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How to transform a Bad Experience into a “Blessing”

The Bald Blessing

At the start of my journey with Alopecia, I never dreamed it could ever be an issue that I would look at as “a blessing.”  The only dream I had was the one where I woke up to the return of a full head of hair and my life back the way it was before it all started. I held on to that dream for years. Mentally and emotionally, I felt like I was holding my breath in anticipation of that glorious day.  After it did, I would write a book about how awful the ordeal was, but not until it was all over. I would not share or help others until I had the “victory.” That was my plan.

Wake up to the truth

The moment I woke up and realized that healing had a broader definition than what I understood, is the day I began my inner project of liberation. My perspective had to change so I can free myself from being stuck in that moment of time. I had to stop waiting for it to be over and start living through it, breathing through it. Life is too short to put your happiness on hold until it gives you exactly what you want. Things may not unfold the way you think it will. I have learned that if you open yourself up to the experience and release your expectations for the outcome, you can gain valuable insight from it. The situation can evolve into something more beautiful and rewarding than you could have ever imagined.

Here are 5 Tips for transforming a bad experience into a blessing:

1. Trust the wisdom of the universe.  Learn the art of surrender and the act of faith.

2. Understand that all things inevitably work together for the good and there is a pearl of wisdom available to be found in every life challenge. Focus on the pearl, not the pain.

3. Decide to use your mental power to open your mind rather than hold fast to thoughts and beliefs that do not serve the goal of inner and outer peace.

4. Be teachable, be humble and be open. The answers come but only when you are ready to hear them.

5. Be grateful. Things can always be worse. Even when things feel bad, know that there is somebody somewhere who would love to be in your shoes. Maintain a grateful spirit. It makes the heavy load, a little lighter.

My on-air Aha moment

On July 29, 2010, I had the pleasure of sitting down for an interview with Dr. Allen Mask of the WRAL Channel 5 Health Team. I shared my Alopecia experience with him and my gift of song, words and film. It wasn’t until that moment sitting in the living room, being asked specific questions that I heard myself admit that Alopecia has turned out to be a blessing in my life. I had not acknowledged it but the level of growth and personal development I have been forced to experience as a result of it, has allowed me to blossom in ways I never thought I could. It has opened up doors for me creatively and gave me a platform to stand on, be heard and to make a difference. With a merry heart and a bald head, my life is yet but a dream.

Check out my interview with Dr. Allen Mask on the WRAL Channel 5 Health Team Report:

Click the link below to view the video clip.

Loss of hair is ‘blessing’ for Raleigh woman

My intervew with Dr. Allen Mask on WRAL 5

Clayton Brock, Sandra Dubose and Dr. Allen Mask

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By sandra
— August 4, 2010 at 7:40 pm

How to use your Difference to make “A Difference”

First you must believe that you are beautiful then you can exude beauty.

It has been over two years since the first time I ever went outside bald. I decided to do it as a personal challenge. I needed to accept myself openly and begin to be truly comfortable in my own skin. It is easy to talk the talk but sooner or later, you have to walk the walk. I was nervous, excited and uncomfortable. I wanted to run back in the house but I managed to keep it together and push past those emotions. This moment of liberation was my way to boldly reclaim the self esteem that I had allowed Alopecia to steal from me. It was time to shift my alopecia experience from fear to fearlessness.

Today, two years later, I still have to take a few deep breaths and get my emotions in order before I go outside bald. I don’t do it every day so when I do, I have to do a mental self check and get centered so that I can handle whatever may come my way.

“Ultimately, if I believe that I am beautiful and walk in confidence, then I will exude beauty and persuade others to see the beauty in themselves.” ~ Sandra Dubose-Gibson

This music video is from the documentary film “Project Liberation- My Alopecia Experience. It documents the first time I ever went outside bald on my way to do a bald photo shoot.

Secondly, get over your thoughts of what “THEY” are thinking.

Last month, I went to perform at an outdoor African Arts Festival in a small country town in North Carolina. My daughters, a.k.a. “my entourage”, came with me. I showed up in all of my bald-ilicious glory ready to sing my song and share my story. As my daughters and I walked from the car to the event, we saw many people along the street that stared blatantly at me as we walked by. It was awkward and in all the times I have gone outside au natural, I have never been stared at like this before. They obviously had never encountered too many bald women in their part of town.

I recognized then the power that lies in looking different. To think, if I could walk down the street and have people tune into me with curious eyes, my response to them could make the difference in changing someones perception of what beauty is and create greater sensitivity for others who look different as well. I smiled graciously at them thinking that it was the perfect teachable moment for my children about the importance of self confidence. The stares did not bother me but my children were uncomfortable and growing angry that so many people were staring at their mommy that way. I comforted them by telling them what those people were thinking and saying to each other…….

“Is she some kind of celebrity?”    Maybe…..

“Is she a model?”   Could be…….

The truth is that I have no idea what “THEY” were thinking. No one will ever know how that moment resonated with each of them and I cannot worry about that.  There is no way to maintain a sense of peace or sanity if we obsess about the unknown. At some point we have to divorce ourselves from the fear of being judged by others. We can’t afford to put too much value on the opinions of complete strangers! Now, while it is human nature to want to be accepted and liked, we cannot ask anyone to do for us, what we cannot or will not do for ourselves. Bottom line, what matters most is always what we think of ourselves.

Lastly, choose to be happy in spite of your challenges and you will inspire others to do the same

Any questions the onlookers had, had been answered the moment I took the microphone and educated them about my condition. They realized then, how I embraced my difference so that I can make a difference. I then proceeded to sing a Mary J. Blige crowd favorite, “All I really want is to be happy.”

In that moment as we were rocking out together, they knew and understood that there was no real difference between me and them at all. Singing in unison we recognized that no matter what our external differences are, inside we are all the same and all each of us ever REALLY want, is to be happy!

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By sandra
— May 26, 2010 at 9:30 pm

Hair, Self Esteem, and Women’s Empowerment 2010…What’s Hair Got to do with It?

What’s hair got to do with self esteem and women’s empowerment?

Sandra Dubose-Gibson

Sandra Dubose-Gibson

When asked by moderator, Lauren Lake at the 2010 Women’s Empowerment Expo, what I thought was the #1 issue women are wrestling with as it relates to “good hair” and the “Hollywood Complex”, I offered a few points to ponder:

  • We have to stop comparing ourselves to other women and instead uncover and accept our own unique beauty whether we have short hair, long hair or in my case, no hair at all.
  • Understand that we were not made to look the same but we are each our own individual expression of the image and likeness of God and he does not make mistakes.
  • No matter what physical changes we go through, know that our true beauty comes from our spirit within.
  • We have to accept ourselves for who we are and what we look like because people are going to see us, the way we see ourselves.

While hair is an important attribute to a woman’s identity of beauty, there are many other non-physical traits of beauty in every woman that we must identify and appreciate.

Some times in life we may have experiences that will challenge our self esteem. It is easy to feel good about yourself when you are not dealing with circumstances beyond your control and you look the way you want to look. Just as it is easy to love someone when they are making you happy. The truth is revealed only through test and trials. Then and only then can we find out what we are really made of. This is why we need to cultivate a deeper understanding of self and a  broader perspective of beauty in ourselves and in others.

When we suffer through any unwanted physical changes, it is easy to just focus on the negative and forget about all of the positive things we have going for ourselves. I don’t care if the issue is hair loss, weight gain, a pimple or a crooked tooth. These imperfections seemingly take over our mirror and cause us to forget that our beauty is bigger than that one issue. I find that often times we are harder on ourselves than we are on others. If the people who we truly love had any of those issues, we would show them more compassion and acceptance than we do ourselves. This is a mindset we must work to change.

The Beauty Test: An exercise to Identify Physical and Non-Physical Beauty Attributes To Increase Self-Esteem

Sometimes we need to be reminded of the greatness we possess to shift our perspective from darkness to light. You don’t have to wait for someone else to acknowledge your beauty, give yourself a self esteem boost by taking this beauty test today. Make a list of your best attributes whether they are physical or non-physical. I am confident that you will find that there are many things to love about yourself and to be proud of. Own your own individual beauty and do not compare yourself to anyone else. You will do yourself a great disservice and miss out on the authentic beauty which is you. Here is a cheat sheet of my list to get you moving in the right direction.

A few of my Best Attributes

-  My sense of humor

-  My Kind Disposition

-  Sharing and Caring for Others

-  Curves to die for ;-)

-  A Beautiful bald head

-  Soft, smooth (hairless) skin

Identifying these attributes helps increase my self-esteem by keeping my eye on the prize, the true essence of me.

Please share a beauty attribute, or two, of yours from your Beauty test. Post your comments and give yourself a shout out. In doing so, you could help others identify the beauty they may have overlooked within themselves.

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By sandra
— March 28, 2010 at 8:42 pm

The Hollywood Complex; The Truth Behind Beauty

What are the attributes of beauty?

Beauty is not made up of just one characteristic. There are many aspects about a person that attribute to their beauty. Contrary to the Hollywood created stereotypes of “so called” beauty, only part of it is external. The root of the word stems from what is inside. Like they say, “A tree is known, by the fruit it bares.”  I remember the exact moment in time when I realized that the attributes of beauty are decided in the mind’s eye of the beholder and it is true for them even if I disagree.

Looking through the eyes of love

Having gone bald as a result of Alopecia Universalis starting at the age of 25, caused me to become very insecure within my marriage. At that time we had been married for 4 years and our first daughter was only 1 years old. Intimacy became a real struggle for me because I did not feel beautiful anymore. I used to think, “How could he possibly want me looking like this?” I felt his advances were done as an act of kindness, obligation or maybe even pity. He told me often how sexy I still was in his eyes. I did not see it, so I did not believe him. I became distant, angry and unavailable. I rejected the love and acceptance that was being offered. Deep inside I believed that he would eventually leave me.

What happens behind closed doors?

One night, my husband lovingly expressed his frustration with the way that I had been handling my Alopecia experience. To the world I seemed to be doing fine but he was the one who took the blows when I cried myself to sleep and woke up angry every morning.  He told me that he could handle me losing my hair and that it honestly did not matter to him. He still felt that I was beautiful and he loved me with or without hair. What he could not handle was my new found low self esteem, regular pity parties and depression. THAT WAS UNATTRACTIVE. He explained to me that my confidence and upbeat personality is what drew him to me and what he fell in love with, not my hair. Talk about an AHA moment! When it was all said and done, my CONFIDENCE, wit and personality was the top lock key to unlock the heart of my husband. Who knew?! I realized then, that the outer package is not nearly as important as the content inside. I don’t want to just LOOK beautiful, I want to BE beautiful and I decide what the definition of beauty is for me and you can do the same for you.

What to do when the truth hurts

I learned that evening that I had a limited view of beauty and was only afflicting additional pain upon myself. My husband was not leaving me but I was pushing him away. Not only was Alopecia going to take away my hair but I was allowing it to take away my self esteem, my joy, my personality and subsequently my marriage. I had to turn my pain into a point of power and start fighting back. Somehow I was going to have to shake the bald blues. I wanted to be the woman my husband fell in love with and the sexiest bald woman he had ever seen! I could not change the fact that I did not have hair, but I could decide to love myself in spite of it and understand my worth. The process takes time to climb the mountain of personal liberation. That moment of truth with my husband was the catalyst that motivated me to walk towards the light and illuminate in a way that inspires others to find their own path. The experience was a blessing in disguise and taught me an invaluable lesson about beauty, love and marriage. What will be the catalyst for you? If you need a little inspiration, I know where you can find it.

Finding my path and walking in my purpose

In honor of Women’s History Month, on Saturday, March 20, 2010, Radio One will hold the 16th Annual Women’s Empowerment Expo at the RBC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. I have been invited to participate as a panelist in the beauty seminar, “The Hollywood Complex: The Truth Behind beauty”.

I am honored and excited to weigh in on the topic of beauty from a bald woman’s perspective. I believe I have something of value to share and my heart is open to receive. This is an entire day event dedicated to uplifting African American women in every area of our lives. There will be over 14,000 people in attendance, vendors, seminars, food, education, entertainment and most of all, empowerment for all.

It will be a great day of inspiration and fellowship that you don’t want to miss! I hope to see you there.

For more information visit: www.womensempowermentexpo.comWomens Empowerment Expo 2010

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By sandra
— March 8, 2010 at 12:27 am

Self-love is the greatest love of all

Do you love yourself?

“Do you love yourself?”Is a pretty strong question that most people would automatically answer yes to without thinking twice about it. “Of course I do” we say. It requires no contemplation for most but what about those who can’t find the words “I love myself” in their vocabulary?  At a time like this when the whole world is focusing their attention on romantic love for Valentine’s Day, I think we should spend equal time focusing on the love of ourselves.

I remember a time in my life when I would have answered, “No” to the question of loving myself. I was just a teenager then, lost in the abyss of the unknown. “Who am I and why have I been born?” were the questions in prayer whispered from my lips night after night. Finding out the answers to those questions is a personal journey that everyone must take for themselves. For some, the answers come swiftly. For some the answers come slowly and for some, not at all.

For me, after a bout with depression, repeat thoughts of suicide and over a year too long in an abusive relationship at 17, I learned enough to know who I was NOT and decided who I did not want to be ANYMORE. It was a defining moment in my life that shaped me into the woman I am today. I have no regrets, only thanks and praise for being alive to tell my story. Many of young women never learned to tap their power within and died as a result of domestic violence. As a result, February has been designated National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.

Cited from the National Teen Abuse Helpline, a recent teen survey showed that 1 in 5 teens that have been in a serious relationship report having been hit, slapped or pushed by a partner. Unchecked issues with low self esteem only lead to more destructive behavior and or relationships. Loving and respecting ourselves is not a choice or a luxury, it is our responsibility and the only way to achieve a happy and well balanced life.

Falling in love with yourself

“No one can give you self love and no one can love you hard enough to compensate for the love that you need to have within yourself.”

~Sandra Dubose-Gibson

If you h av e been struggling with a lack of self love, instead of focusing your energy on garnering the affections of a significant other this Valentine’s Day, buy yourself some flowers and use these 3 love potions to help start the fire, for falling in love with yourself. When you uncover the true love within yourself, you set the stage for the true love of another to find you.

Decide that enough is enough: Just like you make the decision to love others, make the decision to love you no matter what. It is mind over matter. No one is perfect; including you, so cut yourself some slack. We are all doing the best we can based on our personal experiences so be gentle with yourself and commit to learn how to be your own best friend instead of your own worst enemy.  

Get to the root of the problem and pluck it out: Identify who or what made you feel less than and let them or it go. Negative things may have happened in your childhood. We all have a story we could tell that had it’s share of damaging effects. As a child it was not our fault nor was it fair. The reasons for pain are justifiable. The bottom line is that we cannot change the past, but we can absolutely decide to create a better tomorrow for ourselves. Leave the past behind.

Exercise your faith: Prayer and faith are the main ingredients to getting out of the clouds and seeing the breaking of day. The goal is to see yourself through God’s eyes, perfect even in your imperfections. No other opinions matter, not even your own. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Find your path to peace through faith. Trust your creator and recite these truths to yourself often.

v  I am strong

v  I am intelligent

v  I am have talents and gifts

v  I am kind

v  I am worthy of love

v  I am whole and complete right now

v  I am a child of God

Remember: This may be the season for love and romance, but learning to love yourself, is the greatest love of all.

Peace and Blessings

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By sandra
— February 8, 2010 at 2:05 am

A clear view of the New You for 2010!

Here’s to the New Year!

Warm pretzels and hot dogs never smelled so good!

The beloved hot dog dude!

I took a road trip this holiday season to the Big Apple to celebrate the new year with my loved ones. As a native New Yorker, I found that I have developed a deeper appreciation for my hometown now that I no longer live there. I come back feeling and acting like like a tourist. I am in awe of the beauty I find in the city that never sleeps. Suddenly the hot dog dude on the corner is picture worthy. Even the newsstand man with the latest magazines displaying buxom babes exudes a certain warmth, or maybe it’s just me?

The truth is, it is me. It has always been me. Our life experiences are predicated upon our perception of reality. If this be the case, then we must make a conscious effort to continually clean the lenses in which we view our world. We need to seek out truth without judgment in every one, in every situation and especially within ourselves.

11th Annual Link Sister Celebration

11th Annual Link Sister Celebration

Link Up with Love

Every January for the past 11 years, I meet up with my best friends from the Link Sister Circle. We set aside this special time to celebrate ourselves and each other with a girls only get together complete with food, fun and uncensored grown folk conversation! We use this time to draw inward and assess our personal productivity for the past year and focus our minds on our goals for the year ahead. We weigh in on each others progress and lovingly support one another through the joys and pains of personal growth in every area of our lives. It is a wonderful blessing to be in the midst and witness the dialogue that gets our think tanks moving in the right direction.

Hit the ground running but first; Prepare Your Map

Even if you don’t have a room full of friends to help you clean your inner lenses for the new year, you can journal through this process and record your own growth to uncover your best self.  Start by writing down the honest answers to the following questions: (Don’t worry, if you don’t like your answers, this new year gives you plenty of time to work on changing them:)

What did I learn this year?

  • Think about some of the experiences you had throughout the year. Go back from January 2009 until present. What were some of the challenges you faced? Now, looking back on them, extract the overall lesson. What did you learn? About yourself, about others, about life in general.

Have I made progress this year?

  • Have you reached the goals you set at the beginning of last year? If not, have you at least moved forward towards them or are you still in the same place? Jot down the intended goal and the actual results. Now celebrate yourself or pick your face up from the floor. Either way- Let’s move forward!

What is my plan for growth in 2010?

  • Out with the old, in with the new. Make a new action plan. Set some goals to move you forward in every area of your life. (i.e. weight loss, spiritual growth, improved self esteem, save money, exercise, love life, career, family etc.) Map out a step by step plan from beginning to end. Get a calendar and set some dates to hold yourself accountable for completion. Reward yourself along the way as you move one step closer with each check mark on your “to do” list.

Link up with me and post your comments of personal growth and success. I wish you peace and blessings for 2010 on your journey toward light and love.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.” ~ George Bernard Shaw~

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By sandra
— January 6, 2010 at 9:01 pm

Bald, Bold and Beautiful

Bald

Bald, bold and beautiful!

Bald, bold and beautiful!

I have been living my life as a bald woman for over 6 years now but I honestly do not go outside without my wig that often. One reason I don’t is because in addition to having Alopecia Universalis (complete hair loss on the entire body), I also have a form of Cicatricial Alopecia. Cicatricial (which means scarring) alopecia refers to a group of rare disorders which destroy the hair follicle and replace it with scar tissue, thereby causing permanent hair loss. As a result of this, I have blotchy colored skin on my scalp. In order to create an even tone all over my head, I have to apply make up all over it. This is a time consuming procedure that I only entertain when it is time to wow the crowd. Other than that, I prefer to cover my crown and save myself the expense of buying new foundation every week.

Bold

I recently took a bold step outside of my own comfort zone as a personal challenge. On November 21, 2009, I attended the Radio One Media & Entertainment Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was the place to be for anyone looking to work in any facet of the entertainment industry. The downtown Sheraton hotel was filled with local aspiring artists, record label executives, well known music producers, successful entrepreneurs and keynote speaker, Andre Harrell himself. It was an amazing event and provided everyone with a wealth of valuable information and networking opportunities.

The Bold part of the story, is that I decided to attend this diva-liscious event au natural! I did not wear my wig but I did wear my confidence and determination. It was a wonderful challenge and a great gift to myself to step out a little further and put my money where my mouth is. The reward was priceless. I only stand 5 feet in stature but on this day, I felt 6 feet tall and quite comfortable in my new tall skin.

Beautiful

A line in one of my favorite poems by Marianne Williamson reads like this:

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same thing.

As we are liberated from our own fears, our very presence, automatically liberates others.”

Part of the reason I decided to go out to an event for an industry that glorifies the carbon copied, barbie doll standard of beauty is because I wanted to make a statement. I decided to let my light shine so that my presence may liberate others. There were some stares as you can imagine as I was the only bald woman in the building but I returned each glance with love.

When you decide to embrace the thing that makes you different, you never know how many people will be inspired to free themselves and do the same thing. Everyone may not come up to you and verbalize how your presence impacts them and you do not need them to. Your assignment is to lead from the front.

During the conference, I went to the ladies room to fix my make up. A woman I shared a mirror with just came out and said, “You are bold!”  I smiled knowingly and said, “I have been told that before but this style is not by choice. I just do what I have to do.” She replied, “Well, I guess I should not complain about the few gray hairs I found on my head this morning huh? ” I said, “Girl, I would kill for a few gray hairs right about now.” We laughed and shared a moment of truth as we looked at our reflections staring back at us in the mirror.

She was beautiful with a few gray hairs and I was beautiful with no hair at all.

Decide to let your light shine today.

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By sandra
— November 30, 2009 at 12:10 am

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Kammie, a friend of my family. We had not spoken for a few months and I was anxious to speak to her and catch up on our lives. She started the conversation by saying, “I wanted to tell you, I just recently had my right breast cut off.”

“Excuse me? Your what?” I said. “What are you talking about?”

“Yeah girl” she said, “I got Breast Cancer.”

Breast Cancer Awareness

It’s not that we are UN-aware, I think that we just never believe that it will actually happen to us. The day you get the news of breast cancer delivered to your door or someone you love, you suddenly move into a new level of consciousness. The reality settles in that tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone. Life will bring challenges that can either make you or break you and no one is exempt. Rich, poor, black, white or other, there are circumstances beyond our control that we are all subject to. This month, let us all stand collectively in this battle supporting our sister soldiers on the front line. Let us declare that we will survive, we will stay alive and we will thrive!

Survivor Spotlight

On “The Spotlight is On YOU” page, I did a one on one interview with my friend Kammie. She graciously shared the details of her experience with me as she is still living through it as we speak. After talking with this warrior princess I was informed, inspired and motivated  to pay closer attention to my own breast health and to do my part in educating others.  Be sure to read her remarkable story and take note to a few facts about breast cancer we all need to know:

Breast Cancer Facts

Did you know?

  • Breast cancer is a type of cancer where cells in the breast divide and grow without normal control. About 85 percent of breast cancers begin in the mammary ducts.
  • One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer found in women, other than skin cancer.
  • Doctors don’t know what causes breast cancer. Some women carry genetic mutations that increase their risk of developing breast cancer. Most women who develop breast cancer have no risk factors other than the fact that they are women.
  • Only five to ten percent of all breast cancer cases are actually hereditary.
  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death among African American women, exceeded only by lung cancer.
  • According to the American Cancer Society, the overall five-year survival rate for localized breast cancer is 98%. The survival rate for breast cancer that has spread to the chest wall or lymph nodes is in the 80% range, and at least a quarter of breast cancer patients with metastatic disease survive five years or more.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer:

  • A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue
  • Bloody discharge from the nipple
  • Change in the size or shape of a breast
  • Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling
  • Inverted nipple
  • Peeling or flaking of the nipple skin
  • Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange

Tips for lowering the likelihood of developing breast cancer

Early detection is the best way to find breast cancer in its earliest, most curable stages. This is why it is so important to perform regular self breast exams, have an annual mammogram and also the following:

  • Doctors recommend following a healthful diet: eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins;
  • Limited intake of alcoholic beverages
  • Appropriate total calories to achieve and maintain a healthy weight
  • Engage in regular exercise. It helps to achieve and maintain ideal body weight and is likely to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Find a way to do your part and get in the fight for a cure to breast cancer. Here is a list of some organizations that you can partner with to get you started and I will look for you on the battlefield!

Susan G. Komen

Breast Cancer.Org

Avon walk for Breast Cancer

National Cancer Institute

Facts Referenced from:

Mayo clinic, Susan G. Komen  & National Cancer Institute websites

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By sandra
— October 8, 2009 at 7:31 pm

The Birth of the Alopecia Community of the Triangle

Happy Birthday A.C.T!

The day A.C.T was born

The 1st A.C.T Meeting

On Thursday, September 10, 2009, The Alopecia Community of the Triangle (A.C.T.) met for our very first meeting.  It was a wonderful event that will be recorded as the birth date of a long and prosperous history now in the making. It is an amazing feeling when you can see a vision come into reality. The process of giving birth to it may present challenges but the joy of the delivery and the ability to watch it grow makes it all worthwhile!

9-10-09  Rewind and Review

I am grateful for every heart that attended our very first meeting. There were several people who expressed interest in attending but due to schedule conflicts etc., there were some last minute cancellations that left us with a modest attendance of 5 amazing women. Our children played in the gym so that we could indulge in uninterrupted, stimulating adult conversation. It was a perfect start to some beautiful friendships and we sat together talking, sharing our stories and eating birthday cake. Yum!

I reviewed in detail the mission, vision &  goals for A.C.T. and each one of us left with our hearts and bellies full. We were filled with  anticipation for the next time we will come together, knowing that the attendance will increase every time we meet. I don’t despise humble beginnings, I embrace them, and as we grow, it will only lend itself to be a more compelling testimony. Now I can confidently  say, that we are off to a great start!

What’s up next?

Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, 2009. There is a standing open invitation for anyone who is impacted by hair loss to join us. If you have any form of Alopecia Areata, hair loss due to chemotherapy, illness, genetics or otherwise,  you are more than welcome to partner with us and get the support you need. Please RSVP due to limited seating and to allow for planning in advance. RSVP by e-mail to Sandra@ AlopeciaCommunity.org or by phone at 919-610-5420.

For more information, visit our website: www.AlopeciaCommunity.org

  • October 15th- 2nd ACT Meeting @ Apex Community Center 7:15 PM
  • November 12th- 3rd ACT Meeting @ Apex Community Center 7:15 PM
  • December- In lieu of a regular monthly meeting we will have a Holiday Dinner Party for members & guests only/Date and location TBD

*Live entertainment (Christmas carols performed by Sandra Dubose-Gibson AND friends)

*Raffle for a special door prize to a lucky winner!

Tentative: Holiday Parade- A.C.T. will participate in a parade and attendees will ride on a float to promote Alopecia Awareness

  • January 2010- Meeting date and location TBD

*Save the date/ Weekend of January 23rd - Luncheon for women with “Bald Girls Do Lunch”

Learn more about this organization at:  www.baldgirlsdolunch.org

I look forward to seeing your face in the place at our next meeting.

The Alopecia Community of the Triangle. Discovering true beauty from the inside-out!

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By sandra
— September 16, 2009 at 11:23 pm

Alopecia Community of the Triangle (A.C.T) – Raleigh, NC

About this Alopecia Support Group (A.C.T) ACT Logo2

The Alopecia Community of the Triangle was created to bring the alopecia (hair loss) community together in and around the Raleigh, North Carolina area.  A.C.T offers support, a safe environment to share and a place to be empowered. You will be given the tools you need to build your self confidence and the opportunity to build relationships with others who can personally relate to your experience.  We offer free empowerment workshops and small group sessions for each age group to meet the needs of each participant.

Whether you are struggling with Alopecia or in a place of acceptance and regained confidence, there is a purpose for you here. Together we can help each other turn what was negative into a positive. We seek out opportunities to be “change agents” in our community by participating in activities that help others while promoting Alopecia Awareness.

Mission Statement

A.C.T. is a unified body of diverse individuals impacted by Alopecia personally or through someone we love. We have joined together to provide emotional support, a  safe place for sharing and improve self confidence. Anyone living with Alopecia Areata, hair loss due to chemotherapy, illness or otherwise is welcome to join regardless of race, gender or age. We will foster authentic self esteem by participating in community activities that help others while promoting Alopecia awareness in our community.

A.C.T. Groups

General meetings will often be separated into subgroups by age range, to ensure the conversation content focuses on the needs and concerns of that specific group. This is an example of categories for potential subgroups:

  1. Women 21+ up- Adult women only
  2. Men 21+ up- Adult men only
  3. Teen/Young Adults- Teens connect with other teens and talk about issues like dating, individuality and the challenges of being different.
  4. Elementary/Middle School Age- Young children can choose to sit in a group session and talk or spend time bonding together in a supervised play date in the gym.
  5. Parents of children with Alopecia- Parents can share resources, offer support and parenting advice on how to manage their emotions while meeting the needs of their child.
  6. Family/loved ones- Spouses and family members have an opportunity to share their experience and learn ways to support the ones they love with Alopecia.

Meeting Agenda for Thursday, September 10, 2009

7:15-7:30 PM Arrival, sign in and refreshments

7:30- 8:30 pm General Meeting

  • Introductions
  • Ice Breaker
  • Kids can be dismissed to go to the gym/game room (optional)
  • Sharing- open session

8:30- 8:45 pm closing words of inspiration from Sandra Dubose-Gibson, President of A.C.T.

  • Announcements  & Good byes
  • Next meeting October 15, 2009 7:15-8:45 PM

Apex Community Center

53 Hunter Street

Apex, N.C. 27502-2312

Call the center at 919-249-3402 for driving directions
Limited Seating- Must RSVP to Sandra@AlopeciaCommunity.org
For more information visit: www.AlopeciaCommunity.org

The Alopecia Community of the Triangle, discovering true beauty from the inside-out!

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Categories: My Life.

Tags: , , , , , ,

By sandra
— September 1, 2009 at 10:32 pm