You’re Going To Figure It Out

As we approach the start of a brand-new year, I can’t help but think about the process of setting new goals to accomplish. For some, the start of a new year is an opportunity to tackle new goals and resolutions that have been set. For others, a new year can feel like a time of uncertainty. And while I believe in setting deadlines to accomplish specific and measurable goals, marking calendars for set plans, and having different things in mind that you would like to accomplish in a year, the reality is that life is full of uncertainty.

Sometimes unexpected things happen that can change our lives in wonderful ways and sometimes in painful ones too. But no matter what happens this year, I hope you know that you’re going to figure it out (whatever “it” may happen to be or mean for you). As a Christian, I’m constantly learning (and in recent years) have accepted that God’s already ordered my steps. Even steps that I haven’t always enjoyed or understood. But regardless, I know that I’m going to figure things out and that I don’t have to do it aimlessly or alone because my God knows what’s next for me, what’s best for me, and has already set things in motion. I’m not sure what you’re seeking to accomplish this year, what you’re working on, what you’re praying for, or what your heart’s desires may be, but I pray that you connect and partner with God as you figure things out and that you allow Him to move in your life in the most exciting, encouraging, and intentional ways. Happy New Year and God bless.

Thoughts From a Black Educator: Qualified, Credentialed, and Constantly Undermined

I’m a Black educator in my fifth year of teaching middle school English, and in my third as the 8th Grade English PLC (Professional Learning Community) Lead. And while I genuinely enjoy the purposeful work I get to do, seeing the growth of my scholars, and continuing to hone my skills in a content area I’ve loved since I was a little girl, I’ve had to confront some unpleasant experiences in this space. I’d been through much worse when I was an academic advisor at a Christian university. Racism, sexism, harassment, and workplace bullying were sadly norms in that environment. However, some of what I’ve experienced as a Black educator hasn’t been normal … It doesn’t seem normal to be the only Black educator in my department – in a predominantly Black school. One of my Black colleagues once said, “It should look like a Tyler Perry movie in here.” But it doesn’t. It didn’t feel normal being reprimanded in a meeting (during my second year of teaching) by an administrator who went in on...

The Day I Made A Will

When I was a teenager, I remember writing a list of my greatest fears. One of the things I listed was death. Looking back, it was an interesting item to list because inevitably, death is something each of us will face at some point in our lives. Even though it’s no longer a fear of mine, I understand why and how it’s not a comfortable thing for everyone to navigate. But regardless, this past summer I completed a detailed will. I signed it, had witnesses sign it, and got it notarized. As I was getting everything done, one of the witnesses looked at me and said, “You know, it’s just that you’re so young…” I’ve learned that death doesn’t care how young or how old you are. You can be five, fifteen, thirty, or fifty, and it’s still something that happens. Completing my will wasn’t scary. It gave me peace of mind having documentation in place stating my detailed directives and requests. A year ago, I had one of my kidneys removed. It was a surgery that came with risks that were presented cle...

Ditching Dating And Decentering Men

Today’s current dating climate is bizarre. It’s grown so bizarre, that men barely, if ever in some cases, will approach a woman in person and ask her out on a date. Instead, the new normal has become DM sliding, creeping on social media accounts, and liking photos to build romantic connections, which honestly doesn’t sound too romantic or appealing to me at all. As a child of the 90s and a teenager of the early 2000s, I miss and prefer the time when men interacted with women without hiding behind technology. There was something special about handwritten cards and notes, thoughtful dates, serendipity, and intentionality. After having some unpleasant encounters, embarrassing moments, and failed set ups (from well meaning people who believe I need to be partnered), I’ve decided, that now, at 36, to choose me. I’m ditching dating and decentering men. I’m no longer interested in meeting anyone, dating, or creating space to prioritize a relationship. I’ve never been a male-centered woman any...

Making Waves