Allow me to introduce myself…
photo from Pexels
My iden-ti-ty is one thing about me that I am strong about. I care deeply about where I was born, raised, and the people who instilled important things in me along the way.
My iden-ti-ty is rooted in those who were here before me; rooted in those who have left this physical Earth before me.
Iden-ti-ty (Merriam Webster dictionary, 2004)
1. Sameness of essential character
I was born on a Saturday afternoon at the same hospital as my father, in Jamaica, West Indies. Apparently my father was at school or work when my mother was in labor because this is how my mother remembers (vaguely) the exact time I was birthed, LOL.
Growing up, I remember having a lot of time for myself. I was always a lover of books and exploring the world around me. I did well in Spelling Bees, and at my paternal grandmother’s house, I’d read my books in the mango tree in the backyard.
I would also go up on the roof, pluck grapes from the vines and lay on the concrete to ‘tan’, although I didn’t realize that was the term for it at the time.
In the summers when I visited my father’s house, my days were filled with helping out a bit with the chicken coops (I’ll spare the full deets here), lounging on a big stone under (of course) a next mango tree and/or climbing trees to pick theeee juiciest plums!
Over the past few months, these are the kind of activities I find myself longing to engage in again — moments of solitude where I can enjoy myself in nature. These are the activities that speak to the fundamental nature and quality of who I am.
So much of what I thought I found cumbersome about myself or what I thought I would never be, I am today… I realized (a few times) that all my interests and activities kept returning to or coming from the same places.
I am independent, resourceful, curious. I love words and nature. The values instilled in me, from my parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins are family, hard work, love, passion, fun and laughter.
Working from home, I’ve been able to lay out on the concrete in my backyard, listening to the array of birds. I notice when I work outside, it always boosts my day!
I’ve become a proud Plarent (Parent of Plants) when, to be honest, helping my paternal grandmother in the garden, to pick out the weeds, was always one of my most torturous activities. My maternal grandmother also had a beautiful garden, but she never put me to work (we did drink tea there tho).
Being a Plarent is how I’ve been able to reconnect with nature. Of course, it’s not the same as lying on mango trees, however, it is amazing to witness the growth and the (almost) daily evolution. It’s like I am literally back to my roots!
So much of what I thought I found cumbersome about myself or what I thought I would never be, I am today… I realized (a few times) that all my interests and activities kept returning to or coming from the same places.
When I look back at my life books (journals where I write down everything, from lists to thoughts, feelings, schedules, new words, quotes that I like blah blah blah). I always come back to some of the same sentiments — sometimes word for word. It's as if I am remembering rather than finding.
I don’t know what that means but it feels good to put it on paper.
