Category: EnSpired

EnSPIRED: So, What Are You Doing With Your Tax Money This Year?

Published on by Roshonda B4 Comments

photo above courtesy of bing 

I featured this story last year in a newsletter I created called EL-SPIRED (God Spired). It was also featured in a magazine that I wrote for. Since tax season is in heavy rotation, I thought I’d share it again. This was a very inspirational and thought provoking story….check it out!

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IT’S TIME TO MAKE IT RAIN!!!!

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Yes, It’s that time of year again! Christmas time!!!! or I guess I should say, Tax Time – a time in which most people, look forward to every….single….year (unless you hit the lottery or just got it like that and if so, kudos to you my friend!) But, in my household it’s that big blessing that I can’t wait to come around.

Tax Season is the most joyous time of the year in which where everyone can finally buy the things they want. Every year we hope, wish and pray that January gets here SOON enough, so we can file those taxes and spend, spend, spend. But how many of us actually use that money to pay off bills or pay bills up in order to free some of our 9-5 pay checks. I have to be honest, when tax time used to come around “Bills” were the last thing on my mind to pay – seriously, because I’m always focused on the things that I didn’t get an opportunity to buy when I got my regular check, or the things I have to sacrifice and put back because I didn’t have enough money to get it. “Get my Drift?”

Now while I know this isn’t the correct way to spend this “once a year” money. There’s a single mother from Gaffney, South Carolina that’s got me thinking about spending my taxes a little bit differently this year and maybe you too! According to news site WESH2, Christina Knaack – a single mother of two took the internet by storm when she posted a $5400.00 receipt of where she paid her $450.00 a month rent up for a year.

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I got back $5600 on my taxes. Instead of buying my kids the latest Jordans or fancy electronics I paid my rent for the YEAR. I’m a single mom and I do it all buy myself on a minimum wage job. I kno that a roof over my kids head is what’s important. My kids don’t want for anything because my priorities are straight. And this also means I will have that extra 450 a month to do things with my kids. Christina Knaack

Knaack stated that she didn’t expect the post to go viral but glad that it went public so if anyone shared it, they would be able to see how a recovering addict made it possible to get off the streets and maybe it would encourage them to find a better way. Christina has received both positive and negative comments about her decision, however; she said if the post inspires people, then she’s happy with that. It definitely inspired me. What About You?

So, what do you plan to do with your taxes this year….Before you make it rain and start popping bottles – just think of Christina’s story. If we play our cards right – we will not only be able to celebrate this bless-ed “tax season” for one month, but we’ll be able to celebrate ALL YEAR LONG!!!! You feel me?..

Be Wise first and Make it Rain Last! 

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You’ll be Happy You Did!!

P.S. If you haven’t filed your taxes already, you have until April 17th to get’em done!

 

Roshonda N. Blackmon – Creator of A Blog, A Magazine. It’s JustsumInspiration, Author, Speaker & Encourager

EnSpired: From The Car to The Red Carpet: It’s Ryan Coogler, Director of Black Panther

Published on by Roshonda B4 Comments

photo above courtesy of bing

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Okay, so unless you’ve been M.I.A for the past month, don’t have a television or just don’t go to the movies – AT ALL! then maybe you weren’t aware of a movie called “Black Panther” in which grossed more than 240 million dollars (US) and over 400 million worldwide in it’s opening weekend of (February 16, 2018); which is the highest grossing opening of all time, according to Vanity Fair. Can somebody say WOW!!! and I don’t even think that’s a good word to describe the magnitude of this  moment.

At the helm of such success is none other than 31 yr old  film director, Ryan Coogler. However; this is not Coogler’s first acclaimed film – he also directed and wrote Fruitvale Station, starring Michael B. Jordan and Creed, in which again starred Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone in which gained much notoriety for Coogler.

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Creed (2015) & Fruitvale Station (2013) – Directed by Ryan Coogler

So, as you can see – Coogler is no stranger to the film world; although this may be your first time hearing of him. Out of both films, Black Panther leads the pack and has taken Coogler from being sought as just acclaimed director to being put up in the ranks with such likes as Steven Spielberg. According to CNBC, when Coogler was a kid, he received his first comic book in which was “Black Panther” – fascinated by the fact that there were comic books that contained African Americans, this sparked something in Coogler – BUT, film-making was not on his to do list – football was.

When the football program got cancelled at his college (Saint Mary’s), Coogler transferred to Sacramento State with the intent to play football, but got whiff of a film school at the University of Southern California – Los Angeles by a professor:

“It was either go there or play wide receiver. “I was short, my prospects weren’t the highest, so I jumped off that cliff and drove to L.A.”

A major jump that lead him to live out of his car during his first semester at USC – however; that didn’t bother Coogler, whom used that “gray” time as motivation to create a series of short films, one in which included a film entitled “Fig” which chronicled the life of a prostitute trying to bring positive change to her life all while raising a child on her own. 

“That film is from deep research, I spent Christmas break on the streets and got a lot of stories. I never want to shy away from the truth.”

In creating his third film and with a budget of $200 million, Coogler was determined to bring a black super hero to the big screen and that he did. The little boy whom questioned if there were any black people represented in comic books, has now opened up the doors for many young African american boys and girls to see themselves in print and on the big screen as heroes and she-ro’s. Thanks Ryan Coogler, for being persistent and paving the way!!

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Stars of Black Panther (Bing) – from left, Chadwick Boseman; Danai Gurira; Lupita Nyong’o; Michael B. Jordan  

Move over Hollywood, Ryan Coogler is here to Stay!

 

Roshonda N. Blackmon – Creator of A Blog, A Magazine. It’s JustsumInspiration, Author, Speaker & Encourager

EnSpired: A Failed Shot On Purpose, For A Sentimental Reason…

Published on by Roshonda B5 Comments

photo above and below are all courtesy of bing 

Missed Shot

Usually when a shot is missed in basketball, it can either go two ways in which will either be leave one team disappointed and the other rejoicing – depending on how important the shot is and whom is in the lead at the time.

However, in this case the University of Iowa Hawkeye’s men’s basketball team was ahead after a lead, so no harm for a miss right? – but that missed shot had a more “intentional” meaning for Iowa guard Jordan Bohannon who had already determined in his mind to miss the shot “on purpose”

But Why??? You must say….

According to Bohannon, he didn’t want to mess up the all time “free throw” record of former University of Iowa Hawkeye player Chris Street whom died in a car accident January 19, 1993 at the age of 20, three days after his final game. Since that time, no one had broken Street’s record of 34 free throws, until Jordan Bohannon stepped on the court. With a record of 34 free throws himself, Bohannon would have shattered Streets record if he had made the shot during the basketball game in which would have put him at 35 consecutive free throws.

While breaking a record of that magnitude would have been an honor for someone else, but according to Bohannon, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it.

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“That’s not my record to have. That record deserves to stay in his name.” Jordan Bohannon

Street’s parents, whom were also at the game last Sunday night – were honored at the gesture.

“What a good kid. He’s so kind,”  “That was so special that he thought of Christopher and that record.” Patty Street

Street’s father while honored, did say that he hopes Bohannon gets another shot in the future as will be able to break the record.

Both parents embraced Bohannon after the game. Iowa went on to win the game that night against Northwestern 77-70.

Now that’s what I call not putting an “I” in T.E.A.M. Bohannon and Chris Street, both hold the most consecutive free throws “together”

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What do you think?, Would you have missed a record breaking shot to honor someone whose record has never been beaten? Sound off in the comments!!

 

You can view more of this story on simplemost

Video courtesy of Inside Edition 

 

Roshonda N. Blackmon – Creator of A Blog, A Magazine. It’s JustsumInspiration, Author, Speaker & Encourager

EnSpired: Hey Beautiful, Hey Handsome – Can I take Your Picture?

Published on by Roshonda B4 Comments

photo above courtesy of triplepeasphotography.blogspot.com

Okay, so call me a little cheesy but this story or experiment, I should say – brought tears to my eyes but it usually don’t take much to make me cry; I cry when I see stories of military men and women being re-united with their families or the expression people have when they get a puppy as a gift……yes, there really is such a video; honestly….as Kevin Hart said “I can’t make it up” it was circulating around Facebook about 2 weeks ago, I clicked the video and about 2 minutes in, there went the water works…lol. I just love seeing good things happen for people, it does something to me – so, while I try to get some help for my water works problem – let me explain what’s going on in the two videos below.

A high school student by the name of Shea Glover conducted a social experiment at  school in where she convinced the teachers there to let her take pictures of random students as a project, her experiment which I called “Project Beautiful” involved her taking pictures of students; in which according to the video; some she knew and others she didn’t. Before Shay snapped their picture, she revealed to them that she wanted to take a picture of things she found beautiful and Oh My Gosh, the look on some of their faces were priceless. It really made me think about the power of our words and how a simple word such as “Beautiful” can have a major impact on someone’s life or their day; you can almost see the confidence these students gained when she said “I’m taking pictures of things I find beautiful”

I honestly thought the video was amazing, so amazing that someone in Eldorado, Arkansas decided to do the same experiment, this time it was the teachers whom got involved to take pictures of students. Before they snapped the picture, the teacher revealed to the student that they wanted to take a picture of someone whom made their day, someone whom made them want to come to school everyday, someone in whom they thought was important to them and again, there went my water works! each student was surprised and shocked to not only hear those encouraging words but the smiles that crossed their faces again, were priceless.

There’s a saying that says “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Both of the videos above goes to show that everyone involved will definitely remember what was said and how wonderful they felt, even for just that moment.

Oh, what a wonderful world it would be if everyone took out the time to let someone know just how special they truly are. Way to go Shay for starting such a “Beautiful” movement!!

 

Roshonda N. Blackmon – Creator of A Blog, A Magazine. It’s JustsumInspiration, Author, Speaker & Encourager

Let’s Live Well, Laugh Loud, Inspire More & Love Harder!