The Resilient NPE: An Emergent Concept

A mushroom sitting on top of a tree stump.

It’s Not What Happens to Us. It’s How We Respond Six years ago, I stumbled upon a secret that would forever change my life. In 2018, driven by curiosity about my storied racial and ethnic origins, I decided to take a commercial DNA test. Like many others from the African diaspora, I was eager to…

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‘Tis The Season Of Réveillon: My Cultural Holiday Tradition

A person holding sparklers in their hands.

Originally published by Culturs Magazine. Like many in the U.S., I have been watching cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies.  Yes, I readily admit I am among the millions who tune into these formulaic films, especially now that they and other networks are introducing more BIPOC characters and storylines. These are usually set in small towns and…

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Family Genetic Secrets Revealed: Who Am I Now?

A group of people standing around a table.

Originally published by Culturs Magazine. In the early summer of 2018, I received my highly anticipated results from a home genetic testing kit purchased through AncestryDNA.com. I became very excited and couldn’t wait to see my results. From a very young age, I would hear stories about my family’s diverse, multiracial and multiethnic backgrounds –…

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How Netflix’s ‘Queen Cleopatra’ Sparked Allegations Of ‘Blackwashing’ And A Conversation Over Culture, Race And Identity In Modern Egypt

A night sky with the milky way in the background.

Originally published by Culturs Magazine. The world recognizes ancient Egypt as a civilization characterized by its openness to other cultures. It was a melting pot of different civilizations and ethnicities, and one of the ancient world’s premier civilizations because of its legendary history, culture, art and ethnic fashion. The nation also was a crossroads where…

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Yuletide Around The Globe: 9 Holiday Traditions

A wooden table with christmas decorations on it.

Originally published by Culturs Magazine. In last year’s holiday column, I wrote about one memorable customs, cuisines, traditions, and practices in my Louisiana Creole home culture of New Orleans that were created though a myriad of enchanting and global crossroad cultural traditions that have been passed down through the generations in my family. I received feedback…

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Navigating The Winter Blues: An Adult TCK’s Guide To Embracing Mental Well Being Through The Winter Season And Beyond!

Originally published on Culturs Magazine. This article aims to delve into the multifaceted aspects of being global nomads and its impact on our psychological well-being, including shedding light on the gifts it bestows and the challenges it presents. More importantly, it offers insights and practical strategies to effectively navigate these mental health nuances that come…

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Embracing Summer’s Light

A sunset over the ocean with waves crashing on it.

As I sit looking out the window of my Houston, Texas home office on a beautiful summer’s day, observing a bright blue sky and an abundance of beautiful trees gently swaying with a small breeze passing through, I find myself vividly reminiscing about my great grandmother Bella’s front porch. Perched atop creaky wooden steps and…

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Unthought Known: Navigating the Unseen Impact of NPE Revelations

A wooden bridge in the middle of a forest.

Influential psychoanalyst and writer, Christopher Bollas coined the term “unthought known“ to describe those deep-seated, unconscious truths that influence our lives without our direct awareness. These latent truths can be profoundly disorienting when brought to light, as many Not Parent Expected (NPE) individuals have discovered. I first encountered this term during a panel discussion that…

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