I want to offer you an apology. For the last couple of years I’ve been inconsistent with sharing the inspiration and education that I have been offering on Food For The Soul since 2012. I’ve neglected my Black Vegan Academy Facebook group, Instagram, and the YouTube channel. I’ve tried to get back on track several times but I have not been able to maintain it.
I’ve struggled to maintain my own center, my energy and my focus in the face of the ongoing stress and struggles in my day-to-day life. The root of those struggles came to an end in mid 2020 with the end of my marriage to Nana Kwaku. For the past 7 months I’ve been turning inward to understand what happened and why, and to heal myself.
I’m not going to lie, it’s been hella hard. I’ve raged. I’ve grieved. I’ve breathed a huge sigh of relief. And then I’ve done it all again, and again. The healing is still ongoing but I’m feeling much stronger and more myself now than I have in quite some time.
I’m rebuilding my life here in Tanzania, now as a single woman. I’m strengthening my connection to spirit and my purpose. I trust that the ancestors and spirit have something greater in store for me. And so, I surrender to what is as I move forward one day and one step at a time, following divine guidance. Despite the emotional hard times I’m still sometimes experiencing, I’m excited to see just what will unfold in the future in front of me.
When I began thinking about writing this message, Diana Ross’s song I’m Coming Out kept going through my mind. It inspired the photo above of me coming out of the corn growing in my beautiful back yard garden, a space that brings me joy everyday. A space that connects me to spirit and where I go for healing and inspiration.
I hesitated to use that phrase because of the popular use of “coming out”. To be clear that’s NOT what I mean.
As Diana says in the song, “There’s a new me coming out, and I just have to live, and I want to give, I’m completely positive. I think this time around, I am gonna do it, like you never knew it. Oh, I’ll make it through. The time has come for me to break out of the shell. I have to shout that I am coming out! I want the world to know. I’ve got to let it show.”
That’s the coming out I’m talking about. A new beginning. Not so much a new me but a more true me. Of living completely true to who I am and who I’m meant to be. Really what I mean is, “I’m coming back!”
This is the end of the vision and dream of what Nana Kwaku and I could do together in support of the health and wellbeing of the African Diaspora. It’s been very hard for me to let that vision go. It has meant so much to me. It still does. It’s still the vision that drives me and what I will continue to do, now on my own. I wish him well. He is doing important work for our health as African people. I’m grateful for our time and work together. I learned and grew a lot and it changed my life for the better. But now it’s time for the next chapter.
It’s not the end of my mission to support you, the African Diaspora, on your journey to join the Plant-Based Food Revolution, take control of your health and build a life and lifestyle that supports you on your path. While my work is no longer a part of Opare Institute, my work as a Lifestyle Coach and educator continues now at Food For The Soul Global. So does my Web and Graphic Design work.
You will now find all the great content on Food For The Soul here at https://foodforthesoul.me. Ama Opare Design is at https://amaopare.com. I am in the final stages of building a new training site called Black Vegan Academy soon to be live at https://blackveganacademy.com. You can still find me in all the same places on social media.
I’m not making any promises as to how often I’ll be posting or doing videos or interacting on social media. But my intention is to be more regular going forward. I’m following my energy and letting this process of healing continue. I’m letting inspiration and spirit guide me.
This is an opportunity for me to re-envision the scope and direction of my work. Of course I’ll continue to focus on delicious, healthy vegan food and building your healthy lifestyle. But what else would serve you? Do I talk more about living in Tanzania? About how to make that move? Do I talk about my current healing journey and the tools for personal self discovery that have helped me? Or something else? Where would you like to see this go?
I invite you to help me in this re-visioning process. How can I best support you? What would you LOVE to have me write/teach/share about? What are you struggling with? What would most help you take the next step in your life?
I love you all, my brothers and sisters. I pray we can all take this year, this time of disruption and the shifting of energies as an opportunity to get clear about who we are as African people, to reconnect to our divine power, and to be intentional about how we live our lives. We DON’T have to let the media and the narrative of fear they are selling us dictate our experience and our future. We CAN recreate our lives to better serve our purposes and our visions. Let’s do this together.
Leave a comment below and let’s start a conversation. Or use the Contact Me page if you would rather send me a private email. I really want your feedback.
Til next time, peace and blessings,
Ama Opare
I'm Ready To Help!
Thank you for sharing! This really blessed my soul! May your healing journey continue to be a blessed one. I, too would love to hear more about life in Tanzania, how to make that move, and what it’s like being African American in The Motherland. So glad to hear that you are taking good and necessary care of yourself! Much love and light to you!
Thank you 🙏🏾 More about life in Tanzania it will be.
Wishing you the best. Frank and I are glad you to see you getting back on track. Remain positive and know you have our support!
Sherry and Frank Morris
Thank you Sherry and Frank 😀
Your strength is inspiring! Besides the questions already put forward, we’d love to know how to connect with the right people to repatriate and start a business in Tanzania.
We are with you and will definitely support. Take as much time as you need!
Thank you both ❤️
Thank you for sharing your heart & soul with us. I’m so sorry about the breakup of your marriage/partnership and the vision you had. Thanks for being courageous & sharing your soul. I would like to know more about living in Tanzania and living there as an African-American. Do you travel freely to other parts of Africa? Do you cook often or eat a lot of raw fruits & vegetables? Do you feel part of the local community or as an outsider? Why did you choose to stay in Tanzania? Congratulations to your new beginning! The Pandemic has created so many unimaginef opportunities. Be Blessed and Encouraged and know the best is yet to come.
Hi Wanda! Good to hear from you. Thanks for your love and your feedback. Many people are expressing similar desires.
I’m so happy you are back. I wish you well in your new beginning. I’ve been a long time follower of your work and I can’t wait to see you in the future.
Thank you Leanne. Much love.
Amani na upendo, dada yangu.
Asante sana Latanya
Well said Ama!! You are very powerful and I find you priceless to work with me and my continuous website issues!!
Stay strong and COME ON OUT WITH YOUR LIGHT!! peace and light!
NEW DAY AND NEW WAY….
p.s. I would also proudly like to say my site was designed by Ama please view to see the beauty she created on my site! I gave her my vision and she worked it!!!
Sincerely,
Deidre : }
Thank you Deidre! It’s been a pleasure to help showcase your amazing artwork and products.
We are here & will provide support. Stay strong.
Thank you Lucy. I feel your presence.
You are awesome! To be able to wrap your mind around your business when your personal life is in turmoil is amazing… You are doing a fantastic job and I look forward to checking out all your new ventures!
Thank you Alda!