It’s the deep knowing that freedom was fought for, not given.
It’s a legacy woven with grief, grace, and generations that refused to give up.
As a Black woman walking through widowhood, motherhood, and healing, I’ve come to realize that freedom isn’t just a historical milestone; it’s a daily choice. A layered, complicated, courageous choice to keep living, keep loving, and keep hoping.
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Grief Has a Place in Our Freedom Story
When my world cracked open from loss, I didn’t know how I’d keep going.
I was parenting in the midst of pain, trying to carry the weight of a future I hadn’t planned alone. But grief, I’ve learned, is part of the freedom story too.
Grief slows us down. It humbles us. It reminds us how human we are.
And still, we rise. Just like our ancestors did.
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Grace Carries Us Through
Grace is what kept our people moving when the world tried to break us.
And grace is what I’ve had to extend to myself on the days when joy felt distant, and healing felt impossible.
Some days, I honor Juneteenth by simply being gentle with myself.
By resting. By letting joy in, even if it only stays for a moment.
Because every soft moment I give myself… is a moment they fought for.
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Generations Are Watching
I think about my children.
I think about how my healing—my laughter, my boundaries, my softness—is shaping their view of what strength looks like.
They’re learning that grief and joy can coexist.
That being free doesn’t mean we aren’t still healing.
That we can honor the past and still reach for a future filled with love.
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This Juneteenth, I’m Choosing Joy on Purpose
Not performative joy.
Not forced smiles.
But the kind of joy that says:
“My rest is revolutionary.
My softness is sacred.
My healing is mine to claim.”
This Juneteenth, I’m reflecting on what it means to be free, even in the spaces where pain still lingers. And I’m honoring the generations that made it possible for me to stand tall, even in the ruins.
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💙 A Gentle Invitation
If you’re navigating grief, identity, motherhood, or just the exhaustion of being everything for everyone, pause for a moment. Light a candle. Breathe deep. Reflect on your own freedom journey.
And if you need a gentle place to land this Juneteenth, I created a free reflection journal as a gift. Something soft, soulful, and rooted in joy.
