Memories sometimes flood back to remind us of the hurdles we have gone through. They remind us that we are emotional beings, and are not always the strong black woman stereotype that’s painted on the media. The false badge that black women often have to wear, yet they are dying slowly from the inside. Yes, that one.
The triggers could be anything, from reading a story, a movie, or a song. Some triggers may be meeting actual people from our past who make us relive our past. Lately I have had walks down memory lane, that came with meltdowns. That defines me as an emotional being.
Last week I had one such meltdown. Now, it is OK to have such moments. It’s also OK to remember your past, because we are all products of our past experiences. There is a difference between remembering our past and being thankful of the far we’ve come, and always moping about what could have been. The latter makes us lose sight of the process to greatness.
I am grateful for having mentors in my life who acknowledge my pain at such moments, but also make me see the bright side of things. I talked to one of my mentors and she painted the whole negative picture that could have been had things worked out the way I wanted them to. This raises the importance of friends in everyone’s life. We need to have and be reliable friends to help each other at our lowest points.
Today as we celebrate yet another International Women’s Day, my thoughts are:
- We gain strength to move on with life from shedding a tear from time to time.
- True friends are never made uncomfortable by our low moments.
- Everyone needs a friend, a mentor and a confidant. (I have many women who I can give those titles.)
- It’s not always about ourselves, extend help to others. Be a friend, mentor and confidant to someone else. (It always comes back to you full circle.)
- Always talk about your happy times and low times, just make sure you talk to the right people who will never judge you.
Today as we #PressForProgress, let us shed off these negative stereotypes that only oppress us even more. Happy Women’s Day ladies.
Love,
Juls.