experiences – Thee Heart of The Matter

Trusting The Journey

Posted on February 2, 2020February 2, 2020 by Bree in HOTM

Have you ever had a burning desire in your heart? No matter how hard you tried to ignore it, the gut wrenching feeling wouldn’t leave.

I believe we all have.

I’ve been writing ever since I could remember. From writing daily in my journal at the tender age of 8, to writing short stories, haikus, and poems in middle school, to creating even more elaborate stories that would circulate through classrooms in high school and eventually landed on fan fiction websites, to journaling in high school and beyond, to keeping numerous blogs in my early 20s – writing is my solace. It’s the easiest way for me to communicate my feelings, when I can’t utter the words aloud. It’s my creative outlet.

This blogging journey hasn’t been easy to say the least. I was doing extremely well with being consistent during my recovery from my fifth and final open-heart surgery. It was the spring of 2015 when I launched my blog Thee Heart of The Matter. Back then I didn’t feel the exact pressures that I feel now. Though I was aware of having an audience, gaining followers, and maintaining engagement with my audience … it wasn’t my main concern. Continue reading “Trusting The Journey” →

Gracefully, Stepping Into 25

Posted on September 7, 2016 by Bree in TwentySomethin`Struggles

Another one checked off the list …

I can honestly say that I’m extremely proud of myself. I’m proud of the woman that I have become and I can only thank God and my mom for molding me into this being.

I will turn 25 next month. My how time flies! I was just graduating from high school yesterday lol. The closer I get to 25 I’m realizing how truly powerful it is to write out your goals and see them flourish right before your eyes. The goals that I’ve created for myself this year have been marked off left and right. I was inducted into an honors society, finished my course work for my grad program, save(ing) money for life after grad school, #YOC, spending time with family/friends, writing, and lastly my favorite of them all – traveling.

I’m fortunate that I can just get up and go whenever I want.

I have no children to think of, just school, saving money, and minor bills to pay.

Therefore, I decided to challenge myself to come up with a list of 25 things I want to complete before my 25^th birthday. I will document my journey along the way!

Here’s my list:

Continue reading “Gracefully, Stepping Into 25” →

When The Bird Leaves The Nest

Posted on August 15, 2016August 15, 2016 by Bree in Home, TwentySomethin`Struggles

There comes a time in your life when you have to start making your own decisions. You have to be confident in them, confident that you’re capable of making logical decisions and overall utilizing your own discernment.

Coming from a late night, I boarded my solo flight, took my seat and began to reflect on my capability of making decisions and the recent disagreement I had with my mom.

Last year I was inspired and encouraged by one of my professors to apply for Alternative Breaks (AB). AB is a program provided by LMU where they select a group of students to travel to various counties/countries in hopes of fighting one common goal — social justice. I quickly became interested and applied to become a group leader for the Mental Health trip. My good friend Lila and I applied, had our interviews and waited for the verdict. We knew that there could only be one leader, but we promised each other that we’d still participate no matter who got the position. Fast-forward a couple of months later many things were going on in the world from the continuous Police brutality resulting in the killings of my people, to terrorist attacks in my beloved Paris, Brussels, and beyond (…sadly things are still occurring).

Continue reading “When The Bird Leaves The Nest” →

The List

Posted on March 25, 2016March 25, 2016 by Bree in Home, TwentySomethin`Struggles

The older I’ve become, the longer My List has grown. If you don’t know what LIST I’m referring to, I’ll give you a quick example:

It’s the list we all create at age 16 where you plan out your entire life – down to the name of your unborn daughter, the future dog, honeymoon destination, and what type of car you’re going to drive.

Or even better – you played MASH which predicted your whole life all on one sheet of paper. No one couldn’t tell me that I wasn’t going to marry Morris Chestnut, Lance Gross, Dreux Frederic (Lil Fizz from B2K), and Patrick Breeding (of B5) all at the same time lol

The list that never comes true – yet it takes you on a whirlwind of ups, downs, doors shut in your face, as new ones are prepared and opened when you’re ready to receive what’s behind it.

Continue reading “The List” →

Blessed Beyond Compare

Posted on December 1, 2015December 2, 2015 by Bree in HOTM

I have so much to be thankful for this year. This time last year, on December 1, 2014 I was preparing for a life changing final fourth open heart surgery. The timing was only something that was orchestrated by God. I found out that something was a little off in terms of the lining of the valves in my heart back in May. Literally, a week before graduation my cardiologist wanted to investigate the matter. A week after returning from Vegas on a Memorial Day weekend trip with my girls, I was in the hospital preparing for a quick exploratory procedure to check out what was really going on inside my body. Not only were the walls narrowing, but the rhythm of my heartbeat was off (atrial flutter). I was a little bummed out, but used to it. Not afraid because this has been my life ever since I popped out the womb. I thought everything was going great and I’d never have to undergo another surgery. Little did I know, that wasn’t apart of the plan.

Continue reading “Blessed Beyond Compare” →

Vingt-Quatre

Posted on October 1, 2015October 1, 2015 by Bree in Home, HOTM

I laugh at this picture because it is SO me! My good friend Jackie aka Selena as my mom calls her tagged me in this post on IG. Her tag said “So You” and I’m thinking to myself like … What’s me? Lol I get on IG and instantly start laughing and smiling.

“A classy woman with a little bit of hood in her, and a lot of God!”

It gets no better than that! I’m more like a teeny bit of hood, but I can take it there when necessary. Don’t let my cute face fool you!

Continue reading “Vingt-Quatre” →

WCW

Posted on September 24, 2015September 24, 2015 by Bree in PoetiqueSymetrie

It was never about being someone’s WCW but more about the respect behind it all
The acknowledgement and affirmation to the world is sweet, only if it’s not done for the accolades
See this social media facade of love can only make a fool jealous
100 plus likes on my picture and heart eye emojis won’t catch my interest
I need you to keep me engaged with metaphors and similes
Flowing together like the sweetest melodic symphony
The creator in you, only brings forth my intoxicating energy
This synergy of the two colliding with the moon
Yet these basic ass dudes only sing a different tune
Thinking that their money, and foreign cars will have my legs spread wide
Little do they know that this Queens standards are very high
Seduce me with your intellect, better yet have me speechless
It’s moments like those where I can weed out the ones who hide behind a mask
Pretending to have class when in reality
It’s all a lie.

bisous, Bree ❤

Archery Outpost

Posted on July 21, 2015September 3, 2015 by Bree in HOTM

Last week I went to this amazing indoor archery range, Archery Outpost with my friends Brittany, Rhonda and Dueal. My lovely friend Britt had been once before, and she told me that I had to go with her Thursday. As you all know, or hopefully remember, taking this course was also one of my things to do on my 101 to 1001 list. I couldn’t let this opportunity pass! We all piled up in the car and we were on our way.

Once we arrived, it was nothing like I had imagined, or expected. (I think that’s best in life – enjoying surprises!) The place looked very small from the outside, but once you stepped inside it was another world. There were bows and arrows aligned on the walls, and they even have their own shop where you can buy your own supplies. Not only can you come here for shooting practice, you can rent equipment, and lanes for the day. Since Britt and Rhonda already completed their beginner’s safety training class, they were able to freely shoot around for the day.

Continue reading “Archery Outpost” →