THANK YOU FOR ALL THE BIRTHDAY LOVE!!! I’m so damn blessed to have BOTH people I know and don’t know show me the love that I’ve been receiving!!! Y’all are AMAZING!!! To my family and friends I’m still going through texts and DM’s replying so don’t cancel me if I haven’t replied back yet. Cause I will cry 😩😂 I love y’all 🖤
June 5th, A Birthday of reflection and gratitude
This has been a beautiful and life changing year for me. My New Year resolution for 2024 was to stop hiding. This is the most visible I’ve ever been in my life. I didn’t know when I made the resolution the amount of healing I was getting ready to endure. Ripping down walls that I’ve built to protect myself and lighting fire to the words of others that’s been holding me captive can be painful and it came with a lot of tears and prayers. I’ve learned the beauty in staying true to myself, knowing who I am and walking into each room as Darnell Appling! I tried to hide so much of myself outta fear. My defense mechanism is to disappear and hide. Zendaya said something to me that I will NEVER forget. She said “You are hiding the best parts of yourself. Everything you’re hiding is your super power. It’s what makes you special and why everyone loves you” 🥹 I was hiding the fact that I’m sensitive because I didn’t want people to think I was weak and take advantage of me. I was hiding the fact that I am a lover because nobody wants the good guy. I was hiding the fact that I’m nurturing because people are gonna automatically think I want something from them. I was hiding the fact that I wanted to be in love because this generation just wants sex. I allowed the world to silence me and push me into hiding. The one thing I didn’t hide was my love for God. That is what carried me throughout each season. That’s the light everyone was drawn to. I’ve always been honest and upfront when it comes to my relationship with Christ. My life is constantly evolving and I stand here on this birthday a much better man than I was a year ago. A softer man, a man who knows what he wants, a compassionate man, a vulnerable man, a God fearing man, a man of humility, a man who wants genuine love, a man who still has fears but is willing to face them instead of running and hiding. I am beyond excited for this next chapter in my life and grateful for my village ♊️🖤
Being a lover will have you misunderstood in this cold, cut throat generation BUT one thing that has given me peace is knowing God is Love whoever lives in love lives in God and God lives in them 🖤 Keep Loving 🫶🏾
Happy Heavenly Mother’s Day to the two women who raised me as a team! My mother and grandma! The two strongest women I know! My grandmother was my best friend! We literally talked about everything! Her love towards me was so unconditional and pure. Shes the reason why I’m so nurturing, caring, loving and stubborn. She was a Virgo 😂 She taught me the power of prayer. She prayed over me daily and told me “Son, don’t let this world change you, YOU change the world” she also told me “Stop walking with your head down. Lift your damn head up when you walk” I know for sure my grandmother’s prayers are still protecting me and guiding me on this journey.
I watched my mom battle lupus my whole life. Being in excruciating pain and not saying a word and still raising 3 kids as a single mom. She was tough but sweet… very forgiving. I didn’t understand her and she for damn sure didn’t understand me 😂 so it caused some friction in our relationship. I was a protector ✊🏾 our relationship wasn’t perfect but that was my momma. We would sing Whitney Houston’s Preachers wife Album from start to finish at the top of our lungs. The second slide is a voice mail she left me right before she passed. You’re right Ma you are home and I don’t have to worry. I love you both 🖤 RIP Ma and Grandma
Talked about Challengers and How my love for entertainment came from Steve Urkel @jaleelwhite when I was 4 years old with Code M Magazine for the May Issue 🙏🏾🙌🏾
WOW!!!!!!! 🥹
My cousin Jericka has ALWAYS been in my corner rooting for me!!! My whole family has been holding me down, standing 10 toes surrounding me with joy, happiness and words of encouragement! Having my cousin talk about little ol me on the CBS morning show has me over here in my feelings. It’s special! Thank you God for all of this LOVE! My WHOLE life I thought I was invisible only to find out people have been paying attention and cheering me on this whole time.
Jeremiah 29:11
Philippians 4:13
