Bookmark.

Before I start, LET’S CHECK IN! How are y’all? Y’all know I missed you, right? I will give many apologies for the unannounced hiatus. Some of y’all been beating me in the head about writing and producing new material and I have been dragging ass, LOL. I had time and inspiration today though so … here we go.

If some of you didn’t know, I am an avid book reader. I’ve loved reading since I was younger and would actually look forward to my school’s summer reading list. Getting lost in the stories I found myself engulfed in is what inspired me to pick up my own pen and write. A good book helped me escape from reality and my own life to dive into someone else’s story. Have you ever come across a book that had a highlight chapter? A chapter that you had to either dog ear the page (I despise this) or use a bookmark so you can hold your place? That’s where I am right now in this chapter of my life …

I want to bookmark this chapter. I want to “Add to Favorites” this chapter as there’s peace here. I’m sitting in an airport writing this in the Notes app of my iPhone as I’ve realized I just crossed another country off my travel list. The second country for the start of the year with many more to go. When I return home, I’ll be starting a new supervisory position that I randomly applied for, thinking I didn’t have the qualifications when I actually exceeded them. I’m receiving the highest paying salary I’ve ever had in my life and I am still filled with amazement. (Before y’all ask, I still ain’t got it.) I’ve worked two jobs since 2014 when I was in grad school and was doing my best to get by. Almost 8 years later and I must say, I’s tired boss. Feeling that overwhelm and stress made me break and ask God and the ancestors to release me from the shackles of thinking two jobs is security, and I’ll be damned … they answered.

Along with placing a bookmark in this chapter, I’d like to name it as well, “Damn right I like the life I live”. And Biggie said it best as I went from negative to positive and it’s all good! Life isn’t perfect but hell, it sure is good at the moment and I want to cherish this space I’m in. I truly have no complaints whenever I sit back and reflect. I think my only complaint may have been all the shit I let slide in the past because there are quite a few people I want to spin the block on and open hand smack like our good brother, Mr. Will Smith. And before y’all come with your “viOleNce iSn’T aLwAyS tHe aNsWeR” comments, I said what I said.

When it comes to living the life you want to live, you have to make changes. Changes are scary but necessary. You have to move things around, people as well. When trauma is no longer apart of you or your story, you have to take a look at some of the trauma bonds you established and let them go. They are no longer serving you and while some may start kicking and screaming, leave them right where they’re throwing their temper tantrum at. You got things to do baby, and you can’t waste time and energy treading water next to someone who’s insistent on drowning.

On that lovely note, I will come to a close as this was a spur of the moment freehand and is not going in the drafts like many others I’ve started and not finished. Life is beautiful when you aim to make it so. Life is worth it when you focus on your own story. I appreciate you for reading mine and I hope it’s blessed you with some fire under that ass. Now get up and go live! Until next chapter … Shay 💜