Daily Health Bites

I blog about any and everything—women’s empowerment, health, the deep-seated feelings we usually hide behind a "fine, thanks." But lately? I haven’t felt like much of anything. I’ll be real: I’ve been putting my self-care so far on the back burner it was basically in the neighbor’s yard. And my body? She finally had enough. She didn’t send a polite email; she staged a full-blown coup. It started with a three-week asthma flare-up that had me sounding like a croupy baby, and then—just for spice—an excruciating toothache that has me counting the minutes until the dentist can save my soul. Sitting there, drained and throbbing, I realized I’d been running on fumes. As a single mom of two working 40+ hours a week, my weekend "me-time" is usually just five minutes of staring blankly at the wall behind the tv. Ladies—married, single, or "it’s complicated"—we have to stop being the last item on our own lists.  If we don't put ourselves at the top, our bodies wi...

Let’s be real: we’ve all encountered a "Queen Bee" at least once—the woman who finally gets a seat at the table and then proceeds to pull the ladder up behind her. It’s giving 2004 mean girl/burnbook energy, and frankly, we’re over it. This Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating the women who lift other women, not those who made a name for themselves and kept it there . We’re talking about the women who realized that "making it" is a lot more fun when you bring your besties (and a few strangers) with you. I listened to a podcast recently and the guest said “anytime I can put people in a position to win, that’s what we gone do” and that is the drive I look for in women. We can help each other. Let’s talk about women who have done just that! The Architect: Annie Turnbo Malone Before the world knew Madam C.J. Walker, there was Annie Turnbo Malone. If we’re talking about women who didn't gatekeep their secrets to success, Annie is the blueprint. But most peop...

I know, I know—it’s been a minute since I’ve posted. Life has a way of doing that, doesn’t it? Between my 9-5, my two girls, and trying to remember if I actually moved the laundry to the dryer or if it’s currently growing a new ecosystem in the washer, my "me time" has been a bit thin. Not to mention, I fall asleep as soon as I hit the bed or the couch, with dire effects on the body if I fall asleep on the couch. Ouch! Lately, I’ve been sitting on something that’s been making my heart do backflips in a very good way. We’ve officially entered an era where women are no longer gatekeeping the secrets to success. Whether it’s a business strategy, a parenting hack, or the name of that one miracle concealer that hides the fact that you haven't slept since 2022—we are finally sharing the blueprints. Breaking the "Traditional" Noise Let’s have a real moment. No matter our background or the color of our skin, women are still fighting the same outdated "traditional...

I had one more hidden figure to talk about for Black History Month. We are still early in March, and I really wanted to share this unsung hero, Gladys West. We’ve all been there: staring at the blue dot on our phones, waiting for it to tell us which way to turn. But have you ever stopped to wonder how that tiny dot knows exactly where you are standing on a planet that is constantly spinning, tilting, and—believe it or not—isn't even a perfect sphere? Meet  Dr. Gladys West . If you made it to work on time today or found that new coffee shop using GPS, you have her to thank. What Was So Special About Gladys West? While many people think GPS is just about satellites and "space stuff," the real magic happens in the math. Dr. West was a mathematician at the  Naval Surface Warfare Center  in Dahlgren, Virginia. Starting in 1956, she became the second Black woman ever hired there. Her monumental task?  Mapping the Earth.  Earth isn't a smooth ball; it has "undulations...

Let’s be real for a second. When we talk about Black History, we tend to get the "Greatest Hits" version. We hear about the speeches, the triumphs, and the iconic faces. But history isn't just made by the people at the microphone; it’s built by the geniuses in the back room with a clipboard and a cigarette. Enter  Bayard Rustin.  If Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the soul of the Civil Rights Movement, Bayard Rustin was the  engine.  And honestly? It’s a crime that more people don't know his name. The King Maker Here is the piece of tea they didn't teach us in school:  Dr. King didn’t start out as the "Prince of Peace."  When Rustin arrived in Montgomery during the bus boycotts, he found MLK’s house protected by armed guards. Dr. King actually had guns in the house for protection! Rustin, who had traveled to India to study Gandhi’s tactics, was the one who looked at King and said,  "If you want this to work, you have to put the guns away."  Rust...

Today we’re pressing pause on Black History Month. We’ll resume tomorrow with quiet Black figures who deserve recognition. But today, we need to talk about something else. The C word. James Van Der Beek has died at 48 after battling colorectal cancer. His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, shared the heartbreaking news. His brother has spoken publicly about the pain their family is experiencing. He was 48. And from what has been shared, he didn’t initially think this was something that could happen to him. Because he was young. How many of us have thought that? “It’s Probably Nothing.” That’s what so many people say when symptoms first show up. Bowel changes? “It’s the coffee.” Stomach discomfort? “It’s stress.” Blood in the stool? “Probably hemorrhoids.” Here’s the problem: colorectal cancer often starts quietly. The symptoms can feel small. Dismissible. Easy to explain away. Until they aren’t. And by the time many younger adults get diagnosed, it’s already advanced. Colorectal Cancer Is Ri...