Category Archives: self improvement

Seyes: the French-Ruled Notebook (and Your Cursive Handwriting New Bestie)

In an article published in Trends in Neuroscience and Education, Neuroscientists Karin Harman James and Laura E. Engelhardt link cursive writing quicker reading acquisition. It is a good enough reason for me to teach it

That French Girl with a Ukulele: From Hawaii to New York

Before the show started there was a brief 30-seconds soundcheck then I started. I was a nerve wreck. Fortunately, one of my superpowers “being able to fake it big time” nobody seem to notice, although I was shaking throughout the entire set.

Books, TED Talks/Videos, Podcasts, and Youtube Channels I Like

Subscribe to my newsletter: http://bit.ly/gn I love to learn new things, and the more I do, the more I realize how much there is to learn. It is a bit overwhelming… So I thought, if you are like me, you may like some recommendations, books I read, podcasts I listen to, videos I watch, etc… IContinue reading “Books, TED Talks/Videos, Podcasts, and Youtube Channels I Like”

Reflecting on The Afropean-Self: How Moving to New York Allowed me to Emancipate Myself from Expectations

Subscribe to my newsletter: http://bit.ly/gn – As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Michele Obama wrote “Becoming” and Alicia Keys “More Myself”, and over the years women of all ages and life paths have been uncovering their genuine selves. It is a sentiment I am myself familiar with and have been seeking for aContinue reading “Reflecting on The Afropean-Self: How Moving to New York Allowed me to Emancipate Myself from Expectations”

Do You Like Notebooks or People Who do?

When I started to create my illustrations a couple of years ago, this was one of the first things I wanted to make: notebooks featuring my art. At the time, I looked for months into suppliers: unfortunately, I neither had the funds nor the space to store the eventual purchase of dozen of notebooks. A few months back, I was watching TikTok videos (of all places) and realized that I could create that type of product with Amazon as a supplier

If This Was Up To Me

Subscribe to my newsletter: http://bit.ly/gn If this was up to me, I’d spend my life in school. When I say “if this was up to me” I mean if I had the financial means to do so. I have been “visualizing it” and “calling it into existence” – probably not hard enough or too many peopleContinue reading “If This Was Up To Me”

On Doing What’s Right

Subscribe to my newsletter: http://bit.ly/gn Two people can do or react similarly for different reasons. Two people can do and react differently for the same reason. Read that again. It’s hard to tell which is which for many reasons. One: we project – we tend to empathize more with those who look like us or weContinue reading “On Doing What’s Right”

On Being an Intellectual

I feel the need to disclaim my ironic tone on that one. I recently spent some quality time in France with family – I was staying at my grandmother’s house. One day we had a disagreement and she said to me I was “such an intellectual” – she said it the same way republicans callContinue reading “On Being an Intellectual”

On Self-Actualization

Awareness is the first step at dismantling who “you are” so you can become your true self. Without it, you can stay parked in the dream, indefinitely. Once you are aware that, until then, outside forces have played a huge part in shaping your existence, you can finally “move on” – but not without goingContinue reading “On Self-Actualization”

#GetYourTeamTogether

You may not fully appreciate your blessings because you are comparing yourself to a team’s efforts to make someone fit a current standard of perfection You have to recognize you already are pretty wonderful and stand out on your own! You are smart, kind & taste like Meyer lemons meringue tart Cheer up + #GetYourTeamTogetherContinue reading “#GetYourTeamTogether”

#Blessed

Even tho I may project My own fears and biases I am #blessed and fulfilled Regardless of how I feel Into my sometimes blurry lenses I Get pushed and pulled back Before my own eyes All I need is a shift A bit of perspective For my hopes and my dreams To ever become clearContinue reading “#Blessed”

#JustPlantingSeeds

“We accept the Love we think we deserve” If you are wondering If it’s not the moon and the stars If this made you think If you feel some type of way You probably deserve more #JustPlantingSeeds ©️ Daphne Mia Essiet, 2018

#Momentum

Shit’s complicated- but here we are: making the best of it. Beating the odds Breaking records we never knew existed Yet, too often living with restraint Tipi toeing around fragile egos. Their subconsciously know that the Power sipping through our pores must meticulously get washed away by judgement & ever so slightly policed, err’day WithContinue reading “#Momentum”

#TenGuiltyPleasures

1. Watching cat videos on Instagram 2. Roaming in Marshall’s for hours 3. Eating Nutella 4. listening to 90’s misogynist hip hop songs 5. Girls dancing on a pole 6. Internet shopping 7. Smoking Shisha 8. Sipping on Hendricks + Tonic + 3 lemons 9. Pretty boys 10. Your lips on mine #TenGuiltyPleasures ©️ DaphneContinue reading “#TenGuiltyPleasures”

#OnFriendzoning

The story of one way extrapolation The ultimate Trap. My Ego’s boosted whilst yours bruised I’ve been down this road before I know how it feels It feels just like tachycardia on blush cheeks Mixed emotions ’bout my Crush & my Feelings, & Crushed Feelings Deflected [Lust] interest My Ego’s bruised whilst his boosted IContinue reading “#OnFriendzoning”