Mom to Maven with Megan Jenifer-Harris

My heart is literally beating out of my chest with joy!!!! 🤍

The last two violin students I had between last night and this morning have blessed my entire soul!!!! 🤍

Without going into specifics, it was surreal, and THE MOST joyful experience to witness their exponential growth from a BEING level.

Not just as a violin student, but a human BEING, tuning into their soulful essence. 🤍

Uuuuuggghhhhh!!!!

I am BURSTING with joy!!!!! 😩😩😩😭😭😭😭😭😭🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🤍🤍🤍🤍

Thank you God for my life!!!!!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾😭😭😭😭😭🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

📸: Duane Smith 🎺🤍

Backstage pre-show, getting ready to take the stage with my big brother, Jason (on clarinet) for Hip-Hop Orchestra Returning to VA Beach! at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts!

Grateful for this moment and times like these! 🤍

Dolley Madison Liberty and Legacy Luncheon at James Madison's Montpelier with Radiance String Ensembles. 🖤🎻🎶

I stood on the scale this morning… 🤍

Something I haven’t done in at least a year…

207.4 lbs

Prior to that, (the last reading stored on the scale over a year ago… 198 lbs)

The next two years are critical for me on so many levels.

We always think we have more time.

However, seeing my peers die at ages 47 and 50 from lifestyle choices breaks my heart. 😞💔

Mommy was a staunch advocate for health and wellness, so she outlived her parents, brother and most of her grandparents. 🙌🏾🤍

In her senior years, her exercise was climbing three flights of stairs daily and carrying / lifting heavy items.

But most of her life, she was seated: either playing the piano and organ, directing and teaching from those seated positions, driving, sitting while writing / arranging music…

Sitting.

And eventually, her heart and circulation were maxed out.

I find myself sitting entirely too much too. So the effort to move has become a top priority. 🤍

Life has attempted to paralyze me—coping with cyclical grief by self-medicating through processed food, sweets and alcohol over the last nine years.

Yet, I’m still alive today, so today, I make better choices. 🤍

Coach has a coach and a new therapist. 💪🏾🤍

Decisions were made weeks ago.
Plans in place.
Support systems in place.
The work and action starts today.
Please keep me lifted in prayer.
🙏🏾🤍

**picture of me at my heaviest from the chest up.**

When trying to make lifestyle changes, I don’t recall being someone who decides and then acts.

I usually have to visualize the experience and outcome I want to have first.

How will I feel while doing it?
What’s going to make me want to repeat the new behavior?

It’s not enough for me to know what I need to do. Knowledge is knowledge. For me, knowledge is not an impetus for action.

The saying, “When you know better, you do better” is false for me.

It’s also not enough for me to be afraid of inevitable outcomes of NOT changing my behavior. Fear paralyzes me more than it motivates me.

I have to “sample” my way through methods.

And I do it just long enough until I’m done and move to the next thing.

When it comes to a sustainable lifestyle for me, it’s soooo much about Rhythm:

🤍 Finding my groove.
🤍 Staying in the pocket as long as it’s flowing.
🤍 Switching it up when the there’s an energy shift.
🤍 Honoring all my cycles.

I thirst for reverence in life, but not in the mundane bog of arduous routines.

What may seem unnecessary and pointless to a believer of rigidity and white-knuckling, offers me flexibility and interest.

I have no regard for boredom no matter how snatched I could potentially become.

Living in others’ ideals and expectations is not my wheel house.

Instead, moving to my own signals, cues and awakenings is.🤍

Who can relate?



Vibration Over Everything 🤍

Giving myself grace during this time is like waiting for someone to shake me and wake me up. 💭

When my father suddenly died, I had just turned 22.

Life was VERY different then, yet this hazy, distant, detached, removed, uninspired, robotic shell…

Is MOST familiar. 💔

Going through the motions…
Slapping on a lil face…
Experiencing glimpses of happiness,
But unable to savor joy in the moments when there’s a sparkle of it.

Although intellectually I can rationalize this cycle of life thing, it’s the rawness of the impact the deceased leaves behind. 💔

I’m reminded ALL DAY EVERYDAY that mommy has transitioned everytime I see myself in the mirror. 😞

There’s no escaping this truth.
Only facing it.
One day at a time.
Can’t be rushed.
No snapping out of it.

Mourning by morning…
One day…

I’ll be able to breathe again. 💔

Red. 💔🥀
For heart health. 🫀
For my mama. 🕊️🪽🤍

Eta Eta Lambda Society

Emerging from sadness. 🤍
Ready to live. 🤍
Ready to “clean up.” 🤍
Ready to realize dreams. 🤍
Through hustle? No. 🤍
Through grinding? No. 🤍
Through self-sacrifice and martyrdom? No. 🤍
Through intentionality? Yes. 🤍

Intentional with my dominant thoughts. 🤍
Intentional with listening to my body. 🤍
Intentional with acting in my overall best interest in the long-term. 🤍
Intentional with my conversations. 🤍
Intentional with my time. 🤍
Intentional with my relationships. 🤍

Eta Eta Lambda Society has two primary causes we fundraise for: 1) Our Scholarship, awarded to women entrepreneurs blazing their own paths and 2) our : the next generation of budding business owners! 🤍

Our annual Pillars Gala is coming this month! Two ways to support: 1) Purchase ad space in our event guide or 2) Purchase a ticket and attend! 🤍

Event space owners, boutique owners, service-based businesses, DJ’s, treats business, decor businesses, and more, the ad space prices are a steal! 🤍

Come dressed in your finest gala attire, and enjoy an evening under the sea while contributing to a great cause! 🤍

Details in the comments. 🤍

Eta Eta Lambda Society has two primary causes we fundraise for: 1) Our Scholarship, awarded to women entrepreneurs blazing their own paths and 2) our Little Lambdas: the next generation of budding business owners! 🤍

Our annual Pillars Gala is coming this month! Two ways to support: 1) Purchase ad space in our event guide or 2) Purchase a ticket and attend! 🤍

Event space owners, boutique owners, service-based businesses, DJ’s, treats business, decor businesses, and more, the ad space prices are a steal! 🤍

Come dressed in your finest gala attire, and enjoy an evening under the sea while contributing to a great cause! 🤍

Details in the comments. 🤍

THIS SATURDAY. 🤍

I’ll be opening this compelling and informative event with a sound bath and meditation. 🤍

Your presence is CRITICAL in this space!

Kick off the Legacy Series with The Sankofa Health Experience and dive into transformative discussions, panels, immersive healing modalities, and contribute to shaping a healthier future for the Black community in Hampton Roads that lasts 150 years and beyond!

See comments for registration info. 👇🏾🤍

…thus why I advocate KNOWING yourself so strongly. 🤍

Because when you KNOW, it’s less of a battle and more of a devotion to your soul’s unique expression in this lifetime. 🤍

Vibration Over Everything