Y’all, I can’t believe I’m in my thirties, and I can honestly say I love it here. There’s so much clarity and peace on this side, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

In celebration of my three decades of life, here are 30 things that make me unique, 30 things that I absolutely love about myself!

1. I’ve always been different, and I think it started before birth. My mother was told she might have a miscarriage during her pregnancy with me, yet here I am (almost) 35 years later. It took me years to realize it, but I know I’m meant to be here.
2. I’m the youngest child of 4 siblings, but most people find that hard to believe when they meet me. Obviously, I wasn’t a spoiled little brat or the annoying little sister.
3. I can be alone for an extended period. It takes a lot for me to get bored or lonely. 
4. I like people but at a distance. Even though people enjoy being around me, social interaction drains me sometimes. And yes, I’m an introvert.
5. Everyone who knows me well knows how weird I am, and they still love me anyway.
6. I’ve been a writer since I was 5 years old. “Come Back to Love” was the first song I ever “wrote,” but I didn’t actually write it down. It just came to me one day, and I started singing it.
7. I have a great sense of humor, and I low-key think I’m a comedian. Just don’t ask me to tell you a joke on the spot.
8. Speaking of comedians, I adore Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence, especially when they appear in projects together. That’s part of the reason why Boomerang is my favorite movie of all time and Life is in my top 10.
9. Following #7-8, it’s no surprise that Martin is my favorite sitcom ever! I can watch Martin, Living Single, A Different World, Girlfriends, and The Game (the O.G. episodes from seasons 1-3) over and over and over again.
10. I used to be obsessed with Prince in middle school (for some reason Purple Rain played on cable a lot back then). That’s why purple is my favorite color.
11. In 2020, I moved back in with my parents after 4 years of undergrad, 2 years of grad school, and 6 years of apartment living (2 separate properties). Why didn’t I do this sooner?
12. Following the previous fact, I’m a skilled mover. My sister and I have joked about starting a moving company.
13. I attended Louisiana State University (LSU) for undergrad and graduate school, but I’ve always wanted to attend Clark-Atlanta University (CAU). I was too afraid to figure out if it was possible, so I just told people that the out-of-state fees were too high to avoid the pressure.
14. My degrees are in psychology (B.S.) and liberal arts (MALA). African and African American Studies (AAAS) was my minor in undergrad and my concentration in grad school. Had LSU offered a full degree program in AAAS, I definitely would’ve jumped on it.
15. I used to struggle with showing my emotions; now, I’m a crybaby.
16. I love reading books! Whenever I watched Beauty and the Beast as a child, I used to be in awe of the enormous library in the Beast’s castle and wonder how it was possible for Belle to read all of those books. I also used to enjoy reading a big brown encyclopedia my family used to have, and I would even pull out the books that held up our sofa and read them.
17. My family thinks I’m a great cook, and sometimes I have to agree with them.
18. I always thought I would pursue a career in science because I loved creating kid-friendly experiments. Some of those experiments got me fussed at because they would accidentally turn into other things, like an incubator for growing fungi or a super glue-like paste.
19. I love live music and concerts. However, I’ve gotten comfortable with virtual events since the pandemic.
20. I’m a performer at heart even though I haven’t participated in a major performance (I once performed in a talent show with my brother in 2007). I’m always singing and dancing because I came from an era where Star Search and Showtime at the Apollo existed. I had to be prepared just in case I got my big break.
21. I also thought I was going to be a choreographer or a video girl, so I had to be prepared for that, too.
22. A continuation of the previous two facts, I practiced (and still practice) interviewing as if I were on Planet Groove, TRL, or 106 and Park. Now, I’ve got my eyes set on The Breakfast Club and the Dear Future Wifey Podcast (I’m claiming that it’s going to happen).
23. I miss the 90s so bad, y’all. The music, the TV shows, the films, the feeling, everything! It was definitely a vibe.
24. Since we’re talking about the 90s, I’m low-key obsessed with Tevin Campbell and would love to work with him one day (if you know him please put the word out). I sing “Can We Talk” at the drop of a hat, and it’s just as natural as breathing.
25. I have two nieces and three nephews who are with us here on earth. My first niece died a few months before her third birthday due to complications from a liver disease (biliary atresia). I love my babies so much!
26. The road to getting my driver’s license has been over 20 years in the making. I would always start and stop the process and even pass the written test but couldn’t bring myself to face the road test. Since then, I’ve started the process over, and I’m going to finish this time!
27. I’ve always had an interest in creative professions, but I do believe I’m a teacher and counselor at heart. I always end up serving in that capacity no matter how hard I try to avoid it.
28. After years of procrastinating, I finally started therapy, and I loved every bit of it!
29. Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to me! I realized that even more after I began therapy.
30. God’s given me a vision for my life. I know I’m purposed to create and write. Most importantly, I know I’m called to heal and serve.

Bonus: I’m a book coach, copywriter, and editor who helps authors, business owners, and everyday professionals turn their thoughts into a finished product! Check out MasterPieces Writing and Editing LLC here.

Now, tell me all about you! Drop a unique fact about yourself in the comments.