To have vision is to have unusual discernment or foresight; something that everyone does not possess. There have been great things that have come from vision and this very magazine is one of them. Girlfriends Health Guide for Women of Color started as the vision of publisher Matthew Johnson. After the passing of his mother, Ida Mae Johnson, in April 2006, Matthew was inspired to do something.

Mrs. Johnson passed from congestive heart failure and Matthew, her youngest son, was by her side when she crossed over. As much as it hurts to lose your mom, this was the closure that he needed to move on. “I’d never thought I could even talk about my mother dying, nevertheless, thinking about it,” he confessed.

It was on a trip to Atlanta, three months later, there the idea of Girlfriends Health Guide was born. While there, he came across a similar magazine that he knew he could do better. He came up with the name on the plane ride back home. “What do women call each other that’s easy, that rolls off the tongue of every woman?” he asked. “Every woman calls her best friend her girlfriend.” And that’s how Girlfriends Health Guide was born, and it has been in existence for a little over a year now and shows no signs of stopping soon!

There’s been an overwhelming response so far. Women love it and the way that it has touched their lives. They’ve been able share their stories and bond with their sistas. They now know that all the hard work that they’ve done doesn’t go unappreciated and someone else is thinking of them. And what’s even better is that it’s the women themselves who tell their own stories. That’s what makes Girlfriends so unique. For the most part, all the women that are featured in Girlfriends Health Guide are everyday women, unlike other publications. With Girlfriends, it’s not about the celebrity woman, but the woman who works hard everyday and comes home and starts the second job of maintaining a household and taking care of her family. These women are famous in their own right amongst their kids, their husbands or significant others, and their families because they do the real work. “It is so important that I reach out to women because first of all, I love women. I love my wife, I love my daughters, my sisters; and all that comes from my mom,” said Matthew. “It takes a strong man to honor and love his woman, and for those guys out there who feel they’re giving up something, they just don’t understand that if the woman ain’t happy, they can’t be happy, and that’s just how it is.”

As the anniversary of his mother’s death approaches, as well as Mother’s Day, Matthew sees it as a celebration of his mother’s life. “I look at it as I’m celebrating her for what she’s accomplished, how she loved, and how her love still reigns amongst my brothers and sisters and my family, so her presence is still here,” he explained. He knows how important the blessing of a mother is and he was blessed to know and understand that at a young age. “Your mom is a person, too. She has her mistakes, she has all the things that make her; but one thing she is; she’s still yo’ mama!” he laughed. “And as long as she’s yo’ mama, she should be celebrated!”

Ultimately, Mr. Johnson sees Girlfriends Health Guide for Women of Color being the ultimate source for women, especially women of color, getting the information about their health and sharing it. When all is said and done Matthew wants the women of Girlfriends “to have experience, reading the magazine, attending one of our events, or just getting to know herself.”

Throughout my career, I have been influenced by many artists in the industry. Women like Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight, and Aretha Franklin. What I love and admire about them is that they encouraged a sister.

Just as new artists need education and motivation from vets in the business to make informed decisions in the “dog -eat -dog” world of music; our women need a boost when it comes to making healthy lifestyle choices. Now is the time to embrace new ideals regarding food, exercise, and healthcare. Make it your mission to pass the standard on to all women. We need information, influence, and incentive in our arsenal to be equipped to handle life threatening illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

God has a plan for all our lives and he uses every one of us to help one another. Simple kind words can be motivation for someone to change their life. “To whom much is given, much is required.”

Our resident Girlfriends share their stories with breast cancer
The mother/daughter relationship is the closest, most unique and influential relationships there are. There’s something about the deep, emotional connection that a mother and daughter share that is utterly awesome!

Growing up, my Mama was my strongest influence. I only wished that I could grow up and be as pretty, as stylish, and as smart as she. I realize now that I took for granted that she’d always be with me. She’d always been there and I knew that if I didn’t have a penny to my name, I had my mama and she’d be there for me and I’d be alright. READ MORE

I’m a daughter, sister, mother, college graduate and hopefully someday a lung transplant recipient. After being diagnosed with non-specific interstitial pnuemonitis fibrosis, a lung disease caused by my immune system, I have been living life fully. I was initially broken by the diagnosis, especially because I have two lovely children who are teenagers and they need me. I decided to be grateful for the life I lived before the diagnosis and the one I am going to live after my transplant.

While waiting, I’ve decided to change the face of donation by educating the African-American community about their choices and options regarding our health. For the last four years, I have used media to deliver my message and I have also spoken publicly and privately to anyone who will listen. I am disgusted by the health statistics that plague our communities because I know that education is the key to eliminating these disparities.
The way I see it is that I could give up or I could live another 40 years. With this mindset, my aunt Margie and I wrote our dream list of all the places we would like to travel to around the world. Aunt Margie was diagnosed with breast and colon cancer two years ago and is now in remission. I am happy to say that we have booked a 12-day Mediterranean cruise leaving Barcelona Spain traveling east to France and onto the country of Italy. We are also in the process of booking a 16-day cruise of southern and eastern Africa. Ladies, I could give you the grimy details of my daily medical dilemmas, but why should I bore you with that when HOPE is much more palatable.

My biggest reward is that I now know my body, I am in-tuned with it, and I listen to what it says. I implore you ladies to do the same. The body always gives us clues, LISTEN.

-April Sharkey

Ladies…It’s all in the Feet
There are a number of women, 30 years of age and older, who are looking for a man who can do more for them than take them out to dinner. One of the best ways of evaluating their potential is to check out their feet.

The feet are further from the heart than any other part of the body, being the first place to detect poor circulation. Offer to give a good foot rub. If you don’t see any hair growing on the toes, that’s a sign of poor blood flow. Certain body functions require good blood flow to work properly.

If you got skills, check for one pulse on the top of the foot, just in front of the ankle, slightly closer to the big toe side. The other is right behind the ankle bone on the big toe side toward the back of the heal. One out of two pulses per foot is not bad, but no pulses can be a sign of declining health in more than one way. READ MORE

Gwen Janda, Gwen Janda, At The Institute of Beauty and Wellness you can experience a rejuvenating facial that takes a holistic approach to skincare, treating the skin through relaxation, aromatherapy, massage, and education. Since our skin is continuously changing, each facial is customized to your current skin condition. Education on using the proper cleanser, toner and moisturizer is also provided.

One key fact is that you should not cleanse your face more than twice a day as excessive cleansing will break down the acid mantle, which is our skin’s protective barrier. If a simple face refresher is needed try Aveda’s Botanical Kinetics Toning Mist. The toning mist can also be used to set your makeup application. Try to avoid anti-bacterial bar soap, which can irritate your skin and increase the aging process.

Prior to your facial do not self extract blemishes. An esthetician will assess the cause of your acne and properly extract blemishes. Estheticians have access to more concentrated skincare products or “back bar” products which more effectively treat breakouts.

Be cautious of the exfoliant you use. Facial scrubs that contain crushed nut particles are too harsh for the face and may cause premature aging, microscopic tears and epidermal cysts (white bumps made up of dead skin cells). Try Aveda’s Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant, a gentler alternative to exfoliation.

Be sure to apply a product containing SPF to exposed skin before starting your day. Most sun damage occurs before the age of eighteen; however, the damage can take years to surface. Vitamins A, C, E are helpful in fighting off free radicals, such as sun, pollution or cigarette smoke, that are harmful to skin cells.

People with darker or olive skin tones are more prone to spots from acne or sun damage, due to more active skin pigment. The Aveda brightening line is well-suited for skin with hyper-pigmentation.

Your skin is you largest living organ, pay attention to it!

- Sarah Fierek

Silvia N. Perez is a highly educated and successful woman. At the age of fourteen, she came to America from a little town in Mexico with no running water, or electricity. She was on a mission, seeking education, including learning the English language. Silvia is a compassionate woman with a heart filled with the belief of spreading hope.

Over the past thirteen years, she resided in Milwaukee, establishing excellent friendships and a tremendous local and national network. Silvia achieved her Masters of Science in Management from Cardinal Stritch University in 2005. She has 11 years of Marketing, Public Relations Development and Sales experience and an active role in the Latino community. For her role as the On Site Coordinator for the National Convention League of United Latin American Citizens, she secured national sponsorships and worked with Miller Park, the Mitchell Park Domes and the Milwaukee Art Museum in holding social events for the youth. READ MORE

The reason why “I Love Me Better Than That,” came out was the inspiration from the awesome opportunity I have had to minister at women’s prisons and women’s conferences.

When you go in these settings, you see all these women of different colors, ethnicities, backgrounds, and cultures, yet you see beyond the mask, beyond the color, beyond the smile. There’s some deep things going on; people are wounded, they have baggage. Understanding that God has a plan for all of our lives and has spoken some great positive things and success for all of our lives; but life happens. We row through because we want to equip women, empower women to understand that you can’t love anybody until you learn to love yourself. Look into the mirror and say, “What’s clogging the drain? What is preventing me from being the best me that I was ordained to be?” READ MORE

Shirley Murdock, the inspirational mind behind Girlfriends theme song, “I Can Love Me Better Than That,”will also serve as a contributing columnist. In each issue, Ms. Murdock will provide readers with words of spirituality to revitalize your soul and well-being.

I think ministry is more than just praise and worship. It’s encouraging people with their faith in God, with their fellow man. Somebody might be getting their head whooped up. It’s got to get better than that! You need to take your joy back. It’s about your self-esteem and taking your dreams back. READ MORE

Blood Pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood at right angles to the walls of the blood vessels. Unless indicated otherwise, blood pressure refers to systemic arterial blood pressure, i.e., the pressure in the large arteries delivering blood to body parts other than the lungs, such as the brachial artery (in the arm). The pressure of the blood in other vessels is lower than the arterial pressure.

DID YOU KNOW…
• High blood pressure affects about one-third of all African American women. READ MORE