Tag Archives: blogger

My cultural heritage

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Daily writing prompt
What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in?
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I take great pride in our perseverance, our family, and our rich historical timeline. It is disheartening that some attempt to erase our impact on history, as this distorts our true narrative. We confidently turn to our elders, who play a crucial role in educating us about our heritage. I stand proud of all that we are, but most of all, I am immensely proud of our strength and our remarkable capacity to forgive.

Practicing Self Care

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Practicing self-care is essential to me because without it, you end up losing yourself. I have several methods. I have grown accustomed to facials. I started getting them done around three years ago. My aesthetician plays relaxing music, uses beautiful scents, and creates a mood that is so relaxing that I fall asleep. I go every one to two months. I had no idea how wonderful she was until I went to someone else in the beginning. I was with a friend and noticed the glow of her skin, and she gave me her information. I had gone to someone else, and it was not a great experience. I also like caring for houseplants. I have about twenty of them, and they bring me peace. Finally, you should make yourself a priority, and nothing should get in the way of caring for yourself. It gives you the ability to be more effective and purposeful.

Daily writing prompt
How do you practice self-care?
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Saying No

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How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals? I haven’t always had this clarity, but I’ve come to realize the importance of protecting my peace when something doesn’t feel right or resonate with me. There’s a comforting strength in saying no without the need to justify myself, allowing me to avoid future regrets.

Non-traditional family: Lessons learned

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I never thought about family traditions and would have initially said that we didn’t have any. I come from a large family of 7 children in a single-parent home. We were not traditional by any means, but she held our family together. My mom fed anyone that was hungry; she loved to entertain and make people feel good. I did not want to share her with outsiders. I didn’t realize until she died that she was the glue that held us together. We celebrated every major holiday, and during the summers, she made a fruit punch that we couldn’t get enough of.

My mom stepped up for quite a few of my friends. One of my friends graduated high school and had no one to be there for her. Mom went with balloons and had a cake at the house. My friend was so happy, and it was the sweetest thing. She did everything behind the scenes. She taught me the tradition of giving unselfishly and not expecting anything in return. It’s how I’m living my life.

Daily writing prompt
Write about a few of your favorite family traditions.
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My mission in life

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Daily writing prompt
What is your mission?
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Mission: In a world where you can be anything, be kind. (Jennifer Dukes Lee)

As we go through life, we realize the simple things that create joy in others’ lives. It’s simple and fulfilling. I was in a supermarket. An elderly woman was telling me about her occupation before retiring. She shared how much she enjoyed her job working at Strawbridge & Clothier. I remembered the big chain store and its Clover Day and the great sales.

She told me that her daughter rushes her whenever she takes her to run errands. I noticed that she was dressed impeccably, as if she were still working. I smiled and admired her gift of painting her life for me. She smiled at me because I was genuinely listening. I helped her pick out some fruit, and we said our goodbyes. You can’t put a price on things like this. My mission is to make more connections. ❤️

Colleges Attended

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I have had an incredible journey attending the Community College of Philadelphia, La Salle University, Drexel University, and Eastern University! I genuinely believed I would continue my education despite the challenges of stress and anxiety. I kicked off my academic adventure by earning my ADN and General Studies degree at CCP. After passing my nursing boards, I became a registered nurse. I worked at a hospital that offered tuition reimbursement. What a win-win!

One of the highlights was taking a religion course at La Salle, taught by an inspiring priest. I absolutely loved the class and the way my instructor made everything come alive! I embarked on my BSN journey at Drexel. Then, life threw a curve ball. I went into renal failure. I bravely tackled peritoneal dialysis. I received a cadaveric kidney from a 5-year-old angel. Yet, that kidney only lasted 3 years. I faced skin disorders. I experienced a gastrointestinal bleed. My hemoglobin levels were low. The support from my wonderful coworkers, friends, and family was invaluable. My friend Moe stepped up and turned out to be a match, which was amazing!

I was open and honest with my instructor and everyone about my medical struggles. I made it clear that I didn’t want any special treatment. Our story became a meaningful chapter for many of my colleagues who witnessed our journey. There were tough moments. A ureter detached, leading to a hemorrhage. I lost the kidney, but I fought through and didn’t give up!

Dialysis became a big part of my life, with treatments every other day for ten years. But guess what? I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and earned a certification in obstetrics! My dreams didn’t stop there—I was determined to pursue my Master’s Degree in Nursing Education. After 10 years of home hemodialysis, I was ready for a new challenge. I had one wish: to be officially listed at another hospital after I graduated in June 2018. My instincts told me the new hospital was the right fit!

On February 21, 2019, I received my third kidney transplant—what a miraculous day! I thought I had reached the finish line with my education. Still, I returned for a school nurse certification because it was required. Life is absolutely wonderful now. I’m genuinely grateful to God for all my blessings. I am also grateful for the perseverance I found along the way!

Daily writing prompt
What colleges have you attended?
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An eventful Friday

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I saw a woman get hit by a car, and I pulled over with another bystander to call EMS. I went straight into triage (nurse) mode, reassuring the injured woman that help was coming. The driver was a girl in her 20s; she was not speeding and was trying to go around a truck. She got out of the car, apologized to the woman, and said, “I’m going to get in so much trouble.” I said to her, “Sis, you did the right thing; you didn’t leave the scene, and it was a mistake.” She asked if I could stay with her, and I did, with another gentleman. The look on her face was pure terror, and I told her it would be okay. The police took the report, and the ambulance arrived shortly after. I hugged her and told her not to beat herself up and to pray.

A Random Act of Kindness

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I was ordering some burgers from Five Guys, and I happened to glance at one of the employees. He was a handsome young man with rich, warm skin and a bright, radiant smile. When I noticed the fistula in his lower forearm, our eyes met and I asked him about his dialysis journey, offering support and sharing my own successful experience with kidney transplants. He mentioned that he was only listed at one hospital, so I encouraged him to consider listing at another center and provided him with information. It was a truly uplifting and heartwarming encounter.

Daily writing prompt
Write about a random act of kindness you’ve done for someone.
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