But swimming, like loving, is not just about knowing.

It's about trusting the body more than the waves of the mind.

A letter to grief

“Some may think that this is the kind of essay that only ugly women write.”

“I’ve begun to appreciate acts of love and moments of pure connection as they happen.”

"i value time off—and self-love

and what comes along with peace

such as breathing through the clear breeze

sometimes forgetting about my oxygen-thief"

"Surrender your heart to the pushes and pulls of life.”

“If I don’t take the time to fully see myself for who I am, how can I expect someone else to do so?”

“In a broken world, I promise to love you whole.”

“As a poet, I write of mass Black exodus, ancient memory, unspoiled land and what I mean is that I want somewhere of my own.”

“So I decided to give my attitude a switch, / Look at myself every day and give that girl a kiss; / No more over-analyzing the tiny flawed bits, / I’m reminding myself that I’m still the shit!”

But being me is what brings me peace. / What others think, / Will never give me this ease.

Choose which line speaks to you…

A daughter of immigrants’ changing view on what it means to care for self, especially during times of uncertainty…

Logic cannot heal you like love can…

“There comes a point when you open your eyes and realize that you are the main character of your story. You realize that you no longer need to succumb to someone else’s narrative, and from there, you begin to live.”

I can’t really give her any advice, but I really feel like I need to talk to her. I need to let go of the burden on my shoulders and talk about how much I’ve changed and how much I’ve lost myself. 

“I wonder if being in a romantic relationship is the unquestioned prerequisite to being accepted-then-respected in most societies. It's almost to say that if you're "with" someone, you must somehow be lovable, or at least likable.”

You are the Most Kind and Most Merciful, bountiful with forgiveness; Your Illuminating Light floated me back up towards the glimmer of shimmering sun rays peeking through…

I felt like I was a superhero being able to help everyone. But I wasn’t a superhero…

I’m relearning how to love and honor my inner voice and spirit; I’m reprogramming the negative thought patterns and destructive self-talk that triggers self-doubt to rear it’s ugly head.