Figuring It Out…

In full transparency, I’m having a hard time figuring out how to transition, both on here and on Instagram, from posting about what is going on in our world in regards to BLM to other types of content.

I hope it goes without saying that while you’ll start seeing “regular” content from me, that doesn’t mean that I won’t use my platform in a way that also reflects what’s going on in the world. It’s an incredibly hard time to navigate and I’m very aware that I cannot please everyone and that’s okay. To be completely honest, this is not the time that I’m going to ask “so, what do you want to see?”  I need to do what feels right to me. I’m so fortunate to have a platform and a loyal following and I cannot go about my business without using it to support and stand by the black community.

I’m not going to make it heavy, but I’ll continue to share businesses that are new (to me) and that I’m excited about. I’ll continue to share stories and content creators that inspire me. I’ll continue to share conversations that are important. Rather than dedicating a week, it’s going to be weaved into my content in a way that feels true and authentic to me. I hope you all can understand and welcome it.

Last week, I had someone ask me the below question:

Initially, I was planning on sharing my reply on Instagram stories, but then I decided that I wasn’t trying to make last week about me. Last week wasn’t the time.  With that being said, I’m sharing today because I think it’s an extremely valid question.

I cannot speak on behalf of anyone else, but for me, last week did feel different. I’ve been friends and around black people my entire life. Up until college, I went to schools and lived in neighborhoods in which the majority was black.  However, I’ve never felt there be such an open dialogue about everything that is going on. It might be age and maturity, it may be the time and the conversations that needed to happen, but it feels different. Admittedly, I’ve never felt comfortable asking my black friends certain questions. I assumed some topics were off limits and it wasn’t up to me to bring it up or my place to ask. I worried that I would offend or say/ask the wrong thing. The more I think about it, the more I’m upset at myself for not having the courage to ask. Through all of this, I’ve realized that certain conversations are encouraged. I know it’s not anyone’s responsibility to teach me (or any of us) about black history, but as @thenorthernbelleofthesouth said in one of her stories, we can learn the history, but we cannot learn the emotions and pain that has been  felt. Listening and having these conversations, even when so difficult, has allowed me to empathize on a completely different level. The conversations  that I’ve had over the last few week have been so eye opening and many have bought me to tears. There needs to be communication in any healthy relationship and for the first time, I feel like many of us are actually having the conversations that are needed.

I’m going to start weaving in my other content, but from the bottom of my heart, please know that the conversation is just getting started. Even as far as the digital/blogging/social industry is concerned, I hope to see a lot of positive changes take place. Changes that are long overdue.

xoxo,

Helena