Heart check.
My mission as Miss Black New Jersey 2018 is to encourage heart health, spiritual growth and self-love as I raise #StrokeAwareness! It’s been an incredible journey of loving and learning for myself and it’s been that much more rewarding to spread it around the world. One of my highlights is my Teen Vogue interview with Vanessa Williams (our first ever Black pageant queen to win Miss America) and Lion Babe Jillian Hervey about heart health. It was so cool to mix my love for writing, fashion and my platform of stroke awareness in that way! I’ve also been volunteering with the National Heart and Stroke association, preparing my own events, speaking at others, judging pageants for young girls and sharing tips on how to keep your heart healthy on my social platforms!
And so here I am today, checking your heart health with this post. There are three things your heart is trying to tell you and I hope you take the time to listen. Your life (both physical and spiritual depends on it)!
1. Your insides really do matter.
Sure, you’re beautiful but what does your heart look like? Ask yourself, what exactly is God seeing when He’s looking into your heart? Is it resentment? Is it brokenness? Is it pride? Whatever it is, He wants to rid you of it ALL. Why? Because He simply wants you – flaws and all.
Though the world has contradicting ideas on beauty, the Word stands firm on the stance of the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “God does not see as humans see. Humans look at outward appearances, but the Lord looks into the heart.”
Though the world has contradicting ideas on beauty, the Word stands firm on the stance of the heart. Click To Tweet
You shine that much brighter when your inner beauty is uncontained. The One who ultimately sees you looks past all that you have on to gaze upon all that you are.
2. The mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45
The matters of the heart should mean a lot to all of us because not only does the heart keep us alive, but what we hold within us, is what drives us!
The matters of the heart should mean a lot to all of us because not only does the heart keep us alive, but what we hold within us, is what drives us! Click To Tweet
Have you ever said something that shocked everyone, including yourself? Have you ever wondered where that hostility came from? A lot of times, we don’t notice the offenses we keep. We allow them to pile up until they influence our speech and then later, our everyday lives.
A lot of times, we don’t notice the offenses we keep. We allow them to pile up until they influence our speech and then later, our everyday lives. Click To Tweet
For example, unforgiveness can breed hatred and can stop you from living freely. Envy, jealousy, fear, anger, hate – that list can go on. What they all have in common is the way in which they sap you of your strength and attention. You’ll be surprised of how the things you’re dealing with shape what you do… until you really step back and reevaluate your life. Take the time to really see what your heart is full of and make the necessary arrangements to free your space.
Contrary to what you think, what’s meant for you won’t always come – you can block your blessing holding onto something God asked for a long time ago! It’s not worth it. Don’t allow ugliness keep you from moving forward with a renewed spirit and life-change. The inner affects how we live out our lives. Bitterness has no place there when you want to glow on.
Contrary to what you think, what’s meant for you won’t always come - you can block your blessing holding onto something God asked for a long time ago! Click To Tweet
3. You’re not too young for heart issues.
Whether it be political upheaval or heartbreak, our hearts have been through a lot this year, haven’t they? That means we must pay that much more attention to them! Heart disease is a huge problem for women, especially Black women.
If you’re in your 20’s like me, you probably think heart health is irrelevant to you but think again. Just because we are young, does not mean we are immune to heart disease. And though it’s less likely for young women to have strokes, they do happen and they tend to be more fatal.
Though it’s less likely for young women to have strokes, they do happen and they tend to be more fatal. Click To Tweet
Yes, strokes mostly occur with the older demographic. However, we are not exempt. In fact, there’s been a spike in strokes among women ages 18 to 34.
With heart disease being the number one killer of women in the US, we need to take care of ourselves starting in our youth!
With heart disease being the number one killer of women in the US, we need to take care of ourselves starting in our youth! Click To Tweet
That’s now, girl! Listen to your heart health!
I’ll be sharing more on how you can do just that through my pageant campaign #TarahTakesHeart.
Girl, there was so much I had to learn after my mom’s stroke. So when I was crowned Miss Black New Jersey 2018, I knew raising #StrokeAwareness was exactly what I would do. I can’t begin to explain how fulfilling it is to speak to girls and women about the issues of the heart — physically, emotionally and spiritually! ❤
And now, you can join in on the mission, too! By sending a small donation of $5, you’ll be supporting my journey to nationals and the lives of stroke survivors. Let me know if you’re in! THANK YOU ?
By sending a small donation of $5, you’ll be supporting my journey to nationals and the lives of stroke survivors. Click To TweetCashApp: $TarahSaint
Venmo: TarahSaint
Paypal: tarahsaint@gmail.com
GoFundMe: Tarah Takes Heart ✨
Sis, I love your blog. It so inspiring. Your heart for God shines through! Keep going!