Tag: love

To Ebb And To Flow

by almachristina1 Comment on To Ebb And To Flow
To Ebb And To Flow

ebb and flow

My friend, give yourself some grace. We are all hurting and healing and navigating happiness. It is entirely possible (and necessary, if you ask me) to feel all three of these. And it is OKAY. In the name of humanity. I’m giving you permission without you ever asking, just in case you have been feeling it and trying to figure it all out. We are capable. It is okay to hurt, it’s necessary to heal and it’s GOOD to be happy — about life and good health, surviving; happy for personal success, for friendship, happy that our kids are happy, or happy because we’re blessed with a capital B and thriving; happy about a fresh cup of coffee for goodness sake (me, everyday), whatever the reasons — happy. I think sometimes guilt seeps in for celebrating goodness when we should be mourning. But our lives allow for both. It’s entirely real to be healing from one thing and hurting for another, AND find joy every single day. AND, not OR. (Somebody’s church mother would say, “praise Him, anyhow” but that’s a different sermon for a different day.)

You might be starting to think about how this applies to your own circumstances. Although often hard to see, it is the beauty of life really, a blessing in disguise to face life’s ups and downs; to ebb and to flow. I read an article in the September issue of The Knot magazine on Elaine Welteroth and Jonathan Singletary. In the article, they eloquently describe their wedding day experience, and “experience” it was. Under the bold heading, “Black Life Matters” Elaine and Jonathan not only share the details of their wedding day but also beautifully relate to Black pain, joy and everything in between. Jonathan starts off by saying, “”It’s important to find peace in the storm, it’s important to find gratitude even when it’s difficult.”” Take that with you, friend, cause things will ebb and then they will flow.

I think we all have, at one time or another, heard someone say, “be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” And it’s always truer than true.

An extra two cents
On hurting: Sorrow, sadness, grief, pain. Hurting is human but it isn’t who we are, it doesn’t define us unless we let it define us. My prayer is that we don’t just go through it, we GROW through it.
On healing: Healing is my favorite human phenomenon. I think it could honestly probably be considered a necessary evil — honestly probably. Healing is HARD WORK. I consider it a courageous act to begin the process of healing; a miracle of sorts. Even if your wounds are physical, healing requires an inner work — an extraction of old habits and learned behaviors, a good-riddance to pride and the ego; a relinquished hold on the obstacle(s) blocking a new you for you; a cleansing of the soul and renewing of the mind. Healing is (transformational) change plus tax. Whew.

On happiness: If nothing else, with happiness comes relief. Choose happy if for no other reason than to push you forward. Look for the good in everything – it’s there.

If you’re interested in reading more on healing and putting in the work to do it, visit unapologeticallyauthentic.com. She has some fantastic worksheets included with each blog post that will get you on the path to living your truth.

Love,

almachristina

Pandemic

by almachristina7 Comments on Pandemic

We’re experiencing a pandemic and so you can forget it if you think I’m not going to write about it. How am I feeling? — this way this day, that way the next day…

For the last seven-ish years I’ve worked as a flight attendant (sky waitress, if you’re nasty *kidding*) — aside from seeing all sorts of beautiful travel destinations, slingin’ cokes and pretzels, and responding to the occasional medical emergency at 30,000 feet, what this means is I am usually working hours and days most people aren’t and I encounter hundreds of people in a day. And, I’m usually always on the go…usually always. You may have already started to try to imagine what this is like given the current state of affairs i.e. this global pandemic. Well, it’s a bit of a balancing act.

Right now, my beloved-sometimes glamorous-sometimes not-most enviable career — kinda sucks. Nicely put, it isn’t so great. Each time I have to report to work I experience increased anxiety about going because while the commercial aviation industry functions as “essential”, what we do technically still goes against all quarantine mandates and social distancing rules. But I want to go to work to feel the normalcy that is flight crews and jet fuel and airplane coffee (I know, I know). Only to get there and have to face the realization that even work isn’t the same. Meanwhile there’s Facebook updates, tweets and IG posts as people begin to adjust and readjust, creating new acronyms like “wfh” for their “new normal” — staying home and safe. Being in my feelings takes on new meaning; I self-quarantine on my days off to be like the rest of the world and then get stir crazy cause I don’t know what it is to not be on my way to work after a few days and because I need my cash to flow (feel me). I stay ready for work; my suitcase is always packed (bikini always in it) and I get this weird rush of excitement knowing I get to dress in my uniform and walk the length of an airport terminal. Ok, probably not admirable right now, but I’m painting the picture here. We’re experiencing a pandemic and it has changed my feelings. For now, I most often ONLY want to be in a cocoon (with provisions, of course), or at least with my fiancé, BUT my support system is miles away (some of you, I’m sure, can relate). The real cherry on top is that I’m also planning my wedding (blessings) and preparing to move across the country. Like I said, a balancing act!

Truth is, I know I’m not feeling anything too different from the next person just in a different context with different circumstances. And I know my sacrifice to be at work, do my duty and serve the public pales in comparison to that of medical professionals and first responders. It goes without saying that I am beyond grateful to be able to still work the gig I love in spite of everything, for my income and a company that cares about me as an employee(!!) but I’m also feeling some apprehension, some angst, some sadness, and all the feels that come with this AND allowing that. You should allow yourself too. There is always a light, and my light in this is that I am more introvert than extrovert, I enjoy solitude and this pandemic still opens more space and time for that than ever. I am unplugging more, crying more, reading more, praying more and quite frankly sitting and doing nothing which all bring relief. Find your light. We all have our woes in this and it’s fine. Thankful for YOU and this free space.

Washing my hands and counting my blessings.

Love,

Alma

tunes: artist/Childish Gambino ft. Ariana Grande . song/Time . album/3.15.20

TESSA

by almachristina4 Comments on TESSA

(artist: Bryson Tiller – song: Canceled)  Listen here

Sorry (not sorry), guys.  This is primarily for my ladies.  

**disclaimer: this post is about identity and yet I can’t reveal Tessa because I didn’t ask permission.  The irony**

Inspired by Leesh. 
  

Who or what is TESSA, you ask? ————

TESSA is a mixture of women and identity.  TESSA is ‘Hey, Auntie’ and ‘Bye, Felicia’ in the same breath.  She is how we choose to identify and define OURSELVES.  And personally, I LOVE the correlation.  TESSA is who I choose to be!  TESSA is ‘GIRL’S TRIP‘ the movie (are you with me?).  TESSA might be Topanga or Alizè, to you (jokes).  TESSA is my sister when she changes her hair, or you when you change yours!  Don’t get me wrong (’cause I know any fellas reading this are ready); it has nothing to do with putting on a front, and everything to do with experiencing new dimensions of our true selves.  

"How 'bout dat?"

We aren’t in conversation enough about SO many things and our identity as women and defining ourselves for ourselves is no different.  We can choose to do this DAILY (yes, everyday); or weekly.  Some of us decide every Jan.1.  Some of us don’t decide enough; we just go along (insert side-eye emoji).  I think it is best to remember that whatever we decide about ourselves, it is our own choice.  Another thing to remember is to do it for you and only you.  That last bit can be hard to face.  Most of us were born with expectations already set for us — for who we will become.  It could be that we’re almost 30 and still don’t want to disappoint our family or, that we’re living out a vision of who we are that we developed based on a certain situation or circumstance or, maybe it was something else — but you know that SOMEWHERE along the way you have fallen into some bogus, halfway-intentional, take-me-as-I-am-but-this-is-not-who-I-really-am version of yourself that was subconsciously driven by who you grew up around, or by the loudest voice in your life, or by someone else’s standard.  Yes, that is how convoluted our lives can be.  Additionally, for myself, I know there are things I want to change and things I never want to change about who I am.  Truth is, self-realization requires continuous addition and subtraction.  

Regardless if you relate to ‘Tessa’, we must decide our identity and definition for ourselves and our lives and then be confident in those decisions.  Heck, you can be who you wanna be.  I am just here to remind you that it is completely up to you.  Be courageous.  

"Hey, girl, hey!"

 

 

 

almachristina

Deeper

by almachristina1 Comment on Deeper
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anyone recently taken the opportunity to change your life??

∗raises hand∗  »life-deconstructed, party of one«

“Change is the only constant” – unknown

a little bit of a window »»» Since my last post I’ve taken life as I’ve known it for the past five-ish years and basically created the opposite.  I moved to a new city and started a new lifestyle.  So, if my next few blog posts seem like they are coming from a construction zone it’s because they are (I was supposed to post this one like two weeks ago).  In spite of this, I am not completely off schedule from writing but IT FEELS LIKE IT.  I’ve missed you (say cheeeese).   Now that I’ve given you the gist on why I’ve been missing we can move on.

“When you learn, teach.  When you get, give.”  – Dr. Maya Angelou

I’ve been thinking a lot about (and experiencing) growth lately.  The idea of growing becomes somewhat complex outside of the physical aspect. As one gets older one realizes GROWTH means more than getting taller and even more than crossing into adulthood.    It is life’s natural order to grow and learn new things at a young age, but can I just say that learning new things, in uncharted territory, as an ADULT, is SOMETHING ELSE?  1) It requires quite the effort and 2) I will say it for all of us, it is scary.  There’s so much to be said on expanding your heart, thinking and speaking from a broader perspective, and essentially discovering all of who you are and all that you want to incorporate into who you are (I mean after all, we CAN choose these things).

I like to think of we humans as being multi-dimensional; maybe you just see it as having more than one passion, or (metaphorically speaking) as peeling back layers  — no matter.  Either way, one has to push and be pushed to find what’s there.  Thing is, growing, in any area, causes discomfort (pain, anxiety, etc)  — BUT, *lots of theoretics coming ⇒ maybe don’t refuse that discomfort.  That uncomfortable feeling is likely the result of some fear; possibly the fear of doing something you’ve never done before AND failing at it, causing you to second-guess yourself and the entire purpose of it all.  However, TRANSFORMATION is what we aim for in life, no?  To grow, to evolve, to become better versions of ourselves, to be that for someone else, to get the most out of life.  So, I, would like to encourage you, to experience new experiences.  Dive into the deep end.  Get out of your own way.

“We aren’t here to one-up one another but to help one another up.” – Ann Voskamp

No competition. No comparison. No cheating. No disadvantage. No disruption. No distraction.  Not self-centered → SELF-AWARE.  No doubting.  No hating (So 90’s).  Only opportunity.  Only love.  Only winning.

$ΘuNÐtΓ@©k

from two of my favorites: watch these videos !!!!

(artist: John Legend — song: A Good Night). Listen here (cue wedding season)

(artist: PJ Morton feat. YEBBA song: How Deep is Your Love). Listen here (sidenote: YEBBA beasts this)

 PJ!!!!!  ˜˜An ode to PJ:  You are the epitome of an artist.  You create music that is you.  It adds to all that this world needs.  We need your soul, your honesty, your crooning, your bounce and melodies, your gruff and grit.  Thank you for never straying.˜˜  I just came from his concert which was my first one in a loooong time.  The energy in the room is probably going in my top five favorite feelings ever and I’m pretty sure  everybody in the building felt the same way.  It was a sold out show and everyone was HYPE.  He’s straight out of New Orleans so go figure.  Still on such a high, I want the whole experience again!  In short, you should go. 

got a little carried away, hope you enjoyed my return.

♥♥almachristina

Affirmation

by almachristina6 Comments on Affirmation

(artist: St. Beauty Band — album: Running to the Sun) (<— this is my soundtrack.  I’ll try to do this every post.) Listen here

    hey there, welcome to INK by me, Alma Christina!  I want to begin this blog with an affirmation. ⌈window into my life⌉ I’m learning the importance of DAILY AFFIRMATIONS.  Whatever affirmation you choose, it usually holds a high level of significance to you because it often encompasses an area of your life that needs improving; after all, you’ve chosen the words carefully and specifically, and you’ve most likely completed some sort of exercise that helped you get to the one affirmation, or three, you desperately need to transform your life.

    what I’ve gathered is that affirmations help us become the best version of ourselves through words that become a combination of work, belief in ourselves, and faith in a higher power.  Affirmations help us realize and visualize what we want for our lives, in pretty much any area — the usuals we label as spiritually, physically, and psychologically, but there’s also materially and energetically (aha!) and any other realm you want to come up with, so long as it applies to you.  Confession: It took me some time to understand and even acknowledge the concept of daily affirmations, but one thing I now know since putting them into practice is that the effect of a single affirmation is POWERFUL.  Do what I do (this time)… Repeat your affirmations everyday, start living according to what they say, feel your faith grow, and watch your life change.  I’m giving you one of mine for free, and maybe a couple more in future blog posts.  This one I’ll probably affirm for the rest of my life (btw, it’s definitely up for grabs):

“I DESERVE and HAVE and GIVE UNRELENTING, UNAFRAID, and UNMATCHED AGAPE LOVE.  And NOTHING CAN GET IN THE WAY OF IT.”  – Alma Christina

otherwise, I’m just here to explore art and writing, unabashed aesthetics, and mainly words that have LIFE.

♥♥almachristina