AfroBrit Ramblings

Starting over at 50 can be daunting. Many times we are overwhelmed at the thought. Fear will super impose its new, yet you come with experience and transferable skills

Today, there are all sorts of gurus giving advice everywhere. As an influencer, whether online, in the office, or at home, do you have a servants heart? A heart to serve those who come under our above you or are you seeking being a celebrity

A cliche that's repeatedly used yet, we don't give ourselves permission not to be okay. Life is uncertain at times overwhelming you cannot be always happy. You need to give yourself a break.

During uncertain times, one can be tempted to make deciding that could significantly change their lives. God cares and loves us and wants to be part of our lives. Fear can make permanent changes with far-reaching consequences that may be unchangeable. God leads and guides you trust him

In a world where we are battling with identity, your foundational belief should be "You are made in God's image". From eternity past He called your name into a certain nation, time, family, and every experience you have had to be an early expression of Him.

Whether you are starting over due at any age, bereavement, divorce, illness, or loss of your job, I found some valuable lessons from the story of Naomi and Ruth. Enjoy

The church is playing catch up with dealing with and supporting people with mental illnesses. Let's talk and o share my experiences with the added protected characteristic as an African woman

A chat with an American friend on how we deal with existential crisis

One of the things that is easy to say is I am thankful for what? Do you do an audit of your gratitude list getting really specific

A discussion with Charlie from Canada on how we overcome the identity loss. A interesting conversion on how we define and limit ourselves on how we define ourselves

The hardest thing to do during uncertain times is to Be Still. In culture and may be personal concept of being busy all the time, the right decisions and directions can be missed. Let's talk about being still.

A discussion with a new friend from the USA on understanding process and decisions we make in adversity. As a man thinketh so he is!

It's been a while trying to catch up on these unprecedented times. My sister's anniversaries have been horribly difficult but we cannot give up Hope inspite of depression

During the end of life of a loved one, friends and family will likely appeal to the Creator of the life for the healing our extension of life. This has caused challenges in faith of the person then passed on. The question is healing only to remain on this earth or is healing the release of the physical pain that ravages the person into final peace?

Survivor's guilt is a symptom of PTSD . This is where a person survives a tragic incident of losing a loved one. How to deal with it

Depression is part of the healing journey after a loss. Understand depression and how it affects you and what you can do to help yourself.

This is a look at a sequence of events in letting family friends know of the loss. The things not to do or say. The dissemination of information. The rhythm of life continues but order is necessary

Grief within different generations is expressed differently. I invited my mum who is a church minister and a nurse so we could share our journey on dealing with grief. Within it perhaps you will hear my frustration especially when religious people speak their special language. When we have hard questions the meteing out of bible verses is the only way they know how to express themselves. Let me know what you think.

Grief and healing are not linear. The 5 stages of grief were observed when people are coming to the end of life. Dr Kubbler-Ross and Dr. David Kessler have been at the forefront of educating us on dealing with grief. In this episode we deal with bargaining and anger. It is in the simplicity of words we can reach out and help others.

Grief is a messy business. One is never prepared for it even if a loved one or a loss of s home or relationship traits a long time. Mourning is peeling the memories and conversations

Life happened I have been ill. I lost my baby sister and in the beginning journey of the grief I found siblings seem forgotten or left to their own vices. Where do we go in this pain that is crushing? What do with the questions towards God? This is a continuous conversation, if you want to join let me know.

A chat on starting again after the pandemic.

Continued ramble on the need to be constructive thinkers and embracing our true selves.

Coming to terms with the changes of life as we enter middle age is difficult. When we combine it with cancel culture it is pertinent that we stand our ground to be who we were created. As I start dealing my realities I'll share the things I am doing to establish the new me

Many people with autoimmune illnesses face varied challenges. With London at 29 degrees one has to have a military plan to survive the heat wave. Here are some tips to survive the heat. Enjoy.

The importance of maximising nature to support your mental health.

A ramble showing yet again following the directive to shield again.

My reflections on being indoors due to COVID. I discovered I was not living as me. I tried to fit in boxes that people want me to be. My reality is different, the things I need to be I cannot be, my recovery is taking longer physically.

A journey with COVID that has been insightful an eye opener. People with invisible disabilities are still misunderstood and not supported during this period. The triggers are many that affect our mental health and we must be watchful of what we expose ourselves to.

Our journeys with COVID 19 has brought us to unprecedented times. Uncertainty and fear have affected us differently particularly if you have immunity issues. It has been a reflective time and seeing a world broken in less than 3 months. Peace has to be your anchor. Take time to think about how you want to live a better life and write down your hopes. We are resilient!

Let's chat about the plans you have on the quarantine instruction from the government. How is it affecting you as a vulnerable person. Some ideas on what to do.

Rest is a must when you have fibromyalgia or lupus. We must learn to down our activities in order to help the body to recover. During these times it is easy to get depressed as one reacts to their pain and inability. Mitigating the circumstances by being prepared and Managing ones thoughts can help in your wellbeing.

My Christmas was a mess and thought I'd share the hilarity of being a single person who suffers from an autoimmune disease and anxiety. A flare during the season is messy

"What good can come out of this" - Hope

Grace for the day is a prayer for empowerment to deal with the day's needs. Living with an autoimmune illness and fibromyalgia means the mornings are horrendous trying to fight the pain and stiffness and popping pain pills. Feelings of being overwhelmed or inadequate can be frustrating. I learnt to wake up in gratitude and to pray for Grace for just that day. With a world that changes literally overnight, you have to take a stand on how much you allow in because as you know your nervous system will let you know.

One of the hardest things to do when in pain is to be grateful. Physical and emotional pain can take over your life causing it to lose sight of the things God has added to our lives. Sometimes a short prayer and meditation can alleviate the noise in our minds. When we are grateful we remove our attention from self to see what others do not have. Peace surrounds our pain moment from moment. Be blessed

After years of fighting with doctors you finally receive a diagnosis. Your first reaction is relief. Then comes the shock of how an autoimmune illness will affect your life. This meditation is the first of helping you handover the journey.

Many times fibromyalgia sufferers wake up in pain. The body is stiff and it is easy to wake up grumbling and unhappy not sure how to handle the day. A gratitude prayer to our Creator who is spirit combined with breathing exercises can open your body to the healing power of oxygen supporting our broken bodies. This is a new journey for me, will you come along with me.

As a person who engages in several groups, I think it's pertinent to send a strong reminder not to take advice from a non medical person on your ailment. As services for autoimmune illnesses are strained in the NHS we have joined groups to understand this new world we are in. You cannot advice a person who has lupus to take garlic for a blood pressure problem. It would be counter-active as garlic boosts the immune system which one medically suppressing! People don't know your physiology

A chat on my gratitude for 7 years God had my back. A challenge to you as I reflect not to give up hope. He's Got You

Time and seasons come and go; life changes. We are ill prepared for the challenges we have with autoimmune illnesses particular to fibromyalgia due to trauma. Our bodies become the voices of the wounds we have not dealt with. As we deal with them, the wounds heal and we become more empathetic to the human condition. Joni Erickson challenged me this week do not let your disability define you. In 1967 after a shallow dive she became a quadriplegic. At the age of 70 this year, her organisation supports people worldwide with their disabilities. Redefine yourself with the disabilities we live with!

When suffering with fibromyalgia it is necessary to have peace. This means you have to audit who is speaking life into you, understands you and most of all believes you. Emotional turbulence is not good for your system and you have to stop being a garbage truck. Everyone has drama and if you overload yourself with others garbage may tip over affecting your health. Do the audit and remove people from your life

Living with depression and fibromyalgia means that the bottom will fall out again. Just as you are mid-stride a doctors report, chronic fatigue or a loss can throw all the work you have achieved. You now have tools; the decision you make will see carry you through, have a medical review and press the reset button and love yourself.

I have been away for a while due to health concerns. Just when you think you have got it together the bottom falls out. As you know fibromyalgia has different presentations over time and with childhood trauma lurking around the flashbacks can cripple you. Dealing with physical and emotional pain is debilitating. Let's talk, get some help. Don't give up as you are succeeding in different areas in your life, make sure you big up yourself for those achievements.

Brokenness is always seen as a bad thing, however getting to the aha moment is the journey. Acceptance doesn't happen over night. This allows you to see that life and growth is not linear. We rarely take into account our goodness. We get absorbed in the messages we receive from a point brokenness. Change your narrative to celebrate your goodness; or you will continuously react from the broken places.

A plea for us to mentor the younger woman. The rate of femicide is going up at a rate that is alarming. We have to step in and mentor and integrate the old ways and new world.

Do you get up fed up? Embrace your feelings of frustration or anger. Identify the cause and create a plan to deal with the irritant and give yourself a break! You are stronger than you think and vulnerability is not wrong

Hidden among us are women suffering abuse. It is easy to tell people leave and question why they don't. The government is not going to save us women. Let us go to our communities and have these conversations; men and women. Let us stand in holding pattern together with our sisters as they heal. There should never be another story of a woman maimed or killed due to abuse. Lord I am tired.

Gratitude is important in life. Are you giving it much thought? What are you full off on thanks or are you on autopilot?

In a world where the continued message is get rid of toxic friends, I invite you to look into yourself. Be your friend. Discovering and forging true friendship is a journey many struggle with. Let us not alienate a true friend because they have something going on, but let's use the 3 C's to strengthen who is there for us for who we are.