Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Happy Black Girl Day!

I am a feminist, and what that means to me is much the same as the meaning of the fact that I am Black: it means that I must undertake to love myself and to respect myself as though my very life depends upon self-love and self-respect.
June Jordan


Per SistaToldja over at The Beautiful Struggler, every second Wednesday is Happy Black Girl Day. I love this idea! Of course I strive to be happy everyday (who doesn't?), but it's easy to let negativity drain us of that. And for Black women, that could be compounded by all the bad news we're faced with constantly regarding our relationships, careers, appearance, health, socio-economic status... hell, our humanity!

So once a month we (those that participate in HBGD, especially on Twitter) make a concerted effort to focus on the positive aspects of ourselves, our communities, whatever makes us happy. So are a few things (in no particular order) that are making me happy RIGHT NOW:

-It's almost lunch time! (Don't judge me!)
- I am thismuchcloser to my real estate career & I'm making connections for my nonprofit!
- HWHNT's comments last night (he fussed cuz I put him on blast last time, so I've been sworn to secrecy about what was said LOL)
- Learning my hair & inspiring others to go natural
- This incredible lipstick (MAC Slimshine in Lovey-dove). I thought I couldn't wear it since it's an odd copper-y color, but it works sooo well with my chocolate skin!
- The positive black female role models in my life: mom, grandmother, aunts, cousins, sorors--proof that there is more to the Black woman than the stereotypical mammy, jezebel & welfare queen!
- It's warming up! True, it's perfect tornado weather but we're just gonna ignore that for now

Okay, most of that is superficial I know. But I have to say the number one thing that makes me happy is the fact that I'm learning to be my own woman. Regardless of what's popular, what's conventional, what I've been told, I'm learning to listen to myself. I feel we all have an inner compass that will guide us down the path we're destined for, but how many people fail to take heed to it? Instead they end up at a place in life that they never intended on visiting. Fortunately I am starting to listen, learning how to follow my own voice. I'm not remaining stagnant; I'm growing and maturing. And that makes me very happy.



BTW, if you don't have a reason to be happy, let me give you one:
Seriously, who ISN'T happy looking at this adorable face?

2 comments:

Sister Toldja said...

Awww, that picture is the best! Thanks for participating!

Tori D. said...

Thank you for the inspiration! Awesome idea!