Significant Decisions

It's been a little while since I've posted. I have been so busy with my other blog, The Rapturous Reader, and my show on blogtalk radio, that I haven't really had the time to post on this blog. However, I had two "significant" things happen, and thought it would be the perfect opportunity for my to get back to this blog.

1. I decided to stop coloring my hair. Yes, let it go completely gray. I'm tired of coloring it, and the last two times it was colored, it seems to be brittle and dry, so.. NO MORE COLOR! I absolutely hate the way it looks right now, but I am determined to get through this "icky" phase. One of my very good friends went through this phase, and said it took a good six months for her gray to totally take over. Now she looks fantastic! I mean fantastic! Seeing how beautiful she looks with her gray hair was just the motivation I needed! Watch of Camille Cosby and Nancy Wilson....Here comes Lisa!

2. I have decided to stop eating pork. Why? My 18 year old son asked that I do so. It wasn't just him asking me, but it was the way he asked me. He said, "Mom, will you please stop eating pork? I am concerned, because it is so bad for your health. I want you to live a good long life, and pork is not good for your body". He said it in such a caring way that it made tears come to my eyes. So what do I do? Say, well, I know there have been studies that have shown that pork is bad for your health, but just as many studies have shown that in moderation, pork is o.k. No, not me. If my son loves me so much that he is willing to ask me in such a tender and loving way, then ENOUGH WITH THE PORK CHOPS!

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Ruby Dee Featured in Award Winning Film - Hits Theatres August 24th!

Naming Number Two is a film from New Zealand directed by Toa Fraser. It is about about a "significantly seasoned" woman, Nanna Maria (Ruby Dee), who, following a dream, commands her grandchildren to throw a giant feast for her. She tells them that she wants them all there for the feast, where she will name her successor, who she calls her “number two”.

It won the 2006 Sundance World Cinema Audience Choice award, and also won several awards and nominations in New Zealand as well. Any movie featuring Ruby Dee is worth viewing!

You can see view other great films by great women by clicking on the "Women's Independent Cinema" link.

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Sleep was uncomfortable and fleeting last night. One minute I was hot, and flinging the covers off of me, and the next minute I was cold; grabbing the covers and pulling them over my head. This went on for h-o-u-r-s! As I lay in the bed tossing the covers back and forth, I thought about the most recent conversation I'd had with my gynecology. For the last 7 years, I've been going through peri-menopause. Now I have graduated to the season of menopause. At this point, I don't care what you call it. I just want it to PAUSE!

At 4:00 a.m., I finally got up in frustration and had a cold glass of water while I made a pot of coffee. As that wonderful aroma of freshly brewed coffee permeated throughout the room, I became irritated again. "Lisa, you know coffee is a stimulant that can trigger estrogen deficiency." I stared intensely at the coffee pot as I held my favorite coffee cup, and counted to 10. With a sigh, I reached into the cabinet, tore open a pack of decaf/non-black tea, plopped it into a cup, and boiled some water in the microwave. I desperately needed to start my day in a positive mood, so I sat on my outside patio, sipped my herbal tea, and watch the sunrise boldly fill the sky. Slowly, I began to feel both calm and energized. Thirty minutes later, I had changed into my walking shoes, and was out the door for a brisk walk. Now I was ready for the rest of the day. No hot flash is going to get this fabulous 49 year old woman down!


Note: The use of prescription hormonal replacement therapy has had a long history and has come under fire in recent years. In some cases it has been linked or there has been a suspected link between hormone replacement therapy and an increased risk of estrogen dependent breast cancer. For many this is a risk that is not worth taking and the prescribed drugs have gone under a reformulation to reduce the amount of estrogen in them. Yet for many because of the increased risk of breast cancer, they have chosen to look for alternatives to the hormone replacement therapy. This has led many to herbal remedies and other forms of seeking relief from the affects of hot flashes. There is the fact that an increase in physical activity can help relieve the symptoms of hot flashes.

It has been recommended that you get 30-minutes of moderate exercise more than 3 hrs before going to bed. This helps not only reduce the symptoms of hot flashes but also
improves your physical fitness, improves the quality of sleep and aids digestion. Another course of action that has been recommended is to limit or eliminate the use of alcohol and caffeine in your diet.

These items have been shown to increase the frequency and severity of your hot flashes. Remedies for hot flashes also include other dietary items like limiting or removal of very spicy foods. Examples of these would be Cajun, East Indian types of food. Foods with hot pepper, cyan, chili powder and other such foods can increase the symptoms of hot flashes. By eliminating these types of foods you can reduce your hot flash symptoms.

Here are some good website for more information on relieving hot flash symptoms:

breastcancer.org

Decline in U.S. Breast Cancers Tied to Drop in Hormone Use

Let's Sing!

My youngest son, Tyler, graduated with honors in May, and is on his way to Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA in just 10 days! (Yes, I have been doing a count down for the last 2 months!)
I am so proud of his achievements, and just want to stand on a mountain top and sing to the world, "Here is another young African American male who has a positive character, growing relationship with God, great grades, and good work ethic!" I also want to sing the praises of other like-minded African American young men in my community.

I have three sons, and two grandsons, and I am very sensitive about the many negative comments I hear and read about young African American men. Yes, some of them have and continue to make some terrible choices that have drastic effects on their lives and the lives of others, but......yes, there are many African American young men who make good life choices and are an inspiration to others. It is extremely important that as mothers we applaud our sons for their efforts, but at the same time not instill the "talented tenth" mentality in them. While I am extremely proud of my son going to Morehouse College, what I am most proud of is the content of his character.

It's been a tough road raising three sons as a divorced woman, and fortunately, their father has remained prominent in their lives. More on that in future blogs!

I know there are other single/divorced African American mothers out there whose son's are on their way to a new and positive chapter in their lives; whether it be to college or a career...
Let's sing!