How I did with 2016 Resolutions: VLOG

Hi All! Happy November. It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a vlog. In this vlog, I recap my progress on the goals I set out in 2016. Here’s that original post. And here is where I got the printable PDF of the list (The year on the page gets updated after the new year.)

 

 

Happy New Year: Year in Review (Photo Friendly)

This is it folks. 2014 is on its way out. With its highs and lows, its triumphs and its heartbreaks. There has been lots of heartbreak closing out 2014. Names of Black young men like Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice (as well as many others) and the fate of the men who took their lives have led to countless protests (big and small) all over the United States. Its hard to believe in humanity as we’ve witnessed the repeated disregard for life. Yes, Black Lives do matter but not to all who are charged with protecting ALL lives. That’s not been an easy truth to swallow.

And yet, we keep pushing. 2014 has been in three words: transitional, heartbreaking, and eye-opening. For the world at large, and for my world. The highlights of the year were my graduation from my Master’s program (Woot! Woot!) and my transitional journey from student to full time employee. I am more than halfway through my Clinical Fellowship now, and in a couple of months I will be fully licensed to practice in Speech Language Pathology. It’s ridiculous to think I’ve learned all I need to know in 9 months. But I’ve got a great foundation.

This year, I broke a heart and got mine broken. I was in a pretty low state from July-September as I dealt with managing a new job, moving into my first apartment, and trying to figure out my finances. I found a roommate to help relieve the stress of rent on my own. This year, I spent less time writing. I only wrote published 40 posts this year, as opposed to 63 in 2013. In January, I traveled abroad one time, to Bermuda. This year, I also passed my licensing exam (PRAXIS). I take the highs and the lows and can confidently proclaim 2014 was damn good to me. Toast to 2015, the year of New Traditions.

Here’s a recap of some of the highlights of 2014:

January

I went to Bermuda, a British isle in the middle of the Atlantic. I learned it’s cold as chit in January. I saw crystal caves, swam in a cave, drank, ate, wore flowers in my hair and boarded the scariest flight with the worst turbulence in my entire life. I also prayed I wouldn’t go missing in the Triangle. I risked my life for this trip.

 

Visited Fort St Catherine

I met someone at the end of January. Good ____ ensued.

February

Purchased my first car.

Passed the Praxis in Speech Language Pathology. Read the story here.

Good ____ continued.

March

Hustled to finish my clinical hours. And these thoughts rattled the brain.

April

Obsessed with the search of #RelishaRudd. An 8 year old that went missing in Washington, D.C. while living in a homeless shelter. She has not been found (nor her remains) to date.

May

I made it to the finish line. Family came from all over to celebrate the milestone.

Mami and I

June

Moved out of my D.C. apartment. Job interviews under way.

July

Took a position with my current job, a private practice.

I realized I may have been falling in love at this point. The person was moving out of the country, problems ensued. Good ___ discontinued.

I turned 29!

August

Moved into my own apartment.

September

Zion is born on September 11th.

Searched for a roommate.

Long distance relationship was not in the cards. #heartbreak

October

Searched for a roommate.

November

Roommate moved in (yay!).

December

Painted a cat on a canvas. It relaxed me. Gave it to my mother for Christmas.

Got a bookcase for Christmas. Making my home my own. (This is important)

Spent Christmas Day with Summer, my goddaughter who is 5 years old now!

Here’s to 2015!

Stay tuned,

She

#WinterisComing: What’s Rocking My World

                                                                          Happy Holidays from DC!

Hi lovelies! Another holiday season is here. 2015 is not too far behind. I have some days off coming up and I plan to do some traveling since I am entirely overdue.  How are youuuuuuuuuu doing?! Yes, you! Whether you’re a returning guest or first time visitor…how are you today?! Counting down the days until the New Year? Thinking about the last couple of gifts to procure before Christmas? Getting your Resolutions in order? What are some of your traditions this time of year? Leave me a comment.

Well, December is usually a time of reflection for me. I just haven’t been in the blogging mood. Not to mention, I barely am in the mood to do the things I’m supposed to do. Regardless, here are some things that have been rocking my world recently:

• If it caught your attention in the hashtag, I’ve recently began watching Game of Thrones. I’m up to Season 3. The show is as good as people say. I think it’s a solid show with an interesting plot but I usually cannot binge-watch because I’ve mastered the art of falling asleep on the hour-long episodes. I will say that I’ve become obsessed with: KHALESSI!

Daenerys Targaryen is so effortlessly beautiful and has a quiet strength about her. She is known as Khaleesi, which I think is a beautiful name and means “queen,” or wife of the “Khal” or king. She has become one of my favorite characters on the show. So have Ned Stark and Jon Snow. I’m so intrigued by the dialogues and vulgarity, and I see great potential for strong women characters so I’m sticking with this show. Season 5 begins really soon (January) so I will be taking advantage of the break to catch up!

• I’ve been doing a lot of falling asleep sleeping on my couch. It just draws me in with its simple comfort. It’s a couch that sits 2 people comfortably and literally every time I watch something on it or eat and watch t.v. while sitting there, sleep creeps in and the couch kidnaps me until the next morning.

Me, Myself and Couch

• It’s been 5 months since I started working in my Clinical Fellowship. Each day I am a step closer to certification, however I can’t seem to focus on that now. I basically try to take it a step a time, because some days take all my strength and patience. There are however, those aha moments! I live for those. The moment that a student trusts you and avoidance behaviors that have been the norm are kept at bay or easier to manage, the moment a toddler goes from rarely imitating verbally to expressing himself with minimal prompting, the moment a parent offers to babysit children you don’t have yet. Those moments, my friend, reinforce my decision and make me proud to be the professional that specializes in nurturing language and encouraging functional communication, for all!

• I’m really enjoying my personal group therapy/counseling as of late. The group recently acquired another member, and the dynamics are fresh and joyous. I am also attracted to this new member. He is physically attractive, however, my crush on him is more of the cerebral type. I like his innocence, and his untainted fervor for trying to find his way. When he opens his mouth, I imagine the masses flocking to him. I mostly attend group for the laughs and the stories but I’ve also been tackling how my attraction to this member may be affecting my motivation for going.

• The holidays are hard. If I decided to stay in the area, I would be tackling them by myself. So travel is a must. I’m going to make it a point to go back to Costa Rica next Christmas. I’ve never spent Christmas there and I think it would be awesome to spend Christmas on a beach…

• If you’re wondering about my roommate, we have been working out just fine! We are very different people (she has lots of girl friends and is very social; I’m a homebody, she has a flexible work schedule and I have a rigid one), and are in the apartment during different schedules. The key to any good relationship, in my opinion, is communication. I think our communication when we do share the same space has been very effective. I wouldn’t say we are “friends” per se but I do enjoy her thoughtfulness and concern about the “simple” things that make a house a home. She’s spruced up the apartment with her “signs” and plans to make the home a bit more cozy, and I’m okay with that.

• I purchased this because a speech language pathologist has to travel with so much at times:

 That is pretty much all that’s been rocking my world! What about you?! What’s rocking your world right now?

Do tell!

Happy Holidays,

She

Goodbye 2013: Letter to She