Staying

November 28, 2018 by Ikeranda Smith in marriage, life, relationships, women of color, womensupportingwomen, love

I’ve never seen commitment modeled + I wouldn’t recognize it even if it was mirrored daily. I’ve witnessed so many poor examples that even the finest illustrations fall short of my expectation. I am critical of so-called relationships that represent this false sense of excelling. I am not impressed by relationships that hide behind busy children + elaborate hobbies + quiet filters. I am not fascinated by the years together when you reside in separate rooms + live isolated lives. It’s a thing!

We Never Recovered

November 28, 2018 by Ikeranda Smith in life, personal growth, relationships, personal development, women of color, history

How do you heal from years of trauma inflicted from one generation to the next? How do you carry the weight of pain that was allocated on you just because it was too heavy to keeping lifting? I am convinced that the residue from years of silenced fears + broken families + illegitimate children coupled with physical + verbal abuse has seemingly disabled us. It has seeped into our homes, coated our walls, soaked our furniture + broken our spirits. We are branded with the scars of perilous times + memories of the middle passage.

Weight Of Being Me

October 08, 2018 by Ikeranda Smith in life, personal development, personal growth, women of color

As I get older, I slowly become aware of all there is to me. I learn to heal quicker, sit in things longer to get a better understanding, forgive quicker, love more, admit when learning a lesson is painful, and cry from a space of healing. Also, I understand that I should never compromise a whole abundant gallon size me for a watered down pint size version. So becomes the un-equipping of years of overcompensating, not speaking up, and abandoning the Divine in me.

Acceptance

October 02, 2018 by Ikeranda Smith in life, personal growth, personal development, queer, relationships, women of color, womanaremagic

I remember vividly, when I recognized that I could no longer pray away my queerness. It was as if my world ended while simultaneously crushing the dreams of my family. You do understand that everything you are rests solely on the approval of your family? Meanwhile, I was dying inside as I suppressed my feelings and stifled my pain. The truth is when I consciously decided to not accept myself, I involuntarily made myself invisible to others.

Celebration Of Women

September 24, 2018 by Ikeranda Smith in women of color, queer, life, womensupportingwomen

Oh how I love being a woman! When I think of our pulchritudinous splendor, the ability to bring lives into the world, and how we are built like countries, I am reminded of an immigrant exiled from their home. Lost but not forgotten. The amazing truth is that most women don’t know who they are because of one simple truism…we have given away our power!

Doing What I Love

September 03, 2018 by Ikeranda Smith in leadership, careers, queer

I acquired my education with a deliberate intention to do something that I loved. It was necessary to have more than just a paycheck that carried the weight of an unfulfilled adult with tons of student loan debt. It was essential that I made more than an obscene amount of money, because I watched people “forget”. You know the people that get a touch of amnesia when they have acquired that particular number in their bank account; yet they can’t seem to remember what it feels like to want to make a difference. It was imperative for me to live in service because I have witnessed the benefits of doing magnanimous deeds. It was one of my non-negotiables, an unwavering fervor to do things that brought me immense joy!