Transformations

I'm tired of the same old way of not believing in myself. It's time to get up and do it. It's no time like the present. I have to see what the present is, a gift. Since I'm going through a rough patch, I have to see it as temporary. Never again can I stop believing in me, for no one else will. It's time to go into the world and be the world's best at something. Everyone cannot be Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates or Barack Obama, but they can be the world's best with whatever powers, talents and gifts that God gave us. This week I've been examining what are my gifts. For so long I didn't think I had any talents of value. I do.

One of my gifts is my ability to talk to different people. I've noticed that people enjoying conversing with me. I put them at ease. I've been told that I have certain charm that everyone wants to be around (except my Starbucks partners LOL). I've understand that I like people and diversity in particular. At Eleanor Laura McMain Magnet Secondary School I was exposed to diversity in many ways. It was an interesting dynamic, for many were shunned because of their differences. I was scolded at times, but I learned to interact with many. I was in this catch-22, for I knew many but was friends to very few. High school wasn't my highlight. When you're going through it, you don't realize that the best is ahead of you. Years later I met people and create lifelong friends. Then I realized that I wasn't the only one who felt awkward in high school. It was a learning experience. I had to take it for what it was.

One job helped me experience life more than any other. It was my job as barista, shift lead, then associate manager that elevated me. At that job I got to know people. I opened up to strangers because they were genuinely interested in who I was. For the first time in my life I felt comfortable being myself. I didn't have to introduce them to my 'representative.' I was myself and gained the friendships that I always wanted with wonderful people. I reminisce about those times often. I gained knowledge, wisdom, friends but most of all I gained myself. I learned that I was wonderful as is. My friends reaffirmed this for me. There are many memories I have from CC's. Crawfish Friday's with crawfish and Heinekens. Sitting outside for hours on. Knowing everyday was different but with some commonality. We had each other. We protected each other from everyday lives. It was our release. At CC's we laughed, talked and even cried because we were comfortable to display all of those feelings. I don't know about the rest of you, but it was the first time in my life where I felt I could be vulnerable without being defenseless.

Now I embark on this new road of my life. I don't have my CC's everyday, but I took away from it lifelong friendships. Actually, I gained more family. That family understands how to push me in the right direction. It's time for me to accept that push and move forward. Thank you all for loving me as is. There's so much more to me that's trying to get out. I'm ready! World, here I come.