It has been impossible to try to encourage and share with others when I couldn’t even encourage myself. I believed my Jan 1 post to be my last. So I must first extend sincere gratitude to my readers who placed my bruised spirit on their shoulders and through their posts helped me to once again begin to rise…
Queen Nat - Sereni-T - Love’nyalocs - Happiest Nappy - still waters - blaquegoddess - Sis RJQueen10 - Jenn - Euphoria - foxydiva - Angel Locs - Docs Locs – dewdrop – TRA – MeikMeika – iasade - Maryee - Phoenix Rising - DiVA LaReine - 3girlsmomma - Kittylocs - Naturally Free - Nu-Me – NAPturAllBluT – Luebella – NubianLockedPrincess – sauda – LaLaBooBaby - HtheRealist - new2locs – Chocolocs – Khandi - WandaWoman - Nubian1 – DaChristmasBaby – RedRose - LadyButterfly - char…and countless others -
especially my good friend, consultant and inspiration, Gigi and my little sis, T who found the strength to encourage and help to lift me even as she fights the battle with Breast Cancer. She is indeed my Shero.
As we proceed on this journey of Natural Awakenings I share with you some helpful tools that I use to assist me on my internal journey of discovering the true BlaqKofi and my purpose.
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne (DVD, Book, Audio) I own all three. This series was the start of my internal change. I recommend watching the DVD first. The audio lives in my car cd player and on my iPod. Powerful and life altering! 
Loving What Is by Byron Katie – I was recently introduced to this author by my friend, consultant and unofficial life coach, Gigi through Oprah’s Soul Series. (Click the link to view Oprah's interview with Byron Katie.) I am currently reading and experiencing this life changing work.
No Matter What – Lisa Nichols I was first introduced to Lisa Nichols through The Secret. Gigi introduced me to her No Matter What audio which spoke to me so powerfully and gave me the insight to ask “a better question.” Not, “why me?,” but rather, “what did I learn from this experience?” She teaches that experiences give us two perspectives: either a really great and wonderful experience, or a really great and wonderful lesson. The key is to learn from the lessons, grow and move on to the next higher experience.As I begin to once again rise, reflect on life’s lessons learned and God’s purpose for me, I will continue to share my Sisterlocks journey.
My prayer is that you will be inspired not only by photos of the external BlaqKofi, but you will be internally motivated to explore the greatness that lies within each of us as we continue this Natural Awakenings.A Good Woman
A good woman is proud of herself.
She respects herself and others.
She is aware of who she is.
She neither seeks definition from the person she is with,
or does she expect them to read her mind.
She is quite capable of articulating her needs.
A good woman is hopeful. She is strong enough to make all her dreams come true. She knows love, therefore she gives love. She recognizes that her love has great value and must be reciprocated. If her love is taken for granted, it soon disappears.
A good woman has a dash of inspiration, a dabble of endurance. She knows that she will, at times, have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave them.
A good woman knows her past, understands her present
and moves toward the future.
A good woman knows God.
She knows that with God the world is her playground,
but without God she will just be played.
A good woman does not live in fear
of the future because of her past.
Instead, she understands that her life
experiences are merely lessons,
meant to bring her closer to self knowledge
and unconditional self love.
(Author unknown. Gifted to me. I in turn, gift it to you.)
A good woman is proud of herself.
She respects herself and others.
She is aware of who she is.
She neither seeks definition from the person she is with,
or does she expect them to read her mind.
She is quite capable of articulating her needs.
A good woman is hopeful. She is strong enough to make all her dreams come true. She knows love, therefore she gives love. She recognizes that her love has great value and must be reciprocated. If her love is taken for granted, it soon disappears.
A good woman has a dash of inspiration, a dabble of endurance. She knows that she will, at times, have to inspire others to reach the potential God gave them.
A good woman knows her past, understands her present
and moves toward the future.
A good woman knows God.
She knows that with God the world is her playground,
but without God she will just be played.
A good woman does not live in fear
of the future because of her past.
Instead, she understands that her life
experiences are merely lessons,
meant to bring her closer to self knowledge
and unconditional self love.
(Author unknown. Gifted to me. I in turn, gift it to you.)BlaqKofi(Hair: Freshly retightened day of photo.
Week old, loosely rolled, soft spike curl set.)
Photos: Courtesy of my son, KD
17 comments:
You may find that it has been hard to encourage others when you were down yourself, but you're definitely working it! Not only have you become a Sisterlock inspiration for me (like so many others), but a personal one as well. I don't know all that you have suffered, but I do know that we have suffered some of the same things and seeing how strong you are and how hopeful you are about life gives me faith that I will make it through my day and my life.
A long story short - Thank you and my God continue to bless you the way you have inspired me.
Thanks for the encouraging post. Some of the authors/books you mentioned sound really interesting. I might have to check them out. Thanks for posting.
Your hair looks fabulous!
TakeCare
Blaq you are amazing woman, I have never met you in real life but I feel like I know you. You are a true inspiration we become stronger when we fall down and rise up again and believe that you will come back to us stronger, wiser and even more beautiful. Thank you for sharing your your soul and spirit us. Be blessed & Shalom my sister.
one love still
Blaqkofi, I know how you feel. I started to heal when I became saved in 2005. My healing really began sept 2007, when I made the decision to go natural and lock. I really discovered what it was to humble myself. Locking forced me to really look at my self and others around me.
You have been such an inspiration to me. Youy blog was the first that I discovered when I decided to SL. I have been drinking your wheatgrass smoothies since I BC`d, sept 07. You have inspired so many people! Know that we will be here to left you up!
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in the spirit.
Psalm 34:2
Blaq - you are now reaping all the love, strength and prayers that you have sown through your blog posts to us. You are an inspiration to me definitely, and that's why I will continue to lift you up!!!
My goodness I was introduced to the Secret by Marie my consultant. Unaware that I was already living my life by it, it gave me sooooo much joy to know i was indeed on the right track. The book is always by my bedside, and when ever i feel i need lifting i read just one page and NUBIAN1 is good to go.
Bought two extra books and gave one to my new man and the other to a very good friend.
Hi Blaqkofi - you are looking so beautiful - as usual. Thanks for your inspiring words, openness to share with others and and your amazing photos.
Hi Blaq,
I'm glad to see you're back & doing well. It seems that the year has dealt some of us some serious blows & yet we still stand. GOD says he will never leave us nor forsake us & he doesn't put more on us than we can bear! I am truly a testament of that since recently losing my dad. I feel empty sometimes because he was like my best friend yet still I stand & do what I must for my daughter. Keep standing Blaq & be strong in the LORD!
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the Glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:2-5
Blaq,
I am so happy that I did not KNOW that you thought January 1, 2009 would be your last post! Checking your blog is one of the most consistent things I do!
It is funny that you say "It has been impossible to try to encourage and share with others when I couldn’t even encourage myself." because you DID the impossible!!!
I love the photos and I artistically interpret it as you are starting to STAND again, you were broken and bent over, but you know how to get back UP again, how to rise! I see a smile peaking back at us through those beautiful Sisterlocked strands! STAND tall black woman, STAND proud, just STAND! What a perfect pictorial tribute to my second favorite poem by Maya Angelou, “Phenomenal Woman" is my favorite! Always remember you are a Phenomenal Woman!
I am going to look in to adding those book recommendations to my library! Thank you!!
Sis. RJQueen10
I forgot to comment about the poem a "Good Woman". It is tha bomb! Most excellent. I am going to copy it and put it my personal journal!!
Sis. RJQueen10
You are a gift, as we all are to each other. God has bless women with an internal beauty as well as the external. However when I see interal beauty shinnig the outer beauty tends to shine even the more. Know that God has a specail purpose for your life. You words of inspiration and encouragement through out this journey as been truly inspiring for me. 2008 was truly a tough year for me and I have revisited the God with in me and realize that all the trials were place upon me one because he knew that I could handle it and two to propel me into my purpose. Be blessed BlagKofi embrace the gifts that God has granted us. He (GOD)loves his Women.
Hello! :)
Thanks for sharing the gift "A Good Woman" it was very inspirational. I stumbled on your blog one day while searching for natural hair blogs...I do not have sisterlocks but I enjoy reading your inspirational posts...
Blaq, God is such an AWESOME God to have created such a strong man called WOMAN. Although the things in life that we experience aren't good at times He has birthed a strength in us that we can handle, maybe slumped over for a moment but we continue to walk and eventually began to walk with our backs straight, chest out and heads up!!! Again, BE ENCOURAGED and ALWAYS KNOW THAT YOUR HELP COMES FROM THE LORD!!! Thanks for the beautiful gift!!!
I've been looking for some inspirational readings!!! Thanks for sharing.
BlaqKofi, you are an inspiration - PERIOD I pay much respect to you for your courage in sharing of yourself so deeply. And I thank you for your generosity - I WILL be reading those books, I am always on the look out for tools to help me self-reflect more meaningfully. Love and Light!
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