I had never thought I'd be parading down Eastern Parkway in a skimpy, white, bathsuit, with a sequined skirt and a giant exotic headpiece called a Carnival costume. But there I was just four days after my birthday, dancing to soca music on the street and allowing my half-naked self to be photographed by strangers and tourists. Well, I wasn't really half-naked, I felt really very comfortable in my own skin. I realized I really am beautiful and also my workouts at the gym and healthy eating are paying off! I look fabulous. I looked so fabulous that day that I took a picture on my cellphone so I could send it to a few friends and make some boyfriends jealous. I'm loving ME right now!
My present moment is exhilarating and everyday I am touched by how precious my life is. Even though I was surprised that a spontaneous moment had me playin' mas', it was on my list of things to do. So I was not really surprised that I was marching down the street to new soca music, it was just like I imagined. One day, I hope to play mas' in every Carnival in every corner of the world. It began again (after a 22 and 17 year hiatus) with Brooklyn's Carnival. I say a line in one of my poems, "Hold on to your dreams, make them come true. Live it, love it, believe it!" I think its true. I've held this dream in my heart for some time, hoping and praying (and doing something about it too!) that one day I'd be fit enough to wear that skimpy outfit and parade. And I did it!
So I say to you, hold on to your dreams and work at it. Make it come true through force of habit. There are no guarantees in life but you can make things happen if you try a little.
I don't know why, but sometimes it takes a momentous occasion or a catastrophic event for us to realize the worth of this life. I implore you to not take this life for granted. Recently, two of my friends have been touched by some calamity. My dear friend, @atorboy85, had a recent heart issue forcing him and I to consider this life. My cousin, ladydigga, faced the death of a friend, another event that causes us to consider who we are, what we are doing and what legacy we will leave behind us. I have always asked myself, well lately now that I am concious, "If I died tomorrow, would I be satisfied with my life?" My answer, most days, is yes, hellz yea! I'm happy with who I am, who I could be, and the life I will eventually leave behind.
Such that, I am happy to report that I had an excellent summer and enjoyed quality time with many friends and family. Before Brooklyn's Carnival, I enjoyed a great night with Adam and Chris at Havana Cultura and at Leslieville. (See August 27 blog) Ma and I took my baby niece Kaelyn to Buskerfest. It was joyous watching her enjoy the clowns and the acrobats, it was amazing watching life through a child's eye. My summer has been very good, and I thank God that I have lived to experience it.
