A Response to My 2014 Self

The Architecture of a Decade

May 12, 2026

I’ve been swamped. Between finalizing the details for the September Rendez-vous in Paris and preparing to speak at the Aligned Life Retreat in Arizona next month, my mind has been in two places at once.

But last night, I stumbled upon a digital ghost: a blog post I wrote on February 6, 2014.

I don’t know what made me search for that blog. Perhaps it’s the fact that my anxiety is through the roof due to all the happenings in the U.S., so my sleep pattern is pretty trash. As a result, around 2:00 AM, I had the bright idea to search for my old blog. I asked ChatGPT how to retrieve my old BlogSpot and it told me to go to Blogger.com. I did just that, and there it was.

I created a BlogSpot in college to document my study abroad experiences for my family. I didn’t have Facebook or Instagram back then; blogging was the only way to document my thoughts, feelings, and ideas. It was also a place where I could showcase my photos.

I retrieved my first post after arriving in France for what was to be a study abroad year in Paris. I was a student at La Sorbonne Nouvelle. I had just moved into a Crous dorm room, and I was just beginning to pull at the threads of what I now call Geographic Sovereignty. Below is the full, unedited text of that post. Read it, and then let’s talk about what twelve years of “untethering” actually looks like.

🖋️ The Archive: February 6, 2014

Title: Une Fille Noire à Paris

“As I sit here in my dorm room looking out the window at the large building which reads Samsung, and the freeway to it’s right with all the Parisian cars heading both North and South, I can’t help but to think WOW....I did it! Yes family I made it back to what seems to be one of my favorite places in the world...Paris, France. If you recall during our rendez-vous last summer, I put in the universe that I wished to attend graduate school here for a year. Customarily, the Universe responded and granted my wish however I’m not attending graduate school. I’m attending La Sorbonne University one of most prestigious universities in the world and I’m studying French Language and Literature.
I arrived January 8th (yes this blog is a month late) and for three weeks I stayed with a Congolese family in Chilly Mazarin in the South of Paris. The Congolese family is the family of a dear friend of mine in New York, Martine. In fact she’s more than a friend she’s actually become more like a sister. Long story short she has family in Paris (in fact she has family all over the world) and she connected me with them so I could save money while I waited for my dorm room to become available. Basically guys I was Congolese for three weeks and the experience was unforgettable! I got an opportunity to see up close and personal Congolese language (Lingala), culture and customs.
I often hear people say in the states ‘Oh I don’t like Africans’ and we’ve all heard the negative stereotypes associated with Africans. I attribute this negativity quite frankly to ignorance since from what I’ve observed their culture is one to be admired and emulated. Family is first and education is extremely important, in fact everyone in the house spoke at least three languages! It was pretty remarkable. They took me in as if I were part of their family and they’d known me all my life. When I’d leave for school in the morning they’d pray and they wouldn’t go to bed unless I was home. Every single solitary night, Maman prepared dinner and we’d eat as a family and discuss our day and the news (in French of course).
Because I’m talkative of course I animatedly participated in our evening conversations, but the researcher in me often sat in curiosity wondering what it’s like to be African in Paris. Is Paris really the all encompassing liberal city of the world? Does everyone really have equal opportunity here? Do Africans feel like African Americans in the U.S with regard to equal opportunity? In addition to soaking up all splendid things Paris has to offer, we’re going to be answering those questions during my stay here family. Of course we’ll also be doing some traveling...I’m thinking Senegal, Turkey and Amsterdam to name a few. I’m open for suggestions as long as it’s cheap for me to get there. Okay I’m signing off and I will try to update you every week on my thoughts, travels, research and of course.”

The 2026 Prescription: Answering the Researcher

Reading my words from 2014 feels like looking at a blueprint before the house was ever built. In 2014, I was looking for “cheap” flights and wondering if Paris was “liberal.”

Twelve years later, here is what I now know that I didn’t then:

Is Paris really the all encompassing liberal city of the world? Paris is a city where one can live freely and have a social contract that is clear. Black Americans are free to exist in Paris sans the Invisible Tax of American volatility. Nevertheless, the privilege that comes with being American in France is not extended to those of African descent. As a result, I cannot in good conscience label it as all-encompassing.
Do Africans feel like African Americans in the U.S. with regard to equal opportunity? There are two groups of Africans in France. There are those who are of African descent and have French nationality, and there are those that reside in France but do not have French nationality.
While I would argue that French people of African descent recognize systemic racism, I don’t believe that they would equate their experience in France to the Black American experience in the U.S.
Regarding the traveling that I wanted to do: I spent three weeks in Senegal and did a four-day weekend in Amsterdam. I haven’t made it to Turkey yet, but it’s never too late.

The Architecture of the “And”

That woman in the 2014 dorm room was a researcher; the woman writing to you today is an architect. I stopped asking if the world would grant me equal opportunity and I started building my own.

I created Paris Chic Code because I realized that the answers I found over the last decade weren’t just for me—they were the foundation for a new way of existing. You don’t have to stay in a topography that keeps you up at 2:00 AM with anxiety. You can choose a different social contract. You can architect a life that allows you to be both high-achieving and highly at peace.

If you are ready to move from the dorm room of your curiosity into the penthouse of your sovereignty, let’s begin.

Take the First Step Toward Your Sovereignty

All transitions at Paris Chic Code begin with a Readiness Session. This is our mandatory diagnostic phase where we review your data and your vision . Based on our session, I will personally prescribe the Architecture that serves your future self.

Book Your Readiness Session: Your fee is fully credited toward your prescribed framework. Book Your Session Here
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The Aligned Life Retreat (June): Join me in Sedona to recalibrate your spirit before we build your architecture. Secure Your Spot in Arizona

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