It’s been a tough couple of weeks, hasn’t it? Especially for Black people. Especially for Black women, in particular. Rising COVID cases, the systematic dismantling of our constitutional right to safe and legal abortions, the racist shooting massacre in Buffalo … I could go on and on.

It’s been a lot! I don’t know about you, but these days, just one news cycle alone can make a sista want to crawl under the covers and sleep for a month! Most of us don’t have that luxury, though. No matter what else is going on in the world or our personal lives, Black women will always still have to get up, show up, and make the magic happen.

Sisters, as you get ready to face another week of the same old battles, arm yourself with the knowledge that, God willing, you’re going to be all right. You have already survived the very worst that life has thrown at you, even when you thought you wouldn’t. But you’re still here, aren’t you?

Remember that person you thought you just couldn’t live without? Well, look at you: living, surviving, and even thriving without them! Remember that promotion you wanted but didn’t get? Turns out that so-called rejection pushed you to set and reach new goals that were better for you in the long run.

Every setback, heartbreak, disappointment, and stumble has worked out in your favor. Even if you’re less financially stable now than before the pandemic; even if you’re carrying an extra few pounds that has impacted your health; even if you’re not where you thought you would be at this stage in your life … you’re STILL better off now. And here’s why:

Everything you’ve suffered through, endured, or struggled with has left you wiser, stronger, and more compassionate. Hopefully, you’ve learned from your mistakes and will make better choices, so things will continue to get better for you. Not only that, but your testimony will serve as someone else’s roadmap to success! Your experiences have put you in a position to help others avoid some of the pitfalls you encountered on your journey. You’re now in a unique position to lift others as you continue to climb, and that’s a real gift!

Keep all of this in mind as you embark on a new week. After all, you may not yet be where you want to be, but at least you’re not still where you used to be.

That bears repeating. You may not yet be where you want to be, but at least you’re not still where you used to be.

Take pride in the journey that brought you this far, and know that you’re stronger, wiser, and more capable than you’ve ever been. You can handle anything this upcoming week throws at you because you’re a total badass!

So, get as much sleep as possible and drink plenty of water. Prioritize your well-being, including your mental, emotional, and spiritual health, and get some exercise. Then go out there and conquer this upcoming week like the amazing woman you are.

You got this, Sis!

Photos courtesy of Unsplash: Jessica Felicio and Chayenne Rafaela

Sisters!

We finally made it to Spring! Regardless of what the weather is doing in your neighborhood (it’s pretty cold where I am right now), Spring has sprung! Yes, I’m well aware that the first day of Spring was a couple weeks ago. But there’s just something about the arrival of April and the upcoming Resurrection Sunday that makes it just feel Springier now.

Anyway … for me, along with supremely disrespectful allergies, the Spring season brings with it the sweet spirit of renewal and hope. Yes, things are still a mess in the world. A date on the calendar certainly doesn’t erase all the evil shenanigans we humans get up to.  But it’s not only a new month and a new season, it’s also the beginning of a new quarter. And that means we have new opportunities to get this thing called “life” right.

I encourage you to take full advantage of the opportunity that Spring presents. Embrace this season of renewal and hope by making changes in your own life for the better. They don’t have to be big changes like quitting your job or dumping your spouse. (Although if you’ve prepared and planned for it and you do need to quit your job or dump your spouse, then by all means, do you!) Minor changes count, too. Simply organizing your junk drawer or cleaning out a closet are “little” tasks that can improve your life.

How are those New Year’s resolutions going? If you fell off that particular wagon, don’t worry! It’s Spring, which is sort of like a resolution “do over”! You can start those resolutions anew. Or better yet, choose new ones that you’ll actually be able to successfully complete!

I know someone who, without fail, does a huge spring cleaning every single year. She says her anxiety flares up if she skips a year. While I don’t wish anxiety on anyone, I can’t help but envy her. Her home is always immaculate, and she’s the most organized person I know. She knows exactly where every important document is, has nothing in her closet that’s out-of-date, and has a supernatural ability to purge all unnecessary clutter. Yet her home is still filled with heirlooms and precious memories.

Since housekeeping is definitely NOT my ministry, I can’t even begin to wrap my head around doing something like this every year. But I do draw inspiration from her, and at least try to do a smaller scale spring cleaning of my own.

And by “spring cleaning” I don’t just mean finally getting rid of the pants I’ll never be skinny enough to wear again, and even if I am, they’re so out-of-date that I wouldn’t wear them anyway. I mean, I use this time of year to cleanse the negativity and clutter from my heart, mind, and soul. And believe me, this ain’t always no easy task, depending on the type of winter I’ve had. It can be hard and painful work, but it is always worth it.

How about you? How are you going to take advantage of the fresh start of Spring? How does the promise of renewal that comes with Spring motivate you to make your life better? Do you engage in Spring cleaning of any kind, from literal de-cluttering to a more spiritual kind of cleanse? Let us know in the comments section below!

Until next time …

Sophia