How to be independent of my parents. Before I moved, I was dependent on my parents
for my financial and social life. I made
a great deal less than I do now, so anything I wanted to do, I had to have my parent’s
financial assistance for. Don’t get me
wrong, they help every now and again, but I am not dependent on it. I can have a conversation with my mother
without it being a precursor for a loan.
This has helped improve my relationship with my mother since there is
now a boundary between our relationship and my finances.
I have reestablished a relationship with my daughter. Miss
Beasley and I have spent the last 5 years experiencing periods of separation ranging
from two weeks to six months. There was
a time when I never thought that I would have a chance to repair my
relationship with her. Since the move,
she and I spend more time together and I am learning so much about her that I
missed. She is a wonderful young lady
with a great sense of humor and love of music, like her mama. She is also a sensitive soul so I am learning
I can’t talk to her or joke with her the same way I do with her brother. She is going to spend the summer with my mom,
and there was a time when I wasn’t necessarily bothered by her being gone that
long, but it occurred to me last night I am REALLY going to miss her, so I don’t
think I can do the whole summer.
Way better work ethic. Man
listen…..before I got here I had a HORRIBLE work ethic. There I said it. There were times when I would go to work and
do eight glorious hours of nothing work related, and I reveled in that. I was the “slacker.” As I have gotten older, I am realizing that
shit is not cute. So when I got here, I
hit the ground running. Anything at work
I was asked to do, I did it to completion.
All the assignments my co-workers turned down because it wasn’t in their
job description, I jumped on it. One
year later, I am being promoted. Someone
believed in me enough to let me put together a Diabetes and Vascular Disease
Education program. Yesterday I had the
honor of doing rounds with one of the surgeons.
I thank God for all the opportunities that have been placed before me,
and I thank God for maturing me.
Financial Responsibility. Back home, I would spend money like water, and
my income was way below the poverty level.
I never really had to be responsible because as stated in #1, my parents
were a phone call away. Gas is low? Call mama to fill up the tank. Can’t afford the sitter this week? Ask mama to pay for the sitter. See the running theme? My financial irresponsibility was running my
parents into the ground. So, I have something
I call the “magic number.” The Magic Number is the lowest I will allow my bank
account to go at all times. I have to be
ready for emergencies, like missed days from work, medications, doctor’s
visits, car repairs, etc. If something
goes wrong up here, there will be no Papa Page rolling up in the F150 to save
me.
A unicorn is just a horse with a horn on its head. My mama always
told me, “Never put someone on a pedestal so high they can piss on you.” I never understood what she meant until
now. I really like J, and I fell into a
bit of a “hero worship.” It was
bad. Anytime he disappointed m e, it
hurt the most because I had him on this pedestal. J is just a man. He is going to fuck up, he is going to make
mistakes. I believe I did this same thing
with Rev. I held both of these men to
impossible high standards that they were just not realistic.
My sister swearing off chain restaurants. When my sister came back home to visit after
living in Atlanta, we were going to take her to dinner and she replied, “No chain
restaurants, please.” I thought she
turned into the Queen of all things bougie.
Well, if she is the Queen, I am the Princess, because I too, am not a
fan of chain restaurants. Before you all
drag me in the comment section, let me explain.
There are a MILLION places to eat up here, and some of my favorite places
to go, are the only location….in the WORLD Craig! I could not imagine having a Ruby Tuesday’s
brunch when the Carlyle in Alexandria or Crème Café on U street make some of the best brunch food on earth.
There is an actual Five Year Plan.
Five years ago, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I did, but it was just a bunch of clicks and
whistles. I have taken the time to sit
down and think of where I would like to be in 2017. There is power in writing down your plan,
because when you feel unmotivated, it is a good tool to help keep focused.
The Art of Being Humble. If this past year didn’t teach me
humility, I don’t know what will. I have
had some highs, but there have been some low, low, low points. Never knock people when they are low, because
you will never know when it will be you couch surfing.
Appreciation for Little Things. Simply put, because I know what struggle is, I
can appreciate abundance. I almost broke
down crying in Children’s Place when I was buying spring clothes for Miss
Beasley, I haven’t been able to do that in the last three years. Every day, I am appreciative. I hope I never start feeling jaded or
entitled.
I can do all things though Christ who strengthens me! Enough said.
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