The effects of a simple change

It's not often that I listen or care too much about what a celebrity has to say. Generally speaking, their words don't hold much weight outside of their own circle of friends because they're opinions. However, I will say that if I do look to celebrities for inspiration, it's hardly ever from the ones that we see on the television screen today. They range from activists to directors, photographers to bloggers and, on occasion, an actress or two.

Over the past year, I've had 3 major hair changes - the third happening last Thursday. (I'm sure you know where I'm going with this post, but humor me - especially those of you that are friends with me on Facebook or Instagram, lol.) Years ago, Coco Chanel said something about changes like this:

A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.

Well. She was right.

I remember a few years ago when I basically cut all my hair off to sport a TWA (teeny weenie afro as we call it in the natural hair community) and I hated it at first, mostly because the local hair dresser was terrible. After I made my way back home, my original hair dresser fixed it, dyed it, and boom - after a few days, I was in love. It was freeing, it forced people to really see my face which sounds kinda crazy, but since I didn't have to deal with my hair so much, it just made it easier to notice me.

It made me notice myself…and I took a bit of pride in that, not in a bad way, but more of a healthy dose of self-love.

Fast forward to 2012, I started working as a reporter in Florida and my afro had grown quite a bit and everyone loved it…but eventually I came to terms that my best move professionally would be to make another change, so in November I went back to chemically straight hair. It was a welcome change, I mean, I could swish my hair from side to side, throw it in a ponytail, do spiral curls, all sorts of things, but after 6 months of ponytails, heat damage, and laziness on my part, I decided I needed to make a real change.

So I cut it.

And I felt like I did when I first went natural. Absolutely terrified, almost to the point of tears, when I saw the hair on the ground being swept up, followed by a feeling of joy and freedom when I looked in the mirror. No long bang, no morning frustration trying to figure out what the heck I was going to do with my hair, just easy, relaxed, with more time to do what I feel is important.

The past few days have had more reading, more music, more fun, and newly opened eyes to things I want in life - and it's obviously not just the result of an amazing haircut, but positive friends that encouraged me as I debated doing it before hand and built me up after wards.

The new look!

Falling into place

I've been in a really angsty on here lately and that's just uncomfortable for me to re-read if I'm going to be honest, haha. There have been several factors that have played into this, but if there's one thing I do know, after everything seems to be in ruins, things start to pick back up for a variety of reasons.

First, once things have sucked so epically, you're more motivated to do what's best for you - what you truly want and desire and as someone who has chosen to fight for her personal peace, I think it's just another step in the right direction.

I mean, look at this face - how happy am I?

Second, I've been blessed with the opportunity to do a bunch of stuff I want to do. Saw Melanie Fiona and Kendrick Lamar perform, had some awesome heart-to-hearts with my friends in Gainesville, and currently I have one of my close friends from school sleeping in my apartment while I work.

Speaking of that, I can't say enough how grateful I am to have J here with me right now. She's one of my more grounded friends, out in law school preparing to take over the world.

The other night we had a long discussion about friendship and life, how things have changed so much over the course of the 2 years that we've been separated and the best part about the whole thing was how natural it felt, like the 2 years weren't even there.

One of the things I'm eternally grateful for is friends that are worth fighting for. There aren't many that fall in that category, but those that do have a very special place in my heart - because I know they'd fight for me too. Sometimes we spend so much time giving our energy to people and things that don't deserve to have it and as I go through this spiritual reawakening I'm seeing a lot of things more clearly - crazy what a week of hard thinking can do to you.

I'm excited about the changes that are coming forth, spiritually, emotionally, mentally...the whole 9 yards and I feel like in the next few months I'll be able to make so many positive changes in my life, I'll look back at this and wonder what took me so long to commit to happiness.

Sometimes you gotta get away.

Sweet, home Alabama.

Being somewhere for a year can really wear you down and sometimes, all you need is a little vacation - and I finally had one without using any of my vacation time.

Sunday, after church, I scrambled home to grab my bags and hit the road to go to Huntsville, AL to visit my amazing friend for her birthday and attend the Rock and Worship Roadshow.

First of all, let me be crystal clear: this visit was everything I needed right now. I had a chance to do a photoshoot with DP, heard some great music, and met some awesome people. It was just the right dose of escape to remind me that where I am now isn't where I'll always be.

Also, let me add that there is nothing more fun than going to a great worship. I mean, I heard Mercy Me, Jeremy Camp, Rhett Walker Band, and a bunch of people I'd never heard of before and pretty much all of it was fantastic.

What wasn't so much fun? Driving back to Panama City Beach at 4:30 in the morning today. Whoo, pain in the butt, however I will say that I'm grateful for how things worked out because originally, I would have had to leave AL a 1 am.

Praise God that that didn't happen.

Anyway, here are some pics from the weekend - expect some stuff for my 365 soon. I started it on Monday...2 days strong y'all.

Big Spring Park in Hunstville, AL

DP and I

Happy Tuesday!