QUEEN x QUEEN

 MAJOR APPRECIATION POST COMING AT YA, FRIENDS.

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The life, times, & truths of yours truly are still a little tumultuous. Between school, home, finances, and not love but a very "strong like,"  it's times like these here lately that make me INCREDIBLY & EXTREMELY grateful for the WOMEN in my life. The Queens that I have been beyond fortunate to  cross paths with, form lasting connections with, and work with. The queens that encourage, listen, pray, deliver truth, stand for what's right, and never cease to shine.

Envy & animosity between women is & has always been the biggest downfall to our success, our power, our happiness. It's so easy to let a male dominated world make us feel as though there's only enough room for a few of us or even just one us. But hopefully today, as women continue make up more of our leaders and movements advocating for our rights/safety gain more momentum, it is more apparent than ever that our camaraderie, our mutual support, our love & respect of one another carries us so much farther than petty comparisons and exclusion.

As the only girl growing up with three brothers, you'd think I had always wanted a sister and saw the value of female relationships, but that is false. I may have bothered my mother for a sister before my little brother was born, but I quickly got very used to being the only girl in a boys' club. I was a tomboy for most of my childhood in spirit (my ma wouldn't dare dress me as such). In school, I wanted and had lots of friendships with  girls, but you know how grade school can be. It's all dramatic and political, which can be quite the turn off. Boys were definitely easier, simpler, and utilized the playgrounds way more than any girl I'd met. But I was never going to want to gush over something trivial or reveal deep secrets to a guy because a guy would never respond the way I needed him to, lol. I spent most of my childhood/preteen years working to make poor female friendships work just for the sake of having them. As I settled into my personality, my code of ethics, etc it became easier to see the girls around me that I admired, that were genuine, and that I connected with. From little old Linden, to Terrell, to Houston, and now Lubbock, I am only becoming a more refined version of myself, a wiser and more outspoken version too. And through that process I have been gifted the presence of some SERIOUSLY  AMAZING WOMEN that are not just good to me but good FOR me. They inspire in their own right. They're beautiful. They are honest about their struggles, mistakes because pretending to be okay all the time is not the way to grow or serve others. They do and live the best they can & know how. They work hard. They sacrifice. They learn. They triumph. They fall. They cry. They laugh. They are who they are, unapologetically. And you know what else? They love to befriend or at the very least support other women.

And my praises are going to every woman I know from, the "strangers" I've had epic spontaneous conversations with, to my besties, to my mentor, to my ma & everything in between both here and abroad. Each & EVERY woman that has graced my life, a day or even a moment of a day with their beauty, mind, interests, strength, vulnerability, smile, spirit,and so much more has had an impact on me, my progression, my work, my attitude, my perspective. Thank you for both validating my feelings (rational or absurd), calling me on my bullshit, accepting my flaws, forgiving my mistakes, supporting my efforts. Thank you for being influential women. In my current season of life, these relationships are worth more than gold. Being a full time professional student doesn't mean every other aspect of life scales back for you. It challenges you in a very holistic way, and it's these relationships with so many strong and REAL women that serve as simultaneously as comfort, motivation, wisdom, and restoration.

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Women are these exquisite creatures, composed of mystery & magic,designed to love uniquely & beloved loved deeply. An enlightened woman in favor of women is unstoppable. There is & always will be enough room for us because at the end of the day, we own the place. So stick together, listen to each other, be honest with each other, and chase your dreams alongside each other. There's no such thing as too much of those fierce female friendships & that oh so special lady love. So...

go forth & multiply
QUEEN x QUEEN x QUEEN x QUUEN x QUEEN x QUEEN

xxO,

The Third Voice