Bee In The Bonnet

In life, obstacles always stand between us and our goals. If it’s an iceberg, start at the bottom. If it’s a boulder, chip away at it. If it’s a mountain, go around it. If it’s a door, open it. And if it’s locked, make a key. If it’s an ocean between where you are and where you want to be, grab a life jacket. Progress is a process. Even baby steps will get you places. At the beginning of the journey, there are no rewards—but the results will unveil themselves at the end. Like a planted seed, growth takes time. Nature isn’t formed overnight; it requires sunlight, water, and care. Obstacles, too, are part of that natural process, shaping us as we navigate them. With patience and persistence, what seems insurmountable today can transform into the foundation of tomorrow's success. © 2025 Priestess Ziona. All Rights Reserved.

I have little patience for those who assume they know me, especially when their judgments rest on stereotypes about my identity as a young, Black, queer woman with Mental Health. People often try to box us into narrow categories conjured from ignorance. If human nature is inherently hypocritical, we must accept that no one can fully understand us, not even ourselves. We are always evolving, always growing. So why should we allow others to define us? Our worth should never be tied to shallow societal standards or material possessions. True value is not found in what we own but in who we are. It’s not about how much money you have or what you can bring to the table. Your value isn’t determined by the brand of shoes you wear or the designer bags you own. When you attach a "value" to who you are, you risk becoming just another commodity to be bought and sold. The things that truly matter (authenticity, integrity, love) cannot be purchased. Yet, too often, we live in a world that ...

I’ve been battling chronic pain for 16 years. Long enough to know that pain isn’t just physical, it’s emotional, mental, and deeply personal. For a long time, one of the biggest lifelines in my pain management was weekly massage therapy. For 16 months straight, my health insurance covered it as a medical incentive, and honestly, it helped keep me functional. When that incentive was discontinued, everything shifted. My doctors and I fought hard to get it reinstated because pharmaceutical technology wasn't doing much for me and in some cases, was creating more risk than relief. When the massage therapy stopped, my pain intensified, my sleep deteriorated, and eventually, I spiraled into a deep depression. I was out of work for a month just trying to recover and regain some sense of strength. That period was heavy… and humbling. After seeing three different pain specialists, I was officially diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread mu...

  I liked to think of myself as a “WallFlower Child”. A “WallFlower Child” is a person that was desensitized by exposure to adult activities. This is why people do not curse, smoke, or use adult language around children and we tell them “Stay out of grown folks' business” “Stay in a child’s place” “Don’t grow up too fast” However taboo and rare, I was exposed to tons of adult content and experiences at an early age. I was always curious and observant in these adult settings. I was raised by a village of drug-abusing addicts, alcoholics, drug dealers, gang members, convicts, pimps, prostitutes, mental illness, and violence. We called it “THE FAMILY CURSE” I also identify as an empath. When I was seeing drugs on the tables, drunken fights, self-harm, and other dysfunctions by my elders, I absorbed all this energy and could FEEL and WITNESS to the emotions, the power, and the weakness in the environment. I felt the pain, anger, resentment, sorrows, grief, and stress of the adults arou...

  Ageism feels like a generational curse, with elders often projecting their differences in opinions, lifestyles, and eras onto younger generations. We hear it all the time: "Back in my day..." "These kids today..." or "You're too young for that." It’s ironic because while elders criticize the younger generation, they often forget that we were raised by them. If they were so perfect, where did things go wrong? Could it be envy of youth or a need for self-preservation? Growing up, adults constantly told me, “Don’t grow up too fast,” or “Enjoy being a kid.” Many children naturally strive for independence, mirroring the adults around them. It's not always about wanting to be "grown" or envying adulthood; it's about embodying freedom, maturity, and respect . I was one of those kids caught between wanting to be both young and grown. I was curious—how do adults make money, find food, cook dinner, and provide shelter? It’s a natural part of...

We guard our hearts against life’s uncertainties, but sometimes, even the smallest unexpected moments can remind us of the walls we’ve built and the weight they carry. Like waiting for a phone call from a love interest, the phone rings…and it’s someone unanticipated, like your doctor’s office.  The feeling you get is a mix of disappointment, a hint of grief, and a taste of sadness. "We wait like Godot, for change that’s delayed, Hours stretch like years, in the dark, dismayed." "The mountain looms, but no summit appears, Still, each push uphill conquers some fear." It reveals why we have a guard, why it’s hard to bring it down, and how it becomes enforced and difficult to break. It often symbolizes protection, isolation, and control. The phrase "having a guard up" is a common metaphor for the emotional barriers we create to shield ourselves from hurt, rejection, or vulnerability. It reflects both a defense mechanism and a coping strategy, rooted in fear, ...