Authentic. Unapologetic. Free.

2021 is here.

I took a break from blog posting in December and I took the last week of 2020 and the first week and a half of 2021 off for vacation. I intentionally wrote no blog posts, limited interaction with social media though I did share photos from my vacation in Playa Del Carmen and Isla Mujeres with members of my Facebook group and on my IG feed. 

I got to get lots of Vitamin D and spent time thinking what is important to me and what I hope to achieve in 2021. I contemplated what is most important to me right now.  In a conversation with a dear friend who accompanied me on my 2 week vacation, we talked at length about what happiness looks like for us as Black Women. And these three words are what resonated:

Authentic

Unapologetic

Free

I have always sought to be authentic in everything I say and do. To say what I mean and mean what I say. To tell the truth even when it makes me or others uncomfortable.  I have been criticized for it professionally and personally but my authenticity is what makes me – me.

I am also unapologetic about my views and what I believe. While I do not seek to intentionally hurt anyone, I do not shy away from saying things that others might sometimes find jarring, shocking, or very direct. Professionally this has been always frowned upon by white counterparts, especially white women, but I am frankly – unapologetic about it.

American society suffers from the disease of artificial harmony and politeness.  It is frankly killing many of us. The fear of being truthful, direct, and straightforward about what we know to be true and right. 

What I want more than anything in 2021 is to untether myself from systems, organizations, and people who wish to continue to challenge my right to be authentic, unapologetic and ultimately FREE because I will never feel free until I can pursue my life and livelihood in an environment that appreciates, values and welcomes my ability and willingness to be my authentic and unapologetic self.

I’m writing this blog post on the evening of January 8, 2021, from my Airbnb in Cancun Mexico. As I sit here social media and United States media and frankly worldwide media continues to buzz about the attempted coup and open acts of insurrection that took place at the US Capitol in my hometown of Washington DC.

While these events brought me a great deal of sadness, they did not surprise me. As I shared in my first blog post on the site as well as my blog post entitled “America is a gilded cage”, I no longer find America a hospitable place of residence for me as a black human being and what occurred this week just confirms what I already know.

I am somewhat amused by the peers, TV Talking Heads and columnists that continue to declare “this is not who we are“ or this is not who America is”.

This IS in fact exactly what and who America is and always has been. A country steeped in white supremacy and white privilege. A country with two different standards of justice based on skin color.

What you are able to get away with as an American in terms of breaking the law has always depended on the color of your skin . So it came as no surprise that white domestic terrorist, spurred on and openly encouraged by the current occupant of the White House, attacked the United States Capitol and that very little was done to initially stop them. I was not surprised at images of Capitol police taking selfies with the insurrectionist or opening the doors and letting them into the Capital Statuary Hall. 

America has always shown people of color and specifically Black people the depth and propensity and capacity it has for evil. So for many of us nothing that happened this week was shocking. It was just sad.

But ultimately America is going to America. And so the ultimate question becomes what are you prepared to do to pursue peace and happiness?

2021 is the year that I am determined to realize my personal and professional freedom. It is the year that I am determined to live as a unapologetically authentic free human being.

As such my course is set. Nothing that the current or future President or Presidents of the United States say or do matters much to me in terms of my future plans.  I understand that the system is operating as it was designed; that it will continue to operate as it was designed; and that system was not designed for people that look like me to thrive.

So my goals are unchanged, and my plans are set.  This IS the year I will get free.

My hope is to help as many other women just like me do the same with the information I will share on this blog and my new YouTube channel.

In 2021 I have exciting plans for you my friends and subscribers.

I am redesigning and re-launching this website. I can’t wait to share it with you in the next several weeks. It will feature my blog of course but also my YouTube channel, and products and services that I hope you will find helpful as you plan your solo travel and/or relocation of abroad.

I truly believe what Toni Morrison said which is that “the function of freedom is the free someone else.” And it is my desire and hope that in 2021 I will help as many as I can to pursue authentic, unapologetic freedom and happiness.

Let’s go!