Hugs To You!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!!!!!!

I retightened a young man's locs last night (my daughters new 'friend'). He was very reluctant to have me do his hair because he didn't have any money to pay me.....(broke college student). The smile on his face (not to mention my daughters), the numerous compliments and the hug I got were all the payment I needed.

In thinking about the whole incident, I thought about all those who probably can't even remember the last time they got a hug - so I'm sending out this group hug to anybody who hasn't had one in a while. Happy New Year!! I hope and pray that your year is filled with plenty of hugs, laughter and smiles......enough to carry you through the tough times that will surely fined each and every one of us at some point in '09.

Peace Lovies!!

Strong Women

"Women are like teabags, you never know how strong they are until you put them in hot water" ............... Eleanore Roosevelt

This is one of my favorite quotes because often, we don't know how strong we are and how much we can bear until we find ourselves facing some adversity. Here's to the sistahs. Stay strong!!

Peace Lovies!!

Memorable Compliments

I am not self conscious about my hair at all, I'm just too dang old for that LOL!!

But, I got a couple shout outs about my hair that I wanted to share.

I work at a small restaurant in a predominantly white area. The other day, some ladies were seated in my area and when I approached their table, one of them said "Oh look guys, we got the waitress with the REALLY COOL HAIR. I didn't know what to think, was this a compliment or a quip?? But before I could even think or react she continued with "While we were waiting, you walked passed us and we talked about how cool your hair is. I've never seen anything like it, it's absolutely amazing". Then they left me a $15 tip. Not bad.....

This morning, I was in the store and I got stopped by a woman who wanted to know if I had sisterlocs. I told her "no" and went on to explain that I did them myself, they were braidlocs, blah, blah, blah. I was really flattered by the compliment especially being compared to those who spend a great deal of time and money perfecting their sisterloc skills.

Peace Lovies!!

Maryee's Sisterlock Journey: Are You New To The Natural Hair Blogging Community?

If you are new to blogging, as I am, you probably need a little guidance. I was fiddling around on line this morning and learned a lot from reading this blog.


Maryee's Sisterlock Journey: Are You New To The Natural Hair Blogging Community?

Peace Lovies!!

Knock-Knock

Is there someone inside you that is desparately trying to get out?? Who were you created to be?? Who are you, right now - who are you supposed to be??

These are questions that each of us must ask ourselves at some point in our lives here on earth.

Who is that person deep inside you, knocking on the door of your heart's mind. That person who possibly got tuched away years ago because he/she didn't fit, didn't flow, somebody hurt him or her by a careless deed or word. Maybe he/she is a writer, an entreprenuer, an artist, a lawyer, a dancer, a playwright, a recording artist, a minister. No one can tell you who that person is, although many will try. Preachers, teachers, councelors, friends, siblings and parents all "think" they know because most have your best interest at heart and some have known you all your life. So typically they have no shortage of thoughts and responses on this very subject as it relates to you finding out who YOU really are. But, all the time & true love in the world won't give you the insight into you that is completely unobstructed. That kind of insight can only come from the one who created you. The one who knows your every thought, beat of your heart, fiber of your being, and provides everything you need to live. Only He truly knows, he's the one and he's waiting to answer your questions.....all you need to do is ask.

How?? How do you get to that place where it's just you and Him....that 'private party'. Many books have been written on this very subject and most books have made the process a lot more complicated than it really needs to be. How do I know, because I read a lot of those books, to no avail - and had to figure it out on my own. It's very simple really:

Schedule some alone time, down time, YOU time.....some selfish "YOU" time. Make it a priority, right up there with a hair, manicure or pedicure appointment, and once it's scheduled, STICK TO IT.

What you will need:

1. A Journal - something special, but it doesn't have to be expensive. A $3 pad from Wal-Mart with a pretty cover that you like will do just fine.

2. My personal Favorite: A pot of Rasberry Herbal Tea. Not a tea drinker?? Pick your favorite flavored water, sweet tea, kool-air or even your favorite Soda. NO ALCOHOL!!! You want your mind clear and free.

3. Your favorite Scented Candle to set the right atmosphere

4. A picture that inspires you. My husband buys me calendars that have beautiful black art, mostly liturgical or african dancers, they are absolutely breathtaking and deeply touch my creative and afrocentric side. Yours may be a picture of your pastor, kids, favorite poet, Maya Angelou, an african prince, princess or warrior, or something as simple as a flower. Whatever your picture is, make sure it's something that speaks positively to you.

Got everything together?? Good. Now pick your spot. Mine is my little corner of my bedroom. Make sure its clean and clutter free. A cluttered room gives of negative vibes - think about how you feel when you come home to a messy house vs when you come home to one that is clean and everything is in order. Sitting in a messy room will definitely block your positive energy flow.

Now What??

Sit down in your clean quiet space, drink your drink and write. Vent, dream, forgive yourself, forgive someone else, write a letter to yourself, cuss somebody out, complain, just let go. I hear you saying already "I'm not much of a writer"........you won't be graded on this and unless you decide to show your writings to someone, no one will ever read them - so let go of thinking that you can't write, if you can read, you can write. Just let go!!!! Let your pen and tears flow. Ask yourself questions and keep writing until.......................................until what??

Until you feel better, your head stops pounding, your mind clears, the negative thoughts stop, the tightness in your chest loosens and your back stops hurting. I guarantee you will get a few revelations - write those down to and refer to them often. Make this practice an important part of your life for your life. I do it as often as I need to.

Peace to you on YOUR journey.

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!!

Breakthrough

About two years ago, I decided to join the Dance Ministry at my church. I was 42 years old and had never studied dance. Dance was something that I wanted to do, but as a child was too chicken to try. It was one of those things that I spent a great deal of time telling myself I couldn't do because I wasn't pretty, wasn't coordinated, to skinny, blah, blah, blah - the list of 'I can'ts" were endless. Well, as I got older, I set myself on a path to correct a lot of things that had shaped my life (in a negative way) and dance was one of those things. I'd sung all my life and was very comfortable, confident and capable. But, to get up in front of a crowd of people and move your entire body around - was a different story entirely. Not to mention, I don't have a dancers, tight, taught, rippling, slim body. So, there were many, many things working against me - so I thought. Well, I started, loved it, adapted to it faster than I thought I would, laughed at the humorous comments, humbled myself at the positive comments and let the negative ones propell me to work even harder at it.

About a month ago I received an invitation from the church where my oldest son serves as minister of music. They were asking me (of all people) to do a worship dance for their pastor's anniversary. Well, after all that I had endured, all the inner growth, etc. my most immediate response was NO. I had some pretty good reasons too: "I'm not that good of a dancer", "Are they sure they want ME", "They really need someone more experienced"......blah, blah, blah. So, I gave my chicken-hearted answer and thought that was the end of it - but it wasn't.

The next 48 hours were almost unbearable - my spirit tormented me: "How can you have told your children all their lives that they can do ANYTHING - but you don't believe it for yourself....hypocrite!!". "After all these years, you still don't have any faith in God or yourself". "What makes you think you have the right to refuse an opportunity from the Lord". "Do you know how many people would love to be in this position". "If you don't take this chance, you will wonder all your life what you could have done".

After hearing all those things repeatedly, I humbled myself and changed my no to a YES. To my suprise, I wasn't afraid, nervouse, intimidated or anything of the sort. I was guided by the holy spirit to the right song, right outfit, right moves, everything. It was truly a time of surrender and breakthrough for me. I can't even describe the feeling of freedom and confidence that this one experience gave me. I realized that it wasn't so much what others said that held me back from one of my dreams, it was mostly what I was saying to myself that put a glass ceiling over my life.

So, whatever your fears are, whatever it is that is holding you back from doing (or at least trying) that thing that you've wanted to do all your life, grab hold of it and CHOKE IT TO DEATH!! LOL!! There is so much livin' that is waiting for you - they said, he said, she said - well, what do YOU say?? Conquer your fears, if you are speaking negative in your own life, re-direct your thoughts to a more positive level and your words and actions will soon follow.

"Nothin' beats a failure like a try". (Rosie Moore - my mama)