by: Lanisha PorterIt's bad to be enslaved by someone but it's even worse to be enslaved by your own self. And unfortunately, sex often times enslaves one to their own passions and they become a prisoner to their bodily yearnings. While procreation is a very natural part of life, too much of any one thing can become dangerous. In our society, ones manhood is secured by hyper masculinity and hyper masculinity means a lot of women and a lot of sex. But gender is a performance and a lot of men have the wrong idea about how the performance should go.
Therefore, if I ever had a son I'd tell him being a man isn't about what he is getting, it's about what he is getting at. Let me explain.
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by: Lanisha PorterOne of the best lessons I've had about believing in myself happened in 7th grade. I was in Mr. Websters math class and one day he gave us an algebraic work sheet to complete. Working alongside my friends, we all got stuck on one particular problem. I attempted to work the problem on my own but soon erased my answer afraid that it was wrong after glancing around seeing no one had the same as mine. I worked the problem out a second time being more careful and attentive, but still arrived at the same solution. This time I openly compared my answer with my friend group but nobody could understand how I got the answer I did. Therefore, I erased it a second time. Convinced I was wrong, I raised my hand and asked for help. Mr. Weber came over and I explained to him my method of getting the answer. We walked through the problem together and surprisingly—with the teacher by my side— for the third time, I got the same exact answer. When I went to grab my worksheet to write it down, Mr. Weber saw that I had erased the correct answer and said something so simple that I'll never forget, "you had it right all along. Believe in yourself Ms. Porter."
by: Lanisha Porter I wonder if anyone has ever taken the time to think about the life of a diamond and how lonely it could be. People admire diamonds; we are taught from early on that diamonds are among the greatest and most valuable gems to ever have. However, unable to afford a diamond—especially one with multiple carats—many people just closely glare at the diamond recognizing it's beauty and worth but always moves down the glass for something less costly. Realizing that the worth of the diamond is too much of a financial investment to commit to, they settle for something tremendously less costly but something that mimics the features of a diamond.
by: Lanisha Porter 97% of the time I am happy God chose me to be a woman. However, sometimes there is that 3% that regrets that I am all because of the pains that come with it. Pains that will forever be unbeknown to men. Beneath the glamour, glitter, and pizzazz of being a woman are very rigid and demanding, yet divine, responsibilities all women must inherit that are antecedent to choice. We learn to squander heartbreaks and act as though we are okay; we learn to render love and forgiveness repeatedly on the whim of grace, we sacrifice our own welfare for the security of others, we surrender our temples so that life may manifest inside, and yet and still...the world only reduces us to only being functional insofar as ornaments or canals to fleeting passions.
by: Lanisha PorterAs I do often, I was navigating my regular commute from Kentucky to New York to head back to school. Everything was going exceptionally well on this day...security clearance was a breeze, the TSA agents made me laugh as they wished me well wishes for a great semester, and I even managed to meet an attorney who offered me a chance to shadow him that summer. Everything was normal. I went from Kentucky to Washington, then Washington to my final destination. As I landed at LaGuardia, I went to baggage claim, retrieved my luggage without any problems and proceeded to Grand Central. I arrived at Grand Central Station and headed to the ticket window to purchase a train ticket. Throughout my trip, I had managed to oddly store $17 inside my phone case; which I NEVER do. But on that particular day I did. Anywho, in an attempt to be courteous, I hurriedly moved from the ticket window so the other patrons could be helped. Besides, Grand Central was crawling with AT LEAST a couple of thousand people so I was trying to break free of the chaos. My train was departing in 9 minutes.
by: Lanisha Porter"There are those who see the cup as being half empty and those that see the cup as being half full."-Unknown
The devil lives in the details and if we search hard enough we will find all that is wrong in America, but if we do our research throughout history we will also be proud of how far America has come. Well, at least for the "glass is half full" person. Only two generations ago my great grandmother would have never dreamed of having the opportunities I have now to be educated, to travel, and have my fair share of respect in society as a woman and as an African-American. I am the descendent of a working-class people who were often unfairly limited in their chances to flourish in life given the culture of the times. by: Lanisha PorterSimply because I wanted to take time to live and enjoy my life in celebration of my 21st birthday. Born on the 28th day of February, I am a child descending from 7—the number of solitude, and seeker of truth but most importantly...the number resonating with completeness. All are very fit in describing myself. Sometimes my search for solitude puts me at an off-beat tempo with the rest of the world, and my desire for truth keeps me invested in navigating life's quest. And all of these forces work together so I may find my own completeness where I am perfectly aligned in spirit, emotion and thought.
For my 21st birthday I wanted to do something valuable that could be locked away in my memory bank forever. Warning: Content may contain explicit language as I have a particular audience in mind while writing this. More than often I'll hear a guy say "if she's not f*cking, I'm not trying to mess with her honestly." But then this same guy will turn around and demand that no guy better not even think about touching his sister and will exclaim how she is off limits. Guys like this wholeheartedly believe the women they love most are above being treated as just a quick nut, yet will use someone's sister/mother/daughter for the same exact purposes. Oddly, a lot of men think the way their mothers, sisters, and daughters should be treated is far different from the way they choose to deal with own their women. by: Lanisha PorterThe untimely and unexpected events in life can very much seem unrelated, chaotic, and meaningless in the moment. But if you step away from the canvas & see the BIG picture, you'll look and see we serve a God who is strategic. Not one detail is pointless. The pain, the adversities, the strain, and the loneliness is all for your good. He's honing your brilliance. YOUR weakness is His strength. Sometimes seeing the big picture takes years, but by and by your eye-view will be 20/20 to what God had you go through. Instead of being crippled by my circumstances, I always challenge myself to believe that God has guided me there in that moment to build something in me. Though I may not like the process, it's necessary for everything I need to become.
by: Lanisha porter
by: LanishA PorterYou are not crazy. You are not unstable. You are not disordered. These are all things society would see fit to call you. I think, rather, you are just tired. You are an angel who's ready to go back home; a lung needing fresh air, or even a mind wanting to be stretched to new dimensions. And you are not wrong for being homesick in such unfamiliar places. It's only natural. You are not wrong for wanting clean air in a polluted world whose fumes of hate, inequality, and ugliness often make it hard to breathe. And you certainly aren't wrong for being ambitious and wanting to explore the unknown now that you've already experienced some of what there is to know in this world. by: Lanisha PorterI think Maya Angelou said it best, "When you see me sitting quietly, like a sack left on the shelf, don’t think I need your chattering. I’m listening to myself. Hold! Stop! Don’t pity me! Hold! Stop your sympathy! Understanding if you got it, otherwise I’ll do without it!"
Not too long ago this self-proclaimed hero invaded my space, I'm sure only trying to be a Good Samaritan, killing all of my good vibes. After a busy morning, I was finally eating lunch, tucked away in the corner of the café while checking my emails. I was at peace. |
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