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#WednesdayWisdom
"When I stand in the fullness of my truth and power, everyone around me benefits." — Jamila Reddy
Morning Musings
Last Wednesday, I had the immense privilege of being in conversation with the Shine App community once again. You may recall I moderated their virtual Q&A with author Jen Sincero back in January and last week, in celebration of Black History Month, I facilitated a dynamic and life-giving conversation with two of their meditation hosts — Mel Chanté and Jamila Reddy — about taking up space. Powerful doesn't even begin to describe it.
During the call, I asked how they pour into themselves and Jamila's comment about making sure their cup is overflowing really stopped me in my tracks. I know that you can't pour from an empty cup and yet, as an empath, I'm often running around out here with an empty cup — pouring into everyone and their mama.
Sure, I've got my morning routine/self-care ritual. I pray. I yoga. I meditate. I do all of The Things, and yet they never feel like enough. By the time I get to 3 o'clock (or sometimes earlier), I'm zapped. I am no longer able to can. I simply cannot.
The glass isn't even half full or a third of the way full. It's bone dry, no droplets. All of the water just straight up evaporated. I've been so focused on simply filling my cup that not once did the idea of overfilling it ever enter my mind. Consider me gobsmacked. And yet it makes so much sense.
If we're pouring into ourselves and then immediately pouring back into others, our families, our friends, our communities, our work, our projects, then naturally we're going to be running on E.
I want to create the "delicious" life experience Jamila described on the call, one that is rich and overflowing with goodness. I want that for all of us, but especially Black women. Because we deserve.
Love,
L'Oreal
ICYMI
When I first met Eva Maria Lewis, she was a young, outspoken Girl Scout. While we quickly formed a mentor-mentee relationship, it soon became clear to me that I had so much to learn from her. Despite both of us being writers, we’d never formally been in conversation as such … until now. Here, in her own words, 22-year-old Eva Maria Lewis shares her story.
Links I Love
1. Megan Thee Stallion and Representative Maxine Waters on Misogynoir, Saying No, and the Genius of WAP. Proving that Black women are everything at every age. (Harper's Bazaar)
2. Cardi B Gets a Pep Talk from Mariah Carey. What can I say? I'm into Black women interviewing other Black women. Plus, I need Mariah and Cardi to drop that bra line and collab like yesterday. (Interview Magazine)
3. Take Your Full Lunch Break. Schedule Your PTO. In case anyone else (like me) also needs this (weekly/daily/monthly) reminder. (ZORA)
My Latest Obsession
Black History Month. Women's History Month. Black Women's History Month. It's all the same over here. Did I buy two Stormy Nesbit x Forever 21 sweatshirts? Yes, yes I did. And this one is actually in stock!
Now Hiring
Summer Journalism Residency for Injustice Watch
Multicultural Communications Manager for Google
Manager, Global Brand Strategy for Peloton
Senior Health & Food Editor for Well + Good
Communications Senior Associate for the Obama Foundation
Artisan Marketing Coordinator & Communications Coordinator for RefuSHE
Associate Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer for Loyola University Maryland
Communications Associate for Black Futures Lab
Thank You!
Thank you to Susan, Onicia, Tamika and Erin for purchasing last week's coffee. We're now 61 supporters strong! To celebrate, I've pulled some webinar recordings from the vault and added them to the Extras page.
There's a guide to pitching for freelance writers and a crash course in salary negotiation. Purchase them for yourself or share with someone who could use the info!
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