Year of the 3-5

**Is this really my first post of 2017? Shame on me!**

A goal of mine for 2017 was to travel to at least one place I’ve never been each quarter. For Q1, that place was Houston, TX. For Q2, I wanted to hit up The DR. However, due to moving expenses (yeah...again. *eyeroll*) and a necessary uninsured dental procedure...there won't be a Q2 trip.

Probably no Q3 trip, as well.

So I've modified my goal for the Year of the 3-5. Instead of traveling to places I’ve never been, I’m going to do things in my city that I've never done before. During my birthday trip in Philly, we spent hours at Philadelphia Museum of Art (after running the steps like Rocky). However, I have never been to the Art Institute of Chicago. How, Sway?! I recently visited an exhibit the Museum of Science & Industry has had every year since 1970 (WHET!?) showcasing African-American artists. I had no idea that exhibit existed.

Basically, I’m trying to create new experiences in my city for the Year of the 3-5. And step my Chi-town brunch game up.

I’m OK with holding off till Q4 to go some place I’ve never been before. That means I have more time to save for a big auss, dope auss trip.

Let's get it!

K to the...

Bliss

I've had some great birthdays, but something about yesterday's birthday was different. It was more than joy...yesterday was full of bliss. From the moment I woke up till I went to sleep.

Like I've stated before, this certification program has made me more aware of what's going on around me. When in undergrad, I made plans up to the age of 30. Here I am at age 32 and none of the shit I planned in undergrad has come to fruition. But my life has still been so gat damn dope due to other unplanned occurrences. Through all the heartbreak, a quarter-life crisis (oh, it's real!), stupid decisions...I am still here. That thought crossed my mind yesterday morning and tears flowed.

Here's to another year of dopeness!

K to the...

Yogi Chronicles: Three Years

It's been three years. Three years since I took a step to move on. Three years since stepped on a yoga mat for the first time. Three years since I questioned why I signed up, but decided to keep going.

Three years later, I take time to write here on my blog instead of in my journal that I've been writing in for the past 45 days. A journal that I write in after my daily practice that has had my alarm going off at 5a every morning, even on the weekends. A daily practice that is part of an ongoing homework assignment.

I am currently enrolled in a 200 hour certification class so that I can teach yoga. In addition to an increase in how much I practice, the reading, practicing how I'm going to teach, there is also daily meditation. It is because of this meditation, I'm learning so much about myself. I'm more aware of my surroundings. I pay more attention to my body. I'm more aware of what I put into the universe (which has been a challenge today given the fact Darren Wilson is a free man). My relationship with God is strengthening.

I can go on and on.

One of the biggest signs of the change within me is my current place of employment. A month ago, I returned to a place of employment that I absolutely hated waking up for 2 1/2 years ago and I couldn't be happier.

Growth.

If you had told me three years ago that I'd be studying to be a yoga instructor, I'd think you were crazy; especially after that first downward-facing dog. I would think I'd be a basketball coach (in which I have no interest, believe it or not) before being a yoga instructor.

Yet, here I am.

All because of what I did on this date, three years ago.

Namaste.

What year is it?

I'm back to taking the train to work, so I have a lot of time to just stare out the window and let my thoughts flow. I was recently thinking about aging and #nshit, since the birthday is approaching. I usually start to get excited for the birthday around Thanksgiving. This year the birthday is exactly a week after Thanksgiving. Thanks, Pope George XII!

Sidenote: My original due date was November 17th. I was born on December 4th. That is one helluva delay!!! HOV! <>

Anywho, a high thought came to me while sober. Though I haven't officially turned 32 yet, I am currently in the 32nd year of my life.

I swear I was sober when this came to mind. Stay with me here.

They sell stickers so you can take pics of your baby when they hit their monthly milestones up until their 12th month on Earth. These pics are documenting, what? Your baby's first year on Earth. After they hit the one year mark, they are on to their 2nd year of life.

The reason I bring this up because whenever something good has happened in the past 11 1/2 months, I've said "Year 31 is showing out!" or something to that effect.

But really...it's Year 32.

Or is it?

Well, I barely look legal...so, whatever!

K to the...

Lotus

So, I got tattoo #4 this past Friday. After the artist, Ryan, drew the blueprint on my skin, I didn't look down at my stomach until he was finished. It was more beautiful than I anticipated.

Loooooooooooooooooooootus flower bomb. Butterfly.

Why a lotus? 

Word to yogapoint:

The lotus flower grows from the bottom of streams and muddy ponds to rise above the water and bloom. It symbolically represents being fully grounded in earth, yet aspiring towards the divine. At night, the lotus flower closes, and sinks below the water, just to resurface again untouched the next day. The lotus flower is an iconic symbolism of beauty because it lives in the muddy water yet remains unsoiled.

The lotus represents me. I didn't want it to be fully bloomed because I'm forever a work in progress.

So, why the colors?

Red is for myself, representing the strength I've gained mentally, physically, and spiritually. The blue on the inside of the petals represents my mom; her favorite color. The orange on the seed pod represents my grandmother; one of her favorite colors. They'll forever be a part of me. 

So there you have it...tattoo #4 for the 4 (Yip!) born on the 4th. It was the most painful...even more painful than the one on my wrist. All day Saturday, I was walking like I was constipated; looking like I was 9 months pregnant while getting in and out of the car. Pure struggle.

But it was worth it.

Aside from a revamp of my 1st tattoo, I'm done with tattoos. 

I think. 

K to the...

Basketball Chronicles: Ego

I am 5' 5 1/2" (Doctor claims I'm not 5'6". Hmph)...125 lbs...and I play basketball with men weighing 150 lbs and more on a weekly basis.  Yess...everyone is bigger than me.  Keep this tidbit in mind as the blogpost continues. 

Lately, I've noticed lately how funny the male ego is on the basketball court.  I've heard the dumbest arguments.  But I find comedy in the male ego in regards to me.  Now, I've told you my size...which leads to guys getting offended when I play D on them.  I've heard a guy go "Are you serious?"  In his eyes, if I'm playing defense on him, it means that I think I can take him...which means I don't think he's that good.

This is when my ego kicks in.  Now, because you don't think I "deserve" to play D on you, I gotta 1) Prove to myself that I can stick you; 2) Light that auss up when I get the ball.

You'd be amazed by all the ish talked to me on the court.  But when I say something back, it's "Oh, you're talking ish?"  You damn right I am...and I'm gonna try my damnedest to back it up, too.

Ego...such a funny thing.

K to the...

Hair

I think all 4 of my regular readers are my friends on Facebook or Instagram.  So, it's not quite news to you that I started my locs back in March.

For those who aren't my friend on any social networks: I STARTED MY LOCS ON MARCH 21, 2013!

With any type of transitioning with hair, there is a phase when you are looking a hot mess.  I have reached that stage, in between my retwists.  But you know what...

I love it!

And I've actually posted pics of it.  

Yikes!

This is a lot coming from someone who wasn't always satisfied with her hair.  It wasn't long enough...it wasn't thick enough...it wasn't enough.  My lil sis and I have different fathers; so naturally, her genetic makeup is different than mine.  She has long, thick, curly hair past her shoulders...while I was blessed (or cursed) with soft hair that barely came to my shoulder.  Hearing that a friend of the family basically said her hair was prettier than mine just...hurt.

It wasn't until I got to college and started wearing my hair down that I noticed that I, too, had length (to the shoulder!) thanks to that good ole wrap.  And because of this lengh I wasn't used to, I tried to hold on to it for dear life.  I graduated from college and found a scissor happy beautician I'd go to every two weeks.  Imagine how irritated I'd be when I say I need my ends clipped and get out the chair with hair so short, I can barely wrap it.  This continued while getting a relaxer and as I became natural.

After one last "clip ends" session, I stopped going to get my hair pressed and rocked my curls.  Length wasn't important anymore, but it was definitely growing.  I was actually close to cutting my hair and having a teeny weeny afro.  Weird.  But I decided against it.

Now here I am, just letting my hair to do its own thing.  And my grey strands (Thanks, Dad!) are outcheah flourishing.

But I love it.

Now if I can just find the right remedy for my dry scalp...

K to the...

#Realissues: Dirty 30 edition

As outlined in my “Dear Summer” post, I've kicked it all year for other people's 30th birthday.  At this point, I’m just cruising until my 30th, which is 23 days away.  I’m pretty chill about it now, but there is one thing I’m nervous about.  I brought this topic up a couple of years ago on Twitter, but now that 30 is approaching, I have to ask:

When I turn 30, do I have to stop shopping in the Juniors section for my jeans?

This is a #realissue, people.  I mean…the name of the section is “Juniors.”  I’m not even considered a young adult anymore…unless I’m trying to join someone’s Youth & Young Adult Choir.

I’ve accepted these random moles that are popping up all over my body.  I’ve grown to love the moles on my right cheek that I affectionately call “The Big Dipper” because of how they’re positioned.

I’ve accepted the fact that, though yoga is doing wonders for my body, I can’t be outcheah reckless.  This includes stretching before hooping and wearing an ankle brace when my ankle feels just fine.  If I want to wear heels when I turn 75, like my grandmother, I have to keep it all together.

Basically, I’ve accepted that I’m getting older.

But, dag nabbit, one thing I can’t accept are jeans that cover my belly button.  NO!  I refuse to head to the women’s’ section of a Macy's or Carson's for some Levi’s.  Mom Jeans on this body?  Pssshhh!  That is a life that I refuse to be about.

So yeah, I’ll continue to head to the Juniors section for my jeans.

For now.

K to the…

Dear Summer: I know you gon' miss me.

Summer 2012 was the last summer of my 20s…and I definitely got it IN!  So today’s post will recap the highlights of the summer for me.

The Chicagoland area had a rather mild winter and I have no idea what happened to Spring.  Since Summer was around for about 6 months, we’re gonna start with April.

April

• Dyed hair
• Vegas with the girls to celebrate the Dirty 30s 

May

• Surprise 30^th birthday party for the homie, Geo 
• Memorial Day kickback with sorors 

June

• My girl, DJ T-Race’s, 30^th Birthday party
• Sprains ankle while sweating out tequila the following morning
• DJ T-Race’s Birthday dinner (two hours after I sprain ankle)
• Bridal shower for my bff
• “Housecooling” party for Big Rhon and Kim
• All-White Rooftop birthday dinner for my twinsie, Teelolo’s 30^th birthday
• Chicago Pride Parade
• Bachelorette party for my Tre
• My ships and I turned 4
• My Tre gets married
• I caught the bouquet -___- 

July

• “The Love Movement” Birthday celebration for my Della-Hunny
• Learned that my lungs aren't 'bout that hookah life.
• Old-fashioned house party for the homie, Marlene’s, 40^th Birthday. 
• Bachelorette party for the bff
• “Who Got The Rent Money” party at my homie, Sam’s, crib
• Bff gets married
• BarBeLuption (Barbecue-luau-reception for my bff.) 

August

• Lil sis turns 17.
• Lil sis and I get matching tattoos in Japanese kanji 
• Hers is “I like pink”
• Mine is “I like purple”
• I'm lying about the meanings
• Dentist appointment (Whaa? I stays on my 6 month cleaning schedule)
• Dyed hair lighter 

September

• Gets cartilage re-pierced (So random)
• Nerissa’s 30^th Birthday celebration
• Jacksonville Beach, FL with my girls
• Saw my White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers
• Power yoga
• Mexican Night with the girls
• Kendrick Lamar in concert along with Fly Union, Stalley, Jay Rock and Ab Soul
• Mommy turns 51
• Prince in concert along with Janelle Monae and an appearance by Ledisi

I think I will miss Summer way more than it'll miss me.

K to the...