My parents always taught me to be safe and keep my eyes open for any possible threats. That lead me to take a self defense class when I was 19. I remember being in this self defense class and feeling rather insecure that I wasn't doing it perfectly. Then I remembered that I was there for an important reason. Everyone was there for one important reason. To protect themselves. In self defense it is important that the techniques become second nature and the tools you are using can be used in second nature. I always remember that voice from the instructor in my subconscious. “Make sure you know how to use your weapon so it won't be used on you.” They stressed practice in both situations. For men and women self defense is important. Some of us never get attacked. Some of us get attacked everyday. It's worth it to take back your power.

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There is definitely stranger danger when it comes to dating, but you shouldn't be afraid. With these tips and common sense you'll feel and be safe.

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My grandmother on my dad's side grew up in the country. They lived on a farm but her parents were sharecroppers and she still has her cotton book. She always brings me groceries and stays in a small 3 bedroom house. Everytime we go over her house, I always leave with something. This is the same grandmother I was talking about in the episode Praying for an Atheist Like Me.

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Redlining affected many African Americans during Jim Crow. So people are often surprised when I tell them both my grandmother and aunt build 2 story houses with 5-8 rooms each in an affluent African American neighborhood. Luckily their community was so far off into a black area that it was not destroyed out of hate like black wall street. It was a safe neighborhood built over an old mine. With a creek running through the back, we would play in the cat tails and pick up crawfish. Tucked down into the woods we would play safely away from traffic and the main population.

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So I did something cool y'all! I created an activity book for adults for Art Therapy.I remember always being in art class and what that taught me in high-school and wanted to bring that feeling to everybody else.It's mostly drawing so if you can't draw that's perfectly fine. I worked my magic in Canva to put it together. I always believe in bettering yourself. This is my gift to the world. My bbaby. I made it free so everyone can enjoy it. Here's the Dropbox link to download it. You can print it or edit it on your phone. It's a PDF: https://bit.ly/TheCalmingEffect

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A few months ago I before my naturalist journey I bought a gator foot necklace from a store in the low country of Louisiane that represented the Hoodoo Saint, Uncle Monday.I fed it tea and coffee everyday I wore it and a little bit of protection oil I bought from a practioner. It was supposed to protect me and bring me luck, like a horse shoe or a rabbit's foot. Of course I found protection in the mundane (practical) to be more affective. In Hoodoo you're supposed pay spirits for their help. Like leaving three pennies at a grave yard when you take dirt or leaving an offering of coffer or cigars your ancestors everyday as a thanks to helping you.

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I started Amazon Flex and I assume it's similar to the Amazon Delivery job I had at Amazon but less packages? I know that the Amazon Delivery drivers deliver 200+ packages a day so I'm hoping that it's less of a volume. They say you just drive with your car to a warehouse and pick up the packages and they also do a whole foods delivery too with Amazon Fresh. That's the one I really would like to do.

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