April 19, 2026: the art of walking in love

Another day, another dawn. Happy Sunday, happiness crusaders! ☀️

Since my last blog post, I’ve definitely taken the time to sit with my indifference. I grieve for the friendships I want, the person I have been, and for anyone that wants to sit in their own indifference toward me. At the end of the day, I can’t make people care like me. I can’t expect “me” from others.

As little girls, we spend our free time imaging what our lives would be like as grown ups. I often refer to it as the “white picket fence dream”. Working towards that has been a challenge due to my own faults. I know certain people will read that and have their justified reactions, but I don’t care. I learned my lesson the incredibly difficult way… and I’m still learning. Queue Kesha’s “Learn to Let Go”.

Nobody ever talks about the other side of that. What if there’s a person out there that has pictured their idea of a perfect life centering you around it? What if your friends protect your name in rooms you’re not in? Who’s there to pick you up when you’ve fallen down? Who’s there sitting with you crying over that heartbreak that you’ve cried over hundreds of times? My point, I’m tired of falling and failing. This time, I’m walking. I’m walking in love.

Walking in my own shoes within my own standards.

Walking in acceptance of others and how they carry themselves.

I’m walking towards a goal. That goal is happiness.

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us love, power, and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

Here’s three things that make me happy:

The smell of freshly brewed coffee, chilly windy days, having a home that my friends are comfortable staying at.

Stay Blessed,

Starshine ✨

April 12, 2026: the art of indifference

Another Sunday, another blog post crusaders ☀️

These last few weeks have been weird. I knew my return to Georgia would be a shock to most (yes - including myself). There’s a certain je ne sais quoi (or in other words “Jenna Sais Quoi” 🤣) about returning to an environment that broke you to your core, returning to certain people, places, and things that hold a lot of negative memories and feelings… to not give the reaction that’s expected. To return and not give the crowds what they want. There’s a certain peace in seeing the disappointed looks on people’s faces when they learn of their loss.

Specific people have been removed from my life - whether it was my choice or theirs - and while it would be really easy to individually pick them apart, I leave them with this message: I’m indifferent.

I’m indifferent toward my friends who have made it obvious we aren’t friends, but keep tabs on me anyway.

I’m indifferent towards my friends who talk about me to their friends for THOSE friends to keep tabs on me.

I’m indifferent toward my family - for not living the standards that they’ve instilled on me in my lifetime.

I care about all of it, transparently.

I care too much.

That’s when it hit me - when was the last time I did something for myself? When did I start living my life for other people (my child excluded)? When did I give a f*ck about any of it? I’m choosing what chooses me (and for most, I’m choosing the block button). I’m celebrating what celebrates me. I’m going to do ✨ what makes me happy ✨ I’ll take whatever opportunity is given to me that I work toward. I’ll move mountains if I have to. This isn’t a “I told you so”…. This is a “watch me do it despite what you say.”

Here’s three things that make me happy:

New music Fridays (stream Broadside’s Nowhere, At Last album released Friday!), childhood movies, being my puppy’s person.

Stay Blessed,

Starshine ✨

April 1, 2026: the joke’s on me these days smh

Happy day comrades 💖

While bopping about in life, I was listening to something where someone was talking about choosing to avoid distractions to embrace the discomfort… and felt like it was really speaking to me. For years, I’ve sought distractions. They’ve never done me any good and always had me running in the same cycles wondering… why nothing was changing. It took me years outside of the environment I was raised in to realize this.

It took me years to learn these few things about myself and life:

• Who I am is plenty. If I’m ever “too much,” good luck finding and settling for less.

• I don’t have to perform a certain way, dress certain way, act or be a certain way to be celebrated.

• I go where I’m celebrated and embraced, not just tolerated.

• Uncertainty and silence are also an answer.

Since I’ve learned these things and have taken my steps into my own spiritual journey, it’s taken some people aback. It’s reasonable. I’ve been embracing those who have seen me in the many phases of my life and still choose to have me a part of their lives. I’m happy to know I have friends in different area codes these days!

Being back in Gwinnett now for what’s been 4-5 months, I’ve gotten into our own swing of things. Things haven’t really panned out the way I want them to, but whatever is in God’s hands is gonna be better anyway. I just gotta be okay with embracing the discomfort. Extending the olive branch when I truly don’t want to. Setting the positive example.

Until next time, here’s three things today that make me happy:

our new puppy Sadie, “everything showers”, fresh brewed coffee.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Celebrate what makes you happy always.

Stay blessed,

Starshine ✨