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Hey Ari Speakers!
Happy International Women’s Day!!!
Listen. I love being a girl. Love. Being. A Girl. Naturally, March is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s the beginning of Spring. And Women’s History Month (March) follows Black History Month (February) and I’m usually so souped up on inspiration that I can barely contain my excitement. This year is no different. And I am inspired by examples in media, entertainment, my own family, and this year I am super inspired by ME because I am writing my first book!!! Yep, I said it and I DO NOT, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT, APOLOGIZE FOR IT!!!
I am completely convinced that I am made of awesome. Yep. Created in God’s Image, I am TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY AWESOME. And I believe you are TOO! My life is not perfect and I continue to struggle in a lot of ways (finding love, taking care of myself, not giving up), but I am still AWESOME. My future is bright. And I know this, in part, because I have a collection of WONDERFUL WOMEN in my life who’ve given me every reason to believe in that future. And I also have girlfriends who remind me of my AWESOMENESS when I forget. And I have little cousins and teen girls in my life who push me to make a great example of my life because I know they’re watching. And I thank each of you! EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU! Bless you for empowering me, by just being you!
So here’s to Mama, Tanya, Grams, Grams, Ma, Ma, Nana, Auntie Kim, Auntie Wanda, Aunt Johnnie, Auntie Linda, Aunt Trish, Aunt Lou, Aunt Gert, Aunt Nora, Aunt Eddie, Aunt Janet, Aunt Shannon, Cousin Lelar, Kellye, Lori, Nia, Janae, Shelion, Lisa, Sharon, Pam, Shantell, Sharon, Tayon, Keturah, Naomi, LaRika, Kelli, Keara, Takiya, Camilla, Monique, Trin, Flax, Stephanie, Jordan, Marie, Lonia, Vanecia, Antoinette, Keisha, Don-Don, Ms. Rachelle, Candice, Micki, Candy, Nat, Ce, Lexi, Lex, Angie, Ash, Shayla, Sheriece, KK, Ashley T., Michele, Tiff, Rae Ann, Kris, Dom, Soror Bourgie, Tanesha, Martina, Andrea, Mrs. Joyce, Queenie, Aunt Alice,Auntie Terri, and all the rest of you not named here. Love you bunches! You help make me GREAT!!!
Me and My MAMA!!! (Aint’ she CUTE???)
So how will you celebrate International Women’s Day, and Women’s History Month?
I’ll be going to see a great film out called “Girl Rising” that tells the stories of nine girls in developing nations who are beating the odds. Click here to find information on screenings of the film in your area.
I also hope to read some classic texts on women’s history, rights, and equality by some of my sheroes! Read more…
Winter Wonderland, Youth Ministry, and Fun In The Snow
Hey Ari Speakers!
So my life has been crazy for the past two weeks. As many of you know, I am a youth minister and last week we celebrated Youth Week at my church. This is a week of programs planned and led by the youth. We had a really full and fabulous week. They danced, stepped, sang, played instruments, rapped, and pretty much everything else. I spent the entire week witnessing how awesomely talented they are and how blessed I am to serve them.
The schedule of the week is quite demanding, always requiring me to take a few vacation days. I burned up a tank of gas, made
numerous store runs, airport runs, and did pretty much whatever was needed (along with my awesome team) to ensure the week was a success. And we did all this amidst two of the worst snow storm my city has had in 20 years. We got upwards of 20 inches of snow in a period of 5 days!!! Now many people complained, but I loved it!!! LOVED IT!!! I turned into a 5-year-old. And naturally, I wanted to share my pics with you! Read more…
Happy Vday!!!
Happy Valentine’s Day to all my wonderful readers!!!
You share love with me year round when you read, share, and comment on my posts!
So THANK YOU!!!
Love ya ta pieces!!!
–Ari Speaks
P.S. Spread the love and wish other people you know a Happy Vday!
God’s Extreme Makeover: Courage Edition
Hey Ari Speakers!!!
Sooooo….. remember last month when I wrote It Starts With A Yes: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Dreamchasing and You, for the World Methodist Council Youth and Young Adult devotional blog? Well, I wrote another one!!! It’s all about how I’m focusing on courage this year, exploring the concept and opening myself to how I can grow in this area of my life. Yep, it’s true. Sometimes I’m a big scaredy cat!
Super shout out to my success coach Queenie of The She Rises School of Success For Women; she’s the one who inspired me to explore courage this year. I will say more about her and the experience I had with her sometime in the future! (**winks at my awesome coach!**)
Anyway, please check out my new post: God’s Extreme Makeover: Courage Edition. You know I wanna hear your thoughts! So after you read please come back here and tell me what you think! Can’t wait to chat with you. Holla at me! SPEAK!!!
Love y’all!
–Ari Speaks
The View From Cloud Nine
Hey Ari Speakers!
I’m back from my little one week hiatus! I hope that video from Kid president held you over. LOL!
And in the spirit of Kid President, I have lots to share about developments in my own dreamchasing journey.
A couple of months ago I FINALLY understood that God was leading me into the ordained preaching ministry. THIS. WAS. HUGE. The truth is that I have been praying about this for six years. Yes, I had gone to seminary. Yes, I had earned the Master of Divinity degree. Yes, I have been a youth minister for four years. Yes, for the past few years I have been traveling the country for various speaking engagements. Yes, I love speaking! Yes, every time I would step into a pulpit to “speak,” what I actually did was “preach.” Yes, a million people, including four Bishops in my church, had told me that they could see that I had been called to preach. But no, I was not clear for myself that God was actually calling me to enter the ordained ministry––that is, the professional role of preacher and minister.
I remember having an inkling, back during my seminary days, that maybe I would eventually take this step, but I just wasn’t sure. I struggled with Read more…
A Pep Talk From Kid President: Dreamchaser Expert
Hey Ari Speakers!!!
This kid is a serious motivator! Check out the video. I know it will bless you! Afterwards, tell me what you think! What was your favorite line?
Holla at me! SPEAK!!!
–Ari Speaks
Dreamchaser Strategy
Hey Ari Speakers!!!
Take Two: A little dreamchasing strategy for you… What do you think of this quote? Holla at me! SPEAK!!! –Ari Speakers
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