Defining Life

In the last month the most important thing I have learned is, “honesty is the best policy.” Sure, we are all taught this as children but do we really know what that means? Because I am famous for someone asking if I’m okay and saying yes even if I feel like a train wreck. However, there is an easier route. Example: Friend: Hey Shawntika. Are you okay? You look like something is bothering you. Me: I’m not okay but I’ll be fine. EASY! But no. I normally go the other route. I hold it in hoping that no one will notice but for some reason, expecting that everyone will know. Yea. Like I said. Train wreck. Fortunately, this last month I was challenged to be “rigorously honest” with myself and those around me. Now, there is a thin line between honesty and telling all of your business. I refuse to succumb to the latter. Yet being honest has liberated me. It's also been hard. I have begun to share parts of myself with those closest to me which has left me completely e

“Love is wanting the absolute best for someone even if it doesn't benefit you.” -Shawntika White For most of my life I have been surrounded by hurting people. I mean, truly bitter people. People who have been so hurt that they've only been capable of hurting others. Somewhere along the line I became a mirror of them. I've never been in any type of relationship with anyone that was generally and genuinely happy. That is until recently. I’m not sure what changed but somewhere along the line God began placing joyful people around me and I began to want what they had. So I did research. I read books, took notes, and finally sat down to put it all together in as few words as possible. I've allowed my experience to overshadow God’s purpose for humanity. We were created with fellowship in mind. Fellowship with God and with one another. The hurt and pain that others had inflicted on me caused me to interpret love negatively. Well, my interpretation was filled with