Imagination Motivational Monday #5

     So, this one's a little different. Not photos, no quotes, no songs, just this one, beautiful, empowering video. I encourage you to simply listen keenly to everything that is being said to you in this video and then compare it to what you are or aren't doing in your own life. I love videos like this, they always really make me think on things, provide me with revalations and "aha" moments. They make me feel as if the person speaking is speaking directly to me and knows exactly what I may be going through. I hope this prompts some of you to take leaps of faith or the steps towards things you've been pushing off or hesitant to pursue:

"VISION"

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MOBILE VERSION OF VIDEO

~ Nathia

A New Season for Natvice!

                                                         

(Photography via yours truly, me! Hehe )

     Yes, it's true, I am officially back from my highly involuntary hiatus. Believe me, if it were up to myself I would have been banging out posts left and right every day but with final exams, end-of-the-year jitters, college tour scheduling and all that highly boring and equally as stressful yadda yadda, I was forced to put a few things on hold. With the majority of all that taken care of, I feel like life is now scheduled to take a long overdue deep breath, loosen up a bit, and shake it off (to be quite honest I feel like I'm going to take up yoga or something). On to my Natvice ventures however, I feel as if this is the start of a new season and great things are in store for us! 

I've been brainstorming Ideas for mini docu series, projects (artsy ones of course) and I'm also partaking in a lot of really exciting, new things and can't wait to share it with all of you. With that said, Natvice is basically getting a face-mask, just to freshen everything up and I definitely want to start involving you readers much more as a whole, as I had intended to do from the beginning (If you've been here with me since December you'll know I used to do weekly topic polls in which you guys let me know what you wanted to hear, I may just be resurrecting that idea, stay tuned!)

As for posting, I am going to try my best to post at leas 3 times a week. I want to provide you with both interesting and relatable content, things YOU want to read and know more about, topics YOU want to discuss and address and questions and or advice YOU are seeking answers for. One of my main goals is to transform this blog into a community, I want this blog to be as much YOURS as it is mine, which entails me involving you a lot more. I'm also going to put a lot more of myself in my writing (not that I didn't before, my posts definitely reflect who I am as a person and I've shared a chunk of my story with you and you'll definitely learn more about me in future posts) so maybe that's not the best way to explain it. It's more the fact that when you read a Natvice post, I want you all to feel as if you are chatting with friend: comfortable and light, full of "aha" moments. In the making of Natvice, in the back of my head there was always something longing for pish-posh-pirm and perfection not wanting to be controversial, and in some ways striving for professionalism etc, etc, therefore I may have held back a micro bit on capturing all of myself in posts. I've come to the conclusion that I am a chunk of imperfections, facetiousness, sarcasm, love and occasional accidental innuendos, and that's fine, I am not a blue blazer and dress pants aficionado, I am full of quirks, and as I said, that is A-OK! (Don't get me wrong however, when In Rome can certainly do as Romans do, I can turn on professional business woman mode at the drop of a hat if the time calls for it.) 

I hope you're all as pumped for this new season in which Natvice is walking into as I am. Don't be afraid to get involved, leave comments, ask questions, email me, all my contact links are on the homepage and you can check out my "How to Submit" posts in order to gain further information on how to send topic suggestions, questions, ask for advice etc, just CLICK HERE . I am ALWAYS here for you guys if you need me and am so excited to hear from you, whether it's through giving you advice, you leaving comments, sharing topic suggestions, collaboration ideas, questions, sharing your personal stories and anything in between! Both my mind and heart are open wide enough to fit all of you comfortably, I promise.

YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME HERE AT NATVICE. 

~ Nathia

Does the bible condone slavery?

Here's a short twitter conversation I had a few months back:

So, let's start with the verse in which he (the person in the above photo) is referring to: 

Colossians 3:18-4:1 (NIV):

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for The Lord. 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for The Lord, not for human masters, 

since you know that you will receive an inheritance from The Lord as a reward. It is in the lord you are serving. 

Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs and there is no favoritism. 

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven."

When I first read this, I felt a strew of emotions, I was pretty, dare I say, pissed off, hurt and confused, it ultimately turned me off. Then I remembered my God, his promises and exactly what he stood for and knew that there was no possibility of him advocating for our definition of slavery. This is a literal interpretation of the bible therefore I looked deeper and caught up on some of my history. Once I did so,I realized, the question "Does the bible condone slavery" can be answered pretty simply. 

In biblical days, a "slave" was someone who provides a "Master" with their loyalty/allegiance, working for them in exchange for food, clothes, proper housing etc. the basic necessities. In Medieval times, this was referred to as a "vassal". In today's 21st century society, this is called a Job. The Bible's definition of slave is not the modern-day, westernized rendition of the word, similar to the fact that in the bible, an "ass" is referring to a donkey, however, In modern western society, it surely does not translate into that anymore. 
This clarification was genuinely a breath of fresh air for myself because it had initially raised a lot of questions. 

As for the comment "this is what western slave masters utilized in order to oppress a race" that simply goes right back to what I said before in the photo about having a false interpretation. Take God's word for what he intended it to be not for it's man-made interpretations. In order to be able to decipher between What The Lord said/intended and what man has manipulated the word into for their own benefit, entails spending time with The Lord, meditating on the word and praying for clarity, wisdom and understanding. In this case it also entailed having a bit of historic knowledge which you'd be sure to find when reading on in the bible.

This Natvice post was pretty short and sweet, Hope that clears the air!
If you have any questions at all you can always reach me at my email,or the other links provided on the homepage!

~Nathia

A Sprinkle of Inspiration

  

(Photos via sprinkleofglitter.blogspot.com)

     When asked "who inspires you?" The first person who pops in my head is Louise, also know as Sprinkle of Glitter. Louise is a woman of many roles, including a full-time British YouTuber,  blogger, wife and mother to the worlds cutest curly cube of sugar, her daughter, Darcy. Louise's spirit lights up a room, even if it's only through a computer screen; her smile is contagious and her bubbly personality never seizes to brighten up my mood. 

If you know me, then you know, i'm not exactly a size zero, I'm a curvy gal and I absolutely love it, however, it wasn't always that way. There was a point in time in which I had convinced my self that as long as my thighs rubbed together (which is crazy because I naturally have more "meat" on my thighs/hips than my torso, therefore, no matter how much weight I lose, unless it were an unhealthy amount, my thighs will continue cuddle each other when I walk), I'd never look good in any sort of clothing. The absolutely ridiculous saying "Skinny looks good in clothes and fit looks good naked" is a pretty adequate way to describe my mindset at the time.

About a year ago, I was looking through LookBooks on YouTube and all of the ones I saw consisted of cropped-tops and stores who sell Extra-Smalls disguised as a Medium/Large. Finally, I stumbled upon Louise' "Curvy Autumn LookBook" and she demolished every stereotype I had of myself and or women of a particular size. Louise is absolutely bright and beautiful and proved to me that us curvy gals can pull off just about anything in a tasteful way; that I could follow the latest trends and look just as good as the model it was originally displayed on. But this is only a highlight.

Louise's personality is ultimately what drew me in (Kinda sound's like I'm speaking about a 20 year soul mate, haha), as I watched more of her videos and daily vlogs (on sprinkleofchatter), I was introduced to a hilarious, strong, caring, bubbly, emotional, quirky and sometimes clumsy (in the most gracious and lovable way possible) individual with a child-like glow, or should I say, sparkle. The fact that she shares both her good and bad days with her viewers is admirable, and quite brave, (considering how cruel the blank faces of the internet can be). Louise seems to be as genuine as it gets and unknowingly inspires others to do the same. I grew to admire Louise for how much of her self she gave to people (which is ultimately 100%). She also has provided viewers with many advice videos from relationships to body image, to "how to say no", to shopping for clothes as a curvy woman and everything in between.

Aloha, I'm proud to be a Sprinklerino

~ Nathia

Here's a few of Louise's videos to watch if you'd wish to love her has much as I do, or you can simply explore her YouTube for some of her other ones which suit your interest I will also leave some of her other social networking links to her twitter, blog and all that jazz below!:

The first video, which is a Lookbook, is very recent, as in, posted about a week ago. The other two videos are some of  her much older videos however, they are very inspiring and allow you to get to know miss Louise better as a person, I highly recommend you check them out.

Sprinkleofglitter "Mini Boho Lookbook": CLICK HERE FOR MOBILE VERSION OF VIDEO

Sprinkleofglitter "Draw My Life" video: CLICK HERE FOR MOBILE VERSION OF VIDEO

Sprinkleofglitter "I Go To Church": CLICK HERE FOR MOBILE VERSION OF VIDEO

Sprinkleofglitter "Being Body Confident": CLICK HERE TO VIEW MOBILE VERSION OF VIDEO

Other Lovely Louise Links: 

LOUISE'S BLOG

YOUTUBE

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

Motivational Monday #4

Hey guys and gals, welcome back to another Motivation Monday, where I prove to you that mondays are awesome (as is every other day of the week, no "day of the week" discrimination here).

"Be happy not because everything is good, but because you can see the good side of everything. #optimism"

What a silly thing it is to think you’re no one’s ideal just because you aren’t someone’s. 

Someone is going to love you with a deep and meaningful kind of love.

You are not too much. 

You are not too emotional. 

You are not too unstable.

You are just right.

Short and sweet inspirational video:

CLICK HERE FOR VIEW MOBILE VERSION OF VIDEO

"Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow - Doug Firebaugh"

TheDailyPositive.com (via thedailypozitive)

"Nothing will ruin your 20’s more than thinking you should have your life together already.

"When you screw up, skip a workout, eat bad foods, or sleep in, it doesn’t make you a bad person.

It makes you human.

Welcome to the club.

There’s like seven billion of us."

"Maybe the soul is tired because all it needs is more time with the Lord. Maybe the heart is tired because it has been fed with all the wrong things. Maybe the mind is tired because it hasn’t been nourished with beneficial knowledge."

Believers 

"If we grew our own food, we wouldn’t waste a third of it as we do today. If we made our own tables and chairs, we wouldn’t throw them out the moment we changed the interior decor. If we had to clean our own drinking water, we probably wouldn’t contaminate it."

Mark Boyle

"Never give up on a dream because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway."

Earl Nightingale

"You were put on this earth to achieve your greatest self, to live out your purpose, and to do it courageously."

― Steve Maraboli

Am I Wrong - Nico Vinz : CLICK HERE TO VIEW MOBILE VERSION OF VIDEO

"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts."

(via thedailypozitive)

“You’ve got to embrace discomfort. It’s the only way you can put yourself in situations where you can learn, and the only way you can keep your senses fresh once you’re there.”

—	Louis C.K.

“Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.”

—	Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self Reliance

Black Girls.

       

Lets start this one off with a spoken word poem by the amazingly talented, Kai Davis (Ooo, Natvice plot twist)

CLICK HERE FOR MOBILE VERSION OF VIDEO

    Black women are beautiful, brown women are beautiful and I can’t say that enough times to compensate for all the times we are told otherwise. So what if even our own men don’t stick up for us, promote our own repression? We must to stick up for us, we must to stand together and even stand alone if we have to until people of all shades stand with us. We must lead on not lean on people, we need no crutch, we need no assurance, we must already know our worth therefore no one can challenge it.

     Lately, I have seen black women accomplishing so much and I am so proud of us! But with all the positives, comes 10 times more negativity attempting to counteract our great deal of progress which can be frustrating. Light skin vs. dark skin, the whole, newfangled, "I don't date black girls" movement and the ill-mannered portrayal of black women via television (primarily reality T.V.) is simply sickening. I'm going to touch on 2 of the 3 topics in a little more depth and briefly (very briefly) close with my views on our portrayal on the television as the stereotypical, angry Black woman.

    I am tired of being separated from my fellow sisters due to how much more or less melanin is produced in my skin cells. Light, Dark, Brown, it all boils down to one thing: Black. I am tired of my worth being measured in how far along my color fits on a grey scale. We are so much more than that and you should not allow the world do boil you down and separate you as if you are some sort of science experiment. Your skin pigment has absolutely nothing to do with how lovable you are or how beautiful you are allowed to be perceived, you are much more than these standards set for you. I ultimately turn my nose up at those who use these terms as a source of identification; Is light/brown/dark skinned all you are? Does that label define you so much to the poing that you believe it deserves a place in your internet biography, for it will serve a substantial purpose in defining who you are to those who read it? Is that what you put your identity in, a color? Please, think more of yourself than that, you are so much more than that, do not allow them to deceive you, do not allow them to define you, but define yourself. Your identity is not in your color, for that can change merely based on the direction of the rays of the sun. Instead, let your identity be found in what you stand for, what you dream of, what and who you love and the love that you have for the people in the world who, despite the fact are so wholeheartedly attempting to persuade you not to love yourself, you love anyway. Now, on to the next topic of discussion.

     This has been going on for a while now but I see it being more shamelessly expressed now more than ever, the statement, "I hate/dislike/wound never/do not date black girls". Ironically, I've only ever heard black men protest the fact that they "hate black women" and  to me, that is both puzzling and sickening. This is due to to the fact that, he himself is black and his mother very well may be a black woman and so is his grandmother, his sisters, his aunts etc. All signs point to self loathing, insecurity and immaturity at that point, in my book. Black women, do not let this bring you down, stand firm and do not be moved, know your worth and do not let others ignorance distort the image you should have of yourself as nothing less than absolutely lovely. 

   Now on the the thing in which we all know and apparently the majority of Americans seem to love: the dreaded reality T.V. I am tired of watching distinguished black women; doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs etc. ; project themselves across dining room tables like sling shots in ball gowns and be paid for it. This is ultimately what black women are portrayed as in general on television; a loud, attitude-stricken, belligerent, angry bunch and you are paying your cable station $67.95 a month for what you could easily go see in person for free at a bar on the right night. The fact that these women have such a large following is mind blowing to me. This is ultimately the endorsement of our own stereotypical downfall. Which I could go on for days about but I'm sure you'd just stop reading and if you've made it thus far, well, thank God for you. 

    Black women, you are beautiful, do not allow the world to define you, tell you your worth, how far you may stretch your arms out for success, what you must wear, listen to or how much you are allowed to love yourself, if at all. You are worth so much more than the world makes you out to be, you are an under-appreciated treasure, therefore, if they cannot treasure you, please, do yourself the honor of treasuring yourself, you deserve it.

    

Yes, it's another one of those inspirational body image posts.

               

(Photo of Tatiana Mercedes, edited by yours truly)

     Lately, I've been kind of hard on myself. Christmas break rolled around a couple months ago and my family is from South America, (Guyana to be exact) therefore, Christmas cooking at our home trumps the original thanksgiving feast by a landslide; pilgrims and everything; and lasts for about a month (that is no exaggeration). I went a little "coo-coo for coco puffs" over all the homemade bread, Pepperpot (a traditional Guyanese Christmas dish) and black cake (a traditional Guyanese dessert). I gained about 5 pounds over Christmas break and 3 more stress-induced pounds, and for all you mathematicians out there, I gained a grand total of about 7 pounds. That's when I protested the fact that I was going to eat salads and flax seeds for the rest of my life (didn't happen by the way). 

     

     The other day, I found myself re-reading my "heavy doesn't mean hopeless" post I made around January (you can check that out here )and it Reminded me how far I've come and the fact that I always used to tell myself "I'll love the fat until I can love the fit", which is a funky little homemade phrase I've managed to unconsciously live by. I also reminded myself of the fact that, everyone has their days, I can't look like Beyonce all the time, Beyonce needs to be Beyonce sometimes (it was a joke). Don't be fooled, I love myself, and managed become a master at not giving a hoot or holler about what how others percieve me appearance wise,because I love who I am. But, even I have my days when when I don't feel my best, and that's fine because of that fact that, that's normal and I don't let it linger on through out the day and or define the way In which I perceive myself. 

     

     I cannot stress enough, the fact that, thin, fit, curvy and everything else in between, our weight/outward appearance has NOTHING to do with our worth, character, lovability, future success or beauty. You are worth the world and deserve to treat yourself as such royalty. If someone else cannot see that, that is perfectly fine as long as you are aware of your own worth and do not allow anyone to lower your value by treating you as anything less than gold. Say it with me: I AM BEAUTIFUL. There is someone out there dying to have someone like you but you've got to love yourself first and the first step to  doing so is believing that you are worthy of being loved. 

And just a reminder, if you guys ever need anything, advice or just a listening ear, I'm here. My contact links and email are located on the homepage and I'll leave them below. I'm here for you, You deserve to have someone by your side rooting you in through the projectiles life throws at you through its marathon (not a race) and I am eager to root you on while you make your way over to greater things, whatever they may be. 

~ Nathia

Email: asknathia@gmail.com
Ask: http://www.ask.fm/natvice
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/NathiaWray