Closer Than They Appear
I know better than to laugh at people in the gym. Understanding that I look a complete mess for 90% of a workout and every moment thereafter, I see no reason to giggle when other people experience gym misfortune. With…
No Coincidence: Connecting the Dots between the Past and Future
One month after a major life change and one week before my biggest poetry performance to date, I had one of those rare life moments in which you are able to connect the dots between your past, present, and future.…
A Magical Moment
Throughout these Olympics games, I have not been able to watch a single gymnastics competition without crying. Without fail, Simone would go tumbling through the air on the floor exercise or Laurie Hernandez would take a daredevil leap from the…
Beauty Shop Lessons in Faith: Vision
The thing about transitioning to natural hair – texture tug-of-war, thirsty tresses, and failed hairstyles notwithstanding – is the uncertainty of it all. It is the torment of not knowing. It is the present suffering on behalf of an unknown future. It is…
Beauty Shop Lessons in Faith: Transitions
As of Saturday, I am six months relaxer-free. Though I said I would never do it for fear of the upkeep of whatever curl pattern might lie beneath my permed hair, I am transitioning to natural. How did I go…
A Letter to My 80-Year-Old Self
At a time when everyone seems to be writing letters of reflection to their younger selves, I am instead focused on you. Young Sheryl may be near and dear to my heart, but she had her chance. This is yours. Before, you were…
Life’s Treadmills
I suppose this is what it feels like to be stuck. Something akin to heavy footsteps landing on a rickety old treadmill day after day. Same drab concrete walls for scenery. Same few folks who always trickle into the gym…
