There is currently a great deal of push in the media towards self-care, health, and wellness, but what does that really mean? Maybe it could mean going and getting your hair and nails done, or a hot bubble bath and a glass of wine, or hitting the gym with your very best hip hop mix blasting in your ears. While…
Ok, ladies, we’ve all seen that photo of ourselves. You know, that one that completely horrifies you and makes you realize you’ve gained a few extra pounds seemingly overnight. Suddenly you’re on an unsustainable crash diet and exercising like a mad woman all to keep your calories under a certain number. We’ve all heard it, “Calories in, calories out.” Simple…
You work hard to succeed in your personal and professional goals. I know I do. Some people love to work under pressure, while others hate it. You may have heard a coworker say, “Sleep is for the weak!” or had a boss that recognized hard work when you “burn the midnight oil”. Sound familiar? Pushing yourself beyond your limits can…
I have a family member/friend (who shall remain nameless). She re-gifts ALL THE TIME! Personally, I see nothing wrong with it. You practice the art of appreciation by accepting the gift given to you. Then, you practice the gift of giving by forwarding the blessing to someone in more need. Your kids get two of the same toy for their…
You ever feel like the outside world sees you differently than you see yourself? For example, to them, you have a great body; to you, you’re fat. To them, you have it together; to you, your life is in shambles. To them, you are godly and spiritually mature; to you, you’re further from God than you want to be. I…
A few months ago, my girlfriends and I took a trip to Tampa. For all of us, it was much-needed relief from day to day life. We laughed. We talked. We ate. We drank. We had a blast! In the midst of our time together, we committed to moving on from our pasts. Inspired by the title of our songbird’s…
I don’t know if it’s an oldest child thing, a black girl thing, a desire to “make it” thing, or just who I was born to escape being, but for as long as I can remember, I’ve aimed for perfection. This led to virtually uninterrupted straight A report cards from Kindergarten to college, extreme workouts, and a hellacious house-cleaning regimen.…
About a week after my brother was admitted to the hospital, the trauma doctor delivered a blow. He told me that the chances of him making it were slim to none. His lungs were in bad shape, his body was still in trauma, he wasn’t responding to anything they had tried. I told him, “Thank you,” and walked into my…
For nearly 7 years, I was an only child. As a result, my mom and I were extremely close. However, I longed for a sibling. I would pray for one, ask for one, and even wish for one on birthday candles! Then, my mom told me she was pregnant…with twin boys! Now I was outnumbered! But before I could even…
In college, my roommate often accused me of having body image issues. To her, I “had a nice shape” and didn’t need to be concerned with working out or dieting. To me, I needed to maintain a certain size to feel confident. Fast forward 15 years, and I’m sure she’d say I’m not too far removed from who she’s always…