Detroit

Adding Creativity to Your Life! by Chellyz View

/ Chellyz View / Leave a comment

If you are reading this, then Happy New Year. See, how I did that without adding the s in year! We have reached over 30 days into 2022, and I don’t know about you, but it feels like Day 399. Seriously, I have been tried, tested, and traumatized but still triumphant. So, I have to show gratitude because I am using this platform to write about it. 

You know how I feel about Resolutions. I stopped believing in those a while back. If you don’t remember, check out the post: https://aheartfullofconversations.com/2020/01/03/whats-going-to-keep-you-going-in-the-new-year-chellyz-view/ Hey, I don’t have time for making pledges that I don’t have time to keep. 

I want to talk about my visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts on Saturday, January 15, 2022. I posted a few pictures on the IG page the day after! Check them out at your leisure @aheartfullofconversations. I needed that visit to the DIA for a bit of inspiration; what better way to honor your creativity than to go to a museum to be inspired by other artists who visualized the big picture and allowed it to come to life on canvas or other forms such as a statue or photographs. So, first, I viewed cars from the 1950s to 1960s at the Detroit Style exhibit. 

From DIA Exhibit: Detroit Style Car Design in the Motor City 1950-2020

Then, I stood in awe while viewing the paintings from the Shield of the Nile Reflections exhibit brought to you by Shirley Woodson, who is 86 years young. Next, I perused three floors of artifacts, culture, and portraits that either made me say, hey, I could have done that or left me speechless because of its profound beauty.

Arts of Africa Exhibit at the DIA

Are you showing up today to ask yourself how you can be creative this year? What’s influencing you? Will it be a trip to your local museum? How about encouraging words from a video you just watched on social media? Will you be writing in a journal? Do you think you will be creating a vision board? Oh yeah, I’ve done that also. Check out my board of creativity below!

My Infamous Vision Board

We have a whole year to express our creative side. I don’t want you to reach day 355 and talk about I should have done this, and I should have done that. Be creative. Bring a splash of excitement to your life. Be it wearing bright, bold colors, which I was afraid to do because I felt safe wearing earth tones. It might be deciding to write with a purple pen. Hey, do you still own a pen? Or, it could be trying something new at your favorite restaurant. Cause you know me, I’m either ordering the Fettucine Alfredo with Shrimp or Chicken or the Salmon with Asparagus. Whatever you do, be creative. Enjoy life because it’s been challenging these past couple of years dealing with well; I’m not even mentioning it. 

Alright, keep me posted about how you welcomed a little creativity in 2022. Comment on this post to keep me updated. Until next time, I will check on you in the Spring!  

-Let your heart be full of new ventures that will lead you to the possibilities of limitless conversations!

Featured Image by Ashray Dravidian on Unsplash

Advertisement

Wherever You Are, You Can Love Detroit! by Chellyz View

/ Chellyz View / 2 Comments

I might receive a little or lot of feedback from this post.  People may even think harsh words such as “sell-out,” “fake,” or who knows what.   Well, here it goes.  I have been singing the same tune for many years, “I will never move out of the city of Detroit.” I was really feeling this when I wrote,https://aheartfullofconversations.com/2017/02/01/starting-a-heart-full-of-conversations-to-spark-the-courageous-soul-of-detroit/. But lately, the song I sing has been quite different. So, here it goes, and it is just a melody, but I have heard the tune of, “I can move if I want to.  I don’t owe anybody anything.” My new Mantra is: “I gotta save myself, before I can try to save anybody else or I will be lost forever!”

I know my last post brought up the fact that there is still goodness in Detroit https://aheartfullofconversations.com/2021/06/05/detroit-reflection-on-whats-good-here-by-chellyz-view.  My heart will always love Detroit. But, who knows, I will probably never move. However, I was very critical of individuals who left, but I felt all emotional because I never dared myself to step out on faith and explore new surroundings.

Next year my daughter will be graduating from high school, and she is excited about attending college out of state.  She is also considering attending a college in MI but living on campus. So, I am feeling sad and excited at the same time.  I am realizing that the time is flying by and she will be leaving the nest soon. However, I am enthusiastic because she is more adventurous than I was at her age. A new environment is what she thrives for. I understand.

Four years from now, my son will also be leaving.  Though he is not sure if staying in Detroit or any parts of Michigan is the plan, he did indicate he would like to move to another area just for a little while.  However, he did reassure me that he would return to Detroit to give back to the community.  A change of scenery is needed for his well-being.  I understand!

Over the years, I have known people who desired to have a change of pace or wanted to find new opportunities.  There have been friends and family who left and returned. There have also been those who relocated and never longed to move back, but that does not mean they don’t love the city.  I am beginning to realize I am getting older.  I have more years behind me instead of in front of me.  I know you have heard your elders state this phrase before.  Well, now here I am reaffirming the statement.  Move how you want, but it doesn’t mean you or even me can’t love this beautiful place from wherever we are!

I guess I am writing this to state, and it is not like anybody needs me to say this but do what makes you content. Leave, stay or return; if you love Detroit, no matter where you are, that will never change. I am preaching to myself as well.  Whether I stay or leave, Detroit will always be in my heart.  Live your life, love this life and do what you need in life to make yourself happy wherever your soul leads you.  Until next time……… 

-Let your heart be full of new ventures that will lead you to the possibilities of limitless conversations!

DETROIT: Reflection on What’s Good Here! by Chellyz View

/ Chellyz View / 2 Comments

The news blasted, and I heard a voice on the television telling its viewers of sob stories. Hearts dropped. Questions lingered. Ears pierced with the sounds of sadness roaming throughout the room. The headlines told of situations that were becoming too familiar. However, I want to take this time to switch the narrative. I just need to turn off the madness and shed light on what’s still good here.

Believe it or not, there is still good here! Slow rolls on bikes. A leisure game of basketball is happening at the park or on the street where you will find a milk crate serving as a hoop. Children are playing tag. Yes, the aroma of BBQ wishing I had learned to be a better cook. Awwww yeah, that’s my song. You know there is a hustle to that one. Consuming chips that are Better when they are Made from the D. 

Enjoying good ol’ pop, known as Vernors (or soda if you are from another region) with healing properties that can cure a tummy ache. Hmmmm, or maybe just buy a Faygo at the store. Any flavor will satisfy your palate.  

Too often, we are inundated with another sad incident, but it is still good here. Strolls along the Riverwalk. Excited by telling people, “We got a whole Island in our city.” Snacking on Coney Dogs or Chili Fries that make your toes curl and heart smile.  

Retrieved from YouTube from Hardcore Detroit video entitled, “Detroit Jit battle in Capitol Park!!! Final Battle”

I’m reminiscing about wishing to know how to Jit as I tap my feet to some ol’ school music. “Where you from, who you wit?” I reply, “The Motor City, and I’m just chillin’ by myself.”

Yes, there are layers to this ish, and if you are bold enough to remove them, you will discover it is still good here.

Some neighborhoods have historic homes and are close-knit. We are more than abandoned houses and empty fields. There is a richness here, and if you haven’t heard, people from the outskirts are trying to purchase many of the properties and land this side of Eight Mile.  

The sounds of ice cream trucks. The evidence that legends were born here if you ever drive by that studio called Motown. I know there are times it may not feel like it, but there are still good attributes here. 

Yes, some challenging issues need to be addressed, but I ain’t here to visit that right now. I just showed up for a second to remind you to invest the time to find what is good here such as museums, festivals, or tours (if you’re not comfortable yet, wait until the Covid-19 numbers decrease) because it’s truly worth it. I can go on and on about what’s good here like fresh styled box braids flowing in the wind.  

I know you have some fond memories and gentle reminders that it ain’t all bad in the 313. Please share them with me when you have a lil time. No matter what the doubters state, I am here to tell you, “There’s still goodness here! There’s still goodness in Detroit!”  

-Let your heart be full of new ventures that will lead you to the possibilities of limitless conversations!

Reference

Hardcore Detroit video retrieved from YouTube, “Detroit Jit battle in Capitol Park!!! Final Battle.”

MOTOWN: Yo Town & My Town by Butch Ford

/ dabutcha08 / 1 Comment
motown

MOTOWN: Yo Town & My Town by Butch Ford

What is Motown?  Now that’s a loaded question.  And we’d probably hear several dozen responses of varied degree, I suppose.  Some may agree that it’s a majestic little white house at 2648 W. Grand Blvd. on the west side of Detroit.  While others may take the “hit making factory” approach.  If you answered either way, you’re definitely not wrong.  But that’s not the narrative this time.  The journey for me started towards the latter part of the 60’s, continued throughout the 70’s and was nurtured in the 80’s.  These were times where society put emphasis on family, love and unity.  Churches, schools, neighborhoods and community centers all had a hand in our upbringing.

“It takes a village” right?  Maybe it was a naive perspective, on my part?  Or was I just looking at things through rose colored lenses?  But something happened.  In fact…several things happened.  We could talk for hours about the collapse of the African American family, the failed education system, or the lack of pride and self-respect as “a people.”  But I’m more interested in solutions to these problems.  What can we do to right these wrongs?  Where do we even begin?

I don’t like to speak on politics or religion publicly.  My grandmother Mattie Mae taught me that at a young age.  But something has to change.  And I’m sure I don’t just speak for myself here.  It’s going to take a village AGAIN…if we want our pride back.  If we want our self-respect back.  If we want our dignity back.  And if we want our Motown back!  Let’s make a change my people!