Some weeks are better than others but nonetheless, I am grateful and I'm continuously practicing gratitude.

This week, I was challenged with fatigued, anxiety, and I wasn't as productive as I would have liked with a few personal projects. But alongside that journey, I was also graced with love, countless amounts of self-care and I remembered to surround myself around those who were good for my mental health.

By the end of Friday evening, I was sitting in my living room eating cornbread, re-creating my vision board and watching documentary after documentary on the royal family; and I gathered my week reflections:

“I allowed myself to open up to someone, erasing the fear of vulnerability ”

Continue To Enhance My Light

"Jenifer, everybody loves you. You're talented, you're fun, you're fabulous. You just come off as intimidating. You need to calm down girl." - Mother of Black Hollywood (Jenifer Lewis)

A title in my summer reading challenge happens to be Jenifer Lewis's memoir - and I tell you, when I read that paragraph, I re-read it, I re-read it. I won't spoil the chapter and/or the outcome of the chapter but I will say, it allowed me to understand that it's okay to be authentically you. There will be some folks that consider you a gem while also categorizing you as a threat in their life.

“I re-visited the idea that people do not mind seeing you do well, not at all - but the celebration stops when their insecurities arise”

Evaluation of Support

I often remind myself of this deep, yet chilling statement: "no one has to support you, but be thankful for the ones that do." I have to remind myself of that when I begin to become sulky and questionable of those closest to me - when I don't receive the support I assume I should be getting and/or the support I feel as though I deserve from those meaningful relationships.

I'm a internal processor but for me I also recognize that there is peace in reaching out for a second opinion to gain clarity on a situation. I usually do this with an honest person who sees me better than I see myself and will correct me where I'm wrong. There are a few moments where I feel as though I can be too sensitive to a situation or not look at the bigger picture. I can admit that.

It meant a lot to me to hear the words, "you are doing more than enough, accomplishing great things and you must realize that just because someone that means a lot to you isn't as expressive as someone who you wouldn't expect does not mean they don't recognize the amazing things your're doing." The stubbornness in me immediately responded with "yeah, I know but ..." Then I began to remind myself of who it is that I am. A person who continuously allows myself grace, self-celebrates and is going to continue to strive regardless of the outcome. So why not grant that same grace.

“Hearing “I’m so proud of you” when you really feel like you aren’t doing enough really does lift a lot of weight off of you ...”

I'm Human

I feel. I have emotions, no matter how much I try to block them out. It's okay to cry, but in the words of Jenifer Lewis "Don't Sit in Sh-t Too Long!" It's okay for me to recognize when I've had enough and I want to voice that. No matter how many times I try to rise above what is reflective, it's okay to communicate how I truly feel. There are people who will remind me that I'm human and that I too am allowed to feel.

I took away a deeper appreciation of the authentic relationships in my life, the importance of honesty with myself and the overall theme of recognizing that I am doing enough without validation.

Current Summer Read: The Mother of Black Hollywood - Jenifer Lewis

If you have some time, please watch this interview below - major gems and wisdom. I'm glad I am reading her memoir and taking away some reflection during this chapter in my life.