Welcome to Off the Hooks

Off the Hooks is a bi-weekly blog about musings of the heart, body, mind, and soul. Every two weeks, I, angchronicles aka Angela Hooks, will share stories, quips, and challenges about sharpening the saw; the saw is a metaphor for self, and the stuff that makes up the person are emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual. I didn’t coin the phrase sharpening the saw; however, I’ve been practicing sharpening the saw for more than two decades. The concept stuck with me after reading Steven Covey’s book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, many years ago — anywhere between my undergraduate years and having my first child, who is now twenty-four years old. As an undergrad balancing the heart, body, mind, and soul was neither easy or something I often thought was important. As a mother, I could barely balance time to read a book or to pray with the demands of diaper changes and soccer games. However, in hindsight, I realize my accomplishments and my failures are because I demanded growth and change in my life. Thus, it was learning to focus on the four areas that helped me renew, restart, refresh and rejoice in the person I have become. (I haven’t always liked the person I was.)

Therefore, Off the Hooks is a space to discuss the matters of the heart, body, mind, and soul. Those matters aren’t all about me, my musings, and beliefs, but also about the community I live, which ranges from my family, my church, my work, social media, and the nation. As a community, Off the Hooks will talk about literary and visuals arts and artists, biblical scriptures and devotions, as well as film, TV and on and off-Broadway shows. After all art in all its mediums helps us laugh, cry, rejoice, and check ourselves with self-reflection. Since the goal is sharpening the saw, Off the Hooks will share ideas for self-care.
I hope when you read Off the Hooks you allow yourself to giggle, weep, and jump for joy, get angry, and shout “Now, that’s off the hooks.” Ah, please beware, Off the Hooks is not all about happy, happy, happy; there will be moments of anguish and grappling with the body, mind, heart, and soul. For example, the idea of forgiveness and loving thy neighbor took me years to truly understand before I conceded to forgiving and loving my neighbor for making me furious. First, who is my neighbor; second, does forgiving someone also mean I have to trust them? Sharpening the heart is an ongoing process. A side note—The Word of God always sharpens my saw and most times it is painful.

I guess I’m just putting life on the table as I know it. So, if you have 2.3 to 12 minutes read Off the Hooks and spread the word. I promise short and to the point between 300 to 1,500 words blog posts.

Enjoy,
Off the Hooks
by angchronicles
aka Angela Hooks