I've been debating whether to write this post for several months... But lately, I am feeling the surge of my self-love and self-power coming back through... so I think I am ready to be upfront about 2015 and the happenings of it. I'm ready to move on, I'm ready to piece myself back together and walk as an example and light for people that may be experiencing a lot of the same issues.
In late December of 2014, I began to date someone... (Please note: this is not an attempt to shame this person. I hope that he has figured out a path for his life to go). It had been 2 years since I had seriously considered being serious about a person. Dates had happened... but nothing with the fit I was searching for. Then, I jumped on OkCupid... Feeling confident and mature and ready to see who was out there in the world for me, in a more serious way. I talked to a few guys... but then this one stood out among the rest. We met, and instantly clicked. Quickly, we agreed to be "boyfriend and girlfriend" ... (I never know proper labels, so we'll stick with that.) He had told me upfront, that he was diagnosed with bipolar... and though I had never dated someone with a mental disorder, I had no issue with it, as he seemed to have his shit together. Our first 3 weeks were happy happy happy go lucky. The beautiful giddy weeks... sigh. Don't we all love those weeks in a relationship... then, the downfall...
I will not delve into excruciating details, but... it became very difficult. I was no longer just his fun, casual girlfriend he met off the internet... I was his core support, 3 weeks in. We figured out that he had PTSD... how? Lucid dreaming, which resulted in me being attacked in my sleep on several occasions. Punched, elbowed, head twisted around, put in a choke hold while in my most vulnerable state...
He began feeling weighted down by his problems, resulting in heavy heavy drinking. He got very irate when I would suggest certain things that could possibily help him. This is where the line gets foggy. What is acceptable and unacceptable? He slapped me.
The sad part was ... I didn't instantly break up with him when this happened. When the unacceptable happened, I was still willing to try to make it work. I told him that what had happened made me upset and that I wanted an apology. He refused, told me I was dramatic. UHHH HELLO. People, PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: if you hurt someone you CARE about, regardless of if you think you were right or wrong, YOU APOLOGIZE. No friendship/relationship is worth losing because you feel like "being right" about something.
Anyways... This large instance was a great example of the little, nitty gritty problems of our relationship. There were no consequences for him. He used his disorder as a crutch... to get what he wanted, or thought he wanted. Manipulation was a second language.
By June... after trying and trying and trying to convince myself to leave... I finally left. I was working in a high school... and had many young freshman girl mentees. I would look into their faces everyday and ask myself, "Would I tell them to stay if their boyfriend was treating them this way?" The answer was NO everytime. I would tell their asses to say BUH BYE LOSER, then ask where that guy was right that minute. As willing and ready as you can be to love and support someone,,, if they are not willing to love and support themselves then you do NOT need to be there.
The purpose of this post is to make YOU, whoever you are, AWARE of 2 things.
1) Domestic Abuse
2) Proper care of mental illness.
1) Ladies and gents: if you are in a relationship where are you being physically or mentally harmed... IT IS TIME TO GO. I know, I know, I know how difficult it is. "BUT I LOVE HIM!" Trust me, I've said it, how many times did I tell Kendra Collins "BUT I LOVE HIM!"? If you love yourself, you will let yourself walk away. Sometimes, you need to pursue what you NEED over what you WANT. If you would like to talk 1:1 about this, PLEASE do not hesitate to reach out to me. I'm not an expert, as no one should be, but I've had my experience and would love to prevent others from feeling some/all of the pain that I felt.
2) If you or someone you love has a mental illness, that is not something to put judgment on. Yes. I had a bad experience with someone who was NOT taking care of themselves. Listen: if you have something going on, seek out help. Whether that is professional or non-professional, there is no shame in asking for help. There are people with huge hearts out there that will listen and guide you... people often neglect their self-care... so its time to prioritize it beautiful human beings. You are the only you that you are gonna get! Work on yourself daily! (I have an amazing list of self-help authors and books if you are ever in the reading mood). Own up to it, and work every damn day to say "I will not let this control me."
Since the ending of the relationship... I have tried very very hard to be ok. It takes a lot of convincing every day. I lost a lot of sleep due to fear of attack... I attempted to date again, which turned out to be a downward spiral, a clear sign that I was not ready yet. It is ok to not be ok, as long as you are working towards being better each day. Every day since June has been a process, but I feel myself getting stronger and finding the right support. :)
I am ready to pick up. I am ready to shine bright. I love myself. I celebrate myself. I have learned from this experience and I find it valuable to share that with the world. I will continue to work on myself everyday.
Raise that beautiful voice. Work hard, love harder. <3
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Monday, August 17, 2015
Faith in the Unknown
I'm writing to you all today to tell you two stories. The last two days... I'm gonna be straight up, I've been in a damn funk. I have NOT been thrilled about my life and I am ready for the next thing... On days like this, it's easy to get caught up and get down on yourself. I have to constantly remind myself that I can't close myself off to the opportunities the world holds for me. Luckily, on these days, the universe sends little messengers to let me know that YOU, you beautiful person you, are gonna be OKAY. More than ok, you're gonna be MAGNIFICENT.
Yesterday was my last day at World Market, and it ended up being the first 8 hour shift that I've ever worked there, training my replacement. So I go in at 8 am, ready to be done, and meet up with the new guy, a man in his 40's who was ready to leave his office job for something more laid back. He was clean cut and very well put together, so bubbly and perky. I was excited that I had the chance to spend my last day with someone who would make me forget my funk for awhile. He asked me about why I was leaving the company and I told him I had been offered a position with Columbus City Schools. His face was pure joy when I told him this. He said, "You must be in your 20's... and you are doing all the right things. You are clearly a great and hard worker based on how you're training me, and now you have found the first steps towards your career. I'm not gonna lie, I HATED my 20's, I would never choose to go back. The 30's is where it's at. And your on your way to making your 30's amazing. You are progressing in your professional life, so you will have financial responsibility. And you clearly take good care of your health, so you'll have your looks too. Young girl, you have a lot to look forward to." I wanted to wipe a tear from my eye. This complete stranger made me think about how hard I have been working to get to where I want to be, and affirmed that all would be ok as long as I kept at it. He made my whole day go so much more smoothly simply by sharing a nugget of wisdom. <3
Today, I started my first training for my new position. While I am ENTIRELY too excited about the job... I got home from training and all I wanted to do was mope around my house... mope mope mope. I finally decided to get out of the house, go pick up a prescription, grab some ice cream and go for a joy ride with Cobra. I head to Kroger downtown and do my business. As I'm walking back to the car, a woman hollers at me from behind and says "Little girl, bless your heart, you have so much more energy than I do, look at that walk!" I had to turn around and laugh with the woman as she cackled at her statement. She saw Cobra sitting in my passenger seat and squealed with excitement, "OH! You have a furry friend!!! Can I pet him?!" and of course I said yes, as Cobra loves new friends. We got to talking about where I got Cobra, and her hope that the dog she had to put up for adoption was now in a good home. She told me she had to give up the dog when her husband went to prison for domestic abuse. She had recently gotten out of rehab, and, "I've been clean for 16 months honey, 16 long hard worth it months". She then asked me for a ride to an apartment a couple blocks away. Compelled by her love of dogs and her lovely disposition, I said yes. She hopped in the car, let Cobra hop in her lap, and gave me directions to where she was going. When we pulled up, she said "This isn't my house... I've been living in the shelter, but I've been helping the old man that lives here for years... he is disabled and can't cook or clean, so I come over a few times a week and help him out." So off she went, gave Cobra a hug, thanked me and was on her way.
Now, obviously I am not just letting every person off the street hop into my car... but sometimes, you feel an emotional pull to something and you trust that the universe is leading you to something that is going to open your eyes, highlight something you've been missing or teach you a lesson. I am so thankful for these two people who so happily crossed my path at just the right time. Sometimes you just have to trust that your life is going to pull itself together just by pushing yourself to be a little better.
Exceed your own expectations and trust that the world has got your back. Good things are coming your way.
Love Always,
Yesterday was my last day at World Market, and it ended up being the first 8 hour shift that I've ever worked there, training my replacement. So I go in at 8 am, ready to be done, and meet up with the new guy, a man in his 40's who was ready to leave his office job for something more laid back. He was clean cut and very well put together, so bubbly and perky. I was excited that I had the chance to spend my last day with someone who would make me forget my funk for awhile. He asked me about why I was leaving the company and I told him I had been offered a position with Columbus City Schools. His face was pure joy when I told him this. He said, "You must be in your 20's... and you are doing all the right things. You are clearly a great and hard worker based on how you're training me, and now you have found the first steps towards your career. I'm not gonna lie, I HATED my 20's, I would never choose to go back. The 30's is where it's at. And your on your way to making your 30's amazing. You are progressing in your professional life, so you will have financial responsibility. And you clearly take good care of your health, so you'll have your looks too. Young girl, you have a lot to look forward to." I wanted to wipe a tear from my eye. This complete stranger made me think about how hard I have been working to get to where I want to be, and affirmed that all would be ok as long as I kept at it. He made my whole day go so much more smoothly simply by sharing a nugget of wisdom. <3
Today, I started my first training for my new position. While I am ENTIRELY too excited about the job... I got home from training and all I wanted to do was mope around my house... mope mope mope. I finally decided to get out of the house, go pick up a prescription, grab some ice cream and go for a joy ride with Cobra. I head to Kroger downtown and do my business. As I'm walking back to the car, a woman hollers at me from behind and says "Little girl, bless your heart, you have so much more energy than I do, look at that walk!" I had to turn around and laugh with the woman as she cackled at her statement. She saw Cobra sitting in my passenger seat and squealed with excitement, "OH! You have a furry friend!!! Can I pet him?!" and of course I said yes, as Cobra loves new friends. We got to talking about where I got Cobra, and her hope that the dog she had to put up for adoption was now in a good home. She told me she had to give up the dog when her husband went to prison for domestic abuse. She had recently gotten out of rehab, and, "I've been clean for 16 months honey, 16 long hard worth it months". She then asked me for a ride to an apartment a couple blocks away. Compelled by her love of dogs and her lovely disposition, I said yes. She hopped in the car, let Cobra hop in her lap, and gave me directions to where she was going. When we pulled up, she said "This isn't my house... I've been living in the shelter, but I've been helping the old man that lives here for years... he is disabled and can't cook or clean, so I come over a few times a week and help him out." So off she went, gave Cobra a hug, thanked me and was on her way.
Now, obviously I am not just letting every person off the street hop into my car... but sometimes, you feel an emotional pull to something and you trust that the universe is leading you to something that is going to open your eyes, highlight something you've been missing or teach you a lesson. I am so thankful for these two people who so happily crossed my path at just the right time. Sometimes you just have to trust that your life is going to pull itself together just by pushing yourself to be a little better.
Exceed your own expectations and trust that the world has got your back. Good things are coming your way.
Love Always,
Friday, July 10, 2015
Standards of Being
I wish this post could have been months ago when all the REAL shit started to go down... but, I guess I needed some time to mope about and feel bad about the situation... until BAM: It is time.
This blog post is geared to EVERYONE and ANYONE today: Women, men, daughters, grandmas, sons, cousins, EVERYONE. Why is it that when we get into relationships, we become more willing to sell ourselves short? Why do we drop our standards? Someone questions your favorite wine and suddenly, you are searching for ways to make them accept the fact that you just like it. UHHHH WHY ARE YOU SEARCHING? Your beliefs are YOURS for a reason, your quirks exist because you are simply YOU. Do not let a person, priority or not, determine if you like something or not.
What I'm saying is: do not lower your standards. Define what is ok, and outline consequences. I write this because I am often caught in this situation. I am the type of individual that gives 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 80th chances. Why? Because I believe in the good of all people... but when you are fighting so hard and breaking yourself down to make another person COMFORTABLE and HAPPY... you are sacrificing what you need. Why should you continue to let a situation perpetuate if the other person puts no action behind it.
Now, when I say standards, I don't mean a stereotypical list. For example;
This blog post is geared to EVERYONE and ANYONE today: Women, men, daughters, grandmas, sons, cousins, EVERYONE. Why is it that when we get into relationships, we become more willing to sell ourselves short? Why do we drop our standards? Someone questions your favorite wine and suddenly, you are searching for ways to make them accept the fact that you just like it. UHHHH WHY ARE YOU SEARCHING? Your beliefs are YOURS for a reason, your quirks exist because you are simply YOU. Do not let a person, priority or not, determine if you like something or not.
What I'm saying is: do not lower your standards. Define what is ok, and outline consequences. I write this because I am often caught in this situation. I am the type of individual that gives 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 80th chances. Why? Because I believe in the good of all people... but when you are fighting so hard and breaking yourself down to make another person COMFORTABLE and HAPPY... you are sacrificing what you need. Why should you continue to let a situation perpetuate if the other person puts no action behind it.
Now, when I say standards, I don't mean a stereotypical list. For example;
- They must be in shape.
- They must be tall, dark and handsome.
- They must have every second of his life planned.
- They must have a PhD.
- They must have a do this, and this, and this and this.
NO. Of course women, keep your standards high, but not impossible. I'm talking about:
- They must go the extra mile for me.
- They must listen to me when I am speaking.
- They must make me laugh.
- They must know how to make me smile on days where there feels like there is no hope.
Go for the person that is going to write you a corny letter. That will pick you a flower off the side of the road. That will show up on your doorstep when you're not feeling well. The one that shows you respect the very SECOND you meet, and honors your wishes. The one that supports you during rough times, and celebrates your successes. The one that fights to be in your life. The one that sees YOU, and only you.
Don't change who you are because you think someone is right for you. If you are feeling uncomfortable and hesitant, chances are its for good reason. Take time to gather your thoughts, pick up the pieces and let each other go. Relationships are two-sided, so all that you want from them, they want from you too. Don't forget to keep that thought in check.
I could talk about this all night... but for ramblings' sake; I will bring this to an end. Remember to honor yourself and honor those around you. Everyone brings something different to the table... it is your choice to embrace that or walk away from it. Use your head and your heart to guide that beautiful soul... keep pushing. Life is a wonderful gift :)
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Night
Sometimes I am absolutely dumbfounded at how quickly things can change... and how people are quick to blame and run from the problem. I am not here to point fingers or dismiss myself... but this is a concept I am constantly working on. I face my problems, and I face them with love. I have found over the years, that often the person with lesser power in a relationship is the one that loves MORE. The lover pours their soul into their friendships, their relationships... their souls are filled by seeing the one they love happy and taken care of. Then suddenly, the loved one decides that you are no longer necessary. They cut you off. That's it... you have no power. The lights are out. Game over.
I am here to recognize the fact that I am one of these people. I have reached the point of self-fulfillment that I have the capacity to give my love to others, and need nothing but their presence in return. I have had my heart broken numerous times for this though. And find myself alone, in the dark. This my friends, is the reason for my quote today. Because I have been put in the dark so many times, I am no longer fearful that I will make it to the morning. Do I still hurt? Of course. Do I miss the person with all my soul? Duh... But I know... that regardless of the number of people in my life, I have built myself a strong support system within my self to plow through the hard times, pick up the pieces and move on. Sometimes our night sky will be scattered with stars, all the friends in the world! You feel loved and surrounded by beauty and intensity. Other nights, we might just see the north star, surrounded by clouds, feeling a little lost and alone.
I am here to say: Do not fear being alone. Every star or person that enters and exits your life is doing so to teach you both a lesson, something to push you to the next level of your life. They show you something about yourself or the world you have never seen before. Sometimes, they burn on longer than others.... sometimes they show up for a day and are gone. You never know, but you must learn to appreciate their time while they are there. Show up for the lesson.
In spite of the heart break I have been feeling lately... I am thankful for two of my north stars. I know I will always look up and see you there, no matter how dark the night. <3
Never let anyone dim your light. Shine on, love on.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
She Has Returned
You know those really bizarre moments when the same thing keeps popping up.... everywhere? Or you start thinking about someone, and suddenly you run into them at the grocery store? ... Synchronicity is a crazy sensation. Well: This happened to me. I started thinking about how much I used to love writing in on my blog... then suddenly, my sister asks me why I never write anymore. About a week later, I run into an old friend from elementary school who says, "I used to read your blog... Little Bee, all the time... do you write in it anymore?" ....
Well! My popular demand and random coincidence, I am back in business. Healthy Little Bee iz back (Cuz we really iz doe). ... Just ignore that reference.
Today is the first day of March, and I am rededicating myself to getting back in shape. To those who followed my blog before, you should know that I had an incredibly dramatic weight drop... which yes, to those who have wondered, resulted in an eating disorder. I had to step back from the fitness and health nut lifestyle because I was literally torturing myself physically, mentally and emotionally. Through many doctors' appointments, self help books and general reflections on life, I have actually returned to my happiest state! (Let the angels sing!) I am now 1) Average weight 2) NOT trying to lose ANY of that weight. 3) Eating whatever the hell I damn well please 4) Happier than ever.
On that note though, I sincerely have not worked out or consistently exercised in over a year, which is a fear of mine that I will fall back into the same routine. I genuinely miss being active... so my March promise to myself is to incorporate BABY WORK OUTS! :)
These will consist of 1-2 of the following elements:
Well! My popular demand and random coincidence, I am back in business. Healthy Little Bee iz back (Cuz we really iz doe). ... Just ignore that reference.
Today is the first day of March, and I am rededicating myself to getting back in shape. To those who followed my blog before, you should know that I had an incredibly dramatic weight drop... which yes, to those who have wondered, resulted in an eating disorder. I had to step back from the fitness and health nut lifestyle because I was literally torturing myself physically, mentally and emotionally. Through many doctors' appointments, self help books and general reflections on life, I have actually returned to my happiest state! (Let the angels sing!) I am now 1) Average weight 2) NOT trying to lose ANY of that weight. 3) Eating whatever the hell I damn well please 4) Happier than ever.
On that note though, I sincerely have not worked out or consistently exercised in over a year, which is a fear of mine that I will fall back into the same routine. I genuinely miss being active... so my March promise to myself is to incorporate BABY WORK OUTS! :)
These will consist of 1-2 of the following elements:
- 5-10 minutes of crunches / calisthenics
- 5-10 minutes of random dancing (Zumba is in fact: Oppression).
- 5-10 minutes of squats/lunges/butt things
- Yoga
- Walking dogs
- 1 minute jog sessions
- Jumping on trampolines
This list could continue, but for the sake of the point I'm just gonna tell you this... I am taking it easy and HAVING FUN! All I can ask for in life is that people let me be who I wanna be... and this is it. You will not see me set foot in a gym (Unless it is to visit my super sexy boyfriend who now works in a gym... yup, I said it). I intend to eat what I want, wear what I want, do what I want when I want to.
I am the Healthy Little Bee,
I am back,
Try & stop me!
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Driving Slow on Sunday Morning & I Never Want to Leave
This Sunday is powered by experimentation in the kitchen! Today I woke up with my coco-banana-coffee drink from yesterday's post AAAAAAND Paleo pancakes!
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1/4 cup almond flour
~1/4 cup coconut milk
1 egg white
Cook in a little coconut oil until golden brown in a frying pan!
I topped with fresh strawberries, honey & chia seeds!
Gluten-free, grain free, refined sugar free! You can fuel yourself up with no guilt with these beauties :)
Have a wonderful day <3
~1/4 cup coconut milk
1 egg white
Cook in a little coconut oil until golden brown in a frying pan!
I topped with fresh strawberries, honey & chia seeds!
Gluten-free, grain free, refined sugar free! You can fuel yourself up with no guilt with these beauties :)
Have a wonderful day <3
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Happy Spring
Good morning world,
It has been quite some time since I've written, and while I do apologize for that... it has been an incredible last few months. I've been LIVING again, which is an incredible feeling.
Spring is a funny thing in Florida, because it only gets hotter. There is no transition from bleh & grey to fresh & green; I can see why people have always talked about wanting to living here. Seasonal depression must not happen down here! With all that, I have been enjoying the beach and of course, if you know me, I am going on my random walks! Here is a story from yesterday, feeling blessed:
So luckily we had the day off from work yesterday, and I used it to FINALLY go get my oil changed. I drove out to the Kia dealer in Hollywood at 10:15, expecting to only be out for an hour or two at most. As per usual, people that work at Kia dealers are CRAZY friendly, I felt welcomed and comfortable as the associate got to know a bit about me & what I'm doing down here in Florida. I explained my role with City Year and he said his mother was a teacher, he thanked me for the work I do... amazing feeling. ANYWAYS: They take my car away and maybe about 15 minutes later, they call me up and they say that they did the free inspection and found that... I needed to replace my brake pads and rotors... oh man... I'm all about driving a safe car so I say alright... I can charge it, go ahead and replace both the front & the rear.... a $400 penny. BUT! The lovely associate said that he'd pay for my oil change & throw in a free car wash. The world is truly my oyster. <3
He estimated that it would take 3-4 hours, so I headed off on another Emily adventure. I walked across the street to Walgreens, contemplated dying my hair red... decided against it. I saw a nail salon across the street, so I hopped over there thinking why not, this will kill some time... I sat down... didn't quite feel like waiting, so I got up and walked the opposite direction. It was nearing lunch time, so I got on my phone and looked at nearby restaurants. A little bit up the road there was supposedly a Caribbean restaurant so I said that I'd give it a try... I walk out there, and no go... it was closed... So I continued walking down a road where there were very few businesses.... I stumbled across a tiny little place called CooCaRoo's, which was an organic juice bar and cafe... So in I walked!
They place was brightly colored, smelled lovely and had a great vibe. They sell organic juices, smoothies & fish dishes, they steer towards vegetarians. This was the first restaurant I've seen like this since I've been down here in Florida! I asked them if they accepted cards... and I was so sad when they said they didn't... They opened in December and were still working on the technical aspects of the business... so I said I'm sorry, I have no cash, I'll have to find somewhere else to eat... but the owner, a friendly guy named Maxwell says, "Oh no no, it is destiny that you walked in here today... sit down and I will make you a smoothie." The universe was truly looking after me yesterday. He made me a delicious and beautiful fruit smootie, gave me a warm & delicious gluten free veggie patty (like a Jamaican beef patty) AND a bowl of conch soup.... an entire meal, completely free... all because I walked in that day. I swore up and down that I would go to the ATM and pay him back after my brakes were done being fixed... but he said, "I don't need your money, as long as you come back."
So so so blessed I am! :) Of course, I will be going back.... TODAY! And bringing Karen. :) Such a wonderful experience.
Last night, I celebrated my 3-week binge free celebration by spoiling myself to a self-care night. Face mask, pedicure, long hot shower, sparkling water, candlelight & multiple episodes of Parenthood (MY NEWEST NETFLIX OBSESSION. I may slightly be in love with Michael B. Jordan)
And this morning, I spoiled myself with an amazing, super-food breakfast :) scrambled eggs, strawberry paleo muffin & cocoa-banana coffee! I have had several requests from people that I start making a cookbook... and I will let you know now... I am looking into it, patience please :)
Today, I will leave you with this quote, "You cannot hate, argue, reason, fight, complain or yell at a dark room to illuminate it-only by shining a Light is darkness overcome. Be that light."
So let love in beautiful people, you'll be surprised how it can affect your overall being.
It has been quite some time since I've written, and while I do apologize for that... it has been an incredible last few months. I've been LIVING again, which is an incredible feeling.
Spring is a funny thing in Florida, because it only gets hotter. There is no transition from bleh & grey to fresh & green; I can see why people have always talked about wanting to living here. Seasonal depression must not happen down here! With all that, I have been enjoying the beach and of course, if you know me, I am going on my random walks! Here is a story from yesterday, feeling blessed:
So luckily we had the day off from work yesterday, and I used it to FINALLY go get my oil changed. I drove out to the Kia dealer in Hollywood at 10:15, expecting to only be out for an hour or two at most. As per usual, people that work at Kia dealers are CRAZY friendly, I felt welcomed and comfortable as the associate got to know a bit about me & what I'm doing down here in Florida. I explained my role with City Year and he said his mother was a teacher, he thanked me for the work I do... amazing feeling. ANYWAYS: They take my car away and maybe about 15 minutes later, they call me up and they say that they did the free inspection and found that... I needed to replace my brake pads and rotors... oh man... I'm all about driving a safe car so I say alright... I can charge it, go ahead and replace both the front & the rear.... a $400 penny. BUT! The lovely associate said that he'd pay for my oil change & throw in a free car wash. The world is truly my oyster. <3
He estimated that it would take 3-4 hours, so I headed off on another Emily adventure. I walked across the street to Walgreens, contemplated dying my hair red... decided against it. I saw a nail salon across the street, so I hopped over there thinking why not, this will kill some time... I sat down... didn't quite feel like waiting, so I got up and walked the opposite direction. It was nearing lunch time, so I got on my phone and looked at nearby restaurants. A little bit up the road there was supposedly a Caribbean restaurant so I said that I'd give it a try... I walk out there, and no go... it was closed... So I continued walking down a road where there were very few businesses.... I stumbled across a tiny little place called CooCaRoo's, which was an organic juice bar and cafe... So in I walked!
They place was brightly colored, smelled lovely and had a great vibe. They sell organic juices, smoothies & fish dishes, they steer towards vegetarians. This was the first restaurant I've seen like this since I've been down here in Florida! I asked them if they accepted cards... and I was so sad when they said they didn't... They opened in December and were still working on the technical aspects of the business... so I said I'm sorry, I have no cash, I'll have to find somewhere else to eat... but the owner, a friendly guy named Maxwell says, "Oh no no, it is destiny that you walked in here today... sit down and I will make you a smoothie." The universe was truly looking after me yesterday. He made me a delicious and beautiful fruit smootie, gave me a warm & delicious gluten free veggie patty (like a Jamaican beef patty) AND a bowl of conch soup.... an entire meal, completely free... all because I walked in that day. I swore up and down that I would go to the ATM and pay him back after my brakes were done being fixed... but he said, "I don't need your money, as long as you come back."
So so so blessed I am! :) Of course, I will be going back.... TODAY! And bringing Karen. :) Such a wonderful experience.
Last night, I celebrated my 3-week binge free celebration by spoiling myself to a self-care night. Face mask, pedicure, long hot shower, sparkling water, candlelight & multiple episodes of Parenthood (MY NEWEST NETFLIX OBSESSION. I may slightly be in love with Michael B. Jordan)And this morning, I spoiled myself with an amazing, super-food breakfast :) scrambled eggs, strawberry paleo muffin & cocoa-banana coffee! I have had several requests from people that I start making a cookbook... and I will let you know now... I am looking into it, patience please :)
Today, I will leave you with this quote, "You cannot hate, argue, reason, fight, complain or yell at a dark room to illuminate it-only by shining a Light is darkness overcome. Be that light."
So let love in beautiful people, you'll be surprised how it can affect your overall being.
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