The Miracle of Choosing Solitude: A Reflection on Christmas
It’s the end of another year and the beginning of a new. The end of the year is an invitation to look forward. It’s like …
Cutlass Words: The Thin Line Between Jokes and Emotional Wounds
Now Ion know about you so Imma talk about me, k?! I think we can all agree that life be life’ing, don’t?! And God be …
Blooming Insights: Navigating Life’s Thorny Paths Amongst Beautiful Roses
As I prepared these orange roses for the vase I’d assign them as their home, I was surprised when I was pricked by their thorns. …
From Ambivalence to Courage: Embracing Your Unique Life Vision
“Did you know that confidence is a skill?” I asked her. “It isn’t about whether you have it or not, but how can you grow more of it. The question is: how do you begin to trust yourself more instead of relinquishing your power to other people and have them make decisions for you? You have such a strong discernment! Use that! Leverage that! Your discernment and your intuition is so strong and I know that you know that, which is why you’re so ambivalent about what you want to do.”
Beyond Surviving: Embracing Black Joy as a Revolutionary Act
I am God in action. And when I choose joy, I choose love. When I choose joy, I choose hope for my present and my future. When I choose joy, I choose to not let those who wished me harm make me feel little or small or less than. When I choose joy, I choose wholeness and fullness and completeness. When I, a divine Black woman, choose joy, I light up a room and I command attention and people wish that they had what I have. When I choose joy, I am choosing God.
December Detox: A Nurse’s Plan for Mindful Consumption and Creative Focus
Life happens a spectrum. On one end, there’s complete abstinence, avoidance, no partaking, sobriety. Zero. On the other end of the spectrum, there’s consumption. Healthy, …
Unmasking Bias: The “Challenge” of a Two-Syllable Name
Joval. “Joval, like my parents Joel and Valerie.”
There’s misunderstanding. And then there’s this. Contempt. Disdain. Bias. Discrimination. Hatred rolls off their lips as they insist on mispronouncing my name.
From Self Doubt to Divine Truth: A Letter Across Time
For people who play too small, you will always be too much. Too sensitive. Too smart. Too bold. Too courageous. Too much of everything they think they aren’t, but simply don’t know they are. And it’s not your problem to correct. It’s not your concern. Your only concern is God. And in him, you are. You’re only concern is you. Not selfishly, but lovingly. Love your neighbors as yourself. Patiently and kindly.
Just Because They Did Doesn’t Mean You Have To, Too
Just because they hurt you doesn’t mean you need to hurt yourself, too. Just because their love hurt doesn’t mean you need to hurt yourself in the name of love, too. That isn’t love. It’s “love”. It’s struggle love. Hurt love. Harmful love. It’s love from someone who didn’t learn how to truly love themselves, but it’s the love they know to give.
Creating a Safe Place to Rest
Surrender and generosity are play cousins, aren’t they? Surrender. The world whirls in my mouth like java chip ice cream melting on my tongue on a hot summer day. This word keeps coming up for me. Over and over and over. And I’m so grateful.