KaDeWo - The Joy Advocate

Mommy Darling,  I miss simpler days. The fun we had  in between bites of Friday night take out  at the dining room table.  I miss the taste of homemade ice cream, and microwaved popcorn  while we watched rented VHS movies. I bet you never thought I'd miss cutting coupons at the kitchen table! Writing checks for the monthly bills, Bathroom chores on Saturday mornings,  riding to the grocery store and filling up the cart... learning how to be an adult. I miss the aprons you sowed for us to use  while baking and licking wooden spoons  and metal bowls after pouring the cake batter into pans. The Sunday sound of the handheld mixer and watching the sweet mix drip into the bowl. I long for the warmth and smell of the Jiffy blueberry muffins or brownies baking in the oven. Takes me back and brings a smile to my cheeks,  and it feels like memories full of peace and love.  Do you miss simpler times... full of laughter, throwing confetti in the air...

I'm going through a serious transition. It's been going on since 2019 I'm grateful and ready for all that it will bring that leads me closer to my joyful destiny. It's been a long time coming and it cannot be delayed any longer. I welcome the transformation taking place and embrace all endings and beginnings....I think I'm slightly addicted to beginnings lol #nolie Because I've been distracted and stuck on a negative narrative, I haven't published anything since November 30, 2020 when I challenged myself to publish 30 pieces in 30 days that month. When the short term goal was accomplished I was proud and inspired to set a 2021 writing and publishing goal. Unfortunately, I did not use my free time wisely which led to me only achieving half the writing goal.  Now, God has my full attention; I'm no longer distracted. Fully aware of my choices and where I stand I recognize how He allowed personal and professional relationships to get so uncomfortable that I ...

  I don’t recall the first time S.A.D. was activated in me, but I would bet money that it was t h e first winter I lived on the East Coast. I grew up in Houston, Texas where wearing flip flops around late fall and “winter” was the norm during 70-degree sunny November, December and January days. Exposure to the sun was regular and welcomed. So when I relocated in my early 20s to a state where white winters are a thing, I was not prepared for the Vitamin D I would lose or the depression that would creep up like fog. You should know that I hate the cold with a passion; I socialize far less, except for on holidays, and engage in laying down more and more due to a lack of interest in activities that would normally spark mine. When the temperature drops below 65 (Fahrenheit) there is an uncomfortable chill deep within my bones that causes irritation, lack of concentration and continual longing to withdraw into warm, cozy spaces to recuperate alone. Obviously giving into the desire to iso...

The second month I lived in South Korea one of the sweetest things happened. The co-teachers and adm i nistrators had been such a blessing in taking me to places to buy household items and for delicious meals after work. More than once Vice Principal inquired whether my apartment was comfortable. (In Korean culture the practice is to refer to your respected elder by their title and never by their name, even among peers who older by mere weeks and months.) Each time Vice Principal asked I would reveal more of what was going well and what still needed doing in my studio apartment. One of these times I mentioned to him that my landlord needed to put up blinds on the large windows that were eyes into the rectangular space. By way of my co-teachers, my landlord was made aware of all the things that were needed as agreed upon in the leasing contract. The landlord sent her husband to complete some of the things on the to-do list, but the blinds never were put up. Some days passed, Vice Princi...

Today I return to my home desk and computer to remotely teach the students... who will show up. Lol In the days before the COVID-19 pandemic, students lifted my spirits on a da i ly basis with their immature and mature  actions and  anecdotes. Something that happened in the classroom that caused disruption for a moment became laughable later among friends and family at dinner. Because I have not physically seen my babies since mid-March, I have had to find other sources to lift my spirits. Writing, watching comedy sketches and Zooming with FRAMILY are in full effect. Also, I rely on music to lift my spirits. Music has soothed my soul and been my escape ALL my life — including in the womb when my father used to put headphones around my mother’s belly. So, here’s my 20 for 4/20 playlist.   Feel free to drop a “feel good” song you use in the comments. 1. Lovely Day — Bill Withers (R.I.P.) 2. Free — Mya 3. Off the Wall — Michael Jackson 4. Dinero — Jennifer Lopez, DJ Khaled ...

Greetings & Salutations Dear Reader, I feel compelled to share some useful tips learned in my four months of full-time online tutoring. Yes, the #Coronavirus has cajoled me into sharing how to prepare for online tutoring. There is a major shift occurring as the world learns how to work from home in #quarantine. Before we start the countdown, you should know that I worked 40 hours a week between 8am and 5pm EST and CST as a remote aka virtual aka  online tutor for college students of various ages. Because I was working for two reputable companies remotely, I was able to travel between Texas and Pennsylvania without missing a minute of work. I would recommend this kind of work to anyone who has taught before, wants to tutor privately, is comfortable managing small learning groups, wants to set their own work schedule, and/or wants to earn additional part-time income. Now let's get to the deets you need once you have secured your job and/or tutees/clients.... 10. Laptop or...

Every morning I awake, with her on my mind. Occasionally she has just visited my dreams, Other nights I am searching for her presence in them. I miss her dearly. Summer nights spent together Secrets shared at her table Love given when I was not worthy of receiving it. I know that I have not imagined…her. A few days ago I attempted to call with good news, then paused only to be reminded… Now that she is absent I miss her deeply. Our souls are intertwined… her voice still rings in my ears. The softness of skin, the curve of her hips mixed with her heavy hands and precious feet will never be erased from memory. Yet, Her laughter I cannot recall. At times I burst into tears thinking of the love I am missing, from her. Memories are not enough to shed my pain. I long for her, Wanting her here to hold one another again. I shall never forget the way she looked at me when she learned I accomplished a feat she most desired. No one has ever looked at me that way! She was the center of my world lo...

The night I turned “flirty 30”, I dreamt in color for the first time. I remember this so vividly, be c ause up until then I had only saw black, grey and white in all my dreams. Before this unexpected surprise, I didn’t even know it was possible to dream in color; my family and friends don’t talk about dreams regularly. I love dreams and have spent a lot of time reading interpretations. Dreams about rushing water usually a direct link to the dreamer feeling out of control in a relationship or a blazing fire can signify anger or the rebirth of something significant in the dreamer’s life. Many moons ago, I read that the average person has 100 dreams a night and is lucky enough to recall one or two when the wake up. And when remembered, the focus is on what occurred and sometimes what we felt — emotionally and physically — and not the colors seen or sounds heard. As a child, my dad and I discussed the toilet dream…You know the one where you think you’ve made it to the bathroom and relieve ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Lol It's necessary to greet you this way, because more than a year has passed since I last wrote. I must apologize to myself for that. Some of you dear readers know that I returned to the United States at the end of September 2018; so it is has almost been a year since I returned from life abroad... and GIRRRRLLL the transition has been full of UPS and DOWNS ...Break ups... moving twice ....three new positions.... incorporating exercise at least 3 days a week ... adjusting to a change in my eating habits to lose 40lbs in order to help an injury that happened a year prior... ending a first-time car lease to buy a new car ...returning to therapy to address childhood trauma... re-examining my struggle with codependency in order to encourage healthier relationships with my pare nts, siblings and close friends ...continuing my daily and weekly self-care routine...  and living single (cue sitcom theme song ) in the States alone for the first time. All I can say is that ...

Today marks the 7 year anniversary for this evolving blog. I am so GRATEFUL for all the readers (purposeful and accidental) that have visited to read my thoughts and opinions. Viewer/readership is UP, UP, UP!! =D  I am AMAZED at how this blog has grown. I APPRECIATE that YOU would use your free time to read through the topics that I find interesting and worth starting a dialogue about. I could not let another year pass without writing YOU a brief note to express my enormous GRATITUDE. Thank you for those of you who have shared, scrolled, followed and talked about this personal outlet.  I have come to love brainstorming, drafting, editing and publishing my words. Without an audience these posts would not continue. Thank you for VALUING this creative space. Continue reading and sharing. Every viewer is essential to this blog. The 7th year is special to me, because I believe the number seven is a number of completion. Who knows how long this blog will exist, but...

When I started teaching English in South Korea I entered in the middle of the school year. The fall semester had commenced when I came in at the end of August 2016. The start of the new academic year commenced in March 2017. After six months of working in a new school, living in a new country and rapidly adjusting to a new culture and community I felt the level in which I was getting to know my coworkers was moving at a slow pace. Although we ate lunch together, several teachers talked around me but not to me. I thought about this one evening and decided that when the new semester started I would write a Welcome Letter.  In my Temple University undergraduate education courses, one of my seasoned professors had us create a Welcome Letter as an introductory assignment. I am so happy that I took that assignment seriously and saved it with my files I knew I would use throughout my teaching career. When I student taught I wrote and distributed a letter to all of my students and it helpe...

For the past several years, she had been on a mindful journey to identify and make peace with her au t hentic self. With the aid of the therapists she reached the goal and began to naturally embrace her authentic self with love. She didn’t even realize the healing was occurring. Yes, she wanted to accept and be at peace with this woman whom she partly knew and would fully come to know. She stared at herself thinking,  I truly love her . She didn’t judge her or make her feel bad about her choices. Mainly because she is now honest with herself, after finding it hard to embrace some “ugly” or “undesirable” parts of herself. This 33-year-old woman found her inner child and let her out, she didn’t always worry about who saw her inner child anymore. She decided to be less guarded and more engaged in the present. She consciously chose to love her faults and subconsciously emerged into a goddess inspiring those close to her. She was fully aware of those in her immediate vicinity who were o...

Happy Thanksgiving! I was fortunate enough to attend a local KOTESOL chapter fall event in Daejeon and hear a message from Eunkoo Lee and Casey Lartigue, co-founders of the  Teach North Korean Refugees  (TNKR) organization.  TNKR  is a life-changing program that raises money and helps North Koreans, who are able to escape the country, adjust to life in a democracy and tell their stories as a form of healing.    Listening to these two passionate speakers caused me to reflect on my summer introduction to North Korean person who had only been out of the country for less than two years. During this summer tour we visited the DMZ to see the double-fenced, wildlife barrier that exists at the point where South and North Korea meet.  *This person explained the difficult adjustment that occurs when one has NOT had access to 24-hour electricity, processed food in numerous commercial stores, ridiculous  amounts of outlets for entertainment - includ...

 Entrance, outside the elevator doors Examination room In March of 2017, I had my first dentist appointment since relocating to SK. I was a little overdue, because my six month check up should have occurred in January. It was not very hard to find an English speaking dentist once I GTS. I found an expat forum that recommended a few doctors. I chose the one closest to my residence that had an English speaking staff and receptionist, Berkeley Dental Office with Dr. Man Hee Park. I had no idea what to expect as far as the conditions of her office, other than previous clients stating it was clean. I was delighted to find a spacious, modern, calm and welcoming atmosphere. The lobby is incredibly spacious and inviting; however, I did not have much time to spend on the comfy couch, because I only had to wait 5 minutes or less. I entered the glass doors to a brightly lit room with a flat screen TV and lots of seating, along the walls various Dr. Park’s degrees and advertisements ...