An Origin Story
I was a bright-eyed bushy tailed freshman on Southern University’s campus, better known as The Bluff. Since becoming a New York Times Best Selling author at 19 didn’t look like it was going to happen, I decided I would write a blog instead. I figured it was far less intimidating than writing a science fiction novel, and besides, I was already writing blog content for my own enjoyment and personal expression.
I had big dreams to connect with women all over the globe, not as an expert or guru, but a friend. Maybe we could bond over shared experiences. Maybe I could tackle controversial topics in 500 words or less. Maybe my words could go out into the world, build something beautiful, and tear down something awful. I had a treasure chest full of stories to tell.
The more excited I became, the louder the voice of insecurity rang in my ears. Stress turned my late-night writing sessions into a dreadful task. I had come a long way on the road to recovery, but the ghosts of Insomnia, panic attacks, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder seemed to haunt me. I found myself trapped in the prison of crippling shyness over and over and over again. The familiar fear of never being good enough or brave enough to put myself out there lurked in the shadows and dimmed my light until it finally flickered out. School eventually filled every crack and crevice of my life, and I soon moved on. I buried my dream in the dirt and never spoke of it again.
The weeks turned into months and the months turned into years. I’m 29 now. I’ve learned things that have changed my life and it’s time to share them. I’ve had encounters with God that uprooted false narratives, rebuilt the foundation of my life, and changed the trajectory of my story. I graduated college in 2019, learned news writing and all things Mass Communication. I became skillful in technical writing shortly after and fell in love with the art of poetry. It’s been a journey. This blog has been quietly, patiently resting in my heart for this very moment—the moment I would regain my voice.
Chapter One is for everyone who had to grow up a little before they could move into fresh new waters and hold answered prayers in their hands. This is for those of us who are starting over on what God gave us to do. Perhaps it took us longer than expected to gain the confidence to show up in the world the way God created us. Still, we’ve been planted, watered, and now we are beginning to blossom. Everyone talks about the beauty of growth, but you seldom hear about the challenges of forging an unknown path and running your race in your new God-given identity.
This is for anyone who wonders “Am I really a different person? Will the struggles of the past catch up with me? Will fear talk me out of it again?” Listen, this time will be different. God picked up the story where we left off and now, we will see how all the plot twists and character development was not only needed, but worth it. You can rest assured that the Author has not changed his mind about you. We carry memories in our hearts and wear the hard lessons in our scars, but we were never meant to stay there. I think of life as a series of books. Don’t live in a story that has already ended. Jesus gives the freedom to turn the page. Welcome to Chapter One.
