No, I wasn't starving for food. I was starving or opportunity, direction, human interaction and friendship, but mostly I was starving for innovation and success. You see, around this time last year I found myself in a rut. I was doing hair, writing stories, making dolls etc etc. It felt like being on a hamster wheel to nowhere. And top on of everything else, our family was in a financial bind. Yes, I our ends didn't meet and we have more month at the end of our money.
One day while trying to complete a doll and at the same time worried if our gas would be cut off, something just told me to stop. I was trying to put out so much, but was taking nothing back in in return. Yes, I had burned out and what's worse our family was broke. So, I suggested to my husband that me and the baby move back to Mississippi with my family for a while he stayed back and searched for a better job and a more affordable home for our family.
When I moved back home I decided to get in a place of receiving and a place of rest. Instead of doing hair I decided to research hair. I spent hours and hours on Pintrest looking at hair styles and techniques. What I discovered was that I prefer to work with locs over m
ost other styles. They are low maintenance, yet versatile. While researching dolls, I discov
ered that if I made my dolls into mermaids it would save me a lot of time. Instead of writing I read. Nnedi Okorafor became my new best friend. I consider her God's apology for taking Octavia so ea
rly.
My mind went on many journeys in African-based culture, places and spirituality.
From Who Fears Death to Akata Witch and Akata Warrior and my latest read Kabu Kabu. I learned so many about what interests me as a reader and writer. I realized that as creatives it is our passion to give, but it should also be our priority to rest and take-in from time to time. I pray that I've taken in enough to start again and be better than I've been in the past. We shall see. Be blessed. Be favored.
Jackie
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