Akosua Dardaine Edwards's Blog, page 149

Day 8 -Journey to the South

There is nothing more validating than belief in yourself and your abilities. If you believe you have the power, the power is yours. There is no credential, certificate or authority beyond the power of a made-up mind. There comes a moment when you must decide that you are going to believe in yourself. When that moment comes, you become aware that outside authority is the icing. Your mind is the cake! Iyanla Vanzant

I spent most of the day in the village with Sole, she lives in a homestead with her family of 4 children, the homestead is three huts in a circle, a bathroom and a common area under a huge mango tree fro shade when they sit and talk. Sole invited me into her hut, it was pretty big with radio, TV, and her craft which she makes to sell in the market. Sole is also a farmer. What struck me immediately is the pride and belief. I asked her who taught her the craft. She looked at me puzzled. No one taught me, I learnt it on my own and I am goo. Said as comfortably as her name. 
"Really?"
"Yes"
So no one taught you?
I learnt it on my own and I am good
I can see that she was, the carvings were out of this world
So comfortable in her abilities, so comfortable to say it out loud
I looked on thinking, hmm I would usually feel so awkward to be so confident about anything, asking myself would it come across as arrogant? Would people think I am showing off? - Notice the trend here - what would people think? 
If it is the truth- that you are good at what you do - why apologize or care what others think? It's the truth
The truth needs no defence nor is the truth frail
We sat under the mango tree, and chatted for a bit. Sole says she is happy but always looking for improvement for her family- that is what her life is about
I appreciate the lessons
Peace

Day 6 - Journey to the South

“It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know the sense of wonder and humility. ” 
― Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder

Flew to Zimbabwe this morning, talk about blowing the perception and stereotype out of the water!
The place is breath taking, pure natural beauty I am staying in a basic lodge, no frills - well Wifi of course and the place is 5 mins away from the Wonder of the World called the Victoria Falls, when I walked into the place I screamed, I probably wasn't this happy in ages, just at peace with nature knowing that all is always well no matter how it looks
The people in Zimbabwe that I have met are so friendly, they are really making me feel at home in this place, really glad that I made the effort to come
I also crossed the border to Zambia as well, 800
meters from the falls and there I was, so I made the symbolic crossing
Dripping with gratitude at being here, I can safely understand why the Victoria Falls is considered a wonder of the world

Peace

Day 3 - Journey to the South

Every time our unconscious is working something out, it calls into our lives the people who have within the pieces of the answer we are seeking.
Martin Schulman
Here I am 30 hours flying away from my home, minding my own business and heard my name calling as I walked past to get lunch today! Who knows my name? I spin around and it's my friend Kele! OMG Kele I could not believe it, the last time we saw each other was ten years ago as we studied together in Turin Italy. Amazing, so we screamed like babies, she was rushing to meet her baby son who had his birthday, the last time I saw her she had no kids, now she has 3. we exchanged numbers and she promised to come see me today, we met up for a bite to eat and what an amazing human being she has blossomed into, three babies and allThis made my trip, I plan to spend time with Ms Kele while I am here and see the babies too!The unpredictability of life makes it so exciting!Peace

Day 5 - Journey to the South

" Together, hand in hand, with our matches and our necklaces, we shall liberate this country." Winne Mandela
I'm digging Winnie Mandela so much right now, in the month where we celebrate women, I am so very inspired by the strength and persistence, what a warrior! I listened to all the challenges that she went through, how much she persevered. My word! I am totally inspired by it all.What floored me is the standards by which she was judged were harsh but she pressed onWinnie turned down offers to leave South Africa during apartheid to study and live in the USA deciding to stay at home and be of service to her country, she was an activist way before she met her famous husband NelsonPolice raids, jail, solitary confinement, you name it! Winnie encountered jail of two weeks whilst pregnant it and is still standingWhat is my excuse? What is my reason for being lazy? 

Day 4 - Journey to the South

Today I am digging up old hurts and putting them to rest! ~~Iyanla Vanzant,

I spent the day in Soweto, I drove about 30 minutes from the Sandton area which I was told is the wealthiest square mile in Africa to the Soweto Township! The contrast is stark, yet there is a pride in which the people walk around there. I mean, who can blame them, world leaders such as Desmond Tutu, Winnie Mandela and Nelson Mandela lived amongst them, these people changed the world
And that was my takeaway from today, anyone, anyone with the willingness, the courage, the persistence can make a difference, and we are all human, we make mistakes, it's just life
I met Tulan, who startd a programme for youths in his mother's backyard, this is now world famous as well, I have no excuse and it starts with my own responsibility and how I choose to live my own life

Leave out the excuses, lesson number two, it is just a stalling tactic!

Peace

Journey to the South Day 2

You cannot force, coerce and demand change. Change is a process that unfolds when the individual mind comes into alignment and cooperation with the flow of life and the universe at large. Change is a journey. Change is not linear; meaning if you do this, that will happen. You can never be sure what will change or how it will change. Change is uncertain. Uncertainty gives rise to fear. Change requires vision and strategic planning. Change requires that we work from the top down (from the mind to the heart) and from the bottom up (from the experience to the cause of the experience) at the same time. Change often creates problems in our environment. Fear not! Problems are our friends! Without problems we cannot learn. Without problems we have no idea of the depth of the change that is required of us. Iyanla

South Africa to me symbolizes change, I visited here in 2000 and here I am 17 years later, the place is almost unrecognizable, the growth is phenomenal and with change and growth comes its challenges. What is remarkable is the willingness to face these challenges head on with the conviction and faith that we will learn from it and do better
Sandton  is deemed to be the richest square mile on the Continent, it is a place of luxury, of commitment, a testament to what can happen with willingness. I feel very privileged to spend my first few days in South Africa here in this place
This morning I attend the opening of the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, 171 countries are here to share and learn on how to use entrepreneurship and a developmental tool
And what a fitting place for us to meet!
Give thanks
Peace

Day 1 - Journey to the South

After a 30 hour journey including a layover in NYC I arrived in Johannesburg South Africa, having been invited to the Global Entrepreneurship Conference week long programme.
We are staying at Sandton which is supposedly the richest square mile on the Continent and I can tell why, the place is a hub of activity, banks, shopping malls, hotels, financial companies. Really impressive, I am very impressed by the friendliness and the willingness of everyone here to assist. I missed the activities today I really don't believe that I will be much use to me or anyone having been on the road since Saturday. Tomorrow I will be up front and center as I learn about how women entrepreneurs are supported in South Africa!

Stay tuned
Akosua

Simple Ways to Be Bold for Change

you are giving away your power when you please others in order to fit in. Or when you follow the opinions of the crowd. Or when you decide that others matter more than you do. Or when you let someone who seems to have more power take charge of you.

It can often seem right—or proper—to sit modestly in the background, holding accepted opinions, living for your children, or letting a controlling spouse run roughshod over you in order to keep the peace. In small and large ways, however, these kinds of decisions reduce your sense of self-worth, and without self-worth, you cannot rid yourself of your powerlessness . Deepak Chopra

The theme for this year's International Women's Day Celebrations is Be Bold For Change, over the last few days at any of the forums that I have been at the question comes up what does being bold mean to me,
Deepak's quote above really brought it home for me, it is the simple things that we do and then they become habit that makes us feel powerless, Being bold involves taking back our power, which we were born with but as time passed we kept chipping away at it or giving it away
Speaking up
Showing up
Getting up
these are some of the simple things you can do to be bold

Shaping your own mind
Following your intuition
Speaking and living your truth
Being Respectful
Showing Compassion
Forgiveness
Being Truthful

there are bold moves now in these times

So, I kept answering that it is the simple things, the way we live our lives, the way we show up that make us bold
What are you committing to doing in your space to be bold for change?
Peace

National TV Scenes

So when you’re feeling grounded, rooted, and strong, really think about to whom you can give your strength. The beautiful thing about it is that giving it away doesn’t deplete you, it reinforces your power, bringing light to yourself and to the person who needs it.
So, figure out who needs your strength today and shine a bit of love their way. You’ll become stronger. Maxi McCoy


I was billed to speak at the International Women's Day Celebration at the Hyatt Regency for ACCA Caribbean - the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, I was quite nervous, but determined to give it my all and all
The host for the day was one of the top morning show TV hosts in the country and she sat next to me. We did the small talk and she introduced me to the audience, I went up did my thing and came off the stage where she pulled me aside,
"I want you on my show"
"Wow"
"When can you come?"
"Next month"
"Can you come this week?"
"Am, Yes!"
My belly was doing flips, TV, The Morning Brew? OMG! Okay, calm down calm down
I did the show this morning, and I had fun- because before I stepped on the set I said, listen to me self, you are here to be you and share your story, end of text, do that and then go home
The fun began!
I love it when I learn from myself too

I am off to South Africa tomorrow so I promise to holla at ya when I can, come join me on that journey to one of my favourite places ever in the whole wide world

Peace

What is your story?

Having your own manifesto is very important. Mine involves making sure that my work is authentic and true and honest.  Intention is very, very important. And if you don’t think about that, deeply, it will show in your work eventually.  Waarsan 
The International Women's Day conversations were not only enlightening, they were eye opening and sometimes rawWe women just really want to be free to do what we believe is best for ourselves, our sisterhood and our family, add that all up and it equals that we want to do what is best for our world
This is what I took away from all the conversations that I had the privileged to be in but things get in the way, in fact, we LET things get in the wayNumber One thing - FEARFear of1. Being wrong2. Rejection3. Looking dumb4. Losing money5. Losing face6. Being a rabble rouser7. Making others unconfortable8. Uncertainty
And the list goes onNewsflash, shit happensDo youAnd don't apologize for itIt may be a challenge but what isn'tLet's take ownership, fell the fear and do it anywayPeace