I’ve waited for this day for quite some time.  I can’t even begin to tell you how many nights, hours, conversations, tears, and “yes!” moments have gotten me to this day…a day of reinvention…for the website you’re currently reading right now!  My web journey started about eight years ago with my first blog.  At that time, I was just beginning to understand my gift with words, and as the years progressed I began to spend more time sharing my thoughts and life experiences in this open forum.  But, it wasn’t until I graduated college and transitioned to a full-time working adult trying to juggle rent, bills, relationships, spirituality, morals, family, and other miscellaneous happenings that I began to value my love for writing.  I would sit down after a long day of Metro riding, paper shuffling, and clock punching just wondering if somehow my purpose was linked to writing.

Writing has always given me a sense of peace and accomplishment, and even when the subject matter may not have necessarily been my favorite, it’s something that I’ve been able to do with ease.  And for half my life (well, maybe not half, but a VERY long time), I’ve awakened to the miracle of each day wanting to become an author.  So, knowing the amount of time and commitment writing a book can take, I decided a couple years ago that I would use my blog as the bridge to help me develop a manuscript.  While the book is still a work in progress, I’ve expanded my gift in so many ways since the start of my blog.  I’ve served as a writer for my church magazine, developed and managed content for websites, and published academic research papers.

All of these opportunities helped me to grow in my gift as a writer, but it also kindled a new interest in improving the layout of my blog through the creation of a more visually appealing website.  I’d love to tell you that this has been an easy process for me that I made happen overnight, but that would be a flat out lie.  I don’t know the first thing about web development, HTML, domains, or anything remotely related to these things, so of course I asked others for help (more on that later).  Although there are a ton of website builders out there to help you customize your own site, it just wasn’t coming together for me.  I’d figure one thing out, and then hit a brick wall with something else.  I procrastinated (yes, me…I procrastinated) for the longest about  this site because I felt stuck, inadequate, and not prepared to take on such a task as this even with help!  In short, I almost let it get the best of me.  But, at some point, you get tired of being tired.  And I wasn’t going to let this particular goal spill over to another “new year, new me” to do list any longer.  I decided to release the doubt and fear of not getting things perfect and just do it!  I particularly pressed my way over the last few weeks to learn web lingo, code (I am still very much the amateur), linking, and more.  Shout out to Google because I searched it ALL!

The good part about all of this is that the small steps I have taken in recent years to redesign my blog paid off tremendously, including making a sketch for the design and content, registering a personal domain, and having my first professional photography session.  My lesson in this entire experience is twofold – 1) watch what you tell yourself,  because if you think you can’t do something, you will not do it.  You will find something else to do instead only to be drawn back to what you’ve always known you were meant to do 2) give yourself a chance. I almost gave up on this site, which ultimately means I almost gave up on my dream.  There are still some things I would like to further customize, but I’ve learned that you don’t have to get it all right the first time.

I’m proud of myself for sticking to my commitment to enhance the user experience of my site, because in the end, my goal has always been to display my words in a way that inspires.  On my new site, you will find a few of my older blog posts, but going forward there will be new posts about my life lessons, event/gift design, and travels presented on their respective pages.  I’ve also decided to transition one of the recent additions to my writings titled “Monday’s Mantra” where every Monday I post a principle or motto I strive to live by in order to start the week off in what I call a “Friday mindset.”  Mondays get a bad wrap, lol.

I am sincerely grateful to several people for their talents, services, assistance, and advice for helping me through this long but rewarding process.  To Mom, B. Goodman, C. Campbell, A. Ranjan, Altimese Nichole, Bosch Studios Photography, LeMark Photography, and all of my supporters, THANK YOU!  All of you have made an investment in my dream, and I’m so appreciative.  And to my boo/”BFL,” thank you for being there to hold me accountable, staging photos, and listening to me vent about it all.

To everyone who has  followed my writing then and now, thank you.  I hope my reinvention births new hopes, ideals, and perspectives in your lives.