As I come to the close of 2017, I can honestly say that this has been one of the most pivotal years of my life in terms of growth. I reflect on the past year, a derailed engagement/relationship, new beginnings with a life long dream, travel, the addition of a cool dog to my life, and a journey of self improvement. I transitioned from my twenties into my thirties which is a major milestone on anyone’s life.
A lot of people may ask, how can one have their best year while having their worse? It’s simple, we can experience traumatic things in our life, but we also have to be able to grow from those experience. See, individuals who stare adversity in the face don’t stay down for long. We learn from it and embrace it to a certain degree. Lets speak metaphorically for a moment. Figuratively speaking if you look at your body, you will see scars. Some of those scars are newer and some are old. Each scar tells a story and probably taught you a lesson. Whether it’s the time you burned yourself on the stove, or the time you fell off your bike-you took something away from that experience. The liberating moment is when you heal, it gives a feeling of satisfaction that you made it through that storm. To look at where you were, and see progress is sometimes that spark that you need. It’s doesn’t go without warning that with those scars sometimes comes baggage.
It’s a big step to look at yourself in the mirror and figure out your deficiencies and be honest about it. This year was just that for me. I had to realize that even though, I have a lot of experiences, blessings, accomplishments, and abilities, there was room for improvement. I feel that the growth that I gained through this self-reflection, sheer grind, and period of perseverance made this one of my best years.
Career wise, I was one of my and fly Plastic Sphere Mission for prescribed burns. While one of the most dangerous jobs on the RXburn it’s also one of the best in my opinion. Who else doesn’t like flying around in a helicopter setting shit on fire. Aside from that, I gained experience in tons of other areas that I never thought I would get a chance to experience in my career.
In 2017, me and my cousin started our own business under a partnership and called it DAB Farms. Just from being in the early stages of this journey it has been a period of growth to nurture something that you’re growing on your own. Somewhere in my late 20’s I realized that we as individuals have a purpose on this planet. There was a segment on FB that was exactly what I felt when I decided to farm. It spoke about the dilemma of being a college graduate who has moved away, but has ties to their home through inheirtance. Often grappling within my mind, do I do my part to add to this legacy for whom ever inherits it after me? Or do I just hold on to what I got? I realized that it would be a travesty for my not to do my part to add on to what I already have. It was a must that I must utilize the skills that I’ve been blessed with for growth of myself and family! Also, I have grown closer to my little cousin who I am in partnership with. He has become the little brother that I never had.
In reference to traveling I embarked upon my first solo international trip which was to Havana, Cuba which was awesome within itself. Traveling to Cuba in itself was rewarding. To observe a country that is somewhat like a time capsule due to the embargo was quite interesting. From my Afro Cuban Culture Experience, partying with new friends, exploring new places, conversing with locals, and decompressing from the event of the spring/winter.
Below in Videos are the ceremony of the cannons in Havana, which signifies the end of the day and also just a little candid GoPro of me and taxi driver cruising through the streets of Havana.
Also in travel I was also able to reconnect with a close friend and family. I traveled to Denver, Colorado randomly on a whim and got up with my boy Arnett who I hadn’t seen in years.
I was able to return to my alma mater this year after a brief absence for our homecoming which was one of the best that I have been to in a while. One time for the Alabama A&M Bulldogs!!!!! It was good to see familiar faces and rub elbows with some of the OGs I haven’t seen in a while.
Fast forward to a few weeks later, I decided to knock another thing off my bucket list which was to see Niagara Falls and visit Toronto. Me and my cousin Carmen aka Cookie teamed up and took a very eventful road trip to Canada. We hadn’t seen each other in at least 14 years, so there was a lot of anticipation built for this trip. Below you can catch a few Views from the Six. I hit up a few Caribbean spots while there and also grabbed a couple of plates of Jerk Chicken, in which I had been fiending for. I was able to attend a Soca party which was long overdue, because I’m tired of going to parties where people just go to stand around.
When I look back and actually see the highlights of 2017, while living in an emotionally tough space for a bit I was able to reflect on the good experiences that came with it. The moral of the story is with the good times, there will be bad times also. Some worse than others, but one should keep pushing. Does these experiences cure the pain that I experienced in 2017-No. But, it shows that you cannot stop living because shit doesn’t work out the way that you want. I’ll be the first to say that the 1st quarter and 2nd quarter of 2017 was hell for me. But we’re going to close the chapter the book on 2017 and move toward 2018. Happy New Year and may God Bless in the New Year from me and Kahlo!!!!!
The Black Smokey Bear 