Are you ready to let go, with me?

I have a small back story to tell you, to add a little context…

Yesterday, I went live on IG for my Nail Polish Company’s anniversary! As I was preparing for the live, it hit me… this my first time going live in the entire year! I spent an entire year, hiding behind my brand; THAT WAS NOT OK. I had to ask myself; WHY?

As doing all the self-explaining I was able to take all of the excuses and deduce them to one reason;

• Fear

I was afraid. I was afraid that if people saw me, they would judge me by my hair or my skin color. I felt this, because I knew a large part of my market was non-black women. I also knew that there are many people who don’t like people who look like me; so I didn’t show my face. I allowed my product and photos do the talking.

The reality is, I need to show my self. I needed to let go of the fear and doubt and truly live out loud! I was allowing myself to hear so many excuses, that reasoning took the place of the true problem. So I’m challenging myself now to no longer live in the shadows. I am pushing myself to stop hiring other people and be the face of my brand, because it is my passion.

My tribe will come continue coming.

I said all of that to say… sometimes you have to just let go and DO! The live went amazing and I’m excited for the next one!

Whatever you are afraid to step out and do right now, I urge you to just DO IT! Stop thinking so much on it; and just do :-)

Peace and love to you!

What is my role in change?

I have oftentimes found myself confused at how to merge my personal, professional, and passions into one. Especially, with the current political racial climate we are living in. What intrigues me the most with it all, is the fact that I know we have been living in this reality for some time… but so many others didn’t. Which then makes me wonder if I am a part of the problem for not sharing more of that side of me on my many platforms?

Now that I wrote that out, I can’t help but wonder what was the reason for me TO NOT share that side of me more? Was it because of the color of my skin?

I meeeeeeean, you can just look at me and tell I am a black person. If you are in America… YOU HAVE to know what it has been like growing up in this country…… but then I woke up

I woke up from the dreams and nightmares of silence and reading with a candle.

Truth is, I’m tired of marching and protesting. Don’t get me wrong, I believe they are very important to the movement of change… BUT…. I don’t think that is my place in the movement. We all have a different role… Yah know… who’s gonna watch the kids while people are on the frontline?

Maybe this is why I never really discuss super “pro-black” posts. Maybe I was afraid that if I isolated my network, I would then turn away those who didn’t know or understand me. To my surprise, I’ve come to learn that tactic wasn’t very helpful either.

Here I am.

Me.

Unapologetically Black…. as I always have been.

But to many, I guess it’s not real if it’s not on social media ***shrugs***