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By Root 760 0

exes, and a college degree. When she announced to me that she going to law school, I almost had a heart attack! “How,” I wondered, “is she going to do that with three children and no help?” But Iyanla had help, the help of invisible beings who walk by her side. She had always had my prayers and my love. She was earning my respect. I realized that Iyanla was now a grown woman, and once again, my role in her life had changed. I was a mentor and a friend. I was the one person she knew believed in her, stood by her, supported and loved her. I had always “been there and done that.” I was not about to stop. Before I could figure out what to tell her, she had a law degree and was off in another direction in her life.

I have never once told the woman you call Iyanla what to do or what not to do. I have always helped her question and explore why she was doing a particular thing, in a particular way. She has always taken my words in, understanding them at a level well beyond her years. To say she is an old soul would be an understatement. She is an eternal soul, filled with a light that many seek, some try to buy, and few ever realize. I have done my best to guide and protect her. It has not always been easy. Iyanla has been her own greatest challenge. She has a strong mind and an even stronger will. Iyanla has to try something before she will be willing to give it up, and even then, she will want to know how or why it didn’t work. It is the questioning and her willingness to try that gives her the fire. It is the fire most people see, do not understand, and cannot contend with. It is the fire that has kept her alive.

I have never known this woman to do a mean or malicious thing. She has made mistakes. She has made poor choices. Yet, I know she has done everything to the best of her ability in order to stay alive. The aliveness she sought was not in the physical world. It was a spiritual aliveness. She has endured life circumstances others cannot imagine and things the impact of which others cannot understand. Through it all, she has been available to help others and share whatever she has had. It is this about Iyanla that has endeared her to so many. I am among them.

Many have not understood Iyanla. They have questioned her motives, her authority, and her wisdom. This is because for most of her life she did not understand herself. Others have been quite openly demonstrative of their disdain or dislike of her. Rather than crushing her, it sent her on a soul search. Quite frankly, I believe it has been the work of her greatest adversaries that has fostered her greatest growth. As her friend, I am excited by and supportive of what she is doing and all that I know she will do. As her mentor, I am proud of her accomplishments, knowing that something I had to offer has been useful in her life. As her father figure, I am humble and grateful that such a human being is a part of my life. The love we share goes beyond words or comprehension. It is, as she has told me, the love of God, alive on the planet.

And So It Is!

Awo Osun Kunle Erindele

Yesterday, I Cried

Yesterday, I cried.

I came home, went straight to my room, sat on the edge of my bed,

kicked off my shoes, unhooked my bra,

and I had myself a good cry.

I’m telling you,

I cried until my nose was running all over the silk blouse I got on sale.

I cried until my ears were hot.

I cried until my head was hurting so bad

that I could hardly see the pile of soiled tissues lying on

the floor at my feet.

I want you to understand,

I had myself a really good cry yesterday.

Yesterday, I cried,

for all the days that I was too busy, or too tired, or too mad

to cry.

I cried for all the days, and all the ways,

and all the times I had dishonored, disrespected, and disconnected my Self from myself,

only to have it reflected back to me in the ways others did to me

the same things I had already done to myself.

I cried for all the things I had given, only to have them stolen;

for all the things I had asked for that had yet to show up;

for all the things I had accomplished,