Before we look ahead to the new year, we ought to spend time celebrating all of our accomplishments from this year. Before we move forward, how about we spend some time relishing our accomplishments and successes from this year?! Like, duh! Yes, of course!
I hated the fullness of my cheeks and the width of my nose and the gap in my teeth and my double chins and my uneven eyebrows and the deep chocolate brown of my skin. I distracted others from my face by wearing low cut shirts. “Surely if they notice my breasts they won’t notice me, I thought.” Deep exhale. Deep inhale. Deep exhale.
I hated the width of my nose. The White and White presenting girls at my elite private high school were getting nose jobs for their 16th birthday and boob jobs for graduation gifts. We were taught to hate our ever-growing and changing bodies. And I couldn’t wait to get my nose job. To narrow it. To make it a cute lil tip.
I am God in action. And when I choose joy, I choose love. When I choose joy, I choose hope for my present and my future. When I choose joy, I choose to not let those who wished me harm make me feel little or small or less than. When I choose joy, I choose wholeness and fullness and completeness. When I, a divine Black woman, choose joy, I light up a room and I command attention and people wish that they had what I have. When I choose joy, I am choosing God.
For people who play too small, you will always be too much. Too sensitive. Too smart. Too bold. Too courageous. Too much of everything they think they aren’t, but simply don’t know they are. And it’s not your problem to correct. It’s not your concern. Your only concern is God. And in him, you are. You’re only concern is you. Not selfishly, but lovingly. Love your neighbors as yourself. Patiently and kindly.
Many of us have been taught that love conquers all. That if someone truly loves us, we should endure any pain or mistreatment from them. …
How grieving the deaths of loved ones helped me live better, improve my health, and appreciate the sacredness and fleeting moments of life more.
First of all, let me say that I didn’t mean to lose 100 lbs. Whose goal is it to lose a hunnid pounds?! OK, probably …
