The As-I-Amber Podcast & Blog
If you’re tired of “reality tv” or don’t have Hulu or Netflix check out these web series for FREE! These are some of my favorite YouTube web series because they have a variety of complexions, hair textures, and real life and funny situations people go through. Please go and check out #IssaRae & #BlackandSexyTV‘s web series: #HelloCupid, #AwkwardBlackGirl, #RoomieLoverFriends, & #FirstTvSeries
This time of year so many people make New Year’s Resolutions, but how many actually go through with them past the first few weeks of January? Why wait until it’s a new year to better yourself? Self improvement should be year round. However, January is a symbolic month with origins of new beginnings and transition. “People say they’re going to eat less or they’re going to stop smoking or they’re going to stop whatever. One of the reasons it’s hard to do that is now you’re replacing this behavior with no behavior. So what you need to do is replace a habit with some other behavior.” says Art Markman, author of Smart Thinking: Three Essential Keys to Solve Problems, Innovate and Get Things Done. If you’re not a celebrity with a million dollar contract or hired people to help you maintain a goal it is more challenging to accomplish.
Between Jennifer Hudson belting out ballads to herself, Janet Jackson whispering, and now Mariah Carey and Charles Barkley appearing in the “new year, new me” type of commercials we can become annoyed. Change is already difficult. Don’t make promises you know you cannot keep. If your goal is to run a mile, but you’re out of breath walking up a flight of stairs, maybe you should start off slow by stretching and walking. Nothing happens overnight. “I will not do this”, “I won’t say that”, “I will do this more”. The mental or physical things to do list some make for can become frustrating, because we at times don’t know how to go about change. Be faithful of smaller tasks like waking up a few minutes earlier, not waiting until the last minute to start something. Monitor what you watch and listen to. Surround yourself with people who will encourage and help you make the right decisions and maybe you’ll see actual results and accomplish goals throughout the entire year instead of envisioning them
There aren’t enough words to describe how I felt after watching 12 Years A Slave . The film is based off of the book and true story of Solomon Northup, a free Black man kidnapped and put into slavery. Solomon Northup wrote 12 Years A Slave and published it only five months after winning his freedom back from being kidnapped and sold into slavery. When the credits rolled at the end of the film I walked out of the theater speechless and in a deep trance. The acting was phenomenal and tells the ugly truth of slavery. A lot of times the millennial generation forgets about what our ancestors went through so that we can have the lives we live today. Sadly, slavery is still thriving in the world today and the cycle will never break until we face the facts. This film made me appreciative of not having to live in a certain time period, and how far we’ve come as a society and far we still have to go.
Roomates Whitney and Robin navigate life and dating. If you watch MTV’s #Catfish, you’ll enjoy this Web Series #HelloCupid
Check It Out! #BlackGirlsRock
I can listen to these albums without skipping a song! If you enjoy R&B and Symphony Orchestra you will enjoy these albums! Go support the following artists:
Janelle Monae’s “The Electric Lady”, Justin Timberlake’s “The 20/20 Experience” , India.Arie’s “Songversation” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Good Kid M.A.A.D. City”
In personal relationships and friendships in order to get along with others some tone down their physical appearance and dumb down who they are to eliminate being judged and have people like or love them, but you should NEVER feel like you always have to do that! * That doesn’t mean not to listen to legit people’s constructive criticism, better yourself, but have the discernment to know when someone is always picking on you just because or labeling you a problem because you have confidence or you think differently.
Regardless of your attire, size, complexion, style, or hair texture, SHINE because of how you carry yourself and treat people.
At times some people project their insecurities onto others. If someone is quiet, short, taller, shaped a certain way, or does not share the same interests it does not mean they are stuck up.
I’m a visual learner. So, body language, voice tone, and actions or lack of actions speak louder to me than anything else. Because of others preconceived notions, valid facts, opinions, or environment young women are praised or put down for having certain features, being more introverted, or extroverted. If you know me I’ve always changed my hairstyles and nail polish frequently. Why? Simply, Because I Can, nothing philosophical or special. For a brief moment, I will play devil’s advocate and say some use looks to their advantage, don’t take time to even talk or get to know someone for themselves, or think people skills and hard work don’t apply to them.
Some people are naturally thin, others are naturally thick and it won’t matter how much one eats or work out in my Future the rapper voice: Ain’t No Way around It! Unless surgery for the right reasons. That’s not an excuse to eat crazy because you’re slender or if you’re bigger in certain places to make fun of another’s body type. I’m no Fashion Police or What Not to Wear expert or shopper! However, to eliminate unnecessary drama, annoyances, and insecurities I think it’s at times necessary to shop with people who share your body type or understand dressing for certain styles. Understand the dilemma of being petite, tall, short, skinny, busty, hippy, thick, bigger in certain places, smaller others places, larger other areas, shoe sizes, etc. My 2 cents: If you can never genuinely verbally, emotionally support, acknowledge, or encourage another person or give another person a compliment something’s seriously wrong!
—Peace Out follow@asiamber
The As-I-Amber Podcast & Blog 