Badass Black Girl / You Have a Lot Going for You

“It was when I realized I needed to stop trying to be somebody else and be myself, I actually started to own, accept and love what I had.”

—Tracee Ellis Ross, American actress, model, comedian, director, and television host

Dear Badass Black Girl,

You think I don’t know you, but I do. I see you when your face is stretched by a smile—when you make those around you feel like they are the only people you’ve ever truly smiled at. But I’ve also seen your face when you clamp your lips as if you could trap your sadness inside. And there is a story there—beginning, middle, and end—all laid out within the curves of your mouth. I see you with more possibilities than you could ever imagine.

Unless they get in the way of the talents you do have, please don’t waste time focusing on the talents you don’t have. Don’t even seek to improve them (maybe later). Don’t obsess over your flaws. How many hours will you spend furiously perfecting scales on the piano before you realize playing music is not your forte? Not everyone is Hazel Scott or Nina Simone. You don’t have to be on the dance team if it’s not your thing. You don’t have to know the lyrics to the latest Cardi B. or Nicky Minaj song. You don’t have to be fluent in Spanish. You don’t have to make a mean bread pudding.

Full post found here: https://www.badassblackgirl.com/post/you-have-a-lot-going-for-you