Goodbye, January 2023! You’ve been such a wonder Goodbye, January 2023! You’ve been such a wonderful month for me! 🤍 This year, for the first time ever, I decided to start the year off with a focus on only myself. I spent a large part of January celebrating my birthday this year! From delicious dinners and coffee dates to hiking and surprise secret adventures, this month has been full of celebrating and I’ve embraced every single moment of it. After a few years of not feeling quite like myself due to anxiety and depression, it’s great to feel like ME AGAIN! 🎉 I love her and she’s BACK, BABY! In addition to celebrating myself as much as possible, I also honored my mental, physical, and spiritual needs with lots of rest, intentional movement, meditation, and reflection. 

My word for 2023 is community and now that I feel like myself again, I’m so excited to spend the year pouring into my community, while still remembering to fill up my own cup first. 

#january #januaryreflections #selfcare #selfcarefirst #selfcarematters #intentionalliving #intentionallife #beintentional #uniquevintage #velvetdress #blackgirlmagic #blackgirlskillingit #joyfulmoments #joyfulfulmovement #joyfulliving
Snapshots from a beautiful day spent with friends Snapshots from a beautiful day spent with friends who always make my heart happy. Plus a small snippet of me being overjoyed at getting the tiny seat at the back of the train. 
🤍🌳🏰🚂

#intentionalliving #intentionallife #joyfulliving #joyfulmovement #livejoyfully #enjoythemoment #enjoythejourney #happyliving #blackgirldisney #disneymoments #disneygram #orlandoliving #orlandolife #orlandolifestyle #orlandofl #magicalmoments #choosejoy #joyseeker #orlando
I love being able to explore all of the little pat I love being able to explore all of the little paths that exist in Animal Kingdom. All of the gorgeous greenery in this park makes me feel happy, balanced, and calm. Whether it’s a quiet moment at a waterfall, watching birds enjoy the beautiful weather, or trying to see how many different types of plants I can spot, it’s such a peaceful place to spend the day. 🌳🤍

#outdoors #plantlife #nature #naturelovers #walking #animalkingdom #disneysanimalkingdom #wdw #bestdayever #waltdisneyworld #animalkingdomdisney #intentionalliving #livingintentionally #livinginthemoment #joyfulmoments #joyfulliving
Started the year off with some adventure! 🌿🍃 Started the year off with some adventure! 🌿🍃🌳

#intentionalliving #thegreatoutdoors #livingintentionally #livinginthemoment #adventure #adventureisoutthere #nature #enjoynature #goexploring #orlando #orlandoflorida #greenery #plantlife #animalkingdom #dak #disneysanimalkingdom #visitorlando #orlandolocal #stufftodoinorlando
Just some random joyful moments from 2022. 🤍✨ Just some random joyful moments from 2022. 🤍✨

#joyful #joyfulmoments #slowliving #hyggelife #intentionalliving #2022recap #joyfulliving #joyfullife #happymoments #hyggelig #intentionallife #yearofgrowth #yearofgratitude #practicegratitude
Our last closing of 2022! 🎉🎉🎉 So thankfu Our last closing of 2022! 🎉🎉🎉

So thankful to help purchase this 8 bedroom, 6 bathroom, 4034 square foot pool home for our client. This was the perfect way to end an amazing year of growth, challenges, and blessings in our careers.

We are so excited for all the home sales and purchases we will get to be a part of in 2023 and we can’t thank all of our clients enough for trusting us to help make your home related dreams come true! 🏡 

#floridarealestate #floridahomes #orlandohome #orlandoliving #floridarealtor #floridarealestateagent #floridalife #realestateinvestor #orlandolife #movetoorlando #movetoflorida #orlandolocal #floridalocal #buysell #buysellhomes #homebuying #homebuyingprocess #localorlando
Have you been to Animal Kingdom Lodge yet this hol Have you been to Animal Kingdom Lodge yet this holiday season? 🎄 There’s still time! We loved the addition of the gingerbread animals this year and I hope they keep adding to the display. 🦒🦓 The Christmas tree in the main lobby is one of my favorites on property and I’m always a fan of the bread service at Sanaa. 🫓🍽️🌶️

#animalkingdomlodge #christmasdecor #christmastree #christmasdecorations #christmasvibes #christmasseason #disneyworld #wdw #waltdisneyworld #disney #disneygram #disneyparks #disneyfood #disneyblogger #disneyresort #sanaa #orlandothemeparks #themeparks #gingerbreadcookies @disneyparks @waltdisneyworld
These “snow bubbles” smelled like hot cocoa. C These “snow bubbles” smelled like hot cocoa. Christmas magic indeed! Don’t forget to check out The Lights on Jeater Bend in Celebration during its last year ever! It’s free and oh so fun! 

🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄

#christmaslights #christmasdecor #christmaslightshow #christmasiscoming #christmasdecorations #christmasdecorating #celebrationfl #holidaydecor #holidayseason
One of my all time favorite traditions is going to One of my all time favorite traditions is going to see all the human sized gingerbread displays at @waltdisneyworld. They are all beautiful but the gingerbread house at Grand Floridian is my favorite. I love how you can smell it as soon as you walk into the lobby and I love taking a gingerbread shingle home for the perfect Christmas movie snack! 🤍🎄

#christmas #disneychristmas #disneychristmasdecorations #christmasatdisney #gingerbreadhouse #gingerbreadcookies #christmasmagic #disneymagic #wdw #waltdisneyworld #grandfloridian #grandfloridianresort #christmasdecor #christmascookies #hyggechristmas #hyggelifestyle #christmasmoments #christmasmood
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Personal · October 15, 2014

Love, Life, and Loss in the Land of the Living

Loss changes you. None of us have any control over that. However, it is HOW it changes us that we have control over.

As many of you already know through social media, last week I lost my grandfather. It still seems surreal to talk about even though it is something that we all were expecting to happen for quite some time. Regardless of how much you prepare for the death of a loved one, it can still feel unbelievable once it actually happens.

Growing up without a father meant that I was even closer to both of my grandparents than most people are. It always felt like I had three parents instead of one. My grandparents managed to make it to every chorus concert, every dance recital, every cheerleading competition, and every other event that I was performing in or involved in. Multiple times a week they would make me dinner, read me bedtime stories, and tuck me into bed at night. They taught me about musicals, theater, old movies, traveling, and art. They grew up in a completely different era and they brought the best of it to me.

When my grandmother died in 2008, I was completely heartbroken. It was a horrible time in my life and I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to get by in this world without her knowledge, her kindness, and her smile. My grandfather was the one who really helped me get through that time. I always managed to be strong in front of my husband, brothers, and mother, but when I would hug my grandfather, I would fall apart. He was the last person who I should have fallen apart in front of because he had just lost the love of his life. However, his incredible strength made me feel like I could actually express my grief.

The first time I went to visit my grandfather by myself after my grandmother had died, I was terrified. I drove up a winding driveway that I had been in a thousand times before but I knew that once I walked through that door and she wasn’t on the other side, her death would feel even more real. I cried in the car for 20 minutes before I had the courage to actually walk through the door. I greeted my grandfather with a hug and I sat down in my normal spot at the kitchen counter. My grandfather stood across from me and handed me a glass of water, something my grandmother would have normally done.

We talked about how much we both missed her and he told me that he felt incomplete because he was missing his other half. He told me what he had told me many times before, that one day, we will all die. He had been warning me since I was young, to prepare me for a life without my grandparents, but it was only at that moment that I actually understood him for the first time. This time he also told me that he wasn’t afraid to die. He assured me that when his time came, he would be ready and I would have to be, too. I told him that I would work on it but I wasn’t quite ready to say good bye to him yet. So for the last six years, we have continued those talks.

My grandfather and I could discuss anything under the sun and we certainly did. We discussed politics, religion, race, gay marriage, travel, art, business, economics, and the meaning of life. My grandfather kept tabs on all of the members of our large family and he still managed to help me with my college algebra homework, well into his 80’s. He taught me about investing, home ownership, marriage, and technology. He managed to have good advice for any situation I managed to get myself into and he always knew the right way to present information that I didn’t really want to hear.

Now that he is gone, I’m find myself thinking about him telling me so many times that none of us live on this earth forever. I know he was preparing me for life without him and my grandmother but I also think he was telling me to make sure that I live my life to the fullest extent. My grandfather lived a full life. He married the love of his life, had seven children, twenty-two grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren. He had an amazing career, friends from all around the world, and tons of adventures. He saw most of his favorite art in person, heard many of his favorite songs performed live, and made more amazing memories than many people get the chance to. My grandpa always said, “No one makes it out of this world alive.” The truth is, any of us would be lucky to have a life as full as both of my grandparents did and none of us will make it out of this world alive. I plan to make the most out of my time here and follow the examples my grandparents set for me. That means traveling to new places, dancing in the living room, saying hello to strangers, breaking out into song, reading more books than most law students, never forgetting a loved one’s birthday, and celebrating every holiday like it’s the last day on earth.

Loss does change us but I am going to let it make me more patient, more thoughtful, stronger, and thankful.

gpame

 

 

In: Personal · Tagged: family, loss, Personal, struggle

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Hi! I'm Charisma, a creative entrepreneur who loves to help others reach their full potential. I'm a photographer, a writer, and the owner of Kismet + Charisma, an online boutique that pairs minimalist, cozy, boho style with activism. In my little corner of the internet you'll find my latest travels, what I'm currently reading, how I practing Black joy as resistence, and how I'm finding hygge in my daily life. Pull up a chair, grab a cup of tea, and stay awhile.

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Goodbye, January 2023! You’ve been such a wonder Goodbye, January 2023! You’ve been such a wonderful month for me! 🤍 This year, for the first time ever, I decided to start the year off with a focus on only myself. I spent a large part of January celebrating my birthday this year! From delicious dinners and coffee dates to hiking and surprise secret adventures, this month has been full of celebrating and I’ve embraced every single moment of it. After a few years of not feeling quite like myself due to anxiety and depression, it’s great to feel like ME AGAIN! 🎉 I love her and she’s BACK, BABY! In addition to celebrating myself as much as possible, I also honored my mental, physical, and spiritual needs with lots of rest, intentional movement, meditation, and reflection. 

My word for 2023 is community and now that I feel like myself again, I’m so excited to spend the year pouring into my community, while still remembering to fill up my own cup first. 

#january #januaryreflections #selfcare #selfcarefirst #selfcarematters #intentionalliving #intentionallife #beintentional #uniquevintage #velvetdress #blackgirlmagic #blackgirlskillingit #joyfulmoments #joyfulfulmovement #joyfulliving
Snapshots from a beautiful day spent with friends Snapshots from a beautiful day spent with friends who always make my heart happy. Plus a small snippet of me being overjoyed at getting the tiny seat at the back of the train. 
🤍🌳🏰🚂

#intentionalliving #intentionallife #joyfulliving #joyfulmovement #livejoyfully #enjoythemoment #enjoythejourney #happyliving #blackgirldisney #disneymoments #disneygram #orlandoliving #orlandolife #orlandolifestyle #orlandofl #magicalmoments #choosejoy #joyseeker #orlando
I love being able to explore all of the little pat I love being able to explore all of the little paths that exist in Animal Kingdom. All of the gorgeous greenery in this park makes me feel happy, balanced, and calm. Whether it’s a quiet moment at a waterfall, watching birds enjoy the beautiful weather, or trying to see how many different types of plants I can spot, it’s such a peaceful place to spend the day. 🌳🤍

#outdoors #plantlife #nature #naturelovers #walking #animalkingdom #disneysanimalkingdom #wdw #bestdayever #waltdisneyworld #animalkingdomdisney #intentionalliving #livingintentionally #livinginthemoment #joyfulmoments #joyfulliving
Started the year off with some adventure! 🌿🍃 Started the year off with some adventure! 🌿🍃🌳

#intentionalliving #thegreatoutdoors #livingintentionally #livinginthemoment #adventure #adventureisoutthere #nature #enjoynature #goexploring #orlando #orlandoflorida #greenery #plantlife #animalkingdom #dak #disneysanimalkingdom #visitorlando #orlandolocal #stufftodoinorlando
Just some random joyful moments from 2022. 🤍✨ Just some random joyful moments from 2022. 🤍✨

#joyful #joyfulmoments #slowliving #hyggelife #intentionalliving #2022recap #joyfulliving #joyfullife #happymoments #hyggelig #intentionallife #yearofgrowth #yearofgratitude #practicegratitude
Our last closing of 2022! 🎉🎉🎉 So thankfu Our last closing of 2022! 🎉🎉🎉

So thankful to help purchase this 8 bedroom, 6 bathroom, 4034 square foot pool home for our client. This was the perfect way to end an amazing year of growth, challenges, and blessings in our careers.

We are so excited for all the home sales and purchases we will get to be a part of in 2023 and we can’t thank all of our clients enough for trusting us to help make your home related dreams come true! 🏡 

#floridarealestate #floridahomes #orlandohome #orlandoliving #floridarealtor #floridarealestateagent #floridalife #realestateinvestor #orlandolife #movetoorlando #movetoflorida #orlandolocal #floridalocal #buysell #buysellhomes #homebuying #homebuyingprocess #localorlando
Have you been to Animal Kingdom Lodge yet this hol Have you been to Animal Kingdom Lodge yet this holiday season? 🎄 There’s still time! We loved the addition of the gingerbread animals this year and I hope they keep adding to the display. 🦒🦓 The Christmas tree in the main lobby is one of my favorites on property and I’m always a fan of the bread service at Sanaa. 🫓🍽️🌶️

#animalkingdomlodge #christmasdecor #christmastree #christmasdecorations #christmasvibes #christmasseason #disneyworld #wdw #waltdisneyworld #disney #disneygram #disneyparks #disneyfood #disneyblogger #disneyresort #sanaa #orlandothemeparks #themeparks #gingerbreadcookies @disneyparks @waltdisneyworld
These “snow bubbles” smelled like hot cocoa. C These “snow bubbles” smelled like hot cocoa. Christmas magic indeed! Don’t forget to check out The Lights on Jeater Bend in Celebration during its last year ever! It’s free and oh so fun! 

🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄☃️🎄

#christmaslights #christmasdecor #christmaslightshow #christmasiscoming #christmasdecorations #christmasdecorating #celebrationfl #holidaydecor #holidayseason
One of my all time favorite traditions is going to One of my all time favorite traditions is going to see all the human sized gingerbread displays at @waltdisneyworld. They are all beautiful but the gingerbread house at Grand Floridian is my favorite. I love how you can smell it as soon as you walk into the lobby and I love taking a gingerbread shingle home for the perfect Christmas movie snack! 🤍🎄

#christmas #disneychristmas #disneychristmasdecorations #christmasatdisney #gingerbreadhouse #gingerbreadcookies #christmasmagic #disneymagic #wdw #waltdisneyworld #grandfloridian #grandfloridianresort #christmasdecor #christmascookies #hyggechristmas #hyggelifestyle #christmasmoments #christmasmood
I love the Florida inspired Christmas decor at the I love the Florida inspired Christmas decor at the Grand Floridian! As a kid who always begged to feed the swans at Lake Eola, seeing swans in Christmas decor in Orlando just feels right. 🎄🦢

#christmasdecor #christmastree #floridachristmas #disneychristmas #christmasatdisney #grandfloridian #grandfloridianresort #christmastree #swandecor #holidayseason #happyholidays #christmasseason #happychristmas
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