What does your presence do to a room?

I'm definitely not the life of party. I tend to work the background.  I love playing the hostess and coming up with themed house gatherings, and trying recipes from Pinterest. I'm the planner.  I want to make sure everything is perfect for my guests and that everyone has a great time. I'll even cut a rug with you! I hate being at the center of attention, but I do hope that others can feel my confident energy as I walk into the room. I've learned that when I don't smile others may think i'm mad or uninterested so adding a little smile makes me more approachable. Just smile and walk. Say hello. :)

What do you wish your parents would’ve done more of for you/with you growing up?

I wish I was closer with my parents. I think it may be a generational clash, but we didn't always see eye to eye when I was growing up. My dad was so overprotective I could barely do anything. As a teenager we would always get into arguments. But we are a lot closer now that I'm older.

I've always admired the relationship between my friends and their mothers. They talk everyday and they tell each other everything. More like best friends. I wish I could be just as candid with my parents. I wish they had put me in sports as a kid, maybe I would be more athletic or at least learned how to swim. But I'm very grateful for how I was raised and no matter how often we talk my parents will ALWAYS have my back. They always support me and they taught me the value of hard work. They adore and love me. And that's all that matters.

Who are you?

Who are you?

I don't think I've been asked this question before, and I'm not exactly sure how to answer it, but I will definitely do my best.

Here we go…

I am a beautiful intelligent black woman living in the DC suburbs (sounds cliche but I'm sticking with it) where it's nice and safe because living in the city might possibly drive me crazy. I'm from a very rural, country VA town and this is the happy medium for me. I live across from a middle school, next door to the fire department, and the hospital is less than a mile away. That's pretty safe, right? Oh and I have anxiety and I'm a bit of a hypochondriac. I'm super OCD about particular things like unlocked doors and any little symptom makes my heart race. I suffer from migraines, and I've just grown used to them. I know I shouldn't worry myself so much. I've prayed about it, meditated, and did a little therapy. But I'm more comfortable now talking about my own issues than I used to be. I'm used to being the friend that holds it together when everyone else is going through a storm in their life. I like to take care of the people in my life. I am a nurturer. But I've realized that I've spent too much time trying to please everyone so lately I've been doing whatever the fuck I want.

Oh and I like to plan. I'm the planner. I like planning themed gatherings. But I also enjoy spontaneity too, however; I'm not jumping from a plane.

I'm a lover. I love pretty hard. I love bacon. Anything with pork actually. Turkey is good and all, but it ain't pork.

I'm usually the quiet one out of the group. Not because I don't like to talk but it may take a second to warm up to you or maybe you aren't talking about anything that interests me. I'm usually the observer, which can come across as anti-social I suppose. So I am definitely an introvert but don't confuse this with shy or reserved. I am neither. Am I public speaker? No. But I love engaging conversations and experiencing new things or ideas. So I've been trying to come across as more outgoing when I'm out with a big group. It's a growing process.

I love music and I love to travel. Both have healing powers. There's nothing like listening to a great song or hearing your favorite performer sing your favorite lyrics right in front of you. You can just feel it in your soul. Ever since I was young I knew the world had so much to offer beyond the backcountry roads. The people, the food, the beaches…everything. Escaping from the everyday nuances gives me the chance to rejuvenate and explore.

Hmm…

I'm still figuring everything out. Like what my next job will be or if I'll be in the DC area long term, or when I will really open my non-profit, or when I will really start taking photography more seriously. I recently joined a church so I guess I've planted myself in the community already. But I'd definitely be open to opportunities in another city. But right now I'm working on building a stronger spiritual relationship with the Most High.

So yeah that's me…I'm still learning myself. So as I learn I will share it with you.

More to come.