The Unabridged Version of a Rational Emotional Mind

I like the friends of my friends. The same-city friends of my long-distance bestie. The college friends of my school friends. The childhood friends of my adult friends. The guy friends of my girl friends and the girl friends of my guy friends.  I see the joy in their eyes when they talk about these people, some who were there before me and those who came after me. There is something magical about knowing that even if nothing else ties me to these people, we are united on one front - being there for our friend. The sense of camaraderie, joy and fulfillment I gain by knowing that someone else cares for someone I love in ways I can't, is inexplicable.  It makes me realize that I play a very specific role in each of my friends' lives and they in mine. Meaning - no one person can fulfill the other's every need - no matter what! While I can be a sounding board for my long-distance besties, I can't help them move flats, sitting miles away. With some friends, I can jam to all k...

Two hours before the year 2026 began, I was sitting at church, watching our achen urge the congregation to stand and share their witness stories for the year, and I stayed still, knees locked into place. Every New Year’s watch night service, I sit at church, and I let the voices in my head get the better of me “You can’t even speak in a singular language” “How will people understand if you yap in the colonial tongue?” “If you are witnessing only unto your God, you don’t need to get up!” But this year, I want to at least write my story down. So here is every way I felt my God’s presence in 2025 – In 2025, I was protected, as I travelled to seven different states (maybe eight – I lost count!), three within a span of twenty-one days. I turned a year older in grace. I got sick and got better. Lost a soul and grieved. Broke my bones and healed. 2025 for me was the year of rest and quiet resetting – of priorities, mind-set and loyalty. I found my people, lost a few, reconnected with peo...