O N C E a Man T W I C E a Child | 1 . 19 . 21

Welcome to 2021!

2020 has been full of lessons beyond my wildest imagination. My matriculation through manhood and my ascension to my highest utility is not without ruggedness. 2020 reminded me that I am one of many who will earn the title of wise, but I must secure my designation intentionally. T.E. Lawrence once said, "[h]e was old and wise, which meant tired and disappointed..." and in 2020, I experienced both tiredness and disappointment. Still, adversely, I also experienced abundant joy and remnants of what true love could be.

One of the enormous lessons made abundantly clear in 2020 was the use of gratitude. I learned through multi-tiered losses, the importance of appreciating individual authenticity. We must train ourselves to exchange hurt with appreciation. In doing so, we open ourselves up to an omnipotent source of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Negative energy in the form of resentment, jealousy, and hatred stifle our real purpose. When we live through the fractured lens of past misfortune and pain, we miss the love and skip the understanding needed to navigate our purpose journey.

2020 has also exposed me to my greater self! I was able to experience small pieces of who I was ordained to be! I have come to appreciate my unique patterns of thought and grown to love my ability to accept people for who they are and how they present in the moment, no matter the circumstance. Especially during times of disappointment, for everyone is doing the best they can with what they have at every given instant. No matter the deed, or how trivial or simplistic a situation or action may seem, we must all seek to understand each other on a deeper level. We are all creating an Iliad through our odyssey of life, and we all have different depots that have designed who we are today. So have patience, because once you were a child who knew not what to do, and did in error, but were forgiven.

We do not grow wise through osmosis, and we will not grow old without first being a child. Life is full of lessons; condition yourself to meet everyone with an eye of gratitude, patience, and yearning for understanding. 2020 has taught me to seek to understand and accept what I learn while appreciating the moment's authenticity.

I look forward to 2021 and will continue to meet all circumstances with an eye of gratitude.

M I N D F U L N E S S : The Key to unlocking Y O U | 4 . 29 . 2020

  What’s up, Everyone? Wanted to bend your ear for minute. I’m at a point in my life where things are beginning to blossom for me and mine, but it wasn’t always like that. To be honest, for a long time I didn’t think things would ever go my way. But over time I realized that my mindset was probably why things weren’t working out for me. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you think you don’t deserve success or happiness, then you won’t find success or happiness. You get out what you put in. 

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as simple as just wanting something, you have to put in work. But if you put in the work, and expect nothing in return, except the satisfaction one gets from doing things correctly, you’ll be on your way to changing your standing in life. You see, everyone wants to be successful, but very few want to actually put in the work to be successful. So that’s where you distinguish yourself from the others. While they’re fronting on Instagram or Twitter, you’re grinding, preparing for that opportunity. You may not “enjoy” the process, but you don’t have to. You only need to believe it’ll be worth it in the end!   

     Remember, if you surround yourself with people who don’t reach their potential, they probably won’t encourage you to reach yours. Most people are complacent by nature, but complacency only guarantees more of the same. Once you believe in yourself, you’ll see it’s okay to not only want more, but also believe you deserve more. That’s when your reality will begin to match your expectations. If you want it, believe you deserve it, and put in the work to earn it! Why doubt yourself? Leave that to the others not willing to work as hard as you. This is your day. You planted the seeds, you watered the garden, now go get your bounty!

- Dr. Matt Body

Educator and Leader

Be | Y O U - 4 . 23 . 20

7:45 A.M. EST

Great Morning!

I spoke to a friend this morning, and we discussed growing into your purpose and dissecting your journey. He explained that he grew up in an era where people did not speak about their doings – yet be labeled a snitch—a period where people did not take pictures because of the fear of Johnny Law’s ever watching eye. Long story short, as we got deeper into the conversation, I uncovered a trend that many people experience while growing up and even as adults. I’ll use a story to help guide the thought:

A young man was walking down the halls of his high school, seemingly ignored by everyone. He had a strong desire to be accepted and noticed that one guy, in particular, got a lot of attention. He would hear people talk about how tough and cool the guy was every day. One reoccurring theme was how the tough kid would never smile and would always have a mean demeanor and look. It dawned on the young man that if he copied/followed suit, he too could be cool and no longer ignored. So the following weeks, the young man practiced not smiling and walking the halls with a mean and tough look on his face. Eventually, people were asking what was wrong with him and treating him like he mattered, some even were fearful. One day the young man, with his newly found popularity (if you’d call it that), went to the restroom and ran into the original tough kid. The tough kid asked the young man what was wrong and why he looked so mean recently. The young man explained that he was tired of being ignored and wanted to be like him, so he copied him. The tough kid looked perplexed and oddly enough a bit sad. Then smiled and reached in his mouth and pulled out his front teeth. He proceeded to explain that the reason he looks so mean is that his stepfather knocked his teeth out, and his mother couldn’t afford to buy him implants, so he wears false teeth, and he is afraid that if he talks too much his teeth would fall out of his mouth. The young man was astonished by the story but realized the error of his ways.

The story highlights the importance of following your own path because you never know how treacherous someone else's life journey may be. Learn to love yourself and relish in your journey. Revel in the fact that you have mountains to climb and bruises to acquire. You are becoming your best self and will have a story to tell a young person/people along the way.

- Aaron Johnson

No R U I N S | MAJOR MOMENTS 1. 23 19

I found myself standing in the city of Laodicea in Asia minor, sun blazing hot, thirsty, and feet hurting from the miles of walking we did on previous days. Looking around at the pillars and walls struck a sense of awe within me as I grappled with the Biblical weight of the moment. The group I was with seemed to settle into the same quiet lane of deep thought as our guide told us of the rich history we were surrounded by.

Somehow through the haze of awe, thirst, and aching I could hear these words float to the surface of my minds eye. “It’s all ruins”……. I shuddered back to my senses but couldn’t shake the realization this didn’t just happen overnight, time, wealth, comfort, and complacency lulled the inhabitants to a place of unfounded security.

I could hear then in my own heart “Be careful that you don’t seek out only comfort”  “Be aware of what you do right now, and always do right” “Guard your heart and your thoughts” “Never lose who you are” “Always be true to you”   “Never forget that God is first last and everything in between”.  I came to grips with the fact that if I’m not careful, my heart could look the same way as the ruins I was standing in.

In the heights and lows of your life, give diligence to your now moments in order that you will be able to examine your heart and find……No Ruins.

Kelly English, BMsc

Photo Credit: Kelly English 2012

With 26 years in the pulpit and nonprofit ministry, Major English is a lover of the human experience and strives to uplift those within his sphere of influence.

M A K I N G R O O M

We are often derailed by the difficulties of yesterday

We allow the fray between pain and reality to skew perceptions

We conjure ideas rooted in fallacies and believe them true

We focus on the suffering because of its versimitude

Forgotten is the lineage from which lords come

Cluttered is the minds eye

by sewage yet sieved

Only filtered through forgiveness

Only filtered through patience

Only filtered through acceptance

Only filtered through thanks

Only filtered through Love

-Aaron Johson

2019: Year of C H A N G E

This year starts with the induction of one of DeKalb’s very own into office.

Mr. Diijon DaCosta of Stone Mountain was recently sworn into office as the youngest school board member of DeKalb County School District, District 6. He matriculated through the DeKalb County School system and went on to receive his Bachelors in sociology with a concentration in criminology from Kennesaw State University. While attending Kennesaw University Mr. DaCosta pledged and served as a charter member of the Alpha Delta Nu chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated.

Mr. DaCosta also serves as a board member and co-founder of DeKalb Kids Project Incorporated (DKP) a nonprofit organization which focuses on emphasizing the importance of academic success and leadership among young people in DeKalb. Mr. DaCosta is a father, educator, mentor, motivational speaker, community activist, and community leader. He abides by the motto, “The way you dress, will be the way you are addressed and once you change your mind, everything around you will also change.” Let’s congratulate Mr. Dacosta on his new appointment. We are wishing you much success and thank you for giving back and being one of DeKalb’s Very Own!

Diijon DaCosta 678.676.0027 diijon_dacosta@dekalbschoolsga.org 1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd. Stone Mountain Ga. 30058

DeKalbsVeryOwn would also like to congratulate and wish much success to Mr. Marshall D. Orson on becoming the DeKalb County School District Board Vice Chair and Ms. Allyson L. S. Geertz on becoming the District 4 Board Member for DeKalb County School District and last, but certainly not least, Madam Commissioner Lorraine Cochran Johnson on becoming the new DeKalb County Super District 7 Commissioner.

Responsibility: A Look Within

Weekly Quote:

“Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get where you want to go, no one else.”

– Les Brown'

Description:

Acceptance is where it all starts! In order to achieve a fully positive life we must first accept

responsibility for all of which we are. We must release the blame and ask ourselves, “what have I done

to land here at this exact point in life and what can or will I do to change?” We must stand up to

ourselves inside ourselves and overcome the fear of disappointment. The late Sigmund Freud can be

eloquently quoted saying, “Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves

responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility” and that fear is what separates the

influencers from the followers!

-Aaron Johnson

G L E N | W O O D : Top Knotch Auto Detailing

Today I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. “Dee” Daniels owner of Top Knotch Auto Detailing LLC in Decatur. Top Knotch Auto Detailing LLC. is located at 4533 Glenwood Road Decatur Ga. 30034. Top Knotch has been around for at least the last 7 years and is located right in front of the 285 Glenwood Flea Market. Dee, originally from New York, has not only run his business in DeKalb for many years, but he has also hired from the community and created opportunities for others to grow and change their lives!

All car washes start at $9.99! Dee is a long time resident of DeKalb County and says that the most important thing for him is for, “DeKalb’s money to be spent in DeKalb for, DeKalb.” If you’re on Glenwood, stop by TopKnotch and get your car dripped.

Thank you Dee for giving back and being one of DeKalb’s Very Own!

1.6.19 | MAJOR MOMENTS

The artist as they stand before a blank canvas or tools of creativity, never say within themselves, “I am afraid to express what is inside of me”. Instead with complete abandonment they open the deepest recesses of the mind and release the impossible for all observers. They do not stand in fear, they stand in the sheer boundless nature of creativity.

When this happens the essence of the creator is passed on into this third-dimensional realm for all to see, enjoy, critique, admire, and be inspired.

This year stands in front of us like a blank canvas ready for you the artist to create your masterpiece. Others will observe, admire, enjoy, critique, and be inspired all because you said: “I will not fear this year”. So make the brush strokes wide and the colors bright and be free.

Kelly English, BMsc

Photo Credit (thumbnail): High Museum of Art - Yayoi Kusama

With 26 years in the pulpit and nonprofit ministry, Major English is a lover of the human experience and strives to uplift those within his sphere of influence.