Confessions of a Naturalista: Dinesha "My Natural Hair Journey, a poem"

Confessions of a Naturalista: "Gratitude is Gorgeous" by Beatrice Clay

Why Gratitude Lists are Important

By: Beatrice Clay

                             

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates vision for tomorrow.” ~Melody Beady

Gratitude is the very first step toward creating a more beautiful life or anything for that matter. Taking stock of what you already have and expressing gratitude for it is a game changer or rather a mind changer.  As the opening quotation suggests, gratitude preps your mind and spirit for miracles.  Identifying and choosing to focus on the little sweet pleasantries in your life not only keeps you from responding negatively to all the crap that you will surely encounter so long as you’re breathing, but gratitude also opens you up to receive more good than crap.  Think of gratitude and expressing it as a magnet for all things good, graceful and Godly.

You’re essentially telling God, the Universe or what ever divine love that lights you up and keeps you going that you are aware of divine provision, you gladly accept it and your heart is open to more. 

                               

“You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life.  And you will have set in motion and ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.”~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

My daily gratitude lists are my saving grace most days. Once I am awake and properly hydrated (read: caffeinated) I jot down 3-5 things that I am grateful for.  I start my day with gratitude. Even when I am at an emotional low or on the brink of tears or trying to quiet the urge to scream “why me,” I write my gratitude list. My commitment to writing a gratitude list despite how I feel is actually the saving grace part.  On those “why me” days, my gratitude lists keep me from sinking lower.  Those few moments I spend searching my heart to find the good, are a few less moments I spend bemoaning the crap.  In those moments, gratitude does her work. My gratitude list reminds me it ain’t all bad.

I encourage you to start expressing gratitude daily. Lists work wonderfully. No fancy paper or notebook needed. Just grab a pen/pencil/sharpie or crayon and a blank piece or paper or index card and jot down at least three things you are grateful for today.  Tomorrow, write another gratitude list. The day after tomorrow, another.  The third day, another. You get where I am going.  Make writing a daily gratitude list one of your sacred practices and watch something beautiful begin to happen.

Need a little more, well join me for 365 Days of Gratitude over at inspired by Beatrice Clay. Got a blog or other social media account and want to share your lists? Let me know and I’ll be sure to follow.

One last bit of PRETTY before I go: printable blank gratitude cards made just for you and your gratitude lists! (link “gratitude lists”)

Beatrice Clay Elsewhere:
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Confessions of a Naturalista: "Natural in Corporate America"

The author of this feature has chosen to leave her name anonymous as she shares her experience being natural in corporate America. She is an Associate Vice President at a Public Relations firm in New York City. She handles entertainment accounts -- primarily theatrical film campaigns and film festivals.  

My story:

I’ve worn my hair straight and permed since the second grade -- I still stand by the fact that my hair was too overwhelming for my multiracial mother whose hair is not quite like mine! (although she’d hate me for saying that). Unlike a lot of transition accounts, I never had any traumatizing experiences with relaxers. In fact my long, straight hair always looked pretty awesome. Nevertheless, I made the decision to let go of my perm at 25 -- which was an overall identity-exploring year for me in several aspects.

With permed hair I felt like a fraud and I hated myself for being disgusted with the hair that grew in when my perm grew out, partly because I recognized that that meant I hated a piece of me – so dramatic, right? Who am I? With a perm I actually felt more different than my fine-haired colleagues in having to wrap my hair at night on business trips in the occasional shared room, or in getting caught in the snow at Sundance where my co-workers would watch the texture of my hair change before their eyes. I felt like I was trying to hide something and convince everyone around me -- including myself -- that my hair was like theirs.

I wanted to be in a place where I didn’t need to run from the rain or the pool, or spend $70 upwards for a perm every six weeks. Most importantly I wanted to somehow find solace with/embrace my hair’s natural texture.

As an introverted person, I had a million fears of standing out in a negative way, but working in the entertainment industry was certainly on my side in that regard. I’ve been lucky in that my natural hair was wholly embraced at the office – ugly phase and all -- probably because it seemed different and edgy. After years at the firm of always being the baby in my department, I also think my new short hair came off a bit more mature vs. my long straight hair pulled back into a ponytail. Overall my colleagues were very supportive and I received a ton of compliments, even when I was sure I didn’t deserve them! My experience may have been very different somewhere more corporate.

I’ve managed to get promoted twice throughout my transition so it can’t be but so off putting. At times I feel pre-judged or treated differently because of it, but some (read: most) of that is my own insecurities as I continue to adjust, gradually loving my hair more and more overtime and as it takes on a life of its own.

My advice to those apprehensive about going natural in corporate America: Know that once you embrace it and are confident, most everyone else around you will. Confidence and professionalism trumps everything, and if for some reason it doesn’t you’ll never be comfortable where you are. Corporate America exists on a spectrum so there are certainly more open-minded, corporate cultures with employees who will focus on your merit and work ethic rather than your hair, and are enthusiastically waiting to embrace you with open arms – ‘fro and all.

What has your experience been like having natural hair and working in corporate America?

Confessions of a Naturalista: Mae; "Brains and Beauty"

Mae aka "Natural Chica" is no stranger to any of us in the natural hair community. She's the creator and editor of NaturalChica.com and corresponding YouTube channel (Nikkimae2003). BUT did you know that Mae is also a Ph.D. candidate in Materials Science & Engineering?! Raise your hand if you know what that is! lol

Not only is she gorgeous, personable, friendly and stylish, but she’s super intelligent! (Anyone who studies any type of Science and Engineering is nothing short of a genius in my mind.) She received her B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Maryland – College Park (my alma mater, Go Terps!)

Mae is an amazing example not only to the natural hair community, but to women in general of what it means to have brains and beauty (especially inward) and that anything is possible with dedication and determination. Continue to read to learn more about her experience in this field.

Materials Science & Engineering, “investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties.”-Wikipedia

 In Lamens Terms: "Materials science and engineering is a discipline that enables the creation and application of materials in society.  Materials engineers modify and design materials to perform better than they otherwise would. They develop new materials and create uses for them that benefit humans." (http://www.matse.psu.edu/whatismatse)

What inspired you to pursue a degree and career in this industry?

I had a wonderful guidance counselor in high school that recommended I attend a summer program geared towards females interested in engineering because of my expressed interest in math and science. The program was held at the University of Maryland and I really enjoyed learning about the different fields of engineering and their real world applications. It was there that I was introduced to the field of Materials Science and decided I wanted to major in that field when I went to college. I thought it was really interesting to be able to understand at the atomic level why materials behave the way they do and how you can tailor their properties for various applications. 

There aren’t many women or women of color in the field of Engineering, what’s your experience like?

It's true that there aren't many women or women of color in engineering, but those numbers have actually been increasing! It wasn't rare for me to be the only female on the team for a group project or to be the only person of color in an entire class, however I was well supported throughout my engineering studies through participation and leadership in groups like the National Society of Black Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers. It's always great to be able to relate to others with similar circumstances, and being involved in those groups definitely enhanced my undergraduate journey in engineering.

Why do you think not many women of color are in this field?

There have been many national studies that have tried to address this question and it’s certainly a number of different factors. I personally think exposure at a young age is an important factor as you can't pursue something you don't even know exists or how it relates to society. I had never heard of Materials Science until a year before I graduated and it was thanks to my guidance counselor's recommendation that I participate in the engineering summer program. During my involvement with the National Society of Black Engineers and Society of Women Engineers, we would actually put on engineering programs for elementary and high school students in underrepresented areas, which was exciting as we saw many students develop an interest in science and engineering that hadn't before. 

Was it and is it ever difficult for you to acclimate or relate to your peers/colleagues?

In undergrad, the environment could be a bit intimidating at times since some students were extremely competitive. Once I made up my mind that all that mattered was me doing my best, I released those fears and have carried that attitude into my graduate studies as well. 

Where do you see yourself in this industry and what is your ultimate career goal?

My current Ph.D. research is in the area of biomaterials design, which is essentially researching the next generation of materials for devices that interact with the body. I do enjoy the research environment and want to work with research and development teams in engineering biomedical solutions that will enhance the quality of life. Ultimately, I want to have a positive impact on society in whatever role I am in. 

Engineering is no walk-in-the-park, have you ever wanted to give up or questioned why you’re on this path?

I certainly have become frustrated at various points throughout my undergraduate and graduate studies as probably any student of any field will tell you. My dad gave me great advice when I was younger about thinking of the end goal when frustration would hit. That helped remind me of why I was doing what I was doing and helped me develop some serious faith, persistence and patience as I progressed through my studies.

What keeps you motivated?I believe that I'm at this point in my life because of God and it's by His strength that I continue to do what I do. I also have the most incredible support from my husband, family and friends. 

What do you like the most and least about your field?

Since I was a kid, I've always had questions about how things work, and being in the field of engineering has given me the tool set to understand existing answers and discover the answers to the questions not answered yet. As a graduate student conducting research in Materials Science, it can be frustrating when you set up experiments to try and answer scientific questions and they don't turn out the way you hypothesized. However, even in those "failures", I've realized that there is much to be learned from those experiences as well. 

My husband is an Industrial and Systems Management Engineer and I remember him not sleeping for days (lol). How in the world do you manage balancing being a wife and student while having a successful blog/vlog?

For me, it's all about keeping my priorities straight. My relationship with God and family is first, followed by my studies then running my blog/vlog. I live by my planner and it helps me keep track of what's on my plate and when I can allot time for lower priority items. It's not easy and frequently means late nights/early mornings, but it helps when you're doing what you love!

Who inspires you?

People who are passionate about what they do and have a positive influence in their community. I'm inspired by people that go after their dreams, even if its one small step a time. Those small steps turn into major progress! 

What advice would you give someone looking to become an engineer?

I would encourage them to explore the different fields of engineering and look at how these different fields play a role in society. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to engineers working in a field that you're interested in and having an in-depth conversation with them about what they do. If there are pre-college engineering programs at your local institutions, I would definitely recommend enrolling in those as well. 

My hat goes off to all the Scientists and Engineers out there in the natural hair community! If that's you shout out your field in the comments section below! 

Confessions of a Naturalista: "Realizing you're Beautiful"

By Keyshana Coleman

The battle of realizing you are BEAUTIFUL!

Naturally... Beautiful? Nah!

For as long as I can remember I never felt beautiful although, I was told, I never believed. I began my natural hair journey around the time I had came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. After cutting off my hair to go natural I felt so liberated and loved. There were some frowns and some smiles but all in all it was like I was supposed to be this woman a lonnng time ago. I knew this was how God designed me to look and my hair, not in an obsessive way, was something that I should embrace! Also, becoming a believer opened my eyes to so much more. We are fed by society, family members, boyfriends, and girlfriends that in order to be beautiful we have to look a certain way and that our beauty is based on what we have. However, God paints a bigger picture in 1 Peter 3:4  that our beauty is the hidden person (the Holy spirit) of our heart and is very precious to God. 

I know there are some people out there  who are just like I was. I was looking to be beautiful in all the wrong areas and striving for approval from others especially, for their validation of beauty, but in Christ we are all beautiful to the Creator of the universe & to know that has transformed my whole world. I just want you to know whoever you are reading this, yes you! YOU. ARE. NATURALLY. BEAUTIFUL in every way that God has made you! Yes, I sometimes still struggle with believing how beautiful I really am, but day by day the Lord is working on my imperfect self for his glory and my good! And that alone is beautiful to me.

Never forget BE.YOU.tiful!

Psalm 139:13-14 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

(Me Then)

(Me Now)

Confessions of a Naturalista: "Self-proclaimed weave queen"

By Yani, from Brooklyn 

I would like to start out by saying I LOVE NATURAL HAIR!  I think everyone who wears natural hair is beautiful.  I secretly would love to wear my natural coils but lack the courage to do so. 

I think it is important to state how my natural journey started.  At the age of 29 I noticed my hair shedding a lot, I mean hair everywhere.  It was a transitional time for me so I attributed it to stress. But as the time passed the shedding continued. That prompted me to stop relaxing my hair.  

That was 6 years ago and I haven’t had a relaxer since.  Though I wasn’t relaxing my hair, I was a self-proclaimed weave queen. I mean I was and am an addict! I love the horse’s hair. For me, a fresh weave was equivalent to a fat kid and a big piece of cake!

I have worn a weave so long it looks more natural to me than my natural hair.  I always had a big fear of someone I work with seeing me without my wig, I am so afraid I even wear my wig to the gym!  

Now that I’m living in Brooklyn I am constantly surrounded by black women in their natural form. It makes me feel a bit stupid walking around with this wig on my head. Though I am extremely conflicted I still don’t have the courage to wear my natural hair in public. I think this stems from having short hair as a child and always yearning to have lighter skin and long hair. Don’t get me wrong I have a full head of hair. Many people who have seen my natural hair think I’m insane to wear a wig.  

I wish I had the confidence and enough love for myself to conquer this curse. I guess the first step is admitting my problem. Hopefully the next step will be over coming my fears.

Have any of you felt this way about your hair? If so, how have you overcome it or have you? 

Confessions of a Naturalista: "I'm moving forward from loss"

This post was shared from the blog "My Life Perpetua" by Ashley, from Maryland. This is such a great story of  loss, strength, faith and what it's like to be a woman and a mother. I know this will encourage and give hope to someone. Enjoy. 

I was in the kitchen. I moved to the side as my husband opened the oven to pull out a pan of chicken.

"You know, I'll just be glad when I'm out of the first trimester."

"Why's that?"
"Then I'll feel better with knowing that these are just the regular pregnancy aches and pains and the chances of a miscarriage will go down." We had found out just a few days 

before that baby number two was on the way, and according to my calculations, 

I was between 5 and 7 weeks into the first trimester.

He sat the pan on the oven and pulled me into his arms. "But you have to know that even if we do have a miscarriage and God allows for that to happen, we'll be okay."

"I know we will," I said. "I would just be devastated." I paused as my throat choked up a bit from the thought. "This is a little different from when we had Naomi. That time it was kinda surprising and we weren't really planning on it, and there were so many mixed emotions on my end. This time we talked about it and stuff, so I was, well I am so excited! So I would just hate for something to happen."

He hugged me a little tighter. "I know you would babe, and I would too, but we have to keep remembering that God is always in control. He works out everything for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away--"

"Blessed be the name of the Lord. I know, babe."

"We'll be okay, babe. We'll be okay."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

This was the night before I miscarried our second child.

The morning started off normal enough. Jeremiah went off to work, and I rested a bit longer because I wasn't feeling too well. And by rested a bit longer, I mean that once Naomi woke up at 7-7:30am, I fed her, changed her, and brought her back to bed with me. I willed her to sleep (yes, willed) and finally got more rest myself.

I woke up cramped.

Naomi woke up too, so I fed her again, and we started our day. Down the stairs, into the living room, pulled out the books and the toys. She laughed and played and I used her distraction as a moment to finally go to the restroom. What I saw looked different, and even though I didn't really know, I already knew.

I had no time to think about it, because as I headed down the flight of stairs, I was shocked to find that my 7 month old daughter had climbed halfway up the steps! (When did she learn to do this!!?) Bathroom trip forgotten, I thought not of my unborn baby, but only of the child who had already exited my womb and stood before me on the staircase with wide, wondering eyes. I calmly went down and snatched her up, praising the Lord that my little girl hadn't fallen backwards onto the wood floor. Gate time!

With Naomi safely in my arms, my mind turned back to the bathroom trip, and I picked up the phone to call my husband. "I should probably go to the doctor," I said. "Or the ER, since they'll probably send me there anyway."

Fast-forward and the husband is home, and we're sitting on the couch, and I'm on the phone with a nurse who says, Well I may as well wait until my already-set doctor's appointment the next day, because if I was having a miscarriage, there was nothing I could do. Gee, thanks.

I hang up the phone, and burst into tears, and go to the bathroom, and saw my fears confirmed. Blood.

I head down the stairs, more tears and this time I can't stop. "We're going to be okay," the husband tells me. I think he's talking about our unborn child, and I shake my head no. No! Don't tell me that! Because everything may not be okay. Just tell me everything could be okay. It could.

But he tells me no, and tells me that it will be okay, we will be okay. And I shake my head because he has no idea what he's talking about. We pray--he prays, and I silently ask for His will to be done.

On the way to the hospital, I realize I made a trip just like this when I was pregnant with Naomi, and guess what? Everything was just fine. So I told Jeremiah, Everything could be okay, right? He responded by saying that yes, everything will be okay.

We're at the hospital, and right after me, someone checks in complaining of cramps. She was 9 weeks pregnant. This happens, I told myself. I could be okay.

And so I waited and I saw the doctor, and I peed in the cup, and I had my blood drawn, and I had the ultrasound, and I had the pelvic exam and during each and every test I told myself no news could be good news. I could be okay. Our baby could be okay. I still tried to brace myself for the worst though.

Then the worst came as the doctor got straight to the point--I had a complete miscarriage. At first I thought I wouldn't cry, but the tears came and kept coming. I listened as he told me that the pregnancy hormone left in my blood was basically negligent. Though I knew I was between 5-7 weeks, I'd never know exactly when I miscarried. I'd never hear my little one's heartbeat or see them on an ultrasound. He told me that he and his wife miscarried their first child and that it was okay to grieve. He said I was healthy and able to try again whenever I was ready and that the blessing in the midst of it was that I'd need no further medical attention. There was nothing else to be done.

He left the room and my husband held me and our sweet Naomi, and it hit me how blessed I really am. But it still hurt, really hurt, and I could not. stop. crying. I used up the tissue box, and asked for another and the nurse came in the room with a new one and comforting words.

We got on the road and just drove. And drove. Out of our city. Into DC. Jeremiah took me over to a place of joy, the place where he proposed, and my mind went back a few years. I remember that day like it was yesterday, and I remember that tree on the National Mall. It was huge and beautiful against the night sky, rivaled only by the pretty ring I kept looking at on my left hand. The verse popped into my head. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desired fulfilled is a tree of life."

Tears followed that verse coming to mind, but this time I wasn't dwelling on the tree of life, but the hope deferred. I wasn't mad. I wasn't bitter. I was just sad. Just...sad.

In hindsight the Lord was preparing me for this loss long before I knew I was pregnant. Different conversations I had with other women about miscarriages they had, coming across research about the amount of women who miscarry, sometimes without even knowing it. Even an episode of 19 Kids and Counting where the Duggars lost a child. All this before conceiving, before knowing I had conceived, before knowing I had lost the child I'd barely known about for a week.

I didn't know all that stuff was preparation, but it was. Because each and every time miscarriage came up, I would question whether I was willing to surrender the outcome of each and every pregnancy to the Lord. It scared me to even think about losing a pregnancy, let alone accepting that it could happen and that the Lord could have a plan for it. I just kept thinking, If I accept this, if I surrender future pregnancies to the Lord before they happen, I am basically guaranteeing that I'll have to go through that pain. It was a terrible way of thinking, but I went through that thought process and eventually got to the point that I believed what God said. ALL things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. He knows the plans that He has for me and they're plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future. I can rejoice in suffering knowing that it would produce perseverance, which would produce character, which would produce hope. I knew it in my head, but had to believe it in my heart:  There is no pointless pain the life of a believer.

So that conversation between my husband and I? It was like my final moment of acceptance. Of surrender. I hadn't talked to him about miscarriage before that point, and it happened just in time.

The day of the miscarriage/hospital visit and the next few days that followed really put this surrender and trust to the test. I found out that at the same time I was in the hospital finding out about my miscarriage, a friend was in the hospital finding out that she was pregnant. 5 weeks along. What I could have been. A few days after that, I had a baby shower to go to which was joyous and bittersweet all at once. Conversations about pregnancies, pictures on Facebook, people jokingly asking when the next one is coming... All innocuous in and of themselves, stuff that typically wouldn't bother me. Now it seems like anything could plant a seed of bitterness in my heart.

So far, thankfully, that seed has not taken root. It's not that I've hardened my heart to what's happened. It's just that I know being bitter would take glory away from the Lord. Though He didn't change the outcome of the pregnancy, He clearly prepared me in advance. That fact was so plain to me that I had to, I have to worship and thank Him for that. I know my grieving process, even my recovery process could have been much longer and much more painful. I have been spared that, and I don't take it for granted. It definitely still hurts at times, but I can honestly say that I am doing well. I've learned that having an open hand when the Lord's given me something makes it easier to let go if He chooses to take it back. My child was His before he was mine. His to give. His to take.

I can't say I can all of a sudden relate to everyone who's had a miscarriage. There are people who lose their child when they're much further along. There are those who try and try to get pregnant and finally do, then for whatever reason the pregnancy ends. There are so many different, painful circumstances that occur that it would be impossible for anyone to relate to EVERYONE. But something that I take comfort in as a believer is that when I am tempted to be bitter about how things turned out, I don't have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with my weaknesses. He was tempted, as I am, and He was yet without sin. I can confidently go before the throne of grace, and receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need!! What a blessing! What a promise!!

My husband kept telling me that everything would be okay, and I kept thinking that he had no idea what he was talking about. It wasn't until afterwards that I realized that he wasn't just talking about the baby. He was talking about, well, life I guess. We're okay. God has given us each other and sweet Naomi. We've only gotten closer as a family because of this experience. We have Christ, who works all things, including my miscarriage, together for the good. I've been able to know Christ as my Comforter in a whole new way.

He said everything would be okay. And we are. More than okay really. We're moving forward.

(Ashley and Jeremiah's beautiful baby girl Naomi)

Verses. Quotes. Inspiration.

All photos courtesy of Google Images.

- Read more from Ashley On her Blog:

My Life Perpetua 

Confessions of a Naturalista: "Natural Birth Control?"

Have any of you ever thought about natural birth control methods? My husband and I have been married going on two years this December and we aren't ready to have children yet. However, I've been torn about using artificial birth control methods. I thought over the counter birth control (and condoms) were the only option and we simply weren't satisfied with that. 

Recently, I've been intrigued about finding other methods of birth control besides artificial contraception options such as; the pill, Nuva-Ring, IUD, etc. Perhaps it’s my inner “hippie” emerging, but the fact that I’m putting artificial hormones into my body frightens me and I don’t want to wait around to see what the side effects are. 

(Photo credit: Google Images)

Lately, I’ve been really into getting back to the simplicity of nature in many areas of my life. Simplistic in a sense that refers to understanding my body, how it works and what I’m putting into it. Every day we are bombarded with so many artificially "processed" things from the food we eat to the products we put in our hair to our methods of birth control. For me, it's becoming second nature to want to eat more organic, use less commercial products in my hair and I've even kicked my “Nuva Ring” to the curb.

This isn’t a post to convince all of you to trash your birth control and burn your bras, but I’m simply sharing my need to know more about my own reproductive system. Also, let me say that I hadn’t had any adverse side effects from using the Nuva Ring or the pill.  However, I don’t like the fact that I was inserting chemicals into my body and was oblivious to what’s really going on.

I got the urge to research other methods of birth control and came across this book called “Taking Charge of Your Fertility” by Toni Weschler, MPH.  Often when I get the idea to do something, I start out by doing my research first, check reviews and if all is well then, I dive in! That’s exactly what I did after reading reviews on this book and was surprised that it received 5 stars on amazon from 592 people. I’d never seen such positive reviews on a book from Amazon before so, I felt super comfortable ordering my own copy. 

After discovering this book, I found it odd that doctors don't recommend "natural" forms of birth control like the Fertility Awareness Method. After reading the first few chapters of the book, I began to understand why. Using the FAM method means that women will no longer have to pay hundreds of dollars each year for birth control and probably wont have to visit the gynecologist as frequently. This was very intriguing to my husband and me especially, because I would be more aware of my body and it's another opportunity for us to save money. 

So far I can say that this book is amazing! I’ve learned so much about my body that I wish I learned sooner. This book covers things including: Fertility Awareness Method which helps you understand your fertility signs in order to determine the best time to get pregnant or to avoid pregnancy, practicing the Fertility Awareness Method; how your body temperature, cervical fluid and the position of your cervix can determine whether or not you’re fertile, understanding your menstrual cycle, menopause and more. It’s also good for promoting gynecological health overall.  

The Fertility Awareness Method is NOT the same as Rhythm Method, but “refers to a set of practices used to determine the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle.” (Wikipedia) This book is filled with so many fascinating and helpful facts that I can’t begin to explain it all in one post! If you’re interested in learning more, I would strongly suggest that you check out a copy of this book at your local library or purchase one.

There is a lack of knowledge in general when it comes to women understanding their bodies and we rely too much on doctors to tell us what’s happening with our own bodies. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to take charge of my own fertility because there is nothing more liberating that knowing who you are.

To read a brief synopsis of the Fertility Awareness Method click here and to get more info about the book click here.

What are your opinions about alternative methods of birth control aside from artificial contraception?