Hi there,
Amazing...things from your past can have a
positive affect on your present. Hmmm....I like the way that sounds. Maybe I
will start a phrase section on this blog called Dynamic thoughts of the
day!! Keep a look out for that...ok?
I digress....
I have for many years had a grudge against my brother. I know, I know but, I thought I had a legitimate excuse. For years everything around me told me that my brown skin, kinky hair and a big back side was unpretty but my brothers light skin and hazel eyes was more than acceptable. My parents always told me that I was beautiful so there will be no therapy sessions bashing my parents going on here or anywhere for that matter. They ensured that I was in empowering circles of girls both brown and not so brown so that I could get a good social mixture and be a well rounded member of society. The problem was many of the girls that looked like me felt the same way I did. Brown and unpretty.
So, I went on in life not feeling very
pretty or comfortable in my own skin. From rockin' my mini afro to wearing
braid extensions, I felt ugly and could not get past it for years. (And by
the way, the cat calls on the sidewalk did not help my esteem either). I
thought when would I feel pretty? When would I feel like I did not have to be
in line with what society says about who I am and how I should look? When
would I be comfortable to wear my braids if I chose to or rock that all
natural look?
Well I must say, learning to love yourself is
truly a journey. I have developed a much needed love of me and it was not
an easy road. But thank God, I've been changed (I won't start singing or
maybe I will...stay tuned...) You wanna know what helped my transition?
My girls. My daughters, the ladies of my life. I realized that I had to become
the woman I wanted them to see. I had to force myself to look inside and find
the girl I was, understand why she felt the way she did and embrace all that
made her special. I had to love that girl because if I didn't how
could I tell my girls to love themselves lookin' all fabulous like their mama
(BIG CHEESY GRIN WOULD GO HERE! J).
Inner love, outer strength (Another one of
those dynamic thoughts...I'm on a role here...J). Embrace who you are.
Love that chocolate, mocha, caramel, almond skin, that beautiful thick hair,
those full lips, hips and thighs. Revel in it! And while your lovin' on you
your showing another brownie... that fabulous comes in all shapes, sizes and
colors. Love on a brown girl today!
Lovin' you is easy,
J
