I had a very interesting and in-depth conversation with a trusted friend this week. She and I don't talk often but it is always a judge-free and safe space between us. So as customary I began to share with her how I had been feeling and I really don't know for how long I had been in this unenthusiastic, moderately fatigued and unmotivated state but here I was. I had reached out to my employee assistance plan that same week for what I call a "wellness" check. I didn't want to self-diagnosis and mislabel myself as depressed but I know the value in therapy and I felt like I need to share with someone who had clinical skills to shed some light in my tunnel. My friend and I discussed our current life issues you know the normal work in a new virtual reality, family, health, exercise and the need to rev-up selfcare.
During our talk we had an epiphany and we named it "Deprivation DNA" from out Black Woman perspective. Culturally there are similarities to the sacrifices woman make all equal in their own right but distinct scientifically, historically, and spiritually. Black women, who grew up relatively in the DMV, with two very different childhood experiences and life choices, very good jobs and healthy family components both we were both experiencing what we called systems of being "thirsty" due to the damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a societal or communal system. I thought of the scripture in the Book of John in the Bible. "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14) No thing external can quench the internal thirst of the spirit.
After listening to one another's emotional similarities and innermost thoughts especially the ones that told us it was our fault, something was wrong with us or that we should keep the conversation a sec ret; it was astonishing clear that some type of spiritual atmospheric energies were aloof. We both consider ourselves to be spiritual. We share a common belief system in Christianity. We both realized that we each have been on a journey, over the past seven years or better, of self discovery and growth. And that even when a bump appears in the road that causes you to fall down and may even require the need of a helping hand to get back up; it all has been a part of the journey. A journey worth persevering on. A journey worth sharing with others. And finally a journey worth celebrating because it is our journey!
It's Mother's Day weekend and if you are a mother and if you have a mother I encourage you to change the narrative to one with a happy, joyous and hopeful ending. I applaud and celebrate you my sister you are a phenomenal woman!
