• Home
  • About
    • Holla!
  • Music Junky
  • Lifestyle
  • The Watercooler
  • Live
    • Podcast
    • Music
Home
About
    Holla!
Music Junky
Lifestyle
The Watercooler
Live
    Podcast
    Music
Sounds About Wright - S.A.W. | In My Opinion
  • Home
  • About
    • Holla!
  • Music Junky
  • Lifestyle
  • The Watercooler
  • Live
    • Podcast
    • Music
Life, Lifestyle

How to Stay Balanced and Healthy Through a Global Quarantine

10/15/2020 by DeAndre 2 Comments

We’ve officially made it to month 8 of a global pandemic that no one saw coming, in a year that was supposed to be an epic kickoff to a fabulous decade. The irony is, it has been pretty epic…but for all the wrong reasons.

Instead of writing a depressing post dedicated to the sorrows of living in a time where we can’t hug our loved ones or endure breathing in the remnants of our daily meals through a mask— I’m going to write about what’s keeping me sane as a single person in isolation.

And a quick note: Because of the nature of what I do in tech, I can’t make any app recommendations to you all. But what I can do is encourage you to comb your respective app stores to find the best apps that work for what you need.

Spiritual

I know attending a place of worship has been a huge issue for many people of faith. I won’t say -as a Christian- I’m not struggling with it myself but I figured in this age of tech, God would be chill with me being safe, healthy, and getting my spiritual on in the confines of my home.

So I pray regularly and meditate. I use apps to keep me connected and occasionally, when my attention span is A-1, I even manage to attend good ole Bedside Baptist. The thing I’ve always understood is while I love the fellowship and sense of community, I have to get flexible with how it is I nurture that part of myself during these times.

My spiritual zone

Physical

Alright, so here is where I SUPER struggle. I love sleeping and just hanging. When I’m home, my body goes to either work or chill mode…But here we are. I had to do like everyone else and turn my living room into my gym. Since breathing in smoke from massive wild fires isn’t really an option for me- I turn on my Apple Tv, lay out my yoga mat, and work out between 30 minutes to an hour. I also try to drink at least three 26oz bottles of water starting when I wake up. I’ve also been taking vitamins from HUM (use my code: 1E6108 because it’s the right thing to do) and they’ve been pretty amazing. I take several daily and it helps with my energy and immune system.

My favorite vitamins

Mental

And of course I can’t leave out mental health. I go to therapy regularly for hour sessions at least once a month. I try to stay off social media unless I’m sharing thoughts or my random commentary on whatever is happening out there, but other than that, surfing is DANGEROUS. Keep that part short, emote as much as you want and then take a break. I also limit my news intake as well. I watch for morning highlights and that’s a wrap unless there’s absolutely nothing else better to do with my life. Ok, and here’s something funny about me…I’m kinda an introvert. I know that’s weird but I’ve always been a little shy and awkward. And I don’t like talking to a lot of people when I retreat into my personal space…HOWEVER, I’ve gotten so much better about reaching out and FaceTiming my family and friends. I’ve made it a personal goal to at least talk to at least 3 people outside of work, a week (so that I’m not talking to my dog- that could get weird.). Then I try to call it a night by 10:30p so I can wake up and take on the world at…7a. Not really early but early enough for me, I’m not a 4am kinda chick. Speaking of getting to sleep. I work a lot, so maintaining work-life balance is highly important to me. If someone works my nerves at work. I leave it right there at 6pm or whenever I shut it down. I’m not stressing myself out over foolishness and I don’t want extra gray hair. Ok, ok- the last and most obvious thing I like to do to take care of my mental is :drumroll please: writing! I try to write as much as I can to release my thoughts.

Other ways to treat yo-self

Now of course there’s so much more to do to unwind like retail therapy, a nice dinner with a glass (or three) of wine, movie marathons, reading a book while listening to your fave album, cooking a nice meal, or taking a cuddle break with you lovable pup pal. However you decide to take care of yourself, the idea is it shouldn’t add more stress to your life. It should make you feel more relaxed and less overwhelmed.

Sounds About Wright Bedtime
Cookie ready for “night-night”

So you’ve heard some of my self-care hacks for keeping sane during these crazy times. My self-care routines and tips are specific to my needs because true self-care varies for us all. I would love to hear yours! Tell me what your self-care go-to’s are during quarantine. <3

-D. Wright

Share:
Reading time: 4 min
Health

Being the Author of Your Own Life

10/19/2017 by DeAndre No Comments

Prepare yourselves…this is going to be a real one.

The C-Word

Let’s talk about control. Control is a false idol. It’s something we’re forever chasing and (funny enough) not able to completely relish in because it’s hard to maintain. It’s our means of exerting power to sway the outcomes of events, or matters, surrounding our lives. We fuss and toil over details that have no real significance other than to scratch the itch. We overanalyze our abilities and scrutinize our works and when that isn’t enough – we extend the courtesy to others.

You might be wondering how it is that I became such the subject matter expert. I’ll be honest, I don’t know the when or the how…I just know I am. I’m ready to release that control and exchange it for something a little bit better – authorship.

The Meltdown

Many of you know I’m a huge fan of therapy and this story started with a little trip to my friendly therapist, Dr. Kay. There was definitely a meltdown involved. I’m not ashamed to say it. I was not coping well emotionally and was not afraid to let her know. That poor lady…she has a lot on her hands. I came in with unresolved issues all from different areas of my life that I absolutely felt I had no control over. It was maddening. I was flailing down a rabbit hole. And after plenty of tears and irrational ranting, she gave it to me.

[su_quote cite=”You can’t control everything, no one can, but you can be the author of your life. You have to be the author of your own life.”][/su_quote]

The Resolve

I’m sitting there, glassy eyed and it hits me. I can’t control anyone else’s narrative but my own. I’ve always heard, “You can’t control what you can’t control” and it finally sunk in. I can’t control how others respond to me, or what other people think or feel about anything. What I can control is what I think of myself, what opportunities I create for myself, and what I contribute to the world. I had to ask myself, “What do I want to contribute to the world, and how can you plan to make that dream a reality?” I mean, Dr. Kay definitely posed a lot of wonderful questions for me to consider what exactly it was that I wanted to create for myself.

The Challenge

Now I’m challenging you, as much as I’m challenging myself, to think on what it is that you can create and contribute for yourself. What are the things you can reasonably control in your life? What can you let go of? I sadly used to think that my success rested on the chance of someone discovering me and my talents. That’s something I absolutely can not control or depend on, but what I can control is discovering myself and proudly creating a path that makes sense for me.

So will you join me in becoming the author of your own life? It’s high time we create and promote some beautifully unique stories to share with the world. <3

-D.Wright

Share:
Reading time: 2 min
Tech

The FitMenCook App

07/22/2017 by DeAndre No Comments

I’m gonna start with, I love this site and app. FitMenCook is super easy to navigate and extremely functional. I never expected to actually like it but a buddy of mine recommended it because I’m terrible at making healthy food choices and asked him about his lunch.

I know, you’re probably thinking, “you’re so skinny, you probably don’t eat much… blah blah blah.” Well here’s a confession, last year my New Year’s resolution was to give up canned chili. You read right, canned chili. I love canned chili. I mostly love it with chips, cheese and jalapeños. I definitely love it over rice. Wolf Brand and Hormel are my favorites and I know it’s not great for me but I don’t care. I’d say my love for canned chili is worse than my Chef Boyardee ravioli obsession and those perfectly greased Jack In The Box tacos that I’d practically vacuum up during my teen years. I fiend for my special chili dip like every couple months or so these days, but  it used to be pretty bad. I thank God for a high metabolism and newly found common sense. I only eat it every couple of months and this is precisely why I needed the app. I have to get more creative with my seasonings and dinner choices if I don’t want to die of high blood pressure and clogged arteries.

I Hate Working Out

Let’s get to the nitty gritty though. I hate working out. I hate it because it feels like a routine I can never finish and since I don’t see many changes, I don’t feel motivated. Now food, I love, and I think it’s a brilliant plan to change my body with something I love. Food is something that I can commit to and FitMenCook is a wonderful website with a bomb app you can download to get recipes ranging from quick and easy to complex and showy. You  can even use a the Healthy Habits Challenge calendar to hit personal goals. It’s pretty impressive how thought out this site it. I highly recommend taking a visit and finding a dish to start with.

15-Minute Pineapple Pepper Chicken

With how cool the site and the app was, I had to try it out for myself and decided to test the 15-Minute Pineapple Pepper Chicken recipe for my first attempt. Kevin, supplies you with a grocery list that even helps guide you down the aisles of where you can find the ingredients. I will say, it was a bit of a scavenger hunt but I located everything I needed. When I got home, I followed the directions and added spinach for my veggie. Then, voilà, a tasty meal I could enjoy for about 3-4 days! It was well seasoned, easy to portion out and extremely satisfying. You should definitely try it out for yourself.

If you decide to test out any other recipes, feel free to share them with me here or on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook! <3

-D.Wright

Share:
Reading time: 2 min
Events

Brunch and Slay All Day

07/18/2017 by DeAndre No Comments

You guys might have remembered I referenced my good friend Ameerah in my article Every Little Step a few weeks back. She’s a true gem and one of the most phenomenal people I know. Not only is she a beautiful wife and mother, but she’s a fabulous business woman who is taking the world by storm. This past weekend, Ameerah invited women across Houston Metro area to join her in a private brunch at Sak Fifth’s 51Fifteen in celebration of sisterhood and her lifestyle event series…Brunch and Slay.

There was champagne and appetizers flowing from the very start of the experience. We were practically waited on hand and foot. Droves of beautiful women dressed to the nines were literally EVERYWHERE you hear me?! If someone wanted a wife, Ameerah held the key to the treasure box. I kid you not – the style was on point, the hair was on point, the ambition was on point and the positivity was overflowing. The assortment of women in attendance varied in all shades of hues and backgrounds. It was the one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.

But back to the actual event…it started with a networking cocktail hour, then we were moved into the dining area for our first course and a fashion demonstration by stylist, Ashley Kahn. We mingled a bit more, ate our second course and then moved to the bar area for desert and more mimosas. After a bit of more chatting we were ushered into the event space to hear the panels.

The women we heard were an all-star group to say the least. We had renowned  fashion illustrator Rong-Rong Devoe, fitness guru Leah Egwuatu, Emmy Award winner  Erica Halloway, fashion maven Brandy Gueary, Doctor Ashandra Batiste who stars on Bravo series Married to Medicine Houston and moderating was best selling writer Charlie Marcol. These were just the people on the panel! The room was full of influencers, medical professionals, designers, educators, creatives, techs, and other amazing represented industries.

Ameerah created a lavish experience for her guests. I can only imagine what she’s going to come up with next. If you’re into unique lifestyle events, make sure to visit her website for more information HERE. I clearly had a blast. <3

-D.Wright

Share:
Reading time: 1 min
Lifestyle

Me, My Therapist & I

06/27/2017 by DeAndre No Comments

If you haven’t noticed, I’m Black…and Black people still tend to deal with the stigma of mental health within its community.

Now this isn’t a blog of statistics. They’re helpful, sure, but pretty boring. Just know Black folks seeing therapists today is most likely at a pretty low number. You can factor in all kinds of cultural, societal, and socio-economic influences into the long list of whys but I decided to go ahead and step outside the box. I’ve happily been in therapy for about a month now and I will probably continue for the rest of my life.

I actually told my mom I saw a therapist after the first session. It was pretty funny. Let’s just say, there was a long “oooooookkkkkkk,” followed by an awkward pause and a buttload of questions. My dad, a jokester, had a slew of pretty hilarious zingers. I’ll spare you so you don’t think he’s a terrible person, but we had a good chat about it. Overall, they were both supportive of my reasons for going and wished me the best in the answers I was searching for.

I can’t tell you why I opted to see a therapist at this point in my life. I feel like things are going a lot smoother than they were about two Summers ago. It was pretty crazy, to say the least. My sister had to look for me and she (along with my best friend) actually staged a full fledged intervention when I came back into the world. Even before that big meltdown, I probably should have seen a therapist but I was too lazy to search for someone I felt I could trust with my heart and not to mention, a little intimidated. Here’s a secret, I’m a big ol’ emotional, scaredy cat. So I privately sulked. There were also a lot of tears, prayers, songs I wrote, and long conversations with my friends. Note: I do not recommend my poorly thought out methods for anyone else but if you were wondering, that’s what held me over.

I remember at some point (before my Summer trip to crazy town), my youngest brother recommended I speak with someone, just because. He actually told our whole family we needed therapy but you know, younger brothers…we just pat them on the head and tell them to bring us back chips or something. So imagine my shock when we had a serious conversation about mental health. It was such mature advice from a kid. Then when I started attending St. John’s, they talked about seeing therapists frequently during service and were advocates for mental health care. I know it might sound silly, but hearing church people be vulnerable about mental health made me feel so much more comfortable. Then the icing on cake, I found out the super successful and amazing women I started to surround myself with absolutely took their places on a therapist’s comfy couch to talk about life and to sort out whatever qualms they had.

I was surrounded. I was seeing couches in my dreams. Ok, I wasn’t but you get the gist…It came from my family, friends and spiritual family. So this year, a friend of mine told me how amazing her experience was and I caved. I set up the appointment and decided to try something new. I knew I was open to help around my career path and intimate relationships I held with people near to my heart. I wanted understanding and a non-biased perspective on what it is that I might be doing to block success in different areas of my life. It was time.

So here I am, years after some of the hardest times of my life, excited to talk to a hoity-toity personality expert about whatever she wants. What?! Who, me? Yep…I’ve been spilling all the beans. She’s amazing and it has been the best decision I could have made for my life.

I was definitely awkward the first trip in. I gave her a history on my family, friends, and a little on my love life. She was easy to talk to and funny enough from a neighborhood close to where I grew up. I felt like she got me. The next few visits, she circled back to some things I brought up and that’s where the fun started. She began to challenge me and in some ways validated things I’ve secretly held deep within my core. She’s been walking me through the timeline of my life to help me understand why I’ve built walls around myself, why I back away from success when I’m less than an inch away, and how being bullied as a child gave me social anxieties I never knew I had.

I know you might be wondering why I’m sharing, but I think it’s important to make sure we are healthy in all aspects of life. I do not look like the things that I’ve been through. I’m grateful for it but I’m ready to shed that old skin and to skyrocket to the next level of my greatness. And I want you to feel empowered to break out of your old, self-harming habits to become the best version of yourself too.

We all deserve joy, balance, and love…Let’s get it. <3

-D.Wright

 

Share:
Reading time: 4 min

About me

I’m a Houston Texan living in Silicon Valley as content creator and URM advocate in tech. I have a passion for creating and writing music and am a food lover to the max! Welcome to my space where I get candid about life and share my opinions on EVERYTHING.

Search

Categories

Subscribe

Enter your email address to subscribe to Sounds About Wright and receive blog updates by email.

Instagram @sawrightblog

Facebook

Facebook

Archives

Tags

album america apple apple music artist business California career current events donald trump food health hip hop holiday houston inspiration life los ángeles manhattan mental health music musician new music news New York new york city places politics pop president r&b review rock singer songwriter soul tech technology television texas travel tv united states usa wellness

Hello friends! My name is DeAndre. Welcome to Sounds About Wright— a community made for expression and conversation on music, life, news and everything in between. So with that being said-kick back, get cozy, and enjoy. We have a lot to talk about. <3

-DeAndre

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Recent Posts

Happy Thanksgiving! How I’m Enjoying the Holiday…Solo

Happy Thanksgiving! How I’m Enjoying the Holiday…Solo

11/26/2020
The Aftermath of the 2020 Election

The Aftermath of the 2020 Election

11/15/2020
A November to Remember

A November to Remember

11/06/2020

Categories

  • Current Events
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • News
    • Politics
    • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Beauty
    • Events
    • Food
    • Health
    • Life
    • Travel
  • Music
Y’all know how I feel about life. I’m glad to Y’all know how I feel about life. I’m glad to be here. The challenges have been plentiful, but my faith is bigger. I’m finally able to build the life of my dreams and come hell or global pandemic, I’m gonna keep pushing with the blessings I’ve been granted and tapped into over the last year. And if I’ve seemed a bit quiet, I’ve been using this time to sit with myself and work through my ish. To be the woman I need to be for my family and my community and shoot, the world, I just have to sit quietly. 2021 will be even bigger for my growth. Buckle up. 😏😌🥳🤗 #soundsaboutwright
I will not lie to y’all...I’m enjoying looking I will not lie to y’all...I’m enjoying looking effortlessly busted, sipping wine, and chilling on this here couch watching Christmas movies. I FaceTimed with my family, played with the pup, took a whole nap, and am just quietly unwinding from one crazy year. I feel so blessed to be alive and growing. I can’t explain what 2020 has done to open my eyes, but just know- your girl is next level. I’m praying that you all and your families are safe and well. And for the folks chilling on their couches solo, cheers to us! We are single-handedly making it through these holidays like G’s. Merry Christmas to you all...I thank God fa Jesus and I hope you all have a beautiful rest of your holiday. 🎄👼🏾🎁 #merrychristmas #happyholidays #christmas #holiday #quarantinelife #quarantine #holidays #soundsaboutwright
@cookietheceo wanted y’all to know he’s been n @cookietheceo wanted y’all to know he’s been nice this year. He got all the presents from his grandpup parents and Santa. #merrychristmas 🎅🏾🎄🎁
•••
#dogsofinstagram #dogsofinsta #dogstagram #holiday #christmas
Through it all, we will see the light. #Monday #mo Through it all, we will see the light. #Monday #motivation #lyrics #writer #artist #tupac #song #keepyourheadup #push #soundsaboutwright
•••
Ooh, child, things are gonna get easier... 🎶
Dream. Manifest. Execute. Repeat.✨ ••• Thi Dream. Manifest. Execute. Repeat.✨
•••
This is YOUR life. Believe in you. Pray for you. Work for you...Know that you are worthy of blessings, love, happiness, success. Praying to God for what you want while holding on to toxicity and the weight of your past will only take you so far, believe me. Let it go and let life flow. #soundsaboutwright #cheatcode #blackgirlmagic #thursday #positivevibes #selftalk #affirmation #mantra #selfcare #style #writer #blogger #girlboss #werk #goodmorning
•••
📸 @camachochuy
If you’re cozy, eating leftovers on your couch a If you’re cozy, eating leftovers on your couch and want to snuggle up with something vibe-y to read, hop on over to Sounds About Wright. Follow and subscribe. 💜✨ #linkinbio #holiday #writer #holidayseason #soundsaboutwright
This #Thanksgiving, I dressed up for the kitchen. This #Thanksgiving, I dressed up for the kitchen. Anyone else? Oh I’m the only one, cool. 💁🏾‍♀️✨ #holiday #mood  #happythanksgivng
This holiday season is looking so different for us This holiday season is looking so different for us who are quarantining solo and don’t have families of our own to celebrate with in the comfort of our own homes. Thinking about that and experiencing it first hand, I wrote a little something on how I’ll be celebrating solo-dolo and what’s getting me through the day. I’m wishing all of you love and joy. And if you are a single person in quarantine, just know it’s ok and you’re not alone! #HappyThanksgiving 
•
📸 @camachochuy 
•
#soundsaboutwright #blog #blogger #writer #writing #write #holidayseason #holiday #bayarea #thebay #california #quarantine #newblogpost #linkinbio
Follow on Instagram
© 2020 Sounds About Wright