PSC: Activate

Volume 1, Issue 4

ACTIVATE YOUR DREAMS IN 2022 Nikita Hines, Nikita Hines Enterprises

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"I enjoyed reading empowering quotes by powerful black women.

The writing prompts to help me journal are amazing too!"

Jackie H

Introducing Author, Dr. Ondra Dismukes

AVAILABLE AT

CONTENTS 4 FROM THE HEART Activate your mind, body and spirit!

5 MOMSPACE with L. Renee James-Griffin 7 SAVING YOUR 1ST 1K FOR EMERGENCIES

by Tara Opie 15 PREPARE & ACTIVATE YOUR SPIRIT LIFE FOR THE NEW YEAR

by Wanda White

17 $LIPSTICK HACK

by Jay L Harris 19 CULLING YOUR CLOSET FOR THE NEW YEAR

by Loren A. Taylor 23 YOGA-HAIKU, ANYONE?

by Dr. Ondra Dismukes

11 MEET PRETTY SMART CHIC NIKITA HINES OF NIKITA HINES ENTERPRISESRIS!

26 THE MAN CAVE with Alex Howard 28 THE COMMUNITY CORNER with Toyshebia Napper 30 SHOULD I STAY, OR SHOULD I GO?

by Kecia Shackleford

32 PRETTY TALK!

22 Blissful Things You Can Do in 15 Minutes to Add More Joy to Your Day

36 ZEUS: CHRONICLES OF A SEX GOD from the novel by Jay L Harris

FROM THE

with Dr. O

Dr. Ondra Krouse Dismukes

ACTIVATE YOUR DREAMS IN 2022 Two, four, six, eight . . . Pretty Smart Chics, activate! I know, it’s corny; but I couldn’t resist this waning opportunity to cheer in 2022! To that end, this issue of Pretty Smart Chics is dedicated to helping you activate your health, wealth, style, and spiritual goals for the year ahead. Meet our Cover Chic, Nikita Hines, whom our Boss Chic, Jay L Harris interviewed regarding her spiritual journey towards entrepreneurship. Harris follows this interview with her $2 lipstick hack to keep you pretty on a budget.

We are also pleased to welcome our contributing writers Wanda White, Kecia Shackleford, Loren Taylor, and Tara Opie. White’s article, entitled “Prepare and Activate Your Spirit Life” helps us get right within, while in “Should I Stay, or Should I Go?” Shackleford gives us hope for travel, COVID be damned! You can’t travel in style, though, if your closet ain’t right; so Loren Taylor, of Loren Taylor Designs, shares her expertise in “Culling Your Closet for the New Year.” Meanwhile, we are always pleased to welcome back Tara Opie with her trusted financial advice in “Saving Your First $1K for Emergencies.”

Feeling activated, yet? Our standard features are sure to help! Our Momspace Editor, L. Renee James Griffin reminds us how we can activate our imaginations in this new year, while I share a healthy new perspective on an old art form in “Yoga Haiku, Anyone?”

Speaking of perspective, we are especially pleased to welcome our new Man Cave Editor, Alex Howard, who examines how life changes not only post-pandemic, but also when you’re “On the Other Side of 40” . . . . YIKES! No matter your age, if you’re old enough to vote, our Community Corner Editor, Toyshebia Napper, reminds us of the urgent need to activate politically, especially now. Finally, as we end this first month of the new year, Jay L Harris shares 22 15-minute joy hacks for your day, and the latest chapter from her novel Zeus: Chronicles of a Sex God will put you in the mood for some joy at night!

Let’s activate!

-Dr. O

MOMSPACE Parents, Reactivate Your Imagination!

I recently worked on a project that required me to think about the various roles we take on. So many of us play dual, triple, quadruple roles we so graciously step into, and others that are forced upon us. In our daily grind, we become multi-taskers, constantly juggling one thing after another because we’ve been trained to do so. We’re conditioned to believe that being an adult means putting away our childish ways to tackle responsibilities. Those said responsibilities include - but are not limited to - making a living, finding a mate, having children, paying bills, renting or buying a home, and contributing to society as a whole. However, the one thing we often drop is our inner child, our imagination.

As a society, we pride ourselves in making sure our kids have active imaginations. We read books to children and introduce them to the wonderful world of art, play, and exploration. We travel miles to expand their imagination through fun and unique experiences. We agree with the countless books that remind us a child’s imagination is what helps them connect, learn, and become productive adults later in life. Yet, isn’t it funny how we often gloss over how important it is for an adult to have an imagination too?

Think about it for a moment. What would it be like to carry our inner child into adulthood and say “no” to some of the demands we place on ourselves? As children, we are told to imagine, to dream, and to go beyond our limits; but as adults, we spend our lives staying within our contrived borders. Our adult lives become routine; and before we know it, we are mimicking a washing machine. Wash, Rinse, Repeat. In our case, we wake up, carry out our responsibilities, go to bed dreading the repeat, and then force our children to grow up and do the same.

CONTINUED ON P. 6

Continued from p. 5 . . . But what if? What if we reached out to our inner child and let him or her take hold of the adults we’ve become now? What if we embraced our imagination and used it to the fullest? What if, by tapping into our creativity, we allowed ourselves to reimagine our role, our existence? Instead of seeing an unmovable problem, what if we saw infinite solutions? Instead of narrow borders, what if we began to see limitless possibilities? How much better off would we be? Perhaps we would see people for who they are and not the limits we place on them. Perhaps we would create cures faster than before, and perhaps the idea of flying cars and futuristic buildings would manifest sooner than later.

Isn't it time we reactivate our childlike imagination to see what we can become and do?

L. Renee's credentials include a bachelor’s degree in English, a bachelor’s degree in journalism, a Master of Arts degree in Secondary Education, and an MFA in Creative writing. She's a wife, mom, educator, and writer.

Her love for the English language has propelled James-Griffin to instruct high school, Freshman, and upper-level students on the art of words. In addition, she currently serves as one of the advisers of the Milton High School literary magazine, The Globe.

SAVING YOUR FIRST $1K FOR EMERGENCIES

Tara Opie FINANCIAL EXPERT CONTINUED ON P. 8

Saving Your First $1k for Emergencies Continued from p. 7 What do you do when your tire goes flat or an appliance is on the fritz? An emergency fund is the usual first place we look for funds saved for a rainy day. Here are a couple of my favorite apps that helped me save and invest my way to the first $1,000 in savings to use for incidentals. Before we get to the list, we have to first think about what an emergency looks like.

What does an "Emergency" look like?

We can see a Buy-one-Get-one sale and think, “If I buy more, I actually get more of what I want and save money;” it’s a two-edged sword. Yes, you’ll save by purchasing in bulk. Where would you put it, and would you use it before it goes bad? If you can’t answer either part of that question with certainty, then that purchase will ultimately be a waste of money. Shoes and clothes are purchases that are not generally considered to be emergencies, as much as we want them to be.

Emergency funds are more for things that will keep you on the road, keep a roof over your head, and keep you healthy. Take some time and list priorities that you can save for, short-term and long-term.

How I got started: When my youngest was 6, he had to get glasses. He had already lost his first pair. A new pair started at $150, and I needed to get two in case he decided to make his glasses disappear again. I was also graduating college and needed a plane ticket to attend the graduation. The price of the ticket was $275 each way when I started saving 5 months prior. Each month, the price went up to $75 each way. The sooner I had the funds saved, the amount for the tickets wouldn’t be out of reach. I used an app, Digit, and it helped me set up my savings. I set the total for the trip; it would be no more than $875. My goal was to save $1,100 with three weeks to spare before the price jump for last-minute tickets to my graduation.

The option I used the most was rounding up a dollar on the Digit app. I also chose to add a specific amount each pay period to help me get my son’s glasses faster. It took me 6 weeks to completely cover my son’s two pairs of glasses, and I got a head start on my flight tickets. Because I knew exactly how much was coming out each month, it made it that much easier to budget.

CONTINUED ON P. 9

Continued from p. 8

Acorns is another wonderful app that not only rounds your purchases and places the remainder into a savings account; you also have an option to invest the money into highyielding returns. I placed them into stocks that allowed fractional shares to be purchased.

I will tell you this before you invest anything in stocks: do your research. What looks good may not give you the yield as fast as you like. Also, contact a financial professional versed in stocks to gain insight into what works best for you.

Want savings tips?

Tara K. is a mother of three, a graduate from Independence University with a degree in Accounting and an emphasis in Forensic Accounting, and a minority business owner.

Before then, she managed a small business for several years, learning the needs and wants of small business owners. She has been practicing accounting and bookkeeping since 2016 with clients all over the world. She started Tara K. Specializes, LLC in 2019 with the goal of helping small business owners achieve financial health. She has published two books, entitled How to Monetize Your Niche in 90 Days and Simple Credit Repair.

Both are available at taraspecializes.com/products. taraspecializes.com facebook.com/tarakspecializes instagram.com/tarakspecializes -Tara K. CEO | Tara K. Specializes www.taraspecializes.com

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THE PRETTY BEHIND THE BRAND

Nikita Hines, Nikita Hines Enterprises

JLH: Tell us three random facts about yourself: NH: Ooh let me think...

1. I love lemon pepper wings; it might be an obsession.

2. I published my first book, a 21-day devotional, in January 2021.

3. I’m an introvert. Most people don’t believe this because I can be social when I need to be, but I’m as introverted as they come.

JLH: What inspires you to work in your current industry?

NH: Helping other entrepreneurs and business owners truly inspires me to work in this industry. Even before I knew this is what I wanted to do, I would always help create things for others and help them get set up. One day, a few years ago, I decided to "test the waters;" and the rest is history. This is truly my purpose and calling to serve in the coaching and content industry Jay L Harris

JLH: What's the best personal or professional advice you have given someone else?

NH: Let God direct your path, and that goes for you personally and professionally. I've heard this my entire life. I grew up in the church, so this advice was kind of drilled in my head as a personal thing; but once I realized I can use this for work and life, my life really began to change. Even when I worked in the corporate world, I would go to God for things, whether it was for a new position, to overcome challenges, or just to improve my skills. I give this advice to anyone who listens.

JLH: What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a woman of color in your business?

NH: One of the challenges I have faced as a woman of color is feeling overlooked at times. I feel there are times where women of color get looked at as "She's going to do the bare minimum," when that's not at all true. Also, my goal is to serve all cultures/races. I've noticed I don't get much business from others outside of the African American community. It's not that this is a challenge per se’, but it does make me wonder why and what keeps others from wanting to work with me.

JLH: What advice would you give your 19-year-old self?

NH: What advice would I give my 19-yearold self? Hmmm...I would tell myself never to give up; you are beautiful; don't compare yourself to others, and to be a little more sociable.

CONTINUED ON P.13

Continued from p. 12

JLH: How would you describe a healthy work-life balance?

NH: Having a healthy work-life balance is exactly what I specialize in with my coaching. I am an Entrepreneur Coach. I don't just focus on the business journey; I like to focus on the actual entrepreneurial journey. That includes life + biz. If your life isn't in a good space, how can you properly run your business and reach success?

Having the right systems and routines in place helps bring you into a healthy space.

You have to take time for your faith, personal and social life, and your business.

I believe that creating a schedule to balance it all works. As a matter of fact, from my personal experience and with my clients, I KNOW it works. It's all about learning and implementing. You can't want it and not do the work to make it happen.

JLH: Describe a time when you failed and how that failure affected you personally and professionally.

NH: In 2015, I started an online coaching business. It was designed to focus on mind, body, and spirit and to help others renew and improve in those areas. I had products from waist trainers, sunglasses, workout equipment, meal plans, etc, and I had the coaching programs set up. I was set and ready to go. The sales were decent. Even to this day, people will still reach out to me to ask if I still sell waist trainers; however, the coaching side sucked! I didn't get 1 booking! The sessions I had were free to those I knew. I felt like a failure. For a while it discouraged me, made me feel like I wasn't good enough and that I would never succeed in the coaching industry. Making

sales was cool and all, but I knew that coaching was my calling. I tried to give up multiple times, BUT GOD! He wouldn't let me give up. I had to realize that I wasn't a failure; it just wasn't the path I needed to go. So, I wouldn't say it affected me; it helped me become a better person and a better coach. A delay does not mean a denial.

JLH: Share your secret for success.

NH: As I have said many times and will continue to say, my secret for success is allowing God to be the head of my life, be the foundation, and be in the midst of everything I do and every decision that I make - along with that, being organized.

Many don't really see the significance in that, but I'm here to tell you all that organizing my life + biz really brought me true success.

JLH: How can we follow you on social media?

NH: My Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok handles are @nhinesenterprises.

Twitter: @CoachNik_LVS, and Pinterest: @luxuryvirtualsolutions

Jay L Harris Owner & Creative Director

of Pretty Smart Chics

WANT TO BE A GUEST BLOGGER? Submit your name email address a writing sample to our email at E-mail: hello@prettysmartchics.com

Prepare and Activate Your Spirit Life for a New Year

By Wanda White MCLC

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As the New Year begins, people tend to reevaluate their life, plans, goals, relationships, etc. They tend to see what they can add to their life or remove in order to have a successful year. One of the main things to reevaluate is your spirit life. Does your spirit life need some revamping? Does your spirit life need some nourishment?

Your spirit life is your guide. Your spirit life is that inner voice you hear whispering in your ear, leading you, nudging you, warning you, and preparing you. The best way to prepare and activate your spirit life for a new year is to be intentional. Be intentional to set aside time to feed your spirit.

Not sure how to feed your spirit? “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). Get connected to the source, the provider of your nourishment. Read your word, meditate, journal, pray, listen to praise and worship music, even join a bible study or group at your church, just to name a few.

What you feed grows, so keep feeding it. And if your spirit is what’s guiding you for the New Year, it has to have enough nourishment to sustain you. No, you can’t read your bible one time and that’s all for the year. It’s a constant state of learning and renewing our minds and doing it on purpose. It’s like being intentional about anything else. You make time for it.

You study it and learn all there is to know about it. And you show up for it. For example, let’s take working out at the gym. Each rep you do with the weights is preparing your body for the next weight. It’s activating muscles inside that you may not have used before, and sometimes that can be painful. But because you want the results, you push through .

CONTINUED ON P. 16

Preparation does not always feel good. You’re growing and stretching. You’re experiencing new things. As you are preparing and being intentional, there are things that will come to distract and deter you. Stay focused. There are some people who will show up who don’t mean any harm, but they don’t know the plan on your life. Stay focused.

Preparation may feel like separation, but that’s when you know you are growing.

As you are intentional about spending that time with God, He’s intentional about spending that time with you. As a result, the more time you spend with Him, the more your spirit is activated, the stronger it gets. You now know what His voice sounds like and what His promises are. And that, my friend, is when we wake up the Queen inside. When you activate the spirit in your life, you begin to believe you can do what God has asked you to do. You begin to see yourself as God sees you. You begin to know who you are in Him. When you activate the spirit, your perspective and attitude change towards people. When you activate the spirit, your focus is different; it’s no longer your will, but HIS will. Your dreams and goals become the plans He has for you.

Activating your spirit life does not mean you won’t have obstacles or trials. It means how you go through them is different because you are not alone. It means your response is different. It means you’re not relying on you to get you through. You have help, the Holy Spirit. He’s living on the inside, guiding you every step of the way.

So for this New Year, let’s be deliberate. Let’s feed our spirits with the things that will nourish it and keep it growing. Let’s be intentional and see what God can do when He’s the guide.

“Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.” John 15:4.

Continued from p. 15

Wanda White is a transformative, certified life coach, author, associate pastor, leader, and friend that has helped people from all walks of life to find

encourager..

Read Wanda's Latest Devotional

Learn more about Wanda White at wandawhiteministries.com

Click book to purchase

the strength and courage to continue to pursue their dreams. She passionately trains leaders to be the best in their field. She is a motivator and

Commect with her on Instagram: @iamwandful

CONTINUED ON P. 17

$2 LIPSTICK HACK CHANGED MY LIFE!

Jay L Harris

Pretties, a $2 lipstick hack changed my life! Let me tell you how: A few years back, I was struggling to rub two nickels together. I mean I was BROKE! When I think about how broke I was, I can only laugh. Thank God for growth and for learning how to create an income for me, but back to what I was talking about.

During my season of brokenness, I had to relearn and reevaluate my priorities. No more $50 meals when going out with my friends. Gone were the days of going shopping on my lunch break. There was no money flowing in my bank account, and bills were piling high. My joy was sinking into a deep abyss of depression. Sitting at home every day while my family went to work, I started coming up with ways to put a smile on my face. I started freelance writing papers for people, I became someone’s personal assistant, and I volunteered for others. As I slowly began to see a trickle of income flow into my bank, I made the decision to buy myself something every time I got paid. What did I buy? $2 lipstick. I wore this lipstick with pride. You know why? Because when I was at my lowest, putting on lipstick made me feel good about myself. Wearing my fiery red lipstick from the beauty supply store made me feel more confident, especially during a time when I often felt like a failure. The lipstick became a barrier between me and my depression. It was one of many things that kept me from falling to pieces.

Since that time, I have upgraded my lipstick preference and can afford to spend more than $2 on some lipstick. To this day, I will still go to the beauty supply store to buy that $2 lipstick. You know why? It’s my favorite! It gets me noticed! Whenever I wear the purple shade, it always gets mistaken for MAC lipstick.

Wearing my $2 lipstick taught me that beauty is not in the price tag but how you feel about yourself. *This article was previously published on our Pretty Smart Chics blogsite

“Culling Your Closet in the New Year!”

By Loren Taylor, Contributing Writer Continued on p. 20

Continued from p. 19

A closet can be a beautiful work of art that reflects who you are and what you love. So often, we hang onto articles of clothing that are not well-made or illfitted, whether too large or small, paying homage to a bygone season in our lives. Clear away the items that no longer serve you well, and acquire quality pieces that are foundational or special to craft a narrative of who you are becoming.

Here’s the anatomy of a well-designed closet as a space for storing and organizing clothing, shoes, and other wares: Adequate space for hanging garments Sufficient room to fold clothing and store shoes Shelves for purses, luggage, and hat storage Free-rolling rack for hung garments

Anatomy of a well-designed closet (Continued) Beautiful hanger program with the same style throughout (no wire hangers…seriously…

NEVER). I love adopting a wonderful hanger program like the Kirby Allison Hanger Project in order to make my clients’ closets feel like a wonderful boutique or haberdashery at home.

Be careful about light temperature in artificial light, particularly when using light emitting diode (LED) technology and applications. Aim for between 3000 to 4000 Kelvins (K) to produce a clean, bright white light well-suited for closets and utilitarian spaces. Anything that exceeds 4000 K will be harsh and unflattering.

Continued on p. 21

Continued from p. 20

Anatomy of a well-designed closet (Continued) Provide a place to sit in the closet (if it is a walk-in) or adjacent to the closet so that you can sit to put on shoes or bottoms.

Though it is tempting, skip painting the interior of your closet a color, as it can throw off the actual color of your wardrobe and make it difficult to coordinate outfits.

Speaking of clothes, here are a few tips for reactivating your wardrobe: Get rid of faded, frayed, and ill-made clothing by donating to a charity to be repurposed and/or recycled.

Fund your future! Sell well-made clothing that no longer fits. Consider sites like Facebook Marketplace (Meta), eBay, ThredUp, or a local consignment shop.

Organize clothing by color or style to aid in getting dressed more efficiently.

Photo Credit: Christina Wedge christinaweb.com

Reactivating Your Wardrobe (Continued) Organize clothing by formality; it functions well when you begin with sleeveless tops to long-sleeves, then bottoms from skirts to pants and dresses in a separate area.

Stowe shoes and accessories are stowed in their own special area.

Finally, getting dressed can feel like drudgery, so I like to coordinate visually by colorizing and creating a rainbow in a closet; it’s not only good for the eyes, but colors do wonders to lift our spirits, too!

Loren Audrey Taylor is the Founder and Principal Designer of Loren Taylor Interior Design, a luxury boutique interior design and tastemaker practice. As an American interior designer who happens to be of African descent, her goal is to feature the unknown and familiar contributions of subSaharan people who bore the burden of having been disembarked from trans-Atlantic slave ships as cargo when they were forcibly brought to American shorelines.

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Yoga-Haiku, Anyone?

By Dr. Ondra Krouse Dismukes

Natural Woman -by Adzo Nutifafa

I inhale nature.

She wraps her arms around me And whispers secrets

I inhale nature.

She smells like life around me.

I crave her essence.

I inhale nature.

She fills me, body and soul.

She tastes like water.

Continued on p. 24

Yoga-Haiku, Anyone?

Continued from p. 23

Full disclosure: I love writing haiku. I wrote the one featured above under my pen name for a manuscript in progress. My third-grade teacher, Ms. Kathryn Alston, introduced me to the world of haiku; I can’t honestly say I appreciated it then, but I have become a fan of this poetry genre as both an English professor and a yoga enthusiast. Yes, I said yoga! In fact, I have learned that writing haiku aligns with a form of yoga that Tonja Bennett, of Yoga on the Move, delineates as insidious yoga - ”the practice of awareness, a decision-making process my yoga practice” (Interview). I’ll explain: You remember haiku, the Japanese form of poetry composed of 13 stanzas with alternating 5-7-5-syllabic beats? The key elements of haiku are compression of language, saying a lot in only a few words; imagery, typically nature/seasons; and tone, usually brooding and contemplative.

The poem above is my attempt. Notice the syllables - beats - in the first line of each stanza: I - in - hale - na - ture (5 syllables) Like the first line in each stanza, the third line in each stanza also should have 5 syllables: And - whis - pers - se - crets (5 syllables) I - crave - her - es - sence (5) She - tastes - like - wa - ter (5) Interrupting this pattern, the second line of each haiku stanza comprises 7 syllables: She - wraps - her - arms - a - round - me (7) She - smells - like - life - a - round - me (7) She - fills - me - bo - dy - and - soul (7)

Continued on p. 25

Healthy Spirit, Healthy Life Continued from p. 24

In review, each breath marks one beat. Just as our breath is our lifeline, each beat brings life to the poem and gives it structure . . .CHECK! What about the other aesthetics? Nature imagery - CHECK!! Contemplative tone? CHECK!!!

Haiku is an exercise in focus, awareness, and intention. I can hear my Yogini saying That’s yoga! Well, with haiku, you might not even break a sweat! Etheridge Knight, one of my favorite poets, writes in his poem “Haiku:” Making jazz swing in Seventeen syllables AIN’T No square poet’s job. (Knight) Indeed, it ain’t, dear Muse. It requires focus, intention, and breath! As my yogini would say, “That’s the work!”

Credits: Bennett, Tonja. Interview of March 10, 2020.

Knight, Etheridge. “Haiku.” American Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47593/haiku. Accessed 26 January 2022.

Dr. Ondra Krouse Dismukes is the Editor-in-Chief of Pretty Smart Chics Ezine. She's also a recently published author, freelance editor, occasional blogger, college professor, wife, and mom. She lives with her family in Snellville, GA. This article was previously published at O'Writes Writing Coaching and Copyediting.

This Side of 40

By Alex Howard

It was the end of the worst time period of my life. Finally, I found a job that kept me from being homeless; and the current legal battle with my children’s mother was almost over. However, I was too tired to celebrate. As that old church saying goes, “I was weary, wounded, and sad.”

The fact that I was able to get out of bed, shower, dress nicely, work, and maintain normalcy for my kids was God’s grace and mom instilling in me that you act like everything is fine even if it’s not. I know hardship and bad times happen to everyone; but this time, I couldn’t shake things off and move on like I did in the past. I had used up all of my physical, mental, and financial resources. I was a fading shadow of my former self.

One day, after a pointless meeting with my useless supervisor, I walked to the break room because I needed coffee. As the coffee brewed, I told God that I wanted and needed to be left alone. I also said that I wanted a job where I could just do my work and not be included in any office politics, committees, and/or initiatives. I just wanted to do my work, get paid, and go home. I said “Amen” and finished making my coffee. I didn’t hear God’s response to my prayer, which may be the result of my own heathenish ways. However, as the song says, “he may not come when you want him, but he’ll be there right on time.”

COVID was the answer to my prayer. During those first couple of months of the pandemic, the only thing I did was sleep. Actually, sleep is the wrong word. I went into an Alaskan Brown Bear hibernation. During the week, I would do some work and then go back to bed. Actually, I barely left my bed. Even when I had to work, I did that from my bed. When people would call, I would talk, have a few laughs, and then go back to sleep. I was working, getting paid, and being left alone, which is what I prayed for. During this time, I was able to rest, recharge, and regroup.

Prior to COVID, I was running in every direction, but I was not making any progress. One day in June, I woke up and instantly knew that my period of hibernation was over. I got a haircut, my first one in months. I returned home and began cleaning my apartment. Then I came up with a prayer and plan to get my life in order. Most importantly, I stuck to my plan. Yes, there were times that I needed to make some adjustments, but I never strayed from my plan.

Continued on p. 27

Continued from p. 26 So now it’s 2022, and I’m ready to leave the cave; but I don’t recognize the version of me that’s standing at the door. My old interests seemed boring. Girls that I used to date just became something to do. The last time I had this problem was after my marriage ended. I was shopping for my new place, but I didn’t know what to buy. I knew what she liked. I knew what the kids liked. I knew what we liked as a couple, and I knew what we liked as a family. Sadly, I did not know what I liked. Now here I was at the end of 2021, and I didn’t recognize the man in the mirror. It wasn’t the dad of “so-and-so.” I wasn’t “Wesley’s brother” or “Ruby’s son;” but once again God stepped in, and I figured out who I was. Finally, I was letting that kid who had all of those big ideas live. I’m from a small no-named town where the only goals, expectations, and choices given to me were to graduate from school, get a job at a local factory, get a double-wide mobile home on an acre or two of land, and die. Well, I did not want to live that type of life. So, when I went to college, which was also not one of the approved choices for me, I never looked back. Although my life has been good, I kept the no’s and rejections that I received as a kid in my back pocket. Now, I’ve had a good life, but it’s not the life I wanted. In my 20’s I was too busy trying to be a good husband and father. In my 30’s, I was busy trying to get financially stable and make up for the time I missed during my 20’s. On this side of 40, however, I’m doing everything that I know I can do. My dreams are going to be my reality. I have a plan, and I’m grinding. Last year, I spent most of my spare time helping my brother with his business, while my business stayed a wish in my head. Well that was the first thing that I worked on in 2022. No more wishful thinking. No more, “if I win the lottery, I’m going to do…”

I’m going to do all those things anyway. No more will I say, “I want to travel more.” I’m traveling.

I’m going to live the life that I want, and I will not settle for anything less.

Now, in order to live the life I want, I have to surround myself with people who have similar goals and have the same mindset as I do. This may cause me to lose family, friends, and acquaintances; however, this is a must. My interactions with these people are keeping me and my life stagnant. For example, I recently asked a friend if she would travel to another country alone. As soon as I sent the text, I regretted it. Why would I ask someone who rarely goes to Target about traveling abroad? On this side of 40, I don’t know how much time I have left on this rock, but I’m going to live the life that I dream about. Surely, God would not have allowed me to dream about it if I could not achieve it.

If Julia Sugarbaker and Fred Sanford had a lovechild, it would be Alex.

Toyshebia Napper

COMMUNITY

CORNER “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble."

-John Lewis

Happy New Year!! It feels so good to be back again; I have missed our quarterly stroll around the corner. I hope you are recharged and ready to activate in 2022. This year, we have so many ways to get involved in the community; however, we need to prepare in advance for a major event in the fall. On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, the United States will hold midterm elections. Are you prepared for these elections?

Now, I know that over the last few years the political climate has become toxic, and many of us have distanced ourselves from the darkness; however, we still hold power and the ability to change the atmosphere. From January 1 through December 7, 2021, over 34 restricted voter laws were passed across the country; and there are still another 440 provisions under consideration before November (“Voting Laws”). Do you know the changes in your state? Do you know the correct precinct to vote? Are you registered?

What about your family and friends? Midterm elections are just as important as the presidential elections. Your local and state officials influence more in your everyday life than any federal official. The following offices are in play this November: 1. Senate 2. House of Representatives 3. Gubernatorial (Governor) 4. Attorney General 5. Secretary of State 6. Legislative 7. Mayoral 8. County CONTINUED ON P. 29

Toyshebia Napper

COMMUNITY

CORNER Continued from p. 28

All of the positions listed above affect your daily life, resources, and the people in your community. Take a deep breath, a sip of water, and start slowly. First, make sure you are registered to vote in your area. As we proceed through the year, we will discuss ways to become familiar with the voting laws in your state. Remember, we are all in this together, and we continue to strive for a better community, nation, and world.

Credits: “Voting Laws Roundup: October 2021.” Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/voting-laws-roundup-october2021. Accessed 25 January 2021.

Should I Stay, or Should I Go? PANDEMIC TRAVELING TIPS Kecia Shackleford, Contributing Writer

Continued on p. 31

Continued from p. 30 I want to go, but should I? Many of us, at minimum, have had this thought. There has been such a high level of uncertainty released into this world in the past two years concerning travel. Stay home. Quarantine. Don't go to this country; COVID started there. You will lose your job if you go there. Don't get too close to her. Keep your mask up. No she didn't just cough in PUBLIC, etc. etc. etc. We've heard it or said it at least one time over the past few months. The media reports so many different stories daily, and one constant change - almost weekly - has been COVID protocols; however, as a travel advisor who survived the pandemic, I continue to see large requests for travel... daily.

Most of my clients are traveling, but finding smarter and safer ways to travel. The request increase has definitely shifted to vacationing in private homes/condo rentals instead of hotels.

Families are traveling together more and renting houses and cabins. There is still a very high demand for Caribbean travel, especially Mexico and Jamaica. Most people are still a little apprehensive about the Dominican Republic but are traveling to the Caribbean Islands due to the all-inclusive package concept; it's a real winner for the budget.

One thing I have learned in this season is that we are going to have to learn to live with and survive COVID-19. If you desire to travel, you must be willing to do a lot of homework before, during, and after your travel plans. You need to know the C19 Protocols and requirements for the area you are planning to visit. The more you know and understand what is required, the smoother your travel plans will go. Be prepared to purchase travel protection, and ask for it if it is not offered; in this season, it is a MUST! It is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it! With the uncertainty of how this virus spreads, you just never know when or if you may come in contact with it. Protect yourself at all times, and do what it takes to stay healthy! Here is the CDC's article on traveling during these times; I refer to it a lot: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html

I do believe that we will get through this, and we cannot allow the spirit of fear to control our lives. We can and will get through this pandemic season and continue to thrive; just make sure when you are planning to travel, to plan with a trusted Travel Advisor!

Credits: “Domestic Travel During COVID-19: Information for People Traveling within the United States and U.S. Territories.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated January 4, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html. Accessed 21 January, 2022.

Want to use Kecia as your travel agent?

Kecia is the Chief Travel Agent & Event Planner of Uniquely Yours Travel & Events. Uniquely Yours has planned and coordinated over 300+ events & helped countless people travel in style over the past 23 years. Kecia's specialty is large groups, family vacations, & honeymoon travel. To book your next dream vacation contact Kecia: @Uniquelyyoursks

Pretty TALK

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Pretty TALK

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Pretty TALK

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Chapter 3

Loren's Story

ZEUS CHRONICLES OF A SEX GOD

Loren's Story

ZEUS CHRONICLES OF A SEX GOD

By Jay L. Harris

Chapter Three Zeus checked the address twice. He hadn't noticed a restaurant when he pulled into the empty parking lot. He was staring at a building which could pass for a college dormitory. The building didn't have any signage. He wondered what the heck Loren had gotten him into. This was a rough looking neighborhood. He was a sitting duck in his 2014 750i Azurite Black BMW. He recently splurged on this car. He got the top of the line everything. Normally, he was sensible with his spending. In the music business, one minute you're hot and the next day you can be cold as Antarctica. Yes, his business was successful. He had a few good investments, but he always wanted to make sure he lived below his means. He spent the last five years building Jingles and Jam’s to be one the cities hottest production studio’s for commercial jingles, R&B and Neo Soul Music. The hottest beats in the game came from Jingles and Jams.

Zeus co-wrote many songs for pop-soul artist Sophie Remy. Reminiscing about his childhood, he was thankful he didn’t end up like his boy Anthony. When Ant went to jail, music became his new hustle. Wondering what Ant was up to now, he made a mental note to swing by the old neighborhood to see Ms. B, Hoody, and Ms. Shirley.

Caressing the stirring wheel for the third time, he thought to himself “The shit I do for some ass.”

CONTINUED ON P. 38

Continued from p. 37

Hearing a tap on the window, instinct caused him to reached under his seat for his piece. It was Loren, smiling at him. He noticed her car in the space next to him. She drove a 2-door cranberry-colored Nissan Altima. Letting the down the window he questioned Loren, “Girl, I got my piece in my hands. Where are we?”

She couldn’t hide her chuckles.

“Why? Are you scared?” asked Loren.

“No, I like to know my surroundings,” said Zeus “Mmm mmm. Get out the car and come go with me.” She said.

He obliged her request. He noticed her change of attire. He liked the black shorts and white crop top she had on now. Referencing her shirt out loud, "Granny Smiths are my favorite apples," said Zeus.

"What?" asked Loren.

"Your shirt, Apples are Delicious," said, Zeus referencing her top.

"Mine too!" laughed Loren about the saying on her shirt.

She bought the shirt at a plus-size fashion show a few weeks ago. She thought it was cute since she had an apple-shaped body. Giving her the once over, “You look nice. I approve,” said Zeus “I didn’t know I needed your approval, Mr. Zeus,” spoke Loren.

“You don’t. I’m just showing my appreciation for this look,” said Zeus, licking his lips.

Taking a step closer to her, Zeus leaned to kiss Loren. He tasted her cherry flavored lip gloss.

Before he could pull her in closer, Loren took a step back, “Not Yet,” she said.

Noticing Zeus for the first time since he arrived, Loren let out a slight gasp. Zeus wore a hunter green cotton tee which hugged his upper body and fitted jeans that hung slightly off his hips.

She salivated. Her nerves caused her to rethink her plans seduction.

“I can’t believe you don’t remember me,” said Loren out of pure nervousness.

She led him to her apartment building. She stepped out to get some condoms when she seen Loren's Story him parked.

“Remember you? How am I supposed to know you?” asked Zeus.

ZEUS CHRONICLES OF A SEX GOD

CONTINUED ON P. 39

Continued from p. 38

His thoughts raced through his mind on how he knew her. He hoped this wasn't some revenge type shit.

“We attended the same college. We took a tennis class together. We were the only two black people in class,” said Loren Zeus couldn't recall her or the class. Shit he barely remembered college.

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember you,” He said. .“It’s ok. I wasn’t as developed as I am now,” said Loren.

She looked down at her body. She could see how she would be unrecognizable. Getting emotional about her weight Loren blurted out “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

Relieved Zeus spoke, “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I am trying to be someone I am not. I thought I could do this, but I can’t. Sorry to waste your time.” said Loren. She gave him a fake smile and a hug. She walked away leaving Zeus in the middle of the street.

“Wait! Shit! Why don’t we go get drinks? I know a great place. Follow me in your car, so you can come home when you are ready.” said Zeus as tried salvage the night.

Contemplating drinks with Zeus or crying into her pillow, Loren decided to have a few drinks.

“I can do drinks,” said Loren as she walked towards her car.

Loren's Story

ZEUS CHRONICLES OF A SEX GOD

By Jay L. Harris

Jay L Harris is an author, blogger, and shepreneur. She is the author of the highly successful romance novel Unlikely Love. She owns the global brand

CONTINUED ON P. 46

Jay L Harris Creative Werks, a digital branding firm. She is also the founder & Creative Director of Pretty Smart Chics.

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