From one person to another.
I'm fascinated by the intensity of the unmarried population's marriage outlook these days. It seems to range from I have a wedding dress (or ring) all picked out... To half of marriages end in divorce, all men will cheat and all women will hurt you, so what's so bad about polygamy anyway? Having been in …
Continue reading "If you were ready to be married, you would be."
Dear Panama, This may seem way left field but please read with an open mind. A couple months ago, I had a disturbing dream. A very young girl under the influence of a toxic substance aggressively paraded her sexuality in a way that perverted the mind of everyone around. Stunned at first, I finally moved, …
Continue reading "An Open Letter encouraging “Very Smart Brothas” writer Panama Jackson"
When I was a little girl I knew I was an artist, singer, and fashion designer early on. Cartooning, a heavy vibrato, and obsessive development of my crayon-infused design portfolio were dead giveaways. Growing up in a family of activists in an impoverished community left little room for me to explore and embrace the depths …
Continue reading "The Substance of style: How to be an Olympic Gladiator in a suit"
I worked at a clothing store during my multiple-job phase in college, and am glad I can look back fondly on those (ahem) unique work moments and lessons. Por ejemplo. Work moment: Greeting folks with a cheerful, excited grin led to apologies from confused customers. Lesson: Genuine joy in shopping malls is completely disarming. Work …
In the same way what we say matters, how we look matters. Both are outward reflections of spirit. Our aesthetic goal should be to focus on looking good, meaning: Healthy, well-groomed, appropriate, intentional, comfortable, and expressively, uniquely, you. That's really all a sense of style is: Being intentionally, comfortably, expressively, and uniquely you. Of …
I’m a woman. I’m a sister, a friend, a daughter, a loved one. When men see me, they see you: A woman. When men see you, they see me: A woman. So tell me, who do you think you are? Are you your lips, glossy, puckered and at-the ready? Are you your wit, biting and …
Continue reading "Women: Make it easy for him… To be a man for you."
I'm a 32 year-old woman surrounded by real men: My father and grandfather, best friend, brothers, friends and colleagues at work, home, church and life. Beyond our very different individual relationships, they all have one thing in common: They protect me. So here I stand, a petite woman only 5 feet tall and backed by …
A friend, leader, father, artist, son, and grandfather, Willie Middlebrook, passed away this weekend after health complications following the onset of a stroke some time ago. As we mourn the loss of our friend and celebrate the peace of his homecoming, I can't help but reflect on health and mortality. Today in a fitness group …
Continue reading "On weight loss: Winning spiritual battles and conquering the physical"
You've probably heard the sad tales of ridiculous superhuman standards and the multitudes of single humans wookin' pa nub in all the wrong places because of them. And for the record, I abhor this tendency and am quite aware that even those of us who think we're looking for the right things, sometimes aren't. I …
Years ago, I was single. And I got some really perfect advice about avoiding the hotmessdedness that is the inevitable outcome of the single-and-looking process. I was told to be careful what I wished for. At the time, I asked myself: Do you really want to meet more people or do you want to rediscover …
Continue reading "How to REALLY get (and keep) the love of your life.."
