I'm back! Not like I went anywhere really. I've written and re-written this post I want to say about five times. I just couldn't seem to find the right words to express the point I wanted to get across, but I've found them. After a lot of thinking and paying attention to those around me I found my point.

Everyoneee keeps asking me when are you going to finish school. What are you going to do with your life. TO BE HONEST... I don't know. I know what I am good at. I know what I would like to do. It is the matter of making my gifts useful for me as a career. It is a matter of branching out and stop hiding my talents, because I feel insecure and think I would never make it. I am an amazing and creative writer. I have amazing skills of organizing events and making sure things go off without a hitch. I am a great people person, and love to help others. I would love to have my own business where these gifts gave me a career I could live off of.

I reached out to an old classmate of mine from high school. I knew that she would be able to give me insight on my problems. I did a feature on her on the 'Guest Artists' page. Khalima and I weren't close close in high school, but I've seen her grow since and I just wanted to know how she was doing it. She created something so beautiful and amazing that people seem to really love and appreciate. LimaLoops, a clothing line made solely from crocheting. I admire her for starting her own brand. For branching out. She shared her gift with people when she didn't have to and now most of the people in Boston know about LimaLoops. I really do hope that it does nothing but blossom even more from here. Not to repeat myself because I stated this in her feature, but Limaloops started because it was a hobby that got Khalima to focus on something else other than her problems. It gave her motivation, and once it took off the motivation to keep it alive only grew. 

The point behind talking about Khalima was not only to remind myself why I write and why I blog but to remind others why their gifts matter. Why it is important to stay motivated to a goal. My friend Taylor right now is motivated to be healthy and to get in shape. She goes to the gym at 5:30 am, like gets there so shes waking up at like 5 am (which is so hard for me to do), then she goes to work and works an eight hour day, then goes home and meal preps and plans out the next day. My friends and peers all around me are finding things to focus on. They have goals they are working towards, and I forgot what mines were for a minute. 
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As a kid they neglect to tell you how hard it to find what you love to do, or that once you do find your passion it will not be easy to obtain. I got so depressed while in school. So down and low to a point where I lost myself. It wasn't all bad, because I learn a few things along the way. So to be completely honest I don't know what is next for me, but I haven't been semi-happy like this in a long time and I am happy where I am at right now. I am motivated to continue to improve my writing, my friendships, and my life. To grow closer to my family, and to live for Alani, because I never did before. 

Remember what it is like to live. Remember what it is like to be happy. Remember what is like to have aspirations. Be motivated, stay motivated. Never let someone else's unhappiness determine yours. Motivation is a major key for success.

Happy Monday! I first want to give a warm loving shout to all the veterans out there. We owe a lot to you all and we don’t thank you all enough. God bless you all!

Now to be honest, I didn’t know what I was going to talk about in today’s blog. It took me a minute think about what would matter enough to write about. Then it came to me this weekend. Friends. This blog is going to talk about the difference between friends and associates. We all got them, and most people out there don’t know the difference. Trying to hold on to people or friendships that are fake and half ass just because we feel like we have to. Not opening up to new people because we feel like they will do us dirty.

For years I’ve had up and down relationships with people. I’ve let “friends” walk all over me, disrespect me, and abuse my kindness. It’s to a point now where I don’t need new friends, because the ones I got are loyal, respect me and love me for who I am; flaws and all. You know you’re my friend if I text you and make an effort to check in on you. You know you’re my friend when you know even when I’m busy I make the time. We’re associates if we friendly when we see each other. Sorry not sorry. I give the same energy I get. If you’re not calling and texting me and making an effort why should I? That’s what people don’t understand, friendships are two way streets.

It takes two people to be invested inorder for the friendship to run smoothly. There is no way anything works if one person is trying more than the other. AND I don’t mean fake trying, because that just don’t cut it. We’re in a era where there is so much technology around us that provides us with so many different ways to communicatez, that talking to friends shouldn’t be an issue. There is no excuse but pure ignorance of why a TRUE friendship can’t work.

Now, don’t be out here trying to force friendships either. If y’all just don’t vibe then y’all don’t vibe. That’s okay not to be friends with everyone you meet. Also, just because you might run in the same circles doesn’t mean you both have to be all extra close. As long as y’all are respectful, there’s no reason why y’all can’t just be cool when y’all see each other. Don’t force something that’s not there. It maybe hard to tell someone but it is what it is.

At the end of the day all I am saying is be true to who you are and to your friendships. Let people go if it’s time and stick by those who are sticking by you. Not everyone is meant to be friends and some people are meant to be friends for a life time. Know the difference between the trashy ones and the good ones. I didn’t at first and I might still get fooled, but I’m a stand by my morals and live my life with or without certain people.

Until next time! Stay positive and have a great week you all!

Happy Monday! Another week. Another post.

I have one topic I want to really talk about. Voting. Now I wasn’t always able to vote, but now that I can I think it is very important that people go vote. We as people want change and it starts by us making a choice of what matters. If you give up the opportunity to make change, it’s like saying you don’t care for better or worse.

I was talking to my boss the other day about voting and trends and the nation. Now I love talking to her because she is a white woman with realistic views. She keeps it honest, respectful, and hates Donold Trump.

​I was telling her how I always follow news and social media. I low key love celebrity gossip. What has been catching my attention is how Kim Kardashian has been in the media in regards to prison reform. Last I checked she wasn't a lawyer or anyone of political standing. Last I checked she was a reality TV star, and owned a cosmetics line of sorts. Last I checked she was a mother, wife, daughter, and sister. Last I checked all she had to say about prison reform was her opinion, not years of school and a degree to back her up.

She is being called an advocate. She is being given a platform. It makes no sense to me that a reality TV star can go to the white house (which is corrupt already) and ask for a prisoner to be released and it just happen. But the funny thing is my boss replies and says, “you have to remember the President is a tv reality star himself.” Which is so true, like not only is he a business man but also a reality tv celebrity. There are people, i.e. lawyers and judges, who are put in place to work on issues like these. If they can't get it done, how howwwwwww howwwwwwwwwww is someone who has no training getting it done? What does that say about our judicial system? What does that say about our government? Like really? Never am I saying that our system is perfect or even close to fair, but this isn't either. How much research did Kim K do? How much did Trump do? Did she have to bring on a lawyer? These are questions I obviously can't answer, but I wonder.

I wonder why there’s no requirement to have some type of governmental seat before becoming President. I wonder why there’s no requirement for having sanity. It is amazing that anyone is able to put the foot forth and run this world but there should be qualifications, like there is with any other job. You have to know what you are doing in order to get the job done. Having been a businessman one would think that would better help our countries financial issues. No, because at the end of the day Trump is making it up as he goes along. He’s putting the country back ten step after it only made five. Very sad and tragically I don’t even recognize what this nation has been becoming.

So for for those who take the time to read my long ass blog posts. Go vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Let your voice be heard. Don’t be silenced or pushed to the side. Like Gandhi always said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Until next week. Work hard, and live your best life.