No mirrors in my nana's house

http://youtu.be/D6v4EqoqXSs


I couldn't find the YouTube video where Sweet Honey in the Rock perform this song.


No Mirrors In My Nana's House
by Y.M. Barnwell; Performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock

There were no mirrors in my Nana's house,
no mirrors in my Nana's house.
There were no mirrors in my Na's house,
no mirrors in my Nana's house.
And the beauty that I saw in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun).

I never knew that my skin was too black.
I never knew that my nose was too flat.
I never knew that my clothes didn't fit.
I never knew there were things that I'd missed,
cause the beauty in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun);
...was in her eyes.

There were no mirrors in my Nana's house,
no mirrors in my Nana's house.
And the beauty that I saw in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun).

I was intrigued by the cracks in the walls.
I tasted, with joy, the dust that would fall.
The noise in the hallway was music to me.
The trash and the rubbish just cushioned my feet.
And the beauty in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun).
...was in her eyes.

There were no mirrors in my Nana's house,
no mirrors in my Nana's house.
And the beauty that I saw in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun).

The world outside was a magical place.
I only knew love.
I never knew hate,
and the beauty in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun).
...was in her eyes.

There were no mirrors in my Nana's house,
no mirrors in my Nana's house.
There were no mirrors in my Nana's house,
no mirrors in my Nana's house.
And the beauty that I saw in everything
was in her eyes (like the rising of the sun).

"Chil', look deep into my eyes."
"Chil', look deep into my eyes."
"Chil'..."

Last day - Reflections

Ha! reflections...get it!

Anyway, I have come to the final conclusion that one should live their life with the belief that looks do not matter, and at the same time realize that they in fact do matter to most people. In one of my scenes in one of my favorite movies, Secondhand Lions, Uncle Hub gives young Walter part of the "What every boy needs to know about being a man" speech. In this small part of the speech the mentor reveals the idea that it doesn't matter if something is true or not you can believe in what ever you want to believe in. Things like good always triumphs over evil or hard work always pays off. It doesn't matter if good always triumphs over evil, but it does matter that you believe in it because it will shape the outlook you have on life.

Nobody should determine their self worth or their image based on their looks or the opinions of other people. A person should choose today how they are going to define themselves. One should define him/herself on things of virtue, hope, truth, and love. These are the things that are most important. Dr. King noted a person should be defined by the greatness of their character not the color of their skin. We should continually redefine ourselves based on our new understanding of the greatness that lies in each one of us. Now go to a mirror and tell yourself how great you are...and ignore that hair sticking up in back.

Day 25 - Mirrors

Mirrors are everywhere! or even your reflection. at this point, I am not as aware about the constant need to dodge a mirror, so I occasionally find myself face to face with...myself. Then I avert my eyes and move on. I am not overly concerned about the lack of a mirror. I am not craving a mirror or begging for the next five days to fly by. It doesn't seem like a big deal to me.

Why are others so concerned? How long would I have to go before everyone else realized that I don't care about looks, so they shouldn't bring it up? Maybe I just need a job that is not in a middle school where a small chocolate milk stain on your pants can leave stranded at your desk unwilling to get up.

Day 20 - The Neck Whisker

While talking to some students after school, I was a having a good time enjoying the appropriate humor of some really good kids until one of my students noticed that I had an inch long black hair growing on my neck! At first she didn't think it was attached, so she decided it were her job to pull on it. She pulled and found that it in fact was attached! Ahhhhh! It became a big thing that I tried to down play. I was not embarrassed nor did I care that the kids had been the one to find it. Normally, I would have seen it in the mirror and probably pulled it out or shaved it, but the mirror fast did not really control random neck hairs.

Again, I tried to down play it, but it was not a situation that was going to go away. At last a student named the hair a "neck whisker" and went to get a pair of scissors because it became apparent that our previous conversation could not continue until the neck whisker was taken care of.

During this no mirror experiment, I have found that I am not too worried about my outward appearance, but others seem to be completely intrigued by any miscues that might ensue from not carefully prepping in front of the mirror. It is actually to the point that I feel I would rather be in front of a mirror just so I don't have to waste time with the comments of a neck whisker or bushy eye brows. I have tried to make these moments the much sought after "learning moments." I am prone to give a speech on just about any topic when given even the slightest opening, but I have found this topic of looks to be one that people won't listen to or let go. Maybe looks do in fact matter...