Dear nécessité,
Happy Day. If you celebrate, whatever you celebrate, happy holiday spring season. I appreciate and love this time of year, too, as we receive from Mother Earth more colorful fruits and vegetables as the flowers and grass start to bloom and become more vibrant in color. It is so picturesque and beautiful to me. Recently, I was reflecting on when I was a younger girl. During this time of year, my mother and grandmother, Nana, would get me and my sisters’ new clothes, get our hair done (usually some style that required pink sponge rollers), spend time with family, prepare us for church, and do the commercial festivities surrounding Easter, like dye eggs, have an Easter egg hunt, eat a glorious, soulful meal and be extra colorful while devouring tons of jelly beans and chocolate bunnies and eggs.
For Easter, we shopped and wore our Sunday best. This Easter outfit, back then, was the best thing we pretty much got all year. I am speaking head-to-toe fashion for one occasion. I never shopped like such until my beautiful wedding day- the dress, the veil, the shoes, hair, make-up, jewelry, bag, lingerie, etc. Growing up, I did not know or hear of many other holidays, mainly Easter. (Although one of my dearest and closest girlfriends is/was Jewish). But, as I grew younger and wiser and my friend circle started widening, I started hearing more about the other holidays, Lent, Passover, and Ramadan.
Traveling and living in a multicultural city such as NYC has been responsible for exposing me to a gamut of people, cultures, and religions. I am so grateful for these experiences because I learned there is more than what is obvious in my bubble. I so appreciate seeing people of the world honor what they believe at this time of year. During Ramadan, people of the Muslim faith stop doing whatever they are doing, some take out their prayer carpet, and they take a moment to go to the ground and bow and worship in prayer (you see this often in the streets of NYC too). It’s so powerful and meaningful to me to witness such commitment.
In this pure moment of humility, it’s not about self, and it is about prayer, and worship, no matter where, no matter who is near or watching. I may not know all their religious practices and beliefs, but I know they, too, pray as I do. Maybe our praying style is different, but one thing we have in common, other than being human with a heart, is we pray! We believe in what is higher than us. I have learned prayer moments happen at various times during Ramadan. I so appreciate the dedication and designated times to stop and pray! Imagine if the entire world stopped and prayed together at the same time each day or even for one day. We would probably get or experience some world peace and move mountains. What do you think?
When I was a teacher (a brief chapter in my life that I loved), one day, I was teaching a lesson plan and the meaning and history of what a seder is and the foods that make up a seder. All the kids were interested and participated at this moment. It was great as we were all learning together. It was special looking back, but probably more special for me than them as I was the oldest one being the teacher, and yet, I was learning with these much younger pupils about the foods and what they represented. For me, I am all about GOD. I celebrate and honor GOD not only this time of year but daily. I give thanks every day, worship daily, and know and understand that I cannot function without GOD.
I cannot breathe without GOD. GOD is my breath. I put GOD first! (Not man). Putting and keeping GOD first is my practice. This is my belief. My natural routine. This is what I live by-GOD. GOD and my spiritual practice and connection keep me full. So, whatever you celebrate, believe, or worship this weekend and time of year, keep GOD, your higher power, first! I have witnessed and know the power of GOD. I wish you a happy spring holiday weekend. You are a nécessité
Much Love and Gratitude,
Erica Reid
Founder of nécessité
Certified Holistic Health Coach
Certified Gut Health
Certified Auricular Therapy (Ear Seeds)
Certified in Plant-Based Nutrition
Certification T.Colin Campbell for Nutrition Studies
Author of The Thriving Child (Parenting)
Author of Shut Up and Cook! (Cookbook)
Erica Reid, Founder of nécessité
