Shayne Perry
Young Black Girl, you've always had this sort of weight on your shoulders. Like you were born tired because the span of time between the last life and this were short lived. I wish you knew to sit it down and let it go. You will be hurt by situations that don't go how you envisioned with people who love you, but it doesn't mean they don't love you. It means people are flawed and that's only natural. These falling aparts won't be your fault, it will be Yah taking what you don't need to make room for what you do and one day you'll understand.
If I could tell you anything I'd tell you to not take so much responsibility. Don't overthink, sometimes it has kept you from smelling the roses. You have an abundance of living, breathing words inside of you. Stories to tell, songs to sing, lives to live. Remember to embrace them. "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of hands of the elderhood. Practice these matters, be in them, so that your progress might be plain to all. Pay attention to yourself and to the teaching. Continue in them, for in doing this you shall save both yourself and those who hear you" -- Timotiyos Aleph (1 Timothy) 4:14-16
Your imagination will serve you best when you finally realize how to best direct it, almost like when you were 17 (your pen will be bad ass, girl!) You have so much to offer, but most importantly to your own self before the world. Never forget how good it feels to just stretch, or sing, or dance, or take a stroll, or pray and have an intimate moment with TMH.
Baby girl, I love you. I love us.
Joi Lanell
Always quiet, paying close attention to your surroundings...The good, the bad and indifferent. Heavily inspired by your hood and the styles worn by the older girls, often taking their looks and putting your own spin on them, & putting on fashion shows in the living room.
Young Black Girl, you had big dreams even back then, quiet but making sure everyone knew “I’m gonna be a boss when I get older” ha..you knew and believed in yourself heavy, no one could tell you any different. Along the way you lost sight of things, your inner child, struggled with self esteem and confidence ..but now, we’ve found her again, young Joi is back, embracing her weirdness, finding her voice and using it, she’s more confident than ever and she is indeed “a boss”.
Olympia Auset
It’s a marathon, not a race & lemme tell you a secret ... in the end we win. So many beautiful women lived, breathed, died just to create the miracle that is you, so its your DUTY to celebrate you beauty and embody your brilliance daily. Never let the world convince you you are less than the gift you are.
Miya Allen
Life is so much fun when nothing makes sense
Dy’mond Johnson
Contribute more than you criticize + always remember, you reap what you sow, not where you sow. Be good, girl
Jordan Danielle
A reflection to little Jo.
You just turned 30 years old, and I’m so proud of you. You have always been so full of love, but you have not always loved yourself. That’s okay, you learned a lot about grace. theres been a change in you, and all of the lessons you’ve learned in the past have carried you through. Youre so much better now. These days, you not only speak of the value of living intentionally, but you’ve been finding ways to integrate intentional living into your daily routine. You’ve released many things, and you’ve carried the good with you into this new chapter of you. You’re showing up for yourself more often and you’re remaining committed to your boundaries. The word “no” once seemed foreign to you, but day by day, you’re becoming more fluent and well spoken in the language. It’s not as scary as it seems, and you’re integrating the word into your daily vocabulary. You’re such a light, and you’ve been created for such a time as this. God chose you, so let your light so shine as it’s supposed to. Remain authentic and continue living with integrity. Just Watch how good lifes about to get. I love you girllllllll.
Czariah
My mother named me Czariah which means Queen, Great Ruler. I think she knew what type of person I was going to be bc I'm a leader in several aspects of my life.
As a child I was quiet and very observative. My life has been a series of both fortunate and unfortunate events but I've prevailed through them with the strength and wisdom of my mother. Everything she poured into me I try to pour into others and as an artist I try to pour myself into my work. I'll always root for peace and be proud of being kind and genuine: even when I get hurt. I figured if I made it here... I can make it anywhere and I mean that both physically and mentally.
De’jah Monai
Dear De’jah,
There’s a lot that I have to say to you. I want to start with
telling you that you are beautiful, you are seen and you are
heard, but most importantly you are FELT. The people around
you can feel you, sometimes silence is ok. You don’t have to
overcompensate for the way that words roll off of your tongue
with conviction. It is not your responsibility to shrink your
brilliance in order to seem more digestible for other people. It’s
okay to choose silence when no one in the room has the
common sense to lean into your wisdom. It is okay to listen
and observe. Take time to understand the inner workings of
humans because it’s deeply connected to your life’s purpose;
leading the way, taking the unbeaten path, and helping
humans get out of their own way.
There is no need to rush yourself. It is okay to be where you
are. You do not always have to be at the top to feel like you’re
doing something. By existing, and being the healing soul that
you are , you are always doing great things. No amount of
shiny things in the form of awards, accolades, or
golden-crusted praise will ever truly make you feel fulfilled. It’s
about loving where you are in any process, during your
journey and appreciating the beauty of life for what it is. I
know that may sound peculiar, when you’re an overachiever,
constantly being put on a pedestal, but it’s okay. You don’t have
to be perfect. You have to fail to win. But it’s how you choose
to overcome losses and challenges that dictate how much you
grow within.
You are beautiful. You are worthy. You are powerful.
I know it can be an uncomfortable feeling of discomfort,
feeling liek you should be farther than you are. You did all the
right things. You went to private kindergarten, excelled in
grade school, skipped 8th grade, graduated as salutatorian at
16 years old, became a first generation college student, and
owner of two businesses. It can be difficult to digest that none
of that really matters. It’s what you take out of each lesson,
what you take from each victory. Those experiences were
preparing you for a life of abundance. It was the universe
asking, are you ready for constant change? Are you up for the
challenge? And you answered yes each time. You did it scared.
You did it tired. You did it heartbroken.
You are bold. You are fierce. You are dope.
Keep doing the hard things. Don’t allow hurtful situations or
relationships to dim your light, harden your heart, or dampen
your self-esteem. You have a heart of gold. Love yourself. Your
skin is perfect. It is brown. It is chocolate. It is beautiful. With
skin like yours in America, love yourself a little harder. Don’t
feed into stereotypes that society may place onto you. It is not
your load to carry.You don’t need to be anybody else but you.
Don’t compare yourself to anyone else because no one is you.
Try not to waste energy comparing yourself to people,
(especially those who wish that they were you.) Instead,
continue to be your authentic self, inspiring and uplifting the
world around you.
You are genuine. You are thoughtful. You are next-level.
You are THAT GIRL. ALWAYS BEEN.
And lastly,
Return the apostrophe back to its rightful place in your name.
It’s not ghetto, you don’t need any opportunity, person, or
space that discriminates against you based upon your name
anyway. There is nothing to be ashamed of. That is your name.
And it is your birthright to be proud of such. Be proud of who
you are. Your name is powerful.
Recognize that you truly are Of God and realize that you are
chosen. Your name even says so. De’jah: ‘De’ means of or from
and ‘Jah’ means God.
Be confident. Be strong. Be you.
Love yourself.
Be the artist that you have always been.
Be free. Be love. Be light. Be the goddess you have always been.
Don’t let anyone allow you to believe that they have the power
to take your light away from you.
Be yourself in all the ways, all the way and always.
Love,
De’jah** Monai