Stuff Black Girls Like

#22 Freedom

In my Deneice Williams' voice, "I just want to be free, free, FREE!!"

YES, black girls from Harriet Tubman and Sojourner truth to you and me have been breaking the shackles off our feet so that we may DANCE!

Whether its a dead-end job, relationship, sin-clogged life - it is a chain binding you. These chains keep you from your destiny and living that abundant life. I can truly attest that if you seek God with all of your heart this journey to truth will set you free, free, FREE!

This black girl loves her freedom. I start a new gig Monday that is more in line with my hopes, dreams and career goals. Letting go of the old nine to five was truly a freeing experience. I am so grateful all I want to do is praise and dance.

What are you glad to be free from? What has this freedom allowed you to do and/or become?

Let our shackless feet dance together in one romp of praise!

#21 Organization or No Clutter

An organized home=an organized mind.

I have found it difficult to keep up with blogging ever since I moved in January, hence the delay in this post. I still had boxes from that move packed. I finally looked at those stupid boxes and said ENOUGH!

Black girls like organization!

So I have taken the past 2 weekends to organize my home starting with my bedroom and down to the smallest details. Clutter will no longer rule me.

Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. Albert Einstein

This is a short post. No room for extra words = too much clutter! lol

#20 New Year's Day

Make it great in 2008! Staying fine in 2009! You can win in 2010!

Whatever your rhyming declaration, black girls like the New Year. It is a time to brush off the disappointments and frustrations of the old and start anew.

I was raised in a Church of God in Christ denomination, COGIC for those in the know, meaning no New Year's Eve parties for me. We had "Watch Service" in which we went to church around nine o'clock and prayed until after 12 midnight. It did not matter one bit that we stayed in neighborhoods in which gun shots would be ringing right along with our prayers.

God kept us safe.

Even to this day, it is difficult for me to not pray at midnight. I would feel a bit guilty drinking in the New Year. Anyway, out with the old and in with the new, right?

This New Year's holiday has me wanting to make one resolution - WRITE! This includes my book, my blogs and freelancing.

We black girls must agree on a New Year's declaration - a rhyming one. How about lucky number 7 in 2011? lol

#19 Other People's Children

I like other people's children. Why? Because they always go home. lol

A guy at work had a baby shower. A good friend of mine donated some clothes. As I was washing and folding little onesies, I suddenly became sentimental about children.

And then I smacked myself! lol

What was I thinking?

I am such a great auntie and friend. I love to love children from afar. I was even considering becoming a mentor.  The idea of having permanent children, however, is kind of scary.

I believe that if I were married and financially stable, I would be less afraid. I may even welcome it. As of right now, I like children - the returnable kind.

#18 Divas

This black girl likes a diva - a TRUE diva - not some Disney pop artist enlisted by VH1 to raise ratings for their dying show, DIVAS.

I knew that show was in jeopardy when circa 1999 they had the audacity to place Brandy (no shade but no diva) on the same stage with Whitney, Chaka, and Tina Turner.

"Baby bye!" in Diva speak.

So what is a diva, you may ask?

A diva is a woman with a big ego ( a real big ego) - as big as her talent. Why? Because she can back it up. A diva is Patti LaBelle, vintage Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Mariah Carey (arguably). Some young divas include (my fav) Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, not and I repeat NOT Miley Cyrus.

Aye, VH1.

I remember seeing Patti LaBelle perform at the Apollo (on TV, not live). She hit this note so bright and clear. She pulled the mike down and you could still hear the note echoing across the auditorium.

P-O-W-E-R-H-O-U-S-E!

#17 New Beginnings

Black girls like new beginnings.

A fresh start is the best treatment for any failure - personal or professional.

As women, we can get caught in a cycle, an unhealthy cycle, that allows the same wound to be reopened right as it has finally crusted over with a scab.

I know gross imagery but sometimes we need to hear the truth.

A few examples:

1. You're in an on again/off again relationship for ten years. The man calls you up and says it's over, I am in love. You decide to visit home. He calls you up and says, "Just kidding. I love you!" You sleep with him - it starts all over again.
2. The same family member(s) that has (have) betrayed you time and time again once again lets you down. You are hurt and injured and they are on their merry way.
3. You start a diet and workout regimen and are losing weight steadily. One weekend you fall of track. Instead of getting back on track, you wallow in self-pity and gravy.

I am being a tad facetious but you get my drift.

It's time to heal. It's time to prosper. The one way you can start today is by making a new beginning.

My prayer lately has been, Lord help me to take one day at a time.

#16 Birthdays

Black girls like birthdays.

I love celebrations. When I worked as a manager, everyone on my team got a cake and card for their birthday. Now, I work for a really stuffy office where that type of camaraderie is nonexistence. To give you an example, I had to pull teeth to get our department to put in $5 to purchase a cake for our manager. Three of the people on staff have yet to give me their $5. LOL. Later, my manager confided in me that she had NEVER had a birthday celebration at work. Never in like 20 years.

WOW!

Today is my birthday and also, my twin in my head, Michelle Obama.

I celebrated early with a full day of events. Yesterday, I went to lunch and saw Denzel's new movie, "The Book of Eli." Last night, I went to Brooklyn's Jazz Cafe to see http://www.zacharmon.com/. It was fun.

I wonder what Michelle Obama did on her special day?

#15 Christmas

Black girls love Christmas.

Christmas is so multi-faceted that it encompasses many great things black girls like. It is a time of family and friends. It is a time of giving and receiving. It is a time to reflect on the birth of Christ. Yes, Christmas is all of these things. It is also a time of reflection on how you have lived in the previous 11 months without all of the pressure of New Year's Resolutions.

I am never one for resolutions or hollow proclamations - it's fine in 2009, things are great in 2008, etc. What exactly rhymes with ten anyway? lol

At least at Christmas, you can just feel love. If you are near family or abroad - just feel love. It travels through the atmosphere and reaches your heart. If you are estranged from someone, reach out to them. No rehash of past wrongdoings, just give love. Love melted the Grinch's heart. I am sure it can melt yours.

After all, the Christmas story tells us that God came down unto man as the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. I am told that God IS love.

I send love to all of my readers on the Christmas Day. Don't worry, you can re-gift it. LOL

#14 Real Friends

Black girls like friendship.

It is the hallmark of sororities, bible studies, and girls' nights out everywhere. Friendship is the major them in my most favorite chick flicks - Waiting To Exhale and The Color Purple.

"You and me, us never part, Ma-kee-dah-dah."

I digress. LOL

Facebook is an amazing tool. It allows people who have grown estranged to reconnect. My very best friend from 8th grade found me a few weeks ago. It is amazing that after so many years people still remember the bond of friendship, even as children.

Life is full of flakes; frosted, snow, and, yes, people. True friendship is hard to come by. So when you find it, do not cast it away lightly over an ill said word or deed. Remember the totality of the connection.

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

#13 Passion

Black girls love passion. Passion as defined as any powerful or compelling emotion.

What are you passionate about? What is it that causes you to get out of bed in the morning?

I love a man that is passionate about something. Be it music, career, education, or making a difference, have some passion about it.

I think Michelle Obama took a look at a scrawny, broke, nerd trying to make his way into politics and said, "This man has PASSION!!!" We all know how that story unfolded.

Soooooo, what is your passion?