Do Your Remember? Antidotes for Facing Forward with Joy

The world is in a weird place right now. Full stop.

So there is no surprise that I converse with friends, family members, and colleagues who feel just as equally out of sorts with the current state of affairs, thus prompting many to ask those “big” questions: What is my purpose? Do I even matter? What should I be doing? 

Aside from surviving the day-to-day realities of a world in constant chaos, attempting to answer any of those questions can bring about fatigue that can’t be articulated or explained. We’re reminded to keep the faith, do the work, find your village, and tap into a higher source all to stay grounded but our internal compasses struggle to figure out the “how” as we’re easily distracted by the noise until we’re paralyzed into a state of complacency, contempt, or confusion. Just know you’re not alone. And while we all figure out our next moves, consider four simple acts that I often employ that can help restore your reverence in the interim, renew your purpose, and recalibrate your steps.

Remind Yourself of Who You Are

Got a certificate of achievement? Company award? An impressive resume? Even a “thank you” card from a friend or neighbor? Yep, pull any of those out, re-read them, and relish in the reality that, at some point, you rose to the occasion—even exceeded it—and did the damn thing, which means you can do it again! Often, we keep pushing forward without pausing to reflect on all we’ve already accomplished in the past thus adding to more burnout and fatigue. So, if just for a few minutes, pause to celebrate your “wins” before taxing yourself with conquering your next great feat.

90s Throwback. The "vest era." LOL. 

Remind Yourself of How Happy You Can Be

Remember the silly photo you took with your siblings at the last family reunion or that photo at the club with your crew when nobody could tell you y’all weren’t the flyest in the spot? Or maybe it’s that candid photo with you holding your new niece or nephew that captured a joy that can’t be explained? Photos not only remind us of the good times but can boost endorphins as well. A 1995 study by FUJIFILM North America Corporation and clinical psychologist/mental health expert Dr. Lauren Cook, revealed that across demographics, 74% of respondents look at photos to evoke feelings of joy and connection as an important part of their emotional health. As a result, 58% stated doing so reduced anxiety and 49% felt instantly uplifted. So, go ahead, pull out that photo album (physical or digital) and let old smiles create new ones.

Remind Yourself That This Too Shall Pass

Here’s a two for one. When looking at past photos do not let feelings of regret replace the feelings of good (i.e., stop perseverating on the few pounds you may have gained or the few follicles of hair you may have lost 😉). But use those photos as a reminder that evolution is possible. Whether it’s photos of acquaintances you no longer engage with because it was in misalignment with where you were heading or a home or city you’ve since moved from or even a fun flick when you sported Madness gear from head to toe and vowed you always would (shout out to my DMV folks. LOL), you’ll be reminded that nothing—person, place, or thing—has to last forever and that change is possible and does happen. But, more importantly, let it serve as a reminder that you survived it and are possibly even thriving from it. You’ve lived (perhaps many lives). Be grateful for the experience, acknowledge those changes that needed to happen, and continue to look forward with optimism that all things happen not just for a reason but when and how they should.

Remind Yourself of Whose You Are

God got you. Period. And there’s no better way to show gratitude for that and to remind others of that as well than to be an extension of His love and His promise by giving back. In my opinion, there is no greater endorphin than that which comes from altruism. Whether you give back through an organization whose mission is to help marginalized communities, volunteer to coach a little league sports team, mentor young adults through the church’s youth ministry, or simply pay for the food order of the person behind you in the drive-thru line, you will NEVER feel bad about doing good. And you’ll put a smile on someone else’s face and in their heart as well. And isn’t that what the love of God is ultimately all about? As we are reminded by Hebrews 13:16: "Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased".

Yep, tomorrow will continue to be uncertain, especially in these current perilous times but, as my late father would always remind me, “Keep hangin’ in and holdin’ on.” So look for those tiny ways to reflect, be reminded, and do good, and trust that all things will work out in due time as they often always do. As author and motivational speaker Wayne Dyer says, "If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't, you will see obstacles". Fix your focus, keep the faith, and embrace the future.

Happy Spring, everyone!

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Making Way for Greater

I love a life lesson that presents itself unexpectedly and, in the spirit of giving, the holiday delivered me one just in time for the new year. However, this lesson started back in summer as I was gathering belongings for an outdoor music event and went into my shed to retrieve a lawn chair. Although my shed was somewhat full of storage at the time with items ranging from rakes to shovels to seasonal wall paintings to decorations, I do my best to keep it organized, which is why it didn’t take me long to notice something was “off.” And that’s when I saw it: balls of cotton tuft from my patio cushions! Then shreds of material from my holiday wreaths. Then fragments of plastic from the heavy-duty bags that held my ornaments. And then I knew: something or some things had been in there having the time of their life. Cue me slamming the door shut and preparing for my next course of action.

Fast forward to hiring a wildlife removal company who luckily came the next day and confirmed what I had suspected: a band of raccoons and/or squirrels created an entry point in the upper roof area and made their way into to look for food, shelter, or nesting materials and left behind a mess. The wildlife removal agent was kind enough to help me take everything out of the shed and then he suggested I toss most of those items due to possible contamination that could result in raccoon roundworm. Say less. And so I spent the afternoon bagging and tossing items and scrubbing every part of my shed clean that I could. And let’s just say my shed was the cleanest, emptiest, and most organized it had ever been. I thought no more about the matter until a few weeks ago when I was preparing to hang Christmas decorations and went to retrieve them, which included my beautiful, beloved door wreath. Then I remembered: it had been discarded in the mass purge! And then my heart sank.

The new, improved wreath!

I had that wreath for years and loved it with its large gold bow and red poinsettia leaves, that always garnered compliments from neighbors. And for a pinch of dazzle, I added timer-controlled lights to it to give it some extra flair. My wreath was always the last decoration I hung before flipping the switch on trees, candles, and window decorations to officially mark the start of the season. And now I was down one major piece of holiday elegance; the welcoming centerpiece to my home. I immediately jumped online and began my search for a replica. Some options looked promising but reviewers said, “don’t do it; it’s a mess.” Others were beautiful but would not arrive until weeks later. I was so bummed that my search was proving fruitless and then I saw it: a beautiful, red, green, and gold wreath with TWO festive bows and which came with blinking lights already pre-installed. I took my chances and ordered it. Two days later it arrived. And not only was it more beautiful than it appeared in pictures, it was also more stunning than the wreath I previously had. After I hung the wreath and stood back to admire its beauty, I was even more grateful for the additional gift I was given in the lesson that came out of the whole ordeal: don’t be afraid to let go and make way for greater.

Whether it’s something as insignificant as a Christmas wreath or as a monumental as a career change, we often accept what we have and where we are as the best we can get, giving no thought to reaching for the greater the Universe may want to give us instead. We replace faith with fear, courage with complacency, and deliberation with doubt, missing the bounty of blessings that may be waiting for us if only we let go and let God. At this very moment, it’s also not lost on me that my morning devotional reading was from James 2, which primarily speaks of the peril of favoritism instead of fairness, but it also contains the popular verse, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead….” (James 2:17). In translation, you can believe all you want but unless you put action behind that belief, it’s all for naught.

Furthermore, as we close out 2025 (a 9 year), we welcome in 2026 (a 1 year), numerology speaking. According to “Creative Numerology,” the 1 is a journey of change, new beginnings, independence, and becoming who you really are. Further, it states “the 1 year is a time of new interests, experiences, goals, and understandings: about life, about you, where you have been, where you are now, and where you would like to be. And, because so much drastic change is required, you will also be learning the meaning of courage.”

At the start of this new year, I am excited about what awaits not just me but all of us who are courageously letting go of what was and being faithfully open and welcoming to what is to come: the next and the new; the bigger and the better; those things that will grow, stretch, and shape us over the next decade that calls us into being our best selves boldly, unapologetically, and respectfully. And I also wish that for all of us, it won’t take calamity to move us forward—like a band of wild raccoons destroying a shed—but that instead we’ll simply acknowledge those whispers and celestial tugs at our heart from the universe bravely calling us to move and pushing us forward into our next successful realm. Therefore, in closing, I’ll share a poem from Polish-French writer, poet, and playwright Guillaume Apollinaire that has changed my life in ways unspeakable whenever fear is rearing its head and which I revisit whenever I need to be reminded of the power that lies within us if only we trust and believe:

“Come to the edge," he said.

"We can't, we're afraid!" they responded.

"Come to the edge," he said.

"We can't, we will fall!" they responded.

"Come to the edge," he said.

And so they came.

And he pushed them.

And they flew.”

Wishing each of you a happy and blessed 2026 that takes us all on a joyous "flight" filled with prosperity, peace, and purpose! We got this!

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