Untitled (2023)

This year has hit me with some real life shit. I’ve had lots of realizations, breakthroughs, tears, grief, more tears, and more grief. I turned 27 this year, and lost my uncle to gun violence the very next day. I cut my foot on a piece of metal so bad that I had to have 5 stitches sewn into my foot. I hit two cars  the next day, my second car accident since May. I got rear ended again in September, bring my car accident total to 3 for the year. I thought I was going to graduate, but I didn’t. I fell in love for the first time. I traveled a lot. I spent money I didn’t actually have. I’m still spending money I don’t really have. I watched some amazing movies and watched some equally amazing television shows. I felt inspired. I played with my adorable niece. I attended the weddings of two people I love very dearly. Those were two of the happiest days of my life, for sure. I redefined what family means to me. No more settling for less. I doubted myself. I drank too much sometimes. I stopped drinking. I grieved a lot of friendships. I tried to make sense of things. I lost sleep. I held my girlfriend’s hand. I held space for others, but also held space for myself. I decided to be myself. I questioned things. I gave a lecture on Black feminism. I painted. I sang. I got better with my makeup skills. I read. I baked. I cooked. I hung out with friends who really see and hear and accept me. I felt loved. I felt unloved. I went out to eat. I slept. I walked. I drove. I took quite a few planes. I took pictures. I took risks. I spent time with family. I mended my relationship with my mom. I told the truth. I committed myself to the Godly truth, because God is truth. God is true. I lived quite a life this year. Yet, I feel like am the most me I’ve ever been, even in the midst of so much uncertainty and bizarreness. This was an extremely pivotal year for me in my growth and in coming into myself more. I can’t say that I’m grateful for everything that happened this year, but I am still here. I am still standing. And I lived to tell the story.