A felony can be an action that causes psychological harm. No matter how much we say we aren’t affected by words, words can affect us. Words can cause psychological harm, leading to anxiety, rejection, and depression. I remember taking on the labels people gave me. It showed up in how I spoke to myself and in the timid behaviors I displayed in public. Internalizing harmful messaging should be a felony!

Dating is like a gumball machine. From the outside, you see all the beautiful, perfectly shaped gumballs in a shiny, transparent machine. You may see a color/flavor description in front to give you a heads-up on what you might be tasting. You get excited because you know each color has a fruitful flavor because that is what the description says. For example, Pink tastes like bubble gum. Blue tastes like blueberry. Red tastes like cherry. You put your quarter in, turn the handle, and see what flavor you get. You put the gumball in your mouth and quickly learn that your flavor is unique. The red gumball doesn't taste like a cherry; it tastes like red food dye. However, you say, "Maybe it's just that color. Let me buy another piece!" You then get a blue gumball; the flavor is good but doesn't last. No matter what flavor comes out of that gumball machine, you must decide whether to throw the gumball out, keep chewing, try another flavor, be content with the flavor you have, or go to the store and switch up your gum. It may be time to switch to pack gum instead of gum from the gumball machine. 

2025 is the year of intentionality and impact. It is the year I pour into myself and others, and the year we invest in ourselves internally and externally. There have been days when I had to muster up the strength to zealously empower myself, friends, family, and strangers due to us all being overstimulated, which can lead to dehydration.