Who Would I Be If I Never Gave Up?

 Last week Essence celebrated another year of their annual Black Women in Hollywood awards and for the umpteenth time, I was not in attendance. I have dreamed of working this event for years, documented since 2015 as you can see above. Almost 10 years ago.

When I think about who I was in my 20's I think about a girl who was grieving and didn't realize it. A girl who had big dreams, and a plan, in mind to get a senior level entertainment PR job in LA by 30. Life had other plans so in my 3-city career plan of Atlanta, Houston then LA, I had an extended stay in Atlanta and spun the block a few more times back to Florida and didn't quite fulfill the plan.

I'm a girl of many dreams, but when it comes to execution I fall short. When I think of the ideas I had and platforms I've launched since the tweet above I think about what could've come of it had I just been consistent. There was
 -All She Wrote, a blog I dedicated to my major- PR, music, and being a "twenty-something"
-CulturedOGs, an IG based community full of everything that made me happy- music, 90's and 2000's pop culture, reading, and traveling
-CulturedOG's Swim, yeah I thought about selling swim suits as merch instead of the standard tee)
-CulturedOG's The Pod, one of my friends and I have such great convo on nostalgic moments and music from past to present. I said if I were to ever have a podcast it would be with her. It all started with this podcast idea in 2017 actually
-CulturedOG'sFest, self explanatory I'd say. Think of Issa's Block Party event from Insecure (minus the violence)
-Growin Through It, the blog you're currently reading :)

Looking at social media now, I see there's a BIG trend of things of the past. Whether it's millennials being nostalgic or Gen Z catching up to the mess in the early days of social media and before it even existed. If I had just been more consistent, with Cultured OG's specifically, who knows the rooms I'd have been in. Would I have gotten an invite to attend Essence's event this year, an event I've dreamed of working? Would I be part of the Culture Con classes that move the culture forward? Could I have made a 30 under 30 list? Would I have been up at the Cecred event with Fury and Crissle??

They say that nothing meant for you will pass you by, but a part of me can't help but wonder if it's actually the choices you make that may mess up God's plan for you. Or, is this a delayed dream that has *yet* to come to fruition. I love seeing young women really live life to the fullest with what seems to be no regrets, because I didn't move like that and now I feel like I'm playing catch up. I pray that the desires and ideas I believe God has placed in my heart not only come true, but that I would be in a place of gratitude and appreciation for the journey that led me to the place of living in my dreams. A destiny fulfilled if you would.

Well, that's all for now...byeee!