9 Things Women REALLY Should Know About Men: + 1 MORE to Grow On!

I’m in the business of learning more about the natural inclinations of Most women AND Most men with regards to their behavioral psychology in and around relationships. I have many, many conversations about this subject with men I know personally- as well as with strangers- from various socioeconomic backgrounds, living and working within a multitude of income levels and a host of professions; including the unemployed. There is no shame in my thang! I’ll ask a brotha in the street why he just looked at a Sista’s booty as she walked away. I’ll question what prompts those seemingly instinctive behaviors, such as the immediate turning of the head and fixing of the eyes in a downward direction at an angle ranging between 75 and 45 degrees from ground to “standard” eye level, all in order to catch a glimpse of a woman’s booty as she knowingly or unknowingly passes by. I want to know what he noticed about her, first; what his booty-looking criteria are; and, what his thoughts were as his eyes gazed penetratingly at her bum. Was he aroused in those moments he stared? Was he envisioning a future with her as he watched? Further, had he even thought about his own thinking in that situation before? There is much to learn from the dialogue this line of questioning yields. So, I probe! I want to be in-the-know, in part, so I can share that information with you. I Love You. I encourage you to grow.

9 Things WOMEN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THEMSELVES

This list is, by no means comprehensive {although lengthy enuff}, but it's My Nine and I'm sharing it with you. J These are things you may already know about yourself, but tend to forget while actively participating in other people’s lives, as we women are prone to do. I put together this list because I know we need to individually and collectively pay more attention to ourselves. So, here we go: 9 Things You Probably Already Know! 

1. You Are The Answer~ Everything you need, you already have. Everything you want is within your reach. No need to look outside for too much. You wanna know? You already do. The signs are easy, usually pretty obvious and come relatively quickly: Everyday for the past week, you've been thinking about an empire-waist cut brown dress, and what's the first thing you see when you get off the elevator at the department store?!-- You've been deliberating between alternative medicine or months of treatment at the hospital and the doctors tell you there's not much they can do for you; that even with treatment, you may only have months to live-- He says he's divorced, but still wears his wedding ring-- He's 5 years "your man", but hardly ever comes home to you at night. Do you buy the brown dress? Or, settle for the less expensive blue one behind it? Do you resign to non-therapeutic traditional “treatment” that'll cause you months of uncertainty, pain and misery? Or, do you trust the Universe, yourself and a natural practitioner who's able to assist you with bringing quality and longevity to your own life? Do you go with what he told you about why he wears the ring: that he sees his dying mother everyday and doesn't want to forget to put it on one day, because if she found out he was divorced it would kill her immediately? Or, do you say kindly, "It was a pleasure meeting you. Call me when your mother recovers or dies”?? Do you remain unhappy and continue to live in that lie of a 5-year relationship you allowed to fester? Or, do you decide to move on and open yourself to the possibility of a man who will come home to you every night/most nights or whatever you desire? When we Remember that we are already complete, we can Recognize: 

When the answers to the questions we pose don't undoubtedly point toward us, we are workin' in the wrong equation. Problem solved!!

ON BEING "SINGLE"

This Single Ishhh is for the birds!!!!!!!!!

I'm used to being Catered To; Assisted; Protected;..... Having Someone to Carry My Bags.... Sheesh!! No disrespect to anyone else, but, I Am NOT one of those women who boasts about being strong and independent. STRONG? That's a given. I birthed three children into the world {two of them, in the southeastern corner of my bedroom..without meds, monitors or my mama!} INDEPENDENT? Of what/whom? What does that mean, really?? See, that's part of the problem. Everyone wants to claim independence as if companionship, partnership and intimate relationships equate captivity, dominion or enslavement of some kind. We live in such an individualistic society, where a false sense of independence is glamorized.What of that? Doesn't our mere existence in this realm, on this planet, in hueman form, dictate that we form relations with others so that we may thrive? And, aside from attaining solitude for spiritual reasons, quietly going through a healing process or when partaking in some sort of rites-of-passage, who wants to be alone, anyway?

WOMAN POWER: Part I

PREFACE

I began this post shortly before “Mother’s Day”. It was inspired by my fleeting aggravation with society, in general, and women, in particular {fleeting, because I overstand the bigger picture but can, at times, be temporarily overcome with emotion}. My intention with my children has always been to groom them into confident, self-aware individuals whose primary allegiance is to Self {“To thine own self, be true”}. I teach them to Be Apprentices of Self, Aspiring to Mastery. To that end, I have made sacrifices and conscious choices APLENTY. Not saying all my choices were the greatest, but I made them with Specific Intentions. In other words, I Chose to Do Something rather than doing nothing at all. In that way, I Am Victorious. {I Teach my suns and Nurture my daughter~ more on that in my forthcoming book}. At the end of the day, I Am Doing My Part by contributing to the betterment of society through my efforts to improve self, family, community and world. What more?

FEELIN' GOOD

Motha Nature doesn't always feel GREAT! But, she always feels Good. 

This time, last year, I felt Absolutely Fabulous!! I was completely IN LOVE with MYSELF: that is, my higher self AND my human self {most especially, my physical attributes}. I celebrated each unique curve as my wardrobe shifted from oversized to perfectly tailored {with a few items being, I must admit, quite revealing, actually,..tee hee hee}. Now, I don't own a full-length mirror, but that was of no consequence. Mind you, I didn't spend a whole lot of time picking a particular outfit, either. I simply felt remarkable~ from the inside out! Clothing was merely an accessory to that, enhancing the sparkle that emanated from the innermost regions of my Womanness. I wasn't the slimmest I've ever been, nor was I the heaviest. I was somewhere in~between and lovin' every inch of it!

THE NEW "BEAUTIFUL"

THE CREATORS OF THE IMAGE DIDN'T EVEN EMBODY IT!!! IT'S A GENETICALLY INFERIOR ANOMALY..EVEN FOR THEM!! BUT, SOMEHOW, YOU BOUGHT INTO IT! ODDLY, AND, ALL TOO OFTEN, THAT WHICH IS DIFFERENT BECOMES THE PRIZE. THAT WHICH OTHERS POSSESS, YOU WANT. 

So, this is what people aspire to?->

CAN WE TALK??? Really?

In the words of Comedienne Joan Rivers, 

Ok. BROTHAS.. Many of you claim YOU WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TELL HER how you're really feeling; share some of your innermost desires. You say you just wish you could talk to her openly, honestly, without judgment or fear of repercussions from her. You really want her to just listen. Isn't that true?   

And, SISTAS.. Most of us say WE WISH HE WOULD TALK TO US MORE

about how he really feels; share his innermost desires with us. We say we just want him to feel comfortable enough to discuss anything with us, no matter what it is. We want him to stop lying to us simply because he thinks we can't handle the truth. Right?

9 Things Women Should Understand About Dating

During most of my high school years and throughout much of my time in college, I felt extremely lonely when it came to the dating scene. Many of my friends were hooked up with someone and I never felt like anyone was interested in me..at least, not the brothas whose attention I wanted, anyway. In all honesty, I turned away many a young man I wasn't interested in, for one reason or another. The way I saw it, the ones I desired, weren't paying me any mind at all. In fact, a few seemed to be downright ignoring me! You know those teen television shows/movies when they depict the generic high school hallway scene where the boy and girl are approaching each other, looking all dreamy and whatnot? The scene usually plays out this way:

9 Ways TO GET YOUR CHILDREN TO EAT FRUITS & VEGGIES

I became a Vegetarian at the age of 16, Vegan at 19 and have been a Raw Foodist and Fruitarian at different points in my life. I have three children, including a teenager, all of whom have been Raw Foodists and Vegans since birth. 

Children desire the colorful, fresh choices created by nature. 

*** If your goal is to introduce your children to healthy eating practices and to arm them with the information they need to sustain that way of life into adulthood, Rather Than forcing them to eat foods they don't like, Try Out These Tips That Worked For Me:

7 Things WOMEN SHOULD LET MEN DO WHILE DATING

I liken the steps of the entire dating process to a first date. It sets the tone for how you interact throughout the relationship. What you accept and what you reject during that date, determine all else. In fact, you actually began to set the standard in your earliest talks with him. You were clear and direct regarding your standards, likes and dislikes. And, you have been noticeably consistent  in the way you conducted yourself over the course of many conversations. He has been paying very close attention to that.

In this case, that first date is a day-long affair, beginning in the afternoon and going on late into the night. It's a chance to spend quality face-time together; after months of {technologically assisted} discussions. In that time, you've each learned what makes the other tick; kinds of food you eat; and, places you like to go, among other things. Actually, you've gotten to know each other quite well.

Food For Thought~ Think About Action

DID YOU KNOW AMERICAN COMPANIES: Kraft, Coca Cola and Walmart  Distribute Their Products FREE OF ARTIFICIAL FOOD COLORS AND DYES THROUGHOUT EUROPE? Meanwhile, they distribute THE SAME NAMED PRODUCTS {FILLED WITH ARTIFICIAL FOOD COLORS AND DYES} Right Here, IN AMERICA!! 

Off The Wall

I must say, Wendy Williams SUCKS BUTT {pardon my language} on Dancing with the Stars!! I had to say it! It's not like you didn't know that already. But, I give her so much credit for being brave enough to make the effort at all. Why am I talking about this on Friday night, anyway?? I know, the show comes on at the beginning of the week and that's old news. True. Well, I'm a Home Schooling Mother of three and I get around to these things when I can.. gimme a break!
Actually, I felt compelled to write about what I perceive as her experience on the popular dance show. The reason being, I can totally relate!! Not that I would suck butt on there.. Please! What I mean is, she obviously has issues around dancing {however deep- seated} and, I, too, have had issues around dancing. Those who know me {and know me well enough} know that I was a perpetual wall flower. ~Flowers I do love~ But, the more lively, colorful variety. You know, those beautyfull, sometimes scented ones that peek out from the tops of water-filled vases. As a pretty wall flower, peeking out I did NOT! In fact, I turned my head the other way when I noticed individuals making their way toward me with aspirations of acquiring a dance accompanied by myself. Nope. Uh- Uh. I simply refused. Every. Single. Time. Bottom- line, they never stood a chance. Period. *Apologies Brothas of My Past* I viewed my  holding up the walls at various venues throughout the cities where my elementary, high school and college were located as my sacred duty. When I was on WALL, the foundation was going NoWhere! There could have been an earth-shattering quake, tsunami, nuclear bomb, whatever.. When it was all over, you best believe me and my wall would still be standing!! {You get the picture}


Back to Wendy..HA!!!..I tend to digress at times..I was attempting to draw a connection between her and me. She seemed as though she wanted to cry after each performance. I used to cry even though I hadn't performed. She has, at minimum, some sense of confidence; enough to get her on that dance floor in the first place! I completely lacked the esteem to just shine and be me, regardless of how I or others felt I looked.


So, what's the point of this yarn I'm spinnin'? Watching Wendy reminded me of how much I have evolved in this short span I call life {via my present form of being}. The days of suffering from low self-esteem {which, by the way, should officially be classified as a form of mental illness..it really is} are over!!!!!!! I Am Free of self- doubt and self-loathing!!! When I stood up at my recent 20th Year High School Reunion and danced, I stepped outside myself; gazing and smiling at just how far I have come. Sure, I've danced at the many conscious reggae "concerts" I've attended over the nine and a half years of I lived within RasTafarI. That was Spiritual; Transcendent. But, this, it was different. This was dancing for dancing's sake AND dancing for life's sake at the same time!!  I dance all the time, now! It's a part of my regular routine. Early this a.m., I was at the disco {in my kitchen} groovin' with Donna Summer, etc...


It's Friday Night and I have two sho' nuff rituals I've developed {purely unintentionally..at least on a conscious level}. They are: 1. My Sensual Love Bath with Personal Spa Treatments and, 2. Dancing My Ass Off in my living room to whatever moves me!! Now I'm Living!!!!!!! And, now I know that what My Beloved Brotha Michael says: Life 'aint so bad at all/ When You Live It OFF THE WALL is True.


Happiness Is Health. 
~Health Is Wealth~

Don't Wanna DETOX?

It's Springtime! DE-TOX Time!! Not up for it? Neither am I! But, here's some things We Can Do to give our bodies a bit of a break from all the excess:

AM DO's            

1. Water First {with or without a little lime juice}- as many glasses as you can stand before you absolutely have to have something to eat! Spread your glasses apart, don't just gulp for gulping's sake. Wake up earlier if you have to so you can make sure you've used the facilities enough before you venture out. *'Tis the season for earlier a.m. rising, anyway.
2. Smoothie & a Bar {some type of granola bar, that is}- Make sure it's a FRUIT Smoothie! Fruits are for the a.m. and you'll appreciate that boost you get from all those natural sugars and vitamins. And, take it with you if you can. You'll want to wait at least a 1/2 hour after your final glass of water before you drink it. Half hour after that, if you still feel really hungry, eat an energy bar. I have mine around 11a.m. Clif Luna Bars are my faves~ Caramel Nut Brownie; White Chocolate Macadamia; Chocolate Raspberry; and, Chocolate Dipped Coconut~ FYI: There are other flavors besides chocolate! :-)
1. Alternative- So Delicious Coconut Milk Or Amande Almond Milk Non Dairy YOGURT. Dip Apple or Strawberry Slices in the yogurt, then dip into Nature's Path HEMP Plus Granola..Yum..Freakin' Yummm...

PM DO's

1. Big Salad {this can be in place of or in addition to your lunchtime usual}- Make sure you get your daily dose of fibrous greens. Green Leaf. Red Tip. Radicchio. Arugula. Boston. Endive. Red Chard. And, Romaine {which I've recently become pretty fond of} *Include Spinach for iron and other minerals. "Why Salad?" you ask. Regularity is Key~ to Health, Wealth and Great Skin! {doesn't that make you Happy?!!}
2. Skip Dinner?? {did I say to eat a big enough lunch to satisfy you?}- Who says you Need to eat dinner, anyway? You've had your drinks and a light snack. Make this meal count. Who said you had to skimp on your salad, especially, if that's going to be your largest meal of the day? Go ahead, you know how to live a little! Enhance that salad! Douse on the nuts & seeds, raisins, sprouted beans, nori, croutons..whatever floats your boat. Or, lightly embellish with cucumbers, avocado, etc, etc... Whatever you do, you had better enjoy it!!
3. Snack It Up! {snack often}- Tortilla Chips & Salsa. Tortilla Chips & Hummus. Popcorn {Little Lad's Herbal is good}. Nori & Avocado. Nuts & Raisins. Raw Veggies. 

PLEASE Do NOT

• SMOKE {cigarettes}.
• DRINK ALCOHOL.
• Eat FLESH {beef, chicken, goat, alligator, fish...} More Than THREE Times a Week.
• Eat FRIED FOODS More Than ONCE A WEEK.
• Drink SODA, SWEETENED JUICES.
• Eat CANDY.
• DEPRIVE YOUSELF of REST {you'll need lots of energy to keep yourself from doing all the please do not stuff!}.

OTHER STUFF

• Begin Your Day on a POSITIVE NOTE~ Affirmations, Exercise, Focused Breathing, Reading This Blog... :-)
• DON'T GO OUT TO DINNER WITH FRIENDS.. Stay Focused!!!!!!
• TAKE IT EASY. Don't be so hard on yourself if you mess up. Pick up and start again. ~Forward Ever~
• If you're an Everyday Coffee Drinker, SUBSTITUTE HERBAL TEA and drink tons of it throughout the course of the day. Sweeten with AGAVE NECTAR. You'll lose water weight and, some fat cells to boot!! Not to mention, your hair and skin will shine and sing your praises. 
• You can even Taper Down to Every Other Day Coffee and Tea. You gotta start somewhere, right?!!

YOU CAN DO IT! OF COURSE, YOU CAN!!!    :-)

BigGER Love

Did you see the Season Finale of "Big Love"???

I did. I cried! Did you? I mean, what an emotional roller coaster right from the beginning!! I'd be doing my deep breathing exercises whenever I'd see Bill onscreen. I could feel his tension {he was always so darn tense!} in every single episode. Whether it was during the earlier years of his struggles with the Home Plus franchise or around the never-ending issues within his marriage{s}, it was Always Sumthin'! There was always some type of Major Drama that Bill and his wives had to contend with. But, this was the very first episode where I experienced having to let the water flow from my lids. My heart was full of all kinds of feelings: joy and sadness included.

Throughout the show's duration, I wasn't really cool about Bill and his family not being accepted by the dominant society. I'm not cool with people being treated as outcasts, in general. My thing is, if you don't like something, don't get involved in it. Mind your own business, right? So, for me, this wasn't just a controversial dramatic cable series. There's no such notion as art for art's sake in my book. The kind of bigotry Bill and his family experienced happens everyday in "real life"..True Story! Aside from the fact that Bill's particular religious beliefs seemed a little ignorant and backwoods to me..My Truth, people!..I feel like they still had every right to practice freely and live their lives as they saw fit. They weren't harming anyone and their intentions appeared to be loving. And, while we're on the subject of intent, what of the business of Margene {sp} being 16 when she and Bill married?!! Exactly what were each of their intentions? .. Hmmm.. That's a whole 'notha issue. I'm not judging, just saying.. {P.S~ Men aren't that foolish are they?.. Rhetorical question- HA!!- I know they are}

Anyway, LOVE happens to be one of my favorite topics of discussion. Rule #1~ LOVE IS LIFE. Question: How do we know when a thing is living? Answer: It grows/ changes/ expands. Love does all those things. Love is growth, change and expansion. Wherever Love exists, Life exists.

If you're not growing/ changing/ expanding, then, by default, you are diminishing/ remaining static/ decreasing. I'm not saying that if you're not practicing polygamy, you're not living! {That's funny} What I am saying is that if you're not having lots of sex, you're not living!!.. Joking! On the contrary, despite popular belief, polygamy is as complex as, if not, more than, other types of unions- not just about sex. Seriously, what I am saying is that individuals should begin by learning to love themselves more wholistically, spreading that love to family members, friends, significant others and if that means eventually increasing your current circle of significant others, so be it. Were you listening to childlike, innocent Margene when told Bill that her wanting to explore the world outside of their family/ community would be in addition to rather than in place of what they had? She said, "You're my anchor. You're my home. But, someday, I do want to meet new people and share what's in my heart with others."~ BANG! That's BIG'! That's Love.

Bill and Barbara's love began small, just intimate enough for the two of them. Later, it grew to encompass a larger union. They faced enormous challenges with life-altering consequences; many, not unlike those faced by monogamous couples. Where Bill & Barb differ greatly from monogamous couples is in the fact that their type of union {polygamous} is illegal and considered sinful by most religious institutions and authorities. SCREW THEM!! ..pun intended..

Ever the cheerleader for True Champions, I'm givin' a SHOUT OUT to All Polygamous Families!

You Choose Your Way regardless of the what others say. You Choose Love as a Way of Life. And, just like Bill's wives eventually learned, you Overstand that LOVE is about Acceptance, Allowance and the Acknowledgement that it is owned by no one, yet, it BELONGS TO ALL. Love is really BIG. In fact, it is Bigger than we can ever imagine.

All We HAVE To Do, All We CAN Do, is Allow Love to Grow.. Bigger and Bigger and BIGGER...

~HEALTH IS WEALTH~

Copyright © 2011 Motha Nature, Harlem, USA

Repost--> SPRING INTO GREAT HEALTH!!

Springtime---> The time to Move Forward with whatever it is you say you really want. Spring represents Renewal/ Energy/ Detoxification/ Rebirth/ Optimal Health.
~Every Fruit has Its Season~
BOUNTYFULL BERRIES Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, etc… are Plump, Delicious and Packed with Antioxidants, Vitamins and, believe it or not, Minerals (especially darker ones). 
Berries Tone Fat Cells while Expelling Mucous. Strawberries, eaten in large doses, are known to ease pain. For Healthy, Glowing Skin EAT YOUR BERRIES DURING SPRINGTIME!!
WOMEN, Berries Will KEEP IT TIGHT in all the places that matter most. *Wink*
Berries are healing and astringent for the uterus. Eat in abundance if you suffer from FIBROIDS or just want to restore WOMB HEALTH.
*As with all the fruits and vegetables I discuss, ORGANIC (when available) is the way to go! *
Enjoy berries on top of granola, oats, or all mixed up into a Sweet Spring Berry Salad.
Spring Berry Salad Mix a variety of berries together in large bowl. 
Sprinkle a dash of Cinnamon powder. Grate a smidgen of Fresh Ginger onto the mixture. Add Agave Nectar. Squeeze Fresh Lime Juice over the salad. Cover and Let Sit for 15-30 minutes. ~Enjoy~

~Health Is Wealth~

Copyright © 2010 Motha Nature, Harlem, USA

WINNING

The phrase health is wealth takes on even greater meaning when we begin to apply it to every aspect of our lives. The concept of health applies to more than physical wellness. It's a wholistic term encompassing spirituality AND mentality.

It has been said before and I like to reiterate it: It's not the messenger, it's the message.

The thought that individuals have the power to accomplish ANYTHING we focus Energy, Intent and Will on is as ancient as the eldest beings of this planet and, beyond. In fact, humans have been transforming that thought into reality since our existence. Evidence of this is as complex as the design and, subsequent, construction of the largest physical edifices and the most intricately detailed mechanical structures we know {bridges, airplanes, buildings...}. If it is possible to conceive and manifest monumental machines, why, then, do we find it so difficult to grasp that we have the power to harness the same energy and put it into curing ourselves of whatever ails us. Whether the illness is addiction, cancer or H.I.V., we can think it and it is so. It has been done time and again. Not a believer? google it!

When Charlie Sheen stated that he handled his addiction that way, people mocked and snickered in disbelief. Beneath what appeared to be the outrageous statements of a troubled and crazy individual, I heard Universal Truth. While watching his interviews, I found that I related to much of what he was saying. I've been aware of the my power to create with my thoughts all my life. It's, partly, a Pisces thing. As an adult, I've become even more consciously aware of it. In my experience, I have overcome acne, eczema, migraines, shopping addiction and a host of other illnesses. My father was addicted to crack in the early '90s. He, too, overcame his addiction with the power of mind. Inspired by thoughts he had while reading a letter I wrote him, he made up his mind to stop using crack and he did.

Ponder the meaning of these phrases: make up your mind; change begins in the mind;what you can conceive, you can achieve. Those are just a few of countless similar sayings alluding to the power within that we all possess. What meaning, if any, do they have for you?

Perhaps you hadn't given thought to any of the above. I trust that, after reading this post, someone will. Crazy-ass Charlie Sheen has. What's more, he has transformed his life and is creating the effects he desires. And, for that reason, he is WINNING.

~Health Is Wealth~

Copyright © 2011 Motha Nature, Harlem, USA

9 Golden Laws of Healthier HAIR & SKIN

LAW #6~ SWEAT!

Want a Gorgeous Glow?

You gotta DETOXIFY from the Inside Out!

Sweat it out/ Let it out!!

I'm just not that into the gym, you say. That's fine {neither am I}. But, in order to get your perspiration on, there needs to be Some Kinda physical activity.

No need to make it a chore, though. Be creative. I say, Do what you like! Get your boogie on- Wind ya waist to Dancehall music/ throw on some Old School Hip Hop records and do the runnin' man; Clean your place from top to bottom- several times a week; even better, have some SEXercise- grind it up! {in addition to your great new skin, you'll be in a really great mood}~ seriously. ;-)

Whether you choose traditional or alternative forms of movement, commit to doing it as often as possible. Schedule it on your calendar as if you were taking a class {even if you'll be running up and down steps for an hour a day}.

Make it happen!!

You Can Do It!

Your Hair Will Thank You...

Your Skin Will Thank You...

~Health Is Wealth~

Copyright © 2011 Motha Nature, Harlem, USA