What did I learn today? Lessons on the Journey to Unconditional Self Love

This morning, the ocean gifted me a miracle. There’s a reason I run this 3km stretch of beach at dawn—it’s where I recalibrate, where I ground myself, where I talk (and listen) to the Most High. The rhythm of the waves, the salt in the air, the sun painting the sky —it’s the place that I believed healed me and kept me during some of the toughest moments. But today, the ocean offered me a sacred lesson, courtesy of an old friend: Bobbi the leatherback turtle. Yes, I named her. Because this isn’t the first time we’ve met. But today? Today, I witnessed her entire ritual—the slow, deliberate crawl up the sand, the digging of the nest, the laying of her eggs, the careful covering of her treasure, and finally, her exhausted but determined return to the sea. All while the sun rose behind her, as if the universe itself was bearing witness. The Art of Preparation Bobbi didn’t rush. Every movement was intentional—the way she used her flippers to carve out the perfect chamber, the precision with ...

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  Your attention can be redirected in any moment, over and over. It is never too late to notice where your attention is going, to turn it in another direction if you need to. Lisa Olivera  There is a quiet voice within me that has always been there. It doesn’t shout or scold—it waits. It waits for me to pause, to notice, to listen. Every time I ignore it, the proverbial shit hits the fan Over the years, I’ve come to recognize this voice as my conscience—my inner compass and soul’s gentle guardian. What I’ve discovered is that when I block it out, when I override it or pretend I don’t hear, I begin to lose balance. I lose me. You see, the conscience is not alone on this sacred journey. It partners with intuition—that deep, knowing nudge that whispers, “Pay attention.” Intuition nudges, conscience confirms. Together, they ask that I not only listen, but honor what I feel. Not just what is right, but what is aligned. Not just what is good for others, but what is also good for me...

“ Low self-confidence isn’t a life sentence. Self-confidence can be learned, practiced, and mastered–just like any other skill. Once you master it, everything in your life will change for the better.” –Barrie Davenport People often ask how I speak so freely on stage, how I seem at ease in front of a crowd. The truth is, it’s not always easy. I’ve stood on stages with a calm face and trembling hands. I’ve looked out into audiences with a voice that wavered—then steadied—not because I was born with unshakable confidence, but because I made the choice to build it. Confidence, for me, isn’t something you have —it’s something you create . It’s forged through doing the scary things, showing up prepared, silencing the inner doubt, and choosing belief over fear again and again. I wanted to be a speaker. I wanted to share the wisdom, the mistakes, and the magic from my journey. And wanting it meant doing the work. I started small: running a 5K even when my legs and my mind protested. Speaking...

  "Life delights in surprises and specializes in uncertainty. Change is the price of admission for this wild ride called being alive " Akosua Dardaine  The energy inside the Winnifred Atwell Hall was electric. The graduating class of St. Francois Girls’ College entered with poise and pride—uniforms crisp, hair styled, faces lit with anticipation. Their excitement was palpable, each step echoing years of hard work, commitment, and personal growth. What struck me most was not just the formalities of the ceremony, but the way they celebrated one another. When awards were announced, performances delivered, or pans played, the room erupted—not a single cheer was held back. It was pure, unfiltered joy. That deep sense of community and shared success reminded me of a truth I often speak about: the journey is as sacred as the destination. Milestones like these are layered with lessons—not just for the graduates, but also for their parents, guardians, and teachers who walked alongside...

  " Those who disappointed you have been instrumental in forging you into the person you are today, my love. They forced you to find love elsewhere because they simply did not have it for you. They pushed you to either die of sadness or go on a journey to the center, to the true source of love. They made you find your own ground of being. They built the cathedral of your heart with you — and yes, even for you." Elizabeth Gilbert I have learnt- it took me a while, that there is a quiet wisdom in heartbreak, in unmet expectations, in the pain of realizing that those we love—those who once claimed to love us—could not always meet us where we stood.  It is tempting to dwell on the disappointment, the grief, the lingering ache of rejection. But what if every one of these moments, every wound, every act of abandonment was part of a divine design? Elizabeth Gilbert’s words linger in my mind: “They built the cathedral of your heart with you — and yes, even for you.” What if those ex...

  " When the moment comes, learn to live beyond the expectations that you once had for yourself. Have faith and believe in yourself because it's the consistency with which you act on your vision that enables them to transform from vision to reality"  Brianna Wiest  There comes a time when you sit with your own reflection and ask: What do I truly expect of myself?  For years, I may have carried expectations rooted in survival, in proving, in striving. But today, I choose differently. Today, I expect to be of service to this world—to show up with open hands and an open heart. I expect to leave wherever I am better than I found it, whether that be a place, a conversation, or a person. I expect to be great—not for the sake of grandeur, but because honoring myself demands nothing less. I expect to make choices that reflect who I truly am, not who I was told to be. I expect to give myself grace in the moments I fall short, and to remind myself that growth isn’t a straight...

You have power, power of the Most High not the change the weather maybe not to bend time but to choose what you believe and right there that’s the key because what  you believe becomes the house you live in - Maya Angelou  Transition. It is bound to happen. It is woven into the fabric of life, an inescapable force that moves us forward, whether we feel ready or not. And yet, so often, we resist. We hesitate. We grip tightly to what is familiar, fearing what lies ahead. Why is it so challenging? Why do we resist? Is it the uncertainty? The unknown? The loss of control? I have learned that resisting life's transitions brings us undue suffering.  That is not to say there is no pain or discomfort in the process. Resisting what is, creates tension between what is and what we wish it to be. And yet, in every transition, there is an invitation—an opportunity to trust, to prepare, to step into a deeper version of ourselves. The Art of Preparation There is no handbook for navigati...

“ Words have wings, they are not vibrations in the air. They build, they break, they become the architecture of our reality.” Maya Angelou  Words are not just sounds carried by the wind—they shape, they construct, they define. They are the blueprint of our lives, the foundation upon which our dreams stand or crumble. Every word we speak carries weight, intention, and energy. And when we are pursuing our goals, when we are walking in our purpose, the words we choose become even more critical. This is the lesson that resonated with me over the last few weeks. I have been noticing that my words - good and not so good- have played a huge part in manifesting the reality I now live in. The Power of Alignment I have come to believe, deeply and unwaveringly, that thoughts, words, and actions must align. When they do, movement happens—swiftly, effortlessly, powerfully. It is as if the universe conspires to clear the path ahead, removing obstacles, opening doors, and ushering us forward. Bu...

There are places in the world that don’t just invite you to visit—they demand that you surrender, listen, and become part of their rhythm. Portland, Jamaica, is one of those places. Away from the crowded beaches and tourist hubs, its hills hold whispers of Maroon history, its rivers wind through stories of resilience, and its waterfalls flow with a quiet kind of magic. On this trip—an escape off the beaten path—I found myself answering a call I hadn’t expected. With the expert guide of Teika of Being Jamaican, I was transported into a place and space that I did not know I needed. Facing the Water I have always admired waterfalls from a distance, content to soak in their beauty without surrendering to their depth. Fish Dunn was different. It wasn’t just another stunning cascade; it was a series of intimate pools, each one inviting yet unfamiliar. I hesitated at the edge, feet skimming the water, heart racing with the familiar pulse of fear. Teika's  from Being Jamaican, said: “Hold ...

  "As the illusion of Control As Safety falls, I’m finding myself more and more drawn to finding safety right inside of the storm, right in the middle of the mystery, right alongside the sheer unpredictability of everything." Lisa Olivera June always arrives to me  like a doorway, standing between the past and the future, inviting me to pause, reflect, and embrace the unfolding road ahead. Six months behind us, six months stretching forward. This year, I find myself standing at a crossroads, personally, professionally, and otherwise. The steady ground I once depended on has shifted, the familiar markers have faded, and certainty no longer holds the same weight. And yet, as Lisa Olivera beautifully describes, there is safety not just in control, but in surrendering to the mystery—standing right inside the storm rather than resisting it.   Endless possibility. Rather than fearing uncertainty, I am choosing to welcome it. The removal of the grants for the Nina program,...