January 31, 2012 marks the day that I started living….alone.

Before that date, I have never lived alone before in my life. At first I was scared of  living alone and not having someone to come home to every night as usual; but in all actuality it has been the greatest learning experience for me.

Since I have been living alone I have learned so much about myself. To my likes and dislikes, my flaws, what I will and won’t tolerate, and most of all loving myself. 

I LOVE hanging out with me; so much so that I rush home after work or whatever volunteer duty I am doing just be with….me. I spend time with myself having daily conversations with God, reading the bible or other books, writing in my journal, doing my hair, listening to music, dancing, taking myself out to lunch or dinner, cooking, sipping on wine, watching TV, etc. I love hanging out with myself.

I was in a relationship before where I didn’t know myself and who I was to the point where I was smothering him; I didn’t see it before but I surely see it now. Whenever I get in my next relationship, I will be able to appreciate those alone times when we’re not together with me and only me.

I have truly learned that if you can’t stand to be alone with yourself, why should anyone else…..

I love this quote by Bell Hooks:

“Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.”

- Bell Hooks, All About Love 

dreamaboutcolors:

Louis Armstrong Playing for his Wife at the Giza Plateau (1961)

Wonderful…

(via fe-squared)

Today was an emotionally charging day due to my job. I don’t talk about my job (various reasons), but today was one of the hardest. My mind was going everywhere, but at the end of the day those simple words changed EVERYTHING that I was thinking and made it worth while. Thank you.

(Source: dreamhampton1)

vintagenoire:

lucille baldwin brown, the first black public county librarian.

(via dreamhampton1)

dynamicafrica:

#VintageBeautyOfTheDay: Princess Mantfombi of Swaziland.

(Source: akilivumbi, via dreamhampton1)

JACOB LAWRENCE (1917–2000) The Migration of the Negro, Panel no. 11, 1940-1941 found at phillipscollection.org

(Source: ymutate, via dreamhampton1)

(Source: andwhisper, via dreamhampton1)