're fortunate to have a close friendship with a Native, they may or may not share with you their own religion, but can and do sometimes include their friends in some ceremonies.

11. It is never polite to ask Natives to invite you into their community or home. Allow them to share only what is comfortable to them, and if you ever have the fortune to be included, always observe with an open mind and never comment or compare what you witness. Respect means everything to Indigenous people. I don't expect this to cover everything, but it's a starting point.

HOW MANY TRIBES CAN YOU NAME ?

INSPIRED BY STAR DILLON CYPRESS

There are 574 Recognized Tribes in the United States.

How many can you name?

MEDNAP • 5 EGAP

PANDEM

PAGE 6

ARTICLE

NATIVE LIVES MATTER WRITTEN BY APRIL THOMAS "Oh, they are all drug addicts; they don't want to do anything other than depending on the government." Does that sound familiar? "They are not civilized; they only kill each other."

I was a young girl sitting in class learning about

It is crazy to take one person's side of the story and

American "his-story." My teacher stated that there

believe it if you think about it. We must ask

were no "Native Americans; they were extinct," This

questions; we must think critically. If not, we will fall

wasn't very clear to me because it conflicted with

for just about anything. In every ethnicity, there is

the history my elders passed down to me. However,

good and evil. No one ethnicity is absolute; anyone

what stood out more in my mind was how could

to say that is ludicrous in a report from CNN from

one group of people completely wipe out another

2017. It reported that Police murder native

group of people? For me, there were a lot of holes in

Americans at a rate of 12% higher than Native

the story. I began to seek what I later realized was

Americans, yet, we are not learning about this from

the truth at this young age. My aunt realized I had an

the mainstream media.

interest and took me to a local powwow. While waiting to pay, I heard my name called by a familiar

Even the story of thanksgiving is a lie. I'm not going

voice. My aunt asked whether I knew someone from

to share that story here; I would like you to research

here. I don't think so, but before I could finish my

and listen to a tribal elder or storyteller. I would like

sentence, I saw this beautiful girl in a sky blue and

you to take the time to learn the truth on your own. I

silver Seminole skirt and shawl walking towards me,

think it's time we begin to ask questions, do the

shouting my name. I was shocked; it was my best

research, and seek knowledge, most importantly.

friend from church. We became close because the other kids were mean to her, and I refused to join

References

them. She became my friend, and I always felt this

https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/10/us/native-lives-

need to stand up for her and make sure she was

matter/index.html

alright. The irony was that she was Seminole, and according to my teacher, she should not exist.

ENDURANCE THE POWER WITHIN

"Yeah," Mei raised a brow, finding her questions aggravating.

"Do you need some help?" Jenna questioned,

"Don't let her lock you in a conversation," his words replayed in her mind. She didn't see her as a threat, until now, when she stood face to face with her. Max was not over exaggerating; this woman was evil. She could feel it oozing out of Jenna’s spirit like an insidious disease.

"You must be Jenna," Mei replied, not too excited.

Jenna reached out her hand for Mei to shake.

Mei was resistant but lifted her hand to shake hers. Before Mei's hand could reach Jenna, a flash of electricity shocked Jenna's hand causing her to abruptly pull away. Mei knew it hurt. It was a full, bright and loud flash of electricity.

"I'm sorry. Here I am dragging my feet and hands on the wall I must have been charged up," Mei apologized, grabbing her belly as she got a series of kicks from her son.

"Ah, oh. It's okay. Are you okay?" Jenna asked, trying to sound concerned.

"Yeah, but this boy can kick like you would not believe. I think he is going to be a soccer or football player like his dad," Mei joked.

"Yeah," Jenna replied, genuinely not caring.

Mei started to move forward. She wanted to get back outside, away from Jenna. She smiled at her as she began to pass, but Jenna got in front of her again. "So how far along are you?" she asked.

"Seven months," "So, a boy? Max must be happy."

Pandem |10

reaching for Mei's arm to help her walk.

"Mei!" Tamarius yelled, running down the hall towards her.

She was relieved to see him. She honestly didn't want Jenna touching her. Just being around her was beginning to make her feel nauseous.

Jenna jumped back. "I was just about to help her.

She doesn't look so well,” Jenna attempted to explain.

Tamarius was not fooled, and neither was Mei. As she reached out for his hand, Mei got another kick. She feared something was wrong. It wasn't time for her to give birth.

Tamarius took hold of Mei’s hand and placed his other hand on Mei’s belly to sense what was going on inside. He quickly began to hear the baby screaming, "Get her away from me!" He jumped back, never experiencing that before, but he immediately understood what he had to do.

As he turned to face Jenna, Max came running into the hallway. Seeing the Mei’s condition and his mother much too close to her alarmed him. He ran to Mei's side.

"What's wrong, baby?” he asked.

Mei was so busy fighting nausea she couldn't speak.

"Max, take her outside. She needs some fresh air," Tamarius demanded, not taking his eyes off of Jenna, who was watching her son, hoping to get his attention.

Max swopped up Mei and carried her outside. The farther Mei got away from Jenna, the better she felt.

ENDURANCE THE POWER WITHIN

Tamarius peered down at Jenna. "I told you to leave. You are not welcomed here," he growled, his grey eyes turning metallic silver as his stare intensified.

Jenna, feeling the heat, realized that this was too much for her and walked out, not saying a word. This time Tamarius followed her outside and waited as her car was brought around. She got in and left.

Aprilathomas.com

Pandem | 11

Written by April Thomas Book 1 of The Endurance Series

Why Not Me? Tells what most doctors don't share.

Cases of kidney failure are skyrocketing worldwide, and rates of treatment for kidney failure are growing faster than the population. It costs Medicare more for medical treatment than prostate cancer and breast cancer combined, forcing many people to choose conservative management not to treat kidney failure with dialysis or a transplant.

Why Not Me? Empowers you to take an active role in your health care and explains why reducing your dependence on medications can improve your overall health.

It also helps you how to read and understand your lab results if your doctor orders a blood or urine test; everything on the lab test result is important even though doctors never cover all the results.

What should you do when your healthcare provider tells you not to worry about a medical problem that is slightly higher or lower than normal?

Learn the understanding or how dishonesty with your care team could hurt you; it will shock you once you reveal that most of the information given by your health team is for treatment only; most instructions are wellness and are the opposite from preventative treatment.

"Why Not Me?" Written with Wallace's authority and with the help of, who chose to take an active role in their health care and those who chose prevention. Why Not Me? is based on Wallace's compassion from his own experience and answering questions that most don't know how to ask.

You will learn what to ask doctors, choose the proper medications and herbs, and enrich while maintaining a healthy life.

In addition, you will learn personal responsibility and never ask, "Why me?" The sad reality is if you don't know or don't properly care for yourself, you will say, "Why not me!" No one can keep you healthy other than you!

https://healthawarenesskidneydance.com/

A FAMILY DIVIDED

By April Thomas

Disclaimer: No words in this article are intended to attack, harm, or incite violence against any group or individual.

The accounts in this article are based on documented historical events. The conclusions drawn by the author are based on research.

Information is cited, and you can find this in the Reference section at the end of this article.

If you were to evaluate the overall performance of The United States as a nation, how would you grade its systemic institutions? Just taking a sweeping view of American history, it would not be difficult to identify a number of what we would now classify as violations of human rights.

The subject is heavy. However, it would only be a light matter if it were not so pervasive. Since the arrival of the first European settlers, this continent has faced unimaginable violence under many institutions, namely religion. Let's examine the most popular of them, Christianity.

Although the tenants of Christianity are good and loving in and of themselves, ironically, the institution was used as a trojan horse to repress, subjugate and ultimately eradicate indigenous people.

Four hundred years later, the aftermath is social, educational, economic, and political inequality.

This year, more young Native Americans and non-Natives learned the historically accurate story of "Thanksgiving." ( There are links in the reference if you have not heard the "Real Story of Thanksgiving, as told by Native historians and elders.)

PANDEMMAGAZINE.COM

The typical thanksgiving narrative that most Americans have assumed hardly resembles the events at Plymouth colony. After learning the true story, it is not uncommon for people to be left questioning the intent of a group of religious Europeans claiming to represent God himself and how they could not see how this contradicted their righteous claims.

The Thanksgiving story, where the Chief of the Wampanoag Tribe was unceremoniously decapitated. The Chief's head posted on a stake for twenty-four years!

Who was responsible for such a violent and hateful act? His name was William Bradford, a former governor of Plymouth. He belonged to a religious minority in Europe. He sought to establish the first permanent Colony in New England to express religious freedom from the Roman Catholic Church and the Crown. After so many hardships in the New World, his Colony was in a desperate state of hunger and illness that led to numerous encounters with the local tribes and negotiations for hunting and farming resources PANDEM MAGAZINE

The resources and disease ignited a power struggle that ultimately led to the killing of 90% of the original inhabitants. The unmitigated acts of ingratitude towards Indians at the time, who offered assistance to the dying Colony, would be classified as wicked by any Christian standard. As if to add insult to injury, the colonies implemented a policy of scapegoating Indians and punishing them by way of human trafficking or slave trade, as we've come to know it. Some Natives were even sent to Europe and paraded around as exotic animals. Imagine for a moment that this was happening now.

Let's say wealthy investors moved in with plans to gentrify your neighborhood, and after hounding you with offers to buy your property and build a Starbucks and Pilates studio, but instead, they leave behind highly infectious diseases, half your community dies. They run you off with court orders, and finally, they take the survivors and sell them off on the internet black market. It's not unfathomable that after a few generations, your grandchildren

The typical thanksgiving narrative that most Americans have assumed hardly resembles the events at Plymouth colony.

www.pandemmagazine.com | 15

PAGE 16

A FAMILY DIVIDED

APRIL THOMAS

years. Accounts of Native Oral History support archeological research that uncovers a complex history of indigenous people placed into slavery and sent to Europe.

They later may have been traded and sent to Africa, which led to those recapturing and sent back to the West via the Caribbean as African slaves. It is not entirely unlikely that such an exhausting turn of events would have taken place wouldn't be exactly thankful. For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is as fun a holiday as mourning the world they can never get back. Native Americans and Melanated (Black) Americans are two sides of the same coin. This article is a call to why these two groups should be compelled to unite under a shared history of oppression and displacement.

As we know it today, North America was once referred to as "Turtle Island" by the Natives who inhabited this area for more than 10000. The following statements may be controversial, but I have reason to believe that the Archeological evidence speaks for itself. Artifacts suggest Native Americans inhabited the Western Hemisphere as far back as 20,000 years.

since well-documented accounts of Apaches were captured and sent to work in Cuba on tobacco plantations and sugar cane fields to make rum. Even documented ancestors of Seminole refugees in Mexico migrated there to escape the U.S. military efforts to place them on reservation land in Oklahoma. There are groups of English and Irish people in the U.k. that have organized claims of DNA connecting them to Current tribes in the U.S.

PAGE 17

A FAMILY DIVIDED

PANDEM MAGAZINE

Today there are a lot of conspiracy theories and misinformation concerning Black and Native Americans.

Because so much history is lost, manipulated, and just plain

References

out confusing. It's hard to untangle the truth from the lies. I suspect the confusion is deliberate to cover up the truth.

When this happens, I take a step back and look at the situation. The rate of Natives dying due to direct encounters with law enforcement is three times that of Black American men. I would never diminish the importance of demonstrating. I would like to see the same demonstrations and protest for Native men and women.

Native women are statistically preyed upon and discarded at alarming rates due to inaction by our justice systems and plane prejudice by local law enforcement.

I want to examine these issues and possible ways you and I can support victims of racial injustice in future articles.

O'Fallon, B. D., & Fehren-Schmitz, L. (2011). Native Americans experienced a strong population bottleneck coincident with European contact. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(51), 20444-20448.

First Thanksgiving https://youtu.be/aFtu2v6Pnt0 https://youtu.be/G_emzJvxZ8E

Greenleaf Health LLC

F F O D E SH IDAY L HO EIGHT W AIN G

Y L K C I U Q

PANDEM DECEMBER 2021 ISSUE 3 VOLUME 1

GREENLEAF TIPS

Low Calorie Drinks

by April Thomas You don't have to gain excessive weight over the holiday season.

Grandma's cornbread, roast turkey, and stuffing is calling your name.

Besides, it's the holidays, and with what we have been through this past year, we deserve to indulge in some good old-fashioned comfort foods. Many people this year have boosted up on their vaccine shot and hit the road to spend Thanksgiving with family. Most of us have accepted that we will return home with extra baggage. But, you don't have to gain excessive weight over this holiday season. I will share three tips to help you fight the bulge this holiday season. Be mindful of what you drink; these drinks can help you with Butterfly Pea tea, Apple Cider vinegar, Stevia-based sodas, and water.

Be mindful of what you drink.

If you have diabetes, this tip will help you in more ways than one. Pay attention to what you drink. Cut out the sodas and be very careful with juices. Find what you can replace those drinks with; for example, cut out soda and begin drinking Zevia.

21

Zevia is a low-calorie soda made with Stevia and natural flavors. The truth is this drink has zero calories, carbs, and, most notably, no sugar.

The flavor that I recommend is Blackcherry, and I have to warn everyone, if you are used to drinking regular soda, you will not enjoy this alternative.

Butterfly Pea tea makes a great cold drink. In my household, we make up to three gallons at a time. We drink it daily with a splash of lime or lemon. I have included a video to show how to make Iced Butterfly Tea. The fantastic benefits of drinking Butterfly Pea Tea are the following; it increases your metabolism and helps your body lose the visceral fat hanging around your belly and other unwanted areas. In my experience, I drink this with my meals every day, and I have noticed that shortly after eating, I sometimes begin to get hungry in which I will eat fruit or a salad. I have also noticed that it is easier for me to lose weight, especially inch loss around my mid-section.

Drinking this while enjoying your holiday meal could help your body burn up those excess calories.

There are a lot of healthy and delicious drinks you can enjoy that will help keep your blood sugar balance and the excess weight off.

Our list of Recommended drinks

Zevia Cream Soda Virgil's Sugar-free Rootbeer Virgil's BlackCherry Blue Butterfly Pea Tea w/ Lemon Uncle Matt's Strawberry lemonade sweetened with organic stevia Most importantly Water

PANDEMMAGAZINE.COM

GREENLEAF TIPS Most already know about Apple Cider Vinegar, but not commonly known is that Apple Cider Vinegar cuts your carbs by thirty percent. I don't know about you, but I can certainly enjoy eating those dinner rolls knowing thirty percent of it will go away fairly quickly. The downside of this is apple cider vinegar tastes horrible. There is a way to make an ACV drink that will taste better, but sometimes the best thing to do is get a shot glass and chug it. Another way to take ACV is as a gummy. I would recommend the gummies.

And lastly, water drinking adequate water daily will give your body the ability to flush out toxins, chemicals, fat and keep the overall system running like a welloiled machine. From what I understand to your daily water intake, you should drink half your body weight in water and ounces. If you weigh two-hundred pounds, you should be drinking one

Healthy Drinks

101 22 Issue 27 | 234

hundred ounces of water per day. It would be best if you also consider your climate.

If you live in warmer weather, you may need to drink more water than someone who lives in a colder climate.

These are just a few drinks you could add to our holiday meal. Please enjoy your holidays. Be very mindful of your health and what you put into your mouth. Also, be aware of what comes out of your mouth. Encourage the next generation to do better than the last without losing their humanity. Happy Holidays.

PANDEMMAGAZINE.COM

Not only is this tea beautiful. The taste is delicate and refreshing. However, the best part about this tea is what it does to your body. Here are the 17 or more benefits of drinking Butterfly Pea Tea daily.

1. Fights cancer and tumors 2. Contains Cyclotides which help protect the body from HIV 3. Fights Diabetes & helps to get rid of visceral fat 4. Fights depression 5. Shortens the length of colds and helps with asthma 6. It's an anti-inflammatory and immune booster 7. Reduces stress and anxiety 8. Relives pain and swelling 9. Lowers Blood Pressure 10. Balances the health of your bladder 11. Supports cognitive function 12. A female aphrodisiac 13. stops white vaginal discharge 14. Reduces grey hair 15. Promotes Hair Growth 16. Increase Blood Flow to the eyes helps with many eye issues.

17. Your skin will love you; this tea, Butterfly Pea Tea, rejuvenates the skin, stimulating collagen and elastin.

Slows signs of aging, especially wrinkles. https://s2live4.com/products/butterfly-pea-tea

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PANDEMMAGAZINE.COM

Pandem

Author

27

AUTHORS & BOOKS

THE AUTHOR CHALLENGE

Life

What if authors came together and supported each other. What if together we created a platform where we all can thrive. Yea, it's a dream, but it's worth a try.

By April Thomas

I am very excited about this project; I love coming together to support one another. I am doing my best to keep it fair and balanced. The purpose of this event is to help each other. I know the struggle with getting exposure and book sales. I have learned a lot over my twelve years of being a self-published author. Recently, I have spent most of my time promoting and growing my new magazine titled Pandem, along with our online show called Pandem Presents. As the Editor-inChief and Host, I do my best to help bring awareness of what I call hidden gems in authors and small business owners. If you want to join The Author Challenge, then this is what you need to know, it is a tenweek marketing and promotion program.

You will be placed in a team of 30 authors who retail their book in the same price range that you retail your book.

For example, if your book is listed for 2.99 to 5.99.

You will be placed in a group where the prices are in that same range. Each week we will promote three authors and their books. You will support your fellow author in your group during that week by purchasing books.

I will interview each guest on my new show, Pandem Presents. We will put together a magazine for authors titled Debut. In this magazine, I share a portion of my books. If you want your book to be promoted in this magazine, just let me know. The rates are pocket-friendly. As for being in the author challenge, the only cost is purchasing authors' books in your group. We are better together; I hope to see you at the top.

To get started, email april@pandemmagazine.com send the following: Book Cover and Link to where your book is sold.

WWW.PANDEMMAGAZINE.COM | 23

The Author Challenge Game Time Rules: Answer questions from the book "Endurance The Power Within" by April Thomas and win an autographed copy with an "S2Live4" Care Package. Send in your answers to april@pandemmagazine.com

01 02

How Many Languages does Mei speak?

A. One B. Two C. Three D. Four

Who does Tamarius fall in love with?

A. Cressida B. Mei C. Makayla D. Nelson

03

What did Mei's estranged grandmother witness?

04

What is the name of Max's Stepbrother?

A. The birth of Mei. B. An alien abduction.

C. The murder of Mei's father D. The Birth of a new age

A. Milton B. Justin C. Jake D. Dustin

APRILATHOMAS.COM

Join the challenge

APRILATHOMAS.COM FORBIDDEN New book release teaser

By April Thomas

Tokoda had been standing there for some time, growing angry as he watched Amahle floating naked in the pond. Although it was a common thing to do, he didn't want the woman that was now his to be seen naked by other men. He reminded himself that she was not aware of what had just happened and that he had to be patient with her, as her father had requested. He watched as she swam to the edge of the pond, apprehensive about approaching him. He bent down and picked up her tunic, holding it up and out in front of him.

"Something has happened, and I need to walk you home," he informed her.

Her first thought was of her father. He was an ancient man, and lately, he had been preparing her for his passing. She quickly got out of the pond and took her tunic from Tokoda. She promptly dressed then wrung the water out of her curly, dark hair.

"What has happened?" she asked in the native language.

Tokoda looked at her, both surprised and amused, and then answered her back. "Your father is dying, we must go."

Her knees began to buckle, and he caught her before she fell.

"Everything will be all right," he assured her.

When they arrived at her home, she bolted, pushing through the crowd to see the man she now recognized as her father, laying in his bed surrounded by a lot of people, including all of the tribal dignitaries, Tokoda's parents, and all of his children. She paused, and her father looked up at her.

"Make room for your sister," he ordered his children.

They all obeyed their father, pulling Amahle into the circle. Now all of his children knelt around him, weeping and praying for his safe journey into the afterlife. He reached out to Amahle and pulled her close to him, as he felt his spirit leaving. "Little one, please forgive me for leaving you," he said.

"It's okay, father," Amahle answered as she cried.

"Not too long ago, Tokoda came to me and asked for you my, youngest flower. I respect that you have not always been my daughter and that you come from a different world, but I ask that you consider it because I know that he will take good care of you and make you happy. You just need to be patient with him."

"I will do as you asked father," Amahle agreed. She laid her head on her father's chest and said in his Wikipedia is a multilingual, web-based, free-

native language.

"I am your daughter, Amahle, of the content encyclopedia wikipedia.com Bear Clan from the project. tribe of |Rueben."

Songaa wept as he placed his old, trembling hand on the top of her head. He looked at his other children, summoned them all close to him, and experienced the greatest joy any father could receive on his deathbed. At that moment, he took his last breath, and his spirit crossed over into the after, full of love, peace, and joy.

WWW.PANDEMMAGAZINE.COM

WWW.TBORDERS.COM

2021

T-BORDERS ALL ABOUT BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE

TANGALAYER OATES Q and A on Business

START UPS 1 on 1 Business Coaching and consultating

CREATE A SECURE BUSINESS FOUNDATION

34

Start up

Transcending Borders Corporation Written by Tangalayer Oates, MBA CEO and Founder January 2022

Here is a transcript from an interview conducted with Mrs. Tangalayer Oates, the Transcending Borders Corporation CEO, and founder. For additional information or learn more about training, go directly to their website at www.tborders.com.

Q: What are suggestions do you have to start a business?

A: Our organization discusses what we call "The Pre- Entrepreneurship to Small Business ." We offer three suggestions in this process:

WWW.PANDEMMAGAZINE.COM

(1) Prepare your finances:- We describe this as learning and managing your finances! Many small businesses fail early on not for lack of drive or commitment but planning and financing.

Remember that your company may not generate significant revenue to employ a team. How will you create a paycheck to support your household and hire future employees?

(2) Learn whom you value, what you love, and why you value who and what you value: Our organization refers to this process as "Entrepreneurship Introspection"! Understanding your framework, including how others view you, can be a great way to reaffirm your strengths or reevaluate your weaknesses. Most importantly, understanding and acknowledging your biases is equally essential as considering how others view you.

(3) Be kind to yourself: You will not know everything when it comes to starting a business; be open to learning, asking questions, and begin building a network! Remember that some resources and tools are accessible, specifically designed for the new business owner. Research, Ask, Make a Decision and become active in the process.

BUSINESS START UP Q&A

35

"IS THERE A RIGHT WAY TO START A BUSINESS?" www.tborders.com

Is there a right way to start a business?

Q: Is there a right way to start a business?

A: Great question! Legal is what comes to mind! For example, determining the business structure, learning how the taxation for your elected business structure, and how the state county and or city in which your organization resides expect taxes! Or if someone is a contractor (1099) learning more about paying taxes, quarterly or yearly.

Q: What resources do you refer clients to when starting a business?

A: Small Business Administration (SBA) is an excellent "free or low-cost" resource in most cases.

In addition, go to your state's Secretary of State again for "free or low-cost" help. In many cases, you will need a checklist about starting a business. If you are a woman, veteran or disabled veteran, or minority, additional training is available to help you understand business options.

WWW.PANDEMMAGAZINE.COM

37

Inquiring Minds Q. Do you offer any suggestions for someone wanting to start a not-for-profit?

A: The same with for-profit startups; research your market and learn where a gap exists (need) and how your organization can fill this (demand) or gap. Consider how your organization may partner or collaborate with other organizations to support the condition of the community or communities you will serve. Consider learning about recruiting and requirements of board members and learn about fundraising your state's requirements.

If you are an "inquiring mind" and interested in learning more, feel free to contact Mrs. Oates at info@tborders.com or go directly to their website at www.tborders.com.

Transcending Borders Corporation Written by Tangalayer Oates, MBA CEO and Founder January 2022

Dr. Bakari’s Cure for COVID-19 Stress and Isolation

THE

HEALING CHALLENGE Healing Challenge 2022 Who isn’t tired of the drama of COVID-19? At first, we panicked about paying bills, educating our children, and fulfilling our obligations. After we figured out those nuances, dark stress and isolation that we can’t even put our finger on remained.

So many people are experiencing relationship stress on their jobs, with their children, lovers, and friends. And we feel more distant from ourselves than ever.

Dr. Rosenna Bakari, author of the bestseller, The Healing Journey: Relationships and Wellness Guide, has created a unique program to reach out to people who are feeling unappreciated, unloved, isolated, and confused. “Healing Challenge 2022” offers year-long support to anyone willing to meet the challenge of empowerment transformation.

The empowerment challenge is to commit to reading the guide, attending monthly webinars, and participating in group discussions about topics related to healing the mind. Bakari calls it a challenge because people would rather find distractions for their pain. People who have experienced abuse or trauma tend to carry a collection of false perceptions of power. They believe what is happening on the outside is happening on the inside. They think changing the outside will change the inside. They try to use their minds to protect their hearts. People spend decades trying to live within this belief system and dig themselves deeper and deeper into a state of disempowerment. This program will teach participants how to stop being a victim.

Dr. Bakari is an empowerment psychologist who is known to give freely of her time to support communities. She is a college professor, a poet, and a scholar. She is also an advocate for mental wellness. She has published six books and professional journal articles, as well as trained preservice teachers and counselors. Anyone who knows her work will not be surprised at her generous offering or the expertise participants will experience.

A single registration is $50 for the entire year – practically free. Teams can register for just pennies more. The goal is to start a healing trend, normalize wellness for a change. For an entire year, participants will trade negative social media interactions for discussions about self-care, how to apologize, and how to heal trauma. Instead of complaining, they do something empowering. We already know we don’t want 2022 to be like 2021. But, we must present evidence to the universe that we want a different outcome. Talk is cheap, and so is the Healing Challenge 2022.

So, anybody looking for a more empowered life in 2022 should start here.

Up Top

By Tine Scrapie

A strong mind is a beautiful thing, Sometimes we take advantage of it and can be easily wasted.

Subliminally our subconscious mind can become unconscious just by the smallest amount of stress over time.

See when its comes to up top, we gotta make sure we secure that spot ,no matter what tries to destroy it we gotta constantly keep fixing it, stay strong, stay loyal!

Up top is a perishable spot, and contagious at the same time.

We dont even realize how delicate the thoughts and visions we have in our mind truly are, They can either tear you down or build you up.

Anyone can tell you how to think, what to think, but its on you to be true to you and stand up tall, be strong and be true to who you are!

Constantly, consistently working thru the things that make you feel weak, only to come out feeling stronger, wiser, prouder.

Intrinsic value is a wonderful tool; self-love is what we need too!

Without those things, confidence is far from seen and sometimes can feel untrue! Mentally healthy is what we need to be, Loving yourself doesn't have to be hard at all.

Every time you look in that mirror, say those affirmations out loud and stand tall!

I AM SMART; I AM BEAUTIFUL, I AM TALENTED, I AM LOVED, I AM STRONG! You can be the best you, for you! It doesn't matter what they say about you! Look how far you've come!

Up top is the best spot to start; thinking in your brain creates motivation for you to take the steps that need to be taken.

Even without hesitation, the sound of that heartbeat starts fainting, traveling down your brain, Travels down to your chest where it belongs, heartbeat so strong, sounds like the sweetest song when it's at rest and calm.

Signals sent down from up top thru your body, giving you the ultimate motivation to get yourself back into that healthy mental state, which makes it contagious to the rest of your body that gives you that push to physically get that sexy back!

And that brings that smile back on your face that comes so easily because you've been working on getting back to that healthy mental state, which trickles down emotionally then it got you physically maintaining that healthy pace.

We gotta take care of up top, because if not, it'll trickle down to the wrong spot. And if you keep letting it trickling on, it'll seep down into your bones; once it gets down to that marrow, you'll start disintegrating slow. So keep your head up and your chin higher! Stand tall and believe the good thoughts; know that you can truly have it all! With just a little bit of self-love, consistency, and self-motivation, you'll see that gold, feel that intrinsic value that'll have you feel that real you the better you. Up top is a delicate spot; you wanna live long and well, it all starts from up top, without up top, all that music stops.

Self-love is the best love!!

But it starts from up top!!