Happy Birthday Whitney! Your Death Reminded Me to Love Myself From the Inside Out Blog

by Phenola Moore

At Whitney Houston’s funeral, Actor Kevin Costner said at “The Bodyguard” audition, she didn’t feel that she was good enough and/or pretty enough to get the part. He said because of her insecurity regarding her looks that she went in the back and put on more make-up and that it smeared down her face because of the hot lights.

And since her death, some people have been talking about how could such a talented, beautiful woman be insecure about who she was?

Let me speak from the perspective of an African-American woman. It is very easy to either live in that vein of insecurity or visit there from time to time. You see from the time that we enter the world the media and sometimes our community bombards us with images, comments, etc. that we either don’t have the ideal hair texture, skin tone or body type.

 

And when we wear make-up, different hair styles, etc. we are deemed as fake or insecure, while other cultures can freely experiment without judgment.

You see, we are taught someone else’s version of beauty is the best and it takes a lot of internal detoxing to get rid of these demons.

I realized that I still had issues a few years ago. My friend, Barbara Holt Streeter started a wonderful business, The PR and Protocol Group (www.prandprotocol.com) that includes apparel and accessories that empowers, educates and equips girls and women. And she gave me one of her “I Am Validated” t-shirts as a birthday gift.

I lifted the shirt out of the gift bag and read the inscription, “You Are Beautiful.” I was excited for the gift but cringed on the inside because of the words.

I told her, “You are trying to get me beat up. I can’t wear that shirt.” She laughed and told me that I was beautiful from the inside out. And I repeated, “I can’t wear it.”

We laughed it off but I was serious. You see throughout my life, especially when I was a girl I have been bullied or treated wrong because people thought that I thought I was cute. They were judging me without getting to know me but humans sometimes do that. And the inscription took me back to that place.

Yes, I’ve seen other girls/women wear that t-shirt with pride? But I couldn’t because of the internal scars that still existed.

Thank you Barbara because that t-shirt confrontation reminded me that I still had issues and it allowed me to push past the internal demons to outwardly express the real me. And Costner’s comments at Houston’s funeral about her struggle encouraged me to write this blog so that someone else will start loving themselves from the inside out.

Thank you God for loving me and by me loving you I can love myself (from the inside out).

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Why I Love Watching the Olympics?

By Phenola Moore

I remember the scene as if it was yesterday. My Uncle Harold was always amazed at my tumbling skills, when I was a girl. You name it, I could do it.

One day, I was doing a handstand outside along the wall of the building while he was visiting. He said that it looked pretty easy and proceeded to try to do one, too.

Needless to say, his handstand turned into a headstand as his arms buckled from under his weight, and soon after his legs came crashing down to the ground.

He finally stood up and exclaimed that he almost broke his neck trying to keep up with me. And that I made it look so easy.  But tumbling was my thing and I could do it without blinking. 

That’s why I love watching the Olympics because it takes me back to the carefree days of my youth as I reminisce on the practices with the tumbling squad in elementary school or playing outdoors with my friends.

And there are probably thousands of men and women like me who can relate to one aspect of an Olympic event. We had fun doing it and the events bring it all back to us.

For me, it’s gymnastics. I am on pins and needles watching them flip, fly through the air during their tumbling runs. I smile inwardly as I remember the freedom and joy that I felt with every cartwheel, headstand (freestyle or against a wall), handstand (freestyle or against a wall) or split (side and full) that I did as a girl.

That's my reason. What' yours?

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Update:

Congratulations to the Women’s Gymnastics team for winning gold and Gabrielle “Gabby” Douglas for winning gold in Women's Gymnastics Individual All-Around. Also, for Aly Raisman for winning bronze on the balance beam and gold on the floor exercise.

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"Shout to the Lord" with music track

How to Prepare for a Power Outage?

by Phenola Moore

No matter what time of the year that a power outage occurs, it seems that we are never quite prepared. And Friday, June 29, 2012 the residents in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia experienced a derecho.

The Huffington Post article stated, “Virginia, D.C., Maryland Derecho 2012: Aggressive Storm Knocks Out Power To More Than 1 Million, “According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, a derecho is a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. Although a derecho can produce destruction similar to that of tornadoes, the damage typically is directed in one direction along a relatively straight swath" (www.huffingtonpost.com).

If a power outage hits your area, will you be prepared? Items to provide light, phones to keep you in touch with the outside world, non-perishable foods to eat and items to keep you and your family entertained are just a few suggestions.

Candles, flashlights, lanterns and solar/tap light can provide temporary light.

Candles are available in various shapes and sizes. But the important thing to remember about using them is to make sure that someone is always in the room to keep an eye on them. And do not go to sleep with them on.

A flashlight is another light source alternative. A key chain flashlight can be used to guide you outside of a building, lead you to your car and open the door to your home. A hand-held flashlight is larger and can provide light for you as you navigate from room to room.

If you want an item that can light an entire room, a lantern is a good choice. They come in both battery operated models or oil.

And what light source can be used, when it’s time to go to bed? Solar/tap lights can be used as a night light and to navigate your trip to and from the bathroom. And if it a good light source to have, especially, if your child(ren) are afraid of the dark.

Phones are a way to keep you in touch with the outside world but cordless phones won’t work, if your power goes out. And your cell phone battery may eventually run down.

Therefore, a cord phone will work as long as your phone service doesn’t go out, too. And it’s good to have a car phone charger around to charge your cell phone.

After days without power, the items in your refrigerator and freezer will spoil. But non-perishable items like bottled water, canned goods, crackers, canned meat are a few foods that will keep during a power outage.  

And since we are so accustomed to technology, spending a few days without our gadgets may become monotonous. Therefore, I suggest that you always keep around books, magazines, art supplies (especially for the children), crossword puzzles, board games that will fill you and your families time with entertainment.

These are just a few suggestions that may make life a little easier during a power outage.

Note: Miscellaneous items like batteries (flashlight and battery-operated lantern) oil (oil operated lantern) matches (candles) are needed for these light sources.

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