Swagger: ’sumfwa’, ‘gish’, ’saviour faire’, the unmistakable & undeniable ‘it’ of life. Over the years I’ve been accused of being wordy, verbose, and, on occasion, flat out circumlocutious. But I must admit, when it comes to defining swagger, even I am at a loss for words. See, swagger isn’t something that you grab, hold, dissect, or define. It’s something you feel. And for as amorphous as my definition may seem, we have all felt it. Any woman that’s ever spent a day in the salon getting her nails and hair ‘did’ and then spent the evening in a brand new dress with every eye in the party fixed on her knows what swagger is. Every man that has made the winning shot or closed the impossible deal knows what swagger is.*

Earlier in the summer the Kare A-Lot Foundation held a basketball clinic as part of the YMCA’s Family Day in Silver Spring. It ended up being buckets of fun for everyone involved, but it didn’t initially start out that way - especially for one little boy named Sam. Sam was a tiny 10-year old that was shorter than kids two years his junior. He had a cute face with a big bright smile that yearned to greet the world, but it was constantly being hidden behind a frightful and unfortunate, “Did I do that wrong?” If he didn’t remind me so much of myself when I was his age, I probably would have felt bad for the little guy. But I saw in him the same spark that so many of my ‘life investors’ have seen in me and I decided to ‘pay it forward’. Over the course of the next 6 hours, Koki, Owen, and I poured our years of basketball training, a whole lot of ‘you can do it’, and a few ‘are you serious!?! I wasn’t able to do that until I was in the 8th grade’ into Sam.

At the end of our clinic, Sam was not able to dunk like Lebron James, pass like Jason Kidd, or shoot like Larry Bird (we were running a basketball clinic, not the Miracle Network). But he was able to start dribbling at half court, execute a left to right cross over (thanks Koki), come to two-footed jump stop and score a lay-up (thanks Owen), and beat on his chest like a gorilla (thanks to you know who…). When Sam’s mom picked him up and asked how he did, I began to tell her the story of her son’s blossoming. But before I could complete my first sentence, the once fright-filled-ferret had become quite the eager beaver and interrupted me with a, “Can’t I just show her instead?” What was I supposed to say? Sam went through each move with a precision that belied his one afternoon of practice. As he peacocked his way back over to the sideline and beamed a face full of bright and shinys at the pe rson who mattered most to him in the world, I couldn’t help but hear, “Look mama! I got my swagger back”.

What are things that give you that ’swagger’? How do you make yourself feel like a million bucks? Few physical things help me swag’ like a nice pair of linen pants or a smooth fedora hat. When I’m decked out like that, everyone within a 3 block radius knows and can feel it. I am warmer, more approachable, and outwardly engaging. When we’re feeling good, we all radiate our swagger. The simple act of giving that to yourself helps make the world a happier, more loving place. When you have your swagger, your ice is colder, your water is wetter, and your food tastes better - I promise :-). Kommit to swagging this week and no one will have to ask, tell, or remind you to kare for the world around you. When you are living in that flow your mind will create ways for you to spread love everywhe re you go.

*The stereotypical descriptions employed in this newsletter was merely a literary device used to paint the clearest picture of ’swagger’. We in no way are suggesting that these are the only nor most appropriate activities for an individual of any sex. If you find yourself offended by this device, even after this small print - RELAX! -Fem)

Get that Gas

Thanks to everyone that has been posting to our site. Keep it up. We wanna hear from you.

Here’s how it works (see below).

What: Receive a $50 visa gift card to use for gas or anything else you’d like

How: Simply by posting your story of Karing

When: Now through Saturday August 30, 2008

Fine Print: No length minimum or maximum. No registration necessary.

Bonus: An extra $25 gift card will be given to the winner if that individual has purchased a Show U Kare shirt prior to Saturday August 9, 2008.

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If you like what you’re reading here, spread the news. We need everyone to get involved and send this out to everyone you can think of that would be interested. Koki told me that if everyone sends this out, it would be a Small & Simple Key that pleased him. So come on… do it for Kok. Let your people know that they can sign up for the newsletter on our homepage.

Video Blog

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Nothing really crucial to add here. Just a not so subtle reminder - hahahahah. Enjoy life!