Posts

A Teen Lost. A Verdict Delivered. The Case of Cyrus Carmack-Belton

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 Hive check-in: Let’s dive into today’s narrative. On May 28, 2023, 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton was killed in Columbia, South Carolina after a confrontation outside a convenience store escalated into gunfire. This week, nearly three years later, a jury found store owner Chikei Rick Chow not guilty of murder. For Cyrus’s family and many in the community, that verdict does not close anything. It just confirms what they already knew about how this case would land in the justice system. What the evidence shows Court testimony and public reporting outline a sequence that began with a suspected shoplifting incident involving water bottles inside a store. What matters is what happened after. Cyrus left the store. A confrontation followed. Then a chase. During that chase, Cyrus was shot in the back. That detail has stayed at the center of this case from the beginning: a teenager running away, and a gun fired from behind. The defense argued self-defense, saying Chow believed there was ...

🌞 Hello, June: A Soft Reset, A Bold Start

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Hive check-in: Let’s dive into today’s narrative. June always feels like that deep breath right before the second half of the year really kicks in. We’ve made it through the noise of the first five months the plans we stuck to, the ones we abandoned, the unexpected plot twists life threw in just to keep things interesting. And now we’re here… standing in the glow of summer, looking for something new to grow into. This month, I’m not rushing. I’m not forcing timelines. I’m choosing intention over urgency. June feels like: slow mornings with sunlight spilling through the blinds unfinished drafts finally getting their chance to breathe soft music playing while ideas start to make sense again and the reminder that I don’t have to have it all figured out to still be moving forward There’s something powerful about allowing yourself to begin again without guilt. Not because you failed but because you’re evolving. And honestly? That’s the energy I want all month long. 🌿 What I’m Carrying Into...

May Mood: Fresh Starts, Fierce Stories & Finding Your Rhythm

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Hive check-in: Let’s dive into today’s narrative. May always feels like a reset button like life finally stretches its arms after a long, cold nap. The days get longer, the energy shifts, and suddenly everything feels a little more possible. Whether you’re chasing goals, clearing mental clutter, or just trying to stay consistent, this month is all about movement: forward, upward, and sometimes inward. Let’s be real though, fresh starts sound cute until you’re actually in them. Motivation fades. Life gets loud. Plans get messy. That’s where May hits different. It’s not about being perfect it’s about staying in it even when the vibe isn’t vibing. This month, I’m leaning into three things: 1. Discipline over motivation. Because motivation shows up when it feels like it—discipline shows up because it has to. Even on the “I don’t feel like it” days (and there will be plenty), small effort still counts. 2. Creating without overthinking. Not everything needs to be polished to perf...

April Reflections: A Season of Soft Restarts 🌿

Hive check-in: Let's dive into today's narrative... Okay… I might’ve blinked and April ran past me. If you’re reading this a little late, same. Life has a way of moving quietly and quickly all at once, and sometimes we don’t realize a moment has passed until we’re already stepping into the next one. But maybe that’s exactly what April is about. April isn’t loud like January with its resolutions or December with its endings. April is softer. It’s the gentle beginning the real new year in many ways. The kind that doesn’t demand perfection, just presence. This month is rooted in spring. And spring doesn’t rush. It thaws. It stretches. It blooms in its own time. April is the reminder that growth doesn’t always look like big, dramatic change. Sometimes it’s subtle. Sometimes it’s choosing to start again… quietly. It’s giving yourself permission to reset without announcing it to the world. Maybe this month looked like: Rebuilding your energy Letting go of something heavy Finding in...

The Shift Before the Bloom

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Hive check-in: Let’s dive into today’s narrative. March arrives quietly, but its presence is unmistakable. The days stretch just a little longer, the sun lingers in the sky, and even the cold seems to loosen its grip. While winter hasn’t fully released us yet, March acts as a bridge preparing both the earth and our minds for spring. Meteorologically, March 1st marks the beginning of spring. It’s not the official seasonal shift, but it signals a gradual warming, a subtle change in rhythm. Light becomes more generous. Energy slowly returns. The heaviness of winter starts to lift, even if we’re not quite ready to shed our coats. Later this month, around March 20th, the vernal equinox will arrive the moment when day and night are nearly equal. The equinox symbolizes balance, reminding us that growth doesn’t come from constant motion, but from harmony. It’s a powerful midpoint: not rushing forward, not holding back just aligning. March also carries a reflective undertone thanks ...

Closing Out February: A Short Month That Still Had a Lot to Say

Hive check-in: Let’s dive into today’s narrative. As we reach the end of February, it feels fitting to pause and take stock. It’s the shortest month on the calendar, yet it often carries a surprising amount of weight, culturally, emotionally, and globally. February invites reflection, celebration, and sometimes hard conversations, all while we’re still finding our footing in the new year. This month began with Black History Month, a time dedicated to honoring Black excellence, resilience, and contributions past and present. Across classrooms, timelines, book clubs, and living rooms, stories were revisited, names were remembered, and conversations continued about where we’ve been and where we’re headed. Black history isn’t confined to a single month, but February serves as a collective reminder to keep learning and acknowledging truth. February also brought its familiar mix of traditions and observances. Valentine’s Day highlighted love in all its forms, romantic, platonic, self-love, a...

February Didn’t Wait—and That’s Okay

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Hive check-in: Let’s dive into today’s narrative. February arrived already in motion. I usually greet the month at the door, but this time I’m stepping in a few days later, and that feels fitting. This is a month layered with meaning. A month that asks for reflection, intention, and a little more care than usual. It’s widely known as Black History Month, and it’s also framed as the month of love two themes that quietly mirror one another more than we often admit. History is not just a record of events. It’s memory. It’s legacy. It’s the accumulation of voices, creativity, struggle, joy, and perseverance. Love shows up the same way not always loudly, but consistently. Through preservation. Through community. Through choosing to keep going. This month isn’t about rushing to say the right thing on day one. It’s about sitting with the weight of what came before and asking how it informs what comes next. Love, in this context, isn’t limited to romance. It’s found in dedication, ...