Monthly Archives: February 2020

A Poem of Self-Discovery

Hidden Legacy

It had been forever since she’d seen the woman she once was.

The woman she had grown to be

That woman, she was tough.

She was sassy, classy, pretty and sweet.

She was sophisticated, not too complicated,

Educated in the books, the beats and these streets.

She was ride or die, loyal.

She held it down ten toes deep

This woman was poised, sleek, mysterious and meek.

She was everything a woman should be.

Respectful. Responsible. Safe.

Held down a job, a car and had her own space.

She was fine as wine and thick as cold grits.

She could fit you in her schedule.

She was flexible.

And could even hit the splits.

But in all seriousness, she was real.

She knew there was pain.

She taught people to heal

From disconnect, different dialects

Dusty record sets and dumb deals.

She was there to watch, to listen 

An empath, to feel…

How our emotions, connections and energies reveal

Who we once were to people who care.

……

Thoughts?? Comment below.

New Leaf

Hello my name is Ri’ana Johnson and I have decided that I am a writer. As we have already unearthed, I am many things to many people. Sometimes these roles overlap and intersect whimsically, sometimes they collide and cause chaotic confusion. While I do carry the responsibilities of those prescribed roles everywhere I go, I am more than roles and responsibilities. I am multifaceted and full of wonder. I am not anything special yet, but I am magic. I’m strength. I am everything about my past that has brought me to this moment. I am a new writer and there are responsibilities and expectations that outline this journey.

In writing this blog I hope to explore and discover who I have become through the 1990’s to the 2020’s, through life’s lessons, through love and loss, through forgiveness and overcoming, through no new friends to “No New Friends”, across and through three continents, upon a never-ending quest that eventually ended in a professional awakening, reawakening and transformation.

Here we are in 2020, I am 28.5 years old, blogging. Since I was a young child I can remember writing. Writing and self-expression has always been a part of me. I wrote to tell my mom I loved her, to thank her for all she did for me, to let her know what I wanted for Christmas, or to remind mom or Granny what I wanted to from the store. I also wrote letters, yes I wrote letters as a toddler, to my father for he was incarcerated when I was three years old.

Today I write to express myself to the world. In this blog, you will learn of my hopes, dreams, aspirations, fears, promises, broken promises, failures, mistakes, accomplishments, and more, so much more. As I turn this new leaf as a writer, please open your heart to receive Recycled Flowers.

Recycled Flowers. Do you like that name? What does make you think of? Comment below.

Anyone who knows me, knows that taking care of Mother Earth is one of my core values. Recycling plastics, reusing bags and reducing waste are some small actions we can all take to care for the earth. P.S. Littering is bad for our environment. It’s a big no no. Ok? Ok. Recycle means convert (waste) into reusable material. To change unwanted leftovers or byproducts into something of value that is effective or beneficial.

Now that we understand what it means to be recycled. How can you recycle a flower? I don’t know too much about gardening, but ashes to ashes, dust to dust, LOL. It’s not a literal translation, folks. Sorry for the flowery figurative language. Pun intended. Have you heard someone say, “give [me my] flowers while [I’m] alive?” This is not a new term. It basically means giving people the credit, honor, respect and love they deserve before their funeral where many people decorate and brighten the mood with ornate floral arrangements.

Flowers are beautiful. Although bouquets are not everyone’s cup of tea when it comes to showing love, they are, indeed, universally beautiful and for the most part good. I share Recycled Flowers with you because I find joy and peace in sharing my thoughts, feelings, reflections, insight, wisdom, laughter, hope, happiness and heart with those who care to read.

Recycled Flowers is me sharing or recycling the beauty, that is, knowledge, wisdom, favor, power and love that has been passed to me on to you. Please reflect and spread positivity wherever you are. Thanks for reading.