What Day Is It Anyway? July Edition
Just so happens to be Tuesday. Welcome to the very first edition of What day is it anyway, with your host, Damaly. (I’ve always wanted to say that.) Your monthly insight into, well anything I want.
Seriously, I’m so glad you’re in my world. :)
I’ve spent the greater part of the last two weeks thinking about perfection and I woke up with some very impassioned views. (My best and most passionate self appears and disappears in those first few minutes of being awake.)
Perfectionism is a time waster and a joy stealer.
I spent the first year of my business terrified to post on social media because I was afraid that people would know I was business.
Read that again, I was building a business that I couldnt tell people about.
The story became that the people I knew would judge me because I didnt feel good enough to work for free nonetheless make money from it.
This is all while getting really beautiful feedback from clients that the work that we created together is and was life changing.
Instead of trusting in that. I would quickly throw it in the trash. How could my imperfect work be life changing when I was just starting out. They had to be fluffing me up to not dash my confidence.
My first client paid me well, thanked me and instead of celebrating I got depressed.
I was afraid that I would never again recreate that kind of success. I avoided posting and shooting for the next 6 months and I didn’t accept another dollar until the next year came by. Scared that the next person I serviced would tell me the truth and call me unworthy.
I could've been practicing and serving instead. Building my muscles to get to the level I knew I wanted to be at. Practicing my interactions with my clients and getting more feedback so that I could improve.
My lesson learned running from success because it felt so unusual is that perfection isn't necessary to make an impact but YOU SHOWING UP IS.
This month I have been obsessed with all things Hamilton and I can distinctly remember the moment I saw Renee Elise Goldsberry on that screen. I teared up with joy and pride and we hadn’t even gotten to Satisfied yet which I ugly cried to (multiple times).
Guess what? Renee almost didn't show up to audition for Hamilton altogether. She wasn't sure that the description they wanted was something that she was or could pull off. But she also felt a pull towards the song and decided not to shut herself down.
Whats most interesting about this is that not only did Renee show up and kill it but she did it so well I don't think Lin Manuel Miranda was even paying attention to whatever description he had thought he wanted for the role. Instead he went home and celebrated with his wife, "Satisfied" being the song he was most protective over had found it's rightful person.
I was amazed when I read that the woman whose presence and voice brought literal tears to my eyes almost didn't make it. If she had succumbed to her own feelings of uncomfortability in stepping into something she wasn't sure she could do, I would have never had such a moving experience.
Wowza, right?!
If that isn't enough inspiration for me to write this newsletter, and take photos of things I love and work on amplifying my own damn voice for anyone who will listen, what is?
I don’t wanna miss my shot or rob someone else from an experience with me that just might be as moving.
The next time I have an idea that my beautiful and loving logical brain tries to restrain, Im going to remember Renee and I hope you will too.
✨✨✨ A few of my favorite things ✨✨✨ July edition
Since were in Hamilton land, here is one of my favorites from Leslie Odom Jr. a song called "Favorite Things". Technically a Christmas song but for me a year long classic.
Have you loved on a Black womxn this month? Check out Sonya Renee Taylors love note including so many great womxn to start with here and make sure to follow Sonya if you don’t already. She is a VISIONARY. #nuffsaid
This month I’ve had lots of moment where I needed to tap out to get a grip when things (feelings, the news, too much comparisonitis) gets to me and I owe my recollection to being able to tune in to this mellow piano music live on Youtube. Enjoy.
Make an F it, I'm worth it purchase. This month I found an old journal I could I tell I loved because I had written in it so consistently. I'm a very sensory person, so things like the touch of the paper, the spacing of the lines, and the way my pen feels when it hits the book are all really important. I found this journal while in a random journal shop in Soho but guess who's not going to Soho anytime soon? #staysafe Instead of just letting it go, I made a decision that I deserve a beautiful journal that excites me to write in, like this one had. So I got my butt online, found the Swedish company that makes it and paid to have two of them shipped to me. This is way more than I would usually allot myself for a journal but I had a F it Im worth a few extra bucks to have a journal that makes me feel good and encourages me to do more journaling. It is hands down the best way I process my thoughts and emotions. So make a F it, I’m worth it purchase and please please please hit reply and let me know what you bought so we can celebrate together.
That's all for now.
What day is it anyway will be back on a random August day but until then if you need me let me know.
Until next time. :)
Damaly