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February 16, 2021
When I was a little girl I had a panoramic poster of Michael Jordan tacked to my wall. As a kid, I idolized MJ as a basketball player. I idolized him as a man. I idolized his arms for some reason. Perhaps because they exude strength. As an adult I now realize more than anything I admired MJ’s drive, discipline, and character. All values I strive to live by....
I said to myself back then, when I was young, “One day I’m gonna’ have a poster of myself on the wall like this.” Of course growing up I had breasts (I was a girl back then ya know) 🙂so that was never a real option for me. It was more of a dream...or so I thought.
I digress.
Fast forward to two years ago this time February 2019, I was on my first trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico. I immediately FELL COMPLETELY in LOVE! It was like my Spirit knew the ocean, knew the atmosphere, knew the air and the water. I felt like I could breathe freely for the first time in my life. You see I was able to completely be myself in Puerto Rico.
No one knew me. No one knew my past life. No one “knew” me as the woman I “was.” Not because I hide it, because I don’t. I value the divine feminine that birthed the divine masculine. I honor both and. I honor ALL of me. However, there’s something about being and living so freely that you never have to explain your past. Not the past pain, not the past victories, NO-THING about the past... Completely living and embracing the Now. “That’s” what Puerto Rico did for me. 🙂
I experienced my first shower in the men’s locker room on my second trip to Puerto Rico in 2019, just before my top surgery (breast removal) that following fall. I promised myself on my very first trip to PR that I’d return to Puerto Rico a few times in 2019, and definitely on a regular basis throughout life. I did. I went three times actually in about 8 months in 2019. I also promised myself that I’d come back and have my first “shirtless jog” on Condado beach in 2020, after healing from my top surgery.
Welp, 2020 had other plans. God did too. And, as it turns out, I was just fine with that.👍🏼
I still fulfilled my promise I made to myself. I recently found the courage to bathe in the sun on the beach. Though it wasn’t Condado beach, it was freeing all the more. It was the absolute BEST feeling 🗣🗣🗣🗣EVERRRRRR!!! 😁😁😁 💯
Most people won’t get why I share so freely “and” why I share this shirtless picture.
Some simply won’t understand. Real talk. I get it. However, some will. I do. I understand now. And, that’s what matters most. You see I’ve come to a point in my life that my personal freedom significantly outweighs the personal opinion of others. I’m free now. Like, I’M COMPLETELY FREE!!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 And unless you’ve ever been in bondage to something or someone, you may never completely understand. And that’s ok.
I post this picture and share my triumph and milestone so that others may bear witness to the beauty in living life authentically. I share my journey so someone will find refuge in knowing that it’s ok to be authentically you; whatever that YOU looks like. I share this picture for that someone who may be doubting and wondering if God loves them.
Know this. God LOVES YOU. God loves you just as you are. I didn’t change my body because I wanted God or anyone to love me more. I affirmed my body so that it would match the internal voice God’s graced me with since I was a child. #catchit
There’s something priceless about telling the #truth, living the #truth, and #BEING the #truth. Actually there’s no greater experience. Jesus said it like this, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
Thank you for allowing me to Grace your timeline with my complete truth. 🙂👊🏼👊🏼
I Love ❤️ You. God Loves ❤️ You.
#BE Authentically You. No one else can or will. You were made in God’s image to BE uniquely YOU.
Be Blessed. ~Dr. Elijah 🙂❤️😘💫🙏🏼🤗