While nothing will quite top “Love and Basketball,” we loved Sanaa Lathan as Kenya McQueen in “Something New.” The 2006 film was not just about inter-racial love, it was about learning to push your boundaries in all areas of life. One of our favorite lines from Kenya’s leading man and gardener, Brian, who describing his job said, “I take hard earth and make it bloom.” It is a line we have not forgotten even as the film has gone to the romance/comedy row of the DVD section and as a tribute to the film, we have created our own list for Mesdames looking to blossom even in the midst of this fall. Need something new in your routine? Here are some ways you can make your soul bloom with just 30 minutes each day.
Do one thing different with your look
Wear your hair up, find a brighter blush, contour your cheeks, do a matte lip instead of gloss. Whatever it is, do one little thing that will have the people in your life guess “what’s different about her?” all through the day. It doesn’t have to be an additional step- choosing to skip the kohl liner and going with mascara and a bare lid can give you a drastic change and maybe even get you into the office on time.
Strike up a convo with your anti-ex
Do you consistently go for the same type of man? Well find one who is nothing like him- then hit on him. Trust me, I can be shy when it comes to approaching men but I have found that making a connection with someone whom I would not normally approach is a great way to learn what it is that actually makes you swoon. Maybe your cocky ex’s swagger made your heart flutter but it probably also brought it a world of pain. Getting a positive feeling from an unexpected source, can help you determine what is actually giving you that positive feeling and open up your options for something more.
Find an extracurricular activity- and keep it a secret
It can be a new book, a new exercise class, whatever. Find something completely outside of your comfort zone and here’s the test- tell no one. Don’t let anyone know what it is you’re doing with that time- why? Because venting about how hard something is or bragging about it can keep you from truly getting everything out of it that you should. Learning something new and keeping it to yourself can allow you to feel like you’re adding a secret weapon to your own arsenal and trust us there’s nothing more Hot than a woman who doesn’t tell everything.
Take yourself to lunch
We don’t mean the daily run to a salad bar or worse the golden arches, we mean a lunch date. Sit in a café or restaurant once this week- completely alone. It seems a simple exercise but looking presentable and not expecting feedback is something many women do not make the time to do. Look gorgeous for yourself and simply sit there. Have a conversation with your own mind and be fully engaged in the moment. Make no apologies or explanations for why you are alone. Learn to enjoy time with yourself and be your own joy.
