About Being A Giver

I love this time of year.

Although the current pandemic, tense political climate (shout out to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their win), and sometimes horrifying state of this world have been disheartening at times, I can’t help but appreciate the crisp fall air, coffee dates, cozying up with a good book next to a warm fire pit, the upcoming holidays, and my mom’s home cooking. I’m also excited about some recent changes that have taken place in my life, as well as some exciting news I’ve recently received – some of which I hope to share in future posts soon 😊. All of these things bring me joy. But one thing I enjoy the most is having the opportunity to give. Giving has been an influential action and priority that my parents raised and inspired me to practice in my own life. And after seeing them both model the way, learning the impact and importance of giving has changed my life in some positive and powerful ways too. It’s truly a blessing having the opportunity to be a giver.

I know that 2020 has not been the year many of us thought it would be, but even so, we can all find ways to give to others. When given the opportunity to give, serve, or share, whether through a random act of kindness, donating your time or services, or putting what you want on hold to help someone else, you're shifting the focus off of yourself and helping someone else who may need your help or giving the most. You never know what someone else is fully going through, and your act of giving and kindness can be something that completely makes their day. How cool is that? So, in the coming days, weeks, and remaining months of this year, be on the lookout for opportunities to give. Doing so will bless you in some incredible ways. Stay safe, stay grateful, and happy giving.

The Day I Became A Kidney Donor

About a year ago, I had a dream my dad wanted to talk to our family about something serious. I wasn’t sure what he wanted to discuss, but I knew it was something I needed to prepare myself for. Around the time after I had this dream, I remember stopping by my parents place and sensing something was going on that they weren’t telling me. I tried to dismiss what I’d been feeling, but I couldn’t shake it. Something serious was happening. As I returned to my home after visiting them one day, I was in my kitchen washing dishes when a heaviness hit my heart like nothing I’d ever felt before. Something’s wrong with dad. That’s what that dream was about. God, what’s going on? As I continued washing dishes, I started crying and praying. Then in mid-spring, my dad held an unexpected family meeting that would change all our lives forever. He hesitated at first, and as his voice started cracking and he started crying, he said, “Well, I wanted to talk to ya’ll to tell you that I have kidney disea...

Dear Young Black Professionals

As you embark on your career, I want you to know some things and stay woke about what you’ll be up against. Please understand that no matter what, you have value, and you matter. Always remember that. As progressive as this world and different workplaces may seem, every workplace has a culture. You’ll be in different places where a lot of people who don’t look like you will be in the room. But know that you belong in those rooms too. Spend some time observing and studying those spaces and learn as much as you can. There will be people you work with who will make presumptions about your competence, education, and ability to fulfill your job duties. There will be more who will think less of you because of the color of your skin and try to disqualify you the moment you make an error, mistake, or ask questions about things you may not understand. This will all feel uncomfortable and you may get insecure, feel like you’re all by yourself, and think you don’t belong there, but ride it out...

Black Male Athletes And Their Dating Preferences

In the 2017 horror film Get Out , there’s an unforgettable scene when one of the film’s villainous characters, Rose, a young white woman, is seen eating Fruit Loops and drinking a bottle of milk through a straw as she searches the internet for “Top NCAA prospects.” This moment in the film is frightening because the purpose of Rose’s search is to ultimately lure young and unsuspecting Black men to a deadly fate after she begins dating them. If you’ve seen the film, you know how everything ultimately turns out, but if you haven’t, you’ll have a better understanding of the bigger picture. Recently, college football superstar and future NFL prospect, Travis Hunter, became a source of media scrutiny and controversy regarding his relationship with his fiancée, Leanna Lenee. Much of the criticism was around his fiancée and comments she shared about how she wasn’t initially interested in Travis before they started dating. Additionally, she received backlash regarding the couple’s interact...

Making Waves