I haven't seen my father in nearly 15 years or more. My sister and I lost our mother to cancer on a brisk November 4th day in the 80's. I chose not to let this hinder me long term. Instead I grew into a self-aware, full grown, active adult with opportunities to thrive.
As a young girl spending countless days walking on Atlantic City's Steel Pier and surrounding sandy beaches, I pondered, grieved, wondered, sobbed and hoped for something better. Do I wallow in regret, sadness and loss or make brave forward movements?
A real and positive path is what I chose. Life has enough potential hindrances without setting yourself up by holding tight to mental drama from the past-but on to that in a moment.
Because of my mother's love of family ties, we stayed connected through annual visits to Connecticut, where she was born and raised. My sister and I received a lot of 'back in the day' stories of her and her favorite cousin Emma's antics.
We would always find ourselves convening in my Aunt Roberta's kitchen, which of course is where most family gatherings started and always finished. Over creamy casserole dishes of macaroni and cheese, pots of greens, honey sweet yams and other ethnic favorites, a resurgence of 'remember when's' continued into the wee hours. My sister and I, (who I still call 'Buffy' to this day) took it all in.
Overtime we began to know some of their history and understood a little more of where we came from, but wanted, frankly, needed more. For reasons I will write about in detail with my next book, I still craved to know who I was and many questions would go unanswered-for decades. What I do know is who I am, the hard work, tenacity, pain and triumphs.
I am a hard working CEO, Author, Writer, Business Owner, Speaker, Singer, Wedding Cake Baker, with an enriched, satisfying personal life that includes my love for Deaf culture. Wholly capable of accomplishing anything I set out to do. Decision Maker, Integrity Keeper, and Loyal Family Member and Friend, I surround myself with honest, straight-forward allies who keep me grounded and real. I am a woman of courage and hope, who knows who she is and what she wants. A perpetual student of life, choosing accurate knowledge over information overload.
Something I learned a long time ago: not to allow the negative past to consume you. Learn from it, create on essential life lessons and move on with the knowledge that you matured, flourished- despite it.
So there is never a question of who I am but more...
...where I let the journey take me and where the exploration leads is more the answer.
Until next time~
As a young girl spending countless days walking on Atlantic City's Steel Pier and surrounding sandy beaches, I pondered, grieved, wondered, sobbed and hoped for something better. Do I wallow in regret, sadness and loss or make brave forward movements?
A real and positive path is what I chose. Life has enough potential hindrances without setting yourself up by holding tight to mental drama from the past-but on to that in a moment.
Because of my mother's love of family ties, we stayed connected through annual visits to Connecticut, where she was born and raised. My sister and I received a lot of 'back in the day' stories of her and her favorite cousin Emma's antics.
We would always find ourselves convening in my Aunt Roberta's kitchen, which of course is where most family gatherings started and always finished. Over creamy casserole dishes of macaroni and cheese, pots of greens, honey sweet yams and other ethnic favorites, a resurgence of 'remember when's' continued into the wee hours. My sister and I, (who I still call 'Buffy' to this day) took it all in.
Overtime we began to know some of their history and understood a little more of where we came from, but wanted, frankly, needed more. For reasons I will write about in detail with my next book, I still craved to know who I was and many questions would go unanswered-for decades. What I do know is who I am, the hard work, tenacity, pain and triumphs.
I am a hard working CEO, Author, Writer, Business Owner, Speaker, Singer, Wedding Cake Baker, with an enriched, satisfying personal life that includes my love for Deaf culture. Wholly capable of accomplishing anything I set out to do. Decision Maker, Integrity Keeper, and Loyal Family Member and Friend, I surround myself with honest, straight-forward allies who keep me grounded and real. I am a woman of courage and hope, who knows who she is and what she wants. A perpetual student of life, choosing accurate knowledge over information overload.
Something I learned a long time ago: not to allow the negative past to consume you. Learn from it, create on essential life lessons and move on with the knowledge that you matured, flourished- despite it.
So there is never a question of who I am but more...
...where I let the journey take me and where the exploration leads is more the answer.
Until next time~
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