Things I learned in 2021:

▪️You don't feel vexed or anxious around people that are aware of and know how to communicate their emotional needs.

▪️I found so much peace when I finally saw proselytising evangelical communities as businesses and stopped referring to them as churches. The healing that came from that was *chefs kiss*

▪️If you create or pursue art to prove a point, (the most detrimental of which would be to prove your talent.)

You rob yourself of the joy in writing a story that brings perspective and learning to those that didn't know they needed it.

▪️The waiting hand and foot on someone's validating you through likes, messages or reactions speaks directly to the brokenness of your attachment towards them.

▪️Long-lasting romantic relationships don't come through good communication and mutual respect. They come from having seperate bathrooms and closets 🤣 (yes, I see the privilege in this and I am utterly grateful).

▪️If you create art for audience approval you're a content creator but when you explore the creative process and show an obedience towards listening to inspiration - you are an artist. The latter is an identity and the former a hustle.

▪️Pay attention to insults. Whatever they call you is what they see as offensive for themselves and offense is always allowed, never inflicted.

▪️True freedom and liberation comes from realising that truth is lucid. We can always learn and shape ideas from the people that believe absolutes not the absolutes themselves.

▪️There doesn't need to be beef for a friendship to run its course.

▪️Loyalty tied to obligation is toxic. Run.

▪️Anxiety can directly be related to ones inability to say no and mean it.

▪️Find your people and invest in their dreams so that inspiration is never far from you.

▪️The only way to fight systemic oppression is by listening to the victims of marginalisation. That's it. What they want changed is literally the only solution.

▪️Your understanding or interpretation of someone elses grief, trauma, mental health or abuse is not a solution to them. Mainly because you think a solution is whats necessary.

▪️It's traumatising to uncover a friend masquerading as an ally. The signs are in them seeing you as their project, not their people.

▪️I have retired from accepting apologies that come in the form of sentences.

▪️My toxic trait is I don't do cliques. It's everybody I love meets everybody else I love and if you can't hang you're out.

▪️The amount of people that follow you on social media has nothing to do with the influence you have.

...... again for those at the back!