Shine Sistah Shine

By Ramona J. Smith

Shine Sistah Shine is an inspirational/motivational book geared towards women and girls in search of their true life purpose. Through relatable, raw and real life experiences, this book is a provoking starting tool for women ready to improve their lives emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Mar 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469756189

Ramona J. Smith

Ramona J. Smith is a professional speaker, author, and poet from Cleveland, Ohio. Ramona is also known as the Ladybug Speaker. She recently resided in Los Angeles, California, and delivered dozens of motivational speeches and poems. Shine Sistah Shine is Ramona’s first book. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio with her family.

Book preview

Contents

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Introduction

Getting Started:

Inner Peace, Positive Self Image,

Self Confidence 

Anger Management 

Positive Self Image 

Its all about YOU 

Getting to the

Root of the problem 

Inner Peace 

Creating the new YOU 

Confidence 

Self Respect, Self Control

and Discipline 

Goals 

Ambition, Drive, Fearlessness 

Be the Change You Want to See 

Excuses, Denial and Rejection 

Do things for the Why

not for the What 

Ego vs. Eagle 

Living to Give 

Love 

Shine Sistah Shine!

Acknowledgements

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Introduction

Hey sistah! Are you shining? The reason I decided to entitled my book Shine Sistah Shine, is because that’s what I think about when I see a joyful and successful woman. It’s like she has a light, an aura around her. When she enters a room, her presence lights up the place. Like the sun brings light to everything it rises over, a happy woman shines! Next, the word sistah, which is a slang term for sister, is not restricted to use by only African American women. This is the term I chose because its informal. Sistah breaks down the barriers of distance and separation. It’s a term you use for a woman you are familiar with, one you have a certain love or respect for. In no way is it a word that I’m using in a negative way or as a way to secretly direct this book strictly to African American women. When I think of the word sistah I think of a group of women having a ladies night in. They’re drinking wine and sharing stories about old relationships, slapping fives and having a plain good time. They are naturally releasing serotonin into the atmosphere, and transparently enjoying each others company. The Golden Girls to me, were sistahs, the girls in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and the women in Waiting to Exhale were all sistahs. Although these examples are from TV, they are solid examples of a circle of sistahs, or very close friends. I remember seeing my mom and her girlfriends interacting, singing, dancing and even crying together. Experiencing the special bonding of women even at a young age gave me a warm hopeful feeling. I could feel the genuine bond amongst those sistahs. Whether you are family, friends, or in—laws, a sistah is someone you can relate to and someone you truly care for. She’s a woman that puts a smile on your face when you’re down, a woman you look up to for advice, a woman who can honestly tell you that you messed up, or that you were wrong. She is an inspiration and a beautiful person inside and out, regardless of race, color, religion or age. I want all the Queens reading this book to be a beacon of Gods light. It’s true that mostly everyone in the world loves the sun, and are visually attracted to shiny objects. Babies are attracted to the most simplistic shiny objects, whether the glimmer of foil or their reflection in a mirror. Most men are attracted to shiny cars, and most women are attracted to that shiny diamond ring of their dreams. So, if you are shining, naturally, people will be attracted to you. Not so much in a sexual way but a respectable and admirable way. When you are spiritually connected and have inner peace and self confidence, that’s when you shine. Have you ever seen a celebrity or someone you looked up to and they had that glow or an aura around them? That’s what I want you to bring out of yourself. Black sistahs, Brown sistahs, Asian or White sistahs. We all have been created to do great things. I want you to know that no matter where you are in life now, physically, mentally or financially, YOU CAN SHINE! Once you uncover your unique and special gifts and put them into action for the benefit of the world, you will begin to exude your light wherever you go! No obstacle should stop you from accomplishing your dreams! Its your life you should be living it your way! Yes there will be struggles, yes there will be hard times and times where you want to give up. But my sistah you are a winner! Winners never quit and quitters never win! Usually when you hear success stories you hear about that person failing, being rejected and told no over and over again. They were told to shut down and shut up. But they were relentless and soon accomplished their goals and made their dreams come into fruition. When your inner voice is telling you that you are destined for greatness, that you have a greater purpose in this universe, more than mere existence, you must listen to it! At some point in your life you will have to take some kind of risk, whether financially, emotionally or residentially. Unless you get a lucky big break, or win the lottery, you will have to trust completely in yourself and your higher power. You must trust that the Creator will order your steps and put you on the right path. Indeed there will be discouraging times and times of confusion and doubt, but it’s a temporary feeling. Pay attention to the signs! When you are on the right track towards your ultimate goal, things come effortlessly, nothing is forced, everything flows naturally. Things may not go according to your set plan but they will always fall into place. In some cases, your first plan may not be the winning plan. Do not be discouraged! Readjust, reevaluate and keep pushing forward! Any dream or vision starts off as just that, a thought. A mental picture in ones mind. I believe that if you can conceive it in your mind you can bring it into existence! I believe that with all of my being. But you must first believe it in your own mind. So I ask the question again, Hey sistah! Are you shining?

Many of you reading this book are asking, who is Ramona Smith and why should I read her book? What credentials does she have, and why does she care whether I shine or not, she doesn’t even know me! Well I am a woman, no I don’t have degrees lining my office walls, no I am not a millionaire, and no I’ve never been on Oprah or Ellen. But I know that I have a purpose on this earth. I like the saying If you’re not giving, you’re not living. This book is my way of giving something to all women no matter who you are, where you are or what you do. I believe that in some way we are all connected. I have learned on my journey so far through meditation and self discovery, that everyone in the world has more similarities than differences. Once I started testing my observation it proved to be very true! No matter where I went or who I met from all walks of life I’d strike up a conversation with a complete stranger and there would be so much to talk about. I was in Santa Monica once interviewing for a job at a yoga store when I first moved to California, and I was the only african american in the store, and I had never done yoga a day in my life. My ego instantly tried to tell me that I’ll never fit in because of my race and my non existent fitness lifestyle. As I stopped and browsed at some of the yoga apparel, one