Now that it is September, most students have been back in school long enough to be getting comfortable in their routines. While the thought of learning, exploring and studying doesn’t provoke a lot of excitement in most kids, the fact of the matter is they will know more by the holidays than they know today. Gaining knowledge is a side effect of school, even for those who don’t try very hard.

SMH is an acronym that stands for “shaking my head” and is usually used in texting or on social media. According to Urban Dictionary, SMH is used when someone finds something so stupid, no words can do it justice. Lately, I have encountered a few SMH moments, which I would like to get off my chest because, quite frankly, shaking my head is not working and I’m hoping words can clear the air once and for all.

One of my all time favorite quotes is “Change your attitude, change your world.” I live by these words because I believe they hold the secret to happiness. You see, the trial and tribulations that cross your path in life isn’t what defines you. How you deal with it all is what defines you. And, the good news is you have a choice in how you react and move through life.

I recently made a new friend and she impressed me right away. It wasn’t immediate, but it was within the first 30 minutes of our chick-chat. Of course, I asked her if she was dating anyone. “No,” she said. “But I’m working on it.” She then pulled up notes on her iPhone and showed me a list

A lot has changed for me over the past two years. Probably the biggest change, however, is my weight. I have lost around 53 pounds. It has been a big accomplishment—something I didn’t believe I could do. I am so close to reaching my goal, but as I approach the final leg of my weight loss journey—the last 20 pounds—I find myself having to dig deep and grasp the last reserves of motivation in me. You see, these last 20 pounds are difficult. They don’t want to go away. In fact, I have lost the same five pounds again and again over the last three months, actually totaling the 20 pounds I need to shed.