Psalms 23

On 12/10/16, Squeak baby's mom died.
Mary Patterson was a force. Smart, loving, beautiful, sharp dresser, accomplished , truth teller and down to earth.

I never forget the first time we met.
Homecoming & Robin was a freshman.
It was the morning after. Robin walks in the suite, Vickie these are my parents.
I was mortified, liquor bottles and roaches every where.

She walked in with Pat and said I am Mary and this is Pat.

Cool as a fan. No judgement.

Fast forward, my many trips to New Jersey. They cooked breakfast on the grill.
They had a great home and Amway.
She was a council woman. I had never known one personally. I was amazed at how down to earth and authentic a politician could be.

I am very saddened for Robin and the Patterson Family. First their Aunt, their cousin, Scott and now Ms. Mary. They have lost their matriarch and Mr. Pat, his soul mate.

I have very fond memories of Ms. Mary. She was a jewel... simply a jewel.

#Rip Ms. Mary Patterson, sleep well and May God strengthen your family as they navigate this new normal.

Teachable Moment

Rudeness.

Today, I followed up on a lead from my husband. I spoke to briefly.  He put his colleague on.  She was curt and to the point. She heard nothing  and conveyed that I was a pest.

I felt some kind of way. She hung up on me. I FELT SOME KIND OF WAY!
There is no reason to be rude in business.  Abruptly ceasing a call...wow.
Hanging up on me....wow.

The business knew. The owner and operation Manager apologized.
I felt ok, but was it sincere.

Rudeness was the word of the day...not cool.

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Thank you

Good morning all. I want to thank over 500 of my facebook friends for taking the time out of a traumatic day (for many ) and a joyous day for a few , to wish me a happy birthday. Thank you for the many text and calls.
Although, I did not wake up to the 1st woman President, I am proud of my fellow Scorpio Hillary Rodham Clinton, she broke the glass ceiling and although she lost, she conceded with class.

I had a wonderful birthday, simply because I am here to celebrate it.

The donald is now the President and I will respect the office. I will also hold him accountable.

Folks who did vote, hold him accountable. Folks who did not vote, u now know that votes count more than twitter, instagram and protest.

I fully intend to be fully engaged. I will be engaged with my sorority on the regional level. With my friends on the local level. With my local board appointments on the local level. With my gubernatorial appointments at the state level.

Be not afraid. Be informed, be empowered and be engaged.

To my Trumps supporters, this is a presidency and not a dictatorship. It is a government and not a private business, he cannot ramrod anything down the legislators throats.

And oh by the way, he is the President of all the people...

Love,

Short , bowlegged force of Nature....Vickie R. Wms-Cullins aka Ms. Firecracker aka Vickie Chill

Today

Trump is President

Trump is President. Wowwwww.
I am disappointed but not surprised.
He mobilized a conservative base fearful of the power of Obama, lgbtq,women and minorities.

What is I going to do?
Inform,empower, engage

I am not moving.  I am going to mobilize.  I am going to encourage folks to engage in the process.  Know your legislators.
Know their voting record

Do not recoil. Do not become complacent 
Do not become apathetic.

#speakyourminditaintillegalyet

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

VOTE, IT AIN'T ILLEGAL YET

Your vote is personal.
Most people vote their values.
A vote for Trump shows that you do not value diversity, women, elderly, poor, military, blacks, Latinos,&_lgtbq community.
You value bullying over compromise.
You value shouting over listening.
You value decisiveness over inclusion.
Oh, I hear you...Hillary is a crook..
#naasonshehasbeenconvictedofnothing
Most importantly she will listen and values inclusiveness.
That is a leader

#iamwithher

Vick the Communication Diva
www.opndoor.com

Rushing helps nothing

Rushing helps nothing. The last 2 days, I have rushed. I forgot important appointments. I inconvenienced clients. I was embarrassed.

I wanted to blame the client that that caused me to reschedule; but that wasn't true.
The blame rest on me. I did not pay attention to who and what I was texting.
I allowed my emotions to get the best of me.

I owned up and apologized.  I will give them a panera card.
I.will.slow.down.

Pay attention to detail.

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Update, Reboot, Reconnect

I have been doing a lot and I have been doing nothing.
I am reading the "Greatest Salesman in the World, I am working on being more disciplined and less afraid of success.
I want to mentor, I want to help, I want to be known as the best mediator in the world.
I cannot do that being afraid.

Today, I am taking steps towards being more disciplined about my business, more accountable about my goals and less afraid of the success that I deserve to have.

Vick the Communication Diva
www.opndoor.com

Thankful

As, I reflect on the last two weekends,  I am thankful.
Thankful to celebrate my love and reconnect with my high school classmates.
We worked hard to create a memory.
Hard.
No matter the snafu, we overcame them.
I created stronger and lovelier friendships with classmates that I lost contact with.
35 yrs is a very very long time and people evolve .
God has been kind and we have been touched by HIS grace.

Can't Crush A Crab

T, 60 and grateful

This is my husband's 60th birthday. He and I have been together for 14 years and married for 8.

He is absolutely the most important person to me.
He is amazing. He is brilliant and handsome. He is driven and confident. He is sauve and slick. He is mercurial.  He cannot be controlled.

I love that about him. He wants me to be great. He absolutely does and does what he can to make it happen.

I am grateful that I was able to make this weekend wonderful for him.

60
Grateful

Goals

The past few weeks have been amazing.
I received news that I was appointed to my beloved sororities regional social action committee.....#yessssssss

On Thursday,  I learned that I received a gubernatorial appointment. Me..the little insecure girl from Hampton Va.
Me the bullied misfit from shell road.
Me the 20 year employee who was fired and went on to start her own mediation and corporate training firm.
Me , me ,me..
It feels amazing to set and achieve goals.
Small Business Commission. ..
Regional Social Action committee Member
Vickie R. Wms-Cullins,  Executive director of OPN-Door Communications, mediation and corporate training firm.

Let nothing stop you.
#stumblefalltripcrawltoachieveurgoals

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Grateful

I am thankful for my tribe of women. Sistahs, who support me, cry with me, laugh with me, push me and have the courage to disagree with me.
I am grateful for the independent vocal authentic women in my life.

A week.

A tough week. Physically, I was hurting.
Mentally,  I was strained. I didn't show up at important events.

I just tried to be comfortable and finish projects .

I am exhausted and I have honored the exhaustion.

I completed an important project.
I am proud,  but my insect bite allergy flared up, badly.

I am grateful,  grateful that I finished my proposal and can rest.

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Today

Today, we buried my mom's best friend and our "bonus grandmother " Nonnie.

So many folks came out for her. The homies and the privileged.

She impacted so many and left of legacy of love, wisdom, friendship and strength.

We were blessed to have her in our family.

Very blessed.

God speed , Ms. Estelle. .its good to know you are still mama's neighbor.

#loveu

Vickory
Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

#blackgirlmagic

You can copy our hair, our butt, our boobs, our lips, our music and our style.

You can attempt to change the narrative about how we are envisioned.

Copy or appropriate.

What you can NEVER EVER do is appropriate #blackgirlmagic.

#nopeucannotapporpriateblackgirlsmagic
Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Saying good bye, to Nonnie

In 1973, we moved to Lasalle ave. Estelle Spencer was our neighbor.  She soon became family. Smart, savvy, and loving. Nonnie was no nonsense.  She was old school. She was the village. She watched out for your home, the neighborhood and your children.
She was my Mom's best friend and our "grandmother". My brothers and I were special to her and she to us.

Now, she has transitioned on to Glory. Ms. Estelle, the Williams family were glad, we became your neighbors,  thank you. Thank you for welcoming us into your heart and into your family. Thank you for your wisdom, love and belief in us. You had a huge impact and made a tremendous positive difference in my life, my brother's lives and many many other's in Hampton and NN.

Say Hi, to Bob and Ray C. for us.

We love and miss you. Rest in Peace.

Love Vickory

Circle of Life

This was a good weekend.  I started to plan again.  I wrote down my dreams.
I spent time with my sorors, bros, fellow Greeks and volunteered my time .
Then , I got a call that an elder was dying.

Estelle Spencer came into my life when I was 9. She was our neighbor and my mom's best friend.  She was there for my family and we were there for hers. She truly epitomized what a neighbor was.

She spoke her mind, was just nosey enough,  she was strong willed and regulated the neighborhood.

She was a nanny, crab picker and real estate owner. She was kind and loving. She welcomed all into her home , including your dog. Lol.

When, my mom died, a part of her died too. They watched over each other.
Yesterday,  her granddaughter Kim, said she was talking to her family,  who had passed on. She mentioned Bob, my mamma. She asked her to wait for her.

She is. Nonie as you begin your transition,  be at peace, you have left a legacy of love, service, strength, wisdom and unwavering friendship.

Love,

Your Vickory

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Bloody July

July has been a month of death and turmoil.

We have viewed grown men being murdered by the police and viciousness from a presidential candidate.

But, what hurt my heart the most, was when a old friend's son was murdered on his way to work.

College sophomore on his way to his job, shot by unknown assailants.

This is a very scary time. We got to do something. 

Voters are apathetic about the candidates and threaten to stay home. 

This is a very scary time. We got to do something. 

If, you don't vote , you have given away your voice. You must be mindful,  that every congressional seat is up for reelection.  The supreme court appointment is up. We stayed home in 12 & we elected a obstructive congress.

We must fight police brutality,  we must fight systematic racism,  we must fight violence in our communities,  we must fight for equal rights, we must fight for a level playing field.

We CAN'T LET TRUMP AND HIS TEAM win.

#voteitaintillegalyet

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Again, again and yet again

Dallas. Peaceful protest. Police doing their jobs. Sniper kills police. Media and zealots want to blame the black lives movement.

No, no, and no.

I do not advocate for police to be killed.
I do not advocate for anyone to be killed.

These are two distinct separate issues.
Stay woke or the zealots will completely divide the folks who want to help.

Communication and cultural competency is the key. Most folks fear what they do not know or understand. 

Stay Woke.

Mobilize,  Strategize, Engage.

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Again. ..why Again

Again,  a black man is killed at the hands of the police. 

Again,  anger, fear, outrage and sadness has set in.

We talk, we March,  we facebook and tweet; yet there is no change.

We pray, we scream, cry and wail; but nothing changes.

The police are sworn to protect and serve everyone,  even people of color,  even black folks. However,  some don't.  Some won't. 

It's more then just registering to vote, it's more then voting;  it is engaging with the powers to be of what we will and will not accept.

We must DEMAND CHANGE.
We must STAND FAST, UNTIL OUR CHANGE IS IMPLEMENTED!

#blackgirlsengage
#blacklivesmatter

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Speak life into someone, even yourself

The other day, I conducted a free mediation.  The other day, I conducted a free coaching.

We have to remember that sometimes, we have to speak life into someone.

Sometimes,  we have to encourage someone to look in a mirror and say : " I am amazing. "

Words are powerful and we have to share that power.

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Stay still

Opportunity comes when it is time.
Yet we have to be ready for the opportunity, when it comes.

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Love letter to my Daddy, Ray C. Williams

My best dad memory was finally getting and understanding the sacrifice my dad made for his family. 

When my brother got accepted to Hampton Institute,  my father moved his entire family from Korea to Hampton.  He sacrificed a booming career to ensure his son, had his family.

Wherever my father was stationed, he brought his family.  He was only away for maybe a year, he would figure it out. Family was everything to my Dad. He wasn't perfect, far from it.

He did the best he could with what he had.
He was a good man who loved his wife & his family and that was enough.

I love you Daddy and you done good.
You raised good men and a confident daughter and that was the greatest success of all.

Orlando

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, tragedy struck AGAIN. This time LGQBT community.  They were having fun, hurting no one, bothering no one...then a psychopath enters and kills 50 people.

Semi automatic. Former police/security guard...chose to kill instead of protect. This comes just after a young budding starlet was killed on Friday ,by a fan. .in Orlando by a psychopath in the city of Disney.

What are we doing, what are we doing?

Who I am, does not give you permission to bully or kill me. Who I am does not give you permission to denigrate me. Who I am
Is my Right,  respect it and respect Who I am.

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

"I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong ... They never called me nigger."[7][8]

Muhammad Ali has died. Whewwwww.  Another part of my childhood gone.
My father was a huge boxing fan. He watched Muhammed Ali whenever he could.
When, we got to Virginia,  the tv fights were family events. Daddy yelling, cussing, smoking, drinking and laughing.

Muhammad and Howard Cossell. Muhammad and Frazier.  Muhammed and Forman. His rhymes. His boldness. His unabashed blackness. He spoke out in a time and era when black men were killed for speaking out.

He threw away his gold medal.  He lost his title, because he refused to be drafted. He lost millions.  Yet, he stood his ground.

Muhammed Ali was more than a boxer,  he changed how black men were thought of, he changed how black men thought of themselves.  His impact to was immeasurable.  His legacy unmatched.  He was indeed the Greatest of All Time; simply cause a little black boy from Louisville,  Kentucky named Cassuis Clay said he was.
RIP to the GOAT.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/403/698

May, new ideas, working through doubt

May was a rainy depressing month. A dear friend passed. NC  tried to close my beloved ECSU. I was doubting my self. I was following the money as opposed to the opportunity. 

I failed to keep up my blog and finish projects to completion.

I am blaming it on the rain.

It wasn't the rain, it was me. I need to continue to get out my own way. My role is to create opportunities not wait for them to come.

I must stop complaining and doubting myself.  I am a bad mofo and it's time, I act like it.!!

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Illness & Prince is gone

I got sick the week of 4/24. Bronchitis.
I was tired of being sick. I was tired of not getting contracts and gigs.

I cancelled appointments and took to my bed. Then 4/21 @ 11:30 am, it was reported Prince died.
Wait, what, Prince...my glorious,  talented, enigma,  gifted Prince.
It was true. I was swirling. The rumors came fast and furious. Addiction and illness. Money woes.

I didn't care. Prince was gone.
I was a fan, not a fiend. Every era of my adulthood referenced a Prince cut.
Soft and Wet , Head,  Little Nikki, lady cab driver, sexy mofo and Take me with you...a song my hubby sings to me often.

I felt sicker. How and why.  Prince was a egnima.  Brilliant,  kind, stubborn,  smart, helpful, vocal, he Did Him.

It came to this.
I am sick of folks talking about Prince.  He died. He was a human being. He was a private man.
Let him rest in peace and mind your fucking  business,  he minded his.
#riptoPrince
I do not care how he died,  I am grateful for his life.

Disappointed

I am a mediator and a conflict coach.  I am intuitive when it comes to identifying and resolving conflict. I own my mistakes and misteps. I am tenacious and strive hard to achieve my goals.

I review and reconfigure. I seek and heed wise counsel; but ultimately make my own decisions.
I do, say and am all this...but yet I am still disappointed.

I am wounded. I am hurt. I am in my feelings to the degree that others notice and reach out to check on me.

I am told that I am good enough and it just wasn't my moment, my time.

My choice is to withdraw and hibernate.  My reaction is to redirect my energies and skills to a entity that I think would appreciate me.

In reality,  I sulk. I refer back to the conflict hook that gets me EVERYTIME.
☆☆☆Competence☆☆☆
When my work,my intelligence, my talent or my skills are not recognized. .I.am.wounded.

The book titled "Conflict Pivot" helped me to identify my hook.
I will take a much needed moment to reflect and determine how  I can mitigate the effect of how when my competence is questioned .

This is a journey folks in which I will continue to evolve and grow from.

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Trump,politics and civility

As we get closer to this election,  I reflect upon my experience at Sorenson.  Sorenson is where I learned civility in politics.

I learned to be passionate and yet pragmatic.  I learned to listen and hear. I learned to respect differences and to work towards a common goal; despite these glaring differences.

Then, there's Trump. A self professed "billionaire " who has been bostered  racist, mygonist,  white supremacists and just folks who are afraid of people of color having a voice.

Trump stirs up people with his racist hateful retoric . He promises a great America; yet he is hell bent on destroying her.

I am in awe of his power to unearth these racist folks and I am determined that he will not get in office.

I am just a shocked that the Sorenson classmate that I expected to stand with Trump, did not; but the one that did not expect to stand with Trump, did.

Politics makes strange bedfellows and will unearth the true values of their supporters.

I stand with the Democratic nominee.  I am against Trump and for civility.

It's not even about "sides." Trump isn't on the Republican side (unless he manages to take over the party). And he's not on the Democratic side, obviously. This isn't a Democrats vs. Republicans thing, this is Reasonable Humans vs. Racist Authoritarians.

Courtesy of my friend, Waldo Jaquith

Love

 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is supposed to be patient and kind. Love should not boast or demean. I completely agree.
The problem is that humans are in love.

Humans come with baggage and weaknesses. They make mistakes and say things that they are sorry for.
We often fall in love but do we stay?
We have to work at love. We have to work at our relationships.
Love  is not easy but for the right person, its worth the work.

Be mindful to be Patient,  be ready for hard work,  forgive often, laugh loudly ,  to be creative,  kiss a lot and hug more .

What love is not, love is not easy.
Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, this day will go down in infamy

8 years ago today, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I did not know what stage, but I did know that I was going to fight. During this time span, I lost and gain so much. I've lost my mom, some friends and my good govt job. I gained a solid husband, friendships , renewed friendships, strengthened family ties and my own business. I learned that I was resilient, smart, determined and resourceful.
I also learned that I am no hero nor courageous because I survived this illness experience. I say that because we all have survived some catastrophic event or trauma. I am however a annihilator. From day one, I was determined to fight and fight to the death to save my life, so I dubbed myself the cancer annihilator.
I say to you thank you for standing with me, beside me and behind me. Know this tha.t what ever you are facing. .stand and fuckin face it. You are a warrior and warriors fight to the death.
So, Stand and rely on faith, tenacity and purpose. You will get through and past this.

I am Vick the Cancer Annihilator and I approve this message.

Disappointment and Friendship

I try very hard to be a good friend.  I show up when I can and If I can. I try very hard to be a good wife.  I am consistent in my support and love for my husband.  Sometimes,  he disappoints me; but I stand by him and have unwavering support for him.

Sometimes,  I disappoint my friends;  which in turn disappoints me. I have learned to be truthful and humble in my apologies. 

Relationships are hierarchical in nature. My husband comes first, my family next and then my friends. This has been a difficult,  challenging and rewarding journey.

My family and friends don't have to understand,  respect or support my hierarchy;  the only people that do; are me and T.

I will continue to be honest no matter how painful it is. I continue to support, love and value my important friendships. I will continue to be consistent in my love and support for my husband.  I will continue to cultivate my friendship with my husband.

Unfortunately, we at times disappoint,  frustrate and anger the ones we love. We have to make a conscious effort to SINCERELY apologize if we intend to keep the relationship.  We have to also understand that the other party has A CHOICE to accept our apologies.

Relationships are complicated organisms. They live, breathe, die, fracture, reconstructed and at times are forever broken.

So, I say do what you can to maintain the relationships that you determine to be valuable.  Have the courage to apologize, when necessary and the wisdom to let go when needed.

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Martin Luther King

Today is the day that has be designated by the  Federal Government to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

MLkJR day is not supposed to be a day off, but instead a day of service.  We are to honor King by public acts of service, marchs, breakfasts, luncheons and concerts.

What about the other 355 days of the year? Do you march? Do you vote? Do you speak out for the voiceless? Do you contact your legislature when you disagree with laws that do not support your values? Do you sign petitions?  Are you registered to vote and if you cannot have you applied to get your rights restored?
Consistent Civic Engagement is the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. not lunches, breakfasts,  speechs or concerts..

Walk in your purpose and inform, advocate and agitate.

Engage.

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

Founders Day

This is my 33 founders day celebration.  I am a working financial lifetime member of my beloved sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Today, I will be meeting with future business partners and celebrating with my sorors.

As I drive I will reflect on my purpose for being a member of this great sisterhood and recommit to my jewels.

#DST1913 #DST103
Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com

The Power of Music...aka Soul Serenade

I read books. I love books, but every since chemo it's been a struggle to remain focused. Well, until I encountered Soul Serenade by Rashod Ollison. The play cousin as  I call Rashod,  wrote this book. I love Rashod and his writings,  I was going to be supportive and attempt to read his book.

I accepted my Christmas present with glee and smiled at the handwritten dedication.  I started to read about 8, I.Was.Hooked. The book is full of colorful characters that happen to be family.  Malvern Arkansas had an important role. That made my heart sing...because that's my parents home town.

Although,  this was Rashod'story, the star was Ms. Diane. An amazingly resilient woman who was intent on providing, protecting and preparing her children for adult hood. She came up short on demonstrative love, but she did the best she could amongst circumstances that would crippled Superman.

Rashod is a testament to this.  His intellectual ability and gift of the pen, would not be denied despite circumstances that would have crippled Superman and Batman. This is resilience.  The power to rebound. This is Rashod,  Ms. Diane, Dusa and Regan.  Although, different they were all tenacious,  independent, driven and resilient.

This book is not a black coming of age story. It is not a gay story. It is story that stands to take you through a myriad of emotions.  Tears to anger to bust out laughter.  Most importantly,  I think it inspires the reader to press on. I think it tells the reader that your words can be a slap down or a lift up. I think you ought to get this book, it is a emotional necessary journey that you just GOT TO TAKE!!!

Vick the Communication Diva
Www.opndoor.com