Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts's Blog, page 12

Not for the Faint of Heart

My latestnovel, The Next Thing is Joy: The Gospel According to Vivian Grace, has NOTbeen doing well. Wait…that’s definitely an understatement. Despite a promisingrelease week, the sales suck. Big time. If it was a record in the music industry, it would have easily gone “toothpick” or “cotton” (as opposed to gold or platinum). And I…

The Amazing Sunflower Story

I woke upon Monday morning a bundle of mixed emotions. I was tired and in pain as usual. (Thank you, Fibromyalgia). But I was hopeful and determined because I was launching a new company (check out NewSeason Books). I was disturbed by some things that had transpired the week before when I’d been used and…

A New Consciousness: The freedom to reject “normal”

I’ve always wanted to be more than I am. I’ve always wanted to be liked and loved. To be celebrated. To be respected and admired. In fact, I’ve spent the better part of my life striving for these very things and always feeling as though I was never enough. I was nevergood enough. Never…

[What?! Wednesdays] Depression and Me by Shara D. Taylor

I met Shara back in 2006 when I worked as the Senior Museum Educator at the African American Museum in Philadelphia. She was one of our trusted docents who was beginning her graduate studiesat UPENN. Rocking her regal Afro and a big, beautiful smile, she would enlighten visitors with her knowledge and passion for African…

[MyBrownBaby] Start With the Heart: How To Teach Children To Do the Right Thing

Seems like lately, in my MyBrownBaby Faith and Motherhood column, I’ve been talking a lot about issues related to my daughter’s behavior. Everything from sneakiness to her being extra-friendly to strangers. Specifically, I’ve been writing about how I interpret the things she says and does and how her actions often shine a light on…

THE UNNECESSARY LOVE TRIANGLE: The wonderful risk in telling the truth

I was 22 years old and the guy I liked (Dude) wanted to date my friend (Homegirl). No, this isn’t the beginning of a new novel. It’s actually the beginning of a reflection on my personal journey when it comes to relationships and specifically, what it means to be true to yourself in them. Recently…

[MyBrownBaby] Lean In and Have It All—Finding Work/Life Balance, YOUR Way

My mind was blown. I was sitting at my computer watching some random Ted Talk when Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, asked the men in the audience this: “How many of you have ever been asked ‘How do you do it all?’” Not one man raised his hand. She went on to point…

[MyBrownBaby] The Showdown at Bedtime

Every night at 8pm, it goes down. “MaKaaaaayla, it’s time to go to beeeeeed.” I say it in that sing-songy way mothers do when we are trying to convince our children that what we are asking them to do is something good for them. Something they’ll want to do. “No.” Yep, she says it…

[MyBrownBaby] Not Like Oprah: Teaching Kids To Shine On Their Own Terms

In 1988, I was thirteen years old and I wanted to be a singer. And a dancer. And a lawyer. And a writer. One out of four ain’t too bad, I suppose. I also wanted to be Oprah. Yes, as in THE Oprah Winfrey. I wanted the big, eighties, feathered hair. The Fashion Fair…

[MyBrownBaby] The Problem with Parenting From Your Own Pain

I have a very hard time trusting God with my child. Yeah, I know how that sounds. Hey, I’m the first to admit that I’m no Hannah. Who’s Hannah? Hannah was a woman in the bible who begged God to remove her barrenness—okay, so maybe I’m a little like Hannah—and in exchange, agreed to…