The Ladies Lifestyle

We have been taught that because we love a person, we have to be present. Today, as I was showering, I had an epiphany; love won't always equal being present. Do you have a family relationship or friendship that always has you on edge? Are you always worried about another situation bubbling up and becoming a disaster? When you are around them are you anxious? If you answered yes to any of these questions, allow me to help you. You don't have to have an intimate relationship with a person who causes you to feel uneasy. "I've learned that it is not what I have in my life but who I have in my life that counts."~Unknown Most women are nurturing by nature, when we love we love. However, love without balance and boundaries is quiet unhealthy, taxing both mentally and emotionally. I can't speak for others but I am guilty of allowing both family and friends who cause me trepidation to have more access to me than necessary. I have given more chances than I should...

I have a nostalgic personality, if it causes those feel good goose bumps, I will bask in the memory as often as I can. My grandmother was an amazing woman for so many reasons, especially her cooking skills. She would spend her entire day in the kitchen, from sun up to sun down, she was either in the kitchen, in her garden, or sitting on her swing on the porch. Food was a love language in our house and my grandma spoke the language eloquently. She didn't measure and she couldn't tell you how many ounces are in a cup but she could cook like no other. Because of her challenging relationship with her own mother, she wanted to make sure that her children always knew that they were wanted and loved.  One of the ways that she nurtured, educated, and loved on us was with food, most of the life lessons she taught me took place in the kitchen. My grandma's kitchen was a classroom, a boardroom, a prayer room, and much more; whatever you needed could be found in her kitchen at that tab...

She was born on a July morning into an orchestrated but messily calculated parental partnership between 3 adults. Two of them loved her more than anything, but the other one just wanted to be attached to the primary party in the business arrangement; to him, she was merely an accessory, a means to an end. Her beginning was crafted in complications and secrecy, setting the course of her life's journey on a path that would at times be confusing, fear filled, anger infused, overwhelming, and abusive. Different has never been different to her, it was the personification of her anxieties, she has never actually fit in anywhere. Either she was too young, too old, too this or too that; she was just too much her. Like all children, she grew up and the more she grew the more her situation and entanglements grew, the lies got bigger, the secret got deeper, and the partnership began to implode.  Funny thing about secrets, they don't stay hidden. There is no need to chronologically recal...

It is a complex combination of parallel traits and kindred mannerisms attempting to fit into a symmetrical synergy, it's a discovery of identity and a dive into the depths of dissimilarity, it's an awakening to the knowledge of imperfections and purity, and it is the evolution of brilliance. Doesn't this description sound mysteriously appealing but somewhat intimidating? By now, I am sure you are wondering what I am talking about. Humans are miraculous creations, so divinely assembled with all the pieces fitting into the correct spaces, woven together by the elements of the earth, and held together by the very essence of God;  living phenomenons powerful enough to shift the entire balance of an atmosphere just by being present. We are light moving in darkness, triumphantly blazing a trail for others to follow. Isn't it ironic that we can be all so profoundly glorious and be absolutely blind at the same time?  People, including myself, struggle to see things that are s...

As much as I am a champion and advocate for friendship building among females, I am not naive enough to ignore the fact that among women lies this thread of ugliness. I don't know what it is in this community of women that feeds this tendency to become angry when a sister does something to better herself. Why do some women feel the need to either hold each other back or pull one down when she makes it up a little higher? I truly don't understand. I saw this in the Endometriosis community and it saddened me. Now I am seeing it in the Plus Size Community and I am disgusted. Women, what is really the problem? If we get to the cause of the symptoms, we can cure this sickness. Her Early Youtube years Passion Jonesz is a very popular YouTube Influencer, I have followed her, watched her channel, supported her, and adored her for years. Passion started her channel when she was about 17 years old or so and she was plus size, as in she was between a size 12-16, I don't know for...

I grew up in a Christian home, headed by a dominant but loving grandmother.  My grandma was in a word and understatement, brilliant.  The depths of this woman's wisdom ran deeper than any of us were aware.  As a child, my beloved grandmother suffered a lot of emotional, verbal, and mental abuse and trauma. So, her perception of life, love, relationships, and sex were clouded. Of all the things she taught me, sex was never a subject to be discussed and any mentioning of sexuality other than being heterosexual(she probably didn't know this word), I am sure would've caused complete pandemonium.  I have always been different and hyper-aware of my differences in comparison to my friends and family.  While I didn't know what made me the oddball, I knew something about me wasn't the norm.     The Talk I started my period when I was 11 years old.  My mom gave me a Kotex pad(hated those), told me to put it on, and go back to bed. Later that day, I...