2015 Happiness Jar Reflection

This is my second year keeping a happiness jar. I loved it so much last year that I had to do it again and I plan on doing it next year as well. I didn't have dates on my memories last year so I made sure I did that this year. There were still some memories that I read and had to think about for a minute because I did not remember them happening at all. Next year I'm going to try to keep up with it better. Between maybe June and December I forgot to add memories so a few weeks ago I tried to remember every happy "jar-worthy" memory and add it to the jar. Despite forgetting about the jar for months at a time, I really love this activity.

I love that it's given me two great traditions. I love decorating my jar at the beginning of the year and I love sitting in my pajamas on New Year's Eve reading the moments from the year that brought me joy and reflecting on what I've learned over the past year. It's really nice.

One of the challenges of reading what I've put in the jar is reading and remembering great moments with people you are no longer on great terms with. This year I learned the importance of moving on. I found a 3 year old tweet today in my timehop that I think it just as relevant today, "at 11:59, keep the good and let go of the bad." Sometimes people are just passing through our lives but it doesn't mean that the shared moments aren't' memorable or that the lessons you've learned from them aren't significant.

Taking the time to reflect is what makes all the difference in how we're able to move on from certain moments. Take the time to love yourself and understand how the people in your life and your experiences are impacting your life and your energy. You are so deserving of love! I love that this activity gives me a chance to remember what good energy I've had around me during the year. My mind already does a great job at keeping bad memories so I'm thankful for a place to keep the good...in print too!

Overall I think I had a pretty good year. Life is full of surprises and challenges but I think I've really grown this year. I've learned to love myself in ways that I haven't before. There have been so many days when I've been so happy to be here and so appreciative of life and the people I love. I hope I can continue to bring this self love into the next year. I've felt more beautiful this entire year (life 98% of the time) and that's been so important for me. I'm so glad to have had another year of life and lessons, good and bad, and I'm excited to see what 2016 will bring.

I hope that 2016 brings you joy, happiness, healing, and anything else you need or desire. Good Luck! Sending you love and good wishes!

Black Girl Magic: Emmys Edition

I've always loves award shows because I think it's so inspiring to see people being awarded for their work. I love seeing people so proud of themselves and their peers. It's even more special when there a beautiful women who look like me. Beautiful shades of gorgeous brown skin, amazing women making history. So many women supporting each other. Looking beautiful on the red carpet and basking in excellence! May all the Black Girl Magic from that night continue to inspire us.

---

The hugs felt around the world

 Viola Davis and her incredible acceptance speech

“'In my mind, I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me, over that line. But I can’t see to get there no how. I can’t seem to get over that line.’

That was Harriet Tubman in the 1800s. And let me tell you something: The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there. So here’s to all the writers, the awesome people that are Ben Sherwood, Paul Lee, Peter Nowalk, Shonda Rhimes, people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black. And to the Taraji P. Hensons, the Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharies, the Meagan Goods, to Gabrielle Union: Thank you for taking us over that line. Thank you to the Television Academy. Thank you.”

♥

Regina King's win and speech

Uzo Aduba's win and speech

And of course, the red carpet

 I hope that we continue to see more and more black girl magic. At award shows, in television and movies, in books, and anywhere and everywhere else!

---

 

"The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity." 

-Viola Davis

Quote of the day:

 

Born and Made

Carol's Daughter and I Am That Girl have joined forces to create the #BornandMade campaign to empower women and inspire them to celebrate who they are and the person they feel they were always meant to be. I saw a few of the pictures people made in support of the campaign and I fell in love! Especially since I am Karol's daughter and this campaign was created by the company Carol's Daughters. I love it! You can make them at BornandMade.com.

I chose the word hope because I think it describes me quite well. I even have the word "hope" tattooed on my body. Hope to me is the promise of a beautiful tomorrow. I believe in a lot of things and I think that's why this word means so much to me. There's a lot of strength and courage in believing in yourself. To me, hope looks and feels like not giving up. Like my tattoo, it's a reminder that despite the circumstances, I'm going to keep on soaring.

I hope this campaign inspires even more women to celebrate themselves.
Be true to the person you see in the mirror. Love them. Learn more about them, their desires and passions. Work with them to create a more beautiful tomorrow. Take it one day at a time!

brown girl dreaming

Brown Girl Dreaming 

by Jacqueline Woodson

I really enjoyed this book! Jacqueline Woodson tells her childhood stories through free verse. It's so motivating and so inspirational. From the very beginning, brown girl dreaming perfectly captures the complicated beauty and strength and complexity of familial ties and the stories that come along with them. My absolute favorite part of reading this was feeling the determination of this young girl. This was a true reminder that we can achieve our childhood dreams. We all have the ability to follow our dreams to the best of our abilities despite our age, despite any family objections, and despite any perceived unlikeliness, our dreams are worth chasing. 

I also love that these childhood experiences and these stories are filled with so much perspective. I think that we all have our own way of viewing the world because we're all shaped by our own personal stories and experiences but there are similarities that bring us together and help us relate with complete strangers. Even though I wasn't a young girl growing up in Greenville, South Carolina in 1963 or in Bushwick in 1969, these stories still resonate with me. 

Just like in life, there are moments throughout her childhood that make us think our personal experiences and relationships with family, love, doubt, friendships, music, community/neighborhoods, birth, death, and so much more. It really was a great read. 

Recommended for

• all brown girls ready to chase a dream 
• all readers, especially middle schoolers
• anyone looking for stories about moving 
• City girls
• Southern girls
• people who love to write
•  People who believe in themselves, are learning to believe in themselves, want to learn how to believe in themselves. 
• Anyone who is a big fan of reading stories about people living through history/historical moments
• anyone who has ever thought that they were a little different but believed in themselves anyway

____
 
Favorite Parts & Quotes 

"You'll face in your life someday,
my mother will tell us
over and over again.
A moment when you walk into a room and 
no one there is like you." 


"Even the silence
has a story to tell you.
Just listen. Listen."


"The revolution is always going to be happening.
I want to write this down, that the revolution is like
a merry go round, history is always being made somewhere. 
And maybe for a short time,
we're apart of that history. And then the ride stops
and our turn is over[...]
My name is Jacqueline Woodson
and I am ready for the ride."


"I believe in one day and someday and this
perfect moment called Now."

 
"When there are many worlds, love can wrap itself 
around you, say, Don't cry. Say, You are as good as anyone
Say, Keep remembering me. And you know, even as the world explodes
around you--that you are loved..." 

-Jacqueline Woodson

Thank you, Jacqueline Woodson, for your beautiful words!  

Inspirational Sources May Vary

 As I sit here watching MasterChef and I think about how much I love competition shows like this. This one is only one of my favorites. I'm also a big fan of Top Chef, Project Runway, Chopped, Great Food Truck Race, and so many others. I love television programs that showcase people working so hard to achieve or gain better access to their life goals and dreams. I think these shows are so inspirational. They can be such a big source of motivation as well. A lot of times, we see people drop so much to go to where these shows are filmed and stay there for weeks at a time because they so strongly believe in following their dreams. It's perfect example of putting "faith over fear." 

I think we should aspire to chase our dreams. In a perfect world, wouldn't it be great if we were all able to drop everything to chase our dreams. In a perfect world, we probably wouldn't have anything standing in our way. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world. However, there is so much beauty in the process of baby steps and slowly turning our dreams into reality. Sometimes beautiful and amazing things take time. We cannot make things happen overnight, but we cannot let the size of our dreams deter us from taking that first brave step.

So I watch these shows because I think it's so cool to see hard work turn into something beautiful and see people proud of what they've made. It's cool to watch people overcome failures and work through losses and challenges. They're people like us. We can identify with their stories and they motivate us to chase our own dreams. It's all very cool!

23.

August 6, 2015 was my birthday. I turned 23 years old. The year of Jordan.

I'm 23 and beautiful. I feel more beautiful with each passing day.

I'm 23 and full of dreams. I love being productive. I'm pretty ambitious but I often let slight laziness procrastination get the best of me. It's like a sickness. Crossing the bridge from my procrastinating ways keeps holding me back.

I'm 23 and a summer baby who cannot take this heat anymore. Give me Fall at least! It's too damn hot and I miss my leggings, boots, and scarves. Give me pumpkin flavored everything and proper hot tea and coffee weather. Please!

I'm 23 and a firm believer in retail therapy. How could anything that feels so good possibly be bad? My bank account knows the answer to this. I'm still looking.

I'm 23 and there are so many things that I wish were happening in my life right now but I'm only human and life requires patience. I don't have all the answers. I believe that it's possible that the universe is unfolding as it should.

I'm 23 and another year can mean so many things. I'm entering this year with incredible and unapologetic self love. I'm starting this year believing in myself. I'm starting this year with a  love and sweetness that I need to spread. I'm praying for another year of love, learning, discovery, excitement, accomplishments, inevitable failures and hurdles and the lessons that come with them, plus so much more.

I'm 23 and so thankful to have seen another year and I'm so excited to see what this year will bring.

Quote of the day:

"i found god in myself

and i loved her

i loved her fiercely."

- Ntozake Shange

Weekend Reminder

I’m alive, I’ve survived, and that matters. I matter. 

When you wake up, remember this. You've survived to see a brand new day. Your life matters.

At the end of that day you thought would be the most difficult and impossible day of your life, remember this. It didn't last forever and you made it over this struggle. You'll make it through the next one. You've survived and that matters. You matter. 

Final exams, in between jobs, feeling lost or tired, no one can take away the fact that you're here and your life matters always.   

Remember these words. Keep them stored away for those moments that you need them most. 

You're alive and that matters. You've survived this and that matters. You matter. Your life matters. 

Be a Hummingbird

Listen as the late Wangari Maathai tells the tale of a hummingbird who, despite its small size, tries its best to make a difference. 



We may often think that we are insignificant or that we are not enough. It doesn't matter how small we may feel, we can make a difference. We still have in us the power to do the best that we can. Never stop trying to do your best.

Positive Affirmation: I will be a hummingbird. I will do the best that I can.

Happy Friday

Here's some great music to get you into the good spirit of the weekend! I hope you have a wonderful and safe weekend!




Quote of the Day:

 “Love is the only thing that can touch our soul and change our heart."

-Lailah Gifty Akita

Happy Wednesday

All days could use the beauty of poetry. Here is my selection for today by Nayyirah Waheed.

if you deserve
honey
mine will flow from my arms to yours
no effort, no asking.
but, if there is none
and
you feel wind instead.
know
that my spirit already
senses that
when you smell sweetness
you
begin harvesting blades in your hands.

-kindness is a form of intelligence

 Be careful with the sweetest parts of you. Spread love and positive energy, yes, but remember that not everyone deserves your sweetness, your vulnerability, your honey. Remember that some people see you and will take advantage of your sweet and kind demeanor. You'll see that not everyone will treat you with the same kindness and you'll learn to stop showering them from the best your heart. Don't release all your positive energy into dangerous territory. It won't benefit anyone.

Favorite Summer Movies

Summer brings a lot time for people to spend together and a few occasional lazy days when all you want to do is relax. My favorite ways to relax alone or with others is reading, binge watching tv shows, and watching my favorite movies. These are some of my favorite movies that are perfect for summer days or nights.

---

Our Song

Our Song is a great coming of age film about 3 girls and their summer together. I first saw this  It's actually one of my favorite movies. It's a great summer movie because it takes place during the summer. It's about young girls of color living in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. It's about friendships, relationships, growing up, living in an urban environment, and some of the issues that come with growing up with no money like healthcare issues and the struggles of the school system. The story just comes across so honest and real. It's a really good film!
One of the books I read last summer, On the Come Up, is based on the life of Anna Simpson who is one of the stars in the film. A great movie and a great book!

Real Women Have Curves

I first saw this movie back in middle school. This movie does a wonderful job at honestly portraying the relationships that women sometimes have with their bodies. It covers how our relationships with our bodies impact the relationships with the people in our lives. Also, between this movie and Gotta Kick it Up, I became a huge fan of America Ferrera.

Pitch Perfect

Pitch Perfect is such a cute and fun movie. It's a perfect summer movie, I think, because it has everything you need for one of those feel-good movies. There's a love story, friendship, competition, music, and plenty of jokes. I didn't expect to like this movie so much but it's really enjoyable and the soundtrack is incredible! This is a great movie to watch with a group of friends.

The Color Purple

 This is just a movie that everyone should see. It's a classic. The book, written by Alice Walker, is also a classic that everyone should see. The Color Purple is a classic. It covers so many things! This movie brings up domestic violence, relationships, child abuse, self-esteem, racism, religion and so much more. I consider this movie to a staple of American culture. With it being such a phenomenal movie, there is an abundance of great scenes but this one below has to be my favorite.

---

The following and cute movies for every age! A lot of these movies are cartoons. They're fun and they tend to bring back memories. These movies also have a lot of meaningful lessons and stories in them. Don't let the animation fool you! There are great stories about family, growth, friendships, and so much more!

Lilo and Stitch 

The Lion King

(An Obvious Classic)

Despicable Me

Up

Horton Hears A Who

13 Going On 30

---
Love Stories :)

Love and Basketball

The Object of My Affection

---
And this movie will just make you cry. I love movies that make me cry.

Tru Confessions

There are so many great movies that I love and would recommend but I don't want to go on forever. I hope you enjoy any movie days that you may get. Water, popcorn, and summer fruit are the perfect snacks for movie nights.

I hope you continue to have a happy summer! :)

May They Stay Rising

This week I had a lot of reasons to smile and be happy. This week started off with a bang. My little brother graduated from the 5th grade! It's so cool to see him grow up. It really shows you how fast life goes by. This is the little baby who bumped me up from an only child to a big sister and now he's on his way to middle school! He looked so handsome in his little suit and I just loved seeing him so excited and proud of himself. I loved that so much!! It was a very exciting day and I can't wait to share more graduation days together! I love him so much!!!

This week I also got to attend the graduation ceremony of my former students! I met the majority of these kids on February 6, 2014. So while I haven't known them their whole lives, they hold a special place in my heart. I worked with them during after school and during summer camp. I began working with them in 4th grade and I was able to move up with them which is a reason I think I was able to create such a special bond with them. It was also exciting that they were the same age as my brother so it was really cool being able to get a glimpse firsthand to what my brother may be experiencing in school because it's so different from when I was in 4th and 5th grade.

For a year and some change, I was able to see them grow. Unfortunately, I had to leave them to focus on finishing my master's degree and I missed them immensely but they are part of the reason that I am pushing myself to finish school strong. I started working there hoping to encourage and empower these beautiful students and they've taught me so much. They encourage me to be better and do better. They are reality and they are the future. I'll be honest, some days were really hard but I wouldn't trade the chaos, hours of long division, research projects, and all the noise for anything! I value the time I spent with them. 

Their successes and the success of all classes of 2015 would be impossible without the incredible support systems that these students have. A special shout out to all the people who support these students especially to my former coworker, Jay, who I am so glad I got to share my time with. We really worked hard to make sure our kids felt loved and empowered. We did our best. Their support system is so vital, their teachers, their school staff, afterschool teachers, their families, and especially their parents. I got to meet so many loving and wonderful parents! So many people got these kids to where they are today and that's so special and important. A part of the reason I consider my students an inspiration for me to do so well in school is that they are proof of what a good support system can do and one day I want to be a licensed professional so I can be better equipped for larger support systems that allow people to thrive in life. 

I'm just so happy that I got the chance to be a part of this milestone in their life and may their life paths be filled of so many more happy moments and accomplishments!

---

Quote of the week:

"Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise."

-Maya Angelou 

May they stay rising!!

Summertime Smiles

Things are starting to heat up which means summertime and the heat that comes along with it is here. I used to have very difficult summers. The transition from living on a the schedule that comes with school to an overwhelming amount of free time used to lead to bouts of depression sometimes because I often had a lot more time t be alone with my thoughts. Being alone with your thoughts for too long leads to over-thinking things and reliving old moments which is never really the best thing to do. Sometimes I also miss sleeping in my own room and bed so although I love vacation, I miss the comfort of the safe space that is my bed.

The last two summers have been pretty good. I stayed where the air conditioning was if there was any, I surrounded myself with good people, I kept busy, and I treated myself well. Each year I learn more about myself and how to love myself better so that I can feel better and be better. I have a lot of things to keep me busy this summer. I have class and I've been working on just generally keeping myself more organized and on task so I'm looking forward to this summer.


It's very important to stay healthy in the summer so here are some helpful summer reminders:

• Drink your water! Drink lots of water. Stay hydrated please
• Don't feel bad about dropping toxic people. It's too damn hot for toxic or unhealthy relationships. Why should you stay around a rain cloud when you are destined for the sun? You are destined for the sun!!
• Keep busy as to not over-think but relax when need be. It's hot so need be comes often
• Eat seasonal produce. Summer produce is some of the most delicious all year. Cherries, apricots, peaches, watermelon, okra, mangoes, eggplant, plums, nectarines, and so much more!!
• Do the things that make you happy. Do them often, if you can. 
• If you have the time to do so, read! There is something really special about reading in the summer. I can say that about every season but summer reading brings me right back to my childhood summers and that's pretty cool.
• Most importantly, stay cool, protect yourself from the sun, and stay hydrated.

Happy (almost) Summer!

10 Quotes to Keep You Going This Week

"Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

"The main ingredient to success is failure."

-Albert Einstein

"I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."

-Helen Keller

"When you think you can't...just know you can. Life is hard for a reason. One day you'll see how strong you are. I can see it from here."

"Once you believe yourself, you'll always be a winner." 

-[x]

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."

-Eleanor Roosevelt

"You're off to great places. Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way."

-Dr. Seuss

"It always seems impossible until is done."

-Nelson Mandela

"Something fabulous is out there taking shape, emerging, peeking, calling your name."

"Take a deep breath. Relax and remember how special and important you are. Remember that when you believe in yourself, there is no way that you can lose."

Books I Read: God Help the Child

God Help the Child 

by Toni Morrison

---

I was so excited to read Toni Morrison's new novel. It was a great read. It covers such an important topic so I found it very interesting. I think it's a must read because it portrays how childhood trauma and pain goes through you for life. I think that's something that a lot of people can relate too. A lot of people have secrets or things in their past that they're still struggling with. Unfortunately, life doesn't slow down or pause for you to cope with your past. Many people unfortunately carry this weight alone because there's this idea that things that happen in your childhood or adolescence are minimal or it's something that you should be over by the time you reach adulthood. None of that is true. Things that happen years ago are still valid experiences that can bring you pain. Experiences in your childhood have an impact on your entire life, your relationships, your outlook on life, everything. Carrying the weight of these experiences can elicit so many experiences like shame, anger, sadness, or confusion. No one should have to go through that alone. What's great about a book like this is that it can start that conversation. It reminds us that everyone is going through or has been through something. Whether or not they share their whole story, their experiences are valid. What they feel is real and they are completely deserving of your love, respect, and understanding.

(TW: Sexual Abuse) This book also talks about childhood sexual abuse. The impact that is has on victims and the people around them. This is a topic that often goes unspoken, especially in the black community. So it may be triggering for some people but it may be a reminder to others that they are not alone in what happened to them.

I also enjoyed the many different relationships in this book. The relationships and bonds between lovers, brothers, friends. There's anger, regret, remorse, love--how those emotions react with one another and so much more. It will make you think of the ways in which we crave love. We all need and want love. There's a lot of emotion and truth packed into a quite small book and I think that's very special. It's real and honest. I definitely recommend it.

---

Quotes:

"Correct what you can; learn from what you can't."

 "No matter how hard we try to ignore it, the mind always knows truth and wants clarity."

"my sex life became sort of like Diet Coke--deceptively sweet minus nutrition."

“A child. New life. Immune to evil or illness, protected from kidnap, beatings, rape, racism, insult, hurt, self-loathing, abandonment. Error-free. All goodness. Minus wrath. So they believe.”

 "You don't have to love me but you damn well have to respect me."

 “What you do to children matters. And they might never forget.”

 “But stars can explode, disappear. Besides, what we see when we look at them may no longer be there. Some could have died thousands of years ago and we’re just now getting their light. Old information looking like news.”

Motivation Monday

A few days ago I got another tattoo. It reads, "I am mine. before I am ever anyone else's." It's a poem by an artist I love named Nayyirah Waheed. I've been a big fan of her work for some time now. So much of her writing just speaks to my soul and I feel so special whenever I read her work. Look her up!

I decided to get this tattoo to remind myself that self love is important. I am deserving of my own love. I need to love and support myself in my triumphs and in my lows. I am mine. I am constantly learning about myself. Every day I continue to grow with myself. Some days I grow stronger than I was the day before. I'm on this incredible journey with myself and it's important that I love, respect, and support the one person on this journey with me---myself.

---

i am mine.

before i am ever anyone else's.

-Nayyirah Waheed

Vision Binder

I made a vision binder to put some of my goals and inspirations in one place. My inspiration for my vision binder was a vision board. I've wanted to make a vision board for a long time but I've just never had the space or materials that I wanted for the vision board that I was envisioning. I happened to see this beautiful binder in Target and stood in front of it for a few minutes because I know I didn't need it but I wanted it so I just needed to give it a purpose before I bought it.

I wanted to make sure that my vision binder was a true reflection of me. I've been working on it for about a month and the cool thing about it is that I can keep adding as I go along. It's kind of structured. I put pages as they fit into categories I made but there isn't a table of contents or anything.

The first section is where I put inspirational quotes that I love, affirmations, pictures of people who inspire me, and general self-care reminders. This section really makes me smile. It really brightens my spirits and reminds me to protect my spirit. The next section is my travel section. In that section I have pictures of places that I WILL travel to. I also have pictures of things to do while traveling like skiing, boat rides, and what landmarks I really want to see. The section after that focuses on body health. I have a few recipes and workout routines. I also made sure to put reminders to drink water and nourish my hair as well as my body. The last section I like to call "Motivation & Me." In this section, I put my goals, I put reminders of who I am and what my life journey means to me. I made sure to include pictures of my accomplishments and some of the moments in my life that really push me forward. I have a picture of me working on a campaign and I have a picture from the day I graduated. I also have a long lists of the books I'll be reading in the future and a few magazine articles that really inspired me. This section keeps me focused on my long term life goals. This section motivates me to stick to my goals and to remain true to myself.

My goal is to have a few quiet minutes to myself every day to look through the binder as a form of daily motivation and inspiration. Unfortunately it doesn't happen every day but I do really love looking through it. It's hard work that reminds me of all the hard work and beautiful results that I've already accomplished and all the hard work and beautiful results that my future holds.


Here's what it looks like!