ONLINE MEDITATION IN NOVEMBER: Join me in honoring my mom Theresa B. Gartin Leeke’s spirit and legacy during her birthday month
Blog
What emotional season are you in right now?
What emotional season are you in right now?
I am in an emotional season of GRIEF + GRACE + GRATITUDE + GROWTH + DEEPER SOFTNESS.
What do you need to navigate the emotional season you are in right now?
This month, I have been exploring how to align myself as the Strategic CEO of my life with seasons and systems. My exploration has helped me dive deeper into how I am navigating the emotional season of grief with the Thriving Mindfully system I developed over the past 30+ years.
I thought you might like to know more about my journey and how you can align yourself with seasons and systems. Listen to the latest Thriving Mindfully Podcast episodes below to learn more and gain tips on how you can align yourself as the Strategic CEO of your life with seasons and systems.
S7 EP11
CLICK HERE to listen to S7 EP11: Strategic CEO Reflections on Navigating My Emotional Season of Grief with Thriving Mindfully System.
GREAT NEWS! I am partnering with the owners of Qi Kratom CBD Tea to host the donation-based Thriving Mindfully Meditation Class on Wednesdays starting October 25th at 5:30-6:15 PM at 1517 U Street, NW, in DC. All you need to do is SHOW UP!
CLICK ON THE BUTTON If you’re called to join me, scroll down and sign up for the online mindful self-care classes on October 23rd at 8-8:45 PM ET.
I’d love to hear how you are taking care of yourself. I’d also like to know how I can support you better.
Send an email or a direct message on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, or YouTube.
May your life, relationships, and career be filled with love, ease, joy, awareness, acceptance, and abundance!
Love, Ease, Grace, and Abundance
Ananda
PS: I currently have space for new coaching clients for the fall and winter season. Click here to learn more about my 1:1 coaching program and schedule a free 30-minute call to discuss how we can work together.
Go here to find out about the Thriving Mindfully Academy and how you can become a member this fall.
Community Meditation Classes in DC: Wednesday Evenings Starting October 25
Meditating in a safe and sacred community each week is POWERFUL. It’s one of the best ways to be strategic with your self-care.
I am partnering with the owners of Qi Kratom CBD Tea to host the Thriving Mindfully Meditation Class on Wednesdays starting October 25th at 5:30-6:15 PM at 1517 U Street, NW, in DC.
The weekly donation-based classes will end on December 20th.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS SHOW UP FOR THE CLASS!
Click the button to sign up for the online classes.
BEING STRATEGIC WITH YOUR SELF-CARE TIP: Adjust how you take care of yourself based on your regular self-care check-ins
Sometimes you have to adjust how you take care of yourself.
That means you gotta check in with yourself to see what you really need in terms of self-care.
When’s the last time you checked in with yourself about your self-care?
WATCH MY VIDEO TO LEARN ABOUT MY JOURNEY.
Struggling & Resourcing Yourself: Getting The Support You Need As the Strategic CEO of Your Life (Lessons I am currently learning!)
Happy Take Care of Yourself Tuesday! Happy World Mental Health Day!
How are taking care of your spirit, heart, mind, and body this month?
Yesterday, I recorded a video that I hope will spark reflection about the times you have struggled with yourself and to get the support you need. See below.
If you are currently struggling with yourself and getting the support you need, I invite you to listen to the video and the two podcast episodes below.
May these resources offer you a buffet of self-care tips you can pick and choose from to nurture yourself this month.
PODCASTS
S7 EP6: Being A Strategic CEO of Your Life & Resourcing Yourself
S7 EP8: Struggling with Being the Strategic CEO of Your Life & Resourcing Yourself (Getting the Support You Need to Move Forward in the Present Moment)
YOUR INVITATION
For the next three months, I am holding space for you to show up and be the Strategic CEO of your life through a daily PRACTICE.
If you’re called to join me, SIGN UP HERE for the online mindful self-care classes on October 23rd, November 13 and 27, and December11 at 8-8:45 PM ET.
I’d love to hear how you welcome Autumn into your life and what you are doing to take care of yourself. I’d also like to know how I can support you better.
Send an email or a direct message on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, or YouTube.
May your life, relationships, and career be filled with love, ease, joy, awareness, acceptance, and abundance!
Love, Ease, Grace, and Abundance
Ananda
PS: I currently have space for new coaching clients for the fall and winter season. Click here to learn more about my 1:1 coaching program and schedule a free 30-minute call to discuss how we can work together.
Go here to find out about the Thriving Mindfully Academy and how you can become a member this fall.
Could you be softer with yourself as you move into the autumn season?
When you hear the word SOFT what comes to mind?
Are you SOFT with yourself?
What get’s in your way of being SOFT with yourself?
MY SOFT JOURNEY
In 2022, I received a divine download during meditation that invited me to embrace S.O.F.T. as a self-care mantra and intention that takes the form of an acronym (confession: I remember many things with acronymns).
S: Slow down and
O: Offer yourself
F: FREEDOM
T: TODAY
MEANING OF FREEDOM
My FREEDOM has shown up as a deep breath, a hug, giving myself time and space for loving kindness + compassion + nonjudgment + patience + forgiveness + grace, a gratitude prayer, setting boundaries with my time by declining invitations, singing at karaoke nights, reading a juicy book, listening to soothing music, taking a walk, spending time by the water, quality time with family and friends, a nap, time with my journal, sleeping in my mom’s bed, wearing my mom’s lipstick and jewelry, holding and wearing my crystals, anointing myself with essential oils, touching and hugging trees, lighting candles and incense, preparing and eating a healthy meal, talking to my therapist, getting acupuncture and reiki, playing my sound bowls, moving my body with tennis and yoga, writing and reading my poetry out loud, traveling to see family in NYC and London, and so much more.
MEANING OF TODAY
Today refers to the present moment and the birthrights of mindfulness, self-love, self-care, and self-work that we each get the day we are born. They come alive in our lives when we choose to claim and practice them today — the present moment.
What does S.O.F.T. As Fuck (AF) mean?
SLOW down and OFFER yourself FREEDOM TODAY married As Fuck to remind me to seek out my softness by any means necessary.
By any means necessary is a phrase Malcolm X, one of my greatest teachers, used in a speech he gave on June 28, 1964, that introduced the Organization of Afro-American Unit at the Audubon Ballroom in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan: “We want freedom by any means necessary. We want justice by any means necessary. We want equality by any means necessary.”
I am using by any means necessary to claim and practice my softness no matter what’s happening in my life.
S.O.F.T. AF RESOURCES FOR YOU
Do you want to explore and practice being SOFT with yourself during the autumn season that officially begins on September 23rd, the first day of autumn and the celebration of the autumn equinox and Libra season?
If you answered YES, hell yeah, or kinda sorta maybe, check out the resources below.
GUESS WHAT?
My softness married my grief this summer.
Since my mom, Theresa B. Gartin Leeke made her peaceful transition to ancestorhood in my presence on July 9, 2023, my SOFTNESS has married my GRIEF and become SACRED MEDICINE that is super INTENTIONAL, JUICY, LAVISH, LUSH, MESSY, MAGICAL, ABUNDANT, OVERFLOWING, and everything in between.
Recently, I noticed my SOFTNESS is deepening even more as I enter the autumn and winter seasons. It is calling me to give myself more time to be still, reflect, journal, write poetry and prayers, make art, and share in a sacred and safe community of support that reminds me to claim and practice my SOFTNESS as ONENESS with others.
That’s why I am hosting S.O.F.T. AF Sunday on September 24th to welcome the Autumn Equinox and December 10th to prepare for the Winter Solstice.
Read on if you’re called to join me.
I’d love to hear about your SOFT and self-care journey (what’s working, what’s not working, any struggles you may be having).
I’d also like to know how I can support you better.
Send an email or a direct message on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, or YouTube.
May your life, relationships, and career be filled with love, ease, joy, awareness, acceptance, and abundance!
Love, Ease, Grace, and Abundance,
Ananda
PS: I currently have space for new coaching clients for the fall and winter season. Click here to learn more about my 1:1 coaching program and schedule a free 30-minute call to discuss how we can work together.
Go here to find out about the Thriving Mindfully Academy and how you can become a member this fall.
National Grief Awareness Day: Navigating Grief with Grace & Gratitude As Theresa’s Daughter
Today is National Grief Awareness Day. It’s also the Full Blue Moon in Pisces. I decided to honor the life and legacy of my mom, best friend forever, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Soror, and loving + wise + well ancestor, Theresa B. Gartin Leeke, and share reflections on what my journey of grief as a sacred medicine has been like since July. Go here to learn more about my mom, Theresa.
For me, GRIEF has a become a cocoon of sacred medicine for life’s losses as Theresa’s daughter. I believe each of us has a right to define and express our grief in our own unique way. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. I now know grieving is a life long journey filled with many layers and ways of expression. It is different each day. Sometimes, it feels heavy. Other times, it is mixed in with memories that make me smile, feel joy and gratitude, shed tears, and laugh. I have seen it up show up in me as a loud, mad, and angry daughter cuz’ my mom is no longer on the planet.
On July 30, 2023, I recorded a video about my thoughts about grief that includes a poem with the first GRIEF acronym I received as a divine download from Spirit and my loving + wise + well ancestors. Watch it below.
Earlier this week, I lauched season 7 of my Thriving Mindfully Podcast. The second episode takes a deep dive into my grief journey. I invite you to listen to it.
I’d love to learn about your reflections on and experiences of grief. Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Thanks in advance for sharing!
Celebrating My Mom, Theresa B. Gartin Leeke’s Life and Legacy (1939-2023)
My mother Theresa B. Gartin Leeke made her peaceful transition from Mother Earth to ancestorhood in my presence on July 9, 2023. During Mommy’s transition, I served as her spiritual midwife, sending reiki healing love and light to her spirit and repeating the Unity Prayer of Protection.
A few days after she passed, I was blessed to help my dad and brothers with planning her celebration of life service and notifying family and friends of her passing; selecting her white burial clothing, jewelry, and lipstick; and writing her obituary. See the obituary below.
On the evening of the New Moon in Cancer on July 17, 2023, I dressed in a Ghanaian white dress with matching shoes and stockings and stood next to my mom’s coffin in a sacred Omega Rho ceremony circle of our Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority sisters. We joined together to honor my mom’s spirit and transition. That was my first time experiencing the ceremony. As I listened to sorors read lines of the poem, my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude. When it came time for me to read my line, I felt my mom’s spirit rejoice. The next day, I joined my dad, brothers, sisters, family, friends, sorors, and the members of my mom’s various communities in celebrating her life and legacy.
Since her transition, I have been leaning into my spiritual and self-care practices; therapy sessions; conversations with my mom’s spirit; and time spent and conversations with my dad, family, and friends for support. I have also used my Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube pages to express my grief journey with grace and gratitude.
Below is a video I posted on the 40th day of my mom’s ancestral ascension (August 18,2023). It includes a poem I wrote to honor my her that is published in my mindful creativity memoir, That Which Awakens Me (2009).
The Life of Theresa B. Gartin Leeke
Theresa B. Gartin Leeke was born on November 10, 1939, in Indianapolis, Indiana. She made a peaceful transition to ancestorhood on July 9, 2023, the day before her mother, Dorothy M. Johnson Gartin’s birthday.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Theresa B. Gartin Leeke was the daughter of the late Robert W. Gartin, Sr. and Dorothy M. Johnson Gartin. She grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana with her siblings, the late Robert Warren, Jr., late Janet Mildred, late Phyllis Marie (Cook), and late Veronica Ann (Montgomery). She attended St. Rita Catholic Church and elementary school. Her creative and musical gifts were born and nurtured during her early years at St. Rita Catholic Church. She began playing the piano and organ when she was in elementary school. By the time she entered St. Mary Academy, an all-girls Catholic high school, she was playing the organ for Masses at St. Rita Catholic Church. She also shared her musical gifts with the St. Mary Academy’s chorale.
When she graduated from St. Mary Academy in 1957, she decided to pursue her college studies in music education at Indiana University in Bloomington and later transferred to Butler University where she joined Alpha Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. in 1959. A year later, she continued her studies at Indiana State College (now University) in Terre Haute where she met the love of her life, John Frederic Leeke. They married on November 25, 1961, at St. Rita Catholic Church. After they married, they returned to Terre Haute and lived with John’s grandparents, Eunice Ann and Henry O. Roberts.
Moving to Washington, D.C. and Flint, Michigan
Theresa and John moved to Washington, D.C. in 1962. While living with John’s parents, Frederica and John L. Leeke, she worked as a secretary in the federal government. He worked as a teacher in a D.C. public school. The following year, they became the proud parents of their first son, Michael David on August 28, 1963, the day of the historic March on Washington. Months later, John accepted a position as a teacher in the Flint, Michigan public school system. While in Flint, they were able to buy their first home, become members of Christ the King Catholic Church, and expand their family with three additional children: Madelyn Cheryl (a/k/a “Puf” and “Ananda”) born in 1964, Mark Andrew born in 1965, and Matthew Jay born in 1967. As a mother of four, Theresa made time to serve her Christ the King Catholic Church community as an organist, a pianist, and a choir director. She also became a charter member of Gamma Psi Sigma Chapter (Flint, Bay City, and Saginaw) of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and volunteered in her children’s cooperative nursery school.
Building A Life & Becoming An Educator, A Choir Director, and A Nonprofit Leader in Landover, Maryland
John’s career with the National Education Association brought Theresa and her children to Landover, Maryland. The family settled into their home in the close-knit community of Kenmoor in 1968. Shortly after they arrived, she began her studies at Prince George’s Community College. When she completed her Associate of Arts degree in Elementary Education, she immediately enrolled in the University of Maryland at College Park, and later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education in 1976. Throughout her college years, her children accompanied her to class and the library. They even went on her science class field trips.
Living and enjoying a full life was always a priority for Theresa. Her full life included joining St. Joseph Catholic Church with her family and founding its first Gospel Choir in 1970; becoming a member of Phi Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and serving as an undergraduate advisor to Epsilon Lambda Chapter at Bowie State University and the charter advisor to Eta Beta Chapter at the University of Maryland at College Park; and joining the Kenmoor Civic Association and becoming an active parent in her children’s education.
Her life philosophy was “I can do ALL things in Christ who strengthens me.” It is the reason she was able to live and enjoy a full life as a child of God, a woman, a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, an aunt, a godmother, an educator, a musician, a nonprofit leader, a sorority sister, and a friend. It is rooted in a commitment to excellence that was born during her childhood and musical studies at Catholic elementary and high schools in Indianapolis.
Throughout her adult academic journey and professional career as an educator, an assistant principal at St. John Baptist de la Salle Catholic School, and a principal at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., she demonstrated a personal commitment to excellence and continuous learning. Her commitment allowed her to model and teach the importance of academic excellence and continuous learning to her students and staff. As a consummate networker, community builder, and collaborative leader, she launched afterschool programs, developed teaching and training models, secured funding and in-kind donations, created a computer lab, increased parental support and participation, and incorporated the arts and music as core subject matters. Her efforts enhanced the overall academic experience of students and added to the professional growth of her staff.
While working full-time as an educator and parenting her children who were in junior and senior high school and college, she earned a Master of Science degree in Curriculum and Supervision from Trinity College. She also carved out time to serve as the Musical Director of the St. Joseph Gospel Choir. Under her leadership, she developed several music ministries that included cantors, a praise and worship band, small vocal ensembles, children and youth choirs, and Grow Our Own Musicians. Grow Our Own Musicians is a program that allowed her to teach, train, and mentor children and youth on how to read liturgical music, play musical instruments, and participate as members of St. Joseph’s liturgical music ministry.
In addition to serving her church community, she served Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., for 64 years. As a Cultured Pearl, she embodied the sorority’s motto, “Greater Service, Greater Progress.” It fueled her passion for membership and leadership development. She served Phi Sigma Chapter as Basileus for three terms, Anti-Basileus for two terms, undergraduate advisor to Alpha Phi Chapter at Howard University for one term, and on various chapter, regional, and national committees. Some of her proudest moments were attending the induction ceremony of her daughter Madelyn who joined Beta Tau Chapter at Morgan State University in 1983 and the 50th, 75th, and 100th anniversary Boules and Centennial Founders’ Day Weekend in 2022.She and her daughter created A Cultured Pearl’s Legacy Podcast on Spotify to document and share her six decades of “Greater Service, Greater Progress” and to pay tribute to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority’s Centennial Celebration. The nine podcast episodes feature her lessons learned about sisterhood, growth, lifelong learning, helping others, reaching out for help, service, leadership, creativity, and legacy. Throughout her life, she was committed to supporting the sorority’s national programs and foundations, especially the SPEAR Foundation.
Her community involvement also included her participation as a Board member of the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA in Washington, D.C. and memberships in the National Council of Negro Women; American Association of University Women; Kappa Delta Pi; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Bishop Lyke Conference’s Rivers Institute for Music Ministers, and Gospel Music Workshop of America.
A Woman’s Legacy
Theresa will be remembered as a faith-filled, down-to-earth, open-minded, straight talking, and organized woman who loved God, herself, and her husband, children and their spouses, family, friends, students, church family, sorority family, and the wider community. She was known for her colorful and stylish glasses, fashionable jewelry and clothing, a love of crabs and seafood, and a passion for music and African American art, culture, and history. Taking regular vacations with her husband John, watching funny movies, and staying in touch with her family, friends, students, church members, colleagues, and sorority sisters on Facebook were also some of her passions.
She met people right where they were and taught everyone, she touched to be the best person they could be in the moment. She also taught everyone to live and share their gifts in service to humanity. Now that she has become an ancestor, she remains a constant source of love, light, and wisdom that can be accessed in the quietness of your soul 24 hours a day. You will not be bugging her. She is waiting to hear from you. So reach out and touch her spirit!
Her physical presence will be missed tremendously by many relatives, friends, students, church members, colleagues, and sorority sisters. Most of all, she will be missed by her husband of 62 years, John and her children, Michael (Lu), Madelyn, Mark, and Matthew (Pamela). She leaves her sister-in-law, Vivian Gartin; her Gartin family nieces and nephews, Janet, Keith, Ellen, Gail, Geralyn, Vivian, Finis (Lynda), Vincent, Briane (Aaron), Stewart (Necy), Sedric (Nazirah), Brandi, A.J., Joseph, Brooke (deceased), Zachary, Keyanna, Vincent Jr., Sherrell, and Terrell; Roberts family nieces and nephews: Mabel (Darious), Tom (Jennifer), Chester (deceased), Daxter, Michele, Les, Melodye, Carmen (Guy), Tre (Kevin), Chester Paul, Ikeya, Tiffani (deceased), Chanel, Mala, and Erin; aunt Joanne King Williams; cousins Helen Matthews, Thomas E. Roberts, Sr., Paulyne A. Roberts, Jacqueline Roberts, Anthony Chase (Melody), Frank Chase (Micki), Carl Awad (Ada), Amal Awad (Jade), Mary Awad, Gamal Awad (Hailey), Lydia Awad (deceased), Michael Awad, Chris Awad, Ibrahim Abdalla, and Donald Abdalla (Nubia); and godchildren: Sharon Malachi, John Adeleye, Olusayo Adeleye, and David Adeleye.
SPECIAL TREAT: Tune into the A Cultured Pearl’s Legacy Podcast (nine episodes) and get my mom Theresa’s wisdom and lessons learned.
Mindfulness + YOU
Yesterday, while I was walking home from a morning wellness session I led during my client National Collaborative for Health Equity’s conference, I thought of you and a few mindfulness tips you can use in your daily life.
Watch the video below to get the tips. Drop me a line and let me know which ones you are using.
If you’re in DC and interested in meeting up with me this weekend to dive deeper into mindfulness and self-care, check out the special invitation below.
Happy 64th Sigmaversary to My Mom & SGRho Soror Theresa B. Leeke
Today, Theresa B. Leeke, my mother and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority (SGRho) soror, is celebrating her 64th Sigmaversary.
THAT’S RIGHT! It’s time to celebrate the Cultured Pearl!
Join me in celebrating my mom’s 64 years of “Greater Service, Greater Progress” … 64 years of being in a sorority of “Greater Women, Greater World.”
When my mom joined Alpha Chapter at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1959, she made a lifelong commitment sisterhood, scholarship, and service.
The SGRho sorors who nurtured, taught, and mentored her as a young woman inspired and shaped her as a person, a leader, and an educator.
They showed her how to plant Sigma seeds of sisterhood, scholarship, and service in sorors who came after her.
As a young wife and mother of three children with one on the way, she planted Sigma seeds in the women who became charter members of Gamma Psi Sigma, a tri-city chapter for Saginaw, Flint, and Bay City, Michigan (now based in Saginaw) that she helped start in 1967.
During my lifetime, I have witnessed firsthand my mom’s ability to serve and lead with humility. I have watched her show up in her life as an educator, a musician, a mother of four, and a wife to an entrepreneur as well as work in her local chapter, Phi Sigma.
She has served as a Phi Sigma Chapter member; undergraduate advisor to Epsilon Lambda Chapter at Bowie State University and Alpha Phi Chapter at Howard University; chartering undergraduate advisor to Eta Beta Chapter at the University of Maryland, College Park; committee chairwoman; and Basileus (president serving three times).
Throughout her 64 years of service, she has remained passionate and dedicated to membership development and training, community service in the Washington, DC area, and regional and national activities.
My mother has willingly spent her energy and time as a SGRho life member and Cultured Pearl mentoring and investing in Sigma women (including me). She does it out of a deep love for her Sigma Sorors. She does it because she wants us to thrive in our unique SGRho way. She gives back because so many gave to her.
I am grateful to have my mom as a mother. She has loved me like no other and continues to teach me what it means to be a fulfilled, creative, and healthy Black woman and SGRho soror.
My favorite SGRho memories with her include the day she pinned me during my Beta Tau Chapter induction ceremony in 1983; traveling with her to my first Boule as a soror in 1984; watching her get pinned as a Cultured Pearl in 2010; witnessing her receive Butler University’s special recognition of her service as a Cultured Pearl and an educator during the Centennial Founders’ Day weekend in 2022 (see first photo at the top of the post); and attending the Centennial Boule with her and my dad in Indianapolis in 2022 (photo above).
LISTEN TO MY MOM SHARE HER SGRHO WISDOM
Ananda Leeke 