Spring Forward!

Big Easy Emporium, Coushatta, LA

30 Years

Big Easy Emporium book signing, Valentine Day, Anniversary--whew, February came in like a roaring lion and before I knew it, I was in March and someone said, "don't forget to set your clock."  Oh no, it's time to spring forward again!  

Have you ever thought about why we have daylight saving time (DST)?  Webexhibits.org states: "Daylight Saving Time gives us the opportunity to enjoy sunny summer evenings by moving our clocks an hour forward in the spring."  Check out this video from my spring walk here: 

Some sources say, "DST saves energy".  A poll conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation indicated that Americans liked Daylight Saving Time because "there is more light in the evenings / can do more in the evenings."   Well, I don't know about all that but I submit to another reason for liking DST.  We all go through challenges--seen and unseen:  depression, debt, diabetes, to name a few.  It doesn't matter the challenge, we will all end up at a cross road at some point.  And when we do, we can do what Franklin Roosevelt did during WWII.  He instituted year-round DST.  So, why not spring forward and empower others, constantly educate ourselves, and employ our skills and talents to improve our journey.  Expect to hear more about Empower.Educate.Employ. in a later post.

So, as I sit and ponder DST, I see it as another opportunity to just get started.  So you are here and you want to get "there".  I don't know everything but I do know that you won't get to "there" if you don't get started.  The shortest route to where you are trying to go may very well be the route you get started on.  But you won't know unless you start.  Be inspired by this video siting an ole time Robert Frost favorite, The Road Not Taken.  Please pay close attention.  It's not the road less traveled.  Robert Frost doesn't say one road is better than the other and it's not.  The lesson for me is, getting started is what made all the difference.  You will never know if you don't get started. 

Success to You!

It’s Your Time to Act!

New Year’s Eve came and we made resolutions.  New Year’s Day past and we were off to a strong start.  Martin Luther King Day rolled in challenging us to “Remember. Celebrate. Act.”  I sat in awe at the MLK dinner put on by the San Antonio Northwest Civil & Social Club (SANCSC).  And then came the unprecedented inauguration—“Make America Great Again”.    Wow!  All in less than 30 days.  We cried, hugged, cheered, danced, was angered, felt sad, embarrassed, and yes, happy too.  And now, it’s almost the end of January and you are still asking what are we going to do?

Well, I can only speak for Myra because that is the only one I can speak for.  I’m going to continue to Start. Grow. Build.  That’s what Myra’s going to do.  The secret is out.  If you have never gotten started, doing something for yourself and others, then now is your time to start.  Remember when John F. Kennedy in his 1961 inaugural address said, “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”  John F. Kennedy uttered this address before I was born, yet his words have echoed in my ears for as long as I can remember.  Neither big government, little government; left wing, right wing; Obama white house, nor the Trump white house; and no “alternative fact” will change the fact that only you can do you.  Here is a fact you can believe:  only you can do what you can do!

It’s Your Time to Act.  Time to play the hand you were dealt.  Time to act the role you were cast in.  Yes, time to get to work.  Your success will not be determined by your efforts alone.  If you are expecting to receive the best actor/actress award, you need a director and a producer.   Who is your director—the one in charge; the one ordering your steps?  Who is your producer—your financial provider and the manager of your affairs?  Maybe you just want to hear, well done thy good and faithful servant.  It all begins with you and now is your time to act.  God will do the rest!

Now what are you going to do?
Myra Evans-Manyweather
Storyteller for




Start Where You Are!

Merry Christmas! A New Beginning

     A couple of Sundays ago I was sitting in church and Pastor Sam reminded us the reason for the season--Jesus is the reason for the season.  Now that is nothing new but he went on to say, "the birth of Christ brings new beginnings."  That's when it hit me--Christmas is about New Beginnings.
     So let me recap, in October we started where we were--at The Beginning.  Then in November, we paused to remember, reflect and rejoice for the gifts we have to use to achieve our purpose.  So what's left?  That's a good question!  Today, we give praise and worship for a new beginning because when we start where we are and grow our gifts and talents, sometimes we strike; sometimes we foul; and sometimes we hit a home run.  But I have learned each day to just do what you can because that is all you can do.
     Hey New You, do what you can!  You simply cannot do what you can’t do no matter how hard you try.  So what if you foul or strike out.  Ask yourself, "did I do all that I could do?"  Chances are that you did because who wouldn't hit a home run if they could?  Doing what you can must become your drive and determination.  So when you miss the mark at any time, you can rest assured there is a lesson to be learned and tomorrow is a new beginning to try something new and get a new result.
     Amelia Earhart once said, “the most effective way to do it {whatever it is} is to do it.”  When she was nearing her 40th birthday, she was ready to attempt to fly around the world and she is quoted as saying, “I have a feeling that there is just about one more good flight left in my system” and this after her first attempt had severely damaged her plane.  She didn’t fail; she just hit a pothole on her way to her final destination.  If you have the drive and determination, every day is a new beginning, another opportunity to start again anew.   We won’t fly until we are no longer afraid to fall so let your fears and failure fuel your 2017.  In less than a week it will begin a new year.  Resolve to start where you are, use what you have, and do what you can do to make 2017 your best year yet.
     Merry Christmas and a Happy New You!

Thanksgiving Reflect. Remember. Rejoice

     Happy Thanksgiving!  I woke up this morning full of gratitude for grace, growth, and greatness.  I'd like to thank all of you for your prayers and support.  This has been an amazing year and I wouldn't be at this point on my journey if it wasn't for your support.
     Also, as I pause this morning, I reflect on where I am today, remember from where I came, and I rejoice in the possibilities of where I'm going.  After you start where you are, you will realize it's easy to do the next step.  What's the next step Myra?  I'm glad you asked.  It's quite simple!  Just USE what you have and GROW.
     I know you want to know why you should use what you have.  The answer is so simple.  Use what you have because genius or not, you can’t use what you don’t have.

Think about it, have you ever tried to use what you didn’t have?  Go ahead and try and you will find, it’s way too hard.  My nail represents keeping it all together with whatever your gift or talent is despite the lot that’s dealt you.  A young woman by the name of Wilma Rudolph was born 20th of 22 children, born prematurely weighing only 4.5 lbs, born to very poor parents, and born during racial segregation.  While very young, she had every childhood disease imaginable but because of the lot she was born into, she was not permitted to be cared for at a local hospital.  When her left leg and foot were becoming weak and deformed, she had to go to the doctor.  Her mother was told that she had polio, a crippling disease that had no cure and that she’d never walk.  With hard work and determination, when she became twelve years she could walk normally without crutches, brace, or corrective shoes and she decided to become an athlete.  Some of you may know the story.  She became the first American woman to win three gold medals in the Olympics.  How did she do it?  She started where she was and used what she had—one good leg to train the deformed leg and the rest is history.  What do you have?  I encourage you to start using it!  Because if you start using what you have it will grow and so will you.
     So go ahead and start where you are, start engaging with your community, start collarborating with others, even those who don't look like you.  Grow your network, polish your gifts and talents and then you can... Oops, I'll have to save that one for next time.
     Wishing all of you a blessed Thanksgiving Day and always.  Remember to Start Where You Are!

Start Where You Are: The Beginning

Myra, The Storyteller

My partner, Loeka has been pushing me for weeks to write an op’ed, write a newsletter, write a blog, write, write, write…And what do you think I’ve been saying.  “I will one day. I will as soon as I figure out how to start.”  And then I hear my words coming back at me, “start where you are”.  Now some of you may be laughing because you know I recently published my book Start Where You Are:  My Journey from Childhood poverty to Passionate Entrepreneur.   So I’ve decided to address the question, everyone may ask themselves at some point in their life, “Why should I start where I am?”  It is actually quite simple.  Start where you are because you cannot start anywhere else.  In fact, I will go out on a limb and say, you cannot start anywhere else.  Do you know anyone who started where they were not?  Can’t think of anyone can you?  Now unlike my partner, Loeka, I’m no genius but I do know this.  You cannot start where you have never been.  You can read about places you’ve never been.  You can even write about places far, far away.  But just try if you must to start somewhere you are not and you will experience what I experienced, disappointments, disagreements, and depression.  You see we all want something to change.   We want the economy to change.   We want our spouse to change.  We want our children to change.  The list goes on and on.  Heck, we want the candidates to change.  But what about wanting ourselves to change?   Do we ever hunger for change in ourselves?   Do you want a better you?   I learned that if I wanted a better ME, then there were three things I had to do and the first is start where you are?

I will cover more about my start as well as the second and third things I learned in future updates so  stay tuned.  You might just be surprised at what you learn. 

The Storyteller