What a great birthday weekend this has been for me! I cannot express my appreciation enough for those who took the time to reach out and say ‘Happy Birthday’ and to those who I had the chance to celebrate my birthday weekend with. I hadn’t heard from some of them in years and I am really glad to see that they are happy and healthy. I was excited to hear about new children born and seeing daughters and sons of my friends and wedding photos. From coast to coast ,what a vibe! My people who I kicked it with this weekend–Chu, Randy, Patrick, Gina, Trish–Thanks for hanging tough with me! We hit Casino Parties at the Citrus Club, Re-invention Parties, Corona’s –the Cigar Spot, the drink count was crazy, and you put me into a food coma on Sunday Night!!! I know we all work 50-65 hour weeks, so it was no easy feat, but you are the reason why I had a great time!
On a more sobering note, I didn’t hear from people whom I have considered friends from over the years. That was a bit of shock to me. This last year has been a rocky one, so at times I can take things a bit too seriously, but I was climbing up hill, and that made it worth the struggle. Old friends have faded, new friends have appeared and even some friendships, that I thought were irreparable, were mended!
So at last, it is now quiet. I now have had a chance to reflect a bit on not only the last year, but the last 26 years, and more recently, the last 36 hours. This last year has been an emotionally and spiritually draining one. I took the road less traveled and am carving my own path in a new area, with no family around me. I cannot tell you the doubts, frustrations, and even loneliness that i have had to battle over the course of this year. I have realized that there is no one that can replace the team and family that I left in DC, but I have also realized that there is a reason I left DC, and holding on to times past isn’t fair on myself or those who have made the effort to become my friends and family in the south! It only slows my progression, it only makes those new people around me begin to feel unappreciated. So my focus is forward.
To promises I made to my friends and family back at home, I will hold myself to them until they are accomplished or I die trying.
Thank you to my friends and fam in the South. Shout out to the local camp, the super friends, and my new co-workers at evolveALOUD with whom I have the opportunity to build better friendships with.
I am going to end this first entry with a quote that moved me when I read it. It is from Tyler Perry’s Journal in regard to his Mountain Climbing trip in Hawaii:
“Sometimes in life dreams are hard to follow, like that climb. You don’t know how high you’re going or even if you’re moving, but every step, even when you can’t see what’s behind you, will take you closer to your goals. It’s in the climb. I know you may be struggling right now, but you’re in the climb; things may be hard right now, but you’re in the climb; people may not believe in you, but it’s part of the climb. They may take shots at you, but stay in the climb; you may have to stand alone, but you’re in the climb. Even if you’re not where you want to be right now, I want to say to you what she said to me, ‘This is the best part, now turn around.’ Look how far you’ve come. God has not brought you this far to leave you. Stay in the climb.”
-Tyler Perry