You are Somebody: Black Fur Coat+Bodycon Dress

Photographer-RaeAnn Walters

Coat-Missguided | Dress-Zara | Shoes-Aldo | Glasses-Warby Parker

I am somebody important and so are you! I felt powerful, strong, and confident while wearing this outfit and I think those feelings translate through these pictures. The color black always makes me feel powerful. I feel like God has molded me, breathed new strength into me, and has given me a stronger sense of confidence in some ways over the past year. 2016 was a great year, not because it was easy but because I made it through many obstacles feeling wiser, stronger, and empowered. I chose to replace my complaints with statements of gratitude and positivity. However, I felt like I lost some momentum in the last quarter of 2016. Yes, I continued to speak positivity over my life and the situations I experienced, but there were times when I started doubting myself and my capabilities. I allowed my weariness and feelings to get the best of me at times. The majority of 2016 was a great year of living. It has been the most enjoyable year of my life. However, there were times during the last quarter of the year where I felt like I was so busy existing and surviving that I neglected to make time to truly live. By live I mean do things for my personal growth and enjoyment. 

November and December were the months where I [once again] started pushing back deadlines for personal projects I dreamed up and began viewing the goals I set for myself as unattainable dreams. I felt like I needed some guidance and motherly support (because I like to think my mom knows everything even if that's not quite true) and she told me to give my goals and desires to God in prayer. She also told me to seek direction from God. I've been spending more quality time with God and I must say that this year is off to a great start. I don't know where God is leading me but I intend to follow Him because I know He's leading me somewhere great. We're a few weeks into this year and God has truly been blessing me abundantly. These blessings has come in the form of timely gifts as well as lessons. I know 2017 is going to be a powerful and interesting year for me, not because of what I'm doing but what God is doing with me, through me, and for me. I'm excited to experience the wonderful things that God and I are going to accomplish together !

To all my millennial readers, this blog post was written with you in mind. I know I'm not the only one who feels weary and stuck at times. Sometimes we feel like we're on the top of the world and other times it seems like the world is against us. Being a young person is hard! I've found that surviving is easy as long as you have a job that can pay your bills and afford your needs. However, thriving takes more time, care, motivation, and endurance. For me, thriving is being able to afford all my needs, most of my wants, and being able to dedicate time to doing all the things I love. Thriving is not being stagnant. Thriving is living a dream that was once a distant goal. Thriving is being successful and you define your version of success! Let's aim to thrive in 2017 and support one another. If we see someone struggling, let's help. Let's motivate and encourage one another. Let's check in on each other and hold one another accountable for accomplishing our goals. Let's win together instead of competing. There is room for all of us to shine. Let's own the people that we are and become better versions of ourselves everyday.

One thing I started doing in 2016 and feel more strongly about this year is owning all parts of myself and everything that comes with being me. One thing I'm owning more this year is the fact that I wear glasses and depend on glasses to see clearly. I've been wearing glasses most of my life but often take them off when being photographed because I used to feel that my glasses had the power to mess up a good picture. However, my glasses are an extension of my eyes and very much a apart me. How can I not love them in pictures when I love them at all other times to help me see? So this year I decided to challenge myself to take more pictures with my glasses. I need glasses to see and I own it!

Finally I want to share this poem in you. One of my teachers in elementary school, Ms. Wormack, made myself and a group of other female students read and recite this poem every day. This poem made me feel empowered then and empowered now. I am somebody. You are somebody!
I AM SOMEBODY
I am responsible for my behavior, the results of my behavior and what I become in life.
Life does not accept excuses. I won't give any.
I will not let my need to be accepted by the gang keep me from doing what is right.
I AM SOMEBODY!
I am unique. There never has been and never will be another person like me.
I don't have to pretend to be something that I am not.
I AM SOMEBODY!
Losers let it happen - winners make it happen.
Therefore, when faced with a mountain, I will not quit!!
I will keep on striving until I climb over, find a pass through,
tunnel underneath, or simply stay and turn the mountain into a gold mine!
I will do my best! I know I can!

I AM SOMEBODY!!!

4 comments

  1. OMG I remember this poem from when I was a kid too! You have to go easy on yourself and remember that you can only do what you can do and nothing more. BTW you are slaying in that outfit.
    xx | A

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    1. Yes this poem is one of my favorites! Thank you for your kind words Anatasia!

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