Rebirth - A brand New Journey

December 24th: Where ever you are, whatever you are doing and whatever your personal religious beliefs and practices are, I hope and pray that this season is filled with love, positive vibes, positive people, lots of herbal tea and plenty of laughs.

Every hear during this season (after my December 2nd birthday - through the end of the year) I spend a lot of time thinking about my life, what's past - and definitely what's yet to come. Last year, the day after my birthday, I gave 1 month's notice on the job that I had. This year is no different - it's time for another change, transition, turning of the page, moving to the next level, birth, re-birth, whatever you want to call it, it's time.......maybe it's past time.

I have been natural for 3 years, one of these days I will have to tell you THAT story. Over the years I have spent time thinking about wearing locs, but I was always afraid of a whole lot of things connected to that. Also there was that question that sent CHILLS down my spine "what will I do when and if I decide that I don't want locs anymore?" Well, as you know from my last entry, FEAR was one of the things I really worked on this year. The funny thing is once you start conquering fears (stepping out on faith, flowing in the spirit, jumpin' the broom - whatever you need to call it) there is really no turning back. Uncovering one thing births a desire to uncover a few more things - as life is one BIG vine - everything is inter-connected.

For 7 months of 2008, I wore twists, loving the freedom from daily styling and manipulation. It was also during dance practices, and performances to wash my twists and let them airdry as apposed to washing out an afro, detangling my hair, braiding it up so it could airdry or blow drying it. I have also helped all 3 of my sons start their locs - my two oldest (21 and 20 years old) are 90% loc'd now and they are loving every minute of it. My little one (13 years old-TODAY) is still in transition - but loving his twists which are truly doing a thing of their own right now. He's so darn CUTE that he adds a sense of chic to those twists going in every conceivable direction.

On the 20th of December, the decision was made. After reading HORROR STORIES on Lock-It-Up from those who had gotten Sisterlocs and had to have them either taken down or re-done. After coming to the full knowledge that there was no way on this green earth that I would ever spend $500+ on my HAIR (don't mean nobody any harm, that's just ME). After thinking about what I would do, or could do when and if I ever made the decision that I didn't want locs anymore, the decision was made!! 21 hours of loving labor (did I mention that I am very much a do-it-yo-dang-self woman??) a few football games on TV with the boys, Spongebob Squarepants with my youngest, a few episodes of Top Chef on Bravo and a lot of Lifetime Movies - aching arms and a numb boody (hee hee hee) my 435 braidloc babies were born. Here I am on a brand new journey.

By the way, the answer to the question "What will I do when and if I decide that I don't want locs anymore" - I will cut my hair and start a BRAND NEW JOURNEY.

LIFE IS A JOURNEY NOT A DESTINATION, YOU NEVER ARRIVE, YOU JUST TRANSFORM FROM ONE JOURNEY TO THE NEXT.

Peace Lovies!!