All We've Been Through

Check out my other feed @thatgumbolife! It's my lemonade recipe. #Bucketlist #thatgumbolife

Concur.

Someone insisted on having restaurant gumbo for lunch today and learned a VERY valuable lesson... Nephew: T-Monnie...this gumbo doesn't taste like our gumbo at home. T-Monnie: It never does, kid. It never, ever does. #auntourage #everythanghesposedtogit #bethewontorderitnomo #gumbo #Creole

People play too much. #ItIsHotTho

Because we were stripped from our parents once too and treated like animals. #Juneteenth #Humans

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO THE ONES WHO PUT IN THE WORK!!!!!!

Many times daily.

Kid's pack with an Icee too. Don't letcha chirren get trampled. #theincredibles2

I'm one of those people who everyone thinks is so strong and yet, not many know of how much I battle with depression. I have had so many hurts, wrongs and struggles in my life and sometimes, I sink so deep inside my past experiences that I just haze my way through for days or even weeks at a time. In those times I feel a despair that I can't even describe. I am not medicated, because I have the priviledge of not having to continue with business as usual when these dark periods are upon me. I credit my not giving up to my people. Seems like we are constantly communicating using all forms of communication and when I'm off, one of them gently taps me to find out what's off and why. My husband is the type who, if I call him with a sound in my voice, no matter where he is, or what he is doing, he drops everything to get to my side and reminds me of the resources I have available to me. I might not have been here for over a decade had it not been for blogging through the pains and the strength of my relationships via family, framily and friends. We don't all have that, but we could. We could be more present with each other. More honest with our feelings and what we are going through. More...HUMAN with each other. With me and mine...when they hurt, I hurt, and vice versa. And we get in there and do the hard work holding each other accountable. There are no perfect people. Pretty pictures are one dimensional. There is a whole lot of pain stacked inside of many of us. Go deeper with your people. Go deeper. Every day I focus on choosing happy. Every.single.day. I write, I laugh, I read, I make things beautiful. BECAUSE I HAVE TO. THIS SHIT IS AS DEEP AND REAL AS IT GETS. If you need me and you are not someone I connect with regularly...ya gotta let me know. Please. #depression #suicide #childhoodtrauma #thememories

This.

Ice eaters. #auntourage #soccer #YMCA

Wait...I have questions...I.HAVE.QUESTIONS!!!!!!!!!! #sallyfield