Category: My Life

A screenshot of the Character Father Gabriel from the show, The Walking Dead."
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‘The Walking Dead’ Season 11, Episode 9

When Father Gabriel Stokes (Seth Gilliam) took over the Reaper’s sniper and replied “Call me Gabriel” in that walkie talkie, I was like “Yes, bitch!” I knew he was going to come through somehow but I wasn’t sure how or when.

You know, Father Gabriel is probably the most improved character of “The Walking Dead’s” entire series — I’m surprised he lasted long enough to be one of our core characters. He went from a scared priest who let his congregation die while he hoarded food and supplies, to a badass machete wielding threat. We used to be unable to trust him with the most mundane tasks like, (I don’t know) go find food. Now, this man is saving people?! Wow.

Anyways, the theme of this episode seemed to be: we stressed the fuck out. Judith Grimes (Cailey Fleming) and Gracie (Anabelle Holloway) were about to drown and get eaten by walkers, Aaron (Ross Marquand) was literally holding on for dare life, the Reaper’s were whooping their asses, AND it was pouring rain outside. I really didn’t know how this episode was going to end, but the Common Wealth’s soldiers knocking on their door with raggedy ass Eugene Porter (Josh McDermitt) in tow seemed fitting. I can’t stand Eugene; he’s just so damn gullible.

Oh, and Daryl Dixon’s (Norman Reedus) dumbass should not have let his lil girlfriend live. Has he learned nothing from the Dwight situation?! Bruh. Also, I know the flash forward clip at the end was supposed to make us think that the people who stayed with Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohan) and the people who left with Daryl are at odds but I ain’t buying that. There’s some sort of plan going on and I’m excited to see it unfold throughout the season.

A picture of Shanté smiling with glasses sitting on her forehead.
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Felt Cute, Might Delete Later…

Why do people caption photos “Felt cute, might delete later”? They know damn well they ain’t about to delete that photo. 😂 Anyways, this is probably the first photo that I’ve taken of myself this month. I’m trying to get back into photographing myself (and others, honestly), so a cute photo of me as today’s post it is!

P.S. Don’t talk about my peach fuzz. I’ll wax it when I’m good and ready. 😜

An illustration of a Black person sitting with their legs crossed and the following text, "30-Day Yoga Challenge."
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30-Day Yoga Challenge | Weekly Check-in

I’m challenging myself to be consistent and practice yoga all throughout 2022. Ya with me? It would be overkill to post about it every day like I did in January, so I’m checking in every Sunday to let you know how I’m doing. Currently, my only goals are to have fun and be consistent. I’m not going to hold myself too accountable to 30 days but I’d be lying if I said I weren’t aiming for that. We’ll see. I’m just going to take this one day at a time. Also, I got a little crafty and created several graphics to accompany the posts — juu liiike it? The illustration is based off of lerarelart’s on 123rf.com.

I intended to kick this month off right (whatever that means) by practicing yoga every day, however, life had other plans. Instead, I practiced on Feb. 1 and wasted a ton of time binge-watching shows that I can’t recall now. I did manage to squeeze in some reading between all of that binging, so that’s a plus. I think I need to put myself on some type of schedule because I really don’t want to waste the extra time that I have now that I’m working part-time.

I recently told my dad that, in the midst of adjusting to the new schedule, I found myself feeling guilty about having so much free time. I’m so used to working every single day that I feel out of place now that I have time to take care of myself and pursue my desires. I’m a little caught off guard by this feeling because I didn’t experience it to this degree when I quick my job in August and was funemployed for four months. I guess that was different because I told myself that it was a break. Maybe I need to have a conversation with myself about how I want to approach this new work style. I’ll keep you posted.

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I Negotiated My Pay for the First Time!

I wrote this about two months ago but forgot to post it. Woops!

I negotiated my pay rate for a new job last week and I’m hyped! I feel like I’m too old to be saying that but it’s true. I’ve, honestly, never even considered pushing back on a job offer before because I was too afraid of “messing up my chances” of securing the position. Ugh! I hate how America makes you feel like shit for asking for more than the bare minimum.

You know, this reminds me of the time a person in need asked me for money to get something to eat. I handed them about three pounds (I was studying abroad in London, at the time) and as I turned to retrieve my meal they said, “Do you think you could give me enough for a meal?” Initially, I thought, Excuse you?! But then I thought, Oh, shit, I would want enough for a meal too. We’re so programmed to be grateful for whatever we’re offered that when we ask for what we need, it feels like (or is interpreted as) disrespect. 

ION know about y’all, but I’m done being overly accommodating and hyper-aware of an employer’s feelings when my needs are at stake. Those people have money; ask for it. My future employer, for example, offered me the 2019 base rate and increased it up to the 2021 rate when I asked for more. This is so slick because it gives the impression that they’re working with me and giving me a better deal, even though the are just giving me the bare minimum of what they should be offering me. It doesn’t matter how uniquely qualified I am for the position or how genuinely excited they seem to be about my arrival, they still tried to lowball me. Why? Because they have the company’s best interest in mind. 

We — those of use who are allowed to navigate within this type of freedom when pursuing jobs — should keep in mind the fact that these employers don’t give a fuck about us. The next time you want a raise or a bigger starting salary, just ask. There is no harm in asking.

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January ’22 SMART Goals Update

I decided to try something new, this year, and set my intentions for the month with six attainable SMART goals. I learned about SMART goals — which is an acronym for: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based — five or seven years ago. I don’t recall how I learned about it but I do recall experiencing a light bulb moment when I did. I always set these huge year-long goals for myself, so why not set a few attainable goals to help me reach the larger goals? Makes sense to me.

Anyways, here’s a rundown of how I did in January. (Also, I made a GIF for the first time!)

Comment a goal you’re working to fulfill this month!

A picture of the book, "Killing the Black Body" by Dorothy Roberts.
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February Read: ‘Killing the Black Body’

Happy Black History Month! One of my goals for the month is to finish reading “Killing the Black Body” by Dorothy Roberts. I started reading it in February or March 2020 but needed to stop because the world was doing too damn much. I mean, it was just one tragedy after the next. Eventually, I was like, Hmm… Lemme take a rain check on dis.

So, here I am trying again. I’m really excited to get into this book because, while I don’t recall where I left off, I remember being enthralled with it. (Is “enthralled” too positive of a word? It feels a little weird, given the book’s subject matter.) I remember getting the impression that the author was building up and providing evidence to support whatever claim they make in the book. The stories — the few that I was able to read — that Roberts provide are so uncomfortable to read but necessary.

One story that I think about every-now-and-then is the story of several newborn Black babies drowning in a ditch.

One story that I think about every-now-and-then is the story of several newborn Black babies drowning in a ditch. They drowned in a ditch because the racists that their enslaved mother’s were forced to work for wouldn’t give their mama’s breaks to tend to them. As a result, the mom’s left their babies in ditches close to the fields that they worked in to be able to feed them throughout the day. I don’t know why but I remember feeling surprised when I first read that snippet of history. I wasn’t surprised that it happened; I was surprised to read that it actually happened. Does that make sense?

Anyways, I’ll be back with an update of my thoughts on this book when I finish it. What are you reading this month?

An illustration of a Black person sitting with their legs crossed and the following text, "30-Day Yoga Challenge."
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30-Day Yoga Challenge | Day 30

It’s a new year, a new day, and a new 30-day yoga challenge by Yoga With Adriene is here. I’ve tried to complete Adriene’s challenges several times over the years but last year was my first time actually succeeding. Blogging about it each day REALY helped me hold myself accountable, so we’re doing that again. Welcome to the new challenge, y’all! (I’m amped.) Oh, I got a little crafty and created several graphics to accompany the posts — juu liiike it? The illustration is based off of lerarelart’s on 123rf.com.

Ehem! *Sings slightly off key* “Although we’ve come to the end of the road, still I can’t let go…” Welp, it’s the last day of the yoga challenge and, honestly, I ain’t give what I was supposed to had gave. Lol I did not complete this challenge — Y’all, I barely did it. I don’t know why or what happened, this year, but I just wasn’t into it. My soul wasn’t feeling it and you know what? That’s okay. I’m going to try again tomorrow and see what February gives. I’ll be sure to do yoga check-ins every Sunday.

I’ve been enjoying posting everyday, by the way. I’m going to maintain this posting streak until my body tells me not to. Doing so will challenge me to get creative with my visuals because I can’t allow any old graphic or photograph to accompany a post. Let’s see how this goes.

An illustration of a Black person sitting with their legs crossed and the following text, "30-Day Yoga Challenge."
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30-Day Yoga Challenge | Day 29

It’s a new year, a new day, and a new 30-day yoga challenge by Yoga With Adriene is here. I’ve tried to complete Adriene’s challenges several times over the years but last year was my first time actually succeeding. Blogging about it each day REALY helped me hold myself accountable, so we’re doing that again. Welcome to the new challenge, y’all! (I’m amped.) Oh, I got a little crafty and created several graphics to accompany the posts — juu liiike it? The illustration is based off of lerarelart’s on 123rf.com.

Oh, damn, I almost forgot to post — I really don’t want to break this streak! Lol I just got through watching the latest episode of Euphoria and I genuinely don’t get the obsession with the character Cassie (Sydney Sweeney). Am I buggin’ or was she not a prominent character (at all) in the first season? It just seems weird to have her in every episode now.

Also, I don’t know who but I think someone is going to die this season and I think it’s going to be someone unexpected like Cassie’s or Rue’s (Zendaya Coleman) sisters, or the new guy that Rue and Jules (Hunter Schafer) are, basically, in a throple with.