Black for Life

What is Black For Life? Well to be honest, I had intended to call this blog Blackford Life to represent what was seemingly two opposing parts of my identity - the deep rooted Afrocentrism and the fawning and submissive Stepford Wife. I envisioned documenting the truths of having to daily reconcile those parts to achieve my happy life.

However, it hit me recently that I had long ago reconciled those ideas into my identity and what I was really trying to do was translate it for everyone else to understand....well that and the fact that when I finally publicly spoke about the idea my audience thought I was saying Black FOR Life instead of Blackford Life (gotta love my Eastern Shore accent). LOL! Seriously though, it wasn't until that moment was the vision for this blog fully realized.

Read more about the levels of happiness here: https://www.theworldcounts.com/purpose/four-levels-of-happiness

The true realization was I JUST WANT TO BE HAPPY! I had allowed happiness to become synonymous with achievement in my life and consequently that mindset was preventing me from being happy. So I began to ask myself what really makes me happy. The answer = BEAUTITUDO. Beautitudo is the happiness derived from doing good for others and making the world a better place. Specifically it has been a passion of mine to do good for my family and my community. While family has always been easy to define for me, my community not so much. At times community has been based on location, such as being from the Eastern Shore. Most times it has been based in identity politics like race, gender, religion, sexuality, and again (with the exception of race), these have not always been easy for me to define in my life. Yet, I have never wondered if I was Black. My parents, especially my mother, instilled a strong sense of pride and self worth into being Black. I have never questioned my Blackness nor have I ever wondered if it was wrong or sufficient. Being Black is my super power! The pride I have in being Black and the rich history that it stands on fuels the passion I have for the Black community at large. Doing good for others in this community to make the world a better place makes me happy. Therefore, Black For Life is a lifestyle and my calling. The blog an invitation to find your happiness through shared life experiences. I look forward to engaging as the life unfolds.