This essay contains quite a bit of adult language, and by adult language, I mean the words “shit, fuck, and bullshit” fly throughout this piece. I watched Oliver’s Story, the 1978 sequel to Love Story, a film often considered one of the most romantic movies of all time. For years, I put off the hour... Continue Reading →
Life Lessons I Learned From Boxing
Listen along while you read: Read It Because I Wrote It Podcast “You’ve got to make people respect your jab! You’re big and strong and your [right handed] straight [punch] will put someone to sleep. But if you don’t extend your [left] arm and throw more than just a decoy jab, no one will respect... Continue Reading →
Getting High and Watching Yo Gabba Gabba!
For almost three years, I have had a standing date night with my daughter, “Pit Stop Fridays.” We kick our weekends off at a nearby eatery in Merrick called The Pit Stop, order the same food, go home, and watch Netflix until we pass out. It is a rare occasion for one of us to... Continue Reading →
The Origin Story of “Read It Because I Wrote It”
Somewhere between 2013 and 2014, shortly after my first professional gig as a writer, I clicked the share button for one of my articles to promote myself on social media. With little thought, on my phone, I typed “Read It Because I Wrote It” and put it on the internet. I didn’t put much thought... Continue Reading →
My Ode to Self-Care 48: “Rich is Gangsta”
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ekyi3E3yToc “Last night, I had a dream about you. You were older. You were driving home from work, in a very nice car, to your very nice house. The sun was setting and you were able to look back at everything you’d been through and say to yourself “I made it.’” Timile Brown told me... Continue Reading →
My Ode to Self-Care 47: “Friend Zone”
https://www.youtube.com/embed/QD3Me-SXRtA This essay was the fourth on my playlist and was supposed to be written in June. However, I could not find the words and vowed to come back when the muse hits me. Forty-two essays and three left after this one, today is the day (Editor’s note: I wrote the first two sentences on... Continue Reading →
My Ode to Self-Care 46: “Perfect Timing”
https://www.youtube.com/embed/dYp_x_-UT1s This is another one of these where I am simply writing whatever comes to mind, how it comes to me… One of the idiosyncrasies I have picked up from my experiences is hyperawareness of time. I view almost everything through a lens of everything is finite. I could be having the greatest experience in... Continue Reading →
My Ode to Self-Care 45: “Here I Come”
https://www.youtube.com/embed/4ssNHiCNnS0 In the spirit of vulnerability, I’m not editing this piece at all… There is always a girl story. Amongst my friends and I, the previous sentence is a common expression because in all honesty, there is always a story about some girl and me. It never fails and has become a running joke. If... Continue Reading →
An Ode to Self-Care 43: “Ribbon in the Sky”
https://www.youtube.com/embed/bANgta79k50 In the summer of 1991, my aunt told her five-year old niece and nephew she would be away until they were in fifth grade. My sister and I did not quite comprehend what she meant about college or time apart for a period equivalent to our lifetime. Without allusion to anyone’s age, my aunt... Continue Reading →
My Ode to Self-Care 42: Right On Time
https://www.youtube.com/embed/vHz7oC-bY7w Dozens of essays ago, I wrote about my college roommates, Devin and Walter. In 2005, Walter was a recent seminary school graduate, was 11 years our senior, and worked as an administrator at Morehouse College. Despite our difference in age, the three of us got along. One night, the three of us sat in... Continue Reading →