"Return of the Mack"/FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

So, finally...after a however long hiatus I decided it's time to blog again. The recent return is due to several changes in my life.

1. HEALTH CONCERNS: I was having issues with my eyesight but it's getting better, I will have to undergo surgery though to get my sight back to normal. I'm still working on my stockton postcolonial studies blog project title "A Dream Deferred" (Google it and check it out it's pretty cool, also there are other projects on the site from other student researchers so check those out as well!) I've been working on the project slowly because of my eyes, it's really hard to read, write, etc..for long periods of time because I'm basically seeing out of my right eye so it's tough but I'm doing it. I'll be blogging about my eye issues as well now, they had me a little depressed but I decided to get up off my butt and deal so here I am.

2. NATURAL HAIR JOURNEY: So I had a post a ways back when about being bored with my hair..well, NO MORE! I finally did my BC (big chop) in November of 2011..I had been growing my hair out since April 2011 which was the last date of my relaxer..when I Big Chopped I cut off all the straight hair and was left with my "natural hair". It was terrifying! I was like what am I supposed to do with this?? Well, through trial & error and much youtube and Googling I went from terrified to IN LOVE!

My hair is a little below shoulder length now, I love my curls, and my goal is waist length by 2016. I am going to do a future post (like tonight or in a day or two) about that experience specifically so stay tuned in!!! But let me just say that if you are considering going natural you have to do the ABCs. A) Abandon all conventional ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc you have towards hair in general and your hair specifically. B) Bring your own work ethic! There is no magical product! First of all, I find that the more natural methods work better with my hair...and you will have to do research and basically study and develop a relationship with your hair. I was struggling until I finally read up on things like hair porosity, density, and more realistic ways of defining hair texture...like the LOIS system which helped me out more than Andre Walker's system but to each his own.

And finally C) Care about your hair! Yes it takes work, yes you may get discouraged, yes people will judge your hair but if you love and care for your hair like, well like it's a part of you which it is, then it will thrive. If you hate/loathe it and are lazy and think you can get away with the shenanigans you could get away with when your hair was straight you will lose the war...BUT it shouldn't be a war..it should a loving, intimate relationship. CHECK BACK IN FOR THE DETAILED POST ON WHAT I LEARNED AND SOME OF MY METHODS CONCERNING NATURAL HAIR.

3. RELATIONSHIPS: I'm pretty newly single...decided I needed the space to pursue my passions. Writing, hopefully Grad school & starting a business (I make jewelry...twitter: @OOMOSHOP and hopefully will be operating my own online retail store by the end of this year..so look out for that!) I'm pursuing other ventures as well but you'll have to stick around and watch those things develop.

4. EDUCATION: So I've decided that instead of med school I'm going to basically strategically choose master's and PhD programs that will enable me to mix science, healthcare, gender & sexuality, and literature and I may end up becoming a teacher and/or professor but I'm not quite sure if I want to do that or just travel and write and run my retail business LOL. Some people are kind of disappointed about me not going to med school but I'm a free spirit...I can't be held down in an office and besides I'll still be a doctor except I'll be curing people of their misconceptions concerning others & their appearances via discussions about hair, race, gender, sexuality, and illness. I think that will be pretty cool :)

Anyway, that's it for now...OH AND I GUESS I SHOULD MENTION..YUP I GRADUATED. B.A. in Bio with a minor in literature and a minor in writing and a 3.40 GPA in May of 2012. Not bad for a little Jersey girl from the tiny island of Jamaica.

*****ALWAYS BELIEVE THE IMPOSSIBLE, ONLY THEN CAN IT BECOME REALITY.*****