Dead Prez "The Beauty Within"

I had posted this video on Facebook when I did my "big chop" in November of 2010. I had to share it again, not only because I am natural, but for the simple fact it portrays black women in a positive light. With so many negative and derogatory images of black women, it is a breath of fresh air to see a black man pay homage to a black woman with dignity and in good taste.

  

The Power Of One

The Power Of One

          One song can spark a moment,
         One flower can wake the dream.
        One tree can start a forest,
       One bird can herald spring.
     One smile begins a friendship,
    One handclasp lifts a soul.
    One star can guide a ship at sea,
    One word can frame the goal.

    One vote can change a nation,
    One sunbeam lights a room.
     One candle wipes out darkness,
      One laugh will conquer gloom.
        One step must start each journey,
           One word must start each prayer.
               One hope will raise our spirits,
                  One touch can show you care.

                         One voice can speak with wisdom,
                             One heart can know what's true.
                                One life can make the difference,
                                   You see, IT'S UP TO YOU!

~ Author Unknown~

Bump in the Road...And this too shall pass.

I missed my six month nappiversary post on June 20, 2011.  I hit a road block and I know that this too shall pass.  The roadblock wasn't about my hair...it was about life.  Sometimes, life gets in the way.  Just when you think you have it all under control...BAM! You hit a roadblock.  The worst thing that you can do when life happens is to panic.  I had to let go and let God... This hasn't always come easy for me.  I was always considered the "strong" one.  A "superwoman".  Well, it's not what it is all cracked up to be.  I have taken off the cape and relinquished my "strong, black, woman" title. 

As I have stated in previous posts, I am trying to find out who I am.  I will no longer allow others or labels to define me.  Boy, it has been a rocky road.  But it is a road that has to be traveled.  Some will come along and others will be left behind.  All I know is that I will keep the faith, and ask for help along the way.  Asking for help is not a bad or weak trait... a real "strong woman' that will ask for help.  As my four year old daughter said to me, "Mommy big girls can't always do everything by themselves, they sometime need to ask for help." Out of the mouth of babes often comes gems!

"Lose Myself" by Marsha Ambrosius "Late Nights and Early Mornings" & How I am losing myself!

Kinky, Kurly, Naturally...Me It's not just about hair...it's about the journey! It's food that feeds the mind body & soul for all women of color.  During this journey, I have come to realize things that I love and do not love about myself. I do have to lose myself, not only so I can love someone else better, but myself too. When I listen to the words of this song it personifies one of the paths in my journey.

One day, I woke up and looked at myself in the mirror and I made a promise to love myself and give myself the same unconditional love and support I so freely give to others.
I am learning never to allow someone to be my priority while allowing myself to be their option.
In the end, it's all about me being responsible for my own happiness, self, esteem, and growth. It's not going to be easy...but it is achievable.

Kinky, Kurly, Naturally..Me, the blog and the experience

 Kinky, Kurly, Naturally..Me, the blog and the experience is not only about hair, it's also about the journey...mostly about the journey.  I am not a natural hair care guru or expert.  My blog is not like other 'natural hair' blogs.  As a matter of fact, I wouldn't even categorize it only as a natural hair care blog.  There are so many natural hair care blogs and websites that offer great advice and the sistas are so knowledgeable and dedicated.  These are the sites in which I refer to when I have questions and these are the sites that I  studied once I went natural.  These sistas are the hair care gurus and experts in my opinion. ( see my top natural hair sites).


Kinky, Kurly, Naturally Me... is a platform for me to share my journey and to inspire others in their life's mission.  As I have stated before, going natural for me was not motivated by an epiphany to return to my natural roots or the need to cut off damage, over processed hair. My hair was pretty healthy.  I did it because I was at a crossroads. But subconsciously, I knew I was in need of a mental, physical and emotional change.  While is has been a great ride so far, by no means has it been easy.  As I cross off my  40 for 40 items, I still am mentally, emotionally and spiritually getting it together.  Sometimes things do fall apart, but that is part of the journey.  The biggest reward is becoming the person that I knew was within me all along...can't wait to meet her.



Photo Courtesy of PhotoMedia Diaries by Dani

http://www.photomediadiaries.com



The Awakening

Photo Courtesy of PhotoMedia Diaries by Dani

http://www.photomediadiaries.com/

The AwakeningSonny Carroll There comes a time in your life when you finally get it ... When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out "ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on." And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world from a new perspective. ..........This is your awakening.

I always try to post some inspirational pieces that coincides with my journey in hopes that whomever reads it can relate.  I share this because...I want to, I need to, I have to.

"I Am Me and I am okay!

My Declaration of Self-Esteem - "I Am Me"
Virginia Satir

In all the world there is no-one else exactly like me.

Everything that comes out of me is authentically mine because I alone chose it.

I own everything about me; my body, my feelings, my mouth, my voice, all my actions, whether they be to others or to myself - I own all my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes, because I own all of me.



Photo Courtesy of PhotoMedia Diaries by Dani

http://www.photomediadiaries.com/



I can become intimately acquainted with me. By so doing I can love me and be friendly with me in all my parts. I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me and other aspects that I do not know, but as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for solutions to the puzzles and for ways to find out more about me.

However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is authentically me. If later some parts of how I looked, sounded, thought and felt turn out to be unfitting, I can discard that which is unfitting, keep the rest, and invent something new for that which I discarded. I can see, hear, feel, think, say and do - I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me.

I own me, and therefore I can engineer me - I am me and I am okay.