Here and There

“Teachers teach for the outcome, not the income.” That sound nice, doesn’t it? Until you really think about it. It’s true to a degree, but don’t get it twisted. If teaching was a totally unpaid gig, there would be a whole lot fewer of us. Bills don’t pay themselves. Don’t get me wrong. I love my kids, even the ones that are harder to love. I want the best for them and to help them become the…

Week Five: Keep It Moving #MelaninBloggers #BrownGirlBloggers #MentalHealth

Hello again friends.

I reached one calendar month post surgery on the 24th. It was and was not a major milestone. Keeping myself alive and healthy this far is wonderful but I didn’t realize the date had passed until a couple days later.

I was busy, okay.

Working takes up a lot of my time, as usual. In addition to this, I’m trying to incorporate more exercise into my day to day life. I walk more…

Week Four: Govern Yourself Accordingly Doing much better! #melaninbloggers #browngirlsblog

Hello. My name is Lilly and I’m a recovering foodaholic.

  In the past, I used food as a coping mechanism. I can remember having a particularly bad day. That afternoon, I ate an entire pepperoni pizza in my car and cried. I would stuff myself to avoid dealing with problematic feeling. The feelings never disappeared, I just gave myself a distraction. In the same way that people use drugs or alcohol…

Week 3: Two Steps Back If only I could just take a break... #melaninbloggers #browngirlsblog

It’s been rough one, friends.

I was right to be concerned about going back to work. I tried to take it easy. I tried to stay still as much as I could, but I don’t have that kind of job. I think my doctor misunderstood that when he cleared me to return to work. If I had a desk job, where I could just hang out in a cubicle and sip water and protein shakes all day, going back to work wouldn’t have…

Week Two: Sips and Nibbles Another update. Reality is setting in. Check it out! #melaninbloggers #browngirlsblog

This week hasn’t been very eventful. I’m still working on healing after surgery.

I went to my scheduled doctor visit and he said that I’m doing well. My incisions are still looking good. We looked at my new stomach pouch on an x-ray. It was weird. I drank some chalky, white liquid and we watched it move through me. He said that I must be doing what I’m supposed to be because my staples are still…

Week One: Serious adjustments I do this so you don't have to. #melaninbloggers #browngirlbloggers

I was told that the first four weeks after surgery would be the toughest. It’s the warning that all previous bariatric patients echo in support groups across the board. I tried to listen to the warnings and internalize them, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

The surgery itself was uneventful. Everything went as it was supposed to. My incisions were clean and I was left with a…

Waterlogged--I've been trying to write this post for two days. Protein is life, friends.

I was going to write a very deep and insightful post about my 10 day, pre-op liquid diet. However, I’m on the last day and my energy level is shot. My instructions were to skip liquid protein supplements for the last 48 hours and I can’t think very well. My thoughts are sluggish, but I’ll try to soldier on.

The past ten days have been interesting. My body has been preparing for the new adjustment…

Changes in the works. Stay tuned!

Hello again.

I know its been a while but things have been moving and shaking in my personal life.

I started going to therapy consistantly in July. I can say that the healing process is messy. Things can definitely get worse before they get better, but you have to commit to doing the work. Its worth it. You’re worth it.

It is a dailly struggle to live better. Dealing with my depression head on is…

Writing Prompt #1 Keep those fires burning. #melaninbloggers #writingblog

I have a very hard time keeping the creative juices flowing sometimes. Everyone does, I know. I’ve decided to post some of my efforts to keep the fire burning. I bought a book of writing prompts and will be posting my favorite results. There isn’t a required length but there are a few guidelines for each prompt.

Today, for example, has the title “Love of Each Other’s Lives”. The following words…

Be Present for Today

It’s Back to School Eve for me again!

This time last year, I spent the day coloring with my son and relaxing. Today, I’ve got some appointments to keep. Booked and busy, as they say.

People are going to ask how my summer went. I always have issues with coming up with an answer. I spent most of my summer on the couch, watching The Office. Didn’t really travel. Nothing very exiting.

It was fine,…

Exciting News! Come and see! #melaninbloggers #blackgirlsblog #browngirlbloggers

Hello again!

I’ve been sitting on this news for a while, but I am now a blogger for Healing Melanins!

Healing Melanins is a group dedicated to the mental health of Black women. We are there to support each other and foster awareness of our unique situations. It’s a wonderful group. It would be amazing if you would visit the site, maybe even show some support.

Here’s a link to the site. BOOM!

Here…

Been a while. Did you miss me? #melaninbloggers #browngirlsblog #blackgirlsblog #Mentalhealth

I’m up early again and I have a few thoughts. I’m right up against graduation now. About a month and a half away. Three more classes to finish in that time. I’m shopping around for decent online graduate programs.

I should be congratulating myself. I put in a lot of hard work and long hours to get where I am, and I should be proud.

To a degree, I am. I never thought I would get here. I would just…

Hello friends,

It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

That’s my fault. I’ve been in quite an emotional whirlwind these past few months and I’m only now trying to climb out of the pit I’ve been in. Things were less than great for me for a bit.

I’m still not ready to tell the internet fully about my struggles. Perhaps another time.

I can say that I’ll blog more often but I can’t guarantee that. I can,…

I still haven’t died. I’ve been trying to get my mental health together. A daily struggle to be sure. I’ve been writing some other essays. Some of which I hope to publish one way or another. I’ve also been looking into self publishing some things. I’m still around. I’m still here if anyone needs me. Just taking this public thing to the  background for a bit.

I had some thoughts today. Check them out! #melaninbloggers #blackgirlsblog #browngirlbloggers

It’s been a week, friends. I don’t think I’ve really been accomplishing the things I’d like to. Mostly because I’m spending so much of my “free” time being too tired to think. The children have been extra challenging over the past month. Many days, its all I can do to get back home without crying on the interstate. All of us teachers and staff are stress out and frustrated. We really need Spring…

I’ve returned!

Okay, so you may have noticed that I disappeared for a while. Sorry about that. I’m doing okay. I didn’t do anything too dangerous. I didn’t hurt myself or anyone else. I did a little property damage but that’s neither here nor there. I didn’t intend to be away for as long as I have been. I just felt that I need to take a step back from everything for a while. I needed to regain some sense of…

Falling Falling Falling