On the Way to Becoming Me

Posts

Peace on the Pavement

Last May, I purchased my first pair of running shoes. I went to an actual running store to be properly fitted, and I determined right then and there that would start running. Just to give you a little background...I'm not what you would call athletic in the least. I didn't participate in sports while growing up, and quite frankly I really didn't even like going outdoors. Who wants to sweat when you can be inside reading a good book? Well, these wonderful running shoes probably sat on my shoe rack for a good five months. Occasionally, I would take them out for a "spin,", but for the most part they were just another item added to my list of fitness gear...until my 39th birthday, that is. It's funny how being on the precipice of a new decade in life changes your perspective. So, last year when I turned 39, I decided that this would be the year that I finally got myself together. Like for real this time. No joking. No excuses. I mean my kids

It's so Hard to Say Goodbye

It's been awhile since my last post...almost a year! As is life, the last few months have been full of many ups and downs. While there have many blessings to be grateful for, there has also been so much loss. I honestly think there has not been a month since the start of the year where there has not been a funeral to attend. This year, many of my friends and extended family experienced the loss of loved ones both young and old. My family, too, experienced the loss of my grandmother. My grandmother, who I called, Mommom , passed away on February 25 after battling dementia for some time. She had such a strong presence in my life, and I still find it so hard to believe she's gone. Grief is a funny thing. It's like one minute you're going along just fine, and then out of nowhere a familiar smell or a memory or a picture or something your kid does, reminds you of the person and there you are a mess....all over again! Losing my grandmother is not my first ex

The Faces of Facebook

I must admit I've spent way too much time on Facebook this summer. Confession...I have a Facebook tab up right now as I type this post. It's not like it's a crime or anything, but IMO it is a total time sucker-upper (if there is such a word). What is it about scrolling through your news feed, liking posts, watching videos and reading your friends' vent sessions that keeps us coming back each and every day, hour on the hour, minute by minute? Why is it so addicting? I don't have a beef with social media. Really I don't. I use it, and I know it's what we do now. It's cool! But, part of me despises it for the hidden competition that it initiates. You know...the #mylifeisbetterthanyours type of competition. I call this the "Faces of Facebook." I mean it's all really a facade, right? We only see a snapshot of what our peeps want us to see, but this quick view can cause you to feel some kinda way...if you let it. Let's be hone

Class Reunion Blues

July has been an especially busy month for me and my family. Between work, summer camps, football workouts, family reunions, sorority reunions and other impromptu events, downtime has been a welcome addition to our schedule. Honestly, it seems like summer just started! It's hard to believe that we're gearing up for yet another school year. Being a teacher, summer break takes on a whole different meaning; whereas, if I were just donning my mommy hat, I'd be totally elated that school is almost in session (just keepin' it real). But, for real, I almost shriek in horror when I see back to school commercials on T.V., and the store displays seem to be taunting me as a constant reminder that time is winding up. Before I can say farewell to the "summer of reunions," I have one more gathering to attend. My 20 year class reunion! It's crazy that it's been 20 years since I graduated from high school. With the reunion approaching next week, I can't

Spring Isn't a Myth

A couple of months ago, I wrote a post titled "My Love Affair with Winter." Perhaps you read it, but if not check it out at some point. It was my first post, and I think it was pretty good (if I do say so myself). Anywho, in that post I used winter as a metaphor for the challenging times that we all face at some point or other our lives. In this post, I want to reflect on something that you don't think will ever come when in the depths of winter....spring. Recently I was listening to my all-time favorite album, "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill," and even though I've heard EVERY song about a gazillion times, one lyric in particular resonated with me on this particular day. On the track, "Everything is Everything," L-Boogie spits out encouragement to listeners by simply saying, "after winter MUST come spring, change it comes eventually." Wow! Did you take that in? I mean, did you really let it seep deep down in your spirit? You

Who you callin' old? Not me!

So, I'm driving along in the car with my permanent passengers (aka my children), and we're having a battle of the radio stations. I'm sure you can relate to these battles well if you think back to when you were a pre-teen/teen. Your parent wanted to listen to the sweet sounds of the Stylistics, and you want to hear the latest hit by Biggie. There was a tug-o-war over the radio stations, and somehow your parents always seemed to prevail. Mind you this was before everyone was all plugged into their own iPod, iPhone, iSomething. Well, fast forward to 2015, and I find myself in the same situation only I'm the parent this time around. For the most part, I won't 'stand my ground' and refuse to share the radio, but when my jam is on the radio, I do expect you to kindly remove your fingers from the dial. This brings me to last night. My family and I watched the 2015 BET Awards last night. I'm a lover of music, so I can appreciate artistic expression.