Goodbye 30, Hello 31.

30 has kicked my ass- but, a radical year of transformation, forgiveness, acceptance full of teachers, lessons, students and now, I am happy to the leave the fucker behind.

Here's what I walk away with, in few words, but photos.

My cousins are and will always be my best friends. Their children? my homies.

Embrace being the outsider, but always know, you belong somewhere.

Explore where you grew up- experience nostalgia fully, find beauty everywhere.

Never be afraid to stretch yourself past wherever you thought you could.

Celebrate all walks of life.

High school brought me my best friends.

Look up more!

Have a best friend who is stronger than you, pushes you and reminds you how truly special you are.

Celebrate and cherish love.

Be silly.

God, Divine has always and will always protect me.

Forgive. Learn to be a daughter.

Grieve. Remember who you are. Celebrate.

Comments

Me, Myself and Rogue.

Hello Readers! I ask you to connect to the picture below for a few moments. Remember her? Rogue: the powerhouse from X-Men. She had the ability to absorb the memories, physical strength and remove the specialities of almost anyone she touches. Sounds pretty cool, right? Well, the storyline built around her is that she needed to avoid all physical contact until she gained full control over her power. It affected her romantic relationship with Gambit. Imagine not being able to hug or show affection because you could kill another human being? In moments of desperation, Rogue turned to Professor X to seek help to control her powers. It took a while for her to be accepted; it was the persistence and the compassion of Professor X to allow the others to give her a chance. In many ways, I truly connect with her character. This wave of nostalgia joined me when my best friend randomly said, "Omg- E! You are soooo Rogue. You internalize e...

In this moment.

I don't know what to write today. I just know that I have to. No, I choose to. I have been grateful enough to get to know myself on a deep level. During the journey, I am understanding what I want to create out of life. I've had to ask myself repeatedly: What are you willing to do Erika? Today, I am willing to face the truth that I still have a heavy burden on my heart. Disappointment. Abandonment. Loss. Guilt. Fear. The list goes on and on. While I have forgiven those who have hurt me, I discovered that I haven't forgiven myself. This is causing a big disconnect in my life. The reality is: I am a responsible adult. So, I chose to look at the areas that carried the most weight on my heart. How do/did I contribute to these situations? What was I responsible for? What can I do differently? I also asked myself: Am I enough? My heart opened up and immediately looked at my sense of humor. At first, I thought this was odd. I looked at the se...

5 days of Clarity. Welcome 2014

Experience has gotten me out of my head. When you step out, it’s really powerful! How much time do we spend in our own heads, a place that is so comforting but is as empty as a loft space with no heating and cracked windows. Rats are roaming the floors yet there a hint of light shine through the cracks. If this were a home renovation (which it is), I would be able to envision the possibility. There are possibilities for my mind: it’s a matter of rearranging furniture. Radical compassion is working! I find myself trusting in and seeking God. What you seek, you will find; it has shown up in fellowship and service of others. I am accepting of my flaws, clear about my strengths, and what I want to contribute to the world. I believe in familial curses as much as blessings. I believe throughout the generations, the hope is that each one will improve upon the last. (Obviously, that’s not always the case). For years, I have struggl...

Make Your Heart Smile.

Search This Blog