By Dawn Onley If you have stress in your life, there’s a good chance you’re not saying “no” enough. This is the tea I’ve been sipping on this weekend. These wise words come from Joyce Meyer, the dynamic preacher and speaker, who has a book coming out next spring called “Overload” which deals with the…

By Samantha McKenzie Many of us understand the basic tenets of being grateful. I am always thankful when people lend me a helpful hand, or offer up some exceptional advice. I am very grateful that God answers my prayers. I appreciate every act of kindness I receive from others. I must confess, however, that my…

By Dawn Onley I love Bishop T.D. Jakes. In addition to being a powerful speaker, a gifted preacher, and a devoted family man, I think he has great discernment and incredible insight. Whenever I hear him preach, whenever I watch one of his videos, whenever I read one of his books, I am furiously writing…

By Samantha McKenzie When I was growing up in the ‘80s, word on the street was “money talks and BS walks.” The street I’m referring to is Wall Street. I learned very early on that money was valuable and most people built their lives around attaining it. As a junior in high school, I participated in…

By Dawn Onley My co-blogger and I were once naïve college students at an off-campus house party where we had indulged in a bit too much to drink. Between the laughing, the dancing, and the spiked punch, we completely lost track of time. Suddenly, she leaned over and whispered to me that she had to…

By Samantha McKenzie From time to time we all find ourselves in unfavorable situations. We make choices and end up in places we didn’t think we’d be. We deal with issues we never thought we would face. If you’ve lived long enough, you’ve found yourself smack dead in the middle of a circumstance that you never…

By Dawn Onley My two-year-old son excitedly runs up to the garage door after he gets out of the car and begs me, in that whiny, pleading way toddlers have about them, to open it. “Garage door!” he exclaims, as if seeing it for the first time. “Open, mommy. Garage door.” When the door goes…

By Samantha McKenzie Julian Bond lived a life on the frontline for social justice. When he died this past Sunday at the age of 75, he left behind a long list of accomplishments and a legacy of defending the rights of human beings. His resume spanned the gamut: Co-founder of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee Chairman…

By Dawn Onley Four months after I moved to Washington, D.C. in 2007, a young, 20-something black man was gunned down in the rear of a Catholic church, directly across the street from my house. His body remained on the cold pavement under a white sheet for hours, as police conducted their investigation and news…

By Samantha McKenzie We all tend to shy away from tough conversations. Most women, including myself, prefer not to ruffle feathers. We avoid conflicts like the plague and will find the most creative ways to remove ourselves from the room if there’s any indication that it’s about to get uncomfortable. We take ourselves right out…