Gems
It’s hard to look at my social media page (Instagram) without cringing sometimes. When I scroll down my page I see and am reminded of instances where I tried so hard to build a following - and it’s so very hard to build a social media following. Especially in today’s age of social media where there is so much competition. There are so many different social media platforms vying for your attention. I’ve been pretty inconsistent in life and it takes a lot of consistency. However, when I was actively trying, I would say I was somewhat successful. I got new eyes and more exposure to my book. In life, “you got to take the crooked with the straights” (that’s a quote from Fences). It was rewarding, challenging, positive, and annoying all at the same time. I tried different techniques and methods (even doing a social media live session I called TheWomynWhoWritesWednesdays). However, as with most things in life, it was worth a try. So, I can look at my tryouts as failures or I can look at them as learning experiences that helped make me better.
Sincerely,
TheWomynWhoWrites
The Dream Adjacent
I sit here writing this blog in the twilight glow of my commencement ceremony. For those who may or may not know I am a nurse by trade. I recently continued my education in the fall of December 2023 and recently decided to walk the stage of my newfound alma mater. It was a hasty decision and I hadn’t thought of participating in the commencement ceremony. However, at the insistence of my family member, I was encouraged to participate and I don’t regret it. Funnily enough, the ceremony’s keynote speaker was none other than Steve from the famous children’s show Blue’s Clues. Yes, that Steve. Though a bit more seasoned than I remember him growing up as a youth, it was still Steve with all his flair. He left us with powerful words. In his speech, he told us not only to pursue our dreams but also to consider the dreams adjacent. All the wonder opportunities that exist alongside our dreams can lead us to places we’d never dreamt of. His words resonated with me, as I sat in the first row, taking on the ceremony. Another commencement speaker, the chosen of the class, was a young Brooklyn-born man who’d spent the majority of his youth in Lagos, Nigeria. He returned to the United States in highschool, pursuing his education - managing to do so in the face of terrible loss. In the wake of his mother’s passing, he encouraged us all to consider the weight of those around us, as we are too shaped and molded by them. I thought about my mother and husband in the crowd.
So, remember the dream adjacent. Remember all those who matter to you. They’re rooting for you.
Congratulations class of 2023/2024. We did it. 🎓
Sincerely,
TheWomynWhoWrites
You Made a Way
I’m sitting here on a Saturday night, reflecting. Playing music, I think back to the past and a flurry of memories rush over me- bright lights, midnight drives, and youthful company. I think a lot about my past and it’s so vastly different from now - a far cry from my now cozy existence. I think about this all as I sit in the living room of my one-bedroom first-floor unit.
Listening to music, a thought strikes. Maybe I should continue working on my newest work and my mind wanders to the book I’ve been writing. It remains drafted - another unknown work at the bottom of my Google Docs. I’ve been thinking about publishing it. But of course, the common thoughts flood me. “Why should I?” “Who’d care ?" “Is it worth it?” These common thoughts stop me, as they’ve stopped me countless times before.
My webpage has remained disabled for some time now. I’d forgotten to renew it and one day, caught off guard, I realized my webpage had expired. I didn’t worry about it, contemplating if I wanted to renew the subscription. Like my past, should I leave it behind? Another memory. However, just like that, I checked the Instagram of my writer page, TheWomynWhoWrites, and found a new DM. It read,
“Hi there sorry for messaging you like this but I just wanted to say I love your writing and your stories and I've followed you on fictionpress since 2014! I do [hope you come back to your old [stories] Flutter being included if not I'm looking forward to more you have in store for us!.”
My old stories…Flutter, Flicker, and the like. Wolfen tales that I’d written during the height of the Twilight era. Quite the hopeless romantic, I’d penned a variety of stories that I shared on creative fiction sites like Fictionpress and Wattpad. They were very popular and still seemingly touching souls to this day. I felt very proud in that moment and I felt seen.
I mattered.
I did something.
I made it.
I had an impact.
On someone.
On someones.
I echo the same words to you.
For the person who questions their choices. To the person who thought their choices didn’t matter. To the person who thought they didn’t make the best of decisions.
You matter.
You made a difference.
Even if not to the world - to someone.
Best of love,
TheWomynWhoWrites
P.S. I renewed my website 😉😉😏😜
Starts and Stops
There are a lot of starts and stops in life.
Especially in writing.
I have not written anything in a very long time…not a chapter in a new book, not a poem, or even a journal entry.
I used to be a writer. That’s what I tell myself.
I’ve been contemplating how to get back into the “swing of things” so to speak.
I’ve been away from my social media for so long. I post and then I go into hiding - mostly because of urges to do a social media detox. However, social media cleanses also limit my exposure to new followers. Also, the longer you’re away from something…the harder it is to go back to.
I do not find it as easy to pick up a pen as it used to be.
I put away writing for almost two years to focus on my studies.
Now, at the culmination of all I worked hard for, I find myself struggling to regain the passion that I had for writing.
A lot of writing I do now has to be deliberate. It does not come as easily as it used to.
When I was younger, I felt that I was a sponge for emotions and feelings. I soaked it all in - the nature, the rain, the storms of life - and it made for great poetry. However, the waves of my life have settled and the water is a bit less choppy now. It’s been smooth sailing since then and therefore it’s been difficult to cultivate the same feel that inspired my previous work.
Also, I do feel like a fledging artist in a sense. I have a lot of friends and family who were waiting for me to publish new work and I always said, “It’s coming,” “It’s coming,” and it never came. Now, I wonder if I have followers or a fanbase anymore that is waiting. Is it even worth it anymore? Do artists have to commit to publishing new work to be successful? Or is it enough to just have tried? I feel like in our society, you have to constantly be doing something to be considered productive. It’s not enough to just be.
However, I’m reminded of a quote from one of my favorite social media pages, The Artidote, "Even if you feel like you have nothing to offer, you’re still allowed to be here. Your existence and value are not dependent on what you can do for other people.”
Even if I do end up being a one-hit wonder, a singer who never really did find her song, I still deserve to be here. I still deserve my writings, however once in a while they come. I still deserve to be proud of my art - even if others might want more.
I made something and it came from my heart, and although one day I may hang up the writer’s cloak for good, I'll still be proud of what I’ve done.
I still left something behind and that’s all I ever really wanted.
Reinventing…
One year later, I stand here writing a blog.
I’ve put aside blogging and Tik Toking for a while now.
I’ve been on mute.
Or pause.
However you’d like to call it, I’ve been away from the poetry seen for a while now. I haven’t been too available on social media and after a much needed break, I’ve decided to reinvent myself.
So to speak.
An artist/writer/creator must reinvent themselves.
Hello It’s Me…
Greetings again from TheWomynWhoWrites!
And I know…it’s been a while!
Thank you so much for being here! Whether you’re a new supporter or you’ve been here for a while, I appreciate you taking the time out to read my blog.
So, what has TheWomynWhoWrites been up to lately?
I’ve been flexing my social media prowess. I’ve revved up my reach on popular social media Tik Tok, attempting to expand my online reach. And it worked - sort of. I’ve made some new admirers and new supporters thanks to the free social media platform. I even made one sale of my self-published poetry book! It’s safe to say I’m not a social media influencer as of yet but I’m glad to have touched the few souls that I have. I’m comfortable with my social media journey so far and I am trying to get my e-commerce store moving again. I realize it takes a lot of finesse to expand your social media boundaries as well as work on an online business. It is not for the faint of heart and it’s not as easy as it may seem. Creating quality content that captures people’s attention and converts to sales is not my forte. However, I hope that someday I can say that managed to touch a few hearts with my self-published poetry book. Overall, I’m happy to be here! Well, somewhere over the rainbow! 🌈Thanks for being here! I hope you stay.
See you next time,
TheWomynWgoWrites
Do you mind if I share some poetry with you?
Lord, when I die, wake me up in my mother’s house.
Wake me up to hot soup on the stove and a coffee,
Coffee without the addict part.
Wake me up to large trees along the veranda
And to the morning rays,
Streaming in through cracks in the window shade.
Wake me up to the pitter-patter of tiny feet,
The faint rustle and scritch scratch of small birds on the balcony.
When I die, take me home 🏠 to my mother’s,
Please.
With Love,
TheWomynWhoWrites
Never Give Up!
Greetings y’all!
It’s been a while but I’ve managed to write this to follow up on my last calendar selling adventure that I have blogged about. I’m writing this on the heels of yet another successful day of “peddling” my wares.
I last left off that I had managed to sell a few calendars to one cynical man I’d bumped into on a random fall day.
Inspired by that day I decided to go yet again on a calendar selling spree but this time I carried my books in tow. I took to the town, finding a good location to stand and sell my items. There is a local street fair that religiously meets on Thursday and I figured that that would be an advantageous location to catch visitors and shoppers as they go to and fro.
My memory of that event is spotty but I recall generous customers, a positive response, and lots of kindness and consideration. Some chose to buy the book and some chose to offer their support in other ways. My people skills have improved since then (I hope) and I’m a little more confident than I was that day. I was shaking in my boots (sometimes I still do).
Fast forward to yesterday. It’s now March. A new day in the new year.
I got another positive response.
On a brisk, nippy March day I stood at that same spot - even running into past customers. I waved hello and greeted passersbys. I got to speak to many who cheered me on from the sidelines and inspired me to keep going.
Since last year, I have “leveled up” and I invested in a card reader which proved very nifty for those who chose to purchase my book but didn’t have cash. I’m very happy about that investment as it proved handy. Some were fans of the literary arts and others offered me kindness and a chance.
I’ll leave you with this: the second of six key leadership qualities that promotes “a positive direction of progress,” as per Rosabeth Moss Kanter, is never give up (Tedx, 2013).
So, I’m glad I've decided to not give up.
At a point in my career as a poet/author/writer, I felt like giving up. After the first few years of selling my book, I reached a stalemate. I wasn’t making sales. I didn’t feel like I was moving forward. People kept asking me for a book I hadn’t yet written and it was easy to feel at that time, to feel “washed up.” I thought, “Is this all I got?” But, thanks to motivating words from my relatives and the continued kindness and generosity from supporters who purchased from my store (and flooded me with kind words), I managed to keep on keeping on. I’ve revitalized my brand added new content and media and expanded my store. I no longer feel “washed up,” and rather I feel proud and my recent endeavor has relit my entrepreneurial spirit.
More importantly, I changed my thinking. My worth as a poet/author/writer isn’t dependent on monetary goals. It’s not about the sales, per se. It’s about the chance and the opportunity to influence, motivate, and inspire others. For those who tell me that they are inspired by my work, that moves me. It gives me the courage to keep going and to think that one day I will touch the masses, change lives, or, at the very least, plant a little seed of hope in others like myself whoever planned on giving up. Every sale that’s tendered is a chance to fulfill that goal and hopefully, one day, change the world.
It’s a lofty goal and these are lofty words but it’s less about the money, the riches, and the glory - it’s more about hope, love, and growth.
So,
To the woman who complimented my website and gave me advice - thank you. I’m going to take it.
To those who wished me well and encouraged me to keep going - thank you. I’m going to do that.
And to the woman who said life as a poet/author is hard - thank you. I needed to hear that.
It is hard. It is an uphill battle. But you know what? I’m not giving it up.
As I said in my poem, “Monument” goes:
I may never finish.
I may never finish.
I may never finish.
But may I never stop.
You can read my poem, “Monument,” on my blog page entitled Where am I? In the words of the great Rocky Balboa, “It's not about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.”
Thanks, y’all for being here with me on this path of life.
Until next time.
That’s all from,
TheWomynWhoWrites
References
Tedx (2013, January 7). Six keys to leading positive change: Rosabeth Moss Kanter at TEDxBeaconStreet [Video].https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owU5aTNPJbs&t=3s
The First Thing You Have to Do? Well, Show Up!
In the Tedx Talks video, “Six Keys to Leading Positive Change,” Rosabeth Moss Kanter speaks about six key leadership qualities that encourage “a positive direction of progress.”
The first of these qualities?
Showing up!
The other day I decided I was going to make a change. I had been advertising some new inventory on my online store, shopthewomynwhowrites.com. I hadn’t had any purchases. So, a novel idea struck me. How about I take it to the streets? I had the opportunity to pass by a preschool every morning during my routine traavels. I figured that would be a good opportunity to engage with others in hope of selling my wares - new 2022 calendars.
The day of, I sorely wanted to stay in bed. I was anxious and doubtful about this new venture of mine. I almost backed out of the idea altogether. However, I managed to pull myself together. I packed up a few calendars and took them along on the trip over. I stood awkwardly in the street, trying to make a sale. I was very anxious and it was harder than I thought. I've learned from this experience that selling is no easy task. I had hoped that the straggling mothers and fathers dropping off their children would want a funky new calendar hanging on their walls, considering the upcoming new year. Some people shrugged me off while others appeared interested but didn’t have any cash. At the time, I couldn’t accept the card because my square reader wasn’t working. Regardless, I decided to keep going. I challenged myself to speak to almost everyone on the road. Soon the road was pretty much empty apart from the occasional car that drove by and so I decided to stroll. I took a left and then a right and I talked to a few passer-byes, including a man sitting on a porch. Everyone declined. I winded up in a park. It was a beautiful Wednesday morning. The sun shone on the water and seagulls flew overhead. I interrupted a woman in her morning zen . She said, “No thanks.” Standing at the dock, I saw a man with his dog. Discouraged, I didn’t want to interact with him, but I decided to muster up the spirit and I approached him saying, “Would you be interested in a 2022 calendar?”
Teasing, he said, “Maybe.”
So, after a ten-minute or so dialogue, I walked out of that interaction with one less calendar and my first sale of the day. That man gave me some insight and pointers. I appreciated the advice.
He would end up being my only sale of the day despite further efforts.
After his purchase (and a donation), I was able to purchase more products for my store. However, I left that day with something more important - hope.
“Your presence makes a difference,” Ms. Kanter states.
Doing something completely out of the norm led to a “positive direction of progress.”
The next event went even better.
I can’t wait to share that experience as well.
So, I write this to say (with tears in my eyes), don’t be afraid to show up.
It matters.
As always, with love,
TheWomynWhoWrites.
References
Tedx (2013, January 7). Six keys to leading positive change: Rosabeth Moss Kanter at TEDxBeaconStreet [Video].https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owU5aTNPJbs&t=3s
What’s New? Not much really.
“But I won't slip I won't fall, just get a grip and hold on.” ~ J. Cole 🎶
Hi y’all it’s been a minute but I’m writing this blog post on the heels of my newest feature to TheWomynWhoWrites brand - TheWomynWhoWritesWednesdays - an IG Live experience!
I planned to do an IG Live since the Fall of last year to start in early 2022. I had thought it over for a while, encouraged by my brother (RicktheWriter7 on IG for anyone who wants to follow him). Pros were that I would get to engage with my supporters, get to try something new, and put myself out there (in hopes of gaining more followers and traction to my store and website). The cons though? The possibility of embarrassment or losing my audience’s interest. All these thoughts played in my head and I was hella nervous at the sheer idea of showing my face on live camera for the world to see. However, my frère, ever the encouraging one, sent me videos on YouTube about the process of live streaming. Those videos helped a lot, quite frankly. I took notes, and once again with the help of my brother, wrote a bullet note list of all the topics I would be covering in hopefully 20 mins or less! And it was a success! I showed up on time at 06:00 p.m. and was greeted by one guest. I wasn’t shocked, however. A YouTuber stated that when she first went live, she would have nobody in the audience so I was prepared for the same experience. Luckily I got four attendees and great feedback. I didn’t mind the intimate setting and two of my dear followers/supporters said they wanted to tune in for the next one. I managed to save the video and upload it on YouTube. I’m not Madonna yet so who would want to tune into the random live stream of a random girl on the internet I’m hoping with all the effort I’m putting into my content, the price will pay off and I will get more followers who will spur me on to keep doing what I’m doing. Overall, I think it went great! I made a few mistakes but now I’ll be more prepared for next time and yes - I do plan on scheduling the next IG Live and watching my stories is the best way to find out when.
I’ve never felt more alive! A constant stream of ideas and material comes to me. I just need to work on being patient more and realizing I can’t get everything done in a day and that in life there are evidently faux pas and lessons to be learned on a daily. Right now I’m trying to promote a new Valentine’s Day bundle on my store whilst posting engaging reels, tik tok videos, and YouTube shorts. And if I thought social media was consuming before! It’s a lot of work but it’s fun work and work that I enjoy doing especially when I see someone take interest in what I say or my work.
I have upcoming poetry videos as well. I just need to create an order for how I want my content to appear in a manner that is cohesive and fitting of the brand.
So that’s it, folks. I really don’t have much to add. Apart from that, I’m just trying not to “lose my balance” in the words of J. Cole, as I learn how to take care of both myself and my budding brand. If you’re reading this, make sure to check out my YouTube page where you can watch content from tik that I’m steadily importing. I hope you find my videos entertaining and there’s plenty more where that came from. As always, be sure to check out shopthewomynwhowrites.com if you haven’t already to browse any items that you might enjoy.
Overall, I’m proud of myself! And you should be proud of yourself too for any good deeds done, chances taken, and challenges faced. ☺
Thanks for being a part of this experience.
Hope to see you again.
With sincere thanks and gratitude, 💟🎆
TheWomynWhoWrites
P>S>: If you’re interested in live streaming, take a look at these helpful videos below. I’ll update this list as I go so make sure to check back here regularly or I can e-mail this to you. Take care.
Link one. (I liked this one. I thought it was very helpful 👍🏿).
Link three. (How to schedule a IG Live. Neat feature! Pretty cool of IG to incorporate that and makes sharing information a lot more streamlined.)
Happy New Year: We've Come a Long Way
“The good news is you came a long way. The bad news is you wentt the wrong way.” ~ J. Cole.
It’s 2022~ We’ve come so far - through a pandemic, life changes. daily stresses, health scares, and much more. Hurrah. We made it. Life comes full circle. Another year begins.
So it starts - another year of goal setting and dream building.
I spent New Year’s at home with family and even managed to get some DoorDash in. It was a pretty quiet night but I managed to see a few fireworks so that was nice,. Apart from that I’ve been enjoying the peace of the new year, working on new content for my various social media channels, and releasing purposeless relationships. 💃🏿
This time last year, I was not in a good place. Ridden with anxiety and depression, I wasn’t sure that I was going to make it. However, with the constant support from family, beloved friends, and a new therapist, I made it through. I am getting emotionally stronger each day and I feel better equipped to handle the many wrenches that life throws at me. I’m working on the ability to communicate effectively and hold difficult conversations in an empathetic way. Moreover, I’m embracing the “power of positivity” and I am learning more about how positive self-talk affects your daily life. Inspired by a video by The Outcome (2019) on Youtube, I’ve been actively trying to reframe my negative thoughts. I put this into practice on days where I have tedious tasks before me and I try to welcome the challenges instead of seeing them as a point of frustration. When I do this, I have a more pleasant experience, feel less burned out, and am happier overall. Staying positive takes a lot of intention and it is very much like working out a muscle - it takes continuous, repetitive action to achieve results. I’m currently working on a short video detailing how I changed my mindset and subsequently changed my life, up until this point. I’m proud of how far I’ve come (although I still have a long way to go).
This is a season of pruning, mending, restarting, and regrowth. I welcome it.
Only God knows what this season has in store for us and I’m excited to see it through.
Don’t miss out on my content and more. Make sure to follow TheWomynWhoWrites on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and Youtube for the full experience.
Ciao for now.
Happy New Year.
Cheers.🥂
References
The Outcome. (2019, June 2). Stop negative self-talk - Listen to this everyday [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWDo-y-tK7k
Happy Birthday to Me: Wanksgiving and Champagne
My birthday marks off the beginning of December - a magical month (to quote an ex-coworker on Instagram). My Wanksgiving (yes, I said, Wanksgiving) came and went. It was a pleasant, hassle free day (to quote my mom). My sibling and I went last-minute grocery shopping before coming home. What’s a Wanksgiving you ask? My take on the American holiday celebration. Instead of running around like a chicken without its head off, making sure everything is perfect, I chose to accept imperfection. After coming home and lugging in the groceries, I took the time to scrub the cabinets clean and wash the dishes. I put together a meal - shrimp, chicken, two types of pasta (one being Kraft mac & cheese), peas, corn, mash potatoes - but no turkey. Everything was delicious and we dug into that chocolate crème pie I mentioned in my last blog post.
Afterward, we enjoyed the rest of the night and watched a new movie. It was all perfect - at least to me.
My birthday was pretty much the same. I did a few errands and pit stops before coming home to celebrate with my family. All in all, it was a great day. I’m glad to say I made it! After the events of last year, I couldn’t imagine getting to this point. I’m glad hung in there. I couldn’t have done so without the love of family and friends - many of whom reached out to me with their birthday wishes. I was truly touched and blessed. A dear childhood friend asked me how I felt about being older. I get called ma’am a lot more than I like, but I’ve accepted it as a part of life and it doesn’t really bother me anymore. I’m not as limber as I’d like to be but that’s probably from me not setting aside enough time to exercise. I’m a lot wiser now. I like that! But where was this wisdom when I needed it? :-D All jokes aside, getting older is a blessing. I truly mean that. After hearing about the passing of a young person I know from an aggressive illness, I knew that it wouldn’t be right of me to say anything less. This life here is all we got. I feel as if I have lost a lot but gained a whole new identity. Despite the rainy days, we have to do our best to realize that above those storm clouds, it’s sunny (my ex-therapist told me that ). I still get moody and blue from time to time (who doesn’t right?), reflecting on past mistakes or hurt but sometimes you have to smile, even if you don’t necessarily feel that way on the inside.
So, this is a new blog post - albeit a short one. Happy birthday to me and to anyone else who made it through another year. If all you did was survive, you did pretty great.!
Do what you have to do to get through the day.
So cheers. 🍾 We’re still here.
As always, with love,
TheWomynWhoWrites.
P.S.: My cousin sent me a bottle of champagne and I got to take a sip - yummy. Celebrating my mom’s birthday today. #birthdaybuddies
P.S.S: I bought more tea :) I’m a happy lady. More on that later.
These Are a Few of My Favorite Budget Items
Hey, y’all.
Welcome back to my blog. For those who are new, I’m happy to have you! Today’s blog post is about a few favorite things that I’ve enjoyed snacking on recently.
If you’re a follower of my tik tok page, also under TheWomynWhoWrites, you’ll see that I created a few budget breakfast videos for like-minded individuals like myself.
I’ve managed to grab some great budget buys lately and I’ll be sharing with you a few of my favorites.
First off, I have to recommend Celestial Seasonings’ Honey Vanilla Chamomile, herbal, caffeine-free tea. It is oh so good, especially paired with 100% pure wildflower honey (Gunter’s). I’ve been drinking tea avidly and have tried a few of them but this one takes the cake. Chamomile is associated with a lot of health benefits such as wound healing, improved sleep, and improved gastrointestinal health (WebMd, n.d.). This tea is very soothing and calming and always manages to improve my moods. Sure to please. Give it a try if you find it. I got it on my Shoprite run for around four dollars.
Next on the list is Betty Crocker’s Mug Treats. Mug treats are new to me. With easy-to-follow instructions, Betty Crocker’s Mug Treats makes cake baking a breeze. Simply pour the cake mix into a microwave-safe mug, add water or milk, stir, and microwave. I end up with a delightful mugful of sugary goodness. The box comes with frosting (take it or leave it) but the treat is definitely good without it for those minding their waists (like myself). I’d recommend it.
I’ve also been frequenting my local dollar tree. Two dollar tree buys I’ve snagged lately are Betty Crocker’s Suddenly Pasta Salad (Classic) and Edward’s Chocolate Creme Pie. The sudden pasta salad, classic version, is so good and easy to make. The seasoning mix is very yummy. I add a few more ingredients, but this pasta salad has saved me on so many occasions when I’m in a bind. Between caretaking, working, and creating content for fans and followers, I need something on hand and easy to make. Last but not least is Edward’s Chocolate Creme Pie. Dollar tree sells single slices in the frozen section. Light and fluffy, this cake is so good with only a few calories to boot! It is a great welcome home after a long day. I grabbed a whole pie for about seven bucks at Target the other day! So worth it! I’m saving it for a special occasion. :-)
There you have it, folks. Keep your eye open for these great buys next time you’re shopping or browsing instacart.
Thanks again,
TheWomynWhoWrites
<3
P.S.: I managed to snag a box of four mug treats at Target for 2.99. So yummy. I’ve tried both the rainbow cake and soft-baked chocolate chip cookie dough. The chocolate chip cookie dough is phenomenal. Can’t wait for y’all to try it.
P.S.S: I’ve also dug into the pie! Couldn’t resist. ;-)
References
WebMd. (n.d.). Health benefits of chamomile. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-chamomile#1
Thoughts on Life…
Just now I was reminded of a memory as I was writing a thank you letter to a dear supporter of mine.
I was cutting the edges of a decorated computer paper.
I was reminded of art classes in elementary school.
Cutting colored craft paper with scissors, making cute borders – crinkle cut and scalloped edges.
Cutting, pasting, and collaging.
The best of times and I got to relive it again - just now.
It is what remains with us, buried deep underneath the surface.
Every encounter in our lives leaves an impression on us, even if we don’t realize it.
Let us all leave beautiful, lasting impressions with one another.
As always with love,
TheWomynWhoWrites
To Infinity & Beyond
I find myself in this else-space of my life.
An else-space. What is an else-space?
As per Maria Guarino talk on TedxAmherst, the elsespace “is a space where binaries like ‘well’ and ‘‘unwell’ do not exist and a place where it is okay to not be okay.”
Several changes in my life had resulted in me being briefly unemployed. Thank to my family’s help I’ve managed to stay afloat.
I joined the many women who left the labor force due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Kochhar & Bennet, 2021).
It’s been a taxing and yet rewarding moment in my life as I’m re-discovering aspects of myself that I have long put to the wayside. I have been designing and creating for my website, shopthewomynwhowrites.com. It’s been fun and pleasant! I’ve also recently taken joy in couponing. I often go to return bottles at the local Shoprite and I had a $10.65 saving on my groceries yesterday! Egads! I was so happy. I’ve started delivering via popular food delivery apps and it’s been a marginal but welcome income. It’s been great to be my own boss, even though I still have to scrimp and save. I’ve learned to go without and I’ve been developing self-awareness of my spending habits and doing some re-working of myself, internally. How do you feel about living frugally? Tommy Bryson’s “A Guide to Frugal Living: How to Save More Money,” has given me a lot of food for thought.
Recently, with all the extra time I’ve had, I’ve managed to focus more on my faith (although I still stumble and fall every day).
Overall, I’ve encountered several blessings. Yet, sometimes I get blue and I think about fallouts that resulted from the past year. I get regretful of the past which still lingers in my mind and catches me at unexpected moments. I have an ever-growing to-do list and the chores never seem to end. Somedays I feel so tired, I could stay in bed all day. However, I try to focus my mind on all the positives of the moments and to keep hoping that more will come my way. So that’s a little about me, TheWomynWhoWrites. Join me on my journey in life. Ciao for now.
References:
Kochhar, R. & Bennet, J. (2021, April 14). U.S. labor market inches back from the COVID-19 shock, but recovery is far from complete. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/04/14/u-s-labor-market-inches-back-from-the-covid-19-shock-but-recovery-is-far-from-complete/
TED. (2021, May). The ElseSpace...a talk for anyone who has ever felt unwell. https://www.ted.com/talks/maria_guarino_the_elsespace_a_talk_for_anyone_who_has_ever_felt_unwell
Tommy Bryson. (2021, October 8). A guide to frugal living: How to save more money [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8UpElHaMy0