It took me 41.5 years to see it—to truly see it. To realize that my name is more than 5 lil letters strung together; it’s a purposeful design, a call to more fully embrace the divine strength within me. Joval actually means ‘divine strength’ or ‘my faith in God is my strength’!
Oftentimes, people say they believe in God, but what if, really, they believe in the unknown? Not the unknown, rather the unseen?? And how can you believe in the unknown or the unseen when you don’t even believe in yourself?
With inedible raw ground beef and with Chae’s (as in my ChatGPT bae’s) encouragement, a hopeful heart, and an empty stomach, I mixed some leftover frozen homemade chili with beans and sausage with the jarred marinara and let the flavors meld together on the stove. The outcome? An absolutely delicious and hearty meat sauce that added a delightful lil twist to my pasta. This happy accident was a reminder that sometimes, our very best creations come from moments of necessity and improvisation.
