Finding Joy in the Awkward and Down-to-Earth
"Skating Through Life: Embracing Joy as the Awkward, Down-to-Earth Girl"
I remember summers in Memphis—those long, hot days that felt like they’d stretch forever. As a kid, I was sure I had life all figured out. I’d skate the weekends away at Crystal Palace, the clatter of wheels against wood mixing with laughter and music. Summers also meant taking trips to Arkabutla, Mississippi, where we’d go to the “beach” and play until we were sun-kissed and exhausted. Life was so simple back then. At eight years old, I truly believed I was the coolest kid on the block.
It’s funny, though, how life has a way of humbling you as you grow older, showing you that maybe, just maybe, you didn’t have it all right after all. Those memories are priceless, and sometimes, I wish I could rewind and relive those carefree days. Now, at 39, I find myself chasing stillness, that elusive joy that doesn’t come from doing but from simply being.
This year has been epic—no other word for it. I’ve been on a journey, peeling back layers, rediscovering parts of myself I hadn’t seen in a long time. As I look toward my 40s, it’s like stepping back into childhood wonder, this time with a grown-up twist. I’m counting down to moments of skating my way through my 40th birthday, feeling that freedom all over again. I look forward to cozy nights on the couch, rewatching The Cosby Show with a bowl of popcorn and peanut butter M&Ms. Joy has become my mission, my priority, my number-one objective. I’m learning to chase joy in moments big and small, dwelling in the sweetness they bring.
In these moments, I’ve come to embrace all of me. The awkward Black girl who sometimes doesn’t fit in, but somehow belongs everywhere. The girl-next-door who’ll strike up a conversation with a wall if it seems like it might talk back. Joy lets me fall in love with the quirks, the clumsiness, the parts of me that never really made sense to anyone else but are all part of the bigger picture.
Joy, it turns out, is liberating. I’m letting go of material needs and embracing what God loves in me and for me. No need for mean girl drama, no longing to be part of the in-crowd. Just a woman who loves people, loves life, and wants to share the joy God’s blessed me with.
So here’s to more days of skating, more quiet moments of contentment, and finding joy exactly where I am. It’s a gift I hope to keep giving—first to myself, and then to anyone willing to come along for the ride.