Looking for Inspiration and Finding yourself : A tale of Brandee Harris
Looking for inspiration and finding yourself: A tale of Brandee Harris
As women we’ve all been guilty of it, always seeking inspo. We are always looking for the next fire “fit, the next eyebrow trend, the next designer that’s turning heads, the next manicure idea (me every two weeks). Life and times in the social media age (the gift and the curse) makes this so second nature we don’t even give it a thought. I literally have my Pinterest boards open as I’m typing. Just looking… for what, I don’t know. Pinterest will tell me. Now this isn’t to say seeking out inspo isn’t helpful or even fun, it definitely is. I’ve mentally decorated my entire home in Pinterest world. I also don’t know if this is a man’s thing, I can’t speak to how men seek inspo. I truly don’t know what their go-to is when they need to put together a look. (Do men even do this??)
The flaw in this is simple, and I discovered how often we as women specifically…do this after a short and simple text convo with my bomb ass sister Brandee. Now this all stemmed from the simplest scenario, we were discussing her hair and she was looking for a new color and cut. I’ve done this, you’ve done this, and you know someone who’s done this. It’s not even something that you’d think is that deep. “I need a new look, let me find something dope” \*jumps online\*. The irony of it lies in the fact that she was on Pinterest looking for inspiration for a new cut and color and literally came across a picture of herself! Now of course that’s not going to happen too too often, but the message is definitely clear. When she sent it to me I was like well damn…look at that. You on here finding you! It was, in her words a “life lesson” in that moment. “I’m on here looking for hairstyles that’s dope and I found myself, so I’m dope!” The best part was it wasn’t even a recent picture. Her old pic is someone’s current Pinterest wish. Her old pic is current trend. Her old pic is still rotating online. That’s a stop and think moment for sure.
It’s clear as day we’re always our own worst critics, we know this. I know I am for sure, but there was so much beauty in her simple discovery. We inspire, all day every day. There are people that want our hair, our skin, our sense of style, so many silent admirers we will never know exist. I don’t say all this to say anything is wrong with seeking change, inspiration or even self-improvement. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with admiring the next woman. I love women! We’re lit! My favorite DJ (Va$htie), My favorite photographer (Renell Medrano)…women! There’s so much inspiration to be found in just day-to-day living, but I’m still using Pinterest, Instagram or any other site I feel may give me a spark. The reminder is hidden in the fact that so often while we are looking at others, there’s someone looking at us.
Anyone that knows me personally knows how huge I am on self-confidence and self-esteem. I want every woman to know how beautiful, inspiring, and dope she is. It took me years into adulthood to really discover and embrace my lit-ness! I’m unapologetically me and I’m looooooving it. I’ll admire the next woman in a heartbeat, want to try her hair color, get some tips and tricks from her personal style. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that let me be clear! But sometimes all it takes to shake us back to what we already possess that is something as simple as realizing…while you’re looking for “It” someone’s already looking at your “it”. Know that, embrace that, don’t forget that.
Happy Women’s Month ladies! Go forth and be lit, and just in case any of my readers are men, let this be a reminder…big-up your lady. Gas her every now and then! Remind her of why you chose her. The flyest of the fly still need a reminder sometimes. ~ TrayNicola
P.S - *Special shout out to my sunflower Karen this is for you!
