Glow but GROW From Within!
The quarantine level up that has guided me
Before quarantine came about, remember what it was like to be able to travel without fear of being a COVID victim? Remember what it was like to walk around and shop without purposefully keeping six feet? Or how about going out to eat without having to grab your food from the curbside? I'll say that these were things that I definitely took for granted! In March I was supposed to finally go on a two year anticipated trip with my cousin to Guadaloupe. That was the exact week in which everyone was ordered to stay at home. Ever since then I felt down. I was going through a tough break up and I wanted to see my friends, I wanted to enjoy life outside and live as freely as possible, but instead Miss Rona came about and took over. Since March, I can truly say that I've experienced a ton of growth, a solid amount of self realization and a sense of self betterment. I went from waking up sad almost every day with the blinds closed and staying on my phone just to scroll aimlessly on social media and barely eating throughout the day to waking up with a purpose. Blessed to see every day, I started a new routine. It allowed for me to feel better from the inside out. After waking up I aim to not touch my phone for a while and instead of doing that I replace it with these things:
1. Give thanks and show my gratitude for my every activity of my limbs. I'm able to speak, able to walk, able to hear, able to see, able to feel, able to even pick up my phone, etc.
2. I listen to a podcast or speech that relates to what I want to do in life. I recently started binge listening to Ashley Legg's "Slay Girl, Slay" podcast and I did some exercises she mentioned that allowed me to look into myself even more. Definitely reccomend! I even learned about Oprah's motivational story as to how she booked the role in "The Color Purple" and I have been so motivated to book some of my own just based on her story.
3. I'm such an avid reader that I would spend time reading multiple chapters in a book that currently has my nose between its pages. I am currently reading "Between Lovers" by Eric Jerome Dickey, king of urban literature!
4. Spend time with my family. I'm not sure who else has lost loved ones to this sad, sad virus, but it made me appreciate those around me even more. I try to spend as much time with my family as possible, laughing, talking, venting, watching television, cooking and heating (healthy foods) together, and more. You never know when your time will expire on this earth so make sure that you use it wisely with the ones that you love!
5. CAN SOMEONE SAY ONLINE SHOPPING? I'll be honest, I treated myself to so many things and made so many investments during this time. Set some time aside to play some of your favorite music and go shopping online. I love boohoo.com and prettylittlething.com because the quality of the clothing is great especially for a cheap price! I had a major shopping night on Facetime with my best friend and now Instagram will be seeing us styling all over. Who doesn't love to be a baddie on a budget?
6. I try to pick up a new skill weekly. During this quarantine I was able to fully cast and create a movie script, learn the ropes of forex trading, and more. You have no excuse now, so find something new and maybe even a skill that can be monetized!
7. Cleaning up like crazy. I still have to declutter certain areas in my room, but after rearranging the color of my walls, adding and removing furniture, cleaning underneath my bed, and cleaning out certain drawers, I realized how much lighter I felt. Sometimes being in a cluttered area I automaticlaly feel jumbled up inside and a lack of energy to get things done, but once I clear out my space, I feel ten times better inside.
8. Not grinding myself into dust. Sometimes I just look outside my window and meditate. I realize that you don't ALWAYS have to be on the move and while grinding, grinding, grinding. Sometimes the best glow comes from just taking the time out to maybe paint your toes, steam your face, and play some mediation music from Youtube while relaxing. Here is the one that I listened to yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNS4BlsrYVc&t=4507s. Maybe even find a new series to watch. Entertain yourself.
9. Picking and choosing what you want to see. If you see only negativity on your social media feed when you finally pick up your phone for the day, maybe it's time to start unfollowing or muting certain profiles. there are so many accounts that express and share positive things that make me feel good and motivated when I scroll down my feed. That is how it should be.
10. Prayer and talking to God or whatever higher source you believe in. I think that the best work comes from the higher source that I look to, which is God. I feel as though once you're spiritually equipped, you can handle anything that is thrown your way. Write down your goals, pray, seek wisdom, journal as often as possible, and manifest what you want out of life!
I realize that this glow up I achieved stemmed from the knowledge of better day coming and realizing that it all starts with me and my personal habits! That's what makes me feel like I'm glowing. Once the positive work has been done internally, it will most definitely show externally as well.
About the Creator
Tiffany Linton
Writer, Actress, Educator, CEO, Singer, if you want more then follow me on Instagram: tiffanymulan
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Divine Women Who've Taught Me The Way
As one woman, I am more than adamant to share with the world the impact that a number of other women have left me with. When they say "it takes a village to raise a child," I think it goes far beyond just teaching them right from wrong. Being raised in a family in which women out number men played a large role in the way I was brought up. My grandmothers, aunts and cousins have embodied wisdom, grace, strength, and optimism. Even watching how they would handle situations and grow from them was a blueprint in itself for me to follow when the time came. Although they are all so different, they are the backbones of my family. Plus, they are a rainbow in which they blend together so beautifully (even on the rainy days). Seeing women in my family who were nothing but nurses, teachers, and lawyers around me was only confirmation that everything I do must be done to perfection, because I watched them do their jobs every day. My mom would often tell me that as one of seven children, my grandmother and grandfather made the decision to create their own shop and opening that business is what led them to push my aunts and uncles through school. Sacrifice is a constant theme in this family of mine. Just the thought of my mom and her siblings coming from the sweet, small island of Jamaica and creating a beautiful life for my two older brothers and I spoke volumes. I'm grateful for my dad as well, but hey. This one is for the women! Allow me to proceed. This very same family taught me how to love and how to dream without ceasing. When I grew into myself I found my love for the arts. I grew up with a heart for singing, writing, and acting. I had days when I thought they'd feel disappointed because over time I wanted to go through life and sing about it, or perform spoken word pieces about it rather than graduating from Harvard with a BA in Nursing. I felt like there was someone else they'd rather me be, because that's who they were, but I was wrong (for the most part) I still get the, "You don't want to go back and do nursing?" but I know it's all out of love. I'm happy as an English major though. As long as my parents are happy about it as well, then I am too. The same support she showed me along my journey of becoming who I am today is what will inspire me to be the same kind of mother to my future child. The powerful women in my family reminded me that they'll be right behind me as I follow every goal I've set until I reach the pinnacle of my success. They carried traits that reminded me that I am so much more than just a girl and that I am the embodiment of a vital spirit. They still remind me of how I am capable to do anything I want to do in the amount of time that has been granted to me on this earth. My grandmother's prayers have carried over even into today for me to live my life to the fullest even on my not-so-good days. I think the best part of this all is that they've taught me to never prove myself to anybody. I remember every day that I came into this world alone, and that is the same way in which I will be leaving it. I can always depend on them because whenever I am hurting over being mistreated or heartbroken, they remind me that it is okay to feel. It’s not normal to repudiate my emotions and no matter how much the world tries to turn my heart into stone, I carry this with me. They remind me to live my life in harmony with truth and honesty. They emphasize for me to stay focused and to always have a keen eye. Being raised with such care has reminded me of my purpose for walking this Earth. Two forms of the many arts that I adore (music and writing) have presented icons who I look up to, Lauryn Hill and Sista Souljah. I love everything about the spirit of Ms. Hill. She carries herself with so much grace and natural beauty that forces me to just be real with myself and with everyone around me. Her talent is unbelievable and she has a voice that makes me feel like dancing in the middle of a storm. I don't know where the world of music would be without her as one woman. Sista Souljah has taken the boring feel out of reading for me. I loved to write growing up, but I dreaded reading. I became a bookworm after being introduced to The Coldest Winter Ever and A Deeper Love Inside. I think Black urban literature is a significant part of Black culture and those two novels have changed my life, truthfully. They even inspired me to create my own novel which I completed and published earlier this year. I think if the world continues to see through the eyes of the black youth (young black womanhood at that) it would understand us a lot better. She really puts her finest efforts into the pages and I feel every bit of emotion as I read, and re-read, and re-read again. I want to make sure that the young brown girl I bring up is aware of all the things I've learned and experienced from all of these lovely women and then some.
By Tiffany Linton4 years ago in Families
TICK TOCK
11.59. Even though the glass had shattered, Lorna could still see that her watch ticked over. One minute until midnight. Her watch was the only thing she had that she could carry. The only thing to remember her parents by. A birthday present from last year, the year she turned seventeen.
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