Celebrate Kwanzaa: Imani.

On this, the seventh and last day of Kwanzaa, we focus on imani (faith) and "believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle."

I spend a lot of time writing So what can I do posts about physical health and mental health, but it is just as important to cultivate spiritual health.

For me the spiritual health piece is most important, since give me peace and purpose, and informs how I develop and maintain my physical and mental health. FamilyDoctor.org suggests:

Spirituality is the way you find meaning, hope, comfort and inner peace in your life. Many people find spirituality through religion. Some find it through music, art or a connection with nature. Others find it in their values and principles.

For me, spirituality and spiritual health comes through my personal relationship with God. Regardless of how you "find meaning, hope, comfort and inner peace in your life," make sure you do so. Be healthy, mind, body and soul.

As humans, we are all members of that first African Diaspora. And accordingly, the principles of Kwanzaa apply to us all. Manifest the Kwanzaa principles today, this week, and all year long.

What a way to start 2006! A blessed new year to you all!

"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today." - Malcolm X

Celebrate Kwanzaa: Kuumba.

On this, the sixth day of Kwanzaa, we focus on kuumba (creativity) and "do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it."

I was always taught that we all have talents. Are you discovering, developing and using your talents? Here are some resources that may help you do so:

* Think creatively about the world's problems and how to solve them.

* Use your talents to serve your community, and we all benefit.

* Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.

* Be the person you want to be.

As humans, we are all members of that first African Diaspora. And accordingly, the principles of Kwanzaa apply to us all. Manifest the Kwanzaa principles today, this week, and all year long.

“What is beautiful is good, and who is good will soon be beautiful.” - Sappho

Celebrate Kwanzaa: Nia.

On this, the fifth day of Kwanzaa, we focus on nia (purpose) and "make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness."

A few years ago, I attended a festival at a local masjid with my Uncle Agin. As we walked around, enjoying the food, booths, lectures, and other activities, my uncle introduced me to several folks, one of whom asked me, "Karama, what is your purpose?" She was quite serious. And even though I had thought extensively about my career path, I knew immediately that she wasn't asking about those plans.

It bothered me that I didn't have an answer to her important question. So after I got home from the festival, I sat down to do some serious thinking, journaling, praying, and listening about what my purpose is; why God put me, in my particular uniqueness, on this planet. Over several weeks, I thought about my talents, listed my skills, considered my values, and realized that I am here:

"To promote an understanding of the inherent value and equality of all human beings, and serve my community with a focus on equal access to health care and education, particularly for communities and people of color in the southern US and throughout the world."

Today is a perfect day to begin to understand and define your purpose. As my friend Ayanna says, "We're here to do more than suck up air." What are you here to do? Are you doing it?

Think about how much better and more meaningful your life will be when you are doing exactly what you were made and meant to do. I am so happy that my Uncle's friend asked me that question, and even more pleased to now know the answer. As I understand more about my purpose and how to live it, I have become a happier, healthier person. It's a blessing I wish for all of us.

As humans, we are all members of that first African Diaspora. And accordingly, the principles of Kwanzaa apply to us all. Manifest the Kwanzaa principles today, this week, and all year long.

"Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others." - H. Jackson Brown

Celebrate Kwanzaa: Ujamaa.

On this, the fourth day of Kwanzaa, we focus on ujamaa (cooperative economics) and "build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and profit from them together."

So what can I do lists numerous ways we can promote economic progress and economic justice. Here are just a few suggestions:

* Pay off your debts and use the money you save to improve the economic situation of your family and your community.
* Buy local to support businesses in your community. They provide jobs, resources and products for you and your family.
* Barter for goods and services and save your cash for when you really need it.
* Fund microloans that will enable folks in the US and abroad improve their economic situation.

As humans, we are all members of that first African Diaspora. And accordingly, the principles of Kwanzaa apply to us all. Manifest the Kwanzaa principles today, this week, and all year long.

"I went in through the doors of the treasury of wisdom, and I drew for myself the waters of understanding. I went into the blaze of the sun’s flame and it lighted me with its splendor, and I made of it a shield for myself." - Makeda, Queen of Sheba

Celebrate Kwanzaa: Ujima.

On this, the third day of Kwanzaa, we focus on ujima (collective work and responsibility) and "build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together."

So what can I do is filled with ways we can pull together to improve our communities, from volunteering to giving blood to investing locally and responsibly. Peruse the archives for more ideas, then try them out and let us know the results. Your community will thank you, and your work will make it a better place for you and others to live and thrive.

As humans, we are all members of that first African Diaspora. And accordingly, the principles of Kwanzaa apply to us all. Manifest the Kwanzaa principles today, this week, and all year long.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Celebrate Kwanzaa: Kujichagulia.

On this, the second day of Kwanzaa, we focus on kujichagulia (self-determination) and "define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves."

That's really what So what can I do is all about, determining what you want from and for yourself and your surroundings, and claiming the personal agency to make it happen. Here are some tools to help you do just that:

* Think about what you want to accomplish today, this month, in your lifetime and make it happen.

* Think about what justice means to you (and why). Then live your life accordingly.

* Think about what doing the right thing, means in your life, then live ethically.

As the sidebar says, "People are blessed with the ability to change their environments and situations to suit their liking. I started this blog so that we all can exercise that power" to make ourselves the people we want to be.

As humans, we are all members of that first African Diaspora. And accordingly, the principles of Kwanzaa apply to us all. Manifest the Kwanzaa principles today, this week, and all year long.

“We face neither East nor West ; we face Forward” - Kwame Nkrumah

Celebrate Kwanzaa: Umoja.

On this, the first day of Kwanzaa, we focus on umoja (unity) and "strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race."

Unity comes, in part, through mutual understanding and respect. Here are some learn about and gain respect for others:

* Practice tolerance of those who may be different from (or the same as) you in some way. You don't have to agree with someone or share their beliefs to respect them as a person.

* Learn about others through programs like Women for Women International (Thanks KCB!), People to People International, and study abroad and exchange programs.

* Read about folks in their own words through their books, magazines, newspapers, and blogs.

As humans, we are all members of that first African Diaspora. Accordingly, the principles of Kwanzaa apply to us all. Manifest the Kwanzaa principles today, this week, and all year long.

“On some positions, Cowardice asks the question, "Is it safe?" Expediency asks the question, "Is it politic?" And Vanity comes along and asks the question, "Is it popular?" But Conscience asks the question, "Is it right?" And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.