I love walking long distances. It's the freedom and the ability of movement I enjoy the most, as well as taking in my surroundings. I didn't want to take a train one Sunday to Whole Foods from my house- if you live or know anything about NYC subways on a weekend, you'd feel the same. So I decided to walk the 13.2 miles. For reference I live in the Bronx and the Whole Foods I went to is on the Upper West Side. So I packed my book bag and went for it. The day was beautiful, I stopped and took pictures along my journey and of course the people watching was at it's prime (summers in NYC totally bring out the buffoonery in people).

On my way, I became hyper aware of my surroundings, noticing the black worn in dots on the ground from gum and garbage everywhere. It started driving me crazy. I couldn't walk an inch without stepping over a napkin, a wrapper from some food, a cup, broken glass, etc. My mind started to wonder why anyone would want to live in this? As a business along the street, why would you want all of this garbage that leads into your store or along the path? Is it because we live in NYC and people have become so jaded that no one cares? As if walking to the corner to dump your garbage is a nuisance. Fed up, I decided to do something about it and contact the department of sanitation for NYC about the areas. So far I have received no response even after my follow up emails to them, but I'm very persistent and will keep at it.

Even in our apartment building garbage is an issue. There’s chutes on every floor and if what you have is too large, you bring it to the basement and place it in the specified section for the super to take out. Yet, there's so many people who would rather leave their garbage outside of the chute doors or piled inside of the chute closet instead of opening and dumping it or bringing it to the basement. I'm thankful we don't live near that side of the building where the chute is located, but I feel sorry for who does.

It's sad to know that some people within the community we live in, won't take care of what's theirs/ours. Why would anyone want to walk along in trash or have their kids play on dirty sidewalks and parks or even allow it to pile up in their building? When you see people littering, tell them to throw their garbage in the garbage cans, hence the name. We need to take care of every aspect of ourselves and that especially includes our living spaces.

Do any of you have similar experiences? If so, what did you or what are are you doing to make a positive impact? Drop a line in the comment section and let me know!

If you see a can...put your garbage in it and tell a friend to tell a friend.

This past Saturday, one of my best friends, Rashawn and I held our 5th Annual Friendsgiving in her home. We initially started to throw Friendsgiving dinners because we would be home during Thanksgiving time, either due to tickets being too expensive to visit family out of state or just our daily life schedules. Friendsgiving to us represents a community of close friends all celebrating each other, being thankful we all have one another and focusing on the joy that life is no matter your situation. Our first one, was smaller in numbers because people were going away that year, but what it lacked in numbers it made up for in the great time that was had. When we look back it was the perfect size. The following year it got insane. friends that didn't make it the previous year, ALL made a point to come that year and they invited people. Rashawn has a big apartment but the overflow was leaking into all the bedrooms, hallways, even out the door. It was definitely a turn up, but it needed to be turned down. It got to a point that there were people no one knew coming in and thus getting away from what Friendsgiving was about. From then on we learned to say "invite only" on the evites aka don't bring other people unless you ask first.

Oftentimes Friendsgiving acts as the one time of year most of us will have the opportunity to see each other, so everyone makes that time count. The abundance of food and drinks can make you gluttonous. Everyone brings something whether it be a dish, liquor or something to serve the food on. No one goes hungry and in some cases people don't leave without taking leftovers home.

The past few years, Rashawn set up a photo booth area in one of her rooms. I call that room, the locker room, since she has a full set of red lockers in that room she uses for storage, it's pretty dope. Anyway, no matter the gathering people will flock to the locker room which also has couches and chairs. This year she created an Instagram page for the occasion and everyone that took pics in the photo booth, which she made using her iPad and a downloadable app, were able to upload the pics directly to the page. Therefore cancelling out everyone asking for the pics and video taken post Friendsgiving. Who doesn't love a group photo and taking fun videos with friends? Imagine doing this mixed with full stomachs and drinks in hand? What do you end up with? Hilarious buffoonery that's what! We all know the size of a regular iPad screen, so 8-10 people running in the room and trying to fit was not happening. It was tried nonetheless, even if someone only got their forehead in. My friend Sansarae was basically Beyonce in one of the videos and everyone else were the back up. Orande, Rashawn and Greg have a video where they are all doing the Milly Wop, that video left me laughing to tears and there's also a video of me thinking we're all taking a photo, until Rashawn tells me it's a video. I'm posing for a good 8 seconds until it's realized, it 's ridiculous and funny at the same time. There's way too many to recap, but you get it, it was fun.

Throughout the times at Friendsgiving I always realize how beautiful it is that we can all gather to just have a good time, great vibes with delicious food (Orande makes mac and cheese that people go savage for and same goes for Denise's banana pudding. If your not quick then you'll miss out). It's so easy to get flustered through life, but if you can have only one moment in a year with close friends, let it be a gathering such as this, it helps in saying hakuna matata much easier as you go throughout your days.

If you don't know this scene then do yourself a favor and watch the Lion King. Hakuna Matata! P.S. I also saw The Lion King on Broadway last week and it was incredible!