Author’s Note: LOL, not me starting this series and completely neglecting it. But hey! I was focused this Ramadan. I can’t believe Ramadan is ending soon. SubhanAllah. I wanted to journal every week, but your girl was focused on other things. For my brothers and sisters, I am so proud of you. I hope you are proud of yourselves too. I wanted to take this time to give you gentle reminders. During this holy month, you may have been more present. You may have gotten closer to Allah. You may… Read more Ramadan Series??? A Gentle Reminder →
Recently, I experienced something that frustrated me on my first day of Ramadan. This Holy month is about detachment from my desires and distractions. It’s about getting closer to Allah. It’s about being present and mindful of my thoughts and actions. This month is my restart for the year to cleanse my mind and soul. To heal, reflect, and give. Although life continues, Allah provides us with a chance to pause during this month. And that’s what I chose to do this year- learn how to pause. You’re right; I… Read more Ramadan Series: The Gift of Pausing →
Author’s Note: Maybe I spoke too soon on consistency. Well, I am trying. But, it’s a new year, so that means we need more content. So, my beautiful readers, how are you? If you’re wondering if the title is accurate, then yes, it is. A couple of years ago, I was told to not worry about the m-word. You know exactly what word I am talking about! Ever since I told my parents that I was going back to school, they will not leave me alone about getting married. A… Read more “You’re going to grad school to run away from marriage?”- my African mom →
Author’s Note: We are back babyyyyy. I turned 25 yesterday! I felt so loved and appreciated, which was a great way to ring in a new chapter of my life. I hope you enjoy my lessons. Let me know what lessons you’ve learned 🙂 A quote for you: When the sun rises, you rise with it. “Growth is everlasting… even if you reject it.” You cannot deny the growth you experience every year. Even if you don’t feel it, you are growing each year. What you have experienced can indeed… Read more An African Girl’s Early Twenties Reflection →
Omg, what is this? Consistency? No way! Hello my wonderful readers, I hope you are all well. How are you feeling? Are you feeling the feelings? All the emotions you’ve been suppressing? Holding off? Convincing yourself that you are okay when you are not? There are days when I cannot explain or even understand my emotions. If I do not understand what I am feeling at the moment, I put it off. Reminding myself to come back to it, but never do. All the feelings begin to pile up, and… Read more feeling the feelings cause I wanna be in my feels. →
Author’s Note: Hi my wonderful readers and welcome back to the Life of an African Girl in America! I hope you are all doing well. We are back babyyyyyy. Wow. It has been a minute. I haven’t been active because your girl is now in school. Yes, I am a graduate student now studying Counseling Psychology. My concentration is in school counseling. Honestly, if you asked 18 year old Diakha if she would ever pursue school counseling, she would’ve laughed. But, here we are. A few years ago, I wrote… Read more talking about mental health in an african home pt. 2 →
Wow it has been a long time since I wrote on the blog. I had to take a break and finish my second poetry book, The Sweetest Nectar. How are you? Are you taking care of yourself? I hope you are well 🙂 Yes, you did read the title right. I was told once before by someone, “I would’ve married you, but your parents are complicated.” One thing I will say, men have the audacity. I knew this person as a friend and I remember him looking for someone to… Read more Who told you I wanted you? →
Authors note: I had this idea of doing Ramadan journals, but I wanted to keep some thoughts to myself. However, I still wanted share a bit. Here’s the first of my “public” journal entries. There’s this garden of mine (I constantly talk about in my work), and this garden has taught me a lot about myself. I have planted so many seeds in this garden that I sometimes forget what each seed represents. I had to pause before watering each seed. I had to know why I planted each of… Read more Patience →
The Life of an African Girl in America 