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Trinidad And Tobago- Caribbean Pride
I am Trinidad and Tobago The Caribbean Queen, My lands flow with beauty All I have, God gave me I have no hatred against anyone. Amongst my sisters I stand in beauty, My star shines bright amongst others This pride is no arrogance I speak with love for all. From my birth, I was crowned…
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More Than A Reflection: How Expressive Writing Can Help Women Heal Their Body Image
There comes a moment in many women’s lives when the mirror becomes more than a mirror. It becomes a measuring stick. A reminder of every pound gained, every wrinkle earned, every stretch mark, scar, surgery, or perceived flaw. It becomes a place where criticism speaks louder than compassion. Instead of seeing the incredible woman staring…
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Cutting My Hair At 39 Is Helping To Heal 13-Year-Old Me
Hair is something that is deeply personal to so many people. For some women, our hair is the measure by which society judges our beauty, determining if our stock is valuable or not based on how many inches our hair can grow. Being a woman of color, hair is tied to many deep-rooted societal issues…
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Her
She met me when I needed her the most. She is the light; she’s the hope. Always by my side. I felt like I didn’t give her enough time and was clinging to the past, but she was there through it all. Being in the past and feeling sad felt like cheating with her, the…
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My Body, Rewritten
I didn’t get tattooed to be beautiful. I got tattooed to be untouchable. There’s a difference. Beauty is an invitation. Untouchable is a boundary. And after nearly two decades of marriage that felt more like captivity, I was done being anyone’s open door. I decided—somewhere between survival and that night he nearly erased me—that if…
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The Thought That Counts
At this point, most of us are acutely aware of what our 5 Love Languages are. Thank you, Dr. Gottman, for encouraging us to take the quiz to get to know ourselves a little more. The answers provide a quick guide to your partner in how best you feel and hear you are loved. Every…
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Surrender
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you had absolutely no control over it? You felt as though nothing you did could fix the problem. You tried this way, no success. You tried that way, still no success. What do you do in that situation when you feel like you’re just going…
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Pizza, Marry Me
Oh, pizza! You’re so fine. You blow my mind I get such an urge for your culinary delight My senses are about to explode The smell of your savory perfume Makes me inhale deeply The fusion of flavors upon my tongue Makes me crave you so much more Seeing your creamy, melting cheese Reminds me…
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A Letter To My Teenage Self
Dear Teen, Your anxiety is probably lying to you. It tells you that you are not enough, right? Well, so does mine. So, I guess here we are, relapsing. You are probably just a teen, well, so am I. But that does not stop me from feeling tired, exhausted, and mostly suicidal. Your anxiety is…
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Do We Celebrate Dads Anymore?
I was face painting at a block party this weekend. I saw quite a few fathers out with their children. I saw a father with his boys wearing matching safari hats. Different colors and child-sized, but just like his. I thought, how cute is that! It was hot out. It was adorable to see a…
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The Waiting Killed Her
Little did they know that sending John to town would end in heartbreak. It was already noon when John insisted on making the trip. He wanted to help his grandparents, despite their repeated warnings. “Transport from town isn’t as reliable here as it is in KwaMashu,” Grandpa explained. “You might struggle to get back before…
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Forty Years Out
On leaving in 1985, the revolving door, and the friendships that survive it. There is a kind of party I have been to more times than I can count. Paper plates, a cake from the good bakery, somebody’s husband in charge of the music. The guest of honor is leaving. Back to Washington, Manchester, or…
