This is a bit of an unfair question. I feel like I travel there, or at least some part of me does, every night. I love the moon and if I had to pay to visit, I would. However, I want to visit the back side the moon. I hear that’s where the real fun is.
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I am open to going with even more of the flow.
So far, so great.
I am positive there is a whole side of the universe that I do not know and I’d like to see it. I want to learn more, see more, and be more and for that I have to be open.
If I had to pick something more tangible, I would like to going snowboarding. I also would like to try a rare food. Something like the world’s best coffee or the last Ostrich egg.
By Chiara Luz Atoyebi
“An Invocation for Balance, Courage, and Love in Leadership”
We are living in a provisional stage. The ground is shifting, the veil is lifted, and the call is clear: leadership must be reimagined—not as domination, but as stewardship. The cross we carry is not defeat. It is the crown of responsibility, humility, and love.
This is my invocation, my prayer, my offering:
May those in power bow to the work of right balance and visionary stewardship.
May they be endowed with courage when action is required,
and with humility when it is time to listen, support, or stand down.
May leaders who have sworn the oath of right action
become teachers of a new standard of life.
May those who struggle to see, see clearly,
and grant themselves grace for the deceptions they once believed.
May forgiveness take root in every heart.
May men and women alike recognize one another as brethren
in the fight for equanimity and humanity’s rightful standing.
May false notions of correctness collapse before truth.
May abundance be revealed as the true inheritance of all.
Let love be the standard bearer, not fear, not scarcity, not pride.
For God’s spirit is love, not endless pain.
And when suffering is endured in God,
it is not suffering at all, but glory—
a strengthening, a calling fulfilled.
The cross is your crown.
The burden is the blessing.
The trial is the testimony.
The stewardship is the light.
Devoted to the Drama: A Romance Writer’s Ritual
I just got a pass to preview some upcoming shows, and I’m absolutely thrilled to start writing reviews. You’ll be able to get your fix on Blush and Bone right here on the site.
Full transparency: I’ll soon be looking for a writing partner in the romance game. So if you’re as obsessed with love stories as I am, stay tuned.
Nothing makes me feel more alive, more grounded, or more gratified than watching highly dramatic, emotionally charged romance movies. I love curling up in bed or on the couch and diving into stories where people break up to make up, take down their stalker, find true love, start over in a small town, or fall into Christian love — you name it. If it’s dramatic and romantic, I’m in.
I even got my kids hooked early. When my son was struggling with language development, I had him sit with me and watch movies. Looking back, I wish I’d chosen General Hospital over all those creepy neighbor thrillers — because now he occasionally sounds like “that guy.” It’s funny… but also, you know. I have fond memories of my daughter Calais and I in her little hospital bed (me on the side) watching shows. I can still hear her shaky little voice from behind her mask saying, ” oh no, he’s got a gun!” I’m sure a four year old didn’t need to see that, but she was entertained and that’s what it was about. More often than not, there is a happy ending in sight.
These movies are predictable, and that’s exactly why they work. It’s the classic “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Like going to McDonald’s — you know the fries will hit every time. It’s the reason I would never boycott Hulu or Lifetime, they are just too awesome.
I don’t watch as many movies as I used to, but I’m making a vow: two romance films a week, and a review for each. I recently scored an amazing deal on an Amazon television for $99 (seriously, check it out while it lasts), and it inspired me to dive back in. First up: The Neighbor (2017). I wrote a review about it — and trust me, you’ll want to decide for yourself whether neighbor “Mike” is the kind of guy you’d want living next door.
So, let’s talk about The Neighbor (2017). It’s the kind of movie that proves one universal truth: if your neighbor knows more about your life than your best friend does, you’re in danger. Period.
Mike Fichtner plays the world’s least subtle widower, living next door to a shiny new couple. At first, he’s just your average lonely guy — watering the lawn, saying hi too much — and then boom, suddenly he’s in their kitchen, in their business, and maybe in their nightmares. Imagine Ned Flanders if he swapped “hi-diddly-ho” for ominous stares and bad timing.
The Funny-but-Creepy Stuff:
Pros:
Cons:
Final Take:
This isn’t a genre-bending thriller. It’s not even trying to be. The Neighbor is for people (me) who secretly love Lifetime thrillers and don’t care that they all follow the same script. Creepy, predictable, and easy to swallow — like watching bad reality TV, you know it’s trashy but you can’t look away.
If You Like This, Watch That:
Bottom line: The Neighbor is like reheated thriller leftovers — a little bland, a little mushy, but oddly satisfying at 11 p.m. when you just need something familiar, creepy, and snackable.
I love romance from all around the world, and urban movies also– stay tuned.
Last year, I took a brave leap into the wild world of taxes, tackling both my business and personal ones for the very first time! It was like diving into a whirlpool of stress and discovery. It really did change my perspective on everything. Filing taxes feels like an immersive crash course in “America 101″—where you learn the ins and outs of industry classifications and sharpen your financial acumen.
Surprisingly, only a select few tackle their own taxes—but doing so feels like cracking open a treasure chest packed with real-world lessons in civics, business, and law. It’s everyday life turned into a masterclass. As much as I cherish formal education, I’ve discovered an entire universe of free knowledge just begging to be explored. A few years ago, when I was dabbling in selling houses, I felt that earning my real estate license gave me that “I’m officially adulting” feeling—especially diving into ethics. But learning the ins and outs of taxes? That was the real transformation. It reshaped how I handle money and responsibility, leveling me up in ways no classroom ever could.
So, if you haven’t tried preparing your own taxes you should. Additionally, I am a great listener. I have been around enough lawyers in New City during tax time and I learned a lot. Sadly, none of the cheat codes applied to me, but I have them in my mental rolodex for a rainy day. I was once asked if I ever regretted not jumping on an opportunity. Looking back, I would say leaving finance. I had really bad imposter syndrome because I was counting on my fingers and overspending at the sushi bar. It’s too late now. (and yes, it is) but I love the things that finance teaches you.
Embarking on tough tasks whether they are successful or not– is a reminder that you can do anything you set your mind too.
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