Month: April 2025

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Lovin It All, Holidays In The New World

What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite?

My idea of the holidays has evolved. It’s ranged from obligatory events to friends and family gatherings, to my new low-key holiday stance. I love ordering in and watching a movie. I did an Italian theme last year– it was great. All of my pizza and pasta dishes elevating my dinner table.

I love the holiday season largely for the  decorations and the nostalgia. Looking  around at all the fan fare is very fulfilling for me. I do plan to do larger gatherings in the future. I like to gather together. I don’t like to clean up after. It kind of walks back all my happy vibes.

I enjoy good food, and on Thanksgiving I usually do Afro Latin Carribean cuisine. I like to have a mix of seafood, Peruvian chicken, and fried chicken wings. I typically don’t do heavy food unless it’s the Patti LA Belle Mac and Cheese. If you haven’t tried it, you need to. Ms. Patti should have received a James Beard award for those noodles. I try to eat it in bed because sleep immediately follows. I think there has to be about 15 different cheeses inside. It’s so worth it.

I also like Christmas because I like to give gifts and receive them too. I also love Christmas parties. They are so fun. 

As of today, Dia de Los Muertos and Halloween are my favorite holidays. I’m very into the spiritual, and I love everything surrounding those days, and they seem to set the tone for my year. For me, they symbolize new beginnings.

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Art Is A Universal Healer

“The Seer” La Luz, Washington, DC 2025

When is the last time you took a risk? How did it work out?

A few years ago, I began to make art in order to heal myself from a few devastating events. I took  art therapy, and I watched my countenance change. Art is a universal healer and there are many ways to engage witb it. Typically, I like working with bright colors. Colors have a tendency to tell you how you are feeling at any given moment in time.

Art actually started to work well for me quickly. I think I was so shocked I pulled back. It’s hard to break old patterns and embark on the new. We get set in routines. We become entrenched in the familiar. But when I look back at the art and design me– it’s so vibrant. All of it feeds the writer inside, but the design can’t be left of the menu. So maybe I’m being shown something on a spiritual level?

“Untitled” Chiara Atoyebi, 2022

So, this response goes with yesterday’s response. Looking back, I would have stayed the course, but it seemed too easy.  That’s my lesson. Everything actually doesn’t have to be hard. It can be easy. We just make it hard.

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Honor Your Conscious And Never Fold

Daily writing prompt
Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?
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If I want something I pretty much go for it. I always shoot my shot. I don’t shoot a bunch of shots, I shoot the target and generally have no regrets. But there is one time that I made a choice out of duty. It was a tough choice to make because five alarm fires were going off in my head. I typically listen to my intuition, but I didn’t in this moment. I felt loyal to the idea of thing, only to find that I really didn’t believe in what they were selling. While I’ve tried to make it up on the back end, on a subconscious level it stings. I betrayed myself to some degree. In a crazy way it has emboldened me to be truthful in all areas and all ways. Had I stayed with a status quo, I would never have gotten this level of courage.

Moral of the story: Follow your heart. Follow your conscious, and you won’t have to wish about what could have been. You will be in the flow of truth.

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Excuse Me While I Eat My BLT: The Not-So Cutesy Demure Edition

Daily writing prompt
What makes you nervous?
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How many times have you gone to one of those white tablecloth lunches or dinners and you are starving? Even though you ate earlier that day, or you had the tea and bagels in the morning, everyone seems to be ravished by noon. It’s crazy. By the time they roll out the food it’s all crunchy and saucy and awkward. It’s also at that very moment when you’ve lost the battle of “to eat the onions or pick them off,” that your boss wants to be buddy -buddy and sit next to you. Obviously, the onions will have to wait until the next luncheon.

For me, situations like that always makes me nervous. It’s why I now pack some nuts in my bag and do a little snacking before I sit down. There is nothing that scares me more than biting into my sandwich and then having a small piece of lettuce shoot out of my mouth. Or drinking my coffee only to have it dribble out the corner of my mouth and onto my white shirt–dang it! I’m not one of those women who can stoically sit in front of a buffet of food and casually chit chat while not eating at all. These women were the discipline MVP’s before Ozempic hit the scene. No, by the time lunch is up, I’m typically hangry.

Granted, I don’t hate eating in front of people. I just hate being too hungry in front of people. It’s like all bets are off in the class department when Jose Andres or someone is catering. You will have to think of me as you will. It’s like paella is about to be incoming very fast. More than anything, I’m often too nervous to eat on some occasions. Let alone in spaces where I’m trying to make an impression. I can do soup, noodles, small bites and anything that requires chop sticks.

This is actually my first time thinking about this, and now I’m wondering if I need therapy. But yeah, messy foods and meetings are a no for me. I’d rather drink my beverage and look glamourous, unless it’s our second time lunching together, then all bets are off.

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This Is A Tough One

How do you unwind after a demanding day?

I believe that aliens touched down on my couch and left a stardust that I can’t get rid of. It’s the only explanation I have for the way it makes you sleep so fast. At any rate, sitting on this couch quickly turns into leaning and leaning into lying down, and suddenly, you are in a vortex.

True story.

It’s often why my kids relax on the floor. No one wants to get pulled in. No one has that  kind of time and we want to remember the day, sorta. However, if the day is rough and time is not an issue –the couch will reset your mind easily.

If it’s been a rough week. I like to zone out for a couple of hours. Maybe go to the sauna. If it’s been a rough couple of months, dancing may be in order. Overall, I don’t have a routine. I take the moment as it comes. That way I can discover new ways to relax.

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Make Me Laugh And Pick Up The Phone

Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you.

It seems so simple, but it’s hard to get people on the phone. It’s even harder to have a conversation that is just jokes. These days a simple “how are you?” can quickly escalate into something stressfilled.

One thing my family is good for is the laughs. Especially my younger family members. They love to dance, sing, and laugh. It’s something I do all day long–dance and sing.

Everyone is also largely good at picking up the phone. Even during busy times they typically answer the phone.  I appreciate that and could model that a bit more.  It seems simple, but a little goes a long way.

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Two Most Powerful Words

Jot down the first thing that comes to your mind.

I’m good.

The end.

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The Phone Call That Kept Me Giggling

Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.

I never answer my phone. Hardly ever, to be honest. It’s a horrible habit that was created from incessant texting. But one day I happened to break my rule.

I was having a pretty stressful day and I noticed a strange number, possibly from another country, was coming across my screen. I was stressed but feeling open, so I answered it. From the moment I heard the voice say hello, I felt overtaken by a spirit of giggles.

It was a little awkward, considering it was supposed to be a work call.  But, I felt a kind, warm feeling from the voice on the other end that made me answer questions with laughter. It actually caused them to laugh too. Overall it was a good call and the caller told me “God Bless you,” at the end of it all.

That was very nice.

After the call I felt extremely uplifted. I could not stop laughing and smiling for the rest of my day. It felt like little champagne bubbles in my stomach. That was kind of cool and wild at the same time because it was a very benign conversation. Honestly, I’ve never had that happen before. It was actually what I needed.

Throughout the day, I found myself wondering if this is what it felt like being around positive people. After that call, I just kept thinking “wow that was so random.” I did wish I had been more composed–but joy hit me. I was very productive the rest of the day, and I made a promise to myself to go find more of that energy. I want to hang my mantle in spaces of possibility as much as I can. That moment was a brief encounter with the light.

That’s my interesting encounter with a stranger and their kind voice.

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If It’s Safe And Interesting, I’m There

What place in the world do you never want to visit? Why?

One of the greatest gifts my mom gave me was a desire for adventure. Even though she grew up in the 50s and 60s, she always operated like an anomaly. She wanted to see the world and so joined the military and made sure to tour overseas. These moments truly shaped who I am.

I’m similar in that way, but even more adventurous. Plus, all the incessant moving around I did in my early years helps me make friends relatively easily. I think I prefer new environments, especially to visit.

However, I prefer not to be too cold. I don’t want to visit a place where I could lose my life just from going outside. I also don’t want to be in a place that’s  too violent. I don’t want to be harmed while working or helping. So, putting me in the middle of a war zone  may not be a good idea.

Other than that, I like adventure. I am open to seeing what the world has to offer. As long as I can make it back it one piece.

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I Live For The Spice

What is your favorite restaurant?

I love food.

I especially love food that uses lots of fresh ingredients. I love Spanish foods that are fried but topped with large amounts of vegetables and citrus. Spanish food is always a go to. Especially the lighter fair.

I love fish. Living on the island of Saipain,I ate a lot of fresh caught fish roasted over  open fires. Asian food is great because it’s largely meat and seafood and fresh vegetables. I love the spices of Middle Eastern food as well, and Ethiopian food is very yummy. I love Italian food that’s not too heavy. I love bread, olives, cheese, and homemade sauce. However, too much gnocchi and I will have a problem on my hands. My kids could eat Italian food daily. If all they had were breadsticks, salad, and garlic bread, they’d be in heaven.

All in all, I love food that is not overly processed. Food that feels like a meal and not a preservative filled snack.

All in all, I’m open. As long as we aren’t recreating an episode of Fear Factor, I’m good.

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Don’t Forget To Smile

Describe something you learned in high school.

I  went to four different high schools in four years. That’s a lot of moving around.

What I learned is that I needed to observe the culture of the school quickly and adapt if I wanted to make friends. I moved around alot as a child, and I often tarted in the middle of the year. Being the new student, mid year, is never fun because most relationships are formed at the beginning of the school year. 

Making new friends can be a challenge. However, I did notice that there was always a quiet girl somewhere in the class that seemed nice and I could make friends with. So I was never really alone because someone always took me under their wing.

But in high school, I wanted to be popular. I didn’t just want to be the quiet, sweet girl, I wanted to stand out. I wanted to be popular. I learned that in order to be popular, you had to smile a lot and say hi to everyone. I learned this by watching a popular girl in my class politic her way to class president. She always kept a nice smile and waved to everyone in the halls. It was in the moment I knew I needed to destiny swap. It actually worked. Just that small tweak in my personality landed me on the homecoming court, winning senior class treasurer, co-captain of the cheerleading, participating in pageants, and so much more. Don’t worry about that destiny swap. Ms. popularity 2.0 tried to do the same to me by following me to college a d swapping there. It didn’t work, but I always admired her, and we became friends. She is successful and sweet even to this day.

Moral of the story: Saying hello goes a long way. If you can do this even when you don’t feel like it, you will have a mastered a very important skill set. And remember, don’t forget to smile.