*Nature’s alarm clock wakes me up* at 7:00AM and it’s my birthday. There’s a sense of anxiousness entangled with excitement as I welcome this new chapter. Page 1 or should I say Page 7? Either way, I’m ready.
Four days before, I gathered my faithful family in a dimmed lit, high end restaurant to commence this new year. Everyone was dressed in their best with high energy despite the raindrops streaming down the windows behind us.
We greeted each other with smiles and hugs as we scanned the menu for our choices for the evening. With entrees and drinks ordered, we begin to talk about what we value about family.
Blessed to have intellectualism in our DNA, we shared our ideas on current events, relationships and how to balance personal life with work.
My amazing cousin, Shrena, posed the question to my fraternal twin and I “What have you learned this year and what are you looking forward to learning in the new year?
We paused for a moment as we scooped our lessons from our belly leaving resistance on the floor. I shared a quote by Maya Angelou:
I am human so nothing human is alien to me.
as a chief aim for this year.
This quote sparked more Maya Angelou quotes from my father and brother. Poppa Bear quoted with confidence:
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.
As we finished our dishes, our sparkly birthday treats made it to the table. The cheesecake was to die for. My niece had a slice before I did. She grinned with excitement and yelled “Yummy!”
Finally, it was time to say our goodbyes and continue our night. With gratitude in our hearts, we were even fuller. Maya Angelou couldn’t of said it any better:
I sustain myself with the love of my family.
PATH TO QUEENDOM 
One reply on “A Time to Love”
Wow you had me at this line:
“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
Good stuff, love to see and hear about people thinking above the average thought!