I don’t have an extraordinary event to tell you about…not this time. I’d like to get there one of these days. Tell a good tell of some glory days I may have left, but today I have my niece to talk about.

Not long ago, I saw family that I hadn’t seen in a while. It took me long enough to go see them, but I figured it had been too long. Figured I shouldn’t waste so much time on things like this, because you never know when you’re going to get that time again.

It was good to see my family and show my face. That stuff still counts for something. Well, showing up was appropriate it, nonetheless, but it was emotional for me as I thought about the hiatus of being around them and all that I had missed.

My niece was one of those things that I have missed. I didn’t know she’d be so adorable when I meet her. I had heard about her and didn’t know what to expect from her. She turned my trip into a well worth it journey. She was full of life with her giggles and smiles. Had me thinking of kids of my own for a moment. Other moments…I thought about the world we live in and what it has come to and how she’s going to have to grow up in it and navigate through it the best way she can. But I suppose that’s what we do when it comes to our younger ones…I suppose that’s what we do.

Sitting on our king-size bed in a small hotel room, just big enough for two, it dawned on me that 2024 would soon be through. In an instant, the entire year flashed before my eyes. Each memory that ran through my mind carried an emotional tie. I would smile, then sigh. It’s funny how we go through life trying to survive every heartache that comes our way, clinging to any blissful memory that helps the day’s pain temporarily fade, even if just for a few seconds. As 2024’s end draws near, going into the new year will become my favorite memory—a few moments of my life I’d love to freeze in time. The hardest question to answer is which of them will forever be engraved in my heart and mind could it be when we were in Austin, holding each other close because living in two different cities made every mile feel lonely and long? A moment of silence was broken when you looked into my eyes and asked, “Will you marry me?” My heart jumped for joy—or at least that’s what it felt like. It could have been our unborn baby moving inside me at the time. Of course, the day I heard our baby girl’s first cry as she entered the world will always stand out. That is a given. But the one memory that will always capture my heart is the one we created here in the Days Inn. We had no money to spend, yet somehow, a little tree, lights, and a few decorations were provided. The reason this is my most treasured moment is that, even though we had very little, we managed to show our three-month-old daughter the most valuable lesson anyone could ever pass on: love, resourcefulness, and the joy of making the best of what you have. Here’s a refined version with improved punctuation and flow: to surround yourself with people who love you, no matter what; to appreciate what you have; to be grateful for what was given—this will always be my favorite memory. It was in that moment I felt complete, because I now have a little family to share this Kong size bed withAnd now, life feels like pure bliss.

Let me know if you’d like to add or adjust anything further!

The year is slowly approaching its end
And I have so many great memories
It’s hard to choose only one
But I do notice one commonality
All my favorite memories of 2024
Start and end with you
My Bae and I
Did vision boards to start the year
I surprised her with a Valentine’s Day date
To see B. Simone
Later in February
We ended up going to see
Elevation Worship and Steven Furtick
We laughed a lot
At We Them One’s Comedy Tour
Hosted by Mike Epps
We missed each other for days
That turned to months
Until we were reunited for my birthday trip
To Phoenix, Arizona
That started off a little rough
But ended up with plenty of sun
Rest, relaxation and quality time
Then in September
We ended in Houston, Texas
For a much needed escape
Great food and the Waterfall Park
Were just a few highlights
Until you drove countless hours to Atlanta, Georgia
For One Music Fest 2 day music festival
Sexxy Red was a no show
But GloRilla did her thing
We had a blast
Until the trip had to come to an end
Now it’s December
You are here at my side
As the holidays aren’t the same
I’m thankful we get to spend them together
As we both are missing our Moms
This is the best time of year
And the best moment of the year
Is truly you being with me
When all I need is your support
Going to see the tree
At Rockefeller center
Brought back the Christmas spark I’ve missed
So thank you Bae for being a part of making 2024 a blessing!

My best memory of 2024? Would probably be my worst. It was a year of many worsts. But this is about the best, so back to that. Looking back over the year, the loss of my father would be my favorite memory. I know it doesn’t make much sense. Don’t get me wrong I’d give anything to have his laugh back in the room, but he found peace. His suffering and his struggle were over. Then there was the beauty of his last day. He may not have been conscious, but he was present with the whole family that day. The best part of it all, his testimony of his faith as he lay dying. It gave all those around him hope, and feel their faith in the moment. Testing his legacy. So yeah, the memory my father passing actually makes me smile a little. It’s one of my best for 2024.

Another year for the books
Many trips into the unknown
What a long journey this has been
But I didn’t go through it alone

My body is no longer my prison
But a shell that I must keep
With reconstructions here and there
It has become the home for me

I walked through a garden of roses
I walked through the streets of L.A.
Spotted “New Flowers” in cracks on the ground
They brightened even the darkest of days

Some of the flowers have withered
Dead leaves fell in their place
I’ve found new joy in bare branches
For everything has its time and place

The seasons don’t change where I live
But I change with every step as I grow
Everything is here for a moment
I welcome, I love, I let go

What will I take away from this year?
It’s hard to choose just one
Each moment was a puzzle piece
Crafted by God’s love

Open doors led to friendship
A fellowship as well
You took a plane, I took the train
And we created stories to tell

This year was a garden of memories
I’ve planted the seeds that you sent me
The kindest gesture in the form of a gift
But the greatest gift of all is your friendship

Thank you for your warm hugs
Thank you for your prayers
Thank you for all you’ve blessed me with
And always being there

They asked me what I could bring to the table. I told them the room. They said, “Why do you need the room?” I said because if not in the room, then I’m outside, and do you know what’s outside? Bugs. Things that bug and pest. Things that bug and pests tend to get noticed, raided, and even physically dismissed. But just like the atmosphere of an 8am court case, I’m standing on business, and in my room is where the table was made.

The prompt for tonight’s challenge is to formulate and attempt to describe, for a moment, the greatest memory of 2024. I can already tell you that every great memory that now submits for me for 2024 includes a desk or some sort of table, where I believe divinity manifested the return of my Unapologetic nature and Curiosities about self, immersion to my immediate and extended, perhaps even cosmically inclusive, environments and ecosystems, and why all of that matters. My favorite memory, if I had to isolate it to just one thing, that cannot overlap with anything else, it would be the first time that I got into a company designated vessel for a very high profile technological and navigationally Innovative and involved Corporation, and was able to feel the enclosure and borrowed security, vehicular security, of driving my first vehicle in over 6 years, that was not commercially licensed, and have the freedom to take it wherever I wanted it to go. For the first time in my life, being a black person with a company designated, dispensed, and accounted for credit card, with my name correctly spelled on it. Having a job and corporate cellular device that acted as the epicenter for how I would eventually maintain as well as fail and sustaining, what I would deem as consistently sufficient, communications with my superiors. I had no idea that buried within this particular memory, I sat on what eventually became my most thrilling summer yet.

A 30-year-old man, from English Avenue, which is also known as an area called the bluff, in residential Atlanta Georgia. A product and incomparable abnormality of the Atlanta Public School System, who then fought and self-educated his way to not only the University of West Georgia but also all the way out to the University of Southern California, just to enter into a six-figure debt for a piece of paper that means nothing. That same 30 year old man, who really had to grow up and become someone who not only walked the walk but had to walk the specific talks that I’ve been privy to and kind of locked into with both the rearing and the passing of my mother only years prior. The same 30-year-old man who knew what hand towels and Rags were for, which is to dab the sweat off of the face, as opposed to continuing to run a race Against Time, community, and myself, when all you have to do, sometimes, it’s just be willing to take the next step, trusting and having the audacity to consistently believe that the next step, irregardless of Road or texture of pathway, mean something, even if you have to Define what that is. The very first time I sat in that company vehicle and closed the door, certain rooted emotions began to consume and then accompany me all the way from home in Kennesaw, Georgia to the dusty and wisdom paved roads of Dyersburg, Tennessee. I remember the bends in the evergrowing flatness of the horizon line up to St. Louis, Missouri. I remember the risk it was driving to Ottumwa, Iowa and the speed I never knew I could sustain trying to escape an inevitable traffic citation in Fargo, North Dakota, only after a long and enduring overnight drive through Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which only springboarded me right to where I finally was headed…Glendive, Montana. I drove every mile. I made it to every stop, every city, and completed every assignment that was allotted to me. At just 30 I can say that I’ve seen a lot of places. At 30, I can say I’ve gone out of my state, and not just because of some academia-based program, but for work. My favorite memory of 2024 isn’t a memory it’s an ongoing experience that just so happened to start when I hit a button that said push to start. I look forward to what the next year has in store, and I hope God is looking forward to our next Journey, because I will never be able to repay him, for the grace and continued favor I managed to find like grains of sand on the beach every day this year. I found me out on that road. And I finally brought him home. I look forward to more submissions to this platform, so thank you for the opportunity.

In Philly’s vibe, where art’s alive,
Two friends meet, their spirits thrive.
Orange and black, red and white,
Colors dancing in the Sculpture Yard’s light.

“What’s The Tea?” we came to see,
Where flavors soothe and set hearts free.
Tea like coffee, bold yet sweet,
A soulful moment, a perfect retreat.

We spoke of power, women’s strength,
Of building bridges, going great lengths.
A sound bath wrapped us in dreams untold,
Spring’s fresh buds, life’s stories unfold.

With strangers near, like Wonderland’s twist,
Sisterhood formed, a moment not missed.
Girl time healing, laughter flows,
In the simplest of acts, the magic grows.

Always make time for tea, my dear,
A pause for love, for hope, for cheer.
In every sip, a spark can gleam,
In tea, we brew a brighter dream.

Dear Unsealers,

If I’m honest 2024 was a blue and so was 2023. When I think of my favorite memory all that I remember is what I’ve lost. I do have favorite moments though, that are made up in my day. The birds that I hear that sing notes when life feels mundane. The squirrel that tries to hit me with a nut because well that’s his tree, so find another. The gator that sunbathes as I go for a walk. My cat thats asks me to play when I get too serious. If I have energy and venture out the conversations with strangers. No favorite memory just in between moments on the way to my favorite memory.

My favorite memory of 2024 is walking out of those hospital doors.

I closed my eyes as the sun grazed my face.

Inside they called those “fresh air breaks,” and we only had one a day.

A group of us would gather in line to go hit the pavement.

45 minutes.

While the rest picked a movie to sit with and stayed in.

I had trauma to handle, but while I was there, I couldn’t stay in it.

Head down, take your meds and don’t complain when,

There’s pain.

No matter the headache or nausea, there’s nothing you’ll gain.

Do what they say if you ever wanna see home again.

Between the new medication and the poison they considered food, I still question how I survived.

The first 3 days I kept asking myself why.

It was then I finally understood that nothing could ever replace…time.

Covers over my head, knees to chin, just praying to get back to mine.

192 hours.

Finally, sunlight.

I tried to run to my loved one, but my body was still weak.

I moved cautiously during this release.

Feeling the breeze again, saying goodbye to the nurse who became my friend.

From day one she looked me in the eye and said, “You don’t belong here Mami,”

Day four, she prayed for me and explained soon I would see my family.

Day eight she told me, “I know I won’t ever see you here again.”

I peered into the car mirror and saw a spirit I didn’t recognize.

Crust built up on the side of my left eye.

Tears I didn’t wash away from the previous night.

There I was, just grateful to be back outside.

A new season with too much to believe in.

Misdiagnosis, but I’m still breathing.

That was just a mistake which would lead me into my best season.

Now I create bodies of work that help heal others.

Realizing this is what it’s about, this is what it was all for.

Summer 2024, my pain opened doors.

I started writing more and stopped stressing,

Channeling all the energy I kept suppressing,

The minor and the major life lessons.

‘Twas the beginning of me turning all my pain into blessings.

Imani T.
@heymanixoxo

One of my best memories of 2024 was ‘sealing the deal’ for my book
After hearing back from more publishers once they took a look
Self-publishing companies to partnership publishers and traditional ones, too
I pitched my manuscript to them to see what they could do.

The feedback was positive about my manuscript of rhyme
Poetic prayers and reflections of different lengths and kinds
Rooted in my faith
Each poem unfolded like I was on a sacred date.

I had not initially intended to write a book
But after some encouragement, the pep took hold of my foot
Stepping forward with old poems and new ones, too
Excitedly following what God was guiding me to do.

Thirty poems unfolded in a lovely way
With sentimental reason for the words at play
From faith to family, fitness, and career
The poetic topics were written with a pen of hope and not fear…

Written because I care
About touching lives both far and near
My words on the page
Expressed with peace and not rage.

Best memories often come from soulful alignment
Memories created from organic assignment
From fingers on the keyboard and pen on the page
The process for me is cleansing—like burning sage.

So, who is publishing my book, you ask
Wipf and Stock Publishers have taken on the task
To bring “Rhyming with God” to readers around the world
And I am so grateful for this publishing gem of a ‘pearl.’

Thank You, Dear God
For my best memories of 2024
Your guidance in my life, I appreciate and adore
Please guide me with writing more and more.

Amen.