Before Someone Tells You who YOU are.....

Sometimes I sit quietly in my room without the television, the radio, without my ipod and just think. I think about who I am.

Who am I? On the surface one may look at this phenotype and see just that. In a heart beat the on looker-- the person on the outside looking in, may tell me that I am a young black woman. In this world, be it conscious or subconscious as Jean Jaques Rousseau took pride in saying, we care about what people think of us. Rousseau said emphatically in his writings that in the state of nature when man began to interact more with his fellow species and he became more dependent on his fellow man, his modes of thought changed. Consequently, reason was ushered into the complex equation and man began to think more of his image, the way others viewed him and from that point marked one of the greatest accomplishments yet the greatest falls of man.

Indeed, what people see does matter in the world today. We depend on recommendation letters, reports of conduct and even interviews to get us the careers and positions in the working world that we desire. How we look to others does matter......to a point.

However, we need to stop and before we think about the person people see as Jem or Judy or Jeanne, we need to ask ourselves "who do I say that I am?" So in the moments where I'm alone and I realize how dependent man has become in this age of globalization, "democratization" and this world filled with ignorant minds, I take time to reflect on who I am, the values I need to uphold, why these values are important.

So, unlike the person that sees me as a young, black woman I take time to say who I am to myself. I am soldier of love, a defender of truth and a discerner of the deceiver, I am strong, I am "unaccepting".....I am....I am....

You see, it's only when you tell yourself these things you can bring these attributes to life in your reality. If we continue to allow people to label us, we will begin to be those labels and what people make of those labels. We must continuously redefine and sometimes obliterate some labels. Remember....ideas shape our reality and words make ideas. Words are therefore powerful tools. If we master the element that shapes reality then we can truly liberate ourselves and it is only then we can see our full potential!

So as Bob Marley says in his song, "emancipate yourselves from mental slavery!!" You have to do this yourself and now you have some tips. So one of these days meditate, sit quietly and ask yourself some questions and don't be afraid to redefine, obliterate or invent!

I am more than my skin colour, texture tone, I am more than my hair its length and texture, I am more than my phenotype. I am more than what people say that I am. Who you say that I am does not have more influence on who I say that I am!

Speak the truth and accept the truth in love.....

What Shapes our Reality: The Power of a Name

So, I'm new to this blogging thing but I like it already! I love the fact that there is a space that I can share with people who care about what I think (Jemmimah's thoughts, her concerns, her fears, her desires, her morals.... the projections on the walls of her mind). The question is: are you excited? Man, I am so excited to share my thoughts with all of you!

Ok... so enough about that and on to the more important stuff. Let's talk about names. The importance of them and maybe, just maybe we can come to a conclusion about a question I continually ask myself: what's in a name and does a name make you or do you grow and flourish into that name?

Initially...we must understand that we live in a world where we are not taught to think twice or three times, but instead to accept everything that our minds are fed. The most bizarre part is that our minds were being tuned into the process of learning to be ignorant from inception. Furthermore, we do not recognize the power of words in our world. It is no surprise that many who have assimilated into this culture of constant acceptance do not think twice about the ideas that have shaped their reality... they know not the true importance of a name.

We assimilated accepting people of the world fail to realize that ideas shape our reality and that words make ideas and letters make words the same letters that make names.

With that said...why GDP? Well first off, this blog will focus on every aspect of life from my perspective--every thought that enters my mind... and what name fits more perfectly than my own? Besides being the meaning of my name (gentle dove), Gentle Dove Projections (GDP) embodies just what I hope to accomplish: to reach out to minds that yearn to be fed ideologies that are founded in philosophy. It means that the notions that I wish to project, impart, shed light on will descend like a gentle dove, into the minds of many. In that same graceful manner I hope that it will ignite a fire in each individual symbolizing the power of philosophy, the power of knowledge, the power of questioning! For it is only in questioning that light comes and is shed on the ignorant dark, barren mind. It is only then that one understands!

As we grow in this light, I feel then and only then we can conclude if the name makes the person or the person makes the name. Let's see if GDP will grow to accomplish all its name embodies.

Stay tuned, and remember....

Speak the truth and accept the truth in love...