Archive for February, 2010

A Force to be Reckoned With

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I find myself reading a brief, well-written biography on the notorious tattoo artist of the popular TLC show L.A. Ink, Miss Kat Von D. It seems more like the foreword on a book. As I read the piece, written by a close friend, what stood out to me most was when the writer mentioned how Kat was “incredibly loyal to her family.” Instantly, I could relate and found something in common with the beauty. She’s not your everyday girl, choosing the body she was born with as her art canvas-something many people wouldn’t comprehend or agree with- and being of somewhat Latino descent, as well as beautiful, I couldn’t help but wonder what her family thought of her work- if they saw it as art or if they simply saw a tattooed body. Did they agree with her chosen way of life? I know how my Mexican mother would view her lifestyle, and the assumptions that would be made about her as a person, but I can’t do that. I respect her work, admire her person. The fact that she is spoken of by friends as a dedicated and loyal member of her family, to her family, tells me perhaps that her family may have supported her aspirations all along. What a huge feat for a woman. To go for what she wanted and be fully backed by the members of her tribe. It’s no wonder she has turned out so successfully and my hope is that she is completely happy. It’s funny how people can be hypocritical. They can smile in your face and then when the time comes to offer up an opinion about you, they chicken out and go with the negative flow of thoughts they may have been harboring about you or your lifestyle or even simply the poor choices you’ve made in your life. People don’t deserve to be judged. Women play a huge role in judging others, one another, themselves, and this is because they are constantly under a watchful eye that doesn’t really exist. It’s all in our mind. And the strength of our heart has the power to combat it. If we could break free from concerning ourselves with what others think of us, stop defending who we are and how we want to live our lives, then we can break the cycle of prejudice and put to rest that hurtful voyeur who dwells within. She is not of your true being. Love your fellow woman and support her art. We all have a desire to create. Women, if given the freedom to be who they want to be, can show the world their wonders. Our place as the bearers of life to this dependent, ever evolving mother earth proves we are the epitome of creativity and a force of nature to be reckoned with.

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To be…to be…never a question.

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Money, A Memoir: Women, Emotions and Cash

This is a great book for all the convivial ladies to check out. Money and women make the world go round, but the disconnect between the two is definitely apparent. How’s your relationship with, thoughts about, management of, money?

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Embracing My Inner Girl

I have rebelled against being a girl. Yes, ME. I’ve rejected my tears, held back my emotions, my sorrow, my uncertainty, even my excitement, all for fear of appearing weak or too girly. I’ve tried to avoid conflict, tried being nice girl with mean girls, made every attempt to keep me together during the most troubling of times. And for what reason? Because someone told me to do so? Someone being society, family, culture. Thoughts and behaviors passed on from dear mother and other influences have had their initial effect on my potential to break norms and cross barriers, but thankfully I love myself enough to put a stop to the limitations and be true to me, finally. My southern-raised-conservative-thinking-fist-swinging-mama had a good grip on my thoughts and controlled a lot of the actions I took early in life, but in retrospect, I don’t regret being a good daughter. I’m a woman with a huge will to live and my mother gave me the attitude and temperament needed to cause a revolution. For the most part, I was playing a role for my family, for society, for love, but ultimately, I’m feisty and violently happy and ready to be me. I have no qualms about speaking up in defense of my dreams, personal space, body, privacy and beliefs when they are attempted to be denied, discouraged, disregarded or disrespected. Up to this point, I’ve been encouraged to hold back my nature, keep my mouth shut, avoid rocking myriad boats, to avoid being authentic and living for me. It’s crazy to know what your power is and be conditioned to tame it or hide it altogether. I’m fully capable of capsizing some boats and thanks to a recent TED talk by creator of The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler , I may be cured of my willingness to hold back that emotional creature within me. I’m going to give this idea of embracing my inner girl a go, let her run rampant, and won’t worry about whether her behavior is lady-like or not. She deserves to be heard, to be seen, to be known…dammit, let the girl just be! I hope the video helps to re-ignite the female flame that burns deep within your emotional center. Embrace your inner girl and give her the dance floor AND spotlight she deserves.

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The Ever Inquisitive Bohemian

Bohemians…aren’t they always questioning?

Not only questioning. Defying, rebelling, transgressing, transforming, embracing risk, excess and the idea of Utopia. Bohemians have backbone. They’re willing to suffer for their beliefs, their art. They don’t sell out. They are iconoclastic, incendiary, bombastically volatile and gracefully volatile, sometimes surreal. They have poetry. The Bohemian is drunk on words…

-Excerpt from Bohemian Manifesto: A Field Guide to Living on the Edge by Lauren Stover

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Open Your Eyes…Follow Your Heart…Act, Doubt, Act, Doubt, Act, BE.

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Not being treated right? Take your cue, smile, and move on. One less person to worry about.

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Take time to reach God, reach creation, reach you.

(God. Creation. You.)

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Reflect. Recharge. Regift.

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Behold it. Become it.

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Be Impeccable With Your Word

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Be clear with what you want. You deserve it. All of it.

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