Pattern Deluxe Styling Bundle Tryout: Did We Like it or Nah?

Recently, I received the new Pattern Deluxe Styling Bundle, as a gift from my son, and I decided to try out the products with my daughter, Courtney. So we grabbed the deluxe bundle products, after I washed my hair, and she was ready for a refresh (Courtney explains this term in the video) all set to decide if we liked the bundled products or not. Below is our video, which takes you through this little journey and at the end, you will find out if we liked the items that we used from the bundle, or not, with all kinds of insight in between. Our hair textures and lengths are very different so hopefully, that wll be helpful for you. So, enjoy the video below and feel free to comment if you also use Pattern. I would love to know your thoughts about it! Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel as their will be many more videos to come! Otherwise, just enjoy and let me know what you think about the Pattern Deluxe Styling Bundle or any other products that you are using and remember, #NaturalIsCoolEnough!

Breathing Trauma and Pain In and Letting It Out: It's Yoga Time!

The meaning of the word "Yoga" is "union" as derived from the Sanskrit root "yuj," (pron. "yug") meaning "to join", "to unite." As the pandemic continued and society gradually began to open up, I was finding plenty of time for introspection and reflection about the most meaningful and important aspects of my life, and the most important people in it. Then the death of George Floyd happened and literally, all hell broke loose in the United States of America.  Society went from isolation to traumatic devastation due to the killing of another Black man, this time with a knee to his neck, until he died, as he uttered, "I can't breathe." 

This took my yoga practice to another level as it literally became my way, along with my husband, to figure out how to breath through anguish, pain and trauma, as I watched Black people all over the nation cry, march, express rage and join together in protest, with other individuals, sometimes for the benefit of Black people and sometimes to our detriment. I also went to a March with my husband  and  we walked with a large crowd of protesters, in Miami, with our fists in the air, chants of support for George Floyd towards justice and more, in 90 degree weather, while being told that the pandemic is still in effect. 

In the midst of this tragedy of the death of George Floyd, we continued our yoga practice, every single day, as we have done consistently throughout the pandemic lockdown, of which part of the process is to breath in and out, with intensity.  I no longer take that breathing for granted because I realize, consciously, that it is a gift, beyond measure to do so.  As I watched the breath of life being taken from a Black man, George Floyd, just because of the color of his skin, I felt the anguish of his suffering and the trauma experienced by Black people at large in the United States on a consistent basis.  Now, when I breath in and out, I acknowledge  the fear that we, Black people, have for ourselves and our children as we simply walk around, doing ordinary and extraordinary things.  It doesn't matter who are what we are and what we do.  Our Black skin continues to be a target for those people who have the audacity to think that they are superior--essentially racism in the United States.  I breath that trauma and pain in and then I let it out. 

Now once again, we continue our practice after the shooting in the back that has occurred for yet another Black man, Jacob Blake. Each time it happens, I have to get quiet and absorb, digest and come to terms with the painful reality of what has transpired—another unarmed Black man, shot in the back by the police. This time, remaining alive, his body shattered, maimed and paralyzed while his mother and the rest of his family are in agony. Then, I have to confront the reality that I am the mother of a Black son and the wife of a Black man, both loved deeply by me. How do we, as Black people, process these lynchings/near lynchings shown on television and in social media, over and over again? I see that there is some action for this young man, Jacob Blake, including a federal investigation forthcoming, protests are in progress, the NBA and WNBA and other athletes are striking (so proud of these young people), the Black warrior lawyers are ready to fight in the legal system and beyond. All of this is laudable but how will this mend Jacob’s shattered life? This time, I feel weary and numb but connected to his mother, as always, because raising a Black son in this nation causes a kind of love that pushes you to FEEL Black motherhood as my hopes, and dreams include knowing that our seed, our son, will continue our Black family into the next generation, in this patriarchal society, while we love him deeply, now, along with our daughter. If THEY keep destroying our Black sons, primarily, and our Black daughters, how will Black people continue to be fruitful and multiply together? How will the psyches of Black people be healed from such trauma? How will Black parents function without worrying about their young adults as they walk outside? Black mothers and fathers can only hope that our sons and our daughters know that no matter what THEY say or do their #BlackLivesMatter to US with all that we have. I take pride in being Black. I love that I am of African descent, along with my husband and our children, with hopes for Black grandchildren someday, even if our Black bodies are not valued by those who do not recognize our humanity. I offer strength, courage and love to the mother and the rest of the family of Jacob Blake with prayers for his healing. It is a miracle that he is alive. May the miracles continue through him and his little Black sons, who watched their father being shot, at least 7 times, by those who are supposed to protect them from danger. I hope these young, Black, boys, are able, somehow, after being traumatized, to know that their father is a Black man whose name will be spoken across this world and that someday they will rise up and be stronger for him, carrying his name, while knowing an unfortunate truth as stated by our beloved brother and ancestor James Baldwin: “Please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure does not testify to your inferiority but to their inhumanity.” This truth will serve all Black people in this nation, if we allow it to resonate deeply within us. May Jacob Blake and his family be blessed and may our voices and actions roar for justice on his behalf. Power to all who have decided to #RiseUp for Jacob.

In the meantime, while these tragedies continue to ensue, I will continue my Yoga practice with my husband, each day, and my daughter's adorable little dog, Riley, who joins us most days and now when I breath in and out, followed by meditation, I now know that I am not just doing it just for myself, but for every one of us, my fellow Black people, who are seeking to fully manifest one of the most important truths--United We Stand, Divided We Fall.  We must breathe. We must breathe for George Floyd, for Jacob Blake for Breonna  Taylor, for Ahmad Aubrey, for Trayvon Martin and countless other Black men and women who have died at the hands of white people, who felt that they had the right to take Black lives--to stop their breath. We must breath that pain in and then breath it out. 

My suggestion for all Black people is to, keep the fight for justice going, in every aspect of our lives, and to stay strong by eating as healthy as possible, exercising daily, staying as natural as possible, including your hair as a show of our natural Black power, take care of your skin and your entire body, find time for relaxation including reading and doing absolutely nothing, except thinking, travel, once we can do so freely again, beyond the pandemic/lockdown, and stay close to your family and  loved ones. While doing all of this, continue the fight for justice for Black people in the United States.  Keep it at the forefront of your mind, body and spirit and in your healthy state, be prepared to protest when necessary, and call from wherever you can, for justice, when Black people are killed, simply for existing while Black. No matter your position on spirituality or religiosity  stay connected to a source that reminds you that there is a force beyond your self to reach out to for comfort, solace and renewal and never that you can connect with through your breath.  Keep that at the forefront in your mind and breath for yourself, while breathing for every other unarmed Black person that has lost their life, or who has been maimed senselessly. I am breathing in and out for me and for you.