What Happens Next?

I was watching the end of the women's basketball game when my high school friend Brittany beasted it. I was looking up her school Notre Dame and came across a site which celebrates African-Americans who attended the school.

I then came across the commencement speech by Katie Washington who last spring was celebrated for being the first African-American valedictorian in her school's history.

Part of her speech resonated with me as I continue to confront the realities of being a grown up.

She asked in part, "What happens after the applause stops? The spotlight fades, the crowd clears, and there are moments of complete silence. While applause is accompanied by feelings of safety and security, this silence can bring vulnerability and uneasiness."

I must now wonder not just what happens but what I will do. Throughout my life and career my accomplishments have often been celebrated and I've labored on, but sometimes there are let downs as you climb and climb and climb. Out of the silence hopefully will be born a plan, and more dreams. Yes, hopefully I will continue to dream.

So I've Decided

So it seems that I have decided to start listening to my own advice.
You see for some reason people like asking me for advice. In all actuality I think it's a lot easier to accept common sense if you think it's someone else's wisdom.
I have a few mentees who will call, text, and e-mail me for career advice. Friends who will use me to talk out relationship drama. Friends who will make me proofread their stuff (and though I'm a journalist I feel like an average writer). Friends who will ask me how to plot, plan, and succeed at achieving their goals.

Still part of me feels lost.

I don't know if it's because I'm coming up on 25, or because I'm discovering that as chill as I am I'm a fairly impatient person.

So I've decided since I seem to give awesome advice to others, not tooting my own horn, they keep coming back. Maybe I need to take my own advice.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G