August 15th, 2016 started out as any normal day - I woke up, got ready for the day and even had plans after work. However, before work I had an appointment for a breast ultrasound because the previous week, my doctor said she noticed “a lump” in my left breast. Of course, I was on pins and needles for a minute and then I realized “Symone, you’re 26 years old – you are good girl.” I went to the appointment and during the ultrasound I was told that something didn’t look normal

The foundation of my blog is my name and family. I believe in order to successfully, share my story I must be as transparent as possible. So, today I am talking about my own family history and journey. If you are not in my inner-circle you probably would not know, I have two fathers. I was born in South Carolina and lived there for about five years. Eventually, my mother and I moved to Ohio where my mother got married to my father. My mother is an incredible woman who has ins

Dear Twenty-One Year Old Self, Hey girl! How are you? I’m well. It’s a gorgeous Cleveland day with promises of fruitfulness. You know this past weekend I was thinking about you. I recently celebrated Thirty-six years of life and I had these moments of pause. Pausing to reflect on the goodness and the grace that has been lavished upon me by God. He is a wonder! As I reflected this weekend I thought to myself how grateful I am, that at this juncture in life, I live with no regr

Dear Future Daughter, I’m writing this letter as I sit back and reflect on my own Christian walk. At 20 years old, I’ve already experienced so much. Endless trials and tribulations, doubt, lack of confidence, frustration and so much more. But, at the end of it all, I always have to take the time to thank God because He has TRULY been a keeper. If there’s anything I want you to always remember and carry with you, it’s this simple piece of advice: God’s opinion of you is the on

As a Black girl in a suburban school district, I felt like I had a lot to prove from my academics to social life. I had to know what was going on in my AP classes (…when I was lost 70% of the time) and then voice my concerns on the injustices in my school and America. Each year, I would walk down the hallways like I had it all together, even though my life was in shambles. I was not excelling in any of my classes because I was too tired to get work down and barely had anytime

I have been in the mental health and social service field for over 22 years. Throughout this time, I have seen mental illness plague my community, family and friends. Just this past Easter a Clevelander erratically murdered an elderly man on the street then took his own life. As a young girl, I witness my uncle having “episodes” and not understanding why he would be one way, one day and another way, the next. I even had to seek a psychiatric evaluation for my son were we lear

Senior year is undeniably one of the most exciting times of your life and let me tell you why: You are approaching the end of more than a decade of schooling. Pretty much every special event this year will be dedicated to you and your fellow seniors. You have a world of limitless possibilities ahead following the day of your graduation. But, it also can be a terrifying time. Why you ask? Well, you’re racing against a clock to have the best time of your life before the real wo