Are you an influencer or are you influential? 💁

#WednesdayWisdom

"Everyone wants to be an influencer. Not as many people want to be truly influential." —Lauren Ash

Morning Musings

As I write this, it's 9:38 p.m. on Tuesday and I must have changed topics at least three times. While catching up on the list of articles I have saved in my Pocket app, this post by Lauren Ash, founder of Black Girl in Om, spoke straight to my soul.

Let me back up to approximately 6 p.m.: after getting five hours of sleep, waking up at 5 a.m. for no reason, a busy day full of back-to-back meetings and an after-work networking coffee meeting, I tried to tune in to this week's #BGIOMindful Twitter chat to support my girl Melissa Kimble, founder of #blkcreatives. But I fell asleep on the bus because exhaustion.

Then I get home and face-plant on the sofa in the hopes of catching a few zzz's before calling my career coach at 9. At about 8, I pry open my laptop to get to work on this here newsletter only to discover that she sent an email asking to cancel because she's not feeling well. Won't He do it?! With this *extra* time on my hands, I settle in to read Lauren's post about becoming a Nike trainer. 

Originally, I had it slated for a "Links I Love" article, but after reading it, I knew I had to do a deeper dive. In this era of social media, our society puts more weight on "likes" than the actual meaning behind our work. And, like Lauren, I aspire to be influential more than I want to be an influencer.

If I can inspire just ONE girl or woman to live her best life, pursue her passion and accomplish her goals, that would mean more to me than all the "likes" in the world. The part of Lauren's post that especially punched me in the gut was this:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you ..." — Marianne Williamson

Check out the entire post here and prepare to be inspired.

Love,
L'Oreal

ICYMI

So despite having written about web series in the past, I don’t really watch them. Like I’m pretty sure I’m the only awkward Black girl who’s never actually seen an entire episode of Awkward Black Girl. I know, I know. Sorry, Issa! But something about MENACE, “an Instagram microseries” based in Chicago, caught my attention. Learn more in my latest for HelloGiggles.

Links I Love

8 Reasons You Should Use Your Sick Days When You're Totally Not Sick: Because everyone can use a mental health day every now and then and again, amirite?!

How to Admit You're Overwhelmed at Work: We need to stop glorifying burnout and get back to basics, y'all.

No, You Don't Have to Feel Grateful All the Time. Here's Why: Your emotions are valid. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

My Latest Obsession

Now you know a book is good if I haven't finished reading it, but I'm singing its praises here. If you have not yet read The Hate U Give, the debut YA novel by Angie Thomas, please stop reading this newsletter and go get it now. I promise that you will NOT regret it.  The Hate U Give is about a Black teen girl who is catapulted into activism after witnessing the police shooting of her unarmed Black guy friend. Sound familiar? Thomas' account of the events that unfold afterward is raw and poetic at the same time. And word on the street has it that Amandla Stenberg is set to portray the main character in the film adaptation of the novel, which is sure to be a must-see.

Now Hiring

Editor for GIPHY

Teen Programs Manager for Step Up

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Well, that's all folks. I hope you enjoyed this of LT in the City Weekly! Hit me up on the Interwebs below or simply click "reply" to tell me what you think. Thanks a bunches!