The Honeybee's Lifestyle

Category: LIFESTYLE

  • Once Is Enough

    Hello Honeybees,

    As we bring awareness to Domestic Violence this month I want to share a story with you.  I know a lady that had one experience with domestic violence and for her once was enough.

    See, she was married for 13 years with two children.  She had never experienced domestic violence a day in her life.  Until one day her husband put a loaded gun to her head. “How long has this been going on?” the police would ask. “Never” she would reply. She could tell that he didn’t believe her but it was the truth.

    How did the situation escalate so quickly?  Yes, the marriage was in trouble but she never thought that it would come to this. He had never put his hands on her in a threatening way.

    How did the person who promised to keep her safe pose such a threat?

    So many questions, so many major decisions to be made and NOW!

    Does she forgive him and stay?

    Will she ever feel safe again?

    What about the children?

    After much thought, prayer and support she decided to leave.

    This lady stood on her own two feet, pulled it together and moved on with her life. Who knows what might have happened if she had stayed.  Maybe things would have worked out.  Maybe it wouldn’t happen again or maybe NOT!

    DVA

    For many women once is just the beginning.  For whatever reason she forgives, she tries to hold it together.  I don’t fault them.  Until you walk in her shoes you can never know.  Be there for her so that when she has the courage to leave she has support.

    http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/01/how-to-help-a-loved-one-experiencing-domestic-violence/

    If you know someone that is in a domestic situation there is help.  In Memphis  The Family Safety Center is one location that effectively combines civil, criminal, health and social services for victims of family violence.  http://www.familysafetycenter.org/  901.222.4400

    Another local resource is Walking Into A New Life www.WINAL.org Joyce Kyles is a dynamic woman and a domestic violence survivor.

    There is help.  If you need help or know someone that needs help please visit the resources listed above.

    At what point is your enough really enough?  Only you can answer that.

    Belinda Bee pic

    Beewisdom –  “There is life after abuse. This is mine.”
    ― Lindsay Fischer, The House on Sunset

  • Love Is A House

    Hello Honeybees,

    My aunt came to Memphis for a visit.  I usually get to see her about once or twice a year.  She and her family are my only relatives still living in the Windy City.  My mom and I moved to Memphis from Chicago when I was 10 years old.  My dad passed at the early age of 32 and my mom thought moving to Memphis would give us a fresh start. 

    Now for the record I never wanted to move to Memphis.  I had a life in Chicago (all 10 years of it)

    This is the house on the South Side of Chicago where my foundation began

    Normal House

    In this house I learned the meaning of love and family.  I watched my parents as they showed me what a good marriage looks like… how a man treats a wife and how a wife respects her husband.

    In this house I developed my love for sports, especially Steeler football…thanks dad!

    In this house I learned to ride a bike and jump double-dutch

    Home Saying

    In this house I had awesome birthday parties.

    In this house I had the best Christmas’ ever.

    To me this house represents some of the BEST memories of my life.

    To me this house represents LOVE

    I have been back to Chicago once since moving to Memphis.  That’s something that has to change and soon.

    But I don’t want to go in the winter…yeah I still remember that hawk. Brrrr!!!!

    I want to go back now as an adult to shop and definitely eat.  I didn’t know it then but I was cultivating my love for food.

    ChicagoSkyline1

    Growing up my cousins and I would spend some part of every summer in Memphis with our grandmother.  I liked Memphis. It was a great place to visit but to move…..Nope, Nada, No way!  But what choice did I have? Unlike today’s children, I didn’t have a vote. 

    As a mother I am glad that we made the move to Memphis. Honestly I would rather raise my boys in Memphis than in Chicago.

    I hope to one day take my boys to Chicago so that they can see where it all began.  They never got the chance to meet my parents but I share with them the good times that I had in this house. This is where love started for me.

    I pray that I am creating those same kind of memories for them in our HOME.

    Belinda Bee pic

    What was your favorite place to live growing up?

    Beewisdom- It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home – Unknown

  • Girlfriends Gathering

    Hello Honeybees,

    Saturday night I attended the birthday celebration of my sister friend Jackie O!  Usually when Jackie has a girlfriend gathering I can expect to leave with a new friend, new insight and a renewed spirit.

    Saturday was no different!

    Jackie & Me

    We gathered at the home of one of Jackie’s friends.  Because her friend couldn’t stay long at last year’s gathering due to sitter issues, she hosted this year’s celebration at her house.  Now that says a lot about their friendship and about what a special person Jackie is.  When I walked into the house I was immediately put at ease.  It was so warm and inviting.  The host and her family made us all feel at home.Jackie, Mignonne

    There were 8 women sitting around eating, drinking and sharing.

    When I say that there was not one bit of gossip……I mean there was not one bit of gossip.

    We shared stories about our life, family, careers and relationships.  We offered honest advice like we had been friends for years.  We laughed at stories about some of our most “interesting” adventures….you wouldn’t believe me if I tried to repeat them…which I won’t because:

    What happens at Jackie’s gathering stays at Jackie’s gathering

    There were some things that were shared that I know no one thought that they would be sharing. Especially with people that you just met, but we bonded like we had been friends forever.

    That’s the kind of thing that happens when Jackie brings a group together.  It seems like the right people are together at the right time for the right reason. 

    Again, Saturday was no different.

    I left with, new friends, new insight and a renewed spirit

    If you ever have the privilege of being invited to a Jackie O! Girlfriend Gathering….don’t miss it.  I’m glad I didn’t

    If you want to find Jackie,meet her on the mat at her yoga class on Thursdays at Caritas Village, 6 p.m.      Pay what you can!

    Yoga Jackie

    Belinda Bee pic

    Beewisdom- Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them.      W. Clement Stone