I just celebrated my one year nappiversary on Monday. This whole year has been amazing and life changing. Last year, on November 15, in a bathroom, I took a pair of scissors and cut all of my hair off. I never expected to have my journey -- this year, be as interesting as it has been.
I celebrated my hair by doing almost nothing to it. No washing, hennaing or conditioning. Doctor's orders. It just wasn't possible since I had my surgery on my eye last Wednesday (which included a biopsy and reattachment of a lacrimal gland). I was scared for a time that I had a rare cancer in that gland (which is usually fatal). Thankfully, it isn't. But, for the last six days, I've had a swollen right eye (which almost made me look like Quasimodo, and stitches. But, the frightening headaches I've endured for almost a year are almost gone.
It's strange, for this entire year after my big cut, getting to know my hair in its natural state for the first time, and loving it ...all the while I was thinking that I should enjoy it, while I still had it, let alone that I could lose it. It wasn't just my hair that I learned to appreciate. It made me think about the choices I've made in my life. How I've let the worries about what others think about me cloud my own insight to my inner beauty, my self worth and my happiness.
A visit to a doctor's office has helped me see that I want to pursue a different, self-sustaining living, and it has also given me a chance to rediscover some things I'd forgotten... that I have an innate curiosity about -- everything. Computers, writing, drawing, etc;. Freedom to think, to believe, instead of being wrapped up in everyone else's belief about what my identity and worth are.
Being an employee in a working environment -- even one that is geared toward academics, it can strip a person of their identity (if they allow it), their self worth, and their ability to think independently. When you're working, sometimes all you want to do, afterward, is curl up on a couch, in front of a television, and just not think. Zone out.
It's a life of quiet desperation, as Henry David Thoreau would say. Not a beautiful life at all. It's sleeping while awake...and it's a harsh lesson to learn that's what I've been doing.
I've learned who my real family is. Familial bonds are not those who you are related to by blood, necessarily, but are those who love you. And I want more of that in my life, I learned.
For my nappyversity -- I sent myself a card, congratulating myself for making it through the hard surgery, in one (albeit) different piece, and I bought some supplies on NaturallyCurly.com for my hair -- Oyin's Handmade Burnt Sugar Pomade, Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave In, Darcy's Avocado and Honey Twisting Cream, and Greg's Juice(something I've wanted to try for ages).
I also plan to restart my Specific Carbohydrate Diet next month (after the holidays).
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\Hi. Welcome to my site. I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Dee.
I'm a writer, graphic artist and designer (in the past Web pages, but I've been a bit too busy to do that as of late).
Last year, I cut off all of my relaxed ends and became natural. That was on November 15, 2009. Now, it's almost a year later. I knew very little about hair. For more than 30 years, other women took care of my hair in its relaxed state.
Now, I'm learning more about my hair over the past year, than I have in a lifetime. And I'm loving the process. Even though its challenging, and I have my bad days, it's still been well worth the journey.
On my site, I'm going to talk about everything and anything, whether its pop culture, politics, religion, writers and books. I hope to have interviews with writers on this site in upcoming weeks (especially some of my favorites).
I'm also going to talk about my journey (upcoming) on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (a grain-free, lactose-free, starch-free and sugar-free diet) which I plan to start soon. I'll explain more about that in upcoming posts.
In my spare time, I love reading, watching science ficiton shows (like Fringe), drawing, writing and creating art.
I love music from all over the world (including Latin -- like samba, salsa, bossa nova, tango)-- J-Pop, African-influenced, hip hop, jazz, electronica and blues. \
Hope you'll stick around, because I'm just getting started.
Welcome to Her Natural Write
I'm a writer, graphic artist and designer (in the past Web pages, but I've been a bit too busy to do that as of late).
Last year, I cut off all of my relaxed ends and became natural. That was on November 15, 2009. Now, it's almost a year later. I knew very little about hair. For more than 30 years, other women took care of my hair in its relaxed state.
Now, I'm learning more about my hair over the past year, than I have in a lifetime. And I'm loving the process. Even though its challenging, and I have my bad days, it's still been well worth the journey.
On my site, I'm going to talk about everything and anything, whether its pop culture, politics, religion, writers and books. I hope to have interviews with writers on this site in upcoming weeks (especially some of my favorites).
I'm also going to talk about my journey (upcoming) on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (a grain-free, lactose-free, starch-free and sugar-free diet) which I plan to start soon. I'll explain more about that in upcoming posts.
In my spare time, I love reading, watching science ficiton shows (like Fringe), drawing, writing and creating art.
I love music from all over the world (including Latin -- like samba, salsa, bossa nova, tango)-- J-Pop, African-influenced, hip hop, jazz, electronica and blues. \
Hope you'll stick around, because I'm just getting started.
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