Poem: For the Other Mothers

Dedication: This poem is dedicated to all the mothers in Canada, India, and St. Vincent and The Grenadines currently experiencing adverse conditions.

This is a balm, 

or maybe a kind of Psalm.

This is for the depressed mothers,

for the anxious and breathless mothers.

I see you,

I feel you,

I AM you.

This is for the restless mothers.

For the childless, 

motherless mothers 

mother.

I see you,

I feel you,

I AM you.

This is for the abused mothers.

For the estranged and misused mothers.

For the tired,

“My life is a mess!”

mothers.

I see you.

This is for the abandoned mothers,

the absent, halfway dead mothers.

For the focused,

trying to make ends meet 

mothers.

I feel you.

For the poised,

and proper mothers.

For the emotional mothers.

The red, yellow, 

black and white,

ALL are precious,

in His sight mothers.

I AM you.

I stand with you,

Forever, for always 

eternally yours.

Mother.

My Beef with Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling has exploded in recent years. The practice is ancient—people sharing their personal stories with the world. But this form is storytelling is new. Very new. Our lives are truly better for it. But there’s a dark side. In this essay I reflect on what happens when storytelling wants to stop.

Now more than ever, the story of our lives can live on in many forms. Digital storytelling has given us greater access to diverse voices, opinions, perspectives and frankly more access to more people in general.

It seems the world has become a lot smaller since digital storytelling has emerged. Barriers are breaking down and our understanding of the people around us is deepening.

But my beef with digital storytelling is this: what happens when you don’t want to be online anymore or you want to take a break from the Internet?

The Internet is a beast that survives on a heavy flow of new information. To make it on the ‘interwebs’ you have to continuously pump stuff out. You have to be consistent; you have to be present in order to be heard. 

It makes sense. I don’t have an issue with that.

But my issue is that when you want to take a break there is so much pressure around “the break.” Or if you’re like me, sometimes you inadvertently take breaks, but when you want to jump back in, there is this guilt around that.

You’re afraid people won’t remember who you are.

You’ve been gone for what seems like forever. If my grandparents were alive they would think this is obnoxious. No grand public appearance for a week or a month during their time was perfectly normal.

Yet in the age of digital story telling that’s a long time to disappear.

Or is it? Does it even matter?

What matters more than ever is our mental health. Our minds need a break from all the scrolling, all the swiping, and all the flat lays (although I love me a good flat lay.)

I have noticed an increase in awareness around taking digital breaks, fasts or detoxes. People are going on silent retreats because we’re just too stressed out and mentally exhausted as a result of so much ‘Interneting.’

Consistency of messaging for brand building is critical, but as creators it’s even more important that we take a step back every now and then to recharge, recalibrate, and to reset our minds. For the sake of our long-term health.

On This Day

On this day one year ago, I was processing my new identity 'mother' while still amazed at the miracle my body just performed. It's powerful what the female body can do.

It also blows my mind how incredible life can change within a year. Fast forward to this present day, February 14, 2018 and I am processing a new part of my journey: blogging.

One that is very much in its infancy, as my little boy was this time last year, but something I have had the burning desire to do for ages.

I am launching this space because I believe in the transformative power of sharing.

I have learned and processed a lot in the past year and I want to share it with a larger community. Simply with the hopes that through my sharing maybe a stranger or a friend, might push a little harder or start to believe they are not alone.

I believe we are all storytellers and our communities become stronger the more we share and the more we encourage one another.

So here I am, on this day making a commitment to share with you my intimate thoughts on motherhood, womanhood and everything in between.

Thank you for stopping by!

- Erykah xo

Erykah the Unicorn

I get it. The whole unicorn thing is trendy and it feels like Target, Home Goods and similar stores are on unicorn steroids. Even I’ll admit it’s a bit much. But I came by this unicorn thing pretty honestly.

I was meeting a community of creatives in downtown L.A. for the first time and in the middle of the initial pleasantries one of them blurted out “Erykah! The unicorn is here!”

With full-on enthusiasm and all kinds of hype. I was like “Huh? Who me? A unicorn? Really you think so?” I went with it though.

I figured, “Hey if this cool stranger (at first sight) thinks I’m a unique being then I guess I am?”

Fast forward five years later and I completely own this unicorn thing. Being a unicorn simply means that you are unique, you know it, and you own it.

And here’s the thing: we are all unicorns.

We are all unique, special people. We might have similarities to people around us because after all, we’re all human at the end of the day. I believe though that we are all rare in our own way. Each one of us has something special to offer to the world that only we could give. And the sooner we develop a deeper understanding of ourselves, the faster we achieve inner peace.

As this blog matures you will come to learn more about me and my unicornin’ (yeah that’s a thing) lifestyle. For now, here are some random facts about me.

12 Random Facts About Me:

1. I love Jesus with my whole heart. Which means two things for me: I am a work in progress and I lean on the divine to help me become a better version of myself.

2. I’m left-handed. I have (sort of) grew out of the awkward stage of turning my paper on an angle to write.

3. I’m a Virgo.

4. I did zip lining in the jungles of Cambodia on a makeshift zip line. It was wild and exhilarating.

5. I speak French.  

6. I had a pet gerbil once that I killed inadvertently because I put it in a glass cage. It chewed on the glass and died.

7. As a child I enjoyed bike riding around my neighbourhood by myself.

8. I’m Canadian. I grew up in Montréal, Québec. Poutine is life!

9. Swimming and singing were my happy places growing up. I was on a swim team for several years and sang in the church choir.

10. I enjoy driving by myself. I like the free time it gives me to think without distractions.

11. If I like a song enough, I could listen to for 13 hours straight.

12. At one point in my life I wanted to go to law school (what was I thinking??).