​All my life, I dreaded getting my hair done. My hair, Nala, is thick, kinky and hard to manage. I never learned how to braid or to do much more than a hump, a pony tail, or apply heat... 

​I started getting perms when I was 9 years old and I thought I was the cutest thing. Nala had so much bounce and shine and the straighter she was, the happier I was. This was definitely before it became socially acceptable to teach little Black girls that their hair is BEAUTIFUL and every kink or coil is something to smile about. I rocked perms for a while and then they started to become unhealthy. Nala was breaking and damaged, and I was depressed.

I went natural about 4 years ago while I was in college. I started going to natural hair salons and using products that were specifically made for my hair type. STOP BEING CHEAP! Alberto VO5 is NOT for you. I mean come on... Alberto is Hispanic, so really, cut it out. I still haven't learned how to do hair, but I've noticed such a positive and healthy change in the way Nala grows and just exists. I love her when she's poofy, and kinky, and curly and wavy and braided and wet and... just always. I could show you my journey, but let's save that for another time. Right now, I want to talk about a more recent experience!

This September, our nation and our world has been devastated yet again by natural disaster. In the past couple of weeks, Hurricane Harvey zipped through Houston, Texas, while Hurricane Jose roared through Puerto Rico. Hurricane Irma is projected to hit the state of Florida today and race through the Eastern shore board. But wait, that's not all. We have been told here in Atlanta to get prepared for a storm like no other as Irma is heading for us too.

​The year is 2017 and I personally, cannot believe it. It seems like just yesterday, I was counting down the last ten seconds of 2015 and taking Hennessey shots with my cousins at the club… Epic! 2016 was full of change and mystery and I was sure that this year would bring even more of that into my life, but in a different way. This year has been dedicated to taking back control of my life because I slipped. Now, it is time to start making changes and claiming changes as opposed to waiting for change to happen.