Towards A Resolution...Smelling Rain

It's been a while since I posted. I felt the need to post, but wasn't sure what to write. I guess I'm already having bloggers block...Lol. So, I guess I'll just write what I've been up to.

First things first - check out my tutorial for Black Girls with Long Hair; http://bglhonline.com/2009/12/monifa-tutorial/. I had fun with this interview. I enjoy inspiring and encouraging others to embrace their natural selves. Note to self - must start monthly natural health and hair blog. I am so inspired by the growing online natural hair support system. I patronize a natural hair salon every month and quite honestly - the online communinity is pulling ahead.

I finally saw Disney's Princess and the Frog. After waiting months (maybe all my life) for this movie, I have to say - Good job Disney! I liked it a lot. I did however, think that the "shadow man" was a bit scary for small children, but there was just enough baffonery to not be totally offensive. Finally, little black girls have a princess of their own. Next time, we'll work on her not being a working class poor girl with gumbo dreams. Baby steps.

I'm heading back home for the holidays. I'm the only sibling that lives away from home, so my visits are always special (if I do say so myself*) However, this is my second trip home this year and my trips have been more interesting than usual. Have you ever had the feeling like something is a-brewing?...something is about to happen?...like you can smell the rain coming? I'm feeling like that and I gotta tell you, whatever it is....I plan to be ready for it.! Love and faith conquers all right? ... let the church say AMEN!

Finally, I believe I started my new year's resolutions early this year. Well maybe I was thrusted into it after enough insomnia to make me ill. With all the random thoughts swirling through my head, I hope to narrow down this year's resolution. More to follow...

Wishing you a blessed holiday season of celebrations of family, forgiveness, faith and of course love!!!

Making a Difference

These days it seems en vouge to "want to change lives." If I meet another person that professes to want to change lives, i think i'm going to have to ask them "how?" Don't we know just by merely interacting with one another, we're changing lives? Every interaction I have these days leaves me with thought. Strangers in the gas station. Classmates at school. Ushers at church.

I finally saw the move "Precious." It made me laugh, cry and want to make a difference. No matter how hard we think we have it, someone else is moving mountains in a worse situation.

Pushing...vowing to make a difference...period.

~ ILANDGUL

Thankful

Awww...this year I flew home on Thanksgiving day and convinced my mother to postpone thanksgiving dinner until Friday. So now that we have filled up on fixings, i can truly sit back reflect and give thanks.

This year I am thankful for the wisdom to breathe, dream and live all at once.

In my younger years, I was a speed racer. I drove fast! I drove hard! If you were the unlucky fool to get caught in front of me, you got passed, pushed out the way, or quite frankly became part of the dust in my rearview mirror.

You see my dreaming was a contact sport. I wanted what I wanted when I wanted it, how I wanted it and as fast as I could get it. My way or the highway – come hell or high water. And if someone cried, got hurt or broke a nail– dammit it wasn’t going to be me!

Then one day i thought to myself...we’d better slow down. Not because I broke a nail, but because let’s be honest fast is exhausting. But then I became bored and yes even bore-ing. I became restless and disappointed - a dreamer without movement - fearful of silence and darkness.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I still love a good race! But I’ve learned that dreaming is both conscious and unconscious. It’s fast and slow. It’s sweet, spicy, savory and salty.

This year as I am thankful to the Native Americans for turkey and corn-on-the-cob…

and my mommy for her mothering…

and my daddy for his curiously silent (and yes confusing) voicemails that let me know I’m on his mind…

and to my niece Shadeya who lobbies for my annual trip home every time I talk to her and sends me handmade cards…

and my family who always have my back even when I don’t realize I need coverage…

and to the BFFs for Mac-N-Cheese recipes, silly giggles, a shoulder to cry on, a hard edge as a reality check, graceful patience, for speaking to my soul when I’m hiding in my monifa-ism, good company, great conversation, cake-love, and being a only a phonecall away to take me back to the simple pleasures of being a BFF….

and those nameless wondrous beings that I have loved and lost…loved again and lost again…but will always love anyway…

and my kinky thick-ass hair to remind me that natural beauty is like life - organic, natural, requires patience and unexpected…

and my fellow Facebook fanatics for re-connection with family, friends, and everlasting companionships of SL addiction, Mafia Wars, and Farmville…

and free Wi-Fi!...

and to the creators of Moscato D’Asti, popcorn and kit-kat…

and kind neighbors that waive in the mornings and knock on my door when i happen to be home sick - just to make sure I’m alive because it a Wednesday and my car hadn’t moved all day….

and to the strangers that have a kind word or kind face…

and for strangers that don’t have a kind word or a kind face…

and to random inspiration in the most surprising ways…

and a tight verse over a banging beat to keep on repeat and get me over it and get me through it…

and disappointment to teach me acceptance…

and surprises to keep me smiling…

and love to keep me hopeful…

I am most thankful for knowing that thanksgiving comes from within…as a daily prayer…and is the comfort of knowing that every blessing, every burden, every opportunity and every obstacle is part of life’s purpose.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here’s wishing you and your family an amazing holiday season!

- ILANDGUL

Image Citation: "Half Diva, Half Amazing" by Frank Morrison

Anxious and Inspired

So here I am.

My first blog and I gotta tell ya' I'm nervous. You see, I pride myself in keeping it all together and the truth is I'm terrified of being uncovered.

Me! Blogging! Well what can I say...it's been on my mind...I've been encouraged...I'm doing it.

This week, I'm fresh from my Thanksgiving with family, midterms at grad school and another week of work. Scratch that - new rule...the first blog will not contain any negative mentions of work. (((OK..done))) I've gotta say that I am renewed, refreshed and reflective.

This year has been good to me and I am truly thankful. I made new friends. I reconnected with old friends. I started grad school and have amazing encouragement from the family. The j.o.b. is still in tact. I fell in love with an amazing soul and walked away with lessons on self love, honor and respect...(future blog - i pinky promise...) I also fell in love my hair and again with myself. Through it all, the complaining and the tears, my life is truly extraordinary.

I am simple island girl from a blessed family of strong people. I am #2 of 5; four ladies and one king. We have two special needs siblings among the clan. We're not the richest folks, but proud as they come.

So as much as I have plenty I'd like to pour into my first blog, I'll stop here and recycle my Thankful note from my Facebook page as first blog part duex. It was therapudeic to say the least. It took me two weeks to complete it and truly does say everything I want to say at this point.

Walk with me. I trust that this new experience will take us to orgasmic levels of joy!

Spreading light all over this journey -
ILANDGUL

Image Citation: "Mi Amore" by Frank Morrison