Recently I've been having lots of interesting conversations with people, mainly black people, regarding race and appreciation of culture.
It's interesting to see how many people actually have a love for who they are...and unsettling to see a lot of people who don't.
It all began when my boyfriend and I started discussing how he is one of the few men he knows that would date strictly inside of his race and actually has an admiration for Black women. It never really occurred to me how important it is for your mate to love you in complete totality. Meaning, not just for who you are as a person (your personality, quirks, likes and dislikes), but also having appreciation for you and your culture. I love and appreciate the fact that my man loves me not only for what I have to offer as a woman but what I bring to the table as a strong black woman.
He loves my complexion, my full lips, my big black nose (yes i said it!) and of course this Afro on top of my head lol. I couldn't imagine being with someone who couldn't respect and love these God given characteristics. It made me realize how much i love being black... it's hard being black, but it's something I would never trade in for anything else. Being Black is special and I wish most Black people, African Americans could say the same thing.
Being Black is a gift. Even though we as a people are broken, with a lot of repairing to do on all levels, we also have a lot to be proud of. There is something to be said about a people who survived being torn from their land, lived through the nearly unbearable voyage of the middle passage; only to be sold into cruel and oppressive slavery where their culture, families, and identity were destroyed. Still, through all of that, Black people persevered. They became doctors, lawyers, civil rights activists, presidents and continued to achieve in the field of the arts.
It's a true shame that when people think of black history the story begins and ends with slavery and civil rights. It is with this that I have taken it upon myself to learn more about my heritage which in turn will help me to learn more about myself and my people. I've thrown myself into African literature and history, hoping to become as knowledgeable as I possibly can, so that when I have this conversation again; I may not rant to those that are ignorant but instead educate those that are ignorant.
"For Africa to me... is more than a glamorous fact. It is a historical truth. No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place."
Maya Angelou
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Friends
Marcely and I had a serious discussion last night about friends.
It's always an interesting discussion when we talk about friends because his friends are so different than him where as I have two separate group of friends that pretty much balance who I am as a person.
Recently I've realized the importance of true friends. Those friends that are like your family. I was telling Marce how even though I share a special bond with my college friends, due to experiences that we've shared together as a group ( PKP:) ), nothing can replace the sisterly bond I have with my friends from home.
It's important to have people around you that are like-minded and share the same values as yourself. It's amazing how each of my friends from home can not speak to one another in a month and then get back like time never pasted. It's truly a beautiful thing. With that I'm hoping to spend more time and energy into those friendships that are meaningful and fulfilling...lifelong. And that doesn't just go for my HS friends, but for all of my overall friendships as well.
I've also decided to stop letting some of my friends rely on me so much. Not that I don't mind helping and giving support, but sometimes I feel like a lot of my friendships are based off of that. I've been looked upon on more than one occasion as the person who gives sound advice, the go to person that will be there for you and to an extent I'm tired of it. I'm learning to let those around me make their own decisions and mistakes, as much as I hate to see people I care about go through things that may be unnecessarily stressful/painful; I just have to let it go. I've learned that through adversity character is built and that's exactly what people have to learn... I just can't learn it for them!
Well that's it for now.
"Fate chooses your relations, you choose your friends."
- Jacques Delille (1738 - 1813) French poet.
It's always an interesting discussion when we talk about friends because his friends are so different than him where as I have two separate group of friends that pretty much balance who I am as a person.
Recently I've realized the importance of true friends. Those friends that are like your family. I was telling Marce how even though I share a special bond with my college friends, due to experiences that we've shared together as a group ( PKP:) ), nothing can replace the sisterly bond I have with my friends from home.
It's important to have people around you that are like-minded and share the same values as yourself. It's amazing how each of my friends from home can not speak to one another in a month and then get back like time never pasted. It's truly a beautiful thing. With that I'm hoping to spend more time and energy into those friendships that are meaningful and fulfilling...lifelong. And that doesn't just go for my HS friends, but for all of my overall friendships as well.
I've also decided to stop letting some of my friends rely on me so much. Not that I don't mind helping and giving support, but sometimes I feel like a lot of my friendships are based off of that. I've been looked upon on more than one occasion as the person who gives sound advice, the go to person that will be there for you and to an extent I'm tired of it. I'm learning to let those around me make their own decisions and mistakes, as much as I hate to see people I care about go through things that may be unnecessarily stressful/painful; I just have to let it go. I've learned that through adversity character is built and that's exactly what people have to learn... I just can't learn it for them!
Well that's it for now.
"Fate chooses your relations, you choose your friends."
- Jacques Delille (1738 - 1813) French poet.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
HAVE YOU FELT LiKE THiS...
You ever read someone else's blog/xanga/myspace/facebook and after reading think, damn am I as interesting as they are?
Sometimes I get that feeling. I mean, I'm def not on any of these websites to develop a cult following or anything but I wonder if people find what I think or say to be interesting. I would hate to have someone listen to me speak or read my blog only to come away with: Damn that was a waste of my life! lol
Idk..just another thought that had popped into my head.
In other news, today was the day that my supervisor returned back to work. OOOOhhh Joy. He was out for a while driving the van because we had no van driver and now his retarded ass is back. What's funny is that I really used to like him, until he went away for such a long period of time then returned. He's incredibly annoying; with his southern accent that makes him sound stupid, his micromanaging ways, and his utter incapability to actual do the tasks at hand. I think above all what really grinds my gears is that I feel as though I can have his job!! He has a master's degree (in something i do not know) but has the professional etiquette of a middle school student.
Idk... Pray that he doesn't irk my whole entire soul for the next few months. LOL
Au reviour...
Sometimes I get that feeling. I mean, I'm def not on any of these websites to develop a cult following or anything but I wonder if people find what I think or say to be interesting. I would hate to have someone listen to me speak or read my blog only to come away with: Damn that was a waste of my life! lol
Idk..just another thought that had popped into my head.
In other news, today was the day that my supervisor returned back to work. OOOOhhh Joy. He was out for a while driving the van because we had no van driver and now his retarded ass is back. What's funny is that I really used to like him, until he went away for such a long period of time then returned. He's incredibly annoying; with his southern accent that makes him sound stupid, his micromanaging ways, and his utter incapability to actual do the tasks at hand. I think above all what really grinds my gears is that I feel as though I can have his job!! He has a master's degree (in something i do not know) but has the professional etiquette of a middle school student.
Idk... Pray that he doesn't irk my whole entire soul for the next few months. LOL
Au reviour...
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Blessed and Accomplished
I've come to find that I'm growing a lot as an individual in so many ways, but I find myself growing spiritually more than anything else.
I've always been a 'christian' but I never was truly a christian until I became older and went through my own trials and tribulations. This past few months has definitely taught me that through adversity comes great strength and knowledge.
And now because everything I've experienced I'm able to witness and give my own personal testimony about how God has worked in my life. I've also noticed that God has blessed me in so many small ways.
I've gained a greater appreciation for the all things that I'm blessed with and I'm more thankful for the everyday things in my life, like my boyfriend Marcely. We've been together so long that its easy to forget why your with someone, why they make you happy and how to continuously make them happy. But I'm more thankful for him now that I'm growing more in my faith. Sometimes I feel as God has blessed me with someone who was specifically molded for me. He's there to help me when I'm weak, build me up where I'm lacking as well as admire me for my strengths and everything that I can bring to the table as a woman. I'm extremely blessed.
I'm also excelling more at work. I went from just being someone who comes in, does their work, then leaves. But now I'm more into helping the people that are my clients. It's becoming easier to talk with them about their problems and goals as well as share my own personal journey with them. My bosses are also viewing me as a an asset instead of a worker. I've also have the chance to incorporate my community service efforts into my job which is great!
God has also opened doors for me regarding a lot of things I would like to achieve. My number one goal is getting into graduate school and God has even opened doors for me to walk through regarding this. I went to a Drexel Open House and met with the Chairs of the program that I would like to join and they were so overwhelmingly warm and open to me that I knew that I was meant to meet them and build a relationship with them.
Even though I'm grateful for all that changing in my life, I'm most grateful for what has happened to me as person. I'm waaay more patient. I mean I've always been a patient person but now I'm even more patient with things that are frustrating to me. I also tend to not get upset over things that others would flip out over; which is crazy to me because I used to snap at the drop of the hat. I recently got my wallet stolen....and quite honestly I did what i had to do and didn't even care that it was missing. I've also been without a debit card for three weeks now because Wachovia mailed it to the wrong address and now i have to wait an extra week to get it... my response: Oh well. LOL
Its crazy how things are changing and I'm so happy. I pray that god continues to make strides in my life for the better :)
I've always been a 'christian' but I never was truly a christian until I became older and went through my own trials and tribulations. This past few months has definitely taught me that through adversity comes great strength and knowledge.
And now because everything I've experienced I'm able to witness and give my own personal testimony about how God has worked in my life. I've also noticed that God has blessed me in so many small ways.
I've gained a greater appreciation for the all things that I'm blessed with and I'm more thankful for the everyday things in my life, like my boyfriend Marcely. We've been together so long that its easy to forget why your with someone, why they make you happy and how to continuously make them happy. But I'm more thankful for him now that I'm growing more in my faith. Sometimes I feel as God has blessed me with someone who was specifically molded for me. He's there to help me when I'm weak, build me up where I'm lacking as well as admire me for my strengths and everything that I can bring to the table as a woman. I'm extremely blessed.
I'm also excelling more at work. I went from just being someone who comes in, does their work, then leaves. But now I'm more into helping the people that are my clients. It's becoming easier to talk with them about their problems and goals as well as share my own personal journey with them. My bosses are also viewing me as a an asset instead of a worker. I've also have the chance to incorporate my community service efforts into my job which is great!
God has also opened doors for me regarding a lot of things I would like to achieve. My number one goal is getting into graduate school and God has even opened doors for me to walk through regarding this. I went to a Drexel Open House and met with the Chairs of the program that I would like to join and they were so overwhelmingly warm and open to me that I knew that I was meant to meet them and build a relationship with them.
Even though I'm grateful for all that changing in my life, I'm most grateful for what has happened to me as person. I'm waaay more patient. I mean I've always been a patient person but now I'm even more patient with things that are frustrating to me. I also tend to not get upset over things that others would flip out over; which is crazy to me because I used to snap at the drop of the hat. I recently got my wallet stolen....and quite honestly I did what i had to do and didn't even care that it was missing. I've also been without a debit card for three weeks now because Wachovia mailed it to the wrong address and now i have to wait an extra week to get it... my response: Oh well. LOL
Its crazy how things are changing and I'm so happy. I pray that god continues to make strides in my life for the better :)
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