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#WednesdayWisdom
"Nothing I accept about myself can be used against me to diminish me. I am who I am, doing what I came to do." — Audre Lorde
Morning Musings
A few weeks ago, one of my Internet friend Alisha Robertson tweeted the following and it resonated with me deeply.
My reply was something to the effect of "in case you're wondering what would compel someone to quit TWO relatively well-paying jobs during a pandemic (while pregnant, no less)."
In case you missed the social media announcement, ya girl is a full-time freelance writer (for real this time). You may recall I took a part-time editing gig earlier this year and while I loved working with the youth and being reunited with some of my favorite coworkers of all time, I couldn't help but feel like something was missing.
Here I was encouraging these young journalists to pursue their purpose and their passion, meanwhile I wasn’t practicing what I preach. Despite my incessant warnings to everyone else not to do this, I was playing it small. I was playing it safe. I was scared to go all in due to fear of failure and lack of financial security (there we go with that scarcity mindset again).
Well, not anymore.
To be clear, there is a lot of privilege that went into this decision and many people to thank. For starters, my parents for taking out loans to help subsidize my undergrad scholarship so I didn't graduate with a ton of debt. And then allowing me to live at home rent-free for years while I paid down my own loans on a very meager reporter salary.
Fast forward to present day and husbae is holding it down at the corporate job with benefits because #HealthcareMatters.
But I'm not going to diminish the ambition, determination and hard work that got me here. Like many of my peers, I graduated into a recession back in 2008 and let's just say I put the "free" in freelancing after the full-time editorial job offer I'd received at my internship was rescinded due to the economy (just weeks before graduation, ugh). And I’ve been freelancing as a side-hustle ever since.
I’ve put in the work. I’ve built my brand and I’ve developed a reputation as an authentic and credible storyteller. To quote Drake, I started from the bottom, now I'm here. And "here" isn't necessarily the top, but I'm doing this writing thing on my own terms.
I'm fully trusting God, trusting my talent and, as the tentative title of my forthcoming self-help book suggests, I'm trusting my dopeness—100% this time.
Love,
L'Oreal
P.s. We're moving next week so I'm extending myself grace by not writing a newsletter. I'll see you in August, friends!
Upcoming Events
July 22: A Conversation on BIPOC Mental Health. I'm teaming up with the wonderful team at Shine to discuss conversation on the importance of recognizing the nuances of BIPOC mental health.
Sept. 15: LT in the City Fall Book Club. Save the date for our next book club meeting. We'll be reading Elayne Fluker's Get Over "I Got It" and we'll be joined by the author herself! Get a head start by checking out our convo in ZORA. Registration coming soon!
Links I Love
1. How to Support a Friend Dealing With Infertility, From Women Who Have Been There (The Lily)
2. The Daily Journal Prompts That Helped Me Curb Anxious Feelings (Vogue)
3. Naomi Osaka: 'It's O.K. Not to Be O.K.' (TIME)
My Latest Obsession
I mean, you see the material. But what I love most about Megan Thee Stallion on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is her unapologetic sexiness. Meg is comfortable in her skin and sexuality in a world that is constantly punishing, shaming or otherwise ridiculing Black women for doing so and for that I love her.
Now Hiring
Executive Assistant for Free Root Operation
Prep Baker for Bon Vivant Cakes
Program Manager for GirlForward
Director of External Affairs for Hollaback!
Advertising Assistant for Poets & Writers, Inc.
Communications Coordinator for The Education Writers Association
Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications for Code Nation
Associate News Editor for Variety
Thank You!
Much love and many thanks to Amber, Kelsey, Alex, Heather, Lindsey and Tamaratare for buying this week's coffee!
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