Naptural Roots Magazine by LeAnne Dolce

ANNIVERSARY

ISSUE

REEL NAPPY A Conversation with Naptural Filmmaker Michelle Farris-Lewis

THE TRUTH ABOUT STRESS

MEAT ON YOUR BONES

Volume 2, Issue 1

SPIRITUALITY www.AllNaptural.com

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 NAPTURAL ROOTS Self 1 Uplifting Your Spiritual 

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Naptural Roots Magazine Hair & Beauty

The Big Chop: Photo Essay .........................10 Natural Makeup Options .............................19

Model Photos

Health & Wellness

Meat On Your Bones.....................................8 A Positive Approach to Healthy Living ...........14 I Don’t Have Time For Crunches ..................21 What Do You Weigh ...................................25

Lifestyle

The Truth About Stress ...............................16 Essential Steps to Credit Repair ...................17 Professional Networking .............................23 Uplifting Your Spiritual Self .........................24

Special Features

Naptural Roots Anniversary Party .................14 Reﬂections................................................26

Poetry Corner Southern Komfort Reseda Young Shavonna Winston Kiana Davis

Reseda Young ............................ 5 Doll Fields ................................. 9 Kayla Jackson ...........................16 Teresa & Aaron Hazard ...............21 Elizabeth Davis .........................23 Kelsi Roy ..................................25 James Lewis .............................27 ...............................................29

Staples

Publisher’s Apologue .................. 4 Editress Address ......................... 6 Contributors .............................. 7 Naptural Bill of Rights ................12 Naptural Recipes .......................13 Naptural Entrepreneur................18 Poetry Corner ...........................11 Naptural Roots Reviews ..............28 Classiﬁed Ads ...........................30

ISSN: 1556-6714. Contents Copyrighted March 2007. Reproduction or use in any part without prior written permission of Akili Publishing, LLC is strictly prohibited. Naptural Roots. Volume 2, Issue 1 Published 4 times a year by Akili Publishing, LLC. Postage paid in Seattle, WA. Postmaster please send address changes to Akili Publishing, LLC P.O. Box 68926 Seattle, WA 98168. All manuscripts, drawings, or photos sent to Naptural Roots/Akili Publishing, LLC, or any of its designees will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to the magazine’s right to edit or comment editorially. All monetary payments must be submitted in U.S. Dollars. VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

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Publisher’s Apologue > Striving and Surviving the First Year

Naptural Roots Staff Publisher

LeAnne Dolce Akili Publishing, LLC Publisher@NapturalRootsMagazine.com

Editress

Karen Entrantt Editress@NapturalRootsMagazine.com

Distribution

distribution@NapturalRootsMagazine.com

appy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday Dear Naptural Roots. Happy Birthday To YOU!

I can’t believe that it has already been a year since our first issue. It seems like just yesterday that my editress and I were sitting at my dining room table talking about my vision for starting a magazine. That day, I could see that this magazine was my reason for being here. It was the Gift that God passed to me so that I could give it to each of you. And that is a voice for the natural community. A voice given to all of us that don’t feel the need to conform to societal standards that tell us that our natural state is anything other than FABULOUS. One and a half years later, we are currently working on our 5th issue. This year has brought us face to face with many obstacles and challenges, but it has also blessed us with many successess. As we fought to stay afloat and even had to cancel the printing of our last issue, we found that we have so many wonderful supporters that are willing to step up and help us master the possibilities. Our biggest successes to date have been: 1. We achieved international distribution with our 1st issue. We were distributed in Africa, the Caribbean, and Japan with the release of our premier issue. 2. We signed with EBSCO Publishing to be included in their online educational catalog. Being added to EBSCO Publishing’s catalog will give us international distribution access and we are very excited about the future. 3. We debuted our online store and Naptural Roots branded products. Soon everyone will be sporting the Naptural Roots brand. 4. We participated in the Umoja Unity Festival and won 2nd place in the business competition for our parade float and enthusiastic presentation. 5. Our most impressive success has been being able to give others a voice and a platform to express their views through writing, photography, and being part of the Naptural Roots family. I would like to thank all of my advisors, contributors distributors and supporters. Without your assistance, dedication, and support, we would not be celebrating our 1st Anniversary. I KNOW that there are many more to come. This is just the beginning for Naptural Roots and we have some exciting changes in store as we strive to be your voice. In The Spirit of Napturality, LeAnne Dolce 4

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Marketing & Advertising

SalesAd@NapturalRootsMagazine.com

Makeup

Jennifer Billingsley Essence of You Skincare jengsley@hotmail.com

Hair

Kayla Jackson

Advisory Board

Frank White Reseda Young

Rhonda Hodge Gurline Stevenson

Cover Photography Inye Wokoma Ijo Arts inye@ijoarts.com

Printer

Consolidated Press (206) 447-9659

Subscriptions

We offer subscriptions (4 Issues/Year) Print: $16 Electronic: $14 Order online at www.AllNaptural.com

Akili Publishing, LLC P.O. Box 68926 Seattle, WA 98168 (206) 331-4984 At Naptural Roots Magazine, we want to be the voice of the natural community. We want to ensure that our magazine represents the issues and concerns that our readers care most about. Let your voice be heard. Join our discussion group at www.AllNaptural.com.

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Editress Address > A Nappy Anniversary for Naptural Roots

can join in and do the electric slide on this great day! It is because of your support that we will now be available for purchase at stores along side your other favorite magazines. We honor you! We thank you! We appreciate you! It is a well known fact that the ﬁrst year of any business venture is the most fragile. There are no guarantees if your product or service will be acknowledged, received or liked. You are the ones that kept our message and our product a successful venture. Happy Anniversary To Us All! We the Naptural Roots Family and Advisers humbly bow in absolute appreciation of whatever part you played in making our First Anniversary a Reality! We could not have done it without YOU! It does not matter if you were a reader, a supporter, contributing author, distributor or someone who spread the word about us by word of mouth! We can all share in the delight and sense of accomplishment of our First Year! To see this creation go from nowhere to Now Here! We all

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There are no words to sufﬁciently articulate this thrilling roller coaster ride of the First year of Naptural Roots Magazine! We have surpassed all of our goals with the exception of complete advertising sustenance; and we anticipate this being the year that we complete this goal as well! We started out as an idea of the Publisher being discussed with a few friends and today we are a viable part of our local community and the Naptural Community at large. Our readers actually search for our magazine when their distributor site is out of magazines!

I remember a conversation I had with an east coast associate, shortly after our second edition: “This is out of the State of Washington?” He asked incredulously, “How can that be?!” We take special pride that in a state where African Americans make up less than 3% of the population we are representing the Naptural Community in a big way! This year we are taking it to the next level! Don’t miss out on any of the new ventures going on at Naptural Roots! Get your subscriptions today! Go to the website www. allnaptural.com if you would like to volunteer your services or expertise to the magazine. We are currently looking for donated/reduced rate ofﬁce space in the Seattle area, contributing authors, poets, graphic artists, marketing advisers and advertisers. In Gratitude & Celebration, Karen Entrantt Editress

Naptural Roots Magazine

Subscribe Today! Subscriptions Print $16 Per Year (4 Issues) Online $14 Per Year (4 Issues) Save Now! Order Both for Only $28 Payments Payment Enclosed (money orders only) Make Your Payment online (www.AllNaptural.com/getcopy.php)

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Please allow 2 - 4 weeks for delivery of your ﬁrst issue. Add $5/year for all orders outside the U.S., payable in advance in U.S. funds. Return subscription card to: Akili Publishing, LLC P.O. Box 68926 Seattle, WA 98168 6

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Staples > Contributing Authors & Poets

Calvin Rivers

Inga Hyche

Rhonda Hodge

James Lewis

Jennifer Billingsley

Reseda Young

Southern Komfort

Elizabeth Davis

Shavonna Winston

Kiana Davis

Yolanda Goff VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

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Health & Wellness > Meat On Your Bones The Impact of Culture, Traditional Food Preparation, & Exercise Perceptions”: Part 1 By Karen Entrantt Most people in the Black Community hearing this song are not offended by the lyrics referring to a full-figured woman like neck bones. Both women and men tend to laugh or smile in a knowing way! In our culture neck bones have a good reputation... They’re brown, flavorful, juicy, and plentiful! The memories of neck bones are happy family times, celebrations, holidays, and the ability to have a filling meal with a small amount of money. For generations we have taken pride in our creative ways of surviving off of “the left- overs.” Food is no exception to the long list of creative necessities that were passed down from one generation to the next, even until now!

on to at night!” Powerful words of our men, spoken behind closed doors during intimate times and pillow talk.

mores and beliefs about food, nutrition, healthy choices and exercise routines!

So society tells her she’s too fat, her man says don’t go messing with the good stuff, her traditional food choices haven’t changed since she was a little girl and somewhere in the midst

We need our Elders to say it ok to change the recipes and come in the kitchens with us as we are transitioning. We need older Black men to tell the younger ones the signiﬁcance of healthier and nutritional life styles. We need our Ministers & Spiritual Leaders to lead by example show us how less- seasoned-foodchoices can be a groupsupported effort.

…Sistah Big bones, can a brotha walk you home, look like a plate of neck bones, I’d love to keep your body warm… Sista Big Bones

Anthony Hamilton

It can be considered almost sacrilegious to think about a meal with little or no pork as a main dish or seasoning! Some would adamantly say “what is collards/cabbage without ham hocks/fatback/salt pork/ neck bones and the like?!” Others would say, “We’re being overly inﬂuenced by white-folks again!” We often feel that food is one of the last ties that we have to our forefathers and foremothers and they’re contributions to our very existence! We take pride in saying “nobody can cook soul food like us!” For us it’s much deeper than food! It is heritage! It is history! It is memories! It is connection! It is community! It is Us! It is also our way of rejecting mainstream society’s views on beauty and acceptable body image. Generally speaking our body frames are larger than other races and our women tend to have curvier bodies. For African American Women, there are other challenges as well: “I don’t want no skinny woman!” “Only a dog wants a bone.” “I work hard all day; I want something I can hold 8

of all these voices/opinions she is looking for her own voice... the right body size and weight for her?! What is it? How do you get there? Who has time/money for an exercise routine? All she knows is that she needs help… but where can she turn?! Where is the dividing line of looking sexy and desirable for her man and eating healthier? How can she bake a decent pound cake without putting the exact amount of butter that her granny did? What is sweet potato pie without the good stuff? Once again we are dealing with “Cultural Messages.” These messages have been around for over 400 hundred years! There is no quick ﬁx for community acceptance of changing family recipes, eating smaller portions, having celebrations with no food/ less food! Just as it takes the village to raise the children, so it takes the village to help redeﬁne our social 

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We need our churches/ temples/mosques/centers to open up their doors for town meetings/discussions/exercise classes, etc.

Women need their men to encourage them to eat healthier and exercise more. Men need their women to recognize each small step towards greater health choices. Children need parents/ mentors/community activities to reduce the challenges of childhood obesity or to turn around current childhood obesity. We all need one another for this to work in our community. Who will be the trendsetter toward nutritious meals, increased exercise, and longer lives in your circle of inﬂuence? To be continued. Note in Part 2: We will look at speciﬁc ways of creating a more receptive environment for healthier choices in our community; consider the value of supplements & minerals, low-impact aerobics and yoga.

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Narcissie Williams Photography: Akili Publishing, LLC

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Hair & Beauty > Photo Essay of LeAnne’s Big Chop

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Poetry Corner

Locks

Naptural Roots

by Reseda Young

she is to the root of Nappiness gazing my way I imagine her eyes skeptical of my straightness but without judgment her eyes read: life under twisting palms. Is easy. I am free to be who i am.

The eyes of beauty. When I first saw you, I could not take my eyes off you, When I walked, When I talked, When I spoke of your beauty, All I could say is Wow!!!!! Smoothly guiding me along the way, Never once revealing my secrets, Complete with knowledge, prestige and glory, You are not just another magazine, You are the eyes of beauty.

Born Believer

America

by Southern Komfort

America is the outline of my existence The core to my biracial being. But what is the dream that the almighty America holds for me? Is it the overcoming of all people? The acceptance of a race? I’m not too sure I can call America my home. There’s no security here. No dream lies beneath my feet. There’s no love that resides in my soul. America is what it wants to be. People wish on a star to get the perfect America. But I have news, Your America is not my America. My Black American Dreams are not those of the Caucasian race. And the Hispanic Americans don’t wish for what the Asian Americans do. Should I succumb to what others want? Or should I demand what I dream? America is the outline of my existence. The core of my biracial being. But it doesn’t hold the dream of all the Americans. It holds hope for many. All are different, because the American dream does not exist. It is a figment of imaginations.

Born Believer Made to doubt self destruction man made war will bring about the fall and us were unprepared for it all the struggle is inevitable and cannot be escaped we come addicted in many ways wanting a big piece of cake for free instead the whole scenario becomes twisted caught licking or fingers wanting more of sweetness but given a lot of bull**** that’s just real many walk with there eyes closed the whole time not ready for the drop scenarist got the whole plot down we’ve sold our souls for cheap and pray it pays off created righteous but unable to resist temptation slow fight to better living many won’t make it but claim to be the fittest yet not that productive in the way of life and go about with little effort thrive for better get less than asked for claim to be emotionally battered needing rehabilitation seeking refuge this world is nothing but an idle play hit with distress plus affliction as a sign to humble ourselves messages are deaf and dumb in darkness repeated generation after generation we’re still blind to them follow not the path of those who know not and go astray out of the right way as judgment approaches the truth will triumph the dead shall rise prophesy a term we will soon come to know GOD has proposed to many out of consideration but accepting through the length of life brings us to the hereafter and remembering there is no cheating to be near the Complete.

by Shavonna Winston

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Naptural Bill of Rights

1. I have the right to wear my hair in a way that expresses my heritage, my culture, ME. 2. I have the right to pursue excellence in health, wealth, and personal welfare without man-made limitations, judgments and obstacles. 3. I have the right to initiate, engage and pursue my highest potential. 4. I have the right to stand on my personal code and live life accordingly. 5. I have the right to build a community, family, a legacy. 6. I have the right to be free in mind, body, spirit, and expression. 7. I have the right to be wrong, make mistakes, change and grow at my own speed. 8. I have the right to create, deliver, extend, retract and still be valued. 9. I have the right to a peaceful existence. 10. I have the right to many beginnings and endings. 11. I have the right to exceed all expectations. 12. I have the right to live ... napturally! © Akili Publishing, 2006 12  LLC NAPTURAL ROOTS

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Health and Wellness > Healthy Soul Food Recipes Recipe taken from “Patti LaBelle’s Lite Cuisine”

Luther’s Italian Chicken Soup Preparation Time: 40 minutes Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil 1 small onion, ﬁnely chopped 1/2 cup chopped celery 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 pound ground chicken Two 14.5-ounce cans no-salt-added stewed tomatoes, undrained One 14.5-ounce can reduced-sodium fat-free chicken broth One 8-ounce can no-salt-added tomato paste One 4-ounce jar chopped or sliced pimientos, drained 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning 1/2 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 cup uncooked rotini pasta

Cooking Instructions

Coat a large soup pot with fat-free cooking spray and add olive oil. Heat over medium heat until the oil is hot. Add the onion, celery and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are just tender, about 4 minutes. Add the chicken and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the chicken is no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Pour off any fat. Stir in the stewed tomatoes, broth, tomato sauce, pimientos, Italian seasoning, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and return to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and cook until the pasta is just tender, about 15 minutes. Exchanges 1 starch 2 ½ very lean meat 2 vegetables 1 fat or 2 carbohydrate choices Calories ......................... 250 Total Fat .......................... 6g Saturated Fat ............... 1.5g Cholesterol ................. 50mg Sodium ..................... 850mg Carbohydrate ................ 27g Dietary Fiber ................... 3g Protein .......................... 24g

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Special Feature > Naptural Roots Anniversary Party

The Anniversary Party was held on Saturday March 10, 2007 at The Royal Esquire Club in Seattle Washington. The Naptural Roots Family: Publisher, Editor, Contributing authors, supporters and well wishers all came together to celebrate this wonderful occasion! We would like to take a moment to personally thank Barry Fletcher Products, Miss Jessie’s, Curls, and MYHoneyChild for their support of our event.

Showcase - Regional Variations of the popular dance. The representing states were Mississippi, Louisiana, California, and Washington. Only the camcorders can do justice to the steps, spins, and learning curves of us all!

We ended the night in high spirits, full of good food and good tidings and preparing for next year. You don’t want to miss the next anniversary party!

Thanks to their contributions, every rafﬂe participant was able to walk away with wonderful natural hair care products. We thank you for the opportunity to showcase and review your products in the Paciﬁc Northwest! Be sure to check out their ads in this issue as well as their product reviews on our website. With scrumptious hors’d’ouvres provided by Creole Pierre’s, attendees were treated to southern soul food delights. The highlight of the evening was the Electric Slide

Health and Wellness > A Positive Approach to Healthy Living By Yolanda Goff It is now a lifestyle. Healthy living is something I don’t have to think about because it’s apart of me. I remember when Bob, the owner of Minkler’s Green Earth, said to me, “It’s a lifestyle.” I didn’t get it then. How does one make it a lifestyle? That was over 13 years ago, I knew in my heart I wanted to get there, I just didn’t know how. I worked at Minkler’s Green Earth for a short time, but learned a lot. I moved on from there to work for Dr. Monte Kline at Pacific Health Center in Bellevue. As my knowledge increased, there was a lifestyle change. Over the 17 years of living here in the Puget Sound area I now live the lifestyle. It all starts with small steps towards being healthier on the inside and outside of your body. Back in Alabama, my home state, I was initially introduced to natural products by my dentist. I told him of my migraines and his first suggestion was that my body was toxic…not to take an aspirin. As Dr. Kline would say, “No one is deficient in aspirin.” Being on the journey has changed my life for the good. My body is a temple of wellness and full of vitality. I only want good in my body---from my hair to my mind to my body and to my spirit. Our bodies are a self-healing, beauty revealing system of wholeness. 14

When you treat your body well it treats you well. You can start with small steps towards your wellness. Put good things in your body, such as more whole foods, nothing white…no white bread, white flour, white sugar. The natural nutrients in flour are better for your body to metabolize. There are so many good breads to choose from now as well as markets that have them at a great value. Some you’ll like and some you won’t. It’s okay. You don’t have to like every whole wheat bread on the market. My focus as a Health Educator is to help people and mostly people in the African American community because African Americans have the highest percentages of deaths from the metabolic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes than any other group of people. Why? Education. I am happy to be apart of the Naptural Roots Magazine as a Health Educator educating my people on natural health. Disease is not a respecter of persons and neither is good health. Anyone can choose to take better care of their body temple, and the right foods are a good start. Eating more fruits and vegetables is of vital importance because this is the only way we get our antioxidants. Why do you need antioxidants? Antioxidants fight free radicals, the root cause of most diseases. Dr. Richard Cutler, former Director of the Anti

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Aging Institute of Health in Washington, D.C. said, “The measure of your antioxidants in your body is directly proportionate to how long you will live.” Do you know your level of antioxidants? Here’s the good news. There is new laser technology that’s portable, accurate and non-invasive to measure carotenoid antioxidant levels in your body. For a nominal fee you simply place your hand in front of this new technology and you will get your “Body Defense Score” reading within 90 seconds. This score is directly correlated to all sorts of health indicators. Since the readings are so easy and accurate this score is quickly becoming an important health biomarker. Once you get your score, make a strategy to improve it. By doing so you will add years to your life, and life to your years. Yolanda Goff Health Educator Health seminars at Safeco Jackson Street Center every other Wednesday.

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April 11th, April 25th May 9th, May 23rd

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Lifestyle > Can You Handle The Truth About Stress? By Calvin G. Rivers, M.Ed. Most articles that discuss stress and how it plagues our society often portray us as helpless recipients of the by-product that is the cost of “taking care of business” or “making ends meet”. The African American community is particularly receptive to stress because our participation in a capitalistic society has encouraged the practice of materialistic living in which things are acquired because of the “status” that they represent. Reliance upon the purchase of things or “keeping up with the Jones” prevents us from becoming more aware of our true value that lies within. This lack of self awareness we carry into our place of work and or interpersonal relationships. When things go wrong we attribute the resulting stress to an external event or circumstance such as the job or relationship when in fact it is a manifestation of an internal conflict. The lack of a relationship with our innermost parts of our being make identifying when we are in conflict extremely difficult. As African Americans we have become so accustomed to stress being a part of our lives that we often overlook the impact on our overall health. A stress management plan must go beyond eating right and exercising in order to be effective. Stress management should include a deeper understanding of the inner person in order to restore the body back to harmony. If you were to survey a sample of people the job would probably be listed in the top three as a primary source of stress. The job being a source of stress is a symptom of a much deeper issue and truly does not deserve such a high ranking. Stress is an indication that the natural harmony that exists between mind, body and spirit has been disturbed. From the days of slavery we have been conditioned to assign our internal strife to the job. After all, picking cotton and working in the masters kitchen was our job. If done well we would live to see another day. If done incorrectly, our families could be sold off to another slave owner or worse. In order to deal with the daily atrocities of slavery we developed a system of denial as a coping mechanism. In modern times we still struggle with coming to terms with our inner feelings, but reliance upon the job is no longer an issue of life and death. We continue to attribute stress to the job because it is vitally important to the ability to provide for our families nonetheless. But, even during the days of slavery some coped better than others, just as today you can have two people experience the same job differently. One person would find a job stressful while the other person would not experience stress at all doing the same work. How can this be explained? When we encounter a circumstance or situation that contradicts our norms, values and belief system, an internal conflict occurs that has the potential to manifest as stress. We experience the world around us through our norms, values and belief system. During our 16

formative years this system is more receptive to the information that will help shape how we interact with our external environment as adults. Once we reach adulthood the system becomes less receptive to new pieces of information. This is why is takes an enormous effort for adults to change. Both consciously and subconsciously our inner being is constantly evaluating information based upon our frame reference. It is easy for us to identify the conflicts that may occur with our conscious mind, but things become far more difficult to recognize subconsciously. Even during sleep we continue to process. This would seem to suggest that we would always be bothered by occurrences in our external environment. This is not the case because the subconscious mind has a filter system in place that only allows those circumstances that grossly contradict our frame of reference to result in an internal conflict. No two frames of reference are alike which is why one individual may experience stress on a job while another person may not although they are both working in the same position. Both employees may share the same irritating boss, but their individual frames of reference will result in a different experience. This is why it is inaccurate to place the blame for our stress on the external event entirely without giving consideration to the internal processing of it. Scientists and the medical profession are just beginning to understand the impact of stress on the human body. Already it is known that stress shortens the natural life span, but the overall process continues to remain a topic for investigation. How is stress and the African American community’s participation in a capitalistic society related? Capitalism is the foundation of the Democratic system that governs this country. The United States Constitution guarantees each of us certain freedoms and rights as we engage in the pursuit of happiness. In the African American community values based upon materialism have taken the place of those that in the past had the potential of allowing us to determine the true value from within that we have to offer to our communities. We no longer look for deeper understanding of ourselves and those with whom we interact. Instead, we are willing to find value in materialistic pursuits that are based upon an external system of rewards while falsely misrepresenting them as the primary source of our stress. When we carry this lack of self awareness into our place of work and or interpersonal relationships it is difficult for us to ascertain why the harmony that exists between mind, body and spirit has been disturbed. It becomes even more difficult to reestablish the body back to its natural state of harmony. While maintaining an external view of the world it is simple for the conscious mind to determine when conflicts have occurred that may manifests as stress. For example, when we are in a bad relationship we consciously reach the determination that the relationship must end and when we do so harmony is restored temporarily.

tify when we continue to enter one difficult relationship after the next because subconsciously the true source of the internal conflict has never been understood. Because we lack the practice of those skills that would allow us to find a deeper understanding, we assign the blame to the other person. An even worse outcome is that we remain in situations that are not good for us far longer that we should because of the status they represent which is the residual effect of having an external perception of the world around us. We become involved in work and or relationships based upon cues which are more apparent to us such as it feels good or it does not. Because we carry a preconditioning from the days of slavery of devaluing or denying the existence of the inner person, the African American community’s participation in a Capitalistic society is particularly detrimental to the ability to more effectively rid ourselves of stress. There are several strategies that can be utilized to more effectively deal with stress. As I mentioned previously, stress occurs when the natural harmony that exists between mind, body and spirit has been disturbed. Therefore, eliminating stress should involve activities that will help realign all three and restore the body back to harmony. The traditional advice of eating right, getting the proper amount or rest and exercise daily still applies. The difference is that you are doing this not just to lose inches from your waist line or to fit into an outfit that has been hanging in the closet. The intent is to develop a relationship with your body. By understanding what foods are upsetting to your digestive track or and or paying attention to those exercises that the body receives both a physical and emotional benefit is the beginning of getting to know the inner person. Stimulate the mind by continuing to educate yourself about the world around you. For example, if finance is one area of your life that the body becomes more receptive to conflict then take the time to learn more about managing money more effectively. Take an inventory of your current norms, beliefs and values that you may have about managing money. Write them down and try to trace them back to their origin to see if they should be eliminated from your frame of reference. Remember to be patient with this process because change is more difficult for us as adults. Finally, make sure you have some spiritual practice that helps you to find happiness from within. This does not have to involve church or some form of organized religion. It could be something as simple as volunteering for a community organization. The point is that the activity should allow you to give of yourself and the only reward is participation. When you are able to define yourself based upon the value of the inner person then the spiritual growth and greater self-awareness will have occurred.

Things become far more difficult to iden

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Dollars and Sense > Essential Steps to Credit Repair By Rhonda Faye Hodge

1. Pay all your bills on time

Forget about your past indiscretions and start paying all your bills by the due date (that’s right all of your bills) with a few days to spare. This single act alone over a period of a year will greatly improve your credit standing, and fico score. It will also help to maintain a few extra dollars in your pocket by eliminating those nagging late fees. If you must be late do not exceed 30 days from the due date. Most lenders do not report late payments less than 30 days delinquent to the major credit bureaus. Please note this does not mean that the creditor, utility or bank does not have a record of your late payments or has forgiven you. If you wish to extend a loan, transfer service or increase a credit limit with a lender whom you already have an account your payment history will be reviewed. Never ever make a late payment on the Mortgage EVER. If you are forgetful contact your bank or credit union about setting up an Automatic Withdrawal on a specified day from your checking or savings account to ensure timely payment for Mortgages, Credit Cards, utilities and loans. This service is usually provided for free at no cost to the customer. Utilize budgeting & personal financial software that will send you an e-mail reminder when the due date is approaching or use an old fashion calendar to record the due dates for your bill payments. If getting to the post office is not convenient consider using the check by phone, debit card payment options, or paying online through the internet from the creditor’s website. Most creditors have a number of payment options to utilize.

2. Know your credit score

Get a Copies of Your Credit Report from all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Obtain the reports once a year for free at www.annualcreditreport. com or for a fee from the Credit Bureaus. Review your credit report for errors, .Review the payment history, loan amount, balance, even review any variations of your name and address reported. Did you pay off a loan 3 years ago and it still reflects a balance? Have they included a trade line (credit information) which is not yours? Did they say you were 30, 60 or 90 days late and you were never late? Are there addresses listed of places you never lived (Identity theft is a real problem)? Is there a negative trade line reporting that is obsolete seven years or older? If so write a letter to the credit bureau reporting the incorrect information advising them to remove or correct the error. Keep a copy and excellent records i.e. old statements (if you have them), and receipts. Mail the letter certified delivery signature required for proof of delivery. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (the law) states that the credit bureau has 30 days to investigate your dispute or remove it from your credit file/report if they are unable to verify the information. Ideally I would like

to you review your Credit Reports every six months especially while in the credit repair process. A negative trade line by law can be reported on your credit ﬁle/report for seven years. Don’t take the rap for a negative trade line that is not yours for seven years or is reported incorrectly. Get copies of your reports and clear up any errors ASAP. Keep in mind the Credit Repair Process results are not achieved overnight. It may require many letters to the Credit Bureaus, Creditors, Collection Agencies and possibly the Attorney Generals ofﬁce to get a negative trade line remove. Don’t give up; be persistent.

3. Don’t believe the hype

Don’t fall for scams there are a lot of bogus Credit Repair Companies and debt eliminator companies. There is nothing these companies

can do for you that with a little research and some commitment of time you cannot do yourself. If you simply do not want the hassle do not wish to commit the amount of time required and would rather have someone else deal with the details then take precautions and investigate the company to ensure you are working with a legitimate credit repair company. A negative trade line that is reported correctly cannot be removed from your account by anyone. You will have to wait out the seven years. The older a negative trade line the less impact it will have on your credit score. Recent negative trade lines impact your score the most. So get cracking and restore your good name and credit score.

The Balance Sheet Financial Services

Rhonda Hodge Financial Consultant

206-568-7729 RHodge@TheBalanceSheetFS.com www.TheBalanceSheetFS.com Our Services • We specialize in working with individuals and families with moderate income. • We want to help you achieve your financial goals and aspirations through user friendly budgeting techniques, financial counseling, and sound financial planning.

Balancing Your Budget One Dollar At A Time Because every penny really does count!

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continuec

Q: Tell us a little about yourself A: I am a filmmaker out of Houston, Texas. The name of my film is New Growth: The Natural Progression. It is a documentary about hair in the black community. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication. I have a Master’s Degree in Counseling and I am an educator by day. My passion is filmmaking.

Q: How long have you been natural? A: I have been natural for 6 years now. I went natural in October of 2000.

Q: What types of natural styles have you had? A: I am actually back where I started. I started with the TWF where I cut the perm out of my hair and did the “big chop.” I let it grow out. I did the afro puffs, the twists, the spiral set. I had locs for 3 years and cut them off and went back to the short natural. I then let my hair grow out as long as it would grow naturally. I had a big afro puff and went through different styles every day. Two weeks ago I cut it all off again and am now back to the TWF. Pretty easy, low maintenance, and I absolutely love it. You can get up and go. Just throw some mousse or whatever product you put in your hair and just move along.

Q: What products do you use for hair maintenance and Why?

Q: How did you become involved in ﬁlm making?

A: I use Olive Oil and I use a mousse from Motions and that is it. I don’t put a lot of products in my hair because my scalp is not as healthy as I think it should be and I don’t want products to build up in my hair so I keep it real simple. And I have a really good conditioner from the Whole Foods store (it’s a burdock root conditioner).

A: I decided when I cut my hair off 6 years ago, the reason that I cut my hair off was important. I put a perm on my 6 year old daughters hair and all of her hair fell out. So I had to cut it. She was in first grade. It wasn’t as traumatic for her as it was for me. And so because of that I cut my hair off to help her feel better about having a short hair style and I never went back to getting a perm. That goes for my girls too. I have two girls that are totally natural. So I started to do research about other women that felt like I felt. There had to be other black women out there who don’t want to perm their hair. I couldn’t be the only one saying “I don’t want to do this anymore.” So that is how the idea for the film started. And it started 5 years ago actually when I started shooting endowments in 2002. I started shooting women who wanted to tell me about their journey from having relaxed hair to having natural hair. I found it very interesting and that is what inspired me to complete the film.

Q: Who do you see as natural influences in your life and why? A: There has been no one in particular. The whole idea of being natural and chemical free influences me and that’s the thing that I have learned about being natural is that when you go natural you tend to want to live a healthier lifestyle anyway. You are more cognizant of the things that enter into your body and I think that I am influenced by anybody who recognizes that.

Q: What do you do to keep healthy and positive? A: I exercise (workout and have ﬁtness routine that I follow. I also stay far away from chemicals. I don’t eat a lot of fried foods, I don’t eat a lot of red meat or anything like that. I usually stick to salad and fruit. I am totally and completely convinced that whatever you put on the inside will show on the outside. 

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Q: What is the impact you want it to have in the black community? in the other communities? A: I think that it will raise awareness and that is what I am trying to do. I am trying to raise awareness in terms of I want people to think

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Hair & Beauty > Natural Makeup Options By Jennifer M. Billingsley Licensed Esthetician There’s a lot of natural, and natural based Make-up on the market, these days. There’s also, what I call, “synthetically natural” products. The label says,” natural” but the product consists of large amounts of synthetic ingredients and have very little to do with natural. Choosing make-up with the most benefits for your skin is even more difﬁcult. I’ve been practicing make-up professionally for almost 10 years, and began using natural make-up on my clients, as well as for myself, about six years ago, while working for a natural skincare company. I’ve tried makeup products with essential oils, minerals and antioxidants, and I am convinced, skins overall health and look beneﬁt significantly when using natural makeup.

Some of my trusted natural make-up favorites are:

Here are some tips on buying natural makeup.

• Aveda ***** I love all their makeup! • Bare Essentials i.d. **** powdered eye shadows- beautiful! • Jane Aridale **FDA approved, Great product, not much color.

Look for minerals such as Mica, clays, Titanium dioxide,and Zinc oxide (mineral pigments used for UV protection.) Vitamins A, C, and E, Essential oils, or protein based. High quality natural makeup is sold professionally, and may be available to the public from your skincare specialist, or at a specialty store.

• Youngblood ****dynamic and sleek packaging, good colors • Nicole Miller ****Lots of colors, large selection • Purchase from a Melaleuca representative.

Essence Of You Skincare Jennifer Billingsley Licensed Esthetician (206) 329-4887

Facials * Face/Body Waxing * Body Treatments * Make-Up Pedicures * Manicures Aromatherapy * Massage Call For an Appointment

Reel Nappy, continued about their choices. Everyone has choices and you don’t have to be a slave to any kind of chemicals and you don’t have to sit in the beauty shop for 6 hours on Saturday if you don’t want to. But a lot of women think that is something that they have to do. And in terms of other races, it is very interesting because I have had co-workers say “I have never thought about that. I didn’t know that black people were that serious about their hair. That it impacted them so much - that it was such an issue to discuss.

Q: What is the lesson that you have taken from this journey of filming the documentary? A: I think that the lesson I have learned these past 5 years and through making this film is about empowerment for women. To find something that they are passionate about and pursue it. It may not be fillmaking, maybe it is painting. We get caught up so much in our day to day lives of being wives, mothers, nurturers that we can lose ourselves. What’s important about me finishing this film is that it was very important for me to find my passion and hone in on it. About passion, I always say to women that its not something on the outside of you. I truly believe that your passion is already in

you. So you can’t go looking for it. It is in you and it speaks to you. You just have to nurture it and bring it out. A lot of us tend to ignore those things because we have so much to do. I am working from the standpoint of empowering women Q: What projects are you currently working on? A: My next project is a short called the Beautiful face of aids. I will be starting production on it hopefully by the end of the summer. Right now I need to get the current project completed and get it out. Get it wehre I want to get it and await feedback on that. I have already completed the short ﬁlm script for the Beautiful Face of Aids. And I want it completed before December 1 of next year which is National AIDS day.

Q: How can our readers further support you?

– that paves the way for someone like me.

Q: How can our readers contact you for more information about your documentary and other projects? A: I have a myspace page. Your readers can visit me at http://www.myspace.com/ new_growth. Your readers can also email me with any questions or comments at Newgrowth_theﬁlm@yahoo.com. The trailer for the ﬁlm is currently available on Utube.

Q: Do you have any ﬁnal thoughts? A: I love what you are doing. I love the magazine, I think it is beautiful and wish you all the best.

A: Just by viewing the information on myspace and supporting. I will also have a link to make donations as well. Just keep supporting black cinema. That helps me when other black directors and independent projects are successful

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James W. Lewis Naptural Roots Fitness Editor

Naptural Roots Man of Standard

To the media, black men live at the bottom. I feel handcuffed to this “reality.” So I got involved. Big Brothers Association gave me that opportunity. I asked for a young black male. Black boys stayed in waiting list-limbo longer than any other group. I chose a boy that I’ll call Bill. After a Checkers game, we bonded. I didn’t have to flash money; Bill just wanted a friend. We did everything together. I taught him a jump shot; he taught me Pokeman. He was my buddy, my little brother. According to his mother, he seemed more alive, less withdrawn. Simply put--happy. To me, Bill wouldn’t become a “statistic.” He was an ordinary kid--not predetermined to fail because of skin color. 20

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Health & Wellness > I Don’t Have Time For Crunches by James W. Lewis We should draft a law to add more hours to the day. Hard-charging professionals keeping a business afloat deserve extra ticks on the clock, especially. Twenty-four hours short changes sleep-deprived entrepreneurs with constant negative balances of time. Maybe change the number from twenty-four to twenty-eight. Or even thirty. A twenty-four hour allotment doesn’t seem to cut it for business owners with a trillion things wrapped in personal and professional issues. Deduct sleep and you’ve lost about six to eight hours. Throw in work-related demands of staying in the black and you’re down another eight to twelve hours. With four to six hours left, the remaining time sounds like enough, but stir family, school and other miscellaneous activities in the pot and precious “me” time digests in Father Time’s belly. Before you know it, you hit the bed to meet Mr. Sandman, then wake up a few hours later; ready to start the rigmarole all over again. According to federal health-related statistics, approximately 32% of Americans tip the scale way too far over. For African-Americans, stats hover around 48%. Not good. So how do you make room for staying fit? With a lack of physical activity contributing to obesity, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, keeping the heart pumping can help fend off enemies of our temples. In other words, to lose fat and maintain health, professionals must find time. In today’s world, people want things quick, hand-delivered and ready for use. No assembly or repair - we want it yesterday. That includes a body ready made with washboard abs and granite biceps. No wonder attaining a figure weight scales can appreciate falls off the things-to-do list, sometimes before an attempt gets off the Start line. We can’t get that slim waist fast enough. Too many obstacles blocking the way; too convenient to hit McDonalds on the ride home; too easy to slide into the Lay-Z Boy and say, “screw it, I’ll find time tomorrow to work out.” Well, tomorrow becomes tomorrow again. The cycle repeats again and again. How can we break that cycle? Well, if you want it bad enough, you will find time to break it. Take a sample of that inner fire that drove your entrepreneurial goals and apply it to exercise and good nutrition. You found time to create a business; you can find time to work on your fitness and eat right. Be creative and plan ahead. Little tricks can go a long way. For example, if you prefer the gym after work or during lunchtime, pack a gym bag in your car the night before each workout day. The bag should include not only your workout gear, but common essentials like a towel, bottled water or Gatorade, IPOD and change of clothes, if needed. If

into sports, pack the balls and equipment in the trunk. If you can manage early morning workouts, you may need to wake up at least a half-hour early. Sleep in your gym clothes and you’re half-ready. Once you wake up, throw on the tennis shoes then off you go. A workout partner can help you stay on the path toward your physical goals. Find an ideal sidekick on the same page; someone you trust to inject that “boost” you might need to whip you back on track if you slip. A partner helps break monotonous routines, too. A strong support system from friends and family makes the road to health that much better. Throughout the work day, opportunities for exercise present themselves, so take advantage of cracks in “work” time. Park as far as you can from your office entrance to get a good walk. While inside, take the stairs vice the elevator or escalator. Climbing stairs can be a great calorie burner. During breaks, try short walks or calisthenics such as squats or pushups to keep the heart happy. And if you’re gung ho, keep a set of 10 lb. dumbbells near your desk. You can do curl-ups while speaking to a client on the phone. Before hitting the bed, squeeze in sets of crunches, pushups, squats, jumping jacks, whatever calisthenics you prefer. Better yet, you can perform each exercise while watching your favorite bedtime TV show. If you remember the aerobic one-two steps from High School gym classes, you’ll have more than enough exercises. Be careful, though. You may find the time to exercise, but what about your food intake? Although physical activity burns fat and builds muscle, not eating the right foods can counteract your efforts. Eat too many fatty foods and you can become... well... fat. Pile on calories and the excess becomes... well... stored fat. Around your waist. And hips. And thighs. In other words, you become what you eat. Well-balanced meals packed with fruits and vegetables keep your “engine” running efficiently. Your body needs steady fuel to help burn fat. Six small meals a day can provide the motor fluids it needs, but to rev that motor up to start your day, you should not skip breakfast. Too often, busy-bodies bypass breakfast and head to Starbucks instead. If you have time for Starbucks, you have time for an apple and bagel.

snacks like raisins, almonds, bananas and crackers with tuna. These snacks can also help you meet your six-small-meals-a-day quota. And beware of sodas. Sodas are packed with empty calories. It’s not unheard of to down ten Mountain Dews a day. Drink more water instead. Each time you pass a water fountain, take a sip. Since our bodies are made up of approximately 4060% water, might as well give your temple what it needs, right? Eight to ten glasses a day should do the trick (you may need to hydrate more often during the summer). Finding the time to exercise and good nutrition can be challenging, but not impossible. With preparation and a little creativity, you can attain your physical and entrepreneurial goals at the same time. Your heart and waistline will love you for it.

Do you have an topic that you would like to see addressed in future issues of Naptural Roots? Are you a up and coming author that would like the opportunity to contribute to the Naptural Roots vision? Then we are looking for you. Log onto the website for directions on submitting articles and/or photos as well as for volunteer opportunities that are currently available.

To reduce stops at fast-food joints-aka factory makers of heart-haters like high cholesterol and saturated fat--recall the good-ol’ days of elementary school and pack a lunch. Kill the munchies with low-calorie

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Kelsi Roy Owner, Sweetfox.com Hair: Short and Curly

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Lifestyle > Get the Hook Up Through Social & Professional Networking by Inga Hyche Where’s attle?

the black folks in Se-

Gentrification has forced many to relocate further away from the Central District, the heart beat of the black community. In spite of it, social and professional networking has kept the community connected. Networking is an old practice, more recently people of color have discovered the invaluable benefits of it and in greater numbers than before. It’s an easy way to get in-the-know, stay abreast of community news, connect with others in the community and reconnect with those from the past. There’s an art form to finesse your skills as a networker. Here are a few tips

Get it started

1. Always look for opportunities. Networking doesn’t happen at a planned event. There are always opportunities to network and one should always look for opportunities to meet new people. Make every public appearance an opportunity to network. Meet as many people you can, everywhere you can; grocery stores, coffee shops, bookstores, sporting events, weddings and even church services. Also, try the salon / barbershop, the public library, Jazz or Hip-Hop lounges and the bus stop. (Why Not!) 2. Know who and why Before you get started, you need to know the type of person you want to meet and why. Social networking and professional networking are the two most common reasons. The most popular way to begin networking is to log onto the worldwide-web. There are many organizational sites and group sites appropriate for your need or wants.

An efficient way to preform a group search is to go to Google.groups.com or Yahoo/Groups. There are other search engines that provide the same capabilities. Type in keywords such as (Sewing Seattle or Seattle Accountants, etc.). This will give you a list of groups or organization serving these interests. It is easy to become a member, follow the instructions, introduce yourself and before you know it you’ve entered the world of networking. Instantly you will begin to receive e-mails from the group, advertising upcoming event or other information. Once you’re a member, get familiar with the other members, who they are and what they do. Identify those who you might want to meet. Send a personal e-mail if you’re eager and make a note of the next event, be prepared to attend. If possible join every networking club and association in your field, it will widen the field and ultimately provide you with more contacts or the perfect contact. Here’s a couple of links that can help you get started.

Don’t be Scared.

4. Be Aggressive B.E. Aggressive ! Experts say the best way to network is to take initiative. Assert yourself in conversation present yourself in a conﬁdent yet approachable manner. If you need to reﬁne your communication skills- Do it! There are many resources available. Try the local Toastmaster group. Become comfortable asking others what they do and become comfortable tell others what you do. 5. Polish your presentation skills. It’s okay to have a rehearsed personal introduction or professional spill. Learn more than one approach (subtle/frank). Always have updated business cards or brochures available. 6. It’s NOT all about you Listen. Listen. Listen. The single most important thing to do. Take genuine interest in others. These are the people who could help you in the future or become apart of your future. Human resources are the best resources. Remember me? 7. Stay in touch

Social

Send a email or snail mail expressing gratitude for meeting the individuals the following day. Follow up on every lead not matter how minor.

MySpace.com Craigslist.com Blackplanet.com BlackPeopleMeet.com Yahoo.360.com (young adults, middle age) Bookcrossing.com (book lovers) Spout.com (ﬁlm lovers) MOG.com ( music loves)

Professional

Linkedin.com (Business folks ) Blackbusinesspro.com Blackprofessionalpeoplemeet.com

3.Get Connected

Buppienetwork.com

A common way to ﬁnd a group is to preform a general internet search.

SULYP.org

Set-up another date. (Coffee, lunch) Reevaluate your performance consider what worked well and what needs improvement. Look to others for clues. Take notice of those who may be introverts but work in careers that keep them well connected and those who are extraverts with your common interest. Linking up with these individuals, they could help jump start this process and help further develop your skills in networking.

Continued on page 28

NAACP.org

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Lifestyle > Uplifting Your Spiritual Self by Karen Entrantt Since Oprah did a show a few weeks a viable law or principle like gravity see what happens? ago on a book called “The Secret” will surely go on for some time and 1. Get Five 3x5 cards. there has been an overwhelming I could not adequately do either side resurgence in the discussion of of the discussion justice in these few 2. Carry 1 in your pocket each whether it is true or not that we lines so I will leave that up to you and day. create our “personal world” (i.e. ex- your circle to discuss. 3. At least once a day, write a “picperiences, people, Yet consider the ture word” on the card-using finances, creativ“Thought can attract to us question, would 1-3 words, these words must ity, etc.) through that which we first mentally your world change create a picture about your our thoughts, beembody, that which has if such a thing were successes/dreams/plans. The liefs, and mental become a part of our mental goal is to fill all 5 cards (front & true? How so? If pictures. Is it true makeup, a part of our inner back) within 21 days with your you could really that what we founderstanding.” vision . practice the discus on or give atErnest Holmes cipline of reining tention to shows 4. For 5 minutes a day, Imagine! your own thoughts up in our lives? Picture it! See it! ..Act as though I am and I of negativity, failThis discussion will be.” ure and past dis5. Repeat #4 just before going to has caused quite Ernest Holmes bed. appointments in, a stir seemingly every time they 6. Keep a notebook handy to write everywhere, in..If not now when? s u r f a c e ! I f yo u cluding traditional down your creative ideas/inspiThe Talmud dared to really take faith-based comrations when they come. a stand for you, munities as well as Therefore I say to you what 7. Start an “Awareness Journal”your dreams and the non-traditional things you desire when begin to record all the little aspirations and bespiritually-princiyou pray, believe you have gan picturing on a things that began to show up pled centers. received them and you shall daily basis what about the very thing you’re fohave them. Basically this printhat would look cusing on. (ex: movies, books, The Bible ciple says that like/ feel like? Reconversations, new acquaineveryone has an ally jump into the tances, information, etc.) Stay internal “mental idea of you experiAlert! atmosphere”, that is with us at all encing the very desires of your heart 8. Write about your journey on times. This atmosphere is a result just by “refocusing your thoughts?” our yahoo group. of our conscious and unconscious “Could that really draw the resourcthoughts, memories, emotions and es/contacts/fibeliefs. It is said that we either at- nances needed tract or repel based on our mental to make your atmosphere; the mental pictures, dream a reality? messages and emotions we concen- If you could go trate on the most. Have you ever beyond all the noticed how many people you run r e a s o n s w h y into that get on your nerves when it could never you are already in a bad mood? happen for you, This principle suggests that because what would the your mental atmosphere is in a end result look state of anger/disgust/frustration like? What would you will attract more of the same your dream look until you put another message or like? How would idea into your mental atmosphere. it feel? Likewise, don’t we all love those Let’s try a sildays when everything flows! We ly little 21 day are in synch the whole day. This experiment and principle says based on your expectations and your thoughts through out the day you kept attracting more of the same. The discussion of whether this is 24

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Special Features > What Do You Weigh?

I weigh the balance of right and wrong.

to 220 pounds over a two year period, and kept it off after having two children. I stopped trying to diet (making short term changes to my eating habits with the goal to loose weight) and began living with a diet lifestyle (healthy eating every day).

I share my ideas.

CHANGE OF THINKING

By Elizabeth Davis I weigh my ideas. I weigh my pounds.

I shed my pounds. I shun the dismissal of right and wrong. Be creative with your ideas. Be careful with your pounds. Be creditable with right and wrong Elizabeth 08/04/06

At first glance, my appearance wouldn’t be considered remarkable. A black woman in her late 30’s of mixed heritage with an average build and showing the beginning signs of middle age spread. Not bad, considering just six years ago I was tipping the scales at close to 400lbs! At 32, I was convinced the weight didn’t look so bad, easily conning myself into putting off getting back to exercising again and reclaiming my pre-baby weight of 220 pounds. Four years later, health problems became a regular occurrence from the additional 180 pounds added to my frame and I was running out of excuses. The extra weight made it seem as if I had a grown man on my back. Sometimes a 180 pound man around can be quite fun, but that much in fat all the time was no fun at all. I first became aware of my weight during a viewing of one of my son’s baby videos. Horrified could scarcely describe my reaction as the TV screen turned green as it panned across what loosely could be called my blouse. My mind reeled as the camera panned across the wide expanse of my body. When the camera continued moving right revealing a button or two, disbelief wouldn’t let me grasp what I was seeing. Only when the video exposed my arm stretching the sleeve of my blouse to its breaking point that it finally sunk in; MY GOD, I’M HUGE!

I had to go from rushing around each day to figure out breakfast, lunch and dinner to planning out each meal. Change first came after writing down what feelings I was experiencing before and after eating. My mind would wonder to chips and sweets whenever I was lonely or stressed. For example, I would pick-up a Suzie Q, a bag of Fritos corn chips and a King Size Snickers whenever intimate time was required with family, friends or with my husband. Before: I would look forward to the sweet taste of cream filling and chocolate of the Suzie Q and Snickers to satiate my need for something good and pleasurable, while the crunch of the chips relieved to my need to vent. After: I would hate myself for porking out on junk and at times cry for a lack of any other way to get through the hurt of being pushed away.

CHANGE OF HABITS

Now I look for non caloric ways to satisfy my emotional needs by keeping multiple friends who enjoy intimate talks and give me support. Most gratifying is my Reward Station. A list of fun things to do at each weight goal: this includes, but not limited to, changing nail color, beading a necklace, listening to my favorite music or writing a letter to someone I love.

CHANGE OF COOKING

This became the fun part after I purchased a few cook/self help books and began to use them. Picture Perfect Weight Loss and Slim down Sister were great starters for me. I was able to add new foods to my diet (healthy eating every day). And learned new ways to cook the dishes I loved with ﬂavor and less fat. For example, try cooking mustard or collard greens with a smoked turkey leg or wing in the place of the neck bone or ham hock traditionally used Most importantly I added 12oz of water to every meal and drink an additional 64oz each day.

CHANGE OF DAILY EXERCISE

I walked and walked and walked some more, starting with just walking around the block at lunch time. In addition I would walk around the track at the elementary school in my neighborhood. Having knee surgery prohibited me from exercising in a gym, so I used Pilates as an alternative to high impact exercise.

CHANGE WHO I SPEND THE MOST TIME WITH

I spend time in prayer with three things on my mind; ﬁrst, honor to God my creator, acknowledgement of my need for Him, and the desire to use my talents and gifts to help myself and others. Lastly I spend time with others who, like me, want to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

CHANGE OF SHOPPING

I now shop each week for daily needs and once per month for staples. This includes writing out a menu before I shop, including fresh fruit and vegetables every week and buying sweet and crunchy snacks only in small quantities.

BEFORE PHOTO

AFTER PHOTO

This completely shocked me; mind you I used to be 6’1” 150lbs and comparable to Venus Williams. Friends often referred to me as ‘Bean Pole, Slim, or a Tall cup of Cocoa’ well into my twenties. So I still had the mindset of a skinny person in a rather large body. Others around me wouldn’t talk about my inﬂated size. My mother was the only person willing to say something about my weight gain. While visiting my sister one day, she expressed her surprise when I came through the door by saying, “Lizza, is that you? I was just about to ask who this person was just walking in without knocking. I didn’t recognize you. All I saw were two really big thighs.” Thanks to the eyes of my mom and the video camera, they helped me see the condition I was in. Now to answer how I went from 400 pounds VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

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Special Feature > Reflections

On the occasion of contemplating a bold new idea, there are times when we are struck with a sense of inadequacy. “Great idea,” we say, “but I’m not up to it.” Most of us would never admit even to ourselves, that we just plain don’t feel qualified to do a thing. That is the state of mind I found myself in when first approached to write an article for Naptural Roots Magazine. Who me? You’ve got to be kidding. Having narrowly survived a life threatening illness had left me almost devoid of ambition. I was rendered afraid of people, most public situations and barely left the house unless under duress. You see, the sudden illness had wracked my body, attacked my brain and left me totally deaf in one ear and with only thirty percent hearing remaining in the other. My eye sight was severely affected too. Imagine viewing everything through a mirror coated with Vaseline. My balance was subject to give way at any time and I would take a tumble. Life had taken a sudden severe turnabout. Quite literally, one day I was employed and fully dedicated to my clients, even opening my office on Sundays to suit their schedules, then the next day awakening to being an invalid who had to relearn many basic things. I was unable to return to work and since my family and my work was how I had identified myself, I was indeed lost. Sometimes, I still feel this way. Driving is something I am relearning to do. After six years crowds no longer scare me as much, and I am learning to trust the process of life. Thus, you may understand just how life-renewing having a forum for self expression is. Contributing to Naptural Roots magazine has been a great tool towards self re-Identification for me. As I no longer work outside the home my circle has diminished considerably. I’ve had to come to terms with myself. Who I thought I was and who I am now. At first, I had 26

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to decide whether or not to live, and then just how big of a life I intended to live. Many now reading this article can relate. It may be that a relationship that you had nurtured and held close to your heart has ended or, that the children no longer need you as much or they have moved on into their lives and left you feeling abandoned. You might have lost a trusted friend, companion or job and find yourself struggling and not bouncing back. No matter the issue, pain is pain and loss is loss. My self-counsel is “WILLINGNESS”. Be willing to take a chance. And give it your best shot. Never allow that liar in your head (ego), to define and thus to limit you. Remember, that many whose heroic deeds we praise were scared, flawed and felt themselves to be limited. We have King David of the Bible who though having many wives of his own maneuvered the husband of Bathsheba to the front of the battle line thereby insuring the man’s death. This man had only the one wife. And yet, David is remembered as a great king. Abraham who is defined as one whom God considered his friend asked his wife Sarah to say she was his sister to avoid harm to himself when in a strange land. Moses killed an Egyptian and was forced to flee but later was chosen to be God’s mouth piece and a great leader of a nation. And was it not the Apostle Peter whose quick temper and accurate handling of a sword removed an ear? So, perfection is not required but willingness is. Thanks to the dream of LeAnne Dolce and her pursuit of it we are all blessed with a forum and a new and fresh voice. And for this I am most grateful. And Willing. Thanks to you all at Naptural Roots! Aminada DNiembe 

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

Special Feature > Reflections

I am thoroughly impressed and thrilled with the continued development of Naptural Roots Magazine and Akili Publishing from the ﬁrst issue to the last issue. As a friend of the publisher LeAnne Dolce and a contributing author it was absolutely riveting to watch an idea transform into a printed magazine and website. Naptural Roots Magazine is just like a ﬁne wine it gets better with time. Congratulations on your anniversary!! Rhonda Hodge What a learning experience! I am very proud of LeAnne, she has put her heart and soul into the magazine. Her efforts should inspire many future entrepreneurs. I have seen the magazine grow from a dream to reality, and I am truly proud to take a little bit of credit for the success. I take credit for supporting LeAnne’s dream. Every good artist requires positive reinforcement to keep going. The road to success is littered with pot holes, and traps just wide enough to derail you. Thank you for letting me be a part of the magazine. Friends forever... Great Job!!!! Reseda Young

Although my time with Naptural Roots Magazine has been short so far, I received the dual honor of an article contribution and Man of Standard selection. I was quite surprised and will always be grateful. As an author, I strive to showcase my writings to anyone willing to read. Naptural Roots gave me that opportunity. I’m happy to be a part of the family.

When I ﬁrst received the magazine Naptural Roots, I was at Starbucks on 23rd and Jackson. I was able to look at the magazine with new eyes and also talk with the editor and the contributing editor about the magazine and the issues that are a plaguing the African Americans. I am ﬁrst impressed and at the same time rejoicing at the fact that powerful women can come together and produce such a spiritually in tuned, relevant to date magazine. I appreciate being able to contribute regarding the relevancy of my work which is Domestic Violence and I salute all who are apart of this wonderful magazine of empowerment. I look forward to the next issue. Peace, LaTanya

Becoming a writer for the Naptural Roots Magazine has afforded me the opportunity to discuss those issues that plague the African American community and negatively impact how we relate to one another. Naptural Roots has given me a forum to talk about many of the characters, personas and misinformation that misrepresent our communities and impede our ability to deﬁne who and what we were intended to become. It is through written expression that I have chosen to provide a starting place for the self analysis that ultimately will result in healing of the inner person who is in need of recognition and understanding. Naptural Roots has provided me with a supportive audience to share my personal development as both a writer and a black man so that no personal experience, good or bad, has to go to waste. Calvin Rivers, M.Ed

James W. Lewis

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

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Reviews > The Picky Techie

Being a leading phone manufacturer in Europe, LG is still relatively new to the US market so I was very concerned about the quality of the phones. Well I had nothing to worry about. The LG CU500 is a ﬂip style camera phone that you will absolutely fall in love with. It is packed with cool features such as a 1.3 Megapixel camera that rotates so you can easily take pictures of yourself as well as the surrounding area. It has a MP3 player that allows you to take your favorite songs on the road. With the optional Memory Card, you can download all your favorite songs and listen with 3D stereo sound. Don’t have any music on your home computer, don’t worry, they have you covered there as well. The phone offers 3G technology so you can listen to streaming music from sources such as XM radio. I listen to this while I am at work and absolutely adore it. We have all had problems recalling the name of a popular song playing on the radio. With the Music ID feature, the phone can actually listen to the song and tell you the name and artist. Now how cool is that? That isn’t where the fun stops. With Cingular Video, you can watch streaming Video from your favorite sources such as MTV, ESPN, and the news. Bluetooth technology allows you to connect your phone wirelessly to a variety of technologies,

Reviews >Product Review

such as stereo headphones, earpieces, other phones, printers, etc. This phone is so cool that you can listen to your music or take photos/videos without even opening the phone. There is only one feature that I have found so far that I can live without - Confirmation Tones. With every change you make, the phone gives you an annoying little confirmation tone and message and they don’t allow you to turn it off. This is the only real concern that I have had with the phone to date. The phone is sturdy, attractive, and fits well in my hands. Additional Features include: Instant messaging - AOL®, Yahoo!®, ICQ® & MSN® Multimedia messaging - Send, photos, text & sounds World phone with lightening fast data speeds 3D sound with equalizer Speakerphone This phone receives a solid A in my book and I am very hard to please where technology is concerned. Just call me the picky techie. If you like a phone that takes you to the next level, LG is the way.

Reviews > Book Review

Cool Glo-n-Grow Light Pomade Hairdress By Barry Fletcher Products

One of my favorite product lines is Barry Fletcher. This is a For Us, By Us line of products developed with a unique blend of natural humectants, vitamins and proteins designed to restore the health and integrity of our scalp and hair. Cool Glo-n-Grow light pomade hairdress is a vitamin-enriched hair and scalp treatment that gives protection, super shine and helps to eliminate dry, itchy, ﬂaky scalp. Perfect for in between salon visits or after a home shampoo. To us, just part the hair in one-inch sections and apply liberally to scalp, massage vigorously, and enjoy the cool tingle. Price 4oz $7.00

How To Use The Power of Your Word By Stella Terrill Mann

“Ideas are living things. Ideas are people. By your word you give them birth; you express and ejaculate them out into the world. The kind of words you use will clothe them, give them personality… Remember they will complete their circle and come back to you , into your life as things, affairs, conditions, and into your heart as convictions, emotions, new desires and new facts.” A small book with the unbelievable origin of being written in 1955. It emphatically discusses the power of the tongue/the power of the human spoken word/the power of decree. It brings the message of asking the reader to be aware of words spoken and mental alliances with negativity.

Networking, continued

16oz $15.00 Available through local distributor Danyale Thomas 206-709-7699 Or log on to view full product line at www.barryﬂetcher.com. May you be healthy, prosperous and free Danyale Thomas

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NAPTURAL ROOTS

Networking can be personally and professionally rewarding experience. There are many beneﬁts of networking even though initially it can be intimidating. Getting started is the hardest part. Start small, go to a couple random events. Soon you will discover the best groups for you. Be consistent in attending those groups. Finally, be patient, it takes time to develop lasting relationships.

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VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

Aaron and Teresa Hazard Teresa’s Hair: Press and Curl Photography: Akili Publishing, LLC

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

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VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

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VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1