Name it to tame it ✅
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#WednesdayWisdom
"it's okay if you can't stop feeling that feeling you're feeling. you're supposed to feel it. let yourself for a few seconds. it will not and can not kill you. you can tolerate the discomfort. a feeling cannot kill you. be kind to yourself ." — Tracy Clayton
Morning Musings
Hello, new (and faithful) subscribers! And welcome to yet another edition of LT in the City Weekly, I appreciate you joining me and inviting me into your inbox.
If you've ever wanted to learn more about me, just know this: I'm a Scorpio, which is full of great traits such a loyalty and passion. But with passion comes jealousy, which is not so great.

I try to downplay this part of my personality, but it's an ugly truth. Most recently, my jealousy got the best of me during a book event at The Wing featuring a certain magazine editor-turned-NYT-best selling author.
You may recall, if you’ve been following for a bit, that “jealousy at a book event” was the impetus for me seeking therapy three years ago. I was at an event featuring Chicago bloggers-turned-authors Samantha Irby and Luvvie Ajayi. And, instead of being super inspired and creative, like I thought I *should* feel, I returned home that night seething with jealousy.
Surely, I would never be good enough or popular enough to attract a literary agent and subsequent book deal. And this was before I’d even fully admitted to myself that writing a book was something I wanted to do in the first place!
This reminded me of an earlier newsletter about . Typically, what’s lying beneath our jealousy are our deepest desires and wishes.
At a recent Bible study, I admitted to my fellow group members that I’d been particularly stricken with jealousy every time I saw another baby announcement on Facebook. And then I felt bad about the way I was feeling, which of course sent me into another spiral of self-pity. Btw, I am QUEEN of the one-woman pity parties.
But after my confession, another group member offered: “you have to name it to tame it.” Acknowledging my jealousy and calling it out took away its power and shame. Feelings are valid. You’re allowed to feel the way you feel. It’s what you *do* with those feelings that matters.
By naming the emotion and getting to the root of the cause, I was essentially able to shorten the length of my pity party (though, to be clear, I still had a *little* one...imaginary drink umbrellas and all).
Jealousy is a bitch. And it has the power to overcome you, but not if you knock it down a peg first. Remember, you’re in the driver’s seat and your emotions are along for the ride.
Love,
L'Oreal
ICYMI
Okay, so this isn't the usual kind of article I share here, but I thought it'd be fun to give you a glimpse into my home. A year ago, my husband and I bought a condo in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood.

Since then, we've done some light reno work to brighten up the space (and by "we," I mean we hired a contractor because millennials). Check out the behind-the-scenes look (and the "after" version of this pic) in this post from our realtor, Melanie Stone. And if you're buying or selling in the Chicagoland area, Melanie is your girl.
#31Daysto1K Giveaway
Thank you everyone who has shared the newsletter with their friends and on social media. I'm happy to share we're at 901 subscribers (thank you, David). So if you like what you're seeing and you want YOUR chance to win the following, please help me get to 1,000 by July 31! As a reminder, one lucky winner will receive:
✨ A 15-minute consulation with me
✨ A $25 Starbucks gift card AND
✨ A copy of my fave personal development books: You Are a Badass and You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero.
Have your friends, family and coworkers subscribe HERE. Thank you in advance!
Links I Love
Bebe Moore Campbell Was the Champion for Mental Health We Need Right Now
Black Women's Historical Wellness: History As a Tool in Culturally Competent Mental Health Services
#AskLT
You've got questions ... and I've got answers (hopefully). In this new column, I share a word of advice on everything from work to wellness and everything in between.
Q: "How do you manage "reverse mentoring"? Sometimes, I can't tell if I'm selling myself short of paid consulting work when an older, more established professional is picking my brain over coffee. They're very complementary and want to learn from me, especially about marketing and strategy from a Millennial/Gen Z perspective, but I don't know at what point I draw the line for charging for consulting work if I'm not getting much out of it." ~ M.
My Latest Obsession

Y'all already know how much I love YA! And the latest from Elizabeth Acevedo, With the Fire on High, is no exception. The second novel from the Afro-Dominican poet and author centers around Emoni Santiago, a bright Afro-Latina student chef and teen mom. Warning: this book will make you hungry.
While reading, I got intense cravings for mofongo and other Puerto Rican dishes I haven't had the pleasure of trying yet. Although I haven't read her debut, The Poet X, yet, I can assure you that it and any other book Acevedo writes will be on my ever-growing TBR list.
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Well, that's all folks. I hope you enjoyed this edition of LT in the City Weekly! Be sure to follow me on the Interwebs using the buttons below or simply click "reply" to tell me what you think. Thanks a bunches!