Evolving, Becoming, Creating

The word creativity often brings to mind art projects and visual aesthetics. One might recall the last time they picked up a paintbrush or sat before a piano. Those who consider themselves creatives are often also photographers, designers or videographers. Yet, there is something inherently communal about the constant co-creation of society that has nothing to do with glitter, colored pencils or glue sticks.

In the hustle of American culture of the 21st century it is rarely brought to our attention - the forward motion of life around us. The ever-changing evolution of this world can easily be missed. Seldom do we stop and smell the roses. Rarer still, is our consideration of the ways we are being changed day-by-day.

Perhaps as women, burdened by the world’s hypersensitivity to our appearance, we find ourselves aware of the aging of our bodies – our greying hair, our smile lines, our mother’s familiar quirks sprouting up in us.

Certainly, as Black and Brown women, we sense on some level, whether consciously or unconsciously, the fleeting flame of life. How quickly the fragile fragment of our light can be snuffed out by this world.

We remember you,

Atatiana Jefferson

Aiyana Jones

Breonna Taylor

Saundra Bland

Yvonne Smallwood

…

Still, while we live, we change. As we look back to our younger selves, we recall the swift progression of our upbringing. We look into the faces of our daughters, our little sisters and see how quickly they are becoming. Too often as young Black women we are forced or pulled into womanhood before the time is right. But even now, grown, we are evolving.

We are all progressing, together. Co-creation is an unavoidable reality of this universe. The devastation, liberation, and transformation of those around us inevitably overflows into our being. As conscious Black and Brown women, we have an opportunity to be the gatekeepers of our own becoming. Silencing our bodies, constantly maintaining the façade of strength, repressing the trauma, oppressing our personhood, does not function to steward the life moving in, and out, and through us.

Yet, mercifully, we are given an opportunity to make sense of the inundation of this world by waking up to it, naming it, facing it and giving our bodies, minds, souls the space needed to make sense of it. When we pause and illuminate the manifestation of reality within us, we grant ourselves permission to grieve, to delight, to reject or to embrace. When we create space for conscious moments of introspection, we return to the ever-flowing stream of time, empowered to co-create a better future.

This work of conscious, intentional existance is infrequently accomplished in isolation. So, let us be a community of co-creators. Let’s mutually benefit from the diverse insight of our sisters as we consider together what freedom feels like. Let us co-create a place for liberation to practice expanding while we become who we will be – the women our ancestors dreamed of.

Pause. An exercise to connect mind, body, and becoming by Therapy for Black Girls

Illuminate.

Name

5 things you can see

4 things you can hear

3 things you can feel

2 things you can smell

1 thing you can taste

Breathe. Liberate.