The Gifted Lily Blog

From Scratch: A Reflective Review on Lessons in Life, Love & Loss

Hey everyone, it’s been a while… Life has been very chaotic for some time. However, there are countless lessons to take away from this series, so much so, that I felt impelled to come out of my prolonged period of procrastination and apprehension to post – just to share my reflections. So, what can be said about the new series that has brought so many of us across the globe to floods of tears? Firstly, I think it is poignant to acknowledge that the series is based on the true story and memoir written by author, producer and actress, Tembi Locke; making the series even more special.

From Scratch portrays a painful, yet relatable journey through love, loss, passion, creativity, contrasting cultures and persevering in the midst of adversity. It has to be the most heartbreaking, triggering, yet beautifully executed series I’ve ever watched. Zoe Saldaña embodied the role of Amahle impeccably. In fact, the entire cast were exceptional. Every key moment was truly moving. It all felt so raw and so real! Honestly, by the end of the series, my eyes were sore and swollen from crying. Whilst watching the story unfold, I couldn’t help but think that From Scratch felt like a cross between Eat, Pray, Love, The Notebook, Our Family Wedding, Jumping The Broom and Chef (all brilliant films in their own right). So, if you enjoyed those, you’ll definitely want to watch this one (with plenty of tissues and a cosy blanket, of course).

I hope that for those who have watched it already (and those who haven’t), this blog post will resonate with you in some way.

7 Lessons from Jingle Jangle

*** Disclaimer: Slight spoiler alert. This is not an official review, but just my personal opinion of how I experienced the movie and what I took from it.***

Hey everyone, I know 2020 has been a CRAZY year and the events personally, collectively and globally have been catastrophically challenging in various ways. I also empathise with those who may have had a very different Christmas this year, whether it be due to loss, separation from relatives, loneliness, toxic family members or it being a generally triggering time for other reasons. Having said that, one of the things that bring me joy is Christmas music (especially from Destiny’s Child, Pentatonix, Ledisi and Brian McKnight to name a few). Another thing that brings me joy during this time is good Christmas movies, which brings me onto the main subject of this blog post! So, I just finished watching Jingle Jangle for the first time (yes, I know I’m late) – and wow. What an amazing journey indeed! This was the family Christmas movie we all needed after such a long, extremely challenging year; a magical movie filled with soul, fantasy and hope in equal measures. In fact, it was the musical adventure that I know the Black community in particular enjoyed and loved!

Black Lives Matter: An Open Letter

Hey everyone,

I haven’t posted in a while because life has been A LOT (I will talk about that in more depth in another post). However, I’ve been reflecting on all that has been going on and it’s been quite a heavy couple of weeks and a challenging year for many of us. On some days I’ve had so much to say and on other days, I’ve struggled to find the words. However, I felt impelled/moved to write, and once I started I couldn’t stop. So, I hope you read this post – in its entirety with an open heart and mind. Perhaps some of you may have similar sentiments and frustrations as me. If not, hopefully some of you will have an increase in self-awareness and empathy at the very least. I am not writing as an expert, but as a humble, exhausted, young black woman who has experienced and directly observed racism and injustice over the years in various forms. Enough is enough.

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My Oxygen Mask First

Do you ever feel like you’re often the one people turn to in times of difficulty and despair? The one who people seek advice from when they’re in a dilemma? Or even the one they simply just want to vent to? Have you always had a natural desire to help others? If you’ve nodded whilst reading and your answer is yes to any of these questions, then hopefully this post will well resonate with you! Or perhaps you know a few people this applies to.

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Mental Health Awareness Week: My Experience

In light of Mental Health Awareness Week, I figured it was the perfect time to share my experience with depression. I’ll also be sharing some helpful tips on how to cope, so be sure to read to the end!

There’s a difference between having a bad day or feeling sad and having depression. People often have it misconstrued. In fact, so many people are quick to say, “I’m so depressed”, without having any real understanding of what that actually means. The ignorance of using the words ‘depressed’ or ‘depression’ in vain is quite frustrating and inconsiderate! Depression is a tree with various branches and leaves. It also has many forms and can affect people in diverse, unimaginable ways. Going through depression is like a rollercoaster of emotions with no one there to turn it off when you yell “STOP!”

Depression affected my ability to sleep, work and socialise. It even affected my eating habits and ability to complete typical daily tasks, such as house chores. This may sound shocking to some, but that was truly my reality. People often neglect the fact that although depression is a mental illness, it also has an immense impact on one’s physical health and capabilities. It is battling with extreme low mood whilst sometimes feeling numb and disengaged.

So… Now that I’ve given you a brief visual of what I endured, I hope you’ll bear with me as I endeavour to take you on a journey through my tumultuous experience.

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Where Do I Go From Here?

Social media can be quite overwhelming when you’re trying to figure your life out – especially when timelines are flooded with snapshots of people’s success and (seemingly) lavish lifestyle. We are drawn to measuring our success against another person’s highlight reel. What we see on social media is rarely ever a complete picture or accurate representation of a person’s life – yet somehow we often fall prey to the comparison trap.

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Treadmill Trials

When You Feel Like Giving Up

One day I was on the treadmill at the gym. I already felt a lack of energy and motivation before I arrived. As I was speed walking, I kept feeling exhausted and after only a few minutes in, felt dizzy. I had already felt that enough was enough. I wanted to give up! The voice of doubt crept in and told me there was no point in continuing. After 10 minutes, I decided to go on the cycling machine in the hope that I would feel less dizzy and still resume with exercise. I ended up doing 25 minutes of cycling, which may seem minor to some people, but was a triumph for me in that moment. I began to reflect on WHY I had even decided to go to the gym in the first place.

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Valentine’s Day: Solace in Solitude

It’s the day after Valentine’s Day and while some are buzzing with happiness, others may be crippled with loneliness, so I decided to write about the seasonal pressures and the importance of self-love at this time.

The 14th of February has always been that one day people choose to go out of their way, making elaborate gestures to show their love. In fact, I can remember the hype of Valentine’s Day from as early as Primary School. Many of us received cards in our trays from ‘secret admirers’ in an attempt to make us feel special. Come to think of it, I’m surprised that it was such a big deal at such a young age. What did we really know about Valentine’s Day back then?

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26 Lessons That Have Carried Me into 2018

Hey everyone!

Happy New Year (mine officially started in February)!

I thought the best way to kick-start my blog would be through sharing what I learned in 2017, and how these lessons have put me in better stead for this year. I hope that you can relate to some, or even better, gain more wisdom and understanding from some of these.

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