L.I.F.L.I.E.

Disclaimer: This story may be a little longer than you can bare but please, read it anyway. I promise you will benefit =)



As you can see, my blog is entitled LIFE IS FOREIGN & LOVE IS AN EXCHANGE. For those who don’t know, Foreign Exchange is an undeniably talented, raw, and soothing urban/neo soul music group that was formed by a guy name Phonte, formerly of Little Brother. The group does well to uplift spirits, warm hearts, and move bodies. My former significant other introduced me to their music earlier this year and ever since, ive been in love. However, I would’ve never guessed in a million years that just about every song on the group (he introduced me to)’s album “Leave It All Behind” would tell the story of the life (we had) together so vividly. And as irony would have its way even more, I would’ve never imagined that the name of their group would define the most pivotal time in my entire life. thanks to him.


                                          M o v i n g   a l o n g . . . 


Everyone who knows me well, knows that the relationship my S.O. & I carried was quite an experience. to say the least. It brought on a lot of happiness, as well as alot of pain. Throughout the duration of our time together and even afterwards, unbeknowst to many...I went thru A LOT. I cant even begin to tell you what A LOT consists of, but let’s just say I was literally S T R I P P E D emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. I experienced and trafficked thru every possible stage and phase you can imagine and at the end of it all, I was transformed. completely.


Now, when u think about a foreign exchange student, you think of a person who gives up their position of being in one location and exchanges it for another location...a location much more different and foreign than they were once in. The foreign exchange student may experience all types of feelings of bewilderment, uncomfortability, unhappiness, anxiety, fear, because they are, after all in a place they never been. Now this foreign place may very well be amazing, it may teach them new things, show them a different perspective, broaden their horizons, give them incredible happiness, and in fact may change their life. But in order to experience the great affects of this place, they have to deal with the challenges they are faced with, as well…right?

For myself, I was brought to a place I had NEVER been to in my life. It made me experience things I had never experienced before. It made me feel ways I never imagined. I was brought to a place of extreme sadness, pain, confusement, weakness, and uncertainty, But that same place helped me experience growth, renewal, strength, and fulfillment. I experienced all of this foreignness just so I could experience something better. I risked falling just to know what it felt like to fly. In essence, I gave up weakness for strength & empowerment, ignorance for knowledge, madness for serenity, doubt for assurance, mediocracy for greatness, disorientation for completion. most of all, I exchanged my youth for womanhood. I've realized in my own way, all along I’ve been this little ole caterpillar struggling to get thru my cocoon, fighting to make it, going thru this crazy metamorphis… all to transfer into something different, something foreign, something better…a beautiful butterfly. Thus, making my foreign exchange.

As I thought abt everything I went thru, I realized this is the story of everyone’s life. In order to get to what we love (whether it’s a person, place, or thing) we allll have to experience some sort of craziness or foreign challenge and perhaps sacrifice (some part of) ourselves in the process. But, when all is said & done, your foreign exchange is worth it after all. So remember that in everything you do, Life is (going to be) foreign & love is (and forever will be) an exchange. But its all for the best.