5 Things You Don’t Know About Me

I started giggling when thinking of the five things that I wanted to share with you for a number of reasons. For one, I wanted to risk a lil’ embarrassment in the process. To actually share something that I wouldn’t otherwise share. For two, I felt like I was in pajamas at a sleepover with a room full of homegirls about to tell a secret.

I wasn’t always the girl with a bunch of friends. I had a few homeboys and my journal, and that was that. Yeah, you need writing, but you also need women. Both are spaces in your spiritual journey to undress, profess, and confess (amen?)

One of my favorite girls and fellow #RadicalSelfie coach, Akilah, actually popped this 5 things UOENO about me off. I cracked up laughing while reading her list and decided to make my own. Here ’tis:

1. I’m just now reading I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.

Pick your chin up. I know. I’m late. But you don’t get to it until you get to it, right? Yeah, I had the opportunity back in school, but I didn’t like being told what to do and that includes what to read. Shrugs. I’m here now though, about a quarter of the way in.

2.  I still have writer’s doubt sometimes. 

I used to feel inadequate to be a writing coach because of it, but now I see it as all the more reason to. If I can get over the fears of bad reviews and rejections, then I promise you that you can. Although I have to consciously remind myself of it, the truth is: Doubt is actually pretty damn good fuel to do a good job. The problem, most times, is not what you produce. It’s the procrastination. We put off what we dread, but if you commit to it anyway, then you’ll see that it’s actually pretty easy.

3. I’m known to leave when I ain’t feeling it. Quick.

Even in my churching days, if the pastor said something I didn’t like or was holding us for too long, I was out of there. Between the ages 14 and 19, I held at least 14 different jobs. Talk to me crazy and I was out of there–either on the spot or I disappeared after the break. Birthday dinners, dates, meeting mamas, family reunions, etc. And I like to dabble. I may visit a book club, like it, but never come back. Might participate in an ongoing girls’ night for three Sundays in a row, then stop coming. Ain’t nothing against them, it’s just me. I’m a Pisces; too much ocean out here.

4. I also considered being a stripper. 

My friend came to see me in New Orleans and wanted to hit some strip clubs. I’m an open book and often assume that the rest of the world is too. I asked the dancer how much she makes and I don’t remember the exact figures, but a good night made my eyes pop and a slow night was about the same as my bi-weekly paycheck. I made an appointment to audition, but never showed up.

5. Me and my daughter twerk for fun (and exercise). 

It’s judged on social media, I know. But in our house, it goes down. Music is playing most of the time anyway, and when that beat drop, sometimes you don’t have a choice. In the same way that Maya stopped talking, I stopped dancing for years. Trust me when I tell you, women need it. Sometimes we bounce (New Orleans style twerking), otherwise we belly dance, break dance (or at least pretend to), or whatever else our bodies feel like doing. #DivineFeminine #BlackCulture

What’s your five things? I dare you to blog it. If you don’t have a blog, then list it in the comments here. Yeah, I’m nosey like that.