I took a weekend to breathe before #WomanEvolve24, learning to prioritize myself over others’ expectations. It turned out to be one of the most incredible weekends of my life. I took my youngest son, his wife, my grandson and my sister to our paternal family reunion, where we met relatives I never knew existed. 

My grandmother never spoke of her husband’s siblings, especially after he was murdered by racists in Mississippi when she was 22 and pregnant with my uncle. Discovering this hidden part of our history was overwhelming. We found hundreds of cousins from Phenix, Alabama, visited the graves of our ancestors—sharecroppers and enslaved people—and discovered a family lineage full of preachers. We laughed, cried, and ate too much. 

At my age, I never thought I’d uncover these missing pieces of our story. Reuniting with family was life-changing. Family is everything, imperfections and all. Reconnect if you can. #JakesForLife