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...

I’m Glad I’m Not Married

When I was about five years old, I was sitting in the backseat of my dad’s car when me, him, my older cousin (my aunt’s son), and my aunt (my dad’s sister) caught my aunt’s fiancé with another woman. My dad had been driving my aunt out to run some errands since she didn’t have a driver’s license or a car. When she spotted her man with another woman, she told my dad to pull the car over, got out of the car, and immediately addressed him. She wanted the keys back to her apartment and was done with him. The other woman she caught her fiancé with slapped him when she realized what was happening, and that was that. When my aunt returned to the car, she was clearly and understandably upset, and the ride back to her place was quiet. Although I was too young to fully grasp what was happening at the time, I knew it wasn’t good. And now, at 34 years old, I can’t imagine how much pain she was in. Her wedding had been planned and paid for – and she never made it down the aisle. My aunt was a beaut...

How To Respond To A Nasty Email

Technology has made many people bold, rude, and incredibly messy. Often to the point where some may hide behind words they’ve typed instead of verbally communicating a message they want to convey. Such can be the case when it comes to sending emails. Ah, emails. You know what they are. Electronic messages that can be quickly drafted, sent, and misinterpreted (because you can’t always interpret tones or emotions through them). Which is why it’s key to know how to respond to nasty emails if they should ever come your way – especially in the workplace. As a working professional, there have been plenty of times when a coworker or superior sent an email my way that was petty, mad disrespectful, and unprofessional. And before I learned how to properly utilize email etiquette, my first instinct would always be to clap back. I just felt the need to respond and to communicate that I wouldn’t allow anyone, no matter who they were, to disrespect me. And while I haven’t taken t...

Making Waves