Romance can be extended to so many different relationships. It’s about being seen and heard an taken care of, and that’s what we can offer to people when we’re hosting.
Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real-life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging”, as I know each of these pieces represents something…
Before I started the list, I thought I was curious, but I’ve come to realize I never asked the right questions. Every person has something to teach you. You have to treat people with the respect their knowledge deserves. This is just one of the ways many of us miss out in life, because we want things to be predictable and comfortable and want to respect people’s privacy. Trust me: People love teaching you things. In fact, I can’t think of anything they love more. – Laura Carney
Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real-life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging”, as I know each of these pieces represents something…
Queens: Portraits of Black Women and their Fabulous Hair (2005, nonfiction, 199 pages) Michael Cunningham (Photographer), George Alexander. I would categorize this as a coffee table book. It is a collection of black and white photographs and narratives of Black women and their hair. The narratives range from the pressure within the Black community to adopt pressed and treated styles, especially from the older generation. “When I was a child, my mother encouraged me to perm my hair. My mother thinks permed hair is good; it’s a symbol of wealth (175). To a discussion on fantasy hairstyles “Wearing the Twin Towers is an honor. My cousin who was twenty-six years old and a mother of two died… on 9/11(10)”. To discovering one’s true self “My mohawk says, I don’t care. To anyone passing by it says, ‘I could care less what you think’ (138)”, to the importance of the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural (CROWN) Hair Act of 2020 “I was disappointed because my locks were keeping me from getting a job. So, I wore a wig for my interview… I thought, ‘Don’t lose your job because of a hairdo’ (62)”. The beauty of this book is the diversity of it, from young children to elders who span the globe. The downside of this book is that I wish some of the stories were longer and more in-depth. Each story is no longer than two pages. If you’re looking for a beautiful coffee table book, I would suggest this. If you’re looking to be more informed on Black women and their hair, I would suggest Tenderheaded: A Comb-Bending Collection of Hair Storiesby Pamela Johnson . If you’re not a reader, Chris Rock’s Good Hair is worth a watch.
Boxer Mike Tyson famously said, “Everybody has a plan, until they get punched ….” Punches are inevitable. But I do believe I’ve learned some universal truths that might soften the blows.
They are:
Show up for people.
Be gentle with yourself – and with others.
Lead with kindness, and recognize kindness when you receive it.
Reserve your harshest judgment. Sit on your worst thoughts about other people and consider the consequences before expressing them.
Be of service by finding something, or someone, to take care of.
Find creative ways to express your feelings.
Admit to your faults and failings, and resolve to do better.
Ask for forgiveness.
Work hard not to be defined by the worst things that have happened to you.
Recognize even the smallest blessings and express gratitude.
Be kind to receptionists, restaurant servers, dental hygienists, and anyone who needs to physically touch or serve you in order to do their job.
Understand that there are times when it is necessary to give up.
Spend time in nature.
Identify, develop, or explore your core ethical and/or spiritual beliefs.
Recognize and detach from your own need to control someone else.
Respect boundaries – yours and others’.
Seek the counsel of people who are wiser than you are. Ask their advice, and listen.
I sometimes supply “scripts” for people who have asked me for the right words to say, and so I thought I would boil these down to some of the most important statements I believe anyone can make.
They are:
I need help.
I’m sorry.
I forgive you.
I love you, just as you are.
I’m on your side.
You’re safe.
You are not alone.
–Amy
“The best holiday gift I ever received was right before my wedding. On Christmas Day, my mom gifted me a handwritten note from my grandmother who had passed away five years prior. My grandmother and I were very close, and she had saved her blue garter she wore at her wedding in 1951 for me to wear at my wedding. I’m not a crier, but needless to say, there were tears.” – Annie (Cheng) Sim,
Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…
