New Thought Sermon: Reverse The Thought, Reverse The Condition

My Natural Hair

I remember when I started this blog, one of the main subjects I wrote about was my hair. Over the course of this journal I've done many things to it, including cut it. Many times. Ive been natural for a bout ten years and I am JUST NOW coming to a love of my hair again. I remember when I first went natural I had so much fun researching all the ways to care for and style it. The forums and message boars were always POPPIN and FUN.  As time went on and it grew out I didn't LOVE it as much as I thought I would. I became a mom and a wife and the love of my hair was replaced with other things. It was REALLY expensive to care for my hair and keep it styled. On top of that i really didn't love it. I didn't love the texture. I didn't love the length. I didn't love the CONSTANT split ends and fairy knots. So for about 3-4 years or so I kept it shaved bald. I kept a number 1. Because although I didn't LIKE my natural hair  I didn't want a perm. I wanted to like it, I just didn't. 
     Fast forward to about 2 years ago when Devin and I first split and I was ready to grow it out but i knew I wanted something different. I needed it cut cute, and in good shape. So I started to grow it out again , but I kept my one side shaved and I just grow it out like that.  I gave it time to grow out. Started styling it again ad buying products for it.
     Now I'm in love again.  I've recently been watching YouTube videos on hair CARE. n hair LOVE and respect. AA hair is no the type of hair that doesn't need CARE and LOVE. It need ATTENTION, TIME and RESPECT, that's something I purposely made time to do for myself after the break up. For years I forgot about the IMPORTANCE of a regular hair ROUTINE. When I was younger and first went natural, my hair care routine was all I lived for.  Having a schedule of hair care and documenting certain things ( like when you last clipped your ends) is SUPER important. Regularly co-washing, and detangling, DEEP conditioning treatments, and trims. Protective styling WITHOUT hair extensions needed. 1. It gives your hair line a break from the stress and extra weight of hair and braiding. 2 It forces me to come to grips with the love of my hair. Taking a break from extensions and braids allows you time to look at yourself in the mirror and LOVE what I have growing on my head.
    I have been watching SO many YouTube videos on 4c hair care and growth tips. Products to try that arent too expensive and STYLES. SO. MANY. NATURAL. STYLES. It's been inspirational and motivational. Motivational to do things like remembering to take my vitamins every day so my hair can grow in thick and healthy. This past weekend, on Saturday I clipped my ends. t needed it and i NEVER want to grow my hair out without clipping my ends again. That was one of the main things that discouraged me before and mad me cute it all off and rock the Cesar cut. Split ends are like FAKE FRIENDS. GET RID OF THEM! So i did. They are a length delusion and illusion. They just give you false hope about your hair when it reality it's DEAD. DEAD hair that needs to go. And honestly I would rather clip my ends NOW, as opposed to not and having split ends and crazy ugly dry hair later that I'll have to cut ALL off because it wont be any good ANYWAY. SO NO! I'm not going through that. Saturday was my first trim in the two years that I have been growing it out. Which was OK. I wanted to give my hair time to get some length before I cut it. I shouldn't have gone two years but it's ok because I wont go that long again. I will definitely be clipping my ends seasonally. Every season (about every 3 mos) I'll clip my ends GENTLY. So that it can be healthy and pretty. Not to mention the fact that freshly clipped ends feel REALLY good and look even better.
    In the mean time I have adapted a new attitude and a new hair care routine. I still have to do things on a budget so I'm careful with that. But pretty much:
EVERY MONTH: Clarifying Wash with a DEEP CONDITIONING treatment
EVERY TWO WEEKS: Deep Conditioning with hot oil treatment
EVERY WEEK: Co Wash on Sundays, detangle, and retwist/ quick style
EVERYDAY: -Take my vitamins
                       - Moisturize my hair with a leave in and seal with a oil or a butter
                       - Sleep with my scarf on.
Nurturing my edges and ends is EVERYTHING to me right now and kind of my hair care priority. Plus, a youtuber said she named her hair and I just thought that was a really neat, cute idea that fosters a love of hair.  I'm trying to think of one for mine.
                     

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VIDEOS: Today is my Quit Day

There were so many good and helpful points in these videos about stopping the habit of smoking. I honestly don't understand why I ever started. I honestly think i thought it was cool. How lame is that? And then out of "coolness" it became a habit and then past that I would say a need. I would call it a need. I felt I needed it to cope with the stress of life. THAT sounds even LAMER then my previous lame statement, but it's true. I have only really ever given quitting cigarettes ONE real good attempt, and i STOPPED. For TWO years. And then I picked it up again. People really can't blame anyone but themselves when it comes down to the habit of smoking. NOONE else makes you put that cigarette up to your lips. The two biggest reasons I want to quit is 1. It sets a TERRIBLE example for my children to see. Kira REALLY wants me to stop smoking so that I don't get cancer. She saw a commercial of a lady with half her face gone and said she doesn't want that for me. I told her I would quit because she wants me to and THAT matters. But really I WANT TO. More then anything. Her wanting it is just additional motivation. 2. I don't want cancer or any other smoking related illness. There are a bunch of other reasons too that I keep closed in my hand written journal. But I'm ready. I'm prepared for it being a journey but I am set to win. I need to get through 72 hours NOT smoking. After that the nicotine is out of your system and the physical symptoms of quitting subside a lot. 

VIDEO: Loving OUR Breasts! By Accepting Our BREASTS!

All I've been thinking about is self love and self care. Learning me all over has been a fun journey. Ive been able to write a lot more and the universe is attracting every bit of information I need to benefit my life right now.  Including this video gem that was in my watch later list. I struggle with loving my breast , especially after having and nursing two children.  They used to be GREAT. 34 DD's. Now, they are a THIN, saggy C cup. I feel self conscious when I am topless, or braless. Theres so much skin on them now.  I want to love them again, but i just barely like them now. So everyday I'm going to massage my breast and tell them I love them. I have some breast exercises that I'll also  do
     The BIGGEST thing I need to help with and GREATEST act of self love to myself would be to quit smoking. The problem is, is that whenever I quit smoking I get depressed and anxious for a while initially. t subsides eventually but it takes a very long time and I just don't want to feel that hurt. I already batle with it, I don't want to spiral down hill but at the same time I don't want to die of lung cancer or have any sort of smokers disease. I honestly HATE that I ever picked up the habit. It is honestly one of my biggest regrets. But it's NOTHING to just STOP. I wish it were just THAT EASY. lol. But I WILL do it.
     The three biggest challenges I have in my life now are

- Exercise
- Not smoking
- Eating right