Making Waves

T hough the summer is still in session, with full confidence, I can honestly say that this summer has been one of the best summers I’ve ever had. It’s been nothing short of amazing. And one of the reasons I believe it’s been so great is because it’s been filled with a lot of self-care (along with some sprinkles of spontaneity). So much so that many of the pictures I’ve shared on social media have followed with #selfcaresummer.   When the summer began, I had a few things planned and other things I wanted to do too, but I knew I needed to make self-care a priority and allow myself to go with the flow of what this summer could bring. In the past two years, I’ve been  super  busy. I had a career change, went back to school, purchased my first home, adopted a puppy, picked up a new writing opportunity, spent more time with my family and friends, and then this summer arrived. I knew this summer would be a good time for me to slow down and really be in a space to enjoy all the w...

For some kids, summertime is a time for lazy days, vacationing, and spending time with family and friends. It’s typically a time to unwind and reset before the beginning of a new school year starts again. But when I was a kid, summers for my brother and I were a bit   different .     While we did have family vacations, enjoyed regular pool days, and were ‘90s kids who preferred playing outdoors as opposed to staying inside watching TV or playing video games for hours on end (yes, there was once a time when kids playing outdoors was  normal  instead of staying indoors with technology all day), one summer day, my dad came home from work and called my brother and me into the living room. We weren’t sure what he wanted but as we gathered, he spoke and he said, “From now on before I come from work, I want you both to read your bibles, find a scripture that speaks to you, and write a paper about what you think the scripture means.” We were puzzled. I mean, come on, it...

One of the things I love about partnering with God is that even when I don’t know how things will turn out or how in the world they’re going to come together, He does. As I believer, I know I can and should trust Him completely. But because I’m also human, I must admit that there have been times when I’ve worried about the outcome of things. Especially regarding passing my Praxis test to obtain and fulfill my licensure requirements to continue teaching English at the secondary level.    I’m happy to report that after  a lot  of preparation, late nights, hard work, and completion of additional graduate coursework at Old Dominion University, I’ve officially taken and successfully passed my Praxis test! Though I’m excited, relieved, and abundantly grateful for God and my amazing support system that helped encourage and motivate me through this journey, I also want to share that the test wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be and it took more than a few attempts for me ...

Sometimes I can’t help but think about everything I need to take care of each day. It feels like there’s always   something  that needs to be done.   Something   that’s coming up.   Something   that requires my energy and attention. And   something  that will consume my time. The to-do lists will grow on and on, and when I think I’m done tackling my lists, there’s always something else.   So, God, I need you to teach me to be still.    Teach me to be still when life feels overwhelming. Show me how to take things on one thing at a time when I’m feeling worked up about handling an important task, responding to a pile of emails waiting in my inbox, managing my budget, and trying to get back to loved ones who are always calling or texting.    Teach me to be still when I can’t find the answers. Show me how to pause and ask for help when I need it instead of stressing out trying to figure out everything on my own. I know that if...

When I was in my twenties, I'd practically have a meltdown anytime I felt my position at work was being threatened.  Whether it was by way of budget cuts, a bad performance review from an unhinged manager, or a toxic work environment, thoughts of being written up and reprimanded, humiliated, and unemployed terrified me. My fears were often rooted in no longer having an income and losing everything that mattered to me – and sometimes my mind would go as far as wondering,  what if I get fired?    So whenever I made a mistake, or a manager expressed I wasn’t doing a good job, or that I was no longer a good fit, or would go as far as sending emails and write ups about me to higher ups, I’d panic, go home and cry, and try to figure out ways to change everyone’s minds about their perceptions of me and my work performance. Sounds exhausting, right? Trying to be a people pleaser is utterly draining and so not worth the energy. Trust me. And whenever my attempts failed (which...

I love dining at cute places throughout the city, and one of my new favorite spots in Town Center is Lamia’s Crepes. Everything about this place is lovely, and my visit was divine. The French aesthetic, the delicious food, wonderful customer service, and the French press coffee was everything I needed and so much more. I went one weekend to clear my head and have a little me time, and I knew I was in the right place the moment I entered the door. As the aroma of sweet crepes filled the room and the sounds of Louis Armstrong’s “What A Wonderful World”   played through the speakers, I felt as if I’d landed in Paris, France, and didn’t want to leave. If you’re in the Hampton Roads area and looking for a great spot to grab a bite (and a little taste of Paris), head into Lamia’s Crepes and enjoy!  

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...