Quick Post, Real Reminder -Sincerely, Irene B
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Are You Really Learning from the “Last Time”?
The very last time. Because it’s been 50–11 times now, so really, really… this is the last time. I love not only thinking about growth, but also actually growing. It’s not, nor will it ever be a perfectly straight path, but in my Big Age, the path is less curvy, less wobbly, and less riddled with self-inflicted obstacles. Paid to Learn, Paid to Leave “Lessons learned” at work is one thing. There’s more clarity there. You’ll do better with the time, budget, scope creep foolishness, or switch out the drama queen who contributed to the downfall. Simple. And believe me, I know there are those projects that will absolutely test…
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Wintering Through Life: Planning, Pausing, and Unexpected Growth
Unless you’re lollygagging somewhere tropical and smug (you know who you are!), we – the rest of us are still wintering. The snow that got dumped on us these past weeks is still here. Move, Bitch, get out the way! Winter Is Still Winning So I cannot lull myself into letting one semi-decent, sunny day trick me into a fake emotional spring after ice-gate. Sure, the sun popped out a little longer than five minutes. High enough to shine but not heat anything up, so relax people, put your big coat back by the hook by the door, and humble yourself. That was just a teaser trailer of things to…
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100 Years of Black History Month: Gratitude, Legacy, and Love
February 2026 marks 100 years of formally celebrating Black history in the U.S.A whole century of finally saying out loud: this matters. And I just want to say to my Black American friends and fam’: thank you.For your friendship, your honesty, your humour, your patience…and for everything you’ve taught me — from the deep and meaningful…to driving on the wrong side of the road, or casually skipping the “U” in words. As a London girl with seasoned Ghanaian roots raising two beautiful Black tri-continental daughters, I’m always learning — and always in awe of the joy, brilliance, and strength that keeps showing up in you all… even now. IYKYK…Correction: IYDKWTAF! For this extra special month…
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Reflecting on the Year: Being Okay With the Outcome
So maybe not all the things went as planned in 2025. Or maybe they did. Maybe the ‘good’ is just around the corner for you, in 2026. We’re not rewriting the past While we’re in our rest and reflective phase, remember we’re still wintering. We’re thinking back on 2025 not to beat ourselves up or list all the things we said we were going to do but didn’t. Nope. No apologies or shame spirals here. Instead, we’re thinking about the pivots and turns for 2026. The moments that counted Think of a few stand-out moments from 2025. Things that really went well. Maybe it was five things, three, or just…
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Stillness and Growth: Why Slowing Down Isn’t Lazy
Lately, I’ve been paying attention to people who seem to find calm—not perfectly, not permanently, but intentionally. Not people who have it all figured out.People who are actively choosing it. They still have trials and tribulations in their own lives but are intentionally managing their responses to them. And no, it’s not easy—but looking for and choosing calm rarely is. They commit to enjoying the simple things without dismissing their real problems. So they don’t spiral over what they can’t fix single-handedly.And that means they move through life with a little more caution, slower, even—not because they don’t care, but because they do. And I’ve realized I don’t need to become someone…
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I’m Not Revealing Myself in 2026, I’m Claiming It
I’ve got it! It’s locked in, loaded, and ready to go. My word for 2026 is CLAIM. Behold and absorb the visual of me breathing a giddy sigh of relief. I flirted with some other real-deal contenders. But claim landed like a slap to the face that I soothed into sticking, and a friend helped me see why. Reveal wasn’t strong enough. For me, anyway. I didn’t need to show who I am. I already know. This year is about claiming it. Phase two of who the heck knows. Claiming the work I’ve been doing quietly.Claiming the parts of myself I held back while waiting to feel comfortable.Claiming forward movement…
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How To See January as a Continuation, Not a Correction
When I think about resetting, January is the biggest, dustiest, stankest lie I feel like we all agree to tell ourselves. We pretend it’s the start of a brand new season, when the holidays literally just ended five minutes ago and I’m still too full to dive into anything with any real gumption. Don’t push me. January equals dark I still love all my January birthday babes, February ones for that matter, too, but January is dark! It’s dark when we wake up, dark when we leave work, and dark when we get home. And somehow we’re, read I’m, supposed to hop up and reinvent our lives right here, right…
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Why You Don’t Need to Be Brand-New in 2026
A little hello from me… serving GOOD VIBES only ✨Happy New Year! ✨ Drop a 💫 if you’re stepping into this year with intention, not apology, and say it out loud so it can meet you there.
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Reveal to Claim: My Word of the Year Journey
Earlier this week, roll back to Tuesday, I shared that I’ve been stuck choosing my Word of the Year for 2026.Not because I did, or did not, have a bevvy of ones to choose from—but because the weight of the right word matters to me, because it really, really works. These 5 are the ones I’ve been circling: A friend recently said something that stuck with me: You already know who you are. You don’t need to reveal it, you need to claim it. And once you do, you can actually own what comes with it. KWL Umm… OK, Babe! Lovin’ the thought process! Backstory: A few years ago, this…
