How Do You Want To Spend Your 30s?

This season has given me a nice amount of time to reflect and think about myself and different areas of my life. More specifically, the areas where I’ve been unhappy and heavily discontented. Some things could be better, and I’ve actively been working to improve them.

I know 2020 has not been the year many of us thought it would be. I mean, really, who could have anticipated a disruption like a global pandemic? While it’s certainly been quite a year and a lot of changes have taken place, this was also the year I turned 30. While I was able to celebrate with my family, I had some additional exciting birthday plans fall through, as well as some other things that were delayed and denied because of everything that’s happened. And with these things happening and more, I’ve realized that there will never be a perfect time or ideal conditions to change certain parts of your life you desire change or to make decisions about the direction you want your life to go. I am up to me. And my life is up to me too.

One of the biggest things for me will be eliminating as much stress from my life as I can. And that will involve taking some big risks and incredible leaps of faith that I believe will be good for me. I’m honestly not certain how everything’s going to turn out or work out, but I know this: I deserve better. I deserve to be happy. And I deserve the best. I will not spend my 30s the same way I spent my 20s. I refuse to remain in any situation that brings unnecessary stress in my life or to stay connected to anyone or anything that brings problems into my space, disrupts my peace, and is not adding value or yielding fruit in my life. When I think about different situations I’ve stayed in and hoped and prayed would get better, they only got worse. And I don’t want to live my life like that. I believe I can do better. And so can you.

So let me ask you this, how do you want to spend your 30s? Set aside some time alone and figure it out. You may be surprised what you discover.

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...

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...

A Taste At Colattao Coffee House

I love checking out new coffee spots. It’s nice to take in a space I haven’t been to before that’s so chill, it makes me want to go back and visit again and again. This is exactly how I felt when I stepped into Colattao Coffee House. The kind customer service, the amazing options, and the aesthetically pleasing décor were everything. The aroma of the freshly grounded coffee beans, along with the sight of their mouth-watering pastries didn’t hurt either. I’ve visited this spot just a few times, and always enjoyed myself, my drinks, and my food. It’s definitely worth the trip. If you’re in the Hampton Roads area and looking for a cool and cozy spot for a solo outing or to meet up with a friend, I highly recommend checking out Colattao Coffee House sometime. You’ll enjoy it!

Making Waves