Making Waves

The co-worker is a necessary evil of the workplace – Issa Rae; The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl If you’re reading this right now, I imagine you’re at least intrigued about my thoughts on this particular topic because of one of the following… ·        You follow my work because you think I’m an awesome writer 😊.  ·        You’re frustrated and need to feel there is someone else who gets and understands what kind of a workplace environment you’re in and what it’s like dealing with different colleagues you’d rather avoid.  ·        You work with someone and/or different people you don’t like… and maybe some who don’t like you. Now that we’re here, let’s get to it.  I’ve had the opportunity to work with some really great colleagues, some whom I consider casual friends. On the flip side of that, there have been people where I’ve been like, “Lord, please help...

It’s interesting to live in a world where many self-righteous people, who likely, like the rest of us, have a past and history filled with different things they may not be proud of, who are at ease publicly slamming and persecuting someone or someone else’s actions just because a mistake or poor decision was made on the other persons end.  We’ve all messed up. And while I’m by no means excusing the behavior of people who’ve made choices that intentionally or unintentionally hurt, harmed, complicated, or ruined the lives of others, as a Christian, I’m particularly surprised to see other Christians wilding out on social media and in-person about the latest public scandal or controversy stemming from well-known public figures, local leaders in our communities, family members, friends, and even different colleagues. The gossip. The whispers. And the judging is all too much to take in at times. When I interact with people like this, I wonder,  What about your archives, t...

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and for some, it’s just another day on the calendar. For others? It’s a chance to express their love to different loved ones in their life. But for bachelorettes there happens to be a very cool thing called  Galentine’s Day.  I look forward to this time of year because it’s fun to celebrate with different women in my life and to encourage other women, whether single or not, to do the same. But how might one have an amazing Galentine’s Day Weekend? I thought you’d never ask… Get Dolled Up.  Even if you’re heading out alone, get dolled up, put on something you look and feel amazing in, go the extra mile for yourself, and enjoy it. I highly recommend a nice LBD (little black dress). It’s a universally attractive look and you’ll feel so chic.  Go Out For An Amazing Dessert.  Ever heard the saying that  stressed  is  desserts  spelled backwards? There’s no need to stress when you have a delicious ...

I’ll be 30 next month. And while I’m by no means a relationship expert, I do know when someone or something isn’t right for me. I believe most women know this about themselves too #womensintuition, however, a lot of women, far too many in my opinion, still don’t make the best choices when it comes to different guys they date, marry, or have a child/children with. What’s even more upsetting is the amount of smart, well-educated, kind, beautiful, and extraordinary women I know who think they have to settle, compromise who they are, or panic and just take any guy who comes along because they’re worried about getting older or ending up alone. And I get it. I was there at one point. I had a mini-tearful meltdown when I turned 25, which would later turn into different seasons of wrestling with anger, frustration, and disappointment, when I wasn’t married after doing literally evvvvvvverything I was taught and raised as a young Christian girl and woman to do to get a husband. I was bummed....

“Aren’t you worried about being alone?” “What about safety?” “What do you need a space for?” “You don’t need that…” Isn’t it wild how different people are quick to project their concerns, disapproval, and fears your way about decisions you’re making for your own life? Especially when you’re doing things that may not fit what they think you should be doing? Such can be the journey for many single women, but the refreshing thing is, bachelorettes can make decisions about how they want to live life and ignore outside opinions. The traditional path of young women living with their parents until they’re fully financially stable, or because of marriage or having children is no longer the normal path for some. Some women have roommates, others are living with their partners, some are building homes while raising their children alone, and even more are starting over after a breakup or unexpected life change, boldly branching out, building and establishing their special spaces, pla...

Not only is Sunday the start of a new week, but it’s also the sabbath – a term used by many religious communities as a day of  rest.  Ever since I was a little girl, going to church with my family was a routine thing and something I continue to enjoy to this day. These days, weekend brunch has been added into the mix along with a side of self-care. While self-care is not reserved for Sundays alone, it’s actually not a bad day to make a thing of it. I’ve found it’s an amazing way to prepare for your week. You need this in your life, and if you haven’t been partaking in self-care, check out some of my recommendations below: ·        Brunch ·        Face masks (I highly recommend manuka honey masks. They’re good for the skin.) ·        Naps ·        Uninterrupted family time ·        Fellowship ·    ...

I don’t have a lot of black girlfriends. I never have. And it’s not because I haven’t wanted them. I have. I’ve tried, hit and miss, and facilitated some casual connections, but not without weathering some complications and misunderstandings. If you follow my work, you may have read a piece I wrote for Thought Catalog, titled,  I Need More Black Friends,  which highlights some of my plights, but something that’s recently been weighing on me is the disconnect amongst different groups of black women. I’ve repeatedly run into other black women, in the workplace, in public settings, and even at family events, who’ve often thrown some direct and indirect shade my way, and in the direction of other women, they don’t know much about, greeting them with nasty attitudes, exclusion, aggression, jealousy, and hatred. I’ve personally had other black women, who barely know me, make snap judgments about who they  th ink I am as opposed to who I really am. The division amongst some i...