Mourning Sickness! Shedding The Old Version of Yourself For The New!

Personal growth means leaving your old self behind. In 2022, we refer to personal growth as 'leveling up!' In biblical terms, the new self is what God so desperately wants us to transform into. My own journey to my new self has been in the works for years. My parents have always encouraged my brothers, sisters and I to make mistakes, heal and grow in the areas that needed extra attention. It was not until I became an adult and started living on my own that I gained a sense of independence that would come with hardships and pain. In order to heal from the trauma that we all experience throughout life, we must find a way to acknowledge that it happened. We then have to take the necessary steps to work through, heal and be a light for the next person in pain. That is exactly what I want to do with my story and testimony. So many people are still hurting from things that happened to them years ago. Some people just cannot move past the pain. 

So, I would like to give you guys some tips on what I did to overcome the painful things I have been through in order to get to the new 'healed' version of myself! 

1. I pray without ceasing.

2. I seek out therapy.

3. I have had a consistent church home for about 6 years now.

4. I have walked into my calling.

5. I remain positive.

6. I speak life.

7. I take care of myself.

8. I eat a balanced diet.

9. I keep my mind fresh by reading and writing every single day.

10. I surround myself with people who love, cherish and want the absolute best for me.

11. I challenge myself.

12. I have as much FUN and LAUGH as much as I possibly can!

Is Decluttering Self Care?

Spring cleaning is a time where we go through our homes and clean from top to bottom. We get rid of the old and bring in the new new! But as I grow older, I find cleaning to be so therapeutic. Throughout my life, I have invested in many different forms of self care. I find that decluttering my spaces helps me to de-stress and improve my state of mind. I clean my surroundings every day. We live in an environment where just about everyone is stressed out about something. Life moves so much faster for all of us. At one point in time, not too long ago, I was SUPER messy. I did not take pride in the things that God gave me to take care of. At one of my old apartments in Virginia, I lived alone. I had so many bad habits! I would cook a meal for myself and not wash the dishes until the next day! Also, I would wash clothes, put them in the dryer and carry them from the dryer and plop them down on the floor. They would sit there for days. Such incredibly bad habits. Important pieces of mail and other significant documents were always lost and buried up under a pile of mess. There was some depression going on in my life during those times of neglect and poor self care. My self care habits have improved tremendously. I take excellent care of myself and my mental health now! My mental health is a priority now!

The Marie Kondo tidying method has become the blueprint for cleaning in today's society. Her minimalist style of getting rid of the clutter has taken a national platform. She has created a brand that everyone can relate to. Everyone knows what it is like to have too many of something. Although I have not really followed Marie Kondo until now, she inspires me to understand the correlation between my level of cleanliness and my mental health! They really go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other. I remember watching a sermon from one of my favorite pastor's a few years ago when I was in the market for a new car. He said, '...why are you looking for a new car when you don't even take care of the one you have now!' That stuck with me! From then on, I began my cleanliness self care regimen. Cleaning your space can improve your concentration, attention, focus, happiness, lowers anxiety, and improves productivity!

How To 'Fall' In Love With Your Fall Wardrobe!

We gave the Summer some love and now it's Fall's turn!

Cool crisp air, pumpkin spice, apple cinnamon candles, Fall time changes, FOOTBALL AND soo much more to look forward to during this time of the year! We have endured the heat, summer vacation, back to school, AND numerous summer birthdays in my family. Fall arrives like the soft breeze that we never knew we needed. Fall also gives us all something very exciting to look forward to and that is Fall Fashion! Every year for fashion week, I follow Brooklyn based style icon and fashion influencer, Sai de Silva, watching her recount her experiences going to each show. She captures NYFW, Milan and Paris! Looking back at 2023 New York Fashion Week, I had my eye on things that would work as staple pieces in my closet. Here are 10 key pieces that every working woman should have in her wardrobe! They are all meant to be worn interchangeably and can all be dressed up or down. Since I moved to Nashville 2 years ago, some of these pieces were left in storage or got lost in translation and recently had to be replaced. So, without further ado, let's get into it!

1. A Blazer

A blazer can literally be worn with anything. I pair mine with jeans, slacks, joggers, shorts, skirts or a longer top with no bottoms at all. I have a black blazer and a deep pumpkin orange one that I wear in the Fall. I love a good blazer because it does a lot to complete a look! Their are oversized ones and ones that hug the shoulders just right. Blazers also transition well between seasons. They go from Fall to Winter with ease!

2. White Button Down Shirt

Again, a white button down shirt can complete any look. I like wearing mine with a pair of jeans or with a big oversized belt. A classic white button down works well with any color blazer too! I have a white, A-line button down that comes with an oversized red and white belt. I have only worn it once and that was to my parents' 50th wedding anniversary party. It was a hit for sure! Sexy and classy at the same time.

3. A Pair of Button-fly Boyfriend Jeans

Tis' the season for boyfriend jeans! They made their entrance several years ago and have been dressing women's curves ever since. I love a good pair of jeans. Boyfriend jeans are roomy, breathable and look good on every woman. I have hips and thighs and I was able to find a good pair at clothing store Maurice's last summer. They fit well but I have not worn them out yet. I guess I was waiting for a good dinner date to pull them out. They are also my first pair of button-fly jeans. They have the perfect amount of distressing and stretch. I like to wear mine with a good blazer, oversized white button up or hoodie, which is what I will be highlighting next!

4. Oversized Hoodie

I feel like it's so hard to find a really good oversized hoodie. I am a Brand Ambassador for a company called, Seek Jesus Co. Thank God for my discount because their hoodies can get pricey. They have a really good message and cause though! I have found that stores like Old Navy and The Gap have hoodies that are just as comfortable. A pair of boyfriend jeans and an oversized hoodie with some sneakers would make the perfect Fall outfit for a lunch date!

5. A Classic Jean Jacket

I found a good oversized jean jacket from Levis a few years ago. It is so cute. The BEST quality! I took it to my seamstress back in Virginia and she added studs to the pockets, along with letters on the back that spelled out P-E-A-C-E-M-A-K-E-R! It is currently in storage but it is practically vintage by now. A classic oversized jean jacket goes well with Everything in this post.

6. Vintage Leather Jacket

I have always been able to find dope leather jackets at thrift stores! The Goodwill specializes in old vintage leather. I bought a long, tan leather jacket there. I also have a rust colored one, as well as a black one that was also thrifted. Leather jackets have a way of  pulling a look together. 

7. Breathable Good Quality Flannel Shirt 

Again, I go to Old Navy or The Gap for my flannel shirts. Most recently, I found like 3 in one day at TJ Maxx. Really cute looks. A flannel shirt can be worn interchangeably with all of these Fall finds.

8. Leather High Waisted Skirt

I found THE cutest black faux leather high waisted skirt at TJ MAXX a few weeks ago. I have already worn it to church twice. I wore it with some black leather booties and a button down shirt. I am currently looking for some thigh high boots to wear with all of these items in this post. 

9. A Nude and/or Black Bodysuit

I LOVE a good bodysuit! They are slimming, sexy and necessary for every woman. I have 2 and I savor them both. They are affordable and go great with jeans, skirts and shorts. They just always pull a look together no matter what you are wearing on top of them. They also have a great way of shaping up the mid-section!

10. A Pair of Black or Brown Boots

Last but not least is a good pair of boots. I have a pair of black booties that have lasted for forever. I wear them to work, church, dinner and just about everywhere where I am walking a lot. Make sure they fit and are comfortable. Boots never go out of style. I even have had my eye on a sexy pair of thigh high boots as well! I am not telling you to break the bank but do make sure they are sturdy and can carry you from the Fall season into Winter.

Why Investing In Yourself Is The Best Thing You Could Ever Do!

'Believing and Investing in yourself is the best way to shift your thinking from a paradigm of excuses to one of solutions!'

If there is one thing I will bet on, it's myself!

Just being really transparent for a sec, but you can make great strides in your life when you are honest and real about things you need to change in order to go higher. As a result of being honest and real with myself, I have been rewarded with the gift of writing in my life. I absolutely love to write! It is more than a hobby. Storytelling is my calling! It's what I am good at and it's what I am most passionate about. I will write for free and if I never made a single dollar from it, my love for it will never change! THIS is where I want YOU to be in your life! Totally free to create and be YOUR biggest friend, cheerleader, asset and Brand Ambassador!

Just a few tips on how I got to this level in life, I made lots and lots of mistakes. Steve Harvey once said,

'You don't win by winning all of the time, you win by losing! The more you lose, the more you succeed.' 

The more you lose, the better problem solver you become. Massive success lies in solving problems. In order to keep losing, you have to keep practicing. Practice really does make perfect!

Tap into your individuality! NO one is You and that is Your Superpower! Your individual DNA is not shared by anyone on this planet. YOU are an original my love. 

Be willing to get uncomfortable to discover your gift! God has given everyone a gift! It is your job to figure out what that gift is and the clues lie within your journey in life!

Hold yourself Accountable and if you cannot, get around someone who can! Get and stay around individuals who are telling you the truth. I have family who I can trust to tell me when I'm falling off track. It is not always easy to hear the truth but it really will set you free. Connect with individuals who will love you enough to say what you need to hear and not what you want to hear!

'If your dreams don't scare you, they are too small.' 

40 Things I Learned In My 40th Year!

40. I said it once but I'll say it again...TRAVEL!

39. Choose your friends wisely!

38. Choose your partner wisely.

37. Take risks!

36. Life is short! Appreciate it.

35. Find a type of exercise regimen that you enjoy and do it daily. Eat clean and drink your water! Health really is Wealth! I just started doing the Tracey Anderson Method and I love it!

34. Have compassion!

33. Show empathy because you never know when you will need some shown to you.

32. Playing Christmas music all year round is one of my favorite things to do.

31. Trust your gut guys. Your intuition never lies.

30. Let God fight your battles! He WILL make your enemies your footstool!

29. It's ok to still be single with no kids at 40. Take care of yourself in this season and watch how God blesses you girl!

28. Build others up! Never talk down to people.

27. Be Real with yourself and others.

26. Your YESSES and your NO'S will ultimately teach others how to treat you!

25. Let GO and Let GOD! cues the music, 'Let IT Go,' by Elsa!

24. Most people deserve a second chance.

23. Every struggle you endure in life will lead to your Evolution. Embrace it and see what God does for you!!

22. Make space to go to your high school reunion. Making memories with old friends keeps you humble.

21. Don't be afraid of the kitchen. Learn how to COOK! And often. This is for men AND women.

20. Learn how to accept a compliment.

19. TRAVEL!!!

18. A good relationship takes work but is worth fighting for.

17. Learn to let go of what no longer serves you!

16. 40 is much, much younger than I once thought it was.

15. Peanut Butter and chocolate is the perfect duo.

14. Forgive! Forgiveness is for you not the other person. Forgiveness leads to massive success and eternal life!

13. Learn to love yourself. What you do not like, change it! Do the work on yourself to become the best version of yourself. When you do the work, you get blessed!!!

12. BE Humble.

11. I would rather have JOY than happiness because happiness doesn't always last. But joy comes in the morning AND Its only something that God can give. No one can take it away.

10. Talk less, listen more.

09.  Speak to your peers with love. ALWAYS!

08. Storms don't last forever. Just like the rain, sleet and snow; there is an end to them.

07. There is no such thing as being perfect. Embrace your flaws; that's what makes you beautiful.

06. Trust your gut and stay true to yourself.

05. YOU are stronger than you think! Take a leap of Faith towards something that scares you! You would be surprised at the outcome.

04. In order to be happy and healthy in your relationship, you have to first be happy with yourself.

03. Tell the truth! ALWAYS! It will set you free. John 8:31-32

02. Change is the only constant in life. Learn to embrace it!

01. Show and Apply Grace like sunscreen! We are all living daily, trying to get better and grow. Everyone is moving at different paces in this life. Let's continue to show love, grace and mercy like Jesus does for us!

BONUS: I turned 41 today and I wanted to say to you: Work hard in life. When I was told that EVERY level in life requires work, my game totally changed. A good work ethic in life affords you confidence to keep moving forward. Let's GO!

Once You Are Free, You're Free To Share!

10 Life Truths That Will Set YOU Free!

1. Stop being a Perfectionist.

2. Understand that you will make mistakes.

3. ACTION always precedes FREEDOM.

4. You can do much more that you think.

5. Stop being so hard on yourself.

6. Be aware of your prejudices and biases.

7. Stop compromising your values.

8. Know the difference between fear and stress.

9. Control what you can control. Leave the rest up to God.

10. Know how to handle YOUR truth.

The Squeakiest Wheel Gets The Oil! Tips On How To Level Up In Life!

At the beginning of the pandemic in January 2020, the world was introduced to the coronavirus and thought it would just be a series of colds and flus. Its 2022 and it is still here. To date, I have had both a series of 5 booster shots and an actual case of the virus in January of 2021. That diagnosis was both shocking and life saving all in one. After surviving corona in January in 2021, I made some life altering decisions. I decided to take better care of my health i.e. body. I have always been pretty fit but I have slacked on working my body out just for lack of motivation. Now, I go to the dr. on a regular basis. I try to get a workout in everyday for at least 30 minutes.  I go to the dentist, hairdresser, gynecologist and primary care dr. around the clock. I am a good steward of all that God has blessed me with. I was given a second chance to live and so many others did not. I had my 40th birthday on August 2021 and I am happy to say that my life is totally different just holding myself accountable for everything I can control in my life. As my precious mother has always told me, YOU do what you can and let God do the rest. Let me give you a deeper look into what changes I have made to revamp my life. The time has come to LEVEL UP!

The Black Lives Movement was resurrected in May of 2020, only 5 months after COVID 19 was brought to America. Around this time, there was a lot of fear spreading around the world. The Black Lives Movement began because of the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. My father has always had an interesting way of motivating myself and my brothers and sisters. He has always said amongst many other things, 'Knetris, the squeakiest wheel gets the oil!' Now that I am older I know what this means and practice it as much as I can. My father was trying to tell me that you must be relentless in pursuing the things you want out of life. Closed mouths do not get fed. You have to speak up and OUT in order to get what you want in life. I remember trying to land jobs in the past and my father would say, '...the squeakiest wheel get the oil.' He mean to be persistent and relentless in reaching out to contacts I knew in order to get the position. He always gives the best advice! YOU too can be the squeakiest wheel. Practice perseverance and over time, you will begin to attract the things you want in life over and over again.

What It’s Really Like Being A Twin!

Shared the same womb✅ Knetris was born at 11:56PM

Julius was born at 11:58 PM

Share the same birthday✅ Aug. 14, 1981

Share the same taste in food✅ Spaghetti Bolognese

Share the same fave musical band✅ Hall and Oates

Share the same dislike in ‘Trends’✅ Crocs are a no-no

People, let me tell you bout’ my best friend! My twin brother, Julius and I have so much in common. Whenever I think about him, I get all warm and fuzzy inside and it makes me smile with joy! Julius is an amazing brother, father, husband, friend and confidante. He is also an excellent motivator, cook and comedian! When we were growing up in rural Virginia, we would play school. I was the teacher and he was the student. We laughed so hard and had an absolute blast. We shared the same classes in grade school until we reached high school. We even shared the same friends! We were both very athletic and studious in school. We both shared roles in high school. He was the class president two years in a row and I was the secretary! Julius was always a bit more reserved than I was as kids. I ended up staying in Virginia for college and Julius landed a scholarship to The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana! He would be playing college football on a full scholarship. 

Julius was and still is an INCREDIBLE athlete! So much so that he is a co-owner of a youth training and conditioning facility in South Florida called, 'Ballers.' Both of us ran track but I used to watch him run the hurdles in awe. It was something that only God could give him the talent to do. We both love sports and being active. We both love children. Julius has two boys of his own who are a lot like him. We both love Italian food. Julius’ wife is Italian and Brazilian. Her name is Kelly! She is an excellent cook. I think Julius and I have both used music to get through life up until this point in our lives. We will be 41 in August. Our favorite groups are Hall and Oates and FLO-Rida! We love their music. 

Having a twin brother is such a blessing! I absolutely adore Julius and I am SO excited for what the future holds for both of us. It is like having a built in best friend. I love and adore my twin!

FUNEmployment! How I Spent My Time Looking For Employment!

FUN Fact: In the United States, under the Biden Administration; 337,000 jobs have been added to the economy and the unemployment rate is at a low of 3.6% in June 2022 despite fears of a recession.

FUNEmployment: pronounced  [fun•em•ploi•ment]

I am pretty sure that if you asked anyone that's been in the market for a job, they would say that looking was NOT a fun experience. Going from job to job is extremely stressful. I have had to find jobs multiple times throughout my education career. I took a sabbatical from teaching from 2016-2021. I had several different jobs during that time period. I did not plan on going back into the classroom. Then an awesome opportunity presented itself and  I am back in the classroom again. In order to find a job teaching writing to 5th graders, it took a lot of perseverance and patience. One of my good friend's said, '...looking for a job is a full time job.' The way I have looked for employment and the approach I took with me day after day became very significant to my current success! Here are some tips and tricks I will share with you on how unemployment became, 'FUNEmployment!'

*Look at your time looking for work as an opportunity to grow. During my times away from work, I went to the library everyday to read and better my computer skills. I purchased an Audible subscription and really took advantage of that time while waiting for another job opportunity to open up for me. 

*Look at your sabbatical as an opportunity to get better at your craft. Study, Write and Read everything you can get your hands on to better prepare you for what's coming down the pipeline. You will need it for your next assignment!

*Look at your time looking for work as a period to get focused.

*Look at your time off to get better in other areas of your life; i.e. self care, health, working out, and mental health.

*Look at your time away from work as an opportunity to expand your contact list for jobs.

*Realize that your time waiting for a job will not last forever. This is just a learning experience and it does have an expiration date. Take advantage of the time off because it may not come again!

How I Dealt With Grief In My 20’s🙏🏾

The subject of grief is something that is very near and dear to my heart! It is a subject that immediately gets my attention. I pay attention when people around me say that they lost a loved one. I have been there! I have lost people very close to me, more than once. But my first time losing a loved one was extremely hard and I would like to share with all of you the beautiful blessings that have come out of that experience! I would like to share with you ALL the beautiful things you have to live for despite your loss! It is my pleasure to share with you that God has a time, season and a purpose for your pain! Grief is not a place where we are to reside forever! It’s temporary! ‘Ecclesiastes 3:1-8’ If you would allow me, I would like to share a little about my journey to healing. Let’s Go🙏🏾

My first experience with death started at just 21 years old. I lost a dear friend to diabetes. He had been sick for so long but his death was a total shock to me. We were extremely close. After the initial news that he was in a better place, I became very angry. A few years of moving around and trying to rebuild my life, I started reaching out to get help with my grief. I found myself needing a lot of space because I was isolating myself on a regular basis. That was not working well for me. I noticed a big change in my life when I started going to church. I was so overwhelmed with so much anger and bitterness. I blamed myself for his death. I comforted myself with food. I was going on shopping sprees with money I didn’t have. I was just in a really bad space. I did not start going to therapy until around year 9 or 10 after Jason’s death. Therapy was like milk to a baby for me! I was able to open up to someone who could understand my struggles and not judge me! Although my family loved me and hated to see me in that state of mind, there was only so much they could do for my mental health! That was just something that I would have to take control of on my own.

The combination of church and therapy was JUST what I needed. I have been going to therapy for a total of 12 years now! My relationship with God is something I just cannot put into words. God is absolutely everything in my life! During my long days and nights battling grief, I discovered my love for writing. It’s something I do daily. Writing is WHO I am! I was born to do it. My writing journey began in college and has continued as a form of healing over the years. My memoir, ‘Love Me Back To Life,’ is on the way! This project has come strictly from my grief. I have all the compassion and patience in the world for people who are hurting. My family was very patient with me when I was struggling. My parents and sisters would often attend therapy sessions with me. I’m am SO blessed! I realized that my family and friends needed me and that grief couldn’t occupy anymore space in my life.

In hindsight, I believe that getting the strength and courage to say that grief had no more space in my life was the beginning of my healing. AND only God is responsible for making that kind of decision. Although death rocks our world, life has to and does exist outside of it. My mental health is so important to me. That comes first in my life. If you are struggling with grief, please understand that trouble don’t last always and there will come a time where the depression will lift! God has so much for you to do. WE need you! YOU are loved and one day you will be helping people overcome their grief just like I’m helping you with YOURS! 

What is a Brag Folder and Why Everyone Should Have One!

Some people say that people don’t read blogs anymore. They say they are outdated! That couldn’t be further from the truth. Wanna know why? YOU. ARE. READING. A. BLOG. RIGHT. NOW!

My blog saved my LIFE! I hope you have had a productive second day to the beginning of a new week! A little late but I showed up for YOU nonetheless! I have made it my business to spread as much positivity and motivation to you guys since late last year.  Motivational Monday is the name of the game. Sometimes, I show up late but you can ALWAYS count on me to show up for you. Mental Health Awareness Month is still rolling on. I consider myself a mental health advocate! I have so much to say about it. I actually created this blog during a very difficult time in my life! Now, I consider it one of my greatest accomplishments! You see, going through hard times allows us to discover our most intimate feelings that allow us to be vulnerable enough to struggle, grow and triumph. During Mental Health Awareness Month, I take time out to educate myself on fun things I can do for self care and excellent mental health! For example, have you ever heard of a 'brag folder?' I first heard of this term last year while working on better money management. You are supposed to keep a file of all of your receipts, money saved on a monthly basis along with paid bills. A brag folder is also a folder where one can keep all of your accomplishments in your career. Keeping track of your accomplishments in a brag folder is good for everyone!

I have decided to use it as a tool to gage my mental health! Here is what I plan to do with my Brag Folder in order to improve my mental health. 

1. I’m a 5th grade Writing Teacher and my students are given writing prompts daily. Topics vary from Opinion writing to Sequence of Events. I keep all of their work in individual binders and at the end of the week, they submit their work to me for a grade. I found it so effective that I decided to create a brag folder for myself. 

2. I will create writing prompts for myself that act as a journal filled with my thoughts about how I’m feeling that particular day. 

3. I will fill my brag folder with my hopes, fears and dreams. In no particular order, I write them down. 

4. I will fill my brag folder with some of my favorite scriptures.

5. I’m trying to build a better body and have been working on it for a while now. I will fill my brag folder with healthy recipes and also keep track of steps I’ve walked day to day, calories burned and my weight on a monthly basis.

Although I don’t go out and literally ‘Brag’ about my accomplishments, it’s more for a private confidence booster for me! I love this idea and want to know if you create one of your own!

I Quit My Job and Went to Work!

At 40 years old, I feel as if I have finally found my calling! BUT it has been a fight to reach this point in my life. It has been the fight of my life! As aforementioned in many of my previous blog posts, I have worked in the education industry for a total of 16 years. I have known and felt that I would work with children at an early age. It has been a journey. I have been offered many positions in education that were not teaching and have thrived in those areas as well. I have not been 100% happy with my teaching journey in a very long time! In fact I have been miserable. Not because of my students or workload, but miserable because I have not been in touch with who I am until now. In touch with who I really am to the core. In touch with the woman that Christ created me to be. Holding on to past hurts and carrying around a lot of baggage. In addition to that, there was no support from my leadership team nor other co-workers. I resigned from my ESL teaching position in June of 2016. It was time to go because I was finding out that if I couldn't be true to myself, how could  I teach young children how to. At that time, I had been in the classroom on and off a total of about 10 years. I have also received education experience as an Assistant Director for a preschool for a year in Pembroke Pines, FL and worked at The University of Virginia at The Curry School of Education. After working there a few years, God led me right back into the classroom. 

After I quit my teaching position in 2016,  I went to work, on MYSELF! It all started with journaling. I started attending church on a regular basis and I would take notes during every service. I started implementing what I heard into my everyday life. I started seeing a therapist on a regular basis. I started reaching out to family more and addressing my issues more and more. I began to EXERCISE on a regular basis. I would bring workout clothes and shoes to work with me. I was consistent with this routine for about 2 or 3 years. My mental health improved but I still had a lot of work to do.

One thing I learned how to do was to REST! Society tends to make us think that working like a maniac equals success. So far from the truth. We need REST! Rest is the precursor to any kind of elevation in life. I doesn't come from working all the time. It's fine to have an outlet like work in our daily lives but if you notice, success doesn't come when we are stressed. It comes when we are at rest. True rest comes when our spirit rests in our Savior. I love that part of being a child of God. My pursuit in obtaining the things that God wants me to be, do and have will continue as long as I am living. I quit my job and went to work AND that's the best decision I've ever made!

How Teaching Prepared Me For Success! Part 2!

Teaching young kids gives me a feeling that I just cannot describe. It feels like I’m right in the middle of God’s calling for my life. It has not always been this way. There was a time where teaching gave me stress like nothing else in the world. I’ve wanted to teach since I was in college. After declaring my major as English, I decided to give teaching a go. I took a public speaking course in college and hated it. I was so intimidated by getting up in front of class and speaking in front of people I barely knew. Fast forward 20 years later and my passion has led me to a 16 year education career. I’m teaching to touch lives! It’s part of the calling that I have walked into. Once you find your calling, everything in life comes together like the missing pieces of a puzzle!

I started my teaching journey in Mexico City, MX in 2003. I moved there with my best friend and roommate a few months after graduating from college. I stayed there about 6 months. When returning to the states, I taught on and off for about 9 years before I returned to a licensed teaching environment. During that time, I was an Assistant Director of a preschool in Pembroke Pines, FL and a Research Specialist at UVA. I took on the role of lead ESL teacher in 2013. 2013 was a special year. It was also the year that I created my blog, ‘The Word Nerd!’ In my off time, I discovered my passion for writing. I wrote in gratitude journals, my Bible, and wrote papers for courses I needed to take for professional development. After teaching in Eastern North Carolina for 2 years, I decided to go back to school and obtain a Masters in Teaching. That decision led me to where I am now! Teaching and Writing go hand in hand. I would have never had discovered these passions if not for putting myself in position to be disciplined enough to follow God’s plan for my life. I am so happy with my current skills. I love teaching and writing and I hope to do both for a very long time!

I Am My Favorite Salt!

I used to love any sort of Lays potato chips. The plain lightly salted ones were always my favorite. But since I recently started watching what I eat, I only eat chips in moderation. Because of my limited access to chips, I have begun to take a likeking to the Salt and Vinegar ones. They go great with a tall glass of apple juice. Must be the sweet and salty combo! I used to think that they were my favorite salt. I have never been a fan of salt. Salt is absolutely never added to my food. I actually hate the way it makes my food taste. I can stomach it on a bag of chips though. It is the strangest thing. Even though I prefer salt and vinegar chips, there is a salt that I love even more!

Matthew 5:13 says, ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt looses its saltiness, how can it be salty again. It’s no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled over!’ God has called his children to be the salt of the earth. Broken down even further, he’s called his children to be truthful and sincere about sharing the gospel and our faith journey. ‘We are the way, the truth and the life,’ John 14:6.

So, every time I go to pick up a bag of salt and vinegar chips, I think of my Heavenly Father and what he has called me to do for him here on earth. I have been called and chosen to worship in spirit and in truth. It is my duty to share the good news. By doing so, my salty chips taste so much sweeter!

How Teaching Prepared Me For Success! Three Part Series! Part One.

For as long as I can remember, I have had the deep desire to be an educator. I vividly remember my first job babysitting my neighbors kids. When my siblings and I were kids, we would pretend to play 'school.' I was always the teacher. As I got older, the beginning of each school year was a favorite of mine. My parents took me to get school supplies and I quickly found out that it was the most fun. I loved getting prepared for school each year. I have been blessed to know that I wanted to be a teacher since declaring my major in college. My first teaching experience was abroad in Mexico City, MX. In this blog post, we are discussing how my teaching experience prepared me for success!

In 2003, I flew to Mexico City from Los Angeles, CA. After a 4 hour flight, I went through customs and began exploring my new home for the next 6 months. I landed a position as a teacher at The Wall Street Institute. I would be working 5 days a week. My hostel (hotel) was about 15 minutes from work. I travelled to and from work by foot everyday. Although my commute was short, I was very nervous about walking to work. I was one of the only African American people that I saw on a daily basis. Right off the bat, my commute taught me independence and responsibility. I had to be very vigilant everyday that I travelled to work. That is not something I was used to in my previous living situations. I was living and working in a third world country so everything about being there was out of my comfort zone. Having to adjust my daily routine to get to work safely taught me lots of discipline. I had the same weekly schedule while living abroad. Although my boss was American, my students were both Asian and Mexican. At the time, I spoke little to no Spanish. After a few months of teaching, I picked up some Spanish along the way. I learned enough to be able to communicate with my students, hail a cab and order my food from the restaurants my roommate and I went to. I learned something new everyday from my students.

Teaching allowed me to merge preparation with organization. Effective teaching doesn't happen without a combination of these two skills. I was also able to get over my fear of public speaking. I had to prepare for each lesson in order to be able to teach effectively. I had a combination of adult learners and teenagers. I had small group classes, as well as individual classes. I would constantly get feedback from my boss. When I stayed on task and hit deadlines, I was most effective with my students.

The Basics Of Bossing Up!

Bossing Up is very humbling. Humbling because we have to take full responsibility for our actions. In ‘The Basics of Bossing Up,’ I will be putting you on to some tips and tricks that I have been practicing since last year in order to take my life to the next level. That is the definition of bossing up. These habits have allowed me to see and experience a tremendous change in my life for the better. Singer and songwriter, Ciara would be proud because I have definitely leveled up a lot. Bossing Up is a mentality. It’s not something that you can study. You acquire these life skills over time and they often come as a result of lots of life experience. Sometimes painful. Bossing Up requires ACTION!

‘Remain positive throughout life’s curve balls.’ Positivity is key to experiencing any sort of elevation in life. Remaining positive allows us to act day after day, trial after trial and victory after victory. Excellence is a habit. After a period of time, if you continue putting excellence first, Bossing Up is inevitable. It will become habitual in your everyday life, walk and talk. Your journey will also start to affect other people around you for the greater good!

‘Be the change that you want to see in the world.’ Being true to yourself and your journey are vitally important to becoming a great leader. ‘The past is heavy, put it down.’ Letting go of the past is also very important. Letting go of the past is not always the easiest thing to do in life. You have to allow yourself grace and must be patient with yourself. Forgive yourself and others. When I was trying to let go of past hurts, I prayed without ceasing for God to remove the weight of grief. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says, ‘…there is a time for everything, even grief.’ Humans are meant to evolve. We aren’t meant to stay in the same phases of life forever. We have to grow and change, through the good and the not so good!

Take care of of your body and mental health. Taking care of your body is biblical. ‘Our bodies are temples.’ 1 Corinthians 6:19. Becoming a great leader will require you to show up whether you are feeling like it or not. It’s imperative that in order to perform in any leadership role, one must be mentally available for a lot of other people. Bossing Up always requires the leader to put others first. 

I work out for my mental health first. It keeps my mind sharp, all while taking care of my physical wants, needs and goals!

Last but certainly not least in my tips on Bossing Up in life is learning how to speak up and ask for what you want. It’s important to get into the habit of being honest with yourself and it’s especially important in any leadership role. Bossing Up requires you to be bold. Speak what you want into existence. Closed mouths do not get fed!

Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself! (In my Jay Z voice)

I’ve actually never done a social media intro! I don’t know why it took so long. To my new friends..

I’m Knetris (pronounced Kuh-Née-Tris, like Tetris) My close friends call me K. and I call myself a child of God🧸 I was born in rural Virginia and was raised there too. (VA stand uuuppp) My first ever job was babysitting my neighbors kids so teaching is definetly part of my calling. I attended UVA (GO HOOS) and studied English Language and Literature. I have always been a big writer and a sports fanatic. After interviewing at ESPN a day after graduating from college and not getting the job, I began a career in education. On and off, it has lasted over 16 years!

Over the past two years, I have started investing in my overall health more. Health is Wealth is my LIFELONG mantra. It’s SO important to take care of yourself. I started running again. Instead of craving dark chocolate with almonds, I find myself reaching for a hearty bag of trail mix and guys, that is huge for me. I’ve lost about 60 pounds since 2016. There is no time limit to taking care of yourself. It is in fact a lifelong lifestyle change. I love being fit.

I just want you to know that I’m that woman, friend, sister, daughter, girlfriend who WILL check in all the time! We could’ve just spoken on the phone and I’ll call back 10 minutes later asking if you are good. It’s just how God designed me. I’m truly in love with life! In love with improving, getting better, being a good steward over all that God has blessed me with. Totally elated to have real PEACE in my life! When you visit my page, I want you to leave better, stronger, more loving. KIND! Ready for the world! It’s nice to meet you! Let’s GO!