Kimpressively

        Growing stronger + Idenity intact

        • Dreadlock Journey

          I know the term “dread” doesn’t sit well with some members of the Loc’d community. I am half Jamaican, and it is part of my culture to use the term, so I do. I made a TikTok of my nine months to date. Click the link below to view.

          9 months loc’d

        • Do not go gentle into that good night By Dylan Thomas


          Do not go gentle into that good night,
          Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
          Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night.
          Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
          Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.
          Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
          And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night.
          Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

        • Ancestry or 23and Me

          I compared as best as I could my results from both Ancestry and 23and Me. I initially chose Ancestry DNA because they had what I felt were the best privacy practices. I won’t go into details about exactly what drove me to make this decision because I believe it is a personal preference. I suggest reviewing both Ancestry and 23and Me’s terms and conditions if this concerns you.
          In my own opinion, Ancestry wins in genealogy. I believe my opinion echoes the opinion of others on this matter. It is lacking in records of the areas outside of dominantly European areas and is expensive which is disappointing because I found that many Caribbean countries kept excellent records.
          23and Me is FSA eligible and I believe shared what I always felt was true based on my family’s oral history. The health records are a plus because many of my living ancestors are quiet about the past. I appreciate the comprehensiveness of this service.

          Here is the comparison of my results: I placed this in excel.

          Results Comparison

          RegionsAncestry DNA23and Me
          Benin & Togo   28%
           Nigeria   28%34.90%
           Ivory Coast & Ghana  9%34.30%
          Broadly West African*3.00%
           Cameroon, Congo & Western Bantu Peoples  9%8.20%
           Mali  7%
           England & Northwestern Europe  6%12.70%
           Scotland  6%
          Broadly European*2.50%
           Sweden & Denmark5%1.00%
           European Jewish  1%0.80%
          Spanish & Portuguese1.10%
           Sardinia  1%1.00%
          Trace Regions*
          Indigenous Indians0.20%
          Filipino & Austronesian0.10%
          Unassigned 0.20%
          Total100.00%100.00%
          *23 and Me termanology 
          Results

          High level, both are accurate but as the saying goes “the devil is in the details”. What details you may ask? 23and Me’s southern East African regions include the African countries of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi while ancestry lumps Cameroon, Congo & Western Bantu Peoples into the countries Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Namibia, Republic of the Congo, Zambia. Why is this important? The story of the migration of my ancestors across Africa is lost. see the example below. I also find it hard to believe that it is that difficult to drill down on African ancestry as evident in my European history.

        • RIP Queen 8/23/57-5/27/21

        • 30 days of forgiveness and gratitude.

          1. Day: 1 4/27/2022 – I forgive myself for malice, envy, laziness, unrighteousness, avoidance, folly, cowardness, evasiveness, indecision, and fear.
          2. Day: 2 4/28/2022 – I forgive my mother; for leaving me so soon. I hope you forgive me for pushing you so hard. I wish I had tried harder to be there for you. I miss you, love you, and wish I had spent more time with you. Thanks for inspiring me to do better for the rest of my natural life. See you soon.
          3. Day: 3 4/29/2022 – I forgive my dad; I know you tried hard. I know I will never understand why you did what you did, but it won’t break me, and I hope it doesn’t destroy you. I don’t think it will. 
          4. Day: 4 4/30/2022 – I forgive and love you, my dear, for our past, and I must ask you to forgive me for my storm of venom. I’m not lost anymore. We will probably annoy each other for life, but that’s the allure.
          5. Day: 5 5/1/2022 – I forgive those who practice hate against my race, my presumed stereotype, gender, religion, economic status, etc.
          6. Day: 6 5/2/2022 – I forgive my brother, and I love you endlessly, and I hope you forgive me for being bossy. I adore our 3-hour weekly phone calls. Keep fighting.
          7. Day 7 5/3/2022 – Please forgive me for all my flaws sweet sister.  I forgive you, you annoyed me when I was little, but I was depressed. Seriously, but this isn’t about me. Thanks for being optimistic when I’m not. 
          8. Day 8 5/4/2022 – Let’s be clear; God needs no forgiveness from me. Nor does this position on the list means that GOD is not first: God forgive my anger because I was mad, you know I was. These ideas were in my head of how things should be, and they’re not real. God, please forgive me. I’m not angry anymore. Whatever happens in my life, I know you have a plan.
          9. Day 9 5/5/2022 – I forgive you, Pastor, and I hope you forgive me. My life got strange during and after I left the church. I haven’t been so heartbroken over a loss since mom died. What a complicatedly beautiful friendship we had.
          10. Day 10 5/6/2022- My MIL. I thought our relationship would be flawless: but it was anything but. I forgive you. I hope you forgive me.
          11. Day 11 5/7/2022 – Best friend(s), forgive me for not recognizing the changes in your life. I hope you forgive me. I forgive you.
          12. Day 12 5/8/2022 – To Grandma Ellen and Elma and Great grandmother Gladys, I hope you forgive me as I forgive you; I know there were some dynamics between you and your children that I do not understand. I took it personally, and I should not have. I was old enough to visit you all on my terms, and I did not. I am truly sorry.
          13. Day 13 5/9/2022 – All prior and current coworkers- I forgive. You can meet some real characters at work, but everyone is trying to make a dollar at the end of the day. Everyone has a different idea of what that looks like, and the list goes on. Sorry, all. Sorry for bringing drama or not pulling my weight.
          14. Day 14 5/10/2022 – My Godsons: I love you both. Things don’t ever work out the way we want to but if it was up to me, you’d be closer to me. Forgive me. I’m going to work on that. I am truly sorry
          15. Day 15 5/11/2022 – My church family. I don’t think I will ever find a community as wonderful as my FHC. I apologize tremendously.
          16. Day 16 5/12/2022 – My Jamaican family- I apologize for not reaching out more and connecting on both my grandmother’s and grandfather’s sides. 
          17. Day 17 5/13/2022 – My Trinidadian family – though I am not as well acquainted, I owe you far more effort than I’ve provided. I apologize. You all are so beautiful and noble.  
          18. Day 18 5/14/2022 – Ms. Paula, I am so sorry for being angry at you. You just loved my mom and most likely understood her better than I did. I wish you were here. Enjoy the streets of gold.
          19. Day 19 5/15/2022 – Carlyle, I remember being so angry at you and I said what if we never see each other again! Me and my big mouth! I know life and death are in the power of the tongue. I’m sorry. 
          20. Day 20 5/16/2022 – To my failed relationships. I’m sorry. I know culturally we write off failed relationships and yes, it’s a part of growth, but I’m still sorry if I inflicted pain.
          21. Day 21 5/17/2022 – To my dog, yes, my dog. Copper, you deserved way better care than I provided you. I’m sorry.
          22. Day 22 5/18/2022 – to a high school friend -There are two versions of you and that’s why this is a long one. You who had an extremely small role in my life and what you symbolized in my life. I forgive you and I hope you forgive me. You probably didn’t even know that the not good enough feeling you gave me in high school made you a symbol of shortcomings for life in my dreams.
          23. Day 23 5/19/2022 –To a high school friend and the mother of my godson in heaven. I hope you forgive me for not being there for your family.
          24. Day 24 5/20/2022 – To my oldest stepson who is so much like me emotionally, I apologize for failing you. Please forgive me.
          25. Day 25 5/21/2022 – To my youngest stepson, I apologize for failing you. I never meant to be a “stepmom”; I wanted to stay out of your parent’s business and be there if you need me. Forgive me. 
          26. Day 26 5/22/2022 – My twin, I don’t know why you didn’t make it but, If it was my fault, you didn’t make it, I’m sorry. It was an interesting up brining I had, It would’ve been nice to share it with you.
          27. Day 27 5/23/2022 – To my God brother, I apologize for not considering your feelings in some of the events that unfolded in our life. 
          28. Day 28 5/24/2022 – To my Godparents, I don’t understand all the events that have unfolded in our lives, but I hope you forgive me for anything I’ve done. I love you both. 
          29. Day 29 5/25/2022 – To my former classmates, you all were tough. I forgive all of those who made fun of me. I know we were young, but I took it with me. Please forgive me if I ever offended any of you. 
          30. Day 30 5/26/2022 – To a confidant – I unload a lot on you. Forgive me. I also held it against you for not being present during some pivotal events in my life and I release you. I’m just happy you’re willing to hear me out even if I’m doing all the talking.

        • 30 Days

          Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of my mom’s visit to the hospital. She would arrive on April 27, 2021, at 7 am, in an ambulance alive and leave on May 27, 2021, at 9pm; her body in a hearse, her spirit to the Lord.

        • I get it now…

          The world wants us to identify with our struggles; the word wants us to overcome them.

        • Kimpressively.com

          I am so excited my website is finally working! I am not sure what I will be doing over the next 30-40 years, but I know I must take small steps to make my dreams come true. Hopefully, as I work my way through college, I will find a way to incorporate myself as a brand and apply it to my chosen profession. I have also found that social media isn’t the best place to express myself, so here is where I will post my content. I have yet to finish my hysterectomy journey video and my dreadlock journey video.
          I look forward to finishing those projects this summer.

        • Homeless

          And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

        • One hour.

          I have my watch set to chime, every hour on the hour. It has been a source of hope; one hour closer to the end. The end of pain, emotional distress, loneliness, and sorrow. Though I live a fortunate life, I can hardly wait to see what’s next. I will see God, mom, and the ancestors come to life before my eyes and hate and suffering of others die.