Health 101: Tiffany Janay

I am over the blue moon to be bringing you this interview. I am constantly seeking fresh new perspectives, and looking for something different to offer you, my beloved reader. One day, on Facebook I came across a post by Tiffany Janay, that said, "Maybe a yoni egg is all you need."  or something to that effect. Intrigued, I went to her site and read more about yoni eggs. What I got from my visit was a beautiful gemstone egg, and so much more. I became a part of a  sisterhood that has brought my life so much joy. All thanks to Tiffany's vision and hard work.  She embodies all of what it is to be a woman, and empowers other women to do the same through her work. Read now, and thank me later.

How would you define healthy living?
I love this question!  Everyone has a different definition.  For me, healthy living is about being in alignment mind, body, and spirit.  It means going to the root of the issues and healing from there.  It's a daily commitment of honoring self.

Was there a turning point in your life that made you decide to become healthier?
Yes, for sure!  My first one was when I was in 7th grade.  I declared to my mom that I was no longer going to eat beef or pork.  She didn't believe me at all because up until that point I was eating 1-2 steaks a day, and could easily finish off a pot roast all to myself.  

That continued into my twenties, and I thought I was healthy the whole time because I only ate seafood, turkey, and chicken, and everyone told me that was healthy.

In my early twenties, I hit my highest weight of 190 and was blacking out randomly, mood swings were all over the place, and my bad cholesterol was at 298!!

I was confused because I thought I was healthy.  When my husband and I got together in 2006 we began really taking a look at our eating habits and how we cared for our bodies.  We learned about artificial flavors, white products, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, and the effects of animal products on the body.

From there we did our first cleanse together, the Master Cleanse, and started studying everything we could.  We lost the excess weight and brought our bodies into a place where we felt really good.  

We never went back after that.

What piece of knowledge would you like to share with others?
Self work is supreme.  As long as you have yourself figured out and are comfortable with who you are, everything else is a breeze.

Also, learn to understand energy.  Energy never dies, it only takes new form in different vessels but its always the same.  When you understand energy you don't have to question peoples motives or characteristics.  I hope that makes sense.  Study energy.

What is the one natural product you can’t live without?
Dr Bronners soap!  You can use it for EVERYTHING and its all natural ingredients.

What piece of advice would you give your younger self?
It's just a game.  Enjoy.

What makes you hella fresh, in case you don't understand this one, it Bay Area
speak for, what makes you your uniquely amazing self?

Lol! I was born in the Bay so hella is a part of my natural vocabulary.  I'd say my sense of expression.  I'm hella random and you never know what to expect, I shock myself!  I wear my emotions externally and always dress for the occasion.  When I fall in love with people, I give my all and my best.  And I love that I'm a good mix between street smart, fairy Goddess, Earthy, hood, sophisticated, and a real homegirl.

Where can we find you in the webosphere? 

I have 2 stores:

For premium Yoni Eggs visit us at YoniEggs.com (Use code: HELLANATURAL to save 20%)

Check out my Metaphysical Boutique at organicbloodline.com

Instagram:

@tiffanyjanay

@obyonieggs

@organicblood 

Facebook;

Tiffany Janay

Yoni Eggs

Organic Blood

Health 101: La Loba Loca

It should be no secret that Health 101 is my absolute favorite thing about this blog. All the interviews represent a diversity that is invaluable. Every time I read one of these interviews, I gain a new perspective, and my knowledge grows in a way that I don't think I could have gotten any other way. I was truly blown away by the following interview. I sought out La Loba Loca after reading an amazing article she wrote, and was overjoyed when she agreed to share her views here at Hella Natural. 

Enjoy this thoughtful, thought-provoking article, and don't forget to share! 

How would you define healthy living?

This is a tough question! The quick answer is: when you are working with your body, mind, spirit, and environment in a healthy manner. The answer to that question gets complicated though, I think it is very important to know that 'healthy living' is not accessible for most people, and also that this 'search' for healthy living is so commercialized, white and often portrayed as a personal journey. 

I live in Echo Park, a neighborhood that has been white-fied and turned into this horrible white hipster/yuppie playground. There are all these small businesses that focus on vegan food, fruit-juice cleansing, organic vegan ice creams, and all these other horribly expensive spots that are viewed as 'healthy'. These new 'healthy' spots are by no means accessible to long-term residents of color. This is just one example of the way 'healthy' living can be very commercial and white. 

This white-fication and appropriation of sustainability and health enrages me. People of color and indigenous communities have been practicing sustainability and traditional medicine forever, but we are not recognized. The only time when traditional healing practices pertaining to people of color are recognized is when white people steal them, name them something else, and sell them for ridiculous amounts of money. We need to start decolonizing and de-commercializing healthy living, and making sure that the information is getting to The People.

It bothers me that mainstream healthy living puts such an emphasis on the individual. What do I get by being healthy when there is people in the same neighborhood that I live in that: 1) can't afford the good veggies at the farmer's market 2) are literally being kicked out/evicted from the homes they have been living for decades 3)are being constantly harassed by the police and incarcerated 4) are in fear of deportation 5) are in fear of white people calling the cops on their children 6) are impacted by systemic violence that in turn impacts people's mental and physical health.

To me, healthy living needs to come from a community base and social justice perspective. It is great that I am able to be healthy right now, but what am I doing to provide resources and information to those people around me so they can be healthy as well? That is one of the reasons why I started my tumblr/blog, I wanted to make sure that I was sharing resources and talking about the appropriation of healing practices. I also started an online cooking show series called La Loba Loca Coxina, the idea behind this project is to show people of color cooking healthy and plant-based food. I also offer skill-shares in community events and university settings, I call them knowledge shares, and the idea is to create a dialogue between the participants and myself and to learn from each other.

If we are talking about healthy living, we have to keep it real, and to acknowledge our privileges and also understanding that our survival depends on Mother Earth, non-human animals such as pollinators, and labor of people. The current system is based on the compartmentalization of labor makes us forget that we need Mother Earth and animals to have food to eat, it also separates us from food production and the labor (often times slave migrant labor) that it takes to get an organic tomato into our salsa. We need to start looking at ourselves in the plants growing in our gardens, in the bees looking for nectar, and also in the workers that pick our food. We need to stop thinking in a linear fashion, and start understanding the world around us through connections, if we do not respect Mother Earth, and if we do not think about how we negatively affect Mother Earth's health, then what are we doing?

Was there a turning point in your life that made you decide to become healthier?

I had the privilege of growing up with a mama that only cooked vegetarian meals, she hated soda and it was almost impossible to get my parents to take us to a fast food restaurant. We are from a place in Peru called Arequipa, so my parents grew up eating mostly locally grown foods. We moved to Santiago, Chile when I was young, and fast food was way more expensive than actual food, so my parents rarely fed us fast food. I was lucky to come from a family, specially my mama that was into DIYing everything and cooking from scratch. 

When I moved to the US, I started eating horribly, I ate all the meats I could get a hold of because it was something we didn't have at home. When I was around 20-years old I started waking up with pain in my hands and fingers, it scared me, so I asked some of my family members if they knew what was happening and my aunt told me that pork meat makes your joints hurt. So I decided to stop hurting myself and stopped eating meat. Little by little, I started realizing that there were certain food, like milk and cheese that made me feel gross, so I stopped eating those as well. 

I started realizing the impact that migrating to the US had on my health, so I like to think of my health practices and choices as a way to resist the sickness that invades this country– it is all about decolonizing that health! I also started thinking about my current healthy habits as a way to honor the labor my family, specially my mama, did to keep me healthy and strong when I was growing up and under their care.

What piece of knowledge would you like to share with others?

Two things: eating more raw food and acknowledging the importance of ancestral knowledge. I recently started being more conscious about eating raw food, I grew up eating tons of raw veggies and fruits, but in the last couple of years I started falling for the comfort of cooked food. I have been including fermented foods and drinks to my diet, as well as sprouting and marinating veggies. 

I have this 50% raw & 50% cooked guideline I created to make sure I am eating enough raw food. Having a good raw sauce always makes a big difference; I make this delicious green sauce in the blender that you can use as a salad dressing or just eat it straight up from the blender! Get a blender, add some garlic, lemon juice, greens (any greens!), nuts, some salt, and some chile, blend it and you will end up with a delicious creamy green sauce.

 Introducing raw food to your diet makes you feel more energized and also lighter, cultures around the world have fermented and marinated fruit and veggies so ask around, ask your grandparents and see how they were eating raw back in the day. I think that the system we currently live in makes us forget that our families and ancestors possess healing and health practices that have been passed down generation to generation. We need to start documenting, asking, and interviewing our elders and families about healing practices and medicines- I call the ancestral knowledge that is passed down through word of mouth, Abuelita Knowledge. I recently wrote an article focused on reusable mxnstrual products and Abuelita Knowledge, you can find it here.

What is the one natural product you can’t live without?

Breathing! I recently realized that for most of my life I was not breathing correctly. Nobody taught me how to breathe and nobody told me the importance of breathing! Oxygen is necessary for the appropriate functioning of the body, breathing can help us re-charge, increase energy levels, de-stress, boost our immune system, increase flow of oxygen, give our muscles more flexibility and more! Also, air is free and natural (minus the pollutants) so take advantage of the air; take a deep breath and see how the air fits in your body.

What piece of advice would you give your younger self?

Growing up I always felt that I had the potential to make beautiful things, and create change. I never voiced it, but I always felt a fire right above my tummy and in between my ribs. I would like to go back and tell my younger self: Yes that fire that you feel in you is real, you are powerful and yes you have the power to create change. I would also like to go back and tell my younger self that ageism is real (we live in a very anti-youth system) and that no matter how old you are you are always going to deal with shit (that whole ' it gets better' corporate gay campaign is a lie) so stay true to yourself and question EVERYTHING. I am still young though, I am only 24-years-old! 

What makes you hella fresh?

Mmm... I am not sure... I mean there are qualities about myself that I am proud of and very grateful to possess, but I see these qualities reflected in many people around me, so they are not 'unique' to me.

Where can we find you in the webosphere? 

I am literally everywhere in the internet. My main site is lalobaloca.com where you can find more information about my photography work, body-powered tattoo art, and skill-shares I offer. I also have a tumblr, which is a blog where I post original writings, ramblings, images, resources and more.- you can check it out at lalobalocaart.tumblr.com. I also have a FB page where I keep folx up to date with what I am up to, you can follow me at facebook.com/lalobaloca. You can also check out my online store at lalobaloca.bigcartel.com where you can purchase re-purposed bike jewelry and reusable moonstrual pads. Finally, you can check out my fundraiser page here if you are interested on supporting Queer Brown Birth Workers,  I have tons of perks in the fundraiser, and all funds will go towards my midwifery and full spectrum doula/support education. 

Want to read more from La Loba Loca? Check out these articles:

D.I.Y and Locally Made Food: What the Hipsters Didn't Tell You
Reclaiming Abuelita Knowledge as a Brown Ecofeminista

Health 101: JP Lynn

I caught up with my new financial guru, Jarim Person-Lynn, and asked him to share his views on healthy eating with you all. Wait, what financial guru, healthy eating? Don't get the connection between money and health? There is definitely one there. Ridding yourself of the toxicity of debt, and making healthy food choices that fit in a budget are two connections, but there are many more. Read on!

How would you define healthy living? 
I would define healthy living as striving to make sure that anything coming in contact with your body- physically or mentally - is only that of nourishment in some form or fashion.

Were you always healthy, or was there a turning point in your life that made you decide to become healthier? 
My dad has always been healthy. My mom not so much.
I took after her eating habits until about 5 years ago when I went through a total transformation with finance, health and overall well being.

What piece of knowledge would you like to share with others?
To start slow (but not too slow) and improve gradually. Very few people will go from hot links to kale salad over night. You may be the type that needs to go from ribs to Lean Cuisines. From Lean Cuisines to healthy sandwiches. From healthy sandwiches to organic salads etc.


What is the one natural product or practice you can’t live without?
Eating "farm raised" fish. I need my B12.

What piece of advice would you give your 20 year old self?
It only gets harder from here.

What makes you hella fresh?
I can pop a pimple with my butt cheeks.

Anything else you wanna tell the people? 
You can make all of the money in the world, but if your health is subpar, it won't even matter.

Where can we find you in the webosphere? 
Check out my books on health and wealth at www.BKFUniversity.com, follow me on Twitter @BKFUniversity. And add me on Facebook at facebook.com/jplynn

JP's books and guidance are life-altering. Check him out! Being fiscally fit empowers you in many ways including your health. We have all heard the saying your health is your wealth, and even if it is cliche, it's true! This brother is offering great information that is pertinent to our times. I am using his methods to get my financial game in order and undo old patterns that do not serve me or my future.

What are you doing for this aspect of your life? How are you going about being fiscally fit? 

Health 101: Scola Dondo of YouTube!

The creator of my new fav YouTube workouts is here to share some of her amazing weight loss journey, and her thoughts on health living. At only 18 years old, she is a young woman on a mission, and is inspiring others by helping them transform their habits and their lives. Her videos will educate you, make you laugh, and make you sweat! I am honored she decided to drop by Hella Natural and spread some of her sunshine! Check out her interview below:

How would you define healthy living?

Just being balanced and happy. It’s not about working out and eating healthy 24/7, it’s about looking after both your body and mind.  

Was there a turning point in your life that made you decide to become healthier?

 I think I just got to a really low point where enough was enough, I was done being miserable. 

What piece of knowledge would you like to share with others? 

Being healthy isn't about dropping your social life, spending hours in the gym and eating salads all day long. It’s about looking after yourself so you feel great in the long run! You really can have fun with a healthy lifestyle, to the point where it just feels normal and right. 

What is the one natural product you can’t live without?

Coconut oil! You can use it to cook with, to moisturize your hair, skin, and so much more! 

What piece of advice would you give your younger self? 

Just do what makes you happy and stop caring about what everyone else thinks!!

What makes you hella fresh?

I'm still an absolute clown! you know that stereotype that bigger girls tend take on the role of the clown? that was definitely me and it’s still me!  I love fooling around and making people laugh. 

Where can we find you in the webosphere? 

http://instagram.com/scoladondo
https://twitter.com/ScolaDondo
https://www.youtube.com/user/StrawberryRipples

 In case you missed it, yesterday I shared a couple of Scola's videos. Stop by her YouTube channel, click here, or better yet do both! Make sure you like, subscribe, and comment! 

Health 101: Mollie of Moon Rabbit Ayurveda

I am a huge fan of ayurveda (Remember, yoga's little sister? Don't remember? Click here for more info), so after I received a relaxing detoxifying ayurvedic massage from Mollie, I knew I had to feature her on the blog. She has a beautiful spirit, and I found her answers to be both profound and  extremely comforting. Every one of these interviews deepens my understanding of health in some way, this is no different. Mollie has light to share with us all, get illuminated! 

How would you define healthy living?

 To me healthy living means to care for ourselves on the level of the body as well as the heart and the spirit. It's a balance. Sometimes we need to break the rules, take a day off our exercise routine and just sit in the yard with a glass of wine. It means allowing enough time to do the things we feel most blissful doing – time in nature, time playing music or making art, time enjoying the company of our loved ones and neighbors. That's how we feed our heart and spirit. It also means trusting we deserve to be happy and have our needs met, trusting the money will come, trusting Creator made us just right.

 There is some research being done on people who lived to be over one-hundred years old in good health. In one study, some of these people drank liquor and smoked. What they all had in common was being deeply involved in the life of their families and communities - constantly giving and receiving love. Most of them were known for their sense of humor and up-beat attitude.

Gratitude is very important. If we are caught up in feelings of envy and lack, how can we enjoy anything? Nothing is ever enough. We become like bottomless wells. In my clinical practice, I always intend to work with the whole person – not simply prescribe herbs and foods, but engage with them on this deeper level, to create real health and happiness. What good is our health if we can't appreciate it?

 Was there a turning point in your life that made you decide to become healthier?

 Yes! I was just a kid. I was about to start junior high, and felt for the first time that I could reinvent myself entirely if I wanted. I ask myself, “What kind of life do I want to lead? What kind of person do I want to be?” I decided I wanted nothing less than the best, that if anyone else could be healthy, happy, beautiful, and smart, why not me? I was very idealistic and intense at the time, but I do still feel that way. I'd add “successful” to the list now.

 We have all been wounded, it is part of life, and we can all move forward, we can all rise like the phoenix.

What piece of knowledge would you like to share with others?

 Real healthy change takes time. And it is a not a straight line, but a spiral. We have to dip back into our old habits we are in the process of letting go of, usually a few times, in order to understand them better - so that we can truly finish with them and do the new healthy habits with conviction. In Ayurveda, we consider it an act of violence against ourselves to try to change too fast. If someone usually eats fast food or junk food three meals a day, I would start by suggesting changing one meal(the easiest one) to something healthy and nourishing, get that solid, and then move on to the next meal. Better to get one or two things really solid than temporarily improve a hundred things. Also - better to eat crappy food with a grateful heart than to unconsciously, ungratefully eat great food. No doubt.

 What is the one natural product you can’t live without?

 Easy question! Raw oils – olive and sesame are my favorite. I use them in food of course, but other than a splash of water, they are also the only thing I put on my face on a normal day. And on my body, the only thing I add is natural soap. That's it. It's my beauty non-secret! I've gotten most of my friends, my partner, and most of my regular clients using oil instead of lotion and other skin products, and they are hooked! I started this practice when I was 16 years old. Nobody told me to do it, maybe some spirit whispered it to me.

 What piece of advice would you give your younger self?

 Oh nothing really, I wouldn't have listened. I had to make my own mistakes. But one thing my mom said to me again and again was that when life gets really hard and we wonder how we can go on - that if we just wait - it gets easier again, every time. And I have found that to be true. That was good advice.

What makes you hella fresh?

 The Buddha said, “If you see yourself in others, then whom can you harm?” I really feel that inside. Anyone I meet – whether they are a wealthy business person, an elder, somebody selling Street Spirit, a little kid, any animal, even a famous person or somebody it might seem like I have nothing in common with, I look in their eyes and I know that yes, we are different – each person/being is unique - but we are also the same underneath. And anywhere I go, any country, any city, I meet the most amazing people who just connect with me right away, right from the heart, I think because they feel safe with me. People can more easily be the best version of themselves when we see that in them from the beginning, when we show them real respect.

Where can we find you in the webosphere?

My website/natural health blog (More information about Ayurveda, what I do, and contact info is on there as well.) www.moonrabbitayurveda.com.

For Ayurvedic tips and updates on new events and projects: www.facebook.com/moonrabbitayurveda

and....I'm getting the Yelp thing going: http://www.yelp.com/biz/moon-rabbit-ayurveda-oakland

Health 101: Shan

I met this amazing lady when we served in Peace Corps together almost 10 years ago. Over the past year or so, I watched, in awe, as she documented her transformation with resolve and a fierce determination to live in a body she felt good in. I was very inspired by her story. I think you will be too.

How would you define healthy living?

Healthy living: is taking care of yourself on as many levels as you can. Physically, through healthy eating habits and exercise; working on your inner and outer core. Mentally, through your relationship with your personal and professional well-being. Not letting one overpower the other or control your ability to function or to live well. Spiritually, in your quest for guidance through belief or basis with a higher power. Forging a solid foundation by balancing these aspects creates healthy living on a full level.

Were you always healthy, or was there a turning point in your life that made you decide to become healthier?

The turning point for me was about a year and a half ago. We relocated from the east coast to North Carolina. And before I knew it I had gained so much weight, and didn't realize it until I was almost 200 pounds and I'm 5'6! It was a reality check. I was lonely, miserable, depressed, and using food as a tool to delude the fact I was not enjoying living in NC. So I opted to get on track and started juicing, eating better and exercising. And I felt brand new!

What piece of knowledge would you like to share with others?

 Advice: don't let food lead you. It is a powerful killer and we can't keep using culture as an excuse for how we eat. We have to take responsibility for ourselves and our own communities if we want to prevail! Diabetes, hypertension, and high blood pressure run rampant in African American and Latino communities. We have to be our own voice, and when Keisha or Consuela reaches for that extra piece of fried meat tell her to put it down, and suggest you go for a walk instead.

What is the one natural product or practice you can’t live without?

As for natural products...I am torn! It's def between lemon and coconut oil. I am multipurpose, so I need items that I can get the most out of. Lemon is good for digestion, and as toner and cleanser, among other things. Coconut oil is awesome for cooking, and using for hair and skin as a moisturizer/conditioner. I'm torn between which is my fav!!! Aggghhh. But if you can use it to cook, and for your hair & skin it gets a gold star!

What piece of advice would you give your 20 year old self?

To my 20 year old self...your vagina is valuable and precious; love it, cherish it, and don't waste it on those who are not deserving.

What makes you hella fresh?

My quest for knowledge and my love of all things: cultural and in appreciation of Africa and African heritage. It's a big part of my life and plays a direct role in how I raise my children. I want them to be proud, and recognize the beauty of Africa, and that all things first began there.

Anything else?

In addition...sexual health is often unspoken of and we need to stop sweeping it under the rug. Besides allowing food to wage war on ethnic communities, sexual diseases have continually affected minorities, and even more so ethnic women. We have to take control of our sexual well-being and stop living as if HIV/AIDS is a silent killer. HIV/AIDS is loud and profound!

Health 101: Isis of The Goddess Column

I am overjoyed to bring to you this interview featuring Isis of The Goddess Column. She is beauty and light and brings truth in this phenomenal piece. I am brimming with anticipation to share this, so I won't  waste anymore time with my words. Let's go! 

How would you define healthy living?

"A healthy spirit, a healthy mind, and a healthy body"--they're 100% necessary in my eyes. I think more often than not we trick ourselves into thinking that eating healthier or working out is all that it takes to live healthily. I'd even go as far as to say creating and maintaining healthy relationships is a major part of healthy living. It's so important to realize how much influence our mental and emotional state has on our physical well-being! 

Was there a turning point in your life that made you decide to become healthier? 

From a physical standpoint, I just recently became a vegetarian (late October of 2013), which actually was just a part of personal challenge I had given myself. I made sure that as I grew in the challenge that I would further educate myself on why others choose to change their lifestyles as I was challenging myself to. In that time, I learned some of the most heart-wrenching, disgusting, and greedy behavioral acts we [Americans] do to animals solely for the purpose of consumption. On top of not wanting to be one to bring such harm and danger to animals, I absolutely adored the health benefits I reaped from having a plant-based diet and I've stuck with it ever since! 

Mentally and emotionally, after worlds and worlds of turmoil... I found peace; a certain tranquility of the spirit. I had given all my burdens [not just the current ones, but any that I may face in the future as well] to the Lord and let Him know that no matter what I would trust him. That brought along a feeling of freedom and peace that was unlike any I had ever experienced in my life and I did not, by any means, want to let it go. I made sure that from that moment on, I would continue to take care of my mind and spirit by doing things I love--working in my passion, following my dreams and touching the lives of others. It has brought me the greatest joy and most fulfilling life I could live.

What piece of knowledge would you like to share with others?

It is very true that we only get one life to live. There isn't a feeling in the world like truly doing what you love. I'm here to tell you as a living witness that when you find the beauty and the value in being true to who you are in every little aspect of life, nothing will be able to bring you down or hold you back. Never live your life for the likes of anyone but yourself and the good Lord himself (or whoever it is that you do believe in). You'll be surprised how much your light shines when you have emotional, mental, and physical freedom. And as Marianne Williamson reminds us (and as I remind myself each morning):

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Be true to who you are. May you find it easier than ever to let your light shine, to touch the lives of many and to live in divine peace, health, and happiness. 

What is the one natural product you can’t live without?

I am addicted to the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). Oh my gosh, guys--it's absolutely the best. Whether taking shots of it a day, rinsing my mouth out with it, rinsing my hair with it, or bathing in it altogether... I cannot get enough of it. I didn't begin using ACV so much until I developed Pityriasis Rosea and I found bathing in it soothing to my skin. While using it, just as I did with altering to a vegetarian lifestyle, I continued to research the health benefits of ACV and soon after utilizing most of what I learned--I was hooked. There are so many different uses and health benefits to ACV and all the answers are just a google search away! Check it out..

What piece of advice would you give your younger self?

I love this question, Marissa. I always say to her, first, thank you teaching me so much. I often times seem crazy by how much I talk to and reference Young Isis. She has taught me so much and the older I get the stronger my love, affection, and appreciation grows for her. Being able to recognize the significance of what Young Isis had experiences (the good, the bad, and the hideous) has allowed me to develop spiritually,mentally, and emotionally in ways that many women my age have yet to experience. It has fostered in my an unexplainable freedom to be who I am without any restrictions. 

Lastly, I'd make sure she knows... "Baby girl you are, indeed, someone's dream girl. The way you look, walk, act, talk, is perfect to someone out there in this world. Always remember that. Until you find him or her, be your own dream girl. Take care of yourself now, the way you would if you found the person of your dreams already. Once you find and recognize the true value in yourself, you will not allow that to be diminished, unappreciated, or unexpected from anything or anyone you come up against."

What makes you hella fresh?

My fearlessness makes me hella fresh. I'm not saying that I don't get afraid occasionally, but when my heart speaks my mind, body, and soul listen. We, together, are never afraid of taking a leap of faith when we feel it's the right thing to do. I am not afraid to make mistakes and even less afraid of starting over once I do. I just make sure that no matter what choices I make, that I am being true to who I am when making the decision. One of my best friends I may never meet, Erykah Badu, has a verse in her song 'Didn't Cha Know' that explains what I mean here perfectly:

Time to save the world / Where in the world is all the time / So many things I still don't know
So many times I've changed my mind / Guess I was born to make mistakes / But I ain't scared to take the weight / So when I stumble off the path / I know my heart will guide me back

Where can we find you in the webosphere? 

Some of you natural-lovers may recognize me from KisforKinky (http://www.kisforkinky.com/isis-nezbeth-type-4-natural-hair-inspiration-interview/). I'm proud to say that since then, I have been able to spread my wings and pursuit my dreams as a professional writer. 

Kings and Queens, Gods and Goddesses... join me in cultivating a spirit of freedom and peace by visiting me and my family over at The Goddess Column. My number one goal is to touch lives. Whether you're feeling down and need to hear a word of encouragement; you need to laugh; you have questions about sex, relationships, or health; you want to learn more about people like you and I who are following their dreams; you want to share your own light with the TGC Family and Readers--there's enough love for everyone and I wouldn't be happier to add you to my growing family. 

You can knock on our door at www.thegoddesscolumn.com and I promise we'll answer. Also, feel free to connect with me on Instagram @GoddessGram and Twitter @GoddessColumn. I can't wait to see you there. 

Peace, light, and love good people. 

-Isis.