In the song ‘What Have You Done for Me Lately’, Janet Jackson goes into a tirade about what her man is and isn’t doing for her, and why she needs to give him the boot.  However, before giving him the blues about not showering her with love and diamonds and glitz, you have to wonder ‘Had she been doing anything for herself? Or did she just expect him to do all the work for her?’

Pleasing yourself

Earlier this week I received my weekly UNnewsletter from Charlon Bobo at editcopyproof; she posed the question to her readers “What did you do for yourself today?”.  I loved the question because it was a topic that had been swirling around my life for the past few weeks.  I’d posed a similar question to a good friend of mine who does so much for the people in her life and was finally hitting a wall.  Just days before that, I’d given similar advice to another very close friend who simply needed to do some introspective thinking.

Friday is ‘my day’.  It’s ‘my day’ to do something for myself.  Just a tiny something that doesn’t cost me a dime; just a few minutes out of my day.  I wear my naturally curly hair picked out into an afro.  I wear it rather conservatively Monday through Thursday when I am in the office; however, Friday’s are most often work from home days and I love to see my hair picked out into a glowing afro.  Sometimes I adorn it with a colorful headband; sometimes I just let it have a mind of its own.  This one tiny gesture of love to myself bolsters me emotionally and contributes to my ability to love, encourage, and appreciate those around me.

My Afro Idol - Jill Scott

Introducing…

Starting today, Fridays will be now be Pick Your Afro Friday.  This is the day for you to show us what you do that makes you happy.  Is it wearing your favorite pair of jeans to the office?  Is it having a ‘splurge’ meal that you worked hard for all week?  Is it taking your doing something special with someone you love?

When was the last time you can remember something that was purely for your enjoyment?  Something that put a little pep in your step.  Something made you smile inside and out.  What did you do and how often do you do it?  Share your ‘Afro’ with us.