We must stop feeding into this cultural idea that there is only one standard of beauty for women — I almost drank the entire bottle of Apetamin when I was 10 or 11 because I was tired of people telling me I was skinny. I have a fast metabolism. They kept telling me I needed to eat more to gain some weight as if something was wrong with how…

But my desire to be a happy wife is much stronger — I wasn’t prepared for that encounter. As each word cut deep into my heart, it felt like I was leaking drops of blood into my stomach. I was sinking into his backseat as he went on and on. It was unlike anything I’d experienced before. No matter what I said…

I don’t want to forget my life — Last night as I lay in bed reminiscing about my life, unable to will myself to sleep, the term ‘memory hoarding’ kept ringing in my ears. I knew I hadn’t heard it from anywhere so I thought I was the first person to come up with it, but after doing…

I heard it told so many times I knew I would someday tell it — Once a heavy smoker, my dad’s addiction to cigarettes had taken over his life. He smoked countless cigarettes each day and felt like he couldn’t function without them. His lips were dark and the smell of smoke had permeated his skin. He had tried to quit many times, but the…

My life is my race and I go at my own pace — 1. Materialism Certain things no longer resonate with me. Expensive cars, fancy outfits, and other flashy possessions no longer hold the same appeal. That’s why I decided to loc my hair and embrace a much simpler lifestyle. It surprises people in my hometown when I reveal that I’m American. Unless I speak…

Or am I just delusional? — She’s confused. My daughter. She’s not sure why I’m dancing. I don’t look especially happy and she caught me crying in the bathroom, so why dance? “Are you happy now, mommy?” She asks. Am I happy? I’m not really happy right now, baby, but I have joy, so I can…

Whenever I notice any of these signs, I know I am being called within — 1. Others Aren’t Listening To You Breaking free from generational and ancestral cycles has been at the top of my mind since returning to Ghana. My mission is to free myself and my family from the burdens that have held us captive for many generations. I consider myself highly intuitive, and it is through this intuition…

If I’m struggling to entertain myself, how can I entertain someone else? — The phone rings while I’m knee-deep in writing a story. It’s my friend. She drops the bombshell. She’s downstairs and paying me a visit. What? Why? I say okay, but deep down, it’s not. I sit there for a minute, trying to figure out my game plan. Should I quickly…

The universe conspires to help me manifest my desires in ways I can never imagine — 1. Gratitude I have a friend who, no matter how much you’ve helped him in the past, only focuses on what he lacks in the present. He doesn’t appreciate the good things he has or remember the kindness others have shown him before. Dealing with an ungrateful person is exhausting, so I…