magnoliasandpalmtrees

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Closer and closer…

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Happy Valentine’s Day ❤️

I love how you look at life and how you look at me

They are one in the same

How you see it for what it is, but continue to never give up hope

I love how you love our cat babies

I can’t wait to be the mother of your children and one day your wife

I can’t believe I get to choose you

May we continue to choose each other

Everyday 🌹

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Chapter 32 🐦‍⬛🖤✨

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St. Kitts ❤️

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Stephanie Foo, What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma

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Nikki Giovanni was an extraordinary poet and writer whose work has often been a source of comfort for me. My introduction to her came through her unforgettable conversation with James Baldwin. She was so small in stature yet radiated immense energy and anger about the state of the world. I remember being struck by the boldness with which she challenged Baldwin. As a devoted fan of his work but unfamiliar with hers at the time, I found myself thinking, “Who is this woman?”

But the more I listened, the more I realized that she was saying the things I had always wanted to say to the men I loved in my life—but she was saying them to James Baldwin. Their discussion was heated, yet he respected her deeply. Despite being younger than him, she stood her ground, refusing to leave America as he had, because she believed this country belonged to us too.

Later, I read her work and silently apologized for ever doubting whether her words could match her energy. They did—and then some.

Having lost many people in my life, I believe it’s important to honor those who have profoundly shaped us when they pass. So today, I want to say thank you, Nikki Giovanni, for pushing our society forward and continuing to inspire us until your very last breath. Below is an excerpt from her interview with Claudia Tate in Black Women Writers at Work. Like all of her work, her words are timeless and still resonate deeply today:

“A lot of people refuse to do things because they don’t want to go naked, don’t want to go without guarantee. But that’s what’s got to happen. You go naked until you die. That’s the way it goes down. If you don’t want to play, you’re not forced to. You can always quit. But if you’re not going to quit, play. You’ve got to make up your own mind. I made up my mind. If you are going to play, play all the way. You’re going to sweat, and you’re going to get hit, and you’re going to fall down. And you’re going to be wrong, but it’s the tenth time that counts. Because when you come up right, you come up right beautifully.

But after that, you have to start again. We as black people, we as people, we as the human species, have got to get used to the fact we’re not going to be right most of the time, not even when our intentions are good.

We’ve got to go naked and see what happens.”

— Nikki Giovanni, Black Women Writers at Work (Interview with Claudia Tate)

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This weekend, my boyfriend and I hiked a mountain that was over 2,000 feet!

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“The life in front of you is far more important than the life behind you.”

— Joel Osteen

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It is important to speak. What prevents you from speaking is fear, but fear will always be present. Don’t allow yourself to be bounded by the words unspoken.

Speak

Even when you are afraid

You’ll be scared either way

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Rock Creek Park ✨

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As time goes on, everything will become more clear. Concerning your self with the possibility of different scenarios or results, won’t stop what is to come. It will only make living in the moment more difficult.

Enjoy the ride. Knowing that God has his hands on your shoulders, your angels are protecting you, and sometimes when we throw in good intentions with a little bit of faith, maybe you’ll get back something better than you ever expected.

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Happy Birthday Dominique 🎂🎈

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an incomplete list of unsettling short stories I read in textbooks

the scarlet ibis

marigolds

the diamond necklace

the monkey’s paw

the open boat

the lady and the tiger

the minister’s black veil

an occurrence at owl creek bridge

a rose for emily

(I found that one by googling “short story corpse in the house,” first result)

the cask of amontillado

the yellow wallpaper

the most dangerous game

a good man is hard to find

some are well-known, some obscure, some I enjoy as an adult, all made me uncomfortable between the ages of 11-15

add your own weird shit, I wanna be literary and disturbed

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Love days with you 💜

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Reminder to myself

Let yourself be self indulgent

Writing is the one time you can be completely self indulgent without having to feel even a little bit bad about it.

Embrace it! Let yourself wallow, explore, overthink, test your boundaries. Opening yourself up to the experience is the mark of a great writer.

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I Only Think of You

At the bottom of my fourth bottle,

There, is where your care lies.

There, is where I can clearly see you,

Truly hear you,

Without the muffled sounds that come after the sunrise.

There is where things aren't as blurry,

Where my ears aren't clouded by the noise.

-written 2016