Ignorant: lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated.
I sometimes personally feel life is better when you’re ignorant to people and your surroundings. It sounds stupid but when we know what goes on in the world or neighborhood...anxiety, stress and worry set in something terrible! I love to read blogs, books, the news etc and like to now stay in the know but at one point in my life, that was not the case. I felt better walking outside at night not knowing there was an actual rapist on the loose but knew they existed. I felt comfortable drinking and getting on the sub to go home instead of a taxi without having to think of my throat being slit for no reason or thrown in somebody's trunk and gone missing. People are crazy and it's sad that I can and will no longer go back to that. Now mind you, I'm not saying that was the smartest mindset but I didn't really feel the need to be afraid. I always felt God got me and what's meant to be, will be. I just went with the flow.
Now these days, shhiiiiittttt, I’m not stepping out the house without a military blade and pepper spray! And that's the least. If I could carry a gun all day, I would with no problem! I see everyday someone missing, some pervert caught watching kids at a playground or school, uber drivers trying it, people in your own neighborhood killing with no problem and conversing with you like nothing ever happened. If I get in an Uber I try to send somebody my location and get a good look at this person while entering the car. I don't walk down dark blocks and if I have too to get in the house, I walk in the middle of the street. No matter if I'm coming from the car or Uber. I'm more aware and at one point even downloaded this app that shows you the felons in your area, how long they served, when they got out, full facial picture of this person, what they did, the whole nine. But with all of that comes anxiety and stress for me smh. Trying to be cautious, aware and safe takes too much! But I would rather do that than to have to put effort into fighting for my life. I feel as women, we have to educate ourselves more on the physical aspect of protecting ourselves and pass this onto our daughters. We laugh and joke about what would do if somebody put their hands on us or about cutting somebody but if most men grab a woman with intent on hurting her, that’s it. No getting out of that unless this woman is wonder woman or miraculously stronger than this man.
Growing up without a father never bothered me. I had my mother, aunts, uncles (Rest In Paradise Uncle Rob & Uncle Gregory) and older cousins so if and when I needed anything: advice about relationships, learning to cook a certain dish, help with homework or learning how to take care of myself as a woman, I simply asked them. Women have always been the backbones and strength behind us from the beginning so what would I need a man for? What can he teach me that she can not? Welp, you grow into an adult and learn mighty quickly what those things are. It's mostly lessons, mental and emotional support that a father can bring to their children. If myself and my mother had tension or beef, we needed that man to intervene inside the household to keep the peace and balance from all the estrogen lol! But on a serious note I realized what I missed out on by seeing friends with their fathers and just having that very first relationship that's more important than any relationship you will ever have in life with the first MAN in your life. It means something and molds you differently to prepare you for the other most important MAN, your husband.
As a child, you’re told to eat your veggies, drink more water especially in the summer and don’t be up all night on the phone knowing you have school in the morning. But we all know that was never the case! We stayed up on 3 way calls talking about something that happened in school that day, drank juice, ate water ice and a Reese cup tasted better than spinach. The grown you kicks in with working 8-10 hours a day, getting 5-6 hours of sleep and you still have those same eating habits forgetting the fact that your body and mental is taking a toll. I always hear people say they take vitamins so I’m good. Wrong. It's too many African Americans who have diabetes and high blood pressure but are extremely overweight. And it's sad cause in the black community if you are thin, lost weight or just taking care of yourself due to having either or, your too skinny, you eat rabbit food or you need a burger….like that's not what got us in this situation to begin with! I personally decided not to eat to beef or pork and I'm working on my sugar intake at the moment to get that under control considering I'm a huge milk chocolate fan. I watch what I cook with, how much butter I tend to use, salt and what kind of salt I use and just better decisions overall. I tried absolutely no meat but gotta take baby steps lol, not all the way there yet. We don't see the damage it could do until we are older with bad knees, heart problems, back issues or aneurysm from stress. Do better and take care: mind and body.
Ignorance is bliss and I see what they always meant by this.
