How Are You Doing Right Now?

The current state of this world often feels uneasy.

The political climate, hatred, violence, constant tension, natural disasters, and uncertainty have been the source of much anxiety, stress, and sadness in ways many of us didn’t anticipate while approaching this year. I’m not someone who typically struggles with anxiety, but at different points this year, I’ve found myself more triggered than usual by some decisions being made at different leadership levels, devastating changes, and unexpected hiccups and losses that have caused more disruption and discord than ever before.

If I’ve been feeling this way, I wonder how others are navigating things too. How are you doing right now? Are you okay? If not, it’s okay. A lot is going on that’s prompted more questions than answers, and I would encourage you to sit with how you’re feeling and do regular check-ins with yourself. There’s no harm in confiding in a trusted family member or friend, seeking professional help, picking up some self-help resources, or connecting with God in a way that works best for you.

One of the things I’ve told myself and others this year is that when you have a moment to experience happiness, take it. Really immerse yourself in it and sit with what’s bringing you joy, because as long as we’re living, and even after we’ve transitioned from this life, life will continue to life. It doesn’t stop because changes happen that we don’t like, or when storms come we don’t want to move through, or when our money is up or down, or when we lose someone we love, or when anything unexpected occurs.

We’ve got to keep moving.

If you’re not okay, don’t move through things alone. Keep going and stay the course.

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...

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...

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...

Making Waves