Cool Breeze Sister Sunday Brunch

Cool Breeze Sister Sunday Brunch
Sept 16th 2012

Hosted by our wonderful
community partners at CampButterfly Chicago

Camp Butterfly2929 South Wabash AvenueChicago, IL 60616Tel: (312) 328-0800

As always the Cool Breeze Sister Sunday Brunch was phenomenal. Focusing on JOY the Journey of You was the theme for the event. In this time of great transition and uncertainty it is easy to let the negative events, conflicting politics, and uncertainties of the future overwhelm our sense of truth. As diverse women we must find ways to let our JOY become and remain our focus, motivation, reason to come together to build a more certain future, as individuals and leaders within our community.

 We energized our souls with Christian Totty, encouraged each other through our collective wordswith Michelle Hughes of Diaspora Spirit!

Euphoria 

Authors: Monica How, Bobbi Jones, Abby Romo, Shirley Paceus, Christian Totty, and Lisba Romo- Martinez.

We, the independent sisters and the dream makers yearn for joy.
We’ve experienced joy in many forms; birth of each child, birth of your purpose, love and dreams fulfilled.

But life’s darkness also brings things that obscure, break, and destroy joy.
Things like divorce, loss of self, death of a loved one and sickness.

But we gather today to summon joy into our lives. We remember our joys celebrate the diversity of our friendships, embracing vulnerability and strengthening each other.

Today, we continue on our journey affirming the pursuit of joy. Testifying to the power of Joy.

We pledge to continue on our journey creating joy in our spirit by staying curious and open to possibilities. We promise to continue nurturing our joy in our mind by thinking positively and sharing it with others.
We vow to build joy in our bodies by maintaining self care.
Today we say salute to joy!

The Secret of Wildflowers 

Authors: Esly Sarimento, Toni Bondleonard, Alexis, and Erika

I awoke to the confusion of a new day stereotypes and all forms of oppression.

The sun is bright, but the shadows pull me in. How will I experience joy today?
Perhaps I should get rid of negative influences, throw away self doubt,
discard other people’s images of who I am.
Joy Stealers. Joy delayers.

I should just let self confidence flow….Let faith flow. And joy will emerge looking
like bliss and affirmation of who I am. Joy will saturate the air smelling like calmness
of  wildflowers, lavender, and renewing scents after it rains.

Joy will fill me feeling like gratefulness,
connecting with the universe and dancing all night long.

Today I chose Joy!

Collective Joy

Authors: Donna Medina, Cynthia Milsap, Lissette Romo, Tova Black, Dorthy Toney

We the oppressed and the privileged yearn for joy.
We’ve experienced joy in many forms, such as
personal achievements, our love of nature and love for all living things.

But life’s darkness also brings things that obscure, break and destroy joy.
Things like death, doubt, fear and dissapointments.

But we gather today to summon joy into our lives.
We remember our joys: a source of empowerment, inspiration and a reminder to be grateful.

Today, we continue on our journey affirming the pursuit of joy. Testifying to the power of joy.
We pledge to continue ton our journey of creating joy in our spirit by smiling and sharing fellowship and friendship with one another.

We promise to continue nurturing joy in our mind by remembering our joyful moments and and finding ways to create new moments of joy.  We vow to build joy in our bodies by being mindful of what we eat and how we care for our bodies.

We pledge to love our bodies.
Today we welcome joy!

Joy

Authors: Veronica Romo, Emily O’Callahan, Katrina Malone, Juliette Tyson, Charlotte Phillips

I awoke to the confusion of a new day;
overwhelmed, stressed, frazzled and apprehensive.

The sun is bright, but the shadows pull me in. How will I experience Joy today?
Perhaps I should get rid of negativity, throw away fear, discard uncertainty and doubt.  Joy stealers.
Perhaps I should put priorities, procrastination, and time management in order.Joy delayers.

Or maybe I should just let positive thoughts flow…
Let positive energy flow. And joy will emerge looking like smiles, glistening eyes, and happiness.
Joy will saturate the air smelling like ocean mist and mom’s home cooking.

Joy will fill me feeling like excitement and peacefulness.
Today I chose joy!