Wild Extremities

"Find beauty in the wild extremities of your soul where sun rarely shines yet beauty grows full."

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*New dope podcast. Swipe left. Link in bio* #wildextremities: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness That most frightens us. We ask ourselves Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small Does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking So that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, As children do. We were born to make manifest The glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; It's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others.”-Marianne Williamson (at Washington, District of Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0rRu7TFmcz/?igshid=izd9272u25s3

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Just a reminder that I have #endometriosis. In case you forgot, I want you to know that this is what endometriosis looks like. Each beautiful face in this picture is what endometriosis looks like -what #strength looks like. We are 1 in every 10 women you know. We are your mother, your sister, your friend. On another note, I started birth control a few months ago and it has #changedmylife. As someone who greatly prefers #holistic medicine, #birthcontrol was my last resort. Clearly, I made it to a rough place. After over 12 years of suffering with #chronicpain, I was at my wits end. I was tired of #fighting. Birth control has allowed me to feel like a regular part of society. I haven’t taken a day off due to my pain in months. It cleared my brain fog and has helped my concentration. With birth control, I occasionally get nauseous, pms twice to thrice a month rather than my normal once a month, and have increased back pain (which has been improving a lot). All things considered, this is one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself. This was just an aside for my holistic sistas afraid of pumping your body with hormones just as I was. You deserve health. Don’t be afraid to try out hormonal therapy if the holistic stuff isn’t properly controlling your symptoms. (at Washington, District of Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByBjG9BFFsG/?igshid=x86wnun0r9uv

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#wildextremities: Dancing on Your Beasts. Yesterday I took my #surgery shelf. To date surgery was the second worst experience in my #medicalschool career following only #Step1 dedicated studying time. I HATE SURGERY. With a passion. Some days I cried. Most days however I questioned my calling. Nearly everyday I was #unfulfilled. I questioned how in the world I ended up in such a predicament as medical school. I wondered if I could see myself doing #medicine for the rest of my life. It’s a crazy thing when you’re so #unfulfilled and sleep deprived that you begin letting the things you weren’t built to do deter you from the things you were. Today during my Psych and Emergency orientations, I felt hope again, #joy again. I was so excited to actually speak to my patients again. I was excited at the idea of seeing humanity in medicine again. I’m about to be a bomb #doctor y’all, but I nearly forgot why. Don’t let your struggles define you. Don’t let it deter you. #Dance on the things that try to eat you and remind them who they are dealing with. You are a king or queen and your calling is sure. Your purpose is expansive, and your trajectory cannot be shifted by any trial that comes your way. Much love, Britney (at Washington, District of Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxdO4lOjz3R/?igshid=1hs69z8mrjwx0

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If you can’t see your friends tonsils, are they even laughing? The best of friends tend to take the worst of pictures. Here’s to many more years of taking awful pictures with you homie. 🥂 #sisterfriends #flowersfortheliving #tbt (at Hyattsville, Maryland) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bwc9J4lFhPL/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=nihrl6tvkk9w

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Sis, when was the last time you let your #soul soar? Like let it go free... Let it grow bigger than your body can contain... ————————- Your organs ain’t never seen this kinda #joy, this kinda motivation. ————————- When last did your spirit go from winter to spring? Go from brittle leaves to tulips bursting? My soul feels like bursting tulips, like recently hatched chicks. It feels like holy water sprinkled on blameless babies. It feels like hunger after mama cooks my favorite meal. My soul feels like love; it feels like peace. It feels like a little bit of ‘I will be better’ and a whole lot of ‘thank ya Lord. ‘ #poetryislife (at Monrovia, Alabama) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvz0bTDF7D9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1e0flrtj76wg6

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Good friend betta than pocket coin. #doctorbae #birthdayqueen (at Dirty Habit DC) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvxH8JtlmR1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1l77wc1mrn736

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#wildextremities: always minority. Happy #doctorsday, y’all! Today’s got me reflective. Though I’m still right about a year away from having my #MD, I found it important to stop and think about what I’ve learned through this medical journey. ————————— Overall, I’ve gained an overwhelming amount of medical knowledge, but the life lessons were the most impactful. I learned about myself and that I am passionate about patient care and hospital infrastructure. I learned that I don’t like ego driven #medicine and how not to accept disrespect from anyone. I learned to define myself by my character not my failures. But one of the biggest lessons I learned was what it meant to be a minority. ——————————— As a black female seventh day adventist future physician, I am always the #minority. Not just because I’m black but because of every adjective preceding physician. This year, I’ve had issues with my school (an hbcu) and my #religion. Pushing back and forth with administration for an entire year on an issue that seems like a no-brainer, has been frustrating, but more than anything it has been enlightening. I’ve realized that struggle simply expands the boundaries of purpose. Each word I used to describe myself has fed into my purpose. Whether that’s being female and advocating for #womenshealth or being an ambassador for women with #endometriosis. (I’m speaking at the Worldwide Endo March here in DC at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on A st at 2pm tomorrow btw 👀👀). Whether that’s being black and starting minority mentorship programs or working towards pipelines for minority students. Whether that’s being seventh-day adventist and fighting for religious rights for all in medical school or simply showing people what my religion looks like and entails. I’m grateful to be a minority amongst minorities. It doesn’t hinder me; it just prepares me for a larger territory. (at Washington, District of Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvmwWxjlDM9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1d4x1b89ghtdf

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Mama Africa. It was a good black history month y’all. #imblackyall #imblackityblack #blackhistorymonth2019 #blackisbeautiful (at Washington, District of Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Buca4v1l4JY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9e7zbddji3nv

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It ain’t even Wednesday yet. #wcw❤️ #lovethyself (at Washington, District of Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuXG2KWlCRn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12dkmv6sf54xw

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#wildextremities: Peds and Prose. #Peds and #Prose is my passion project that I founded in 2018. As a group, we provide #poetry workshops and open mics for kids in the hospital because we believe in the #healing that is to be found in poetry. ——————————————— One of the volunteer services ladies asked me this week if I would be okay if there aren’t as many patients there as I would like. I chuckled a bit as I thought about how this was everything that I could’ve dreamt of. I thought of the tears in the room from patient and caretaker alike during each program we hold. I think about the healing found every time. I chuckled because even if it was only one sick kid who found even an ounce of wholeness during our sessions, God has used me, and for that I’m forever grateful. ——————————————— This week ended up being more of a physical artwork week (as seen in the middle picture ☺️). The drawings were beautiful. The little souls behind the drawings were even more beautiful. Many were shy to share their pieces but smiled as we applauded their art nonetheless. It’s a beautiful space, a vulnerable, and one of the best leaps of faith I’ve ever taken. ————————————- If you’re in the DMV area and you’d like to be a part of this awesome organization, DM me! (at Children's National Medical Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuUpzoNFh7G/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=e8rofabfi9oj

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#wildextremities: @endo_black. This Saturday, I was a part of something that I could be proud of. As one of the 1 in 10 women suffering with #endometriosis, it’s often a battle that I fight alone. Me against my body. —————————————— On Saturday, I was one of the 10 in 10 women in that room fighting the same battle. There’s very little that could be more inspiring. I was late and a bit off kilter that day, but I remembered having to tell myself to breathe and soak it all in because I may never again be in a room full of strangers that know me so intimately. —————————————— I may never again be so privileged to enter such a #powerful room. As they jested about Tylenol #3 being like skittles. I smiled because strength never looked so beautiful. Seeing #blackqueens dipped in yellow with wombs so explosive they couldn’t be held by uteri, was something that felt commonplace in the moment but inexplicable in hindsight. Thank you @iamlaurenrenee for creating @endo_black , for bringing #visibility to our struggle, and a voice to our silent wars often shadowed on bathroom floors and doctors benches. Check out what she’s doing y’all and support because the 1 in 10 is your aunt, your sister, yourself, and we deserve to be heard. (at Arlington, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuHrtHzFi8d/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ezv63pls89tb

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Love you like cook food. #siblinglove❤️ #homesickness (at Ewarton) https://www.instagram.com/p/Btw7o3vFqXK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fr26ejoiqfce

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#wildextremities: Sick and Tired. Today has been the definition of a bad day. I’ve been sick, tired, and sick and tired. I haven’t cried today, but I’ve wanted to for most of it. ———————————————- Starting from Wednesday of last week, I’ve been more Patient Scott than Student Doctor Scott. I’ve been in a constant cycle of ‘If it’s not one thing, it’s another’. And sis is big tired! ———————————————- But isn’t that the beauty of Women Physicians? Strength and beauty embodied. Though today I may mope, tomorrow I will put back on my strength and change lives. I am small but resilient. Pretty but not delicate. Unassuming but unwavering. I’m the heartbeat of medicine, and so are you. (at Washington, District of Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtekHEJF_PP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1v2eztvtbj322

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#wildextremities: Real Niggas Get C. Diff too. ————————————— Pretty sure I have C. Diff guys. You know the bug fabled about in #medicalschool halls- the one they tell us not to get. Yeah, I think I got it. ————————————— Just letting you know that it stinks *pun intended*. So don’t get C. Diff y’all. Don’t get peer pressured into not wearing gloves because your steel immune systemed of an attending didn’t. Don’t not wear the mask when you think the patient might have TB. Don’t just go touching things. You will find yourself with scabies in your intergluteal clefts or even worse, a pseudomembranous colitis, collecting stool cultures in a solo cup and sharting yourself when you laugh too hard. Wash your hands & laugh freely guys, Wild Extremities #medschoollife #whitecoatblackdoctor (at Washington, District of Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtRxGZnljN0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17vph76z2hbyh

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#wildextremities: Lessons of 23. First Picture: 23rd birthday. Other Pictures: Last weekend- 24th birthday. In this past year, though a lot has changed, though I’ve #grown immensely (hear more about my lessons of 23 on my new podcast! *link in bio*), the support and #love I received has be steady and strong. My birthday, for me, is a time to reflect on the impact I’ve made in the lives of my support system and see how much I’ve grown. This birthday made feel like I did a good job at #23. What does your #birthday mean to you? #friendship👭 #growthmindset🌱 (at Washington, District of Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtE0JC9FdCj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12cdcxg8lepgk

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#wildextremities: Be careful how quickly you are willing to dim your light. How quickly you are willing to quench the riot in your soul. The best fruit comes from tilled soil. . . . . #poetrysociety #poetryporn #quotes❤️ #poetsofinsta #poetssociety #selfportraits #advancedselfie (at Washington, District of Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtCH7KxFIWh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gzxsdr6nf6c6

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#wildextremities: free up yuh self. What’s holding you? What’s blocking you from being your best self? From living your best life? What’s burdening you? And why are you letting it? ———————————————- This week I felt kind of heavy guys. Not sure how to explain it. Not sad. Not angry. Just a bit heavy. All week I’ve been praying, releasing, and repeating. I’ve realized that those heavy, often take longer with much more work to reach their finish line. Some of us are heavy with the weight of our goals, some with the weight of the opinions of others, some with our struggles, and some with everything else under the sun. ———————————————— Tomorrow’s my #birthday. In this new year, I’ve decided to live lightly. To back off the heaviness of this life with every chance I’ve got. For me backing off my heaviness looks like prayer. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”-1 Peter‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬ ———————————————— Backing off the heaviness may not look like prayer for you. It may look like yoga, or poetry, or even just talking it out. Irrespective of your means of backing off, I wish nothing short of a feather-light year for you for my birthday- a year where you reach your wildest dreams and explore your Wild Extremities. (at Ocho Rios, Jamaica) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsyxyutBYV2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1isp5jn5bv5s8