We can start over or motivate ourselves whenever we’re ready and sometimes it’s most powerful when we’re not ready but the universe has other plans. 2023 is here and January and Mondays are when people start making goals and resolutions. I no longer make a to-do list, I make intention lists because the older I…
Tag: reflection
Learner’s Permit: Police Relations in the Black Community
I’m a millennial mayor. In fact, I’m the youngest millennial mayor in Braddock’s history. As a mayor, I get to break ties when the six person council can’t decide, make recommendations on projects and programs, bridge the communication gap between community and council, and last but not least I oversee a police department. This includes…
Hunger for Words: Thank Your Local Library
I am forever grateful for my local library as it is/was the pinnacle of the neighborhood. I took journeys near and far thanks to the knowledge planted, watered, and harvested. My mom worked so at one point I was a latch key kid. I enjoyed the free meals the library provided, fostered friendships, and before…
RE: A Letter to 26
Five years ago I wrote a letter to my 31 year old self and today I’m finally looking back at it. Talk about restraint. I’m smiling as I get through it because my 2015 problems definitely weren’t anything and they weren’t ready for 2020 social distancing. Adulthood is still one big panic after another. Not…
Existential Crisis: Falling Out of Love is Crucial
“No, we can’t be friends because you were a terrible boyfriend. What would make me think you would be an awesome friend?” – Me (2016) People can be friends with their exes if said person deserves it. The older I get the more I realize that not everyone deserves my friendship because frankly, I’m a…
& Crown Skin
You sat in the sun too long. Taunts from my peers haunted the elementary halls What’s self-esteem? Little ‘ol me wouldn’t have known it break little girls down before they can even know it It seemed like I went through an eternity of teasing before I embraced my skin. “This is it, this is me….
& How I Met Your Mother
My first serious relationship went on and off for a few years shy of a decade. We were the definition of “It’s complicated” before it was a relationship title. But we also came from the generation where at one point text messaging was costly and calls had to happen after seven. Technology wise it was…
& 11:11
It’s 11:11 and instead of making wishes I’m up smiling thinking about the art that’s gonna be bomb when I’m done processing the hurt you put me through …again. I thought we were done with the back and forth the junior high games… Why can’t you make up your mind Why are you so freakin’…
& 25 Years
“Your 20s are your screw up years. No one has it together yet…” –everyone It took 25 years for me to not care what people think of me. I wish I would’ve know it was so peaceful. I love who I’ve become and I know it took a while to get here. It took a…
& Metaphorically Speaking
He loved me like someone repeatably stabbing me in the heart and then kissing me like everything would be okay. I’d cry sometimes, and like a junkie I’d come back screaming, “I can fix this.” As an optimist, I sure don’t know when to give up. Love is the strongest narcotic and the only rehab…
OMG It's Just Daé 