Tag: life

Always Under Construction

Lately, my life has been looking like a lane on I-75/I-71 going through Cincinnati, constantly under construction. I am constantly trying to get things in “order” so that I can be my “best” self. And I have come to realize just like the never ending construction that I bemoan on the highways that pass through my city, the construction in my life is also never ending and that’s okay.

My life my never be ideal or perfect, but just like we navigate through and around orange barrels, detours and redirects; we must do the same in our lives. Because whether it’s a street map or life map, if you keep driving/pushing eventually you will make it to your final destination.

That journey may not look like anyone else’s and while it’s frustrating to witness others arrive before you, it can also be inspirational and motivational. Perspective is the ability to change your outlook by changing your attitude or view of the situation. Sometimes life defers our moments so that we can better appreciate them when they occur. Trust that delayed is truly not denied.

While navigating my own detours and redirects, I have come to the realization that if you do not work daily to motivate yourself, you won’t be motivated. Motivation takes daily work, time and commitment. It also takes the gumption to stop putting off hard tasks, whether those tasks be physiological or psychological in nature; you have to show up and do the work.

My biggest weakness or flaw that I am constantly working on is procrastination. I allow myself to become comfortable with the excuses that I have told myself are acceptable so as to assuage the guilt of my complacency. Yeah, we feed ourselves excuses instead of feeding ourselves motivation sometimes. Starve your distractions and feed your focus is a mindset I have yet to master, but I’m under construction right? While it’s true I may be a constant work in progress, I still need to see some small steps towards progress; which means committing myself to work on the things that keep me from progressing i.e. my procrastination.

Procrastination is a low key arrogance issue, because it tends to create a false sense of being guaranteed the time of tomorrow. We all know tomorrow isn’t promised, yet we will allow ourselves the comfort of complacency by stating we will do “it” tomorrow, whatever “it” is. We need to take the leap and do it today.

Do “it” scared, unprepared, under stress, with less than optimal finances. Just do it! We can’t be worried about the messiness of our construction in our lives. It may not be pretty, but if that mess leads to your ultimate progress than it’s more than worth it.

I have determined not to give up or give in. I can’t be the next New York Times Best Selling Author if I’m not writing. I can’t be my best self if I’m not working and taking those small steps towards progress. So, I’ll be content with the orange barrels and detours in and around my life and remind myself that as long as I stay moving, eventually I’ll get to where I want to go and you will too.

~micaiah

Your best life starts today!

Today, I want to impress upon you the importance of seizing the moment, stop waiting and make changes daily as you see the need for them. Time waits for no one and 2020 took many people with it whom died, what I feel was way too soon, some in the very beginning or prime of their lives. So be the change you want to see in your life.

Stop waiting to live your best life. Don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today. Release your fears and tap into your inner courage. Stop being complacent with convenience and mediocrity in your personal and professional life.

Surround yourself with friends and people that challenge you, to be a better you. Friends should be as iron that sharpens iron and act as mirrors to show us our real and true selves. Because the only way to effectively change yourself for the better is to take an honest inventory of yourself and your characteristics and act accordingly.

Realize and accept, that not everyone will be able to make the journey towards self-improvement with you, nor or they meant to. There is a time and purpose for everything and person under the sun, acknowledge when something or someone has outstayed their purpose in your life, release them/it and move on towards vaster and brighter horizons.

Understand that change may not be comfortable, but beautiful things are often birthed through adversity and pain.

Understand that there are dream makers and dream and idea takers, know your circle and know that some moves are not to be broadcast, but are best made in silence, allowing your work or action to speak for itself.

Most of all, forgive yourself of your short comings, what’s done is done and is now in the past. You can’t change the past so resolve to make better, more logically sound choices from this point on. The shame is not in the falling down; it’s being comfortable in staying down.

Tomorrow is never promised so make the most of your Today!

~Micaiah

Racial disparities in medicine

I just saw a post where condolences were given for a young, African American, female 2nd year med student that lost her life due to complications from pre-eclampsia.

While I don’t know all the details leading up to her death, I do know people of color especially African American females die at disproportionately higher rates than their white counter parts. African Americans as a whole do not receive the same care in most, if not all, aspects of medical care.

You must advocate for your health and your life. Do not allow anyone to tell you it’s nothing when your gut and body is telling you there is.

When I delivered my daughter and was discharged home I developed severe swelling and shortness of breath. I went back to the doctors and they assured me the swelling was normal and was just from the fluids I was given during my cesarean section. They pushed me to go home. I pushed back and told them this was beyond that and I wanted them to evaluate further. They did and I was diagnosed with pneumonia and almost to the point of congestive heart failure.

Luckily, I pushed back and I trusted myself more than I trusted that clinician, but how many people trust the people that are supposed to be the expert in their fields. Doctors are human and can make mistakes, that’s why you have to advocate for yourselves and for your family members. Your life just may depend on it.

~micaiah

#endracialdisparitiesinmedicine

#advocate

My own truth

Walking, no, more like stumbling through life
Vision blurred by all that’s occurred

Not staying on course has my dreams deferred
Allowed myself to lose focus
Due to foolishness and hocus pocus

Let comparison rob me of objectivity
had me forgetting about the blessings just for me

Doubt had me believing delayed had turned into denied
Had me trusting in worry and anxieties lies

Had to get regrounded and regroup
Had to familiarize myself again with my own truth

Had to remind myself of whose child I was
And that my gifts are truly a blessing from above

There is no timeframe or race
Just continue on and keep the pace

With renewed faith, my vision cleared
And once again I’m ready to tackle all I once feared.

~micaiah

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