It’s Kwanzaa Time!
By Dawn and Candace

Kwanzaa is a special time of both cultural and personal reflection for Candace and Dawn. Most of us are familiar with the seven principles of Kwanzaa, also known as the Nguzo Saba. To refresh your memory they are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith).

The three principles that touch us the most are Nia, Kuumba, and Imani. These are the principles by which we run our business and lives everyday.

Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

A woman with purpose is a woman on a mission. She has little time for risky behaviors. She is focused, more or less content, busy and not always looking at the clock. How do you find your purpose in life? When you begin to ask yourself burning questions like, “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” then you’re on the threshold of discovery. Many people have found their purpose by remembering their childhood passions and hobbies. Others have embarked on deep spiritual quests to obtain divine revelations.

Kuumba (Creativity): To 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.

We women of color are some of the most creative people on the planet. We sing, we dance, we cook, we sew, and we make love in such unique ways. We are watched and studied by the world. Our ways are often stolen and exploited, but that has never stopped us from creating and dreaming. We still keep stepping to our own beat. We are amazing, wonderful, beautiful, creative women.

Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

For so long we have depended on the faith of our mothers to pull us through the trials of life. Now we’ve got to stand on our own and work our faith as rigorously as we work out our bodies. Faith is like a muscle. You’ve got to exercise it to make it strong. The elders talk a lot about “stepping out on faith.” It’s an act of courage to step out when you don’t see how your dream can possibly happen. Faith is the unwavering belief in ourselves to get a job done. Women of faith believe that a kind and generous universe will help them. Every turn of the corner, every walk down the street holds the potential for manifestation. Women of faith have an air of expectancy, and they’ve learned the virtue of patience. Planning lays the foundation for change in our lives, action moves us forward, and faith is the glue that connects the plan to the end result.

The seven principles offer excellent ideas for reflection. Won’t you join us as we review the past year and plan for 2009 and beyond?

1. This past year, did your purpose guide your daily activities?

2. How will you be guided by your purpose in 2009?

3. This past year, what were some of your most creative accomplishments? Pat yourself on the back!

4. Brainstorm ways to infuse more creativity in your work, relationships, and life overall in 2009.

5. Remember your biggest challenge of 2008. Were you able to keep the faith during the trial? What did you learn in 2008 about your faith that you can use to improve your life in 2009?

From Sister Feelgood: A Year of Health and Fitness for Our Bodies and Our Souls. ©1996 by Donna Marie Williams. New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks.