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Planted, Not Buried: Lessons in Resilience from My Grind Pretty Award
When I accepted the Grind Pretty Award in Atlanta, I carried with me the weight of every setback and the joy of every breakthrough. To be named a 2025 Grind Pretty Honoree is more than an honor, it is proof that resilience, discipline, and faith can transform even the hardest seasons into legacy-building moments. Grind Pretty celebrates women entrepreneurs and leaders of color who are reshaping industries and inspiring future generations. Becoming only the second Jamaican woman to receive this award reminds me that no matter where you begin, your story has the power to reach global stages. I shared then, & I pause again to share these words: “This isn’t just about the award. It’s a reminder that your lowest moments don’t define you, they refine you. To every woman starting again, to every entrepreneur rebuilding after setbacks, and to every person standing strong despite resistance, this is for you. When they thought you were buried, you realized you were planted. Let’s keep growing. Let’s keep building.” “This honor is for every woman daring to start again. For every entrepreneur rebuilding after setbacks. For every average Jamaican from this tiny but mighty country… especially those who have faced pressure,
When Self-care Becomes Survival: Living Beautifully with a Chronic Illness
INTRODUCTION Self-care is often romanticized – candles, spa days, and “me time.”But when you live with chronic illness, especially more than one, those little acts become critical lifelines. A NEW DEFINITION OF NORMAL Pain is my companion. It’s quiet sometimes, but it’s always there.For many, self-care is a treat. For me, it’s treatment. What others might see as indulgent – bath soaks, massages, body pillows – are the bare minimum to get through the day. THE MASK WE WEAR Today, I write this through tears. Not from weakness, but from truth. Chronic illness makes you a performer.You smile, serve, create, nurture – all while hurting inside.And you do it because you must. Because you are strong. Because life is still beautiful. CREATING A NEW RHYTHM Success looks different when your body is at war with itself.I’ve learned to listen to my body without guilt.To take the nap. Cancel the call. Prioritize me. Self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. It’s my right. MY KIND OF SELF-CARE I don’t apologize for needing: This is not indulgence. It’s survival. And it is sacred. UNGUARDED, UNFILTERED, COMPLETELY IN THE MOMENT Yes, I built my own little spa sanctuary at home (we’ll get into that in
HANDICAP & IN HEELS 👠
LIVING STYLISHLY WITH CHRONIC PAIN So here’s the thing… apparently I’m officially certified as handicapped now. Yep, the kind with the actual paperwork. Turns out when you can’t stand for more than 10 to 15 minutes without your spine feeling like it’s under attack and walking more than a few steps feels like a whole mission, some countries will finally acknowledge what you’ve been battling for years. Between Cervical Dystonia (also known as spasmodic torticollis), rheumatoid and fibromyalgia, my body has turned into a full-time project. Fibromyalgia is no joke, random flare-ups, nerve pain, blood pooling, rashes, itching / stinging like a hive of bees (sometimes an ant nest) just attacked you, fatigue that hits like a wave out of nowhere, joint pains that move across the body, migraine, cluster headaches and let’s not even get into how unpredictable it all is. Add spinal issues on top of that, and suddenly standing up straight becomes an Olympic event. So now I use a walking stick about 80% of the time, (and other aids another 50% of the time, but we’ll talk about those later). But not just any walking stick. Please. This is me we’re talking about. I wasn’t about
Finding Balance in the Storm: Honoring Fibromyalgia Awareness Month
May is Fibromyalgia Awareness Month, and today—May 12—is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. It also happens to be Mother’s Day. Funny how life weaves these threads together, isn’t it? I didn’t even plan to remember the date – but here I am, holed up, riding out yet another migraine, caught in the quiet swirl of a painful fibromyalgia flare. And yet… I remembered. And maybe that’s part of the gift. Because this day – both days – became a moment of pause. A chance to sit back, breathe deeply, and just celebrate the small things. A cup of tea. A kind message. The stillness. The peace that comes when you surrender and allow your body to just be, no judgment. For those of us who live with fibromyalgia, life doesn’t always follow the script. There are days when your body slows you down, shifts your plans, and forces you to tune in whether you want to or not. But through it all, I’ve found a new rhythm. I’ve come to learn that fibromyalgia doesn’t just affect your body – it sharpens your awareness. You become more present. More intentional. You begin to truly feel your way through the world. Of course –
