#WednesdayWisdom
"Many think that the time before they “make it” is wasted time. Nah. It’s the time to be bold. To grow. To be daring. It’s the best time - before anyone is looking. Then you’ll realize it’s ALL your time. Whether they look or not, look at yourself. Your own gaze is what matters." — Ava DuVernay
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Morning Musings
Have you ever been casually reading something when you come across a passage that makes you take notice? That was me listening to author and comedian Phoebe Robinson's audiobook, Everything is Trash, But It's Okay. I was sitting on the sofa minding my own business when she casually dropped this bomb on me: "Ya know, I work so hard because I'm trying to outrun death."
Pardon me when I tell you I felt that shit in my SOUL.
She goes on to say: "To my core, this is how I feel, which is partially why I loved the musical Hamilton so much outside of its blatant genius. It resonated with me in a real way because Alexander Hamilton was also a workaholic ... the way the show presented his story made me feel like a mirror was being held up to my fave. At one point in the show, there's a lyric the other characters sing about him that goes, 'Why do you write like you're running out of time / You write day and night like you're running out of time.'"
I'd felt personally attacked when I first heard that song at the musical last summer and know I knew why. I am Alexander. Alexander is me. Okay, maybe not quite the same, but definitely comparable when it comes to work ethic.
In fact, my own husband has made jokes about me being nonstop and even teases me with said lyrics. It's true. My name is L'Oreal and I'm a bona fide workaholic. Sigh. I don't know how we got here. Part of me believes I've always been this way. Part of me has also been learning about unlearning white supremacy culture and "sense of urgency" as one of its defining characteristics.
So why do I write like I'm running out of time? Well, unlike Phoebe, I do believe in an afterlife. And, if you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I was baptized this past Sunday (more on that in a future newsletter, maybe).
I started journaling in earnest when I was 13, with the idea that a) I would like to bequeath them to my future daughter so she can have a better sense of me and my life when I was her age and b) if something ever happened to me, maybe, just maybe, my journals would be published a la Anne Frank.
Now that I'm a professional writer, my stories are part of my legacy. Singers have songs. I have words. And when I'm long gone, I want I believed in and stood for to be known worldwide; thus why I write like I'm running out of time, because I am. Tomorrow isn't promised to any of us, so I'm writing like my life depends on it, because it does.
As writer and biochemistry Isaac Asimov once said, "I write for the same reason I breathe -- because if I didn't, I would die." Writing is my oxygen, I don't know any other way to be or live in this crazy, messed up world of ours. So, to paraphrase Beyonce, "I'mma keep writing 'cuz a winner don't quit on themselves."
Love,
L'Oreal
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IRL
April 2: Ladies, Get Paid! webinar (In honor of Equal Pay Day, I'm sharing my three-step strategy for increasing my salary by $30,000! PLUS, if you attend live, you'll be entered into a drawing for a complimentary 1:1 coaching session. Did I mention the webinar is FREE?)
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Links I Love (WHM Edition)*
- Why Leaning In Doesn't Apply for Women of Color
- How Moving to Spain Changed My Approach to Wellness
- Who's Allowed to Be a Hot Mess?
*Editor's Note: In honor of Women's History Month, I'll be sharing articles written by and/or about Black women.
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Even coaches need coaches. So when I was at a crossroads last fall -- deciding whether I wanted to become a coach, not sure how to launch my coaching business -- I turned to Heather Vickery. I first met Heather when we co-led a retreat for Creative Women's Co. and her presentation on boundaries certainly struck a nerve with me. After learning about her Chaos to Clarity group coaching course, I decided to take the plunge.
More cost-effective than 1:1 coaching, Heather's Chaos to Clarity course taught me the life-changing magic of delegating (which led to hiring my first virtual editorial assistant/social media manager ... hi, Najja!) and charging my worth when it comes to clients. The course includes audio files, a workbook, live group coaching calls and, if you're an overachiever like me and do all your homework, a FREE 1:1 VIP coaching session with Heather!
Click here to learn more and use the promo code LTIC to save $50 on the program (enrollment closes April 17).
*Note: This section contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Please know I only recommend products that I use and love.
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Well, that's all folks. I hope you enjoyed this edition of LT in the City Weekly! Be sure to follow me on the Interwebs using the buttons below or simply click "reply" to tell me what you think. Thanks a bunches!
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