Baton Rouge Bloggers — Blog

Sometimes in life, we get so preoccupied with our ultimate goals and success that we forget to enjoy the process that leads us to achieving these goals and success. Think about it like this. Say you and your loved ones are taking a road trip somewhere. On the way to the destination you pass a lot of great scenery, restaurants, and popular landmarks, but you don't take the time to stop and enjoy these things because you are so focused on getting to your destination. Yes you eventually make it to your destination, but you've also missed a lot of potentially fun, everlasting memories along the way because you were only concentrating on one part of the trip, not the trip as a whole.

“Life is a journey, not a destination.”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oftentimes we treat life and our goals just like the trip described above. We don't take the time to enjoy other things that are happening around us because we are only concentrating on the bigger picture. We are so busy running through life trying to make something happen that we are missing precious moments.

I hear people talk all the time about what they are going to do when they finally accomplish a goal or reach a certain status. My question to them is, "What are you doing in the meantime?" Life shouldn't be on hold until you reach a desired point. Life is a road that is meant to be traveled and lived at all stages because you never know when that road will change or end.

Don't wait for the perfect moment to live. Enjoy the scenery on the way to that perfect moment. Living on the way to your perfect moment will make your perfect moment that much better.

On another note, I am helping out a family that lost everything during the flood in Baton Rouge. The family consists of a mother and a daughter who is in the 9th grade. If you would like to join me in assisting this family, please email me at samjahiman@styleandenergy.com for more information. Your help and prayers are greatly appreciated.

I'm enjoying the journey. Are you?

- Samjah Iman

For the past few days, Baton Rouge has been heavy. The tension in this city is smothering just like the humidity that fills the air. The roads look empty, the sky is not as bright as it usually is, certain people are more friendlier and accommodating than they have ever been, others are tired. I am one of the tired ones. After the tragic event in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, another one occurred in Minnesota on Wednesday. I could not believe my ears when I woke up that morning and turned on the radio. "Another black man wrongfully killed by the police? This can't be life!" Then the disastrous event in Dallas struck. It all felt like a dream - a bad one.

For the rest of the week, I had this unbearable weight on my shoulders. I called my mother to explain my rage, fear, and hurt. She reminded me to do what I had to do, be careful, then "cast my cares." I then called my friend and explained to him how I wanted to make a big difference in the world, and that I would start with myself that day and work my way up to my people. He simply explained to me (of course by using a fashion analogy because he is so considerate of my comprehending abilities - bless him) that I'm just one stitch in a shirt. I cannot hold the whole shirt together by myself. It takes my stitch and all of the other stitches to hold the shirt together. He then told me to be the best stitch while understanding that it will take all of the other stitches to make the shirt be whole....not just my stitch. I went to sleep on his and my mother's words and woke up Saturday, July 9, 2016, feeling energize and full of purpose. For on that day I was going to be an awesome stitch and do a tremendous job in holding my part of the shirt together. Then after I had done everything I could, I would cast my cares to God. So I got up, did some work, and headed out to do some fashion shooting and ended up protesting with my people ( I originally intended on protesting Sunday only; however, the energy was so strong in Baton Rouge that I couldn't help but jump in the mix Saturday).

Me, my friend Georgette, and hundreds of other determined African Americans took to the streets of Baton Rouge to voice all of our emotions regarding our lack of support and justice from the government. We marched from Baton Rouge City Hall to the Louisiana State Capitol chanting and holding our fist high. See the photo below that was captured by the Advocate - a local newspaper in Baton Rouge, LA. After that picture, see the protest captured through my camera lens.

Photo by Brianna Paciorka - Baton Rouge Advocate - www.theadvocate.com - Baton Rouge Protest for Alton Sterling

I am so proud of my people and this city I reside in. We came together and expressed our feelings in the most peaceful way. It was powerful to say the least. I hope and pray that we continue to come together in all aspects. We are more forceful as a group than we are as individuals. Let's all do our part as stitches to hold the shirt together.

Peace and Blessings

- Samjah Iman X (lol)

Enjoy the Journey

We Will Be Heard