Why are you here? Well let me tell you why.
Posted April 10, 2020
Starting a blog was not my original intention, interest, or thought for many years. I knew I had a way with words my entire life. I remember being in elementary school and winning awards for my poetry writings. There was even a time when I showed my older sister a poem I wrote, maybe around 8 or 10 years old. She was so fascinated at how I could come up with words so swiftly that found harmony when combined. As I started entering my teenage and adulthood years my writing started to transform. Where I was once writing about a child’s innocence love for flowers soon became the series of many heartbreaks and dark poetry.
The only time I could find the motivation to write was when I was depressed or succumbed by any negative emotion. Jealousy, envy, sadness, hopelessness all found their way to my pen and paper. If I could not find the words to say out loud (which was most of the time) I knew I could express them in writing.
Writing has provided a level of therapy for me to release all my thoughts judgment free. For those who do not know me I am filled with MANY thoughts. Almost as if my mind never wants to rest and sleep is a foreign concept. The poetry started fading out as my reflections started to develop. I would post my reflections on Facebook especially after life altering experiences like Trayvon Martin’s murder, college trials and tribulations, new foreign travel, etc. My reason was to bring awareness to others most of the time. Either bringing awareness to act on injustices or awareness to persevere or try new things. I also had it in the back of my mind that there is a population of people out there whose closeness to these experiences were through my words.
Choosing to be vulnerable and sharing my experiences has been a thought I struggled with for a long time. I would constantly ask my closest friends if they thought it would be a good idea for me to post about my situations. The consensus was always “when you are ready”. Truth is I was never ready. As a person who sometimes wrestles with needing validation and positive affirmation from others, I knew that none of those things were guaranteed if I spoke about my issues. Every post or blog I contemplated making came with a level of risk of sharing parts of me with the world I could not get back. Grounded Truth is just that, being grounded, rooted, and confident in your own truth. I spent years in therapy, shifting my thinking, identifying my triggers all to understand and accept my truth. When it comes to accepting your own truth then it should not matter what others think. If anything, you are being your truest and authentic self regardless of the outcome. That is a very brave thing to do. I think the conversation about self-love and mental health is a message that should be placed on rotation because some days will be easier to accept our truths than others.
My truth is I find comfort and purpose in helping others. Naturally, people always confided in me without me prying for information. As much as I was hurting on the inside many never knew because I knew I was a safe place for others. I find comfort in being valued like any other person, but those individuals found the same comfort in me valuing them and their experiences. My rationale to keep going was if I cannot make myself feel better at least I can make someone else feel good about themselves. Truthfully, it was not always healthy because I was always in a position (professionally and personally) where I was expected to hold it together. How do you do that with the secrets of so many? You don’t!
Grounded Truth was birthed because I wanted to create a designated platform for anyone and everyone who needs motivation, encouragement, or guidance including myself. This is not the land of the broken or boo-hoos. This place is for….
· The strong friend who is tired of being strong
· The mother who questions if she is a good mother
· The college graduate who has to answer “So, what’s next?” with no clue
· The gay man who still has trouble coming out
· The husband who knows you can have therapy AND God
· The teenager struggling with suicidal thoughts
· The teacher with a recent cancer diagnosis
· The graduate student with their millionth job rejection email
· The father grieving the loss of his child
· The millennial trying to figure out who they are
· The sister who feels like the black sheep of the family
· The girl ready to break generational trauma
· The person who knows life is one big soap opera with occasional Beachbody and Carnival Cruise commercials in-between
· Your dog because America loves dogs and it is the easiest way to get everyone’s attention
Basically everyone! There may be moments where there is content that can be emotional. However, the objective in never to remain in despair. I am encouraging nothing short of support, growth, and healing. Acknowledging our most vulnerable self is the foundation for any healing or transition in our next season. Growth is rooted in discomfort. As uncomfortable as being transparent may be for me, I know there is a testimony in all my experiences that has the power to connect with others.
"Acknowledging our most vulnerable self is the foundation for any healing or transition in our next season. Growth is rooted in discomfort. "
Becoming a blogger was a solidified choice when I realized that there were many individuals looking forward to reading my posts. They needed a message and as seldom as I posted it seemed like those messages always came right on time. I do not plan nor want to be this big expert or therapist on this blog. The only expert I am is in my own truth just as much as you are in yours. Therefore, let us grow together, cry together, laugh together, and love together. We need it and we deserve it!