I laughed. I cried. I reminisced. And I came pretty close to doing a cartwheel when it was over.
Read MoreEasy Writing Prompts to Kickstart Creativity and Productivity
If you’ve been paying attention to this blog, you probably already know I did a 30-day writing challenge last month. If you haven’t, I’ll tell you about it.
What do you do when you have trouble coming up with content for your blog?
Well, I don’t know what to tell you because that’s never been my problem. When I initially began sharing the idea of my personal lifestyle blog website, most people asked, “what are you going to write about?” And, even more commonly, “how are you going to keep coming up with stuff to write about?!”
People couldn’t fathom having endless ideas and thought I’d eventually run out of topics to cover on a lifestyle blog. That couldn’t be further from the truth for me because sometimes I feel like a maniac the way my mind is always racing with a gazillion thoughts.
Having too many ideas created an alternate problem for me, I often found (and still find) myself not knowing where to start. I don’t want to claim ADHD, but I saw a YouTube video where they said that people with ADHD brains get overwhelmed by too many tasks and then do nothing.
See, different problems, but the same problem… words not getting on the page. What do we, those of us that struggle to get words on a page daily, what do we do? I’ve got something for us.
How to start writing every day?
If you’re having trouble writing daily, try a writing challenge.
For those that struggle coming up with ideas of what to write about, find a writing challenge with a set amount of days and corresponding writing prompts.
For me, a person with too many ideas, a writing challenge with a list of given writing prompts helped narrow my focus and not be overwhelmed. There was no guesswork involved. Indecisiveness couldn’t cripple me. It was very simple. Today is day [blank], you’re writing about [blank]. Easy. Done.
30 Days of Writing Prompts That Are Easy To Write To and Will Help You Be More Productive
Here’s a writing prompt for every day of the month. And, if you still need help coming up with something to write, or you’re just curious, check out how I responded to each writing prompt. I’ve linked my corresponding posts. (Yes, there are a few without a hyperlink. Hey, I said I did the challenge and it helped me write more consistently, not that I magically became the model writer.)
Day 1: List 10 things that make you really happy.
Day 2: Write something that someone told you about yourself that you never forgot.
Day 3: What are your top three pet peeves?
Day 4: Write about someone who inspires you.
Day 5: List five places you want to visit.
Day 6: Five ways to win your heart.
Day 7: List 10 songs that you’re loving right now.
Day 8: Share something you struggle with.
Day 9: Post some words of wisdom that speak to you.
Day 10: Write about something for which you feel stongly.
Day 11: Something you always think, “What if…” about.
Day 12: Write about five blessings in your life.
Day 13: What are you excited about?
Day 14: Post your favorite movies that you never get tired of watching.
Day 15: Bullet-point your whole day.
Day 16: Something that you miss.
Day 17: Post about your zodiac sign, and whether or not it fits you.
Day 18: Post 30 facts about yourself.
Day 19: Discuss your first love.
Day 20: Post about three celebrity crushes.
Day 21: What three lessons do you want your children to learn from you?
Day 22: Put your music on shuffle and post the first ten songs.
Day 23: A letter to someone, anyone.
Day 24: Write about a lesson you’ve learned the hard way.
Day 25: Think of any word. Search it on google images. Write something inspired by the 11th image.
Day 26: Write about an area in your life that you’d like to improve.
Day 27: Conversely, write about something that’s kicking ass right now.
Day 28: Post five things that make you laugh-out-loud.
Day 29: What are your goals for the next 30 days?
Day 30: Your highs and lows for the month.
Disclaimer: If my intro didn’t make it clear, I did not come up with these writing prompts. I found this list of 30 writing prompts on the Internet, on a WordPress graphic I came across on Google Images. It is not mine; I don’t want the Google gods mad at me, thinking I’m plagiarizing. Hopefully the bots understand what I did here. List source: WordPress blog, “Life, Entirely”
30-Day Writing Challenge
Don’t they say that it takes 21 days to build a habit? Well then, this 30 should be good for good measure. I won’t hold you in this closing. It’s time for you to get those writing thoughts to percolating.
Share this post with someone you know. This is great for anyone.
You don’t have to be a writer to give this 30-day writing challenge a try. Practicing consistency in one simple task can help you with building better habits overall. The writing prompts, being all about you, can help you do a little introspection, get to know yourself a little better. Or, it can be a nightly moment of calm before bed, instead of scrolling on Instagram filling your brain with nonsense about folks you don’t even like.
Thank you for being here, riders. I appreciate you.
Way Up, I Feel Blessed
Why do I keep wanting to say it’s August? Say like my grandma, “don’t rush yourself to an early grave, nah child!”
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 12
Taking this first week of July to do the days I missed in June, that way, all 30 writing prompts are completed.
Hopped off the 4-wheelers at a family cookout situation a moment ago, hopefully getting ready to eat soon, and am an advocate of putting the phones DOWN when in social settings, so we’ll have to make this quick.
Riding ATVs out in a rural part of Georgia.
Writing Prompt: Write about 5 blessings in your life.
I opened yesterday’s blog post talking about how good God is.
It could’ve been me… with no clothes, no shoes, and no food to eat
— Could’ve Been by Kirk Franklin
Waking up and doing whatever tf I want to do is blessing number one.
When I get back to L.A., it’ll have been about two months I’ll have been gone.
I didn’t plan this adventure; I just been letting the wind blow me as it may.
My Month Was a Sh*t Show
Ain’t God good?!
I need somebody that’s with me.
AIN’T GOD GOOD?!
[congregation in my head responds] Yes, He is!
I’m sitting in a rocking chair gazing out at the aircrafts lined on the tarmac at Charlotte Douglas International.
I’m alive and well, good and breathing, with food in my stomach. And not any old food. Hot food! When I bit into my sandwich, I could see the steam coming up from the chicken breast, or whatever that is Chick-fil-A puts in between those soft buns. Mmm hmm.
I'm in good spirits, I’m feeling good. Let’s get it on.
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 30
Day… THIRTY?! Wow, if I had been on my shiz-nye-ee thee entire month, I’d be completing my 30-day writing challenge for June. But nooooo, I had to be a procrastinating princess that ain’t do what she was ‘posed to do! Now, my efforts in this battle have to rollover into July. Aïe aïe aïe!
Writing Prompt: Your highs and lows for the month
Hm, does the writing prompt want me to respond in regards to this writing challenge? Or, is it asking me about my life outside of blogging? Being that this is my own personal lifestyle blog, and I assigned myself to this month-long task, I suppose it’s up to my discretion. … If you’ve read previous posts in the 30-day writing challenge, you may not be surprised that’ll I’ll do both.
Writing high
Hold up, let me go scroll thru the whole section of 30-day writing challenge posts. It’s definitely going to be one of the ones in the beginning. I told y’all, my ENFP personality type is good for starting strong.. then falling off. [face scrunches up]
Okay, yeah, without a doubt, day 1 of this month’s blogging journey is my high. The writing prompt, “list 10 things that make you really happy,” is a good one, and I seriously went TF innnnnnn. It’s more than a list. It starts with a list, then it turns into an essay on happiness. I know bloggers are making money with flat listicles, but I like full (REAL) articles.
I spent ‘bout 3 work days on day 1’s post. Please go check it out. No, PLEASE! Click on it below:
My Grandmother's Laughter, and Other Things That Make Me Really Happy
I need to share that one on Medium and pray the algorithms work in my favor. That’s a good one. Dang. I’m grinning, in a silly type of expression; I promise I’m not egotistical.
Writing low
Well, you miss every shot you don’t take. That’s what they say, hein?
My writing would have to be the days I missed. Like come on, girl, it was only 30 days and you only had to make yourself write on the given writing prompt for 30 minutes. Aaaaaaaaand your raggedy a** didn’t work a lick thee entire month. [inserts Martin telling Tommy he ain’t got no job]
Even the days where I rushed in the last moments before midnight, the blog post came out halfway decent. At least it was something. I did day 25’s “think of any word, search it on Google and write about the eleventh image” prompt while I was on FaceTime in all of 15 minutes and when I sent it to the person with whom I was on FaceTime, to my surprise, I was met with laughter and told how creative I am. That’s always interesting, as I don’t find myself to be creative.
Every day I skipped was another low. I could’ve done something, it would’ve been better than nothing.
Month’s low
I don’t know.
Not to sound like the old lady deaconess that I am on the inside, but, count it all joy.
I don’t really have lows, not that I hold onto anyway. I’m trying to think of what I’d consider a low and I really don’t know.
I mean, both my landlord and the credit card company may look at me like I’m stupid this upcoming payment cycle because I spent the past 7 weeks f’ing off around the South, spending money I don’t have to spend and not earning money I need to be earning, but hey.. [arms bend at elbow hands swing up, palms to the sky] They’ll be alright.
I’ve spent two months doing a whole lot of nothing that means a whole lot of something — not making any money, but spending time with loved ones. This photo was taken at a popular event in Atlanta called “The Shit Show” with one of my cousins, Rashan.
Oh, I let the flights for my girls’ trip DOUBLE from the original estimate I gave the girls, so I need to figure out where in the world I’m going to get another 7-thousand-dollars to give American Airlines.
And I’m sure I made another slew of poor decisions that aren’t coming to mind at this moment these past 30 days.
Child, I ain’t go’ let them worry me, ya hea?!
Month’s high
[cheek tilts toward shoulder, corners of mouth turn up, hands clench behind back, body twists from side-to-side, eyes gaze in direction of floor, then girlishly flip up…]
I met a boy.
It’s nothing serious. Obviously, it’s barely been weeks. But it’s fun. I allowed myself to open up. I’m dating. I’m actually dating a guy and being a total girl, calling him at the slightest inconvenience during the day and pillow-talking into the wee hours of the night until one person is snoring on the other end.
Do I see my life with him? Um…
Do I see myself having oodles and boodles of fun with him for as long as God sees fit? Absolutely. Even if it’s only for a couple more weeks, that’s cool, that’s still my high of this month.
What a sh*t show?!
And I enjoyed it.
Attending “The Shit Show” in Atlanta, an Apollo-styled series of performances by aspiring entertainers.
Like the event I attended last night in Atlanta, this month was an entertaining sh*t show.
Scroll thru all the posts from this month by clicking here: 30-day writing challenge.
Old People Are Funny AF
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 28
[Yawns] Whew child, the girl is feeling fatigued.
No extended intro today, how I was in the pet peeves post. Let’s get in here and out of here.
Related: Unfollowing People That Post Newborn Babies On Social Media, They're All Ugly
Writing Prompt: Post 5 things that make you laugh-out-loud.
It doesn’t take much to send me cackling and sending someone sitting next to me out of their seat. At a moment’s notice, I’ll yelp and my arm will extend to connect with whomever’s nearest. That being the case, why am I drawing a blank?
Oh, I know. Once again, that darn Granny.
1.A Sassy pants grandma
My 82-year-old grandmother with early onset dementia, who has been telling people she’s 28 (jokingly, but sometimes acting like she believes it), that doesn’t care WTF she says. Well, she cares, but I think she doesn’t always realize. For example, a “will you look at her head?! goodness!” in a not-so-low volume as we walk directly past a lady having a more-than-bad hair day.
@tekeyakrystal i love when old ppl keep it real #grandmasoftiktok #funnygrandma #caribbean #familyvacation #funnyoldlady #OutlanderChallenge #ilovemygrandma #granny ♬ original sound - T.K.
Above is one of Granny Mable’s many funny moments I happened to catch on camera (@tekeyakrystal TikTok).
2. My mother reenacted by her sister
My mother is a hoot all her own, but it especially tickles me when my Teedie (as we call aunts in New Orleans) impersonates her. As we were leaving the bowling alley a few days ago, I wish I would’ve caught it on video, but by the time I’d caught my breath from cackling, the moment had passed. My Teedie Terri was telling the story of my mother checking, then choking, a lady behind an unpaid loan.
3. Making fun of hypersensitive people
When I was in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago, my cousin’s baby’s daddy exposed me to comedian George Carlin, and oh, what a delight?! He was immediately my vibe when he began ragging on how stinking hypersensitive the world is becoming, resulting in idiotic soft language.
4. People making fun of me (accurately)
It really tickles me when people accurately tease me. “Yeah, I left T.K. over there talking to a brick wall.” That’s funny. Lord knows I’m good for sparking up conversation with anybody.
“Uhnt uhn, juicy mouth, not over my food!” This is a tad embarrassing.. My salivary glands tend to overproduce.
“Well dang, you ‘bout know my whole life story and social security number; tf is even your last name?!” This one is especially tickling because it’s touching. At a glance, being extremely outgoing, I can seem open or oversharing. People with a keener eye, however, will notice that I’m pretty closed off and highly selective about what I choose to share and with whom I choose to share. It’s humorous when someone catches this and calls me out on it.
5. A real knee-slapper movie
Most movies that intend to be comedy, like anything with Kevin Hart in it, don’t evoke a single chuckle from my belly. However, the few that do, do! I’m no film fanatic. I can’t recall movies like magic bunnies out of a hat. I know there have been some where I actually LOL’d though. Hm, I think Life was one. Hey, it’s been a minute. Okay, yep, yep, just looking for a gif to embed into this blog post, Life is definitely a movie that makes me laugh aloud.
Ah-hee, ah-hee, ah-hee! [inserts bunny] That’s all folks!
Check out more of this 30-day writing challenge, with a range of prompts producing my laugh-out-loud responses, by clicking here.
Real B*tches F*ck With Me
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 27
That’s wild. I’m really nearing the end. Twenty-eight. Twenty-nine. Thirty. After today, of course. And then, I have to go back and do days 12, 18, 22, and 24. And after that, I’ll do a summary page, listing all the writing prompts of this 30-day writing challenge, including a hyperlink to each corresponding blog post. Goodness. Looks like I’m not that near the end after all. That’s what happens when I don’t crack open my planner for weeks; I don’t realize how unproductive I’ve been. But, we’re not going to get on the topic of productivity (or the lack thereof) because we talked about that yesterday.
Related: A Gluttonous, Procrastinating Princess
What are we talking about today?
Writing Prompt: Conversely, write about something that’s kicking a** right now.
These transitions just write themselves, don’t they?
Last night this time, I was sobbing on my keys about my lack of productivity in pursuit of my passions. That’s an area of my life that has quite a bit of room for improvement. When I think about an alternate area of my life, where I’m doing my thug-thizzle, it would have to be relationships. My romantic life is on the up and up, but don’t quote me on this a week from now because Lord knows it’s good for fluctuating. And, I’d have to pay myself on the back in the friends department of relationships as well.
Blatantly honest with myself and others, in a previous blog post of this 30-day writing challenge, I told you how I’m All F*cked Up, especially when it comes to vulnerability. I tend to be closed off, and/or withhold, when it comes to deeper or softer emotions. As of late, it seems I’ve had a bit of a turnaround. I’ve made conscious efforts to think about how I feel and share those feelings when appropriate. Writing has helped considerably… dare I say, tremendously, even! What else could it be? I spill words on paper, and in turn, that habit has spilled over into my everyday life. My body is even more open, more receptive. I still have a tendency to be on edge, but I’m readily able to find calm in my physical.
Being more vulnerable, having a better relationship with me, has allowed me to have a better relationship with others. I’ve long been a good friend to others, but now I’m learning how to let people be a good friend to me. And, respecting myself enough to distance myself from those who are not.
My relationships are good.
Real n***** f*** with me, and I don't give a f*** who don't
- Lil’ Wayne
People really f*ck with me, and I’m learning to care less about those who don’t. I want to give my energy where my energy is being reciprocated. I want to be loved the way I love. And that’s what it seems I’m achieving in my relationships right now. It’s possible I’ve had this, but had to pull out some weeds to better admire my beautiful garden.
We’re watering one another. We’re growing. We’re glowing. And whoever is not, is going.
Thank you for being here. My relationship with you, my riders (my readers), is growing too. That’s very important to me. Please, share this blog with someone today.
A Gluttonous, Procrastinating Princess
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 26
Whew, 11:51pm.
Someone spent an unusual amount of time on Twitter this evening after being forced into overhearing the wretched BET Awards, that I’d totally attend if I were invited.
No more time to waste. Can I write a response to a prompt in 5 minutes? Let’s see.
Writing Prompt: Write about an area in your life that you’d like to improve.
What?! They couldn’t have given me an easier topic today.
I have more areas to improve than a little bit.
Which of these horrendous habits should we attack first:
my procrastination problem?
my gluttonous eating?
my short temper?
my lack of cool?
my disabling indecisiveness?
my reluctance to vulnerability?
my overall undisciplined nature?
Honey child, the list could go on.
It’s 11:57pm now.
I suppose the last bullet would be my answer if I had to make it one composed answer.
The area of my life that I’d like to improve is my discipline. If I were more disciplined, I wouldn’t procrastinate as much and I’d get more done. I would bite my tongue more often, choosing my battles, and not immediately popping off the moment someone does something I don’t like. If I were more disciplined, I wouldn’t sit and eat chocolate until I couldn’t eat anymore.
I get a whole lot of pep in my step when it’s time to go eat (especially when I’m not paying), or a whole lot of hustle in my muscle when I want to go lay up under bae. Where is that energy when it's time to work?!
Yeah, that’s it. That’s what I need to improve. I need to be more disciplined.
If saying “discipline” is too broad, and not necessarily “an area” of my life, I’ll narrow it down to career path productivity. I really could be “further” (whatever tf that is) along in my career if I was putting in more work. I AM A GREAT WRITER GOT DAWG IT! And my work should be more largely seen, but no, Miss Ma’am doesn’t want to work like she needs to work to get there. There’s no reason, with my God-given gift of gab, that I shouldn’t be published in a major publication, or have made legitimate earnings writing for clients, or be regularly receiving 100,000 blog website pageviews. There is NO reason.
I know this and I have to say it aloud to make sure I know it. I need to stop being scared of it, or whatever tf is going on!
(I pressed publish at 11:59pm, then swung my finger over to edit to finish this thought. It’s now 12:12pm, so let’s wrap this up, since I’m about to hit the 30-minute mark.)
Related: 30 minutes of writing for 30 days
I need to be more productive in pursuit of my passions.
You want to write for a living from whatever corner of the Earth you feel like being on at the moment? Well, girl, WRITE! Double-you. Tee. Eff!
I make myself sick. I do.
But wait, T.K., remember, positive self-talk, like Dr. Caryn Winters taught in Interpersonal Communication.
I don’t know. I don’t know.
That’s what I need to improve. My good God, that’s what I need to improve. Because, at this moment, as it stands, I’m thee only one holding myself back. Now if I go producing like crazy, putting myself out there, entering writing contest, guest writing for other small/independent media outlets, really start beating the pavement, and THEN I still don’t get anywhere, well, then, I’ve done my part. And would that mean maybe I’m not that good? Is that what I’m afraid of?
Feel free to scroll through other posts of my 30-day writing challenge.
Sweet, But Deadly
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 25
Okay, T.K., back away from the edge of the deck. The shore is near, you don’t have to dive off the side. We’ll be docking soon.
Yeah, I missed yesterday, and what? Ugh. Okay, look, it was my Granny’s 82nd birthday. Is that an excuse? Maybe it would be if I hadn’t sat around the house all day doing nothing until the evening when we went to celebrate.
Look, let’s go.
Writing Prompt: Think of any word, search it on Google images. Write something inspired by the 11th image.
Hm.
I suppose “hm” isn’t a word, but that’s the first sound that came from my mouth when reading today’s writing prompt.
I’m on FaceTime right now, I know, possibly not best practice for building a daily writing habit, but I don’t feel like hanging up, so I have my friend being quiet while I take 30 minutes to write. Being a person easily crippled by too many choices, I’ll read the writing prompt to my friend and let my friend give me a word to type into Google.
Strawberry Shortcake
Laughter roared from my chest when my friend said this word, or this two-word name.
First, my mind went to diabetes and how big pharma wants us addicted to sugar because the lifelong health complications from unhealthy eating is what keeps them rich. However, that’s likely because a moment ago I was giving my grandmother a bedtime snack after taking her blood sugar, giving her her medication, and refilling her medicine tray for the upcoming week.
When my aunt got home from work, she was telling me how I can’t take it upon myself to not give my grandmother her insulin injection and/or adjust it as I see fit. I’m aware I don’t have a medical degree, and her doctor has prescribed whatever he has prescribed, but I disagree. I can, and I should, adjust her insulin as I see fit, as I’m monitoring it morning, noon, and night, because sometimes she doesn’t need 24 units of [bleeping] Novolin! However, that is her mother after all, and she is my grandmother’s primary caregiver, so who am I to hop into the equation rebalancing it?!
That’s the main reason I wish I’d “made it” by now. I told you all in a previous blog post, in so many words, that IDGAF about that “gotta do this” and “gotta achieve that” nor “gotta have this” bologna requirements we place on ourselves anymore. I believe the purpose of life is simply to live.
Related: All I Have To Do Is Stay Black And Die
There is one thing I do gaf about though, and that’s Mable, my grandmother. I beat myself up that I’m not at a place that I can do for her how I’d like to do for her, and it sickens me even more that I’m in my late twenties and she’s in her early eighties and I’m still nowhere near where I need to be for her, for my family, for my people.
I want to put my grandmother in a house and have a non-relative caregiver on payroll, in addition to a nutritionist and physical therapist, keeping her diet and exercise spectacular. If she had that, if I could do that, she wouldn’t need to take a boatload of pills and viles of injections, ruining other parts of her body while it tries to fix another.
My grandmother has never been a drinker, but her kidneys are at a 21-percent function rate.. why? Modern medicine. It’s a scam.
The body can heal itself. God knew what He was doing, but no, us humans want to go fixing things.
Child, I could go on, but it’s 11:57pm now.
Something else is sweet, but deadly too..
Me.
Myself was the next thing to come to my mind while looking at that beautiful, slutty image of a strawberry shortcake. Yum. Mm. It’s good, hein? Watch out now, ‘cause it could be a silent killer.
11:59pm. Pressing publish. Goodnight.
A Letter to Little Baby
Twenty ‘til midnight, I have a headache and I want to be in bed. Do I sound like a complainer? I’m not. I’m a campaigner. [corny open-mouth wink]
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 23
Ou, it’s June 23rd, I knew that because my grandmother’s birthday is tomorrow and a bit earlier this evening I was making plans for my little lady with 82 years of age. I’m down South visiting her for the occasion, as I’ve had the tendency to do my entire adult life.
Related: Took My Granny to the Gym with Me (TikTok video)
Whew, it’s 15 ‘til the hour now. Come on, writing prompt.
Writing Prompt: A letter to someone, anyone
Hey you,
I love you. I don’t want to hesitate, I don’t want to fluff it up, or fill the space with words leading up to it. I want to tell you now, and I want to tell you later.
You’re troubled. You’re tough. You’re hard. You’re mean. You’re the black sheep
…right now.
One day, you’ll be the golden child.
It feels good when Mrs. Mazzone, your 3rd grade teacher, pauses by your seat in class and gently scratches her long nails in short strokes across the top of your back, doesn’t it? You don’t feel affection often, do you? You’re not like other children. And as a result, you’re not treated like other children. Or, is it the other way around? You’re not treated like other children, and as a result, you’re not like other children.
The sweet preciousness of youth is in you, but your exterior has become hardened.
You don’t know how to handle your emotions. You’re only a little baby.
You’re nonchalant. You don’t care.. at least, that’s what your mouth says. “I don’t know and I don’t care,” you tell the social worker lady, or whatever it is that Mrs. Barbara Bous does. But you do care.
You crawl to the back row of the minivan, get darn near under the seat, and weep. I want to wipe your tears. I want to hug you. I want to hold you. I want to fix you. I’m working my way to you.
I’m going to get to you, and I’m going to save you. I’m reaching out, writing you this letter, in hopes you’ll let me in.
But then again, what can I do? I’m only a little baby.
Three Things My Child Needs To Know
Dragging my feet, child. Dragging my feet.
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 21
Wait, don’t they say it takes 21 days to form a habit? Does me making it to the 21st day of this 30-day writing challenge mean that I now have a habit of writing daily? Am I on my way to putting out copious amounts of prolific writing to be loved and adored by the world?! Too far? Calm it down? Okay, whatever.
[Heads to WordPress graphic in my camera roll to see today’s writing prompt]
I wish it weren’t already 15 ‘til the hour with me trying to press publish by midnight. This is a good one.
Writing Prompt: What three lessons do you want your children to learn from you?
Currently raising myself, I’m having all sorts of extensive thoughts about how I want to raise the child I’ll one day bear. I say child, singular, now, after wanting 6 kids once upon a time, because of how deeply I think into the gentle molding of a young into an adult.
First of all: Don’t be a f*** up, kid.
There are a lot of f***** up people in this world, and majority of it is a result of their f***** up childhood. Parents really f*** children in all sorts of ways they don’t always realize, then that broken child walking around inside of an adult body has to try their best to fix it.
I don’t want to f*** my child up, that’s it. My goals as a future parent aren’t insanely high.
I want to raise a fully functioning adult that will be a contributing member of society.
Maybe I’ll become a lunatic parent after the baby passes thru my puss and boots, demanding they figure out how to sustain life on Mars, but as of now, I’m praying I’ll raise a good person.
As long as my kid learns these three lessons from me, my kid won’t be a f*** up:
Be joyous in all things.
Failure is not an option.
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
(Yes, my time ran out. I went ahead and cheated by pressing publish for this 21st writing prompt to be dated the 21st. I know. I’m weird. Let’s continue.)
Lesson 1. Be joyous in all things.
I want my child to have my joyous spirit.
People always tell me that I seem like I’m always happy and it’s because I am. Now, listen, I’m as sensitive as the next girl and can fly off the handle with a QUICKNESS, but once it has flown, it’s gone. I say what I have to say, I do what I have to do, I handle what I have to handle, then I’m right back to being my happy-go-luck self. I probably couldn’t stay mad if I tried.
Even in dark situations, I can find a glimmer of happiness and frolic in it as if I have all the light on the equator.
Having a positive outlook on life is life-changing.
There’s beauty in everything. There’s a reason to be grateful in everything. There’s not a thing that can steal my joy. “Bad luck” isn’t in control of anything around here, honey. Fortune hath not one place to hit me.
I am the happiest man alive. I have that in me that can convert poverty to riches, adversity to prosperity, and I am more invulnerable than Achilles; fortune hath not one place to hit me.
What?! It’s in me! It’s not on me, it’s in me. It’s not around me, it’s in me. It’s not attached to me, it’s IN ME!
I have that in me.
Do you understand what I’m saying? I need you to feel this, because I felt it when I first heard it in a TED Talk by social psychologist Dan Gilbert. I had to stop the video, rewind, play it again, rewind one more time, then take a screenshot of the quote on the screen. It hit the nail on the head sealing the box of my feelings.
The clothes on my body don’t make me happy, the content of my heart does. The city I’m living in doesn’t make me happy, the way I live in it does. The title I have doesn’t make me happy, the way I operate does. I can turn whatever into whatever because it is in me. And there’s not a thing that can take that away.
I want my little girl to have that in her, or my little boy to have that in him.
Lesson 2. Failure is not an option.
Baby, you can do whatever your little heart may desire, but failing ain’t one of ‘em.
This is a mantra borrowed from my alma mater, St. James High School, when I was living in lil’ ol’ Vacherie, Louisiana. They had those words, “failure is not an option”, printed in various places, from brochures to banners.
In my secondary school days, I never once ever thought “what if I can’t…” Ain’t no can’t! It’s “better figure out how you can”. I don’t recall ever wondering if something would be too hard, if I didn’t have the skill-set, or if I didn’t have the money. My thought process would be more along the lines of “hmm.. I don’t have this, I wonder what I can do.” When I couldn’t cheer, one because of my disciplinary record and two because I didn’t have the thousand bucks upfront the team required, I started my own band auxiliary team with my own rules and fundraisers. When I transferred to a school without higher level French class offerings, I pressed the issue and got my own class. I would recognize where I’m lacking, what could possibly stop me, then come up with a solution to work around it.
There is always an option. Failure is not one.
I want my child to have the confidence to go after his or her desires, then the perseverance to keep at it regardless the obstacle.
Lesson 3. Love thy neighbor as thyself.
One of the best compliments I received from a girlfriend was during a birthday wish where she said “I love the way you love people,” and I’m pretty sure she wasn’t referring to me simply being a people-person. I actually love people, I love on them, actively. I go to great lengths to show my love for people. I profess it. I demonstrate it. I love on people as if I were people loving on me.
I know the Bible verse, “love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matthew 22:37–39), is referring to not being malicious in general. Don’t steal, don’t kill, that 10 commandment type of stuff. However, when I say it, I’m talking beyond the basic “respect your fellow man” concept. I’m talking about giving love, to those close to you, the way you’d want to be given love.
Maybe I could’ve come up with a better adage for the notion I’m trying to convey, but it’s well after 2 o’clock in the morning at this point and my eyelids are growing far too heavy to continue typing.
Also, in a real blog post, I close with a summary, or all-encompassing thought. Should these be that? Am I too lax during this self-challenge to write daily? Ah, well..
Goodnight, riders. See ya on the next post of this 30-day writing challenge.
Come Here Big Daddy
30-Day Writing Challenge
We’re keeping it rolling, baby. After one last stop in New Orleans to Bernard’s Pralines, we hopped on I-10 East out of Da Boot.
Whoah, I’m really almost kinda sorta two-thirds of the way thru this 30-day writing challenge. I say kinda sorta because I’ll have to make up the two days I’ve missed, then do a post, after they’re all up, listing them all.
Yesterday, I shared a blog post with my cousin and her man, who are new parents, about how I can’t stand when people post new babies on social media. The post isn’t really all about y’all folks’ ugly newborns, but that is what had come up in conversation to prompt me to share. My cousin said, “weeeeeeell, I finally got to the part where you list your pet peeves.” I took that as a hint that I should consider getting to the point sooner in blog posts.
Let’s get to it.
Writing Prompt 20: Post about three celebrity crushes.
My right eye immediately pinched slightly more closed than the left.
Working in Beverly Hills luxury retail and high end hospitality all aroundLA, I’ve been in close proximity to a number of our nation’s biggest stars. My grandmother raised me to treat everyone with the same level of respect, from the CEO to the janitor, because if they put on their pants one leg at a time, like me, they ain’t no better than me, and I ain’t no better than them.
Thee only time I’ll probably ever get star struck is if Tupac Amaru Shakur grabbed me by the hand. And that’s mainly because it’d be my first time seeing a ghost.
Though I’ve seen the corniness beyond the illusion of the lights and cameras, to not be a party pooper, I’ll think of a few celebrity crushes.
If we’re going on solely looks, the Black men in Hollywood whose attractiveness can’t be denied are:
Idris Elba
Morris Chestnut
I thought I was going to say one more, but no one came to mind. Mind you, both of these men are old enough to be my father. Actually, I think they may have children my age. Look, y’all know in a previous blog post I drew a connection between all the things that make me like a man being what a father does for his child.
Related: Treat Me Like I’m Your Baby And I Will Be
Well, we’re pulling up to my grandmother’s house. Let me go on in and shut it on down after being on the road all day.
Next Time ‘Round, I’ll Be a Better Lover
Oops, I did it again
I played with your heart, got lost in the game
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 19
I played with your heart.. got lost in the City.
Right after saying my ENFP personality type is prone to getting distracted, what do I do? Go and get distracted.
Related: A Smart Mouth, Wild A** Girl
I could simply not admit it and no one would ever know, but what help would that do? I didn’t do my daily blog post yesterday. [sigh]
Let’s get to it today, Miss Girl.
Writing Prompt 19: Describe your first love.
[inserts previous blog post]
Related: Words That Stuck With Me From My First Real Boyfriend
No, seriously. I talked about my first love already. Way back on the second writing prompt of this 30-day writing challenge, I wrote about my first love.
He was everything. He is everything.
If I couldn’t pay my rent this very day, even though we went our separate way years ago, if he had it to give, my rent would be paid, and that’s a fact.
He loved me… deeply… for me… through all my imperfections… for them, really.
I loved him… childishly… family-oriented, I fell right in… adoring his ways with his mother and grandmother.
It was beautiful. It is beautiful.
We argued, of course. It’s me. However, I have nothing but fond memories.
I’m thankful for the experience. I’m thankful to have experienced him. And I may be most thankful that he made me comfortable enough to allow him to experience me.
I look forward to feeling those feelings again, in a new form, with whomever the heavens see fit to send my way.
(Side note: One of my girlfriends brought up my first love the other day, saying “girl you would never date him now,” and my face balled up in confusion. I suppose my friends think… hm, let’s see… My friends don’t see my current preferences, and/or what attracts me to a man, attracting me to that same man. And, maybe they’re right. Because yeah, ice water being served by nuns in Hell is more likely to happen than me spinning that block. But, at that time, he was just right.)
I can’t relate to the many girls I’ve spoken to that want to delete their first from their memory, or have regrets. If I had to name one, thee only regret I would have is that I wish I would’ve been a better woman to him.
What’s that Adele song?
I’ll be better prepared for love the next time ‘round.
Okay, last night in New Orleans. Let me go run around with these tourists.
Talk to y’all later, riders.
A Smart Mouth, Wild A** Girl
Today I don’t feel like doing anything, I just want to lay in my bed.
Well, my cousin’s couch, that is.
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 17
My cousin’s boyfriend had my cousin and I take a Myers-Briggs personality test, and though I tend to challenge generalized methods of categorization, my results hit on the money!! Listening to and discussing their results first, my jaw dropped when it was my turn. It’s good to know that my slacking on this 30-day writing challenge isn’t because I’m a lazy bum. On the contrary, I’m very energized, but an aspect of my ENFP-T personality type is that I get bored easily.
Campaigner (ENFP) Weakness
Unfocused. The thrill of a new project – especially one that involves collaborating with other people – can bring out the best in Campaigners. But this personality type is known for having ever-evolving interests, meaning that Campaigners may find it challenging to maintain discipline and focus over the long term.
source: 16personalities.com
I am unfocused.
Now that I’ve identified this productivity crippling weakness in my personality type, I need to figure out how to combat it. I set out on this 30-day writing challenge and hit the ground running, only to start losing major steam before even hitting the halfway mark. It makes me want to beat myself up, but if my issue can be diagnosed, that means it can be cured! Right?! Right.
Having barely been 24 hours since I took the 16personalities.com test, I haven’t done deep dive research yet. Thirty days isn’t even “long term”. Ain’t no way I’m struggling, ain’t no way. Surely I can do this, surely.
I haven’t quite found my discipline. But I will. For now, I’ll just keep going, even if these daily blog posts aren’t the most eloquent or elaborate. I’m going to keep going. I’ll figure out the rest as I go along.
Writing Prompt 17: Post about your zodiac sign and whether or not it fits you.
Now what are the stinking chances?! On these daily posts, I’ll write the intro before referring to the WordPress graphic with all 30 writing prompts on it, and I don’t look ahead while working on previous prompts. When I said that I tend to challenge descriptions based on categories, I was specifically throwing shade at that zodiac sign bologna. Then I get to the writing prompt and it’s telling me to post about my zodiac sign. Cute. Very cute.
I’ll try not to be intentionally contrary.
“What’s your sign?” People love asking. “My birthday is December 8th,” I respond, telling them to tell me since they believe in it so much. Sassy. I know.
Child, let me go look this up.
To keep with the personality thing, since I’m already on it, I typed in “December 8th zodiac personality,” and this is what the top of Google has to say,
Headstrong and imperious, a December 8 Sagittarius has a docile side; they express this by constant personality changes. Because they tend to extremes, it's not uncommon for them to regret many of their choices. They have creative talent but seem to prefer the life of a dilettante.
source: HowStuffWorks
My grandmother and anyone else that has ever been a caretaker for me will definitely say I’ve been strong-willed my entire life. I’ll admit that I can be a bit overbearing at times. So, I guess they lucked up with the “headstrong and imperious” part.
The rest is trash.
Zodiac signs are trash.
My personality is consistent; it’s too strong for me to change it, or pretend to be a different way, even if I try. I think it was the Sex On The Brain lil’ daily blurb, where I mentioned how I’ve never been a person to have regrets; I honestly can’t think of one regret I have, let alone regretting “many of [my] choices”. I, personally, don’t consider myself too creative; just like my dominant hand, I’m a left-brain person, mostly analytical in thinking. And, lastly, I’m a person that goes ALL IN when I’m into something; I don’t like simply skimming the surface how a dilettante is defined.
Psychoanalyst Carl Jung founded the field of analytical psychology, from which the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator was born. | photo: CBC Radio Online
Yeah, see, God wanted to further confirm the well-researched, theory-based, individualized Myers-Briggs test I took yesterday. The difference between defining a personality with a birthday and defining a personality with a test is that one is based on gimmicks and stars. The other is based on the research of psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung, and most importantly, YOU! Your results, your personality type, from the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is based on you as an individual. It’s “an introspective self-report questionnaire indicating differing psychological preferences in how people perceive the world and make decisions.” Maybe it’s just me, but it seems you can get way more accuracy out of that than when you happened to come out of your mama’s tootie cat.
What’s your personality type?
If you’re interested in learning more about yourself and the constellations are quite doing it, look into the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Various entities offer their version of the test. I took a free one offered by a website named 16personalities dot com.
Let me know your findings! Did your results hit the nail on the head like mine? Or, are you one of those space-brained people that lives and dies on every hanging word of your horoscope? Come to the alter, my child. I’d like to pray for you. Kidding, kidding! Believe what you want to believe as long as it’s helping you better yourself, and not hurting anybody else.
The road feels rocky sometimes, but thank you for being here, my riders.
Please, share, engage. Talk to me, baby. And enter your email address below to join the blog’s mailing list.
Ready to Free My Cheeks As I Please
Whoop! Whoop!
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 16
We’re back at their hole-in-the-wall. Let me stop calling this establishment that term. I don’t even see any holes in their walls, only a few ceiling tiles hanging low. In all seriousness, I like this spot. The chicken wings SLAP!!! No exaggeration, I mean every capital letter and every exclamation point. The drink pours are generous and the bartenders are welcoming. I enjoy myself every time we come here.. the many times we come.
If you’re ever in New Orleans and you’re looking for an unpretentious place to watch a game and sip cheap drinks, check out Boomers Down the Hatch on N.O.’s Westbank.
My cousin, Raven, and I at Boomers Down the Catch on New Orleans’ Westbank.
I’m still doing what I’m supposed to being doing, because the whole point in giving this 30-day writing challenge a try is to make writing daily a habit. And, will ya looka there…
I’m writing!
Writing Prompt 16: Something That You Miss
I miss these booty cheeks clapping freely.
I suppose I’ve never been fully free, always living with someone in close proximity.
It went from parents, to roommates, to more roommates, more roommates, my final roommate, then landlords. The latter may be the most vexing.
It’s thoughtful and respectful to inform your roommates when you’re going to have company, especially of the opposite sex. However, it’s not required. There’s no requirement to pitch your plans then await their response, not knowing how you can move until they do. Continuously checking in with somebody gets annoying. It gets even more annoying when you’re grown, and exponentially increases the more you don’t like being told anything.
My grandmother used to always tell me, “see, lil’ girl, you, you don’t like to be told nothing!” No. No, I don’t, Granny. No, I don’t.
Extremely indecisive, for days, I’ve been waking up and going to sleep wondering where I’m going next. It got so bad with the back-and-forth in my mind that I said, “carry ya tail home, teekay.” Then, I was immediately hit with the feeling of “ugh,” not ready to return to my residence yet.
I miss traditional leasing.
Don’t get me wrong, I definitely appreciate the feeling of family from leasing from a family. I take comfort in knowing that if I were to go missing, I wouldn’t be gone for long before my landlords are filing a missing persons report. I appreciate the occasional fresh-baked blueberry muffin. And, someone two steps away that can unlock my door, unclog my shower drain, or kill a spider for me, is definitely convenient. However, what I’m missing has begun to outweigh the perks.
I miss my privacy.
I miss my autonomy.
I miss me.
Buuuuuuuut, the most important benefit of leasing from a little old lady is the little old price. Whew! I live in a rather affluent neighborhood of Los Angeles and am pretty sure I pay less for my unit than anyone nearby for an equivalent space. I don’t want to give up my location and I for darn sure don’t want my rent to triple, nor quadruple.
If I made waaaaaaay more money, would I be willing to pay the ridiculous apartment building rent rates in Los Angeles? If I was signed on a lease to a more expensive residence, would I make more money?
I need to figure something. I don’t want to dread returning to where I pay rent.
Okay, we’re about to take some shots my cousin’s old man had the bartender bring over.
Later, my loves!
A Day in My Life: Thrilling! (Not Really)
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 15
I suppose today isn’t the day either.
I’m getting it together, y’all.
Maybe I’ll invest in a therapist or something soon.
Aïe aïe aïe!
What’s today?
Writing Prompt 14: Wait. Am I drunk right now? Do I ever get nervous? What did Lil’ Wayne say next? It’s not the 14th. I’m tripping. Let’s try this again.
Writing Prompt 15: Bullet point your whole day.
tinkle winkle, chews up my cousin’s prenatal vitamins she’s about to throw away, drinks water, bats lashes
jocing the phone for hours
working on info to send out to travelers coming on a girls’ trip I’m planning
more talking on the phone, this time FaceTime
delete emails
searching flights to fly my Granny out from down South to visit me
searching flights for flights to Miami to American Black Film Festival
searching travel arrangements for my cousin and her ol’ man and their baby for our Growe family reunion
running my mouth
rub-a-dub-dub in the tub-a-wub-wub, mm hm, scrub wub, mm mm! ugh, ugh, press curled index fingers into eyeball socket
Whoops, it’s 11:57pm! Shoot, we’re sitting back in their favorite hole-in-the-wall.
“TeeKay only got 3 minutes left.”
“Okay, we go’ chill for a second.”
doing my best not to miss a day in this 30-day writing challenge
Later, my loves! 11:59pm
Don’t wait until tomorrow, maa’am.
Such a Sucker for Love
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 14
I’m tired. I’m chilling. I’m… I don’t know. I fell off? Darn it. I haven’t done a deep dive blog post in a few blog posts. Last-minute, before the clock strikes midnight, I rush to put some words on a page, barely fulfilling my daily goal of this 30-day writing challenge.
Me oh my. [sighs in self-disappointment]
What is today’s writing prompt?
Writing Prompt 14: Post your favorite movies that you never get tired of watching
Ou! I like this one. (It’s quick and easy. Shame.)
Titanic
Love and Basketball
Taken
Okay, I’m being rude over my cousin’s place on the Westbank in New Orleans while they have company over. We’re about to watch a comedy standup by George Carlin titled “List of People Who Ought to Be Killed”. Sounds like my type of content!
Later, kids!
I Don’t Want It, But I Want It
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 13
I’m trying to decide how upset I want to be with myself for missing day 12. And I thought about it, yeah. Ugh! I kept clicking my phone to check the time as I moved around New Orleans, thinking “okay, cool, I’ll be able to do it when I leave here and yeah…” Well, no.
This morning, my head popped up from my cousin’s house on the Westbank, my jaw dropped, and my eyes darted towards my phone, “FUDGE!!” I exclaimed with a much more profane word.
Is it okay to get mad at yourself? Is it good to get mad at yourself? Is it productive to get mad at yourself? Or, should I lean towards the teachings of one of my favorite professors from UL, Dr. Caryn Winters, who was the first person to introduce me to the concept of positive self-speak?
I’ll decide later. For right now, before I leave the rooftop of Nopsi Hotel with my girl that’s here in New Orleans for SHRM 2022 and head to a hole-in-the-wall to catch whichever playoff game is today, let me pull up today’s writing prompt.
Writing Prompt 13: What are you excited about?
In a previous post of this 30-day writing challenge, I talked about the freedom in realizing that the purpose of life is simply to live. You don’t have to rush around trying to reach these imaginary requirements you’ve placed on yourself. As true as this is, it doesn’t negate the excitement of looking forward to the fruits of my labor.
Related: All I Have To Do Is Stay Black and Die
When I’m not thinking about romance, I’m thinking about my future. (And when I’m not thinking about one of those, I’m thinking about them both at the same, as naturally, the two often overlap.) I’m thinking about the results that the work I’m currently doing will bring.
I’ve spent hours, and will only continue to spend more, studying SEO for blogging, formatting blog posts, trying to figure out how to get more traffic, improving my writing strategies and more. I’m putting in the work because it’s what I want to do (not what I must do).
Though I refuse to stress myself out about crossing into the imaginary end zone of success, I do look forward to seeing points go up on the score board.
I’m excited about what God has in store for my writing future.
If I weren’t now in Funky 544, a noisy bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans, I’d likely go into further detail.
Let me find out you all are going to be thankful for my running around forcing short-windedness on me.
Talk to you later, kids!
Sex On The Brain
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 11
This is my current situation though.
Down home in New Orleans, I told my cousin she could leave baby with me for the day.
Oh my heavens, I’m starting later than my 11:11pm start yesterday.
Yes, I’m using babysitting as an excuse to procrastinate. I could’ve gotten stuff done at different points throughout the day while baby girl was otherwise entertained.
I have to press publish by midnight every single day to complete this 30-day writing challenge, and it’s currently 11:31pm. We can’t wait any longer.
[goes to WordPress graphic with list of writing prompts]
Writing Prompt 11: Something you always think “what if…” about
Well, most recently my “what if” reflections have been relating to romantic situations with us women’s biological match… a man.
Google, Siri, Alexa, one of y’all, play What Is It About Me by the late Amy Winehouse.
As I’ve mentioned in earlier writings of this 30-day writing challenge, I’m very reserved when it comes to intimacy. It's not as if I’m asexual, I’ll definitely want to partake in pleasurable activities, I just don’t.
This may be why I have no regrets. I have girlfriends who have done things and say we’re going to pretend it never happened because they wish they wouldn’t have. Possibly, it’s my overthinking of everything that has spared me some repenting.
Conversely, I’ll have thoughts of “what if I would’ve”. Though it may be for the best that I didn’t, it doesn’t stop me from wondering what if I did.
That’s a shame that out of all the “what if” situations I could’ve said, that topic was the first to come to mind.
Child, let me go read my Bible or something because I for sure don’t want one of these things I’m tending to just yet.
This is where I would close by asking you to share, but don’t share this. I don’t even know why you’re seeing this. Y’all kids be good, I’ll talk to you later.
Yeah, I Got Something To Say
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 10
Whew! It’s 11:11pm, make a wish! (Where did that even come from? Let me not get distracted by going look it up). My wish is that I successfully complete this 30-day writing challenge and come out a better writer on the other end.
Yesterday, I told you that I’d be heading to my next destination today. What I didn’t know is that I would be behind the steering wheel from before 8am to almost 4pm. Enjoying my last night in Houston, I stayed up super late, then had to be up before the sun to meet one of my girlfriends from college with whom I was riding… well, driving.
Child, I didn’t think I was going to make it at one point when these eyelids got to getting heavy heavy. Stopping to get us breakfast from Chik-fil-A may have saved me.
Now I’m sitting on my cousin’s couch in New Orleans, in the same spot I've been since arriving here. Your girl was tired. I didn’t feel like blogging, but I’m not about to fall off this 30-day writing challenge.
It’s 11:28pm now and I’m pressing publish before midnight.
Let’s see what the list of 30 writing prompts (via a WordPress graphic) has for me today.
Writing Prompt 10: Write about something for which you feel strongly
I’m high-strung about anything from abortion to cereal.
Having an opinion about EVERYTHING, I have worked any one of my friends’ nerves at some point during my fervent rants. Shoot, I work my own nerves sometimes. I have something to say about everything, and majority of the time, I don’t know how not to say it, as I revealed in the previous prompt about aspects of myself with which I struggle.
Related: I’m A F’d Up Individual
Darn, it’s already 11:44pm, and I need to publish by midnight. Hm, what can I say that won’t take me all day?
I feel strongly about…
Children. Family. Health. Black business. Wealth distribution. Sustainability. Women. Girls. Culture. Society.
See what I mean? There’s so much I feel strongly about, and so much that falls under what I feel strongly about. (I suppose that’s why I added an opinion column to my personal lifestyle blog, to get up on my soapbox and go in).
Related: aroundLAwithTK Opinion Column
We need to pay more attention to the way we raise our children and realize the depth of how their childhood will effect the adult member of society they become.
Billionaires should NOT exist. There is no such thing as a “good” billionaire. Hoarding wealth is freaking gross.
Places for women should remain for natural-born women. Extending rights to others shouldn’t infringe upon the rights of women.
Whoops! 11:59pm. [Jimmy Neutron voice] Gotta blast!
All I Gotta Do Is Stay Black and Die
30-Day Writing Challenge, Day 9
Day 9, baybeeeeeeeee! Whew! I’m sitting here at my girl’s place in Houston, drinking a green smoothie I made with the last of my groceries I bought for my stay.
For over a week, I managed to turn TF up for my girl’s twenty-fine (as I claim to have coined it for our friend group), spend one-on-one time with a couple of folks, watch some TED talks, still get some good music listening time in, and get this 30-day writing challenge off to a good start. As I said yesterday, in Day 8’s blog post intro, it may seem simple, but it is NOT! I promise.
Tomorrow morning, I get on the road to head to my next destination, and after the productivity I’ve maintained in Houston, I’m feeling pretty confident it’ll continue.
I wonder what today has in store for me. Please, let it be a writing prompt that I can complete within the intended 30-minute time limit. Or, should I ask myself to please complete the piece within 30 minutes no matter the writing prompt? Yeah, it’s on me, not the random WordPress graphic listing 30 writing prompts.
[goes to camera roll] [sets timer]
Writing Prompt 9: Post some words of wisdom that speak to you.
A slight grin comes across my face.
Being raised in the church, by a once too-hot-to-trot grandmother, Bible verses or old adages of church folks immediately come to my mind.
What God has for me is for me.
No weapon formed against me shall prosper.
All in due time, baby. You just keep the faith.
These encouraging statements, in a time where I’m giving so much of my mental space to building a blog into a brand into a business, likely come to me because I need them.
I need to believe that a higher power has placed these gifts within me to be used and that I will eventually see the fruits of my labor. I need to believe that the fight to get to the first page of Google will turn out in my favor. I need to believe that blog success is in my future, and millions of eyes will one day see my words, as long as I keep believing.
Though it is hopeful, I need to believe none of this at all. And that, that is comforting.
The meaning of life is just to be alive.
It is so plain and so obvious and so simple.
And yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves.- Alan Watts, writer
I can write simply because that is how I live.
Putting my words on a public forum doesn’t add the requirement that I have to reach some sort of “success” with my writing. I don’t have to get X amount of website pageviews by Y date. I don’t have to gain an email subscriber list longer than all the ancient scribes of Egypt. Even when my blog does become monetized, I don’t have to generate this many dollars in ad revenue, nor that many dollars by affiliate links.
Yes, I want success. It’s a dream to be able to pay my rent in Los Angeles via blog income while sitting on an island in the Caribbean on vacation. When I’m giving the girls my secrets on how I grow healthy hair or trim belly fat, sure, it would be nice to get the stuff I’m already paying for for free or to get paid to put others on it. I’d feel like I’m actually putting my broadcast journalism degree to use if a company invited me to their event to do a write-up on it or cover their carpet. These are opportunities I want to do, not that I have to do.
Requirements only exist when I’ve given them to myself.
All I gotta do is stay Black and die.
It’s one of those quirky #thingsBlackpeoplesay, but it’s true. All I must do is live in this body and die in it. Now, if you take that the wrong way, and go off the deep end, it can be depressing (to think life has no purpose). However, if you look at it from another perspective, it’s pressure-lifting.
I don’t have to do a got darn thing but live. There’s no rush. There’s no pressure.
Recently coming across that Alan Watts quote, about the meaning of life being to be alive, it spoke to me deeply as I’m swiftly on my way out of my beloved twenties and into a panic attack about not being where I “should” be by now.
Mm mn, I rebuke that.
I’m living. That’s all I have to do.
My living looks like writing.
Writing is how my brain processes life, always has been.. way back to childhood when I’d pull the closet door closed, sit atop my shoes and below my clothes, putting myself in a timeout no one ordered, scribbling in the darkness.
If it weren’t here on this personal website, it would be somewhere else. The Spirit led me to bring it here. Maybe one day my words will be the script of a box office hit, or a bestselling book. I don’t know and I’m not forcing it.
Right now, I’m just writing.. just living… and that’s all I have to do.
Hey, hey, hey now. Just because I said I’m not forcing it, doesn’t mean I don’t want you to share it. I’m not going to force you either. What I will do is ask nicely. Please, share these words of wisdom about the meaning of life by sending this link to someone that you know. If that’s too personal, share it on one of your public profiles.
I appreciate you, riders. Thank you for being here.