Is the core that much different from the outside? Is one a reflection or piece of the other?
A few weeks back, I enjoyed discussing these questions with my sons. Yemi argued using the onion example: peeling back the layers to discover it is still an onion. I stumbled into using the artichoke as my analogy. Who does not want to get to the heart? That is where the best part is. Sure each ‘leaf’ has a tiny taste at the tip…but you have to work your way in to get to the ‘real deal’ – don’t you?
There is nothing like a good question to open the doors to deeper or intense conversations…it is a great way to get young people engaged in meaningful discussions.
Many summers back, I organized a lively, dynamic multi-generational dialogue in my living room that involved several families – sometimes sparks were flying, but it was an eye-opening experience for all. We learn so much about each other when we simply ask questions…and then listen.
So, tell me, what’s at the center of your artichoke?
Mozella Perry Ademiluyi
www.mozellaonthemountain.com(blog)
www.loveisamountain.com(website)
The more you look at some things, the less they seem to make sense.
Our youngest son just graduated from high school at TASIS, England – an American International School very near London. I reflect on how much racism and prejudice remains in the educational institutions whose missions strive to treat all students with mutual respect and understanding.
Looking beneath the kimonos of American schools both at home and abroad signals we still have some ways to go. Yes, I hear the echoes of “look how far we have come” – but remember, opening our kimonos is about peering beneath our robes to expose all of what is there.
I watched him standing for his class picture, one of two black faces, the other a girl. I remembered my own high school graduation in Kenya, 39 years ago: I was one of two black faces, the other one a boy. I realized that the prejudices my son faced with some of his teachers and an administration that did not want to know were not much different from mine.
How much longer will it take?
Just wondering,
Mozella Perry Ademiluyi
www.mozellaonthemountain.com(blog)
www.loveisamountain.com(website)
I attended my first red carpet, film premiere night two weeks ago. Except, it was not Hollywood, it was “Nollywood” and I was in Lagos, Nigeria.
My friend Diane cites the phrase “open your kimono” which refers to getting to the core of people, places and things. Exposing what is beneath the surface is not easy, and not always a pretty picture – yet it brings to light the truth of what is.
Michelle Bello’s movie “Small Boy” opened a kimono showing one aspect of the sprawling, diverse, controversial and vibrant city life of one of Africa’s largest cities. Parts of Small Boy reminded me of Slum Dog Millionaire in that it uncovers the plight of street kids – those in Lagos.
On the plane home – after one or two other kimono opening experiences in England – I enjoyed another moving film “Invictus”, a unifying South African tale of hope over hatred. Truth based movies are masterful instruments of storytelling – often providing opportunities for us to open our kimonos and let them touch or transform our understanding.
Consider sharing the life inspiring tales beneath your own surface!
Welcoming more,
Mozella Perry Ademiluyi
www.mozellaonthemountain.com(blog)
www.loveisamountain.com(website)
Last week I shared how we let titles and other ‘descriptive’ words define us — and how they do not reveal who we are as a human ‘being’.
Look at this title, one you have seen me place beneath my name every week. In fact, we are all motivational storytellers. We may not be authors, speakers, or use any specific string of accolades behind our names; yet, we share stories just about on a daily basis – our stories and those of others. We have heard them since we were young – they consoled, encouraged and scolded us too.
Our words and stories are powerful and can have untold impact on both the teller and the listener. Books have influenced our thinking for eons – and though we may not write them, our words and stories also have the potential to imbed positive or negative energy in the minds and hearts of others. One of the most memorable impressions you can leave with another is your own story.
Remember the power of the spoken word and choose well,
Mozella
Mozella Perry Ademiluyi
You know how you pass something repeatedly and then decide you just must find the underlying story behind it? That is how I felt about ‘Negro Mountain’ in Western Maryland…I knew there had to be a story.
It turns out there are two versions – both having to do with battle, heroism ,Native Americans and a very tall black man they called “Nemesis” — it is interesting that both Negro and Nemesis are on the same page of my dictionary – and I doubt either word had much to do with who the man really was.
‘Nemesis’ is a hero in both stories…and they named the mountain in his honor. He obviously lived up to his title based upon some retributive justice he performed.
What’s in a name or a title? Is the human “being” lost and confused with what he does rather than who he is? We often get caught up in describing ourselves based less upon who we are as a person and more upon our professions, race or gender, gifts or performed tasks, heroic or not.
It’s a challenging question…try answering it without language about what you do.
Who are you?
Mozella
Mozella Perry Ademiluyi
Once a firmly believed thought fully enters our minds, it becomes challenging to see things otherwise.
For example, the fear of a woman who has had multiple miscarriages is that she will continue to repeat this cycle.
When you read the sign above what was your first thought? Bumps are good, bumps are bad, bumps can be both!? Can an obstacle that slows us down or stops us in our tracks have a real positive meaning or purpose? Or, do we half believe the statements we all use: “it will all work out for the best”.
Sometimes we do not really know what we think about a particular challenge until it stares back at us. Plato said, “What we expect, that we shall find”
Every path has bumps ahead; we call it ‘good’ when there are signs that warn us and disastrous if we do not have a clue what hit us.
Perhaps a “yield sign” means be in the moment with what is …
Hold on for the ride,
Mozella
Motivational StoryTeller™
Life’s gusting winds can bring down even the most deeply rooted. In spite of many odds, we are often able to hold on – there is someone or something to catch us and keep us from hitting the ground.The combination of the depths of our own being and faith and the power of those standing all around us saves the day.
This mighty tree on my walking path showed me how her friends, and the part of herself that just would not let go, supported her. I studied her from head to toe and expressed gratitude to all those who touched or held her up…and they smiled that knowing smile: “that’s what trees are for”
And, I thanked Mighty Tree for this lesson…and celebrated her success.
Keep your arms open,
Mozella
Mozella Perry Ademiluyi
Motivational StoryTeller™
These mysterious guide stones have intrigued my friend Nancy and me for several years. A couple of weeks ago we decided to go see them for ourselves and, there we were almost eight miles away from a small rural town in Elberton, Georgia.
The four huge 19 ft stones prescribe principles for living – some of them controversial — in eight different languages. The languages chosen were Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Hindi, English, Kiswahili, Russian, and Spanish. The stones also have an inscription, an appeal to reason, in four archaic languages – Babylonian Cuneiform, Classical Greek, Egyptian Hieroglyphics and Sanskrit, and there are some fascinating astronomical aspects regarding their positioning and location as well.
We did not spend much time discussing the riddle, ‘the why and who did it’ of the guide stones. We were much more interested in the ten inscribed guidelines – their intended potential as evolving principles to direct the course and future of humanity.
They are worth reading and pondering…look them up and start a conversation.
Prize truth – beauty – love – seeking harmony with the infinite…
…leave room for nature
Intrigued,
Mozella
Mozella Perry Ademiluyi
Motivational StoryTeller™
That’s right…spring and cleaning just go together!
Look closely and you will discover many levels of ‘collectibles’ you no longer need in your life.
Often, we limit spring-cleaning to closets and getting rid of the vast amounts of things we store up which do not serve us. This is still good – besides, what we should let go of could be of greater benefit to someone else.
Then, there is inner debris that we can release as well. That’s not normally what comes to mind; however, nature’s time of renewal offers us an opportunity to pull out some of our internal clutter too – thoughts, ideas, attitudes, hard and hardened feelings – you know what I mean.
Do not hang on any longer…clutter wherever you may find it looks, smells and feels toxic. May is here and then we will be in summer before you know it. What a sense of accomplishment to mimic spring and begin anew in your own home, your own life. I don’t know what your plans are for this weekend, but if you can tackle one or two things, get it done, do it now!
Starting today…not tomorrow,
Mozella
Mozella Perry Ademiluyi
Motivational StoryTeller™
It is often a battle: do I say it, do I keep it to myself, do I say it, do I keep it to myself?
Where is the balance between sharing what you believe to be true and holding it for fear of offending another?
Author Michael Brown claims that waking others up just because we can see they are asleep is foolish, an act of interference and arrogant. Ouch! He says sleep is not a mistake; it has a purpose. “A seed sleeps until it sprouts. It sprouts not only because it is ready for life but because life all around it is also ready to intimately support its awakening.” He shares that as ‘teachers’ impart their lessons when we are ready; they also quickly step away so that we can make our own choices alone.
A beautiful dogwood tree in my garden suggests to me: although one of my flower clusters ‘looks’ like it is on the wrong part of my trunk, it actually is where it is supposed to be.
What is ours to share, ours to say, or ours to silently hold and keep? Where do you draw that line or hold that balance? I would like to know.
We’re all juggling…
Mozella
Mozella Perry Ademiluyi
Motivational StoryTeller™
