Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Delete and Refresh...

Well it's been a little over a year since I've taken some time to jot some thoughts down. I find myself on Thanksgiving Eve sitting in my office avoiding the final three items I need to check off my never ending things to do list to feel accomplished before I lock up for the holidays.

I've been on a journey of self discovery and I've found there are two things that I'm horrible at: letting go and self care. I'm taking it a day at a time on both but I've found with most things in life if you simply start the process it becomes much easier each step along the way.

In the midst of preparing for a 30 day self care challenge I noticed a few articles that always talk about removing the clutter from your life, and so I started by simply deleting a folder of emails from an ex. I haven't looked at the emails in years so I'm not really sure why I wouldn't let go, but when I pressed the "empty deleted items folder" - my spirit let go.

I'm not sure where the next few months are going to take me in terms of this adventure of true self care and letting go of anything that isn't healthy for in all aspects of life but it's bound to be full of emotions.

dyism:

I'm sure someone has said this... but sometimes you just need to delete and refresh your life cache.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Strangers Collide

I met DeAndre Capies almost a decade ago when I was working in the DC Mayor's office. He was one of my summer youth employment workers who I've kept in touch with all these years. The moment I saw him, he reminded me of my cousin who had been recently murdered. They favor each other physically and have similar personalities. I owe him a huge thanks for allowing me to pour my energy and drive into his young and talented spirit. His love for life and consistently challenging me (which drove me crazy but always made me laugh) was a huge factor in what saved me that summer.

We have kept in touch via text and Facebook messenger with life updates and challenges, but haven't seen each other in years.  During the opening gala of the NMAAHC I ran into him working and that MADE MY ENTIRE WEEKEND. I'm pretty sure I gave him the hugest bear hug he's had in a while, but it was the only way I could hold the tears of joy seeing him succeed!!!

dyism:
Never underestimate the power a single person or moment can have on the trajectory of your life.

Friday, February 26, 2016

When Dreams Become Reality - The Iron Lady

It's easy for most of us to attribute some of our strongest traits and passions to our parents.  My mum gave me the gift of being a wanderlust. As I grow older and we travel together, I've learned that a sunrise or sunset in a new city never gets old for either of us.

My mum lost both her parents in the last few years and a small spark left her usually glowing spirit. She's been talking about Paris for years and for some reason has never been. When she was younger, she and my grandfather built an Eiffel Tower out of plywood for a class project. She told me this story shortly after my grandfather died and I knew we had to find the time.

And we did in the Winter of 2015.

One evening I could hear the sadness in her voice and I immediately reached out to our travel agent to look for flights and book the trip. We boarded a plane 5 weeks later and I knew when we landed in Paris, the trip was what we both needed desperately. I will never forget how I could feel her entire spirit shift and her eyes light up the first time she saw the beautiful Iron Lady. Over the course of that week EVERY time she spotted the Eiffel Tower, I was able to see a glimpse of who she probably was as a teenager working with her father on that class project.





Paris will forever hold a place in my heart, because her lights found a way to bring a twinkle back to my mum.

dyism:
Sometimes the best gift to a person is finding a way that allows them to smile again.