Women's History Month-Reflection

What a great place in history to be! March was Women’s History Month! This blog post would be extremely long if I dove into the phenomenal attributes of women over the course of time. And yes, being a WOC, ( Woman of Color), I am definitely going to gravitate towards highlighting some of the most amazing Black women of our time and culture- Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Toni Morrison, Earth Kitt, Lena Horne, Harriet Tubman, Maya Angelou, Madame C.J. Walker, Rosa Parks, Mahalia Jackson, Shirley Chisolm, Coretta Scott King, Mae Jemison, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Fitzgerald, Serena Williams, Angela Davis and this list can literally go on and on and on…

My mom surviving my Les Mills Sprint Cycling class.

But I would like to bring awareness to some Black women who are ever present in my life that have personal influenced me-My mother, Esther Jones, who to say the least I would not be here if it weren’t for her & from whom I have learned many life lessons from, my late grandmother Lula Mae Jones, who I loved so so dearly. Whenever I would visit Mobile, when she was still with us, I made absolute sure she was, if not my very 1st stop, she was my 2nd. I loved caring for her in the capacity I could, be it washing her feet, or greasing and rolling her hair with them sponge rollers and rolling paper or making grocery trips. It was something about being in her presence that soothed me.

As I have grown older, and have endured some pretty interesting times, I’ve become acquainted with some amazing Queens along the way-most recent to date, the founder, owner and operator of Spiritual Essence Yoga here in Upper Marlboro MD, Mrs Dana Smith. She founded Yes! Yoga Has Curves( previously featured in Melanin Corner)- ensuring she makes yoga an accessible tool for all to reap the benefits but also offering a space for people of color to celebrate one another. Dana has personally encouraged me to be mindful of my words reiterating the power of words and how I speak upon myself. “ButterFLy Flutter” Through SEY, I have made some beautiful connections with many beautiful sistahs whether having in common professional goals or are able to network and build business relationships with or simply making new friendships! And then there’s specifically my friend, my sister Dia-No she isn’t my biological sister, but she is the sister I’ve never had but oddly somehow always needed! I’m thankful for this moment in time for her & look forward to the building of an awesome friendship/sisterhood. I could list so many more but literally this post would be extremely long!

Women’s History Month is surely one full of rich stories. My post is only a mere drop in the universe but in MY world, my own moment in time, my own history, these ladies listed above have surely had a major impact on my life in ways I will forever be grateful for. To you ladies, & those I did not mention, I salute you for being part of my history & part of my future.

Lula Mae Jones I love you & miss you always. R.I.P.