It’s effin 2019, Black History Month has had it’s moment, and now here we are in March.

Let that marinate people…MARCH!!!

I can hardly believe it and yessss I know it’s been a hot minute since I last dropped a line but let me tell you, life has been nuts. I can’t complain but it’s been quite different from anything I’ve ever experienced.

I’ve been doing so much that by the end of the week, I’m generally left wondering where the time has gone, where to even begin restarting my creative work and how to maintain consistency. I thought I’d be doing all the things since I don’t have many distractions here. Shoot, I even thought I was going to be writing you people like 3 times a week, but then life was like NOPE…#NewJobNewYou girl. So I stopped trying to force what didn’t feel natural and I surrendered to being present in my experience here.

As you can imagine, it’s been a major adjustment, picking up and moving to Cali from Texas. And I honestly think I’ll feel more settled after this first year is up but at least I can say I’m getting used to my new gig, and raising my adorable puppy Cookie the CEO (named after Tim Cook). Yes it’s a funny story on how I selected his name, we’ll talk about it later. Anywho, this white little floofball has managed to take up the free time I thought I had so now life is even more full. As we speak, he’s spread all of his toys across my living room and has literally taken over. When I move, he moves. When he sneezes, it’s usually in my face. When I’m not keeping a close eye on him, he’s either making something a fire hydrant or into who knows what. I don’t have a life anymore. I might even be telling people I’m a single Black mother in Silicon Valley at this point. They totally know I’m joking btw…Well, hopefully.

Ok, what else can I think…Oh! I made two trips down to Houston in November and December last year for my cousin’s wedding and then for the holiday break. Let’s first start off with how amazing it was to have a proper break. Geez I didn’t know what I was missing! It was definitely a nice change up, going back home, but definitely interesting staying there after being in California for a bit. Of course I loved being with my family and friends but I realized there was absolutely nothing left for me outside of my familial life. I tried EVERYTHING in Texas and nothing really stuck for me. I did music, was on the scene, went to the best places, dated the most interesting people, had the BEST of friends but I never really built the way I knew I could. By the end of the trip, I realized it was time for a change, and that’s why I left for California. I had to take a leap of faith, now look at me…new city, new job, new life–new outlook.

Anywho, all is well and I have so much stuff to share. In the mean time, here is a blip of my life from around October to February, presented to you wonderful people in “thumbnails” until I can figure out this whole updated blog platform lol! Talk soon. <3

-D. Wright

So…I’m officially settled into California.

Well, I won’t take on a California ID quite yet but I’m here and there’s no turning back. I’ve finally come to terms with it.

I did this to myself.

For years, I had been annoyingly declarative and telling folks I was going to live in California. I thought it would be LA but the Big Guy pretty much said otherwise. 

When I stepped off the plane, I just knew my life would be different from that day forward. Houston would be my forever-home but the world would become the place I’d lay my head.

I’m proud to say (again) I’m a full-time writer for a extremely popular technology company in Silicon Valley.

I’m excited, I’m nervous, I’m proud. My life is completely insane.

I remember when everyone, including my parents, thought the only route for a Creative Writing degree major would be in education at best. Everyone thought I clearly had lost the last piece of good common sense God gave me. Now look, while I absolutely love and respect teachers, I wanted more beyond the classroom. I wanted the world. No one could see how a person like me could shoot for the world with a less serious title from a non-prestigious univeristy. They couldn’t see it. I could barely see it to be honest. I desired a path that would allow me to be impactful and creative, that’s all I really knew. I fought as a songwriter, I fought as an intern, as a temp, as an admin, and as a retail employee to dream for more. I wanted more. I’ve always wanted more.

Giving up was not an option.

So here I am after climbing and struggling, and climbing and praying, and sinking and climbing. I somehow became a full-time professional creative with insurance, benefits, 401K, and stock in a world of people who look nothing like me. Yes…The girl from Homestead, Houston Texas has stock options. And I’m not wealthy by ANY means, believe me #theseCalitaxes. I’m sure I’ll get there though because I’m definitely working on it and I know it will be a journey. I’m just excited to finally get somewhere in life with my voice and that’s probably one of the most fulfilling things out of this whole adventure…The world gets to hear me and sometimes, they don’t even know it.

I think I mentioned it before that I hadn’t been posting because it took me a little bit of time to move, get settled and gather myself. I had to come to terms with my new life, or at least my life for now, and that there was no turning back. I’m still telling myself, everyday, that there is no going back. I left my family, friends, love and all that to find me. It’s already happening quicker than I could have even imagined.

Have faith in yourself.

I’ve promised myself to be brave. I mean, adults get scared and lonely too. I vowed I would make it back to my beloved South when my assignment was done because I clearly have things to do in the world.

Shoot, in less than 6 months, I’ve worked on national campaigns with my new team, released an EP, met some unexpectedly amazing people, celebrated my birthday, and all kinds of other glorious randomness. I guess I can afford to keep the party going for a bit.

When have you had to be brave? Is there a challenge you just don’t think you can face? Do it, you’ve got it! If you don’t think so, drop me a line. <3

-D.Wright

Hello good people! Oh how I’ve missed you all. We have so much catching up to do – so let’s get this party started.

As some of you might be aware, last week, the Rockets lost in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. And it sucked.

I won’t get into the details of the game but just know we were all nervous wrecks and heartbroken. We were so close to sweet-sweet, amazing, braggadocious victory for our city and it was all stripped away by a freaggin’ funky hamstring in game 5 (get well CP3). Now we have to live through another insufferable matchup between the Warriors and the Cavs. And while being knocked out of the finals is devastating enough, I just happen to now live in the very place that brought us to our demise – the Silicon Valley/Bay Area.

Oh yeah, I moved. That might be a surprise to a few of you and something you might have missed over my 2-month hiatus. I relocated to Northern California to pursue my writing career with a large technology company…ironic right? So now here I am, a Texan in California.

And I need y’all to understand, I’m real a Texan. I’m a super-real Texan. I love BBQ, beer, big hair, shiny things, long chats out on a porch swing with friends, yelling just because I need to relay a message across the room and my Texas teams (not the Cowboys though, sorry Daddy).

Now, I live in Warriorland, where even the transplants support a team they barely even know. And here it is, sure, I will support the Golden Boys and other folks when they’re not playing my guys. I won’t switch teams just because where I currently reside is cool and trendy to love. Oakland nor Silicon Valley raised me – Houston did, and I’ll never forget it.

My love for my Southern roots won’t change with new gigs and digs. There’s no place like home and sometimes I find myself wishing I were back in my old life but I truly look forward to the adventures ahead. I’ll happily live here in Cali…while wearing all the red Rockets things I can find, talking loud, eating tacos, and chugging down margaritas. I’ll do Texas anywhere I go, because – Murica.

The point is I’ll never forget. I’m so proud of where I’m from and so proud that special place made me ready for the world. I’ll be Red Nation in whatever country I live in. You can take the girl out of Texas, but you’ll never take the Texas out of the girl.

Where are you from? Do you carry your hometown pride with you? <3

-D.Wright