Making Waves

S ometimes social media can bring out the worst in people.   One afternoon, a close friend of mine sent me a screenshot via text of some distasteful and racist comments one of her social media followers posted on Facebook, referencing the Black Lives Matter movement. My friend, who happens to be White, was very upset and wanted my advice about how to respond. When I read the things her follower wrote, which were foolish and mean-spirited, and frankly, seemed to come from a place of ignorance and hate, I could fully understand why my friend was unsettled. She responded by tastefully calling out the bad behavior and later wondered if she should have offered her follower an apology, which seemed bogus to me since her follower was the one who started everything by posting a negative rant in the first place. But because my friend is a kind and calm soul, she wanted to make peace. After sending me her response to the negative post, I texted her back with this:   I think you’re a roc...

One of the best things about Hampton Roads is being able to explore some of the cool spots available throughout the seven cities. One place that’s super chill to grab food and great coffee is a local spot called Cure. Once upon a fall weekend, (before the current pandemic became a thing that changed all of our lives) a friend and I grabbed a bite there and decided to hang out in Norfolk for the day. We strolled through beautiful and quiet cobblestone streets, took in the sights of some gorgeous homes, and went to the Slover Library, which was unbelievably gorgeous and filled with so many books, cozy reading areas, and people watching spots. I seriously felt like a kid in a candy store. It was a weekend well spent and one I thoroughly enjoyed. Although the year is coming to an end and we’ve all faced major changes and challenges, I hope you take some time to reflect on past fun weekends you’ve had and can find some cool and creative ways to enjoy your weekends moving forward. Have fun, ...

Statistics say that in the United States, 40 percent of today’s children are born out of wedlock. I learned Black women are at the height of this percentage, outnumbering White women, Hispanic women, and Asian women.   One day, a group of co-workers and I ended up having a teacher table talk about this topic after one of my colleagues mentioned not wanting her son to have a baby out of wedlock. She shared, “I know it sounds old-fashioned, but he’s just too young to deal with something like that.” Suddenly, a brief silence fell over the room. Then I spoke. “Well, people having babies out of wedlock has become something common, but I don’t think it’s old-fashioned not to if you were raised with a love, marriage, and then baby carriages approach. Ideally, for me, the goal has been for things to happen in that order, but I get that things are different for everyone.”    Another colleague, who shared she was pregnant before she got married, expressed her thoughts as well. She ...

There’s always something to be learned when you  listen .   Whenever I get the chance to be in a room or space with successful adults who know more than I do and can teach me beneficial lessons I can apply to my own life, I take notes. I believe in receiving sound advice from the seasoned. Below, you’ll find some great words and lessons I’ve obtained from different adults and sources who’ve helped me on my journey. I hope you’ll find their advice as helpful as I have.    ·        Keep the receipts.   ·        The better you are at what you do, the more you’ll be called upon. Question what kind of work you’re doing.   ·        Slow down and learn all you can. You don’t get experience overnight.   ·        Be patient. There will come a time when something opens up for you.   ·        Be mindful about k...

This generation of men has a different and sometimes unusual approach when it comes to pursuing women. Sliding into a woman’s inbox on social media has become a frequent and familiar way for many seeking relationships to make their move. Sometimes things work out, sometimes they don’t. It’s a risk for sure, but is this really an ideal way to get to know someone? How much do we really know about the people we’re connected to and interacting with? If you pay close attention, most people typically reveal who they are. You can tell a lot about someone from the things they willingly put out or choose not to. One evening, I went through some messages I received from different guys who follow me on Facebook. A lot of them were compliments about my looks, inquiries about my relationship status, and I even received this emoji too – 😍. While it’s flattering to receive kind messages, I typically don’t get carried away with them. Because while some of the guys who have reached out have honestly b...

I believe in the power of words. So wouldn’t it make sense to speak good words and great things about yourself and over your life? I know this is something I aim to do regularly. I mean, my first set of millions hasn’t hit my bank account yet, nor has Michael B. Jordan swept me off my feet, but I’ve jokingly manifested those things. Please don’t judge me. I know there’s more to life than great wealth and beautiful men. A girl can still dream 😄. The point is understanding how the words we choose can be powerful and discovering how manifestation can make a difference.     I used to be a really negative person. Whenever I had a challenging moment or hardship, I’d complain, blame others, and feel sorry for myself. I can remember being so miserable during a rough season in my twenties, that even some of my family members kept their distance from me. It was bad. But as I got older, I realized the benefits of being a positive person, even in the face of negative situations. While I ...