The week has passed and I am now settled back to everyday life after celebrating my birthday and receiving well heartfelt wishes from many.

The day of my birthday Oct. 17th, I woke to text messages balloon rising in the phones, streamers, and cake pics. I felt loved and blessed. I also laughed because I was and am soooo reluctant to get consumed by social media; however, that smart-ass mentee of mine told me to get on Instagram so I could keep up with her while she is working for two years in Africa. So you guessed it; I did, but I wasn’t happy about it.

Then slowly but surely, I started following her and then strolling through the post of others. I purchased art for a beautiful young female artist in New York. I was her first non-local buyer so it was the first time she shipped a painting. Truthfully, I love watching the babies on Instagram, the things that come out their young mouths and their funny little faces keep me laughing on those restless nights. But on the day of October 17th, I had an opportunity to see how people see me. The old pictures, videos (some taken when I wasn’t looking) and posts with personal commentary started popping up on others’ story lines…all in good spirit and entertaining. However, I took note of the words…how they described me even in emoji language.

I don’t know about you, but I do wonder if I am making a different or if being present in the lives of other, especially young people, enhances who they are, who they are trying to become or if I assist them in figuring it out in some way. Well my mentee came to visit the week before my birthday and she is now the mentor…and my former grad assistant and students from the graduating 2019 Cohort showed up that week on campus as well as at dinner to toast and celebrate…discussing everything from politics, love, womanhood and the spiritual mystery of life and God. I was humbled, honored and my ego was peacock proud. 

I am a self-reflector,  A thinker for sure on every levels…so I looked through my mind at the memories of last week…and this is what I came up with:

The awesome birthday gifts this year were to see the blossoms from the seeds planted by my example (I pray hopefully more good than bad ones…acknowledging my imperfections), the soil toiled by my hands extended to help, hug and handle whatever they couldn’t without support and once rooted, watered with words from my lips encouraging their individual greatness. Understanding that mentorship is a divine discipleship–I see the best in me reflected in them.     

I would be remised if I didn’t say that being truly, genuinely, whole-heartedly loved as a woman is a not only a gift its a blessing…philo, eros & agape keep it coming. 

Namaste,

Still on the left-side of 50 🙂