Ari Speaks Out

Texting Anxiety

*9:00 PM

Me: Hey Anxiety. I want to tell you some good news.

Anxiety: Good news? What is it?

Me: Yes! I got a job!!! After being jobless for 3 and a half months, I got a job!

*Read at 10:30 PM

*10:50 PM

Me: Hello? Are you there?

Anxiety: Yeah.

Me: So, no good job or congrats?

Anxiety: Why would I do that?

Me: Because I got a job. Why are you acting like this?

Anxiety: LOL! Now you know this job is not going to last.

Me: Why would you say that? I really wanted this job, and I am glad that I have it.

Anxiety: Because you’re a screw-up. You will find a way to mess it up.

Me: No. This job is perfect for me.

Anxiety: Oh yeah? LOL. Okay Ari.

Me: What does that mean?

Anxiety: Ari, you are not right for this job. You always think that a job will work out and by year one you’re burned out or you dip.

Me: This job is different. This position was designed for me. My bosses love me. They made me feel like I am a part of a family.

Anxiety: Give them time. They will find out how unstable you are, and you’ll be out.

Me: That’s not true. Stop being so negative.

*Read at 11:15 PM

*12:15 AM

Me: Hello??

Anxiety: Look. Think about it; this job requires you to help people find the right job, right?

Me: Right.

Anxiety: But you don’t even know what job is right for you!

Me: I do know! The other jobs weren’t the right fit for me.

Anxiety: How do you know this job is? You really think you got it right now? Like, suddenly the right job just fell out of the sky for you?

Me: I know this is the right job for me.

Anxiety: LMAO! Girl bye!

Me: Why are you being this way? This is supposed to be a joyous time.

Anxiety: FOR WHO?? You’re going to mess up and EVERYBODY will see how much of a failure you are.

*Read at 12:25 AM

*12:45 AM

Anxiety: I got you thinking huh?

Anxiety: You know I am right.

Anxiety: Quit before they find out that you’re a fraud girl.

Me: I am NOT a fraud. I WILL NOT FAIL!

Anxiety: Are you sure? Like on a scale from 1-to 10, how sure are you?

Me: A million!

Me: I never felt so complete. I not going to let you keep me doubting myself.

Anxiety: But that’s why we are friends! I keep you freaking out until you lose your will to keep going and then you bail. I like this setup.

Anxiety: So don’t get comfy girl!

Me: ENOUGH! I am going to do great! I don’t care what you say.

Anxiety: Well, I’ll let you have your little fun. But trust me, you’ll be texting me soon about how this job was a mistake.

Me: Nah, I am done with that and with you.

Anxiety: LOL. Girl you know I am not going anywhere.

Me: That might be true, but this time I will be ready for whatever you throw my way friend.

Anxiety: We’ll see. Bye girl.

Me: Whatever. Bye.

A Little Pick Me Up for Little Ari

Hey Little Ari!

I know this week has been rough for you, but I wanted to write you something that will put a smile on your face. I hope these words will make you realize that you are loved and valued. Little Ari, you are allowed to cry about losing something that you wanted. You are not being punished; you are not stupid. Stop beating yourself up. You are allowed to be flawed. You are entitled to make mistakes. Don’t change how you show love. It’s nothing wrong with loving with your whole heart. There’s nothing wrong with you Little Ari. This change we are going through will help us be strong one day. This change will be something to help other people that are going through the same thing we went through. We are learning lessons that will make us a better woman. We are changing for the better. I know that it is hard Little Ari, but we are fighters. We always come out stronger (Shirts ripped and all). I got you back and your front, Little Ari. We are not alone. We might be down right now, but Little Ari, we will win! I promise Little Ari we are going to be just fine. Please put your trust in me. I will not let you go. I want you to remember even if you are afraid, Little Ari, you can still make it.

I love you Little Ari.

Ariel

“I’ve learnt that I still have a lot to learn.” — Dr. Maya Angelou

Stupid Girl

Why did I allow myself to think that I could bring back something that was never meant to be? I wish I didn’t care as much as I do about this. It has never been when I felt so stupid as I do right now. I am so quick to think that everything will be alright. But as soon as that time comes, I get down. Man, I can’t stand this shit. I feel like a little kid that is gleaming about Santa only to find out that it’s your mama and older brother putting gifts out (that’s my actual story of how I found out about Santa). I can’t stop myself from feeling like I did the wrong thing by reaching out. I thought I was doing the right thing. Why couldn’t I just be told they did not want to be bothered? Damn, I am so dumb! They led me to believe that they wanted the same thing. They gave me hope again. I thought we would be family again. Why did I think that? Why couldn’t I leave well enough alone? I wish it weren’t like this. I wish we would have had a chance to speak our peace and move on. I guess I didn’t need the closure. But why do I want the closure so damn badly? Because I am stupid, that’s why. I have to be okay with not knowing how they feel about me and how I hurt them.

I am hurt right now, but I will be okay with time.

“Goodbyes hurt when the story is not finished, and the book has been closed.”— Jnd

Black Tears on Loop

Black Tears on Loop

Yesterday, I saw a piece in the museum by Ebony G. Patterson called ‘…the kings weep…” that made me cry. The work is a video installation that portrays three men dressing while tears quietly roll down their cheeks. While the three men are dressing, you hear the voice of a young teenage boy reciting a poem by Claude McKay called “If We Must Die.” I stood there for a moment and noticed that film was looping around just to have the three men start over again. It shook my soul to see those men crying as they held their heads high. How could they stand so tall in the climate we live in today?

As a black woman, I honestly mourn every time I read or hear about another black person dying at the hands of the Police or dying by the hands of “themselves.” The fact that a black man can be in his legal right to have a gun can still be treated like the bad guy and killed without reason why. As soon as I dry my tears, I start crying again. Shit! I am tired of crying! Why can’t we live our whole lives? Do we not deserve to see our babies grow up? We want to grow old too. But all we can do is cry. And dry our tears. And cry again. It is exhausting knowing that I could see another person that looks like me dead. Killed. Then I cry again. And I dry my tears, just to cry again.

I am not sure if I will ever see a day that there’s no more hate. But I would love nothing more but not to cry about another black person dying.

“If we must die, let it not be like hogs

Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot,

While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs,

Making their mock at our accurséd lot.

If we must die, O let us nobly die,

So that our precious blood may not be shed

In vain; then even the monsters we defy

Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!

O kinsmen! We must meet the common foe!

Though far outnumbered let us show us brave,

And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow!

What though before us lies the open grave?

Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack,

Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!”

— Claude McKay

Come Follow Me 🌟☺️

The Shift

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” — Maya Angelou

Going into my 35th year this year, I noticed that I have been shifting a lot in the past two years. And this shift that is taking place is not pleasant. Not one bit. This shift has brought me to dangerously low moments that I thought I would never recover. I wanted out of this change I was going through because I did not see anything good coming from it. Why did there this shift have to bring so much loss and pain? Why did I have to deal with doors shutting in my face? I want this change to go away. I want change without the sides effects. Can I just stay the way I am?

Today I realize that the shift was necessary. I needed the shift because my outlook on the world was clouded. I saw every closed door as a punishment instead of seeing it as saving grace. Those dangerously low moments were when I tried it my way and ran into a wall. The pain and the loss I had only came because I needed to let go of things that were not serving me anymore. Me fighting against the shift was why I felt the discomfort. Discomfort comes from you wanting to stay where you are, but your mind knows that it is time to make moves.

I feel confident that once I am completely done shifting, I will truly see the beauty of my purpose.

Come Follow Me 🌟☺️

Self-Love

Rooting For the Girl in the Mirror

Hey Girl,
I know that we are on month three of finding your new path, but I want to tell you that I am still behind you. You have everything that you need to make an impact wherever you go. Do not let that nasty thought of you not being good enough because that is not true. You are learning to be patient, and with that patience, the good energy you have been missing these few months. I am happy the lump in your throat has gone, and the emptiness you felt in your stomach has been filled with hope and purpose again. I will not downplay how it is hard not knowing what will happen next, but you can make it through. All this pain and sadness you dealt with will not go unheard. You were made for this moment, even if it does not feel like it. This pep talk is not to make you have a false sense of positivity; this pep talk is to keep you grounded as you wait.

Lastly, I want to tell you that you are loved. You are not a failure. You could never be a failure because you did not give up. You are awesome. May this week bring you so much favor and grace. Remember Ari; YOU WERE MADE FOR THIS MOMENT! Don’t forget it.

Love You Always,
Ari

Baby Girl

Hi Baby Girl,

This is your mama. I know that God has not sent you to me yet, but I want to talk to you because I can feel you near me. I am trying my hardest to be the best woman I can be to be ready for you. I dream about you often. I can see your almond-colored skin and your tight curly fro. You have my smile and your daddy’s eyebrows. Your eyes sparkle like the night’s sky. In my dreams, I can feel how smooth and soft your skin is. No one can tell me that I haven’t already held you; that’s how real my dreams are of you. But when I open my eyes, you are gone.

Baby Girl, I want you to know that I will always love you. I will fight hard for you. I will move every mountain out the way for you. You will never have to question if I will be by your side. No matter how big or small your dreams are, I will be there cheering you on. I will teach you how to follow your heart and love who you are. Baby Girl, I know you will do amazing things in your life. I hope I will be the mother you want and love. I hope that I can be your biggest hero. And more importantly, I hope when I make mistakes, you can forgive me.

So until I get to have you down here on earth, I will be satisfied with seeing you in my dreams.

Love You,

Mama