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William Lee is Most Likely to be your Boss The Struggle Within Short Story of the Month
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coverstory Shadeah Suleiman Shadeah is a 20, year old
model, dancer, and Georgia Tech student. See how she is the first.
features W
e are always hearing about the bad and the ugly in today’s celebrity world.
i know we
have been trained
to chase the drama, but what about all of the good that some of those big names do in order to give back to the community?
media
mostly focuses on the latest gossip and dirt when it comes to celebrities.
we are so concerned
with their divorces, lawsuits,
police encounters, and the latest hook-ups.
believe it or not,
celebrities are human beings too.
some of them actually have big
hearts and love to show it by giv-
ing back to their fans and the communities all around them, either in the form of charitable donations, walks to raise money, or
flying across the world to help a
By roBert Bode
Sharon Stone
This rock star diva recently started helping out with a non-profit organization named, “Homeless Not Toothless”. She, along with Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, and James Denton have been helping the organization by making several charitable donations, which goes towards helping the dentists who donate their time and skills to helping more than 30,000 foster children in Los Angeles get the required dental attention needed. They also help them enter and stay in the school system. The organization will be holding a fund-raising event in Los Angeles in the next upcoming weeks in order to raise money for the El Monte Free Dental Clinic, which is one of the main dental clinics within the organization.
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poverty-stricken country in need. here’s the scoop on the positive actions celebrities are taking.
celeb pos
This Virgin Music extraordinaire has recently pledged to donate $3 billion to the different organizations supporting the awareness and reduction of the ever-growing global warming crisis. In past years, Branson has formed several different organizations and several charities including one by the name of, The Elders, which is a small group comprised of self-motivated leaders: Nelson Mandela, Peter Gabriel, Desmond Tutu, and Jimmy Carter. Together, the group donates time and money in order to help solve difficult global conflicts. Among other charities Branson has set-up, in 2008 he organized a dinner with former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, among other top figures and celebrities on his private island in the Caribbean in order to discuss global-warming issues facing the world today. Branson, like so many other celebrities, is doing his part in order to help make the world a better, safer place with self-awareness about real issues.
All of the above information was found at www.looktothestars.org
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richard BranSon Brangelina It is no secret that this famous couple is determined to help others and impact their surroundings in a positive way. Whether it is going around and scooping-up adoptees in different countries or speaking with world ambassadors on peace and change, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are always anxious to extend their helping hands. Lately, this duo has teamed up with their friend, Wyclef Jean and his Clean Streets Project. This project helps keep kids off the streets and in school. Also, according to recent tax records, Brad and Angelina donated more than $8 million to charity in 2006 alone. Pitt also took part in a recent telethon event, America: A Tribute to Heroes, in order to raise money and awareness for 9/11 victims. Brangelina have a huge heart and put a huge effort into committing to different organizations around the globe.
www.genesis1magazine.com
cover photograph by Thomas Dodd | thomasdodd.com
Be the First.
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Genesis Magazine
Celeb Pos
Good news about celebrities
inside
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Coming to the
angel
jason tricia
W
e are pleased and excited to introduce the new faces of
Genesis MaGazine. our Models are special because they are they are also very
driven and More than ever deterMined to transforM their visions to a reality.
if you are as driven as they are and you know you can rock the runway eMail us
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at Model@Genesis1MaGazine.coM
www.genesis1magazine.com
hand picked and all have a story to tell behind their beauty.
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Coming to the Runway Fresh. New. Bold
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Genesis Magazine
24 32 50 54 62 departments
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18 In the Beginning
Our Readers Share Their Rough Starts.
24 Health & Beauty Are you Heart Healthy?
32 Most Like to Be Your Boss William Lee
36 Small Business Directory Get Your Small Business Noticed!
46 Garden of Eden
The Struggle Within, short story of the month
50 Back to School Miami University
54 Romance
60 TGIF (thank God it’s family) Meet the Smith Family
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62 Living It Up
Creative Living Advice with Johanna Hawf
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Do women play as many games as men?
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58 Battle of the Sexes
www.genesis1magazine.com
The Importance of Roles, with Dr. Bruce Derman
76 78 82 86 88 departments 66 Save the Date Calendar Stay Connected!
76 Rising Stars
Meet the Future’s Super Stars
78 I Art
Derek Mccrea
82 Around the World A Virtual Vacation
84 Beauty of the Month
Real beauty is spelled C-H-A-R-A-C-T-E-R
86 Spirit Food
Thoughts for your mind, body, and soul
inside
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8
88 Revelations
Where readers reveal their thoughts, comments and advice
every issue 10 About Us 12 From the Editor 16 Letters to the Editor
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Genesis Magazine
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www.genesis1magazine.com
Front row, left to right, Mallory Roach, Brittany Earls, Rudy Nesbitt Back row, left to right, Frank Pompey, Robert Bode Photography by Bryant Burns www.thelastingmemories.com
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Genesis Magazine
aboutus The Team:
not given anything, yet against all odds they are on their way to the top. Genesis magazine is geared towards a vast, diverse audience of open-minded, multi-cultural, family oriented and well-rounded individuals who thirst for life and are purpose driven. Inside the pages of Genesis you
Letters to the editor: Brittany K. Earls editor@genesis1magazine.com To advertise: mroach@genesis1magazine.com Share your story/talent: share@genesis1magazine.com For career opportunities: hr@genesis1magazine.com
will not find the flashiest bling, naked models, or celebrity gossip. Each issue is carefully designed to leave you entertained, well informed, educated, motivated, and inspired to dream harder. The mission of Genesis is to encourage you to step out of the box, remove all limits, break out of your shell, and be the first to achieve the unachievable. Welcome to Genesis, may you dream, thrive, and prosper. Be the first.
A Publication of
www.genesis1magazine.com
These overachievers wake up every morning, put their boxing gloves on, grit their teeth, and sink their claws into life until they receive what they were born for. These elect individuals were
Atlanta Office 233 Mitchell St SW Ste 350 Atlanta, GA 30303 Toll free- (877) 209-9990 (404) 591-5701 www.genesis1magazine.com
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is a magazine dedicated to the exposure of driven individuals who have broken barriers, eliminated obstacles, and achieved incredible career, personal, and entrepreneurial success.
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Genesis
Editor in Chief: Brittany K. Earls Director of Marketing: Mallory Roach Creative Director: Fran Sherman Graphic Arts Assistant: William Lee Executive Photographer: Riley Johnson Contributing Photographer: Bryant Burns Contributing Editor: Anna Chapman Creative Writers: Rudy Nesbitt, Robert Bode, Victoria Jiang, Linda Earls Fashion Director: Frank Pompey Jr. Fashion Assistant: April Booker Model Coordinator: Erica Levias
Wow!
Words cannot express how I really feel right now! First, allow me to introduce myself, I am Brittany Kaytrina Earls and I’m the creator and Editor in Chief for Genesis Magazine. This is a magazine for dreamers! I started Genesis because I love literature and I was annoyed that so many magazines seemed to be based on sex, scandal, and overpaid celebrities.
I was
more offended by the literature impostors found within these magazines. “101 Ways to Please your Partner”, “10 Best Sex Positions”, and “Guess What Sexual Orientation Lindsey Lohan is This Week”, is not remotely close to literature, it’s pure garbage. I also noticed that although America is a big melting pot of all races, religions, and cultures,
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Genesis Magazine
editor’sjournal
Photographer: Bryant Burns Stylist: Frank Pompey Jr. Make-up: Cover Girl Cosmetics Clothes provided by: Intermix, Belk, BeBe
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Yours truly, (High Expectations) Brittany K. Earls Editor in Chief Genesis Magazine
www.genesis1magazine.com
our economy? I disagree. I think the wisdom, achievements, and interests of us as a nation are highly underestimated. What do you think? Email me at editor@genesis1magazine.com and tell me if I live in a fantasy world, or if Genesis really is a breath of media fresh air.
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every type of magazine only catered to one specific audience. I wanted to create something that EVERYONE could relate to. Here’s a new idea, how about reading through a magazine and feeling motivated, entertained, inspired, and educated? What if on the cover of a magazine didn’t stand a naked model, or a celebrity who just got out of rehab? Instead, what if a cover of a magazine featured your 12-year-old neighbor who survived cancer, or a 16-year-old single teen mom who still graduated at the top of her class and went to college? What if a magazine introduced talented unheard of amazing artists? What if we are the real celebrities? What if we are so consumed with MTV, E, and other forms of mindless media, that we are missing news-breaking, life changing stories that surround our everyday lives? So here it is, Genesis Magazine, my little, tiny vision (actually I was daydreaming), is now a physical, very present, big manifestation. A few people told me I was crazy! “Brittany”, they said, “Sex sells, celebrity gossip sells, no one is going to support a publication based off of inspiring individuals, news, and culture. America doesn’t read anymore”. I beg to differ. I know we are in a recession, I know that pictures of Kim Kardashian sells, and honestly, I watch Chelsea Lately, and occasionally surf You-Tube too! The truth is, we don’t live under a rock and we are influenced and many times drawn into celebrityism, but really, is it all that matters? Is it the only thing that we buy into and that drives
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Hello Brittany! Let me be one of the first to get in line to say that you are neither crazy nor prohibited to dream what seems to be an impossible dream! I am in that category right beside you as one who believes in following your passion and dreams. I love the concept of Genesis Magazine, and my hope from one visionary to another, is that you continue to nurture what you have begun. Remember, the Lord will “PERFECT” that which concerns you. Manifold Blessings, Denise Favor Magazine Atlanta, GA
Brittany, I read your mission statement and I must say that I am very hopeful. We need more magazines like Genesis in this world. Trust me, I mean what I say. I am overjoyed and I hope that nothing sways you from your mission. Many Blessings! Veronica Sandy Springs, GA
is e n y zi y, m a n g a e a tt t. ar Bri esis M You e bes . n h Ge BEST you t E TH I wish l, ido ael h A Mic ta, G n Atla
Brittany, I really enjoyed reading about Genesis Magazine. Everything you spoke about in the magazine and every article sounds so exciting. I applaud you! Sincerely, Johanna Marietta, GA
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Dear Brittany! I really like what you’re doing. I think it is critical that members of the press who care about quality content set a standard for it. There is so much noise out there! I can’t wait to see how your endeavor progresses. Rebecca Boutique Media Group Ossining, NY
letterstotheeditor
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Hi Brittany, I wanted to let you know that I am very, very, proud of what you are doing. I totally agree that the world needs to read about surviving individuals instead of always reading about sex, celebrities, and rehab. What about those real individuals who are making an impact on others? Why is the world so focused on all of the bad things that one does? Why not focus of cleaning up the morals that seem to be thrown out of the window? No one cares anymore or is even conscious of others and their feelings. All of us have struggles, and others need to know about them in order to help them become strong. Anyways, I said all this to say, your words really inspired me to think about what the world really needs. I really wish Genesis Magazine all the success in the world. Cecelia Gainesville, GA
De I w ar Br e I c nt to ittan a y lief n bre your , ma beca athe site a u as nd ha gazin se I i g h o fina sg ha et Lo ve f re lly, oo ha n t di nte I tru found Atl eia ly an nti ta, on beli a s! eve GA
www.genesis1magazine.com
Brittany, The website is great. I love the concept of Genesis Magazine. “What if we are the real celebrities?� Wow. That is so deep. This is so exciting! Joel Atlanta, GA
in the beginning
In the Beginning: I was fresh out of college and fresh into debt. I went on over 20 interviews only to find that my field mostly required a minimum of 5 years experience. With more house than money, and more bills than month, I settled for jobs outside of my field and passion. My first post college job was at a lending firm and I worked six days a week, five of those days were from 9:00AM to 7:30 PM and I got paid six something per hour, plus commission, except for I never saw the commission. I also served tables at a restaurant on weekends. When the inexistence of a salary almost cost me my home, I left and got a job at a bank as a teller where I worked 32 hours a week and continued to work at the restaurant at least 25 hours a week. Finally, I was fed up with barely earning money and decided to create wealth! What do the creator’s of People, Upscale, and Cosmo Magazine have that I don’t have? I still haven’t figured out the answer to that question. I continued to work my 55 plus hour week as I created Genesis Magazine. MY Future looks bright. I have vision and God’s provision. Genesis will set the media standard and open doors of opportunity for those who are unheard of and applaud those who have been overshadowed by Hollywood glitz and celebrity gossip. Brittany Earls Editor in Chief Genesis Magazine
in the beg
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Genesis | Genesis Magazine Magazine
In the Beginning:I graduated from nursing school and I had just got married! My husband had a music dream and moved us from Tampa Bay to Atlanta, GA in 2005 to make it happen! Talk about faith. We didn’t know where we were going to live or where we were going to work. I quit my nursing job, the career that I had always desired. It was a rough start, and after about 3 months, my husband’s music deal went sour. He lost focus and wanted to move back to Florida. This was where the rubber met the road. My husband was frustrated because he couldn’t find work for 4 months. At last, we came to the conclusion that he would go back to school but, this would require that he leave home and move to California. My husband started sharing with me his dreams and felt that he was not ready to take the same journey that I had to take. He finally left me after six months of pondering. It was hard to accept the first few days, it seemed like he was on a vacation and he would be back soon. He never returned. Instead, he encouraged me to move on without him. It was 3 long, HARD years without him. Finally, I accepted life without him. Now, we are best friends and I don’t have to push him to chase his dreams. I am super busy following my own dreams these days. It is my fourth year of being single. I have retired from nursing fully, mostly because they fired me in 2008. I have no desire to go back. I don’t want to go back to my ex-husband or my old job. I want to live out my dreams. I was thirsty to form my own company. My prayer was to be the head and not the tail! I wanted to be my own boss. You know what they say,
My Future is without limits. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. I just hit the ground running. “fake it until you make it”! So, I ordered some business cards and I would carry them in my wallet and hand them out to people as if I had a business established and people would actually call me for services and there were not any services. This gave me an opportunity to learn what consumers need. I wasn’t selling them on my business, they were selling me on a need and I trained myself on how to give them a service to address that need. The ongoing need that was always present was real estate and finances. I didn’t know a thing about that type of field then, but here I am today, doing it, and doing it well!!! My Future is without limits. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. I just hit the ground running. I started, King of Kings Investors LLC, a business consulting firm and we help people increase their credit scores to obtain funding for investment purposes. It has been great so far. I am my own boss now. Businesses are joining my team so they can stay afloat. I am blessed to be a blessing in the midst of what you would call a down economy! Now, I walk in boldness, confidence, and favor. Tammy Owner King of Kings Investors
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ginning
I started Girl’s Speak a non-profit organization that coaches young girls on self-confidence, etiquette, and dealing with life issues.
In the Beginning I hated the way I looked. I was always told I looked like a model because of my uniqueness and I lived in America’s fashion capital, New York, so I gave it a go despite my insecurities. Well, that was a big mistake. I already thought my face structure and extremely high check bones were awkward, and now modeling agents and designers were telling me to drop 20 lbs. So, I had to add one more thing to my list- “10 Things I Hate About Me”, and the diet began. I was 127 lbs when I started modeling. I started loosing 3-4 lbs a week. Model management loved when I lost my first 20 lbs, I could slip into any and everything! Only it didn’t stop at 20 lbs. I never liked what I saw in the mirror. I thought my skin was too pale, my hair was too thin, my nose was too pointy, and my lips were too perched like a fish. Ahhhh! It was horrible being me. I couldn’t change any of those things, but I had total control over my weight. Before I knew it, I was 87 lbs and passing out on photo shoots. Finally, my family and friends stepped in. What I appreciated the most was that they never judged me or looked at me like I was crazy. They spoke life into me. They kept reminding me about what was really beautiful about me: my character, open heart, sense of humor, and quirkiness. Now, I had something new to control, the people that I let in my life. Why did I ever let those agents and directors get in my head anyway? Why did I lend them my ear? Who are they? Really, what is so special about their opinion? I got over my body distortions and started changing the way I viewed myself and who I let get close to me. My future is encouraging. I started Girl’s Speak a nonprofit organization that coaches young girls on self-confidence, etiquette, and dealing with life issues. We teach how to embrace their inner qualities and build character. We also spend a lot of time talking about platonic and nonplatonic relationships and how to decipher the difference between healthy and non-healthy relationships. Valarie Owner Girl’s Speak New York, New York
In the Beginning I thought I was God’s gift to women. I had great confidence, I’m tall, educated, handsome, and my personality is like non-other. I also had the notion in my mind that the more women I could sleep with, the more of man I was. I went through girls like babies go through diapers. Sometimes, I told them what they wanted to hear: “I love you”, “You are the only one”, and my favorite, “You know I’m gonna marry you right”? Man! Mention the “M” word to a lady approaching 30 and clothes start flying off like Nascar! Then there were times I didn’t feed them bull crap. I was very straight forward. “Listen”, I said, “You’re not the only one and just because we have sex doesn’t mean you are my girlfriend”. You think that stopped them? No! They admired my honesty. Finally, my pimp games caught up with me. It’s 3:00AM and I get a call from, let’s call her “Nika Dough”. I’m thinking 3:00AM; this is clearly a booty call. I wish. Nika Dough, who I have had sex with more times than I can count, calls me crying and screaming that she just found out she has HIV. My whole world stopped. All the attention and orgasms I got from the ladies hardly seems worth it now. I was terrified and for the first time in my adult life I wept like a baby. I got tested immediately and the results were negative. I got tested 6 months later and it was still negative! I appreciate life so much now and I really feel like I have been given a second chance. That scare caused me to reevaluate everything about my life and now I realize that real men don’t have sex with every woman with a pulse. My future: Is better than my past. I only push forward and never dwell in my past. Only God can judge me. I started a men’s mentoring group called Man Up. At Man Up we spend time with high school boys and teach safe sex and abstinence. We also host tutoring sessions and have co-ed group nights, where they can go out with females and learn what it really means to date and get to know someone. I still get tested and I am more than ever grateful and protective over my health. James Owner, Man Up Queens, New York
beginning *Where were you in the beginning? Tell us at share@ genesis1magazine.com
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health & beauty
gored! D
id you know that heart disease is the number one killer
United States? Women, overweight individuals, and African Americans are especially at risk to this silent killer, but no race or sex is exempt from this disease. We call it the silent killer because often times there aren’t any signs or warnings that your heart is spiraling out of control. Heart disease is caused over time through unhealthy lifestyles, and although this can be a long process, the pain and morbidity caused by this disease can happen over night. For all of the above reasons, Genesis Magazine is suggesting that everyone “G.O. R.E.D.� in the
What does it mean when we say to G.O. R.E.D? G-et informed about heart disease O-pen your mind about upgrading your lifestyle to a hearthealthy lifestyle R-evisit your doctor for a routine physical and check-up E-ncourage your friends, family, coworkers, and total strangers to G.o. R.E.D. D-onate. Join Genesis Magazine as we strive for our goal of donating $5,000 to The American Heart Association. 10% of the proceeds from individual issues of Genesis that are sold OctoberDecember 2009 will be donated to this cause. You may also go to www.genesis1magazine.com and donate.
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Genesis Magazine
Get informed about heart disease
You Know you are Heart Healthy if: You have veggies and fruits stocked in your refrigerator right now as you read this. You don’t have to count on your fingers to determine when the last time that you exercised was. You ran into your doctor at the grocery store and he or she called you by your first name and asked you how you, your kids, and your dog, Phe-Phe, were doing.
www.genesis1magazine.comzine.com www.genesis1maga-
be dedicated to heart healthy awareness. However, we do encourage you to skip your Facebook and MySpace for one hour and check out www.americanheart.org and learn about all the ways you can protect your heart and body. Until then here is our mini heart healthy checklist that can at least get you started on the right path!
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Heart disease is an equal opportunity destroyer. It does not discriminate or take into consideration your sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, political party, or great looks. There is an old saying that says, “Ignorance is bliss”, and if you believe this saying then you are a fool. A better saying is: “No, dummy ignorance is death”. Heart disease is a gruesome disease, yet in most cases it can easily be prevented or early detected. Heart disease may be the number one killer of Americans, but most Americans aren’t simply waking up with heart complications. Why isn’t it the number one killer for Russians, the British, or the Irish? The answer revolves around lifestyle. In America, land of the free and home of the brave, we have a McDonald’s on every corner, overly expensive health care, and half of us have a remote control glued to one hand, potato chips is the other, and the other half of us are so busy chasing money and claiming the, “American Dream”, that we constantly examine our wallets and rarely stop to examine our health. To educate you on all of the causes of heart failure and keys to prevention, this whole issue would have to
Do not expect to wake up tomorrow morning with “Eye of the Tiger” music playing in your head at 5:00 AM prepared to run six miles Take baby steps.
Open your mind about upgrading your lifestyle to a heart-healthy lifestyle and Revisit your doctor. We all have a routine of doing things and change can most times be uncomfortable; however, progress is never achieved without some form of change. Yes, it’s very quick to grab a coke for breakfast; yes it is very cheap to get a cheeseburger meal from the value menu of your favorite burger joint verses a grilled chicken caesar salad. It is much more relaxing to sleep longer and not wake up an hour earlier to exercise! However, it’s the little changes that we can add to our routine that will protect our bodies against heart disease. In the movie, “What about Bob”, Bob’s doctor coined the phrase, “Baby steps, Bob, baby steps”. Now, you try, “Baby steps, (your name here), baby steps”! Do not expect to wake up tomorrow morning with “Eye of the Tiger” music playing in your head at 5:00 AM prepared to run six miles. Take baby steps. Try waking up 30 minutes earlier in the morning and doing some light cardio. Don’t eat fried foods for three days in a row. Call your doctor. Add some fruit to your grocery list. Call your doctor. Read some information on heart disease and see if you are at risk. Call your doctor. Smoke one less cigarette a day. Drink one less coke, and yes, you guessed it, CALL YOUR DOCTOR. Early detection with any disease can be the difference between a treatable issue and an early death.
Encourage your friends, family, coworkers, and total strangers to GO RED. Do you remember in middle school when you told ONE person that you had a crush on a super hot guy/girl and by lunch everyone knew who made you drool, and little Bobby or Susie’s face was red with embarrassment? Oh, the power of the tongue! Now days the tongue has a little help in the form of text messaging, mass email, etc. If you told FIVE people to G.O. R.E.D. and pass it on, you would have at least in virtual reality affected the long-term health of at least 50 individuals! Speak up!
Donate! Awesome economy or horrible economy, we splurged for that new pair of shoes, that hot new phone, and on our loved one’s birthday and Valentines Day gift this year. I think we can afford to splurge to help further someone’s life. Every dime helps! Genesis will match everything that you donate online at www.genesis1magazine.com (yes that means we will double the money) to give to The American Heart Association. Come on; skip out on your $5.00 coffee from Starbucks and G.O. R.E.D.!!!!!!
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truthor dare T
he average woman wants to look and feel like a million bucks.
The average woman wants to stand out in a crowd. The average woman wants to be far from average. Unfortunately, most women get caught up hiding their faces behind massive uses of make-up, spending countless hours tanning in the sun, or using two or three facial cleansers a day to obtain the look of perfection.
Many of us fail to realize that the
most remarkable beauty is achieved from the inside and our outside is just evidence of how well or poorly we treat our bodies.
Cosmetic companies will never advertise how insuf-
ficient their products would be if we never master the skill of treating our bodies like royalty and making our health our top priority.
Lucky for you the Genesis team of beauty experts is Let’s play a round of beauty truth or dare.
NO! Make-up regardless of the brand or fancy price is not a magic wand. It is not God. Make-up can slightly divert attention away from problem areas such as over sized pores, monthly pimples, or rough patches, but it cannot erase or completely cover these facial issues. In order for make-up to completely cover a flaw, layers on top of layers of product would have to be applied, creating an unnatural look. The idea is to not look like you spent hours or some obscene effort to look beautiful. It should look natural and easy. The purpose of makeup is to enhance your beautiful features. Using eyeliner to make your eyes pop out or a light foundation to give your skin an even complexion, will give you a polished look. If it takes you more than five minutes to apply make-up to your entire face, you are either overdoing it or you have an extremely large head.
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Truth: Is the purpose of make-up to cover flaws?
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happy and more than ready to expose beauty truths.
Dare: We dare you to add the following three suggestions to your daily routine to achieve a classic beauty, natural glow, and healthy skin that Botox and $25.00 make-up could never buy! 1. Eat a healthy diet that includes fruits and veggies. Replace sugar with honey whenever possible. Fruits and veggies release antioxidants in your body that gives your skin more elasticity; thus, preventing wrinkles, and will aid in giving you the appearance of firm and fit skin. Excluding excessive sugar from your diet will help avoid breakouts. 2. Love H20!!! Wash your face every time you leave your home and come back in, when you wake up in the
morning, and before you go to sleep. Every time you travel outside your face accumulates tiny dirt particles that dim and damage your skin. Facial cleansers are a plus but should never replace old-fashioned, hot water, and a clean washcloth. 3. Sleep more! You only wear heavy concealer because of the dark circles under your eyes, and you mostly have those circles because you sleep four to six hours per night. Replace the $12.00 you spend on concealer with eight hours of sleep. There are hundreds of tiny bones and muscles in a human face and they are overworked throughout the day. Lack of sleep will lead to wrinkles and saggy skin. Exhaustion does have a look, so sleep well and give your face a break.
Truth: Does messy hair lead to a messy face? Yes! If your hair is dirty and has access oils and grease, due to the laws of gravity the access moisture will flow to your face and cause pimples. Dare: We dare you to keep your hair clean, use a good dandruff shampoo, and go easy on the hair products. We further dare you to cut, add, highlight, and accessorize your hair to revive your look and give your face a fresh, energetic look.
Truth: Is there really a skin care beauty store in my refrigerator? Absolutely, orange peels mixed with oatmeal are a great exfoliation for your skin. A teaspoon of plain yogurt is soothing and does wonders for dry or irritated skin. Finally, cucumbers cool the skin. Adding cucumber juice to your facial wash will refresh and lighten your skin. Dare: We dare you to realize the beautiful person that you are, and accept that real beauty does not come in a bottle but through a beautiful life-style. Refrain from smoking, excessive drinking, junk food, and drink water as if you were stranded in a desert. Remember that make-up is a polisher, not a magic wand.
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D O O For Design
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D
beyour boss
uring the day certain individuals may be your coworkers, server, customer service
representative, or bank teller, but some of these individuals are living double lives.
By night they are their own bosses, on their way to building very successful companies. It takes money to make money and they are definitely earning money in corporate America, while investing in their own visions so that they can create wealth for themselves and generations to come. Don’t underestimate the talent of your coworker, and be careful to warmly acknowledge the cashier ringing up your groceries or your cute new clothes, because they may just be the next person signing your paycheck.
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Photographer: Darius Cobb • www.aksiongraphix.com
be your own boss
most likely to
William Lee: Student by Day, Business Owner by Night Genesis Magazine had the pleasure of meeting a 23 year old business owner from Reidsville, North Carolina. William Lee is the owner of Lee Graphix Designs and has a vision and purpose that is rocking NC to its core! Watch out, he is on his way to the top.
What have you sacrificed to have a solid company? I have given up personal time and my social life. I have been bound to my room, door closed. My life has been consumed with a lot of practice and even more isolation. I’m not complaining though, I’ll do whatever it takes, I’m always pushing ahead. What does your company provide? We specialize in graphics and commercial printing: business cards, letter head, websites, posters, flyers, logos, personal pages such as MySpace, and web banners. Our mission is to bring our client’s vision to life, we will not just meet their expectation, but we will impress them beyond measure. Why did you ditch the corporate world? I have an entrepreneur spirit, this is my mind set. I want to create wealth and move after my own creative insight. Besides, usually when you have a boss you live paycheck-to-paycheck. If I had to work
for someone else in these early stages, that’s fine but it would be temporary just so I could save and invest in my business. You are still in college and have a strong company behind you already. Why are you still in school? Yes, I am a student at the Art Institute of Charlotte. I’m still in school because I believe a degree helps represents myself. Talent is good but you can always learn more. For people who haven’t seen my talent yet, this shows that I am experienced and that I know how to start a task and successfully complete it, and that is what clients are looking for. What do you accredit to your success at such an early age? I owe my family the credit for my success thus far. They are my backbone. They always encourage me. My father has the same amazing talent of creative design. I feel like God has given me this gift to take to the next level. My cousin is a graphic design genius. He has showed me the right and wrongs of the business.
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How did you start your business? I started my business from talking with those who have launched similar companies before me, plugging in, staying in their face, getting hands on training, reading books, and doing research. Starting my own company seemed natural because I was getting so good at it. That’s how Lee Graphix Design was formed.
My father has the same amazing talent of creative design. I feel like God has given me this gift to take to the next level.
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BKE.-How long have you been in business? WL-Almost 4 years
Think of a business name, concepts, mission statement etc. It all starts with vision.
Photographer: Darius Cobb • www.aksiongraphix.com
What obstacles have you had to endure? Well, I was a high school drop out, made lots of mistakes, and later went back and got my GED. Businesswise I had to get over the fact that not everyone will be so open to my business or feel that they need my services. Some people threw my flyer or card away in my face. But it was ok I just moved to the next person.
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Where do you see your company in 3 years? We will be expanding on our services and adding a photography element. We will definitely be a corporate, world wide name. But this isn’t all for me I want to own a group home for kids to help them bring out their creativity. I want to be a real-estate mogul, start a clothing line, social networking site, or even own an NFL or NBA team, well maybe both. Wow! That’s a lot of vision! How many total employees will you have? At the prime of my companies I envision to have 300 plus employees. Do you think that you are an ideal boss? Yes, I want my people paid and I will be fair. I would make sure that they do their work and represent my company the right way, but I will still be super cool. Everyone would love working for me! What advice can you offer for those who can’t find their purpose? I would tell them to search what their passionate about, what they do the most, and what they think about the most, there is a purpose behind that thought. I would tell them to pray for purpose, find a mentor and stay focused. What advice can you offer for those wanting to start their own businesses? Create a rough draft. Think of a business name, concepts, mission statement etc. It all starts with vision. Also, research, read books, stay in school and talk to other business owners. I just want to let all the young people out there know that whatever situation you find yourself in, past or present, if you keep God first all things are possible!
small business directory
smallbusinessdirectory
G
Magazine absolutely loves small businesses! It is our philosophy that small businesses deserve big exposure and support. Knowing the right people, in the right industries helps to grow your business, so read below to increase your connections! enesis
accessories Necessities 4 Divas, LLC Providing accessories for divas of all ages www.necessities4divas.com 678-407-9666 Payson Jewelry Eco-friendly custom and luxury jewelry www.paysonjewelry.com 212-479-7942 Transformational Jewelry Eco-friendly jewelry to uplift and inspire www.transformationaljewelry.com 866-980-9546
accounting MICAH BYRD Bookeeping & Tax Service Year round accounting/bookkeeping services for businesses www.mbbts.com 770-573.4125 mbyrd@mbbts.com
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Milbry Accounting & Tax Services LLC Offering accounting/bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation www.milbryacctgtax.com office: 678-954-4874 cell: 404-695-5552 smilbry@milbryacctgtax.com
Apparel Bridal Reflections For your bridal gown, evening wear, bridesmaids, and accessories needs www.bridalreflections.com 212-764-3040 info@bridalreflections.com J. Hilburn Men’s Clothier Experience luxury at boldly lower prices www.jhilburn.com 678-517-2354 Lina.James@JHilburn.com
Business Solutions BarterLink Worldwide, Inc. Business-2-Business barter trade exchange www.GoBarterLink.com 866-805-8677 info@GoBarterLink.com Biz Expediters Admin work www.bizexpediters.com 678-603-4329 info@bizexpediters.com CORPorLLC.com LLC Business Formation | 501c3 Tax Exemption | Graphic Design | Web Development www.CORPorLLC.com 770-322-0722 info@corporllc.com DPM Business Solutions, LLC Billing and automated cash-flow management services www.dpmbizsolutions.com 888-581-9096 info@dpmbizsolutions.com
The Yellow Pages has a new name...Genesis Magazine Business Directory To list your business email mroach@genesis1magazine.com
Hustle University Building Business From “In The Streets�...to INDUSTRY www.hustleuniversity.org 404-294-7165 enroll@hustleuniversity.org Lunch & Learn GA We Give Inspire, Facilitate & Encourage. You Succeed www.lunchandlearnga.com 404-384- 4135 info@lunchandlearnga.com Platinum1 Financial, LLC Alternative Working Capital for Business Owners www.platinum1financial.com 678-304-6006 info@platinum1financial.com Speedpro Imaging For Your Wide Format Digital Imaging needs www.speedproatlanta.com 770-840-4522 dneder@speedpro.com
Verifiable Income Partners LLC Payroll | Medical Insurance | 401K | Business Compliance www.verifiableincome.com 888-VIP-1099 info@verifiableincome.com
Cleaning Services Ultra Touch Cleaning, LLC Residential & Commercial Cleaning www.ultratouchcleaning.com 404-787-8003 Jeanne@ultratouchcleaning.com
Dining/Lounges Take 2 International Bistro HAVE YOUR NEXT EVENT AT TAKE 2 www.take2intl.net 404-781-1200 take2bistro@comcast.net
Discount Products 2 Plus 7 Get Discounts on Everything and Get Paid www.2plus7.com/bruceleem 404-522-6209 revolvingresiduals@gmail.com
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EZFastFunding.com No Doc - $25K Business Loans www.EZFastFunding.com 888-870-9340 Admin@EZFastFunding.com
Universal Virtual Office Assistants, Inc. Affordable Virtual Office Administrative Assistance www.uvoainc.com 770-981-7057 infosales@uvoainc.com
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EcoShredding Eco-friendly, mobile, document destruction www.EcoShredding.com 770-490-5607 info@ecoshredding.com
StorkBrokers.com Sell your outgrown kid and mommy items www.storkbrokers.com shawkins@storkbrokers.com
Edible Goods TREATS & SWEETS BY Elmirena Specialty Cakes for all Occasions 770-596-9620 efinley63@yahoo.com
Entertainment Fox Entertainments Get Live Performances from The DooWhopBoiz www.doowhopboiz.com 404 441-1984 fox_ent2008@yahoo.com Star House Entertainers “A Talent Development Company” & Event Facility www.starhouseentertainers.net 404-723-3283 tameko@starhouseentertainers.net
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Event Planning ELITE Signature Services, LLC. Wedding & Events Planning... One-Stop-Shop www.elitesignatureservices.com 404-558-1583 tyhill@elitesignatureservices.com Eventista Productions Business Developement, Marketing & Event Planning www.eventistaproductions.com 404-625-6715 nye@eventistaproductions.com Favor’D Consultants Don’t be Ordinary, Be Favor’D www.favordonline.com 404-503-8391 frankpompey@yahoo.com J.A.D.E. Weddings and Events Where every event is Just a Dreamy Experience www.jadewedevents.com 347-723-8947 Sunshine4life1@aol.com
JC Jackson Event Management, LLC Creating Memorable Moments www.jcjevents.com 770-217-7509 inquiries@jcjevents.com
Gift Giving Special Celebration Gifts We have unique gifts for all occasions www.specialcelebrationgifts.com 888-523-7970 norma@specialcelebrationgifts.com STYLES-JUS4U The Ultimate Card Holder Great Holiday Gift www.styles-jus4u.com 404-454-1472 styles_jus4u@yahoo.com
Health and Beauty Ardyss International dba Diva Magic by Michele An Appointment With Ardyss Will Change Your Life www.divamagicbymichele.com 404-536-0300 bodymagic123@gmail.com
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know...Get Listed Today! To list your business email mroach@genesis1magazine.com
Pure Romance by Jacquie O. Assisting with all of your romantic needs jacquelynolivier.pureromance.com 678-907-3298 jacquieo77@yahoo.com Soul Purpose All Natural Products for the Mind, Body, and Soul www.peggyspeace.soulpurpose.net 678-658-1219 peggyspeace@soulpurpose.net Yoli Health. Wealth. Freedom. Live Your Life... www.BlastCapsDrink.com 818-254-7013 blastcaps@goyoli.com
Insurance AmeriPlan Low Cost Medical, Dental & Vision Benefits www.apflexplus.com/godoy 1-888-299-1128 tgodoy@ameriplan.net
Henderson Law Group, LLC Legal services - Business, Entertainment, and Technology www.hendersonlawgroupllc.com info@hendersonlawgroupllc.com
Marketing OUTSIDE THE BOX MARKETING For a better more cost effective way to advertise WWW.PIZZA-ADS.COM 404-825-9243 andylynch@pizza-ads.com WrightWay Marketing and Consulting Public relations, corporate imaging and marketing www.wrightwaymarketing.com 678-254-8302 Cwright@wrightwaymarketing.com
Media Quality Media Consultant Group, LLC. Combining the art of advertising, the magic of marketing and the science of sales www.qualitymediaconsultants.com 404-432-0444 info.qualitymediaconsultants.com Techno Media Films Start your own TV Show Walk On Your Website www.technomediafilms.com 678-887-7671 technomediasites@yahoo.com
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Electro Chemical Research Corporation MEDICAL DEVICE FOR JOINT PAIN www.arthrifon.com 770-559-6300 jane@arthrifon.com
Legal Services
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Curvy U Health & Wellness Co. save 10% off 1st order! www.curvyu.com 404-734-4375 reshapinu@gmail.com
A one stop shop for all
of your business and personal needs, are you plugged in?
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Ministry
Personal
Iron Sharpens Iron Ministry Conference 2009 www.ironsharpensironconference.org 678-760-1639 isiconference@yahoo.com
Sterling Introductions For your personal relationship needs www.sterlingintroductions.com 404-419-2280 info@sterlingintroductions.com
Networking
Photography
FindAChristian.net Supporting Fellow Christians Along Their Career Paths www.findachristian.net 918-423-5749 info@findachristian.net
Lindley’s Photography Specializing in Wedding Photography www.lindleysphotography.com 478-284-9401 lindleysphotography@gmail.com
Rock’s Networking Unlimited, Inc. E-Blast Your Business and Promotions Out to Thousands www.myrnu.com 770-217-0726 info@myrnu.com
The Lasting Memories Photography Never Forget your Special Moments www.thelastingmemories.com 404-606-5845 bdb9122@aol.com
The Trump Network Take Charge of Your Health & Financial Well-Being www.theTrumpNetwork.com/cgkoster 770-414-0898 cgkoster@bellsouth.net
Nonprofit Strength Through Faith Community Center, Inc. Bridging the Gap between Youth and Seniors www.strengththroughfaithcenter.org 678-524-9693
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Genesis Magazine
By Brittany K Earls
Beauty, Brains, and Beyond
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Photography by Sean Maxwell SeanMaxwellProject@Yahoo.com
Meet Shadeah Suleiman from Atlanta, GA
S
20-year-old Georgia Tech student, model, and dancer. On the outside she seems like the simple, beautiful girl next door, but the truth of hadeah is a
the matter is that her life is far from simple.
Shedeah has a tight schedule, many responsibilities, and obstacles that she has to endure daily.
She has beauty and
brains and completely under-
stands why beauty is way more
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Shadeah is the first! She is the first one in her family to do it all. She is well beyond a triple threat. She firmly believes is using every gift that she has and not letting them go to waste. Her goal is to never stop, but to just keep going. She is determined to do everything. She has always had such high ambitions, even as a child. She grew up really fast and was always very mature for her age. Eager to learn more, she always associated with an older crowd and inquired about any and everything. Multitasking was something Shadeah has had to tackle very early in life, balancing the passion to draw, dance, and excel academically. She is a prime example of how far intuition
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than skin deep.
Multitasking was something Shadeah has had to tackle very early in life,balancing the passion to draw, dance, and excel academically. and God given gifts can take you. She has never taken a drawing class, yet she has won several drawing competitions as a child. No one taught her how to dance in the beginning. Dancing is just something that she is really great at and passionate about. Her childhood was spent dominating dance competitions. It is fair to say Shadeah is extremely competitive and driven. Even as a child, she would have dance practice from the end of school until 11:00 PM. She performed in the Nut Cracker every year and had 20 shows a season while still excelling in school and involved in other hobbies. While appreciative of all the experiences dancing and her other talents have brought to her, she does admit that those very gifts have prevented her from a lot of childhood memories such as sleepovers and birthday parties, but she is not complaining. “I was focused and this was what I wanted to do, and now it is well worth it”, she reflects. Many describe Shadeah as outgoing, a busy-body and independent. However, her independence has recently been compromised. A couple of years ago she left her parent’s nest and was out on her own at the GA Tech dorms but recently had to move back home due to an illness that she battles, which took a turn for the worst. Shadeah has Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is an auto immune disease. Your immune system attacks your body. Many people are born with susceptibility to this disease. You can get it by exposure of bacteria. Shadeah was perfectly fine until she went on a summer camp for one week, where camp leaders instructed her and her campmates to be “one with nature” and drink water from the ground! Immediately she got very sick and several doctor visits later, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. This was a very hard, painful time for the Suleiman family. “Health is so precious and often taken for granted”, she tells Genesis Magazine. “I was so sad, you know as a kid you just want to be like everyone else and now I had this condition.” Still, the Suleiman family continued to be Shadeah’s backbone and they prevailed and continue to get
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through it. Some people can take medicine, but her condition is really aggressive and most medicine doesn’t work, so she takes chemo-therapy every eight weeks and recently every six weeks because it flares up so much. Besides fatigue and extreme weight lost, one of the hardest effects of this disease for Shadeah is the lost of her hair. “Some days I just carry a plastic bag to school with me to collect clumps of my hair that falls out. It hurts you know, I’m young I want to have beautiful hair now.” Sometimes she is constantly tired and doesn’t have any energy. It gets really horrible and can even cause her to miss exams and projects. It is a big interruption in her busy life. The most impressive thing about Shadeah is that her condition is just that, a condition. It flares up temporarily, she has good and bad days, it is something that she has to deal with but it is not who she is. With energy or without energy Shadeah still has a 4.0 GPA as an Applied Biology major and is getting a certification in Bio Psychology and instead of graduating in 4 years she is graduating in 3 years. She teaches a ballet class and she is a copy editor for, The Tower, the GA Tech research journal. She is always very involved, especially at her school. “GA Tech is a hidden gem; you can do anything you want to at Tech but you may have to implement it. It has a lot to offer but you have to go get it. The key is to be proactive; it’s a great fit for me”, she says. Some may ask; where does modeling fit in? For Shadeah modeling is mostly a summer activity, just for fun. The summer of 2009 was actually her first leap into the world of modeling. Her rookie modeling status never held her back because she never thought of it and never portrayed it on camera. Most of the modeling contacts that were made were online and she has a great, respectable, solid portfolio and agents and photographers automatically loved her profile. They don’t see the rookie in her; they see the experience that she portrays. She started modeling because every time school ends it is her goal to try something completely different than academics. “I like to use my artsy side. It is usually dancing or acting. Well, this time I tried modeling. I love it, and it’s still art and a form of expressing yourself.” Her modeling career is actually on the right track and she has received several offers from various magazines
Do you have an awesome, inspirational story? Let’s put you on our cover! Email us at share@genesis1magazine.com
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to love and accept herself even more. Self-esteem is priceless. How you view yourself is how others will first view you. If someone doesn’t love his or herself very much,Shadeah stresses that unfortunately, you can’t teach someone how to feel beautiful. Her advice is to truly get to know a person. This means spending time with them, not pointing things out or giving corrections. You have to treat them normal, give them your company. Positive interaction and not lectures can make someone feel better about his or herself. “It is a process; self esteem is not served on a silver platter. All beauty is under the skin. Outer beauty is only luck. It’s an evolutionary mechanism. We misconstrue beauty as if a beautiful face is evidence of a healthy body. We should all stop associating beauty with good and ugly with bad.” What’s next for Ms. Sullivan? She will be graduating from Tech, doing study abroad in France for her Master’s Degree, and later attending medical school at Harvard or Emory University. So there you have it! The next time you see a pretty girl and for a split second you wish you were in her shoes, remember you have no idea what she is going through or what is really behind that smile, those curves, and piercing eyes. When you are staring in the mirror admiring your looks and you think that you are on the verge of perfection, ask your self, is your heart as flawless as the image that you see? The next time you are counting your blessings, and your looks, skin, clothing, and jewelry is at the top of your list, ask yourself: would you exchange such temporary fashions for health or family? First impressions do matter, but it will only carry you so far. Your character will open doors for you and reflect who you truly are for a lifetime. Real beauty is way more than skin deep.
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and modeling agencies, but modeling will always take a back seat to her academics. She has turned down several opportunities to model since school has started back so that she may continue to focus on her school work. Her schedule is really hectic, this is her senior year and being at Tech is a full time job itself. How does she deal with it all? “I just do it, no excuses nothing more, nothing less. I know what I need to accomplish and I just make it happen.” Genesis Magazine asks the question, “What do you think makes you beautiful?” Shadeah replies, “What makes me beautiful is that I am so tolerant and understanding of others and the world around me. When you are intolerant of anything unfamiliar to you the world seems so ugly, and to others you seem so ugly. I am accepting of other cultures and people, I’m comfortable in my own skin and my surroundings, which portrays confidence and that is what makes me beautiful.” She goes on further to express that the ugliest traits a person can have is selfishness and frugality and feels that it is beautiful to be giving and have an open mind. Shadeah is obviously beautiful inside and out, clearly smart, and has many talents and if you spend three minutes with her you would know that she is as sweet as a cup of sugar. I guess an obvious question would be: is she dating anyone special? No she is not. Hold the fan letters guys because it is just not a priority for her at this time. Besides coming from a conservative, Middle Eastern, family where having boyfriends is not stressed as a level of importance anyways, Shadeah personally has made a decision to not add anything or anyone else to her hectic schedule. “I don’t have time for relationships, I don’t need or want one right now.” She is however, a people-person and has a ton of friends but she knows how to isolate herself at the right time, like during exam weeks. Shadeah has great self-esteem and genuinely loves herself. This is a journey for her and as she grows, different situations and circumstances teach her
garden
eden
of
Garden of Eden
is our stage to present some
of the most creative, talented and up and coming writers of our present time.
The following short story is the creation of Rudy Nesbitt, from Atlanta, GA
the Struggle Within
H
ello, my name is Jocelyn Jamison. I feel it’s only proper that I introduce myself since I’m about to share an intimate part of my life with you. I am a 33-year-old successful HR Director living in Dallas, Texas. If you saw me in person you would think I was a fifth generation blueblood from Riverdale, NY or that I came from rich and successful parents from Collier Hills of Atlanta. I’m just the opposite. I come from a mother who had five children, who cleaned houses and watched rich people’s children six days a week and my father worked horrible hours in a paper mill. I should admire my humble roots and praise my parents for the ability to have five children who all went to college; however, it no longer fit into the successful nouveau bourgeois life that I have made for myself. I’m 5’8” tall, a perfect size 6; I am a member of all the right social scenes. I rapidly and successfully climbed the corporate ladder, and my man? Well let’s say if Brad Pitt and Enrique Iglesias had a child,
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Antonio would be it. Would you expect any less? He is a successful Italian American attorney in D.C and yes he’s married, but he’s getting a divorce from his wife. He’s just staying in it for the children right now. Please don’t preach to me. He loves me and he does a lot of nice things for me. Have you seen the new Audi A5? He got me one for my birthday. So just hold off on the preaching. Who wants a man that’s under them 24 hours a day anyway? He does his thing and I do mine and we conveniently meet somewhere in the middle. But anyways, back to my story. About a year ago, I was headed to D.C. to meet my girls Elise and Theresa for Theresa’s 30th birthday. It is something that we always do when one of our birthdays comes up. We forget about men and all of our problems and party, just the three of us. I arrived at Reagan Airport and instead of getting a car as I usually do, I felt the need to submerge myself in the culture of the city, you know be with the people. I place my earphones in my ears as I step into the train from the platform. I always put my iPod on shuffle. I like the idea that even though I chose every song on the iPod, I never chose the selection. Whatever song comes on was meant for me in that moment in time. Immediately Jill Scott’s, “Crown Royal”, begins to play. I refuse to sit down on Miss Scott. I hold on to the bar and close my eyes and let Ms. Scott lull me into her lyrics and her world. My head starts to bob, my hips begin to sway, and I hum as if I’m on stage and I am Jill herself. I’m consumed with indulgent thoughts of seduction, sweaty, heated, lustful moments with Antonio. That song was meant for me in that moment! As I was entranced in the song, the train doors open and rip me away from my erogenous fantasies. I open my eyes, it takes a moment for them to come back to focus, but when they do they fall upon a beautiful woman. Her skin is of gold, caramel complexion. She looks as if she is the very culmination of every ethnic race on the planet, harmoniously coming together to produce the love child of Gaya herself. She is so beautiful! Her hair is wavy and flaxen. But, her beauty told a story. As I look upon her face I can see the trenches that had been worn into her face from endless tears streaming
down her face. I can see the lines that had been etched into her skin from worrying, and the freckles on her face from the sun constantly beating down on her on a daily basis. Her head is bowed, and I try to look at her and see her face, without seeming nosey or invasive. I try to see her eyes because her face and body language say so much, and I want to see what else lies in her soul. As she looks up, my eyes follow the movement of her head, and as she lifts her head, my eyes continue to follow her. Our eyes meet, and in the depth of her eyes I can see her story, the pain, the fear, the defeat, and the lack of hope that lies in her spirit.
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As I look into the depth of her eyes I saw the child that was ripped from her 15-year-old womb from the rape of a male father figure from her past. I can see the endless number of men she slept with by the age of 21, looking to fill the void of the father she never received attention from. I see the selfless continuous giving she has done in order to prove her love to a parade of countless men. I see her void and I see her hurt. Her pain is all over her face, in her walk and in her posture. It’s so vivid as if she has a scarlet A embroidered on her chest. After a while I realize not only am I staring but I’m actually in a trance. Then the unforgettable happens, as a tear rolls down my face I realized that the woman I am staring at is actually a reflection of me. The façade that I have put up so long has just begun to crumble. My many faults begin rushing to me. I realized that my life revolved around the pursuit of love and that what I had been receiving in return was not it. I had encountered “the long look in the mirror”. At first, I’m anxious, my pulse begins to race, and I wonder if I can see all of my past through my reflection, what does everyone else see? Finally, the voice comes over the intercom announcing Chinatown Gallery. I grab my suitcase and my handbag and I dart off the train. I jump on the escalator running up it as fast as I can. I was running from myself. Snap, I never realized how long it takes to get out of the station. In my frantic hysteria I realize that I look
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I realized that my life revolved around the pursuit of love and that what I had been receiving in return was not it.
garden
eden
of
like a raving lunatic. My face is stained with tears and cheap mascara. I slow my pace, I try to gather myself, and recollect. I place my bag on the bench and franticly look for a napkin and my compact. A wet wipe and Vaseline can be a girl’s best friend. I quickly remove the makeup from my face and recompose myself. I don’t know what just happened. What triggered this episode? As I enter my hotel room, my cell rings. It’s Mrs. Leonard. Mrs. Leonard is the mother of one of my childhood friends and I too call her mother. And just as with my real mother, at times I do not want to speak to her because of the fear of dealing with the truths that she always hears in my voice. I have never been a good liar and when it comes to Mrs. Mother Leonard my mouth was like a bad refrigerator- it
how I now have this struggle within. I want to move forward but my past is holding me back. So much wrong has been done to me, and I have done so much wrong. “Jocelyn you have to forget the former things”, she says. “Who is perfect? Who doesn’t have a painful story to tell? The goal in life is not to live without making mistakes or to run from everything to avoid being hurt. The point is to learn from your mistakes and allow the pain you have had to endure to build character.” She cleared up my thoughts and opened my eyes to my revelation and self-examination. She explained that what I experienced on the train was not a breakdown, but a breakthrough. Flash one year forward; now, I am single. I talk with Mother Leonard often; we all need wise advice from time to time. I have totally taken a break from dating. I have found that I can never get to know a man and find true love until I find myself and love me! I take that journey everyday now. I love me in a way that I have never loved before. I respect myself, and now the woman in that reflection looks happy, content, and radiates with a beauty that I have never seen before. Don’t get me wrong, this journey has been long, and it’s been tough, but I am a better woman for it. I got on a train and that moment in time was just for me. Now, I press forward and the old me is well, old news. —Rudy Nesbitt
I respect myself, and now the woman in that reflection looks happy, content, and radiates with a beauty that I have never seen before. wouldn’t keep crap. Finally, by the third ring I answer the phone. “Hello? Hi Mother Leonard how are you?” I try to sound as sunny as possible. “Did you make it to DC okay?” She asks. “Yes ma’am. I made it here okay. It was a smooth flight. I just checked into my hotel, and I’m about to check in and see if my girls have arrived yet. I’m about to go mom and I’ll call you back later. Ok?” I said all of that in one breath. “Jocelyn, what’s wrong?” She asks. “Nothing is wrong.” “Jocelyn Mari Jamison, I have known you all of your life and I know when something is not right. What’s wrong little girl?” Okay so now she has called my full name and used little girl on me, I’m not getting off of this phone without explaining everything, so I explain to her everything that happened and
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Is there a story in you? Email us your best piece at share@genesis1magazine.com
Got Curves? www.CurvyU.com A Health & WellnessCo. 404-734-4375
Now Hiring Consultants Nutritional * SkinCare * BodyShapers Sizes 2 - 30 Colors: white,black,beige
back to school
backtoschool W
hether you are,
18 or 50, student or parent, it’s never too late to go back to school,
and it’s always the right time to get informed on the best schools, obtainable scholarships, and reliable advice.
Here is to higher learning and higher living!
Back-to-school Word of the Month: Dear future and current college students, Genesis Magazine would like to introduce you to your biggest, nastiest, most damaging opponent and enemy: PROCRASTINATION. Yes, let’s go ahead and get that out of the way, acknowledge the problem, so that you can eliminate the problem. To procrastinate, means to prolong, avoid, or to extend the timeframe needed to accomplish a desired task. Procrastination will cause you to miss scholarship and application deadlines, neglect to form study groups, and lead to simply not studying or preparing at all! There is a good old faithful saying that says, “Work first, play later”, post this saying on every mirror. Do what you have to do, make it happen, or get happened to. Don’t drag your foot; time is the most valuable, nonrefundable gift!
The College of the Month: University of Miami UM is located in south Florida, and heavily recognized for its cultural appeal in the arts and theater. UM proudly educates over 15,000 students from all over the world and is one of the nation’s leading research universities. The University of Miami’s mission is to educate and nurture students, to create knowledge, and to provide service to community and beyond. Committed to excellence and proud of the diversity of their UM family, they strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world. Genesis contacted a few UM students to get a personal, honest answer to a simple question: What makes Miami University set apart, and more of an asset to prospect students compared to other universities? “I never feel like a number here. I have my professor’s email, appointment schedule, and office number. All of my professors call me by my first name. One professor even called me when I was out sick because I never miss class and she was concerned. This would have never happened at other universities.” -Raleigh, Sophomore, Secondary Education Major “I love UM because it is a perfect balance. I am educated by professors who are serious and passionate about their field. I feel the school has high expectations of their students. I can also finish up a challenging week by hanging out at the beach and partying and experiencing Miami’s hot night life!” -Brad, Junior, Sociology Major
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UM Quick Facts • UM’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute was ranked the number one hospital in the United States for ophthalmology. • 2/3’s of UM’s freshman class graduated high school at the top 10% of their class • Famous alumni include Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson • Ground breaking stem cell research to cure heart disease is taking place at the university’s Miller School of Medicine • 75% of classes have 25 or fewer students • 37% of the student body are minorities UM 2009 Tuition and Fees$35,540 but don’t sweat, they offer tons of financial assistance and a flexible payment plan Contacting UM: Office of Admission P.O. Box 248025 Coral Gables, Florida 33124 Telephone: 305-284-4323 www.miami.edu
Greek of the Month: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. (Eta Mu Chapter, Georgia State University) Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) is the first Greek lettered sorority founded by African American college women. Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, a former student of Howard University in Washington, D.C, founded the sorority. This 1908 sorority was based on sisterhood, community, and the achievements of African American women. Now, in 2009, AKA membership as a whole has grown to over 49,000 members! This organization may have thousands of new faces but the heart of the AKA establishment is still the same as it was in 1908: empowering women, embracing sisterhood, and setting the standard in the community.
The Georgia State University AKA chapter, Eta Mu, successfully upholds the AKA legacy and mission. We caught up with the president of this chapter Shameria Fletcher to get the scoop on how they are impacting change. Their recent contributions and accomplishments include:
Need to Know Websites: • www.fafsa.ed.gov • www.scholarships.com • www.fastweb.com • www.kaplan.com • www.collegeboard.com
• AIDS Walk Atlanta which raised over $8,000 in 2009 • Eta Mu Toy Drive raised over $1000.00 worth of toys to donate to The Partnership of Domestic Violence • They provide educational workshops for their peers such as, “Business Etiquette 101” and “Fast Track your Career” • Hosted Thanksgiving drive in 2008 and were able to supply a dozen needy families with Thanksgiving dinner
Need to Know Deadlines: Registration Deadlines October 1, 2009 October 31, 2009 December 15, 2009 February 4, 2010 March 25, 2010 April 29, 2010
• You may also show up one hour early on a test date as a walk-in. • Taking the GRE: Most university graduate programs require you to take the exam seven to nine months before your expected enrollment date. Check with your school of choice for GRE submission deadlines. To find a testing center close to you please visit: http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/ GRE/pdf/gre_0809_tclist.pdf
Nominate your college and or Greek organization, and submit your college advice, and professors give your expertise at share@genesis1magazine.com
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SAT & Subject Tests SAT & Subject Tests SAT & Subject Tests SAT only SAT & Subject Tests SAT & Subject Tests
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2009 SAT Dates November 7, 2009 December 5, 2009 January 23, 2010 March 13, 2010 May 1, 2010 June 5, 2010
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Posted from thecollegeboard.com
romance
S
equal assets
trong, healthy relationships are at its peak when both partners are equally contributing and benefiting from the relationship. to please his or her mate.
Each person has a role to execute in order
No two involved persons can play the same role at the same I.E. two people cannot talk at the same time. Two people cannot play the leader at the same time because each partner has his or her own individual mindset, with a desired destination. The goal is one, unified path. The key is sticking to a specific role for a specific time. For example, one person is the covering, the executer, while the other is the center; they pull everything together, playing the organizer. This does not mean that one role is more important than the other, or that one person is more significant than the other, it means that two people are working together, with one goal, but separate responsibilities to maintain and stimulate their relationship. Genesis Magazine sat down with relationship expert Dr. Bruce Derman to discuss the importance of roles and equality in relationships. time.
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B.K.E- Can a relationship have equality without the distinction of roles? D.R.-This is a major premise of my book entitled, We’d Have a Great Relationship if it Weren’t for You. All couples who are involved have an equal capacity for intimacy or they wouldn’t be together. All couples who get intimately involved are at the same level of emotional development for each other despite the way it often appears. This means that all couples have the capability of obtaining equality. If the roles within the relationship appear unequal, it is due to posturing, in which one poses that they are superior to the other. This is merely an act. Role distinctions
B.K.E.-How do roles vary between marital and non-marital relationships? B.D.-Typically marital couples have more complex lives and greater demands than non-marital couples, so there is a lot more pressure on them to come to terms with the various roles. If the married couples don’t find a way to divide up the variety of demands, they often get swallowed up and come to see me or their local Psychologist, half drowned in their life. B.K.E.-What advice can you offer to help partners leap towards relationship Utopia? B.D.-Only partners who have developed an equal attitude toward the other can have an equal, give-andtake relationship. If they see the other through the eyes of inequality, they will find themselves taking protective stances in relationship to the other. So to move down a path of equality each couple needs to learn what I call the mutual attitude, in which they don’t use the many aspects of life to prove that they are better or less than the other. They simply see life, particularly their relationship, through the
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B.K.E.-Please give us examples of healthy distinctions within relationships. B.D.-Healthy distinctions in a relationship might include but is not limited to: • One partner being the wage earner and the other responsible for the house and child care. • One partner dealing with the finances and checking account and the other doing yard work. • One partner initiates the social arrangements while the other is in charge of all the shopping.
are important in achieving equality, but what is even more important is that neither partner assumes that his or her role is more important. Roles only form from a difference in styles and behind those styles are several similarities and goals that brought the couple together in the first place. Roles are needed to achieve those goals with equal effort from both persons.
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B.K.E.-Dr. Derman what is your take on role responsibility in a relationship? B.D.-Role responsibility essentially has to do with what I call agreement of participation in a relationship. It amazes me how many couples marry and don’t bother making a real agreement as to how they will participate together in regard to tasks: child care, time together, money, sex and friends. As a result they get into endless arguments over these themes and use their differences to prove that one is better than the other. In order to avoid sloppy agreements there needs to be an agreement on all four levels of a relationship: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. A weak link or failure to make an agreement on any of the levels will lead to resentment, and a breakdown in the division of roles and the stability of a relationship.
All couples who get intimately involved are at the same level of emotional development for each other despite the way it often appears. This means that all couples have the capability of obtaining equality.
A mutual couple is equal in their perception of the other even though one may have greater skills in a given area. other’s eyes. All communication and involvement is from eye level, and despite how they divide up the roles they always see the other as their equal. B.K.E.-That’s great advice, but do you honestly believe a relationship can be completely equal or will one spouse always have more pull over the other? B.D-A mutual couple is equal in their perception of the other even though one may have greater skills in a given area. Thus, one may be a brilliant scientist while the other may be gifted with children, but they should never use this difference to assert power over the other and play the typical difference game of “I’m smarter than you.” One partner may indeed have more to offer in a certain area of the relationship, but that does not institute “pull over the other”, that is simply one partner applying their strength. As long as the other partner adds to the relationship in other ways, a relationship will be equal. Bruce Derman, Ph.D. licensed clinical Psychologist (818) 375-7194 www.therelationshipdoctor.net
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battle of the sexes
battleofthesexes
T
he oldest feud in history: men
VS women. This section of Genesis Magazine is dedicated to the discussion of the relationships we love to hate. Healthy relationships are a very important and intriguing part of our lives. They add romance, challenge, growth, and sometimes a little bit of a headache called growing pains. Each month we will present a topic that commonly forms tension between partners. You, faithful readers, will join us in group therapy and present your ideas, the pros, the cons, and objectively help other readers mend their relationship foes. So, go ahead, dive in, express what bugs you the most in your relationships and send your responses and advice to share@genesis1magazine.com and be published in our next issue! Remember to be real and respectful, this is about healing not bashing, because we aren’t here to take sides we are here to restore and take over! Topic 1: Once a dog, always a dog; we often give the guys a hard time when it comes to their ability to be faithful. Ladies often carry the image of the heartbroken and rarely the heartbreaker. Tell us; is this ancient stereotype just right or very misconstrued: Do women break as many hearts and play as many games as men? “Game is only a word to indicate an objective and the obstacle that must be overcome to obtain the objective. We are all players in this game; there is no one immune. Only example needed: Men never initially see women and comment on their sparkling personality. How could we? No matter the objective, there is
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always at least one look at her amazing physical features. She sees us staring, her guard is now up, but she may be just as interested in us. Who approaches who first? From there begins the conscious and subconscious chase....let the games begin!” -Rah, Newnan, GA
“Women aren’t as innocent and angelic as we are often portrayed. Yes, we have our dirt, BUT men still play the game best. As women we are more emotional than men and that holds us back when it comes to infidelity and using men like they so easily do us. A woman may cheat on her boyfriend, play games, and manipulate him to hide her secret, but eventually her emotions force her to tell the truth or choose the mate she has the most emotional attachment to. With a man it’s rarely about emotions it’s about convenience and as long as it works for him he will dominate the game.”- Amaya, Brooklyn, New York “Insecure men and women with unresolved issues play games! Those of us whom the son has set or is setting free don’t have time for games, only the truth, because of God’s consuming purpose in our lives!”-Kevin, Atlanta, GA
“Do women play as many games as men? Is that a real question? Of course not! It’s in a man’s DNA to play mind games! Men play games because they have been taught that if they mess up they can start over and go back to the beginning. They do that because we as women have let them. We have put it into a man’s head that we will go along with their petty games!” -Jennifer, Athens, GA “Women start off playing games. They like giving guys the so called chase, which can be a good thing because no guy wants an easy girl, but the ladies always take it too far. They play the game too much and when the guy finally gets the girl he doesn’t really want her anymore. Now, that’s usually when the guy starts playing the games back.”-Juarice, Atlanta, GA
Topic 2:
“I think a confident man wouldn’t have a problem with his spouse being more successful. A relationship is all about supporting one another and each others dreams. After all a successful woman is a happy woman! What man doesn’t want a happy spouse?”-Jennifer, Athens, GA
“Listen up ladies. I don’t care if my woman makes a six figure salary and I only make $25,000 per year. As long as I’m happy and following my purpose, the money attached to my name doesn’t bother me. If my lady is the bread-winner, fine, I will have dinner ready and the kids bathed when she gets home! I mean this is my wife, it’s “Us” and “We”, no “I”; therefore, it’s OUR MONEY. Why would I be mad? We are a team and getting upset is like a dog chasing its tail, we are one. Besides I’m still the man, the affection I show her, the royal treatment I give her, and the way our love making erases any stress she may have dealt with during her long day, is part of who she is. My love keeps her going; I’m more intricate in her life than the person who signs her fat pay check.”-Justin, Yonkers, New York
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“It doesn’t matter if the woman makes more money, as long as she still allows the man to be the man. Guys just want to be known as the dominant one and the main way they feel that way is through their pockets, knowing that they can take care of their lady. A man likes knowing that his lady can survive on his benefit alone. If she makes more money that is fine as long as he still pays for dinners, trips, household expenses etc. He needs to know that he is still a provider. A woman can be independent but not so independent that she openly doesn’t rely on him and throws a power trip in his face; thus denouncing his man-hood.”-Juarice, Atlanta, GA
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Over the past several decades we, in America at least, have come a long way from the stereotypical female role: the stay at home mom by force, and the sole nurturer. We have expanded from our limited occupations: secretaries, teachers, and assistants, but never the corporate leader. Now days, women run their own businesses, they are CEO’s, VP’s, and are successfully adding to every arena of the family lifestyle from nurturer to provider. With this surplus of success is the male’s security at risk? What happens if he is not the only or sole breadwinner? Can a man handle a more successful woman?
TGIF (thank God it’s family
thankGod it’sfamily Meet the Smith Family
C
Justin have been married for 2 years. Justin is 25 years old and Christy is 24. Their beautiful daughter Ella turned 1 on September 9th. Justin is a Dermatology Physicians Assistant. Christy taught elementary school for the past two years but is now a stay at home mom who also owns a home embroidery business, Stitch It Sassy (www.stitchitsassy.com). hristy and
What makes family work? For our family the most important thing is that we are part of a church family. God is the one who brought us together and blessed us with our child, so we show our gratitude for our blessings by always trying to put him first. Without God we would have nowhere to turn when adversity arises in our lives. He helps to guide the decisions we make for our family, which is the only way to make a family work. This all sounds like a cliché, but we don’t always have the answers, He does. I know you are young, fairly newly weds, and new parents how exciting! Does being a good wife come natural? I would love to say that it does, but being a good wife is all about learning what your role is in your family. Each family is diverse, and a “good wife” can have a different meaning to everyone. I will say
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that I did have a great idea of how to attempt to be a good wife by watching my mother. She was what the “typical wife” used to be defined as… cleaned, cooked, but most of all, she was strong. I want to be a definite support system for my husband and children. How about being a good husband? Being a good husband is just like a lot of other things, it requires work. The good news is that this work is actually enjoyable. My idea of being a good husband is doing everything in my power to make my wife completely happy. I wish I could say that I always do that but I am human and I know that I don’t. All I know is that I love my wife more than anything in this world and because of that I know that I will do my best to give her everything I can to make her happy and to make our marriage a lasting one.
Photography by: Jennifer Kemp www.jenniferkempphotography.com
WE LAUGH! We have fun no matter what the situation. Life is too short, enjoy it!
What is a household rule or following that you have that you think would benefit any family? Enjoy every moment, it seems like every day you get word of a friend or family member being diagnosed with cancer or being involved in an accident, you just never know which moment will be your last. Go to bed each night with peace in your heart and mind, knowing that the last contact you had with friends and family was a positive one. Also never forget that no matter what you do, God is in control and He has a plan for each and every one of us.
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What do you love about being parents? We love knowing that someone is depending on us and loves us 24/7. Nothing makes us happier than seeing Ella smile. There is no way to describe to someone how much you love your own child; they just have to experience it for themselves. Our lives are all about Ella, and we couldn’t imagine having it any other way, we wouldn’t want to.
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What is the best thing about your family? WE LAUGH! We have fun no matter what the situation. Life is too short, enjoy it!
What is something that may be typically stressful for most families that you were able to overcome? Finances, especially with the economy the way it is currently. Our first two years of marriage we had a single income and one of us was still a student. With the support of both of our families and the faith that God would provide for us we were able to survive difficult times. Money should never make or break a great family but unfortunately sometimes the stress of it does. This article is about what makes a family great, what makes it work, and honestly the answer is that our family being there for us allowed us to get our own family on our feet. Family makes family work.
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So, you guys were high school sweethearts, how were you able to endure through the unstableness of teen relationships and the diversity of college life, to now? A lot of times we didn’t. But there was always something that drew us back to each other. I don’t know if it was fate or a higher power but even through many adverse experiences we always found ourselves seeking each other. Relationships are hard, but at the end of the day if you really love someone you can find a way to make things work.
living it up
living itup Y
our home is a reflection of who you are!
Your
home is your sanctuary,
thou shall have peace and thou shall have color!
This
article is
dedicated to teaching you how to brighten up your home, and give your room a million dollar look with a not so million dollar budget.
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This month Genesis Magazine consults home interior design expert Johanna Hawf, who owns a design firm in Atlanta, on how to add timeless color, and revive under used space. Many of us love fall colors and warm earth tones throughout our home. However, we can inexpensively add bright, timeless color to our main rooms, such as the living room and kitchen. First, it’s all about the yellow! Yellow, butter, gold, and cream are like a breath of fresh air in your home. They are peaceful colors that brighten up your home and add a sense of tranquility. Let’s start with the foyer. This is the first thing people see when they enter your home and you know how important first impressions are. Try adding fresh flowers to an open area to make your home more inviting. White tulips are my personal favorite they look great in any room. Accent your foyer with cream candles and golden fixtures. Be careful not to over decorate your foyer because you still want to leave a lot of nice open space. In the living room, add yellow and cream pillows to your sofa or a nice throw to your favorite chair. Change the smaller rugs in your living area to a brighter color. Also, add pottery and timeless fixtures to your bookshelves and fireplace mantle.
When you have guests over they should feel very welcomed and when they leave they should long to come back.
Your patio is still part of your home, and adds space when your home is full of people for family events, parties, and dinners. The patio should resemble the same flare and love that you have inside of your home. Make your patio a ravishing space by adding the following:
An unwelcoming guest room When you have guests over they should feel very welcomed and when they leave they should long to come back. The key is to make your entire guest room feel spa like. This is accomplished by: • Paint, paint, paint! Use pastels and other light colors to paint your walls. These tones will add a spa-like atmosphere. • Add simple window treatments and make sure your guests can control sunlight entry for their comfort. • Keep a warm color coordinating blanket at the end of the bed for décor and guest comfort.
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the Patio
• Place settings on your patio table • Splashes of color by adding chair cushions • An elegant welcome mat in front of your patio door • Tiki torches and special lighting • Plant some nice, bright flowers • Keep a nice but inexpensive vase on the center of your patio table full with fresh flowers.
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Next, the kitchen, we all know that this is the heart of the home. I love greenery on top of kitchen cabinets. You can blend the fall, darker colors of your kitchen, by adding lighter color assents such as a kitchen rug or vase. Make every table, counter, and bar very welcoming by fully setting up each sitting place. This includes a placemat, silverware, wine glasses, and nicely folded napkins. You will be surprised what these little details can do for your home. You want to fully use your entire kitchen so don’t neglect the bar as so many of us do. If you have a bar, set it up just as you would do your dining room table and don’t be afraid to add fixtures and candles to that area too. We also tend to ignore what I like to call the forgotten space. Now most of us have some room in our home that we don’t use or under use and it’s quite a shame that we don’t take full advantage of every room in our homes such as:
Children have to have a place of their own and to be free without being cramped and confined to their rooms, but we still don’t want them to take over the family living area. • In the guest bathroom, hang up a warm, fluffy robe up, store big, plush, white towels, and keep a basket of bath and body products out in plain view
A cluttered kid’s playroom Children have to have a place of their own and to be free without being cramped and confined to their rooms, but we still don’t want them to take over the family living area. This is why playrooms are a great idea but can also be a great mess if we don’t control their indoor playground. To insure that your child’s playroom doesn’t cross the line that separates childhood freedom and a national zoo, make sure to do the following: • Invest in organizational containers. Use bins, shelves, crates, and containers that can be easily closed and pushed out of sight. • Label everything! This teaches kids to be responsible and put things up in the proper place and it keeps parents sane. • If you don’t know where to start try Home Depot, Container Store, and Lowes first because they are inexpensive, trendy, and reliable. • Add bright paint particularly his or her murals of their favorite Disney or other TV characters. They make your kids feel special and still add to your home.
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Johanna Hawf leaves us with two golden rules of interior design: 1. Reintroduce yourself to the forbidden den! Most of us have a special room in our homes, one with the nicest china, expensive furniture, and light colored carpet. These are the rooms that the lady of the house threatens you not to enter. However, the truth is that if you can’t fully use a room it’s not worth having. Revisit this room and make it livable and inviting. Make everything family friendly, add a lot of fabrics, and be creative don’t limit your color schemes. 2. Resist common trends when decorating. The T in trend stands for temporary. A trend is a fad and it will come and go. Your home should be timeless. While investing in the look of your home you should choose something that you will appreciate and admire 20 years from now.
Johanna Hawf Interior Design is an interior and exterior design firm in Atlanta, GA. They offer everything from the ground up, start to finish. Whether you are looking to enhance one room or revive your entire home, Johanna Hawf will exceed all of your expectations and stay within your budget. Johanna Hawf Interior Design revives your home with a timeless look that is truly a reflection of your own taste, style, and beauty. www.johannahawfinteriordesigns.com
save the date calendar
Election Day
14 and 15 Enviro Expo GA World Congress Center 770-517-0447 Miss./Ms. Black Georgia USA Pageant Atlanta Technical College Auditorium www.missblackga.org 404-587-8536
14 and 15 Enviro Expo GA World Congress Center 770-517-0447
Iron Sharpens Iron Ministry Conference 2009 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Holiday Inn Decatur, GA 30030 www.ironsharpensironconference.org isiconference@yahoo.com
1 If you have a talent, or success story submit it this month Share@genesis1magazine.com
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LeTay Publishing, Inc.
Writer’s Workshop Series
2010
Presents
From Writer to Author Gathering the Tools to Succeed
Networking | Book Publishers | Short Story Contests | Informative Tool Gathering Sessions
January 22-23, 2010 Friday & Saturday,
Atlanta, Georgia in exciting and beautiful
MARKETING & PROMOTION | FINDING YOUR OWN VOICE | SELF-PUBLISHING & THE INDUSTRY | THE FINANCES
Registration Fee $90 Register Before November 30, 2009 for $75* Includes Catered Networking Party, Tool Gathering Sessions, Lunch w/ Special Guest and Vendor Giveaways We Accept VISA, Mastercard via PayPAL and Check by Mail
Invited Featured Guests
Gwendolyn Jackson Author | Publisher
Nycolette Blanks Author | Playwright
Short Story Contests
CASH PRIZES for Best Story in 3 categories: Kids | Teens | Adults
LeTay Publishing, Inc. We help writers to write, to explore, to be
REGISTER By Mail: P.O. Box 170233 Atlanta, Georgia 30317 By Phone: 404-667-2810 By Email: marketing@letaypublishing.com Online: www.letaypublishing.com
Media Contact and Information Gwendolyn Jackson 404-667-2810 *Fee must be paid in full
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The last day to purchase an advertisement in Genesis Magazine’s January issue mroach@genesis 1magazine.com
Christmas
Kwanzaa
To list your event on our calendar email mroach@genesis1magazine.com
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W
e are always hearing about the bad and the ugly in today’s celebrity world.
I know we
have been trained
to chase the drama, but what about all of the good that some of those big names do in order to give back to the community?
Media
mostly focuses on the latest gossip and dirt when it comes to celebrities.
We are so concerned
with their divorces, lawsuits,
police encounters, and the latest hook-ups.
Believe it or not,
celebrities are human beings too.
Some of them actually have big
hearts and love to show it by giv-
ing back to their fans and the communities all around them, either in the form of charitable donations, walks to raise money, or
flying across the world to help a poverty-stricken country in need. Here’s the scoop on the positive actions celebrities are taking.
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celeb
pos by Robert Bode
Sharon Stone
This rock star diva recently started helping out with a non-profit organization named, “Homeless Not Toothless”. She, along with Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, and James Denton have been helping the organization by making several charitable donations, which goes towards helping the dentists who donate their time and skills to helping more than 30,000 foster children in Los Angeles get the required dental attention needed. They also help them enter and stay in the school system. The organization will be holding a fund-raising event in Los Angeles in the next upcoming weeks in order to raise money for the El Monte Free Dental Clinic, which is one of the main dental clinics within the organization.
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It is no secret that this famous couple is determined to help others and impact their surroundings in a positive way. Whether it is going around and scooping-up adoptees in different countries or speaking with world ambassadors on peace and change, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are always anxious to extend their helping hands. Lately, this duo has teamed up with their friend, Wyclef Jean and his Clean Streets Project. This project helps keep kids off the streets and in school. Also, according to recent tax records, Brad and Angelina donated more than $8 million to charity in 2006 alone. Pitt also took part in a recent telethon event, America: A Tribute to Heroes, in order to raise money and awareness for 9/11 victims. Brangelina have a huge heart and put a huge effort into committing to different organizations around the globe.
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Brangelina
This Virgin Music extraordinaire has recently pledged to donate $3 billion to the different organizations supporting the awareness and reduction of the ever-growing global warming crisis. In past years, Branson has formed several different organizations and several charities including one by the name of, The Elders, which is a small group comprised of self-motivated leaders: Nelson Mandela, Peter Gabriel, Desmond Tutu, and Jimmy Carter. Together, the group donates time and money in order to help solve difficult global conflicts. Among other charities Branson has set-up, in 2008 he organized a dinner with former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, among other top figures and celebrities on his private island in the Caribbean in order to discuss global-warming issues facing the world today. Branson, like so many other celebrities, is doing his part in order to help make the world a better, safer place with self-awareness about real issues.
All of the above information was found at www.looktothestars.org
Richard Branson
Coming to the W
e are pleased and excited to introduce the new faces of
Genesis Magazine.
Our models are special because they are hand picked and all have a story to tell behind their beauty.
They are also very
driven and more than ever determined to transform their visions to a reality.
If you are as driven as they are and you
know you can rock the runway email us tricia Most valuable lesson ever learned: “The most valuable lesson I have ever learned is to know when to talk and when to shut up and listen.�
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at model@genesis1magazine.com
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jason Rule to live by: “Tomorrow isn’t promised, so live everyday like it’s your last.”
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angel Being purpose driven means: “Thriving off of every opportunity, setting an agenda to accomplish your goals, and being prepared once that opportunity is granted.”
winnie Most grateful for: “I am most grateful for having an awesome family who loves me unconditionally.”
jamie Most important discipline: “Fitness is everything! It’s what I do. Get addicted to fitness”
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madeline, 10 Favorite subject in school: Science, “I love trying to figure out how things work!’
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Mot her & Daughter
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abra Favorite quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world” - Ghandi
rising stars
rising stars T
winkle, twinkle little star, let me tell
you who they are!
They may be tiny but They are special not only because they are cute, but
they have star quality.
because they take direction and naturally have the ability to draw in audiences.
Just remem-
ber, you saw them here first.
nia, 5 Other talents: Loves to cheerlead and dance!
madeline, 10 Favorite subject in school: Science, “I love trying to figure out how things work!’
indya, 8 Favorite color: is pink, loves being a big sister!
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amare, 2 Favorite food: Chicken nuggets.
Does your kid, ages 2-12 have what it takes? Email us at model@genesis1magazine.com
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jessica, 11 Favorite actress: Kyla Pratt, loves to write, model, and act
art
Courtesy of Bayonet Newspaper, Ft Benning, GA Photogrpher: Cheryl Rodewig
i
 art
i
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Genesis Magazine is on quest to find the most creative, unique, and talented artists around! It is a pleasure to introduce Atlanta artist, Derek McCrea.
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Derek Mccrea Type of art: Mostly landscape paintings and modern art Time span in this industry: Over 22 years but at this point in his career he is the most successful and confident in work What is unique about his skill: He is able to master the task of using oils and acrylic for a natural, very present, realistic, and inviting look. What is unique about him: The same hands that create beautiful pieces of art are the same hands that protect and serve this country; he is in the United States Military. What he loves about his past: He is from a small town and they supported him and displayed his work literally everywhere, this was a big boost in his confidence. Ironic story: He and his wife felt that his first set of paintings were absolutely horrible. They were so bad his wife refused to let him keep them in the house. They auctioned them on EBay and people actually fought over his work. This is when the Mccrea family thought, “Wow maybe we have something here.” Who else admires him: College students constantly send emails to him to ask questions for art reports on his beautiful pieces. His advice to starving and beginner artists: “Self promote, self promote like crazy. Use the internet, use your hometown, go to events, give away pieces, you have to be your number one fan and support yourself first. Continue to open your mouth, now is not the time to be quiet and shy, you can’t be lonesome. People are most likely to buy art from someone they know. Furthermore, remember to paint for the right reasons: because you want to paint and you are passionate about your work. Don’t loose sight of your passion and never give up, keep pushing until you find your specialty, what you can create better than anyone else. Everyday is a
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process of self discovery; you will constantly redefine yourself as an artist and expand on what you do best. Always keep a sketch pad near by. Sketching is crucial, if you can draw it, painting is the easy part.” What Derek constantly strives to do: Work outside the box, be creative and think of all the ways he can display his work and all the styles that he can incorporate. He never wants to just stick to one method. How does he involve his family: His son often helps him draw and paint, his wife takes great pictures for him to later sketch and paint, and his mother is also very talented and is a big supporter of his work. His secret to success: Success is largely based on sharing ideas. Some artists do and some don’t, they are more secretive. The art world hosts a large community. Those that are friendly, share, and reach out to other artists go much further in their careers. The toughest part about being an artist: You have to learn to have a schedule your time and be your boss. There has to be a balance between time for promotions and time for creations, not to forget your personal life as well.
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Does painting make him happy: “I only paint when I’m happy, art does not persuade my happiness my happiness persuades my art. When I paint nothing else exists.�
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What advantage does he have over other artists: He paints mostly landscapes and being in the military allows him to travel and see a variety of beautiful landscapes to later turn into even more beautiful masterpieces.
around the world in 12 issues
aroundtheworld …in12issues by linda earls
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Want to go? Virtually visit now at: www.thatsdubai.com Find the above information at: www.princeofdubai.com www.nationalgeographic.com
Population: 1.4 million, primarily foreigners from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and the Philippines. Language: Arabic Secondary languages include English, Urdu, Hindi, Malayalam and Bengali Favorite Foods: Shawarma, which is made with lamb or chicken, generally mixed with tomatoes, pickles, garlic sauce and fries wrapped in a small Arabic roti. Favorite Attractions: Dubai is known for its beautiful hotels and lavish resorts. With numerous elaborate hotels and beaches on the Persian Gulf this city is vastly growing to be one of the most popular holiday destinations of the Middle East. Famous People: “Crown Price of Dubai”-Sheikh Mohammed, who is considered the architect of modern Dubai and is largely responsible for guiding Dubai into the direction of becoming a major financial centre in the region. One Thing we Bet you Didn’t Know: Described by some as the eight wonder
of the world, Dubai is home to “Palm Island”, a man made island which can be seen from space.
Lima, Peru
Population: Over 7 million Language: Spanish and Quechua. Favorite Foods: Peruvian Cuisine is thought to be amongst the best in the world. Highlighted by its traditional food, “Criollo”; particularly its many dishes based on fish and shellfish offered with a combination of flavors and pleasant aromas. Favorite Attractions: Known as the “City of Kings”, Lima has proudly preserved the colonial convents and mansions which are symbols of their ancient traditions. Amongst the many museums which house exhibits from the colonial and independence periods the Santo Domingo Church convent is a “must see” when touring this city. Famous People: A notable figure in the city’s history would have to be St. Martin de Porres. Born in Lima in 1579, St. Martin de Porres is believed to be the first black Catholic Saint.
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Want to go? Virtually visit now at: www.enjoyperu.com Find the above information at: www.enjoyperu.com www.peru-travel-adventures.com www.nationalgeographic.com
Ghana/Accra
Want to go? Virtually visit now at: www.ghanaweb.com All of the above information at www.ghanaweb.com www.africaguide.com www.nationalgeographic.com www.virtualexplorers.com
Population: Ghana: 22,019,000 Accra – 1,847,000 Language: English, Twi, Fante, Ga, Hausa, Dagbani, Ewe, and Nzema to name a few. They actually have about 46 languages. Favorite foods: Soups are the primary component in Ghanaian cuisine and are eaten with yams, fermented corn dough, rice, bread, plantain, or cassava. The most common soups are light soup, palm nut soup, and groundnut (peanut) soup. Favorite attractions: The National Museum in Accra is the largest and oldest of the six museums under the administration of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board. Famous people: Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, lead authority on the Political Theory and Practical Pan, Africanism. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah selflessly dedicated his life to show how future sons and daughters of Africa should prepare themselves as well as strive to unify Africa and harness its wealth for the benefit of all descendants of the continent One thing we bet you didn’t know: Kent Cloth is made in Ghana. It is made by the Asante and Ewe
peoples and is the best known of all African textiles.
Want to go? Virtually visit now at: www.tourism-malaysia.net All of the above information at: www.tourism-malaysia.net www.nationalgeographic.com www.endemicguides.com www.entertainment.malaysia.msn.com
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Population: Malaysia – 26,121,000 Kuala Lumpur 1,352,000 Language: Bahasa Melayu, English, Chinese dialects, and indigenous languages Favorite foods: Rice is the staple diet in any Malay meal. Malay cooking incorporates ingredients such as pandan (screwpine) leaves, and kaffir lime leaves. Fresh herbs, such as daun kemangi (a type of basil) are often used. Favorite attractions: Taman Tasik Perdana also known as, The Lake Garden, is the oldest and most popular park in Kuala Lumpur. Its main attraction is the artificial lake surrounded by lush greenery. Famous people: Dato’ Michelle Yeoh is arguably Malaysia’s biggest and most successful movie export. She first gained stardom appearing alongside international action star Jackie Chan, in the highly-acclaimed 1992 film The Police Story 3. Other films include James Bond Tomorrow Never Dies 1997, the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000 and Memoirs of a Geisha in 2005. One thing we bet you didn’t know: The world’s largest Flower “Rafflesia” grows in Malaysia. The flower is found only in Indonesia - Sumatra and Java, Malaysia, including Borneo Island and south Thailand.
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Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
beauty of the month
beauty ofthemonth I
t is our firm belief that beauty comes in all sexes, ages, races, styles, and sizes.
We also believe that real beauty is only achieved inside and out. Beauty is spelled C-H-A-R-A-C-T-E-R! We are on a search to find such royal beauties. Please meet our first Beauty of the Month, Isis Glass from Atlanta, GA.
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Tell us why you are beautiful at share@genesis1magazine.com
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Beauty of the month Isis, 4 Big Hannah Montana fan and loves to read. What makes her beautiful? All children are beautiful, but Isis has an angelic smile, warm spirit, and is a complete natural in front of the camera. Her beauty is without thought, pure, and innocent and that is why she is our beauty of the month.
spirit food
Spirit food Y
ou don’t have to be a political
leader, preacher, or world ambas-
sador to give a message of hope and inspire change.
We think that there Send us your food for thought at share@genesis1magazine.com
is an encouraging word in all of us.
Let Your Gifs Provide for You Do you know what I love about a recession? It forces us to not solely depend on money. In these times more than ever we have to look at people for help. Now is not the time for the dog-eat-dog mentality. This year I have met more business professionals and inspiring individuals than I ever had in my entire life. The one thing that myself, and most of the people that I have encountered, have in common is that we have truly tapped into what we love to do and are genuinely happy. Word to the wise, you can chase money, chase the car, get the fancy degree, get the 6 figure job, but trust me if you don’t love what you are doing, you will grow to despise your precious life.
My food for thought is to encourage people to chase purpose. There is something that you do better than anyone else. You have a gift like no other and that gift was given to you to provide for you. You choose your career based on what you love to do and what you are good at, not solely on the hope of a large salary, or corporate perks. This is America and good recession or bad recession, a business owner is still making a sale. If you can follow your instincts and dedicate time to what you are good at, your talent will transform from a hobby to a service. Your personality and drive will make your service marketable. I dare you to seek your purpose and begin to perfect it. Focus on your gift and what your gift can provide for others, and watch how successful you become!-Brittany K. Earls Ps. Gals and Guys, I don’t want to write this article every month so please help a sister out and submit your inspirational thoughts at share@genesis1magazine.com!
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revelations
revelations
A
t some point, many points in our lives, a growing pain, or just another bump in
life’s roller coaster causes us to have a revelation of who we truly are, what our purpose is, and how to better understand those around us. revelation?
Tell us at share@genesis1magazine.com
My Revelation: Meeting people where they are We are not all alike and we all bring something different to the table. Some of us are more reserved and quiet where some of us are more outgoing and outspoken. But that’s okay. The world would be a boring place if we were all alike. We are all different, just go to a family barbeque and you will find all kinds of different personalities and attitudes. My revelation is learning to meet people where they are for who they are. You don’t have to be like someone to like someone and you don’t have to love what someone does to love who someone is. Let’s have patience with family, friends and loved ones. Pray for those who are lost and plant seeds of encouragement until they are found. The key is to share and listen. People sometimes just need someone to listen. So instead of always giving words of wisdom, listen to their words of need. - Yvonne, Buford, GA
My Revelation: Moving on to the next one I have been a perfectionist for 33 years. It is my way or no way. I have never been able to understand the word “no”. This is my biggest downfall! I am a control freak and when there is a glitch in my plans I get
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so upset and create my own stumbling block. My revelation is learning to adapt. I’m ok with the fact that I like things done right, but when there is an issue, you have to learn how to mold that issue to fit your desirable outcome, or forget it and move on to the next one. I get that now. I am still an overachiever, but I now realize that I will achieve more when I learn to leave one failed task and tackle another. You have to keep moving. Stopping and pointing out all of the incorrect details, and problems, just leads to more stress. Move on to the next one! - Nysia, New York, New York
My Revelation: Not Judging Ok I was 27 and looking for my wife. The guys made fun of me because usually only women have a biological clock that ticks away. Well, I couldn’t help it, I love women and the thought of having one all to myself everyday made me weak in the knees. I would consider myself a successful man. For the last four years I have been super picky about who I go out on a date with. I wanted an equal, a queen, and there were just some standards I refused to settle with. Therefore, my dating life had been very slow simply because I didn’t want to waste my time on some girl who clearly wasn’t the one.
What’s your
One day, I was working on a case (I am a family lawyer) at a coffee house and in comes this cute, tall, brunette. She sits near me and I hear her talking about attending some rave and how much she loves her new tattoo. I’m thinking clearly she is a party girl or some want-to-be rock star. We end up leaving at the same time and she confidently approaches me and asks me my name. I’m a nice guy; I don’t blow her off right away. We chat and exchange numbers, although I know I have no intention of calling her. She calls me on four separate occasions before I answer her call. So, she is a party girl and aggressive and now I’m really turned off. To make a long story short one day out of boredom I take her up on her movie date offer. We go back to that coffee house and talk for hours. She is the most down to earth person I have ever met. We are complete opposites but we have been inseparable every since. My revelation is not to judge. My preconceived notions almost cost me to miss out on my best friend and wife of seven years. If you see a couple and the guy has on a buttoned-up shirt and blazer, and the wife has four tattoos and six piercings, wearing a tee-shirt, cut off jeans and flip flops, that’s us, feel free to smile and say hello!
bestinatlanta The Best DJ: Logan Blaze Funk/ Hip Hop/ R & B/ Reggae/ Soul www.loganblaze.com Book for all of your entertainment needs today at 404-216-0951
The Best Pizza Bar: The Blackwood Pizza Bar
The Most Necessary Contact: Frank Pompey JR
Best Women’s Networking Event: Joy of Connecting
Owner of Favor’D Consulting and The Pompey Firm modeling agency Specializes in event planning, personal shopping, closet consultations, and much more
thejoyofconnecting.com
Don’t be Ordinary be Favor’D! Advance your lifestyle today, book at info@favordonline.com www.favordonline.com
Great Food, Great Drinks, Great Music 3560 Camp Creek Parkway, Suite 130 East Point GA 30344 404-346-0444 www.theblackwood.com
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Best artist: Edward Long www.myspace.com/ edwardlong
Best restaurant: Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen Alpharetta 10795 Davis Dr. Alpharetta, GA 30009 (770) 992-5566
Best Up and Coming Artist: JJ Evans www.myspace.com/ jayjevans
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bethefirst. If you agitate the status quo, have a talent, own a business, or have a story of overcoming, we want to feature you in Genesis Magazine! Tell us how you are the first at share@genesis1magazine.com
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