Destination Peach

Where Reality and Inspiration Meet

Self-Care Series: Journaling

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Journaling is one of my favorite self-care activities. I naturally gravitate to journaling because I am a writer. But beyond feeding my passion for writing, journaling is extremely therapeutic! The process of journaling is simple…grab a journal, a pen/pencil, and start writing. Journals have a huge significance in allowing you the opportunity to re-center yourself. When you are centered your; communication improves, your stress levels reduce, you have better self-awareness, you find effective solutions to problems, and you become more emotionally balanced.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I have a journal collection addiction. I have a work journal, personal journal, gratitude journal, creative-thoughts journal, dissertation journal, and a journal just in-case I need an extra journal. I have always carried journals around since I was a child and not much has changed. When I journal no topic is off limits. I write about every topic/issue that concerns me because journaling creates an intimate space for me to be authentic, vulnerable, and shameless. Thus, the intended goal of journaling is to be the authentic, vulnerable, and shameless version of yourself.

If you already have a self-care practice of journaling or want to start a journaling practice…

Here are my top journaling tips:

  1. Find a journal that speaks to you
    • There are tons of journals with quotes and pictures. Find a journal that reflects who you are…or signifies who you would like to become.
  2. Find a sacred space to journal
    • Journaling can bring out many emotions, be in a space where your feel comfortable to release emotions.
  3. Journal often
    • The more you journal…the more you will be able to process experiences and emotions. This will lead you to a higher state of consciousness.
  4. Positive Affirmations
    • End your journal post with positive affirmations, be intentional with your words to manifest progress in the areas of your life you would like to improve.
    • I typically end my journal posts with hashtag affirmations like… #Imatter #Yougotthis #YourstrengthisBEAUTIFUL

Until next time…

-Peach

The Birth Of A Nation

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This past weekend I went and saw the film The Birth of a Nation. As a creative, I make it a point to support other creatives. The film was nothing short of amazing. I cried, gasp, cheered, and reflected throughout the entire film. This was the first film where I walked out the theater and said absolutely nothing! About 20 minutes after watching the film I was ready to dialogue.

Feeling the intensity of the film, my friend and I sat for an hour discussing the themes and narratives throughout the film. The Birth of a Nation film is much needed. It is time for people of all races and cultures to WAKE UP…and start having more authentic conversations about injustices in the world. The film promotes the level of discussion that is needed when addressing race relations in America. This is the type of film that moves Black culture forward. From my lens as a Black woman, watching the movie inspired me.

Inspired in the sense of knowing my ancestors fought for me to be in this very position I’m in. Inspired in the sense that I know who I am, and I know where I come from. Thinking back on the day I visited the slave plantation where part of my family roots started, experiencing the narrative of Nat Turner in visual form was a full-circle moment.

From watching the film, what I know for sure is that we all have a little of Nat Turner spirit inside of us. When the moment arises for us to shift paradigms, and make progressive changes in our respected industries…we must rise to the occasion.

I don’t want to spoil the film, for those that have not seen the film yet. All I have to say is the film is a must see.

Until next time…

-Peach

Black Woman Excellence: Insecure

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Photo From HBO

My favorite content creator Issa Rae has done it again with her new show Insecure. Like many other internet enthusiasts, I discovered Rae on YouTube from her web series The Misadventrues of an AWKARD Black Girl. A few episodes into her web series, I knew that it would only be a matter of time before others began to catch on to Rae’s creative genius.

I watched the first episode of Insecure and I am excited for the entire season! Rae does an amazing job of sharing the Black woman narrative for educated, 20-something, non-married Black woman. In the words of Solange Knowles, “this ish is for US”. Last night was a celebratory moment in television. The Insecure show is a breath of fresh-air to all of the reality TV content that reflects Black women in a negative/demeaning light. I just want to thank Rae for using her platform to share what me and many other Black women have experienced. Rae’s is providing a voice to many Black women that have been marginalized in society.

I’m glad to see Rae WINNING! When Rae wins, other Black women around the world win. Which brings light to the quote, “I am not my sister’s keeper, I am my sister”- Iyanla Vanzant.

Watch the show and support, trust me you’ll enjoy it.

Until next time…

-Peach

A Letter to My Younger Self

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Moments of self-refection are ideal when you commit to a journey of self-work and self-growth. Very often I write letters to myself and save the letters to read at a later date. The letters help me to visualize and add perspective to the changes I have made. Not to mention…if I am having a bad day the letters pick my spirit up. Today I wanted to write a letter to my younger self on my blog. This was challenging for me to do because the letter, was putting me in a different emotional space…but here is what I managed to piece together.

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Dear Younger Peach,

Life is hard but you’re making it! Through your life journey you have accomplished many wonderful things, and have met many wonderful people. Those experiences have taught you so much and have helped you grow. Your observant, intuitive, and emotional personality has not been understood by many…but who cares! Those personality traits have helped you to pursue careers, hobbies, and educational interests that most people dream of.

Because you were misunderstood, you cared way too much about what other people thought of you. You let peoples’ projections influence the way you lived your life. You already knew back then that you were (and still are) more than enough. What you couldn’t understand at the time is that you are a light that shines brightly, and people tried to dim your light…but they successfully FAILED.

At the current moment in your life, you are coming into your own and have survived the quarter life crisis. Although you are constantly in your head dreaming and over analyzing everything to the point of…anxiety and depression plaguing your daily existence. You always manage to pick yourself back up…and you learned that from the resilient energy of your parents, grandparents, great-grand parents, and all of the people that fought for you to be here.

If I could offer a piece of advice to you, it would be to not limit yourself to your fears and listen to your intuition. Fearlessness and intuition is going to lead you to more amazing accomplishments and more wonderful people.

You’re a DOPE person and this is only the beginning.

Until next time…

-Peach

Self-Care Series: Sea Salt Baths

sea-saltSea salt baths have a lot of healing powers. The spiritual cleansing technique has been known to reduce anxiety, stress, insomnia, negativity, and a whole list of other things. I originally started taking sea salt baths as a recommendation, to reduce my anxiety and stress levels. As I started to see improvements with my anxiety and stress, I noticed how my energy improved as well. With having a empath personality, I am very receptive to others energy. To rid myself of the different energies I encountered throughout the day, sea salt baths did the trick.

My bath blend consists of sea salt and lavender oil. I typically take two sea salt baths a day, and if I’m in a rush I take a sea salt shower.

To make your sea salt bath blissful you will need the following:

  • 1 cup of natural sea salt
  • Few drops of essentials of your choice
  • Disconnection from any form of media (peaceful music is an exception)
  • 30+ minutes of time to yourself
  • Candles and white sage (optional)

To purchase sea salt, you can go your local spirit store (it can get pricey). Or you can go to your local Sprouts or Wholefoods and purchase natural sea salt by the pound. If you’re into aura cleansing let me know your favorite self-care practice below in the comments.

Until next time…

-Peach

Black Woman Excellence: A Seat At The Table

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Photo From SolangeMusic.com

Since this morning… I have been on an intimate date with my iPhone 7 headphones, and we have been enjoying a lustful union themed by the sounds of  A Seat at the Table by Solange. This album makes me just want to get lost in nature, put my phone on do not disturb, and let the cool breeze flow through my natural hair.  The work that she has created is brilliant! It is the sheer reflection of Black Excellence. At this present moment, Black people as a whole need to be uplifted and celebrated… and Solange’s music does just that. The album visuals (digital book) is an added bonus of melanin finesse.

The entire album is LIT… but here are the top songs I’m currently vibing too:

  1. Cranes in The Sky
  2. Interlude: Tina Taught Me
  3. Don’t Touch My Hair
  4. F.U.B.U
  5. Bordline
  6. Interlude: I Got So Much Magic
  7. Don’t Wish Me Well

This album speaks to Black culture and the beauty of Black people. If you haven’t heard great music in a while, I highly suggest this album and no… you don’t have to be Black to enjoy  A Seat at the Table.

Until next time…

-Peach

Quotes and Notes #4

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Young Jeezy (Pastor of the streets) always shares real talk wisdom. The other day when I was listening to his song Sweet Life, I took a moment to reflect on his concept of dying and reemerging as a new person. Pastor Jeezy was on to something when he said the old him is deceased. Inspired by Jeezy’s real talk wisdom, I thought of all of the moments that got me to this current place in my life. The place of a happy, fearless, unapologetic, self-care enthusiast, lightworker version of Peach. Then it dawned on me that my Divine Storm was the final catalyst of the changes I needed to make.

From that storm, I emerged as a new woman. The old me died! I transitioned into the new and improved version of myself.  I love who I have become! I still have a lot of growth to make, self-work is not easy. With the support of my tribe, I am well on my way.

Life is about transition and growth. When you fail to evolve into the higher version of yourself, it is a major disappointment! A disappointment to yourself, your loved ones, society, and the higher power you believe in.

Your supposed to change and grow. When people say you’ve changed, in the words of Dustin from The Friend Zone podcast your response should be “why haven’t you”?  When you lack the ability to let go of past behaviors, and refrain from new ways of thinking/being it is a reflection of limited self-love. If you love yourself, you will release the old version of you. What do you truly have to lose by letting the old you die, to become the better version of yourself.

Until next time…

-Peach

Self-Care Series: Meditate On This

I am starting a new series all about self-care. The inspiration for this new series was influenced by own self-care journey. Self-care is the most important thing yet easily overlooked. Let’s be real, life can get overwhelming…people can get demanding, and next thing you know there is no time for you to take care of your mental and physical health. Contrary to what some people believe, there is always time to take care of yourself, you just have to make it a priority. Finding simple self-care practices is what helps you set boundaries, while living your best life possible.

Meditation is one of the top self-care practices that brings stillness in a chaotic world. I originally started meditating because of my anxiety. Yet I quickly noticed that I enjoyed the inner peace, self-awareness, and higher-consciousness meditation gave me, so it became a natural habit.

For 20 minutes a day I meditate (currently working on building my meditation stamina). Before I meditate I am consumed by my thoughts, but after I meditate “I am calm, I am light, I am positive energy”. The process of centering yourself through meditation, allows you to realign with your authentic-self and operate from an empathetic space. The benefits of meditation are profound.

To get you started on your meditation journey, here is a quick guide:

Meditation Stamina

If your new to meditation, I recommend meditating for a small amount of time. Meditating anywhere from 3-10 minutes is a great start. It takes time for your body to build up meditation stamina. The more you practice meditation the easier it will be to develop your meditation stamina. Meditation apps can also be helpful when building meditation stamina, my favorite app is Meditation Made Simple by Russell Simmons.

Meditation Place

Finding a special place to meditate is ideal. In my special space, I light charka/manifestation candles, I smudge my environment, and hold healing crystals while meditating. You don’t have to go to the extreme of the adding the extra elements I mentioned, just do what works for you. Overtime you will cultivate a meditation space that serves you.

Meditation Position

Once you establish your special meditation place, determine whether you want to sit or lay down for meditation. After getting into your meditation position, close your eyes and begin to focus on your breathing. Whether your choosing to complete a mindfulness or concentration meditation breathing is the MAJOR key.

Meditation Experiences

It is important to know that the more you meditate, the different experiences you will have. Vibrations, colors, images, sleeping, and even the dark side of meditation are all possible. The dark side of meditation can be scary…believe me when I experienced the dark side, it took me some time to meditate again. Just know that the dark side of meditation is your mind and body working through emotions and past traumas you haven’t dealt with.

If you’re interested in more meditation tips or want to share your meditation experiences, leave a comment below.

Until next post

-Peach

Destination Series: Dominican Peach

IMG_0205As of lately, I have been spending my time in the Dominican Republic. This is what happens when you leave your full-time job… you have the freedom to do what you want! With this new found freedom I have, I plan on traveling until it leads me to some major life epiphany or until I feel compelled to try “adulting” again. In the midst of searching for life epiphanies and my escapism from “adulting”, I randomly booked a trip to the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic is a BEAUTIFUL country! From the great beaches to the people that live here, it’s an inexplicable feeling. To arrive in a country and automatically feel like you’re at home is rare. Surprisingly, my Spanish has come back to me just from being here (my minor in Spanish didn’t die in vain). I must say, living a slow-pace lifestyle, and indulging in the libations of Mamajuana is something that I can get use to. Not to mention…Dominican men are GORGEOUS! Since being here I have been married like five times but…DéLeon has my heart (muchos besos mi amor).

Throughout my travel adventures in the Dominican, I have been capturing a lot of pictures (too many to upload). The colorful architecture and lush green landscape is breathtaking and worth sharing.

La Gaviota

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Escuela Primiaria

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Campo de Canñas de Azúcar

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Ciudad de Higüey

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Bascalica Catedral Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia

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Campo de Higüey

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Rancho Valencia

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Playa Macao

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The next destination will be Ubud, Bali which I am super excited about!

Until next time…

-Peach

Divine Storm

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The other day as I was listening to Mastin Kipp’s podcast and I had a major awakening experience. Kipp discussed the concept of divine storms. Divine storms as defined by Kipp are moments in life where you feel like the whole world is against you, and everything falls apart (cue “all falls down” song by Kanye West).

Since the start of the 2016, everything has been falling apart. As everything has been falling apart so effortlessly, I have been trying to define my experience. From bad anxiety attacks, health issues, financial concerns, leaving my job, feeling unmotivated about school, losing the love of my life, my car getting wrecked…the amount of storms just kept accumulating. All of these events were the set up for my divine storm.

Kipp suggested that when everything falls apart it is God’s/Universe’s way of protecting you. Meaning everything is happening for you. As everything has been happening for me, I have been trying to understand the spiritual lesson of my divine storm, and reflect on the areas of growth I need to make. Everything that I manifested, but didn’t act on led me to my divine storm. Being a semi-procrastinator, I needed the extra push to shift into a new paradigm. Now, I don’t understand everything that is happening but, I know its apart of my journey.

Many of us are currently in divine storms, and it’s up to us on how we choose to transition out of the storm (don’t let your negative ego win).

If you want to hear more about divine storms and self-growth the Power & Purpose podcast by Kipp is a great listen.

Until next time…

-Peach