Women's Wisdom Wednesdays: Choose Life

Choose Life

Yesterday, June 26th, 2012…I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  You know that feeling that something just isn’t going right…isn’t going to go right…hasn’t been going right?  In an extremely short space of time, Depression invaded my personal space just like Elizabeth Gilbert so perfectly and deliciously described in her book,
“Eat, Pray, Love”.
(I highly advise you cop that!)

I decided to go back to sleep.  My best friend and growth partner, though thousands of miles away, slept with me and when the alarm woke us, he said, “Don’t forget your tools, Ayesha NuRa.”

And, in response, at least, in my inner responses in my mind, (I cannot account for what he may have seen, as he seems to see the best in even the worst in me) my thought process was pretty much as follows:

"Don’t forget my tools?!
*insert a few extremely exasperated sighs here*
*insert a few tears here, too…because, I can…because, after all, I’m a Woman…yin and water and all that…AND to top it all off…I’m a Pisces as well.*
Tired of feeling sorry for yourself yet, Esh?
Oh damn…*giggle*caught up to my pain body again!"

Attitude Alchemy

I went to the park, did a meditation, wrote in my gratitude journal and dedicated time to reading about one of my many loves…the healing of Self.  I called my big brother and, once again, felt enveloped in peace and positivity.

I went to an open mic to bless up that thing that reminds me of the perfect phallus poised to poetically penetrate a person’s perineum, pushing pulsating energy higher and higher up spines.  (I'm inspired...can you tell?)
My SiStar, Nu RU was the hostess with the most love and light just radiating all over everyone.

Later, I went to see Nexcyx and they performed one of my favorite songs, Queen…and that message could not have come at a better time.

A New Dawn

It’s June 27, 2012 and I woke up this morning to a gorgeous and delicious day.  Then, I remembered that my SiStar Helen Marie was releasing her digital album, ‘The Re-education of Helen Marie’.  The first track resonated in my chest and my breathing changed.  For me, her message is CRYSTAL CLEAR.  

You ARE the Almighty.  You DO create your reality.  You ARE the past, present and future.  

Then, Helen Marie, and I had a conversation.  That kind of conversation that every Goddess has with her SiStar Goddesses; the kind of conversation that melts away all worries, troubles and pain and turns them into tears of joy and creative juices flowing through your arteries and up into your heart, to be pumped out and recycled and sent forward to your brain and fingers as you create masterpieces.

Happiness First Aid Kits

I just wrapped up the 2nd week of my group healing series entitled, “My Empowerment, My Way: The Goddess Series.”  This week, we are creating Happiness First Aid Kits.  This is a concept I came up with during a session with a client a few months ago.  I had an “Ah-ha” moment and thought, "How awesome would it be if you had a specific list and/or box of goodies to utilize whenever one feels upset or disappointed or some otherwise “lower vibration” energy?  What if we actually planned out our happiness ahead of time by placing happy things in an easily accessible place?" 

That is how the Happiness First Aid Kit came into being.

One of my basic Happiness First Aid Kits is pictured below.  Inside this box, I have managed to capture a few things that make me feel better immediately.   A sand dollar I found in the ocean off the coast of Barbados; a bottle of rosewater; my mirror that bears a very nice resemblance of the Egyptian Goddess Bast…my cat mirror (in more ways than one); and some meditation tools.  These tools include a small copper ankh and a piece of malachite, each given to me by men who have helped me to be better.  There is also a bangle that I got from my SiStar Oneka.  Her Kingman carved it and it always reminds me of how we have to chip away at our issues to reveal the polished and smooth surface of our Spirits, both on a personal and wholistic level.  After all, the growth of us individually equals the growth of us collectively, and vice versa.

What have you created recently?  We at Humbly, Peax and Love would be so excited to see what you all choose to go in your Happiness First Aid Kits.  Drop us a line describing one or two or a few of the items in yours and what they symbolize and represent.  Feel free to send us a picture as well!

"It's ok NOW"

Before I disconnected the call with Helen Marie, she said, "It's ok now..."
We all have those days where we have to be reminded of our greatness and we, in turn, must remind ourselves of our purpose on this realm.  

In the words of Oprah Winfrey, the “Ah-ha” Queen herself, “Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.”  Be mind-full of the energy of those around you and the energy you are putting out into the Universe, as that is precisely what you will attract.

My SiStar Shira Lee-Ann said, “If you have ANY doubts, I’m here to say that YOU know what YOU need!  The tools work…just let them.”  

As Helen Marie so eloquently put it, "Each and every moment, I must choose LIFE." 

Be Peace…Be Love…Be Better

Women's Wisdom Wednesdays is brought to you by Ayesha NuRa.

Ayesha NuRa is an empowerment motivator who focuses on healing and uplifting the Divine feminine.

She provides counseling, coaching and expertise in countless areas that lead to empowerment. Reach out to her here:

nuraproductions@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/AyeshaNuRa

https://twitter.com/#!/NuRa_Sunbeam

http://ayeshanura.tumblr.com/

Miles, Wavelengths, Humps, & Bounds: The Beginnings of a Wellness Journey

A testimony as experienced and told by:

Brittany Singleton

Miles

The ultimate fear is the fear of the unknown. To me, this drills down to the fear of ourselves. We are the unknown, until we decide to travel the miles of self-discovery. When we are compelled to look at self and assess, that’s the time you begin the journey of exposing the unknown, thus alleviating fear.
This past year and ½ I decided to be real with self and face some fears. Traveling the road less travelled can be perceived in so many ways. Either way, you have to travel the miles. Self exploration can reveal so much, but only if time is allotted to go within and be silent. There are acres of ourselves we have yet to come across; leaving us in the wilderness of our minds and fearful of swift change and movement.

Physical miles and journeys can be hard to traverse, but once you get a good gumption to move and  explore all that’s needed next - is action. To do a quick yet animated synopsis of my move...

Raleigh, NC --> Turkey, NC --> Alexandria, VA --> Lorton, VA --> The District...

Yea, what a “hump” that was!

I trucked for miles and here I am, currently listening to the sounds of honking horns catapulting through my open window while enjoying the breeze. All in all, I received a lot of help from my family and friends in the process of getting settled into my temporary playground.

On this personalized journey through life, we often cross a path that is familiar and recurring. For me this was my physical health. Unbeknown to many, at 5‘ 3 ½ “ my solid frame had a 207lb foundation, along with high cholesterol, and a smidgen away from high blood pressure at 24. So it was definitely time to face some fears and inhibitors. I knew it was time to channel my energy towards my health, and I did…

Wavelengths

October 2011 (my Birthday) with Beautiful People!

I ended up meeting friends that would be motivators to my transition with their actions, encouragement, and knowledge. Now sisters, mentors, and family for life, we soon found out there are many commonalities and that we damn sho’ are traveling on the same wavelength. I’m sure we have all heard it before, but to break it down I have stepped into a new era of my life where I am in close encounter with others that have like minds and are on a similar journey. All are integrating and embarking upon self-discovery while facing fears.

If you are going to associate with others on a repeated basis, then know to always be accompanied by folks of the same mind, same goals, and same pure spirit.

Simple. Point Blank.

To continuously expose yourself to an environment that is not conducive to your future plans is only a hindrance to that plan. To continuously engage in settings with people of differing values is not smart thinking. There is a network of people you are destined to be placed with and each of you will be integral to the growth of one another. You can’t mature if you don’t paddle out in the surf and ride the “length of the wave”.

Humps

          [Singing] "My humps, my humps, my lovely lovely humps."

But oh, they are not so lovely this time around Ms. Fergie. So let’s start with laziness, being the most obvious. Then exhaustion, frustration, stuckness, and now the bittersweet excitement of 'I have to buy new clothes.'
Yea new clothes ...but I don’t have the money nor do I need an attachment to a physical vanity that is used to express our similarities and our differences.

But I digress. I am now a healthy 144lbs. I hadn’t intended on losing weight, not so much, just getting healthier. I am. The weight loss was needed, no matter what I say or anyone else says. I hope that my body is settling into itself and no more weight loss. I am where I need to be for my age, height, etc. Please believe, getting here was not easy.

I started by visiting the community gym and walking around my aunt’s neighborhood. But laziness soon reared its head. Later in the fall, my mentors and I started working out 5 to 6 days a week (INSANITY)– very physical and intense workout. This continued through a time period of about 6 weeks. So proud of myself! After that intensity, the exhaustion came but I knew I had to do something. I was tired! So changing my eating it was…

With the settling of physical movement, I became more receptive to foods that were healthier options. I began a lenient pescatarian (seafood) lifestyle. This included no other meats, and a reduction of dairy products. For Thanksgiving, of course I had to "Indulj" just one more time.

For the remainder of 2011, I explored this option and reaped the benefits. I dropped more weight and was more energetic. Winning! But I knew that with all the fish and shellfish that I was partaking in, I was exposing my body to more levels of mercury than it was used to on a regular basis. So although I made a change, who’s to say it was a healthy move?

At that point I still hadn’t even begun shopping for new clothes. I thought it was too early to tell whether or not my body had stabilized. It wasn’t....

Breaking Boundaries

A new year brings forth new understanding and goals for the future…blah blah blah. I made no resolutions; I simply stated what I was going to do and did it. I was a closet smoker so I quit smoking cigarettes - cold turkey! I became a Vegetarian. My sistrens and I started getting our move on by dancing twice a week and practicing more yoga. They have been so integral in the help with my new lifestyle. Wavelengths, people! The weight continued to shed and the curves started to pop. Progressive bounds and leaps kept coming. Thanks to all my sisters, mentors, and family for the support of my continual journey. Oh it’s not over yet, not by chance. This is a lifestyle, so it is my life journey and practice.

I am now vegan - oh scratch that. I don’t eat any meat, dairy, eggs, or any refined or processed foods. I am human so I do have times where I will want some meat. I’m flexible with myself and I will have a piece of fish when my body feels it may need it. Everything in moderation! It doesn't matter how you plan to execute your healthy lifestyle as long as it is conducive to your goals. That's all that matters!

One more Hump and Bound, Continuous Miles and Wavelengths

So, I have embarked upon another journey. Now this journey I am going to need plenty, plenty of help with. Now that I have changed the way I live my life, there was only one thing that remained constant, and that was the relaxer. I decided to go natural not only because seeing us in our natural form is beautiful, but because I felt as if I was still damaging my vessel. Damaging in the sense that I routinely placed chemicals at the base of where my knowledge sits.

Over my lifetime I have had trouble with my skin, mostly my facial area. I wanted to see if the chemical was the ‘root’ cause of my acne issue. So let’s see if that was the factor, even if it isn’t, I’m more beautiful today than I was yesteryear because you now see the natural me! :)

Oh wait, one more hump.. I sometimes get so frustrated that I can’t come up with anything to eat, although I have a fridge full of greens and fruits. Food creativity is something I am learning little by little. 63lbs later and here I am still transitioning, learning, researching, creating, letting go of frustration, and smiling. I’m constantly becoming more knowledgeable of myself along my journey.

The main lessons my transition has taught me is to do all you can within your control and not compare your journey to that of someone else’s. Transitioning is all about executing what is within your control, with that said you have the power to choose whatever you do.

 _________________________________________________________________________

If you are looking for a change, stop looking and just do it. Let go of what the results may or may not be and just move towards your goals! Remember that Action is always better than Inaction, no matter what the result.

Lastly, good taste is knowing how to Eat Right. Eat to Live in every aspect of life. - Britt

****Brittany Singleton reigns from North Carolina and currently lives in Washington, DC. She is the founder of Honest to Goodness Beauty, an outreach and personal development network. She has a degree in Business Finance as well as an Accounting degree. She offers year round tax assistance and other financial counseling and development within the Humbly, Peax & Love network.****