My first solo adventure took place in 2021 in Cancun, Mexico, where I indulged in four days of resort life. During my stay, I immersed myself in a myriad of activities: reading, writing, embarking on excursions, mingling with fellow travelers, and basking in the serene beauty of the beach as the sun graced the horizon. Solo travel has become increasingly popular among American women, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Venturing abroad alone had long been a coveted item on my bucket list.

Initially, apprehensions about safety and the potential for solitude nagged at me. However, once I arrived, those concerns quickly dissipated. I settled into a bustling resort, predominantly populated by families and newlyweds, where I relished in the amenities, including excellent dining options and an AMAZING spa.

The highlight of my journey was undoubtedly the day tour to Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid—all-inclusive experiences that provided a deep dive into Mayan history. Witnessing the majestic ruins and learning about the rich culture of the Mayans was truly enchanting, leaving an indelible mark on my memory.

Here is a list of some of the things I did during my stay…

• 📌Relax, Relax, drink a mojito
• 📌Visit some Beaches 
• 📌https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g150807-d152700-Reviews-Playa_Delfines-Cancun_Yucatan_Peninsula.html
• https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g150807-d4508667-Reviews-Xcacel_Beach-Cancun_Yucatan_Peninsula.htm
• 📌Dining
• 📌https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g150807-d8002763-Reviews-Porfirio_s_Cancun-Cancun_Yucatan_Peninsula.html 
• 📌All inclusive tour- https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g150807-d15665143-Chichen_Itza_Cenote_Valladolid_All_Inclusive_Tour-Cancun_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

XO! Meesh

Visiting the Virgin Islands proved to be a truly enchanting experience. It marked the first sisters’ trip for me and my two siblings, my older sister and our youngest sister. Arriving on a humid Wednesday morning amidst the bustling airport, it became evident that the Virgin Islands, despite its natural beauty, isn’t a particularly affluent region. With its economy heavily reliant on tourism, the warmth and hospitality of the locals shone through, making our stay all the more memorable.

A piece of advice for fellow travelers: opt for a private driver if possible, as navigating transportation services like Ubers and Lyfts on the island can be quite a headache. Our accommodation, Bluebeard Castle, boasted a quaint charm reminiscent of an old plantation. Though the aesthetic may have been a bit dated, our time there was delightful. While the rooms had been mostly remodeled, the highlight was undoubtedly the breathtaking view. However, the dining experience leaned heavily towards Westernized fare, making it challenging to savor authentic Virgin Island cuisine.

Nevertheless, our excursion adventures were nothing short of lovely. Despite the relatively small size of this Caribbean gem, a three-day trip proved ample to soak in the beauty of its people and beaches. The Virgin Islands is an ideal destination for a maiden girls’ trip or a solo retreat to escape the noise of everyday life.

Below I have created a list of things to do in the VI. Please reach out if you want me to create an itinerary of your dreams. But for now, please check out the list below.

XO!- Meesh

• ❌THINGS TO DO IN ST THOMAS Virgin Islands🇻🇬 
• Mountain Top
• Turtle Cove Catamaran Snorkel & Sail Adventure at Little Buck Island St. Thomas
• Parasail Experience in St Thomas
• Visit The Baths & Jost Van Dyke from St Thomas or St John
• Honeymoon Beach 
• Lindqvist Beach
• Zip line
• Dining
• Sightseeing

XO! Meesh

My time in Puerto Rico was a blissful escape, filled with relaxation and rejuvenation. This trip marks my first venture since the onset of Covid-19 and subsequent quarantine measures, so it’s safe to say that the excitement of leaving behind the confines of NYC is palpable. The beaches are stunning, the locals exude pride in their heritage, and the sunsets cast a magical spell over the landscape. Surprisingly, the local cuisine has a more westernized touch than I anticipated, yet there’s an unexpected depth of history waiting to be explored.

All in all, Puerto Rico exceeds expectations as a destination for a debut trip for a young couple, a solo trip or a girls trip for early 20 somethings. It offers a cost-effective yet profoundly tranquil experience, making it an ideal choice for anyone seeking a rejuvenating getaway.

Below I have created a list of activities or excursions.

Please reach out to me via email if you want help creating an itinerary.

XO! Meesh

• RAIN FOREST
• HORSEBACK RIDING/ Carabali Rainforest Park
• ZIPLINNING 
• OLD San Juan
• OLD CASTLE
• Sunset Sail / Catamaran
• Carmelo Anthony bball court
• Dinner and Drinks
• Beach’s
• Casa Bacardi Tour 

Entrepreneurship is supposed to be conquered.

Here’s an edited version for clarity and cohesion:

We’re all drawn to the allure of glitter and gold, yet we’ve come to understand that success isn’t simply served up on a silver platter. Our generation stands apart from our ancestors in significant ways.

Motivated by noble intentions, some of us born into privilege aspire to illuminate the world and accumulate wealth. Yet, many among us are first-generation entrepreneurs, charting new territories without a predefined path. In those moments when exhaustion sets in after 300 hours of overtime, and we find ourselves lost in contemplation, we realize that the sky isn’t a boundary—it’s merely a perspective. But in those challenging moments, who will be there to bolster us when the world pushes us down?

As an entrepreneur, conquering is ingrained in our DNA. We yearn for the glitter and gold, but we acknowledge that shortcuts are not the answer. Our work ethic sets us apart.

For a black businesswoman, there’s no time to chill, especially when another mouth depends on her.

For a black businessman, there’s no time to relax, especially when he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders.

In this journey, I wish I could grant the wind permission to tousle my hair freely, but duty calls, and there’s work to be done.

Signed,

An Entrepreneur

“Man”…is all you can say when you’re living the reality of entrepreneurship- No one told me that this journey would be this daunting. This exhaustion…underwhelming, overwhelming feeling. UGH. START A BUSINESS?…HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THAT??

For the better part of my life, I’ve been captivated by the screen, envisioning collaborations with actors and actresses. Now, at thirty years old, freshly graduated from a prestigious graduate school program, I find myself grappling with lingering questions: What’s the next step? How did I reach this juncture? And more broadly, how did we all find ourselves in similar positions?

Many of us in our late twenties or early thirties have been sold the idea that higher education is the ultimate solution, the golden ticket to success. Yet, in reality, it often serves as nothing more than a gateway to enduring financial anxieties. Most entrepreneurs experience numerous phases, often ending up financially strained despite possessing genius-level ideas. These phases entail moments of elation and despair, marked by both smiles and frowns.

Phase one – Undergrad

You enter a college institution with your life all planned out.

Some dropout.

Some take a year off with the hopes to finish

Others complete 4-5 years later with student loan debt and no clue as to what they want to do.

Phase two – A little bit of life.

Those plans in phase one shift.

I and many others go back to school in our early to mid-twenties to complete phase one.

Others find jobs in their field

Others accrue adult debt – car payments, credit cards, rent, and student loans.

Many continue their education either in graduate or doctorial programs in new states/cities. i.e. MORE DEBT.

Phase three – They lied. It hasn’t gotten any better.

A few get promoted at their phase two jobs/careers.

Some switch careers.

Some realize that their identity is not solely rooted in their job titles…

Many finish graduate school/Ph.D. programs.

Others start their own businesses.

Others fail at those businesses then start a new business then fail again…And the phases continue.

Entrepreneurship entails meticulously researching how to bring your idea to fruition, coupled with an incessant analysis of every detail, often leading to sleepless nights. As new entrepreneurs, we strive to alleviate these pressures, yet frequently find ourselves falling short. Why? Because no matter how much we stretch our mental faculties, they can never fully compensate for the scarcity of funds or the abundance of ideas that may never materialize. So, what’s the solution? One word: Hope—a fervent expectation and desire for our vision to materialize.

Yet, amidst the challenges, there’s a glimmer of optimism. Every groundbreaking invention or successful product originates from a single idea. Entrepreneurship, far from being a solitary journey, is a collective struggle shared by thousands like us, all striving to turn their aspirations into profitable ventures. You are not alone.

The key differentiator between mere aspirants and accomplished entrepreneurs lies in execution. It’s not just about having the idea; it’s about taking decisive action to bring it to life.

I wandered lustfully

for travel

blue skies exciting my inner curiosities.

From east to west coast with

no plans or expectations just love and the desire to

chill with peace.

Loving everything around me.

Let me sit up under this sun

Admiring and appreciating the glory of

ME.

Embracing those moments with my sister friends

HIStory under the LA sky that may never end.

Those moments I appreciated.

This summer I am here.

Cutting out the BS and living my best life.

Surrounded by beautiful beings that love me like sisters.

And desired Prince(s) that desire to treat me like a princess.

To love means to BE. LOVE IS….YOU

Look Ma I’m doing it.

A mother’s love is like oxygen to those that are suffocating.

Healing for those that feel pain.

You, mother, gave your all even when you had nothing to give.

Prayed for me and my siblings when you had no words to utter.

My love for you is timeless. Limitless. Abundance.

You encouraged me to follow my dreams even though no one encouraged you to follow yours.

An ageless beauty with so much love to give.

For those times I didn’t listen I’m listening now.

Thanks for being the first person to love me unconditionally.

You are love.

You are Gods Favor.

You are warmth.

You are poetry.

You are the rainbow in somebody’s cloud.

A beautiful friend. A human who didn’t have a clue how to mother 1 or 2, but 6.

You and God carried us through and for that I am

THANKFUL.

Author: Trevor Noah

Genre: Autobiography

Language: English

Trevor Noah the South African comedian and host of The Daily Show, brilliantly writes about his childhood in post- Apartheid South Africa in his autobiography Born a Crime which was released in 2016. I first heard of this autobiography last year and like many other books, I placed this one in my Amazon cart with the intent to eventually purchase it. But it wasn’t until I saw  Lupita Nyong’o marvel about this book in an interview on The Daily Show. She spoke about the Black women in this book with so much passion and admiration. That interview left me wondering, what was it about this book that had the likes of Lupita and Oprah Winfrey. 

Noah’s story begins with the first chapter titled “RUN” which talks about the details and experience of being a light-skinned Black boy in South Africa born to An African(Black) mother and a White (German) father. Running was something that Noah was taught to do as a game, only to finally realize that those moments when his mother or grandmother told him to “run, go hind under the bed, Trevor,” was not a game at all but a necessity to keep him and his mother alive. Trevor was born in Apartheid, which ended less than 50 years ago. This chapter continues with highlights and lows of South African culture in the ’80s. Every page of the novel is written with wit, history, love, and extraordinary intelligence that only a witty comic could conjure up. 

Each chapter continues with curiosity, truth, and humility. The most memorable stories are about Patricia Noah, Trevor’s hero, who he calls “gangsta” mother. It’s a read that will inspire you to be courageous while also reminding you how much more there is to be done to break the chains of oppression and fear amongst the human race. Trevor’s origin story is a love letter to Black women. 

A gem for the ages.

What we would call “grown-up music.”

What we would call bossed up Jay.

Transparent lyrics ridding on Smoove instrumentals.

Something the culture needed.

Talks about therapy.

Verses about wealth…Black wealth. American wealth.

Interpretations of O.J. The  O.J. without the Juice.

Talks about starting over.

Talks about honesty.

Verses about love, parenting, and infidelity.

Gems for the ages.