This World We're Living In

Welcome to The Black Girl's Guide To Life.  Miss C., that's me, is here to give you news, views, history and information to brighten your life and make you look forward to tomorrow.

(image courtesy of the artist)

When I was a little girl, around 6 or 7 years old, a lady moved into the house across the street from me named Carrie, or "Miss Carrie," as we had to call her.  She was married, with four children, all younger than we were.  Miss Carrie had to be in her mid-twenties when she moved on the block.  She was fly!  She had a foxy figure and a good looking husband. They drove nice cars and man, could she cook!  She was a southern sista, and she brought those North Carolina roots with her and used to put them in her pots and pans!  But what made Miss Carrie special was that she was there for us.  She was that sista that you could tell everything to that you couldn't tell anyone else (besides your best girlfriend), not your mama (definitely not your mama!), your auntie (she would tell your mama!), your teacher, guidance counselor--Miss Carrie was all that wrapped up in one knowledgeable, loving, discreet package.  Your secrets were safe with her.  It was nice having a Miss Carrie; I guess she was my first mentor.  At any rate, if you don't already have a Miss Carrie in your life, just think of me, Miss C., as your own cyber-Miss Carrie.  I'll be there for you while you grow up.  Now you know where I'm coming from...always remember to pay it forward.

It's a crazy world we're living in, isn't it? We've got wars, and tea parties that have nothing to do with tea. We've got all the isms you can think of--from ageism to racism to whoknowswhat-ism.  The music is violent and mindless (yet we continue to back it on up, now, don't we, little sistas?) and sometimes downright misogynistic, yet it blares from speakers like anthems waiting for us to put our hands over our hearts.  The economy is bad; mama and daddy have to cut back and can't buy you all the "pretty girl rock" things that you need...let alone enough groceries to last from one week to the next.  What's a girl to do?

Lil sistas, it's time to kick back, relax and learn something.  Since you stay with your face in the computer all day long anyway, you might as well get something beneficial out of it.  You will find plenty of uplifting information here for you to wrap your heads around.  Information that will give you the strength you're going to need to get through this thing called life.  And don't get me wrong: life is a joyous, celebratory experience that should be grabbed with both hands and not let go of until your best girls are standing around the casket reminiscing.  It may be baffling, crazy-making, heartbreaking and mean sometimes, but to be alive and be able to make your part of the world a better place DESPITE all the madness around you, is a beautiful thing.  And that is your first lesson:



LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING
now say it 100 more times...



Your homework for tonight is to watch/listen to this poem by brother Ty Gray El, entitled 
"A Black Woman's Smile" 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPBH57BWhpE.  

Write and tell me what you think about it.  Then be grateful for all the things you have in your world to smile about.  Or at least be grateful for all the things you DON'T have in your life which might make you frown...

(photo courtesy of becausewearebeautiful.com)

 "In all of God's creation, there is nothing more alluring, more appealing, or attractive; nothing more beautiful, more charismatic, more charming, or captivating; nothing more delightful, more elegant, or exquisite; nothing more fascinating, more gorgeous, more inspiring, or intoxicating; nothing more magnificent or lovely than a Black Woman's Smile." --From the poem "A Black Woman's Smile" 
by Ty Gray El

Come by and visit me as often as you like.  In the coming days the blog will be 100% up and running, and I'll be able to take comments, questions, emails, etc.  Until then chicas, sistalove!