Conquering the World

Yourself

My weekend was jam packed in the city. Sorry but I didn’t take pictures. I know, silly me. I needed the distraction because I know that these current days ahead will be an adjusting period for me. I am currently teaching myself to do something I do not want to do, but probably needs to. Whatever that meant, I am working on it, in simpler terms.

Friday, I went to a local bar with two of my friends that I rarely see due to life, but we always check in. The past year has been life altering for all of us. Careers, moves, and all the in-betweens. It was good catching up with them.

Saturday, an impromptu trip to the Lower East Side with my cousins turned into dinner and being in a completely different environment that opened my eyes. I was in a spot that you could get drugs from. Yeah, that type of shit. Nah, I am not about that life, and it was a random pop in as to why we were even there. Won’t be doing that again.

Sunday, I invited a friend to a poetry show. We got to see the legendary Jasmine Mans. If you don’t know who she is, I told you here first. Anyone out in DC, she’ll be doing a show on 7/17 at Bus Boys and Poets. Check it out. However, back to my night. I was around my people. A room full of melanin. Y’all just don’t know how I feel when I am in that type of environment. Exhilarating to say the least. Everyone was affected by last weeks’ tragedies. Every poet performed their pain so passionately that you felt it in your heart. We’re all suffering. Glad I was there.

Quickly, since I’ve been following her for some years now, I seen this quote a long time ago from Jasmine Mans and today it hit home (photo above, don’t mind my hand writing its actually neater, and also, how perfect, my silhouette). We shouldn’t forget ourselves. Always remember we come first. A few people in my world have shown this to me, it’s not the material things, or other people, loving yourself is the ultimate goal. So the next time some ask you, what do you love, remember to say yourself.

Count down till the weekend, 4 more days…. How was your weekend?

You’re Confident

June hasn’t been the worst but it has been a month full of progression and understanding. Something’s acceptable, others I’m more pessimistic about. Change isn’t easy to adjust to, but it’s necessary.

This month I took a big leap. Applying for career opportunities, in other states and in other fields. What time is better than now? I had to re-evaluate my life and what is missing. If I were to think that life should be planned the way I once assumed, a lot would be missing. But I have nothing to lose but familiarity at this point in my life.

I love my family but I can separate for awhile. Gives them the opportunity to miss me. I have no children, no property, no major responsibility. My mother helped me with this. She made me realize this last February. Not under the unfortunate circumstances but I’m grateful.

Moving has always been on my agenda. But I get all scary and chicken out. But I must enter this mission and be prepared for what is to come. All long as I am confident, things will surely work themselves out.

There’s no better time than now! I want to get up and go get it! Shoutout to June for making me more confident!

Currently: Sunday

Last week I finished spring semester. After my last final, I couldn’t resist the urge to run. Usually I’ll jog in the morning, but it was after 8:00 pm and I needed to run. Headphones, joggers, Lemonade, and I took off. After that jog, I think it was the best sleep I had in weeks. After that jog and reading a few blogs later on in the week, I started feeling the motivation again. Its the only thing that clears the mind for me, besides prayer. Lately, a lot has been on the mind, and I’ve been trying to come to terms with all of it, so the best way to assist was jog.

Today, I decided to do something familiar yet unfamiliar to get out of my comfort zone, so I went jogging by the West Side of Manhattan. I use to work on the Upper West Side and during my commute I would always enjoy the beautiful scenery. I got ready, made a cup of tea, jumped in my car, turn on some slow jams, and drove to the West Side.

I started my jog right off of Riverside Drive and West 158th Street. In the photos above, you catch a view of the George Washington Bridge, You over look New Jersey ( I think the area they call West New York), and the last photo not a great one but a view of the New York City skyline.

I jogged to RiverBank Park on West 145th street. Which is another quarter mile to actually get into the park, and the photos below were taken when I was in the park. I didn’t know Sofrito’s restaurant was actually in the park, the last time I went to an event at this place it wasn’t Sofrito’s. But now that I know, I have another place to go. The other photos are of the George Washington Bridge and New Jersey from the park. These photos don’t do it justice. It’s a gorgeous view.

Right before I ended up at Panera Bread for breakfast, I picked up some flowers from my favorite spot on the Upper West Side, said hello to my old co-workers, and headed to HomeGoods to buy a vase. It was a day well spent.

It’s another beginning to a new week, I have spent enough money over the weekend treating myself to dinner and buying small things. I’m praying that this upcoming week is smooth. Last week was much better than the one before, so I’m praying for the best. If my body permits, I’ll get up and do a quick jog in the morning. Not sure if it will because I have been waking up at 3-3:30 AM every morning for the last month. I just want to sleep. I’m feeling a bit drained at the moment. So we’ll see.

How was you weekend?