HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I hope to say those two words to myself on April 30 for many years, Lord willing. Especially in this year! Do I really need to explain why? Thank God for year 2021!! Anyway I wanted to discuss a topic that seems to haunt me around my birthday every year since I took this background picture in 2015. I feel as though I have been on this journey to find what makes me happy. I mean truly HAPPYYYYY. Like the kind of happy that's deeper than all my bills being paid on time, deeper than having a great credit score or anything like that, I'm talking about the kind of happy you feel when you have been teaching yourself how to make a certain kind of jewelry for a few weeks and you finally did it and love it and was so giddy about it. I am talking about the kind of happy you have when things are not perfect but you are completely satisfied with the results of your efforts. I am talking about finding the kind of happy that promotes self-love and self-care.

I believe that it's a circle effect. Meaning if you are happy you will do better to give yourself love and positive thoughts and actions and if you are actively doing self care and self-love activities you will create happiness within. It sounds so simple but it doesn't come easy, especially if you have been feeding yourself negative thoughts more than positive thoughts like I have done in the past. I saw a video clip of Diana Ross speaking on this topic. I'll paraphrase, she said, "every time I create a positive thought, my mind immediately creates a negative thought" I was like WOW that is exactly what happens to me. The battle is real y'all. But I choose positivity and perseverance with all things I do and create.

I know I need constant practice creating the products I want to use and wear. Learning my craft will never end, but I also know that I am talented and capable of mastering what I build with my hands. I say all that to say that with every year given to me I have to choose happy and self-love and growth. I hope you choose those things too because we are so worth it!!!